Singed Spirit (Rogus/Minerva C)

[Rogus]

Rogus through himself to the ground, scraping his knees on the rocky surface. He'd ran for what felt like a day from that fiery hell whole of a village. He had finally come across a stream flowing through the rocks and rubble of a Bern hillside. Dumping his head under the water, Rogus nearly took a blissful gulp before remembering his mother had taught him not to drink from streams and creeks. He took a moment to savor the cold water rushing over his skin and through his hair before resurfacing to breathe. He panted, trying to catch his breath. All the smoke he inhaled should be losing effect by now, of course his running hadn't helped the situation. Rogus collapsed and watched the clouds move overhead, resting, hoping no one would see his pitiful display of exhaustion. The bandits had no doubt failed, simple brutes were no match for Ilian forces on the ground and in the air. Especially when they were completely unexpected. Georg wouldn't be pleased, but he doubted the man would blame Rogus. After all, he had been doing his part when everything hit the fan, yet Rogus hadn't even seen Orland or his men.

Rogus had even tried to gather some supplies after he fooled the Wyvern rider into believing he and the mage woman were innocents. It was to little avail of course, the woman had burned the city down, and Rogus was caught in the smoke as he tried to escape. He lost track of the woman, silently hoping she had perished in the flames for irony's sake. He checked the pack at his side, held by a thin cord of string to his shoulder. He hoped the meat he managed to grab, and the other small goods were still there... Nope, just a blackened loaf of bread and a pair of apples. No doubt the meat fell from the pack during his escape, a shame. He had planned on making a sandwich.

At least I'm still alive... He sat back up and rubbed his wet hair. I suppose resting here wouldn't be a bad idea... He wagered lazily. He removed his boots and rolled the legs of his trousers to his knees, a process that took far too ong than it should have. He placed his toes into the water, testing it. When the cool liquid immediately soothed his aching digits he submerged his legs up to the knees with a long sigh.

Damn, ain't this nice... He glanced around and saw the smoke far off in the distance and grinned. Nobody would find him up on the wooded hillside, even if they did he didn't care; he didn't look like a bandit. Just a refugee or a traveler resting from his escape from a bandit attack.

[Minerva]

Minerva moved steadily and confidently through the undergrowth, following the broken and disturbed brush until she came into a clearing, seeing her quarry in front of her. Gus.

"...You."

Minerva moved forward, standing behind the man as he dangled his legs in the water.

"First of all, you dropped this when you went racing past me," she said, holding out a slab of meat. Why would he grab meat?! "Secondly, well, what are we going to say? How do we get out of this mess?"

Minerva sighed and then dropped the meat on a rock, slumping down next to the man. "Well, that went badly."

[Rogus]

Honey! You brought dinner! Rogus burst into a reassured fit of laughter. The woman had survived, good for her! She brought food too, what a helpful lass. Rogus took a few moments to end his laughter, and glanced at the woman with an approving look.

Things only go badly when you think they do. He grinned and pointed a finger toward his head, In my opinion things are going quite well, wouldn't you say? He looked the woman over with the grin firmly stuck to his face. Suddenly, he shrugged closed his eyes and laid his head back against the stone. He seemingly ignored her other questions, as if she hadn't even asked them. Rogus took a few deep breaths, he was still trying to recover from inhaling the smoke. To her, it would probably look like he was just being lazy, but Rogus didn't care; he wasn't about to admit to his weakness until it had already passed him.

Did you happen to see a blue clad thief while you ran? He asked after a few moments of regaining some of his composure. He was slightly paler than he should be, and sweating slightly. Indicators of sickness sure, but who wouldn't look sick after running for as long as he did.

[Minerva]

"I'm not 'honey' to you. I'm not... affiliated with you."

Sighing deeply, she idly summoned a flame and watched it flicker gently.

"No. I haven't seen him... Near, right? Did you know him?"

Holding the meat gingerly with her fingertips, she let the fire caress the meat, browning it and cooking the slab. She wasn't helpless... She could cook, clean, and all the other 'womanly' tasks... But the cult of domesticity just wasn't her sphere.

Extinguishing the flame, she set the meat back down on the rock.

"Oh, dear, dinner's ready," she mocked in a voice dripping with sarcasm and distaste.

[Rogus]

Rogus laughed, she wasn't "affiliated" with him? She fought for the same group as he, worked with him briefly, if that wasn't affiliation then Rogus wasn't a thief. Unless of course she mean't romantically, in which case "Affiliation" was as subtle as one could be. I guess darling and snookums are off the table for pet names as well? He snickered and looked back at her with a mischievious look. He knew that might set her off, but he wasn't worried about being burned to death with water so close on hand.

He's... a friend. Rogus's grin flickered slightly, barely enough to notice, but it was clear her answer worried him. Hopefully the sacaen made it out and in one piece.

Eat up then, 'dear', I'm sure you didn't prepare it for my benefit. He smiled he sounded humble like he missed the obvious sarcasm, but in truth it was a jab at her obvious distaste of him. He took his feet out of the water, and lounged back. The woman was so warm and open the first time they met, but he had been right about it being an act. She wasn't too bad to look at even if her attitude was sarcastic and distant.

