Open [Soothing waters] Strange Company.

[Irathia]

"What Alex said..." Irathia said... Is my blue arm really that weird? I mean I understand why someone would be interested in it... It's not everyday a person sees a woman with a blue arm a pointed teeth. Irathia thought about the herbs Lynn sudjested. Maybe she will try it later, after the bath and probably a hours worth of sleep, based on how it usually is. Irathia felt her face get a bit hot as Alex offered to wash their backs. "That wont be necessary, Alex." Irathia said as she lowered herself into the water. About to the point where her chin was being hit by the small waves that formed from all the movement in the water.

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn smiled happily as Alex explained the word poignant, then rolled her eyes as he explained why he was being caution. "Form locked races are so weird." she said, shaking her head as she crouched down into the water so that only her head was above the water before laughing as he complimented her. "I'm a novice with a good teacher. This was just a remedy I happened to know." she said, her tone rueful as she spoke.

When Garland explained Irathia's arm, the viper nodded. "Ah, I see." she said before laughing at the offer of a backwash. "Don't worry, Alex, I took care of that. Learned to wash my back while I was traveling." she said, smiling at him as he seemed to be trying to focus. As Irathia also declined the back wash, the Dhani turned her attention to her. "I gather you're a squire as well. Are you new to the order like Alex, or are you a more established member?" she asked, her voice curious.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex had almost reformed his mind palace again when Ira spoke out about having her Arm. Not really all that weird. Though Lynn’s response was one that he was almost a little surprised to hear but only a little knowing her as well as he did thus far. “Lies Lynn, you’re a really good herbalist. Best I’ve met anyway.” Alex smirked with his eyes still closed now sitting up out of the water slightly so his body was now covered from the middle of his waist down. Exhaling slowly as he tried to re-centre his mind slightly. Slow breaths and a calm tone. Though luckily both of them had declined his offer. Somewhat good because now he’d looked a little like the gentleman in this situation. Offering to do the gentlemanly thing.

He didn’t want to open his eyes. Primarily as he was so much taller than the two women with him and if he glanced down he’d see more than he intended. Slowing his breath he spoke. “I find it kind of odd that all three of us seemingly ended up here at the same time… Strange co-incidence.” He smiled a little now fully debating within his own mind as to whether or not to pen his eyes. Neither of them had asked him why he had them shut so he just assumed that neither of them minded him being there. But what if he opened up? Taking that gamble and trying to calm his nerves he opened his eyes and looked at Ira buried up to her chin in the soothing waters. From how lynn had reacted the whole time he assumed she didn’t mind too much and swung his head over to glance at her. Also buried up to her neck in the waters. And a wave of relief hit him. He’d been worrying for nothing. Letting out a small sigh he leant back against the side of the bath again.

“So ladies mind if I ask you both a question. How are you finding it in syliras?” An honest and innocent enough question. However now he felt the steam of the bath against his bare chest. The mottled bruises and dark patches. He looked down slightly and only just noticed the minor muscle definition. Having been a twig most of his life this was actually pretty awesome.

[Irathia]

Irathia shrugged. "I am squire, I am not sure if anyone really knows me." Irathia said... She wasn't sure what to really say, Ophelia knows her, and Alex as well. Some people her and there now her as well, but she assumed she wasn't well established... "Yeah..." She said. Irathia looked at Alex as he asked about what they think of Syliras. "Better than where I was." Irathia said simply, not trying to make the answer all fancy or long. "Really safer compared to the last area too..." She said. She sunk lower at that point and pressed her back against the wall. She also found her self hiding the scare on her side.

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn just grinned and shook her head when Alex said she was lying. She knew better than to think she was a really good herbalist, how could she possibly think so when she knew how much she had left to learn. But she didn't answer, knowing there would be no convincing Alex of that until he had enough experience to realize how little she really knew compared to how much she had left to learn.

When Alex said that all three of them being there was a nice co-incidence the Dhani just laughed. "And just think, if I hadn't stuck my tongue in your ear, we might never have started talking." Lynn grinned as she spoke, though she just smiled at Alex when he finally opened his eyes again. She really didn't understand why form-locked races got all hot and bothered about not wearing clothes. She'd have assumed humans were body shy if other races weren't the same way, so she guessed there was another reason for it.

"Oh, Syliras is all right. The squires are nice, the cities easy to get around, the forests are quite rich in both game and herbs, and I like my job. The winters suck though and some of the actual knights have absolutely no manners at all." she said, shaking her head at the end. She hoped that Garland, Arch, Alex, and Ira stayed as nice as the were now when they became knights. She'd hate to lose friends.

