Accept the offer reluctantly

You watched your human pursuer struggle as he still tried to drag his partner in crime back to the slums of the matchsticks. Looking up from his ally to you, there was obvious hate and contempt raging in his eyes. The moment is over, but the danger was quite real, possibly lasting forever now. And yet, the offer of this strange man in his armor did not fill make you feel safe or comfortable. Whether it's his smile, the apparent care he's put into his clean armor and weaponry, your past with the likes of him, or something else that you couldn’t give a name to, you couldn’t put your trust in this human. Not for any longer the necessity of the moment required.

"That's, very kind," You replied slowly "but we'll be taking our own residence for the evening." Jiaghan looked surprised by your statement, but she kept quiet. The armored man on the other hand, wasn't phased."

"If that's what you want, sure. I'll be next door, just in case something happens." He replied with a gentle nod of his head, vaguely approaching a bow. He opened the door and genuflected in with his other hand. You walked towards the door but held off on walking in.

"You first, Sir"

"Sir? Make me sound like my father" He laughed at his own slight joke as he walked in. You hovered in the open doorway watching

"Liz?" Jiaghan asked as she stood near you "Is something wrong? Do you know him or something?"

"No, but all men are the same Jiaghan. He can have the best manners in the world, he's still only doing this because it thinks it gets him what he wants."

"I don't know, surely they can't all be like that. He doesn't seem so bad. He did save our asses, after all. At the very least, he's cute for a human, that's gotta count for something, right?"

Your eyes squinted at her, trying to peace things together. Her faint smile was sincere, you're sure of that, but you had to wonder what she’s been getting up to. You’re not her mother after all, just the closest thing to one she has. If she’s been getting curious about boys, humans or otherwise, that would be a conversation to have another day. Without a word, Jiaghan gently nudged you inside, and you finally enter.

The Polished Wand was a quaint establishment. The fire on the short side of the tavern, across from the large windows, helped make the place feel cozy and inviting. It also made you feel inadvertently bitter; more so than normal. The two of you walk up to your rescuer at the bar, smiling again, as if he didn't just see you a minute ago.

"What do the two of you say to a trade?" He asked "A drink for a name, from each of you" Your face scowled instinctively at the man's flirting, while Jiaghan, unaware or unconcerned with your disapproval, eagerly jumped in.

"I'm Jiaghan, and this is Liz" You put your hand on her shoulder gently, furtively giving it a hard squeeze, marking your displeasure. You took some control over the situation "Make that water," You tell the bartender, another human, who looked at the three of you oddly before fulfilling the order. Your new acquaintance raised his flagon as the three of you stood at the bar.

"What a coincidence" He takes a quick drink before continuing "Have to stay away from alcohol, it brings the worst out from me. Best not get into those old stories. I’m sure you and your...cousin have your reasons own reasons." He said as he stumbled on his words, unsure of the ties between the two of you.

"We're not related" You counter calmly

"Well obviously,” He acknowledged, still in a slightly humored state “But you two probably have a common ancestor if you go far back enough, right? But, that’s not really the point. Since you two clearly aren’t related, what do you call each other, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, Liz is just a good friend,” Jiaghan continued to speak ahead of you, the message in her shoulder not getting through “She helps me out a lot. She’d just bought me dinner before we were being chased by those two horrid men, and now Liz was going to let me sleep in her apartment for a while"

"Oh, well that was a nice offer."

"Benjamin!" You all heard a clear shout, the soldier turned back around behind him to look. An elvish gentleman approached the human and gave a passionate hug as the two began to engage in chit-chat, allowing Jiaghan to give you a piece of her young mind.

"What is wrong with you?” Her disapproval of you matching your own towards her “You're treating him like he's a gang boss or something. I don't get it."

"He just might be. The slumlords never live in the lands they own and control unless they have to."

"Okay fine, but you're not going to have a drink? Like, a real drink?"

"Not with him, no. He's just hoping he can get me loose so he can have his way. Even better comatose"

"You don't know that!” Liz exclaimed while still trying to keep her voice down to not create a scene “Gods, I didn't realize you were that cynical. What happened to you?"

"Don't worry about me, Jiaghan. I'm just trying to keep you safe."

The conversation between Demarchus and his elf friend was over quickly, but not before you got a strange glance from his elvish friend as he walked past you.

"Sorry about that. Just an old friend that wanted to catch up for a moment" He explained "Look, I'm sure the two of you need some time to relax by yourselves. That must have been a scary chase" He dropped a few coins down on the bar. "I've got the drinks, and there's a few more for your room. I'm going to excuse myself, if you don’t mind. You two enjoy your evening. Maybe we can talk more in the morning. I'd like to find out more about what all of that mess outside was about, see if there's anything more I can do to help with your situation.”

"That would be great" Jiaghan interjected again, with a handshake to seal the deal. You were thoroughly annoyed at her seeming eagerness to go against you but refused to make a public spectacle.

"Come on, runt" You wrapped your arm around her shoulder and strongly pushed her along as you walk away "Past your bedtime"

The rented room was better than your actual apartment, by a considerable margin. You locked the door immediately, as the Elf took the opportunity to head straight for the large bed. There was a loud exclamation of comfort and relaxation as she let the bed absorb all of her concerns and remaining energy. “This is the best bed I’ve ever been in! I wanna just live in this forever!” She bid you in, “Liz, trust me. Lay down, get comfortable, and you'll realize how paranoid and unreasonable you're being. Seriously, can someone who would do this for us really be as bad as you think?"

"That and worse, yes" You responded without hesitation "You've spent enough time in the Matchsticks, you should know better than most just how bad people can, and how offers of help to the desperate can just be means of exploitation. If you ever get out of that bed, you'll learn that often times the greatest villains are the ones who act the kindest."

"Well, don't look now, but we're out of the matchsticks now.” Liz playfully jabbed “There's worse things you could do than pretending to like that guy in order to escape. If it got both of us out, I'd do it in a heartbeat in your shoes."

"You'll understand when you get older" You responded as you approached her, brushing your fingers through Jiaghan's blonde hair. Frustrating as she was, and despite you and her having no real ties, she owned your heart. In the back of your mind, in thoughts you never share with others, you wished that the world was what this adolescent girl thought it was.

"I'm older than he is, you know" She responded teasingly.

"Yes I know, and know how little that means for the likes of you and me. Now, get some sleep. Who knows when we’ll get a chance to have a bed like that again. I'll join you in a little while"

The elvish teen stuck her tongue out teasingly before immediately cooperating, rolling to her side away from you to try and fall asleep. You quietly moved a chair close to the door and took a seat. Quietly, your hands shifted to the sheaths for your knives, ready to draw them in a second, should the need arise. You watched the door and listened, sure that at any second, something could go wrong. Time eventually took its toll, the chase having taken more of you than you anticipated, and a nightly visit by Darnahl, the God of Dreams, as you fell asleep in the chair.