Tobi quirked an eyebrow at him. "That's not relaxing. Come on, relax. Stretch out." He grinned faintly. "I swear I don't bite."

Zarek nodded, accepting that and looking them over. "Well, they all seem to be very well made. Well kept, too."

Sinclair flashed Tobi an odd look before shifting in the chair so he wasn't sitting up so straight. His hands remained folded in his lap, and he still looked stiff and formal. Was he like this all the time?

"Quite. They have lasted me for many years," Cinnabar confirmed, lowering his eyes.

Tobi huffed out a breath, trying to think of something to do. He could always get more alcohol, yes, but he didn't think that was quite appropriate. Perhaps a game? If he could think of an appropriate one...

Zarek nodded. "I can imagine so," she said softly, glancing around. "It's getting kinda late. You probably want to close up and head home, huh?"

Sinclair certainly didn't look like he was old enough to drink. He watched Tobi with his mental struggle, unbeknownst to him of course, curiously, wondering what he was thinking about.

"I live here. On the second floor," Cinnabar revealed, quietly. The second floor had to be nothing but an attic, based on how small the shop was to begin with.

"You know any games?" Tobi asked, looking at him. "Card games or otherwise? Something to pass the time."

Zarek nodded quietly, looking around once more. "Well, I'm sure you'll be seeing me again soon," she said with a brief grin as she turned to leave. "See you 'round, Cinnabar."

Sinclair was still and silent for a long moment. Then, he reached into his other pocket--the one that wasn't holding the jewels and his money. He pulled out a small vial of what looked like water. He unscrewed the cap, and then timidly lifted one hand over the top of the vial. The water seemed to lift up out of the vial towards his hand.

He was a water mage. His movements were shaky, though.

"Happy trails." Cinnabar would prepare to close as soon as she left...unless she wasn't ready to leave yet. He rested his elbows on the counter.

Tobi's eyebrows shot up and a slow smile crossed his face. "Well, well. That is interesting," he said softly, leaning forward a bit. "You are full of surprises."

Zarek left the shop and went to the place she was renting, for the moment, changing into all black clothes, pants and long-sleeved shirt, before she headed out to do some work.

Sinclair let a small smile escape him. Really, the fact that he could manipulate water was the only interesting thing about him, if you didn't include his being mute as interesting. He was happy that someone else found it interesting.

Cinnabar spent the next half-hour closing up shop and taking more inventory.

Tobi smiled and leaned over, watching more carefully. "My dad can manipulate fire like that," he said, still watching. "He's been trying to teach me for years. I can do it, but nowhere near as well as he can, and probably not so well as you are with water."

Zarek met up with the traders at the appointed meeting place and stayed on the outskirts of the group, watching for any trouble in the group or from outside. She kept a wary eye on everything, her hands loose and relaxed at her sides, but ready to grab any of her various weapons at any given moment.

Sinclair nodded, as he slowly let the water slip back into the vial. He screwed the top back on, pushing it back into his pocket. He folded his hands in his lap again, smiling.

While taking some inventory, Cinnabar heard an odd noise at the back of his shop. He paused for a split second before shaking his head and returning to his work. He seemed to recognize the sound.

Tobi pulled out a deck of cards, rifling them expertly. "I am going to teach you how to play a few card games, my friend."

Zarek left the group by the shop they were secretly bringing supplies to, standing guard outside. So when one of the members of the group snuck up on her and tried to kill her, she just barely avoided a spear to the heart. Instead it lodged in her shoulder, and she managed to wrench it away from the man before using her right arm, her uninjured arm, to throw a dagger into his throat.

Sinclair seemed to perk up, and he shuffled closer, eyes attentive and wide with curious interest. He had never learned any card games, other than Go Fish, which he had no interest in.

Cinnabar saw no signs of commotion outside. Instead, he was dealing with a different commotion, inside. There was a small, dark figure standing in one of the corners of his shop. An acquaintance of his, come to deliver more news.

Tobi started explaining all the rules of Poker, since it was the first game that came to mind, and started showing him how to play, dealing the cards appropriately. He found that this was rather fun. It had been a while since he'd had anyone listen to him like this, so intently. It was kinda nice.

