Open Sleep is for the dead apparently.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Touchiness about poisons right. Alex having used a bow oft whilst hunting with his father had been told not to use them whilst hunting as it tainted the flesh. Even a single drop of a strong poison could destroy any semblance of value in meat. Meaning if it was used, they wouldn't be eating that night. But as Lynn delved into the difference between poison and venom he listened intently, the ever growing sponge of knowledge that he was even the slightest bit of information could one day be useful in a situation that may arise. Poison was something that you ate which made you sick and venom had to be poison from something that bit you like a snake or spider. Interesting, that might come in handy at a later date. She continued on. Adding that she was from eyktol a place that held a very different attitude towards poisons. And that poison was her initial craft. But she started making antidotes when she came to syliras? How did that make sense? “Forgive me for asking but, how does training in the art of poisoning people allow you to make antidotes?” Alex was genuinely curious about this. Though what fascinated him more was her sentiments about her race. He’d never met a dhani before, they had sub-races? And a viper was one of them? Did that mean she was a snake person? Just knowing this intrinsically made him a little firmer on guard but not physically, mentally. Still though he took a moment to think. Why are you guarding yourself judging by what she’s saying if she wanted too she could take you apart six different ways. She hasn’t yet so calm down and ease up. The split second that he thought that she began to verbally lay into him Sort of half leaning away from her at the torrent of verbatim scathing. She was right though and as much as he knew she was trying to build him a stronger foundation to build his confidence on little known to her she was just driving greater wedges into it. Her last words just punctuating the fact. He needed training but what he needed more was willpower. At the moment in time he had no resolution, no strength in him. That’s what he meant when he called himself weak. Not weak of body, even though he was. But weak of spirit. The small flitter of laughter aught his ears though as she spoke to him about switching her major craft after taking on teachings from her parent he kind of felt a small fire in him burn. “But isn’t that kind of like you’re turning your back on what your mother taught you? I know poison is not welcomed here but something that you learn from your family shouldn’t be easily placed to one side?“ Just clearly showing his ignorance in all things poison and herb related he spoke without thinking a small amount of resolve to his soft toned voice. As for why she did what she did and not having goals to strive for he scratched the scruff around his chin lightly. “Sometimes just living from moment to moment isn’t enough.“ He smiled lightly a small glint to his eyes. “Perhaps you simply need something to follow. It’s not really something that I can help with there but. Maybe.” He trailed off into nothingness as his mind ticked over. He leant into the ground lightly pressing more of his weight on his supporting hand looking out over the city or rather what little of it he could see from here. “Mind if I ask…What make you come up here from eyktol? It’s certainly a lot milder up her if nothing else. Definitely colder.” He chuckled with a light airiness.

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn was glad that for once, she didn't get a lecture on the morality of poisons or a warning about using them, or a savage bout of insults against her race. Instead, he just asked a question about the method of her trades. Smiling slightly, she sat up to answer his question. "Well, two reasons. One, the means of making many antidotes are similar to those used to make poisons. Two, most of my knowledge in poisons was in venemous snakes of the Eyktolian desert, so it was more academic than practical." she said, her tone mildly lectural again, though she was glad to answer the question.

At his question about her turning her back on her mothers trade, the Dhani just laughed again. "Poisoncrafting isn't a family trade or anything of the such. And I had...twenty-two siblings when I left home. Dhani breed in clutches, just like actual snakes. My mother loved me, cared for me, but she taught me about poisons to keep me out of trouble as much as anything. I kept wandering off." Suresslynn giggled slightly. "Besides, she made antidotes as well. See, in order to really make an antidote, you have to understand the poison you're curing. I'm willing to bet that every knight who has ever made an antidote has made the poison they've cured at least once, if only so they know as much as they can about it." the Dhani grinned slightly as she spoke.

