John
The gaggle became instantly silent and the energy in the room became tense, dangerously so. The women, both enraged and terrified, were stuck frozen in state of shock. Pairs of eyes from blue to green, some wide, some narrowed and all shifted to the target of the liquid assault. Wearing a black woolen tunic beneath a thick fur jacket and leather trousers, along with boots, all dark as the rest- his beautiful raven hair stuck to his face, though no mead dripped onto his clothes. Amazingly, of all things, the liquid had seemed to splash all around him, only hitting his hair and then forming a puddle around his boots. It was as if his clothes repelled the liquid itself. 

Remarkably, he seemed *Just* As handsome with his wet hair framing his elegant face. He sat quite still, his brow furrowed as he sniffed the air twice. 

Tilting his head up, his silver eyes would find her face and widen slightly for only a moment before he brought his face into control. It was definitely Wisteria, but man had she gotten fucked up. Yet somehow it... Suited her. It provided her with an intense elegance, and yet still... She had been powerful. As strong if not stronger than himself, what the hell could have done that to her? 

A grin split his face and his teeth flashed, and he let his interest in her be written all over his body. 

"Wisteria?!" He asked and rose from his seat. Running a hand through his wet hair to slick it back, which only exposed how defined his jawline was- he looked her up and down. 

"Wow, you look as lovely as the morning skies of Lestos. It's been so long, have you been doing well?" He stood there as if she were the only woman in the room, as if all the others had vanished. Her dark hair, her intense amber eyes- something about her tugged at him, made him nervous, made him giddy. What was it about her that felt so familiar and dangerous? It was something he wanted to understand. 

"You know..." He says, bringing his voice down softer, still loud enough for the closest

Of the women to hear him. "If you wanted me to buy you a drink you could have just asked, Wisteria." He grinned at her again, knowing full well this would infuriate- but she had struck the first of the blows. What were the odds she was here again in Forstead? 

Perhaps Esme was right, fate might have plans for him after all.
Terry
If looks could kill, the daggers that were pointed at her from the eyes of the women who'd been gushing moments ago surely would have felled the dragon woman staring back at them. For whatever intensity and anger that they'd hoped to seep through the their gazes alone did nothing to truly scare Wisteria. She'd faced far worse considering the scars alone on her face gave much away to that fact.

Though her expression of indifference to the women seemingly desperate to make her disappear in that very moment never wavered. Only intensified more as she watched and waited for the star of the show to respond to her *Polite* Suggestion.

When the armored figure began to move and turn to face her, Wisteria wasn't sure what to expect at first. The first thought had been anger. Any person would be pissed at having ale poured on them like a waterfall and called out for their behavior like a child. Second had been annoyance. Perhaps he'd just go blow off steam somewhere else if he was being targeted. Eventually someone else would have gone to deal with this loud mess. Sadly for him it had been her. The third thought had been something she loathed the idea of; this annoying figure trying to woo her as a means to placate her annoyance.

If the latter happened she'd grab another ale. Maybe throw him out the inn herself if it got annoying enough.

A lone amber orb staring down at the figure as he turned to face her, for a split second her expression subtly changed. Her indifference narrowed to that of a glare, mouth opening to let out a slight groan of irritation. 

She knew those silver eyes.

*Gods, it's him.*

To say the dragon wasn't surprised by this impromptu meeting would be a lie. How long had it been since she'd seen the oddity that was Noctis Camille? A year perhaps? Two? She remembered him from her travels across Aeterna. The human seemingly frozen in time, lost to the world and clinging to hope that he'd find his path forward.

He was strange in the way he spoke. Seemingly out of touch to the world and spoke as if he had been displaced. He never quite gave her the details, but she didn't care much to pry. It wasn't her business. All she had done was help to get him on his feet and adjust before they parted ways. Leaving behind a strange traveling companion. 

She couldn't say whether she missed his company or not, but what she didn't miss was the flirting banter he appeared to enjoy reveling in. It was a strange skill he had to make those who he had his sights on swoon and become putty in his hands. It was a dangerous skill he had, but nonetheless one that got on her nerves when he'd tried doing so to her when they traveled together. He got a kick out of it apparently since she cared little of his tricks. Even after all this time, it appeared he hadn't learned much.

