RP:Iron and Wine

The Cenril Arms Tavern | Beloy and Congressional Way

For the first time in awhile it was raining in Cenril. The rain possessed a metallic tang, rather than the fresh, crisp, sweetness Raphaline was used to when she would get caught in it out in the forest. It spoke lengths about the health of the city, if even the rain possessed an acrid taste to it. As the rain poured, many people scampered for the nearest overhanging or building that would allow them in. She was different, she did not fear the rain as it soaked into her clothes and skin, given she had left her instrument carefully tucked away in the Inn just down the road. No, it was refreshing to be out in the streets, silent except for the sound of water dancing over aluminum sidings and roofs. So she danced. She stepped into the puddles, causing them to splash around her ankles, and her voice would hum to the beat of the rain.

Rheece and Graven were just calling time on their shift, the older guard nursing a limp and needless to say an even more ferocious mien than usual; any Cenrillite unfortunate enough to glance in his direction gifted a severe scowl and rough curse. Taking his senior's antics in his stride Rheece casually keeps pace whilst remaining silent and alert for any danger lurking in the murky weather that had befallen the, of late, Light abandoned city. With a nod and a kind farewell Graven and he separated paths at the doors of the Guard's quarters - Rheece needed to clear his head, rain or no. It had been a few months now since the demise of his family and House, pretty much everything he had ever known and loved. A lot had come to pass and now he wore the liveried tabard of the City Guard, it fit him better than he thought it might be had grown to like the weight of it upon his shoulders. A particularly heavy splash dragged him from his thoughtful reverie, the rain dripping down from the peak of his hat to give him a sort of distilled version of the woman before him - Muse, wasn't it, yeah that was it. "Ho there! Why am I not surprised to find you here, if isn't men who want to blacken your eye it's a whooping cough and slow death you're looking for! Get inside before you catch your death, did you go to that tavern I spoke of?" All that said he was no brighter, the cold pointedly biting at him as it seeped beneath the leathers of his armour. Pulling his cloak tight around him the young soldier made to splash through the myriad of puddles toward the tavern, "Come on, I'll buy you a spiced wine." And with that he was gone, the heady scent of the mulled drink already warming his spirits and mettle.

Raphaline had continued to dance through the puddles, laughing and spinning with her face turned up towards the sky. In life, especially her own, she had learned to enjoy the smallest of joys with the utmost fervor, lest they depart and the horrid nature of life settle in. But then there was a voice! And a familiar one to boot. She turns, wet, fiery locks whipping about her as she lays those emerald orbs upon the fellow. With a thought, she dashes through the puddles, a grin on her lips and child-like glow to her, and tries to throw her arms around the young lad. "And good evening to you too." She says between sharp intakes of breath. When she does step back, hands clasped before her, she takes in the details of his clothing choice, and notices the more laxed structure of it all. She doesn't comment on it, but instead, offers the crook of her arm in answer to his scolding. "I would love a spiced wine. Get the chill out of my bones while my clothes dry by the fire." She was pretty sure that the cotton would not take very long, but the leather on the other hand, well, she would be without her duster or her pants for a little bit if that was the problem.

The steady thrum of droplets against the felt and leather of his hat had taken on a muted quality as the woman linked with him, her earlier attempts at hug side stepped neatly - he was of the Guard, how improper! Nobility had its vices and impetuous showings of rank was one of them. However, escorting a lady at night and through rain was a gallant and rewarding venture no matter your position in the world, the fact her arm felt good there never entered the equation, honest. Crushing a cough before it began, Rheece speaks quickly all the while urging Muse forward, "Nearly there!" True to his words with a few moment they have reached their destination to take solace under the iron foil of the buildings mantle. "Some night huh? Seem to be getting more and more of this bloody weather of late. Doesn't sit right with me." A small frown frames his sharp facial features, the rounds of his eyes though only seem perturbed -- only but briefly. "Well, no point on dwelling on it. After you." Pushing the door open and peering inside it is obvious to Rheece he isn't the only one with wine on the mind, the small tavern is bustling to the point of being overrun and the servings girls are red face and flustered. The music is good and the rattle of dice in the corner inviting, a smile breaks the coldness of the youths features as he nods a hello to a familiar face or two and a wink to a bouncer know as Fram, "Evenin' lads, how're the dice treating ya?" He would wait of course before Muse entered, going then to make good on his promise of spiced wine at the bar.

