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Post by denealus on Apr 5, 2007 2:45:57 GMT -4
Early morning sunlight creeped its way through the filter of elm leaves, poking holes in the shadows underneath left from the grouping of trees scattered across the landscape. A dirt path ran through here, leading up to a once-pristine bridge, the white coating showing signs of age and peeling. This path, though the occassional coach still journeyed here, was far less traveled these days, giving way to the much more popular road through the plains, which had less convenient hiding spots should highwaymen decide to prey on the innocent travellers heading from town to town.
Still, the rustic path had its own charm. Underneath the bridge, the gentle brook crashed along the rocks, spraying the low banks with sparkling droplets. The rush of water careened down a miniature fall in tiny cascades.
A mixture of buckhorn and dandelions mingled with the grass aside from the path, quivering slightly in the wind. The elm leaves rustled, allowing the shadows of the trees to form an intricate dance, swaying back and forth on the ground. A few rocks jutted out along the way of the path, some only the size of a foot or a toe, but a few large enough to sit on. The path wasn't smooth at all and meandered just as easily up and down as it did from side to side.
One of the rocks were currently being occupied by a broad figure of a man. A leather pack lay resting against his outstretched leg while the other bent at the knee, heel pressed into the rock as his toes touched the ground. There was little contrast in his outfit, built more for comfort than aesthetics. A diagonal cut, trimmed brown, clasped across the shoulder, made the top appear to be more of a wrap than a shirt, with a bit of a collar. His white trousers gave way to leather boots below. As for his face, it looked to be in its 30s, with a few creases but not many wrinkles yet. His brown hair was cropped short and travelled down into a light beard and mustache. One of his arms had an ivory wristband clasped on it and his hands was a hunting knife and a thick, but small piece of branch. The scraping of his knife on the wood added the melody of the wind and brook as he whittled away. It looked as if he had just recently started on the project, so it was far too early to tell what he was carving just yet.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 5, 2007 12:22:57 GMT -4
As the morning light began to pour through the canopies above, it shone down upon the face of a lithe woman, her skin nearly reflecting the light. The woman outstretched her arms above her and then proceeded to shake her head. Droplets of water flew side to side and wet tresses of chestnut clung to her face, neck and back. The figure stood to her feet with one last stretch, her clothes clinging to her frame with a slight droop, for they too were soaked. Cerulean eyes glanced down upon elegant hands, (which were now pruned,) and soft laughter emitted from the woman, in a tone resembling that of a giggle.
The woman pursed her lips as she took a graceful stride down a beaten path, she was surrounded by lovely forestry, which for the most part kept her fortified against the harshest weather. Except for when a limb decided to give way and pour itself upon the napping woman, the thought still brought a chuckle forth from her, aside from the whole evading deaths door part, and that thought made her quick a brow. She shrugged her shoulders and began to walk down a winding path of dead leaves, thickets of briars were on both sides of her, she smiled to herself as she spotted the occasional doe and fawn.
A clearing began to come into view and keen eyes surveyed the area, ears tuning into the surrounding sounds of the babbling brook, twittering birds, and the crunching of leaves in the distant, and then there was an odd sound reverberating in her ears. It neither made or broke the melody of the forest, however it did stick out the most. The woman proceeded forward and followed the origin of the sound to find it’s creator. She carefully placed each foot upon the damp ground, nearly tip-toeing across the floor of the forest.
Cerulean eyes caught hold of the vision before her, a man. This caused a chestnut brow to quirk in interest, she chewed upon her bottom lip and studied the man for a moment. Eyes flowed over his form, her head tilted back slightly as she tried to catch glimpse of what he was doing. Luscious lips formed a thin line as her curiosity began to get the best of her, and so she revealed herself, approaching the man from behind. “I take it you are trying to bring attention to yourself?” A voice called out, smooth and low, an array of accents wrapped into one, a sure sign of many travels.
The woman stood there, adorned in her sopping clothing, which was still clinging to her frame. Her garb was not that of a poor soul, nor a rich one, however they were quite worn and in need of repair, or just a new wardrobe all together. She was clad in fitted brown breeches, with matching leather boots, which had obviously seen better days, and she wore a swordsman’s shirt, which was once upon a time a pristine white, but was now a dingy gray. Below that shirt she had a cloth wrapped around her, pressing her ample breasts down, and if it were not for that cloth one could easily see through to them. For the flesh upon her arms, to her shoulder, and even portions of her abdomen could be seen through the light cotton shirt.
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Post by denealus on Apr 5, 2007 15:00:12 GMT -4
The man kept his position on the rock as he heard another disturbance in the peace of the forest. A voice. A woman's voice it sounded like? But there was something before that. Some trace that the tranquility of the clearing had been altered. To say it was disturbed, though, would be too harsh a term, for nature was always incorporating and adjusting itself. Part of the balance was to learn the Flow of things, that certain elements came in shifts and moved its way in to interplay with the scenery while others came in crashing with a horrific forzando. The knack to recognize the difference between the two was key.
