<span style="font-style: italic">Before Sura and Kahmori enter the room</span><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"...I've known his sort before, and eventually they always take things too far. Perhaps I am not so different myself; I may have made a rash decision or two in the past. I confess, I haven't quite made up my mind about him yet. It may be that his carefree front is intentional, for the sake of putting others at ease."<br/><br/>"I don't want to speak ill of him behind his back... but the fact is that we are traveling to a crypt that will, in all likelihood, be rife with traps as well as undead. A wrong step or a moment of overconfidence in that environment can be most  hazardous to one's health. We shall need to keep a close eye on him, hmm?"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The wolf raised an eyebrow as the leopardess spoke. In all honestly, Alexei had not been expecting for Xali to disagree with his little quip. If anything, she and the kitsune seemed to enjoy their company greatly, flirting with each other almost as much with the others who had captured their eye. However, as he listened into her concerns, they began to sound reasonable enough. After all, Kahmori didn't exactly have a reputation for restraint in his eyes, ready to try crazy things if it involved something he was fond of. Of course, it was very easy to turn crazy things into dangerous things, for him or otherwise.<br/><br/>"I like to believe I have discipline," the wolf noted, crossing his arms. "And perhaps I can let such temptations pass by better than most. But as with all people, needing to make a rash decision sometimes is inevitable. When the circumstances conspire against you... you do what you think you must..."<br/><br/>A noticeable pall fell over Alexei as he let his words linger. "...and if there are consequences to live with, then that is our fate."<br/><br/>A moment later, the lupine lifted his head up, this time with a grin tacked onto his muzzle. "I haven't gotten Kahmori figured out so much either. I feel he wants to be a good person, despite his recklessness. Perhaps I'm being naive, but as long as we are traveling together it would be best for us not to stir up suspicions about each other. After all, looking for weaknesses is for enemies. Looking for strengths is for friends."<br/><br/>How to distinguish between the two, however, he didn't say.<br/><br/>"I think we can keep our hotshot kitsune on track, especially with you two here to attract his attention."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">After Sura and Kahmori enter the room</span><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>“And you sir wolf! Need to mingle more with the crowd” She chuckles “Unless going unnoticed is truly your desire” Reaching forward she brushed her hand across his cheek and massaged it mildly.</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Alexei was taken aback for a moment by Sura's gesture, but it wasn't long before he leaned his head into her touch while gazing upon her fondly. Not only was she beautiful, she had a sort of carefree air about her that seemed so refreshingly different from the humdrum of his life before coming to Lakehaven. Even so, she remained a sort of unobtainable treasure in his eyes, a person with a status so high someone as low as him could never have. However, with that touch she gave him hope that perhaps he could get there eventually, and maybe he could get to know her the way Kahmori so easily did. "I will keep that in mind my lady," he replied dreamily.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"Ahh...I dunno about you guys, but I'm actually getting a little bit tired! A nice bath and a warm bed is sounding like celestia after riding around in that damned old wagon for the last week! Then...will be time to hit the road! Travel and adventure! Woo!!! Can't get much better than that!" It was surprizing to hear, but there was a faint 'break' in his enthusiasm towards the end of his little speech.</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The ever-vigilant wolf quickly perked up at Kahmori's sudden drop in excitement, and at once his mind began to take off on its usual speculations. Was Xali right? Was Kahmori's enthusiasm really just a shroud to keep them motivated? As the thoughts rolled through his mind, however, they began to feel increasingly unpleasant to consider, leaving an uncharacteristic heaviness in his mind. It was such and odd feeling, but Alexei found himself hoping that his thoughts weren't true. After all, for all the rough points about him, Alexei couldn't help but respect the kitsune for who he seemed.<br/><br/>"Although I've grown accustomed to living off the wilderness," he spoke, trying to take his mind off his extrapolations. "The idea of a bath and bed does have a nice ring to it. It's a pity we'll only be able to live like this for an evening, but I suppose that is our fate as warriors. Still, we should enjoy this as much as we can while we can."