Markus and Zhijiru }{ Closed for now...

[mianst]

Markus led the way, but not to the front door. Rather to what looked to be a long forgotten garden. Lifting what seemed to be a carpet of foliage to reveal a wooden door. "You see, I've permanantly sealed all the 'normal' doors, so this and one other are the only ways in or out. I'll be sure to show you the other exit and how to get back to town, later. For now I bid you welcome." Holding the door open, a set or stone steps could be seen leading to a surprisingly well kept room. Lit by fire and filled with many fine leather furnishings. "please, make your self at home."

[JxSlaughter]

"Woah." Jiru came in, shocked and dumbfounded. It was the last thing he suspected, and it was better than his house back home too. "Nice place bud..." He said with an approving nod as he looked around. He took a seat on one of the leather sofas, but he soon was reclining on it like a bed. "You're one lucky guy my friend." Jiru smiled.

Jiru was more thirsty than , and he felt that it was safe to let his guard down. "Do you have anything to drink?"

[mianst]

"heh, luck has little to do with it my friend. But certainly, we have a humble assortment of drink. Fresh water of course, Wine, and a bit of old mead. Take your pick." Markus says from inside the kitchen.

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru replied, "Water will be fine." He said water though he wanted wine because, he didn't want to impose. He scurried to the lit fireplace, "Glorious warm fire!" He put his hands out to get warm. "It has been hard starting a campfire near here, everything has been so damp." He shivered a bit at the thought of his recent cold nights.

[mianst]

"A good stock can save one's life, no." Markus brings Jiru a fired clay cup filled to the brim with water. Still holding the gourd, from which it came, ready to serve more. "If you do not mind our asking, what sorts of goods do you deal in master Jiru?"

[JxSlaughter]

"Now now, don't use formality with me." He chuckled lightly. He took the clay cup and took sip before gulping it down. "I usually sell livestock, and crops, but on my way to sell in other towns I barter other goods and by the time I end up in the market place I have other things to sell. As long as it is worth the same price, and it is something someone is willing to buy, I always have the chance to make gold. And sometimes, I get to keep some nice trinkets and things I like for myself."

"What do you do yourself?" Jiru was curious, and he also wondered how he got all this nice stuff.

[mianst]

"oh, heh, us?..Well we don't have a formal job around town. we often keep to ourself, only leaving for supplies, and occasionally a bit of failed vigilantism. As you saw earlier...Though it did pay off once, to the effect of most of the furniture you see here. Really it was a simple matter of chasing off a group of thugs who had been harassing a leather worker and his family. Though at the time we would have wanted something a little less material...Though Now that I remember, these 'gifts' may have been appeasements. They may have been grateful, but I bet they were more afraid we'd do the same to them. we wouldn't have, but fear, blinds all." Glancing at Jiru's empty cup Markus exclaims, "we have neglected our duties! Here, would you like some more water? Perhaps something to eat?"

[JxSlaughter]

"Something to eat if you don't mind." Jiru paused for a moment. "Uhm, who is this 'we'?" He looked around a bit to see if there was someone else he was with but he didn't even see any hint of another person here, or even a pet.

While they were chatting Jiru took off the wrap around his left eye and placed it on the floor next to the fire after sweeping any dust away that could have been there. There was nothing that appeared to be wrong with the left side of his face, but he kept his left eye tightly shut. The cloth was damp, and he wanted to dry them before putting it back on for the night.

[mianst]

"Certainly, right away." Markus started for the kitchen, then stopped at Jiru's question. "They...Are friends. Only 'I' can see them, only 'I' can hear them. But I owe them, they kept us alive, when we were young." Slowly walking into the kitchen now. "They are the reason I have removed all reflective surfaces. Some of them taunt us with devilish imagery." Markus came back a short while later baring a plate with two thick slices of bread, and a small slab of venison. Along with a small metal fork and knife. "Eat up, you've nothing to worry from us. What about your own eye? Doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it...Preparing for a time when you'll need that night vision?"

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru felt a bit worried about the stranger's condition, but then he said not to worry about it. Jiru shrugged it off in his mind. When Markus commented about his eye and night vision it almost made him laugh. "That's a first." He heard some things about his left eye but that one was the most original and creative thought so far. Jiru took some of the bread and turned away from him, looking into the fireplace again. "It's more like an infection, nasty things happen when I open my eye." He turned to Markus and continued with a smile. "So! I perfer my left eye shut! And thats that." After he finished the bread he finished up the meat. Then he took his wrap off the floor and placed it back onto his eye, the same exact way as before- because he had been doing it for years.

[mianst]

"ah, an infection aie. That's too bad. Unfortunately we're not much of a healer, nor do I know any. But you don't seem to mind it..." Markus moved to take the plate and said, in a Thick Scottish accent "You done, or do you want some more?"

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru chuckled again. "I'm good, thank you." "I should get some rest, I've been without a decent sleep for a while now."

[mianst]

Markus returned to his normal speaking voice, and said. "Alright, I'll take care of this." Motioning to the cup and plate. "And right through that hallway, first door on the left." Markus pulled out a small copper key and held it out to Jiru. "Here, I keep everything locked safely."

[JxSlaughter]

"Oh, how lovely." Jiru took the key and went over to the room he was going to stay in for the night. It looked just as nice as the room he ate in. He laid in bed, but he didn't go to sleep as soon as he thought he would. Jiru would wake up early in the morning and get on with his own business as soon as possible. But he wasn't sure what was to become of his new acquaintance.