"And I know you now too, Irathia. See, you're starting to meet the really important people already." she said to her new acquaintance, her tone more joking than not. She did notice the other womans sudden change in attitude and cast about for a change of topic before noticing the scar on Alex's shoulder. "Hey, Alex, how did that happen, if you don't mind my asking?" the Dhani asked, poking the scar in question, though she had to stand back up to do it, so that she was only waist down in the water.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Having now sat up in the water keeping his lower half submerged and enjoying the soft contrast of the cooler air over his chest. He heard Ira speaking again. She wasn’t well established like him. Then again Alex had been quickly making a name for himself spread throughout the order. Although it was mostly amongst the squires and this was all completely unknown to him. Taking a small moment to think before she said yeah she responded to her. “It just takes time Irathia, I’m still working on making my own name within the order. Slow and steady going.” A small smile across his face now as he finally felt he could relax a little better. Ira pressed herself now tighter against the wall. And seemed to crumple up like he usually would. Lynn then spoke mentioning that if she hadn’t stuck her tongue in his ear this conversation would have never happened. Her words were honest but he could still feel the strange sensation in his ear.

“You’re right Lynn but that was still unnerving on a person who isn’t paying attention.” Her follow up and Ira’s seemed to co-inside with each other both liked the city and felt it was a nice place to be despite the cold and certain knights. “Yeah a few of the knights can be a little…Unfriendly however they do have the best intent of the city at heart.” He smiled a little more. Finally feeling relaxed and at peace. His guard dropped a little and then something nearly made him jump out of his skin, with a loud slash just out of the corner of his eye Lynn emerged from the water and poked him in the shoulder mentioning the scar on it.

Instinctually he snapped his head around to face her. And almost instantaneously wished he didn’t. His face flashed red, in almost a quarter tick. He’d turned to face her and gotten more than he’d expected. And good to know her skin was smooth at least down to as far as he could see. His mind now drawing a small blank he took a moment to compose himself blinking several times and trying to focus on her face, which given the downwards angle was fairly difficult.

“T-the scar is from an incident a while back. I got shot in the shoulder by a stray arrow. It wasn’t that bad it came out cleanly but the healer which saw to me almost told me that I could have lost the function of the arm.” His eyes now briefly torn away from her to look at the scar over his shoulder and try to refocus his mind. And calm himself down. He honestly wasn’t sure what to do or say.

[Irathia]

"Pretty much everyone has scars." Irathia said. "Also you might want to sit down before you cause Alex to explode." Irathia looked at Lynn. Irathia was staring at Lynn as she sunk under water, getting her hair wet."Though some might not be physical." Irathia said, rising out of the water once more.Irathia closed her eyes, giving out a sigh as she stretched her short body out. Irathia leaned her head back and started to think a bit more. "Though it sucks that you were shot, Alex." She commented, her eyes still closed.

[Suresslynn]

[ooc]Sorry it took so long, I've been ill.[/ooc]

Lynn was quiet as Alex reassured Irathia about her progress within the order. After all, she wasn't exactly in a position to talk about making a good impression with the knights. When Alex mentioned her tongue being in his being unnerving, she just shrugged, entirely unrepentant. "Think of it as practice. Focus on what you're doing, but be at least somewhat aware of what's going on around you at all times, and you'll be safer when you have to fight, I would think." she said.

Then came his comment on the knights, bringing a sarcastic snort from the viper. "I'm sure they do. As long as you believe that they're omnipotent godlings who better at everything and anything, they have the best of intentions. Otherwise they treat you like a maggot they just found crawling in their dinner." she said, her scorn evident in her tone before she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I'm being mean. I know there are good knights. It's just that the majority of them that I've had any real contact with...which admittedly means two out of three, are the kind of people I wouldn't trust to guard my siblings eggs out of fear they'd get offended and break them."

And then Alex did his best impression of a tomato as he answered her question. "Ugh, arrows. Those flared heads are just cheating...although being venomous, I suppose I can't really talk." she said, shrugging before focusing on his face. "Is something wrong, Alex? I mean, humans aren't really supposed to be that color. Are you sick or something?" she asked, her concern for her friend evident in her voice.

Then Irathia asked her to sit down before Alex exploded, causing the Dhani to pause in thought before she did just that. "Right...human. Would it help if I pointed out that I'm a reptile, not a mammal. That I lay eggs, not have babies. That help cool you down?" she asked, sounding somewhat amused before she looked back at Irathia. "Physical scars are nothing to be ashamed of. Would it help to think of it purely as a reason to grow stronger?" she asked, her concern once again evident. Though Irathia's comment about Alex's wound brought a wry grin to the Dhani's face. "Could be worse though, Alex. At least they didn't try to eat you."

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

oocNo worries Lynn, just hope you're feeling better

Controlling his mind at this point became a task and a half. Considering the angle and height difference. Closeting his eyes for a second he tried to refocus. Irathia was right. Scars were something everyone had. Some more than physical. Allowed had a few which couldn’t be seen but were definitely still fresh and fairly sore. Alex sighed a little the colour I his face starting to fade with the closure of his eyes. “Ira, you’re right. Not all scars can be seen, and the ones which cant are the ones which hurt the most.” Trying to refocus Alex herd Lynn’s voice cut through the empty space. Think of her distracting him as a way to practice focusing? He nodded slowly.

