Open I. We. Help.

[Berend]

The wind had gotten stronger during his brief visit into the temple, and after the first bracing buffet, it occurred to him to hold onto his scarf lest he lose it to the elements. He held it to his face with a hand while he stopped, looked around, and promptly cursed under his breath. No matter which direction he shifted, he could not see anything more than vague outlines that suggested buildings. Worse, he didn't hazard the temple often, so this immediate area wasn't exactly the most familiar to him, and neither was the Pig's Foot. Berend preferred the Drunken Fish because of all the foreigners that were bound to be found stumbling off the docks, but he was pretty sure the Pig's Foot was closer. At least, it felt close when he was practically dragged there two nights ago. He looked over at Julia, his eyes narrowed against the cold, and silently he wished she had been familiar with the location. It wasn't in him to lead, and the pressure to promptly start doing so disquieted him even more than he'd been. His heart hammered in his chest, and his chest was starting to burn. Suddenly, it seemed very foolish to be doing this, but here they were, and now he couldn't go back. The entrance wasn't more than two feet away, but to go back would be cowardice. What would Grael think if word of this came back to him? What would she? Berend took a step forward, then another forcing his way slowly through the snow. Around them loomed snow and shadows, obscuring the way at every turn they took. He hadn't much liked her taking his hand at first, but now that he was in this, he could see the logic. Without that tenuous link, it would have been easy enough to be separated. The wind was blowing in his eyes more often than not, having him blink repeatedly away the flurries since his hands were otherwise occupied. Still he trudged forward for lack of any better option, occasionally getting a better look at the shadows when he got closer. When a gap between two small shadows finally loomed ahead, he picked up the pace to move between them, and sighed in relief at the slight respite from the blistering wind. "Not too much farther I think" His voice came out a bit muffled through the scarf, but he trusted she heard him well enough. "Still in the Common's at least. If it's open, it'll have a light on with any luck so look careful. We will stick along these stalls till we come across it." He would give it a good try, he owed this little venture that much, but if that didn't work, then they'd just have to keep to this side on their way back to Temple. Hopefully, it didn't come to that because his bones were already chilled. Berend forced himself to breath deep, despite the ache of every breath, and trudging once more, hoped that just maybe, the tavern was around the bend.

[Julia Tristal]

This was strange, even for Julia. It wasn't everyday she would just go out with some random stranger to a pub through the icy winds of a blizzard, but then again, Julia isn't really a normal kind of girl. The winds were stinging, it was impossible to see anything out here. Vague outlines are not really all the good for navigation.

As they reached the stalls on the street, she was starting to have her doubts about coming out here to find tavern, they should have asked around for someone else that knew the way.

She would try to talk to him, but the cold and wind would just block her out, instead, she went in closer to him to try and some body heat from him or something. Either way she was cold and just wanted some hot food or a warm fire.

[Berend]

