Jillian found Sane a rather odd boy, but not in a bad way- in fact, it was refreshing in a way to make conversation with someone so young that wasn't foolish or felt that they had something to prove to those around them, especially when it had something to do with a woman. She wasn't a fan of those who felt that they had to show off. If one wanted others to be impressed by what you were capable of, it was better to show such where it was needed.

"Ah, glad to hear it! Wouldn't want to bore you any, wouldn't make for very good company if that was the case!" The halfling said with a chuckle, "You'll get respect from me as long as you deserve it, and thus far I'd say you deserve more than what I give to most men your age. As for what I enjoy doing in Taverns, well, I'm not one for brawling- broken up a fair share of them, but I don't fight needlessly." Jillian stares at her drink for a moment before continuing, "Ah, but I rarely look past a challenge. I have all that junk drilled into my head, and I can be a little stubborn sometimes. Games are good, competitions even more so."

"As for just talking, anything really. Sometimes swapping stories is nice, other times it's nice to hear about others' lives or plans. Sometimes I find myself talking about nothing, but those conversations rarely go anywhere."

So far as Sane could tell without reading her mind, Jillian was an intellegent and friendly individual. He certainly appreciated her praise and respect for him. He wondered what else he should ask her. This would be a good opportunity for him to practice finding out about people without the use of telepathy. She had clearly left it up to him what they should do or discuss next which gave him a lot of choice on the matter.

Suddenly, his attention was drawn to the other side of the room. Quite a lot of people were crowding around a table where to humans sat opposite each other with their palms flat on the table. Directly in the middle of them was a coin. As the people around them began to cheer and holler enouragement at them, ne noticed them both begin to stare intently at the coin. The one on the left then closed his eyes. The coin began to vibrate back and forth between them, sliding a little across the table at a time. Sane realised they were having a contest of telekinisis ability. Whoever could push the coin off the opposite side of the table wins. He smirked. He would win that sort of thing hands down if he were to lower himself to it. But he did take the opportunity to bring up the subject to the halfling.

"So what do you think of Psionics, telepathy and magic in general?" He probed while gesturing to the spectacle over yonder, "Can you perform any spells or do you focus solely on the sword?"

She studied Sane's face while he watched whatever was going on behind her, a game perhaps, she turned about for a moment just long enough to figure out what was going on. She realized what was going on just about as quickly as Sane did, it was a game she had seen before, and in most cases, it usually interested her- it was interesting watching the mental battle between two people, in a most literal sense.

However, more interesting than the game was the look that had begun to fill Sane's face, it was a smug look- one that was more akin to the young men that she was used to interacting with. Sane had a little more in common with men his age than he would likely admit, but even she was guilty of such a look- if only for a few moments here and there. 

"I find them interesting, and useful. I've met a few powerful practitioners of magic, and all of them were interesting people." She raised an eyebrow at Sane, "A few, a warrior who does not adapt is as good as dead, especially one that travels alone most days. I tend to focus on physical combat, I resort to magic only in the face of a real enemy, or those who deign it necessary to use magic on me. I'd much rather test my physical mettle against someone else without the use of magic. If those two fellows over there decided to get physical in their competition it would be something entirely different, would it not?"

"Yes, it would," He replied, "You have a good attitude with your flexabiltiy. I agree that one needs to have at least some knowedge of all the core skills. But at the same time I suppose some people have a tendancy towards one or the other; the physical or the mental. Some would rather create with their hands and others with their minds. The same goes for fighting." He pause to contemplate, "I personally prefer a battle of wit to one of strength, unless you mean strength of the mind." However he said no more, not wishing to give away his personal talents at this time. Fine if she deduced that he was a mage but the fact that he was a telepath would remain a secret.

Across the room, both parties in the competition were beginning to struggle visibly struggle. The one who had closed gis eyes seemed to be winning with the coin being further away from his side of the table. Then, suddenly the open-eyed one seemed to give up and the penny shot towards him and hit him hard in the stomach. It must have hurt because he doubled over slightly and lifted his hands to clutch where the coin had bounced away. Someone in the crowd lunged forwards to pick up the item and many people errupted into either applause or laments as bets were lost and one, money switching hands left and right.

He briefly turned his attention back to Jillian to see her looking at him more than the game. Was she analysing him? He didn;t like the thought of that at all. "Like what you see?" He said slightly more snidely than he had intended. He realised he was being unnessesarily defensive and made sure to smile lightly as if it had been an innocent and playful joke. He made sure his next words were much more sincere and kind sounding, "Is my face really that much more entertaining than the game? I'm flattered." He grinned before becoming suddenly more serious, "Tell me please, what are you thinking?"

