Lesser of Two Weevils

Serraphine was sitting at a table near one of the food stalls, the plate was steaming and it smelled a bit spicy and a bit tangy. At least her's did, with a mixture of greens, browns, oranges, and even a little white on her plate as she pokes at it with her knife. A tilt of her head to one side with the toss of her hair and a reach up with her free hand to run along the shaved side to her head before it pulls the strap holding the hair in place on the undercut ponytail.

"So, Felicia." She says, she pokes again at her food and then finally stabs one of the pieces of meat. "Remind you fo Blar a little?" A nod of her head toward the snow banks, the more well trod areas filled with a packed snow and patches of ice with a few of the placed covered in hay or salt in a vain attempt to provide some sort of walkable surface. The wind is biting, the day clear.

Terewin has chosen to wear a thick fur cloak to protect himself from the winter cold, a rich blue lined with grey. However it is not perfect at keeping the wind away and the swordsman find himself at the food stall getting himself a quick hot meal to drive the chill out.

Felicia snickers. "Just a bit, Fi." she then looks at Fi. "glad to see you're not eating cookies every waking moment now." She says as she drinks a bit of mead.

Serraphine eats the bite of meat off of the knife's tip, then tilts her head as she looks over the food. "Mmm, I think I'd rather if there was a bit more spice to this." Then a pause and she looks up at Felicia, she gestures toward the couple of small little worm-like creatures inching along. A frown, they're on the table and no where near the food but...

"I'll be. To think they actually survive in weather like this." She tilts her head, leaning in a bit closer for a second. "Hm." A lean back. "I'm glad to see you aren't shoved up inside of the temple every waking minute." A thin smile.

Terewin looks over at the worm like creature after getting his own food. "what in the world is that? Bit offputting." he stats with a raised eyebrow.

"They'll freeze before long though." Felicia says quietly, but then she looks to Serraphine. "I'm a cleric. My prayers are part of my daily routine. It's the same way with a paladin, Fi." She then looks to Terewin....then back to the worms. "Probably like the bugs that tried to get in the city earlier in the week."

Serraphine gestures with her knife toward the little critters, "I think they're weevils actually." She takes a stab of her knife into the meat. A frown as she looks at the little worms again with a 'Hmph'. And a look back up to Felicia, "And the other 11?" She teases, a smile. "I swear you're always at the temple. So... I mean, tell me-" she gestures again at the little guys, "-which would you choose if you had to bet on one surviving?"

Terewin nods to Felicia "Priestess, with those critters running around the city it does seem like an appropriate time to pray for stronger defenses. I am Terewin of the Blue Rose at your service if you ever need a sword arm." he says with a bow, still holding his food.

Felicia says, "Neither actually. For them to survive, they'd need to be a bit bigger." She then looks to Terewin and tilts her head. "Stronger defenses....against tiny bugs? So....would you keep everything out with a glass bubble....just to keep bugs out?""

"Well, yes, yes, yes, obviously." Serraphine says as she waves her hand, "But if you /had/ to choose, if it was really insistent on you choosing one. Which do you think?" She stabs one of the pieces of meat again, taking a bite and leaning in to take a closer look at the little worms as they inch along toward one of the edges. A glance up to Terewin though.

"Oh, there's always need for help. There's a settlement that we've been assisting, they could always use a strong arm to assist."

Terewin grins at Felicia "Defenses can take many forms, good hygiene and cleanliness would be the solution here is my guess. If my sword can help protect people from violence I am willing. Doubly so if diplomacy is an option so that I don't have to draw it." he responds to Serra.

"Too clean also means you have no defenses against the elements. Sometimes, you have to get dirty to provide an adaptive defense." Felicia then shrugs. "But...to each their own. I'm Felicia, Vanguard of Serrial. This is Serraphine, Lancer of Serriel. plus, worms are the ones that actually help plants grow, if you can believe that." She then looks to Fi. "I'm not choosing..."

Serraphine gestures to Terewin then, then down to the little grubs as they meander about probably deciding whether or not they want to eat the wood they're roaming on. "Well, how about you then! If you had to choose one to survive the winter, which would you choose?" She arches her brows, "You can consider it a measure of your character to see how faithful you are in choosing one when asked by a member of the faith."

