[open]

[lumelume]

WHO: Mado and you
WHAT: where are my beloved cousins??
WHEN: whatever month this is
WHERE: the Gallows
NOTES: he's here

There's a strange man in the Gallows courtyard, a man nobody has seen before. He looks shabby, dressed in a long yellow surcoat that has seen much better days, but his face is lit with a plaintive grin as his melodic, Antivan-accented voice rings out:

"Averesk? I'm looking for Kostos, or Nikos Averesk! Have you seen them?"

It's not even entirely clear how he got here, because nobody saw him enter or leave the ferry, and this is not a person who escapes notice easily. Maybe he's a ghost. Maybe he's been living under the island this entire time.

"You there, please! I'm looking for my cousins!"

Comments

[indissection]

Oh, Sidony is already irate, something tickling in the back of her mind. She might not be well connected to her family any longer - the Venaras tribe are still quite frustrated with her choice to slum herself and wed one Byerly Rutyer - but she has an instinctive, well-trained urge to be polite and cordial to anyone who might be related to her in any way.

That means anyone who is cousin to her cousin. She can feel the headache building already.

"I know of them, yes. I am their cousin. Sidony Venaras Rutyer, the pleasure is yours."

[lumelume]

As impossible as this may seem, the man actually appears to grow more delighted, and louder to boot.

"Then-- then you're my family as well!" he gasps, and steps forward to embrace her very suddenly and very tightly. "Oh it's lovely to meet you!"
He might be crying a little?

[indissection]

“Please, do not.”

Sidony steps out of the embrace immediately and as artfully as she can manage, idly brushing at her dress as she does so. This must be divine punishment, surely, and Byerly will laugh at her horridly when she tells him.

“Do you simply wish to meet them.”

[lumelume]

He doesn't chase her, at least, and one gains the impression that he's used to this reaction. He does, however, remain fixated on her with an emotional smile.

"Oh yes, yes, I would-- but I must also know about you! Sidony! What do you do here?"

[indissection]

This topic is easier at least. If she can keep him busy enough that someone might warn her cousins about the rather large and puppy like problem they now had to manage.

“I am a surgeon. The Head Surgeon, in fact.”

[lumelume]

"Head surgeon!"

He is, perhaps, impressed enough to eclipse the feelings of her remaining family.

"That's so-- well done! You're so important!"

His cousin is a surgeon!!

[indissection]

Sidony, quite cautiously, takes a rather noticeable step back at his outburst.

Best to be safe, she thinks.

"Yes, I am rather important. And very busy."

[lumelume]

He steps forward in excitement, but doesn't touch her again.

"Oh of course, you must be! I won't trouble you-- unless you know where our cousins would happen to be?"

He seems to take a particular delight in the phrase 'our cousins'.

[indissection]

Sidony, on the other hand, clearly does not take such delight.

"I imagine they'll be in their rooms, or somewhere around. I don't often keep track of them."

[lumelume]

"Ah! Then I will keep asking." But no need to bother her, as she's clearly very busy and important.
"It's been lovely to meet you!"