He was left all alone with but words of the wise; And so on the day when our passage entwined; Now long in the tooth at the end of his line; He said "friend, go yonder, but bear this in mind, in this world, know one truth: you can't run from time."

...or perhaps until it burns itself out.

The hotter the flame, the faster it'll burn..."

These words seem an echo to him, though he's entirely sure [he] has never before spoken them.

he interrupts his own thought there, and sounds far more confident in his next words, "as you swear you would face it head-on, so would I stand between you and the monster – and the others – that I might shield you until the final blow lands...

We also have this weapon you brought, which could break away even more of its protections, or weapons, I suppose. It seems to me that we may now stand more readily against the beast than those who came before.

...Maybe, I mean. I can't really be sure of that. But,"

Even unsure of the sway his own few thoughts might carry – he should try. Already she had done as much for him, and more.

"Well... it sounded as if the knight has struck a great blow against it already, though I don't fully understand what passed, or the full implications of her accomplishment.

in the shaky ground upon which he had landed; he is more sure, now, of the success of this cause.

Yet it seems so unfair that her words and deeds should inspire such action and determination while she shouldered the burden of her own doubts alone.

These markings bore the same faint glow as the tattoo of the moon at the base of his neck, and they shined the same as the stars in the dark planes of his eyes.

The warmth in those eyes finds the blaze in hers. In the fervor of her oath, he's surprised to find more faith

He hears her turn and rolls onto his side to face her. With a well-placed tug, the cape he had hung between them falls. Now clad in only a comfortable, light tunic and trousers, one could now see silvery marks etched deeply into his skin, scattered across his upper body.

"To answer the other question, neither. Here - I came about the gambling den."

Which was here listed at this address, and for the shutdown of which there was a fair reward promised.

"It's a helmet, actually. So... I suppose not, since I don't take it off in a fight."

The Halfling doesn't seem to be a threat, so he lowers his shield and his blade. He stows the latter so he can pull a crumpled bundle of paper from his belt, pulled clean from the jobs board.

He'll have to dig through his bags in the morning, learn their contents. Before or after the meeting...

His eyes fall shut without urging from him, but his mind won't yet slow for a moment of peace.

"Hey - how are [you] holding up? I can't imagine today's conversation wasn't stressful for you."

as he thinks over the best place for such an important artifact. He finally places it under his pillow, and with the rest of his armor removed and set aside, he settles down on the bed in the clothes he wore beneath it. It's the last of what he woke in.

"I'm not sure if that makes sense. Everything today revealed more I don't understand, and few questions ever found an answer. I felt like a... well, a...

...I suppose I don't know what I felt like."

Is it exhaustion he feels, or defeat? The blade Percy had left with him feels heavy in his hand

He turns his back to allow her her own quiet moment to tend to herself, placing his unfamiliar belongings on the bed opposite hers. He starts with his cloak; with a thought, he reaches up and hangs it from the rafters, that they might have some semblance of privacy.

"I feel..."

How [did] he perceive it? So many things to sort through, and he didn't know how to begin. How could he, when he himself seemed to have no beginning?

Only legends he couldn't recall and an ending that sounded so strange.

"...I feel like I blinked and everything happened, all at once."

(This is [certainly] not a wise idea. There are people relying on him, and if he should vanish...

...then again, he has no notion where he is [now,] so he's no use to them anyway. Praying to his goddess for safety and luck, he steps in after the young man.)

(He nearly looses his helmet as he jolts forward to race after him.

...This [may] not be a wise idea, but at least he'll be moving.)

Uhhh....

got lost

"Found it."

Flat in the dirt.

"Twas tied to the other."

"...careful with the roast."

"I think I lost a bootlace? While cooking dinner?"

Though," he shot her a wrary smile when next he caught her eye, "I suppose I don't know what a short day looks like, anyway."

They neared the door marked on the key, and after unlocking their room, he stepped inside and scanned the space before making room for her to enter.

snuffs away quickly. His odd, out-of-place wings shift and refold uncomfortably.

With a hint of guilt in his heart, he marks that the knight's appearance was lucky; without it, it would have taken a miracle for him to stay alert through the conversation downstairs.

"Hm? Oh - of course.

'Long' seems such an inadequate word for this day - months, it felt, but then he had no other day to compare against. His yawn follows soon after hers. Half a step behind her, the drift of her tailtip has an almost hypnotic effect. The last of the energy he'd found in the chaos downstairs

"I am glad to hear it. I did, before all the fireworks started." He kept his voice hushed to avoid disturbing the knight, but the low tone of it still carried. Now, he withdraws from his pocket... one key?

He frowns.

"She said she was giving me two, I thought. Perhaps she meant two beds?"

It's not all too long before the crusader joins knight and bard, knocking gently on the door and peering inside. He's relieved when his eyes find her.

"Couldn't remember if the healer said the door on the left or the right, I was afraid I'd walk in on– Oh," he falls quiet when he sees the knight.

at his side.

"Goodnight, Eshenesra. And... thank you. For the insight, I mean. You've all given me a lot to think about."

...He's not really sure how to leave after that, other than saying goodnight again. He simply collects his helm and the staff and strides towards the stairs.

His gaze flits after Miri, an apology on his tongue - but he decides against it, instead offering a nod.

"Aye, but if anything happens in the night, I'll be ready." Somehow. This time when he shifts the object's shape, it's with greater focus, and it becomes a simple quarterstaff to carry