Bernadette
"Easy now, girl, we'll be there soon." The sellsword said softly to his horse, reaching down with careful fingers to caress the mane of the beast. It was all the man could do for her, almost literally. He hadn't gotten the name of the horse from the man he took it from, nor was he really sure if it was a mare or not. Hells, he didn't even know where they were going, let alone how long the journey would be. "..But you don't know that, do you girl?" 

Feeling as if the beast had been thoroughly convinced, their journey continued. Heading through the mountain passes, the man lamented over how lost he was. He was on a path, sure, but which path? Headed where? He honestly had no idea. It was a miracle he even made it this far, given where he had just come from. He pulled close the loose fitting robe that hung about his form, looking awkwardly bulky from his pauldrons. Two sheathed swords stuck out from the cloak at either side, and his head and face were covered by the cloaks hood. 

He wasn't going to die up here, was he? A body guard with no body to guard, barely able to even guard his own? And his new horse, aptly named Girl. Oh, he had terrible luck with horses, but to die atop one freshly stolen? 

"No.." He muttered to himself, "Not stolen, looted. Yes. Much better. Can't steal off a dead man, and bandits hardly count as people. But you can certainly loot a corpse."

But to die atop a horse freshly looted? That would be fittingly bad luck.
Susan
A drow elf wanders the mountains on foot, she scans the area for earth elementals. Looking around for any out of place pebble or stone. Why? She doesn't quite know. Perhaps she'll keep one as a pet...

Catherine Willows had made her way out here on a flimsy excuse. She had given this excuse to a man who had come to her shop in search of a love potion. She didn't have the energy to tell him no, so she said she was going to the southern mountains in search of some exotic ingredients. It was so much easier to lie than explain for the hundredth time why she doesn't make love potions.

However, on her expedition she came across some thing rather strange. A human man all by his lonesome. She could tell by the look on his face that he was lost, so she decided to lend him a hand. Anything to get away from home for a little longer. 

"Hello there, Ranzo! A pleasure to meet you! You look rather lost, would like some help getting around?"

She spoke his name, despite him never having told her. An old divination trick she learned many years ago.
Bernadette
It wasn't clear who jumped first, the man or the horse. The man would blame the horse, if asked. In one fluid motion, a hand fell to the hilt of the sword furthest away from where the sound came from. As his hand moved, as did his head, snapping with keen instinct directly to the drow. Beneath his cowl peircing lilac eyes would be visible, yet most of his other features would be obscured. "Fucking hells.." He muttered to himself. There was alot off here, yet one thing bothered him most.

She knew his name.

Here he was Gods knows where, atop a mountain on a looted horse, cloaked from head to toe, and still someone recognized him. Not good.

He was so offput by this one fact that every other word she said went unheard.

"I know you, love? You a grumpy ex lover or something? Perhaps an old clients wife? Basically the same thing as the first.."

As he rambled, her other words began to resonate with him.

"Lost? Me? Nope. Ha! Never." He lied. This had to be a trap right? This felt like a trap.
Susan
Catherine chuckles softly at his reaction. She loved their reactions when she pulled that trick. Their first reactions also told you quite a bit about their character. This man clearly has been around quite a bit. Ex-lovers told her that he was quite the lady killer. She could understand why. Tall, mysterious, dangerous. The fact that he had clients meant he had a job where he worked on commission. Given his weaponry and how his hand twitched toward his blade, he's a sellsword.

"I'm neither, dear friend. Just a Drow enjoying the scenery. Tell me, what's a sell sword like yourself doing here? You don't look to be on the job. It's alright, you don't have to lie. I could help you."

Something about Catherine was... Off. Unnerving. She always had this slight smile on her face, as if she knew something you didn't. He hadn't once seen her change expression. Her eyes were unnaturally violet. Not to mention the fact she was a Drow above ground in broad daylight... Had she blinked at all since she started talking?
Bernadette
Her explanation did little to ease the tension in his body language. Even cloaked as he was, a hand on the hilt of a sword was difficult to confuse. 

He studied her for a moment. A collection of oddities, given flesh and told to act normal. That is how he would describe this woman. A drow? Atop a mountain? Smiling!? None of these things made sense. None of these things were supposed to happen.

