Those That Carry the Wind and Water (Leoric and Azza)

[Leoric]

Leoric sighed, he really wasn’t in the habit of asking for help. After all he was a man, and a stubborn one at that, he liked to do everything himself. However, what they were saying did make sense.

“I don’t really need a bodyguard, I can take care of myself in that regard. But if you know your way through Underwood and can get me to where I am going faster it would save me time and money.” Leoric looked at the ground, a little ashamed of himself for agreeing to help. “Kylie, we will head to Ruby’s first thing in the morning, you can play with Eric all day, and Ruby will keep you safe till i get back.”

“Really?! They are so much fun to be around!” Kylie exclaimed, finally showing her age.

“Yep! And I will give Miss Ruby some extra coin so you can go enjoy yourselves in town as well.” Leoric smiled warmly as he walked over and ruffled her hair. “Now finish dinner and go get ready for bed kay? I will take care of cleaning up.”

It didn’t take long for Kylie to finish up her soup and dried meat before she quickly hugged Leoric and ran off into the disheveled stone hut. Before she quickly looked back and half whispered. “You may want to go for a bath as well, you stink a little”

Leoric raised an arm and took a sniff before nodding his head in agreement as she giggled and went inside. Leoric grabbed the bowls and pot used for the soup and carried it over to woods where he emptied any leftovers into a pile and wiped the bowls down before walking to the pond to rinse them.

“So if you are to be my guide for a few days, we should get to know each other so we aren't expecting a dagger in our backs. I am Leoric Blackwell, Former member of the Crimson Hand. I was one of their enforcers, their muscle, I got the job done no matter what. and then i got lost in the frozen wastes of Salvar, i only survived cause i found a cave with a naturally occurring hot spring inside. Animals tended to frequent it for safety from the elements so I harvested them to survive. After years of isolation I learned what I wanted to do….” He stopped rinsing the pot and looked back at his companion for a second before continuing. “Or I should say, what I want my legacy to be.”

After a few moments of silence he emptied the pot and bowls and started bringing them back towards the fire. “My life up to this point I detest, I consider myself a failure of a human being. So I decided to do everything I can to change, to make the last few decades of my life something worth sharing with others. Shortly after i decided this i met some fantastic people who i have to keep pushing for, Kylie is only one of the people i have to succeed for. She has had no one be there for her since her mother passed away. And I know that feeling, my whole life I have had no one there for me. And I won't let her life end up like mine.”

He turned to face his new guide and hopeful new friend. He sat down on the log next to the fire a little distance away from her as he finally let his muscles relax and took a deep breath, finally trying to let his guard down for once. “What about yourself? Obviously only share what you are comfortable with.”

[orphans]

Oh? Was the conversation turning a bit more serious now that his charge was headed off to bed? Leoric Blackwell, former member of the Crimson Hand. He stated it as if it was something that should have rung a bell or an inkling of notoriety to it in some way or other. It was something that anyone should have known had they been around in the last several years. For Azza? She was a stranger in her homeland.

The fact that he offered his full name and background without trying to hide itched at the back of Azza’s mind a little. She had given her name as Sophia and while it was no lie, it didn’t sit well with her anymore. Rather, if he was willing to bare such secrets as he did, perhaps she should in kind as well. At least, that’s what she struggled with as Azza looked at the fire, considering how to respond. Only share what she was comfortable with, huh?

Drawing in a deep breath and sighing, she sat up properly and looked over to Leoric. “I suppose I should reintroduce myself as well then. I am Azza Sophia Ambrose. I’ve been away for the last several years off in the secluded land where the white ship with black sails hails from.” Smiling a bit wistfully, she continued. “For me to say anything else though, I’ll have to partake in that drink you offered. I might be a lightweight in tolerance, but I’ll need to be rather deep before I divulge more of my secrets,” she finished with a wink.

Whether Leoric guessed her path of words or simply knew his way around awkward girls like Azza, she couldn't tell, but Leoric was certainly quick to fill Azza's empty soup bowl from his liberated bottle, nearly pouring her half of the contents. The rest of the dark amber bottle he kept for himself to drink from. "How many secrets do I get to buy with that?"

Azza snorted and raised her bowl carefully with both her hands to take a small whiff. Jerking her head back slightly, she gave a small cough as the smell of the alcohol tickled the back of her nose. "I think I might be bankrupt by morning."

Still, Azza wasn't going to refuse the drink as she gulped down a mouthful. It burned. Not nearly as badly as she thought. The flavor was.... meaty? Oh- that was probably the soup mixing in. Bitter. A bit nutty maybe? Unsurprisingly Azza was a terrible connoisseur of alcohol. Why did she even drink? Thinking back on it, it was mostly due to the bad influences of those around her before she left of the island, on the island, and now that she was back...

... well, all of those were excuses. She enjoyed the warmth and bubbly feeling of the drinks, even if her head feels like it was kicked by a mule later when she woke up. Her cheeks darkened with the rush of blood and her robe was beginning to feel stifling. Glancing over at Leoric, she snickered. "You said earlier for me to share what I was comfortable with, yes? I'm comfortable with sharing everything about myself so long as we keep drinking. Ask, and I'll answer. Then I ask, and you answer. We keep going.... until whenever."