Soothing the Soul (Open)

[Nero Czan]

Nero smirked as they wound through the narrow alleys, his head turning to look at her as his legs found their way. "Damn, you caught me. You never know though... One second you may be right behind me, and the Next-" His words were quickly cut off as he dashed into a crowd, his top almost ripping as the soft, albeit strong, grip was no match for Nero's speed. Just as his words had fore-warned, he was invisible in the sea of strangers and nobody's, for a brief moment there was only solitude for his innocent companion, lost in an ocean of unforgiving men. And, as quickly as it had come, Nero completed his sentence, his words speaking from behind and over Ora's shoulder. "Poof." His playful smirk returned as he made a way through the crowd, the passerby's and merchants parting for his rugged charisma and tattered foreign attire. He looked make to make sure that she had not indeed gotten lost, and with a welcoming motion, took her inside the Stallion. He had always loved jokes. When Ora took her sip, and ended her curiosity there, Nero was slightly disappointed, but ultimately relieved. He chuckled and drank a healthy sip out of his mug to justify her. Smiling down at her as she began chowing down on her food, just as precise as when he had met her, he spoke, his words absorbing the cheery atmosphere and mixing it in with his own joy and pleasure. "Good. I'm glad you like it, just watch the Quantity. Oh, and Drinking on an empty stomach can cause some 'interesting' effects, so you may want to avoid that too." He put on his playful smirk as his voice took on a sensuous, almost drunk tone. "Although... It's always more fun like that..." He laughed, the bartender walking away in order to stop himself from joining Nero in his camaraderie. Nero began casually eating his meal as well, the food gratefully settling into the pit of his empty stomach. It had been a long day, for the both of them, and there were only a few other occasions as tiring. One came to mind, and was immediately repressed, however, not the one that many expected, let alone knew. He refused to even acknowledge it, and refocused on his food, forcing all negative and unnecessary thoughts away. "So, I hope you had fun today Ora. I do try my best to entertain my companions, although it may not be much." He chuckled as he scratched the back of his head nervously. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time he actually shared anything of his, and it was just money. The food wasn't his work, made by his hands, or even chosen by him. It was just food he paid for. Everything he showed her had belonged to someone else, and all he did was play tour guide. And he had enjoyed his tour with her, much more than he imagined.

[Ora Sa'vina]

The young Konti found herself panicking when Nero vanished into the crowd, she looked around frantically, standing on the tips of her toes to try to see over the people around her. Her heart pounded as she tried to make her way towards where Nero had vanished, she called out his name, when she suddenly heard his voice over her shoulder. Relief spread through her life fire, she exhaled deeply and frowned at him, her fingers returning to cling onto his shirt. "Please do not do that again," She requested with a small pout.

Violet eyes moved from the food before her to Nero. "Interesting effects? Like what?" Her fingers held a piece of bread lightly, her eyes remaining on Nero. She thought about it for a moment, deciding to eat more of her meal before enjoying anymore ale. The piece of brown, soft bread in her hand was moved to her mouth where it was carefully chewed and swallowed. After the piece of bread was down, she took another sip of the ale, a bit more this time, she let it linger on her tongue, trying to better understand its flavor.

After finishing almost half her plate, the young womans attention moved back to Nero, she smiled at him and nodded. "Yes, I had a wonderful day, thank you. It was better than I think you realize." Her attention moved to the drink before her, she had already emptied a fourth of it, still unaware how it would effect her at the rate she was consuming it.

After another sip, Ora blinked a few times, looking over at Nero. "I feel... Dizzy?" Ora looked worried, dizziness was never a good thing to her, it was usually followed by vomiting. "I hope this is normal." She muttered to her lap, her fingers rubbing the side of her head.

[Nero Czan]

Nero simply told Ora, "You'll See..." as the only answer to her question. And it turned out his words were all too true. As expected, her curiosity was not so easily defeated, and in-between thanks and kind words, she was continually sipping away at the heavenly alcohol. Nero had already finished his ale by this point, and was biting off chunks of bread, a finishing touch to a disappeared meal. He looked on with his own curiosity as she ingested more and more 'booze,' his mind carefully watching for any symptoms of her first inebriation. He felt as if this was some sort of initiation for her, and in more than a couple ways, it was. After he reviewed his relationships, there had not been many people who he had not met or discussed with, over a drink or two. It was almost assumed that one was a drinker, or simply had been drunk before, if he/she was talking to Nero in the first place. This would be an interesting night, and once again his mind had to fend off the comedic temptation of a double entendre. With a sincere smile, half of it resisting a hearty laugh, Nero laid his head down against the bar-top, in order to lower his vantage point. He let a chuckle slip as he began speaking, his words carrying an insinuating tone of 'I-told-you-so.' "Yeah... That'd be the first stage of it. Also the most annoying. My solution has always been to drink more, but I haven't the slightest idea with such a petite woman." Nero had never been one to be truly worried about consequences, at least not in a drinking circumstances, and with a smirk, egged her on, eager to let her let loose for at least once in her life. Plus, he may even be able to get into a bar-brawl if anyone felt 'flirty' tonight. He always loved those kind of fights, as his drunken opponents, as well as his own usual slight inebriation, allowed for a simple and formless fight to seem intense and exciting through his mind's eye. Nevertheless, he put his mind back where it belonged, and, his arms hesitating to pat her on the back, simply gave her a thumb's up as he once again began his role as tour-guide, this time through the wonderful adventure that is Intoxication. "Relax, and just enjoy the night. You can go back to being polite and quiet tomorrow." He chuckled, that being the only true advice suitable for the moment. He left out the vicious hangover that followed one's first night out, for good reason. She'd find out eventually, after all.

