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Roen · **09-24-2014, 04:27 PM**

Roen parted her lips to say something, then stopped. She just stared at Daegsatz for a long moment, incredulous.

â€œFor my own sakeâ€¦?â€ she finally managed, clearly affronted.

It was obvious. She did not understand the smuggler, at all. Or at least...

There were so many sides to Nero that as he switched to whatever persona would dictate their interactions, it just left her in a dizzying spin. But if what Daegsatzâ€™s had surmised was true, there was a part of Nero that actually cared about her welfare, not to mention her virtues--the very thing the smuggler had ridiculed and dismissed as impractical since the moment they had first met.

Roen found that hard to believe. And yetâ€¦

"...You can prove me wrong. Change Ul'dah from within. Change Ul'dah with the law on your side. Rub my face in the fact that I had drowned myself in darkness for no reason."

Perhapsâ€¦there was some truth to the Sea Wolfâ€™s insight. Perhaps Nero was just pushing her away.

Roen found it infuriating, truth be told. â€œDoes he expect to do all he hopes to do all by himself?â€ She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. â€œAnd I do not need saving. If he thinks me a helpless girl who cannot decide her own fate, well, he is grievously mistaken. I need not his misplaced chivalry.â€

Even though indignation fueled her sentiments, the paladin felt the shadows of uncertainty starting to diminish within her. She would not yet again let someone else dictate her path--especially not some arrogant pirate who thought he knew what was best for her!

***Nero*** · **09-24-2014, 07:18 PM**

Daegsatz rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. That seemed to set her off. He waved his hands in her direction as if to ward off the flames of Roen's ire.

"Now, now, lass, it just be a possibility...even I not be knowin' everythin' that be passin' through the daft lad's 'ead." With some confusion, the Sea Wolf folded his arms, tilting his head in curiosity. "It not be a bad thing for 'im ta care 'bout yer wellbeing, is it? If'n what ye be sayin' is true--that 'e be breakin' from ye 'cause o' yer ideals--mayhaps this be ....good?" Such moral quandaries were far above the simple sailor's head, even as he clumsily tried to navigate his way to the right words that would soothe the paladin's wounded pride.

"'Sides, whatever 'e be doin' 'e's not doin' alone. Nero's got the Forte, an' th' crew. Well, s'pose I not be doin' much from in 'ere..." Daegsatz gave a scornful gaze to the all-too-familiar gaol. "But still."

Roen · **09-24-2014, 10:52 PM**

â€œIâ€¦supposeâ€¦â€ Roen admitted reluctantly, still hesitant to fully relinquish her annoyance. â€œCaring about my well-being isâ€¦not a bad thing. If that is what this is! And if it is, he is going about it the most aggravating way possible!â€

It took two more huffed breaths before she realized she was just letting all her frustrations out on poor Daegsatz. His awkward expressions made it clearly plain that this discussion had made him most uncomfortable. Roen let out a long exhale, her anger beginning to deflate.

â€œPerhap,â€ the paladin said with a defeated shake of her head. â€œPerhaps it is for the best. As you said, he is not alone. He has the entire crew.â€ Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if in protest. â€œAlthough even you did not really know what his plans were for that raid.â€

Roen snorted and crossed her arms. â€œHe might be protecting the crew as well, to a degree.â€ The thought that Nero considered himself capable of orchestrating everything without trusting in anyone fully...his arrogance piqued her irritation once more. But she forcibly pushed her resentment aside. He's not even here before me. She would punish the Sea Wolf with it no longer.

***Nero*** · **09-25-2014, 12:36 AM**

Daegsatz merely shrugged. His discomfort stemmed more from simply not knowing how to calm her down, as opposed to being the target of her venting. He grinned suddenly; typically, flustering people was Nero's job, but the smuggler's influence occasionally made its presence known.

