Early mornings

[Eden "Lily"]

Eden was well aware that he hadn't wanted her near him at all but well, he was hurt now so that made a difference in things. She would try and make quick work of cleaning the area as he held the tunic up, with it being fresh, it thankfully didn't have too much of a chance to get rubbed raw or infected so he was going to be alright so long as it got tended to.

The apology made her look up as she threaded the thinnest needle she had, "It's ok..." she told him with a small smile before giving a nod, "It wasn't bad, a little odd and stressful though," she admitted, a little color rising to her cheeks since her day today had been spent magically bumping into this guy. Eden would decide to not warn him though, and  would gently pinch the skin and start to thread the needle and thread through his skin, her pale fingers being stained in the process. Even though at first she seemed green at it, it was mostly the wound and not the blood that had her unsettled.

"Please don't pass out on me," she asked softly as she would then hold up the flask to him to drink. It was filled with vodka, a simple and easy drink for anyone to get their hands on.

She would get back to work though, giving it the daintiest stitch that she knew and would leave only a slight scar in the future. "How uhm...h-has your day been?" she asked, trying to be a little more social than she had been- e for effort right? Also the talking might help distract the aloof man on the bench while she sewed him up.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

"Yeah, we have that affect on people. No hard feelings though, honest," he replied cordially, even going so far as to nudge Bastian's shoulder slightly in a playful 'right?' sort of way. The captain tore his gaze from the flower bed across the path from them and glanced at Baird, clearly not having heard what he said. He followed the other man's gaze toward Eden (keeping strictly to her face because he did not want to look down) and then away.

"Sure," he muttered. He didn't need to know what was said, that was usually the answer that made Baird stop.

"He'll be fine," Baird said at the notion of pasing out. "Right? Fine."

"Fine," Bastian repeated the buzzword, panting as he leaned an arm on his thigh. Fine. He should be fine. This wasn't a big deal. It was just a needle...

The conversational distraction had been precisely what the guard was trting to get at. It might have been more successful of a distraction if he could convince Bastian to participate more directly but anything was better than him getting in his head. Baird didn't understand the fear considering he wasn't afraid of anything else.

While it most certainly hurt, it wasn't the pain or blood that bothered the soldier. Just the needle. If closing his eyes didn't bring up vivid and unwelcome imagery of piercing flesh, he would do that. Was it unreasonable? Probably. But it didn't change the fact his heartbeat spiked even before she started, triggering more of a 'fight or flight' response than chasing down the armed and dangerous pickpocket had. Bastian didn't seem to notice the offered flask. Instead, he focused on his boots and shivered slightly. Breathe. Breathe and don't think about it.

"Long weekend, really. Visited the grave of a...friend," Baird swallowed and then pressed on. "Chipper otherwise. Drinking, made a new friend, two, if I can count you." He smiled sweetly. Was the guard flirting? Maybe a little. A for effort indeed.

[Eden "Lily"]

Eden offered the smallest smile at that one, nodding a little, "You both...are a bit intense," she did tell them her tone gentle as she did try and tease them a little bit. "No hard feelings," she promised them. She wasn't going to hold this against them, she wasn't mad just freaked out honestly and it made her want to crawl in a hole, nothing too major.

The fine made her wince a little, she doubted that one and so she tried to quicken her stitching while also not making it a mess. She was half way done now, almost there.

When he didn't notice the flask, she would set it on his leg gently for him if he wanted but she would continue her careful work before looking over for a moment at the one talking. The request to be her friend though stilled her for a moment, two if he could count her? She would blush some and then give a small nod, "Yes, not hard to find me either," she told him as she went back to continue to push the sharp needle through his skin and then carefully pull the thread through.

"Almost done, you uhm...might not care but it won't scar really with this uhm stitch," she told him, trying to help distract his mind from what she was doing.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Not looking only barely helped considering he was acutely aware of his skin between her fingers and her needle... Bastian shuddered involuntarily. No, don't think about it. He could control a lot of things but not the fact that he flinched at every stitch or how his breathing spiked.

Baird put a hand on his shoulder and he jumped, refocusing with a wince on the flash on his thigh. He didn't have one of those. Green's? The recent memory came back. She had offered it. He wanted to take it, but his iron grip on the bench with one hand and his shirt with the other weren't going anywhere.

