riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

(From here)

There was no way she could have missed that falter with the way she had been regarding him. The slip of that smile was slight though and quickly recovered. Everyone had their demons. Or well mistakes. But his words did ring true to her. Not that he was the first to mention something to her about the past helping to shape the person she was now. Maybe she was just better at listening then she was back then.

“You remind me of someone I used to know.” The words were soft, her smile holding just a touch of melancholy. It was the usual longing for something long lost yet at the same time… It felt different this time. She didn’t truly feel sad at the thought. Not really. It was more like a warm reminder. “He too always tried to look at the bright side of life. He made the most of the fate he had been dealt. But you are right. So was he. My brush with death set me on this path. Without it I might have had an entirely different life. If a life at all.”

“I will assume you are feeling much better now since you are standing?” Her eyes look over him from head to toe. Yes she had changed topics. The healer in her wanted to know of his condition. Even though she hadn’t really wanted to make it seem like she was anxious. “I could lend you a hand with whatever job it was you were doing. Or at least walk you to wherever you need to go. As I said I have no work to tend to today.” She quickly holds up a hand before he could protest. “I know you said it is your preference to pay for services. However I’m not offering for payment. Not unless you are offering a chance at your friendship as payment. I would like to get to know you better if you’ll allow it.”

“Sounds like a good guy,” Riski said, but dropped the subject afterward. It was clear she wanted to change it, and he wasn’t going to push – even if he did have a handful of remarks he could add that he was fairly sure would make her smile. It wasn’t worth it.

He flexed for her, his clothes covering the majority of the muscles on his wiry frame and making the gesture a complete joke. “Much better! Not quite good as new, but I have no problem with being comfortably broken-in.” Riski reached out to take the hand Destiney had used to forestall him, fingers clasping loosely around hers. “I was heading back to the ferry docks to get back across to Costa, but I think I might just take the monetary hit and visit Wineport’s aetheryte instead. You’re welcome to join me for as far as you like, but you must have come out here for some reason yourself?”

There was no way to resist laughing merrily as Riski flexed for her. If nothing else he was definitely amusing to spend time around. Though a blush did creep onto her cheeks when he loosely took her hand in his. His question though quickly made her forget about the fact he was holding her hand.

“I do have reasons but not the kind that you would think. I was out here to think. To remember.” She decided not to let herself feel sad. Not this time. There was a chance to make new memories out here. Something she knew Leon would have approved of. Replace the bad with good. So her smile didn’t waver this time as she closed her fingers around his. “Leon would never forgive me if I didn’t take a chance to make new memories when they present themselves. So let us head to Wineport. But do watch those Toads. I’d rather not be a victim of a tongue lashing.” A grin at her own attempt at a joke.