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Post by Joliette Thorne on Dec 27, 2006 9:47:20 GMT -5
Badly wounded in a battle with the horrific beast known as the tayellah, Tene made her way to Kelay’s tavern, only to find herself in the hands of madman, who’s ideas of healing the necromancer only made matters worse. Fortunately, Tene’s dearest friends happened by in time to save her life.
Thea moves in close to the vampiress, "Is she doing any better?"
Leoxander carried the Necromancer's stricken frame in his arms, away from the road, and away from the crowds. Definitely away from that crazy sawbones ready to attempt surgery on their friend. Here, was safe as safe could be, or so he figured. Sacred grounds and all. Ever so gently he lowered toward the ground near the fountain, laying Tenebrae on the softest terrain he could find. Grass or moss would work. A glance behind was in desperate search for Thea.
Leoxander said to Thea, "I don't know..." A slight movement backward, away, to give the pixie room. "You can help her though, right..??"
Thea nods slowly and proceeds to remove her pouch, it's glittery substance spilling from atop to line the wounds neatly, "I will help her as best I can, you can bet on that." Thea then begins a series of inaudible chants, nimble fingers weaving over the torn flesh to send healing energies through to healthy tissue. Her ancient tongue is matched in rhythm with the knitting of muscle and vein, each meeting to near perfection if not for the surface scar and remaining dust left in the midst.
Tenebrae shifted slightly on the soft earth, mangled flesh repairing visibly under the magicks of her pixie friend. Still, she looked far too pale, even for one of her kind, her flesh almost translucent. Reaching again for Leo, fingers groping blindly for his, she turned her head to Thea. "Pix..."
Thea runs a slender finger over the vampiress' brow, faint smile gracing her quieting lips, "She is a fighter, she will be fine." She lifts her viridian pools to Leo, "She needs to feed."
Leoxander didn't have any knowledge or faith in magic, but he knew Thea enough to trust that she would help her friend. He started to crawl back, further out of the way, until he felt cold fingers skim across his knuckles, searching for something to hold onto. Brow furrowed, he paused, and at Tenebrae's side, he'd take hold of her hand in his, hooking his thumb between the web of hers and her index finger, to keep that grasp tight. Duo colored eyes roamed to Thea. "You're sure?"
Leoxander 's question was cut silent by the healer's suggestion.
Thea frowns slightly and looks to Tene, realizing her plight but yet unsure how to resolve the situation.
Tenebrae 's eyes were unfocussed, her doll-like frame trembling as the last of the magic took effect. She'd bear a scar on her shoulder, and if there were blood to replace that which she'd lost, preventing her heart from slowing too far, she'd make a decent enough recovery. Her small hand clenched to Leo's she struggled to rise. "I'll be alri..." She'd already sunk down again, before the word was done.
Leoxander cursed in a spit of words, enough to make even a fellow pirate blanch a bit. Quickly biting to loosen the laces on his fingerless glove of left hand, his right went for one of the deadly blades that came in a pair, sheathed like six shooters at his hip. Over the detail of trembling fingers, he stared hard down at Tenebrae, her pale expression making his own lurid with worry.
Tenebrae could hear her heart slowing, as loud as a drum, then fading ... She wasn't hurting anymore. In fact, she felt warm, and comfortable, as though at home in Giolla's best room, in her own bed. She heard a murmur of voices, faintly, and smiled. Leo, Thea. She loved them both. Her breath, the last she'd take for some time, slipped out in a soft sigh.
Leoxander crawled closer, watching the rise and fall of her chest, the slight part of her lips in which that weak breath was taken, and continued. But not forever. His blade was drawn in a flash of silver, and at once, the edge went to where he could cut cleanly, where the blood would flow thickly - his wrist. In a brief and momentary hesitation, that metal pressed against skin, not yet drawn down to split it open, until he heard the sigh that wasn't followed by another. His eyes squinted in a wince, and rather than take the blade downward, he twisted his hold halfway through to slide the edge down the center, along the vein, at the underside of his forearm. Several inches worth a deep cut suddenly had crimson spilling over tattooed and tanned skin, but nevertheless, his fingers pumped and clenched a fist again and again to make that liquid ooze. With a hint of pain in his eyes, he dropped the dagger, and cradled her head to sit her up against his lap. "Tenebrae, c'mon, pretty... open your eyes." One smell was all she needed, and he lowered his arm until splatters of blood hit her upper chest and throat, until warm blood was touched to her very lips.
Tenebrae was slow to respond; she had already slipped so far away, she could hear the voices of her parents, dead these last three centuries, calling softly. But as Leo's sacrifice ran into her mouth, running in a rich flow past her dry lips, her tongue, she stirred, not nourished enough yet to do more than reflexively swallow. Still, there was no breath, but Tene was aware of his warmth beneath her ...perhaps the rogue would have felt, even through the thickness of his clothing, the dread chill of her own flesh. Long moments passed, and at last she returned to a semblance of consciousness. Rosy lips parted, that pallid face thrust forward as she closed her mouth around his wound, fangs slipping beneath his skin painlessly. Something kept her from biting down, ripping ... maybe it was his voice, who could know. Whatever it was, she seemed unlikely to turn revenant now. Finally, cool fingers reached to hold his corded arm, pressing it gently to her, her lips working against his skin. When finally she opened her eyes, it was to look into his own.
Leoxander tensed when he felt her take what was offered, the muscles of that arm chiseling out a bit in strain, forcing himself not to do the instinctive, and pull away. Jaw clenched to define at the corners, with different colored eyes lowered and concentrated to watch her increasing movements, proof enough to him that she would be okay. With his chest relaxing, giving way to an inaudible sigh of relief, his free hand lifted to pet through onyx hair, something he hoped would keep her calm, and something he hoped would prevent her from turning on him, and taking a chunk out of his throat to survive. He remained still and calm beneath her, heartbeat slightly quickened from the panic and pain, and causing that blood to flow freely, endlessly.
Tenebrae didn't give in to those instincts, the ones that almost demanded she treat him as a kill. His gentle touch, stroking her hair did help, but more so the warmth, the familiar smell, the ...taste of him. As his lifeblood brought her to her senses, lent her a little more strength, the vampiress - eyes still locked to his - broke her bite on his wrist, coral tongue dragging along that wound to start the healing process. But the hunger was still in her eyes; it wasn't that she'd finished feeding. She wanted more... Pushing herself upright, eyes bled out to almost white, that shadowed ring surrounding the iris, and that gaze still locked to his, Tene leant in toward his throat. She sensed his terror, his hesitancy; could taste his fear like ozone on her tongue. But as her mouth drew near, there was no snarl of fang and sudden bite, but only a kiss, tender and soft, the flick of her pointed tongue, against the throb of his pulse.
Leoxander felt his heart hammer in his chest at once. Memories of that night in the abandoned house, when Jack had nearly fallen, came flooding back into his mind when she began to lean in against him, toward his throat. Instinctively, he started to lean back, away, but with her body propped against his at that angle, she'd only tilt with him. Adam's apple dipped the front of the throat she kissed in a hard swallow, and the pulse she'd hear was quickened, only because he didn't have another soul to help him, or tackle her off this time, if she lacked any sort of control. Slightly turning his head away with a wince that threatened to close his eyes, one hand came to the back of her head. But at the moment expected where he would grasp hold, and pull her away... Leo only pressed her mouth against his throat gently, tensed and nervous. He just wanted her well, recovering, ...and the human knew what that would take.
Her lips moved voraciously along the line of his artery; gratitude, perhaps, as awareness burgeoned in her mind, and the full realisation of their situation came to her. The blood from his wrist was gradually settling her system, not enough to assuage the fierceness of her hunger, but enough that she would make sure this didn't hurt... And when he reached his hand to the back of her head, she took that first, long, ragged breath -- this, the assurance of her recovery -- before the final kiss was laid at he junction of shoulder and throat, teeth sliding gently below his skin, her tongue massaging the wound, soothing it. She wouldn't take much more. Leo had had it hard lately, and wasn't at his strongest to begin with. Her arms came around his shoulders. Just a little more...
His weight settled to the grass, moss, whatever terrain he knelt upon, slowly. And suddenly, his weight seemed all the more with the blood from the sealed wound at his wrist already lost. Just enough to make his eyes blink a little lazily, and unfocus the view he had of her shoulder, and the fall of dark hair. Still, his fingers, once relaxed at the back of her head, pet gently and soothingly along onyx tresses, combing them back to keep them from her face. It was torture, that nearness and scent of her after the words exchanged in the last few days. It was impossible to feel nothing. But he didn't speak a word or make any attempts to hold onto her when he felt her tongue coax the flow of blood from a barely felt wound. His hand itched with the want to envelope her waist when she clutched around his shoulders, but to prevent the lower appendage from moving, digits curled into the fabric of whatever top she wore. In time... he started to feel just a little colder, and his eyes... closed... slowly...::
The effort to draw back, to cease the hot, rich flow, was almost painful. But she'd felt him weakening under her, his pulse shallowing, and knew it was time... Shivering against the still-powerful need to replenish the huge loss caused by the panther-like tayellah's vicious claws Tene did draw back, one palm brought gently to his face; the skin there slightly clammy and pale beneath his tan, the smattering of freckles now stood starkly in relief. Once more her head dipped forward, this time to bring her lips to his own, a gentle brush, before her breath came warm against his mouth. "Thankyou."
