What is Proper [Clair/Marle]

[Clair Feldsky]

As Clair had burst into the kitchen, being hauled out by her larger friend was not something she'd been expecting. Actually, that wasn't exactly what happened either. Once Clair realized they were going outside, she pressed ahead, matching Marle's pace.

Once they'd made it outside, she turned to the Captain. "What am I doing!?" Seeing that Marle was still suffering the after effects of the hangover, Clair modulated her voice down to something more bearable. "What are you doing? Kitchen patrol?"

Clair was incredulous. The very concept of an officer lowering themselves to kitchen duty in a common bar offended her.

[Marle Daviau]

They were now outside, to a fenced in area at the back. There really wasn't much point to this secret little place behind the inn, other than if this was where waste went, or the fact that lumber would be stored here to keep the fires going. Either way, it served a purpose today that was for sure. Marle's heavy boots crunched the snow underfoot. There had been some nosy girls trying to figure out what was going on, but Marle had given them a look, to mind their own business.

Once outside, Marle closed the door behind Clair, and then leaned up against it, so no one else may come in, nor may Clair leave without her express permission.

"Kitchen Patrol?"

Marle spat, almost laughing, though this was no time for laughing.

"No. I'm filling a role of forgiveness towards what happened last night on behalf of my men and me. This is apt compensation from where I cam from! One can make repairs with money, and replace stock or items lost with gold, but those can be seen as empty gestures. Volunteering to pay the innkeeper back with actual work is, in a way, a sincere form of a way to gain forgiveness. Mind, I am paying to replace those tables and chairs the men broke."

Marle's voice was light, but commanding. She could understand where Clair was coming from, but she would not be so...so arrogant just due to her title and position.

[Clair Feldsky]

As they entered the fenced area, and Marle held the door, Clair realized that she had Marle exactly where she wanted her. Backed up against the wall.

The pegasus knight crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow, shifting most of her weight to one leg. "... You're... Choosing this?" Well, that alleviated some of the anger she felt, perhaps because she'd thought that Marle had somehow been wrangled into this against her will. (She ought to have known better.) It also left Clair feeling a bit silly for how angry she'd been a moment before, though she'd not abandoned her opinions or her crusade.

"Well... that's a very noble gesture, but not everyone is as noble as all that, Captain." Clair made it a point to emphasize the rank. "This kind of work is demeaning. It's the sort of stuff that could damage your career. Leave a lasting mark. You don't want that."

"Besides, while I'm sure he appreciates your efforts to show him your sincerity, You don't need his forgiveness. Broken tables and chairs are a part of the job in his business, and he ought to know better than to even accept this sort of work from someone who's sole duty is to keep him and his safe."

Clair really did believe that this kind of work was demeaning, and, more, that it brought shame on all of Illia's officers, but she didn't have the heart to tell her friend that.

While Clair's core opinion's hadn't changed, her arguments were running out of steam, and being replaced by this Lance-Captain who had wanted to prove her remorse so much as to offer to do kitchen work for pay.

[Marle Daviau]

Clair might have thought that she was pressed against the wall, but Marle was there of her own accord. Everyone knew, that an animal backed into a corner was ferocious, no mater how timid it's nature might be. Marle crossed her arms as she let Clair sink into the knowledge she gave. Marle still wasn't telling all of it, because really, that was her own knowledge and didn't need to share it at all, even with her best friend.

"The work is demeaning if you think yourself above it. I may be a knight now, but I have never been a noble. I am not above this work. No one is. Not even you."

Marle rose a hand, and pointed at Clair with an air of authority. Though, when Clair brought up the topic of career damaging, she flinched, but not for the reason she might ave thought. Clair was right, possibly, from her stand point. She, or atleast her family name, was something of fame. Marle's was not. She had no lineage to follow.

"A leader pays their dues for their men's behavior. I am doing that with my service. I have an obligation to uphold it."

Marle relaxed off the door as she rubbed her head, a little frustrated now. Thinking it best to tell what really happened, now that she knew what actually did.