And his cheeky smile at her didn't make her exasperation fall any shorter.

"Fuck me. I should have known it was you. You have that familiar scent of desperation on you." Wisteria replied back, crossing her arms as the man seemingly sculpted from marble (who smelled of cheap ale now), slicked his hair back and tried to play off her declaration as something akin to a lovesick child trying to get another's attention. A flirt even when in the spotlight surrounded by women, it appeared Noctis held no shame to attempt flirting with someone new and in his sights.

Or in her case, getting on her nerves.

Why was he here of all places? The last she saw him, he told her he vowed to understand what had happened to himself. Continue to venture through Aeterna. Find the answers he was seeking. But did those answers he desperately need fall into the hands of lovestruck women? He seemed so serious when they parted ways. Perhaps the human known as Noctis was simply a fool. One she overestimated.

Hearing his attempts at bewildering her with the cheapest words a lovesick poet could recite, the dragon rolled her eye at Noctis's question of her wellbeing. As if her appearance compared to last didn't already get noticed. 

"I'm perfectly fine, as you can see. And slowly losing my patience. And my appetite." Shaking her head and giving a pointed look to the chiseled man, Wisteria took her now empty mug and pushed it into Noctis's hands. "Have fun drinking alone. Or with whichever one of these women is also desperate enough to have you. I'm leaving. Let's do this again in another year or so." Walking past the confused and angered looks of Noctis's fans, the rogue dug into her pouch and pulled out a handful of coins, placing them on her table of untouched food to pay for the meal before heading out the tavern door into the darkened road.

And here she had hoped this day would wind down to something relaxing.
John
She'd responded perfectly. He smiled as she stormed away, smiled as she'd insulted him, smiled wider as she put her money down. Noctis *Loved* People, he loved to make things move- the world had become a chessboard and he was constantly playing against something so much bigger, stronger and faster than he was and yet he survived still. 

"Well ladies, if you'll excuse me I should go wash my hair. I'll have to return to my sloop- but from the bottom of my heart" Which he quietly thought to himself had become quite black, "I thank you for all your kindness. My quest continues." 

He made polite nods and gave a word or two here as he slowly maneuvered towards the door. Soon he had escaped them and was outside and stepping into the shadow of a nearby building- vanished. 

His Enhancement allowed him to keep track of Wisterias... Unusual scent. Using his flash step, an ability that mixed illusion to make him nearly invisible and his enhancement to move at superhuman speeds, he'd soon caught up. Now she was alone and away from prying eyes, and they could talk freely. 

For dramatic effect she'd find him when she turned the corner with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall. 

"My your temper is as delicate as always. What are you doing all the way here in Forstead? Truth be told I didn't expect to find you here." 

He wasn't sure he expected to ever find her again. Truth be told, he wasn't sure he ever wanted to find her again but... Now he had, he couldn't just let her walk away.
Terry
The disguised dragon stopped in her tracks at the sight of Noctis standing there in the shadows. His charisma even when insulted never wavered from once, all too happy to put on a show for her and confront her despite her dismissal of his previous showboating.

Her gaze narrowed on the shadowed man, clearly not enjoying his playful banter at her temper and sudden appearance. "I'm not following you if that's what you think. You're the last person I'd expect to find in the land of giants."

Momentary thoughts floated in her mind of what to do. Rarely did she ever stick around with people. Noctis, for all it was worth, was the only person besides her own kind she'd spent more than a week with. While it had been to get him used to Aeterna again, his company wasn't... Unenjoyable. Just partly annoying at times. Like a an excitable child needing to keep an eye on before they'd get lost. Was it worth it to catch up? If she indulged in his playful demeanor would it end up causing him to stick to her like glue? 

He'd always enjoyed getting on her bad side. Whether it be to see her reactions or just because she was the newest face he'd seen in who knew how long, she couldn't determine. Perhaps a mix of both.