Jillian nodded at Sane, "Respectable, there is a need for those who focus on strength of mind, so that those who focus on physical strength may be better guided in battle. Physical strength may be a sign of a great warrior, but intelligence and willpower are what makes a good leader, among other things." There was some praise in her voice as if she were proud of Sane. She was glad to see that he was open about his own strengths.

She spared a moment away from their conversation to turn back to the noise of the crowd. She chuckled softly and shook her head, her smile plain across her face.

The little woman raised her eyebrows at Sane and let out a loud laugh as if what he had said was one of the funniest jokes she had ever heard, "Do I like what I see, he asks!- It isn't any more entertaining I just have a habit of committing people to memory, I never forget a face, nor a name." She said with a shrug, "What am I thinking?- A good bit about you. You interest me,  curious boy. A great deal of questions about me, but without giving me the foggiest idea about yourself. Partial truths, too, I imagine, not that I mind. Everyone has their secrets, and who am I to pry?"

"I can, at the very least, tell that you're confident, perhaps a little prideful, but what else is youth."

Sane certainly couldn't complain. Jillian seemed pleased with his strengths. She clearly respected that he was skilled and talanted. She was polite and open with him, making their interactions much more relaxed and pleasant than they otherwise could have been. She also easily admitted that she didn't know much about him. He took this to mean that she was intrigued, despite her claims not to mind. He liked to remain mysterious like that and so was satified that he was doing a good job of withholding and dripping just the right amounts of information to her. He supposed that after her comment he would now have to throw her a bone but that wasn't so bad. He was sure that he could come up with something.

However, she did make some astute observations such as that of his pride that could be taken one of two ways. The first would mean that she knew too much and he needed to work on hiding his emotions better. The second was that she was intellegent, meaning that his accomplishments of remaining both mysterious and likable were even more impressive. Sane went with the second option and mentally patted himself on the back.

He had now made it his personal project to probe her without telepathy whilst similtaniously remaining a friendly seeming individual. He didn't want her to feel like she was being interrogated or analysed. Because this was now a proper challange with a purpose and a way of judging his performance, he was now beginning to enjoy himself properly, revelling in every victory.

"I take pride in everything I do, " He said simply, "Especially my work. As you may have guessed, I do dabble in magics of a sort but I won't say too much more because I find things a lot easier if I keep a low profile. Also, a lot of the people I work with prefer that we all stay bellow the radar. So I stay quiet for their sake as well as my own. I trust I can reply on your confidentiality?" He paused to let that sink in. She might even feel a greater trust and affinity towards him if she thought he had confided something exclusively special in her, "I suppose your work is a little more straightforwards. You have to remain honest and open with your comraids, especially in battle and combat, because else people die." Little did she know, but this was a suble ploy to see if she would admit to having any secrets of her own. If he could get anything hidden out of such a jovial, level-headed woman, he knew he must be doing well. Still, to keep the conversation flowing and the mask the trap from detection, he finished off with a casual question, "Do you have any interesting tales of the battlefield?" You never know, he supposed even such a simple querry might unearth some gem or snippet about her personality.

You were right, Sweetness! This is turning out to be great fun! Aren't I doing well? He communed with the pixie.

Yes, love, She responded with a smile, You're doing brilliantly. It is useful practice too so keep it up!

"I am not a spy or an assassin, your secrets are your own- I won't be the one to spoil them." She says with a nod, to Jillian trust was an important thing. If someone asked her to keep something to herself, she would do so, so long as it didn't put anyone's life in danger. Though Sane didn't seem to understand exactly what she meant, she wasn't going to correct him, however. He seemed to be back in high spirits, and that is what mattered most of all to the little woman.

"Of course, you remain honest and open with your comrades and friends, but being honest and open doesn't mean you have to divulge all of your secrets to them. There are some things best kept to yourself. Not everyone has secrets, but most do. Some are meaningless, little things that people fret pointlessly over, but still, some others are dark and best kept from others. The only people with more secrets than soldiers are royalty, spies, and assassins, respectively." Jillian pointed at Sane with the slightest narrowing of her eyes, it wasn't as if she was accusing him of anything, she was just trying to make a point with hand gestures.