"Same thing a Drow is doing over the mountain instead of under it. And what are you smiling about? Ive only seen Drow women smile on three occasions and to make it happen I had to do things that I cannot repeat in polite company."

Him and his horse, Girl, remained in place. The mans body was near statue still, as if waiting for any sign of danger to act.
Susan
She chuckled softly at him, smile widening ever so slightly.

"Well, you've heard the saying haven't you? You're never fully dressed without a smile! I simply take it to heart more than most. As for what I'm doing up here, well, I live here. I left the Underdark many, many years ago. So dreary and boring. Once you've seen one giant angry spider you've seen them all. I assure you, I'm harmless."

She giggled to herself at that.

"Well, harmless to you, unless you take out that sword that is. I won't have much of a choice if you swing first, will I? Ah, all these threats, and I haven't even told you my name yet! I must apologize."

She bows slightly, tilting her head and sweeping her arms in a grand gesture.

"Catherine Willows, at your service."

She straightened up, placing both hands behind her back and gazing into Ranzo's eyes with an intensity that didn't quite match her calm demeanor.
Bernadette
*"Well, you've heard the saying haven't you? You're never fully dressed without a smile!"*

Ironically, this drew a deeper frown from the man than he was already favoring. Fingers tapped idly on the hilt of his sword as he kept eyecontact with the woman, his gaze having gone from somewhat offput to now defiantly fierce. 

"Consider me naked then, cause I ain't smiling." 

It was more of a warning, than anything else. Drow, in his experience, were not the kindest of folk, nor the most trustworthy. Even regarding each other, the Drow past time seemed to be testing how big a knife one could shove in anothers back to take their place, and how seemless they could make the transition seem. Ranzo had even had to play bodyguard for a Drow once, during one of his first times meeting one. The experience had taken *Years* Off his life from the stress alone. He shuddered visibly at the thought of the things he had to do to keep his client from being an unsatisfied customer. He really hated spiders, and those people seemed to love them. Ick.

*"Well, harmless to you, unless you take out that sword that is. I won't have much of a choice if you swing first, will I? Ah, all these threats, and I haven't even told you my name yet! I must apologize."*

"Don't worry, love. Llyna stays in her sheath until you give her reason to come out and say hello." He replied regarding her initial threat, "So you keep any blades you have hidden, and don't let me see you start with any finger wigglin'," He said, lifting his off hand and wiggling his fingers as if to pantomime a sorcerer starting an incantation. "You got that finger wiggler air about you. You're all odder than fucking hell."

Was that hypocritical? He was a fair hand at certain types of magic, sure, but he also considered himself a sword wizard. He could make magic happen with a blade, or at least that was his pitch when someone needed a bodyguard. And that pitch never failed.

*'Gods,"* He thought to himself, *'I am as good with my tongue as I am with my weapons. Would be a shame to die up here on this looted horse talking to this... Whatever she is. Perhaps its better to play along..'*

*"Catherine Willows, at your service."*

"Alright Catherine," He said, his frown finally letting up, "Ranzo Vanitas, though you already knew that. Sellsword, sure. Bodyguard, to be more accurate. Currently with no body to guard. Just on my way to the next town, village, outpost, whatever."
Susan
He was speaking defensive. Keeping his distance. His hand on his blade. Aggressive stance, straight backed, all the tell tale signs of someone ready to lash out at the slightest movement. He was radiating threat. Catherine had come across fellows just like Mr. Vanitas here. She was tempted to play on his nerves, see how far she could push him before she starting swinging that sword of his. But alas, that would be far too rude. Perhaps it was because she was a Drow? It would make sense. Both above and below ground Drow has a bad reputation as spider worshipping murderers.

"If your mistrust is due to me being a dark elf, I should inform you not all drow are spider loving backstabbers. Only most of them. I, as you can see, am not most drow. I have no love for Lolth, I assure you."

She gave him an appraising gaze. Behind her back, she did the same finger wiggling he had just accused her of. But for a good cause. She casted "Detect Magic" For threat assessment alone. From Ranzo's point of view, he would see the smallest glimmer of light cross Catherine's eyes, perhaps a trick of the light. Catherine, however, saw much more. He was a conjurer, with a hint of cryomancy. While she could certainly hold her own, she genuinely didn't want a fight.

