the impossibility of being human [tag; rumjana]

In all honesty going back home had been a decision that nearly took the former Krov two weeks to make, give or take a few hours of distractions that is. Home was a vague term, simply meaning the place he spent his childhood. There were no warm loving memories, no stories worth telling. There was just him and the four walls that enclosed his bedroom. His hope was that no one would be home on this random lapse in judgment, or so he would call it. Yordan as complex as he seemed to be, enjoyed his life to be simple. Simple in the context that he was seemingly stress free. Who didn’t wish to be stress free? Blue eyes rose to the sky as a calming deep breath escaped his lips. This was as close as he would come to true peacefulness. There was no comparison to this feeling. It was in these moments he could clearly map out his life, make hard choices. This was the only time he could remember ever truly being happy.

He craved companionship more than the next man it would seem, but even so he would never allow himself the privilege. The responsibilities and expectations were enough to deter anyone in his humble opinion. He knew that not allowing himself this small thing would provide him with a lonely and an equally uneventful life. No one would ever care about him; no one would miss him when he was gone. Why? Because he was not worth the time or effort or so he felt. He blamed his parents and their lack thereof of skills as such. Parents; a loaded word such that he was surprised that it wasn’t a required course in school – parenting. He wondered if his parents had been privy to such a course if they would have taken it. Maybe if it was an actual possibility they would have seen the faults in Valko as they had him.

Shifting, he rose from the sand to look out at the horizon as a deep breath left full lips. His hand rose to run through his hair, this was stressful. He hoped that when he arrived no one was home, mainly his parents. He wasn’t in the mood for the comparison to his older and apparently perfect brother. Yes, no one would be there. He would sneak in and leave without ever being seen. A slight creased his lips as he rose from his place on the beach, staring out at the water for a long immeasurable moment. He wanted that peace that sense of calm the ocean gave off. He needed the book otherwise he would never think of a spur of the moment visit back there. Well, he visited on holidays and even then he would rather be doing something more useful with his time. Admittedly he enjoyed catching up with his sister during those times.

Rumjana was the exception to the rule in his book. She honestly was the only true reason he subjected himself to the visits home. He lied to know that she was safe and happy and that was all that mattered. He wished he was closer to her, but their age difference had prevented that. Apart from his own lack of socialization with his family that was.  As the ground vanished the dread entered his body as he suddenly became tense. Maybe this had not been the best choice, but it was too late because seconds later, he was staring out into the distance at his parents’ home.  He waited a moment before heading towards the house and it was a good thing, because he was able to watch his parents leave. Knowing they wouldn’t be home took all the tension and dread from his body.

He walked slowly towards the house, hands in his pockets as blue eyes took in his surroundings. It was strange how he remembered these streets, knew them well and still felt a bit uneasy. Once on the porch he paused to glance behind him one last time to make sure his parents were gone. Pulling his hands from his pockets he knocked as he opened the door. Before he took a full step into the room his eyes wandered the area, always aware. He turned to watch the door close behind him before moving to walk towards his room. He wanted to be in and out before his parents returned; he only hoped he would be lucky enough. As he stepped into what was once his place of solace his mind came up blank. Where had he left the book? He moved pushing things about as he did so to search. He didn’t mind a bit of noise since he figured he was alone.

Rumjana had bid her parents farewell, watched them as they walked down the path, on their way to a friends house for a dinner party, and then returned to her room. She was not fond of dinner parties; they were much more of a Desi thing. She was the one that enjoyed the dressing up and socializing. Luckily, Rumjana had not had to feign illness for this party as she had done on occasion in the past. Her mother told her that it was an adults only sort of affair and Rumjana had smiled, relieved.

It was only days before Rumjana would start her fifth year at Durmstrang and while she was ready, her trunk packed neatly, she did not relish the idea of giving up her own room. Her feet, slippered in soft, warm moccasins, padded softly down the hall and she curled up on the window seat that overlooked the space behind their house. Her green eyes studied nothing in particular about the view out the window for a few, long moments, before she opened a large book with an aged brown cover and yellowed pages. It was one of her favorites, a wizarding literature classic. The silence folded around her as her thoughts focused on the words before her and Rumjana reveled in the simpleness of the solitude.