Terewin looks at the grubs for a moment and points at the biggest one. "That one probably. Looks better fed." he says without much fore thought. "I will freely admit I do not visit Serriel's temple much. I try and live up to the virtues of Daeus and spend most of my prayers with him."

"AH HAH!" Serraphine says as she slaps the table with her free hand, she points at Terewin and looks to Felicia, "We can't trust him!" She looks back to Terewin, "Don't you know, when serving the faith you always choose the lesser of two weevils?!"

Felicia looks to Serraphine and lightly nudges her with a smirk on her face. "You dork..."

Tirr wanders into the area, then blinks, hearing that pun. Her eyes drift toward the weevils, then up to Serraphine, then to the Weevils, then in a prim, propper 'Enlish' accent, "The lesser, (There's a pause) of two weevils...." She smirks and oy's "Baaaad joke.... Besides I believe I've heard that said of soldiers too... Especially navymen..." She suggests and tilts her head now as she glances from Serraphine to Terewin

Terewin rolls his eyes at Serra as he eats from his plate. When Tirr arrives he gives a bow to the much taller Sith. "Good day, come to join the deep discussion on weevils? Its utterly fascinating." he says in a dry sarcastic tone.

Serraphine chuckles and stabs at another piece of meat on her plate with the knife. She stirs it around in some of the gravy, rolls it through the rice, then pops the bite into her mouth as Felicia gives her a nudge and calls her a dork. She gives a chuckle, a nod of her head to Tirr, "Aye." She says, then toward Terewin, "It's only as deep as they'll burrow." She says a little play of a smirk on her lips before she gives the foot another jab with a knife.

Felicia says, "As long as you're in good humor, Fi." She says before looking to Terewin. "You might be able to work with us, Terewin, but we're rather.....military, for most folks. Such as myself....COmbat Medic.""

Terewin takes a step back and bows. "I am sure I can cope, I was trained at court as a knight of the Blue Rose in Myrddion. I welcome any opportunity to test my sword if you would have me, although I am not a medic but a mere swordsman."

Tirr blinks and looks from person to person now curiously "Military?" asks the big sith'Makar curioulsy before she takes up a place nearby, now looking from person to person and studying them.

There's a brisk shake of Serraphine's head as she looks toward Terewin, "None of that, none at all." She stirs the meat around on the knife's tip, a bit more gravy, another roll through the rice. "A bit of confusion." Fi adds as she glances up to Tirr for a moment before pushing down a bit harder to spear a piece of vegetable on the very end of it. "The work I talk of is hearts and minds. Nothing more, nothing less. The settlement needs help, not defense." She lifts the bite of foot, the vegetable falling free and splatting onto another piece of meat.

"It's about lifting the community." Serraphine finishes with before eating what's still holding onto the end of her knife.

Felicia says, "Lifting...and protecting the community. Can't really have a community if they don't feel safe." She then drinks a bit more mead. "And that's our duty.""

Terewin nods to Felicia and Serra as they assemble outside a food stand. "Of course, I was trained in courtly ways as any good night. I am sure I can help keep the peace>" he confirms with a nod.

A blink, and Serraphine stares at Felicia as she chews her latest bite, with a tilting of her head to one side. She furrows a brow and finally shrugs, looking to Terewin, "They don't really need help keeping the peace." A nod of her head and a shrug, "Just help is what they need. Fences and bridges." She stabs the vegetable first this time, then the meat, rolling it about through the gravy as she continues. "I fear your courtly graces and desire for guarding would be a bit remiss. Though my companion might say otherwise-" a jerk of her head to Felicia, "-I can personally attest to how little they need in that way."

Serraphine rolls the meat around in rice next, they're sitting at a table near the food stall with Terewin nearby. The wind biting, the area cold, and the main walkways icy with heaps of snow outside of thoroughfares. "Acleese has handled the paperwork nicely. Gregor has been helping with the animals and a little teaching. I handle much of general administration while they find their own path. Ga'Elian has dropped off osme food and assists with some manual labor. Stirling pokes around now and again." She nods her head a few more times.

"What they need now is just help." Serraphine pops the last piece of meat in her mouth.

Felicia nods. "Pretty much. The refugees have plenty of protection at the moment. What they need is to build a home. My blessings are finite, and can only do so much with my hands. Fi's the strong one...."

