Everybody bathes. (Flashback, Markus)

[Cassandra Marks]

Summer, day 20, 510 AV, Soothing Waters

Cassandra moved in determined steps, despite being very sore. She'd been at the stables again, practising with weapons in an empty stall. She'd outdone herself, but sadly worked much too hard. I only have myself to blame, I shouldn't be this weak, I should be much stronger and better by now. She entered the Soothing Waters, payed two silver and went to the left. She quickly undressed, refusing to take it slower just because she was sore. She left her copper necklace on, she had had it on for years now, and refused to remove it. She made her way to the communal pool, and sank in slowly, with a sign of relief escaping her lips. She was the kind that didn't care if she was seen nude, it wasn't her problem, like most Sylirans. She closed her eyes with content when she was fully submerged, excluding her head, which she dipped in the water shortly after and then looked around for anyone she might know once she had her head above the water again.

[Markus Andres]

Markus always felt strange when he did this particular exercise. It was push ups, with a twist. Rather than his feet touching the ground, they were touching the wall roughly 7 feet above ground. Markus was looking straight down at the stone tiles that made up the floor. His arms would slowly bend as his nose neared the ground. It put a much greater strain upon his arms as well as forced him to rethink his balance at the same time. When his nose was almost touching the ground, he pushed off again. His feet sliding up the wall as he did. He continued this exercise for another couple of chimes until his arms felt so sore that he hardly could do another one. But hardly did not equal impossible. But when he tried to one last push up, he could feel he did not have the strength in his arms. Rather than awkwardly fall on his face, he bend his right arm suddenly and threw his weight in that direction. His head tugged into his body. His shoulder would briefly touch the floor before he continued the roll forward and soon he stood safely on his feet again. There was no smug expression on his face, for when he had tugged his head into his body, a foul odor had reached his nose. His own. He quickly went in the direction of the soothing waters. He hated smelling, it was unfit for one of Syliras' finest. He paid the two silver mizas as he entered the soothing waters. Headed for the changing area and got undressed and put his clothes away. It was going to be great to get his body submerged in the water. Plus, there was another great thing about visiting the soothing waters. The naked ladies. It was great for a young man to have access to such a place. He walked along the edge of the water. He slid into the water and didn't notice that there was someone submerged under the water just 2 feet away from where he entered the water.

[Cassandra Marks]

Seeing no one she recognized, she instead looked to the closest person, a fit man. She eyed him briefly, before chancing to speak to him, not even trying to make her face relax from her usual angry countenance.
"You a ser? Look like one."

Being in Syliras, there was a high chance he was one, and she knew it could prove useful to be on the good side of as many knights as possible. Not only knights, in fact, other people too, but she was not exactly known for her social skills.
She drew her hand in her hair to take it away from her face, thinking she should get it cut shorter. She couldn't have it clog her vision, that was unwise in battle. Not that she was likely to end up in a fight there, but one should always be prepared.

[Markus Andres]

Despite the warm waters, Markus felt a chill go up his spine when he heard the voice right next to him, he turned his head and automatically looked down. For the voice had been female and Markus was used to towering above the fairer gender. But what he saw was not the face of the woman who had spoken to him. But rather, her chest. Markus realized that his eyes had lingered, perhaps for too long. His eyes went north. Barely noticing the copper necklace as the warmth rose in his cheeks. A warmth that had little to do with the water. But when he saw her angry features, Markus could not blame her. What had been her question. A ser? "Sorry, I did not mean to... stare... And n-no.. Not.. Not yet at least. I am still only a squire...." His mind was still trying to recover from the shock and embarrassment. A hand went through his hair. Trying to deflect the embarrassment by rearranging his hair. It did not help. He was not sure if he should just leave. But despite his warm cheeks, he was curious, why did the lady want to know if he was a knight. "Why do you ask?" He asked turning towards her fully. Realizing she was in fact slightly taller than him. Quite the surprise, but she was not as muscular, or it seemed that way, at least.

[Cassandra Marks]

Typically male, this one. Well, at least he wasn't obnoxious and cocky about it. She kept her eyes on his face, both because that's the polite thing, and because she wasn't interested in looking.
"As I said, you look like one, and this being the place it is, it's very likely you'd be one. You any good?"

She let her eyes take in his upper body, then looked up again, he seemed more muscular up front, definatly the knight-type.
"I'm going to apply, and I'm determined to become one of the best." She added, more as an explaination than a attempt to brag. Her goal really was to become one of the best, and she was hellbent on making it.

She raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. "You're not really smooth with females, are you? How old are you?"
Surely his blush must hint at his inexperience, which often came with youth, though she thought him a bit old for such manners. Though people often let their emotions control them, sadly. If only they could see the folly in that, they could grow better for it, but who was she to judge, really?

