Ocean's Breath Plateau the space between lives

her answer brought his eyes back to her, staring as if she had three heads. it was an alien concept, to mark borders that were not his. when he'd been a wanderer, he had slept anywhere that wasn't claimed, but hadn't claimed anywhere for his own. he was a tramp, awara; what right had he to borders? morningside had been his only steady home, and even then, those borders had seemed rented, not owned.

deciding not to press the issue, he shrugged at her query, remaining silent for another beat. "tired," he finally responded. after a moment, he added, reluctantly, "empty." once upon a time, he would have expounded upon it. but he truly was void of everything but basic pleasantries; he felt no need to explain, and he sensed that this woman preferred his silence, anyway.

the sea had not killed his curiosity, however. "where are you from?" he asked, tilting his head. "originally, i mean."