[Flashback-Stone Garden]Saving Grace [Grace]

[Markus Andres]

71st of Summer 510 - Morning. Markus was jogging through the city in the morning he had started early in the morning when the hallways were still empty and he had been running for a good 1½ bells now. Getting his daily run out of the way before people crowded the hallways and streets. But this day, he had taken a different longer route and came by the stone garden and people was beginning to crowd the streets. One of the most sacred places in Syliras according to Markus. It was the place where the knights before him had been laid to rest, symbolically at least. Since knights were commonly cremated. But even if the knights weren't there physically, Markus still hoped that the knights were the in spirit. Markus stopped his jog and entered the garden. Marveled at the sights and touched some of the stones. He should come back there one day with a good book one day and read it there. Perhaps he should take a bell or two off. He had heard somewhere that resting between practice sessions was a healthy thing - besides, he had been heading back to his dorm room. He was wearing a simple white cloth shirt, dark cloth pants and his sword was strapped to his back. It made it easier to run with that way. It did make him look a bit dangerous, but squire's were allowed to carry weapons. So it wouldn't become a problem for him. He just stood there marveling the architecture and the honored those lost for the Syliran cause.

[Grace]

Resting, still as a statue and yet unnoticed, Grace sat on curled legs, her body and arms outstretched in front of her with flattened palms resting on the warm stones. She'd taken a moment away from her journal to stretch and relax herself in this sacred place, letting the memories of those honored, fill her thoughts. She heard the echo of running footsteps slow when they approached the Stone Garden and she opened gray eyes to look on the owner. A sword on a run? She turned her head to watch the man for a moment before speaking. His clothes betrayed nothing, simple and useful, not representing any station, but not everyone was permitted to carry a weapon... a squire? "Do find so much resistance to your morning run that you need carry a weapon to make your way?" She rested her chin on her shoulder and watched him, a playful smile curling full lips; The rest of her posture remained as it had been, lithely stretched across the cobbled ground. Grace's gray eyes studied the man, taking any clue, from the way he carried himself, to his deference to this sacred place. Knowing that her question was mostly rhetorical, she continued. "How far along are you in your training, Master Squire?" She paused, cocking her head and moving to a straight backed seated position. "It is Master Squire, is it not? " She lifted a pair of glasses that hung from a chain around her neck and propped them on the bridge of her nose. They were ill fitting, but she seemed very comfortable in them regardless, and clearly used to having them balanced on her nose. Her face, aside from the manish glasses was youthful and rosy cheeked, only her smoky eyes held any clue that she might not be as she appeared. "Grace Cady, at your service." From her seated position, she fanned her hands to her sides, and bowed her head, after wards lifting it with a wide welcoming smile.

[Markus Andres]

Markus felt a chill go down his spine when the sudden voice surprised him. He turned to look at the woman to whom the voice belonged. She looked attractive. Naturally, that was the first thing he noticed as a reddish color flooded his cheeks with the blush. "Perhaps a bit redundant inside the walls, but sometimes my routes take me outside the walls." - He said with a small wink to the strange lady. He felt a bit odd as the strange lady kept looking at him. Seemed to analyze his posture or clothing. It was quite odd. But still, he couldn't help thinking she looked a bit more attractive with those strange glasses on. A thing Markus rarely saw. - He was a bit perplexed she knew he was a squire, but given his awesome physical stature and his open carriage of weapon, it wasn't that hard to figure out, but still, she had sparked his curiosity. "I was on my way home when I wanted to pay my respects to those who came before me, and yes, I am indeed a squire. Why do you ask and how did you know?" Markus asked in a curious, but kind voice. "And I am Markus, Markus Andres, Squire to Stern Mason. I'll spare you the squad and such of my master." Markus looked to what she had been doing prior to talking to him. He looked at the book or journal of sorts lying on the ground. She had been reading or writing. Or both. Perhaps drawing? It was impossible to see from where he stood. "So what brings you to this incredible place?" He asked in the same curious and kind voice.