"Of course I have plenty of tales, on and off the battlefield. Some are more exciting than others, though the battle stories are all exciting in their own right, one way or another. Since you asked, though, I imagine you'd like to hear one. People rarely ask without expecting a story in return." She chuckled, "One that comes to mind wasn't on the battlefield, but it's a good story. Several years ago I was traveling with a group of soldiers I was hired to work with, hunting down groups of bandits as soldiers often do. We had had a long day of marching, without having seen a single bandit that entire day. So, we made camp. It was a long-needed rest, one of the few moments of true relaxation a soldier gets. Before too long we had a roaring fire going and before too long the lot of us had songs going, the entire camp! Soldiers, officers, and mercenaries alike! Those of us who had instruments, and could play, accompanied the terrible racket we called music. We ate, and then we dozed off here and there around the fire. It would have been an exceedingly excellent time, had I not been woken early by the racket of someone going through our things. A thief, of all the people you want to see when you wake up, was taking advantage of our well-deserved rest. I wasn't having any of it, I charged her with the only thing I had on hand, my lute- which is a god awful weapon, mind you. They were armed with only a short sword, fortunately. My yelling startled them for a moment, but a halfling with a lute isn't the most terrifying sight, no matter how experienced the warrior she may be. She drew her sword and we fought, lute to sword. I was fortunate that they weren't the most skilled, and that all the noise we were making had woken up a large majority of the camp. We fought for less than a minute before armed soldiers came to my aid. I probably would have won the fight, but…" Jillian waved her hand at Sane and let out a 'Pssh' sound, "I walked away from the fight, but my poor lute was destroyed beyond repair! That thief though!- got walloped right and proper!" She laughed loudly, her grin growing extra wide for a moment, clearly, it was a story she found rather hilarious.
"I would never lie to an ally or friend, but that doesn't mean I divulge my own secrets. Everyone has secrets, Sane… well, perhaps not everyone, but most." She says, suddenly very serious, "As for tales of the battlefield, hmn, I would suppose I have a few. Some are more exciting than others. Ev

ery battle is exciting in one way or another. 

Sane laughed. Her story brought vivid imagery to his mind and he imagined a a scenario both ridiculous and admirable. He even clapped a little and grinned with sincerity. She was a character indeed. But even more pleasing to her was the other things she said. The telepath was surprised with the shear amount of meaning loaded into Jillian's answering words. She obviosuly thought of herself as a soldier and she impled that their secrets were comparable to that of an assassin. That certianly piqued his interest. He supposed it was possible that she said those things just to make herself feel grand. But that was what he now had to find out. He had his work cut out for him now and it wasn't going to be easy. In fact, he had no idea where he was supposed to start.

But in the meantime, he needed to keep everything running smoothly along and that meant telling a story of his own. He needed to keep everything even and fair. For every couple of snippets or larger reveal she told him, he had to pretend to give her his own. In truth, anything he would tell her now was going to be a carefully considered half-truth or downright fabrication, though he supposed it would be a greater show of skill if he managed to get through their interactions without needing to lie.

"I'm afriad I don't have any tales to tell as humourous as yours. I don't think I have ever done anything as brave and foolish as attacking an armed theif with a musical instrument. The only things I could tell you which I think are funny are the times when I have shown scum their place but others are seldom amused. There was the incident with the rich gentleman who wanted me to work for him for free because he thought he had some viable blackmail material over me. So I nailed his arms to the table with daggers through the cuffs of his expensive shirt and explained to him that I had tripple the scandelous intelligence on his own family. Every single one of his relations was into something or other that they shouldn't be; necromancy, affairs, tax avoidance, you name it; someone he knew did it. He was a double-faced thief himself, swindling every penny he could from the commoners with his high status and position in the trade markets. So he went away having promised to do several favours for me and my assossiates and I got to keep the shirt with the dagger holes in as a momento." Sane grinned at the pleasant memory, having figured a way of making this story into another information trap, "Are you the sort to take issue with such violent and underhand methods of defending my honour and reputaion?"

He raised his eyebrows. If Jillian did have a problem then that would be a severe setback. But at the same time, he thought she seemed world-wary enough not to be shocked by this. Plus, the fact that the person he had threatened had been just as bad as himself would make it all seem better to her. This was a good bet, he told himself, and it should be interesting enough even for someone as used to excitement and drama as a lone warrior like herself.

Jillian's grin fell away until it was only the slightest of smiles as Sane shared his story. Their interactions had begun to piece together in her head, and an idea of what his profession was had properly formed in her head. He asked so many questions, so very curious about Jillian and her past, and he was more perceptive than most. His story filled in a great many gaps, and while it may not have revealed exact information about the boy, it was more than enough for the halfling to have a little more than an inkling about him, and that he was surely more than she had suspected. So young, and yet able to do such a thing to a man. Mildly unnerving, but interesting.