She casted a different shadow on the carpet of the clearing, and the man tried to gauge as much as he could out of the periphery, stopping his movement in silence. Of course, it was not totally silent, but there was a pregnant pause where the scrapping of his knife on the wood ceased and naught but the natural sounds of the forest emerged. The breeze picked up for but a moment, scraping the leaves against other branches and increasing the tempo of the rustling, manipulating the shadows beneath around both him and her. A nuthatch's gentle trilling filled the pause after her speech to him, allowing the forest but a moment to reclaim the self it was before these human invaders made their way into its hearth.
The silence lingered, but it wasn't completely absent. He was gauging her shadow, watching as the leaves moved to reveal more of her, trying to grasp her height, her stature, her poise, her stance, and any shadows of her equipment. He weighed her voice in his head, considering her response, still all the while. Tension bunched in his muscles, especially around his shoulders, but it was already present there before she spoke, and anxiousness didn't come into play here nor did he appear startled that someone else might be enjoying the forest as well. His first response after stopping the whittling wasn't a response at all. It was more a dropping of his hands, the slight relaxation of the built tension at her approach as gravity took them even with his thighs, seperating wood and knife on either side of his legs.
When he finally did speak, his voice came out from his throat. It sounded, perhaps, that it came from deeper and had a rich gutteral quality to it, commanding yet with a certain softness of purpose to it, and a hint of a brogue added to it as well, returning to his whittling for a moment. "Attention, milady? Ah, who would I be tryin' ta get wayouts so faur?" He barked out a deep laugh, originating down from where his collarbone met, and inspected his current progress with the piece of wood before straining his neck back and twisting his head to regard her over his shoulder, muscles straining to stretch everything above his neck into that position. "Besides, I--"" He paused a moment and regarded her quizzically, noticing her outside her shadow for the first time. A look of concern was over his face for a moment, but it was peppered with amusement at her appearance. It might have been different when she was fixed up last, but in the current moment, she gave every indication of being a drowned rat. He was trying to be polite and hide his amusement and was having only marginal success.
Upon noticing it, he jumped to his feet with a clop and turned to look at her, almost dropping the knife in the process. He managed to sheath it on his belt and took a step forward, arms outspread as he looked her over, taking her in with a bit of a twinkle in his eye.
"Oh heavens alood, you're soaked! How on earth did ya manage ta get yase'f in such a frightful state?" he remarked, spreading his arms again before crossing one arm in front of him, cupping his other elbow in his hand and stroking the russet-shaded beard on his chin, emerald eyes taking her all in, then going to shake his head slightly. "Ye ain't got a dry pair, do ya? I 'spect ye'd 'ave changed otherwise 'fore ye start comin' o'er this wey."
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 5, 2007 22:35:26 GMT -4
The woman stood there staring at the back of the man’s head, she squinted and averted her gaze for a moment, looking for some sort of natural mirror, for the angle she was at she could not fully see his face, though at times when he spoke she could see the outline of his jaw. Sharp eyes landed upon a pool of water, which had gathered from the nights rainfall. The figure shifted slightly, foot stepping behind the other, the ground beneath the form seemed to speak to her, squishing and spitting at her as she moved.
A hand arose to her opposite arm and fingers dug under the sleeve to then pull down what looked to be some sort of glove, and then the other hand followed suit on the other arm. The gloves were made of worn leather, which was cracked and nearly tearing. They did not cover the fingers nor much on the top of the hand, mainly the palms of her hands. As the woman shifted herself once more her sword lopped to the side, nearly clocking herself in the back of the head, she muttered to herself and moved her left shoulder, pushing the sword back into place (which was in it’s sheathe upon her back.)
In the moment the breeze decided to make it’s presence known the woman shivered ever so slightly, her clothes being wet were cold against her skin, and the sun could not shine strong enough through such canopies above. Each glimmer of sunlight that hit her she seemed to revel in it.
The silence seemed to draw on between the two, yet the woodland was flourishing with activity. The squirrels were chattering back and forth, their tails twitching furiously, this brought a smile and a sort of chuckle out of the woman, her eyes then gradually found their way back to the man. She noted the drop of his shoulders, the muscles loosening with each breath he took. As she watched him breathe she found herself, for a moment, breathing in sync with him. She shook her head and moved a foot out toward the stranger, and hands placed themselves upon curvaceous hips.
When the voice entered the air it almost caught her by surprise, but her eyes caught hold of the slight gasp of breath he took before his words poured out. She took another step, and left it at that, not wanting to alarm him further. ”The H…” She paused mid-word as she felt the odd glance upon her, a brow arose in question before she proceeded with what she had started. ”The Highwaymen of course. They are dangerous you know..” The woman said with an over exaggerated wink, which was then followed by a scoff.
A soft sigh escaped the woman as she glanced down upon her form, her attire was drying little by little, yet they were still wet, and truthfully chilling her to the core. However, she dealt with it, it wasn’t the first time. A hand arose and brushed a few stray locks out of her face, eyes peered over intently at the man, who was now acting a bit peculiar in her opinion. Arms moved from her side to then fold across her bosom, her muscles twitched as prepared for whatever may come.
When the man turned about and the woman beheld his face a warm smile caressed her face, her eyes truly made the smile. In her mind she had pieced together that he may look like, and from the slight glimpses she had seen of him she had done a good job. ”It’s a long story, and I don’t mind too much. After an hour or so you start to get warm, or numb. I haven’t quite figured out what I am yet..” She laughed after she spat her words out in a cheerful manner, her smiling fading into naught but two lines tugging upon her lips, though her eyes remained just as bright.