Leo decided then he was dreaming. Everything was too fogged and distant and impossible to think otherwise. His eyes cracked open when he felt her move, glazed in watery hues that made him appear intoxicated, or stoned off some of that over-fragrant leaf he often smoked to calm down at the end of the day. A slight tilt of his head into her touch was unavoidable, he loved the feeling of her cool hand cupped to his jaw like that, and whether he realized it or not, the rogue nuzzled into the life lines of her palm softly, like an attention starved version of Jack. Chest expanding with a slow-drawn inhale, through slitted vision hinting paler versions of ruby and sapphire color he watched her. He concentrated upon her even when she leaned in to kiss him with gratitude. Yes, this was but one of his most fragile of dreams, the sort that gave him pains beneath his sternum more often than not when he woke up the next day. The exhale of that breath came after he scented his own blood on her own warm release of oxygen, proof she'd be alright. Knowing this, he didn't try to stay awake, but rather, he gave into that sweet oblivion of unnatural sleep calling his name. His eyes rolled closed, and with the momentum of his weight, Leo suddenly tilted forward and collapsed against her, only staying off the ground if she caught him before he slid down that far.
She did catch him, his dead weight harder for her to hold than it might have been in better circumstances. She wasn't strong enough yet to do more than break his fall, the both of them carried down to that soft moss under his momentum, and so it was that Tene came to be lying there, the soft trickle of the fountain behind them and the sound of birds lulling her, and the pirate's head against her shoulder. Tipping her body a little, sliding partially from under him, she turned, fingers cradling his head as she laid it to the soft earth. Twining herself to him, for comfort, perhaps, but more likely in a gesture of protectiveness, Tene mirrored his former position, laying her head against his shoulder, her own eyes closing against exhaustion and hunger. Morning would see them both stronger.
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Dec 27, 2006 9:55:32 GMT -5
Tenebrae hardly made a ripple as her slender form arrowed into the warm water, the shape of her body distorting under the surface of the pool a moment, before she re-emerged in the shallows, hands raised to sluice water from her eyes, and sweeping wet liquorice-straps of hair back from her face. Blinking the moisture away, she startled, almost slipping back into water as she realised she wasn't alone. "Erm.. Leo." The vampiress ducked back under, back-stroking a little to the depths. "Just ... taking a swim. I'll be done in a moment ..."
Leoxander had followed her trail; tracking was an easy talent he'd achieved sometime after stealth, and before pick-pocketing. And in those dark lands, he moved amongst shadows like one of their kin, easily avoiding any night-seeing drow that wouldn't take kindly to a human wandering their caverns. The sound of a splash brought duo colored eyes her way, straining to see through the dark that seemed to grow more ominous the farther toward the sounds he went. He stood at the edge of the pool by the time she surfaced, calmly watching ripples of contact spread away from her submerged form, before his name reeled his attention back her way. It was... terribly hard not to allow himself to admire her graceful movements, but he feigned indifference, even as Jack rounded the spring in a run, panting excitedly and debating joining the Vampress. "Take your time..." The human sank into a crouch where he stood, casually.
You 's lips quirked at the corners. "If you're sure...?" The water really was wonderfully warm, the slightly thickened texture of the mineral salts giving it an oddly velvety texture. The necromancer turned, cutting quickly through the deeper end of the cave-fissure to the other side, coming to rest with elbows leant to the edge, a soft laugh at Jack's excited barking. "Feel like joining me?"
Leoxander remained crouched down at the edge, fingerless gloved hand lowering to allow the bare tips of his calloused digits to skin the warm surface. It was better than the icy cold lakes and rivers he dealt with could have ever been, and damn tempting. But different colored eyes squinted in hesitance at the offer. "I d'know if that's such a-.." The resounding splash of Jack's ungraceful leap into the warm water interrupted him, not to mention splashed him down on the left side of his body, making him spit a bit of that warm water to the side before he finished his words. "-...good idea..."
Tenebrae would have been drenched, were she not already; the worst Jack's entry provided was an unexpected face-full of water, a portion of which had her spluttering rather less than graciously. "Aargh! Mutt!" But as the dog paddled his way toward her, the laugh burst from her disapproving lips. Glancing back to the rogue, Tene frowned a little. "And why not? I don't ..." She re-thought that line. "I -won't- bite."
Leoxander was soaked half way through at that point anyhow, and as he stood, it became all the more obvious by the puddle of clear water growing at his feet, seeping through heavy, scaled boots. Lifting his eyes her way, his mask was untied, and eventually removed from his features in time to reveal a slight smirk. "That's not exactly my reasons.." But his reasons were better left unspoken. Maybe to please her, or because he was giving into that want of comfort and warmth, Leo pushed out of those heavy boots one at a time, bare feet touching stone that was cold in contrast to the water, and made him involuntarily shiver. "Can't say I brought my swimsuit, though." Hell, the rogue didn't even own much extra clothing, and practically lived in his armor.
Tenebrae grin had that -edge- to it again. "Well..." Her lips pursed a moment, in thought. "Does this help?" The necromancer turned her back, squirming slightly as Jack's cold nose was thrust into her ribs. "Promise not to peek." It was pretty dark in the cave, the water not all that clear here in the deep end.
Leoxander was still unlacing his gloves, removing pouches, a heavy belt, and twin daggers when her words made him pause and glance her way. Jack would eventually quit pestering, only to crawl onto the stone not far from either of them, for a vigorous shake that sprayed water everywhere from shaggy coat.
Leoxander didn't seem to take much acknowledgement of her words not to peek, at first. He was, quite shamelessly, peeking. But only to see what she was up to.
Tenebrae 's voice echoed softly against the volcanic rock, the natural boll of the cave sending whispery repetions to follow her words. "Still up for some fun, after?" The tone was full of mischief. "I know the perfect place." Tene -really- wasn't going to look, yet. Really.
Leoxander rarely made any noise on movement, but as he undressed, and layers upon layers of black heavy armor came off his frame, there was slight rattling of movement and the drop of weight at his feet. Eventually, in only dark patched cloth shorts worn under clothing and armor, and the chain that held the ring she'd given him, Leo crept toward the edge of the pool. "So long as it doesn't result in another fun filled night of recovery..." The flat tone of his statement hinted both sarcasm and humor. Crouching, a hand braced to the stone before he jumped lightly into the water, landing where it came up to his chest. Unaccustomed to that sort of heat, he couldn't help his mouth dropping open to pant just a bit while his body adjusted to the warm temperature.. "W-what'dja ha-have in mind?" A slow exhale, and he started to relax.
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "Well...." She was already in a lazy rolling stroke, on her way back to the shallows. "I thought ... perhaps we'd make a visit to that odd little shop down that road back there." Her pack wasn't far from the edge; thankfully it had escaped the bulk of the splashing. Shaking the water from her hand, she flipped the opening flap up and reached inside, palming a small item. "Now. C'mere." She wasn't very far from him as it was. "I have something for you."
Leoxander rarely undressed for anyone, so he looked a little different without the usual black cloak of shadow and attire hiding every detail. Not quite as scrawny as he had been when he'd first stumbled across her path, on his left side, the tribal tattoo often seen curled around his bicep could also be seen extending a weave of wicked entwined lines in a pattern onto the side of his chest, ending somewhere at the center of that muscle. His eyes lingered on hers, rough hands skimming the surface of warm water on a slow approach toward more shallow ground, which brought the surface to his waist, instead, and revealed plenty of old scars and marks where blades, fire and arrows had imbedded into his skin. Oddly enough, there were more on his back, than his front. "You always have somethin' for me. Maladroit might get jealous. I never see you givin' him any gifts..." Duo colored eyes lifted briefly, searching for the crow. Pointless, since he'd be just a black speck against their underground black ceiling. "And he's looked in need of some new feathers for awhile.." Any light down in those caves would glitter off the diamond band on chain.
Tenebrae didn't answer right away; she was kind of occupied with studying the tattoos and scars... "Hm?" Tene looked up to meet that mismatched gaze of his, following it up to the cave ceiling. Maladroit was indeed perched up there, his usual, sullen and silent self; more sullen perhaps due to the unwelcome heat and moisture rising his way. She chuckled softly. "Him? He's ... dead. All he ever wants, now and then, is a new body. But you're right, he's looking a little mangy. Perhaps it's overdue." She glanced back to Leo, making sure to keep her attention on his eyes. She reached to lightly touch the ring that laid against his skin, turning it over. Her voice came soft: "You still have it." The vampiress paused a moment, before placing hands to his shoulders. "It's not anything huge. Not sure you'll even like it. But you have turn around, duck your head for a second."
Leoxander wanted to believe she was watching him. He wanted to believe she studied him in the same intent way he'd studied the curved of her spine and shoulders when her back was turned to him. But to allow a hope like that was almost as foolish as jumping into the water with her, half naked. Tenebrae wanted him to feel nothing, and as impossible as that feat was, for her sake, he tried so hard. His oddly colored eyes lowered from the ceiling in time to meet her gaze, and he prayed she couldn't hear or feel the more rapid pulse of his heartbeat when she reached to skim her fingers vaguely over his bare chest. "...You think I'd lose it?" This was said quietly as she held the ring, and he remained steady, in place, willing himself not to shiver when her hands settled on his tense shoulders. At her order, something he wouldn't willingly do for anyone, his back was turned to her, paled and rough scars noted along his shoulderblades, one in particular where a blade had been drug from one corner, at a diagonal angle across. Hair fell in his eyes as his head bowed.
Tenebrae had meant -duck- his head. A palm placed to the top of his head, a gentle push down achieved that end. As he came back up, water running rivulet down his marred back, she mused that this was the first time she'd seen his hair in any other state than ... well, the way it usually was. "Now ..." Her voice would've been heard close to his ear, and a rich but subtle scent discerned, as she dipped the item to the pool. Slightly spicy, masculine. Her hands worked the soap into a rich lather, working upward from the nape of his neck to massage his scalp, fingers working in gentle circular motions. "You looked like crap when you woke up earlier. Thought you could do with some looking after."
