Friends not Food

It's a late afternoon on this Tariday, Daeus's light beginning to wane in the fair-weather sky. A cool little breeze rushes past three men as they walk together in the direction of the Arcanists' Society, intending to study at the library there on things that have to do with curses. The shortest of the three men, but certainly larger than life in personality, hums merrily to himself as he has seemingly appointed himself the leader of this merry band by walking slightly in front of the two brothers.

"It is a wonderful day to be in such fine company, darlings," Zero exclaims. "In fact, I almost lament that we didn't make a date of the whole occasion. We could have met up a little earlier, perhaps even had a picnic together sprawled out somewhere in the grass, and enjoyed the fine breeze. Alas! We are to tickle spines at the library together."

He pauses midstride and winks at Theo in particular. "I promise to make it up to you, darling. I know this wasn't your idea of a good time."

Theo is dressed down at the moment, or more specifically, not dressed in his armor. He has instead chosen an outfit in shades of green that complements his eyes and makes them shine brightly in the light that remains to the day. "Better to have not spent the day in pleasure only to end it in misery." He replies idly, his lips twisting in a slight smile. Now that he's not dressed in his armor it's a little more difficult to tell him apart from his brother, but not impossible. He glances toward the library in question and seems to gather his resolve. "At least there's the promise of rewards yet untold..."

Somehow he doesn't seem terribly enthused.

Tickling spines at a library is hardly anything new for Lheo, who has brought a veritable satchel of parchment scrolls, ink, and pens for notetaking, enough for all of them, and is still distinguishable from his brother largely by dint of deep green robes that fall to his ankles above booted feet. He is nearly impossible to take for anything but a wizard, despite his similarly in looks to his far more muscular companion. "I'm sure we can find him something he won't hate reading. Maybe someone's stashed one of those smut novels that are so popular."

Zero's red-pink eyes twinkle for the notion of discovering hidden smut. "I would love to come across such a treasure, myself," he says in that rather self-satisfied (or maybe not, considering the circumstances one often finds themselves reading smut) manner. "Now, how shall we..."

He turns around more fully to face the path they're on. And while Zero doesn't pale, per se, on account of his dusky gray skin color, his eyes _do_ widen as he spies someone up ahead. A human woman with a shock of red hair, cropped short to her chin, with a mask worn over her face that matches the dark leather of her armor. She has one scar that carves down from her hairline and down her nose to just above her mask, and her brown eyes glare at Zero. Her hand goes down to rest on the hilt of a scimitar that's on her belt.

She says not a word. Zero, however, turns from confident to an astonishingly quiet and fearful creature, someone who is so unlike the peacock that it could be funny in far more palatable conditions. "_Run_," he hisses to the men behind him. "Now!"

"Lheo..." Theo starts, rolling his eyes at the thought of finding a smut book hidden in the library. However between one moment and the next the tone of things drastically changes. The shift in Zero's behavior is most notable of course, and it takes Theo a moment to realize the source of it. Without thinking he steps between Zero and the woman; not a difficulty given the fact that there's still some distance between. Though he is not wearing his armor he does not in fact go _anywhere_ unarmed. Which means that his mace is firmly belted to his waist and he places his hand on the weapon gently but with firmness that suggests a readiness of use.

"We are friends Zero, and I would not abandon you in your time of need." His green eyes are narrowed on the woman before him. "Lheo..." There is nothing else need said there, they know one another's thoughts as well and as easily as they know their own. It is not a warning that Theo gives his brother, not with that tone, but rather a call to readiness. They will fight if necessary; as one.

Lheo returns that look, and straightens up, the satchel ready to drop to the ground at any time. "Zero, my friend," he begins conversationally. "The next time you see Theo run from _anything_ will be the first. You should know this by now." It's still casual, but his stance is anything but. "I certainly wouldn't want to miss what is likely to happen to anyone threatening a friend. It's likely to be quite entertaining, if a little messy."

A complicated expression works across Zero's face, but he sees Theo coming forward and... the bard is, for once, without anything to say at all.

The woman sizes up Theo as he approaches, raising her face a little to regard him. Given that her mouth and nose is mostly covered by the mask she wears, it's hard to discern her emotions, and it might be like that on purpose, as all she does is squint at Zero. "Let's make this easy," she rasps out. Her voice sounds hoarse, but not in a way that a person would be by shouting for a long time. "Hand over Zerithos'ian and this doesn't get ugly."

Zero winces at what sounds to be like his full first name, like someone who's realized a knife is at their throat. "In the name of Our Lady--"

"Do not speak, meat," the woman hisses at Zero. Her glare is turned onto Theo. "Hand him over. I won't say it again."