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Post by denealus on Apr 6, 2007 10:32:10 GMT -4
His eyes roved over the woman's movements, scanning her, trying to take every bit of her into him and into his memory. His breath was never really that caught and exasperated before, but it was growing at ease as he heard her talking and her playful response to him. Though it would be rare for a threat to reveal itself by calling out to one first, there was still a possibility that another human being, especially human beings, would lure another traveler into a sense of false security or taunt and jeer to satisfy their own amusement. Animals were often not like that. They would only come after you if they felt you were a threat to them, their young, or their food. They could also come after you if they felt you were food as well, but that was another matter entirely.
As she spoke, though, his earlier reservation was replaced with eager curiosity, and not just at her current state of dampness. She was a swordswoman, that much he could tell. A fancy noble wearing their sword just for show would not go through the effort of creating an elaborate facade of the worn clothes that she would wear. She also had an air of confidence about her. When she had approached, he had already had his weapon drawn, though he was more used to using it for his carving or gutting than actual fighting. Still, she had no way of knowing that and he was decent enough to hold his own with the blade if it came to that. Survival had a way of making the instincts hot and tempered, clearing the head and focusing all one's energy on getting by. It was part of the natural flow that he treasured at times.
His nose wrinkled a little, barely noticeable, but not at her. The dampness of the ground now was starting to intrude in his senses, especially since their walking had stirred the ground up once more. It would take a while to re-acclimate to it and he welcomed the time when it would. He was more used to being able to reach out with all his senses and having his nose temporarily hindered by this morning slush irked him faintly. Still, he smiled at himself at the alertness of the forest this early. The brook clearing was never left wanting for activity.
Her smooth voice caressed him and he enjoyed the playful nature of it, his muscles relaxing even more as she talked but still tense and alert to the area around him. He couldn't completely hide his amusement when she spoke of the Highwaymen but he waited for her to say her piece before he responded. He went over towards the tree, gracefully for his broad frame, and picked up the longbow that he had leaned against it after he had put away his wood in a sidepouch on his belt. The making seemed somewhat crude, in a way. It was smoothed out but the limbs were not as refined as what one might find in the cities, carved out of one piece of wood, and a coarse string, dyed midway. He slung the bow over one shoulder, speaking as he went, then digging in a pouch at his side. "Highwaymen daun't usually introduce that they're comin'. An' if they do, they got their weapons drawn already. Least that's my reckonin'." He turned around to her and a grin played on his lips, showing his teeth in contrast to his dark beard. Ya ain't sayin' yer one of 'em, are ya?" Not waiting for a response he walked forward, lifting his chin up slightly to look at her, grin turning from a smile. "Ah, but where are meh manners? I ain't not yet introduced m'self. But come now. Numb or not, complainin' or no, ya must be cold. An' I ain't havin' a woman standin' in the shade freezin' her arse off ta tellin' a story while there's some beautiful sun out yonder. He walked up to her and put a rough hand on her shoulder calmly, gesturing with his other hand outspread to an area behind her closer to the brook. The sun definitely was shining there more radiantly and glistened off the water. There were more of the rocks and a fallen log where they could sit, though the log was still a bit damp from the rains in the night. If the woman cared to look at his other hand, it appeared as rough as the other felt, with callouses in the palm and on the two fingers where he would draw his bow. Letting his hand drop from her shoulder, he took the lead, walking towards the clearing, boots sinking lightly into the damp greenery as he walked.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 6, 2007 14:56:11 GMT -4
She returned the scrutinizing looks with cerulean eyes, which drank in the sight before her, feeding her brain information. It recorded his frame, his look where he concealed his would- be weapon of choice, his face and most of all his emerald eyes. The woman found herself smiling broadly as she noted his eyes, the exact coloration, to his pupils that dilated when the lighting changed. She even noticed the slight wrinkling at the corners of his eyes when he displayed his amusement upon hearing her reasoning. And then there was his aura, which was full of tension to begin with, it was clearly illustrated moments before when the muscles upon his back tensed, and though they were concealed with clothing her minds eye saw them contract and strain. Now most of it seemed to wilt away, mayhap a relief to him that company had found him, or perhaps a calm before a storm..
The woman stood there, occasionally shifting or taking a step closer to where the sun shone the most bright. She looked upon him, watching, studying, compiling as much information as she could about him, her mind ran over various scenarios of what could transpire, and how she would counter. In truth she very much gazed upon him like a predator sizing up what could be either prey, or another predator. She was cautious in her stance, even when seeming perfectly relaxed her muscles would twitch with readiness.
As he walked across the dampened ground the woman memorized the rhythm of his footsteps, they were light and well thought out, which was uncommon for his size and even more uncommon for a man to actually think out his steps. Her eye twitched as she puffed out air in a dismal attempt for a laugh. Soon arms that were once folded quickly fell to her side, fingers fidgeting as she watched him place his bow upon his shoulder, cerulean eyes lost their smile, but not sparkle as she monitored his breathing, muscles and facial expressions for any sign of aggressive behavior.