Bastian laughed as she said she wasn't hard to find. No shit. It wasn't funny. But it was also hilarious. The stiches and scarring he could care less avout but the whole friend thing and how apparently they were fated to trip over each other...it took him a long moment to stop.

Baird stared at him.

"Sebastian," the captain said quietly between heavy breaths of anxious laughter. "My name. This is Logan." He wasn't sure why he said it. Some twisted aproximation of politeness. Of lessening how 'intense' they were.

"Ah, yes, introductions. Good point, sir. Pleasure to meet ya, miss," the guard said with a smile. "I'd offer a handshake but yer a bit busy getting h-" he stopped the off color remark before he could finish it. "Yer busy," Baird amended with a look at his captain.

[Eden "Lily"]

Eden tried to work as quickly as she could, he really truly seemed to hate this and so she wanted to get it done and over with for him. She would take a calming breath for herself as she only had two more to do and then to tie it off for him and clean it.

The name almost made her jump, the nervousness, and tone as she would look up and between them as she was given their names.

"I'm Eden," she told them both softly. It was no flowery name from the brothel but her real name that she liked and didn't get called often enough. With the final stitch done, she would tie it off and then place it to the side as she grabbed the flask from his leg and would carefully dribble a little along the cut.

"Logan, right? Could you get me a bucket of water...please?" she asked hesitantly. She was trying to not stammer as she spoke to them but her nerves were still mangled so this was probably about as good as it was going to get really. The young woman would gently place the clean cloth she had been working on against the wound, her fingers and hands were coated in a sheen of his blood from her working on him. Her sleeves holding a little splatter as well. She would look at him once more, "It's all done...y-you can relax...I'll finish cleaning it," she told him as she would still kneel there, her hand pressing still to show she was not moving an inch. 

[Sebastian Arcturis]

"Pleasure, Eden," the captain rumbled back, echoing Baird's more enthusiastic greeting. While he could never hope to match the enthusiasm of the other man, he did manage to make the word sound beyond natural leaving his lips. He had quite a smooth voice on him, when he tried.

He hissed at the addition of more burning powerful vodka to his side and decided perhaps he didn't want to drink it anyway.

Baird started slightly, casting a confused look around the park. "Bucket. Of water...right." As unlikely as the side quest seemed, Baird was quite resourceful and charming. He was more or less sure he could either convince the nearest residence to part with a bucket of nearly clean water or sniff out the nearest well and borrow that bucket rather easily. They had drawn an initial crowd that had since dispersed, with people returning to their own morning duties and simply passing by the park. He flashed Eden a smile as he started off. "Of course, Eden. Back in a moment!"

As much as the woman was outwardly nervous, Bastian was just as much inwardly, riding down the stress of his fear of needles. With the removal of the offending item, he was starting to pull his breathing back together and relax. He didn't shiver or tense up anymore, even as she pressed the cloth to his side. "Thank you," he mumbled as he got his breath mostly back between the anxiety and the laughing.

And then as quickly he had himself under control again, thanks in no small part to the stray thought back to that distant mountain cave. There hadn't been any needles involved there. Which, he now berated himself for not seeing at the time. But then he felt an urge to berate himself for other actions on the trip which wasn't a feeling he wanted to accept.

Baird returned with a bucket of water. It was a rather small bucket, but he was quite proud of himself. Sebastian gave him a curious look and Baird only winked at him and refused to explain himself. "I do have to take this back," he allowed, setting it down eagerly next to Eden, hopeful it would suit her needs.

[Eden "Lily"]

Her head nodded some, a small shy smile on her face as she would acknowledge both men who gave her their names and said hi to her. It was better than earlier that much was for sure and she'd take it, they didn't seem like they were wanting to torment her as before. This time, he didn't sound as harsh as he had previously and that was a bit relaxing honestly.

The hiss of pain made her wince but it was better than it getting infected and him getting ill from it- she didn't want that to happen, they might blame her for trying to kill him if he got sick from it. No, after this, it would be left in his hands to tend to it and keep clean.

"Please, thank you," she told him as she was hopeful that he could get that task done so she could wash her hands and then clean the area of Sebastian's wound before applying the ointment to help it help up better.

