Imperial Misconduct [COMPLETED]

[Auric]

Oh, he was just playing. Auric had been a soldier before; it wasn't anything particularly special. Aside from having to listen and taking orders, the rest of it really fell upon your character. From your intelligence to your ability to keep cool and have a commanding presence -- but really? The men and women who were under his command took to him like professionals should... in their off hours they'd enjoyed the evening or afternoon drinks. It had nothing to do about being serious all the time but more of having that disposition about you when on the job. Some officers just plain didn't have that, though... and tended to be a stiff that bossed around the troops every chance they got. Which works well enough.. officers, after all, weren't supposed to get too close to the men and women under their command.

Still, Auric was no slouch in battle and by now Arleen would already know. Would she really have dared to say that he was less of a soldier than she could be? It was an odd question to ask but it would have been an enlightening one. Of course, him having been a soldier was a slice of history she wouldn't have easily known... not everyone could feel the air about people the way he could. But as she tried to take a swing at his latest comment, he saw her strike lose its momentum as she fell to the ground, bent over with her waist higher than her head. "Well, I mean... pride aside and all, it really looks like you need the help." he continued on as if nothing was happening.

He could see her struggling; but it wasn't something he needed to be overly concerned for. She was fine and her wound would heal given time. Nothing to be worried about on his end... although the back side of her hips waving right in front of him was admittedly a little distracting. "OH!" he exclaimed, the brightest idea coming to mind. "Thaaaat's right... no wonder I couldn't find the place we needed to go... we're already here. And it looks like you found the ground already. Nice!" he applauded, seeing her tears well at her eyes. But it looked like she was spinning herself into her own inner world of self-doubt. You could definitely trust Auric to yank her right out of it.

It would be against her bottom that his hand found itself. A quick slap as he took a step forward and announced his intentions. "Aw, you'll be fine. Lie down, if you like -- you might want to stay off your back, though... I'll go see what I can find..." he said simply, making motions as he was about to walk off. Of course with no immediate reply, he took a step back only to slap her on her backside once more to catch her attention. Could you really blame him for taking liberty? "Okaaay?" he confirmed, waiting before walking off. Was she really okay to be alone for a few minutes?

[Arleen Reinhart]

I heard the man talking, but I couldn't discern what he was saying at this point. It had felt like the wound ripped open again, though in all retrospect, I didn't feel any blood from my back, so it probably hadn't. In all sense, though, why was the man acting like hey was? His unnaturally cheery attitude might've been amusing in normal circumstances, but as things were, it just annoyed me. He might've been trying to be nice, but it certainly wasn't fitting the situation well.

As my mind started to become clearer, I took deep breaths to calm my muscles down. They had all tensed at the pain's sudden insurgence, and weren't loose enough to move comfortably yet. And then I felt something that made my heart skip a beat and the embarressment from earlier flair back up. The man... had slapped my butt.

"Aw, you'll be fine. Lie down, if you like -- you might want to stay off your back, though... I'll go see what I can find..." This man... had really crossed the line, in so many ways. My fingers dug into the ground as I resisted the urge to shoot him as dead as I could. While it would be most pleasurable to stand over him as he bleed out, begging, it wouldn't help my situation.

Then he slapped my butt again. "Okaaay?" He would pay later; he would most certainly pay later. I immediately sat down down on the ground so as to prevent any further perversions on his part. He would get his, that he could count on. I glared after him as he walked away, noting the direction he went. Should he not come back after a while, I would need to know which way would most probably be a way to safety; in this case, it was likely this man was heading that way now.

I sat there like that for a short while after he left, readjusting myself so my legs were folded under me. I pulled off my beret, the blond tresses flowing out. Even though it ran clear down to the middle of my back, it didn't bother the wound much, if anything, it felt like it was softly tickling it. I sat the beret in my lap, letting my hands rest on top of it.

Now, I just had to wait. I wasn't so weak that I couldn't fight if the need arose, but it would be a quick fight for the attacker. I brooded over that fact disdainfully. "I should be stronger," I thought at myself, chastisingly. It shouldn't have happened like that. Regardless of getting overwhelmed by numbers, I should have been able to kill one of those Chimera's myself. Instead, the only thing I could do was weaken them. I knew I should've been able to do more.

I closed my eyes, relaxing my body and sitting their like that. Why had I become weaker?