Leoxander wasn't sure what to expect, but that was a bit of a surprise when he took a breath last moment before being dunked under the water. Blonde flattened to mop over his eyes until he tossed his head just once, flinging water similar to how Jack did when he started those vigorous shakes at his skull. Only Leo didn't shake off the rest of his body like the dog would follow through with. His eyes squinted against the water pouring down his face, hair covering the red of iris' with his blue eye peeking out. This... was... certainly new to the rogue. Not so much the whole prospect of soap, but no one that he could remember, even into his childhood, had ever looked after him to that extent. Staying low in the water to compensate for height that rose above her own, normally, he reminded himself to feel... nothing. "I always look like crap, Tenebrae." This was muttered, before he spit some taste of soap that had crept along side his nose, toward his lips, from his mouth. But all and all, he was surprised at how relaxed he was becoming...
Tenebrae 's fingers, preternaturally strong, were remarkably adept for the task at hand, so to speak. Every inch of his head was covered, gentle, rhythmic motions designed not only to rid his hair of whatever grime might have been collected in it, but to release some of the tension, the worry she'd seen in him when he'd woken. At length, her hands went to his shoulders, drawing back and downward, 'til he was looking up at her, face free of the water as she rinsed that blond of his. He might've gone to turn then, but would have felt her hands again, encouraging the rogue to keep his back turned to her, just a little while longer. Hands were lathered again, and placed to his scarred and pitted flesh, and skilful fingers worked at the knots and tensions there. The necromancer's eyes narrowed against the extent of the damage. Fingertips traced the line of the broadest scar, the one that swept from shoulder almost to opposite hip. "By the gods, Leo. What has happened to you?" She meant that one scar in particular, but behind the question was another, far more general.
Leoxander was very glad his back remained to the woman; she had what he would had determined magic hands. His eyes lidded from the skilful massage of fingers against his scalp, unable to resist relaxing, to the point where - when she reached to guide him back - he nearly leaned back against her from his lack of strength to stay upright. A deep breath lifted his shoulders, exhaled a sigh by the time his eyes opened again, blonde hair not so dirty in color, anymore. It would look all the lighter when it dried to a texture softer than he was used to. "Nothing.." This was murmured, even as he felt her trace an old scar that hadn't entirely faded. Half a glance was shifted over his shoulder, trying to look toward her. "...I don't exactly have the healing powers you do, pretty." Whereas, Tenebrae was able to recover and mend from her battles over time, each time he fought a dragon, or armored guard, or swarm of goblins, they often left their marks and memories on the canvas of his tanned body, torn pale marks that were almost the opposite of dark, precise ink. Maybe the Necromancer had never before befriended a mortal enough to understand that. Even at his young age, two decades of life left him a thousand or more wounds, especially in his hazardous occupation. "Your turn next, right..?" The question came with a hint of a smile she might glimpse, before he looked ahead again, wanting to melt against her talented touch.
Tenebrae only smirked, and dug her fingers deeper to the corded muscle of his back and shoulders. The massage that followed was sure to have him forgetting that she hadn't really answered him. After some time, she ventured: "I tend toward the opinion..." She paused, hands making long sweeps of his spine. "That you look pretty damned good most of the time." Her laugh was abrupt. "Except for when you've been spending quality time with me, that is." The joke, a way of alleviating some of the guilt; it killed her that she added to what had, by all appearances, been a life filled with trouble and pain. She lathered up again, glancing aside to grin at Jack, who was watching with what she could have sworn was a grin of his own. "Hey, mutt, don't you laugh. It's your turn, soon enough."
Leoxander lifted his arms to the cool stone that wasn't, hopefully, out of reach. Because there was no way he could bring himself to step out of her hold, away from seemingly delicate, yet strong hands that somehow kneaded away knots to change chiseled, solid structure into muscles that willingly molded and shifted easier beneath her fingers. Both inked appendages folded, and with his height already slouched, it likely wouldn't disturb her when he bowed his head to rest his cheek on the bend of an arm. "If that's the only price to pay for your presence, Mistress, I'll be needing baths like this more often." A smirk touched an expression that grew tired, only because the hot water and her hands soothed him to a point he hadn't been to in... well, never. The sensation that settled upon him was like the feeling of a soft, warm bed after a year-long walk through rough terrain and biting storms. He couldn't prevent his eyes from closing, with another content breath filling his lungs, raising packed muscles along his back against her hands, briefly. He couldn't quite bring himself to remind her she could stop, if she liked, but then, he wouldn't press her to continue, either. Jack lolled his tongue and sneezed with a toss of his head that quite plainly posed as an argument to the Vampire's words.
Tenebrae had achieved her goal, she knew, as she felt the final layer of resistance melt away under her touch. Hands were cupped to fill with water, the warmth of it trickled to rinse him of remnant suds. The scrap of soap remaining, placed to the edge, was sniffed at by Jack, who backed away from the scented object with high suspicion quirking his doggy brows. Finally, Tene shifted forward, the length of her leaning on Leo's back as leant across to speak softly in his ear. "Whatever it takes, my Captain, to keep you in good shape. You deserve better than the way you treat yourself, and I intend to make sure you have it." By the time he turned around, had he looked, he might've seen her ascending the naturally formed stone steps to the ledge where Jack stood. She bent to her pack, two clean, fluffy towels taken: a large one she wrapped about herself, and ... well, it was much smaller, but she held it out for him anyway.
Leoxander allowed himself that view only when her back was turned, and all it took was a slight lift of his head and a shift of his eyes to admire something so simply as her crawling from the water. In that time allowed, he watched the caress of water, tracing every curve and inch of flesh at once. The sigh left him with the thought - Oh, to be that element. Bowing his head forward to look at the edge of flat stone, so that when she turned to face him and hand over the towel, it seemed as though that gray surface had held his attention the entire time. The towel was accepted with an outreached hand, but before he'd crawl from the water, he looked up at her, still relaxed and slouching forward at the edge of the hot spring. "Thanks, Tenebrae.." Rare words she'd probably only heard him speak clearly once or twice before left him with eye contact and deep, audible vocals, this time. "...For everything."
Tenebrae smiled, as she raised the towel to fluff at her hair, the intensity of the emotion from him at that moment making her eyes tighten against pricking moisture. "That's okay. Really it is." She wouldn't have known how to say it, even if it was an entirely conscious thought, but he gave her just as much in return; somebody to care about and, as well, care for. "Now, I think you'd better turn your back. Else your dreams maybe of a different kind this evening..." She snickered wickedly, reaching for the strings that kept her outfit together.
Leoxander said to you, "Not that I would mind.." Mischief hinted in eyes of two different colors, but despite his words, he turned slowly, still gripping the towel on dry rock. Elbows rested on the edge of stone, taking his time about getting out of the now comfortably warm waters; hot baths and scrub downs were a luxury he wasn't often allowed. After a moment, his gaze caught sight of Jack, opposite end of the small pool, laying on his stomach with his paws draped over the edge so that clawed nails hovered half an inch above the smooth surface. A mutter of words heard beneath the thief's breath, as Jack was quite shamelessly watching the Necromancer strip down and change, while he was left to stare elsewhere. "...Lucky dog."
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Dec 27, 2006 10:05:42 GMT -5
Leoxander let Jack's nose do the searching. There was only so much tracking ability the Rogue possessed. But nevertheless, there he was, leaned casually against the bar, rather noticeable being a very tall human in a tavern full of dwarves. Jack's head lifted from where it had rested on floorboards, first looking toward the rhythmic sounds of copper rebounding off the surface, bouncing a couple feet down to land perfectly in a small shot glass. Traditional 'Quarters' fashion, and he was good at it. The canine's attention would turn, though, even before she appeared, to glance up the stairs impatiently. "Not yet..." Murmured the thief. He wasn't about to interrupt; he was only there for... precaution.
Tenebrae traipsed down the stairs, muttering to herself. Her shadows had been quiet lately, and now ... they flared a little, tiny wisps tendrilling around her compact frame. A pallid hand might have been seen first, sliding along the polished wood, as she rounded the corner to the last flight of steps, her eyes on those steep surfaces, mindful of her heels. The activity of the tavern had her glance up, and the darknesses were dispelled as lips spread to a grin, and she took the stairs two at a time ... until that last one. A moment later, she was an untidy heap of limbs, armour and baggage; Maladroit managing to wheeze a noisome protest from under her, somewhere.
Leoxander lifted his eyes to watch what he expected to be a graceful descent; the sort that had the room hushing and male admirers craning their necks to watch. Instead, that last step caught her in just a way to ruin the elegance of it all, and both Leo and the dog wore similar confused expressions, brows raised, the thief himself uncertain whether to be concerned or laugh. Abandoning the shotglass of copper pieces, he pushed up to his feet, trailed by Jack on an approach to the Necromancer, scooping her up under her arms to help her to her feet. "Alright there, Tenebrae?"
Tenebrae coughed softly, straightening her bodice and skirt after Leo's assistance brought her to the vertical. "Yeah, I'm .. just fine." She was a funny colour, though. Sort of dusky pink, around the face and ears. "Thanks." She bent to retrieve a few spilled objects, and to take up her pack-strap. "I .. uh ... had a meeting. Rather an odd one." A rapid change of topic seemed appropriate. "Had me worried there, a minute..." Her colour hadn't diminished much. "I guess you heard me. Thankyou, for coming." Tene’s attention was drawn from Leo, reluctantly, as a horrid gurgling sound rose from the floor. "Oh... Maladroit..." The bird had obviously seem better days, even before the necromancer's spill. Now, he resembled ... roadkill. "Poor baby." Tene murmured softly, scooping the vile corvine up, and cradling it in her arms. She looked again to Leo, nodding. "Definitely time for a new body."
