Luitwin kept a pleased look and gentle demeanor as Ardnt obediently sat, the two of them overlooking the blackness of the sea at night. With the constant noise of the waves and the practiced action of combing through the ends of Ardnt's hair, he was allowed to think to himself. He thought of the strange, deep rooted fear that the nature of the ocean always gave him, an earthly force so much more wrathful and unforgiving than their God. It was responsible for countless deaths and seemed to roar like a beast, hungry and in pain. Man had evolved to discover how to exploit it's waters for passage, but they had yet to command or tame. Ardnt was proof of this, and the monk was still so convinced that it was only God who had the authority to influence the currents that took Ardnt to him.<br/><br/>He started at the bottom ends, working out the small knots in the strands with considerable patience and care. Luitwin knew even a soldier wasn't impervious to the sharp stings to the scalp. Every minute or two he'd bend down to wet the comb clean, and add some dampness to Ardnt's hair that helped unravel it's ties.<br/><br/>It was almost.. too soothing. Luitwin enjoyed looming over Ardnt with his hands free to stroke his hair and turn his head as he pleased. He enjoyed being able to lift the weight of salt pepper tresses aside so he could work the comb at the back of Ardnt's neck. Nevertheless Luitwin gathered himself enough to indulge the man in some instructions, some answers. "Best case scenario... Well, I would argue that your best case scenario depends on what you do with your freedom, should you deserve it. For me, I would like to see you aide those in need, perhaps not the same way as this but.. In whatever method you discover." Luitwin was halfway up Ardnt's head now, switching between the teeth of the comb and his own, deft fingers as need be. "But for a man who is only now just looking for that freedom, the best case scenario is that the court deems you the responsibility of the monastery, or at least my.. responsibility. I can't say I'm sure I'd have the support I'd prefer, but the Abbot has been so much kind to me thus far, and if it's not to presumptuous to try and predict, I feel he'd lend me his trust." Luitwin's eyes almost sparkled, satisfied at the sight of the foreigner in his soft grip looking halfway presentable. Just his attention till now unraveled many of those harsh knots, stiff from salt, and showed more of those waves, ending in small curls. Ardnt looked almost... elegant, in his own way, but the monk was no stranger to this growing bias.<br/><br/>"Trust that I know what I'm doing, when I announce that I'd like to see a foreigner with charges of murder over his head be redeemed... I'd be lying to you if I said that was so common. But at least unlike the court, our monks are so forgiving, though you can understand where there would be skeptics." He set down the comb after looking Ardnt over, leaning to pick up a pair of small grooming scissors. "I'm just going to trim the edges, alright?" Luitwin soothed, not wanting to start a riot in the man or scare him into thinking he was going to lose this look he seemed to pour some pride into.<br/><br/>Luitwin listened to Ardnt ramble on with more questions, his last wonder of the average hospitality of the average Herzen monk leading him to laugh lightly, and warmly. "You should know that men of god are immune to flattery, Ardnt." He joked. "You're curious if this is so strange? Many monks show their devotion to god by aiding the sick and the elderly. Though I wouldn't exactly call you either, it's no trouble at all. Especially since I'd rather you not stretch out your stitches." Luitwin made quick work of the ends of Ardnt's hair, moving to the man's front and leaning in just enough to appraise the state of his beard. He couldn't recall meeting a man who wanted to keep it, especially when the nature of grooming and upkeep was a symbol of prestige among Herzen men. "But, if you're wanting my opinion, I wouldn't necessarily call myself superior. Blessed maybe, but so are you. No, if you want to say that I've somehow transcended then it's by my own effort. I've trained in medicine since I was a boy, I've lived long enough in the field to see some practices be labeled as ineffective or archaic. I joined the monastry in my youth as an acolyte, and put my personal accomplishments aside to scrub floors with my own two hands and forge literature. And here I am now.."<br/><br/>He spoke intimately, personal and genuine, whether it was just for his own fun or to offer Ardnt an atmosphere of equality, that they were in no position for secrets. "We are all simply.. men, Ardnt. You and I aren't too different, we're only defined by our actions. Perhaps if I was born in your place and raised by the sword and not the book, I wouldn't fair any better... And that's really where my limitations lie." After setting a cloth in his lap to catch the hairs, he trimmed Ardnt's beard evenly, feeling a knot in his stomach at their closeness, when he stood between the man's thighs like he did. "I cannot hope to understand you. I'm just not equipped with your experiences... But I can help. And I'd ask if you'd please let me continue helping."  He furrowed his brow at the thought, face tender, lips drawn in a frown that brought out the creases that bordered the corners of his mouth.<br/><br/>Luitwin pulled back, taking the cloth and the bucket with him to the rails, dumping the water and knocking the debris off into the abyss below. He then motioned Ardnt to stand so he could move the chair back, set all his tools on top and sweep the area clean. "A walk is fine, of course. I doubt the captain would be upset with you for simply wanting a stroll around the deck. Just a minute." He was glad Ardnt wasn't fighting his company, but it wasn't like he had anywhere else to go. Even if he managed to steal a boat in the dead of night, he'd just end up in the same state they found him in. He returned to the man's side after leaning the broom against the mouth of the open doorway, streaming some light onto the deck that was otherwise only lit by the moon. It was enough to navigate without fear of tripping over one's self, especially with as neat a state the sailors left this ship in before retiring for the night.<br/><br/>He set a kind hand on Ardnt's arm before ushering them on their way. For the most part, Luitwin was fine with a bit of silence allowing the man to fully appreciate the fresh air. It stimulated the mind, relieved any troubled soul of some of their burdens.  But after a few minutes to breathe he tried to ease into friendly conversation. "I don't know if you'd enjoy it,  if you hate being here... It isn't much different, you know." Luitwin wished he'd brought his robe with him now, usually rolling his arms up in the sleeves when a chill like this set in. "The monastery, I mean. We spend most of our days in doors, our bedrooms are little more than closets with beds and a writing desk, all meals are silent. I can't say that I mind it so much, but if this is hard for you, there's surely a trial ahead.. But, I can vouch that our inner cloister is beautiful, and I've enjoyed many walks around it whenever I need room to think."<br/><br/>Some quiet passed, and the monk asked calmly, as if it wasn't a question he was building to, "Would you rather run..? Instead of accepting respite. Is it just circumstance that keeps you willing? You don't have to lie, even if you'd prefer. It's hard to say that I'd expect you to take this all as divine intervention at the drop of a hat, especially given your past relationship with God." He gave Ardnt another warm smile, "I'll still thank you for your cooperation... And, wish that you remember that I'm just a servant... A servant of god, a servant to you for a time, a platform that I hope you'll use to elevate yourself." He recalled the kiss he placed on Ardnt's hands, his own personal show of humility. No matter the odds stacked in Luitwin's favor, he persisted in that modest facade, believing it a little himself.