At his comment about needing something to follow, she shrugged again. "What, like the gods? They don't care about us. If they did, they'd be here, not gallivanting through whatever they call home, occasionally showing up to hand out presents to keep us satisfied. Nah, I'll wait until something more worthy shows up to follow." she said, her tone getting pretty sarcastic as she spoke about the gods. "As for what brought me up here...I wanted to see the world. Made it here and...well, I grew to like the place. These thrice-damned winters of yours can petch right off though." she said, curling back into her coats as a gust of wind carried the cold right back to her.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Alex listened with a slow parsing, making sure to hear the story in its entirety. The reasons made sense. Fight poison with another poison. Fight fire with fire in essence. Alex slowly nodded his head as the explanations continued. Even with the slight tone of a domineering superiority. It was warranted this was her craft after all. Better to take pride in something you enjoyed than leave it to the wayside. Though his comment about her turning on something her mother had taught her was partially answered with her first response she decided to go into further detail. Explaining that the only reason why she was taught poisons was to keep her out of trouble. Going onto mention that her mother made antidotes as well. Alex now actually felt slightly silly for saying that she’d turned on what her mother had taught her having not known the full story or that her mother also dabbled in cures. It would makes sense to have the salves for the burns on hand. Though her sentiments as towards the gods sat unwell with him. He stomached it though in his own mind asking yahal to show her the way to faith. He wouldn’t push anything on one who didn’t want it. Force was only ever met with resistance. Her last comment about why she wanted to come up here was something he could semi relate to having travelled to syliras at a much younger age from further up north. Though her comment about the winters did finally burst the floodgates open and he let out a deep meaningful laugh. Saying through a smile. “The winters in ravok were much worse than the ones we get here. Colder and longer.” He could feel the breeze creeping down his neck, the steel of the plate mail sucking the warmth from him but by this point it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Even the heat dispersing of the armour only effected the warmth inside a little. “It’s been little over half a season since I became a squire. Still feel like I don’t belong here.” His fingers fumbled with the loop of icons again. “May I make a suggestion?” He spoke as the wind picked up another stiff breeze. “Perhaps we should go somewhere a little less open and continue this conversation. After all you’re not really a fan of the winters and around the ninth bell the winds start to pick up this time of year. And the taverns only a little distance away…Should be just opening." Alex smiled lightly No ill intentin him nor his words, heck he didn't have enough self-esteem to do anything anyway. “Lynn can I ask a question.” Immediately after saying that and climbing up to full height. He stretched out his joints and felt like a moron for realizing what he’d said. “If I was to ever need some instructing in how to use herbs would you be able to give me a few pointers?” As the question hung in the air Alex offered a hand down to her to help her up. If she agreed to go with him he'd lead her just a short way down the road to the rearing stallion.

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn grimaced as Alexander said that the weather in a place called Ravok got even colder. She couldn't imagine that, couldn't even bear the thought of it. That being said, the mention of Alex not feeling like he belonged yet brought the Dhani's head up to give him a sympathetic look. "Don't worry. You will. If you want to be here as much as it sounds like you do, you'll get comfortable." she said reassuringly.

At Alex's offer to continue the conversation at a different location, the Dhani nodded and accepted his hand to help her up. "Sounds like a good idea. Although being a fan of the winters isn't the whole story. If I get too cold I go into hibernation. Slept through the last winter. Not fun." she said, shivering again as they started towards the tavern. At his question about her teaching him about some herbs, she nodded. "Yeah. I only know a few, but my employer said I'll be learning some new ones this season, so that'll be good. Come by the shop sometime, it's easier for me to teach you if I've got the herbs on hand to show you what they look like." she said, before gesturing to his symbols he wore. "If you don't mind my asking, what are all those symbols about?" she asked.

[Alexander Faircroft]