Flurries melted, and frosted his cloak, making it flap stiffly in the breeze. The cold of it bit through his layers of clothing, and caused him to tremble as they continued forward. The muddied streets made every step a chore, sucking at his feet and threatening to soak through the boots he wore. Chewing his lip underneath the screen of his scarf, he looked doubtfully over at Julia. Had this been a mistake? The snow choked wind was pretty blinding, but he didn't see as much as a glow in the street, and every step was harder than the last. Julia made some noises that he couldn't make out, and moved closer to him. Perhaps she figured the same. That this was a foolish endeavor and that they would've been better back at the temple. Maybe she even had similar fears. He stopped walking through the snow, and turned his back to the wind to stand in front of her. "Wadda ya think? Closed?" The words came out anxious, and loud as he tried to be heard over the wind that howled past his ears. He shifted a little closer in hopes that his cloak would shield them from the worst of the wind while they talked, but by the way it whipped at him, he had little confidence of that. It didn't feel as cold at least, though probably because most of his body felt numb now. At least standing close to her allowed him a modicum of warmth even if didn't feel too comfortable being this close. "Thinkin' we should head back" Berend angled to look beyond her, back the way they came, and was thankful they hadn't made many turns. He suddenly felt very tired now, and didn't want for them to struggle finding their way back. The chill had gotten such a bite to it that his bones started to hurt, and his throat felt raw. It was getting too bad out here for them to logically continue on, and likely the tavern was closed anyways. They had tried, for all the good that was worth, which is to say, none at all. Hesitantly, he started moving again, taking it slower at first this time as he followed in their previous prints, and kept an eye out for the right direction to the temple. Their tracks were fresh enough, and they hadn't gone far wandering aimlessly as they had in the blinding snow, so picking the way back didn't take as long. He even managed to find enough energy to shuffle along a bit faster when the shadow of the temple came into sigh, and was quick to push into the building, shutting the doors once Julia was through. Throughly exhausted, Berend leaned against the heavy oak doors, staring at the woman, and then the fire before hobbling over to the latter. Sinking to his knees with a thunk, scarcely feeling the jolt in his shins as he reveled in warmth returning to him. "So that was a shyke plan" He muttered after having had several moments to enjoy the fire.

[Julia Tristal]

She held close to the man as they tried to head back to the church. She really didn't care about the tavern, she was in it for the adventure, and it may or may not have paid off. She was enjoying the reprieve from boredom, but the stinging cold and the blistering winds were something he would rather not have and something she could live without. She tightened her coat around her and held it down with her free hand.

The walk was grueling, but it wasn't something she couldn't handle she let her friend walk in first and then she walked in after. "Everyone! I've got some important news!" She said and shook off the snow and dust on her coat. People looked at Julia with a bored look and probably a bit annoyed. "It's still snowing outside!"

A collective groan was heard within the temple and everyone went back to their respective fires and groups. She ran over to Berend and sat down beside him. "Hey! That was fun, let's do it again!" She said and warmed up her hands and body.

She rubbed her gloved hands together, trying to keep it warm. They weren't doing much, but they were doing something. She stayed close to the fire, but pulled her hair back as much as she could, she didn't want to get her head on fire... again.

[Berend]

Shrugging off his pack, Berend settled onto the back of his legs, and started sorting through his pack. "You hungry?" He'd managed to find a edge of hard bread along with some dried meat in his pack, and he held out the latter in offering. The bread had long been stale, and was like a rock, so he took to gnawing it thoughtfully, indifferent to whether she took the jerky or not. As he ate, he tried not to crunch too loud, and adjusted his posture to sit on the ground instead of his aching legs. "No dice, no drink, nothing to enjoy in this weather" He grumbled after working at his heel of bread for a while. Warmth had brought back color to his features, but he was noticeably still a bit red about the cheeks as he sat there glancing from the fire to his bread. A frown had affixed itself to his features as well, and occasionally he winced when he moved for any reason. "Wadda you suppose?"

[Julia Tristal]

With a small smile she took the jerky and let it heat up by the fire a bit before eating it. She smiled at Berend. "Thanks bro. Well, like I said, ritual wine in the probably ghost infested basement, might be just as dumb as going out in the blizzard or boring here." She said and poked the fire with a stick she found.

"Not much to do here, so might as well get to know each other, I guess." She said and lied down on the ground. "Oh my god, talking is what I'm resorting to? Really? Ughh, I must be really bored."

She sat back up and unslung her crossbow from her back. "Well, introductions. I'm Julia, I'm a courier of sorts, I'm good with running, crossbowmenring or whatever its called, and I'm pretty good with a dagger." She paused and raised her hand mischievously. "I also know how to use flux, shoot fireballs from my eyes, and set the world on fire with just a thought." She smiled, hoping the lightened up the mood.

With her hand she mimicked shooting out fireballs from her hands, even with sound effects. "Fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh."

