fandomhigh | The Library 5/29

"I enjoy being here, and your company," he said, smiling shyly before looking away. "What is it that you think about? If it's not impolite to ask."

"A little of everything," she shrugged. "My family, my friends, what my future holds. It's more fun to have someone here. Then I can think about campfires and roadtrips and other fun stuff."

"Then I shall try and visit regularly," he promised. "Peter has asked me to join this roadtrip to New York to meet his family. You do not mind?"

"I'd like that," Isabel said sincerely. "And no, not at all. The more the merrier and all that. I think you'll be amazed by the City."

"Peter said it was much larger than this," he said. "With many more people than here?"

"Millions more," she nodded. "It's a huge urban center, with buildings over a hundred stories tall." Isabel went to the desk and looked up the appropriate spot, went to it and returned with a book. "Here," she said, opening it to a picture (http://www.wirednewyork.com/manhattan/skyline/new_york_skyline3.jpg). "This is New York City."

Speechless, he stared at the picture, trying to comprehend the magnitude of it. "And this is where we are going?" he asked weakly, when he finally found his voice.

He was definitely having second thoughts about the wisdom of this.

"This is where we're going," Isabel nodded. "I've never been anywhere as big either. My town's tiny compared to this."

"Isabel," he looked down at himself, touching his Vkandis medal, studying his robes, "should I wear something else? These are out of place enough here." He hated the idea, they were part of him, of who he was. "Will they draw unwelcome attention?"

"New York has people from all over the world. So they're used to seeing different ways of dressing. You'll attract attention. But no one would hurt you because of it," she assured him.

"All right," he said, nodding. His worry had been more for those in his company than him, but he trusted her. "I admit, that is a relief. I would feel very strange to be wearing something else. As if I was hiding who I was."

"Don't think of it as hiding. Think of it as going native," Isabel smiled. "But it's not required. Just know, more then likely it'll be very, very warm there. Are you sure you'll be comfortable?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "It is already getting warmer here than I'm used to. Even with the lightest robes. I have no other clothes, though, other than what I wear for riding, and they would be even less suitable."

"We can go shopping if you'd like to get stuff," she offered. "Wearing something different doesn't change who you are inside. Not when it's something that's important to you."

"Maybe," he said quietly. "I've never worn anything else, not for many, many years." Karal did not know what to do. They were just clothes, he was no less a priest without them. But at the same time-- "Perhaps I could impose on someone, to loan me clothing. Would that be unreasonable to ask, do you think?"

"I don't know how it is with guys, but I know girls loan each other clothes all the time," Isabel told him. "Parker would even loan out her shoes. And speaking of Parker, she says hi. And that I'm supposed to offer you a kiss."

That was one way to get his mind off the clothing situation.

He flushed to the tips of his ears and stared at his shoes.

"I was just supposed to offer. Following through was not required," she promised, feeling bad for making him blush.

He was smiling a little as he glanced up at Isabel. It may make him blush, but it had been a very nice kiss, and it was an equally pleasant memory. "Is she well?" he asked. "And as kind as your offer is, I will decline. Not that you're not very pretty," he added quickly, then blushed more as he realised what he'd said. "Umm, I think Gavin might loan me some ordinary clothing."

"Oh? Is there someone else you'd rather be kissing?" Isabel asked. "Did you leave someone special at home?" It was honest curiousity. Really.

"Parker's well. We spoke for a while last night. I miss her a lot."

"No! No, no there's no one like that. Parker is, that was, she is the first who ever kissed me," he admitted, voice only a little strangled as he shook his head at himself. "But I am glad she is well. She is a good person and I wish I'd had the opportunity to know her."

Isabel did not saw Awwww! She only thought it and smiled. "Parker's one of my best friends. It's not going to be the same without her around. But she said she'll be back for visits."

He smiled back, colour fading. "She seemed less than happy to be leaving. I'm happy, for both of you, that she may come back." Karal would also be happy to see her, he thought, though he was not going to admit that out loud.

"Yeah, she wasn't. It's like that for a lot of people," she said wistfully. "This is a special place. It's hard to leave and go back to real life."

"It really is a place out of time, isn't it?" he asked, trailing his fingers along the books, thinking of everything that was happening - that had happened - back home. "Almost as if it were created so those who need it can find a moment to breathe." He was beginning to understand why the Sunlord had sent him here.

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