[Markus Andres]

Markus was taken aback by the bluntness of the woman. His still recovering mind picked up the compliment that he had missed the first time around. She said he looked like a knight! It was one of the greatest compliments one could give Markus. For it was the goal he had been training for so long to reach. That coupled with her next question put a confident smile on Markus' lips and stature in his spine, though the red color in his cheeks still lingered. "Yes." He answered simply. But the simple word had been spoken with confidence. Markus didn't just think he was good. He knew he was good. Her reasoning was soon explained. Markus titled his head, truly perplexed by the creature before him. He had not expected that she'd want to join the knights. His face serious as he looked at her within a new light. Her odd questions made a bit more sense now. But her approach was still quite odd to Markus. "One of the best?" Markus said incredulous. But as he looked into her eyes he could see the determination burn fiercely in those eyes. A smirk crossed his lips. "Looks like you and I will be having some spars then. For I do not intend to settle for being one of the best" His own ambition fueled his own determination and fortified his confidence. "I am seventeen summers old, soon to be eighteen and the name's Markus Andres, squire to Stern Mason." He offered her his right hand for a shake. He looked at her intrigued. "And you? Are you good?" Markus asked. Wondering if it would be impolite to ask the girl for a spar after having known her for less than a chime.

[Cassandra Marks]

She shook his hand with a strong grip, though not strong enough to injure. Though if he'd grimace at the pain it'd secretly please her, seeing him not so tough.
A cocky one? Overconfidence is one of the most foolish emotions, Cassandra knew. She was also pretty sure this Markus was at least decent in fighting, judging by his muscles, but she bet she could outmaneouver him. She resisted rolling her eyes at what she considered his testosterone-induced illusion of would be grandiure.

"Aiming to be 'the' best, and not actually acomplishing it for various reasons, is an affront to the people who've been, is and those who will be the best. You should aim to be one of the best, and make it. Then you can do your best and hope to be the best."

She delivered her little speech in a calm manner, if a bit reproaching.

"I'm Cassandra Marks, and I'm decent." She looked down at herself, then back up at him.
"Skillwise, I mean." She wasn't prude but she couldn't exactly call herself decent, as in dressed, when she wasn't, and so felt she should specify.
"I'll be better before I apply. It'd be.. embarassing to apply when I'm not even great." She eyed him, a challenge glittering in her eyes, before continueing; "Though obviously that's not a problem for you."

[Markus Andres]

She had strength, Markus could easily tell from her strong grip. But nothing Markus had never felt before. He contemplated responding in kind, but dismissed the thought. Not wanting to break her hand or hear her scream. Markus tilted his head a little and looked at Cassandra, not really understanding her rhetoric. Not understanding how he was insulting someones honor with his ambition. "We are honor bound to protect Syliras and the knights. It would be an affront to them if my goal was to be any less than the best." Markus responded. Still unsure what he spurred her on. But he mentally shrugged the question away. For the next part put a smirk at the side of his lips. She reminded him of Richard in a way. Always egging him on, always pushing his buttons and attempting to goad him into a fight. He might as well oblige the girl. She seemed to be wanting it. "Apparently not." Markus said with a dismissive shrug, all a part of an act. For despite being goaded, he really wanted a spar with the girl. Partly to set her in her place, but also because he wanted to see what kind of skill she had. "So, tomorrow around midday at the sparring area?" Markus just asked outright. No need to sugar coat something they both wanted.

[Cassandra Marks]

She decided not to get into a debate with someone who'd obviously never see it her way, for truthfully, not many did. Oh, he'd more control that he let on, it seems. Cass wasn't really all that surprised, she knew almost everyone had a bit of controll now and then. He did want to spar with her though, though he'd surely regret it later.
"If you're talking about a spar, sure, if you have anything else in mind I'll castrate you." She said calmly, just stateing fact. She was not one to come with empty threats, nor to threaten when she didn't feel it necessary. This was not one of those imes, so she just stated the fact. From her tone of voice, they might just be discussing the weather.
"Got any rules for the spar, or anything goes?"

[Markus Andres]

Markus was taken a bit back by the unveiled threat of castration should he make a move on her. It had crossed his mind initially, but then her persona had been revealed to him. Although she was attractive, perhaps it was just the nudity, but he was repulsed by her angry and uncaring demeanor. He tilted his face when she asked for the rules. "Normally anything goes... But in this case, I'd like to add a no castration rule..." Followed by a some laughter. Despite the unfortunate company, he still felt his own little rule was quite clever and funny. "I guess I will see you tomorrow then." Markus said, offering her his hand to seal the deal. Before he would step away and make his way to the edge and leave the bath. It had been a short stay, but he had washed all the sweat and likes off of him. And, he had gotten a ... date of sorts, for the next day.