[u]Free Billy[/u]

[b]Nathair[/b]

It wasn’t a new thing to be talked down to for Nathair Lysander, yet it still rubbed him wrong. However he tolerated it, a reinforced habit now, with silence. The spokesman continued his speech to once again repeat their objective and not to stir up trouble or seek other objectives, his carefully chosen words and tone indicated Mr. Getskilled believed they had the intelligence of children. If the man had met Nathair years ago then his assumption wouldn’t have been too far off. Finally once the man’s speech, he dubbed it begrudgingly in his head, had finished Mr. Getskilled return to his other tasks shortly. 
 
Now the sensation from curious eyes had made its way into Nathair’s focus and increased his discomfort. However it was only his balled fists which made a visible giveaway. His face, scarred by healed over wounds, kept his indifferent expression and eyes kept a lax display…mostly. Mentally his mind tempted to smooth over the natural impulse to either freeze or flee, while he stood slightly apart from the group. 

It didn’t help he had arrived just moments before Getskilled had begun. Not wanted to draw attention to himself, Nathair had drawn only into hearing range and stood a little off from the rest. The one sided conversation had only distracted him for a short time before his mind returned unwillingly to his edginess’s source. He was now painfully aware everyone seemed fixed upon the PR and mercenaries’ proceedings, the familiar feeling had brought an unsavory image to his mind. It was just after being bundled in a blanket then tossed into a cage. Of course, the treatment wasn’t likely softened by the fact he had tried to rip off a nose with his teeth during his rescue. 

Despite the lacking dangers here, this acute state was something he couldn’t complete shake even if had been over twelve years since his island. Interested eyes meant danger. Danger meant predators and predators meant it was time to do something or be eaten. In this way he kept the surprises at bay and at least gave him a chance for a faster reaction time. 

It did have its down side: loud noises that easily distracted him. As if reading his mind, one of the bustling PRs setting up had dropped a piece of equipment. Immediately Nathair jumped then caused his head to snap to the source’s direction and his teeth pulled back with an animalistic growl under his breath. He hadn’t intended for it to slip out but that didn’t stop it. So Nathair didn’t found it a surprise to hear a fatherly voice stir nearby. It was Quartz. Naturally his sudden reaction at the noise had gotten his spirit’s attention, the snake determined to ease over the man’s jittered nerves. 

“My boy, you’re about as jumpy as a rabbit being hunted by coyotes! If I didn’t know better…I would say your mind’s distracted. What is making you so unease?” Quartz’s curiosity might’ve sounded cool and collected, but there was firm concern in his question. Slowly an oblong shape under the shirt had pushed itself along Nathair’s arm, followed from the elbow up to the shoulder then out came a small narrow head. Small, tan horns decorated a feathered crown upon the serpent’s head that fluffed out after exiting the shirt collar. His dark eyes found his holder’s and firmly stared at him for a few moments before he added. 

“Is it the crowd? Or meeting new people? I know you find both difficult which why I wondered what was going through that woma-,” He hastily corrected at Nathair’s sour look, “your [i]mother’s[/i] head when she requested you be placed in this mission!” 

The spirit’s words then became quiet when a holder introducing herself to two others. One of them returned the polite greeting with a bow and her name, Kuroi Mari, to Eowyn then the one called Remia’s intro began. It was unlikely she or Remia had noticed the pair, namely because Nathair had chosen to stay in the background as oppose to formally greeting his teammates. Something the others might not take kindly to and possibly think he was being a crept, not the fact he was uncomfortable in crowds. For the serpent, this wouldn’t do and since his holder wasn’t going to get involved then Quartz would! Dragging Nathair, willing or not, by the leg into it if he needed to. 

He once more looked up at Nathair, “What am I going to do with you?”