A sound from the hallway pulled her out of the pages and she paused, her head tilted toward the door to the room, intently listening for any sounds from beyond. After a moment, she let it go and returned to her book. But then a few minutes later, she heard rustling and movement from the room next door. The Klyk quickly put the book aside, grabbed her wand, and swung her feet to the floor, soundlessly making her way into the hallway. She followed the sound, her wand raised at the ready, intending to hex the intruder into a slow and cruel death if needed.

She traced the noises to her brother Yordan's room. Why in Merlin's name would someone break into their house just to go to Yordan's room? She paused a moment outside of the room, confirming that the intruder was in there, before swinging around her wand aimed at the man she saw there. The immobilizing curse was on her lips before she realized she recognized the man. "Yordan?" she whispered, her brow furrowed. Her brother. And more importantly, the one she actually preferred. "What are you doing here?"

“Where did I leave you..” He whispered softly to himself, the bass in his voice seemed to hang in the air around him. Opening a drawer he shifted a few papers around before straightening his body, a frown crossed his face as his eyes searched around him. He could have sworn it had been on his nightstand but alas it was empty which either meant he’d been mistaken or someone moved it. He wasn’t one to usually be wrong about where he left things, because he loathed searching. It was an unnecessary waste of time in his opinion. Yet, here he was searching without a clue as to where to start. His room was pretty much the way it had been when he’d left for his last term of school. He had not spent a night inside this home since then, not even when he visited.

His head snapped towards the door as her voice reached his ears. Blue eyes locked on her as he stood there, caught. He had hoped to slip in and out like a distant storm, but maybe this was a good thing. He hadn’t seen her in awhile, so maybe they could catch up. A smile crossed his lips, rare as it was it was genuine. “Did I disturb you? I assumed I was alone…” Shifting his hands found their way into his pockets as he leaned lazily against his dresser.  “Ready for the start of term?” always the same questions when he saw her, how was school and how was she. He never dived to deep into her personal life like a brother would because at times he felt it would be out of his bounds.

“While I have you here, have you seen a teal book about this big…” His hands came from his pockets to show her how big the book was. “With a gold spine and silver writing on the cover?” As he asked his eyes scanned the room once more for the book in question. Even though she was his sister there was a tension in the air, something awkward that he couldn’t place. Maybe it was that he wished that he was closer to someone in his family. Maybe he wished they had the chance to bond more than they had but there was nothing he could do about that now. Times had changed and he had put more distance between him and his family as possible. This didn’t mean that he didn’t want to spend time bonding with her or talking to her, just that he didn’t know how to do it.

She was the only person he would even bother trying to build a good relationship with. Sad really if he thought of it, but it was a part of life and there was nothing he could do about it. Pushing from the dresser his long legs carried him over to the closet where he bent to pull a box of books from the back. He would continue this search because he needed the book to finish a job.

[Sorry for the wait on this]

Rumjana watched her older brother quietly as he turned towards her, surprised by her presence. She wondered at the fact that he was startled by her presence considering she was the one that still lived in this house and he didn't. She observed his smile, questioning whether it was forced or genuine, but played the part in it and lifted a corner of her mouth in a small smile. "I almost hexed you," she told him, her smile growing. She didn't know if that was considered 'disturbing her', but she was fairly certain that he would not have fared so well. She was pretty handy with a few hexes.

"What are you looking for?" she asked as she crossed her arms in front of her, a stance that came naturally to her. She had noticed the open drawer and heard him rifling around in the nightstand and wondered what could be so important for him to return. She couldn't even remember a time when he visited just to visit, only during holidays. But maybe he came here unannounced at other times when she wasn't here to catch him. Rumjana was curious to know if he still felt any ties here. To his old room, to this house, to their parents.. to her. She wasn't sure if he was more uncle or brother to her. Desi was the closest thing she had to a sibling, honestly.

