Races: Online

It was the wrong approach.

There were a couple of things that one picked up when working with those in a higher position or rank. That was to say—where one was always in the subservient position and the chances of getting punished were high.

One could also say that it was when one was talking with women.

… Now that was also a needlessly wrong way of looking at it as well. But from his long and vast experience with connecting with people and gathering information, acknowledgement of wrongdoing was necessary.

And no, a simple 'sorry' that didn't sound genuine didn't cut it.

You had to explain why, you needed to understand the other person's point of view as to what they want or to what they were feeling upset over. 

While it was easy enough to simply go about one's day and life saying whatever ran through your head or being needlessly rude, that didn't work too well if you wanted to survive.

Or you wanted to keep the relationship, seal the deal.

You didn't need to be a Diplomat to know that. That was basic relationship knowledge... that perhaps wasn't so common at all. Kai almost wanted to slap a hand over his face at Han's technique.

"So what can I do to make it up to you?" Han asked.

"Make it up to me?" Ellynn blinked and stared at the young man for a moment. 

A bit of a dull and an empty stare, if Kai were to judge it.

"Yeah what can I do to make things better. Fix things—what I kind of need to avoid so this doesn't happen again?" Han smiled and scratched the back of his head. "I'd rather not have this kind of problem develop again."

How brutish! 

It was an unrealistic expectation to have as well.

The chances of things quickly becoming 'fixed' and never occurring once again was almost impossible. It was barely a 5/10 score that he wouldn't accept at all if he were in Ellynn's position. 

"Do you really think that you can change it...?" Ellynn asked.

"Yeah—I mean, well, if you tell me. I'll try and do my best." Han nodded. "Nobody's perfect, which is pretty cliche to say, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't strive to make things better. Lately, I've been… well, now that I think about it. I haven't really been the best of friends. Surprisingly, it's not just you confronting me.  Hah… am I really that problematic?"

The expression on Ellynn's face changed and softened a bit. "You're not that bad…"

"Don't say that." Han looked up to her. "I didn't say that to get pity or anything."

"I'm not."

"It kind of sounded like that. But yeah, just give it to me straight. What are the things I can do? Do you want me to run errands? I'm not sure if there's a kind of punishment you could do..."

"Wait. A punishment?" Ellynn blinked. "You want me to punish… you?"

Han coughed. "No. I mean—just something to make things even. I'd run and get you food, but I don't think that's a thing here."

Kai was tempted to ask where 'that was a thing'... but regardless of all the errors and stumbling through, it was all mildly entertaining and was something he wished to keep in a reservoir if possible.

Maybe not the smoothest of transitions though.

What exactly could Han do in this position? Kai had his opinions. Apologize properly for once, before offering amendment. It was almost as if Han was just wanting to clear through this ordeal before he could go through his lunch in peace.

But all this conversation did was instigate Kai deeper into their relationship.

When Ellynn trailed at 'keep your relationship with my—' portion, Kai nearly wanted to shake her shoulder or at least ask for clarification to whom she was referring to. Who was this person that Han was keeping a secret relationship with? A sibling? Lover? Parent?

Han's network far extended beyond what Kai deemed to be possible.

At least if the records were accurate. 

Someone who never left the village but showing and producing lights and colors far beyond what any individual could normally see, a connection outside that didn't make sense at all, possibly as much as those three fugitives. 

And yet… someone not from here.

Maybe it was best to just confront Han about it to simply end his curiosity once and for all.

Kai didn't exactly pay much attention to the rest of the conversation, somewhat lost in the inspection of his own thoughts, but then it happened. Was it ever this easy?

He didn't think it was possible for it to go smoothly over them, but perhaps Ellynn's maturity helped it turn out for the better. Or maybe Han wasn't as bad as Kai thought he was at communication.

Earnestness and a sincere gesture to make things better.

Maybe sometimes saying sorry wasn't all that necessary in explicit words. Han reached out to Ellynn and the two of them shook hands. It was an odd gesture. "I'll do my best to not make you feel excluded or kept away from things that concern you."

Kai had to give it to him—it was not exactly promising to say everything that was 'potentially' important but was not related to Ellynn as Han deemed it. And well, the Half Elf smiled a little.

So maybe it was all well and good now.

At least for this scenario. Kai took the chance to ask questions. "So what is it this time with the Blacksmith Sybeth? How exactly did you get on her wrong side?"

One question at a time, to not pressure and overwhelm the guy.

"Yeah, she's the coolest person I know." Theodore backed him up with a frown. "I kinda regret mentioning you now. You should have bought some kitchen knives from the chefs here or outside. A butter knife if you will."

Okay, maybe that was a tad too much.

Han grimaced and then threw a look at Ellynn. The Half Elf also looked mildly curious, perhaps far more than she let on, as she asked. "Yeah. What exactly happened yesterday? You weren't in any of the afternoon classes."

Now that Ellynn asked as well—it meant that Han was at least obliged to give an answer or risk upsetting her by brushing it off again.