"Good work Val. If you need more cash next time I will be happy to chip in as well. I expect others would be too."

Andalon will take his turn on watch as well when required.

"That's a great idea, Rook!"  Zorah was excited to add more plants to the collection of those to be grown one day.  She carefully rolled the radishes in a cloth and packed them away on Puck.  "They're moon radishes, best if we don't eat them by themselves anyway.  They can be spicier than the typical radish, which already have a zing to them.  I usually see them combined with other ingredients to cut the spice a bit, but I'm no cook."  After packing the radishes Zorah prepared for rest, she liked to sleep early in order to wake with enough time to meditate in the morning before setting out.

Rook settled onto his back again, putting his hands behind his head. "You aren't keeping me. I haven't gotten used to the active lifestyle that exploration requires. My body is used to being asleep not long after it gets dark. But I enjoy the fire and the talking to someone new." With a grin he indicated the ground beside him, though his eyes remained closed. "You can pull up a bedroll and we can gossip and giggle until we fall asleep like my sisters do. And we don't have to worry about my mother coming after us with a hickory switch. My name is Rook, by the by. I know we didn't get to properly introduce ourselves."

Aris'ta paused, for a moment taken aback by gesture, and the sincerity she hold. Then, she moved to grab her things, kneeling  to lay out her bed roll as she spoke. "Is that what female sisters do? Giggle and gossip?" she asked as she settled her things before sitting in the middle of it and pulling at the strings of her cloak.

"My name is Aris'ta, at least, the only one I've known. If my mother ever gave me one, it was never heard by those that found me." she frowned, looking forward into the nearing darkness. She was unsure why she had told him that. "My father called me Ari, and you may as well if you wish." Then she laughed, soft and low. "I do not notice proper introductions. It is rare I make them at all, to be honest."

She reached for the bindings of her shoes. "Enough of me, tell me about your giggling sisters. You must miss them?"

"Well, proper introductions make travel a lot less awkward. Imagine the stuff we could've talked about all the way here if things had been different at the post." He put one hand in the air to gesture in the fire light. "An introduction says, I acknowledge your being. I might be loopy." The grin on his face widened and almost drooped to the ground behind him. His hand suddenly dropped to his chest as though the strings holding it up had been cut. Lines appeared on his face and his mouth pursed for a moment, then opened but remained silent. Rook cleared his throat and put his hand back behind his head.

"Gossiping is what my sisters did." He raised the pitch of his voice and put on a bad feminine affectation. "Did you see Jacob Hartswell? He's got hair under his arms now. You know what that means." He shook his head, unable to fight off the smile on his face. "They'd fall to giggling and mama would come in swinging that switch and light their backsides on fire. You think they'd learn, right? Nope. Once'd a week, at least." He yawned again and stretched his shoulders until they began to cramp. "I, uh, miss them, a little. I miss knowing they're safe. And I sure hate leaving my dad behind in that house full of women."

Aris'ta watched him in his animated state, a smile alighting her lips once more as his boyishness took over. It was infectious, too, for she soon found herself laughing at his impersonation of his sisters until her stomach ached from it and she rolled on to her back as she allowed the picture in the minds eye to grow and bloom. "I don't know, they sound charming. " she remarked at the portrait she could conjure in her head of a younger man than the one next to her with young girls of equal likeness, all smiles and animation. Her childhood had been nothing like it, she had been a very sullen youth and not much more as an adult.

"Besides, if you are any indication, I would imagine your father enjoys their company as much as you miss it. " Laying her hands over her abdomen, she looked at the sky and breathed deep. "It sounds enchanting." she said honestly, looking into the stars as if they held some hidden message. "Somehow, I think you may also have supplied your bit in the gossip, from what I understand, young women can be very persuasive, even if they are of the sisterly kind. "

Zorah had no shame eavesdropping on Rook and Aris'ta's conversation, or worse yet, interjecting.  "Persuasive?!  It's not like we can just train men like anim..."  She trailed off staring at the small hedgehog perched on the log beside her.  "Go on."  She encouraged Rook before turning away and pretending to not listen again.

