[Small children aren't the only ones that have gathered to listen to the animated man's epic adventuring tales. Inej stands somewhere to the side, listening. She's about as lost as the younger ones about aliens and flying worm monsters. Sorcerers she has a bit of a better reference for– some people might claim that Grisha are just that, even if they all scoff and seem aghast any time someone mentions that they perform magic– "It's the Small Science.", she can practically hear Nina correcting. The thought pangs something sharp in her heart for the way it tumbles into the knife's edge between her ribs that reminds her to miss home. And Nina leads to thoughts of Matthias and that's a whole different sort of pain.
Nothing changes in her face, though. She has the same, impassively curious look that she's had the whole time the older man has been telling his story. She's not sure if he's run out of steam on his wild story or waiting for questions, but the last thing a group of entranced children needs is for the story to have no end. So, Inej steps in from the sidelines, sweeping deftly along the line of the children, keeping her voice light and excited.]
But our heroes and heroines– [Pointed. Look. Sir. But only a split second because the kids matter the most in this moment.] battle the monster and the evil sorcerer with all their might and against all odds–– [She wanders on quick feet through the crowd of children, and at the first squirm of interest in whatever it is she's planning that she sees, she scoops the tiny girl up and lifts her in the air, spinning.] they emerge victorious! [The girl squeals and giggles and Inej sets her deftly back down on her feet and the rest of the children cheer and start scrambling to their feet to act out the story they'd just heard.
'I wanna be the Captain!'
'Who's gonna be the sorcerer?!'
'I'll be the worm!'
She laughs a little as they all run amok, before she turns her attention to the original storyteller.] Where in Saints' name did you come up with all that? Are you some sort of scholar? It was all very vivid. Even the parts I didn't completely understand.
3
Nothing changes in her face, though. She has the same, impassively curious look that she's had the whole time the older man has been telling his story. She's not sure if he's run out of steam on his wild story or waiting for questions, but the last thing a group of entranced children needs is for the story to have no end. So, Inej steps in from the sidelines, sweeping deftly along the line of the children, keeping her voice light and excited.]
But our heroes and heroines– [Pointed. Look. Sir. But only a split second because the kids matter the most in this moment.] battle the monster and the evil sorcerer with all their might and against all odds–– [She wanders on quick feet through the crowd of children, and at the first squirm of interest in whatever it is she's planning that she sees, she scoops the tiny girl up and lifts her in the air, spinning.] they emerge victorious! [The girl squeals and giggles and Inej sets her deftly back down on her feet and the rest of the children cheer and start scrambling to their feet to act out the story they'd just heard.
She laughs a little as they all run amok, before she turns her attention to the original storyteller.] Where in Saints' name did you come up with all that? Are you some sort of scholar? It was all very vivid. Even the parts I didn't completely understand.