Raphaline knits her brows together at the side-step, but makes no mention of it as she links arms with him. He had an air about him, that much she could tell, and it reminded her quite a lot of the men she met while at the tavern near the Inn. It did not surprise her that a nobleman's son would be a part of the guard, she didn't see many delving into the murky depths of her world. She knew, surface wise, that she was a pretty bard and one who could get along marvelously with those of the blue blood, but she had found solace and home among the grubbery and those who mocked the law. She would never make mention of this, and especially not around the man she was linked arms with, but she could not help her mind as it drifted to her beloved friend Meri. And then, the rain was gone, and she could feel the warmth of a fire and room. Carefully, she wrings the bit of rain from her hair before she follows after Rheece, quite interested in the kind of spiced wine he might procure. As she leans, both forearms on the bar counter, she catches a few glances from a few familiar faces. Some of which earn a playful wink, but no beckoning. Others are given a two finger salute, and suddenly the bard was among admirors of her music. But she is not there for them, she is here with someone new, so he is who her attention is turned to instead. "Do you like to gamble love?" She asks, emerald eyes drfiting from the counter, slowly up his arm to his own visage. "You know, with the dice and all that. Or can you deal a little into the card games as well?" She turns, liftign her arms from the counter and allowing her body to lean, with her back to the bar, into the counter top. She could only image what he form looked like, clothes sticking to her.

Rheece, for his part, has shrugged off the sodden confines of his cloak hanging it up on the pegs that peek out from beneath the bar counter itself; his hat soon joining it to rest miserably for a while and perhaps dry a little. "Adian, good sir, a pleasure to see you as always, how's Lisbeth? Good, I hope." Adian's buxom wife was nowhere to be seen tonight and the broad shouldered barkeep seemed lighter for it, he did so hate how the patrons stared at her at times. "Anyhow, I'll have two spiced wine please when you get a second. No rush, no rush." Retrieving a silver Cenrillian coin the young ex-noble returns his attention to Muse, "Gambling? Hah, yeah, I lean toward dice more so than cards, I'd rather let fate decide how I'm going to lose my money instead of some guy with an ace up his sleeve." The admiring glances Muse was receiving did not go unnoticed and it took some effort for the soldier to maintain his too-intent inspection of the coin before him rather than slope off toward the woman beside him. As the wines arrived and the coin was exchanged he spoke again, after offering his thanks, whilst proffering one of the drinks, "Well here is to dry heads and warm stomachs I suppose. What do you think of the place? It's grown on me a lot recently!"

Raphaline cannot help but snicker, she knew how you could cheat at dice too, but, for now she would let him live his fantasy of fate. She takes the offered glass from him and hoists it up in toast, "To keeping dry and finding ways to stay warm." She grins, winks at the guard before brushing the edge of the glass over her lips and downing quite a bit of the mix. It had a sharp taste to it, and a burn that was different than the hard liquors she was used to drinking, but it was good all the same. When he posed his question about the tavern, she lightly chuckles. "I've liked it well enough, pays better when I do play here. More blue blooded for sure, safer I guess." She gives a little shrug, "But sometimes a girl needs a bit of fire and fun, and nothing beats the rough and tumble of a sailor's bar." She gives him a playful nudge, she knew well enough he might scold her once more for her choice in activities. So she steers the conversation elsewhere before he gets a chance, "So, are you a blue blood too love? Is that part of the reason you are attracted to this place or are there other reasons?"

Rheece raises his glass and murmurs the toast before helping himself to a healthy draught of the warm mixture of wine and spice, the vague hint of something a little fruity lingering on his palette in a distinctly pleasing manner. The young Guard listens as the woman speaks, his eyes darting from her face to the assembled patronage at equal opportunities, a habit of constant vigilance that he was quickly forming. As she spoke of sailors bars and blue bloods he rolls his eyes in faux exasperation, forgoing his tongue lashing instead to answer her question as it comes, "Yeah, I suppose you could say that I am. I am the last there is of House Trevillaen, my family..." The youth shrugs clearly uncomfortable, "My father gambled...a lot...I don't think he won much. You know how it is." Coughing once into his hand he shifts the conversation abruptly, "Ah, well, Uhm yeah, this place is owned by an ex-guard and Fram on the door there used to be one as well till he got beat up pretty bad by a group of thugs somewhere and Arril street. Cowards the ruddy lot of them. All the guys and girls here are either ex-Guard or wives or daughters of Guards. It's good to give back, ya know?"