Rook sat straight up when he heard Zorah speak, eyes open and bright. "Zorah! You can bring your bedroll over, too. Lay it long-ways at our heads. Then it'd be a proper gossip party. And Murdock and Sedgewig can come." He waved her over eagerly as he lowered his torso back down.

"My father loves my sisters very much. He exaggerates his pride when they learn something new. And he plays with them when he's not too tired. But he's only got another year or so of that before he has to start worrying about suitors." Rook turned his head to look at Aris'ta. "That's when you get the gray hair." He went silent a moment, focusing on the warmth of the fire and the sound of everyone's voices before coming back to present.

"I'm not a gossip, I can promise you that. And I'm not easily persuaded or trained either. So don't y'all go getting any ideas." He held up a single cautionary finger.

Zorah's eyes light up.  She drags her bedroll over and calls for Murdock.  The fox trots over and curls up at the top of the bedroll like a fluffy red pillow.  Zorah rests her head near Murdock and squeezes Sedgewig the hedgehog, performing the role of a spiky little teddy bear.  He seems used to the treatment.

"I'm not so sure.  My mother used to tell me all men can be trained."  Zorah smirks.  "You just need to appeal to their base instincts."  With that said she produces a handful of dried berries and offers some to the others.

Aris'ta turned a head to look at Zorah as she interjected, a light smile playing on her lips as she turned back and waited for the third to join them. It was the most company she had shared for a long time so she aimed to enjoy it. "A worry my father never had to face." though she didn't elaborate on why.

She turns herself to face them both equally, taking a few berries with a murmured 'Thank you. "Why train at all? If they didn't fit your requirements, then wouldn't seeking out a better match be more.." she struggled for the word and eventually shook it off. "I'd rather the company."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:55, Tue 17 May 2016.

Zorah shoved a handful of berries in her mouth and spoke while still chewing them.  "There's only so many fish in a pond."  She mumbled through the food in her mouth.  "Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to travel the land.  Many are confined to the same town their entire lives."

Cyrus overheard the "gossip" beginning but hadn't finished hearing from Valoria, "Where did you learn to speak the tongue of those lizard men? It must have required a lot of time and concentration..."

Cyrus hadn't attended any proper school. He'd had tutors for a few subjects, mostly courtly behavior, but it was clear to his parents the tutors should focus on his younger brother and Cyrus would fair better studying the way of the blade. Some days he envied his brother, the soft cushions and cool libraries. But then he thought of his father and the envy drained from his thoughts.

Aris'ta smirked and nodded her head. "For many the pond has long since dried. " she added to Zorah's reflection. Ever the pessimist.

"It has to rain eventually.  Maybe you just need a druid to help the pond along a little."  Zorah was growing to like the drow who she had been wary of when they first met.  Aris'ta was the glass-half-empty ying to Zorah's glass-half-full yang.

For every ray of sun, there was a cloud just beyond to threaten it.

"It never rains underground. " This, at least, is said with the hint of a smile.

Valoria listened to the gossip trio as she poked the fire with a stick. It did make her watch go by easily, as her companions where far more interesting then she originally thought. She lifted an eyebrow and wore a soft smile as Cyrus asked his question. “I've had private tutors for my entire childhood. When it was first learned I had the ability for wizardary, at the age of five, I started learning Draconic. Master Iridius was a hard teacher, but fair. Draconic is the language of dragons and most intelligent lizards, so it's kind of a must for wizards. I can also speak Celestial, Dwarven, Elven, Skald and Sylvan. The library was my second home...I miss it.”

“What of you Sir Cyrus? Who taught you the way of the sword and who knighted you?...Do you have a betrothed back home waiting for you?”
This message was last edited by the player at 04:30, Wed 18 May 2016.

The young man waved off the offer of berries, having abstained from meals in favor of divine nutrition it seemed. His arms were a deeper tan than the normally uncovered skin of his torso and they almost glowed like brass next to the fire. Clasping his hands together and resting them over the symbol of his chest, the cleric allowed his eyes to close again while he listened to Zora and Aris'ta ruminate on training men and ponds? And rain? One eye opened to survey them both as best he could without moving. Foggy understanding dawned over him as they continued and then he couldn't help but feel amusement. He'd invited girls to gossip and that was exactly what they'd ended up doing. It was almost like home and that made him very comfortable.

