Gloria enters the nearly empty room and collapses into one of the chairs. Noticing Arlenios, she nods in his direction and lifts her hand in brief greeting. She adjusts her pack, placing it in her lap, and tucks her hair behind her left ear. Grunting softly, she leans back in her chair, crosses her legs, and closes her eyes. She murmurs something quietly, but it sounds like gibberish. Then she falls silent.

Arlenios looks up at the woman who enters, sizing her up. "Light Illumine, goodwoman. I trust the day finds you in good spirits?" Arlenios takes a sip from his wine and narrows his eyes at it for a moment, before taking a second sip and nodding in approval.

Gloria remains sitting there quietly for a moment, before opening one eye and using it to glance around the room. Realizing the man was talking to her, she tilts her head in his direction. "Mhmm. The day has a habit of finding me in good spirits. And you?" She stifles a quick yawn before opening her other eye and directing all of her attention toward Arlenios.

Arlenios smiles faintly, shrugging indifferently. His answer is in a less authoritative tone than the question. "The day finds me no better or worse than usual, I'll say." He takes another sip from his wine before looking at the nearly empty common room. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Gloria smirks. "If, by "around here" you mean around this particular inn, then no, I'm not." She pauses, and raises an eyebrow. "I suppose you could say I was just passing through." She nods, as if deciding that is precisely what could be said, and leans her head back against the chair again. She keeps her eyes on Arlenios however, and asks "And you, good sir? Where might you be from?"

Arlenios chuckles a bit, setting his wineglass down on the table and folding his hands. "I am from wherever I need to be at any given time. Right now, I'm from Illian." He leans back in his chair non-chalantly, yawning.

Gloria nods, looking satisfied with that answer. "That sounds reasonable enough to me." She lifts her head and looks at him again, shrugging indifferently. "I travel a lot. I don't really have one place in particular that I "come from." Don't usually stay in one place long enough to call it home." She half-smiles, absently fiddling with her bracelets. "This seemed a good enough place to stop for a while."

Arlenios chuckles, and another ghost of a smile appears on his face. "Well, you'll find this inn a good one. The fare is reasonable, and the rooms are not uncomfortable." A pause, and a thoughtful look on Arlenios's face. Finally, he says to the innkeep, across the empty room, "Sir Joshua, when the lady is ready to retire," he gestures to Gloria, "show her to the Silver Room."

Gloria raises an eyebrow at Arlenios, and turns her head to hide a smile forming on her lips. When she regains control of herself, she turns back to him, the mask of indifference back where it belongs. "That is most kind, good sir, surely more effort than you needed for little old me." She smiles at the innkeep and nods. "I'm sure the Silver Room would be most wonderful." Turning back to Arlenios, though not quite looking at him, she adds quietly, "I'm sure it will be most accomodating."

Arlenios smiles softly, and nods, chuckling almost... playfully? Surely not. No way, for an Asha'man. "Well, at least you have sense. Some women are so brick-headed that they would spurn any gift from a man for their own pride." He chuckles ruefully, and runs a hand across his shaved head, picking up the wine and taking another sip. "Would you like anything?"

Gloria smirks again, and nods. "Those women don't have the sense their mother gave them. I am most certainly not one to pass up anything that will make my time here easier." She snorts, and rolls her eyes. "Nor do I have time for anyone who would." She dismisses the question with a wave of her hand and shakes her head. "I do thank you, your kindness, however. It's difficult to find such these days." She sits up straight in her chair, closes her eyes, and begins the slow, painful process of forcing her sore muscles to relax.

Arlenios nods once. "Sometimes, a bit of kindness can avert a bad situation in the future. I've long sinced learned the importance of first impressions." He notices you tense, and has a look of sympathy. "And I thank you for not soiling yourself to have an Asha'man talk to you. It is difficult to find such these days." He chuckles, and seems to be thinking. He forms the Flame in his mind and feeds his emotions, finding the Void. Saidin courses through him, and Arlenios weaves a thin flow of Spirit and a thinner of Fire, and begins to prod your tense muscles with it, the effect like a very skilled massage."

Gloria gasps first in shock and pain, and her eyes fly wide open. However, as the muscles start to relax, she closes her eyes again, a pitiful moan escaping her lips as she sags in her chair. "Oh my, if that isn't wonderful..." After a few moments, her eyes flutter open and she sends a mildly concerned glance in your direction. "I assume this is your doing? I know very little about such things, but if it is going to tax you, please, don't waste your energy on my account." A pause, then, "Although, if you could conveniently forget that this might be an effort for a few more minutes, I would be eternally grateful..." She grins at you, then closes her eyes again.