[Auric]

He grinned with how she reacted. She was so serious! It was definitely difficult for him not to poke a little fun at her. You wouldn't think it, but he was most certainly doing it for her benefit. If nothing else, being so serious all the time was only going to get her worked up over nothing. He needed her to relax; it was just a shame she didn't know how. It was a damn shame but if anything he was going to have to teach her how to make light of the most dangerous situations. As it stood, she was crying over spilled milk; what mattered is what comes after ward. If she wanted to better herself it was all good and fine but that could be done later; rest and recovery was the more pressing issue.

Still, as he searched the area he looked for any familiar vegetation that would have served to fulfill the purpose to which he'd promised. Taking steps to look for the right ingredients, it wasn't too difficult if you knew what to look for. A few leaves here, a flower there, and even that certain moss. all were good candidates; excellent for dealing with small cuts and bruises. But for a burn? You needed a little something extra... a mixture that would both help with her burn and the crippling sting which must have run rampant on her back. "Heeey, now this is perfect...." he mused to himself reaching down as he tenderly picked the flame-like petals of a bright red flower.

---

A wind blew on Arleen as the trees around her swayed gently at the gust. The movements of leaves rocking back and forth upon their branches gave a distinct melody to any who cared to try and listen for it. The hair upon her back moved with the wind as Auric, ever the silent ninja approached silently with ease. It was a small thing for him to get close; the blades of grass underneath his feet dampened his steps, his harmonious movement made him buy a part of the wind. He was gentle as he blew the hair off her back. He had to suppress the simple urge to laugh as he was so tempted to just blow at her face and see how long it would take for her ti discover that it was actually him.

But, ever the gentleman, it was the knuckle of his index finger which rubbed against the back of her shoulder.

"I'm back." he whispered, seating himself behind her as he lifted his hand and gestured to his palm, a small leaf of bark with what appeared to be an orange mixture upon it. "Looks like you're in luck. Fire flowers are in season."

[Arleen Reinhart]

The area I was sitting had a serenity to it unlike anything I'd experienced before. Cocoon didn't have peace like this, and it was likely it never would, but for one thing; This place wasn't inhabited by people as was Cocoon.

It was soothing, not just to the body, but to the spirit. This place had only the simplest laws, which were the only guiding principals that guided everything that lived here. It was comforting to know that all the rules of normal society could not aply here.

However, it was also a place to be feared. Those same rules that guided everything in the place were gentle, but above all else, absolute. This is merelt for the fact that they were simple, natural laws by which almost everything is based. So, one could say, this place held only the "core rules" of living. A throwback to the past, so-to-speak.

I felt the nudge on my back before I heard him, which means he probably had tried to startle me. However, only turned slightly and looked back at him, nodding. A peacefulness like this is hard to disrupt, and should be something everyone experiences at least once in their life.

"Looks like you're in luck. Fire flowers are in season." My eyes wandered up to study the flower for a brief moment. The flower was simple, yet exotic at the same time. In one asect, it looked like any other flower I'd ever seen, yet it's petals held a demure beauty to them. As I watched, they swirled lightly like they were on fire. I smiled slightly at it, and almost laughed as I turned to face forward, hiding my expression. "They aren't very creative with the names, now are they?" I remarked, reaching up and pulling my hair up and gathering it in a bun, replacing the Beret on my head to contain it.

I sat up straight so he could see the full length of the wound and bent my head forward slightly, closing my eyes again, listening to the wind.

[Auric]

His intention was actually quite the opposite. As funny as it would've been to see how she'd react to finding him right behind her, the sole point of him not making much of a fuss was to give her the moment. Not many people experienced the beauty of what Gran Pulse had to offer. It was dangerous -- wild, free. The only real law that was shared was that of nature -- the constant survival of the fittest. It had been mentioned before that the constant nature of it all was something that could grant peace to the weariest of souls. To know that every day held a new challenge but in its own way was so much like the day before. Things were simpler here; the busy nature of civilization was lost on the wilderness. Settling this land held numerous challenges; none of which the known civilizations of this merged world was truly ready to face.

"Ah-hah. I don't think I need to tell you that's just its common name." he replied back, eying the mixture in his palm. Its name wasn't something she would have been able to even read... written in the old Pulsian language, her uniform showed her culture as being that of Cocoon. Its name in Pulsian was actually a lot more poetic... but in the common tongue? Fire flower was about as apt a description and name as any. But it wasn't its appearance which had given it its name.... but the feeling it creates. As Arleen moved her hair, he placed his finger into the bark leaf; covering the tip of his finger he started at the top of her wound and worked downwards, placing dollops here and there and rubbing it in.