Catherine took her hands from behind her back and raised them slightly in a show of surrender.

"No finger wiggling wizardry. At least, none to hurt you. I was not lying when I said I meant you no harm. You are clearly lost, and I offer help. Besides, I have nothing to gain from killing a random bodyguard. You carry nothing that interests me." 

She did actually want to help him. That was no lie. Even if it was just an excuse to blow off a client.
Bernadette
*" I have no love for Lolth, I assure you."*

"That makes two of us love. As a general rule, anyone who throws their lot in with spiders I try to stay faaaaaar away from." 

It was true enough. Spiders were as cold and ruthless as any cut throat or sellsword he had met. Perhaps even moreso. And they were awful to look at. What kind of people would worship something like that? 

Perhaps it was the sun in Ranzo's eyes, or perhaps the tension of the situation, but Ranzo did not notice any glint or glimmer to indicate any magic had been used. And as it was, as the woman had suggested, harmless, the man had no way of knowing he had just been evaluated. Quite the opposite really, her admission of faith, or lack thereof, in the Spider Goddess would result in the mans tensions slowly easing. While his hand remained on his sword, his posture became less stiff, and his eyes much less narrowed.

It would be unlike a Drow to speak ill of Lloth, for fear of her. Or at least that was what he had come to believe. It was a risk, but he felt at this point it was one well calculated.

*No finger wiggling wizardry. At least, none to hurt you. I was not lying when I said I meant you no harm. You are clearly lost, and I offer help. Besides, I have nothing to gain from killing a random bodyguard. You carry nothing that interests me."*

"Well you don't have to be so forward about it. I am sure *Something* On me is worth having." He muttered, though likely enough for her to hear. "Fine. I'll play along, Catherine. You want to guide me out of this mudhole?" He paused, considering that phrasing. Hard to label something a hole when it is on a mountain and quite fare above the ground below. He shook his head, "..Whatever. I'll follow you. You can trust me, and I am hoping I can trust you. I'm far to pretty to die." He said, slowly removing his hand from his sword and offering it out to her in greeting and/or agreement.
Susan
Catherine reaches out and shakes the man's hand. Her grip is strangely strong for someone of her size and apparent build (though it was hard to tell, given her large robe). He hand was ice cold though. After a quick shake and retracts her hand and steps a pace back. Now, the closest town, according to her knowledge, would be Miller Dale. A rather idealistic agrarian community, the two of them wouldn't fit in there at all. Perfect!

"Follow me, good sir. The closest town would be Miller Dale, it's perhaps a two or three days ride from here. A rather nice place, if a bit boring."

She begins to walk in a seemingly random direction. Seemingly just expecting Ranzo to follow. It was times like this when she wishes she had a horse. Not that she would grow weary any time soon, it's just that horses are faster.

As she walked she began to hum a soft tune, not really caring if she was overheard of not. It was a slow song that was achingly familiar, but for the life of her she couldn't remember the lyrics. Oh well.
Bernadette
Ranzo, wearing his thick gloves as he was, would be unable to feel the temperature of her hand, though he did not the pressure of her grip. Naturally, being the man that he was, he would match it, if not squeeze a bit harder. Couldn't be outdone by a woman, and all that. He would finally flash a grin at her, his features obviously more prevalent beyond his hood as she moved in closer to him. 

*"Follow me, good sir. The closest town would be Miller Dale, it's perhaps a two or three days ride from here. A rather nice place, if a bit boring."*

She was on foot, so it wouldn't do for him to ride. And in case she did try something underhanded, it would be much easier to avoid her assault if he could use his horse, Girl, as a meatshield. And so he slid smoothly off the horse and landed with a thund on the ground, the clanging and clinking of his armor sounding true from beneath his hood. With little to no fanfare, he removed the cloak to reveal the mans beneath regalia. A combination of cloth, leather, and armor. Cloth on the legs and torso, leather around the waist, and armor on the shoulders and wrists. It was a combination that heavily favored the style of a duelist, someone who was quick on their feet and attacked at an angle that the armor would be benefitial in. Not standing and swinging heavy long enough for armor on the torso to be overly useful. Though that opinion may change if anyone were ever able to catch him there.

