Open

[histori]

CHARACTERS: Ori and you
LOCATION: in the gardens somewhere
WARNINGS: cuteness overload (Ori has a habit of doing that by accident)
SUMMARY: Ori's sketching random passersby while pretending he isn't overheating; today you're his subject!
NOTES: Feel free to reply in any format


Ori sits quietly beneath the shade of one of the trees in the gardens. He's been working hard here, helping the others out, and there's smears of dirt and mud across his cheeks. But right now, he's taking a break.

Sleeves rolled up high to expose skinny little arms and sweat beading on his face, Ori has his knees drawn to his chest, sketchbook propped out on them and charcoal in hand. He's picking random people to be his subjects -- anyone that's sitting still enough, really -- and carefully drawing out a scene. So if you happen to notice a little auburn haired shadow stealing glimpses at you from over his knees, don't worry. He's just drawing.

Comments

[histori]

Ori smiles shyly. "I-it's alright. I'm not used to...being noticed, is all."

He hesitates a little with his sketching, biting his lip. Usually he doesn't show his sketches to people, but then again, no one's really asked except for Nori. And he was drawing her...maybe she has a right to see it.

Ori nods after a moment, holding his sketchbook out to her. "Be careful," he can't help but add. It means a lot to him, after all.

[onsilksheets]

She gives him a smile in return. "Ah. I understand." Shy and quiet. It was endearing.

"I will." Bela promises, gently taking the offered sketchpad from him and sits down, crossing her legs. She examines the drawing for a few minutes, taking in every little detail of the piece; he's definitely skilled and it shows in the sketch.

When she is finished looking at it, Bela holds the pad towards him with a smile. "You're really talented. I like it. Looks like me."

[histori]

Ori blushes scarlet at the compliment, clearly not used to such praise. "Oh! Th-thank you!"

He takes the pad back, holding it to his chest and nodding. Neat, intricate braids fall out from where they were tucked behind his ears. "I-I've been practicing since I was young," he says. Which of course, he's...still fairly young, but he's been drawing for a good six decades.

[onsilksheets]

"You're welcome." Bela thought she should give praise where praise is due and now wasn't any exception to that.

She laughs a little at what he says, shaking her head. "You are still young. Of course, I can't tell what your actual age is." But she's fairly certain that he isn't human and that there is a bit of a height difference between them; Bela stood at 5ft 8".

"My name is Bela by the way. What's yours?"

[histori]

Ori shrugs his thin shoulders, smiling sheepishly. "Only seventy five, My Lady."

He's going to very determinedly call everyone 'Lord' or 'Lady' until he's told not to.

"Ori, I'm...I'm Ori. A-at your service."

[onsilksheets]

She blinks in surprise. "Seventy-five? You've got about fifty years on me." Which was interesting, considering how young he looked.

Also, it wasn't the first time that she had been addressed as 'Lady' on board the ship.

"Lovely to meet you, Ori. You can call me Bela if you like. I'd prefer it anyway."

[histori]

Ori shrugs, looking a bit sheepish. "I've only just come of age by my people's reckoning."

Hey, for someone as pretty as she is, it's only natural to call her by a title she clearly deserves. "Just...Bela. Alright."

[onsilksheets]

Well, she certainly had enough money back home to be a lady. If Bela knew what he was thinking, she would be pleased by the compliment.

"Are you a dwarf by any chance? I know there are a few of you on board. I met one named Kili a few months ago at a party he was at."

[histori]

Ori smiles and nods vigorously. "Y-yes, I am! Kili is my cousin, d-distantly, I mean."

It doesn't surprise him that Kili's made a name for himself around here. He's always been...difficult to miss, to say the least.

[onsilksheets]

"Really? That is incredible." Bela's interest has piqued after hearing that.

She would say that the elves have done the same in some ways but they weren't talking about the elves now.

"Were you traveling together before you came here?"

[histori]

Ori nods a bit more. Obviously Kili's told her something of the quest, then.

"We were, yes. With twelve others of our kin."

[onsilksheets]

"I had no idea that there were so many of you in one group."

She knew very little of the quest but she knew there was something.

"Hope it was going well, whatever you were doing."

[histori]

Ori blanches, remembering Fili's words. It doesn't end well. His hands shake slightly and he balls them into fists to keep it from showing.

"I-it...well..."

Deep breaths, Ori. No use having a breakdown over something that hasn't happened yet. Still, he's...at a loss of what to say.

[onsilksheets]

His reaction gives Bela reason to be concerned, and it shows on her face.

"You don't have to tell me, Ori. I'm sorry for even saying anything in the first place; I shouldn't have."

No real backtracking from it now: what she said is already out. All Bela can do is try to make amends for it.

[histori]

He gives her a tenuous smile. "N-No, it's alright. I don't like to think about it, is all."

Ori rubs the scar above his elbow self consciously. "You didn't know."

[onsilksheets]

"I understand." Quietly. "There are things I don't like thinking about either." Not just events that happened on board the ship but experiences from back home.

Bela couldn't even imagine what he or any of his company had gone through.

"We can talk about something else. Something positive."