"You're welcome...I-I am sorry about that hurting. I just uhm..need to clean it and put ointment on and you can bandage it up. You should be good," she told him with a little small smile to him. She was confident he'd be ok and when he was like this, she was much more comfortable and not fearing that something was going to happen. Silly that it took an injury to do this but it was alright, she wasn't protesting.

When Baird returned with the bucket, she would take it and bow her head some, "Thank you and of course," she told him as she would dip the cloth into the water first to gently dab and clean the area around the cut, her touch gentle and easy on him as she moved the cloth against him. It was easy to clean up and once he was, she would wash and clean her bloodied hands and fingernails. Drying her hands on her skirt, she would open the tin and dab her finger in to gently smear it across the stitches, "Probably a week or two of keeping them in...the stitches should be easy to remove," she told him as she dabbed on the ointment.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian gaze her a fleeting quizzical look as she apologized. She hadn't been the one to stab him. And he wasn't concerned about the pain. Had he said or done something to offend her? Sure, he had made uncomfortable noises, like any normal man who could indeed feel pain. His willpower was quite impressive, but even he swore and grumbled when something hurt.

That was number eight, but he decided to keep it to himself. She had been nice. He could too.

Considering his display of pain seemed to bother her, he took a breath and contained the rest of it behind his usual impassive expression. He didn't like people worrying about him. Being so concerned. Ideally, he didn't get hurt and make them concerned but with his profession that was impossible. Or so went the excuse. He'd work out his pain and frustration and feelings alone in private later if he needed.

"Good," the captain said, ghosting a hand over the finely stitched injury. Baird fumbled through his pockets for some bandages and Sebastian wrapped his waist simply. He'd have to be careful for a few days, but he wasn't concerned about himself. He would be fine. He always was eventually. He had to be. "Thank you, Eden."

"Thank's, young lady," Baird said at nearly the same time, watching his captain straighten out his tunic and leathers. "Can we buy ya lunch?"

Sebastian gave no outward indication that he heard anything. If he had an opinion, he kept it to himself.

[Eden "Lily"]

Eden was glad he didn't count outloud how many times she apologized, it was something she did when she thought she was in trouble but this time, she was just sorry for causing him discomfort over having to sew his wound closed. He obviously detested it and she still did it.

She would make sure the paste was applied liberally for him before putting it away, once he was fully taken care of, she would dip her hands into the bucket and wash her hands better and then the cloth a bit. Oh well, it was ruined but she would live. maybe she'll dye it red and give it to someone else who works in the brothel with her, they might like it.

"You're welcome," the offer of lunch though had her a little surprise, her hands moving to lift the hem of her skirt a little to dry her hands a bit with a patting motion. "Uh-uhm...sure ok, thank you," she told them. It would be rude to say no and she honestly had eaten anything that wasn't prepared in the brothel in years so she was curious- one day of eating a bit wouldn't hurt her figure at all.

Pulling out a softly vanilla-scented lotion, she rubbed it on her hands as she picked up her items and tucked them away carefully. She would fight away a yawn because she really should be sleeping but with a deep breath she was ok and would slowly stand up. Once her clothes were smoothed out, she would put everything in her basket and then pull on her cloak again but this time she at least didn't pull it over her head.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

He'd handled being stabbed with a needle pretty well, all things considered. Strangers, dangerous working conditions, hostile work environment, post traumatic stress disorder... Pretty well.

Eying the clothe she had insisted on using, Sebastian was sure it was a lost cause. Unless she wanted to dye it red. Beyond that, he didn't think anything of the fabric with his blood all over it. He wiped his hands on his pants while Eden used her skirt and Baird seemed to find this coincidental timing highly amusing. Thankfully, he said nothing about it.

"Least we can do to repay ya," Baird began. "There's a cart we passed, some kinda pastries, I think? They smelled del-"

"We need to return to the castle," Bastian said as he stood, not really seeming to pay attention to what the guard was saying.

"Of course, sir," Baird amended and then flashed a playful grin at Eden. "But I could use something for the road. It's a long walk. And you didn't eat breakfast either, did you? I maintain that those pancakes were magical."

Bastian rolled his eyes and folded his arms in obvious resignation. He was hungry. So food was warranted. And then, perhaps finally, he could get away from this nonsense.

With that, Baird returned the bucket, leaving the pair in awkward silence for a few minutes, silence that the captain clearly had no inclination to break, but that was much more tired than it was hostile. He wasn't opposed to conversation, it just seemed to be a choir for the taciturn man.