Arlenios smiles a bit, though it is cold from within the Void. "Do not worry, good woman. Just relax, and tell me when to stop." He continues to roll the wave of Spirit and Fire up and down your body, working like skilled fingers to undo any knots Arlenios may find.

Gloria allows the massage to continue for a few more minutes before finally sighing contentedly. "Thank you, I think you managed to get every muscle!" She sits up again and twists her neck around as if to test it. Nodding, she looks at Arlenios, a very satisfied expression on her face. "That is quite an amazing tool you have there. Again, I thank you." She shifts in her chair to face Arlenios directly, before continuing. "If there's anything I can do to repay you, please don't hesitate to ask."

Arlenios smiles softly as he pushes Saidin away, a smile looking out-of-place on his face. "Do not worry about it. Don't call it a favor, call it a gift." He takes a small sip from his wine. "Though, your name would not displease me." He smiles again as Joshua, the innkeeper, approaches him with a large silver key. Arlenios takes it with a nod and slips it into his pocket.

Gloria looks startled a moment. "Oh! How rude of me!" Her expression turns sheepish, and a slight color rises in her cheeks, but only for a moment. "My name is Gloria." She raises an eyebrow and watches Arlenios for a moment, apparently expecting some sort of reaction. Shrugging slightly, she moves her pack into a more comfortable position. "I apologize for not telling you before. I don't know what I was thinking."

Arlenios smiles softly. "Well met, Gloria. I am Soldier Arlenios Nialko." A pause. "How long are you intending to stay, if I may so bold as to ask? We could... meet... again in the future, if such pleases you." He finishes the rest of his wine, setting the empty glass down as he looks at Gloria inquisitively.

"Arlenios." Gloria speaks the name softly under her breath in an attempt to commit the name to memory. Smiling up at him, she blushes slightly and thinks a moment. "I see no reason why I should be eager to leave, and your company is reason enough for me to stay, at least for a short time..." She smirks at Arlenios, and visibly makes an effort to turn the smirk into a genuine smile. "Meeting you again would indeed please me, Soldier Arlenios Nialko." (Gloria)

Arlenios smiles softly, and after a moment of torn deliberation, Arlenios stands and walks over to Gloria's table, leaving his empty wine glass on the table behind him. He pulls out a chair and gestures to it, saying, "May I?"

Gloria makes a point of glancing around the empty room before smiling up at Arlenios. "Of course you may. At least, if you were so inclined, I would not stop you." The smirk is back, and she moves slightly to make room for Arlenios. "Please," she says, miming the same gesture he used toward the chair.

Arlenios smiles softly, blushing ever so faintly. He takes the offered seat, folding his hands on the table in front of him, looking at Gloria for a minute, in the eyes, as if searching for something, before he breaks his gaze, embarassed.

Gloria tilts her head expectantly, amusement written plainly on her face. She drapes her arm casually over the back of her chair and leans her head against it, just watching Arlenios. Finally, she clears her throat in an attempt to break the silence. "Are you hungry? Or have you already eaten?" Her voice is quiet, and her tone slightly teasing.

Arlenios smiles softly and shakes his head. "I ate breakfast this morning, and am not yet hungry again. I suppose I'll get some supper later, before I retire for the evening." He looks at you again. "You, on the other hand, look like you could use a warm meal, yes?"

Gloria nods, her expression pleased. "I haven't eaten for hours. However, I do not feel comfortable eating in your company, if you are not going to join me. I will wait." Suddenly, her smile turns coy. "Perhaps that will give us an excuse to meet again." She chuckles quietly, then frowns. "I would, however, enjoy something to drink." She reaches into her pack and shuffles around, muttering under her breath.

Arlenios smiles softly, looking inwardly pleased. "Then we can meet back here later this evening, for dinner." He smiles and waves a barmaid over. The girl comes and drops to a curtsey, saying, "How may I help you, Solider?" Arlenios gestures to Gloria, saying, "The Lady Gloria would like have a drink." The girl nods and looks to Gloria expectantly.

Gloria raises her eyes to the barmaid. "Oh, um..." Looking quite at a loss, her gaze lands on the abandoned drink of earlier. Gesturing vaguely in that direction, she says, "I'll have whatever he was having." She frowns, and looks worried for a moment, before closing her pack, folding her hands atop it, and smiling at the barmaid. "Thank you."