Rumjana's green eyes flickered as she nodded about school. "Yes," she answered, her voice somewhere between the formal tone you used with grandparents and elders to whom one must show respect and a more informal, familiar tone one used with closer relatives. "I will be starting my fifth year." Rumjana volunteered. Just in case Yordan didn't know. She wasn't sure how much he paid attention to her. "I was named Quidditch Co-Captin this term," she added with a hint of pride in her voice. She had not thought that Yordan played while at school, but perhaps he would be proud of her anyway. She wasn't fishing for congratulations, only hoping to demonstrate her value to him. She wasn't quite sure why that was important to her.

Ah, this was why he came. She tilted her head as he described it, her long mahoghany locks falling over her shoulder, as she tried to picture the book he described. A teal book with a gold spine... she was silent for a moment and then asked, "Is that the one that murmurs when you open it?.." She wasn't sure if she had the right one, and wasn't sure if she was giving herself away. Was it supposed to be a secret book? If so, it wasn't any longer.

She couldn't remember the last time she had been in her brother's company alone. The situation was hard to get a hold on. She found herself asking. "Would you like a drink? Or something to eat?" Her mama had taught her manners and even though she wasn't quite sure if Yordan counted as a 'house guest', she figured she would offer the nicety anyway.

A chuckle left his lips as she declared he’d nearly been hexed. It would have been the highlight of his day admittedly. Just having the chance to say that his sister hexed him would be a good conversation opener and he was sure those close to him would enjoy the story. His eyes washed over her as he gauged her expression before a nod came shortly thereafter. Maybe on a level this felt somewhat strange. It had been awhile if he was really forced to think about since he had been alone with her for more than a few moments. He paused in his movements as she spoke of school. Though they were not as close as he would have liked he was still proud of her accomplishments. He knew that maybe he should try harder to build the bridge that was their relationship, but he was so afraid that trying would drive her farther from him.

Even if he was wrong he believed that somehow or the other he wasn’t worth the time to actually get to know. He didn’t feel as if he mattered in her world or the world of his family. Maybe he was way out in left field but he had nothing else to believe with how he had grown up. None of this was her fault and he wouldn’t blame her ever. She had been an unwillingly participation in his worse memories. “Yes, I know a fifth year. I feel old now that it’s been officially confirmed.” His voice was low trying to keep its true deepness a secret it would seem. He was proud of himself because he had not been far off on his assumptions of her. He knew her correct age but that was because out of all of his family she was the only one who truly mattered to him.

“Really? Co-captain, that’s amazing. Congratulations.” He couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face at the news. He was proud of her and it had nothing to do with her news. It was nice to know that she was out interacting in some form, that she was all in all happy. “I’m proud of you, maybe we could celebrate before the term begins…” Suddenly he felt as if he had made a vital mistake in his suggestion. “If that would be something you would consider doing…I’m not sure what Luben and Vasilka may have planned for such great news.” As their parents names touched the air his body instantly tense and he shifted a bit uneasy from his own words. “Well either way I would really enjoy catching up, we don’t see each other as much as I would like…”

As the realization hit him a frown crossed his features. “I barely see anyone for that matter…maybe I need to get out more.” He was speaking more for himself than for her but he wouldn’t say that aloud. His eyes washed over the room once more before she spoke again and his eyes came to land on her. He couldn’t be upset that she had come into his room because he didn’t see it as such anymore. It was more of a storage compartment for pieces of his past he simply wanted to leave behind. His hand rose to run through his hair softly before coming to rest on the back of his neck. “That would be the very same book…do tell me you haven’t read it..” He mentally scolded himself for leaving it in the first place. Though he knew that she might not understand what was being whispered in its pages he knew how dangerous a curious mind could be.

He could remember the first time the book touched his hands and how he was drawn to the words spoken from the pages. It had been one of the few books that had turned his interest into a passion for the art of weaponry. It was by far more precious than his first sword. “What am I saying…any curious mind would open the book just to see what was hidden inside.” It had been his first experience. “Is it safe to assume you may have it…or do you just remember coming across it?” His lips pursed as he thought trying to be sure he didn’t take it when he had been within the walls of this home last. He couldn’t remember which most likely meant that he had not done such a thing.

