Lia sits at the edge of the boat, watching the water as the ship sails onward. She appears to have left her armour and gear in her bunk: she's clad in her yellow blouse and brown pants with a dagger in her belt. A haunted look is in her eye.
Aerodus sees Lia sitting. He moves over to her, leaning against the railing and staring at the water. He has left his armor and gear in his bunk as well; he's clad in a long-sleeved dark green shirt, black cloth pants, and brown, well-worn boots. His bow is on his back as well as his quiver. After a minute or so, he says, "What're you thinking about now?"
Lia winces as Aerodus speaks.
The old man. The alligator. The poor thing hadn't been fed in so long... is that what it feels like? To kill someone?
"Lamm." She says, taking a breath. She doesn't look up from the water. Her hands clench into fists and relax.
Aerodus's blue gaze turns to her out of the corner of his eye. "What about him? Are you... feeling guilty or something?"
Lia is quiet for a while before she speaks up again. "It was the first time I ever killed someone." She looks up at Aerodus. Dark circles are visible under her eyes.
Aerodus turns his body fully to Lia. He crouches to her level. "I know it's difficult. But sometimes, it's necessary to kill." He shifts a bit. 'D**n. I really don't know how to do this.'
Lia looks down, biting her lip. "I know... having to fight off animal and bandit attacks on my caravan taught me that, but..."
She sighs and looks over at the ranger as he crouches next to her. "I can't believe I did that. That I could do that. That I could just condemn a man to a cruel and unusual death like that." The memory of Lamm being eaten by his pet alligator still haunts her, it seems.
Jirani moves about the boat easily, in many ways more comfortable on the sea than on land. Seeing Aerodus and Lia in quiet conversation that Garundi man hesitates in approaching them, opting instead to see if either Venator or Andando are doing anything...
Aerodus stares at her before looking around the boat, making sure no one's looking.
When he sees that he's alone, he awkwardly places his hand on top of her head and strokes her hair, trying to comfort her.
Seeing that it's not working, he awkwardly shifts his body around her, pulling her into an awkward hug. It's obvious that he has no clue in how to comfort people. He strokes her back. He whispers, "Uh... there, there. It's all right. It was necessary to help the orphans. It doesn't mean you're a bad person." 'By the Gods, what am I doing?'
As Aerodus pats Lia's head, she leans forward and hugs him, her head buried in his shoulder.
She's trembling slightly. "Thanks." She says, her voice muffled by Aerodus' clothes.
Aerodus tightens his grip around Lia. "It's no problem," he mutters into her ear. After a while, he pulls back to look her in the eye. "You feel better?"
Lia sniffs. "A bit."
She looks up at Aerodus after briefly glancing at his shoulder. I hope he doesn't mind me leaving tear stains on his shoulder...
"I don't plan on doing it again. If I have to kill..." She straightens up. "...I won't do anything so barbaric again."
Aerodus just looks at her and nods. "Good. Whatever you feel is best." He releases his grip and stands up. He offers a hand to Lia. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."
Lia takes Aerodus' hand.
"Maybe I'll feel better after some rest." She says before stretching.
Venator is keeping a look out for disasters.
After helping Lia up, Aerodus places his hands in his pockets. "Come on. I'll escort you. After you're in bed, I'll help Venator with the patrol."
Lia settles back into her bunk with a sigh. It was about time she got some rest...
She looks at Aerodus, blushing. "Thanks for listening to me. I hope I'm not coming across as being whiny..."
She lies back in her bunk, drawing the covers up and closing her eyes.
Aerodus nods at Lia. "Again, it's no problem. And you're not coming across as whiny. Believe it or not, I went through the same thing after I killed that patrol. Now, get some sleep." He leaves and shuts the door.
While patrolling, he can't help but notice Venator staring at him, with a smile on his face, no doubt. The Cheliaxian growls out, "Not one word."
Venator puts a finger and a thumb together and passes them over his mouth, closing the zip.
