Sigil — Roleplayer Guild

Keystone

Location: Crossed Swords Inn & Tavern
Interacting With: Sana, Nor, Femnal

	The itinerant brawler known as Keystone assaulted his first steak with arbitrary vigor. Fork met steak, steak met teeth, piece gets torn away and consumed. Seemed to fit. Now, once upon a time, the large man was of the opinion that forks and the like were to be reserved for special occasions. Luckily, his years of travel and training had exposed him to a slightly more sophisticated standard of living, and from many different cultural sources. Slightly. Hence the now common use of flatware. He expected a bit of hassle whenever he found his way back home for his newfound (if minor) refinement. Of course, he had progressed so very much since then, and he was already one of the best bareknuckle pugilists of his home city. Keystone could stomp the unholy snot out of anyone masochistic enough to so much as titter at him. 

	The first couple of bites down, Keystone decided to actually use a knife. He selected his favorite blade from the back of his belt, the large, bone handled seax that never seemed to dull nor tarnish. It was a masterful piece of work, and it did a masterful piece of work on the chunk of seared cowflesh on the plate in front of him. 

	Sana rattled off the probable locations of the rest of the group. So they might be a little while. "Right then. I'll try an' save 'em a steak or two. No promises." he noted the discomfort with which she was slowly taking to her mashed potatoes. "Ah, um... I can run in back and grab some broth, if that does it better for ya. Or, that gravy's a bloody meal by itself, Miss Sana." There was quiet concern in his voice, and he stood ready to move at a moment's notice. He still had at his steak, though, manners not being his strongest suit. 

	The actions of the previously unknown Dwarf struck Keystone as odd. Slightly odder was the best verbal example of "looking a gift horse in the mouth" that he had witnessed in quite a while, not including the last time someone gave him a horse and he actually asked how its teeth were. Not his finest moment. But just now, if seemed as if he were being accused of something. He responded slowly, maintaining the offered eye contact. "Best I can tell, these folk butchered an' restocked in short order, 'fore this place got sat on by bony frigs, yeah? Not a whole lot of folk left what could eat it, if'n they're dead or runnoft, yeah?" Keystone shoved another piece of steak into his mouth and nodded his head at the kitchen door, "Sodders back there? They left Femnal 'ere with a bloody scullery lad to handle everything by his lonesome, an' that poor bastich needs 'elp slicin' breads, he does." At this moment, the hulking culinarian would have loved to continue the staring contest, but he had a fried egg or two he needed to inhale. 

	With limited satisfaction, he noted that Femnal indeed did join them, and brought the beverages as requested. Keystone claimed a tankard of local ale for himself. He took a long pull before clanking it back upon the table nearby. A telltale bubbling sputtered from his stomach directly afterwards, compelling Keystone to turn his head to the side before a sizeable belch roared from his gullet; it lasted a mere three seconds, but echoed lightly in the mostly unoccupied public room. "Yeah, ah... 'xcuse." He looked to Femnal, "Many thanks for gettin' that stuff together for us all timely and whatnot, yeah? Couplea questions, though... One, I'm lookin' to provision what's left of my group for the 'Uge Soddin' Off Party what'll take us far from this place, whenever the right people get hammered broken an' bloody. You got tons back there. Giant metric wanktonnage, can be prepped for long use. We're gonna talk 'bout that." Another piece of steak down, followed by the large man ripping off a chunk of bread and hitting it liberally with whipped butter and minced herbs. The conversation he wanted to have with the Gnome proprietor was of a serious nature, but it was akin to a verbal fishing expedition. "Look, we've been out to Orc territory, yeah? I ain't thinkin' they're the ones what coulda woke up that much dead folks. Anyone here got that kinda pull?"

Black James(!)

Location: Building 7 (Rec Center)

	Fork in hand, chunk of meat skewered and halfway to his mouth, James listened to Sana's descent into wrath. He held position, frozen there with his mouth partially open as word after word spilled out of her, stacking together to form hate filled sentences. Perhaps he'd have to defend himself with that four-pronged bit of metal before she was done. Difficult to tell with that one sometimes. 