[Grace]

The shiver of surprise that crept across Markus at the sound of her voice was not lost on Grace and she smiled up at him. "Forgive me if I startled you." As he offered up his name, and confirmation of her guess, Grace pushed herself off the ground, unfolding with nimble grace into her full height. She was tall and athletic, dressed simply, but with garments that were well made and suited to her lithe figure. Grace moved to close the distance between them, her hand outstretched to the squire as he surveyed her things lying on the ground. "It's a pleasure to meet you Markus. Twas your sword that gave you away really." A bright smile curled the corners of her mouth, adding a welcoming friendliness to her face. "It was a guess, but I imagine there are only certain people allowed to carry a weapon within the city, being that mine are safely stowed back at my room. Now that she was closer, her gray eyes moved over Markus, and she watched him closely through the large rimmed glasses. She leaned a little bit closer, and in a softened voice continued. "And you look a bit like a squire, in the nicest way." The sweet smile shifted to a playful grin, and she moved back to her former position to answer his other question. "This place is quiet, enough so that I can concentrate on work, as well as pay some amount of tribute to those that are honored here. It seems quite perfect to me." She met his eyes with confidence and friendly curiosity. Looking back over her shoulder, she glanced at her journals. "Does it makes you curious what I was writing?" There was a playful lilt to her voice. With three long strides, she walked over and scooped up the newest looking journal, clearly leaving its more weathered and precious partners laying where they were. She returned to Markus and offered him a peruse of her work. "Notes from my work sites, if you would care to look." The offer was made out of a wish to make him even more curious that he appeared. Curiosity was that most appealing trait that Grace could think of in a person, and to be the focus of such, was even better.

[Markus Andres]

The gentle lady rose from the ground and Markus' attention was on the stuff on the ground. At first he didn't notice her hand. But when his peripheral vision picked it up, Markus' was quick to grab her hand and turn it so the knuckles were facing up. Markus' lips would briefly touch the backside of her hand. "The pleasure is mine." He knew he was a bit over the top gentlemantry and sugar coating it. But, there was no harm in playing around a little. He would let go of her hand with a coy smile. She told him that her weapons were stowed away in her home, a wise choice. Knights tended to react much harsher if people were armed. It was a lot safer to be in Syliras unarmed. But he was curious as to what weapon she used. "Thank you." Markus said. "This is indeed a great place for contemplation and reflection." He took a look around and looked at the things. Those before him. Those who had one day been in his situation as a squire. She asked him if he had been curious as to what she had been writing and he could only nod. He had been very interested. "Really? I can see? Awesome!" The young squire exclaimed as he reached out to accept what she was handing him. He took a look at the notes in the journal. Work sites? Was she a treasure hunter? "This is very interesting. Are you a historian?" Historian. The real word escaped Markus' tongue. The more respectful term for a treasure hunter. He would trace her notes with a finger. He had a great interest in the past history. Especially of that of Syliras or the knights.

[Grace]

The touch of the squire's lips on the back of her hand was not unwelcome, surprising, but not unwelcome. It had been some time since she'd been on the receiving end of such pleasantries, as he released her hand she was thankful that he hadn't come away with a mouthful of dust and dirt as would usually be the case. "A gentleman.." She made the comment quietly, almost reflectively as she watched him, her gray eyes taking in every movement he made. In the smile he offered when her hand was released, she caught a slight pause of interest at the mention of her weapons, she liked that, and his eagerness to look over her journal was even more appealing. Historian. The use of that word had tripped up many an acquaintance, but he spoke it with a measure of respect that was not lost on Grace. Perhaps his inspection of her notes would confirm the truth of his statement. "Yes." Her response was short and quiet. Her attention still caught by his interest in the scrawled notes he held, Grace always took moments of distraction to really observe the people she met, and the squire was of interest to her. As they stood together, the pad of her thumb absently moved across the knuckles of her hand. A gentleman. She cleared her throat as the hairs on her neck began to stand and spoke before she did something careless."Do you enjoy history, Markus?" Snapping out of her wandering thoughts, she smiled, taking the book when it was returned. "There is much history here, had I not found my place out of the city, I'm sure I could spend a lifetime here and never know everything there is to discover." While awaiting his response, she crouched by her things, carefully replacing the journal, her movements were measured and smooth, using no more energy than she needed; For a 'historian', she moved like a fighter. Turning on the balls of her feet, she rose from the ground, straightening the large glasses on her nose. That same smile still curled his mouth and she wondered if he even knew it. Over a few moments, that smile became reflected on Grace's full lips, and a flash of mischief colored her eyes. Before he had a chance to answer she chimed in once more, her voice richer than her appearance would let on, lips curling around every syllable she spoke. "Your duties as squire must leave very little time for other pursuits. Like.. history." Her smile changed from coy to something a little more mysterious, and she watched him with all her attention, interested to see if there was intent behind his courtesies, and how they may involve her.