Leoxander dusted her off a bit, helping her pick up anything that was out of her reach, but better in his, only to hand it her way. "Never far, Mistress..." The murmured comment was under his breath, a subtle reassurance that he didn't bother with for many. The pathetic sound brought his eyes lower, Jack was already sniffing skeptically at the bird before its owner retrieved the decaying thing, and the dog gave a violent sneeze. "I'm surprised that thing still has any darn feathers." Hands slipped idly into his pockets, and then he realized he was automatically, 'accidently' pocketing one of her spilled objects, and handed it back trying to disguise the vague flush of color hinted over the top edge of his mask. "Everything alright now, though?" His eyes roamed upstairs, wondering who she was with...
Tenebrae nodded, smiling her thanks awkwardly as Leo handed over her items, she taking them with one hand while cradling the bird in the other, and placing them to her pack. "I'm fine, really." Her eyes followed his, to the stairs. "Oh, Derialias. Wanted me to release the spirit of his mother, and so forth." She caught his gaze as it returned to her. "Nice enough fellow. Rather ... intense."
Leoxander was able to let his hands escape into pockets now, his casual stare roaming back the necromancer's way, while the dog sat with a bored, obviously frustrated sigh. "If you say so, Lady..." Derialias was none of his business, and he preferred it that way, unless of course... the man had some heavy pockets. "Busy, then?" He dared a glance at peridot iris', praying that icy hue wouldn't pull him into staring contently, as they sometimes did.
Tenebrae 's eyes flashed with a subtle amber gleam, which Leo might have caught sight of, since he was looking at them that very moment. "No...." She rocked on her toes a little. "I thought we might pay another visit to the Underdark, if you have no pressing business?" Her smirk was just as wicked. "The armoury I mean." Then that crystalline gaze drifted to his hair, rather a different shade now.
Leoxander was indeed clean shaven, decent smelling and his hair was not the usual stringy, untended texture of dirty blonde. Not quite combed presentable, but far more soft to the touch, he lifted his hood to cover most of it at her words, preparing to travel. He looked well rested, and not quite as strained and tense as normal. "Shall we, then?" The dog was on his feet excitedly, anxious to be out of the smoggy, smokey tavern.
Tenebrae, by way of answer, bent to ruffle at Jack's ears, stood and spun on one of those wicked heels -- much more adept a move on a flat surface -- and walked with her usual saunter toward the door, pausing to deposit Maladroit in the arms of a disgruntled Giolla, who was clearly horrified. "Be a pet, look after him for me a bit?" The dwarfess smiled thinly and nodded, as Tene swept by them and out into the night, brief glance over her shoulder to the rogue and his dog..
____________Underdark_______________
Tenebrae stamped her feet a little as they paused at the crossroad, shifting toward the shadowier part of the rockface, fingers clasping to the edge of her cloak to tuck it 'round her bare shoulders against the chill of the tunnel. Her voice was low, trying to prevent the echoes that seems to resound everywhere in this place. "Down there a bit." One hand emerged from the cloak briefly, to indicate the southward path. "There's things there I covet." She grinned, a sharp flash of white in the darkness. "And I object to their prices."
Leoxander moved silently, which could always be unnerving to his company. Fortunately, Tenebrae and Jack were both quite used to it, and wouldn't have to glance behind them to know he was still present. Seeing weapon drawn, a hand reached out to curl digits in a grasp at her shoulder, pausing her advance toward the door he could see to the south. "You gotta plan? Or are you just gonna charm them with your..." He eyed the sword with a smirk seen in his eyes, if not on his mouth. "...wit and beauty?"
Tenebrae did stop, abruptly, peridot eyes drifting to the hand on her shoulder, before she turned again to Leo, blinking a little. "Plan?" Tene wasn't much one for subtleties. Stomp in, cause havoc, dice'n'slice, if she had to ...yes, and the wit and beauty thing, once or twice. These methods had worked for her, in the past. Well, ever since she'd been sired, and ... free. "What do you mean?"
Leoxander smirked softly to himself. Tenebrae was fortunate she didn't have to worry about wanted posters and money on her head, but all the same, Leo usually preferred to remain careful and quiet about things. "I suppose we'll do it your way, then. Though you could avoid a bit of a grudge with a little finesse." He made certain his mask was in tact, and tightened a few leather straps around his waist, and across his chest, to make certain no evidence was left behind.
Tenebrae stopped him this time, a pale hand laid to those leather bindings. "Actually ..." Rose-hued lips quirked at the corners. "I'd rather do it your way. Will you show me?" The necromancer's voice was breathy, her eyes shining. Anyone would think she got some kind of ... thrill, from the prospect of such nefarious activity.
Leoxander ...show her? Give detailed secrets and teachings on how the rogue made a living? That was something no one had ever asked him before, either through lack of courage, or lack of interest. A sly smile hinted in duo colored eyes, since his defined jaw was still hidden under the identity concealing mask. His knuckles idly cracked with a hand squeezing briefly into a fist, as if normal thoughtful gesture for him. "I... do have an idea. Happen to know anything about the owner of this shop?" The sword in her hand would be guided lower, indicating she'd have no need for her weapon.
Tenebrae sheathed the cursed blade, and fidgeted with her helmet a bit. "There's a drow woman and her ... servant, or husband, or both, whatever he is. Sour-looking lot. I know they're usually sleeping at this hour." Tene -had- done a little homework. "And that they have no dog." Well, that was a given in the Underdark. She tapped her helmet with a fingernail softly. "Must I wear all this get-up?"
Leoxander looked ahead toward the shop in a moment of silence, wincing at the luck of a woman running the place. His plans would have to be changed. "The less you're wearin' the better." And she might see the slight smirk to accompany that suggestion, but he did well to hide it. "If they're sleepin', this won't be a problem. A blade sure as hell won't do any good." He'd approach the door soundlessly, looking for windows, locks, entryways. "Stay put, Jack. Watch the block." The dog, knowing this command, settled with a sigh of disappointment.
Tenebrae chuckled softly, and quietly removed her armour, stuffing as much as she could into her pack, that voluminous bag tucked as neatly as possible to a deeply shadowed corner. With a bit of luck, it'd be mistaken for a lumpy rock, in the dark. As Leo moved off, she paused, tugging off those metallic heels of hers and racing to stow them, also. In bare feet, she was quiet as a cat, except for the slight chatter of teeth as her mostly-bare flesh cooled in the sullen air.
Leoxander only watched for a moment before it would be deemed a disrespectful stare, but the smirk lingered even as he cautiously approached to one side of the shop's entry way. Detecting traps was another talent he'd picked up, though it took many failed attempts to perfect the skill, he'd leave no fingerprints in his wake with soft rapping of knuckles against the wood, listening to the hollow sounds that indicated nothing barred or pressed against the other side. The lock was ancient, his only worry was a magic ward as small, needle-like instruments were drawn from hidden pegs of his belt, and he briefly scanned the bordering edge of the wooden portal before crouching eye level with the double-holed deadbolt that secured that place of business. Drow didn't seem a fan of windows, being underground.
Tenebrae watched Leo intently, his every movement taken in, examined for purpose, filed away... The vampiress was enjoying this immensely; though it was hard for her to get used to the idea that -avoiding- conflict was the plan, here. As he moved, she followed, like some silent spirit behind him. It was nice, not being the one in charge, for once.
Leoxander kept his voice at a safe murmur, a sound deep enough to be audible, deep enough to stir insides of anyone near, but never loud enough to be heard any farther than a foot or two away. He felt her presence behind him with his gaze narrowed on the lock; it was a wonder he could see through his own hair. "If they were open, I'd just suggest you put on something flattering and distract their attention. You'd be surprised how quick shelves can be cleaned with a pretty lady in the room." A grin wouldn't be seen with his back turned to her, crouched down, but it could be heard, vaguely. Silvered pins were inserted in a pair, twisted with careful placements, nimble fingers exposed from those gloves to be able to work without the creak of leather. The only sound in time was the pop of latch sliding out of place, but Leo knew better than to just expect one lock, and several swift minutes would pass without even wind to sweep by in underground tunnels. Another click and the sound of a released spring, and the door actually popped open an inch or so, inviting a peek at the shadowed interior beyond.
Tenebrae 's breath caught as Leo picked the lock, and her exhalation when it came was likely felt on the back of his neck, the vampiress was so close to his shoulder. Keen eyes watched hawklike; the smirk raised by his comments still apparent on her lips. As the door creaked open, her eyes widened; it wasn't that she was really afraid. But there was something exciting about doing things this way. She understood a little more now, perhaps, of why the rogue might've chosen to keep to the life he had. And again, she'd follow where he led.
Leoxander wanted to shiver at the feel of her that near, but he restrained himself, and instead stood slowly and carefully after all was done. The instruments used were concealed, tucked as pegs that fit into a buckle on studded belt, appearing just part of the metal's design. Turning to face her partially, a glance over her body drifted, making certain she wasn't wearing anything that would call attention by a rattle of sound. "It's going to be dark... and spooky." His mask was pulled down slowly to reveal a white grin on his features, no need to conceal this way, no one would see them so long as he could help it. "Stay close, now..." The back of his hand brushed the door open quieter than if it had drifted on a breeze, and when the door hinges began to squeak at the base of the portal in their age, Leo did the most peculiar thing when his jaw worked to gather enough saliva to spit on that rusted metal exposed between the door, and doorframe. Like oil, it was enough lubrication to have that wood swinging open the rest of the way silently, and soon the shadows swallowed the darkly clad human, like a dear friend embraced in a hug.
