1x1 with ::madlyhazel

[LunaNebulae]

Ewan.The name didn't ring any bells, so perhaps the man wasn't of much noteriety. It was different though, and something that could easily roll off his tongue.

Kneeling down, Nero puts a nail into his mouth, before lining another up to begin the process of nailing the board in place. The sound of metal striking metal rings in the air as he focuses on the male helping him, reaching out mentally to the knight. He feels the string of the connection grow gently before it's secure, and he smiles around the nail in his mouth.' You may call me Nero.'

The nail drives in easily, though a bit crooked, much to the teiflings distaste. It seems even with his father teaching him how to do these things he still wasn't proficient. At any rate, it would hold all the same, he's sure of it, especially since this is only one of a few that need to be put in. Working swiftly to place the next one, thick robes drag along the ground, and he hears the sound of sheep settling down in the distance. Hopefully that meant the shepard could get some rest tonight.

[::madlyhazel]

The sudden voice in his head nearly made the knight drop the board, but he tightened his hands around it and kept it in place. His eye stared forward, wide and confused as he tried to make sense of the event. It was likely the fellow next to him had done it, considering they were just exchanging titles. He felt his lips thin in distaste at the magic, and he didn't try to hide his expression. He'd never quite been a fan of anything magical in the first place, but his past experiences solidified that.

"Don't do that," he muttered, his voice gruff.

It didn't matter if magic was relatively commonplace in the world. There was just so much he didn't know about it, and nearly all of his experiences with it thus far had been negative. His kingdom was currently being ravaged by something dark and evil, and the magic that slithered out of the land left a bad taste in his mouth. He could go his whole life without seeing it again and be perfectly content. The world was better off without any magic to speak of.

[LunaNebulae]

Hands work steadily at the task at hand, clawed fingers working as nimbly as possible. His tail flicks in his robes at the others words, before he looks over at his human companion. He hadn't expected him to enjoy the connection, but the furrow in the others brow... A distaste for it. Interesting.

"Why not?" The question is spoken softly, a lilt to Nero's voice as he says it. There's nothing wrong with using telepathy, he uses it all the time to speak with animals on his travels (though some are smarter than others). It was harmless, and through the connection nothing else could hear what was said.

Standing again, Nero's tail swishes in his robes, the familiar weight of blueberry in his pocket serving as an anchor as he dusts himself off. White eyes look over their handiwork, examining it for a second, half hoping it doesn't come toppling down the instant it's released."I think that just about does it. What do you think?"

[::madlyhazel]

"I don't like magic. Simple as that." Perhaps he was being a bit too harsh, but it was the truth.

Ewan remained in silence until they finished the fence, and he quickly moved to check its connections to the rest of its brothers. It seemed like it would be sturdy enough to hold the sheep in, and the old farmer wouldn't have to worry about any of his flock escaping again. The knight gathered up the spare materials they'd taken, tossing them over his shoulder once more so he could return that back to the storage shed they were kept in.

"That should be good enough," he mumbled, adjusting the weight of the lumber, "Let's drop the last of this off and then part ways. Thanks for helping."

While he'd initially tried to track down Nero in an attempt to gain some information, he wasn't sure if he exactly wanted to associate with the man now. Such magic as telepathy was far too much for his tastes, and he'd rather get assistance from someone who didn't have a possible connection the the dark blight in the land. As far as Ewan was concerned, all magic was interconnected in some way. It was very likely Nero had his own connections to the evil surrounding them.

[LunaNebulae]

A simple answer but not one Nero liked hearing. His psionics weren't magic. Though it made him angry every time he heard them called that, a part of him awknowladged that they worked in a similar fashion and that it was easy to tell why they were often confused for the same thing. Still, he was visibly biting his tounge at the respnse.

"Don't mention it." Hands fidget as he tucks them into his pockets, shaking head, dyed blue locks falling into his face as he does. He's going to loose the other without getting all the information he could out, but perhaps its for the best. He doesn't like anything that could tie back to nobles, and Ewan doesn't seem to like magic. Perhaps its best they splinter off. Still his company had been nice enough in it's brevity.

"Good night, I guess. And good bye." Nero pulls his hood up again, hearing the soft fabric ruffle as he does. In an instant things are darker, but he can see just fine. His real concern right now is where to 'set up camp' so to speak. He can't exactly leave his Theive's bag out in the open, lest someone steal it and he emerge miles away from his starting point, and he doesn't want to sleep either. Perhaps the old man wouldn't mind letting him borrow his barn or a corner in his house? No. A bag like his might rouse suspicion. Looks like he had no choice but to seek out a thicket or read by the moonlight tonight.

[::madlyhazel]

Ewan stared down at Nero for several long moments, willing himself to at least say something. While he had come across as quite harsh, he knew that it probably put him in a bad light. He couldn't help that he wasn't fond of magic of any kind--such things had taken his eye away from him and destroyed his home. It was only natural he'd assume that any variation of it would only make his life worse. In the end, it was better to avoid something so dangerous.

He finally sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Look, sorry for coming off so... Standoffish," he apologized, looking a bit sheepish, "I have my reasons for not liking magic, as I'm sure you have your reasons for not liking knights. I hope it doesn't make me seem like a terrible person."

He didn't like apologizing; it never felt good. Still, at some point it was healthy to understand that he had been in the wrong, and that he should take the steps to right it. Ewan fiddled with his robes, his knobby fingers pulling the starchy fabric taut. He looked like a child who was being forced to say sorry.