He looked slightly taken aback by her offer of refreshments. He had been raised correctly even with the lack there of true compassion, and so he knew never to refused any food offered. “A drink would be fine, but I can make it myself…there is no need for you to go through the trouble.” As he spoke he walked towards her, fixing his shirt as he did so. Letting his eyes dropped he made sure not to undo his cufflinks as he bothered with his shirt. Out of habit he straightened and moved his clothes as if trying to become presentable before slipping through the door slowly. “So tell me, besides this wonderful news what else has happened in your life that I’ve missed?” It was a start to try and fix what he felt had been broken so many years ago.

She looked at him, carefully, trying to guess if he actually knew she was a fifth year or was only fronting as so. It was difficult for her to understand where she stood with him. She wished she didn’t care like she did with nearly everyone else, but she kept finding herself trying. She was happy that this feeling wasn’t a normal thing for her. It was exhausting. But she smirked at him, a sly smile creeping up on her lips as she retorted, “Well you are about 54 by now right?” Her tone dripped with sarcasm, but in a playful way and even that had her second guessing herself. Would he understand her humor? Why did she care?

Rumjana tried to hold back the flush of pride she felt when he congratulated her, but she couldn’t quite control the smile that graced her features. “Thank you,” she said with a nod. He sounded like he meant it. How odd for him to care. Wasn’t it? “Oh.” She said in reply to his wanting to celebrate. “Yes. Sure. That would be.. nice. We don’t have plans. Just the family dinner that we usually do before everyone leaves for school.” She had noticed that he referred to their parents by their first names instead of the more familiar mama and papa and wondered at his usage. She had never understood the why of the distance between her brother and her parents. Still didn’t. Rumjana wasn’t quite sure how to respond to the fact that he wanted to spend more time with her. He knew where she lived, where she went to school. She didn’t know much about him. So she kept silent. His self-induced solitude was cemented when she caught his whispered confession that he didn’t see much of anyone. Rumjana could empathize. Although she wasn’t quite at the stage where she sought out company. Except for Desi’s, that is. Perhaps that only happens as you get older. She shuddered at the thought.

She shook her head at him. No she hadn’t read it. Or at least wouldn’t admit freely to him that she had. She still wasn’t quite sure how much value the book had to him or it was supposed to be a secret. Why else would be come rummaging for it when he thought no one was home? “I haven’t read it,” she told him, which wasn’t exactly a lie, but wasn’t exactly the truth either. She had read the first few pages before her father had snatched it out of her hands and scolded her for reading it. But that had been a few years ago now. “Papa took it. I think he keeps it in his safe.” The one in her father’s office, the one with a strong anti-theft charm on it. Rumjana tried to guess how Yordan would react, as was her nature, but couldn’t figure out a definite answer. She just didn’t know him that well.

She noticed his surprise and tried to hide a smile as she turned and walked in the direction of the kitchen with him. Had she said something he hadn’t expected? Rumjana might have enjoyed the fact that she was able to do that. She was thinking about what she would have herself, when it was her turn to be surprised by his question. Her green eyes slowly slid to his, looking at her from the corner of her eyes, trying to gauge if he was genuine and sincere in his question. A tiny voice in her head wanted to know why he cared. “Well,” she said after a few long moments, unsure of what to tell him. She wasn’t one for social niceties all that often so she wasn’t that practiced in that skill. “I earned high marks in all my classes last term.” Almost all of them. Necromancy wasn’t a legitimate class to her. Rumjana was unsure of whether or not that was the kind of information he was looking for. She didn’t really have much else to say.

His laugh was soft as he nodded his head; she had gotten him and gotten him well. He had after all set himself up for the comment and was surprised at her humor with him. “Well maybe not that old, but I feel like I'm knocking on the door some days.”  His hand rose to card through his hair as he looked at her. This felt easy, almost like the flow of water down a stream. He usually felt forced with his family. As if somehow he had to make them believe that he cared when he truly didn't. With Rumjana it was real. He cared about her happiness and whether or not something he did upset her. He wanted to know about her day and about school. He wanted to be someone she could talk to despite what his family may be whispering to dissuade her from such things. He wanted to be the brother he should have been from the beginning and if she gave him the chance he would be. He would make it up to her because his distance should have never a part of the relationship they would have.