Tenebrae 's brow arced faintly, lips pursed, as he spoke, to prevent her own smirk. But stay close she did, eyes adept at seeing in the dark scanning the room beyond the doorway as Leo .. spat on it. Tene blinked a little, but as the door opened smoothly, she nodded to herself. In this situation, he'd be the one to trust, completely. Well, he was, anyway. She was little more than one of his shadows, as she followed him inside.
Leoxander didn't always have the most sane tactics, but they worked. Beside, what idiot carried around a can of oil? Sometimes improvising did the trick. Anyhow, dragonscale boots, despite their weight and bulk which made his feet look a little large even at his height, never made a sound on dusty floorboards, rarely swept. For a human, he was in a sense... graceful; becoming just one of many shadows that crowded the lightless room, though this one possessed the ability to move. Hands lingered near his blades, concealed as ever at either side of his waist, and it took only a moment for his night-familiar eyes to penetrate the darkness they'd wandered into. Shelves, lined with miscellaneous gear suitable for a shop dubbed 'Outsiders', lined walls and counters in display, some locked in clear cabinets, others free for the picking. After a long pause of silence to make certain no one awaited the appearance of burglars, Leo paused, and tilted back with a slight turn of his head so that the breath of his whispered question tickled the shell of her ear. "What're you after?"
Tenebrae shivered a little and grinned, turning her face close to his, her whisper hardly more than the breath that carried it. "One of those..." A forefinger pointed toward a white mask, one of the few easily discernable objects in the room, which was propped on a high shelf against the nearest wall. "And those." Just to make life easier, she pointed to the jewellery case, trays of jewelled hairpins the target of her gesture. "Purple ones, yeah?" Yes, Tene really was vain enough to be fussy, and to want his opinion, in the middle of a burglary.
Leoxander allowed a sly smile to touch his expression, even if so vague in the hollow darkness of that room. "Then go get your mask, pretty." With that encouragement, Leo moved toward the elegant case that held displays of jewelry and expensive accessories, his eyes glittering with a familiar greed as they landed upon the amethyst that didn't shine as it was supposed to, with such a lack of light. Set into the crown of a white porcelain bust, cut just below the shoulders, his feet carried him slowly behind the counter, gaze darting the floor and walls for any sign or indication of a trap ready to spring. Briefly noting the locked till that held what he suspected to be a few coins, Leo drew one of the blades that came in a pair, and slid the point of the dagger into the weak padlock ring, which was made of a weaker metal than those dragonfire forged weapons. A sharp twist and the heavy base of the lock, severed from it's top, landed in the palm of his hand - caught by sharp reflexes even before it could hit the floor. The back of the case was guided open, slowly and silently.
Tenebrae nodded, and moved off toward the shelf. Probably twice her height, the sturdy unit held a plethora of items, mostly knick-knacks at the lower levels, more expensive items higher up. A step-ladder was pushed against the next cabinet down. Tene, unwilling to try to climb and risk knocking things to the floor, thought that ladder a far better option, and rolled it almost painfully slowly across to where she needed it. The one faintly squeaky wheel - she spat on. It didn't help much, but she was kind of proud of herself. Bare feet were laid to those steps, the mask selected and removed carefully, before she descended, that white smile showing again. Tip-toeing across to Leo, she'd raise the object in one hand. "Got it.."
Leoxander caught a glimpse of her unladylike spitting from the corner of his different colored eyes, and it made him grin widely. The extension of his arm brought his fingers nearer those tiny hairpins, weaving other objects in his reach. At the same time, three of those silver needle like pegs were removed with the softest click at his belt, unrecognized unless one was a thief. The exchange was a swift, skilled transfer, and it would probably be a few days before the shop merchant even realized those hair pins gleaming from the white statuette were not hair pins at all. With amethyst jeweled treasures in grip, he withdrew his hand, just in time to hear her approach, gaze lifting to observe her steal with those pins tucked into his belt. "So you did. Nicely done." His murmur was still quiet, and in one slow, fluid motion, he stood to six'foot'two height once more, the case slid closed once more.
Tenebrae jiggled a bit, her pleasure as much in his praise as in her acquisition. Sure, Tene had been a thief as a kid; really, more a penny-pickpocket, a stealer of bread rolls and fruit. She hadn't been all that great at it, but it got her by in those lean years, before... Before she didn't need to do that, anymore. But Leo... now, he was a professional, the kind all the street kids had looked up to with awe, and most often not a little fear. So, his few words of praise had struck a deep chord in the necromancer. She watched the switch of pins, eyes almost luminescent in the dark. As he stood, she spotted another object, hanging in plain view and easy access on a rack nearby. "Wait." She slipped it from its hanger, deciding the best place to put it was over her own shoulders for now. The garment hung loose on her small frame, coming almost to her knees. A friend, down on his luck, was going to be a happy man, when next they met. A few steps brought her back to Leo's side. "Right. We done?"
Leoxander watched silently, and patiently, considering the two were limited on the time they could linger. When she was certain she was ready by the question, he answered with a dip of his head in a nod, and with his hands free, he boldly reached to curl strong fingers around her wrist, leading her along a specific path that would alter, if his foot started to press against loose floorboard that would have, under his whole weight, creaked alarm. "Let's get out of here before somebody wakes up." The whisper he spoke was barely a breath of words, but as close as he kept her against his back and side, she'd hear it. With the door still cracked open, his frame twisted sideways to slip out into the tunnel passage way. One advantage of being lean and skinny as he was: narrow escapes.
Tenebrae wasn't so lean. Well, not in places where a narrow sideways escape was going to happen easily. Turning her back to the door, she squashed herself against the frame, sliding out the same uncomfortable way she'd slid in. There -were- disadvantages to being built the way she was. Few, though - and this was one of them. At last free of the shop, and into the night, Tene's breath felt sharp in her lungs, her skin prickled; the exhilaration still on her. If Leo was still tugging her wrist, shed tug it back, pulling him briefly to her side. "You're ... something else, Cap'n." A quick kiss to cheek, and she was running for her pack - and warmer clothes.
Leoxander was grinning by the time she pulled him back, and he took a step to turn, and face her, nose to nose for a brief and dangerous moment before the kiss was placed. His smirk didn't hardly fade. "I've been tryin' to tell you that.." Full of himself? No, merely teasing the Necromancer, as he so enjoyed doing. His voice was normal pitched now, and when she released him to searching clothing, he turned back to the door, closing it carefully, even going so far as to return one of the locks secure, to hold it in place. The owners and merchant would be confused, come daybreak. "We should put some distance between us and this place, even the springs would do. They seemed secluded enough..." His eyes lifted jaw shifting to jutt the lower portion forward just slightly, enough to create a sharp whistle that had a shaggy black shadow padding out of the darkness, toward them. Jack bore a grin that seemed to know their success.
Tenebrae laughed softly as she stuffed her pilfered items to her pack, after digging out boots and cloak, these donned quickly and the packstrap slung to her shoulder. By the time he suggested the springs, she was ready to go, a bend of knee bringing her Jack's level, a "Good dog!" and a scruffle of ears her reward for his vigilance. He might even get a sausage, later. Standing, she nodded. "Let's go."
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Dec 27, 2006 10:08:58 GMT -5
________Back At The Hot Springs__________
Leoxander and his faithful dog arrived at a leisurely stride. The heist had his adrenaline pumping, but now, with the warmth of the moist atmosphere and the sound of churning springs replacing the utter silence they'd been confined to, he relaxed. Nearing the same spring he'd received his bath in, his pack was dropped, leather loosened at his waist and across his chest to deposit some of the heavier items he carried, like that cursed long-bow, to the ground at his feet. Lowering to a seat near that warm water, Leo paid no attention to Jack, who immediately ran excited circles, snapping at the shifting liquid with some aggravated barks when nothing tangible was bit down on, leaving scruffy canine beard dripping wet when he stood back upright, perplexed. The human began searching through the pouches and compartments in his belt with a low, casual whistle that echoed the caverns.
Tenebrae wasn't far behind, pack slung off shoulder, the necromancer flopping to a flattish rock close to Leo, leather-clad legs splayed and hands leant behind her. "That was... so much fun." She turned a sidelong look to the rogue, her brow arced and a tiny smirk on those rosy lips. "You're very good at it." She giggled at Jack, that a sound that didn't often pass her lips, and she stopped the moment she heard herself. She's been sounding like an idiot quite a bit around Leo lately.
Leoxander smirked at her words, but it was the sound of her giggle that brought an easier, more true smile to his youthful, slightly freckled features. Meanwhile, his gaze remained lowered, finally finding what would appear to be an inkwell at first glance. It was then he'd drift a glance sidelong, her way. To spare her embarrassment, he didn't comment on the soft laughter he found rather... nice to hear from her. "Gotta be good at somethin', right?" The red stained iris of his eyes was hidden briefly in a twitch of a wink, and those amethyst pins were removed to be stuck beneath the leather of his glove, against his palm. He began unscrewing the cap of the vessel, holding it away from his face.
Tenebrae smirked back, though her eyes drifted to that odd little container, her head canting in curiosity as she watched him. "Whassat?"
Leoxander flipped the lid end over end across the top of his knuckles, much like he did with coins out of idly habit. The cap suddenly disappeared in his palm, a cheap parlor trick that sometimes got a rise out of the naive. "Somethin' for your new jewels, Mistress." As carefully as always, with the small container set to stone and his concentration locked, he removed one hair pin, holding it by it's glittering, embedded stone of purple. "Something I trust you can handle, so long as you don't stick yourself." The more narrow end of that pin was dipped a good inch or two deep into a clear liquid that he let drip momentarily into the open vessel, tilting his head down to exhale a concentrated breath on it, making sure not to inhale. Apparently he was aiding it's drying by blowing on it.