"Since you look new here, there's an inn near the center of town that is decently priced. I know it's getting later in the day, and I figure you might need a place to rest. I'm currently staying there myself, and it's fine."

[LunaNebulae]

White eyes are staring blankly, swimming through thoughts of study before there's a sound that pulls him out of his thoughts, but not entirely. The other is speaking again, an apology? For what?There's nothing wrong with not liking things, was there? If that were the case, the teifling would be apologizing for a century and then some.

"Look, I wasn't offended. Besides it's nothing against knights its just that theres no such thing as a good noble. Not anymore." His throat tightens as he says the last words, his thoughts flickering to her. Plump lips pull into a tight line under his hood as clawed hands curling into fists; his nails digging into the flesh of his hand like tiny daggers as he does so. She was the catalyst in his life, as well as so much more; a friend, a person to protect, a partner in crime. He still couldn't look upon a river without shivering, or see lilies in bloom without remembering her smile. If she had still been alive, he may well have become a servant, just to stay forever by her side as a friend and companion, even if both their father's would object to such a notion.

At the offer of an inn, Nero is pulled out of his thoughts. He hadn't used the service of an inn for anything other than a hot meal and maybe some mead or shelter from rain since he was a boy traveling with his father. Beds were a thing he didn't use often, and even then, he didn't sleep often."As much as I appreciate the offer of an inn, I'm afraid I'm not....usually a patron of them. Though...if you don't mind, perhaps I can entrust you with my usual quarters? At least hiding them somewhere. Hmm?"

[::madlyhazel]

Ewan offered a tiny smile when Nero apologized in turn, feeling at least a little better that things had gone over relatively smoothly. While he still couldn't bring himself to exactly like the fellow for his use of magic, he had been helpful in repairing the fence. He could have done it on his own, but it was simply easier to have a partner when it came to heavy work.
He imagined the farmer was just as happy that it had been finished quickly.

At Nero's somewhat... Unusual suggestion, he blinked in confusion. He supposed he could understand someone not being too inclined to use an inn, due to the frankly unstable and obnoxious nature of them, but to avoid them all together? Well, if the man liked to break his back sleeping on the ground, then that was his choice. While Ewan had a bedroll for the nights on the road, he preferred a soft bed when he could get it.

"Is it really so wise to trust someone you've just met with your possessions?" he teased, "While my code prohibits me from stealing, you really ought to be more careful."

[LunaNebulae]

"That's precisely why I'm asking you. Besides, I have a few tricks if you try to take it." A small smile trails over his lips, fingers stroking at his pack. Oh yes, quite the nasty trick, but a good one. Once Nero was in for the night, the sack behind him would appear empty to all. Of course, telling the knight he spent his nights on the astral plane was out, as he wasn't fond of magic.

Removing his pack from behind him, Nero slid the tome strapped onto his side in, tucking it in alongside the other scrolls and scribblings he'd made through the day. "I'm going to leave this behind the trees for you, and I shall be seeing you in the morning."

The devilish man walks tothe treeline, ducking down into the brush as he opens up his pack. Speaking the magic word, he sees the bag glow, and all that's inside drop inside the astral plane. Without a moment's hesitation, he jumps inside, entering the astral plane with practiced ease. He knows that when the other picks up his pack, it will seem empty, the only things on the outside being the rope he'd used earlier, but there'd be nothing of value to take. Gathering his notes, he smiles at himself before organizing his things and prepping for a bit of studying before he'll curl up in his nest of furs and cloths.

[::madlyhazel]

Ewan looked on with confusion as the man walked away, disappearing into the treeline. Well, he supposed he could keep after his bag, but he didn't understand why the man would leave it with him and just not take it. Whatever, it was an easy thing to do. Rolling his eye, he hauled the remaining materials back to the farmer's storage shed, making sure he put everything away in neat stacks. Hopefully the fence would remain strong enough to withstand a few more years, for the knight knew he wouldn't be returning anytime soon.

With that settled, he returned to the treeline, glancing around briefly before picking up the pack that leaned against the tree. Ah, perhaps that's why he left it. It was completely empty of its contents at this point, having been full before. It was likely Nero had taken the items needed for a rough night out in the forest and left the empty sack behind. It still didn't make sense why he'd want Ewan to look after it, but an empty bag was easier to look after than a full one.

Simply slinging it into his own pack, the knight made his way back into town. The farm wasn't too far off of the beaten path, and by the time the moon began innocently peeking over the mountains, he was settling into his room. His armor had been removed and covered with his robes. The Cesarion emblem remained hidden beneath the fabric, ensuring that anyone who wanted to peek in wouldn't see the sun blazing. He removed his eyepatch as well, and fingered beneath the damaged eye with thin lips.

He could feel the raised veins beneath, filled with the dark ilk that plagued the land. He knew the eye itself was still black as midnight, but he'd avoided looking in a mirror for some time now. The fae who'd rescued him back in Razielle told him she'd put down a spell to hold off the worst of the infection, but that he would need to find stronger magic to completely rid himself of the darkness. Ewan huffed at that. What could they do? He was going to turn into one of the possessed knights unless he freed his kingdom. No magic was going to save him from that fate.

Shaking his head, he laid down on the bed. He wouldn't turn anytime soon--he was simply too stubborn. Sure, the veins creeped further and further each day, but they were still close enough to the source that he wasn't worried. He'd figure out how to fix his king, return to Cesario, remove his curse, and be hailed as a hero for saving his kingdom. The thought was pleasant enough to put a smile in his face and send him into an easy sleep.