When the man spoke and his words played upon her ears her hands and arms relaxed once more, and her eyes softened, regaining their smile. She allowed him to continue his speaking without interjecting her humor betwixt his voice, and she drank in his tone, his slight roll of the tongue on certain syllables made her giggle. The giggling came to a stop when he approached her and placed his hand upon her shoulder, silken skin felt the warmth from the hand as well as the roughness. Surprisingly, the woman accepted this, though her guard was still on high alert she knew it was a kind gesture. ”Oh, come now. I could easily be a diversion, or some sort of sordid mind who enjoys playing tricks upon those I prey on.” She retorted to him, her voice ringing out softly, with slight laugher.
With little resistance the woman followed the man to the patch of sun, and it was then she realized how much greater he was in size than she. She was in no means a small woman, nor tall, but his shadow, well shadowed hers. He was not mammoth, but proportional and decent, well bred she thought.
” I am sure t’won’t hurt if I froze a portion of it off!” She cackled as she made way to the log, her shoulder and upper arm pushing her blade to the side before she sat down. The sun was warm on her face and skin, a soft exhale showed her gratitude to both the man and the sun.
The woman lifted a hand to the back of her head and tugged upon a leather string, pulling it free from a mass of chestnut locks. The mass cascaded down to her shoulders and then past them, coming to a stop midway down her back. With a shake of the head tresses flew about, sending an array of droplets every which way, a few fell into the brook creating small ripples. A soft chuckle came from her as she brushed the slightly waved hair to the side, her eyes peering over at the man. ”And now for your name, unless you want the Lady to go first.” She said Lady with a hint of sarcasm, as her clothes, her mannerisms, nothing was Lady-like about it. Except for perhaps her vocals, which had a soothing soft ring to it, a sort of lullaby to calm nerves. Though if one carefully looked her over, the essence of womanhood clearly shone within her eyes, face, and aura. For whatever reason the “Lady” chose to mask it with her brash, but none the less comical ways.
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Post by denealus on Apr 7, 2007 12:10:08 GMT -4
The sun beat down more readily here, so the ground was not quite as saturated with the moisture as it was underneath the shade where it had difficulty drying fully. Though the musk of the evening storms still held here, it was starting to dissipate so the man began to take in the scent of everything around him: the wood of the trees, the smell of the flowers, the spray of the water, and of course the leather of her boots and the dampness of her clothes as it intermingled with her own natural scent. He felt more at home here and relaxed slightly more turning around towards her near the log but not quite sitting yet. He looked her over, his gestures were non-threatening, but she felt that though he concentrated on her, his senses were still widely aware of his surroundings, keeping track of the slightest hint of movement.
As he walked, he couldn't help but let out a short, clipped laugh, an affair that came from deep in his gut and jerked his shoulders. Without pausing in his pace, he retorted, "Aye, that y'kin be. But a man out in the woods could do with worse distractions, couldn't he?" He then snorted and continued. "An' it's not like I've anythin' worth stealin' now. The Highwaymen'll hafta wait."
He turned around as he came to the log and looked at her, giving a curious quirk of the brow as she unfurled her hair for a moment before realizing her hair was probably damp as well. He shook his head in amusement, still a bit incredulous about her appearance, but the story for that would come with time if she wished to tell it. If he were honest about it, she looked well-built and well-formed, but for all current appearances looked like some sort of drowned rat. He was hoping that being out in the sun would make her more comfortable. She had her slight mannerisms to her as well, which he wasn't certain how to take just yet, but it was too soon to make any judgments.
He looked at the ground at her feet, judging her stance. Certainly a warrior's stance. She could probably draw that sword quickly if she wanted to, and knew she could get a cut or two in before he could even draw. He didn't wish to take that chance, and her company was not all that unpleasant. He also noticed that at times, she was just as on guard as he, and someone with ill intent probably would not be as cautious of you as you are of them.
As he raised his head from his previous thoughtful expression, his lips broke into another toothy smile as he looked at her eyes and the sparkle in them. She did have a healthy playful attitude. Though whether she was playing along with him or toying with him was something that still preyed upon his mind, a thought which he tried to keep hidden from his expressions. His hand went up to his chin again, fingers touching just below his lips. "Well I'm not sure exactly what ya'd wish ta freeze off. I, for one, prefer ta keep alla me parts." His grin broke wider as he shifted his stance to put one foot forward, putting his non-drawing hand forward as he leaned slightly towards her, keeping it out for a handshake. "Balkear D'Langolin," he answered simply, keeping his hand presented and waiting for her to make the next move.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 7, 2007 18:31:09 GMT -4
The woman closed her eyes for a moment, eyelids falling shut over cerulean eyes, long and thick lashes clung together as they opened once more. A serene smile remained upon her face as she finger combed her hair, causing it to poof slightly. Light brows arose as the man’s vocals entered her ears; her eyes surveyed his stature, aura and expressions. A chuckle was set forth as she spat out her response. ”Perhaps they would be seeking other things, companionship, or lurrve” And yes, she said love exactly like that. A deep chuckle remained within her throat
As the man smiled broadly and pearly whites were baring themselves, the woman's own lips and cheeks took pursuit of one, revealing a set of ivory teeth, which were nearly perfect. A look of bashfulness flashed itself upon her face and just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished.
