Mike
*The Earth Macen would be working his little campsite. Currently he was watering the crops he had planted, wiping his forehead a little, as he looked out across his campsite with a happy, and soft sigh. Things were going well enough for his would-be group, and he didn't need to visit town for a few more days. Once he had watered the crops, he'd walk towards one of the tents, stepping back out with a small snack to munch on, while he did a quick patrol.*

"What a lovely day to do a quick look around for potential trouble."
Marian
*The clearing at the edge of the forest bewildered the knight briefly, having explored these woods in all other directions for a few days now. She winced at the sudden brightness, her snowy cheeks warming in her surprise. She sighed in partial exasperation, wishing she had known to bring her helmet. A gauntlet ran through her hair, undoing the short ponytail and allowing herself a moment of respite. In this moment, her eyes managed to adjust, the layout of the camp melting in from the sunlight. It wasn't just one person's camp, judging by the number of tents; of which all seemed specialised in some way. The crop field caught her off-guard the most, the notion of living somewhere like this long enough to plant and sow beyond her entirely.*
"Hello? Excuse me for intruding!"
*Elias called out, pressing a finger to her chin in perplexion. There didn't seem to be anyone here right now, but there would be eventually. Opting to keep a few metres away from the boundaries of the camp, her curiosity got the better of her as she leant on one of the lone trees, giving it a few minutes for someone to return.*
Mike
*The Would-be Captain's head perked up as he heard someone calling out, and he turned from his patrol route, back towards camp. He wondered who could be presumably at his camp, perhaps someone had come to hire help for a job? He hoped if that was the case that they weren't hiring him for anything morally wrong. He called out, as he neared the clearing of his campsite, hoping the person hadn't left while he did his patrol.*

"Yes, hello I'm here!"

*He'd return from the forest's edge, scanning the wood line of his camp. He thought the person had left, and sighed a little, before he noticed the person in question near one of the lone trees, and his smile returned. He was glad he hadn't missed them.*

"Hello there, I'm Aldeberto, but most people just call me Alde. And welcome to my camp."

*He said, slowly approaching the woman, with an outstretched hand for a handshake. He wasn't clad in his armor, just his non-combat clothes, nothing fancy, but it did its job in a pinch, and that's all that mattered to him, least for now.*
Marian
*The ashen knight's gaze was set upon Alde as soon as he came into view, eyes narrowed in momentary suspicion. Once she'd gotten a good look, however, this tension melted away - clearly not bandits, it seemed. A furrowed brow and a tentative shake of his hand would be her response, examining the gentleman more comprehensively this time. He dressed simply, though it seemed it was by choice and not by necessity. Cheerful, though that could mean a number of things. At the very least, he was friendly.*
"Elias. Good to meet you, Alde. All of this built by yourself?"
Mike
*If he was really a bandit, the youthful mercenary was good at hiding it. His smile only grew as the ashen knight shook his hand, and he nodded to her, with a modest shrug. He was glad to have companionship in the moment, having gotten a twinge of loneliness as it was.*

"A pleasure to meet you, Elias."

*He says, with a furrowed brow as her name registered in his head. He seems confused over the name, and his brow furrows. Surely there's a story there, and he hoped Elias wouldn't mind sharing it with him, as it was entirely piquing his interest.*

"I built most of it by myself, I had some help here and there though... But er, Elias... Isn't that more of a name for a guy?"

*He asked, curiously, as he turned to walk into his campsite to give Elias a tour of it.*
Marian
"Well, aren't you the charmer? It's a bit of a personal story, something I prefer to share mutually..."
*She gave a soft huff, folding her arms in mock indignation - the facade breaking quickly as she giggled away. Her smirk carried a coldness to it, though, as she began to stroll beside Alde.*
"Aldeberto is more of a noble's name, no? Were your parents just very well-to-do?"
*She returned an inquiry, rubbing her chin and staring at him curiously. Elias doubted her own claim: anyone can name their offspring anything, after all.*
Mike
*He'd feel a little concerned when she huffed, and he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, thinking of what to say in apology. Though her giggle made his smile return rather quickly as it was.*

"I... Suppose it would be a rather personal story, yeah."

*He chuckled awkwardly, as she asked about his own name's story, and he paused for a second, looking over his camp.*

"Well... About a hundred years ago, my family was a noble house here in Salvainia. Something happened though, of my grandfather's doing, that left us shamed, and he exhausted what favors and coin we had to soften the blow, whatever it was."

*He said, turning to look at her, with an uncertain shrug. He only knew what his father told him, after all.*

"So, I guess in a way, yeah? We struggled a fair bit living as farmers, but we did alright, I think. Its what inspired me to go out into the world and all."
Marian
"A disgraced noble family? You've guessed my story with your own, as a matter of fact..."
*Again she giggled, a hollower sound to this bout as she gave a shrug back.*
"One of the few remaining Irtutian noble families, of which aren't officially recognised by the Empire: House Bluedove. After my father, in his obstinacy, named and raised me as a boy despite my two older brothers, I was exiled for my mother's infidelity. A bit of a more recent history than I'd like, but... Such is life."
Mike
*He listened to the woman's story, rather interested in it, and ignored the feeling to hug the strange before him. It would be a fair bit awkward with them barely even knowing each other thus far. He nodded a little, somewhat understanding how she must felt. He knew his father missed those lovely luxuries from his youth.*

"Well... Such is life indeed..."

*He agreed, with another nod. He gestured about his campsite, with a smile, not letting their downer histories ruin his good mood.*

"Though, I think I'm doing pretty good for myself, and one day I hope to restore my family's status. Give them the good life they deserve. But... For now, let me show you around my camp."