Ardnt listened quietly as Luitwin went to work. The monk wanted him to aid others in some sort of way and Ardnt couldn't think how he would be much use to anyone. He had a narrow skill set, something he'd only adapted to a life of crime. His hands, even before all that, spoke of violence. Luitwin did seem confident he'd had enough sway if he asked.<br/><br/>“I'm some sort of experiment to you then?” Ardnt said, teasing a little. He didn't really care what he was to Luitwin so long as it worked in his favor. There were worse folks out there. Ardnt had done plenty he wasn't proud of but he'd learned from a lot of it. Some of it was simple habit and maybe there was a chance to leave it all behind him and start over. He didn't need his lifestyle, not if there were other ways. He was starting to understand it wasn't possible to keep going like he was. He could either change or end half dead in the bottom of a boat again. God, if it had been, wouldn't put him on the path of someone hoping to save his neck a second time, of that he was certain. Luitwin spoke humbly, pointing out that they were just men. The monk had just aspired to be better, growing up in a monastery. Hard to say how Ardnt might have taken to such a lifestyle.<br/><br/>“I don't know if I would have turned out better for it, taking a different path. Violence came natural to me, I think, same as your lifestyle came to you. I'm not like I once was; my temper I mean, but I've spent more than half my life trying to get it out of my system.” He was finally to the point he was tired, ready to leave it behind him. It came down to making an effort. Before, without the aid of someone like Luitwin, and without the looming threat of hanging, he would have never considered it. With all that put in perspective, a lifestyle change didn't seem all that bad. The monk poured the contents of the bucket over the rail, agreeing to Ardnt's request for a walk.<br/><br/>Luitwin walked along with him in silence, Ardnt happy to get a chance to stretch his legs. The holy man broke the silence, asking if he'd be happy with the simplicity.<br/><br/>“I'm just not that used to the inactivity, and there isn't much to do here for me. I would probably tolerate it better than in my younger years. There was no keeping me still then. The rest of it though, the discipline part of it is something I grew up around. Humble accommodations. I never minded that part of being a soldier. Maybe we didn't care because we spent so much time outside when we did return to our beds we simply collapsed from exhaustion.” He wasn't twenty years old and full of himself like he'd been, ready to start fights simply to do something with his energy. Age had tempered him.<br/><br/>“I don't know if I would rather run. On one hand, it's something I know. Something that would lead me back to a life that does come easy to me. It's never worked for me before though, and I'm too old to be taking too many more chances. This isn't ideally how I'd like to start over, but you and I both know my options have run out.” And so he was made to consider<i>elevating</i>himself as Luitwin put it. He had no choice but to rely on the other to do it. He'd made that very clear despite his smiles and ease now.<br/><br/>“I guess we'll take it all one day at a time and see what you still think of me when we reach land.” There was only a small chance running was even an option, and an even smaller window for it when they got close to shore. Once he exchanged hands he doubted anyone would be as relaxed with him as Luitwin was. Throwing himself overboard now would only result in a death slower and more agonizing than he imagined hanging to be. He rubbed his freshly trimmed beard, contemplating all of it. He was taking it more serious than he had been at the start or at least abandoned the sarcasm. He hadn't understood Luitwin's earnestness, at least not right away. A mistake he hoped didn't bite him in the ass later.<br/><br/>“So who is it that's traveling on this ship that they would pull you to oversee it?” Ardnt asked, mostly curious. “Is this the most excitement you see?” Maybe the holy man was truly that bored, Ardnt just an oddity for him to break up the unadventurous life he seemed to lead.