"Of course it can't rain underground, there's no clouds. But I bet you do get moisture. So it's not about looking for the fish in the pond, it's about adaptation. Go after the, uh," One hand came up and circled in the air while he thought. "Whatever animals live in pools of water underground. Or, hell. Get out of there, go lookin' for fish elsewhere. Wait." Now his eyes were opened again and what sleep he felt coming chased away by the rampant thoughts running through his head. Rook pushed himself up so he could actually look between Aris'ta and Zorah. "Y'all are talkin' about courting or...or settling for someone untrained?"

Turning her suddenly wide eyes toward Rook, Aris leaned back, placing a hand to the ground behind her as she did so. "Well, it seemed that we-- I mean, I'm sure it was-- Not that I really expect... " she trailed off, promptly shutting her jaw tightly together. There was a sudden heat to her cheeks and a flushed feeling she hadn't expected when starting this conversation.

Raising a gloved hand she gently ran a finger along the backside of one ear uncomfortably. "I assure you at least I, and I suspect Zorah, would never settle... not that I ever expect, I mean, certainly not with current views on... " with a flustered rush of air, she folded her arms defensively over her chest and this time, when she shut her mouth she kept it that way.

This was not how she expected this conversation to go, nor had she ever really expected to have this conversation. She was so flustered by the revelation, that she never had a chance to correct Rook on the presumption she had ever even lived underground, which she hadn't.

In reply to Valoria der lin Lebeda (msg # 59):

Sir Cyrus and the questions that came with it gave him a momentary pause, "I am only a Sir in the eyes of pages and squires. I was not knighted before leaving my family and my departure came prior to any betrothals, although I am sure there were a number of deals offered and declined by and to my mother."

"As for my training with a blade," Cyrus continued, "I began with the lesser nobles but a kind and noble knight, a fellow descendant of one of the great Swordlords took me under his wing for a few years..." The thoughts of his former life and the moments that lead up to leaving his family rushed into Cyrus mind. His words drift off momentarily while discussing his training. He then regains his composure and said, "I too miss the times of learning, it is strange that my fondest memories of that life were the ones of temporary hardship and strain, sparring with wooden swords against metal, pushing myself physically beyond my known limits. The clang of sword on shield. Though different than your own learning, my guess is your brain felt similar to my arms and back and legs after a long day of "tutelage,""

As he emphasizes the last word, there is the sound of a harrumph from Aris'ta and Cyrus can't help wondering what he'd missed. "And what of you, were you to be wed before you left or upon your return?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:11, Wed 18 May 2016.

Zorah beamed a smile as understanding hit those who first missed the hidden meaning of the conversation.  "Ugh!  There's a big rock here or something."  She lied loudly before getting up.  Mudock jumped up and followed as Zorah dragged her bedroll around to the other side of Aris'ta.  She placed her feet a little too close to the drow in an attempt to forced her back the other way.  "Muuuuch better.  Good night."  She called to no one in particular before drifting off to sleep.

The stammering of Aris'ta's nitial words caught his attention and the young man satup even straighter, leaning towards her with maddened glee dancing in his eyes. A grin spread across his face at the tightening of her jaw muscles. The change in tint of her cheeks sent him forward even more. "You can blush. Maroon. I've been curious cause I'd never met anyone with your color skin before."

He sat back again and appeared to enjoy, even relish the young half-elf's reaction. His eyes followed her gloved hand to her ears and, maybe for the first time, realized how different in shape they were to everyone else's. She'd said a lot of things, started several differrent sentences that he had no idea where they were going. His attention shifted to Zorah when she got up and he took that cue from her. Rook settled back down, tucking his feet into his bedroll. He wadded up his shirt under his neck for a pillow and closed his eyes. But his lips move slightly and he spoke in a musical near-whisper.

"Ari likes booooys. Ari liiikes booooyyyys.