"Two or three days ride. But we're walking... So... I guess we're gonna get to know each other pretty well then, huh?" He asked as her humming began. He tilted his head, his grin growing somewhat at the womans humming. He found it amusing enough. Strange as the woman was, he had placed his fate in her hands, at least somewhat.
Susan
Quite the reveal. He obviously placed a lot of pride on his appearance. Leather from top to bottom as well as some rather heavy armor. He still looked to be rather agile though, if he were to attack her for whatever reason, keeping distance would be best. Still, she wanted him to trust her. So she didn't pull any further or move any closer. 

In contrast to all his fancy armor and pointy swords, Catherine was rather more unarmed. She wore no armor at all. Just a simple crimson robe that hung off her shoulders. Underneath, just simple clothing. She carried no weapons at all, not even an emergency dagger. However, tucked inside her robe, hidden from sight, were several spools of white thread. But Ranzo didn't need to know that.

Catherine stopped humming her tune in order to respond to Ranzo, cutting it off prematurely.

"It would seem so. I don't mind sharing details of my life. It's likely nowhere near as interesting as yours, Mr. Vanitas. I am a simple wizard. People come to me with problems, I give them solutions. Potions mostly. But sometimes I'll cast a spell or two, or hand them a fancy magic trinket. It's rather boring, most problems are all the same, anyway."

She suddenly gets a strange look her in eyes and her smile wavers for the first time.

"So many people come to me with... Love troubles. They come to me for love potions, or to enchant the mind of someone else to be infatuated with them. That is the one part of my job that I truly loathe. I turn them away, but the keep coming."

She shakes her head and regains her composure. 

"Enough about me. What of you? How does being a bodyguard treat you?"
Bernadette
The man had already done his share of looking her over. And considering how much time the two would be spending together in the coming days, he would continue to do more. The man walked with relative ease and confidence, his posture no longer guarded, or at least not quite as so as when she had first revealed herself to him. She'd probably not have to guess that he was eyeing her, and odd as she was she was likely used to it. Still, he was about to comment further on her appearance before she beat him to the punch.

*"It would seem so. I don't mind sharing details of my life. It's likely nowhere near as interesting as yours, Mr. Vanitas. I am a simple wizard. People come to me with problems, I give them solutions. Potions mostly. But sometimes I'll cast a spell or two, or hand them a fancy magic trinket. It's rather boring, most problems are all the same, anyway."*

He blinked at that revelation. Obviously she was a mage, that was never in doubt. However a merchant? That was a bit of a surprise. What was she doing out here? Did she have a shop? Why would she leave it unattended to spend upwards of a week guiding a stranger to civilization. 

"So you live around here then? Leaving your shop to show me to town seems like a good way to go out of business or get robbed. Or both." He felt the need to ask what kind of potions before she beat him, yet again, to the punch.

*"So many people come to me with... Love troubles. They come to me for love potions, or to enchant the mind of someone else to be infatuated with them. That is the one part of my job that I truly loathe. I turn them away, but the keep coming."*

Silent for a moment at her lack of entertainment at the line of men come to get love potions, Ranzo couldn't help but break his silence with howling laughter. 

"HAHAHAHA! Men come from all over to ask you to make it easier for them to get a lay, huh? For the coin they'd spend they could just find a lass to pay for that kind of attention, yeah?" He continued to laugh at the prospect before his curiousity began to creep up on him. "So... Do those potions really exist? I knew a fella who claimed to sell potions of that sort. Make a girl fall in love with you at the drop of a word, or a potion to make you stiff as a stone tree no matter how much ale you had drank or how cold it was. Never needed them myself, but always made me curious. That stuff real? What else can you do for that kind of need?" 

He had about a million questions, and nothing but time to ask them. He was so curious, that he seemed to forget to answer her question about him! That, or he was deflecting. Who could say?
Susan
Catherine stopped walking and turned to face him. Her smile remained unchanged as always, but her eyes were another story. They burned with intensity, staring dagger directly at him. He seems to have unknowingly struck a nerve. There was something different about her now. An strange feeling of danger in the air, despite the fact she hadn't really done anything yet.