Raphaline felt a semblance of sympathy for the young guard, he had lost his whole world. Somewhere, in the back of her mind she was slightly envious of him ever having had a world like that, a family who loved him and wanted him. That thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, so she quickly washed it away with another deep swig of the wine. As she goes to set down the glass and brushes the droplets from her lips, a troupe of bards come stumbling in, all wet and chorusing with such a jovial beat to their voice. The bard cheers up, and before he can get any more words out, she utters an excuse me and darts off to say hello to people she had met at The Last Note. A few words are exchanged between her and the others, nods and choruses of yes, before she leaves them and makes her way over to the sitting area. "Hey love," She calls over to Rheece, "Mind helping me move a few tables to give them some room to play and for others to dance. They're going to play us a few tunes to get the chill out of our bones from the rain." Whether he would help or not, she left up to him as she pulls tables and chairs all to one side, clearing a large space for the other bards to play and for those to dance if they so pleased. After a few moments to dry off, the bards begin to play a tune with an upbeat tempo, something quick for those light on their feet. One of the boys with them begins to sing, while Muse moves back over to Rheece. "Dare to humor me in a little dance love?" She bows to him, her hand extended out for him to take.

Rheece watches with a furrowed brow as the female departs to aid her friends and exchange what he can only assume to be bar related banter. No slouch he is quick to offer his aid when requested and finds himself rolling up his shirt sleeves and doing as directed to make space available for the coterie of entertainers. Returning to his place at the bar and taking another draught of his beverage he cringes at the invitation he receives from Muse, hesitating a few moments before shrugging of his heavy jacket completely, the distinct shape of a sigiled ring now clear beneath the thin cotton of his shirt. Doing his best to smile, the razor sharp lines of his face smooth, though only a little, "Haven't danced much of late so try to not make me look like too complete a fool if you wouldn't mind...", he offers hopefully though there is only outcome the soldier foresees and he doesn't come out looking graceful that much is for certain.

Raphaline stifles her laugh with a grin as she takes the guard's hand in her own. "If it is anyone who will make you look like a fool love, it will only be yourself. Now, just watch, I will go slowly so you can pick up the steps." Other people were beginning to gather around them, partners in hand and taking off with the upbeat song, twirling and spinning with one another around the room. Soon the room was filled with more than just music, there was the carefree laughter of those who were finding a moment to relax and enjoy life. As for Muse,she turns her gaze up to him, her hand still clasped around his and takes a step back with her left foot, draws him forward, and then allows her right to step back and meet the left. Each time she moves to take a step back she gives him a giant tug to move forward. With these steps in places she begins to take these simple steps in circles, that the next time she moves to step back, she allows her to twirl, causing the leather duster, fiery locks and green cotton to twirl with her in a graceful motion. She releases his hand, so only the tips of the fingertips with brush as she twirls to the right and then to left and comes to meet him face to face once more on the dance floor. It had been sometime since she had had a chance to dance, and it felt good. As she makes to twirl again, her laughter ringing with that of many others, her twirl back is mistimed, seeing as she is too caught up in the fun and she finds herself gently thumping into the guard. With her hand pressed to him she says, "Oh goodness, sorry. Seems I got ahead of myself."