He gave her another smile as he nodded as if agreeing with something he was thinking. "Well, in that case I would love to take you out. We can do whatever you want, I don't have a preference. Honestly I just want you to enjoy yourself..." Weird for him to care about the enjoyment of others. But she wasn't others, she was his sister. His only sister. His baby sister. Her enjoyment tied into her happiness and that to him meant more than a million swords and a thousands warm beds. "It would be nice as well to get out myself. My travels for knowledge seem to have hindered my social life."

He didn't mind not having many friends because the ones he had new had his best interest at heart. He knew that he may not have a following but he had people who actually cared. Hilde being the main of the short list, but still a list regardless. His blue eyes shifted to take in the space around him. Everything was the same it made him feel like he was a sixteen year old boy again. He felt small and casted aside. He felt lost and hopelessness. But he had to remind himself that the walls of the house in which he grew up in - and she was now growing up in - had shaped him to be the man he was. He had become determined, determined to rid himself of the house and occupants. He had strived to do something he enjoyed and was better then what his brother was doing.

Always better than Valko. There had not been a single thing he had done in his life that before he acted he didn't think, if Valko did this would he achieve more than me? It gave him incentive so to speak, a drive to be better than the man next to him. He looked down at her and pursed his lips as she commented on the book. He watched her face for a moment to decide if he believed her or not. "It wouldn't have been necessarily bad if you had. I think you are far more capable of accurate interpretation of the complexity of the book." And he truly meant it. He knew how brilliant she was, he knew how focused she was. She could own the world some day and he hoped like hell she believed just like he did. Fleeting was the expression that crossed his face. It was gone just as quickly as it had been reveal.

Just for a split second he looked annoyed. "The safe, hm." He turned to look ahead of them as they moved along almost as if thinking. "Well lets see...there seems to be no way for me to get what I want without having to see them." He shuddered at the thought. Having to be in the same room with them both would certainly play a roll in the collapse of his sanity. Then he thought who would give him what he wanted without much fuss. Who would give him less grief and make him feel lower than low? "Maybe there is a way...who knows." He shrugged softly before looking at her again. "I guess I can see them before we go out to celebrate your accomplishments. Well maybe not that day, maybe sometime before that I will come." He didn't want to be in a bad mood while he spent time with her. So he would do the smart thing and come when the two of them weren't supposed to be enjoying the day.

"I'm not surprised about the high marks, you've a brilliant mind." He moved to lean against the counter softly as they entered the kitchen. "So, I'm to take it nothing interesting happened at all besides high marks and captain?" He moved his head from side to side as he nodded slightly, as if saying he could believe something like that might happen. Did he? Now that was a different story, he figured before he asked for something maybe he should give it first. "My time away was sadly more exciting...though my only exciting news is I have my own home..." He rested his hand on his chin for a second. "Now that I think about it maybe my news wasn't exciting at all. People get homes everyday right?" He looked thoughtful before pulling something from his pocket.

A quick movement of his wrist and the sword expanded to its full length. Yordan glanced up at her for a moment before slowly pulling the blade from its case. With his fingertips touching the blade he held it out to her. "No one has seen this...its recent, what do you think?" As he stood there it felt like the weight of the world was holding him to the earth. His fear of her rejection startle him so much he has to blink a few times. This was all new to him and he hoped it was a good thing.

sword

We can do whatever you want.

Rumjana looked at him, trying to decipher his tone and demeanor and words, expecting there to be an ulterior motive. He hadn't really given her a reason to distrust him and his word, but then again it was a natural response for her to doubt and question and analyze why anyone did anything. Her brother none excluded. It took her a few long moments before deciding, hesitantly, that there was no harm in taking his offering at face value. She nodded and said, "That would be fine," but didn't elaborate. She hoped the vagueness and socially acceptable terms of politeness would mean that she didn't have to make plans right then and there. She wasn't sure where she wanted to go, she wasn't used to having the choice and the attention. Besides, even if she did have a place in mind, she wasn't sure if she would have shared it.