"Heres what happened. Mine, and Richter's men were gambling in the back, playing dice. They were all rather drunk, and one thing led to another, and a fight started. I, rather drunk myself, but still sober enough to do what I had to. However, one of the men was completely hammered, and tossed me onto the table, sending my back through it. In a way, I did contribute to the damages, and their men are my responsibility."

Marle rubbed her chin, and rubbed her eye, feeling like an eyelash had somehow fallen down.

"Have no doubt, they're all doing their part as well, when they wake up."

[Clair Feldsky]

The pegasus knight had no issue with the work in and of itself, having taken care of many simple meals in her own home. Her issue was what it represented to the world at large, and how a commanding officer doing that work would be perceived.

Never-the-less, it was Clair's turn to flinch when Marle brought up the need of an officer to take responsibility for her soldiers' actions. Something of the truth of this finally got through to the blond-haired girl, and suddenly, her defense of it not being "knightly" seemed rather pathetic. She still thought it was improper that Marle be doing this (officers were supposed to hold themselves somewhat apart, after all), but at least she could understand the "why" of it now. Marle was taking charge, and leading her men, even when not on the battlefield.

"Oh, you better believe they're doing their part. I'm never leaving any of them unattended in a bar again." Clair muttered this under her breath, her eyes narrowing at the reminder of the cause of all this, but then her voice softened again.

"I... wish I was as good an officer as you are. I'm sorry for all this. The men. I overreacted.... Are you alright? You broke the table?"

Clair laughed a little at the thought of her friend splitting the gambling table the night before. She kind of wished she'd seen that. It probably wouldn't have happened, had she been there, but part of her still wanted to see it.

[Marle Daviau]

This was another surprise! Marle had expected Clair to keep on with her argumentative way, but instead, she stopped, much to her relief. Marle did not like fighting unless absolutely it was a must, or for sport, especially not with her best friend. A sigh of relief was breathed, but she relaxed as well, now that the 'danger' was gone.

"Technically, they were not unattended, Clair, I was there afterall."

Marle fixed her hair, pushing the bangs out from her eyeline. A smirk worked over her lips, as she began to pace a little, though it was more of a walk around the little enclosure.

"I don't think you have to wish, Clair. You're already a great officer. A little overzealous, but your intentions are for the best. Before I left for Sacae, I was sent out on a mission, to see how well my leadership abilities were. My first real combat as an actual Knight. I led my force of green troops to attack a bandit hideout, and I barely made it back alive. Their leader was a shaman, who wielded a particular form of strong dark magic. My men were killed almost to the man, and I with them. I killed the shaman, but not before he almost killed me. I was...lucky..."

Marle took a deep breath,, and visibly shivered, remembering those dark magic orbs, in that wheel pattern as they launched at her. The memory was still fresh.

"For all my armor, it could not stop his magic."

Marle raised a hand to her forehead and started to rub slowly. That was the scariest moment in her entire life. Even more than the wyvern. That magic was something else...all magic when used against you was dangerous, but Elder magic, as shamans preferred to call it, was in a different league.

"I still haven't forgiven myself for that."

[Clair Feldsky]

Clair was skeptical over how well a drunk officer, even one who was still somewhat sober, could prevent riots like the one the night before. Clair thought that someone in full possession of their mental faculties could have prevented it, but that could be her merely being naive. Regardless, she said nothing about it. She didn't really feel like risking starting up another argument. Especially one as pointless as that.

Clair let out a small smile in appreciation of Marle's confidence, but she still needed to face her problems. Marle handled the army-civi relations masterfully. Clair hadn't even had to attempt anything like that yet: they'd only stopped in military camps, or forts in all her time on campaign. Since they'd begun encountering non-military personnel, she'd already decked one boy about her age (He had been quite uncivil), and threatened the innkeeper's business. She'd do well to adopt some of Marle's patience.

Marle's tale though merited more attention than wallowing in self-reproach. The shaman seemed to have had almost as strong an effect on Marle as losing her command to it. Terrible wouldn't even begin to describe the experience. Clair didn't know how to react.

