1x1 with quillinx

[inactive20000009]

Asperity

"You know," said Perrine, picking up one of the pebbles under her feet and hefting it experimentally. "If we go down one of them, we probably won't be able to get back out, because we're only supposed to pick one of them. I mean, I suppose we don't know for sure, but it's a reasonable assumption to make and there's no way to verify it unless we actually take the risk... or I suppose we could go down separate paths, but I don't know what good that would do." She looked consideringly back at her companion. "Do you want to split up? You don't have to come with me, you know." Lost in thought, she clenched the pebble in her paw, completely missing the other viscet's growing agitation.

[Lillybear]

Riddle

"Oh," Riddle said, letting out a long breath. "That does make sense." He glanced at her.
"You're a smart Viscet, you know," he said, not completely sure where he was going.

[inactive20000009]

Asperity

Perrine paused, her grip on the pebble loosening as her mind struggled to compute the out-of-place compliment. "Thanks?" she finally said, too surprised to even snap at him about how now isn't really the time for that nonsense. "Not smart enough to solve this puzzle, though, I guess," she said in frustration, letting the pebble drop to the ground. "If I could only see a little further into the paths, maybe it would be easier to guess which one the riddle's referring to, but we can't risk going into one and losing our way back to this crossroads..."

Perrine sighed, flopping down on the ground in utter disgust. "I don't know what to do," she admitted. Looking up at the sky, she noticed that the fog had cleared, revealing a darkening sky. It must be nearing evening. Much though she disliked the idea of staying in this strange place overnight, it seemed like there was nothing else to do except keep thinking about the cryptic riddle until they found an answer. "Well... nothing has changed as of yet, so maybe we should spend the night here and think on it again in the morning," she suggested reluctantly. Although she was so keyed up with frustration and fear she couldn't even think about sleeping, she knew that her current panicky state wouldn't help her find a solution. And the two of them could go for at least a night without needing food-- after that, they would probably have to move on, whether through one of the pathways or not, but Perrine didn't want to risk trying any of the three while she still had a choice.

Her mind drifted back to the compliment (was it a compliment? Or a barbed insult, chiding her for not being able to figure out the riddle?) the other viscet had paid her, and suddenly she felt awkward. Would she have to make conversation all night with this stranger?

[Lillybear]

Riddle

"Yes," he said, figuring a night of rest would be good for the both of them.
Honestly, though, he didn't feel like resting at all. He'd stay up all night if
he had to. But he didn't want to stress Asperity. "So.. Can I ask you a question?" He asked, taking a seat in the grass.

[inactive20000009]

Asperity

Perrine curled her tail inwards, turning to face the other viscet and trying to ignore the threatening-looking forest behind him. "Well, sure, you can ask," she said, laughing a little more out of tension than actual amusement. "Can't promise to answer it true, but go ahead and ask."

[Lillybear]

Riddle

"What's it like?"

[inactive20000009]

Asperity

Perrine blinked, once again wrong-footed by her companion's slightly unsettling bluntness. "Er... what's what like?" she asked, combing back through her memory in an attempt to figure out what he meant.

[Lillybear]

Riddle

"To.." Riddle began, but was caught off guard. He couldn't ask her what's it like not to live in a pack
because she didn't have anything to compare it to. "What's it like to study sea stuff?" he made up quickly.

[inactive20000009]

Asperity

Perrine narrowed her eyes slightly, certain that "what's it like to study sea stuff" was definitely not what he was going to say. I guess he changed his mind... well, nothing I can do about that, although I'm curious to what question it was that made him so bashful. She let the matter go; anyway, she could never resist a chance to talk about her studies. "Well, I think it's the best thing ever," she said, imagining the ocean where she conducted her research, and found herself getting calmer just thinking about it. Maybe he asked me that in order to lighten the mood? Could he really be that emotionally adept? "It's pretty messy, and I get wet a lot." But on the off-chance that he did, I suppose I should probably reciprocate and say something that will make him feel better, too. "...I'll tell you a secret," she said impulsively, "when I get wet, my fur smells really weird-- kind of like my grandma's special laxative biscuits. It's really inconvenient... but I love my work, so I suppose it's worth it." Hopefully that's funny enough.

[Lillybear]

Riddle

Riddle chuckled softly, shifting around to make himself more comfortable.
"That sounds.. Oddly delightful," he muttered. Taking a moment to look up
at the stars, something stuck him. "Hey.. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, isn't it?"