Rheece could not be said to be a suave or elegant man, much of the boyishness that hampers youth still cling to him like a limpet to a rock and when Muse took his hand he knew he was in trouble. Following the simple and direct movement of her feet coupled with being dragged through the majority of the steps he kept perhaps two to three bars behind her adept and graceful twirls. He was doing his best to concentrate but the merriment and atmosphere was too much for our young hero and red faced and flustered he found himself loosening up somewhat and neglecting the strictures of what he thought he should be doing he simply enjoyed himself. Reveling in the brief caress of her fingertips and the supple beauty of her movements -- and then she was against him, pressed hard for just a moment as she steadied herself. He himself was pressed hard not to release a sort of 'meep' noise at the closeness of their bodies. "Ah, Uhm, don't worry about it." Taking a slow, achingly so, step backward he retreats toward the bar, all the while calling over his shoulder if she would like a drink. He didn't stop to listen, he needed to be doing something else right now. "Two more wines, please, Adian. Whenever you can, thanks, thanks." A brief moment passes before he adds, "And a large water, very large."

Rapahaline would, for the brief moment that they were close, take a deep breath and take in the scents that surrounded him. And with just as quick movement to move, she steps away and steadies herself. She watches as he retreats, her brows knit in confusion before she calls after him. "A drink sounds good." She continues to dance, either alone or with another partner in the tavern until the music comes to a stop. As she begins to leave her partner, one of the bards approaches her just as she is within arms length of the guard. "Will you not honor us with a solo, Muse?" She turns, green eyes brushing over her shoulder to land on the bard. "I don't see why not." She turns to the guard for a moment and offers a small grin. "Hold onto that drink for me, won't you? Be right back." She makes her way over to where the other bard's were still gathered, moves past them and produces a violin case. She sets it down on the nearest table, and with the latches flipped open, produces a dark wooded violin. After a few moments to tune the strings, she steps out onto the now clear dance floor. She takes a deep breath and places the bow upon the strings and after a heartbeat, takes off. The bow dances over the instrument with such a passion, the song a fiery one as it leaps to and fro with the notes, low to high and back. And Muse, she does not remain still. She moves with the music, dances and spinning as if the music has consumed her body and soul and she cannot stop until it does. Her movements continue with the song, until with the last few notes, she comes back to where she had stood and the violin sighs with the last measure of the melody. As she pulls her bow away, she moves the violin from her chin and makes a bow to the applauding room. Once the cheers have died down, she returns to the case and carefully places it once more inside before making her way back to the guard. "Did you enjoy it?"

Gratefully clutching the glass of water provided Rheece drinks deeply as Muse comes toward him, only to be ushered away toward the dance floor once more. With a furrowed brow he watches as she delves into her violin case and begins to tune the instrument. Adian, the bar keep, arrives at this time muttering his thanks for the promptly received payment and jerking his head toward Muse, "You'll wanna pay attention to this, lad, when she plays this place heaves." The first note of the bard's song flits into the tavern din quelling the assembled mass in near palpable anticipation and Rheece runs can't help but run a green eyes glance over the wide eyed gathering. Muse begins, the furious and flowing volley of chords washing over the awed crowd setting Rheece's hair on end and goosebumps a flourish - it was amazing. Lost in the carnal joy of such sheer talent and beauty it seems like only mere moments have passed as Muse is revelling in the applause, Rheece himself loudly part of the adoring patronage. By the time she is speaking to him he had regained a fair amount of his wit and so called blue blooded nature, dipping his head in differential acknowledgement, "Like it? You are truly a master of such your craft. I have never seen anything like it. Adian here will be in mourning should you ever leave. His coffers must weigh as much as Fram at this point." Eyeing the woman once more, he finishes with a rather lame offer of her drink and a candid, "You must be thirsty?"

Raphaline turns her green eyed gaze to Adian and offers the bar keep a small grin. "Always happy to play if I can stay here for the eve. Play a few songs, get some coin going around, and I get a warm bed, aye?" She turns back to Rheece, her grin broad as she gives the guard a little wink. "Of course I am thirsty. Dancing and playing like that," She shivers a little, "Gets me all worked up." She leans across the bar counter and scoops up the glass she suspects is her own and begins to down the drink in two long gulps before setting it back down on the counter. "If I could get another." She settles her arms down on the counter, hands twinned with one another as she considers the guard once more. "Did you ever learn to play music love? A lot of blues I meet have their children learn many skills, including music." Or at least many of the families she had met and given lessons to. That had been some interesting times, teaching the kids while fending of the perverted father. The music begins to pick up once more, but this time it is a slower tune, and those who chose to dance, seem to take up their drinks and languish with their movements on the dance floor. Muse looks back towards the floor before looking to guard, "Feel like humoring me once more, or must I ply you with more wine before that can occur?"