Tenebrae would never have admitted - even to herself - that she was, at times a bit naive. But she kinda thought that trick was neat. As the rogue continued in his task, she assumed it was some sort of cleaning fluid. This she understood, though thought it kind of pedantic... But his next words gave her a different idea of what, exactly, might be in that bottle. "Erm. That's not cleaning fluid is it?" She just wanted to be sure.
Leoxander lifted his eyes briefly toward her while holding that hair pin in the air, no longer dripping it's toxic, potent fluid often applied to his arrowheads and blades. "Do I look like the type to be carrying cleanin' fluid around in my pocket?" A slight arch of a brow was given with his matter-of-fact question, though he looked a little amused. Searching through his things, he found an old, worn leather pouch, barely large enough to house those small amethyst pins. It had a familiar, leafy scent that fortunately wouldn't cling to poison coated metal, whenever she took them out to place them in her hair. Onto the second one he went, with just as much precision and care. "Could come in handy, you know. It's not enough to kill anything bigger'n a dog..." Jack's ears perked to spare some attention for the first time in awhile toward the rogue. But otherwise, the canine settled on his stomach near the opposite side of the spring, content, lazy. "But it could come in handy if you ever need a last resort of escape. Nobody'd expect the jewels in your hair to serve a purpose like this..."
Tenebrae laughed and shook her head. "No, you really don't look the type..." She studied the pins, as they were inserted with such care to the pouch. "That's really very thoughtful of you. I would never have thought of doing that." Her smile was soft, a little quirked at one corner. "I'm glad I have you looking out for me. Thanks."
Leoxander finished up with the third before it joined the pair, and the pouch was handed her way. With a slight smirk, Leo said the first bitter thought that came to mind, though he spoke it in a rather kind and casual way. "What're friends for?" With that, he stood, rounding the spring toward his dog, who he settled in beside. A skin of water unhooked, far tastier than the warm salty waters of that pool, gloves would be removed to cup a palm to dish his dog a taste of it first. Time to relax, or so he figured, and for a long while the only sound around them would be hissing vapors, and churning waters.
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Dec 27, 2006 10:20:17 GMT -5
Tenebrae was once more curled to her chair, by the fire, belongings cast to an untidy pile beside it, her cheek resting against the armrest and eyes ablaze with reflections from the flames. A whisky glass, almost empty, was idly swirled in slender fingers, and something of a smile adorned her lips. Quite lost, was Tene, to her thoughts, whatever they may have been.
Leoxander was roaming the nights once more. His evening had been fairly productive, even if it left him a little worn in appearance. By the time he entered that tavern he was grateful for the change of chilly night air into hearth-warmed atmosphere, and a shudder tore through him unwillingly as he shook off the last of that cold. Even Jack mimicked the action with a rough shake of shaggy coat, and together, the pair roamed inside, Leo's boots barely making any more noise than padded paws. His gaze was drawn at once to the sole occupant of that establishment.
Tenebrae, with that far-away look still in her eyes, raised her drink to rosy lips, finishing the last of the strong malt liquor in a single swallow. Placing the glass to the floor, her gaze wandered to the bar, in search of Mesthak. When instead, it found Leoxander and Jack, she at once lost her dreamy look, brightening visibly. "Hey..." The greeting was quiet, no need to shout now the crowds had gone home.
Leoxander didn't entirely make it to the bar. Instead, he altered his path toward the fire, slowing to a stop near. "Hey, yourself." He held a soft grin that seemed pleased, for some reason or another, but it was seen only in his eyes until he glanced around, judged his environment safe, and then finally removed hood and mask to make his young features evident. "Quiet tonight, isn't it?" He took a seat on the floor, not far from her feet, draping one tattooed arm on a knee.
“Thank the gods..." She grinned, motioned to Mesthak for another round, the two having developed a kind of sign-language that not only served to spare the dwarf extra leg-work, but to ensure there was as little reason to speak to one another as possible. A few extra gestures ensured both Leo and Jack's evening meal, as well. Someone had to make sure they ate. "You look tired, Cap'n. Been busy?
Leoxander scooted enough to rest his back against the front of her chair, right along side where her leg would rest, free arm shamelessly replacing his knee, with hers, in it's casual rest. "Survivin', Mistress." A hint of his grin lingered, easing into a smirk with his eyes moving to the fire, paying no attention to the silent communication between innkeeper, and familiar patron. "Were you worried?" Finally, his head would tilt back, kinda looking upside down toward the Necromancer, who, in her seated position, was taller than he.
Tenebrae smirked, and flicked what hair remained over those mismatched eyes away. "You always are and, I fear, ever will be a worry." On bowed legs, the dwarven barkeep crossed the room, eyes shifting from table to table in search of empty tankards and plates to be cleared, carrying the tray on which rested the vampiress' order. Nothing fancy; cold cuts and beer. She handed Leo a plate, and a tankard, took the other for herself. "Just put the tray down, will you, for Jack?" Mesthak looked none too pleased at the prospect of being waiter to a dog. All the same, he did as was bidden, knowing better than to argue about it. Tene watched Leo a while, quietly. "When you're done, would you give me a hand with something?"
Leoxander didn't much appreciate the idea of giving up his food to the dog, but at a glance at the pleading face Jack presented (well practiced, mind you..), he scowled and lowered the sausage for the dog, keeping the plate of steak in his lap to gnaw on less than elegantly, from time to time. "Sure. What'dya have in mind? Not another trip to the underdark, I hope. I ventured that way and..." His voice dropped a few degrees. "There's already a bit of talk amongst the business owners." That was enough information said outloud, or so he thought.. The mug of ale was set near his hip, untouched by the canine who chewed contently on his meal.
Tenebrae arced a brow delicately, compressing her lips against the smirk that rose to that news. "Nothing so exciting. Well... " She grinned. "Not yet. Just a small favour, when you've finished. But if you're free after, I thought we might go fishing." Tene saw nothing odd about a sin-eating necromantic vampiress wanting to do something as mundane as ... fishing.
Leoxander just happened to know what fishing was, spending time at the sea and all. A smirk touched his expression before he brought the rim of the tankard to his lips and took a moderate drink. He had to cut back after all. Boss' orders. "Yeah, s'pose I'll follow you. Jack enjoys it. 'Cept he tends to scare more fish than he catches." To this, the dog looked up, and presented his most innocent of looks, ears perked to add to his adorable portrait.
Tenebrae cast a dubious eye to Jack, whose impression of innocence was just a little too convincing. With a grin, and the best jiggle she could give, curled in her chair like that, Tene grinned approvingly before reaching to her pack. "I wondered whether you'd help me with these." She handed Leo a familiar pouch. "I'm not much good with things like that." In truth, Tene had never owned such lovely things, her life having tended to demand practicality. Plus, she didn't want to risk her fingers slipping ...
Leoxander caught the pouch thrown his way, recognizing it immediately. A slight frown touched his otherwise calm expression as he opened it enough to catch the glint of amethyst. "...What exactly do you expect me to do, Tenebrae? I don't think they're really my color..." Doubtfully, he made certain the pins were hidden in that pouch before he tucked them in his palm, and looked up questionably her way.
Tenebrae laughed, shook her head. "Silly." She gathered her hair in a twist at the back of her neck, turning her back to him. "Put them in for me, I meant. I'm a bit worried about ... accidents." She waited, smiling to herself. Hey .. if his fingers could do what she'd seen them do the night before, they'd surely be deft enough to attach a few hairpins, without stabbing her with them.
Leoxander lifted his jaw to look up at her in a last moment of hesitance and confusion, then down to the pouch in his hands after observing the sweep of long hair. That hair that he saw sweeping his dreams so often. "..Oh, right." Crawling easily to his feet, Leo rounded behind her chair, then paused when he realized she was asking him to place hair pins. Rather, trusting him to have the ability to do so. "Don't move, alright? I'd feel bloody awful havin' to hold this hair back so you could empty your stomach every few hours." Figuring that was warning enough, three jeweled needle like pins were removed, and his eyes lowered to the sheen onyx curtain of lengthy tresses, replacing her hand with his own to hold it carefully in place, up off her neck. Good thing he hadn't taken too much of that ale to make his hands unsteady.
Tenebrae screwed up her nose at the prospect of spending hours -needing- her hair held back, and remained completely still as bid. She regretted not owning a mirror. Tene had never worn her hair up, at least not since she was very small, and hoped she didn't look completely stupid with it that way. She'd just wanted an excuse to wear the pins, really.
Leoxander was surprisingly gentle with his touch. Those hands capable of stealing and cleaning shelves so easily would also manage to slide a first pin carefully, harmlessly, through the knot of mane to begin holding it in place. Without sparing another glance to Majere just yet, two others would follow suit, until, like the porcelain bust in the display case, they fanned out to display three glittering purple gems amongst the knot of onyx hair, wound at the crown of her skull. His pouch was passed over her shoulder, her way, for when she removed them. Then, stepping around, he kept his eyes upon her to admire the new look, one he hadn't seen. "You look..." There was a pause, in which his words faded, and he was left staring...
Majere gave 1 white rose to Leoxander.
Leoxander was interrupted from any sentence he might have finished by Majere's private murmur, and the item given. Something of his casual expression cracked, in those moments, but his head bowed, observing the pale flower as an excuse to keep his gaze lowered.
Tenebrae had taken the empty pouch, slender fingers folding it in an almost nervous fashion as the rogue stepped around. His expression told her what she could not see for herself, lips curving to a smile, her eyes alight with pleasure. "Thankyou... Not too ghastly, I hope?" She grinned, chuckled a bit. And then Majere provided an excuse to change the subject. She studied him a moment, before turning back to Leo. "What's with that....?" She nodded toward the flower.
