Birds of a Feather [Barates]

[Barates Aster]

The moment Bhae mentioned sailors, Barates entire being brightened and he grinned broadly, eyes shining. “Yes!” he affirmed with a bit more enthusiasm then necessary, “Crete has best sailors-no other can compare!” Scoffing under his breath at the very idea of another group-Greek or not- attempting to be better sailors, Barates shook his head before he continued with just as much exuberance as before, “Nothing like sailing on open ocean-sea on face, wind in hair, taste of salt in mouth—very freeing.” Looking up with a grin to stare at the sky, Barates sighed, practically feeling the ocean wind spraying against his face. “Nothing like being on ocean. Rivers not bad. But ocean-feeling of waves rocking. Is exciting.” Pausing for a moment, Barates coughed, some of his enthusiasm falling away as he gave Bhae a somewhat apologetic look. “Eh, was sailor before slave.”

Explanation done, the slave tilted his head in interest as Bhae nodded enthusiastically, before he grinned again. “Yes-mosaics-very pretty. Story telling important on Crete too-many stories of gods and heroes. Lessons. Music important to-very popular during festival of Dionysus in Knossos-ah, Dionysus Greek god of wine. Popular deity in Knossos but family fishermen, so worship Poseidon.” Slowing his speech as he caught himself speeding up in excitement, Barates cocked his head in Bhae’s direction, looking at the foreign woman inquisitively as she explained her beliefs.

He said no words on her seeming disbelief of gods-who was he to critique her views, particularly when he was in a country that had little idea nor care of his own. Nodding his head thoughtfully he paused before he tiled his head, noting belatedly how she had seemed interested at sailors. Hardly caring that he’d already given his spiel, Barates blinked curiously, “You have sailors in Celtland?”

[Bhae]

Bhae’s grin lingered as she listened to him explain, eventually moving to casually clasp her hands behind her back, though she soon became tired of this, and set her hands on her hips instead. She nodded a few times, grin widening when he seemed to become more excited, so that when he finally explained he had been a sailor once she answered, “I can tell…it sounds like you really enjoyed it. I bet you were good at it, too…I always wanted to know what it was like, but I am too chicken to try it.”

She frowned, pursing her lips then, “Actually I am too chicken to try a lot of things…maybe I should work on that.”

When asked about having sailors in her land, a faint but mischievous smile played across her face, “My people…are do or die. While we do not specialize in sailing, if a need arises, we fill it. So if in order to survive, we must sail—then yes. We will become sailors. For the most part, though, we live on land.”

[Barates Aster]

Smile softening, Barates grinned, head tilting to the side and former nervousness little more than a distant memory. “Yes-enjoyed a lot....lived most of life on ship, even when little.” The Greek’s voice was somewhat quieter as his enthusiasm died down and he glanced to the ground, brows furrowing slightly in thought before he perked up at the mention of Bhae being to chicken to try it. “Haha, if ever become free will teach how to sail. Not scary at all!”

Despite his cheery tone, Barates knew well enough that the chances of that actually happening were slim to none. Still, he didn’t let it keep his mood down as he listened to Bhae with rapt attention, smiling delightedly at the mischievous smile that played its way across the woman’s face. “People sound very strong!” he complimented easily, “Would not want to fight.”

Darting a look to the side where a few lingering passerby still stared, Barates shot a few a glare before he turned back to Bhae. “You live in town yes? Sews-smith-errr, Seamstress?” Not going to be the one to say that he’d heard she was a tailor, he played dumb with a curious grin. Somehow, he didn’t think telling the woman that he knew her occupation from listening into rumors would make the best of impressions.

And to put it bluntly, Barates thought with a minor wince, his first impression on Bhae had been bad enough. Best to let the woman say her occupation on her own-besides, she already knew his.