Theo smiles easily, but it's not his normal, nice smile. It's surprisingly cold in fact, and he stands casually, but quite firmly between Zero and the woman who had uttered the unfamiliar, but obvious origin of Zero's chosen alias. "I should think that I would quite like for this to get ugly." His eyes shine with intent; an eagerness even for a fight to come. It is perhaps not surprising for the paladin of a war-goddess. "I warn you lady, that I am a paladin of Serriel, and I will brook no efforts to cart this man off against his will; nor will I allow you to insult him without recourse. You best think wisely before you draw a weapon here."

A snort of laughter escapes the smirk that Lheo wears, and he merely puts a hand to one of the many pouches and slings affixed to the belt holding his robes. He seems to be letting Theo do the talking, but advises, "Let her throw the first punch, brother. I do so want to see what happens here." There is a lilt, a mocking edge to his tone that Theo will know well, an edge that says quite plainly that she might even live long enough to regret doing so.

The woman stares at Theo for a long moment, then her brown eyes turn to Lheo, who she acknowledges for a moment before she huffs--or what passes for one, as it's another raspy sound coming out of her. "This isn't worth it," she says as she looks at Zero. "You'd better be out of town when they send someone that's _not_ a scout, songbird."

She murmurs an incantation and slips away into invisibility, running down the steps. Zero looks almost stone-faced after where she'd stood, his red-pink eyes filled with a sort of quiet despair that is far too out of place. "Should have known," he finally mutters. "I should have known."

Theo watches the spot where the woman had faded into invisibility for a long moment with a frown. "Well, that was disappointing." He murmurs only half to himself. He turns his head toward Lheo and Zero. His gaze goes slightly distant behind his brother as if to assure himself that nothing was sneaking up while he'd been preoccupied, and then he nods to his sibling before turning his green gaze on his friend. "You'll not let them drive you out Zero."

He says this firmly, more really as a command than a question. "Whatever is going on there, you have friends here and though I know not the nature of whatever danger you've managed to get yourself into... We'll not leave you to it."

Lheo, on the other hand, is left to stare at the stairs down which the invisible woman disappeared, green eyes narrowed. "Let's find somewhere else to be," he suggests. "Such as inside. I wouldn't put it past the bint to circle around and come back," he says seriously. "I'd rather not have her show up behind you. That way you can tell us what's going on, too. We don't take kindly to that sort of talk."

Zero swallows hard for a moment, and he squeezes his eyes shut for a moment as he nods to both of the brothers' words. "Yes," he finally says as he opens his eyes again. "Let's... Let's find someplace quiet in the library. Although I fear we are likely not to spend all of our time on the subject for which we... originally intended." The way the words leave his mouth is now a little more like a half-hearted pantomime of his usual self, and he finds himself walking up to Theo.

"I can trust you both," he says. Although it sounds more like he's deciding out loud more than anything. And, once more, he offers both brothers a small smile--not nearly so wide as his usual one. "Shall we?"

"Ever wise Lheo." Theo credit's his brother with a serious nod, but firmly motions for both of the other men to precede him into the library. "I'll take up the rear - just in case of unwanted stalkers." To which his green eyes scan the area behind them, as though he might be able to see something which currently is not there. Only once they are within the library does he relax and even then only by a small measure.

He directs the pair to the most defensible part of the library which offers a view of the entrance. "There. This should do." He remarks, trouble ladened on his brow.

Finding a defensible position is definitely Theo's racket, and Lheo is more than happy to leave his brother to the task. Instead, he follows along, and when the best spot is suggested, he sets the satchel down on the table. "I was tempted to grease the steps, brother, but I thought I'd best let her be the aggressor first."

Zero passes up the opportunity to make witty wordplay regarding Theo in the rear position, which is how one really knows that the encounter with the woman has rattled him. He takes a seat at the table and sighs deeply, running a hand through the silver strands of his hair.

"I am sure this is of little surprise for both of you to learn," he says quietly, "but I am from Charn. I am from a small and minor noble family. Myself, my siblings, and my cousins were all trained in artistic or musical skills. And I lived a rather opulent life with no regard for others less fortunate until one day, it all went to the Hells."

He pauses to look at Lheo and Theo both. "What have you heard about those who live in Charn?" he asks, very seriously. "As what I will tell you might either shock you or confirm everything you've ever heard."

Theo nods to his twin. "A wise choice brother. As you said before; let her - them strike first." He watches the other two settle into place before taking his chosen seat himself and then listening to Zero's words. Though the question stalls him. "I've heard very little about Charn that I could consider to be reliable."