"I will take you're jocular tone as mere ignorance, and not malevolence. Allow me to educate you. So called "Love" Potions are an affront against common decency. To control one's mind in order to take advantage to them is no different than doing so by force. Yes. These potions exist. They are vile concoctions sold to vile people. I'm am certain that you meant no offense, but I would like you to view this from the position of the victim. How would you feel if you went on a date with someone you trusted, and suddenly, against your will, your body moves and mouth speaks things that you would never do or say? To be trapped in your own mind while such events take place is far too cruel, even as punishment for a crime."

She closes her eyes and sighs. When she opens them the intensity is gone, and the dangerous aura is gone. She bows her head in silent apology.

"Forgive me for my outburst. I am... Passionate about the subject. As for your other questions, yes, all of the above do indeed exist. Oh! And even earlier you asked what I'm doing here! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore your question. I am here to get away from my job for a moment. It will be there when I return. I just needed a short vacation. I don't actually live around here."
Bernadette
Her change in demenor and the feel of threat in the air did absolutely nothing to deter the shit eating grin on the face of the sell sword, and when she turned to look into his eyes he did not flinch or shy away. His grin grew wider, even though he had struck a nerve he had still gotten his answer, and the explanation she fired at him did confirm that those potions were in fact more that mere snake oil to be sold by conniving trickersters and con artists. He would have to keep that in mind.

"Look, if I was out having drinks with a lass I meant to bed, and suddenly I found myself moving on my own to go up to her room and do the deed, I'd tell her, when it wore off of course, that she wasted good coin on something she'd of gotten for free anyway. Though I wonder if it makes the performance any better.." He asked himself, again, uncaring on if she agreed with where his mind naturally took him as to lines of questioning. 

*"Forgive me for my outburst. I am... Passionate about the subject."* 

This earned naught but a indifferent shrug from him. If his continued grin and unfaltering line of thinking was any indication of how little he cared, she'd surely know that no apology was needed.

What did catch his attention however was her final statement.

"..Wait... If you don't live out here, why were you out here in the first place?"
Susan
Oh how she very much wanted to hit him. To get him to understand the importance of consent. A million idea of how to get the message through his thick skull passed through her mind. Unfortunately, most of them were criminal, and the other half just weren't feasible. If he didn't understand the importance of the subject, very well. Catherine wasn't his mother. She didn't have to inform him about the subject.

"I'm hunting. This place is full of earth elementals. Their cores make wonderful potion ingredients. They can be used to make stone skin potions, antidotes, passwall potions... And several others. They are rather hard to spot though. They blend in with all the other rocks and boulders scattered around. I've managed to hunt a few since I got here. But my expedition was cut short by you, my little ignoramus."

She reaches into her robe and pulls out several jagged, vaguely rounded crystals. They were all of different colors. Green, blue, red, and a few were black like obsidian.

"This is all I managed to harvest so far. I was hoping to run into a larger elemental. Their cores are not only larger, but much more potent."
Bernadette
Ranzo's trademark shit eating grin would certainly not get him any favors for the woman wishing violence upon him, but even in that he didn't seem to care. He followed her, step by step, guiding Girl along at the pace they had set. The horse sure wasn't sorry to be free of Ranzo's armed and armored burden, and it was good for Ranzo to stretch his legs, after all.

*" But my expedition was cut short by you, my little ignoramus."*

There was another laugh, the man once again failing to find offense or weight behind her words. "Nothing little about me, darling, and I'm not quite sure that word suits me. The second one... Well... Both of htem, I guess."

He fell silent as she pulled the crystals from his hand. He eyed them for a moment. He knew what they were, of course, but there was no need to shout that out. Instead he took stock of the variety in which she had garnered. He nodded once, then flicked his eyes back up to meet her own.