Gregor rides in on his tall horse, and approaches Serraphine, dismounting and saluting formally. "I came as soon as I heard," he states. "How may I assist today?" he asks. He's helped previously with the animals, as Serrafine mentioned, and they may need that again. Or they may need his help some other way. From manual labor to outdoorsy tasks, he's fairly useful.

Terewin nods. "I will have to think on how I can help then. With your leave I will make way and see what I can come up with." he says with a bow before disappearing into the crowd.

A nod of her head to Felicia and then a wave to Terewin as he heads off, Serraphine gives a frown and a shrug. "Sometimes, I think people only want to help if there's a monster involved. Why can't the monster be paperwork or stubborn nails?" A sigh and she pushes the wooden plate away, avoiding the weevils, and looks up toward Gregor as he canters on up and dismounts (though Serraphine only rates it a 2, where was the flip and spin?). She looks Gregor up and down, narrows her eyes.

"Wait, who are you again?" Serraphine, scratches her chin and frowns.

Gregor wasn't giving the salute his all. He's given to understand Alexandria is not a formal or saluting place. He does it anyway, because it feels more correct to do so, but he doesn't do it as formally has the heavy cavalry and grand armies do it. He's still a scout at heart. When asked who he is, he states crisply, "Gregor Augustin, ma'am." If she doesn't remember the name, she might remember his manner and tone. "I've been helping with the animals recently, and I just got back today and was wondering what I should assist with?"

Serraphine stares at Gregor, a frown, it's not like she was just talking about him or anything. Nope, why does that name sound so familiar. She scratches again at her chin, then leans one way, leans the other, almost like she's trying to view him from different angles. "Can you turn to the side, lift your chin up a bit? Wait... No-no, lower it a bit, yes, turn to the side and lower your chin a bit." A quick glance toward Felicia with a glint in her eye, back to Gregor, "And one foot, like you're just about to take a step?"

Felicia says, "Most enemies are like nails, Fi. Hammer them enough and they'll flatten." She then chuckles, but remains silent."

Gregor starts to comply with Serraphine's requests, but by the end hrmphs and says flatly, "It doesn't matter who I am. We talked the other day about taking care of horses, and who was assigned to it and who not, but it doesn't matter of you remember me now or not. I am here to help, so set me a task, or send me on my way. I am not your esquire to prance as you please." He turns a flat glare on Felicia, and says, "I am not your enemy. But I will not be your nail, either."

A wave of her hand and Serraphine chuckles, "Just a bit of fun, I remember you Gregor - yes - and the nails were from another coversation." She gestures at the table, "We were talking about others, the fact that unless there is a monster, they see no honor - they see nothing really." Serraphine shakes her head, "It's painful to see their service to people is only as deep as their wallet or their sense of glory." A frown, deepening, and she gives a glare to Gregor then. A moments pause as she just watches him and glares.

"The horse." Serraphine finally adds, "I hear they're doing well with your help. Not to mention your lessons on how to swing a stick." A nod.

Gregor calms down a bit when he finds out it was teasing. He's not used to the casual byplay thing yet. Still kind of new to Alexandria. He shrugs about monsters, and says dismissively, "The Explorers are like that, many of them. Mercenaries, and looking for coin from the Guild. I have taken it, too, but it's not how I define myself." Now, glory he might crave more than the gold. But he says, "I am here, with or without glory. Or as much glory as you get from teaching shopkeeper's how to hitch a plow." He nods about the stick swinging lessons. "I'm glad to do what I can." They're his people, too, of course.

Serraphine gives a further grimace to the man and steeples her fingers for the moment, she looks over them at Gregor and nods her head again. The bob of the pony-tail at the back of her head playing at the freshly shaved skin under it. "Yes, something like that. Besides, it's not about taking money, everyone needs to get paid. It's the fact that I present them with a small crop of civilization - trying to thrive and grow - and all they want to do are take jobs to guard them, or defend them, or keep the peace... hammer work. Hammers, all of them."

The Lancer gives a nod of her head and sighs, reaching over to steal Felicia's mead and take a quick swig before giving it back. "Sometimes - as you know Gregor - plowing a field is a greater enemy, and just trying to get them to open and step through that door of thought is more difficult than slaying a thousand enemies."