He'd had occasion to use it when he was younger. It was very relaxing; that cool sensation was hard to beat when it came to salves. Treating burns was the most common application... and a lucky one, at that for the flower bloomed very rarely and was often difficult to find as many herbivores were drawn to its bright colors. But as he applied it to her skin he hadn't yet explained the best part. He figured the best way was to show her -- and as he finished applying it to her back, even down to the small of her back and upper rear, he clasped her shoulders and placed his lips close to the highest point of the applied medicine. He pouted his lips and blew, mentally recalling the sensation of how it reacted to air.

It was like bathing in the warm rays of the morning sun -- the full comfort without the harshness. It was such a contrast to the very cool feeling it held when the air was still. "You like that?" he asked, beaming. "Oh, I should warn you." he began again, after leaving the short pause for her to enjoy the feeling. "The plant's poisonous. Oh, and it has a side effect of increasing a person's libido." he said matter-of-factly.

[Arleen Reinhart]

"Ah-hah. I don't think I need to tell you that's just its common name." I nodded at the statement gently. It felt as if any quick movements would shatter the serenity that held fast in this place, so I moved slow. It would probably seem like I was droawsy or very tired to others, but it was comfortable, that trance-like state, so I relaxed in it a bit longer.

My back jerked forward slightly, reflexively, at his touch. I felt the mixture he'd made being spread on my back, and everywhere it covered, a coolness sunk into my body. It wasn't cold, like ice, so that it would make you uncomfortable: it was cool like a pool just below luke-warm temperatures. It was comfortable, and wakening to feel. I let my head roll back slightly as I let the feeling engulf me, my eyes still closed.

I felt his hands grasp my shoulders and wandered slightly at his intentions, but I gasped in shock at the warmth that slid down my back. It... it was hard to describe the feeling. Tucked in a blanket on a cold night? That's the only comparison I can make to describe how good it felt. "You like that?" I heard him ask, and nodded my head slowly again, almost falling backwards. It made me sleepy, and I just wanted to crawl under a blanket and sleep then and there.

"Oh, I should warn you." My mind flickered slightly, trying to tell me that I knew something bad was coming. "The plant's poisonous. Oh, and it has a side effect of increasing a person's libido." The statement didn't register in my mind at first. I just stared blankly off into the treetops while processing it. "Poisonous... libido...? All at once, my mind snapped into focus, and I moved away from him, turning round so I could see what he was up to.

"Why would you use something like that?!" My back was aching slightly from my moving so quickly, but it didn't flare up like before. "And why would you not tell the person you're using it on before using it?!" Was this man a deviant afterall? Of all the things he could have done, he decided to use one which would increase my libido? My face blushed a bright red while my right hand found Nayami's grip.

I wouldn't let someone so lewd take advantage of me that easily.

[Auric]

The look on her face was classic. You know, he had to admit it was just so much fun thinking up new ways to throw her off. Auric wasn't so deviant that he'd actually do something like using an aphrodisiac without a person's consent... such substances were a blast when spicing up bedroom parties but that kind of entertainment had to be mutually enjoyed if it was ever something he'd consider. As a prank, he knew the mere thought of it would have been preposterous... but to think that she'd make such a face? It was worth it. Oh, how he struggled to contain himself; suppressing every fiber of his being from rolling around in laughter. Instead, tears welled within his eyes and a grin ever so twitched and tugged at the edges of his lips.

It was hard to even mentally form a word. He felt like opening his mouth even just a little would break what will power he held over his own hilarity. But he broke it all with a cough, chuckling still as what came in his mind found some semblance of coherence. "It's fine, isn't it? At the very least it's helping with your back!" he explained, expecting to break still into another giggling fit. Of course he had forgotten to mention that he was just joking. Still, he wasn't unaware that she was reaching for her gun but paid it next to no heed. "Well, it's only a little bit poisonous." he added in, struggling for breath. "I mean it's not as if you're eating it, but hey it's not like you were complaining."

Oh, he was going to get it, alright. Even more so now that he was even thinking about telling her how she must have looked before he'd even lied to her about the side effects. "Oh don't make that face. You had a nice smile and everything! Hey you even liked how it felt. Don't you just want to sit down and relax? Enjoy the feeling! No need to get wound up about every little detail." he soothed, bringing up his hand to show that he still had more. "It'd be a waste if we didn't get to use the rest of it. What do you say? Am I so bad?"