[Berend]

Uncorking the waterskin strapped to him, he took a lengthy pull of it while he listened to her, his eyes focused ahead on the fire. It was a poor substitute for ale, but it refreshed his throat that still ached from breathing in all that cold air. "Yea" He mused aloud at the thought of trooping off into the darkness when all he wanted to do was sit. Thankfully she didn't seem to keen on it either which suited him just fine. After their little trek, he ached all over and wasn't even sure if he could move without limping along a bit. If people start seeing that in this place, they might start getting some ideas on snatching his coin to brave the cold, and he didn't feel like trying to chase anyone down. Looking over at her, he managed a thin grin, wondering if Couriering was really what she did. He didn't know much about it except from that one lady not long ago, but what she described sounded awfully familiar. The grin quickly disappeared at her jest though, and his jaw tightened. His eyes were wide open now, no longer half lidded with weariness, and he palmed his dagger warily. Not that he was any good with it yet, but better for him to try if it came to that, jest or not. "So.. be thinking you've snuck a drink a two" Berend made sure to speak loudly, at least to try and match however far her voice carried. He smiled again as well, that same tight lipped smile, looking about as he did in hopes anyone listening got a look. For what he had to say next though, he leaned in a bit closer, his voice barely a whisper. "Well be quick about it then.."

[Julia Tristal]

With a small smile due to her new friend's concern with her joking, she lightened up a little with her magic jokes. "Alright alright, you got me. I can't shoot fireballs from my hands or stuff. Haha! I guess I couldn't fool you huh? Yup, had meself a few drinks and stuff."

She was glad that at least she made some sort of companion here. "Though, like I've said, I'm Julia Tristal, you can call me Jules if you want. I'm a courier, I run fast, I get stuff from point A to point B, pretty simple stuff." She leaned in closer to him and whispered. "I do a bit of pickpocket on the side, my mom taught me how to do it, and I've already taken a few people's coin purses here, so don't bring it up."

She gave an innocent smile, hoping that he look to see if he still had his. She smiled and put back her crossbow showed off her dagger. "I also like poking things."

[Berend]

"And now what kinda shyke is that, after all we been through you sneaking drinks under my nose" Berend chided in return, feeling more than a bit relieved now with that little bit no longer hanging over him. Part of him wondered if she was really joking, but for the moment, he kept that from his thoughts, not wanting to get all agitated right now if he was to be stuck here for a while. Having felt how fearsomely cold it was getting out here, he was of no mind to brave the cold on mere suspicion that he couldn't even do anything about if it was so. It was a shame he hadn't given his dagger hand more practice. Forcing a smile, he turned a bit so he sat facing her more squarely, and even went so far as to lean against his right elbow. Best to get comfortable after all if this was the way he was going to spin things. His eyes studied hers, and her weapons as he listened to her, wondering just how outclassed he was. "Ah, then might be you pointing them out to me so I'll no which ones not to try. Wouldn't do to try some light purses if I be knowing they be light after all" He whispered back, and took the moment to look around the room real quick just to get an idea of how many were in here. Beyond his counting abilities, that became quickly apparent, and he looked at her again to have a proper look at her weapons. "My owns a bit nicked up I'm afraid" Berend drew the slightly battered dagger, having been bought with a few dings on the hilt and base, but not really all that worse for wear. Making sure he did it slow like, he handed it over to her for a proper look.

[Julia Tristal]

She leaned back and whispered. "That buff guy over there and that flashy young man over there." She said with a slight tinge of sadness. "He didn't really have a lot of gold on him, flaunt like that and you'll most likely get an arrow in the back." She said and slid her dagger back into her coat.

"I got my dagger from a merchant, he said he 'found' it. I haven't had much practice with it in all honesty." She said with a smile. "That's good, less time worrying about fighting, more time to practice my running."

She gave a small smile and looked at Berend. "If you need anything delivered, I'm more than happy to obliged, half my regular fee." She offered with a slight smile, she liked this guy, he's seems like a good enough guy. She looked away and then into the fire. "So you have any family here?"