"You think they're lovers?" Michael asked his brother in whispers, eyes still trained on Stephanie, his mind doing complex acrobatics trying to figure out which of the two girls he wished he was in place of more. A follower of any other god were likely to wish their armor was there to keep their own body from betraying it's own arousal, Michael didn't seem to care that his was discarded at the foot of Travis's stool. It was far too uncomfortable in town, doubly so when he was trying to relax and enjoy his evening, and moreso still in the company of women such as Dawn and Stephanie.<br/><br/>"Does it matter?" Answered a distressed Travis, lamenting the sudden loss of his calm evening, worried Michael would no doubt get him involved in a matter of time.<br/><br/>"No, no I suppose it doesn't. The real question is; are they exclusive?"<br/><br/>"Look at the way they're dressed, Michael."<br/><br/>"<em>That.</em>" Michael took a surprisingly stern tone as he looked at his brother. "Doesn't mean anything, other than they embrace a certain level of freedom, and, for that matter, aesthetic finesse. Don't be so quick to judge, brother, we can hardly call ourselves perfect. Especially myself."<br/><br/>"You do it for worship, you said so yourse-"<br/><br/>"And now you defend Arshea's creed? There may be hope for you yet, brother. Now we just need to find a few followers willing to-"<br/><br/>"No!" Travis was clearly getting flustered, partially from the glances he was stealing in the girl's direction. "My point is, you know, you have a reason for it. You don't-"<br/><br/>"Careful, brother, you're judging too harshly again. I may pursue release as part of my ritual, but that hardly means I don't enjoy it, or even that I wouldn't were it not a necessity. Besides, who are we to say they are any different? In their culture, they may not be doing anything out of the ordinary, and we are being too harsh for judging them. For all I know, they may be fellow followers of Arshea, and tonight just became a wonderful night to be devout."<br/><br/>"Michael, don't you dare!"<br/><br/>"Come brother, after seeing that, do you expect me to not even enjoy my prayers when we retire?"<br/><br/>"You promised me a break, I don't wait to wait down here all night."<br/><br/>"I never said you had to."<br/><br/>"That's the most sickening thing you've ever suggested."<br/><br/>"Oh, very well. Have things your way. I'll go see if I can't have them mine as well." With that, Michael waltzed past his brother, giving Stephanie a very welcoming smile as he approached, nodding as the girls as he rested his hand on the back of her chair, his fingertips carefully, deliberately just barely touching the woman's back. "Good evening, ladies. I'm Michael, cleric of Arshea." It was his favored greeting, innocent, if one knew nothing of the god, but held far greater importance to those who knew the name, more still to those who followed. More than once, it was all the greeting he needed, as many of Arshea's devout were more than willing to accompany a cleric in their rituals. "I couldn't help but notice the two of you, and was wondering if a humble cleric might request a favor, if you two are renting a room?"