*"This is all I managed to harvest so far. I was hoping to run into a larger elemental. Their cores are not only larger, but much more potent."*

"And how do you go about extracting the cores? The good old fashioned way?" He asked, before making a hammering motion, as if to describe smashing a rock open.
Susan
Catherine had calmed down. Her air of strangeness had returned. Once again, refusing to blink or alter her tone in the slightest. She will admit that love potions are a touchy subject. But she's a grown woman, and she can handle stupid people. I mean, she's done it most her life. Actually, that isn't fair to him. He isn't stupid. He is rude. Anyway, that's all in the past. Catherine chuckles at the "The old fashioned way." 

"I do not, in fact use the old fashioned way. Have you seen me? I can't generate the physical force needed to crack one open. I just use some magic!"

She extends a hand and swirls it around in the. From deep within her robe, a spool of white thread unraveled, traveling up her sleeve. The thread twists and twirls magically in the air as Catherine moves her hand. It shimmers slightly in the light.

"It may not look like much, but this thread is more than capable of splitting open those earth elementals. All I need to do is-"

She loops her finger in the air, and the thread shifts to create one large loop.

"And then-"

She suddenly makes a quick gesture with her hand, the thread in the air suddenly pulls taut. 

"And it slices them right open! Like a hot knife through butter. After that, I can scoop out their pretty little hearts."

Her smile widens ever so slightly, as if reminiscing on a fond memory. A strange thing to do when describing killing a living creature.
Bernadette
The sudden showing of the woman's string 'magic' did draw a sudden reaction from the bodyguard. Instead of jumping, or flinching, he went very still. His eyes were the only part of him to move, and they followed the strings on their original path, before flicking back towards the woman controlling them as her demonstration continued. As she continued the show, he would shift his attention rapdily back and forth, as if trying to take mental note of the physical motion of the body as it corrisponded to the response of the strings path. 

When the demonstration had ended, Ranzo would finally begin moving again, his head canting to the side as he observed the Drow woman yet again, a grin cracking across his features as it often did, "Well, that is what I meant in the end, isn't it? Smashing the things open. Just that we use different tools, naturally."
Susan
"Oh, yes indeed. I don't believe there is anyway to remove their cores without opening them up. Even if I could, they would die without them anyway. So figuring out a way to do so would simply be a waste of time."

*She noted how he watched her so closely. He was taking in every single detail, and he wasn't subtle about it. Is it fear? No. He isn't afraid. He is sizing her up. Watching her movements and extrapolating how it works, imagining the possibilities. Luckily, for him, she loved talking about her magic.*

"I noticed you were watching me rather closely as I did my magic. Does it interest you?"
Bernadette
"In a manner of speaking," He replied to her question. It was vague, and he certainly was not about to go further into the answer. Instead he took the reigns on the conversation.

"Why string? Or rope, or whatever it is you would call that." He asked, far more interested to learn the strength and weaknesses of the strangers techniques rather than how to do it himself. He had all the magic he was likely to ever need for his line of work, and unless she could teach him to make his sword's blade stretch and contort in the same way as her string, he had very little interest in learning it.

The woman's eagerness, however, was not lost on the man. She clearly was interested in teaching, or at least speaking about the technique. Perhaps he should indulge her? It wouldn't hurt to stay on their good side, as he still was far from fully trusting the strange woman.
Susan
*Catherine's eyes twinkled and she grinned as she answered.*

"Why not?"

*She chuckles to herself. She's tempted to just leave it at that, but then she wouldn't be able to talk about it... And she wants to talk about it. It's her only true passion, so she might as well talk about it when she can.*

"In all seriousness. Well, it's a gimmick. It's a special technique that's unique to me. Other magics are more powerful or more versatile, I won't lie and say otherwise. Yet this my magic is unique. Filumancy, I call it. The ability to control thread and thread like objects. Now, you'll notice I said "Thread like objects." Instead of just thread. That is because, with a little effort, I can control rope, chain, wire, and vines just like I can control my threads here. I have been working on methods to be able to impart thread like qualities onto other objects, but alas, it's proving rather tricky. But... There is one thing that it can do that I haven't told you."

*She leans in and lowers her voice.*

"The ability to control muscle fibers. Now, muscle fiber is really stretching the definition of "Thread" So I can't do it with much precision. Thankfully, I don't need precision to rip out a group of muscles from a target!"