A sudden burst of cold air stuck Alex’s face forcing his eyes closed as he blinked out the chill. Ow…don’t stare into the wind gusts. As Alex opened his eyes he caught the look of sympathy from her pointed at him. Her words held some comfort but. He couldn't shake the feeling that as much as he wanted her to be right, he felt like the only one of the knights who wanted him to be there was his patron and friend, Ser Greyheart. A small smile of hope plied his lips. Her weight was not as he expected as she leant into his hand. He was lacking in physical prowess but he’d grown more accustomed to the plate. And as such his body was feeling stronger. As she rose her comment about the winters being a problem was related to her snake like nature causing her to hibernate in much colder weather. And she’d apparently slept through the last winter. Granted it was much more bitter cold than this one, there wasn't much difference between the two with the wind chill. As if to be a kind of chivalrous individual he stood behind her as best he could in the direction of the winds to prevent the buffets on her. As she mentioned about being happy to show him how to use herbs. A little knowledge of some anti-venoms and possible poultice mixes couldn’t hurt him. Even if it was likely it’d fry his brain. Then came the question that was put off for so long. About the sigils around his neck. “I know you aren’t favourable towards the gods but each of these seventeen symbols represents a god I know of and follow. As a knight I would be required to follow faith in at least three of these. As it happens I followed all of these prior to joining.” The array of symbols all wooden but all a separate colour and style of wood, and all a different symbol completely with the god they represented name etched into the back of the sigil. No sigil was larger than an inch long each and a half inch thick. Again Alex’s hand subconsciously wrapped around another of the sigils. The road sign fork. Praying to Lhex to let him have his future, let it be his future to fulfil his wish if nothing else to let him make his family proud. Eyes closed he spoke still walking behind her slowly attempting to minimize the clatter of his armour as he stepped. “This…Wasn’t originally mine. It was my mother’s before she passed.” He spoke with a small sternness to his voice. A hardened edge that wasn’t there before. No bottle it, channel it to the ones who deserve it. His knuckles turned whilst gripping the sigil before he realized what he was doing and let it go. If she’d watched his face closely she’d of seen a brief flash of hatred cross it before subsiding. The walk to the tavern wasn’t far as they stepped in Alex asked the bar tender for a pair of ale mugs and paid him, giving the Ex-knight a small nod of respect. Only to be met with a gruff grin, grunt and a briskly waved hand to an open table. “Before you ask I’m alright to drink a small amount of ale my patron is fairly lax with this sort of thing as long as nothing gets out of hand.” Placing both mugs on the table Alex sat gingerly onto one of the chairs making sure to not make a loud clatter of plate. Hoping lynn would follow suit and sit with him.

[Suresslynn]

At Alex's answer about the sigils Suresslynn blushed a bit and looked down. "I didn't mean to offend you if I did earlier." she said as an apology. When he spoke about a specific symbol, a sign fork, he seemed angry, hate-filled. Something terrible had happened to his mother, she guessed. "I'm sorry." she said, putting a hand on his shoulder as they walked into the tavern.

The Dhani was quiet as Alex paid for drinks and led them to a table. At his comment about being able to drink a little ale, she just gave a curious look. "Are squires not normally allowed to drink ale?" she asked, then shrugged and sat down, picking up the mug in front of her. Taking a quick sniff, she shrugged slightly and took a quick drink, noting the odd, vaguely fruity flavor. "Never tried this before..." she muttered quietly. Outside of a few favorite treats, she generally ate in snake form, as it was the one she was really most comfortable in.

After a moment, she realized something and glanced at him. "If you didn't go to the fighters pit to spar, why were you there? Just wandering about the city, or were you looking for someone?" she asked, hoping she hadn't distracted him from an important meeting or some such.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Alex shot her a small smile when she spoke about offending him earlier when she brushed off anything to do with the gods. “It’s alright. People believe what they want. I can’t change it so I’ve come to accept it. Beliefs are the strongest things people have." Though as he replied to that he didn’t think he’d let out an expression as he thought back on the events of the past. Only to get a small comment of apology and a soft touch to his shoulder. A kind gesture even if he couldn’t feel it through the plate and chain. Alex was caught a little off guard about her question towards the drink. “Mostly it depends on the squire’s patron. Knights are allowed to drink as a reward for their efforts. Squires are normally kept to water or the like to keep their thoughts unclouded. My patron allows me to dabble so long as it doesn’t affect my mental state.” He spoke with a small grin the thoughts of seething rage fading lightly as he took a long drink from the mug. Her comment about never trying ale before threw him a little. Then again she was of a different land and a different custom originally he thought. “Well if you've never had any before I’d pace yourself…It can lead to more trouble than its worth if you’re not used to it.” He spoke with an honest guidance. It has me more times than enough... Her next question caught him a little off guard. He paused a second to think about it, masking the thought with another drink. “Well lately sleep’s been escaping me as I mentioned before, and I oft wander the city to try and clear my head to finally rest. However I stopped at the fighter’s pits primarily because people were there. Lacking in most martial skills myself I sought to simply watch and take notes. I’ve jotted a few things down in my mind. And I was seeing some lessons my instructors beat into me…quite literally, being used to full effect.” He paused a moment placing the ale back on the table about a third of his mug missing as he did. “Towards your apology early and comment of you being sorry. It’s nothing that I should mention. A long story and longer forgotten.” Clearly not the events turned over fresh in his mind once again. “I digress, how could you tell something was on my mind?” A look of genuine concern passed Alex’s face. He didn’t want anyone seeing the side of him of anger and rage. It wasn’t him. Being meek and compacted wasn’t him but it was the only way he could logically act. Leaning in forwards his elbows now clattering against the plate of his knees he leaned in to watch closely and see what her answer would be.

