Lazarus Oathbearer

borne of a nature that this curse couldn't erase?

Her magic won't tell him who he was, no, but it could show him what sort of man he tried to be. He raises his eyes to her and nods, steady and sure, as his palm touches hers.

"Show me, please."

Another name, another strange burst of recognition with no memory it draws forth. He eyes her hand warily.

Not his eyes, but hers; the 'what' without the 'why.' He listens, wrestling with the idea...

...And learns he'd helped. He'd fought, and it mattered. Was this drive in him now

A heart of broken glass stands at the edge of the underworld, resplendent in the light that shimmers defiantly against the darkness.

"I don't... I don't understand what happened or how I came to be here." Frustration colors him head to toe, all-pressing need to help and nowhere to put it. "I need to know what happened. [Why would I know you?]"

"Some said I killed it already, but you make it sound like I failed. I could wield a weapon, couldn't I?"

Could he? He glances between both women as if the answer is written upon their faces, but he can't even recall a single fight he's been in, let alone the feat he apparently managed.

Confusion remains, but the relatively familiar face brings comfort. He offers Tabitha a crooked half-smile before his attention returns to the Elven stranger.

"I'd like a round as– oh, she's gone already..." He shrugs after the server's retreating form. A frown is tugging at his features...

<- Very nice and polite oaf

:(

then glance back at Tabitha, hoping to catch her eye and mouth, 'That's good, right?'

He stands there for one of those minutes, eventually setting the coins on the bar. It seemed Eshenesra was the owner of a tavern.

His back straightens where he'd slouched in a seat until the pair reappeared, and while he can't help a sheepish grin at her greeting. The last sentence makes him stare,

"By the way - my companion and I, well, mostly her, she's smarter, but we're looking for someone named Eshenesra?" Sort of. She'd really only asked if he knew her.

Knowing [about] her might help something.

"Do you know anything about her? Or, uh, rather confused men she might know?"

He counts out eight silver and holds it out to her, along with a single gold for the food - remembering Tabitha's earlier instruction.

...Broth and rice would, hopefully, suffice. But he has a feeling he'll be back again soon. Perhaps there were some way he make up for his potential blunder now...

about politics, either.

He ends up clumsily pointing at two items on the menu at random, adding, "These, if you'd recommend them. Besides that, two single-bed rooms, one for myself and one for my companion. Is that... right?"

"Depends what you have." The dull rumble of conversation was a little overwhelming, he realized, after the calm of a night of travel and open air. His wings flexed slightly and withdrew without him really noticing, and it occurred to his vacant mind that he didn't seem to recall too much

Sounds rather uncomfortable.

They enter and his eyes sweep the room until he finds the check-in counter, made apparent by the customer standing beside it with his luggage in tow.

"A table, I think. Let those drinking their fill tonight have the bar. If you'll find a table, I'll fetch food?"

When he does, his long, black hair cascades down to fall just past his shoulders, rumpled and slightly flattened, but otherwise clean.

That had gotten itchy. He should have removed his helm ages ago, but the thought had not occurred yet. Beneath the helm, he bears no horns.

As they approach the tavern, he makes a note of the conversation, and for the moment, only responds to Tabitha's worry with a quiet nod. He removes his horned helmet, lest he duck nearly a foot just to avoid marring the ornate carvings of the door frame.

WellIreallyshouldbegoingnow!

Well. I'm back to 'scared.'

his belongings when he rests– ah.

"Do you know if this tavern has beds available, as well?" He follows just a half-step behind her stride. "I could always camp outside town, but some security would be nice."

"I do believe I trust your judgement, Tabitha. Lead the way." He tucks the rest of his money back into his coin purse, finding quiet relief that he won't have to worry about a meal for quite some time. It hadn't occurred to him to even consider that yet.

He makes a note to go through the rest of-

I think you might be confused, too?

[blinks in tall twunk]

...Again, we're talking about [me?]

...Can I get back to you? My relationship status is very confusing right now and so is the rest of my life.

–and a little scared.

Right now??

–confused–

am–

I–

and pulls out a fistful of gold interspersed with silver and the rare bronze.

"What do you think? Enough for a decent meal?"