Adian is almost a little too eager in his fervent head nodding toward Muse, muttering his thanks and promises of the best room and all she can eat during her stay -- an inn keeper's generally lasted as long as the coin did but there were none more solid as long as it flowed into his pockets. Rheece moves to purchase Muse another drink, his own still barely touched at this point, before replying to the woman, "I don't think so, I have rounds in the morning and listening to Graven with a sick head is perhaps the most ultimate of tortures in my little world." A rueful and somewhat disheartened glance at the slow set upon the dance floor leaves him feeling only a touch of jealousy at not being able to partake, "As for a slow dance, that will have to be for another night also. I..." He didn't really have an excuse, not being able to dance didn't seem to much sate her when it came to it, embarrassment would hardly stop either; so he just left it there hanging in the air as he reached for his glass and drained it fully hoping to find courage in the bitterness of the wine and heady infusion of spices. Thrusting aside his shame, everyone else was doing it why not he, the soldier moved to step forward, "Gently this time, yeah?"

Raphaline gives him this smug look, one that said if he was going to come up with an excuse to tell her no, it better be a damn good one for sure. When he seemed to stumble on her words, she shifts from leaning against the counter, takes her own wine glass and tips it back, dowing the liquor in a few moments. It seemed encouraging, as he did much the same and made his request. "I will try and be gentle with you love." She gives him a flirtatious wink before slipping her hand into his and pulling him back to the dance floor. She lifts the hand twinned with his up, while the other finds a place on his shoulder. "You can either place your hand on my hip or back, whatever feels comfortable." She instructs as she listens to the beat of the song. As she picks it up she moves, but her movements are less wide, and jovial, and more confined and slow. When she would step back it was only with one foot. With other she would slowly step to the side, guiding them in a circle. "Doing alright?" She asks as she looks up from the floor to him, her green eyes searching for an answer of some sort.

Rheece has already steeled himself for whatever may come and falls into the routine with an earnest eagerness to not fall over his own or her feet. Politely his hand rests upon the small of her back, cupping the supple arch; his eyes, they dart from her face to his feet to the dance floor to his hands and back through it all again. His sharp facial features are tight with a mixture of anxiety and concentration, though as the dance progresses it does begin to smooth somewhat. He manages to breathe a reply to her question, "I think so, well, yeah, I hope so." Whilst most certainly not a learned dancer he was adept at footwork and do so with a little encouragement he begins to flow through the steps with something akin to grace.

Raphaline cannot help but grin as the guard was able to pick up the steps well enough. As she moves to turn them in a circle, she looks up at him, her emerald gaze locked on his. "You know, I don't believe I ever got a name from you love, or if I did, it must have been in that muddle of scolding and tongue lashing you gave me the other night." She was not offended by the behavior, in fact she was often used to it; plenty of people scolded her. "Other than finding the steps easily enough, are you enjoying yourself? I am not forcing you to have fun, am I?" She jests, giving the shoulder under her hand a gentle squeeze.

Rheece is caught off guard by Muse's revelation, narrowing his soft, green eyes as he tries to recall their first conversation. "What, oh yes, much like everyone else who refuses I end up enjoying it when I can muster the courage. Perhaps I never did give it, my name that is, it is different when working I suppose, I am supposed to be in a position of authority and a purveyor of justice in the name of Cenril to humanise myself with greetings and introductions is not what it is about. The name of the Guard has been dragged through the mud recently by those with influence and gold but there is a few of us trying to turn the tide." His face grows grim, "Though it feels like swimming through mud at times." Shaking away talk of business he returns his attention to Muse, "So tell me, Muse, when you are not delighting young and old alike or running from sailors. What is you do to keep yourself occupied?" A small part of Rheece wondered if there was time for anything else amidst such a full schedule but still the woman revealed very little about herself.

