Tatsu sat tranquilly, hands lightly resting on his knees; palms turned upwards, legs crossed beneath him, eyes heavily-lidded, and expression passive. It was almost a meditation pose. He thought he detected some hesitation as she answered him. If one had the desire to see the world, or to leave a place, then the only reasons to stay were either fear or an emotional chain, or both. He wondered what so held her to this place if she really wanted to go. Then again, perhaps he was wrong and she had no desire to leave at all.
Patience was something Tatsu had mastered, and eventually she spoke again and he opened his eyes, peering at her with a strange, unreadable expression. Again she fidgeted with that veil, and again he wondered at what lay beneath it. The answer should have been obvious, considering what he knew of Essyrni customs. Perhaps he simply did not want to acknowledge such a thing, even on a subconscious level, without her willingness to share such a burdensome truth.
"Why would you think such a thing? You obviously have talent. I cannot understand why you hold yourself in so little regard." It was true, he did not understand it, even if he knew of her tattoo he would not understand it, but there were many human customs that he just couldn't grasp. "If you really wished to leave and see the world, I have no doubt you would be able to sustain yourself."