Snippet #1961772

William glanced around with some displeasure at Thauvin's entry. His eyes narrowed slightly, detecting in the space of an instant the almost uncertain gait of a hungover man. The Knight's disdain for alcohol was no great secret, not even a minor one, and it came through clearly on his face as he watched the bard stumbling about like a common town drunkard. Thauvin was a member of the Stonetree Guild. He should act with much more dignity, greater honor. All the members should - especially that druid. Ruin was always sneaking about, skulking in the shadows, never facing conflicts head-on. Even when the time came to take a life he did so from the shadows, generally with a poisoned knife and a spell of concealment.

Of course, Thauvin stood in sharp contrast with the dishonorable druid assassin he called a friend. Thauvin was almost too noticeable. A gypsy, as William called him, he made a point of being seen. Showing off. No modesty, no reservation, no honor there. Why was he so completely surrounded by the polar opposites of his ideals?!

"Ah... Gentlemen." Thauvin smiled charmingly and gave a tiny, curt, half-hearted bow, ignoring the pain in his ribs ("That big one had a mean left hook," his inner voice cooed) before straightening up and fixing William in his gaze. "Sorry about that, I was... Presented with an offer I could not refuse, dear Ser William."

William twitched slightly, but did not deign to respond to the bard. Ruin's reception of Thauvin was entirely different. He responded to his friend's words with a quiet smile, quite unlike the usual expressionless mask he displayed to the rest of the Guild. Even to William, with whom he had grown up on the streets of Stonetree, Ruin barely offered a twitch of the lip, and he never laughed. Thauvin could pull a chuckle out of the impersonable druid at the drop of a hat.

He looked over and noted his friend Ruin standing nearby. He smiled and gave a small salute. "And here I expected you would be up on the roof, my friend. Or is Guild business more important than your daily chats with the wind?" Thauvin flashed a toothy grin at the druid and pulled himself back up to his full height, straightening his clothes slightly.

Ruin blew a breath of air through his nose, amused by Thauvin's words. He let his eyes flicker to the ground at the barely perceptible laughter. These were the most extreme signs of enjoyment he gave, ever if he could help it. Ruin preferred his feelings to remain a mystery to the people around him. It gave him the upper hand. Only with Thauvin did he relax so much that he could forget himself and reach amusement.

"I was there only moments ago," he answered, raising one hand to one of the dozen or so leather pouches hanging from his belt. Dexterous fingers vanished into the hide pocket. "You were not the only man to arrive late at this meeting." Carefully, he produced a small pinch of dried leaves. These, he offered to Thauvin, pinched between his long hands. "For the headache."

William snorted at that, shaking his head. He had stated on multiple occasions that offering aid to those suffering from hangovers only encouraged their nightly capers. Ruin had very pointedly ignored his advice.

"Well then, something important is afoot. What's this business you're on about, William? A new contract come in? Something about... Her?" Thauvin's Adam's apple bobbed. He didn't like mentioning Krista; the rogue Founder was something of a soft spot amongst the remaining two living leaders of the Stonetree Guild, and Thauvin wasn't going to rip open that wound just yet.

Indeed, both Ruin and William flinched slightly at the mention of their dear 'sister'. It was Ruin, not so easily affected by his emotions, who answered first.
"There is news to the West, near Eagleview," he answered in a steady voice which offered no hint of his internal turmoil. "Strange deaths. Bloody deaths. They have asked the Guild to investigate."