Felicia says, "Sometimes...that's is all you need to do to become a hero. Not a hero of a country, but one person's hero. Especially if it's an old farmer who can't do anymore." She then orders another mead, since Fi took the rest of hers."

Gregor nods gravely to Serraphine, though he says, "If our people refuse to do their duty, they have been corrupted by the beggars here in Alexandria, who beg alms at Althea's temple rather than push a plow and work and sweat. Guarding is mostly standing around idle, anyhow," he complains, as one who hasn't gotten a share of the 'easy' work. "Swinging a sword is a duty, but so is pushing a plow and feeding an army. And yourself while you're at it. I think maybe if you just line them up and shout orders, a lot of them will snap to it by reflex, though. That always worked where I was from." Of course he grew up in a military family. But they had neighbors. "Don't give them all the kindness and care garbage. Tell them to farm, and assign them jobs, and I think then our people will fall into line."

Felicia says, "So.....What you're saying is....if someone is too old to be able to work...they should die and get it over with."

"But it's not just our people." Serraphine says, reaching out to rest a hand lightly on Felicia's shoulder, her eyes looking toward Gregor. "And more importantly, we're building bridges not order. We're building trust, not battle lines. We're building people, not soldiers." A nod of her head, slowly, "We are discussing two different people at times, and this is one of those times. I was not discussing the community, but those who wish to help the community. They show up and ask to help, then say they will only do things that further their prestige and honor. That is not helping the community, that is not helping people, that is helping themselves. It is sad so many adventurers and would be heroes only see that far."

Gregor bahs, "I'm not saying the old or infirm should be tied to a plow. But she said the refugees would not work, and there are many able-bodied among them. And I just saw the Alexandrian man trying to find a courtier's job in a farming town." He looks back to Serraphine, and nods at what she says, "Ah, that's more like what I expected, then. I was worried that our people were slacking, but ... if Alexandrians will not help, then perhaps they are not worth bridging with." He snorts. "At least until we can produce something they want. Then we will be their fast friends, I think. We should grow hops instead of wheat, and brew beer. They will certainly call us friend, then, even if they will not push a plow."

There's another shake of Serraphine's head, "No, the people that are in the community work hard, they don't balk. They are there to uplift eachother." She nods her head, keeping her eyes on Gregor, "But it is people like the courtier that is what I mean. A look for guard duty, or talk of courts. We have someone for the paperwork, we only need one person to administrative otherwise, the rest is able bodies. Work like what you do - that's what's important. They only want something that makes them feel strong or in control, things that they get paid well for, or that they can put on their cap." She squeezes Felicia's shoulder then, picking up the mead cup that Felicia has given up on and takes another drink.

"It's no need to replant to hops or barley." Serraphine adds, "If you can keep shoeing horses though, and perhaps getting them to swing that stick a bit more vigorously, I think we'll be just fine. Those that are helping - and not looking for personal glory - have been pulling their fair share. And the people in that community have been pulling more than that."

Gregor nods slowly, glad that at least the Arvek are pulling their weight. He nods about shoeing horses, and says, "A few of the young apprentices can do it, too, without hammering their thumbs." He shrugs about hops or barley, that was more a dig on Alexandria's focus, or adventurers' focus. "I will keep doing what I can, of course," he assures her. "As I'm sure our people are doing also."

Serraphine slowly rises up to her feet then, edging out from around her place at the table and taking a final sip - though far from the last - of the cup. She leaves it on the table, a push of it toward Felicia with an amused expression, but then she turns back to Gregor. She steps toward him, reaching out to try and pat him on the shoulder as she walks by. "I have faith in that. I have the /all/ of the community we're building, Arvek and not alike, will continue to work hard." A nod and she'll continue walking, heading back in the direction of the markets. "I'm glad to hear there's good progress, I can't wait to see the fruition of what we're building."

Gregor is pleased with himself for a pat on the shoulder, and the praise. He tries to stand a bit taller - he's taller than most humans, but feels subordinate because the paladin tops his height noticably. He falls in with Serraphine as she walks back to the market. "Yes, if we can build a city here, I think it will do well. If we have the ... I hesitate to call it support, but the non-interference of the local authorities ... if we have that, I think our people will carve out a solid niche to live in."