Raphaline smirks, taking note of the fact he had still not given up his name. It is alright, she had given him one of many of her nicknames. "Life is an adventure through mud. Let me know when you get an extended period of smooth sailing, I'd like a part of that love." With a brow quirked she inquires before answering, "So what is your name, or shall I have to come up with one for you?" Golden boy was good one, seeing as he was all about the righteous and justice. Or Just. Simple, shortened and sweet. His question though brings this grin to her face, one full of wonder and delight. "When I am not doing either, I love to sit beneath the stars on sandy beaches and swim in the ocean while the moon glides over the waves, or dance with handsome men to the wonderful music that each city provides, or adventure to lands I have never seen with my own eyes." Her sense of adventure was the passion behind her actions, and the force for which she often lived by. If there was somewhere else to be, to discover and learn about, she would go. "What about you? You must do other things than just be a guard?"

Rheece barks a quiet laugh as she continues to press for a name, the smile smoothing the sharp angles of his face to the softness of the youth he had left behind that night in the ashen remains of his home. "Rheece, my name is Rheece." The music keeps them moving in their own little dance, the soldier's follow up words elicited with a sincerity that he rarely used, "Well, there is not much else for me at the moment, the Guard is everything I am. They took me and I owe them a home and a future that isn't harassing people on the streets for their hard earned gold. I am thankful for that and will honour the vow that I made." His loses that softness once more, all hard angles and smooth planes, "So no, there is not much that I do nowadays that does not somehow tie in with the Guard. When not on duty I am in the training yards till they kick me out...and then I suppose I am here." With a sort of half shrug made awkward by their dancing posture he fizzles out of things to say, a slight crimson taking purchase of his cheeks. He was boring basically and he knew it.

Raphaline listens intently to the guard as he explains his dedication to the Cenrilian guards. It was a brave gesture yes, but as he pointed out, there so much that he was missing out on. Depsite the awkwardness that seemed to be slipping into their movements, she pulls him along in those smooth steps once more. She saddles in close, green eyes peering up at him as a grin nestles into the corner of her lips. "Well then. You might get to see more of me." She gives a deft nod, before slowing their dance to a stop and leading him back over to the bar. She gestures for two more drinks to be brought over to them, and while they wait, she turns her attention to him. "If you could do something, right now, what would it be? No need to be worried about duty or tomorrow, what would you follow your heart to do?"

Rheece is extremely poor at hiding the fact he is growing increasingly awkward as the woman presses further into him, a faint pink tincture riding high in his sharp cheeks and jowl. So he talks, he talks fast and loose, anything to distract himself from the thoughts rising like smoke in his mind, "Uhm, right now? Eh, I really don't know what to say to that." His drinks to ignored, rounds tomorrow and all that yet the woman still receives a sincere thanks, "Gah, that is a tough one, I suppose revenge is the obvious answer but I find no pleasure in killing. None." A vaguely thoughtful frown mars his features a moment longer, "To have the old House Trevaellin back to its days of glory would be something for sure! That or maybe join some fool quest that those Frostmaw legends always find themselves in. Childish I know but when you are bright up hearing such stories I guess they tend to stick with you." He returns his glance from the bar top to the woman before him, "What about you? Surely dancing with a surly Guard isn't what you'd fancy yourself to be doing right now?" A wry grin cuts his face, self depreciating humour, how emo!

Raphaline perks up at the mention of Frostmaw. "Which of these legends? Lady Satoshi? Hildegarde? Svilfon?" She began to run her mind over other names, curious as to which of her friends he could be inquiring about. "I have been on a fool quest or two with them, been on a few myself." She draws her fingers over the mug, considering a few of those said quests before turning to the guard with a bright look in her emerald eyes. "I love surly. They are always so taken aback by my rather personable aura." She lifts the mug up, pressing the edge to her own lips and downing a bit. "How interested are you in a quest or an adventure?" Her usually relaxed, jovial gaze becomes serious as she directs this question to him.

Rheece is not so taken aback by the recitation of the Frostmaw heroes names, everyone knew of them but when she spoke of her personal involvement that wasn't a different situation altogether, "You what!? You have met with this coterie of vampires, allied yourself with them even!?" To say Rheece is perplexed by this revelation is an understatement being in cohorts with a vampire was bad, that much he knew but word of these precious few vampires who sought only to bring justice in their own right had filtered through to even his own ears, "You have met Svilfon the wizard and Satoshi the Ice Queen? That is remarkable to say the least. Without meaning to cause offence what brought a bard into their company and such a great distance you have traveled it amazes me, to be blunt. Tell me, tell me!" Her question goes unanswered in light of his own plethora of inquiries, he had to know!