She watched his reaction carefully to news that the book was hidden and secured in the safe. Her green eyes were alight with interest and curiosity. She also noticed his reluctance to seeing their parents. A flicker of unfamiliar emotion made an appearance before disappearing as if smoke riding a breeze. She wasn't sure what it was, but it made her look at Yordan with eyes that were less curious and more understanding. The Klyk waited a moment before she volunteered, "I might know a way into the safe." She kept it light and airy, but she wanted to grin.

The fifth year burned with the pleasure of his compliments, but she tried not to show it. She kept her gaze on the glass of water in front of her until she was sure her cheeks weren't betraying her happiness. And she was happy to note that it wasn't long before she had her emotions under control. Just in time to glance up at him when he mentioned having his own home. She tilted her head curiously and moved to rest her hand on her chin, mirroring his posture. "Where is your home?" she asked, her question out of interest and not politeness. Then before she thought better of it, she smiled and asked, "Do you live by yourself?"

Rumjana couldn't wait to graduate if only because that meant she could get her own apartment and live by herself. Rule over her own domain and not be subject to the snoring or messiness or morning chatter of another 15 year old girl. That would be heaven.

She was distracted by her thoughts and while she did track his movements, she didn't initially realize what he was doing. She jumped back, startled, when the blade expanded and swallowed up the space between them. Rumjana caught the look in Yordan's eyes before he unsheathed the blade and she was glad for that moment of hesitation. Her green eyes were drawn to the silver blade, shining brightly with an elegantly curved design etched into the surface. While Magical Weaponry had never been one of the classes she greatly favored, that did not matter in that moment. She knew blades and swords and the like were supposed to be practical and useful, this one surprised her because it was beautiful as well.

Her thoughts of the blade could be seen in the way she slowly reached out to touch the blade, her fingertips tracing the design then holding the center and balancing it on one finger at the center and then feeling the black leather grip beneath her hands. "Where did you get this?" she asked quietly, awe in her voice.

The thought of having to see their parents rested in the back of his mind. He had hoped that he could get what he needed and not have to subject himself to their so called parenting. It was enough that he came during the holidays and birthdays. Though he did not value the company of his parents, he still loved them. They were his parents after-all no matter the terrible job they had done. He had wondered at one point if he could ever bring himself to forgive them, knowing that they didn't deserve such an honor from him. Blue eyes locked on her for a long silent moment before he simply nodded. "Well, I knew you were resourceful and I unlike most don't want to simply have you help me. So we can broker a deal." He was a business man he knew that what he needed her to do could backfire for her. So instead of just asking for her help he would give her something for her help.

"I know that asking you to get it back for me could go wrong in a million ways.." But he needed it badly. It would help him with his current project, which he had a deadline for.  He was happy she was even considering the possibility of helping him. Even if he had to he would come when his parents were in the house, though he would prefer not to have to go through such a thing. He pursed his lips as he shook his head slightly before his head shifted to the side almost as if he was considering her next question. "France...a small quiet piece of land by itself." With a nod of his head he spoke again. "I do live alone. I have my own workshop in the back of the house so i can work from home if I wanted.."

The corner of his lips turned up into a smile as he watched her look over the sword. The look on her face mirrored his own when he'd held his first sword. It had been a life changing experience for him. His voice was low and the uncertainty was clear in his voice as he spoke. "I made it..." He was afraid that somehow saying this aloud would change her view of him. He knew his job wasn't as glamorous as most but it was his passion. There was no denying the love his had for what he did, it was in a way his only escape from the world around him. "It's part of my collection...I'm trying to master my own technique and design." His brow rose slightly as he spoke. "It's part of the reason I traveled right out of school. I sought out the best, the people who had discovered something no one else accepted. "

He smiled softly as his ran his hand over the counter. "I don't want to bore you with stories of my travels. They weren't that exciting." Shifting he moved to get himself a glass of water. "Do you plan to travel when you're out on your own?"

