Falls

Asche was quietly complying to the red girl's 'game', listening intently to her, when an interruption from the mystery woman behind stole all the attention. She wasn't watching him, though - the scolding was meant for the other, who's face seemed to fall as her companion broke her vow of silence. She moved, phantom-like through the stillness of the pool to stand here he had stood, and his eyes followed her as she gestured to where her perch had been, where she - they, had watched him in his lonely state, without the facade of formality he usually hid behind, and stayed there until he had called to them. She moved so delicately, Asche thought, that the harsh texture of her voice seemed to juxtapose with her body, creating an intriguing character. Her words continued, wise beyond her years, and they moved him: moved him physically, even, as he found himself taking long and drawn out strides towards her, gaze locked on hers. Just as he reached her, she looked away, staring off into the starry distance.

For once, the ivory boy was speechless. His muzzle twitched, searching for words, for the power to comprehend what had just been said to him, for a way to understand the burning desire in the girl's voice and the difference - like yin and yang - between she and her sister. For one, it was a game, for the other, anything but.

"I-," he stopped, his voice cutting off in a harsh glottal stop. He turned his neck over his shoulder to gaze at the dumbstruck Sinopa, eyes almost pitying her. The playful atmosphere had turned serious within the blink of an eye, and it seemed neither knew how to respond. The man lowered his eyes to the water, staring numbly at his reflection, before continuing without wavering his stare. "I'd be happy to know you." Asche's tone was matter of fact, plain.

He feared to show one girl more of himself than the other - what rift would that cause between two so close? Unsure and frankly scared, he strode deeper into the water, longing to reach his muzzle out to touch her, darkness against stark white, yet he halted just sort of her, eyeline eventually raising from the rippling pool to face her. For a moment, there was nothing but breath in the air, the rise and fall of his chest, steam leaving his nostrils as the temperature plummeted and darkness swallowed them all whole.

"Sinopa?" he asked, forcibly pulling himself away from the unnamed wonder and facing the charming girl with the charismatic smile and the perchance for teasing. "Do you two need somewhere to go?"

Phrased as a question, the man disguised his need for their company - he had somewhere for them to go, he had a place for them to see, an adventure, together, where he could answer all his questions about them and learn why one was so quiet and the other so strong. This question was more of a plea, and for once, his true intent shone through his eyes.