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[color=orange]"My blood-kin all bit it while I was still on The Keening, so I'm stuck here with nothing to do but sit in this [i]taudis[/i] and spit it with a bunch of these whoresons, heh."[/color]

It wasn't a very nice feeling to hear that Lein had lost his family too, but his nonchalant tone when speaking on it - together with the feeling of not being alone in having such tragedy in his past - helped Lucas to mask his pity and keep up a fairly up-beat expression on his face.  Not to mention, the foul mouthed archer-knight's array of language.  Lucas knocked his tankard against Lein's in salute, not at all noticing that what spilled on the table was definitely [i]not[/i] ale.

[color=6ecff6]"The Iron Roses are your family now, old buddy, and don't you forget it,"[/color] he said to Lein.  Sergio's response was short and sweet.  Fleuri's a little longer.  But both essentially gave off the same sentiment.  Family was far away.  It must've been lonely for them all too, at times.  Lucas sure had felt the feeling creep in some nights, when he was alone in his quarters.  He had a sudden urge to try and cheer them all up, but suppressed it, for it wasn't very manly to get all mushy.  This was a time for drinking and merriment, after all.  Still though, he would be mindful of their moods in future, and perhaps (like a bull in a china shop) try and lift their spirits in a time of need.  [color=6ecff6]"Stay out of my pockets, eh,"[/color] he warned mirthfully to Lein, who Lucas had just realised, had scooched up to him moments earlier. He made a show of sliding his chair a few inches away as a joke.  But it also wasn't exactly a joke.  Growing up in the circus, Lucas had known a few pickpockets.

At the remark about learning from Fleuri, Lucas piped up also.  [color=6ecff6]"Fleuri's a great teacher.  He knows everything about everything when it comes to swordplay.  And he's good at wording it so it goes in the thick skulls of folks like myself."[/color]  He grinned at Fleuri.  [color=6ecff6]"Still, I hope I can continue to amuse the goddesses, cuz I've got a better chance of [i]that[/i] than learning how to fight fast enough to keep myself alive on the battlefield.  I almost got skinned a few times, if it weren't for good luck. Fleuri saved my life in that first ambush too."[/color]

Lucas downed the rest of his ale, standing up and offering to buy a second drink for all before going and grabbing himself another.  At the bar, the bartender asked,  "What's this about 'griffin riders?'"

[color=6ecff6]"Oh it's just Sir Lein being silly, really..."[/color] and Lucas proceeded to tell him about the battle to take down Jeremiah's bandit camp, giving the details also about Lucas and Fleuri's wild decision to mount the griffin and nearly get themselves killed.  He decided to leave out the part where they garnered [i]minimal[/i] advantage from the situation, and simply ended with the fact that Dame Serenity delivered the final killing blow.

[i]"Reon,"[/i] the bartender was aghast.  "Well, Sir Lucas, that's quite... mounting wild griffins...?" he was flabbergasted.  "You Iron Roses sure are something."

[color=6ecff6]"Sounds a lot better than it actually was, probably,"[/color] Lucas replied, laughing nervously and running a hand through his hair.  [color=6ecff6]"Main thing is; the rebels are finally done and dealt with."[/color]

As he left the bar, he heard the bartender start relaying the story on to another newly arrived patron and Lucas gritted his teeth as he chuckled.

[color=6ecff6]"I. Will. Sleep.  Tonight."[/color]  He whistled a sigh as dropped back into his chair.  [color=6ecff6]"Took it outta me, that mission did.  I feel like I'm already tired [i]tomorrow![/i]"[/color]