	The barrage of suspect conjecture continued for longer than he had expected. A scrap of pork fell from his eating utensil, quietly splatting on the plate below, and yet he still stayed frozen, mouth slightly agape, silent. It was like Sana was a T-Rex looking for an easy meal; maybe if James stayed very, very still, she would lose sight of him and go looking for prey to chew apart somewhere else. Thankfully, after a while of accusation and paranoia, she grew disgusted with his company and left the building, her plate of foodstuffs still sitting on the table, abandoned by its owner. 

	James kept his eyes on the door for several long seconds, just to make sure that she wouldn't be returning immediately. Eyes still locked on the main entrance, his left hand slowly slipped over to Sana's plate. It snaked forward atop the table, ready to spring back at the slightest hint of the angry woman's return. When his fingertips made contact with the edge of the round bearer of yummyness, he knew he was home free. James blatantly slid the plate over next to his own, wordlessly laying claim to the contents thereupon. 

"You know, she kinda right about one thing..." started James, around a mouthful of food. He gulped hard, suddenly realizing the lapse in table manners around Miss Sally. "Ain't like we was tryin' to set off Dick, but we expected somethin' might happen. Guess we didn't take the angry, racist sumbitch's feelings to heart." The look on his face, aside from the spot of gravy, hinted that despite personal misgivings about the man (of which there were several), he had a twinge of regret about that. James looked to the two elders, explaining, "And it ain't like the Cap'n was tryin' to show her off or nothin' to get him riled up. He was doin' the polite thing by her. Made an appearance, left 'fore it got awkward."

Trust me, I know Ash better'n anybody here. He's one of them distant, professional types. Ain't gonna mix business and personal kinda guy. Hell, I bet right this second he's just gettin' Thana settled in for the night." He motioned with his fork, then stabbed another piece of meat and shoved it into his face. He mumbled from around his savory repast, "Hmm. You wait an' see."

Ash & Thana
Location: Building A (Ash's House)

	The returned nudge from Ash made Thana glanced over to him, there was a smile on his lips which only caused hers to grow ever so slightly; it tugging gently at the corner of her mouth. A look of approval coming to her eyes. He was actually smiling, not a broad smile but soft and nearly shy in her eyes, just telling her it was something he hadn't let himself enjoy in sometime. Her own smile split to a light sigh as she spoke and looked back off towards the fire, speaking as if she was narrating a bedtime story. "And what happened, then? Well, in Newnan they say – that the Captain’s small smile grew three sizes that day."

	Chuckling to herself, Thana rested her head lightly on Ash's shoulder. Taking a moment to relax and enjoy the small victory. She doubted he would start walking around grinning from ear to ear outside of his home, he seemed the private type, but it was something. "See, told ya it wouldn't hurt much," she joked, her voice coming off more sly than humorous. She felt sorry for Ash in a way, he seemed like a decent enough fellow but he felt so closed off to everything. 

	This was the first time since he arrived that an actual fully formed smile had come to his face, one he didn't seem to be trying to choke back down before anyone spotted it. Seemed the poor guy had been needing someone to actually listen to him. Why he was letting her be the one to listen she didn't know; maybe it was because she actually asked, or maybe it was simply because she was new and had no attachments in town and therefor no historic prejudices or motives. Granted she still wasn't sure if she would stay in town, more than half figuring come tomorrow she would leave town but if she left she felt she had at least done something positive before she departed. 

	His response to storytime surprised even himself. It started as a sort of light, bubbly feeling that threatened to spill out. Much like Ash himself, the threat of his emotions bore ominous fruit, especially now as he earnestly tried to lower his personal defenses. That was the hard part. In his earlier years, it had just been who he was. Very professional at work, and very laid back afterwards. Recent life did not change the man at all, it merely repressed him; took away part of what he was. And so when he allowed himself to emote, it was pretty much all-or-nothing. Ash began to laugh. It was a chortle at first, giving way to genuine laughter. It lasted for a few seconds before Ash managed to get out, "Did... did you just Seuss me?"

	Thana tilted her head back and glanced up at Ash as he let out his laughter, cocking a brow as her head left his shoulder. She hadn't expected that, most people didn't find her particular brand of humor so funny. Usually hit with looks of disapproval instead of actual laughter. It stunned her for a moment and then she smirked with a nod. "Well I think you must agree, it fit quiet unequivocally."