[Arleen Reinhart]

"It's fine, isn't it? At the very least it's helping with your back!" I glared at him through the blush that had erupted on my face, but before I could retort he added, "Well, it's only a little bit poisonous." I glared at him even more for it. This man... couldn't be trusted. I couldn't tell whether he was joking or whether he was serious.

"I mean it's not as if you're eating it, but hey it's not like you were complaining." This statement made sense. Normally, poisons were more potent when you ingested them, but my issue was the poison, it was the aphrodisiac that was apparently contained in the mixture. If the man put that in there, who knows what else he could've added.

"Oh don't make that face. You had a nice smile and everything! Hey you even liked how it felt. Don't you just want to sit down and relax? Enjoy the feeling! No need to get wound up about every little detail." The blush deepened at his statement and my grip on Nayami tightened. Disregard it? An aphrodisiac? I didn't even know how potent it was, leet alone what effect one might have on me in general.

"It'd be a waste if we didn't get to use the rest of it. What do you say? Am I so bad?" I just kept glaring at him with my hand gripping Nayami. There was no way in hell I was going to have any more of that substance put on me. I shook my head 'no' after he asked, the blush slowly starting to fade away as I calmed myself down. "No way in hell."

[Auric]

That's just it with Auric. Even his best friend and partner had a devil of a time figuring out when he was joking or being serious. Like that time when he actually suggested bringing about a mimic for his little brother's birthday. They'd actually had to go out and find one which was no easy task; capturing it live was even worse. Then there was the whole process of trying to get it to spring to life precisely when they needed it to and you don't want to get into the process of the fun they had when it did precisely that when his brother thought he was opening a giant gift. Some pranks were worth doing but no matter what your form of entertainment, the idea in and of itself was completely crazy.

It was good that Arleen thought of him as such. As to whether he could be trusted...? Well, that all depended on her and her ability to trust people. Did she need to know a person to know if they could be trusted? Or did she skip to assumptions right off the bat? Not that it mattered so much; trust, if not found in one's own instinct was something that could be built over time. And Auric? He was just joking, after all. And no, he didn't expect her to agree... but he was having fun just watching her reaction. It was nice to know he could fluster the soldier with his antics... he'd been quite serious himself so you can imagine how it must have been a relief to just let it go. Unlike his intended target.

"Awh, that's too bad." he remarked, putting the bark leaf down before her. "It's such a waste, really." he continued, mocking her with a fake frown which folded into a small grin and a quick wink. Of course he was kidding. He folded the bark in half before securing it safely in a pocket on his belt. Bringing his hands together he stretched back with his hands behind his head, grunting as he felt all the fatigue toxins break down within his frame. "Hmm, looks like you're safe for now. I'm sure you've got better things to do... well, it's been fun messing with you." he went on as he stood from his spot, dusting off his pants as loose grass fell from his lower articles of clothing.

[Arleen Reinhart]

"Awh, that's too bad, it's such a waste, really." This man... there was no doubt he was a prankster now. I let my hand fall to rest on the ground, silently watching him. It had seemed like so before, but I couldn't tell for sure. However, his fake frown turning to a grin instantly brought me to that realization.

"Hmm, looks like you're safe for now. I'm sure you've got better things to do... well, it's been fun messing with you." I stood with him, stretching out my back as I did so; slowly, to make sure the pain wouldn't come back. "Better things to do, eh? Come to think of it...?" I stood there for a second before it hit me.

I felt like crying my eyes out and curling up into a ball and just dying. I smelled blood although their was none to be had. I heard screaming and gunshots. I flinched slightly, coming back to reality. I had reflexively dug my fingers into my arms; I was lucky I was wearing gloves, otherwise my nails would have torn the skin. The feeling of despair still remained, and with iti, anxiety started to well up. Even though I could recall those feelings, the only thing I actually truly remembered was the day I got promoted to Major.

How long had it been since then?

"Oi, even if you are a prankster or a deviant, you should know when someone needs help." I didn't look at the man directly, for fear that I would accidentally start crying. "I have no idea how I got here... or even where here is..." I let my eyes wander up to gaze at him. At this point, it wasn't a matter of pride anymore. There was something missing, and my mind tugged at me as if to taunt me.

"So... would you take me with you...?" I asked coyly. It was shameful to be in such a state to have to ask like I did, but the anxiety tugging at my mind wouldn't go away.

There was something missing.

