Ysaryn glanced sharply down at her hands, one of them holding another clump of snow, frowning at her cold fingers. "Fraust bite?" She repeated, suddenly stepped to the side and peering down, as if to hunt for something lurking beneath her feet. Frowning, she flexed her fingers, realziing that they did ache a good deal from the cold, as did her toes in her boots. The leather was too thin, with no insulation, made to move easily and breathe. 

When she heard Kire's voice, Ysaryn looked up and grinned. "Yes!" She proclaimed, flexing her arm to give the snowball a little toss. Until it landed in her palm and crumpled. "Fuck little bugger." She swore at it, bending down to gather more, squashing it in her palms to pack it. Until Kire mentioned breakfast, and Ysaryn promptly abandoned the snow and hopped across the lawn, wiping her hands on her borrowed coat as they stepped inside. 

Once inside, she stomped her feet to shake off the clinging snow, glancing up to Ruli with a wicked grin. "[i]I don't see why you dislike it so much.[/i]" She admitted, stepping up beside him. 
"[i]I don't like the cold.[/i]" He answered, taking a step toward Kire and Ed to follow them to the hall. Ysaryn's sudden alertness caught his eye, and she was staring at him, her nostrils flared, her head tilted ever so slightly to the side. [i]Shit, we smell like one another.[/i] Even without the not-so-subtle glance toward Kire, Ruli knew she knew, right then. "[i]Please, don't.[/i]"
She only laughed, a deep, teasing lilt he'd only heard now and then. "[i]Oh. Later, then.[/i]"
"[i]No.[/i]"
"[i]Oh, yes.[/i]" She cackled, moving away to walk beside Ed.
His face warm, Ruli followed, bringing up the rear, his eyes on the back of Kire's head. 

Ysaryn stopped in her tracks upon entering the dining hall, her eyes scanning the room and the dark haired woman with caution. Ruli, likewise, lingered back to allow the family to reunite and speak a moment. He tried not to notice the smug look on Ysaryn's face, wishing very much he could shove her into some closet. Or himself into one. 
When Janes turned their attention to them, Ruli lowered his head in a nod, while Ysaryn straightened, drawing herself taller. "Another Wyvern! Pleasure met, Janes." She greeted easily, stepping forward to claim a seat beside Ed at the edge of the group. Ruli suspected she had done it intentionally, not only to enjoy Ed's company, but to force himself and Kire to sit together. Her lingering stare as he sat himself across from Ed, the smirk on her lips, confirmed it. 
[i]Bloody elf[/i], he stewed. 

While Kire piled her food high with her meal, Ruli pulled small amounts on his own, uncomfortable. The expensive setting, the rich food, the noble family. He made himself eat, though, picking at his eggs, vegetables, and meat. Kire still wouldn't look at him, not that he went out of his way to look at her. Insecurity settled in, and he found himself wondering if her joke about it being bad was because he actually [i]was.[/i] What sort of high standards did an empress have? A paladin?

She had promised not to avoid him, not to regret this, but he wasn't sure such a promise would be upheld. Hard as it was, he tried not to be disappointed by such a thing. What was he losing, really? Someone to talk to? Someone to fight beside? 
Someone who bore the face of his nightmare. 
Ruli pushed a potato around on his plate, a heavy ache rolling across his chest at such a reminder. The moment this morning when he saw her, and not Kire. 

Ysaryn sudden cackle drew him from his thoughts, and he looked up to find her staring at him. "I'm sorry?" He asked, glancing around the table.