	He let out another series of chuckles and wrapped an arm around Thana's shoulder, even as his other hand reached up to wipe away a mirthful tear. "Oh, just, oh God. I needed that. Really did." Ash took another drink of the peach spirits, and offered it to his guest. He looked into her eyes, speaking in all seriousness, "Whatever else, Thana, I am glad you're here." He gave a gentle smile, taking in the moment of viewing her and listening to the fire crackle in the background. "Thank you."

	Thana felt herself being pulled close to Ash as he wrapped his arm around her, her body leaning against his. This was not the same man who seemed to be flabbergasted earlier over the prospect of her being his plus one; or even the one that choked down his laughter when she burst out in chortles earlier over Rays fall. Then again, maybe it was and he was just finally letting himself relax. It made her wonder though, why no one had really tried to bring out this side of him. Yes she knew that being disciplined was needed, especially in these times but this side of him was needed just as much. Not only for him but the community. People needed someone they could depend on yes, but one they also felt comfortable with. 

	Slipping an arm around his back her other rested against his chest, trying to keep herself from toppling over. She found herself biting her bottom lip as she did habitually as she looked at him just sitting there smiling at her and watching her face in the light of the fire. The warm glow of the fire casting shadows around the room. This was an interesting turn of events. Just what was happening? He was glad she was there? "I'm not gonna be lynched for breakin' ya am I Captain?" she asked as a cheshire grin formed on her lips as her hand left his chest. Taking the flask that was offered her from his hand, her fingers lightly grazing his in the process.

	It was indeed an interesting turn of events. It was about a year since anyone seemed to care about Ash on an emotional level, let alone convinced him to drop his guard of granite stoicism. Even now, it was a continual struggle to do so. The things we construct to defend ourselves often leave us even more vulnerable if they are breached, or intentionally cracked. Thana seemed to do just that, reminding Ash of who he used to be before the Outbreak, before Newnan, before Alicia died, before Eden. One other person was ever successful in doing this with Ash. He had to put a bullet through her undead skull. To be in his position now, in front of a fire with a woman capable of interacting with him on an emotional level; it was blissful. "No, Thana." His voice was honest and gentle. "No one's getting lynched, and I'm not broken yet." Ash brushed a stray lock of hair away from Thana's face, gazing into her eyes. He did desperately want to kiss her; an electric pull tingling upon his lips like they were magnetized, seeking their polar opposite beneath the cool blue of her eyes, her mouth curving into the most amazing smile he had seen in a very long while. Logically, Ash knew that there were extenuating circumstances affecting his emotions. Practically, he didn't care. 

	Thana's eyes drifted to his fingers as he reached up, feeling the warmth of his skin while he brushed the hair back from her face; it was odd. As if he knew having her hair in her face was one of those small idiosyncrasies that drove her batty. Her gaze lifting back to his, seeking out those steely blue eyes that seemed to hold so much more warmth than he had let himself show until now. She could feel the pull between them, it was something she had not felt in some time. Life on the road made for few companions. The flask was rested back on the table before her hand came up. Was this all he had needed? Just a little human contact? It seemed so simple but that was life. Things were actually very simple, we as humans just made them complicated. Her hand came to his face and rested against his cheek, letting her thumb caress the line of his jaw as she pulled him closer. She could feel her breath deepening as her brow rested against his. A sigh escaping her lips, eyes drifting close as her nose brushed against his. "That's good," she whispered, letting her peach tinted breath fall from her lips. Was she answering the fact he wasn't broken, or something more? Probably both but it didn't matter, it was one of those rare moments people hoped to steal: the ones that kept you living instead of just surviving. Right then, she didn't know who needed it more; him or her. 

	Ash felt everything with uncommon tactile clarity. He felt the heat of her hand on his cheek, sending waves of urgent need across his skin. Thana's breath caressed his face as she pulled him in close, more intoxicating than the brashest liquor yet sweeter than mulled honey, beckoning him on. In that moment the tiniest flicker of the man-that-was awoke in the back of his mind, giving him pause millimeters before their lips touched. It was torture, being that close to the one thing that would ease his suffering. Ash's hands trembled ever so slightly, despite himself. What was he doing? He had to know, before he could could let himself give in - was this what Thana truly wanted? It would complicate things, he knew. But in that moment, Ash wanted a complication. Needed it. 

	His voice whispered in breathy syllables, their lips barely brushing as he made a request. It may have sounded out of place, but their context left no room to misinterpret his desire. "Permission to speak freely?"

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