So tell me, what's a pretty young thing like you doing working for a group like mine? He asked after a brief moment of silence, Surely it couldn't be for money, i bet you had plenty of rich pig suitors who'd pay for your expenses in whatever place you're from.

[Minerva]

"...shut up."

Minerva noticed that the sketchy looking guy seemed... Worried, maybe, about this Near? Huh. She thought sneaky guys... Well, thieves... It was clear he was a thief... didn't like each other much? Hmm. Odd.

Hearing the man's reply, she looked at him with a slightly incredulous look on her face.

"You think I'm going to eat a whole slab of meat? Excuse me, I'm not heavy or anything, you insensitive cur!"

Minerva stood up angrily, beginning to walk away when she heard Gus's last question.

"Hehehe, money's not at all a factor. I've got plenty laying around where I came from... Suitors, yes, those as well. Honestly, Gus, I left because I didn't want to be a housewife. I can't stand the thought of washing and cooking and drying and sewing and embroidering and sitting around doing nothing and being dependent on some man for everything.

So I decided that I wouldn't succumb to it."

[Rogus]

Rogus feigned offense at Minerva's reaction, putting his rght hand to his chest and putting on a shocked face. Inwardly, he laughed at her obvious insensitivity about her weight; he hadn't even implied that insult. He also held back a less than appropriate joke, but he'd save it for a later date.

Insensitive cur? My poor girl I'm ashamed you'd think of me in such a way!

Her explanation to why she detested marriage made Rogus reflect on his past situation of multiple possible arranged marriages, he wasn't too keen on the idea either. This train of thought flashed a picture of the brand searing his skin when he was banished from the Lycian League. He, quite obviously, flinched and put a hand to his shoulder that bore his mark of shame. He quickly recovered, but still pulled his short sleeve downward to hide it even further.

Those are just duties of a wife in the popular sense. The man normally works, while the woman tends to the home. Thats not all marriage should be dumbed down to be... Call me a romantic but the issue with suitors and arranged marriages is that neither have any flame, nor passion. He replied soberly at first, then with more flare and gestures.

Believe me, I understand your dislike for the whole ordeal. But succumb to what? Boredom? Or are you afraid of intimacy. Rogus grinned at his last words, shoving his feet into his boots and rolling his trousers back down. While leaning over to do so, his sleeve moved just slightly up, revealing just enough of his brand to show the bottom of the scar.

[Minerva]

"...You should have some shame. Stealing things to make a living? That's a detestable profession, if you can even call it a profession. I'm honestly a bit disgusted at that."

Minerva listened with an eyebrow raised as the man went on his little rant about passion and flames and marriage. Then he taunted her with the thought of intimacy... Mmm. She thought back to Nax... And their discussion on flames and fire. And the wonderful new world Nax had shown her afterward.

"No, Gus. Not afraid of intimacy. Not afraid of the flames... Fire doesn't burn me. I'm afraid of the stuffiness. My fire needs air and space to burn and glow and live... And I'm afraid that if I settle down, I'll suffocate."

[Rogus]

Ryuzaki had once said that everyone saw thieves as lower than dirt, the scum of the earth. He never really cared to believe it, nor cared about the sentiment until the bandit dared to think she was his better solely based on his skillset. And when Minerva called him disgusting simply because of his profession he became more than a bit angry. He held it back, he wouldn't allow himself to make his only company murderously ashamed, but he would let her know how hypocritical she really was.

You ignorant minx... You fight alongside bandits and for money, name what the hell is better about banditry than thievery, hm? You murder, you destroy homes, and you steal everything people hold dear. He shot back, calm in demeanor, but his words would sting like the worst venom even more because he didn't even raise his voice. He knew she'd be taken aback, as long as she was still the same woman.

Call me disgusting, call me detestable, but don't you dare think you are above me because you don't know how to pick a lock, or a pocket. You burned a whole village down Minerva, I gave a woman a bruise. He pointed at the smoke filled sky far off in the distance, staring her down with the most even and blank expression he could manage. With this gesture and his movement his sleeve rose above the scar. It was nearly entirely in plain sight.

I don't hear me calling you disgusting because you destroyed homes and possibly murdered innocents. In fact, you're beautiful. He stood, and walked toward her as he said his final comment on the matter. He lost his cool at this point and finally raised his voice, scowled, and gritted his teeth. He stomped one final step, and found himself within a foot of the woman. He was breathing deeply from his outburst, and quickly regained some composure.

Sorry I am so close... I didn't mean to suffocate you. He said in barely a whisper.

[Minerva]

"..."

Minerva honestly couldn't respond to Gus. She had no words to express how she felt. It was as if she suddenly could see his point of view. His side. She began to understand the plight of the thief, although she did resent being called a bandit. She only came along for fun, for goodness sake.

And as the man came in close and said his final words, she felt herself inexplicably drawn once again. She was powerless to run, powerless to summon any flames to repel him with,and powerless to resist her attraction to this scruffy man with... A noble's brand.