[Ora Sa'vina]

Ora took his words with a grain of salt, she had no reason to worry, he had been taking care of her all day, there was no logical reason for her to doubt him. "I suppose I will." Her hands moved towards her drink, picking it up to take a sip again. Her mind wandered while she drank, feeling a slight fuzz in her brain, like accessing her own thoughts through a net. She thought over her future, her trip to Riverfall, a frown crossed her face, she would be leaving everyone she would meet in her time here, maybe to never see them again. Her eyes dully watched small bubbles rise from the side of her mug.

"What will happen if I drink more? Will I not just become dizzier?" She looked at him, confused, while she was confused, she couldn't help but let a small smile rise on her face. "Well, I hope I remain quiet and polite." Ora said quietly, she truthfully did, she would be highly embarrassed to make a loud, rude, fool of herself.

The woman continued to sip at her drink and within 15 minutes it was half-way gone, a frown gracing her face. "I am still dizzy, and now sleepy." She looked over at him. "I do not think I enjoy this alcohol as much as you do." Her fingers left the mug, one rested on her lap, the other moved to play with a lock of hair, her eyes moving to look at him. "How long have to lived here?" She asked rather suddenly.

[Nero Czan]

Nero let out a slight sigh of relief, her drunken revelry seeming to abandon any chance of an incident. If all went well, she'd just pass out, and no harm would be done. As much as he had hoped for an interesting show, he realized as time went on that he would have to deal with the after-math, and Nero didn't usually care for work that could be avoided. "I'm sure you will Ora. You're sweet to the core, and that's really all this stuff does. It just peels off the layers of one's personality, the one's that some people spend their entire lives creating." He was content with his subtle definition of the effects of intoxication, and as he reflected on his carefully and swiftly sculpted analogy, he chuckled at the precise truth in his words, and remembered how often he had seen the vile drink wreak it's havoc on every aspect of one's life. It was something he had grown to pity almost, having to live a lie. It was almost as if one was simply not alive. Sure, I may know exactly who you claim to be, and everything about her, but who are You? If anyone at all... Nero shut out the memory associated with this internal ranting, his mind refocusing itself on the situation at hand, his eyes watching for any potential change in his companions behavior. He chuckled, her eyes starting to cloud and droop a bit. Her explanation was not necessary, it was the second dose of the drink hitting her, it was up to chance how she would handle it. What took him by surprise was her question. As far as he could recall, there had recently been no mention, or even suggestion, of his time in Syrilas, let alone him at all. Nevertheless, he answered her earnestly, slightly reluctant to possibly offend her in her extremely sensitive state. "Well, that's a Good question... I first arrived here when I was only eight or nine years old, but i've gone off quite a few times since then. If I had to say, I'd put 9 years total that I've lived in this city. The number was only a rough estimate, but one he could manage with, and one not too far from the truth. He had lost track years ago, amongst the myriad of his ventures out into the wilderness for sabbaticals, and trips back to his ancestral home. He smiled down to Ora as the ambiguous feeling of Cyphrus breezed momentarily through his soul. He had at the least shown this woman something he was proud of, and by her pure face, she had truly enjoyed it. There was nothing more that he needed to do, and his eyes reflected his tranquil joy, the contentment of his unique mixture of pride and modesty. A Fun Afternoon, I'd say. Let's see how it rolls on...

[Ora Sa'vina]

The young woman watch Nero as he spoke, explaining what alcohol did to a person. After he had finished explaining she sat, her eyes lingering on his face before moving to her drink to contemplate what he had told her. What a curious effect. Her eyes moved about the bar, looking at the various strangers, she imagined them peeling away the barriers they had built up to expose themselves as who they truly were.