[Eden "Lily"]

Eden would fold it up and place it in the basket without much fuss, it was ok, she could do it again. She could also write and tell her Faith what had happened today- maybe she didn't want her to worry about her. Eden was an adult at this point so it was ok.

Slowly, she stood up with ease and grace, her hands moving to pick up her cloak as she listened and then bristled some.

"If it's trouble it's ok," she told him. As a trio they had caused a fair amount of commotion for all of them today and she was in truth exhausted- her sunny nap had been interrupted. She needed some sleep and should head back but something happened between the two of them that made it alright.

Eden would dump out the bucket first for Baird so that he wouldn't have to and handed it to him as she would move to sit on the bench. The silence was ok, her eyes closed some, "How uhm...did you meet Ronan?" she asked him curiously. She didn't know Ronan really left so maybe Sebastian was one of his? She really didn't know but in her bit of tired state, she was a little more at ease asking at least one question.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

In Sebastian's humble opinion, it wasn't trouble only because it wasn't anything. It should be anything. He had better things to do than entertain this...working woman and his co-worker. Better things like...organizing missions. And maybe meeting with Rosemary again. Or...something that was a valid excuse other than stand watch or patrol or sit in his room.

But food it was, if only because he was hungry. Eden had already suggested it was okay and she didn't feel owed anything for her freely offered help.

Sebastian frowned at her question, glancing over the park, re-mapping out where they were, where the inn was that they had stayed at, hat time it was, how long their walk would be home, if they were even going home eventually. "His client was being an ass so I educated him," he said simply, making it at once very clear he knew their job and very clear he was uninterested. She wasn't as pouty and externally needy as Ronan, at least. While that was slightly more attractive, she had already proven she cared nothing for her own safety and he therefore didn't care either. It was enough of a hassle caring for his own, after all.

Still, his words of coming to Ronan's defense clearly didn't match up with his feelings on the subject. That bothered the soldier internally, but avoided confronting it.

[Eden "Lily"]

Eden still wasn't sure what to make of the Captain, for one he was insanely intimidating to her and made her just want to go hide under a bench but yet on the other hand he seemed to have a kind spot in him with how he spoke of helping Ronan. That was always a welcome thing, to help out one of her fellow workers when they didn't come to her or talk to a healer after things seemed to have gotten bad.

Slowly she nodded, "He...doesn't always get the best kind of people. Thank you though...for helping him," she told him. Even though she was rather sure Ronan had thanked him she still wanted to. He was new to the life, she wasn't. She had been raised around it that unless someone pulled her from it, she didn't see any other options for her.

The small woman would pull her hair over her shoulder out of habit, her fingers playing with the ends a bit as she tried to keep herself awake. She was going over in her head that she would eat then go back and maybe sleep for an hour or two before doing some chores. Even with that running through her mind, she would sway and lean end up leaning into him for a moment before she snapped up. She wanted to apologize but he had been the one to wake her up from her nap after all, "When you tackled the man...I had been asleep here," she told him. It wasn't an overt apology but a slight one since the adrenaline had faded after helping him.

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Sebastian looked at her only when she started speaking, enough to suggest he did have some social skills and simply preferred not to use them. That and it was hard to shake the ever vigilant nature of a life of guard duties.

Her thanks, much like Ronan's meant very little, but he attempted to be a good sport and nodded in appreciation. He cared very little for her or any other whore's self-pity. He hadn't had any choice in his life eother but no one saw him moping about it. Just about other things.

He pressed a hand to his side gingerly, wincing. That was another reason he wanted to go back sooner rather than later. He noticed the girl wobble toward him and tilt over and stuck out a hand to her shoulder before she could get anywhere close to him. There was a brief moment of alarm and then she righted herself. Sebastian pulled his hand away just as quickly.

Her words warranted no answer. He didn't care. Her lack of self care was not his problem. Was she expecting him to ask? Why? For a whore who had so little self worth, she seemed determined to make the world about her. So much for her not touching him amd him not touching her. He sighed, folded his arms and caught sight of Baird returning.

"I see I missed the excitement." Baird seemed amused by his own joke. The captain made no answer. "Alright then, I'll lead the way. Miss Eden?" Baird offered her his arm, having noticed her somewhat faint state. Unlike his gruff counterpart, he did want to help.