The lithe figure turned her torso, sliding her bum closer to the edge as she turned to face the stranger. A hand was extended and she followed the gesture, her right hand extending towards the other, clasping onto it with a firm shake. A surprising shake to most for it was not a delicate grasp at all, and though her hands had their share of calluses, (most of which were covered by the gloves,) they were still soft to the touch in some places. ”It’s a pleasure, Balkear. My name is Breena Callaghan, and that is all you need to know for now.” The hand she offered drew away after a moment, fingers folding into her palms as she averted her eyes from him. A hint of seriousness hung on her last words, lips formed a thin line for a moment, causing an effect much like clouds hindering the sun, and then at last it shone through once again.
The woman dubbed as Breena blinked a few times after her words left her mouth, she pursed her lips and as they parted she smacked them together. ”Long story short. I hadn’t a place to stay, and I slept under a tree last night. It was dry and very little rain was hitting me, until a limb decided to break loose, which then took down several other smaller limbs. I scattered, and so did all of the water…”
The woman’s brows knit together as she shrugged her shoulders, as if to say, “I don’t know.” A laugh escaped her and then she cupped her hands in her face, peering through her fingers. ”No luck at all..”
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Post by denealus on Apr 7, 2007 19:40:23 GMT -4
He returned her shake with a strong firm grip, not balking in the slightest that hers was just as strong. He regarded her face carefully as he shook, a play of seriousness appearing on his face as he did so. At her first comment, he couldn't help but give her a quizzical look, brow raising in disbelief and his irises peering at her strangely. There was a faint tension in his arm after the comments, but it lasted but a moment before returning to its former support.
The quizzical nature of his expression flooded to his mouth where his voice spoke to match it. "Companionship? Out here? That would seem a bit 'a daft thing ta be seekin' way out here. I mean, surely ya'd catch a passerby or two but it's pretty hit an' miss with the company ya'd get." He shrugged slightly, shoulders bunching around his neck as he turned from her towards the log to have a seat, careful of his position so as to not upset his bowstring. The pack he had grabbed to take with him he set at the side of the log and proceeded to look at the small outcropping of mushrooms before looking back at this new stranger of his, his expression a bit serious.
"An' I take that a bit presumptuous, Miss Callaghan," he replied a bit sternly, and possibly a bit harsher than he had intended. He seemed to realize this and softened a little, letting out a soft sigh and shifting his weight onto his hip as he folded one leg across the knee of the other and placed his hands in his lap. "Do people often pry for more than just your name? I hadn't intended to ask any more than that. Any more, if ya wished me ta know, ye'd 'ave told me." He shifted his weight again, and looked off to stare down the path away from the bridge, giving her a view of his profile, nose and chin protruding out strongly from his face.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 7, 2007 23:22:44 GMT -4
The sun hung higher in the sky and it’s rays grew stronger as the moments passed by. The woman’s wet clothing began to dry a bit more quickly and her skin was now warm to the touch, instead of ice cold. A finger dipped down into the passing water and cerulean gaze followed the movements of the ripples, which kept spiraling away until they hit the other side of the embankment. She let her hand flop into the water creating a small splash, which then cause a whole other set of rippling effects. For a moment Breena’s eyes widened, her gaze then set itself upon Balkear, she was brought back to reality by his booming voice. She allowed her hand to droop betwixt her knees, water droplets forming at her fingertips and then falling to the ground with a light ‘pat’ ring to it. ”Out here there is the wind, the birds, the deer, life and nature. Yes, a companion out here. Don’t think it so odd, are you not speaking to me now?” A smile was upon her face as she spoke, though her tone became somewhat defensive towards the end of her little speech, and her body language showed it. As she had found herself leaning in towards the man (in an aggressive manner) as he sat down.
As the words rolled off of Balkear’s tongue she blinked a few times, her facial expression did not change. She remained smiling, the twinkle within her eyes still glimmering in the morning sun. Breena seemed to ignore the first portion of what he said, she thought of how ignorant he sounded and how much those words truly pained her.
Breena’s brow arose as his last question hit her ears, her eyes could not deceive the man this time. A look of surprise and thought shone within her eyes and for a moment she was a bit uneasy, just before she replied a bit frankly. ”None.” Except for one, and she was not about to pour her heart out to a person she hardly knew, and to be honest none had ever gotten the chance to pry for more than her name. They either met a swift death, saw her fleeing or cared too much of the silly stories. She knew he wasn’t speaking of whatever legends or what have you, he wanted to know her. That wasn’t something she was accustomed to, or what she was comfortable doing.
The woman swallowed hard and hoped that he had not seen the look within her eyes, but she feared he did and so she did not attempt to push it off as naught. She observed his facial features, her eyes hardly seeing a thing and yet her brain took in every contour, ever hair and pore that could be seen.
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Post by denealus on Apr 8, 2007 0:01:18 GMT -4
As he gazed down the path, Balkear looked fairly distant himself, but her voice brought him back to the knowledge that he had a companion. He almost kicked himself at being able to forget. The woman, though she had made no threatening gestures, still had a sword, and she had been presenting a weird temperament. Until she decided on one, he had to keep cautious. Before she had spoken, there was a vague glimpse of worry that was on his face as he gazed down the path. There was a quick scoff as he turned her head to look at her, his eyebrows knitting together at her abrupt tone that he did not care for. His reply came out a little exasperated, "Ye take me words but butcher the meaning. I meant it ain't oft one comes along here seeking companionship. If it happens on its own, it is the Earth Mother's way." He spread his arms out a little in a gesture at that before resting his forearms across his knees, spreading his legs out as he sat. His shoulders relaxed visibly as he talked about the Earth Mother. The reference seemed to calm him slightly, though his eyes were downcast slightly as he let out a heavy breath.