*She chuckles and flexes her fingers. Then continues to walk forward, as if she had simply commented on the weather, and not said that she is able to turn people inside out with a touch.*
Bernadette
Maintaining eye contact with the Drow, his expression did not change from wry amusement during her description of how her magic works, however when she leaned it, he leaned back by a small amount. 

*""The ability to control muscle fibers. Now, muscle fiber is really stretching the definition of "Thread" So I can't do it with much precision. Thankfully, I don't need precision to rip out a group of muscles from a target!"*

"The fuck are you whispering for? Effect?" He said, followed by a laugh, seemingly unphased by her claim to be able to rip his muscles apart from the inside out. It could of been a threat, one that was vaguely veiled as a prideful claim. Who was he to say? Instead of pushing that, he asked another question. "You know I never cut someone open to look at what their muscles look like, but I'll take your word for it lady. "

He paused to consider the larger implications of her claim, and he asked more questions as their pace once again picked up to a walk, "So it sounds less like things that are 'string like' and more just shit that is thin and long. Chains aren't string like. So by that logic could you do it to works? Snakes?" There were further things he wished to say, but he didn't know her quite well enough yet to bring up using magic to manipulate that sort of thing.
Susan
"Let me let you in on a little secret about magic. Despite what all the big archmages say, there aren't any solid rules. They *Say* That in order to cast fireball you need to do *These* Specific motions and say *These* Specific words. That's all a lie though. Magic works because you think it will work. It's all about perception. Could I theoretically describe a snake as "Thread-like"? Sure! Would It would work effectively? No! Because both Magic and I know that snakes aren't thread."

"And yes, I was whispering for effect. I'm not above enjoying a little drama."
Bernadette
He snorted out a laugh at her admission of dramatic effect. "Fair enough, I'd do the same thing." He did however take a look down at his gear, consisting of a coat that was very much made out of threats of... Something. It was warm, comfortable, and looked good. He wasn't very picky on what it was made out of. Perhaps that was a mistake... If this woman meant to harm him, that is.

In his mind he did have to admit that she was likely gushing over magic as she often didn't have anyone to speak to about it, save for making a love potion or something of that sort. If she thought he was in any way a threat, she wouldn't be guiding him. Or at least he figured she wouldn't. 

It was going to be a long walk, and Ranzo was woefully bad at small talk. And yet, he still did his best, "So is there a Mr. Catherine.." He trailed off, forgetting if she had given him a surname.
Susan
*Catherine laughs out loud at this. She shakes her head no.*

"Technically, he would be called Mr. Willows. But no, there is not. I do have a romantic partner. You are terrible at small talk by the way. Not that I can say much, I'm equally bad at small talk."

*She takes a look back at him, looking for an actual function conversation topic. Well, the only thing she knows much about is magic. So she may as well start there.*

"So. Cryomancy, huh? I can understand conjuration for your purposes, but why cryomancy?"
Bernadette
*"Technically, he would be called Mr. Willows"* 

"Willows!" He shouted out as if some far off peice of useful knowledge had just come to him, and not been fed to him by the person who had originally told him that very same day. "I knew it was something with some letters in it." 

"Terrible shame, that. But my line of work doesn't call for small talk so... I stick to what I know." He said, letting the implication fo what that was linger in the air, though it was likely easy to figure out given his single attempt at it. He was not at all surprised by her bringing magic back up. Alright, he'd play along.

"Grew up on a merchant ship. Water was in steady supply, made it easier for me to come to grips with making ice. Saw it as manipulation of water... I could of gone the path of Hydrokinesis, Hyrdomancy, Aquamancy, whatever you'd like to call it... But I found ice more practical in a fight... And drowning someone who is standing on solid ground seemed brutal and unsportsmanlike, even for my standards."
Susan
"Ah, I see. That makes a lot of sense. I always found magic that manipulate a specific thing fascinating. Of course, I don't need to tell you that. Cryomancy is very interesting in its specificity. I mean, it is only the solid form of a single element. Yet it's still incredibly useful. Shields, weapons, protection from heat..."