Raphaline could not help but laugh in such a jovial manner. She had never seen someone so excited about those she knew, let alone anything she might be involved in. So with the sam fanfair, she places a hand gently on the guard's arm to calm him before she continues her story. "Well Svilfon is a wonderful dancer. We both came to the conclusion that we needed to see each other more often, if only to indulge ourselves. As for the Ice Queen, quips are more our thing. I met her during the ice festival, tossed around a few words about her husband and the fights. Nothing too serious." She taps a fingers against her lips, "Hildegarde, the Knight of Frostmaw, she is graciously giving me sword lessons." The grin that crosses her lips is rather cheeky and crooked. "I am no good with weapons any bigger than a knife." She shrugs, try to rid herself of the shame. "If you would like to meet them sometime, I could inquire on your behalf if you would like?"

Rheece's features crease with incredulity as the woman speaks, the mighty wizard a dancer? The arch-knight of Frostmaw giving personal lessons. Who was this woman? His mouth opens as if to speak before closing with a pointed clamping of his teeth, anything he thought to say only sounding foolish. At length and after an unconscious sip of the drink he had intended to leave untouched, he speaks, "I would very much like that, I suppose I could ask for leave to travel to Frostmaw, though I have never actually left Cenril, aside to visit the beaches and coast to the east. How do you make the journey, horseback? How long does it take, will I need much rations. How cold is it? I'm going to need to buy more clothes." His exuberant plethora of questions deigns it clear that he is already going in his own mind before Raphaline has even posed the question to the coterie; excitement was plastered across his face, adding a twinkle to his eye and wry curve to his lips. Adventure!

Raphaline could not help the smile that spread across her lips or the laugh that erupted from her. "Calm yourself." She makes a gesture with her hand for the soldier to breathe. "Well first. It is night time, so we would wait until morning to leave, and I tend to travel by foot, don't really own a horse."

Rheece‘s brows knit in a momentary state of nonpluss, Gods he had got carried away. Nodding slowly he allows a small grin to gather across his face, “Yeah, uh, maybe you’re right, it’s not like we’re actually just going to leave now anyway are we? That would be madness altogether, I have duty in the morning even if you did plan on whisking me away, not like I can just shirk that without being labelled a deserter.” Swallowing deeply it is clear the male is perturbed by the notion even in jest, “Yeah, guess it’s Arril Street and Congressional Way for me – that’s about as exciting as it is going to get for the foreseeable future!”

Raphaline chuckles and nods, resting her back against the edge of the counter. "Well, I will stick around Cenril for a couple of days. Let me know when you can shirk your duties and set off." She gives the soldier a small wink before reaching for her glass and downing the rest of the contents.

Rheece shoots his still-full glass a regretful look as he makes an effort to gather himself, “Well, it has been fun…a lot more than I had thought I was going to have tonight.” A sheepish smile breaches the slender angles of his features, “Thanks for putting up with my atrocious dancing, never spent much time learning the moves.” He barks a rueful laugh, “Never paid much mind to the courtier stuff, truth be told, was my older brother’s place to do that…he was supposed to be the head of the House, ya know?” It seems the drink has Rheece’s tongue looser than he would like, “Guess that’s me now, head of a broken House. Sounds like a story in its own right, doesn’t it?” The mile slides from his face with all the emotiveness a still mourning youth carries, “Anyhow, good night. Hopefully I’ll see you around.” Gathering himself he breathes a sigh and moves to step out into the night.

Raphaline shakes her head, she would n ot allow for such talk. "You were just fine love, besides, you didn't step on my feet and that is a win for us both." But it seemed his denouncement of his skills also brought along an admittance to what had happened to his family. "Sometimes, our world changes in ways we don't expect. Maybe, it wasn't fair that all of that was placed on you, but, in the end, it will all come down to what you do now that you are the head of your house." She gives him a two finger salute as he makes to leave, "And I will be seeing you around."

Rheece bobs his head silently and departs, his thoughts a few streets away and in darker times