Andando sits on a barrel using a razor (meant for shaving, used for killing) to whittle a stick into a sharp point. See Jirani turn from the crying lemon and the brooding romancer, the sarcastic rogue pipes up. "Jirani, how goes it? You sure you aren't an assassin, the way you took out Octavian, man what a shot! Right in the throat from a hundred paces. Beautiful thing it was." He smiles at the inquisitor.
Jirani starts at the rogue being so close by but offers his own sardonic smile as he leans against another nearby barrel. I confess I have rarely shot so well. My relationship with death is less mercenary, more... Jirani offers a hand motion as though to suggest "bigger" or "deeper". Death and birth are natural. Men killing men? This is a natural thing too. My Lady rarely cares what motivates a killing or a why a death occurs. She judges us all. If she moved my hand a little? Made my aim a little straighter? Who am I to question her? All I can do is take her gifts and my training and do the best I can. Octavian was not a good man. I regret not getting more from him. But his death? Jirani takes an apple from his shirt and bites into it as he gives a look that he suspects Andando understands. It will not keep me from sleeping.
Aerodus looks to Jirani, leaning against the railing of the boat. "Yeah. That was a very impressive shot. Not to mention Octavian was moving away from us, so that makes it tougher."
Jirani can only offer a feeble shrug, I would say luck. But I have been training much of my life, perhaps it is finally making a difference in a major way. That or Pharsma's pull on him was stronger than most.
Aerodus just nods and looks at the water as the boat moves closer to Korvosa before heading off to bed.
As the ranger moves to go to bed, Jirani sighs, I should do the same. Rest and all that. I think I saw a hammock with my name on it. I'll get a good night's sleep for the first time in weeks! Jirani offers a slight chuckle and makes his way to quarters.
Andando steps to the front of the group. "What then were you told?" he asks imitating Octavian as best he can. "I am Octavian, and these, my gang members." he says indicating the rest of the group.
Lia rubs her eyes as she comes above deck, dark circles underneath them.
Her eyes widen when she sees Andando speaking with an armoured woman. Oh no. Why didn't I wake up sooner?
Aerodus gets on the deck, fully in his armor and gear. He keeps his hood up and stays silent. However, his eyes are shift, looking out for anything.
Nodding to the woman, as she turns away, Andando turns to Lia and gives her a vicious borderline sociopathic smile. "Gather the others." he says under his breath. "Inform them of the ruse." he follows the lady towards the tavern.
Venator tries to remember if the woman matches any description from the famous people of Korvosa.
Lia blinks. "Wha...? What'd we just get ourselves into now?"
Aerodus places a hand on Lia's shoulder. He leans to her ear and whispers, "Andando's pretending to be Octavian and we're supposed to be his 'gang'."
He then looks up at the imps and glares at them.
"Oh." Lia blinks again before covering her mouth to yawn.
"Shouldn't have slept in... my brain's being kinda slow to wake up." She rests her hand on the hilt of her sword.
As the woman leaves. "No one would have seen me, but so be it." Andando turns to the group.
"Anywhere you lot want to visit before Octavian's meeting?"
Aerodus glares harder at the imps mocking him.
Stopping his staring contest with the imps, Aerodus discreetly pulls out the Queen's broach. "I suggest we bring this to the Queen first. And by 'we', I mean you, because I'm still unsure about going to meet the Queen myself... even with the hood."
Lia takes the brooch and holds it in her hand. "I suppose we can do that." She looks up at Aerodus. "Where will you be when we come back?"
"I hope they haven't heard that... Let's go."
Aerodus looks to Lia. "If you can ensure my security, I'll come into the throne room with you. If not, then I'll tag along with you to the Palace. After that, I would wait outside the throne room or the palace." He secures the hood on his head.
Jirani makes sure his holy symbol is tucked under his clothes but otherwise shrugs at the parties suggestions. The course of action sounded fine.
I think it wise to not push our luck too much. We could never hope to ensure security inside the throne room. Aerodus and I can wait outside while the rest of you meet within. I do not think it is prudent to ever leave our ranger alone in this city...
Lia nods. "That sounds reasonable. We'll try not to take too long."
Aerodus nods. "Very well, then."