*She gives Ranzo an appraising look. She pictures how he would use his magic. He looks like the kind to place a lot of focus on the somatic component of a spell. Swinging his hands quickly and violently, sending out jagged shards of ice. Forming freezing cold weapons...*

"All casters develop a style to their casting with enough experience. I'm sure you know this. Mine is very stereotypically wizard-like. I move my hands, speak in dead languages, make magic circles, all that fun stuff. What about you? Have you developed a personal style to your casting?"
Bernadette
"Oh," He started, giving a slight chuckle as he shook his head, one foot following the other as the pair made their way through both the mountain pass and the ins and outs of each others personalities, "..You couldn't possibly expect a professional bodyguard to give away his secrets. Why, I'd be putting both my career and my future clients at risk by giving away such information."

His grin grew somewhat wider, "You could hogtie me with your Stringomancy and make me look foolish."
Susan
"Fond of your secrets, are you? Very well, I can't complain. I'm full of them myself. You make a wonderful point. There is always the chance that I am playing nice with you, but secretly want nothing more than to kill you. Of course, the opposite is always true. You could be biding your time waiting to kill me. Goodness, making friends in this day and age is like navigating a lich's lair."

*She shakes her head and shrugs. There's nothing she can do to make him tell her. And even if there could, that would ruin what little trust they've built up among each other.*
Bernadette
At the idea of waiting to kill her, he simply laughed. "Well, with your death there would be one less person with the knowledge to make love potions in this world. Perhaps it would be for the greater good of killing that knowledge?"

He was smirking as he said this, pressing on that soft spot from earlier, though it was quite clear he was saying this in jest.

"But other than that, I do not care much for fighting women. Let alone killing them."
Susan
*She ignored the comment of love potions, but turned to give him a sly look when he speaks about his reluctance killing women.*

"Quite the old fashioned viewpoint, no? Why the reluctance? Are you just that chivalrous? Will you lay your coat across a puddle for me? Hold open the door? Pull out my chair at dinner time?"
Bernadette
There was a gleam of natural mischief in his eyes. He wore the expression like an old glove, and as he locked eyes with her he moved just fast enough to catch up and walk alongside her. 

"For most. Maybe even you, no lover and all that. Find me a door to hold, a chair to pull... You can walk around the puddles though." He said, winkinh at her, "And amongst othet reasons... It's simply harder to get laid when you're known to kill women." He said with.Another laugh.

"..Or I could simply be lying about this to lure you into a false state of security. "
Susan
"Try not to wink at me. It can be misconstrued as flirting, and I'm not looking for a partner right now. Or ever. Besides, you definitely wouldn't want me. My body has been ruined by decades of magic, to the point where I can't even-"

"...Well, I think I'll let you put two and two together there. If you are lying, I don't mind. Lying is as natural as breathing. People may not like to admit it, but almost half of everything that anyone says to another is a lie! ...Or maybe that's a lie?"

*She chuckles.*

"Who knows!"
Bernadette
"..But now I am curious." He said, first somewhat amused with a hint of interest before he blinked, expression growing serious. 

"Hey, that's not normal is it? My dangly bits ain't gonna shrivel up from magic right? I need those.!"
Susan
"Oh it's not normal. It's something I brought on myself as a result of a stupid mistake."

*Her constant smile falters, as if remembering something she doesn't quite like. She quickly regains herself.*

"Unless you plan on contacting unfathomable horrors from the far realms, you will be just fine."
Bernadette
He gave her a long and hard stare, as if trying to peice together what she had just said. True enough that magic was far outside his scope, let alone his interest.

"So my bits are fine?"
Susan
"Yes. You will not lose the ability to feel sexual pleasure if you continue using magic."

*She sighs and shakes her head, continuing onwards. Why is sex so popular that it's literally the only thing that this man has shown actual concern about?*
Bernadette
"What a grand relief. I'd have nothing left to talk to strangers about. " He said, exhaling in earnest relief. 

"So horrible creatures huh? Curiosity? Hubris? Revenge? I've been on alot of ruin runs in my time. You see alot of a charred corpses and bones of finger wigglers that went a touch too far with what they can handle."
Susan
"Pride." She said simply.

"I believed myself infallible. I was proven wrong. It is as simple as that."

He gets the distinct impression that she doesn't really want to talk about this.