[Markus Andres]

Markus finger stopped abruptly when she asked if he enjoyed history. He nodded and smiled when he sensed she wanted her journal back. He felt like hanging on to it because he wanted to read her discoveries, but he handed it over to her with a simple tactful thank you. Her place outside the city? She was not native to Syliras or did she not study the history of syliras? Ah, naturally. The city of Syliras was limited compared to the knowledge of the old world. An encyclopedia of knowledge buried out there. Grace moved, much like how Markus saw female squires move during combat. With a certain fighters grace. Was she a knight masquerading? No. That would be quite a dishonorable act and thus something Markus would not, or rather, should not consider knights doing. Markus was very intrigued by her movements and she managed to intrigue his curiosity quite a bit. "It varies. Sometimes my master leave me little time for non-related hobbies and then there are the times where he let me decide my training regimen." Markus had, through the years, noticed that Markus often suffered in the master-guided training, if he decided to slack during the self-training periods. Perhaps one of his master's ingenious ways to make Markus more disciplined. "And yes. I very much enjoy history. There is a lot one could learn of the past." The young squire said with conviction in his voice. "But I care mostly for the history of the Syliran Knights, their... our history intrigues me." He laughed a bit nervously. Feeling he was being awkward by expressing his interest in the past so passionately. "But if you're up for it, we could go get some breakfast and continue our talk?" Markus offered the Historian.

[Grace]

Grace noticed how closely the squire was watching her. Was he trying to figure out where she trained? A smile took its place on her lips as he returned the journal with the smallest amount of hesitation. "If you wish to look on it more you need only ask." She tucked the book into her belt, adjusting it to make it comfortable to carry. "Perhaps I should focus some of my attention on you knights, pardon, would be knights. I could discover what makes you tick." She bent to gather her things, thinking that her presence in this place ought to be short lived out of respect for the idea of the garden, but then she heard his question. "Breakfast, I.. yes, that would be lovely." She nodded, just as her stomach voiced it's support of Markus' plan. Her eyes lowered to the ground, and a slight flush or embarrassment rose in her cheeks."I'll defer to your choice for breakfast, perhaps you can show me a place where the food is really good." Markus could not know it, but he'd stumbled upon Grace's weakness, in spite of her lithe movement and muscular body she could match the intake of any man if the food suited her. She could be disarmed to the point of distraction in the presence of something she craved. So the invitation to breakfast was the perfect vehicle to get past at least some of the defenses Grace had created for her own protection;Couple that with a love of history, and Markus was ahead of the game without even knowing it. Holding her journals and maps hugged to her chest, she turned to the squire, gray eyes bright with the anticipation of good food and the continuation of good conversation. "I will follow your lead."She blew lightly at a long strand of blonde hair that had slipped into her eyes, casting it aside with a puff of breath. "Have you always lived here?"

[Markus Andres]

Markus smiled when she agreed to have breakfast with him. He loved the squires and enjoyed eating breakfast with them, but variety flavored life. Markus pondered for a moment. He knew of three places to get food. The first was the tavern, where the food was alright, but not necessarily good. The Golden Dragon however, the food there was better, but the place was hardly the best place to bring a female companion. The White Swan Inn. But there was a minor problem. Markus, having just been out for a run, was hardly in the best clothes for such a fine establishment and he hardly carried the coin for such a place on his person. "I have a place in mind, but I hardly think they would admit a lowly squire wearing his jogging clothes." Markus said with a grin and a glint of humor in his eyes. "So I would have to return to my dorm for a quick change of clothes. I promise it won't be much of a detour." Markus explained. Smiling a little at how she protectively hugged her possessions to her chest. Odd behavior, Markus thought, perhaps as odd as bringing a bastard sword for a jog. Markus grinned at the thought. "No, I came to Syliras when I was ten. I am originally from Zeltiva" Markus said in an Zeltivan accent. He could switch between the two at will, but he had long ago abandoned the Zeltivan one in favor of his current and commonly used Syliran accent. "How about you?" Markus asked, his Zeltivan accent having disappeared.

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Markus Skills Interrogation- 2 XP Seduction- 1 XP Running- 1 XP Philosophy- 1 XP Lores Grace (Partial) Paying Respects Musings On History Other Shenanigans: Nope Grace Skills Interrogation- 2 XP Writing- 1 XP Seduction- 1 XP Lores Markus Andres (Partial) Musings On History Other Shenanigans: Nope Comments : Nice little social thread despite it being unfinished. Hopefully all the lores and skills make sense and if not go ahead an shoot me a PM.