Arlenios nods at Gloria, flipping the young barmaid a silver crown. "Sol Abra red, then. If the lady likes it, you can keep the tip." The girls nods, blushing, and wanders off behind the bar counter and into the kitchen. Arlenios looks back to you, still smiling softly.

Gloria watches the girl go, shaking her head slightly, a look of sympathy? crossing her face briefly. She turns to Arlenios, and smiles. "You seem to be fairly well known here. Do you frequent this place often?" She shifts again, and returns to her previous position...draping her arm across the back of her chair, she leans her head against the arm and watches Arlenios expectantly.

Arlenios nods and smiles, saying, "Yes, I come here when I have leisure time. I have naught else to do." He looks up as the girl comes back with a glass full of a deep red liquid and a bottle in the other hand. Arlenios concentrates on the glass for a minute, and the girls lets out a sudden gasp, looking at Arlenios, terrified. He waves her closer, and she walks up and sets the glass and bottle on the table in front of Gloria before curtseying and walking off.

Gloria nods her thanks at the girl, then picks up the glass. A look of surprise crosses her face momentarily, and the smile she sends to Arlenios is very grateful. She takes a sip, closes her eyes, then takes a large gulp. She sets the glass back down, opens her eyes, and nods. "Good." She winks at Arlenios. "You have great taste..."

Arlenios smiles softly, and nods. Grinning, he says, "I've always though so." He hmms thoughtfully and leans back in his chair, resting on the two legs. He looks at you pensively, still smiling softly. He yawns.

Gloria snickers softly, and watches as Arlenios leans back in his chair. She raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it isn't safe to sit in a chair like that?" She turns completely in her own chair, and brings her other arm around, using her clasped hands to form a sort of pillow for her cheek. "If you are tired, do not let me keep you. I hope it wasn't your help earlier that is making you tired," she adds, frowning.

Arlenios smiles softly, and shakes his head. "That was nothing, really. I'm not that tired at all." As though to prove this, he graps Saidin again and sends another wave of Fire and Spirit through Gloria's body, smirking from within the Void. "See?"

Gloria moans, unable to keep her eyes open, and sighs deeply. "Ahh, I see. MMmmm, I certainly do see. I must warn you, Arlenios dear, that if you continue to do this, you will never find yourself rid of me." She smirks and opens one eye to wink at him. "Not that that would be such a bad thing..."

Arlenios chuckles and winks back. "Not a bad thing at all. In fact--" He channels more of the power into the relaxing waves, moving them from neck to toe and back up again. "--I might consider it a good thing. You musn't encourage me." He grins.

Gloria laughs. "Encourage? My dear man, if you stop, I just might get on my knees and beg. And I don't beg for anything." She gasps at a sudden spasm of pain, then relaxes as the sore muscle is massaged. She opens an eye again after a moment, and smirks at Arlenios, smiling wryly. "Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you performed some sort of witchcraft on me...as it is, you, sir, are quite the charmer. I get the strong feeling that the more time I spend in your presence, the..." she grins, and closes her eyes. "...more dangerous the situation may become."

Arlenios grins evilly, and brings the power up once more, the relaxation very high. He maintains this new level for approximately ten secodns before releasing the Onr Power and watching for your reaction. "I wouldn't want things to become to dangerous, now, would I?" He grins and leans back, yawning again.

Gloria sighs and opens her eyes very slowly. She reaches for her drink, brings it to her lips, and sips once. She replaces the glass, sighs again, then answers. "Especially with you being so tired..." She smiles at him, her expression all innocence. "Perhaps we should allow things to get dangerous after you've had a chance to rest. You should also eat dinner. Wouldn't want to do anything hasty on an empty stomach." She takes another sip of her wine, keeping her eyes locked on yours.

Arlenios meets your gaze, entranced. "Yes, I suppose you're right." He reaches into the pocket of his coat and gives you the large silver key. "This will get you into your room. I'll find another one, and we can meet for dinner." He smiles. "Is that all right?"

Gloria nods. "That sounds fine." She finishes the last of her drink, then stands. "It was a pleasure, Soldier Arlenios Nialko. I look forward to dinner." She offers her hand, and smiles softly. "Until then."

Arlenios takes the hand and kisses it gentlemanly. "I await with bated breath." He smiles and walks to the door, stumbling once before ascending the stairs to the street above.