Up in the air (Ali/open)

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Then I suppose I die, bested by a better warrior." 

[Allison Kazim]

So. Much. Frowning.

"Why?" It was puzzling. And self-defeating. "You would stand by the code of a better fighter in order to harm her, no matter what her intentions are on you?" Though obviously he had said he would try to safely neutralize her without harm if he could, but the thought still had her shaking her head as she tried to fathom it.

"Though I suppose it would only be if she meant to kill, like I said." She eyed him curiously again. "Where are you from?" It was a code she knew from stories; this didn't seem real.

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Every warrior has to make a serious choice in battle. To fight with honor and stand proud, or to throw it away to protect your own life. There are some things more important than my life."

He sighed gently, running his right hand threw his hair. She kept asking where he was from, it felt rude to keep ignoring and deflecting it. Even if he didn't want to make a big deal about it.

"I'm from Territory 244." He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders, trying to look the part. "Camelot."

[Allison Kazim]

He had a point when he put it that way. Ali herself couldn't say that she wouldn't fight against certain other people or groups, but they also felt far less selective and more common than a gender. Like children or those who were too frail.

"I...see." She blinked at the mention of the territory, by name as well. "You're quite away from home, then." And a neutral territory, if she recalled. But Cillian also still seemed super uncomfortable mentioning it at all, so she'd try to return the favor and lighten the mood for him, as he had her.

"Well, that certainly explains a lot of the hobbies you mentioned before." The corners of her lips lifted more towards her usual polite smile, maybe a bit more than that. "I won't mention it again." Even if it did leave her to wonder what kind of place it was to have such values.

[Cillian McWolfe]

"A bit, yeah."

He said with another chuckle.

"It's okay, I just don't want to make a big deal about it. I don't want people to treat me differently because of who I am or where I'm from. People aren't themselves when they do that."

[Allison Kazim]

It's okay, Cillian, she's still trying to get over the notion of NOT learning magic from a certain mage rather than a commoner. That one's going to take her a while.

"Better to be a noble or a gentleman from somewhere where they don't start asking for favors or expect you to act certain ways." Like she did. The irony wasn't lost on her, but the lower-class mage didn't know the full expectations of those with nobility and the responsibility that came with it. She just assumed based of what she saw back home.

[Cillian McWolfe]

"I suppose it is one of those eyes of the beholder things. I think the freedom one has when you are not bound by the expectations of your station to be very refreshing. And since I am so far from home, I figure here I am just like everyone else."

He held out his arms.

"Simply Cillian."

[Allison Kazim]

"I can see the freedom in it." And the strangeness. Maybe it was the different view froma different life, because she could see the freedom, but not the sense. There was no denying that it would also make things easier for her to work with, which Ali couldn't complain about. The fact that she didn't have to trip over herself over his nobility was srange, but oddly welcome.

"Well then, Cillian. You've shown me some of your skills. What would you prefer to do?" Especially if he'd be going to investigate that strange tingling sensation.

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Perhaps have you show me some of yours. I would hate for you to feel I was uninterested in you or brushing aside your own talents to center things upon myself."

[Allison Kazim]

That...was a mouthful to say "you're turn." It kind of reminded her of home, which was oddly familiar and unsettling at the same time. Ali accepted it was part of nobility and accepted it with a small nod.

"Most of the people back home can at least light a candle or lantern." At least, any worth mentioning they came from Ayatlan. She paused a moment, thoughts dwelling on those that didn't even have that, but then forced herself to focus before she seemed a fool. A little drop of light appeared on the tip of her index finger as she held it up, letting him see how it formed on its own with a little circle gesture of that same finger.

"But there's more you can do with the same spell, too." She rolled her fingers, using gestures for the minor spell that was such a part of life. Partially spurred on by his own displays, a small droplet of light formed on each fingertip as she wiggled them, letting them grown to the size of her fingernail before they drifted away, floating among one another in a small dance with the nearby tree as a backdrop to stand out in the dimming daylight.

"But we find ways to enjoy it, too." She'd enjoyed similar sights as a kid.

[Cillian McWolfe]

His face was split into a large grin as he watched her show, even giving her a round of applause when she was finished.

"That was beautiful. Maybe if I ever do give up my current life and create a show I can steal you away to help me delight the world!"

He could sense her Qi making the spell, but most people didn't have Qi. It would be a wonderous sight, and to see it being used for something other than violence would go a long way to improving relations between users and non-users.

[Allison Kazim]

"Thank you." The praise and delight was more than she expected, a small blush returning through her smile as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It wasn't that impressive, but she wasn't going to tell Cillian that, either.

"Maybe one day," she agreed with a tiny chuckle. It was highly unlikely she would ever leave Ayatlan behind, even if the lure was there to find other discoveries out in the world. It was a nice dream to think of times you didn't have to worry about the world, or if you'd eat that night, but that's all it would be: a dream.

"It would be nice to see other places."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"That's part of the draw of coming here, is it not? A chance to expand your views and meet new people."

[Allison Kazim]

"True. New people, new places. New discoveries." She shook her head.

"Just don't tell anyone about my wanderlust. They might not believe you."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Your secret is safe with me."