For a moment Theo is silent, his mind drifting to memory and then he looks at his brother. "Slavery, the worship of foul deities, noble houses playing at assassination. I think the most of it can be boiled down to that."

As his brother has pretty well summed up the rumors and legends about Charn, Lheo nods his affirmation of Theo's words and comments, pulling out a chair and dropping into it in a half-sprawl. "A lot of possible lies, but nothing good, that's for sure." He opens the satchel and begins to set out writing materials, organized carefully.

Zero nods soberly. For a moment, it seems that he's... struggling, with how to say it. What to say. Which is a thing that is most unbefitting of a bard and also speaks volumes for the weight of what he is about to say. Finally, he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

"I was kidnapped," he says. "Abducted in the middle of the night. One of my family's rivals had paid a pretty copper to have me taken after a performance, and I didn't even remember it happening. I only remember coming to in a cellar and..."

He opens his eyes. "There is a delicacy served among my people in the higher houses, and only for the nobility," he says. "It is called rothe. It is made from meat, and meat is scarce in Charn. We do not comment on where it is from. It's in poor form. But we all know."

Zero stares down at the hands in his lap. "I was going to be the rothe served to their children, to 'strengthen Taara's bloodline'. I realized quickly that my family wasn't going to come find me when I learned that. Only by fortune and ineptitude did I escape--the restraints were poorly done, and the manor was poorly guarded. Once I found my way out, I then found my way _out_--of Charn. The first boat I could find. I gave them almost all the coin I had. Foolish, foolish me to think I bought their silence."

Theo blinks at the story, from beginning to end it is worthy of the toll that the telling takes on Zero. He does not ask the obvious question. Nor even the second most obvious question. He instead focuses on the priority. "So... they hunt you now to..." His face twists, and his eyes flash with determination. "More fools they Zero, to think that they can take you now by force. These people from Charn may have found you here, but that does not mean that they can _have_ you. Be assured; they will find naught but a battle in the making should they make such an effort. It would be my great pleasure to teach them the errors. Many and varied as they are."

"So they want to have you for supper?" Lheo, on the other hand, is incredulous, sitting up straight. "Do you mean to tell me that they followed you all the way to Alexandria to have you for _supper_?" He shakes his head slowly in disbelief, setting down a small clutch of ink vials on the table. "No. Theo is right. That kind of arrogance needs to be tossed in the Inner Sea, and I do not much care if they are living or dead when I do it."

"It has to do with the worship of Taara, and how my people believe they have earned and keep Her... Her blessing." Zero looks thoroughly worn out as he replies to Lheo. "I was, and am, talented. They were jealous. I thought they'd forget about me and would move on, and..."

He looks at Theo and Lheo both with worn red-pink eyes that are haunted. "I thank you both, darlings," he says, finally, the more familiar fervor returning with his casual pet name, although it's said in a gentler and more vulnerable fashion. "It has taken some time to adjust to this world. I have found people to be kind and intriguing in measures that I could scarcely have imagined before--genuine in truth that never could be back home. Before, I wore my fine outfits and I played and sang my songs, yes. Here?"

Zero spreads his hands wide, finally smiling in a way more like himself. "I am free to be _me_, at last. In all of my glory, all of my splendor. Everything that I wanted to be. I thought I was free there, but a bird can't comprehend the open sky if it's spent its whole life in an aviary, now, can it?"

"They should have moved on. It will be their error if they do not." Theo says firmly, and finally after a moment rests his hand on Zero's shoulder in a comforting manner. "You are here, and you are safe." He looks at his brother then, silent communication passing between the two. An expression, a half-motion, but that is all. The resolution in Theo's eyes is a dangerous thing.

Lheo is less demonstrative, but watches from where he's sitting, nodding his agreement. "I wouldn't say he's completely safe, brother. I will say that Theo and I aren't having any of that. We'll stand by you." The resolution in Lheo's matches Theo's, although it is less dangerous. "They want to _eat_ their rivals. I've heard of a dog eat dog world, but that is absurd."

Zero looks at Theo with a genuine sort of warmth in those red-pink eyes of his. "Thank you, darling," he says. "Although I ought to simply call you friend at this point, shouldn't I? Both of you."

He looks to Lheo with the last statement. "The world that I come from _is_ an absurd place, Lheo," he says. "Every day I spend here in the freedom of Alexandria, it settles in for me even more. The falsehoods, the fictions in Charn--all of which I lived by and never questioned for so long, merely because I had benefited from them."

Finally, however, the bard sighs. "Enough of that," he says. "Let's find some smut in this place and turn my mood around, shall we?"

Research might have to wait for later.

-End