[Intentional or reflexive...perhaps it's both those things at once, really, if such an answer could be considered a valid one. Actions practiced sufficiently long enough are bound to become habit in time--isn't there a proverb along those lines?
A ruse is far easier to maintain, after all, when you delegate at least half the work to the audience. Mention you're a merchant, but never specify what you sell, and the latter party either never thinks much of it or makes up their own list of assumed wares. State, if asked, that the coffin you carry is a tool of your trade--how so? For what reason? Never leave sufficiently polite room for such questions to be asked, and they stay internal, or are resolved in imagination instead. Open-ended details, open-ended answers--to be filled in whatever way seems most fitting, for the man who's so kind and smart and riveting to the eyes, surely too much so to be hiding much of anything.
Still. Every now and then, someone picks up the pattern. And sometimes it's an unexpected someone, now isn't it?
Caelus might be rescinding that first-impulse flatly judgmental question with a proper grimace, but the fact remains that it was quite clearly a first impulse. This prompts a slight but rather distinct pause, on Luocha's part, in which he takes a moment to blink back. To go by the unwavering pleasant set of his expression, no particular offense has been taken, but.]
Well, as I said, I intend for this to be a fairly painless request. I thought it might be easier for you to have a broad range of options, and so in that sense, anything would indeed be fine. But, perhaps in the end that was all rather too vague, hm? [Something knowing tugs at the corner of his pleasant smile, as if they're not just talking about the Penacony favor--even if, aloud, they are.] Let's say, then, to narrow things down...I do tend to particularly enjoy sampling novel foods or drinks in new places. So, perhaps it could be something along those lines. Either packaged or sealed, of course, to accommodate however long the length of time might be before we cross paths again...is this sufficiently specific, you think?
[Idle humor still lilts the last question. Luocha is not specific about much of anything at all when he can help it, no, and it seems he's aware enough of this fact.
...It seems that Caelus is also becoming aware of this fact, though, and rest assured this is something being noted in a mental dossier about now. That he may in fact be more perceptive than even he himself realizes. Hmm...]
no subject
A ruse is far easier to maintain, after all, when you delegate at least half the work to the audience. Mention you're a merchant, but never specify what you sell, and the latter party either never thinks much of it or makes up their own list of assumed wares. State, if asked, that the coffin you carry is a tool of your trade--how so? For what reason? Never leave sufficiently polite room for such questions to be asked, and they stay internal, or are resolved in imagination instead. Open-ended details, open-ended answers--to be filled in whatever way seems most fitting, for the man who's so kind and smart and riveting to the eyes, surely too much so to be hiding much of anything.
Still. Every now and then, someone picks up the pattern. And sometimes it's an unexpected someone, now isn't it?
Caelus might be rescinding that first-impulse flatly judgmental question with a proper grimace, but the fact remains that it was quite clearly a first impulse. This prompts a slight but rather distinct pause, on Luocha's part, in which he takes a moment to blink back. To go by the unwavering pleasant set of his expression, no particular offense has been taken, but.]
Well, as I said, I intend for this to be a fairly painless request. I thought it might be easier for you to have a broad range of options, and so in that sense, anything would indeed be fine. But, perhaps in the end that was all rather too vague, hm? [Something knowing tugs at the corner of his pleasant smile, as if they're not just talking about the Penacony favor--even if, aloud, they are.] Let's say, then, to narrow things down...I do tend to particularly enjoy sampling novel foods or drinks in new places. So, perhaps it could be something along those lines. Either packaged or sealed, of course, to accommodate however long the length of time might be before we cross paths again...is this sufficiently specific, you think?
[Idle humor still lilts the last question. Luocha is not specific about much of anything at all when he can help it, no, and it seems he's aware enough of this fact.
...It seems that Caelus is also becoming aware of this fact, though, and rest assured this is something being noted in a mental dossier about now. That he may in fact be more perceptive than even he himself realizes. Hmm...]