Minerva sort of melted forward into the man, her head coming to rest awkwardly on his chest as she hugged him.

"I'm sorry."

Drawing back, she regained her composure, and stared at him, launching another question.

"You... You're no honest thief, are you...? You're a noble too, Gus. What...? Why...? And most importantly, how?"

[Rogus]

Wait... what? He expected at least a slap... but a sincere gesture of apology speckled with something Rogus could only call attraction was entirely unexpected.Hey-- oh... um, apology accepted. At first he had expected some kind of full frontal bear hug attack, but that was utterly ridiculous for one, and the fact she hadn't tried to throw him to the ground for two. He was too flustered with anger and forgiveness conflicting, and responded like an embarrassed child.

He experienced a brief moment of shock, too surprised to participate in the embrace, but aware enough to hear her question afterward; which came with even more surprise. He turned instantly red as a ripe tomatoe at the mention of the word "noble". Glancing at his shoulder then back to minerva, he slowly and delibrately lowered his sleeve back over the brand. He furrow his brow, and frowned at her discovery, but admitted he had blundered by not being aware of its visibility. It hardly mattered in any practical sense that she knew, but he was still ashamed by the permanent mark of his punishment.

I'm not a noble. He replied dryly, anger was gone and now the need to run was almost past its breaking point. She asked quite a few hows whats and whys, and the fact he had little desire to speak of it added to his rather unfair answer. Normally he'd have played it off with humor and lied that it was a practical joke played by a friend or some other hogwash, but this was twice in quick succession he'd been caught off guard. Rogus couldn't find the right excuse to dismiss the brand.

[Minerva]

"You are a noble. That's what that brand signifies. They kicked you out, didn't they? What did you do...? Steal something? Kill someone?"

Minerva looked at the man with increasing bewilderment, her guard rising back up and her hackles raised as she narrowed her eyes.

"Why can't you be honest with me? I know that that's a brand from a noble house... Usually reserved for criminals. So you're a criminal. And your posture, your composure... You utterly reek of noble. So you're a criminal noble?"

[Rogus]

Fine... You want honesty. My name-- My real name, is Rogus , I was the heir to a Lycian city's throne. He Folded his arms and looked up at her, he couldn't really sound any more ashamed, I'm sorry I can't tell you which one. He unfolded his arms and rolled his sleeve up to show the whole thing.

See this pattern? He traced it with his opposite hand's index finger, It means "corruption". Rogus explained, If a lord pardoned a criminal for a bribe, embezzled money from the league, or affiliated themselves with criminal activities of any kind they are given this mark. He left it at that, prefering not to go into detail of his infraction to the rule. He did continue however, surprisingly.

After they threw me out, I used my talents for thieving to prevent from starving. This last part was half a lie, after all he mainly did it to entertain himself, being intelligent and schooled enough to become a physician for any noble in bern or ilia.

There. Now forget you heard anything... please. He gulped out "please" as if it was something he avoided like the plague, really there was nothing wrong with the word, he simply detested begging. And begging he was, pleading really, in one to keep it a secret, in the more subtle one for her to not think of him as such.

[Minerva]

"Rogus, hmm? That's by far a nicer sounding name than Gus. Much classier. I approve."

Minerva listened to the rest of the story quietly before responding to him in a soft voice.

"I'm not going to tell anyone anything. What would I have to gain from that? And plus, you could've just turned me in... My father would have paid you handsomely. Then, he would've shipped me off to some stuffy estate..."

Maybe the two had more in common than what first met the eyes...

[Rogus]

I'm so glad you approve of my name, milady. He half smirked, changing his somber attitude to that of a joking one. It actually felt good for someone to know that actually understood. Rogus realized his air of mystery was at least somewhat intact so he was somewhat pleased with the outcome. She mentioned her father, adding to his relief that someone had a similar experience in a sense. He didn't know exactly what she meant, but it was sufficient enough to know she had probably ran away from her own responsibilities. Of course, he had been downright selfish and rather unfeeling when he acted against his own parents in part to rebel as teens do, but quite simply he was bored with the routine and daily chores that would only multiply in the future. Leaving out the other un-desirable factors of nobility such as an arranged marriage and other dreadful things, there was enough for Rogus to justify his choice to a like minded individual. In the future, if they ever spoke again, he'd likely tell her more if she asked, but for now he was tired of speaking on the matter.

In fact, he was downright tired. He nodded, and went back to where he'd been resting. A nap would do him well to get moving by nightfall. Rogus un-fastened his cloak and draped it on the ground. Everytime he removed the cloak, he felt almost naked, exposed. He never really knew why, but for some reason he thought about the ridiculous number of belts he wore around his waist (9, all in different positions) in an insecure "Is that weird?" sense.

I need some rest, don't kill me in my sleep or something... He thought that would be enough to end their discussion for now, but felt compelled to say one last thing, Minerva, I'm glad you happened by, all things considered it was a nice chat. He laid down, closed his eyes and waited for sleep to come. Judging by his breathing she might be able to tell he wasn't able to drift off.