He raised his head just in time to see her expression change and his eyes widened a little, the muscles on his face softening just faintly. His eyes met hers, and he saw the truth in her statement. There was a story there, he was sure of it, but a story he probably would not get by prying. Her mind wasn't on the present, but on the past, and everything in her presentation seemed a little off in a way. His lips thinned for a moment and his expression hardened again, but not angrily or sternly like last time, more him biting something back, perhaps curiosity, perhaps concern, it was difficult to tell. He sucked on his lower lip for a moment then broke his gaze with her.
"I'm sorry. I upset you. Perhaps I should be goin' anyways." The man stood up and turned slightly away from her, though still keeping her in the edge of his vision. He started securing his pack and his things, rustling slightly as he did so, as if getting ready to leave. He responded quietly, mostly to himself, though she could catch bits of it if she had good hearing, "I would have thought he'd be here by now though.." Another look of worry crossed his face and he seemed remarkably distant once more as he looked down at his belt pouch, checking and fastening it..
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 8, 2007 11:56:30 GMT -4
Breena quirked a brow as she watched Balkear’s antics, what was he waiting, or looking for? He was anticipating something, or someone’s presence. She then checked her emotions, thoughts and posture back into place, realizing she was beginning to grow too intense, and too bold to someone she didn’t know. A smile tugged upon the corner of her lips, flashing pearly white occasionally, and soft laughter emitted from her as his words left his mouth. Perhaps she was about the only one who entered the forestry looking for some sort of companionship, mayhap it was due to her past and how she came to be .. Breena.
”Ah, t’was nothing. Just a bit distracted, quite hard to sleep when you are frigid you know..” The woman tried to make light of the situation, laughter present within her tone. A smile was upon her face, as well as in her eyes. ”Mayhaps it would be best..” Breena’s words trailed off with a hint of question in her vocals, did he want to truly part ways, or was feeling as awkward as she? What was he waiting, or looking for? Her eyes glanced down towards the path he kept gawking at and soon she arose to her feet, his hushed words hitting her ears faintly. Pearly whites pressed down upon each other, causing the muscle upon her upper cheek to bulge.
”Surely you have better things to do..” The words left her mouth with a bit of haste, her lips formed a thin line, but the smile remained within her eyes. Breena turned upon her heel, for a moment her back was turned to the man, her hands pulling chestnut tresses out of her face and off of her neck. She began to twist it around and when she was done with that she began to circle it at the back of her head, creating a thick and tight bun. The woman turned her head to look over her shoulder, eyes gazing upon the broad figure, and a toothy smile could be seen. She licked her dry lips and glanced to the ground for a moment, words pushing to get out, but she remained quiet.
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Post by denealus on Apr 8, 2007 19:40:37 GMT -4
The man was looking down at his pouch for a moment and paused in consideration. She was certainly acting oddly, something was bothering her, but exactly what it was, Balkear had no way near enough information to interpret, nor was he necessarily the one to pry. It was true that he had not been seeking companionship, and perhaps she had (although he still found that a might strange. He knew he was fairly unusual to the world at large to enjoy the solitude in the woods as he did), but she wasn't overall unpleasant company. Her mannerisms were strange and sometimes unintelligible, heated when he meant no slight, unusually calm just moments later, and always fluctuating in between. He didn't know what exactly to make of her.
Above all, she seemed curious of him, which he found to be an odd quality. He was used to just being, not being the subject of someone's interest. And that curiosity leaked over to him as well. She didn't seem to want to let him go, but she also didn't wish to outright say it either, which was odd as well. If she was meant to be a distraction until other bandits showed, she probably would have done anything to keep him there until assistance arrived. If she wanted nothing to do with him, she would have left him to go on his merry way, not stay and await a response. And if she had done that, Balkear would have had to rethink whether her earlier curiosity was genuine. But her actions served to confuse Balkear further. It might still be a ploy to draw him in, but she might not know him well enough to count on his reaction. If she was trying to play him, she was an extremely well-established actor. He'd have to remember that.
He looked up from his pouch digging for a moment to the path and then back down again before he started to respond to her. But as he responded, he made no further indications of movement, at least not with his feet. He was about to speak when the last of her words caught him and a smirk of distant amusement came across his lips. She certainly sounded cityish with that tone, or assumed that he was. The atmosphere where he grew was not rushed at all, and there were no "more important" things, just other things to be done and to tend to. He noticed there was always a notion of being busy there. It also seemed to have the effect of putting oneself down that he certainly didn't care for at all. Everything was important in its own way, and there was no "better" or "worse" to it. Yet so few had to put a value judgment on it instead of just allowing themselves to be.