[Auric]

It's funny now that he thought about it. This conversation had actually progressed to a point where she was asking to tag along yet neither had no name by which to refer to one another. Not that it mattered overly much for Auric, but still the end of it all was that Arleen was from Cocoon. And that she was a soldier; Guardian Corps to be precise... as was indicated by her rather irregular uniform. Still, as he observed her he could tell from her face she was going through multiple things at once... memories of the past plaguing her and yet she was unable to fully recall them. It wasn't unusual... in fact it had been rather common. People who had been brought back into the world seemed to have something missing in their mind.

But more importantly; she didn't know where she was. That was something he knew without a doubt and something which no doubt probably would have scared her. After all, anyone from Cocoon considered Gran Pulse an uninhabitable hell... not some lush, lively and deadly slice of actual nature.
From personalities, to relationships... to memories. He stood there, observing her with his intense gaze as he awaited her request which he knew was coming. "Well, hate it break it to you since you look to be from Cocoon and all, but... you're on Gran Pulse. The world below. Actually that probably explains why most things here want to eat you but..." he considered it further...

Then again, there was the complication of her asking him to tag along was something unusually odd a request for a first time meeting. "That's a rather big request." he remarked tapping his chin. Not that he was going to say no right away but it wasn't as if he was willing to let just anybody follow him around or even ride on his airship. Not that she knew he had one, necessarily. Rather, she was asking for him to feed her, too. And why? "You don't think I've helped you enough?" he asked, raising a brow in amusement. He was considering just saying no but he wasn't all that cruel. What he'd done so far he was more than willing to do for free... damsel in distress and all. But this? Well, it hardly made a good case for supporting the independent woman. But he'd bite. "Or maybe you just like sticking with a deviant." he accused, grinning as he took a step towards her. Should he have dared to say it? Probably not. But it was fun to see her blush.

[Arleen Reinhart]

"Well, hate it break it to you since you look to be from Cocoon and all, but... you're on Gran Pulse. The world below. Actually that probably explains why most things here want to eat you but..." It took a moment for the man's statement to register in my mind, and when it did, a tinge of confusion lit up insdie me. The rumored hell that was called Gran Pulse, dwelling below Cocoon, was a forest, teeming with life? How ironic.

"That's a rather big request." I frowned at him, feeling his snide remarks coming like I'd felt the build up just before getting struck by the monsters' spells earlier. I stood my ground though, meeting his gaze. "You don't think I've helped you enough?" This remark made me feel even more shameful. Of course he had helped me enough; in fact, he never had any obligation to help me in the first place. However, I obviously would not survive even a day in this place alone. The fact that it was Gran Pulse meant nothing in the face of the fact that I was like an abandoned puppy. I'd figure out how I got here in the first place later, but now I just needed to worry about staying safe.

"Or maybe you just like sticking with a deviant." A blush spread on my face again but I resisted the urge to retort. The flutuation I'd felt earlier... the gunshots, the screams, the smell of blood all silenced me. If I wanted to figure out what had happened, I'd have to suck up my pride.

"You're the only person I know in this place..." I clenched my fists tightly, ignoring any sense of shame I felt. "... as well as the only reason I'm alive right now. If you just left me here right now, there's no guarentee we'd meet again in the future." I felt the weight of the words I spoke, but still ignored the feeling of shame. I was indebted to him, with my life. It wasn't something that could easily be repaid, or even be paid for with money. "I owe you my life, thus you should use it as you will." I stood there, staring at him, waiting for his answer. The way I had worded it reflected much on my specialization as a soldier, and I felt it as a solid truth.

I owed him my life, and thus, if he wanted it, I'd repay him with it.

[Auric]

She was blushing at the words he spoke last. Despite knowing how she'd react, actually seeing it was far more amusing. But really, deep down he was trying to sell himself on the idea of actually letting her tag along. He went to many dangerous places and his airship was designed to crew at least four people... mind you the only dedicated sleeping space was a single large bedroom which he and Faye shared, being comfortable resting on the same bed and all. Of course knowing the character before him, he already knew she was going to insist he was some kind of sexual deviant. Ah, well... maybe take turns sleeping or let her sleep elsewhere? Besides -- what exactly could she do beyond being a burden in battle?

