R style of smile

[Yukon]

The two of them had chatted aimlessly on their way down the mountain — mostly about the weather — and had fallen into a comfortable, concentrated silence as they picked their way along the river's steep edges. Yukon had let Nico take the lead, content to follow and observe, until the waters took a sharp right. His blue gaze had swept left instead, focused on what seemed to be a distant break in the trees. After having been up high, he was well aware that there was a massive lake somewhere ahead of them.

"Let's go this way?" he offered, gesturing with a movement of his head.

[Nico]

Nico had never been one for company. In fact, he normally found himself growing bored in the presence of another. Either they spoke too much, normally about things that did not matter, or they merely became a nuisance to be around. Izhinu, well, he was a bit different. Apart from the rhythmic chatter that the pair fell into, the silence that bubbled between them was comforting.

As much as he would hate to say it, he was rather enjoying the camaraderie that sprouted between them. At least for now.

When finally his white counterpart spoke up, however, Nico paused. His gaze turned towards where he suggested and for no other reason than to be difficult, Nico wondered what would happen if he blatantly refused. Would the man before him concede? Would he give way to Nico’s desires and plans? Or would he, instead, fight for what he wanted?

“What’d you think is over there?” He asked. A fairly good question, if you asked Nico. What had pulled Izhinu to want to change directions from the river anyway? Did he know something that Nico did not?

[Yukon]

// small warning for language

Yukon had, of course, been testing the attitude of the other man — how he might react if his plans were derailed, or if his thought process was interceded by another's. It would be a good first judgement of his character, Yukon thought, of whether or not he'd been talking out his ass or if he actually knew a thing or two about leading.

He had no inclination that the same sort of calculations ran through Nico's head before he spoke, asking for more information about Yukon's request. In response, he took his eyes from the other man and cast them back toward the south, pausing to taste the air before saying, "I'd caught a glimpse of a lake while I was up there." In the mountains, tucked against a rock and feeling sorry for himself. While not the best of his moments, it did give him an opportunity to survey the valley when the weather permitted.

"I'm confident it lies in this direction," he continued, then flicked his focus back to the darker blues of the other man, "but if you'd rather be safe and follow the river down, that works too." A steady gaze watched him for a moment, wondering if he'd view the words as a challenge or as an offering of respect.

[Nico]

A pair of starlit eyes crossed the face of Izhinu, watching as the man turned to face the south. He spoke of a lake, and while in any other situation, Nico may've questioned a stranger's words, this time he did not. He gave the man the benefit of the doubt. Whether it be due to the conviction in his words or rather that his face just looked trustworthy, Nico believed him.

Among that, he was rather thirsty. A thought that was only briefly confirmed by the small smacking of his lips and the dollop of a tongue that slipped out between his teeth.

The man rolled his shoulders into a shrug. "Alright then, I trust you," he spoke with a slow smirk, "Lead the way, Izhinu. Take us to the lake."