<div class="floatleft">(http://www.geekshow.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/seanbean_boromir.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Lukas Tarn (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=173601.msg8205090#msg8205090)<br/><strong>Nationality:</strong>Aquilonian<br/><strong>Class/Skill Set:</strong>Battlefield Medic<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Leaky Wench<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Everyone<br/><hr/>Lukas enjoyed seeing Xi laugh - even at his own expense. In the years he had been with the company, there seemed to be so few real -opportunities- for laughter, and hers was rather melodic and pleasant to his ears. So if he had to endure a mouth and belly-full of liquid that tasted like he was drinking molten lava in order to elicit a single laugh from the woman, he was glad to do it, even if the rest of his body wasn't so pleased with the result.<br/><br/>She snatched her wineskin away from his hand, and he took that moment to take another gulp from his own ale to help soothe the burning sensation in his throat and stomach. As a physician, he estimated that he would live, and that the damage wasn't permanent, thank goodness. Lukas felt her foot brush his leg, though it could have been accidental. Ever hopeful, he was about to scoot closer to her when she asked him about sitting alone.<br/><br/>With a furrowed brow, he gave her a look as if she should already know the answer to that question. "Why, I sit alone so that I can more easily keep a closer eye on you," he said, and suddenly realizing that might be a bit -too- forward, he then added, "And the rest of our companions. As for finding a woman to keep my bed warm, well, I am secretly saving myself for the 'right woman', who I hope will cross my path before I grow old and wither! Some parts of a man don't wither as well as others!" he said with a nod and a chuckle, obviously exaggerating the truth while sipping another drink from his mug. "But Cormac...," he glanced over to see the big Barbarian enjoying himself with the beautiful dancer, "I doubt he pays for a single one. I wouldn't be surprised if they were paying -him-," he said with a smile, without a single hint of disrespect towards the Cimmerian.<br/><br/>Then Xi called out to the man they were both just speaking of, and Cormac had a witty reply as usual. Lukas enjoyed hearing the banter between all of his companions, from the boasts and threats to the descriptions of their homelands, their women (or men), their foods, their customs... Lukas had learned much from this motley assortment of individuals ranging from so many different nations - and he wouldn't have it any other way. They were the closest thing to a 'family' he had now, for the past eight years, almost a third of his life.<br/><br/>Cormac accepted Xi's invitation and rose to his feet, towering over the dancing-girl that was vying for his attention. It wasn't much of a contest, really, as Cormac continued to make eyes at the woman, his body language telling a story of its own. When Cormac approached the table, he brought the dancer with him, naturally, and the only disappointment about it was that Cormac did not have the woman over his shoulder. That move -always- seemed to drive them wild.<br/><br/>Cormac sat at their table, the dancer on his lap, and offered the bottle he possessed toward Xi. The woman began to reach for it, but Cormac suddenly directed it towards Lukas. Lukas chuckled and took it with a nod, not sure what the barbarian was drinking - but it couldn't have been worse than what Xi had just tried to give him! Besides, refusing a drink from the big guy might cause him some dismay, and Lukas was not eager to fly through the air like so many others in the past who had dared insult the barbarian in some way. Lukas quickly tossed back a healthy swallow or two from the bottle, then offered it back to Cormac - but then, at the last moment, he redirected the bottle towards Xi while giving Cormac a playful grimace.<br/><br/>Then, the merchant approached. Lukas followed Cormac's eyes and turned his head to see the newcomer - and it was Daud. Lukas did not know the man overly well, though the physician was familiar with the man's face at least. He had the opportunity to chat with him on occasion, and to Lukas, Daud seemed to be an educated man, so their conversations had been more academic in nature, usually, even if it was about religion or politics, and short in duration. The merchant was usually a busy man, running too and fro to provide the company with much-needed supplies, and Lukas himself usually had wounds of some sort to tend to, whether they were caused by blades in battle, or the knuckles of a person in a fist-fight between such battles.<br/><br/>Daud began to speak of a business proposition, but Cormac cut him short so that he could fetch two other companions, Bhalar and Elokhat. And even Goose appeared moments later, just in time to heard Daud speak of his offer. Lukas welcomed them all to the table with a friendly nod - if they bothered to look his way at all.<br/><br/>The offer, to Lukas's ears, sounded almost too good to be true. Then again, Daud had mentioned Pictish territory, and that alone might make the journey more fraught with peril than it was worth. No amount of silk in the entire world was worth anything if you were -dead-, and death was something even Lukas could not contend with despite his skills. The surgeon sat and listened closely, watching Daud for any sign of deception. Lukas's eyes glanced around the table when the man was done speaking, gauging the reactions of those gathered.<br/>