Zarek made her way back to her home, covered in blood and holding her wounded shoulder, and she kicked the door shut behind her before she went to go find some water to clean herself and her wound off with. This was going to be a long night...

Sinclair seemed to be delighted with the game, and caught on quickly. He was bright...just very innocent. Too innocent for his own good. He was soon playing with skill a bit above your average novice.

Cinnabar took care of business with his acquaintance for a few hours--when he left, Cinnabar hesitantly headed to bed. He didn't like sleeping. It was a time when he had to let his guard down.

Tobi smiled and continued playing with him, going easy on him for several rounds before starting to get harder, trying to help him improve.

Zarek stayed awake for a while before she finally settled down, her wound throbbing. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes to try to get her rest, knowing her body needed it.

Sinclair stepped up to the challenge at once, upping his game. He was much better than even he expected--he'd expected to fail. He didn't think very highly of himself.

When Cinnabar woke up in the morning, he lumbered around his bedroom and kitchen aimlessly, making something to eat and grabbing something to drink without realizing it. He was terrible in the morning.

Tobi smiled. "You're doing great," he said. "A lot better than me when my dad first taught me." He stretched a little. "More practice and time, and you could do really well at this."

Zander stayed inside most of the next day, just resting and getting food when she needed to. She'd had enough injuries to know that she'd heal a lot faster if she just took it easy for a few days and didn't push herself.

Sinclair smiled at him--it was somewhat rare to see him flash a full smile. He still didn't say anything, though...it wasn't clear if he couldn't speak, if his voicebox was damaged, or if he just didn't know know...

Cinnabar didn't have the peaceful day he wanted. Instead, he had to deal with a few thieves who popped in and tried to rob him. He ended up killing one and painfully injuring the other, who fled. Passerby stared at him as he dragged the body of the dead thief out into the street and simply laid it there before walking back inside.

Tobi grinned at him and leaned back, relaxing. "Well, I think I'll teach you more tomorrow. I think I'm going to go to bed." He yawned.

A few hours before sunset, Zarek got up and made her way over to Cinnabar's shop. She grinned weakly as she entered, her left arm held tight against her body to try to relieve some of the pressure on her shoulder.

"Hey."

Sinclair nodded slowly, then paused, unsure of where to go to sleep. He had forgotten he had a room of his own, apparently. He looked around, curiously.

"Hello." There were still bloodstains on the floor. They were mostly dried, but still created wet noises when trodden upon. Cinnabar didn't want to try and clean this up, in case the surviving bandit returned. It was a reminder of what had happened to his comrade.

"You can stay here, if you want," Tobi offered. "Or, if you still have your key, you can stay in your room. Whichever you prefer." He stretched a little.

"Had some trouble?" Zarek raised an eyebrow when she noticed the dark, wet splotches on the floor that she was very familiar with. "Gets a lot harder to clean up once it's dry."

Sinclair shifted where he sat, looking down and then back up at Tobi with his big blue eyes. His eyes looked like they should have been on a small choir girl, with blonde hair and a beautiful, angelic voice. They were probably about half the reason why he encountered trouble with older males wherever he went. Someone who looked like that, all alone and looking confused? The perfect prey.

He shrugged, leaving the decision up to Tobi.

"I'm aware," Cinnabar hummed, simply. "I did, yes. Two thieves. One escaped, and one did not."

Tobi chuckled quietly. "You go ahead and take the bed," he said, heading over to the couch. "I'll sleep here. Don't worry about me; I'm used to sleeping on the ground or somewhere less comfortable than a bed. You go ahead and sleep."

Zarek chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, that happens," she said, leaning back against a wall. "So, anything else interesting happen?"

Sinclair jumped up from his seat, and grabbed Tobi's arm, firmly. He had a determined, guilty look on his face. He would feel terrible, taking the bed and making him sleep on the couch when it was his room.

"I had an unexpected visit from an old acquaintance. Things are not going well for the fight to establish a set governing force in Agnimitra," Cinnabar explained, idly, as he took care of a customer who'd just walked in. "Medical supplies are in the back, miss."

Tobi shook his head. "I've been sleeping on the ground for the past few weeks. Even the couch will feel nice," he said with a little grin. "Go ahead, I don't mind."

Zarek nodded, watching him and waiting for a few moments. "Is that good or bad for you, or do you just like to keep up on the news?"