Broker a deal? Her brows lifted as she gazed at him. He was certainly making this interesting, to say the least. Rumjana thought about it and decided she might have helped him without asking for something in return or holding it as leverage against him in the future, but she also was smarter than to turn down his offer. She wondered at how easily he had volunteered the deal though. What did he have that she wanted? The Klyk thought intently about the deal and what she could get from him.

While she tucked the open-ended deal into the back of her mind, she dealt with the rest of their agreement. "I could probably get it for you by next weekend," she estimated, guessing that a week would give her enough time to finagle her way into getting a hold of the book he needed. She didn't have an exact plan in mind, but she could be especially crafty when she wanted to be. "If we met up next weekend, I could give it to you."

Her brows furrowed in skepticism and incredulity that came entirely too easily to her. "France?" she asked with a hint of derision in her tone that she couldn't help. She would never have guessed France. Mostly because she thought the French were snooty and pretentious and much too concerned with romance, but in truth, she didn't know much about the country beyond her blind generalities. She was intrigued by his solitude though. Rumjana sighed wistful at the thought of living alone and burned with the yearning for something like that for herself.

I made it. Her green eyes flicked up suddenly to his blue ones and stared, surprised. "You made it?" she repeated quietly and then glanced back down at the blade with a renewed sense of wonder. "I had no idea," she murmured, questioning herself on the fact that she didn't know Yordan could make things like this. She thought he simply collected and studied weaponry. He earned a notch of respect from her for his ingenuity and skill. "You have more like this?" she asked when he mentioned a collection. If there were others that were as pretty as this one, she couldn't imagine seeing all of them in one display together. And then she prompted chided herself silently. She shouldn't be so fixated on the aesthetic qualities of something like a blade. And yet knowing that her brother had created it with his own hands made her feel a bit better about the whole thing.

"How do you make them?" she asked. Rumjana, if nothing else, was one to want to know how everything worked around her. The methods and processes of things unknown were so appealing that she couldn't help but ask. She watched him quietly as he moved to get himself a glass of water and she ruminated over his comments on his travels. Yes, Yordan had disappeared after he had finished his seventh year to travel and do.. career stuff, but Rumjana had never really been sure what that entailed. It probably accounted for the distance that was between them. She didn't necessarily hold it against him though. More or less because she didn't open herself to very many people, including her brother. Made things easier.

She shook her head at his next question. "No, I imagine I'll stay around here," Rumjana said vaguely, choosing not to tell him what she specifically had in mind. The Klyk knew exactly what she wanted to do when she was out on her own. She wanted to take the family business and steer it back into success. By sheer force of will if that's what it took. But.. sharing that goal with Yordan wasn't something she felt completely comfortable as of yet so she kept quiet on that part. "I do want to get my own place," she admitted, a small smile curving her lips upward.

He couldn't help the smile that crosses his face as she spoke. The sooner the book was back in his hands the better he would feel. "Next weekend would be great. Maybe then we can go out to celebrate, if that was something you wanted to do." He wondered then what she would find entertaining and what exactly might bore her half to death. It worried him, because all he hoped was that she enjoyed the time they would spend together. Admittedly their relationship was non-existant from his own distaste for their parents. He knew that she had nothing to do with how he'd been treated in his youth. It had taken some time but he realized of them all she had always been fairly nice to him. He was very grateful for her kindness.

His laugh waa soft as he tilted his head from side to side as if showing understanding to her reaction. "Honestly, I never knew where I would end up. I knew one thing though - I wanted my own space. A place I could go and forget the world." His shoulders rose as he spoke. "France was the last place I thought I would end up. But I've never been happier in a place. Weirdly enough I feel at home there." And he did. There was a certain calm in the space surrounding his home. What he loved most was that he could be anyone in the world. No one knew of his past. No one knew of the pain and struggles. "Though the more I think on it I realize my solitude is what I value most. Just knowing my privacy will remain intacted makes it all more appealing." He'd had his own thoughts of France. Theories of how the people would behave and how he would be recieved. But really none of it mattered. He was either at home or at work with no stops in between.