"Personal issues. On the beliefs that I was raised by, your actions did nothing to defend your honor, only cover your own hide. If perhaps, you had called him out, exposed the truth, or even challenged him to a proper duel, that would be defending your honor." She said, smile completely gone at this point, "Underhanded actions have no business in being used against offenses on one's honor. In war, perhaps, they are necessary to defend a kingdom against another's tricks." She shook her head, clearly, the very idea disgusted her, "But I don't think less of you, only differently. At the very least you did not let yourself be taken advantage of."

Sane was thoroughly disapointed, little at himself and a little at her, but he felt no other grand emotions right then. This was quite unfortunate but he needed to keep a level head and work out a clever come back. He allowed himself to frown and tilt his hea as he thought intensivly. It wasn't such an unusual thing to do at being spoken to like he just had been.

Sweetness, just so you know, I'm open to any ideas here. He mentally proded the pixie so they might brainstorm together.

Now would be a good time to refute any suspicians she might be forming. She advised seriously. She knew when it was time to step up and help. After all, she lived to help Sane dearest,You have to act as a normal person would if someone thought they were a high class spy and sabotour; like it is preposturous. Plus, just plant a few things which will cast your story in a less serious light; make her feel like she is overreacting with logical arguements. He acknowleged her and forged on before the pause would seem strange.

"My dear woman," He encouraged his mouth into a large grin of amusement, "Why so serious all of a sudden? Surely your not imagening me in some dark ally way beating up people who refuse to pay up for my dark services!" He let out a laugh, "Oh my! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to alarm you so!" He reached forth to pat her on the arm, "Just think Jillian, even in an respectable metalworkers you sometimes get disputes over pay and hours. I'm sure even in the high courts they resort to blackmail somtimes!" Then he leaned back in a show of relaxation. He had nothing to hid here, sort of thing.

He was pulling out all the stops now to bring her back to being at ease. It might not work immediatly but it was the first of many steps. This was surely going so well that she couldn't remain suspicious for long. Aren't I doing well, my dear! He practically shouted up into Sweetness's mind, Like a pro, don't you think?!

Yes, love, yes! But don't stop to talk to me! Keep the flow! You can do more.

"Think what you will about a bit of blackmail." He continued casually, "It's not for everyone, to be sure, and understandably so. But if it is used responsibly and in moderation it is an invaluable tool for getting things done. Nine times out of ten, no one gets hurt. Can the same be said for dueling with swords?" He paused. If he said much more then it might seem he had something to prove so he decided to make just one more point. "I guess honour was the wrong word to use. I apolygise again."  People always responded will to repentance, even if it was for small, silly things, "I have no need for honour. I only have need for survival in a dog-eat-dog world. I cannot help others if I am too busy allowing myself to be walked over." It was about this time that he realised he wanted to continue explaining himself. Sweetness remained quiet, allowing him to decide what to do. In the end, he continued more tentativly, "For example, how can you give money to the poor if the rich keep it all for themselves? You use your own advantages to steal from the rich. Then you can buy the medicine for the sick child rather than sitting, fretting and holding her hand as would be the moral solution. You cannot help the world with principals and pity, only with actions. So what good is it to worry all the time about things you cannot change or to waste your time with petty rituals of honour? You can cry for stepping on an ant and try to peal it off the cobbles to bring it back to life, or you can try to think of ways not to do it again and continue on your way to some greater cause. Suffering is an inevitable part of life. There has never been a person who hasn't suffered. So I don't shy away from the fact that we all cause it every day, whether we mean to or not. I say that one should focus on the doing the best you can with what you have. I will do well for myself and help others only when is reasonable, honour be damned!"

Sane finally finished  and slumped a little. Perhaps his sincerity would shine through. Perhaps he would seem like he had something to hide. But it felt good to tell it mostly how it was. He saw suffering of every kind in the minds of people every day. He used to expirience it along with them. However, he had long ago been taught to distance himself from it and instead accept it as a fact of life. He didn't care for the suffering of others any more. If he didn't cause it, they would find something else to hurt about. It made him more irritated now than anything else. Some people would think he was evil for his actions but in the grand scheme of things they didn't make a blind bit of difference. They were all deluded. He deserved to be happy as much as anyone else and he would feel no remorse for striving for that happiness when they wouldn't because of stupid honour. They were just jealous.

Yes, just jealous, Sane. Sweetness soothed, But don't blame them; they don't understand like we do. Take a deep breath and focus now. We need to see what she will do. We're still in with a good chance. He responded by doing as she asked and straightening. "Sorry, got a bit carried away there. You just got an insight into my own moral standing on pretty much all of life." He chuckled, "Do you approve?"