Leoxander looked slowly toward Tenebrae, the white rose still twirled in his hand. A dismissive smirk, and he'd casually step back to her, placing the elegant flower amongst amethyst pins by securing it carefully aside them, at the epicenter of her mane's graceful twist. "D'know, but it suits you." Sometimes, cluelessness worked best, but he'd spare a brief and significant glance toward Majere.
Leoxander said to you, "Ready to get outta here yet?"
Majere nods to Leoxander approvingly, a slight smile curving his lips.
Tenebrae 's glance toward Imar and Movdon said it all. "You bet..." Unfurling from the chair with supple grace, she took up the strap of her pack, and the items of armour beside it, donning the cape. The helmet, however, was stowed. "Thought you'd never ask." And she grinned, and turned for the door.
________At The Wharfs_________
Tenebrae did her best to look cool and collected by the time Leo got there, though she wasn't doing a very good job, beads of perspiration on her brow and all as she posed nonchalantly on the pier, fishing pole held vertical and resting on the warped board of the wharf. "Nyah." The necromancer grinned. "I do hope you're going to tell me how to work this ... thing." She raised the pole, waggling it a little.
Leoxander strolled up rather casually, considering it was a race. But curiously enough, he didn't appear long after the Necromancer had arrived. Fishing pole rested against a shoulder, Jack knew well enough what the instrument meant, and kept his barks refrained for now, as usually, a quiet manner resulted in a fish or two for a meal, often cooked over the rogue's own survival fires along shore. This was his home away from home; as close to the sea as he could be, when not sailing it. Her words on his approach brought a soft grin. "Best way to teach you is to show you." He'd slow to a stop along side her on the dock, eventually settling into a seat with feet dangling the wood plank or rock, whatever he chose to sit on.
Tenebrae gave her own fishing pole a rather determined look. She'd figured that living on a ship might require her to actually -do- something to contribute to the running of it, and this seemed ... easy enough, to learn. "Alrighty..." She eyed the bare hook. "I ... what? Just dangle it in the water, down there?" She leaned cautiously over, to peer at the pounding waves below, turning back to study Leo's actions carefully.
Leoxander rested his pole down on the ground beside him, picking up the hook only to growl to himself and yank it from where it imbedded into his palm almost too easily. "Bait usually helps. Anything from meat to the critters you can dig up outta the sand back there... but you'll never believe what I've found to work best..." A smirk touched his expression as he began digging his pouches. "Seems fish prefer shiny things. And... well, this is about the shiniest I've found. Think I'm allergic to it, though..." A small pouch, smaller even than that which usually carried his herb, was produced, tightly tied with a leather cord. Carefully, he made to open it, reaching for the hook on string only to dip the small metal end into the pouch. It came out sparkling, and Leo turned his head to sneeze violently.
Tenebrae craned her neck to see, her head pulled back a little as Leo sneezed. She raised a brow, peered to the pouch and then glanced to Leo. "Isn't that ...?" And Leo was allergic? She chuckled.
Leoxander lifted his head, and curiously enough, his freckles seemed darker with the red tinge across the bridge of his nose. He handed the pouch her way to use, sounding a bit stuffed up, eyes squinted in a wince. "Mind you don't spill it. Hard to come across that stuff. I don't even remember where I found that..." Shaking some of the sparkles off his features, he dangled the hook above the water, knowing that despite the hook being submerged, that mystical glitter would stay put.
Tenebrae took the pouch with care, as directed. Though..."Oh, I can get this stuff easily enough." Tene smiled. "Thea has bagfuls of it." She took the looped end of the hok gingerly in her fingers, dipping the barb in. Folding the pouch carefully, she handed it back. "Just let me know, when you run out. Now what do I do?"
Leoxander took the pouch which... conveniently disappeared in his palm with a trick-of-hand, likely stored somewhere in jerkin or belt. "Yeah, well, you just make sure she doesn't ever heal me with the stuff. Doesn't seem to a..ah..." Another turn of his head away, and his shoulders jerked with a hard sneeze that made Jack perk his ears from nearby. "Agree. Alright, so, this' the trickiest part. Mind the sharp end now." The pole was lifted, tilted back over his shoulder farthest from her, and with a skilled flick of wrist, the weight of the metal and the sinker above it cast the line out several feet. "Just a good throw oughta do it. Don't let go of your end, now."
Tenebrae eyed him, sidelong. As if ... She did her best to mimic the rogue's action, the pole thrust back over her shoulder, brought forward with a flick of wrist and the line was cast out. Well. It kind of flopped into the water. But good enough for a first try.
Leoxander watched her for the time being, paying little attention to his own line to make certain she had it down. "See, you got it. Now reel in a bit, lure them in until you feel somethin' tu-.." His own words were cut short by the weight that snapped his own line straight. Brow furrowed, he looked ahead and began to reel in, glancing at what she'd reel in return. "...Well, least you caught yourself a pair of shoes...."
Tenebrae wrinkled her nose a bit, unhooking the waterlogged, rotted leather footwear, tossing the boots aside to the decking. Her next cast brought up.. a fishing pole. Quirking a brow, she gave that item to the company of the boots. But next ... the eel was a big one, and not too pleased about being on the end of her hook. "Leo...?" There was an edge of panic in the necromancer's voice as she reeled the writhing, slimy fish closer. "Erm.... what exactly do I do ... about now?" There was no way she was touching that thing.
Leoxander couldn't exactly spare his attention, though. His eyes squinted in concentration, trying to peer into the water, with a snag keeping whatever was hooked to his line trapped under rocks. A few leans to either side with a reach to twist the pole this way and that, and after standing up to back up with the end of the pole bent in strain, it finally came loose, sprung up out of the water and sounded in a hollow 'KLUNK' as it smacked him square in the forehead, rebounding to spin on the dock surface with a glint of silver metal, tarnished and covered in seaweed. The rogue had stumbled back to land amongst the rocks on his back, several feet back, pole dropped from the shock of being pegged in the face by what appeared to be a flask.
Tenebrae was backing up, kind of scooting back on her bottom, from the incoming eel. But of course, the eel was on the hook, and Tene had hold of the pole. She was too repulsed to think of simply tossing the pole aside... "Ewww.. ew.. ew! Horrid thing!" She was shuddering, the eel flopping wildly around her ankles now. "EW!" Moments later, the solution would come to her, pole and eel cast aside with a vampire’s strength – which removed both to a healthy distance from the dock to disappear with a kerplunk into the waves. “I.. uh….” She stood, pale features pinked with shame. "I'm not sure fishing is really my thing." Leo's ongoing silence had her look his way -- to where, it appeared, the rogue had become bored with her predicament and decided to take a nap. Tene sniffed lightly. “Well, I think I should… probably go wash up, now.” Blinking once at Leo's prone form, she took off at a brisk pace toward the Cenril Inn, where she might recover from her humiliation, and where hopefully there existed nothing even remotely eel-like.
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Dec 27, 2006 10:47:51 GMT -5
Leoxander didn't own a home, and he didn't have the quarter's of Tenebrae's ship to dwell in, just yet. So the rogue had his places that he called temporary retreats, and that garden, since the day he and the Necromancer had discovered it, was a small haven in a world of constant chaos for him. Here, strips of armor almost always worn were shed gratefully to the grass beneath those pale leaved trees, and obviously, he'd set himself up for camp for the day, there. Should she enter silently enough, she'd find him laying on his back, eyes closed and covered in 'bed-messy' hair that wasn't hidden by a hood, unmasked features illuminated only by twilight in a somber expression that seemed suitable for the steady pace of breath. Jack rested beside him, curled against the human's side, with a twitch of an ear at any vague sound in the distance. Dressed in only a few pieces of clothing, the sleeve torn off on one side of the baggy black shirt in some incident or another, that tattooed arm bent to rest atop his chest, rising and falling to each breath. Only in a place like this would he let himself be so vulnerable, and sleep so deeply.
Tenebrae, too, had come seeking sanctuary, somewhere she might shed the chaos of the day and hard-fought battles of the night, a haven for body and mind to rest in. She'd entered quietly enough; the garden, though hidden and private enough, was still accessible -- after all, she and Leo had found it ... So she crept in, keen eyes scanning for unwanted company, hand held in habitual readiness on her cursed blade. Soon, though, she found herself lulled by the soft whisper of the leaves, the snowflake-fall of blossoms, and thought to seek the place beneath the trees that she and rogue had found rest in. Silent steps brought her to that mossy clearing -- and breathless, she found him sleeping. He looked like some ... misbegotten angel, she thought. Fallen, only slightly sullied by the touch of earth. Her smile was soft as she knelt, legs folded under her, pack placed with caution to the ground so as to avoid any clash of contents disturbing him. Jack opened his eyes, head resting on paws and tail thumping softly, though he didn't rise, brown eyes looking sidelong to Leo and back to Tene. The necromancer nodded as if to reply to some silent request to let the rogue sleep. That was okay, Tene was content to sit and watch him a while, anyways.
Leoxander hadn't stirred, but a slight separation of his lips to take a silent, but deeper breath. His brief commune with peace ended in a heartbeat; the lift of Jack's head and the first thump of his tail had something about his relaxed stature vaguely tensing, and the movement was so sudden, a reach for his blade resting on the ground near his ribs, that it might make her wonder for a second, if he'd moved much at all. Eyes closed and breath held, the rogue heard someone kneel nearby, feigning sleep in the time it took for his heartbeat to quicken out a faster rhythm of panic. Only half awake, he knew one thing - Only he and Tenebrae knew about that place... someone was there. Both eyes came into view with a turn of his head, a fluid and sudden movement bringing him sitting up with dagger in hand, poised to kill in the time it would take her to lift her head, with intentions of watching him anyhow. But when his eyes met the pale green hue he knew, relief melted into his stare, and he dropped back down on the grass with the air leaving his lungs in a hard exhale, dagger falling from the hand the uncurled a white-knuckled grip. "...Hell... You scared the..." The rest of his tired murmur was better unheard...