She sighed, walking past him and motioning for him to follow her with a finger. "I'm traveling. That's all. You on the other hand seem to be having a fun." She commented, a lone amber eye shifting in Noctis's direction; bright like a lone flame in the dark. "Do you enjoy reaching your hand out for coin like a beggar to women clambering for your attention? You're more shameless than I have you credit for."
John
"Why yes I do, especially when it feeds mouths and gets things done. People like pretty things, they pay money for those those things. Others make pretty things and know how to sell them. It's commerce, it's trade. I quite enjoy utilizing my particular skill sets to pay my way. Much more enjoyable than cutting off hands and bathing in blood." He said as he strode alongside her, his long legs allowing him to keep pace with her as his hands rested inside his thick fur coat. 

"And I didn't think you were following me- I think fate brought you to me." He said simply, as if that wasn't an insane comment. The sky in Forstead was always overcast, swirls of snow made it seem like tiny winter sprites danced around them and he ran heat magic through the length of his body to keep himself warm. A simple trick that he'd been mastering since entering Forstead. 

"I would have thought your people skills might improve, not get worse. If you wanted to get some peace you could have resolved it in a way that didn't look like a toddlers tantrum." Her pouring drink had been uncalled for, what if it had been his birthday or he were giving out raises to employees. The fact of the matter was that for all his failures, Wisteria was perhaps the most socially in adept person he'd ever met. It was like she found humans nothing more than annoying children sometimes.
Terry
"Fate? You say odd things sometimes." Wisteria muttered, listening to Noctis's words as they traveled amongst the snowy town. Thankfully it was much quieter outside Ethan that inn had been. There was a moment for the dragon to catch her breath, settle her thoughts in this coincidental meeting. 

Hearing her companion's mention of her social skills, the dark haired woman tilted her head to look beside her to the armored man walking in tandem with her. "Women like that had their eyes on you like prey. No matter how sensible one would have spoken to them, it was unlikely they'd have listened and took the business elsewhere. They were far too ingrained in fighting for your attention." 

She shut her eye, a small smirk on her face.

"Besides, the noise was ruining my day. I needed to do something shocking enough to silence the noise and break you all from your stupor or nobody would have gotten peace in there. I would have done it regardless if it had been you or not."
John
"I didn't need all of their business, just the select few. Nothings ruined, an accidental bump on the street, an hour of thinking they're more important to me than they are and suddenly I'll have provisions for weeks or enough warm coats to keep companions comfortable. I do what I have to do to survive." He said, this too was matter of fact. 

"Just because you're stubborn doesn't mean your right." He said, chuckling as children went running past waving wooden swords at each other. Once he'd been a child, high in the mountains. He'd played around the toes of the ancient giants, giants whose bones now made up the structures of smaller mountains and he'd killed his first dire wolf at nine with a bow, his mother there of course. A smile played across his handsome face- Noctis' real smile made his warm and practiced smile look like an ember versus a radiant sunshine. 

"Life is an odd thing. So have you gotten any new tricks up your sleeve, or are you still a total pushover?" He teased, moving ahead and walking backwards in front of her, not tripping and keeping the same speed was easy when he could be entirely aware of his surroundings with heightened senses and practiced balance.
Terry
A soft scoff escaped her at Noctis's reasoning. In hindsight such a way of life made sense. Business was all about making dealings, telling people what they wanted to hear to get on their good sides, be the one that can solve all their problems or become something so unattainable and rare that any who gleaned their way would desire you in a heartbeat.

But it was so easy to manipulate people that way. What was necessary became a way to life. One that survived on greed and clutched for power. That downward spiral was so easy to follow and to those who were victims to such honeyed words were pulled on strings like puppets. Tools to meet an end.

Her grandmother advocated for such behavior. Lies were necessary to live. Who cares for the honest truth in this world when power and gaining wha my you desired took precedence over all?

Even at the expense of others.

"Survival comes from more than swindling." Wisteria shot back, a ghostly pain on her face making her wince. "Pulling people along to make them momentarily feel happy? Only for it to disappear when they realize it was a lie? I don't see what people find enjoyable in that."

She stood beside the knight as children ran across the streets, playing and cheerfully taking on some imaginative adventure only they knew of. She looked to her companion beside her, a smile on his face. A true one not weighed down by some unknown inner demons or that of manipulative charisma.

He looked better that way.

