Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (cont'd)

So, the joke was poorly received. Aleth sobered, slightly annoyed that his humor wasn't appreciated, but bobbed his head. "I suppose so."

(It was well received; Gaius is just shit at emotional responses)

Gaius said no more as they walked, instead choosing to watch Aleth out of the corner of his eye, taking note of his limp, his posture, his facial expressions. He carried himself differently than most escaped slaves might--assuming he was a slave in the first place, which Gaius was not in the slightest.

(haha!)

Aleth let the silence stretch on longer than was comfortable, not quite sure where to go from the awkward note that they'd left off on. This felt like another test of some sort, though of what, Aleth couldn't say. He doubted Ash was wasting a single moment of their time together, though. Finally, "Thank you for the tour. It's nice to be out of the infirmary for a bit."

"It was my pleasure." Gaius dipped his head. "I need my exercise too, you know. What better way to get it than in the company of our new tenant?" And what better way to get at what this fellow was actually about?

Tenant, was it? Somehow, Aleth was getting the impression that he was supposed to be feeling more welcomed than he did. Ash was sorely mistaken if he thought that a stroll around the block and some banter would make him lower his guard. But he smiled politely and dipped his head.

They reached the infirmary door, and Gaius opened it for him. "I hope you can join me and my family for dinner tomorrow," he said. "My sons and daughter have been eager to meet you." They'd been bouncing off the walls, actually. Gaius had been sure to keep them away from the infirmary these past three weeks; no sense in risking an information slip when he wasn't present to monitor them.

"I'd be honored," Aleth answered. Delighted, in fact. The children were young so they probably didn't have much useful information, yet, but maybe they'd offer more insight into their father's cryptic behavior.

"The honor would be theirs, I'm sure. Good day." Gaius gave a small tilt of his head and turned to leave. Not much verbal information gathered there, but a decent amount of physical cues and oddities to form a rough outline of a profile. He would have to give Al another tour soon, perhaps when the man was feeling more himself.

"Good day," Aleth echoed, watching Ash for the briefest moment before turning into the infirmary. It's not like there was much to learn from his limp, and he certainly didn't want to gawk and make Ash get defensive.

He stepped inside the infirmary.

Sera was sitting in her office, sorting through dried herbs brought up by the servants. She looked up when he entered, leaning back in her chair to peer out the door. "Back already?"

"I stubbed my toe," Aleth muttered, chagrined. "... my lack of toes, I suppose."

"Do you need something for the pain?" She rose, already striding to the medicine cabinet. "I suppose I should have figured you'd still be sore. Lord Ash saw you back here?"

"Yes," Aleth answered, intrigued by her second question. "To both. Please."

Sera nodded and took down the milk of the poppy, pouring a small portion into a cup for him. "There you are, then. Have a seat and drink this." She offered him the cup.

He took the cup then belatedly added, "Thank you."

He was faltering. He never felt thankful towards anyone at any time. But usually he was better about remembering to express false gratitude. To be charming and endearing, even though all of it was an act.

He sat down and drank the liquid, cringing as it trickled down his throat.