"And why ye be so concerned with 'is 'ealth?" the Roegadyn questioned curiously. "Ye said ye not be thinkin' 'e can accomplish 'is goals 'imself. Ye be worried, or perhaps ye simply be wantin' ta be at 'is side?" Before he could even let her respond, Daegsatz let out a guffaw of laughter at the idea, patting her shoulder. "Ye need not be worryin' so much, lass. 'Bout 'im or yer partnership. What should be matterin' is yerself, and 'ow ye be doin' yer own goals, aye? No need ta draw 'im into it if he be aggravatin' ye so."

Roen · **09-25-2014, 02:20 AM**

Roen wrinkled her nose.

Suddenly Daegsatz was starting to remind her a little too much of his captain. Roen cleared her throat, rising from her seat. The paladin dusted herself off and began to hastily empty out the contents of the basket onto the cot.

She was not concerned about Neroâ€™s health or welfare. Not anymore. Or at least..she should not be. Roen told herself this as she set the wrapped fish and waterskin aside. Wanting to be by his side. Hah! His ever-grating presenceâ€¦who would want that?

It was absurd. So thenâ€¦

Why was she so disappointed?

â€œYou are right, of course.â€ Roen agreed readily with the Sea Wolf, pushing her doubts aside. â€œI will do just that. Concentrate on my own objectives.â€ She nodded firmly and rose, empty basket in hand. She made her way quickly to the barred door; a part of her did not want Daegsatz to see the conflict on her face, or notice the regret in her tone.

â€œI will figure things out,â€ Roen said out loud, as much for the Sea Wolfâ€™s ears as her own. She signalled for the jailor.

***Nero*** · **09-25-2014, 03:51 AM**

Day 10

The days were beginning to mutate into a mucilaginous mass of maddeningly mundane monotony.

Once again, the Roegadyn had been reduced to counting cracks on the ceiling and exercising however he could in the cramped confines of the gaol. Ten suns; nearly a fortnight. It felt much, much longer than that. It was an odd thing to contemplate; Daegsatz had no problem with spending entire moons out at sea, yet it went without saying that being on a ship was far superior to being locked in a cell. At least there was the sun, the sea, and wind. The air had begun to stagnate and every day spent within the gaol lead the air to become even stuffier.

Though the Sea Wolf had not deigned to show it, he was growing more desperate to escape and leave. After barely ten suns, Daegsatz felt he was beginning to reach his wit's end with the gaol. What was especially curious was that no one had come to question him; no interrogations, no promises for freedom, nothing of the sort.

If that were the case, why was he still in here?

Roen · **09-25-2014, 05:23 PM**

Roen knew that look all too well.

The restlessness that seemed to both sap oneâ€™s strength and yet make them unable to sleep away the endless bells, the dulling of the senses, and the glazed look that settled over the eyesâ€¦she recognized it easily enough on the Sea Wolf. She had spent nearly a moon in the goals herself not too long ago, and even now she sometimes felt the suffocating effects of the thick stone walls and the static air.

The paladin did not have the heart to tell Daegsatz that Ser Jenlyns Straightblade had not agreed to set him free. In their short meeting, the Captain of the Sultansworns had listened carefully as she pleaded the First Mateâ€™s case. But as he added his own thoughts on the matter, it was obvious that Ser Jenlyns already knew of the Sea Wolf, either through Ser Crofteâ€™s report or a personal account from Jameson Taeros. While he did not side with the Monestarist, the Captain effectively washed his hands of the case, and told Roen to have Ser Crofte reassess the need for imprisonment.

This latter recommendation did give Roen some hope, that perhaps Coatleque would be easier to convince that Daegsatz did not belong in the gaols--especially when she saw it fit to let his pirate captain walk free.

But Roen would not speak of it to the Sea Wolf, at least until she had some specific news to share. Instead she withdrew a glass vase from the basket, one that held a small bouquet of chamomile and lavender. She set them onto the stony floor next to the pile of parchments, taking a seat herself.