He pursed his lips for a moment before chuckling in reply, eyes downcast a little. "Best depends on who's askin', now doesn't it? I guess the question is on whether you wish me to stay or not, is'nt it?" He turned around suddenly and l chucked a piece of fruit underarmed from his pouch in her direction. "Here." It was a peach, fairly medium in size, and just barely having that ripe smell to it. He had a faint smile on his face, though he wasn't showing any teeth this time. He refitted his pack on his shoulder and awaited her answer, seeming equally ready to do either.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 8, 2007 23:20:23 GMT -4
Pearly whites grit together as she listened to his response, she wasn’t frustrated, angry or upset at it by any means, it was more of a subconscious action than anything. Breena’s pupils grew in size and darkened as her mind drifted, she was brought back when the sound of rushing wind hit her ears. A hand arose to catch the peach just before it hit her face, her eyes peered down at it, squeezing it gently; it was neither too firm or too soft, it was just right. The skin upon the peach was soft to the touch with a hint of coarseness about it, and the smell of it was sweet, it lingered in the air.
”You remind me of someone..” Breena said it rather abruptly, though a smile remained upon her face. Cerulean eyes averted their gaze and fell upon the man once more, her eyes giving a sort of forgiving expression. She didn’t bother respond to any of what he had said, she didn’t want to. Plain and simple. Balkear’s words made it hard for her to decide on what to say, she did not want to sound desperate, nor decline the companionship she so desired. Breena in fact longed for the companionship she once had, and she did not want to put herself in that position, she wasn’t going to leave herself vulnerable. She felt silly getting this worked up over someone she had known for a few moments, it truly vexed her. ”It’s quite daunting actually”
The woman’s torso turned to face the direction in which she came from, her eyes gazing down the slightly overgrown path, her body wished to leave at that instant, but instead she awaited his reply once again, why she did not know, or refused to acknowledge because in truth she was very intrigued by Balkear.
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Post by denealus on Apr 9, 2007 22:10:30 GMT -4
Balkear stayed still for a moment after catching, watching her movements and inspection of the peach, a bit curious when she didn't take a bite but not overly concerned. She could take it however she wished.
He watched her movements and the expression on her face, which she seemed to be straining a bit to control. He wasn't certain whether the smile on her face was genuine. But he was taken aback slightly by her tone. It could still be a ploy, a way to trap him and make him comfortable, but if so, why did she seem so anxious to leave? If she wished to keep him there, would she not stay in an instant and try to keep him there? He was confused, though none of this really shown on his face beyond a studious expression to try and determine her next move.
Letting out a breath heavily, Balkear sat down on the log, legs spread apart as he took the piece of wood he was whittling from out of his pack. For now, he would take what she was saying as honest. She had little reason to lie, and even if this was not the true reason, she did seem agitated. As he was digging, his voice was gentle and apologetic, but still strong, firm, and commanding. "I see 'ow that could be disconcerting." He didn't meet her gaze as he spoke, nor did he give any indication that he would try to. Looking at her directly might stir up more of those emotions and he wanted her to at least feel welcome. What she did with it was her own concern.
He snapped a button and withdrew his knife again, striking the wood with it and continuing his carving. His attention was fully on the block in his hand and the scent of fresh wood shavings filled the air. "I'm afraid it wasn't my intent ta be anyone except meself. Tis strange how the world works sometimes."He shrugged slightly, muscles bunching around his neck then relaxing. "Well, if ya wish ta leave, I won't stop ya. But if ye wish ta dry yerself off more while I wait, I won't stop ya at that either. Company's always pleasant." He carved gently and lifted the block up for his inspection, his gaze glossing her over before he lifted it to the sun and looked slightly up to admire his work before lowering it inbetween his legs again to work further.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 10, 2007 0:06:55 GMT -4
Breena peered down at the peach, her thumb running across the skin, she blinked a few times before she brought the fruit to her lips, teeth sinking in. Sweet nectar seeped from within, the juices pouring into her mouth, occasionally she had to slurp up the liquid to prevent it from dripping down her lips and chin. The scent of the fruit was just as sweet as it tasted, it was perfectly ripe and was quite scrumptious.
As the woman pulled the peach away from her lips she turned her gaze to the man, who resumed his position upon the log. She noticed him fiddling with that same pouch he had before, and a brow quirked in curiosity. Her eyes followed the movements of his hands as he pulled out the piece of wood and then the blade of some sort. When Balkear spoke it took her a moment to form a response, her lips fell into a faint smile, eyes locking upon his broad form, still a twinkle set within them. ”He was very dear to me.” Breena said half to him and the other half to herself. The past tense was clear in her statement, it was a strong melancholy tone. It would be clear to anyone that this said person had passed, and most likely long ago.
The peach arose to the woman’s lips again, she took a rather large bite out of it and as she pulled away the suction pulled back. It didn’t take much of a struggle to break it, however it did create a rather silly sound when it broke loose. As Breena swallowed she took a step closer to the man, a hand placing itself upon her hip, the other holding the peach casually. She ran her tongue along her glossy lips, licking the juices away. ”What is it you are making?” She said right after his last words left his mouth, changing the subject rather abruptly. Breena was actually interested in what he was doing, for he was doing it before she came into his view.
The woman squinted her eyes and mushed up her face as she peered at the wood he had in his grasp, she over exagerated this very much, more so to be humorous than actually serious. She knew the tone was set somewhat morbidly, and wanted to change this. She folded both hands behind her back and leaned forward, quirking a brow as she peered up at him.