The two walking on wards, she heard Noctis's inquiry. "You should see the other guy." She mentioned, pointing to her scar and missing eye. "He got the best of me, but I repaid it in full."
John
"I agree with you actually. I do, but right now I have goals. I need a lot of money and I need it quickly, because fate is spinning fast Wisteria. I wasted too much time to be patient now." He said, a fire on the edges of his voice. After a moment he glanced over at her face. 

"No, not the best of you. You're very pretty Wisteria- you are." He added the last bit to reinforce that it wasn't to flirt, it was a simple statement of fact. "But you're not stupid enough to think your face is the best part of you, or even that mine is the best part of me." Noctis didnt press on to say what he thought the best part of her was. 

"Must have been incredibly strong to have posed such a threat though, a fire mage? I've battled a few in my time, always a harrowing experience." He'd once been burned so badly that all the hair on his had been gone, only left alive because of another demigods healing power. 

He'd survived and after a few months he looked as if he'd never been burned at all, despite the severity of them. He never gained scars, except for one on his stomach that seemed to burn when he looked at Wisteria. 

"What are you doing now? Working as a sellsword still?"
Terry
No sarcasm. No dry wit. Persuasive words coated in embellishment.

Noctis spoke a simple truth. Or rather his own truth he believed when he'd called her pretty. She said nothing in response, her gaze moving elsewhere. Anywhere else but those silver orbs.

There was a semblance of something within her that's felt good about what he said. Perhaps just knowing he wasn't being an ass or just spitting out weightless compliments touched her.

But did it really matter? 

*You still see only an appearance even now, Noctis. What would you say if you saw what I really looked like?*

She shrugged her shoulders as the conversation moved towards the enemy she faced. She pushed lingering thoughts aside, figuring out how best to weave this tale. "His fire was powerful. Talked too much too. His pride got himself killed." She ignited the lingering scent of hurting flesh that wiggled its way from her memory. "So far. People around Aeterna need help. If I have nothing else better to do, taking a job here or there doesn't hurt me. It's especially fortuitous if they pay me in magic spells."

Nothing was more helpful than learning magic. She'd hoped to find something that could help ease her transformations. Other more rare magics were of interest too.

Perhaps there was something out there that could save her people.
John
"What if I could offer you a job that did just that?" He asked, clasping his hands behind his back. The line had been cast, again he was playing the game of chess. It wasn't that he saw her or even the others on his crew as less than, it was simply that he knew that something was brewing on the horizon of Aeterna. The turmoil of the Empress, the appearance of a demon with the Nine Realms, the black blood in the Far Spirit Woods, Indaki, the disappearance of the demigods. So much was unanswered even now. After thousands of years he'd been woken now, so now must be when something was going to happen. The wheel of fate continued to turn and it caught everyone in it. 

"I'm forming a traveling party, building my network. We travel, we take jobs, collect information. You don't have to stay longer than you need. Each member has their own goals, I know you've got yours. I know how strong you are- but being strong isn't everything. Both of us have seen that." 

Both of them bore scars from dangers that even their own strength couldn't leave them unscathed from.
Terry
Wisteria slowed to a stop as Noctis voiced a strange offer to her. 

Joining a small group for work. She'd never done much if anything like that. If anything, it had always been short moments of working together with people to get tasks done, defeat bandits, procure items for people looking for aid. She rarely worked with people for more than a few days before going separate ways.

He offered her a job, but the chance to leave at any time. No catches. No secret payment she would have to fulfill.

Her head titled slightly, the jingle of a lone only gem on her earring catching the light of a nearby lantern. 

It seemed too simple. What more was there to it?

Was there a reason to know? Did she have enough trust in Noctis to not turn him down? Or question is motives? Those who did not question opportunities were bound to be used or take advantage of. Nothing in life was free nor was the danger any less prevalent.

"Are you of need of help that badly?" She asked. A genuine question. Noctis was strong. She knew that in the way he fought his enemies when they traveled together. Sure he needed connections for his goals now and still was finding his place, but she knew little could get in his way. To ask her for help would be because something terrible was brewing or a playful chance at them teaming up again for old times sake.

"You're a smart, Noctis. Not just strong. You are capable of many things when you'd set your mind to a path. I don't see why you'd need my help."