Oh, such fun thoughts to have. But she was at least brightening his day... even if he had to actually dispense some free service for it. Not that he minded so much; gave him enough motivation to do something but the other more serious side of him didn't want to afford the possibility of her being a burden on him during a time that really demanded all hands on deck to be somewhat capable. But really, that line of thought was a little unfair... she wasn't useless. Perhaps he was being a bit harsh and just had unfair standards in his needs... and she could always get better. Was there any real downside to this? After all, he could have always just dropped her off when she wasn't carrying her weight.

But first? Some fun!

"Oh, so you'd like us to meet again do you?" he asked back, curious as to her response. Of course he understood what she meant... but whether or not she consciously knew it, it wasn't what came out from her lips. If he had saved her life so that she might repay it, why would he have to stick with her in the mean time until she could find a moment to actually do so? It really made little sense... but he supposed it was traditional in other worlds. Odd, seeing as how they were from the same realm. "Ah-hah... so let me get this straight. I save your life... and to repay me, you want me to let you come along... make room for you to sleep and have another mouth to feed." he summed up. Funny how simplifying things paints a true picture.

"Is that really a good idea? You want to hang around a deviant?"

[Arleen Reinhart]

"Oh, so you'd like us to meet again do you?" I glared at him indignantly. Now he was just toying with my words, and as before, he was enjoying it. I just glared at him, as it was all I could do.

"Ah-hah... so let me get this straight. I save your life... and to repay me, you want me to let you come along... make room for you to sleep and have another mouth to feed." He sure did paint an ugly picture out of the situation. I averted my eyes shamefully when he reached the end. It wasn't entirely true; I wasn't totally useless.

"Is that really a good idea? You want to hang around a deviant?" This remark made me snap.

"Stop messing around." I felt... cold. It was a sensation I only remembered feeling when seeing soldiers slacking off of their duties, and it certainly did not make me feel any better. "I suck up my pride, ask you for help, and you feel the need to drive me more into submission...?" I took a step towards him, then another, then another, then another...

Until I was right in front of him, glaring up at him. "Yes, I need your help. No, I don't need you to feed me. No, I don't need you to give me a place to sleep. All I absolutely need is to get to some semblance of society. Whether you want to have me around for any tasks is solely up to you, but I will not let this debt stand. I will pay you back somehow, this is just the only way I can think of right now."

I needed my bearings. I needed to get my feet back on the ground that way I could figure out which way I was heading. This man was my only link to getting there, it seemed. If it was true I was on Gran Pulse, then I had no idea where anything is, or even if there was a society somewhere out in the forest. I knew nothing, and that was the sad fact of the situation.

I stood there in front of him, my back throbbing to remind me that I was hurt. Whether the man replied positively or negatively would be the deciding factor. He had been dancing around me and making me flustered for his own amusement. Would this make him stop, or just spur him on?

[Auric]

The funny thing about telling someone off? It only works when they care. Part of being in the military includes having to follow orders... if not, there's a bunch of angry military charges that get laid against you and sometimes you even get kicked out. Still, as he stood there, taking all her words as if it were a joke, his mind was already wondering if she was at all serious about her plea. It wasn't exactly swallowing her pride if she looked meek one second then turned around and started yelling the next. It really brought out his point; why would he want someone like her around if all he was going to get was an uptight companion who couldn't relax if her life depended on it?

Which, to be fair it probably did. Gran Pulse was teeming with life... not knowing which way to go meant you had to explore it a little and there were far more dangerous things than a couple of chimera that could burn you. He very much doubted she had any knowledge in fieldcraft; the ointment he made to sooth her over was one he'd created with extensive knowledge of the local flora. If she was wounded, what would she do to allow herself to mend? Assuming, of course, whatever might attack her wasn't poisonous. Which, around this place -- here in the trees, it often was. The local plants were as alien to her as the land... she'd probably be monster food within the hour. Of course, in all this though what was the point in him saving her?

Curiosity, really. Now that his curiousity was sated, whether or not he would provide further aid was completely up to him. After all, if she was a nasty enough person you had better believe that he wasn't against throwing her to the wolves. "You're off to a great start, then." he shook his head as he retorted rather sarcastically. "You say you've put aside your pride but refuse to let this debt stand. That sounds like pride to me. And you've hardly put it aside when you're busy being loud... and as if that's not any worse, you ask me for a favour on top of your debt. And you expect me to let you tag along and not feed or shelter you? What, are you insulting my hospitality?" he rebuked. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew the bark with the mixture from earlier and he considered giving her a last chance.

She might know it, or might not... his face wasn't exactly a dead give away as to his offer being serious. "Prove it." he dared, the bark open on his palm.