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Post by denealus on Apr 10, 2007 11:18:02 GMT -4
Balkear didn't respond to the first of her words, busy with his carving. It was beginning to take shape now, though it was still in its beginning stages and a reptilian head was beginning to emerge from the wood. He felt he didn't know her well enough to comment on this person he apparently reminded her of, and it would probably cheapen both herself and her memory of him if he did so.
The background noises were still at the back of his consciousness as he whittled away, turning the knife this way and that with fairly adept skill. When she brought her question forth, he raised his head from his work starting to speak to her. "We--" His voice caught in his throat as his brow quirked at her strange expression and behavior. She seemed to be not much younger than him, but her method was fairly childlike in its curiosity. He watched her for a moment, thinking about how much odder it would look if he hadn't returned her hair to an earlier bun. He stopped his carving before he got wood shavings in her hair and took some time to inspect her face, quirking a brow back. Whatever her intention was, she certainly got his attention at this point. Eyes turning back to his carving, he turned it over and over in his grip. "This? Well, I was considering working on a dragon. But really, I just carve what e'er comes ta me at the time. Do ye 'ave any suggestions?"
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 10, 2007 12:35:12 GMT -4
Breena continued to stare at his piece of woodwork, her eyes occasionally glancing back up at his to see if he even noticed how close she truly was to him. She pursed her lips as she caught sight of head, it was some sort of reptile. As Balkear raised his head to see her she couldn’t help but laugh, and as she quieted herself she stood upright again, rocking back on her heels. She stretched her arms out to the side and then clasping each other behind her back.
”A dragon sounds nice, yes.” She blinked a few times, her teeth tugging upon the flesh on the inside of her cheek. Such odd and dull conversation she thought. ”Are you always this… lively with your guest, company, what have you?” Breena asked rather bluntly, though her tone seemed innocent, she was just being honest, and wanted an honest answer.
A hand pulled itself from the other, the peach still in her firm grip. Teeth bit another portion of the fruit, juices lathered her lips, and a tongue licked it away. Cerulean gaze looked down upon the mostly eaten peach, she tossed it up in the air and caught it before she pulled her arm back and then forward, launching the remains deep within the forest. It would later be some creatures food. She smiled to herself, hand placing itself firmly upon her hip, the other still tucked behind her back.
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Post by denealus on Apr 10, 2007 14:00:51 GMT -4
Balkear watched her antics with some amusement and some curiosity. She didn't seem to be offering up much but she also didn't seem to wish to go. As she asked her question, his brow raised slightly and he realized how close she was, her scent perforating his nostrils, and tickling his senses. He sensed her impatience and chuckled, shaking his head, setting his piece of wood down and standing slowly, close to her form as he looked down at her, a grin plied on his lips.
"I'm not sure when I had the chance. He gestured vaguely with his arms and turned slightly away from her in a fluid gesture, taking his bow back off and setting it near the log. "I weren't expectin' company at first. Then ya come 'long and give me this weird impression 'bout askin' no more 'bout ya then ya name. Then ya can't decide whether ye decide ta stay or go. Now yer complainin' 'bout me bein' dull."
His pacing took him to the side of the brook and he bent at the knees slightly, dipping his hands in the cool water and letting the flow of the stream flow past his fingers, his voice speaking idly at her. "Quite honestly, I don't know what ya expect from me. I'm still a stranger after all. But lively? I guess that all depends on the company I keep, an' what they draw outta me." He grinned slightly, though he was turned away, so she might barely see it on his lips. With a little hop, he planted his hand on the earth and turned in midair, landing in the stream with a splash, the water coming up a few inches short of the top of his boots as he crouched down low, giving her a slightly mischievous look. His hands cupped in the water, forming ripples where they broke the surface and he raised them suddenly and impulsively towards her, splashing the water in her direction. He didn't laugh, but he kept a slight grin on his face, patting the water as if to taunt her in return as she had been taunting him.
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Post by Nymiane on Apr 10, 2007 15:41:45 GMT -4
Breena smacked her lips together as she peered up into his eyes, her shoulders bobbled as she held her laughter inward. Eyes noted the grin upon the man’s face, she also noticed a hint of mischief gleaming within his eyes, she wondered what he was up to, if it were of a playful nature or defensive.
”Yes, yes, I see your point then. I can not help being indecisive, as you can not help being dull.” Breena spat her words out in a playful, impish manner. She laughed shortly after her words left her mouth, her eyes following the man as he began to step away.
The sun was now pushing it’s way through every crack, every break in the canopy of leaves that it could. It’s rays poured down upon the woman, occasionally the light would flicker and almost distort the woman’s face. As the form splashed into the water, the woman almost flinched. A brow arose in question as he cupped his hands, water resting in his palms. She blinked a few times, eyes widening as she realized what he was doing. Breena hopped backwards in time to miss the majority of the water, however the front of her shirt caught a few sprinkles. She stood there, her hands rising as she spoke. ”A stranger, but known enough to splash?” Vocals were sent out in heavy laughter, she darted towards the edge of the water hand cupping slightly and then skidding across the top of the water, creating a sort of tidal wave in Balkear’s direction.
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