[center][h1][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180428/81179b260873ea5d7d2bb904afb80c77.png[/img] [b]& [color=00aeef]Chres Sansus[/color][/b][/h1][/center] [hr] Chres arched his eyebrow in amusement, paying the fancily dressed man half a glance. [color=00aeef]"Not a stranger, you say?"[/color] Chres said, opening the curtains and closing the door behind them. The room became pitch black save for moonlight shining in from the window. The lack of light made it easier to see out the window, but it also left Sil's form dimmer than usual, making her barely visible to the naked eye. [color=00aeef]"Quite the sweet talker, are you?"[/color] Chres said taking a seat by the window. It wasn't the most ideal place to keep watch. If he had it his way he would have men stationed outside, kept hidden. [color=00aeef]"Perhaps even a heart breaker?"[/color] Chres smiled fondly as he reminisced on his own youth of skirt chasing and love making. As he stared out the window, at the odd green moon shining in the distortion's purple night sky, he thought about the trail of tears left in his wake. It lead him down the road he took. The marriage that defined him. In the end, it was his heart doing the breaking. His tears in the making. Chres's smile slowly faded from his face as he began to unconsciously finger his wedding band. Realizing what he was doing, he stopped himself. [color=00aeef]"If we are lucky, tonight will be just as dull as you suggested... Fortunately for you,-"[/color] He said pulling out his flask, filled with lemon flavored water, and uncorking the top. [color=00aeef]"I know a few ways to pass the time."[/color] Chres took a quick swallow of the water. Then, catching Octavio's eye, he gave the man a friendly smile and offered him a sip. [hr] [color=gray]The softly darkening room brought with it a greater sense of stealth to their actions, reminding Octavio of his past heists and adventures. It had gotten to the point where being in the dark instinctively made him more alert rather than the opposite, a quirk that would have been funny to share if doing so wasn´t completely suspicious. Chres had responded to his theatrics in a similar tone, making him feel at ease. Octavio didn´t dislike Chres, but he certainly thought less of those who were friendly and oblivious to the hardships of life. However, in the small time that they had met Chres had proved him wrong as no stranger to adversity, which left Octavio to ponder what it was that kept the man so friendly. Chres had offered one answer in the form of a flask. He accepted. The flask´s citric flavors made for an interesting and refreshing experience, even with his muted sense of taste. [color=#dde0c7]"Shockingly delectable. But then again, it might just be fatigue clouding my thoughts."[/color] He made his way over to his high quality leather bag and withdrew a large bottle, to reciprocate the offer. [color=#dde0c7]"They call this fine wine Bloodwater, made by the same family for generations. They say it was so rich that it staved off the cravings of their kingdom´s prince, who was covertly a vampire."[/color] Octavio wasn´t sure if the tale he had overheard at his last gathering was truthful, but it sounded interesting and nothing mattered beyond that. When it came to captivating humans, truth was one of the least important tools that were required. Although it was a premium wine, it would taste the same as any other wine to him so there was no point in fretting over details. He offered it to Chres, having made no serious effort to perform his role as a guard.[/color] [hr] Chres chuckled to himself. [color=00aeef]"Not quite the reaction I expected."[/color] He said with, a calm smile. Carefully, Chres took the bottle in two hands. [color=00aeef]"From a land once ruled by a vampire, you say? Now that's something I haven't seen before... You know, were it a year ago, I would have been intrigued enough to want to venture out to such a land... Now, however..."[/color] He paused, smiling sadly and eventually shaking his head. [color=00aeef]"Funny how quickly things change..."[/color] As careful as before, Chres handed the bottle back to Octavio without taking a sip. [color=00aeef]"You're quite the funny one, offering wine to a man who no longer drinks... Tempted, though I am, I fear I should restrict myself to the taste of flavored water these days."[/color] He finished, emphasizing his statement with a smile and another sip from his flask. [hr] [color=gray]Out of all the possible things Octavio had envisioned his conversational partner responding with, revealing that his flask had flavored water and that he didn't drink alcohol hadn't been one of them. He had just assumed that it was some sort of weak beverage and was surprised that there were people who willingly avoided alcohol. Then again... if this man relied heavily on concentration or had frequent run-ins with trouble, it had made sense to avoid ingesting anything risky. Octavio smiled. [color=#dde0c7]"You abstain from drinking alcohol? I've seen plenty of strange magics today, but that somehow astonishes me just as much."[/color] He gently placed the bottle back where it had come from. Being the only one drunk during any sort of event was in general a terrible idea. He thought of his earlier heists when he had first discovered alcohol and quickly suppressed the thoughts. Chres had slowly begun to reveal more of his character and had proved to be a bit of a veteran when it came to danger. Octavio knew that everyone in this party had more or less been chosen for their prowess, but it had still managed to surprised him that he´d been somehow lumped together with such people. He had felt the opposite of what Chres felt. He had considered himself to be a flight over fight kind of combatant, but if recent events proved anything it was that he was just as capable of holding his ground. Not with the same amount of grace mind you, but enough to be alive and consider getting drunk. It was the little things in life.[/color] [hr] Chres chuckled again at the man's words. So he hadn't noticed that it was water then? A tad odd... [color=00aeef]"Yes..."[/color] Chres nodded in agreement. [color=00aeef]"Yes, I suppose it is strange..."[/color] [color=a2d39c]"How come you never offer me a drink from the puddle filled bottle?"[/color] Sil asked, hovering between the two men. Her form looking almost ghost-like in the darkened room. [color=00aeef]"Because,"[/color] Chres said [color=00aeef]"when somebody offers you a drink, it always ends up in someone's face."[/color] Sil 'hmmmed' to herself, spinning upside-down as she did so. [color=a2d39c]"That does sound like me..."[/color] She said thoughtfully. [color=00aeef]"Yes... yes it does..."[/color] Chres sighed. He took another sip of water. He then sealed up the flask and pocketed it inside his shirt. [color=00aeef]"Octavio, I believe I promised you a way to pass the time."[/color] Chres said, reaching into his travel pack. He pulled out a circular wooden board and a pouch filled with square tiles colored black and red. [color=00aeef]"How about we play a few rounds of The Senses?"[/color] Chres asked setting up the board with the tiles from the pouch. [color=00aeef]"You at all familiar with the game?"[/color]