The glass was lifted to his lips as he nodded to answer her question. He had never really given much detail as to what he actually did for a living. When asked all he ever said was "I work with magical weaponary." There was nothing more and nothing less to be said on the matter. It was almost as if his line kf work was a precious secret no one could know. Maybe because he held it so dear to his heart. It was not a hobby - far more than a career. Yordan's job was his legacy. It was the only thing he had that meant something to him. Well, if one didnt count the few rare people whom he held close. "I do. I have a nice collection. I'll have to show it to you one day."

"The process changes based on the properties you want the blade to have. The only constant is melting down the stell to shape the blade. I would say 90 percent of the work is hands on. Measuring is key. What you do want is a blade that is either too light or too heavy. I try for even weight distrbution. This way the sword will handle far better." This was something he could talk about all day. He could dive into the deep detailed information, but he found seeing the process made it easier to understand. "Maybe one day I can show you first hand so I don't bore you with the details?" He sounded hesitant. He wasn't sure if they would ever be close, but he knew her opinion meant a lot to him.

Blue eyes restsd on her as he considered hee next words. As much as he wanted to try and encourage her to see the world he didn't. He had no right to do such a thing, now did he? Yes, he was her brother but their relationship was far from where it should be; something he hoped to work on. So instead he nodded and said "That'd be nice. Having your own place with your own set of rules. Before you know the day will be here. Seems like you blink and so much time has passed." It was true. Time flew by without pause, it never waited on a person to live. It was strange how people based their lives on the time they had, when time was simply just there to remind you there was never enough.

Rumjana nodded once, then twice, then looked away from her older brother, her green eyes focusing on a blue vase across the kitchen. "That would be... fine," she said, glancing back at him with a sidelong look. She wasn't exactly keen on celebrating exactly and she wasn't sure what this was between her and her brother... but she wasn't exactly opposed to it either. It annoyed her more than anything else that she was slightly out of her comfort zone in the company of her brother, just because she was so unaccustomed to him. She straightened her shoulders and firmed up her resolve that nothing, even a brother she hardly knew, could shake her.

The Klyk began to twist her glass this way and that as Yordan spoke about his home in France. It still seemed odd to her that he would choose a place so.. different from their home here. Rumjana wasn't sure if she would ever voluntarily choose some place other than Bulgaria. But as she listened, she studied him covertly, France seemed so... pretentious to her and what was worse was that her brother said it was home for him. She frowned at that and narrowed her eyes though she tried not to take personal offense. His tone and demeanor didn't seem to imply that he was trying to insult his native country or this house. Ultimately what softened her in the smallest of ways was the fact that she realized they both highly valued their solitude. If only Desi could understand that message. The Klyk made a  "mmm" noise in response, not sure of what to say to her brother.

The green-eyed girl took a closer look at the silver licked sword she held in her hands. It felt dangerous and powerful at the same time and just holding a weapon that she imagined could do so much damage felt right. She couldn't imagine actually being able to create something this fierce. For what wasn't the first time, she envied her brother because he had a skill she didn't. He had his solitude, his career, his own life, and now a skill she couldn't even begin to comprehend. She wanted to throw the sword down as a rush of envy swept over her, but she held on to the feeling and instead laid it back down on the counter with the gentlest hands.

She wanted to ask when she could see his collection, but she didn't want to tip her hand. She didn't think he would use her curiosity or interest against her, but it was her nature to be cautious. So instead she put another question to him "Did you learn this in school?" Perhaps she could learn too. She could do anything her brother could do. Rumjana trailed her fingers down the blade one final time, lingering at the edge to see just how sharp it was, before pulling back and putting some distance between her and the blade. "Do you fight with them?" she asked yet another question.

Honestly she thought sword fighting was archaic and a very inefficient way of staving off an opponent. But there was something about the weapon and the fighting form that she couldn't tamp out. She imagined her brother, lithe and long-limbed, would be good at something so fluid and graceful. She had an itch to learn herself, but she would never tell him that.

She picked up her glass once again and took a small sip as she gazed at her brother. She frowned and held back at eye roll as he commented on her age. "Yes but I want it now," she muttered, sounding ever so much like a petulant teenager and hating herself for sounding like that.