â€œLavender always reminded me of home,â€ Roen offered with a small smile. â€œAnd chamomile grows in Vylbrand?â€ It was her silent hope that the flowerâ€™s scent would soothe his nerves somewhat. She took up the sketchings, this time letting her eyes roam over them one by one, pausing to admire the details in them.

â€œAre these of your home as well? Can you tell me about them?â€ she prodded quietly, her tone coaxing and unassuming.

***Nero*** · **09-26-2014, 12:00 AM**

Daegsatz strained to lift his head up. The scent of the flowers only served to deepen his restlessness, but he knew that Roen had brought it out of kindness, and so he held his tongue. He sniffed slightly.

"Aye," he drawled in a tired, almost monotone voice. "We be callin' it mayweed. It be 'avin' pos'tive effects on 'ealth. Th' brewed tea be assistin' wit' sleeplessness an' hangovers, though I not be an alchemist on th' subject." Some inspiration flashed in his mind as idle thoughts occupied it; Daegsatz sat up, locating the quill and ink.

"Beggin' yer pardon, lass, but if ye can be doin' me a favour and sittin' on the cot fer me," Daegsatz said as he flipped through the stack of parchments. He found a blank one, reserved for this purpose. "If it pleases ye, I'd like ta draw ye."

Roen · **09-26-2014, 02:36 AM**

Whatever words of modesty or refusal Roen may have had, she dismissed it when she noted the Sea Wolfâ€™s lethargy. His movements were weighed, and his speech dulled. Her sense of sympathy chased away any reticence, for the idea seemed to ignite a flash of motivation in the Roegadyn.

Roen picked herself up and settled to a seat on the cot next to him. The paladin tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, suddenly wondering what to do with her hands. She set them onto her lap, then adjusted them twice awkwardly.

â€œI never had someone draw me before,â€ she chuckled nervously and fidgeted. â€œDo you just want me to sit here?â€

***Nero*** · **09-26-2014, 03:04 AM**

Daegsatz' face spread into a wide grin. He had never had much experience drawing humanoid subjects; it was far too embarrassing for the fearsome Roegadyn pirate to ask someone to sit as a model. Yet now, with the gaol surrounding him, his inhibitions had lowered considerably, and this would prove to be an interesting diversion.

"Sittin' be just fine," he said, chuckling. With an artist's eye, he examined Roen's posture. "Now...keep yer hands like this." Gently Daegsatz manipulated the paladin's slim hands so that her right wrist lay atop her left. "Now curl yer fingers slightly. As fer yer head.." the Sea Wolf stepped back, attempting to visualize a perspective. The cramped confines of the gaol did little to assist in his assessment, but after a few minutes he managed to determine a suitable position.

With both hands he deftly tilted Roen's head this way and that, deciding that she should face the corner, her chin tilted upward slightly.

Satisfied, Daegsatz sat down on the floor of the gaol. "Alright. Now hold that fer jus' a few minutes," he said as he immediately began to scratch on the parchment with the quill.

Aware that it would be uncomfortable to hold such a pose, the Roegadyn tried his best to work quickly; the quill seemed to fly across the parchment. The image came together as if Roen had been his model for entire cycles; a graceful chin, slender arms, a regal posture that was simultaneously rigid and supple. Daegsatz found himself lost in his work; the image of Roen he had been scrawling wasn't the paladin sitting on a cot in a gaol, but of her sitting on a log on a La Noscean beach, a glimmering sun depicted in the sky, with gentle, minutely detailed waves lapping against the bottom of the log. Her expression personified the image; gentle and fair, with a spot of kindness.

In his reverie, the Sea Wolf let out a long exhale when he judged the work to be done. He spun the parchment around slowly so as not to whip the ink off of it, glancing at the paladin for her approval. "What ye be thinkin'?"