Aris'ta, forced to move her hand and sit up straight soon found herself face-to-face with a maddeningly gleeful Rook. Her eyes widened slightly, turning a sharp smirk to Zorah as a warning that payback would be swift and keen. Rook's words prevented any verbal ramifications as her lips closed to a pout and her eyes narrowed. There was no point in denying it, she could feel the heat there.

As the pair of them settled, she looked from side to side fuming. It was meant as teasing, but Aris'ta, whom had never grown up with others was unaccustomed and felt keenly wounded. She didn't understand the joke and saw little humor in the stark reminder. Rolling to her feet, she meant only to walk away when Rook's song sprang to her keen ears.

The final straw on an already strained back as it were. "I most certainly do not. If I were to like anyone, which I do not! It would be a grown man. As none are present, you are all safe." Taking a deep breath, she started away. "I need to prepare for my watch, if you will excuse me" and she stomped off.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Wed 18 May 2016.

At first Rook merely laid there and enjoyed the dual warmth he felt from the fire and from the conversation he just had. It seemed so long since he'd left home, so long without quality companionship. Even if it had set off Aris'ta. Thinking about it now, she had seemed more than a little annoyed. She actually hadn't even gone to bed, which meant she'd be staying up until it was her watch and would probably be stewing over it the entire time. Apologizing, even if it wasn't needed, would be a good idea. And waiting until breakfast would only make it more difficult if she spent the whole night angry.

Fighting back a sigh, this whole thing was because of him after all, Rook crawled out of his bedroll and pushed himself off of his knees and to his feet. He trotted off in the direction of the stomping footsteps in his bare feet, trying to see beyond the light given off by the fire. "Aris'ta!" He whispered loudly so as not to wake Zorah or anyone else who might've been sleeping, but still be heard in the direction he was going. "Aris'ta, I want to apologize." As he spoke, the notion dawned on him that she probably didn't have any siblings and hadn't been the subject of good-natured teasing growing up. "I'm sorry for picking on you."

It might take him a moment, but he would eventually find her silhouette form in the darkness. Turned partially away from the direction he came from, she seemed knowing of his presence before he was even close enough to make out the sharp contrast of her eyes in the dark that almost seemed to illuminate the space before them. She lifted a gloved hand flat towards him before moving finger to her lips, then moved her hand out slightly, indicating with her middle and forefinger for him to come closer.

"You needn't have troubled yourself." she whispered softly when he was close enough. "I mean, it's kind of you, but I don't expect-- you don't have to play nice with the half-breed." she added softly, her voice was no indication of anything that played on her face. Which was sad and one might guess regretful, if they could see her clearly enough. "I forget myself sometimes is all, I will have to be more careful." She frowned into the darkness and took a deep breath, disappointed in herself that she had troubled anyone. It wasn't the first time since signing up for this position that she had regretted her haste. It was foolish of her to come into the world. She didn't understand it and worse, she found she hated it. Hated that she knew little other than what her father had told her. Hated that it had been forced on her. Hated the indifferent feeling she had learned to fake so well.

With a shake of her head so subtly it might have been missed, before turning to really look at the boy who had followed her out into the shadows and wondered at his reasons. She didn't understand and that only incited her ire and irritation. "You should go back and sleep. Unlike you I am accustomed to the darkness and a late night." There was no need to add that she was accustomed to being alone, she had no wish to share that particular vulnerability.

Valoria looked at the fire for a moment as if remembering something unpleasant. She began to speak in a low tone, so that only Cyrus could hear. “I will be with this group for a while, if I'm luckily. That said, I might as well be honest. I did not leave my home by choice. I was exiled by my father...I caught him having an affair with a mistress...and wife of another Swordlord. Worried that the news would get out and cause a war with the noble houses, he kicked me out and threatened me to keep my mouth shut. By the grace of my uncle, Andalon's father, I was sent here to assist Andalon.  No betrothals for me...as my family will now offer nothing for the dowry. Since I have no dowry to bring to any marriage the odds of me finding...Forgive me sir Cyrus. I should not bother you with my troubles.”