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn nodded at Alex's comment about the squires patron deciding whether or not they got to drink ale. At the comment that she should pace herself, the Dhani nodded and took another sip. It wasn't bad, she decided, but she preferred water or milk to drink. When he told her why he'd gone to the pit, she grinned slightly. "If you want, I can teach you a bit of boxing sometime. Not a sparring match, unless you want one, but a demonstration."

As he mentioned that he didn't want to tell the story about why he had gotten so mad, she simply waved her hand, as if dismissing the matter. "It's your story to tell. I don't want to pry." she said. At his question, she grinned slightly. "Well, your tone got harder and you looked like you wanted to set something on fire. Put that together with your mention of your mom, and well...I'm an antidote maker. Putting things together is what I do." she said, smiling slightly as she took a drink.

After a moment the Dhani sighed contentedly and looked around. "I've never come here before. It's a nice place." she said, glad to be warm for the first time since she had left her house. The only thing it was missing was mice for her to hunt, but she knew other races took a less than favorable view on rodents where they ate. Silly of them, really.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Alex leant back into his chair slightly the armour clanking lightly as he did. She’d offered to show him a bit of boxing sometime as well, alongside her offer to show him how to use and what herbs were what. “I couldn’t impose like that. You’ve already offered to show me what herbs are what I couldn’t take up too much of your time like I am already. It just wouldn’t feel right.” He smiled lightly the soft tone carrying evenly and lightly. Her acceptance of the comment he’d made about not being one to talk about a long story she’d just brushed it off saying it was his thing. He simply nodded and spoke just two words. “Thank you.” A simple pair of words yet in this instance almost tangible like a solid mass given to words. Her follow on as to how she pieced together why he’d gotten so mad he laughed little. “Am I truly that easy to read? Perhaps I should get better at hiding things that I wish others not to know.” He smiled weakly a look of sadness simply sat across him in a slight form. And at her mention of not coming here before. He piped up again filling the empty air with noise. “This place me and my patron frequent occasionally when he’s got time and I’m not training.” Alex clanked around the tavern giving it a small once over and a tone of strong respect filled his voice when he spoke of his patron. He was nothing if not a good man Ser Greyhard, calm and patient to a fault if a little prideful, he gave as much respect as he got. Don’t respect him and get none in return. Which is what he’d found so endearing in Alex as the fact that like now Alex respected everyone equally. Barring a select few. "I’m sorry to have taken up so much of your time today already miss suresslynn. It’s already almost half eight in the morning." A genuine apology he'd given here as polite as possible he'd been as he lifted the mug back to his lips and drained another third of the cup.

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn laughed as Alex said he couldn't impose on her time, then shrugged slightly. "I'm at the fighters pit a lot, so it wouldn't be imposing. Besides, there's some things I can teach you that you won't learn with the knights. I guarantee you that very few, if any, of them are as fast as I am. " she said, grinning widely. She nodded acceptance to his thanks, knowing the meaning behind them.

Suresslynn simply smiled and shook her head as Alex talked about learning to hide his feelings. "I don't really believe you should have to hide your feelings. But if it's a matter of wanting, well...practice in a mirror, I guess. Look in a mirror, think about what makes you mad, then try to keep it from showing on your face." she said, giving what she hoped was good advice. The filter between her own feelings and actions was virtually non-existent, so she really wouldn't know a really good way to keep such things from showing.

Then came the comment about Alex and his patron coming to the place...she couldn't actually tell how often. "Frequent...occasionally? But...doesn't frequent mean often? And occasionally...not often? How...how does that work?" she said, showing that she still had a lot to learn about common and it's wording. At his mention of the time, she blinked in surprise, then took another drink. "It's not a problem, I was having trouble sleeping too, remember. I've got a bit more time before Madame Sahfri will be expecting me." she said, grinning slightly.