Roen · **09-26-2014, 01:47 PM**

Roen held the pose as best she could for what felt like hours. It was not the stillness that bothered her, the meditation training with Gharen had taught her to let her thoughts drift and her muscles unwind.

It was the fact that someone was actively studying her features that made her squirm. But all her discomfort melted away when Daegsatz held up the finished picture for her inspection. It took her breath away.

The paladin shook her head with a grateful smile. â€œIt is...wonderful,â€ she said in awe. Disbelief shadowed her expression as she shook her head slightly. Her eyes roamed about the face, the posture, and the scenery depicted within the sketch. While she did not say it out loud, Roen did not see herself in the woman he drew, but she want to be her. She was beautiful, with an air of grace about her and a sense of peace.

â€œI will have to find that log,â€ Roen said longingly, imagining herself in such a serene moment. She gave Daegsatz a bright smile. â€œOr you can point out to me your favorite spots someday.â€

***Nero*** · **09-26-2014, 04:07 PM**

Daegsatz shrugged in some embarrassment. "Admittedly, I not be on shore long enough fer me ta know any such spots," he confessed. "Seemed hardly fittin' ta draw ye on a ship, though." The Roegadyn exhaled lightly so as to quicken the drying of the ink as it soaked through the parchment; when it seemed to settle, he held the image up to the paladin.

"It'd be doin' me honor if ye kept it fer me," he said. "Though, ye be bearin' in mind that not ev'ry Sea Wolf ye throw in 'ere is gonna make somethin' like this fer ye." Daegsatz' face split into a grin with his small joke.

Roen · **09-26-2014, 06:24 PM**

Roen took the portrait with care in both hands. She took another moment to admire it, before mirroring Daegsatzâ€™ grin with one of her own.

â€œNay, I think you are...not like any other I have met,â€ she said quietly as she regarded him with fondness. Her gaze drifted to the picture again in her lap. â€œAnd gratitude, for not drawing me on a ship. I do have some trouble with seasickness. And...lately I have not fared very well on boats.â€ She winced, but shook her head to dismiss those thoughts quickly.

The paladin inhaled deeply as if to imagine herself on the beach. â€œBut the view of the ocean and the sound of the waves...there is nothing else like it,â€ she said dreamily. â€œYou honor me with this gift. I shall treasure it always.â€

***Nero*** · **09-26-2014, 11:30 PM**

Daegsatz nodded, rather proud of his work. He typically did not draw people; animals or landscapes suited him, but he found that it was satisfying to receive such gratitude for his work. "If'n I ever get bored o' plunderin', mayhaps I'll be come an artist," he said, the grin on his face saying that it was very unlikely to happen.

"I 'preciate th' company ye be providin' me, lass," the Roegadyn gave the heartfelt statement. "I be hopin' every sun that it be th' last we be forced ta meet in a gaol."

Roen · **09-27-2014, 01:52 AM**

Roen sighed, a look of consternation quickly chasing away her enthusiasm. â€œI hope so too. My meeting with the Captain of the Sultansworns now leads me to seek out a good friend, Ser Crofte. She is honorable. I think if I can convince her that you do not belong here, she can get you released from the gaols.â€

She paused a moment, before laying one hand on Daegsatzâ€™s shoulder--a gesture he has afforded her a few times to comfort her. The paladin gave him a reassuring smile and a nod. â€œPerhaps I should go find her, hm? Rather than admiring all of your fine works.â€

Roen rose from her seat, handling the sketch in her hand with care as if it was a prized, delicate thing. She paused by the door after she signalled the jailor, glancing back to the Sea Wolf.

â€œPerhaps when you return to the Second Forte, you can draw one of your captain as well?â€ she said absently, her thought finally returning to the smuggler. It had been refreshing to visit Daegsatz without a thought given to that tumultuous relationship. But Roen reminded herself that she still had to find him as well.

Ser Crofte first, to set his First Mate free. Then Nero, to set my own mind at ease.

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