Collab between [h1][color=39b54a][b]Tillius[/b][/color][/h1] & [h3][color=7bcdc8]Roxas[/color][/h3]

Upstairs on the second floor
[hr]

Her head shifted the slightest bit, as if to tell the next person to leave her alone before she paused. Her head turned further to look at Tillius before looking back to the window. [color=7bcdc8]“I didn’t like being questioned.”[/color] She frowned lightly to herself. [color=7bcdc8]“It hasn’t happened in nearly 100 years and it did not sit well, when I felt I had good intentions.”[/color] 

[color=7bcdc8]“I realized as I walked away, it was fairly childish to do what I did; by yelling at Gray Flame.”[/color] Her hand moved from around her leg and brushed some hair away from her face. [color=7bcdc8]“I will apologize to everyone tomorrow.”[/color]

She looked at him again with a turn of her head. [color=7bcdc8]“Did they ask you to come here?”[/color]

Tillius was prepared for a lecture, but she pretty much knew right away she was wrong. Saved him a lot of time and quite frankly he was somewhat impressed to hear. 

[color=39b54a]”Good. Credit to you for being self-aware of your own faults.”[/color] He didn’t really mince his words, but was fair when it came to it. [color=39b54a]”And no, I came up here of my own volition. I don’t want to see unresolved discontent. On a journey, it’s always more dangerous with discord than any monsters.”[/color]

The focus then ought to become just letting her sort her frustrations out herself. That’s not a big deal.

[color=39b54a]”You said you haven’t been questioned in nearly 100 years. Tell me more about it.”[/color] He said. [color=39b54a]”Where are you from exactly?”[/color]

Roxas gave a soft laugh. Her posture became more relaxed as she pulled her legs away to dangle versus scrunched up in defense. He was changing the subject, which was fine by her. [color=7bcdc8]“I’m actually from Alkaustar, but I moved after fumbling about for 100 years. It grew boring for me.”[/color]

She turned, so he could see her more, but she still had a view of the storm. [color=7bcdc8]“After wandering for a couple years, I found an out of the way small city and have been living there ever since; being one of two best adventurers and guides for newbies and anyone who needs help when they come through.”[/color] Her gaze moved to her bag that sat by the bookcase, as if she was remembering something that she had inside; likely a keepsake.

[color=39b54a]”Mhm.”[/color] He mused. [color=39b54a]”Not a bad start.”[/color] 

Also explained why she wasn’t used to being questioned. She might be the best adventurer there, but here everyone is at least several degrees experienced. 

[color=39b54a]”Boredom is a strong motivator, I will say.”[/color] Tillius continued. [color=39b54a]”I was an officer in the Westernant military. Retired, no drama, good relations with the general. But civilian life was boring, so I came here with you rowdy folks.”[/color] 

Another smile graced her lips at his profession of coming with rowdy people. [color=7bcdc8]”Rowdy, huh?”[/color] Her gaze moved down to the desk she sat on, fingers running along it. [color=7bcdc8]”Military is impressive; hence why you’re a light sleeper.”[/color] She swung around and hopped off the desk, moving to her bag.

She rummaged through it and pulled out a small wrap of leather. She pulled out a piece of jerky, taking apart a piece and then putting the wrap back. [color=7bcdc8]”I love adventuring and I love helping new adventurers. It’s fulfilling to see them win their first battle or sell their first materials.”[/color] She tore the jerky in half and moved to him, offering him as she took a bite of her own piece. She looked up at him, not all the way tilting her head, looking through her lashes.

[color=39b54a]”Everybody starts their journey somewhere.”[/color] Tillius bowed lightly as he took the jerky offer from Roxas. [color=39b54a]”Any particular adventurer that you remember?”[/color] 

The blonde elf gave a hum of thought as she moved and leaned against the desk now, crossing her ankles. [color=7bcdc8]”Ah! Rentt. He was a new one in town; a tank. He was having trouble getting used to using a shield and blocking attacks so his party members could get in to attack. In one of our jobs; he had gotten too flustered and caused an attack to happen to one of the others. He felt so sorry that he bought them something later because he felt so bad.”[/color]

A smile pulled at her lips as she told the story, looking up to him with a genuine smile.  [color=7bcdc8]”Those two married five years ago and have a child now.”[/color]

[color=39b54a]”Wow, nice lad.”[/color] Tillius raised his eyebrows as he munched on his jerky. [color=39b54a]”A happier ending than who I knew, that’s for sure.”[/color] 

Roxas’ smile faltered to a smaller one with a nod. She knew what loss of people she helped was one she knew well. She looked back up to him, chewing on a piece then tilting her head a little. [color=7bcdc8]”And you, Tilli? Anyone you were fond of?”[/color] She had subconsciously given him a nickname; likely just a habit with newbie adventurers.

[color=39b54a]”I do.”[/color] Tillius didn’t really budge with the nickname. [color=39b54a]”I met him just before crossing into Varenheim actually. He’s my former superior, Marcus.”[/color] 

[color=39b54a]”I could go on about him, but if you want a short story that tells all about him, it’s one when he one day saw a poor lad, a completely new recruit, scrubbing a stable all alone, all night. Marcus decided to give the guy double pay for that month.”[/color] With an air of reverence, Tillius narrated. [color=39b54a]”A few days later, both of us came to the same stable, and saw a dozen or so soldiers scrubbing the stables, all from the same company as that new recruit, by the way. So you obviously knew what they were up to.”[/color]

[color=39b54a]”Both Marcus and I saw that, and he said something like: ‘You guys should instead go and scrub each other in the bath.’, then left.”[/color] 

The elf chewed on her jerky as she listened to his short story. Her gaze lifted to him and she gave a laugh at the end of it. Her face lit up in the dim room. [color=7bcdc8]”He sounds lovely.”[/color] Her smile faded a little, before she took a deep breath. Her head fell back to look up at the ceiling. Her ear shifted slightly at the noises from downstairs before looking back to Tillius. [color=7bcdc8]”Thank you for talking to me, Tilli. Don’t feel obligated to stay up here anymore.”[/color] She turned and moved to the bookcase where her bag was, scanning the spines. 

Being up here by herself would likely be lonely, but she still didn’t want to go downstairs. She pulled one of the medical books and sat in the chair at the desk. [color=7bcdc8]”Feel free to tell them, if they will believe me, that I have no intention of stealing the items. They are safely back in their respective places.”[/color] She looked to Tillius and offered him a smile.

[color=39b54a]”If they would ask, then yes, I shall convey.”[/color] He too felt it safe to leave her alone. It seemed like everything worked out in the end. [color=39b54a]”It is a pleasure to help.”[/color] 

Tillius gave her a single firm handwave before backing away to the stairs and then descended.

Roxas waved back to him and went about reading the medical book, one of the few things she had been looking forward to when she saw the room and what was inside.