The look of surprise on the Luna's face brought a chuckle from Diego's. His smile filled with teeth. Her face softened, she wasn't as suspicious of his motives anymore. But why was that? Her eyes darted about him before she finally seemed to hear what he had asked.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: Green">Oh. Well, it’s a rather long story.</span>"<br/><br/>A blush had blossomed on her cheek, giving her slightly brown skin another hint of color. It suited her well.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: Green">I’m from the Circle Tower in Ferelden, originally. I suppose it’s not hard to tell with the accent and all.</span>"<br/><br/>He studied her as she seemed to recollect these memories. Her eyes had left his and now she bit her lip. Perhaps she was ashamed? Afraid? Longing for home? Pained? Such expressions were vague at best, and only served to leave Diego with simple guesses as to the emotions of the wearer. Luna tucked a loose strand of hair behind her pointed ears before continuing.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: Green">The short version is that the Circle was infiltrated by blood mages, and I was almost... killed.</span>"<br/><br/>It was obvious now. She was pained. A twinge of guilt settled within his stomach, weighing him down. He felt bad for bringing up such a traumatic event. Her exhalation and shuddering only served to make it grow, a memory so vivid as to make its bearer hold ones breath and actually feel the fear they had once had.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: Green">I escaped, and there was no way I could return to the Circle after that. On top of that, the templars probably thought I was involved. So I ran. As far as I could. Away from the Circle, from the templars, from Ferelden... from everything. And it turned out Rivain was about as far as I could get. So here I am. A poor, homeless, elven mage, trying to put as much distance between herself and her past as she can. Poetic, isn’t it?</span>"<br/><br/>A smile formed on her face but there was something off about. It seemed forced. She was trying to hide her true feelings. Diego knew that there would be nothing to gain from trying to prod her about it. It would only hurt her and drive her away.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">Definitely. That's a very dramatic tale if I've ever heard one.</span>" Diego chuckled, "<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">And I have heard a great deal of them.</span>"<br/><br/>"<span style="color: Green">What <i>I’d</i> like to know is what someone who is clearly a sailor – and, by the looks of your hat, an experienced one – is doing on a ship like this, chasing after an ancient pirate’s phantom treasure?</span>"<br/><br/>Diego's smile faltered a bit. He knew that question was sure to come, but now that it had arrived he didn't know quite how to answer it. Why had he come? Half formed thoughts rushed into and out of existence, bits and pieces of reason mixed with tatters of justifications. His hand went up to the ribbon held within the skull's teeth. His fingers gingerly wrapped themselves around it, feeling the softness of it, finding comfort in its mere presence.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">I guess when you've grown close to the sea, one finds it very hard to live away from it. Like a man away from his lover. He may try to break away, but her siren's call will always draw him back in. It isn't about the treasure for me, it about being back on the sea</span>.", he said. His grin shrunk to a simple smile, one of a man who had returned to his homeland.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>