Clash at the Wizard's Lodge Inn

Cerise tried to sleep, she really did. But after hours of tossing and turning - or rather about half an hour of doing so, it just felt like hours to her - she gave up and peered into the darkness at the familiar figure. "Were you at the festival for the competitions?" She asked him, voice soft so she didn't wake the slumbering Ephraim. Being that she would have been dancing most of the time, she would have missed most of the other festivities.

"No I was collecting a bounty heads in the town, I think the tournaments are ridiculous" Valstad  said to the dancer, glancing over at her "I might have taken part in some of the smaller competitions while i was in the neighborhood, i could always use more coin."

"Oh," she mumbled rather pathetically at his answer. "But now you have more coin," She perked up brightly, smiling.

"Of course, why else would I be here?" the wizard asked her

"Do you have no other place to go?" She asked him innocently. "No family?"

"Do i look like a guy who has a family?" Valstad asked her slightly annoyed

"Oh, well, I..." She stammered, going red. "Sorry, I just..." She couldn't imagine not having a family. Well, Cerise herself was orphaned, but she always felt the troupe was part of her family. They treated everyone like a family. How could he do it, be alone all this time? It was unimaginable.

"The correct answer is no" Valstad said icily

"Is that why you are so bitter?" She asked, innocently.

"Who says i'm bitter?" Valstad asked her evading the question

"You don't smile, you just... glare at everything," She replied with a frown.

Valstad looks at her apathetically

"Um, oookay..." She muttered. He was certainly a challenge. She had never met someone who seemed to loath talking as much as he did. "Did you see me dancing?" She wasn't sure if he had just been passing when some dude decided he preferred her dead or he had actually been paying attention.

"I did, you're rather talented." Valstad conceded something nice

"Oh, you think so?" She said, eyes brightening at his statement. She knew she was good, of course. She wouldn't be allowed to perform until she was near perfect. But it was nice to hear it from people every so often. Especially people like Valstad.

"Of course, you've clearly put a lot of work into it." If there was anything Valstad respect it was hard work, and dedication to an art

She nodded, happy to talk about this. "Oh, yes." She was certainly not a stranger to hard work. The high rope was dangerous and required lots of balance. But dancing normally could also end up with injuries. "We practice for months, we are only able to perform if we are perfect." Which takes time, dedication and literally blood, sweat and tears.

Valstad wasn't listening intently, but for once was listening to her

Ephraim wakes up with a start his eyes wide .

At the sound of Ephraim's sudden awakening, Cerise jumped so high she ended up tumbling out of the bed.

Ephraim yelps in surprise at her sudden movement and goes over to help the poor dancer up "Hey , pretty lady you all right?" He asks with a chuckle.

Cerise giggled at her mishap, accepting his hand up. "Yeah. I was just a bit startled, is all."

"Happens to everyone " He replies warmly as he pulls her up and turns to Val "You can take the sleep shift, don't think I'll be dozing off anytime soon"

(make the char)

(I'll make it when I wanna make it mom!)