Zuko? She had heard that name before in a long list of potential allies. Offically, at least... In reality she wasn't ready to trust anyone just because they were an outsider like her. It didn't mean they had the same goals or the same ideals. Her shoulders relaxed somewhat, though, and she let go of the knife, remaining aware of where she left it behind the muddled water basin.
It was such a strange introduction, but it carried no family name, and her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to gather where that landed him in the local hierarchy. Was he a bastard, too? Just a lowborn street rat? At least she probably didn't need to treat him like a lord, which was refreshing, so she subtly lowered her chin, eyes flicking downward for just a second to offer a modicum of respect to what she assumed was a peer. Alayne was merely a bastard herself, so who was she to judge?
"My name is Alayne. I'm..." Fully embarrassed now at being caught in such an unseemly state, despite it being entirely his intrusion, the girl turned to finish rubbing the red paint from her palms with a wet rag, doing her best to not let him entirely out of her sight. "I was told it was meant to signify that I am..." Pure? Holy? She couldn't even utter those lies about herself. Besides, whatever religions they practiced here were entirely wrong and silly. "That I am to remain unharmed until they require my...participation in a special ceremony."
With a sigh, Alayne shook her hands dry before tapping them on the nearby towel, and turning to fully view her night-time visitor. Then she started, towel slipping from her hands as she was unable to completely rein in a startled gasp at the sight of his face. It was momentary, and shame immediately brought on an even stronger blush than before. It was obviously an old wound... Averting her eyes, Alayne's mind scrambled for a follow-up, wondering if she ought to apologize, or act as if nothing happened. Maybe he hadn't even noticed that she had noticed... Men rarely paid attention to silly women, right? ...Except when their egos were bruised.
"W─why are you... I mean to say, is this a common manner in which to greet newcomers?" He still hadn't explained what he was doing her, and that unknown was more unnerving than anything else.
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It was such a strange introduction, but it carried no family name, and her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to gather where that landed him in the local hierarchy. Was he a bastard, too? Just a lowborn street rat? At least she probably didn't need to treat him like a lord, which was refreshing, so she subtly lowered her chin, eyes flicking downward for just a second to offer a modicum of respect to what she assumed was a peer. Alayne was merely a bastard herself, so who was she to judge?
"My name is Alayne. I'm..." Fully embarrassed now at being caught in such an unseemly state, despite it being entirely his intrusion, the girl turned to finish rubbing the red paint from her palms with a wet rag, doing her best to not let him entirely out of her sight. "I was told it was meant to signify that I am..." Pure? Holy? She couldn't even utter those lies about herself. Besides, whatever religions they practiced here were entirely wrong and silly. "That I am to remain unharmed until they require my...participation in a special ceremony."
With a sigh, Alayne shook her hands dry before tapping them on the nearby towel, and turning to fully view her night-time visitor. Then she started, towel slipping from her hands as she was unable to completely rein in a startled gasp at the sight of his face. It was momentary, and shame immediately brought on an even stronger blush than before. It was obviously an old wound... Averting her eyes, Alayne's mind scrambled for a follow-up, wondering if she ought to apologize, or act as if nothing happened. Maybe he hadn't even noticed that she had noticed... Men rarely paid attention to silly women, right? ...Except when their egos were bruised.
"W─why are you... I mean to say, is this a common manner in which to greet newcomers?" He still hadn't explained what he was doing her, and that unknown was more unnerving than anything else.