Ora looked back at Nero, her fingers lightly tapping her mug. "And what are you like under your layers?" She looked at him, her face was void of any real expression besides a small amount of tiredness that was seen in her eyes. "I suppose I will find out for myself?" She smiled at him, her attention moving to her drink for another sip.

Ora enjoyed listening to Nero, he had an entierly different viewpoint on the world from her, he had seen much more than she could even hope to see at this point. "How did you live at such a young age?" Ora was confused on how a child would be able to survive in such a large city alone. Her curiosity was apparently peaked by this substance she was consuming, Ora was unaware of how many questions she was bombarding her companion with.

Her eyes moved to look back at her drink, consuming another sip before she asked another question. "Have you ever been to Riverfall?"

[Nero Czan]

Nero took another sip of his delicious drink as he contemplated her question. He sat for a few moments in silence, his eyes looking past the mug that lay before him, as he came to the uncomfortable realization that, after all was said and down, he was not exactly the White Knight that he hoped to be. His sarcastic attitude towards life had gotten him into countless situations, most of which unpleasant and damaging, and his vaguely romantic womanizing had done even More harm in the past. Sure, he was always looking out for the little guy, saving the occasional damsel in distress, and as polite as a party-host, (At least compared to his environment), but deeds do not simply cancel out. He was no Saint, that much was sure, and if he was any kind of Knight, his armor was tainting piece by piece. There was one character aspect of his that had been overlooked though. Due to his casual modesty, he had considered his hopeful and almost contagious optimism as almost a flaw. Too often had he showed weakness, only to be stabbed in the back by what he thought was a changed man. Yet there was something inside, that urged him to keep moving on. Each day, it pushed him forward, striving to encourage the best in him, and to make that best even greater with ever step. Now thinking out-loud, he had his answer. "An endless journey of self-struggle and self-betterment, mixed in with a dash of Adventure, a spicy romance, a pinch of chivalry, and a bit of insanity. All wrapped up in layers of politeness and a smart-ass smirk." He smirked his playful grin to her as he gazed into her vibrantly elegant eyes, a touch of affection invading his expression. "That's the gist of it at least. You'll have to unravel it yourself if you want to find out the rest." He chuckled, raising his mug for a moment in cheers, as he downed the rest of it. The influx of energy from his 'revelation' took a good amount of interest from answering her second question however, and he came up with an answer that should be succinct, at least for a brief summary. "I traveled the main roads that led out from the border of the Cyphrus fields. I preyed on small-game and ate herbs off the road-side, basically on a trial and error basis." He chuckled as the distant feeling of food-poisoning reacquainted itself for a brief moment. "It was interesting. Then, I stumbled upon this grand city, and began a little exploration. After a week of surviving off the surrounding fields, a bunch of pompous nobles decided that it was best for me, and a 'Great Honor' that I be taken in by them and cleaned up. Taught to be 'civilized' and what not. I learned quickly that they had only taken me in to improve their own standing in the public eye, and I made it a mission of mine to cause them as much trouble as possible." He smirked, once again the feeling of those long since forgotten days came back and breezed through his mind. "It was a fun time. But one I usually don't mind forgetting. I have enough happy memories to remember, I don't have time for such dull and annoying ones. I would consider today one of those worthy of memory." He smiled his caring and playful smile, turning around to lay his back against the bar-top, a relaxing support for a relaxing evening.

[Ora Sa'vina]

Ora slowly drank the bitter-sweet drink the tingled her senses while Nero spoke, she thought over his worlds with a small smile. The young woman felt the truth through his words, her smiling eyes moving to meet his eyes. “A spicy romance?” She asked with a playful ring in her voice. “Who was she?”

"I am sorry," Her eyes moved to look at the worn wood of the bar. "I should not ask questions when I know better." Her gazed moved to look at him for a short moment, her hand reached out and lightly, she touched his shoulder before moving back to her drink.

As he moved to lean against the bar, Ora returned to drinking, there was less than a fourth of the mug left, and the effects of the drink were in full swing. Ora was, at the core, a curious creature who devoured any knowledge or tales presented to her, the alcohol was making this part of her more than apparent.

The young woman’s mind wandered to thoughts of her childhood, living along the shore, her Mother close almost always, a lonely but fulfilling existence. Ora wished to experience half of what her Mother, the courageous Konti, had.

Ora’s right hand moved to her waist, slender white fingers lightly traced the outline of the blade that rested there. So many questions left unanswered, bedtime stories could only fill in a few of them. Ora continued to drink, finishing the drink and setting it down with a thud.