“Yeah it would be good practice if I could keep my eyes open…” His words soft as usual but shaky, a line of embarrassment to them but Irathia’s words for her to sit down before he exploded was preceded by the sound of rushing water running up. The comment of him being human was followed by a comment about her being a reptile. Helping him cool down was not going to work in this situation. Eyes still closed he lifted his hands to where his brain last remembered where she was. He was going to attempt to place his hands on her shoulders and gently lower her back into the water. “Knowing this helps by head but it doesn’t help my body’s reaction. But I appreciate the sentiments.” A small smirk appeared on his face eyes till closed.

The comments about the arrows and it sucking getting shot now filtered into his head as his brain began to digest the information,. Since it was no longer distracted by Lynn’s figure. Though her comment about being venomous was something that still occurred to him. “I can’t really say much either. After all my weapon of choice is my bow. And At least it wasn’t a poisoned arrow right?” He smiled fully now. “And your right Lynn, at least they didn’t try to eat me. Though there was that one time in nyka…” Letting that thought slip through his mind he shook his head. “Another story for another day.”

Then her words about the knights caught his attention. Out of three knights she’d found that the two she’d met weren’t exactly great. Alex sighed knowing which two she referred too. “I hear you there Lynn. Ser Iros and Archilist right? Archy is a little…Straight forwards but he means well. But Iros…I think he just doesn’t know how to hold back his impulses.” Alex sighed. And stood up out of the water now stretching his back. The water only up to his thighs without him sitting down. “A small pool of results doesn’t equal a whole Lynn. And circumstance matters. For example we met on good terms didn’t we?” He opened his eyes again and gave her an honest and sincere look. Flicking his eyes back over to Irathia.

“I’m pretty sure that Irathia isn’t too bad either is she Lynn? Most kngihts I will admit are a little high strung, but given the amount of training and work they do…It’s not surprising. Then you have the ones like myself and my patron. Ser Greyheart. He’s a nice guy. And one of the only reasons I haven’t been booted out of the knights yet.” A small look of sadness plied his face now as he sat back into the water letting it raise up and over his abdomen.

“Still though, I hope you have some better encounters with Knights in the future Lynn. And hopefully if I finally become a full one, you’ll be able to call me for help should you ever need it.” He now rest his back against the wall. “And Lynn if I ever find myself fighting in a bathhouse. I’ll be sure to remember the “help” with focusing.” He joked a little now seeming to ease up a bit.

[Suresslynn]

Lynn cocked her head to the side in curiosity at Alex's comment to Irathia about scars. She didn't really get how invisible scars could be worse than visible ones, but then it was pretty clear that the two squires had suffered more in their lives than she had. Then Alex commented that knowing she was an egg-laying reptile didn't help much, bringing a teasing grin to the Dhani's lips. "Perhaps it would help more if I reminded you that I'm old enough to be your great-grandmother? Hell, I'm probably older than your great-grandmother now that I think about it." she said, her tone getting thoughtful at the end before she shrugged it off.

Then Alex took his guess at the two knights she was talking about, only getting half-right before trying to excuse their faults, causing Lynn to laugh. "Iros, yes. But not Arch. First off, he's still a squire. I was talking about Iros and Maximus, actually. Though I think Maximus might be hard of hearing. Would explain his shouting. Was more talking about Iros, honestly. He was the first full-fledged Knight I met. As for Arch, he was the first Syliran I met period. And frankly, having fought both against and alongside him, there's nobody in Syliras I trust more." she said, her confidence her Pycon friend showing in her voice.

"And yeah, we met on good terms. But I met Iros on fairly good terms as well. That being said, I trust squires as a whole more than the knights. You two are both fairly good folk in my opinion, and Garland's a good sort. Hot headed and doesn't always think his way through things, but good nonetheless. And I already talked about Arch." she said, then snorted as Alex said his patron was the only reason he hadn't been kicked out. "I'm beginning to think you have self-value issues, Alex. Even if you lack training, you've got drive. They'd be more foolish than even I think them to kick you out." she said, before shaking her head again.

"And yeah, I figure I'll eventually meet better knights, or at least I hope I will. It's just...first impressions, you know?" before laughing at his bathhouse comment. "Hey, last year I wound up wearing a blanket I purposely fouled while carrying two monster-ified Pycons and transformed into my Dhani form to chase panicky Syliras citizens out of a burning bazaar. You never know what may happen." she said, still laughing before she looked over at Irathia. "But I'm sure all this banter must be boring you, Irathia. So...is there anything you'd really like to learn how to do or anything?