The pegasus knight reached out a comforting hand, and touched her friend's shoulder. "I'm sure that you and your soldiers did your best." Clair said. It was a hard way to start command. She tried to be as gentle as she could. "I'd trust you, Marle, if I was under your command..., but it sounds like you needed more support."

"Just let me handle the magic throwing imps, hmm? That's supposed to be my specialty, you know."

[Marle Daviau]

Marle tried not to let the events of the past bother her. They did, but she handled them better now than before. Arthis had seen to that. For as much of a hardass as he was, he did her a favor with his odd kind of support. Her green eyes rested back on Clair, as she nodded her head. It was a good thing to know, but she had more confidence in her leadership now that she had some actual time with her troops, still, the sentiment was nice.

"Hahah! Yeah, I'll let you deal with them. I can't exactly close the distance as well as you on...is it Corona? I'm sorry, I don't remember anymore.."

Marle frowned. She could no longer blame the headache, since it was gone. She would thank Mavick later, but still, her trust in him would still be...a little shy of full.

"So, what exactly are you and Richter going to do now that you're back in Ilia, well, probably would be best to ask what you have planned, more than Richter."

[Clair Feldsky]

Clair smiled, pleased that Marle remembered Corona's name.

"That's right. Corona's got to be the strongest pegasus I've ever seen, and he's plenty fast, but it's more than simply getting close to mages fast. Proximity to pegasi increases magical resistances over time. Some of us have better defenses against magic than the spell-slingers themselves." Clair hadn't really been tested against magic yet, not much anyway. She didn't intend on throwing herself into the path of every incoming spell, but she did want to test her magical defenses sometime.

"So, what exactly are you and Richter going to do now that you're back in Ilia, well, probably would be best to ask what you have planned, more than Richter."

Oh.... What are we going to do... -Wait.... Clair wasn't entirely sure anymore. "Me? I hadn't thought too much about it. Richter brought us here to try and eliminate the bandits as you probably remember, but.... Well, I've got to report to someone in high command. I'm still considered a trainee, actually. A squire."

Clair's face soured a bit. The whole thing was really beginning to wear thin on her. She'd served as the Assistant Officer of Richter's troops, 2nd in Command, for over a year now, yet she was still, officially, lower than the lowest rung of the army in her own nation. Heck, she'd even managed to disarm Richter in a sparring match. It was past time for this issue to be dealt with.

"Other than that, I have no idea. Why do you ask?"

[Marle Daviau]

That was all very true. Clair had been gone a long time, and hadn't truly been raised above Squire, as far as the Ilian army was concerned...but it would be obvious to anyone that just by looking at her, she was indeed something much more than that! Marle brushed off her apron a bit, and though they were here for what seemed a short time, it was getting to be awhile, as far as a private conversation goes. Everyone must be wondering what was going...and...she wondered if anyone actually brought them their food yet or not.

"I see...well...I didn't have a real reason I suppose. Well, half true. If you want, there will always be room in my unit. Arthis will not be accompanying me any longer it would seem, and I could use someone I know, and someone experienced."

Marle's eyebrows seemed to lower in a look of anger, but it was at herself as she rubbed her face in her hand. Right now, she sounded like she was trying to steal Clair from Richter...and in essence, maybe she was. That wasn't right, to influence a friend from a possible...no...Richter said they were nothing of the sort.

"Sorry. I shouldn't be talking about this. We should get back. We've been gone for longer than normal."

Marle just offered a smile, and then opened the door, and went inside, keeping it open for Clair to slip through as well.

[Clair Feldsky]

Clair rubbed the bridge of her nose with her index finger as her eyes turned down somewhat. The offer was appreciated. Perhaps more than the knight could realize. With all of her confusion over Richter, and what she ought to do, it was a wonder that she was able to keep up a charade of full confidence. Marle was probably the only person in the area that Clair would be willing to "let inside."

"I...Thanks for the offer, Marle. I promised Richter my loyalty while we were in the south, but...." Clair's voice trailed off. "Maybe we can talk about something later, if we have the chance." The pegasus knight's voice seemed unusually apprehensive as she said this, but then she was following the stronger woman inside. It was time to get back to the rest of things.