[Nero Czan]

Nero coughed, a bit of awkward phrasing clogging his mind. Perhaps he had used the word romance lightly, even though he had had a very meaningful relationship before, the one's he was referring to were not quite so. He had meant that part of his self as a vice, not quite a virtue, but perhaps it would be best not to explain to her his almost lecherous tendencies. It was, in truth, due to the fact that most of his time in the city now-a-days was spent in a Tavern, and his clothing had often attracted the curiosity of many women. After that, All Nero had to do was use his usual charm and smooth words and he had himself a bit of a "spicy romance", as he had called it. Yeah. She's better off not knowing. Hell, if all hell breaks loose, she'll have to find out for herself. Shaking off the countless meanings of his last stray thought, Nero refocused and cleared his throat before answering. "Just a friend I had met on my last trip to Endrykas. Her name was Naomi, and she was a traveling entertaining, with an interestingly fascinated take on Nature. Needlessly to say, we hit it off easily. After I had shown her the tall grass that glimmered in the heavy sun, we were... 'Interrupted' by a pair of Zith. Annoying Bastards..." He chuckled, a slightly apologetic smile running through his expression for a moment. "Excuse my language. Anyways, after that, I had spent a week or so in the infirmary, and soon after, I offered to teach her some basic fighting moves, and it was Fun. I got a bit side-tracked about half way through, and we-" Nero had chuckled when the memory came back to him, of his "Lesson," however, he let the laughter cover himself as he cut his sentence short. He usually didn't talk about such personal matters, let alone to a woman, so leaving out certain "parts" were a bit rusty in Nero's experience. "After that, I accompanied her to Ahnatep, all the way across the bloody Desert. What a trip that was. Right as we arrived however... She vanished. And that was the end of that. The Gods usually aren't fond of me having long-term deals, and I've grown to accommodate that." He smirked, not caring about the phrasing now that his mug was empty. "I'm just waiting for a certain someone. Or rather, a certain type of someone. Until then, I'm happy living my life, my way." Nero took a moment, before realizing he had forgotten the original question. He let out a cheerful laugh as he apologized. "I'm sorry, I've gone and rambled on again. In short, Romance may not have been the right word. Romantic perhaps, but in a different sense..." He gently put his own hand atop of hers, with a gentle smile, her soft warmth joining with his for a brief moment. He smirked to her, a bit of surprise that she managed to drink all of that without incident. "Anyways, don't worry about it. It's great to be curious, don't let anyone persuade you to change yourself... It'll be your biggest regret." He smiled earnestly at her as he took her mug into his hand and looked it over. "As I said Ora, you never cease to impress." He laughed as he handed the two mugs to the bartender. Nero had not expected her to be still conscious on her first night. He kept forgetting she was not the same as him, in many ways. His mind continued as he began to think out-loud. "A Konti body must be as calm as the soul it holds. It's definitely as beautiful. It's as soft and smooth as it as well. Maybe that's it..." His voice drifted off as he realized his actions, and with a chuckle and a nervous apology, Nero's voice came through. "My apologies, the alcohol seems to be making me think aloud. Thank god it doesn't do that too often." He smirked playfully at her as his comedy hopefully covered any further embarrassment she may have had, and his mind grinned back at the constant truth of his words. Things may not go smoothly, in any point, if he often spoke his mind. Not smoothly at all...

[Ora Sa'vina]

Ora watched him as he spoke; his laughter was out of place, as he told her of Naomi. Ora listened with a small smile on her face; it was hard not to smile with his continual laughter. Happy, half-glazed eyes smiled up at Nero as the young Konti’s slightly slurred words left her lips. “Do not be sorry, I enjoy stories, even awkward ones.” Her eyes moved to look around the tavern, the crowd was slowly growing. “If you accommodate to the Gods, then you must distance yourself?” Ora asked, a tinge of disappointment and sadness gracing her face.

A smirk, much like Nero’s crossed her face. “You broke your word.” She teased. “You said you wouldn’t touch.” Ora laughed, her eyes closing for a moment while the chuckles left her mouth. “Do not apologize, I instigated it.”

The young woman listened to him as she leaned heavily against the bar; the alcohol was starting to hit her pretty hard. Ora thought over his words, she had no intention or reason to change her curiosities; she was living for herself now, why would she change? Her eyes grew heavy, and with a quick, but clumsy motion she rubbed them open.

Ora’s attention moved to the man next to her as his sentence trailed off. “I think I have learned what alcohol does to you… It makes it hard for you to finish your thoughts.” She smiled and laughed again, she was finding a great deal funny. The young Konti smiled and shook her head before she continued to speak. “You are quite an interesting fellow, Nero.” A drunken smile rose on her face as her blushed cheeks smiled at him. “I greatly enjoy your company.”

A frown crossed the woman’s face as her hands moved to her stomach, an odd sound left her lips before she spoke. “I do not feel very well.” She said quietly to the bar. The grace and balance the woman usually had, seemed to vanish as her forehead slowly leaned forward and hit the bar with a soft thump.