Tenebrae 's eyes had widened, the slap of her hand to the hilt of the hex-bound blade audible as his own flashed into view. Her mind reeled in that split-second, her heart in her mouth. And her only thought: Not you, Leo... It took a few seconds more, after he'd relaxed that poise to strike, for Tene to blink, and move her fingers to her lap, though still she scarcely breathed. The thought of his betrayal was ...unthinkable, shocking, and in that second of doubt it was as if he'd stabbed her already. "I .. uh ..." She took a breath, at last. "I didn't mean to wake you." Her fingers trembled lightly as she plucked at the strap of her pack, for want of any other action to alleviate the critical tension that was only now abating. "Sorry."
Leoxander heard the hint of.. fear..? It was in her voice. His eyes opened with a few calmer breaths taken, glazed in red tinge from the heavy sleep he'd been in, for once not alcohol induced. Seeing her react like that made his insides coil with guilt... but he had no one beside Jack that curled up beside him at night, save when she used his shoulder, now and then. Expecting death was something the human was raised to do. Jack gave an anxious whine that prompted his rugged apology. "...Sorry..." Tenebrae saw something Leo tried to hide from the closest thing he had to a friend. "...I... I didn't know it was you, I really didn't..." Still laying on his back, he had a bit of an upside down view, making no move to sit up and frighten her again. Or... maybe he was still too lazy to.
Tenebrae 's voice, restored somewhat, was her best impression of a casual tone, a hint of embarrassed laughter to make it all the more so. "That's alright, Cap'n. My fault for sneaking up on you like that. S'pose I should know better by now." She slapped her knee to summon Jack, the dog's warmth welcome and his ruff, as ever, soon twined to her fingers, a soothing distraction from the moment. "Didn't expect anyone to be here myself." One hand unclasped and reached to her pack was soon retracted, a small treat held under the dog's enquiring nose. "Seems great minds do think alike." The smile was more like her, adrenaline draining from her system in increments. Her gaze shifted from Jack back to Leo, eyes the hue of spring tundra-thaw meeting his, and ... remaining there.
Leoxander bent his arm, still covered by the sleeve in tact, bearing tribal rune designs down the outside, behind his head to pillow the back of his skull. At least he was comfortable enough to relax, now that he knew it was Tenebrae. Most people, he woulda held onto the knife. "I sleep pretty good here... good karma or somethin' about this place." A quiet murmur, thick with his roguish accent since lazy from his recent sleep, and his eyes went briefly to the sky above them, before returning to a stare that rivaled any stars visible. "You're not the worst sight to wake up to." That comment was even quieter, but they weren't that far apart, and nothing else made noise around them, except gentle breezes stirring fallen leaves.
Tenebrae 's lips curved softly by way of reply, and the necromancer turned to her pack again, a handful of treats taken and sprinkled on the ground beside it. Whatever they were, Jack loved them. Tene used the space where the dog had stood to lower herself to her stomach, chin propped on small fists. Feet bearing spiked heels were crossed at the ankle, visible as she bent her legs behind. Tene studied him a bit, before speaking. "I’ve never seen you so peaceful. This place is good for you. I hope you'll sleep as well on the ship." One fist unclenched, hand dropping with her gaze to the velvety ground-moss below, palm smoothing over it. "You're quite..." She glanced back up. "Acceptable yourself. Especially when you sleep." Tene grinned. "Except for that horrendous snoring... never heard anything like it. Your mouth hanging open like that." She was teasing, of course.
Leoxander gave a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, making him look a little older than he was, but only because he knew he didn't much sound when he slept. Normally. Even training couldn't prevent the disturbance of mortal nightmares, now and then. Moments of a settled silence, one he was comfortable with, went on with him still laying in the cool grass, touched by passing winds, enjoying those last few moments of languid relaxation, though he knew he would have to get up. With his head rolling forward to nearly touch his clean shaven chin to his chest, his stomach crunched, bringing him upright into seated position, his arms draping on slightly bent knees still covered in heavy boots, suitable to run quick in.
“You're going? I've only just gotten comfortable.." Tene's eyes tracked his as he sat up, perhaps meeting them when he'd come to the upright. She needed respite from her duties, the vampiress having been called to lead lately in a way she'd never done before and this place ... well, without him in it now, it just wouldn't be the same. Her arms folded, chin sinking to them, her gaze settling on one of those boots. "S'pose you've got plans, then?
Leoxander was barely dressed, his belongings and armor were spread out on the grass, and what was left in his pack, with a worn and ragged bedroll near, had served as a bed. It all indicated he was there to stay put, at least for a day or two. He had kinda disappeared after their fishing trip. "Nah, don't much feel like facin' that world, yet..." The response had his eyes roaming toward the sky again, squinted and far off a moment, before his shoulders rolled back, and he'd turn in his seat in the grass, bones popping softly with stretching, eventually facing her way. "What's for dinner?"
Tenebrae smiled broadly, stretching her arm to the side to grab the corner of her pack, dragging it forward so she could rummage about in it without having to move too much. "Let's see .." For a creature that didn't really require food ... not solid food, anyways, she always seemed to manage to have some in that cornucopic bag of hers. "There's ... ooh, I think you'll like this." A towel shaken out and laid quite untidily on the moss served as a picnic blanket, Tene laying a few items on it. "... turkey... and melon and ..." She pulled the opening of the pack down to peer inside. "Biscuits. And .. ew." She wrinkled her nose a bit, fingernail tapping what sounded like some sort of glass vessel. "Don't think you'd like that much. Not sure it's dead yet."
Leoxander was encouraged to grab his own, smaller satchel of black leather, but it didn't contain much food, and generally less than hers did. But surely he had something to contribute... "Good, you realize I forget to eat when you're not around." A hint of a grin touched his expression, lowering his eyes from hers. His stomach growled, vibrating against his ribs, clearly seen if not for the baggy shirt missing a sleeve.
Tenebrae laughed, half-attempting to draw herself upright, arms folding, elbows to the moss. "No kidding. Though you've put a bit on lately." Her gaze drifted to his ribs. "Suits you. Just don't get too fat. You'll never get through narrow places, then." She was thinking of the door, of the shop they'd ... visited. Her look became a little more serious. "Things have been so busy lately I've hardly fed, myself. I'm going to go mad, if they don't hurry with our ship, Leo. I'm beginning to understand how you might miss the sea."
Leoxander had bottles stowed away, but he pulled out a skin of water, for now. Shamelessly, his posture slouched forward, hair in his eyes, hands wiping on the front of a relatively clean shirt to scrub them a bit before reaching for something to eat. His favorite was picked back up after the pack was thrown aside, unwrapping the cover that kept it at least... somewhat... not stale. Hey, Leo didn't live off gourmet. "Trust me... I'm startin' to feel ready to go through some withdrawals..." This was admitted quietly, before a bite tore off a good quarter of the sandwich.
Tenebrae had devoured one brownie, Jack poking his nose about by her elbows, making short work of the crumbs she dropped. She reached for another, nodding. "Well, it won't be long. I know I've said that ... a lot. But I spoke to the shipwrights quite -firmly- and they say any day now."
Leoxander remained quiet until his sandwich was finished, half curling up with his posture hunched forward, as though cold, without the layers of leather and armor that usually covered him like a second, thicker and protecting skin. He almost looked in his young twenties again, in a baggy shirt with a cheese sandwich. It was finished quickly and the front of his throat forced a hard swallow, drinking some water to speak clearer, but quietly, yet. "Things'll be different, then... huh." A slow reach gripped the pirate hat, and pulled it back off. He didn't want to wear it yet, it made him crave to stand at the wheel on the high deck of that boat, feeling the wrath of ocean winds on his features. Leo rarely wore his mask, at sea.
Tenebrae watched him, as she nibbled the second brownie with a tad more delicacy than the first. He did look younger, though he kind of seemed that way to Tene anyway. After all, she was three hundred-something; though you wouldn't know it, the way she acted sometimes, and the pirate being the mature on of the pair on most occasions. "Yeah, they will be." For Leo, for sure. Tene could feel something rising in him, whenever he was near the sea, some kind of ... fierce pride in himself, a confidence he didn't have on the streets. Well, not in so much abundance, anyways. "I can't wait to see you wear that hat." She grinned, the joke that sprang to mind replacing the image of him..."I'm tempted to buy you a parrot, and teach it to say 'avast!' or something equally nautical."
Leoxander ? Mature? If she thought so, he certainly wouldn't dash her beliefs, unless she could read his devilish grins. Right now, he held a pretty neutral look, blonde strands even more mussed from the hat he rested to the mossy ground. "I hate those damn things. I'd eat it." Hey, at least he was givin' her fair warning. The only animal Leo had ever bonded to, or liked, really, was Jack. Even Maladroit was just a pile of feathers that cawed, now and then. "Or I'll feed it to Jack." With this, he'd grab one of the pieces of turkey to toss toward the animal. Even he got fed by the rogue, now and then.
Tenebrae tried not to spit brownie crumbs everywhere, at that. "Damn, and I had my eye on one of those big, colorful ones too. Bit stringy, though, I'd bet." She was feeling much better, for the peace, and certainly the company. Nice not to be the boss, for a while. Well, technically she was, but the necromancer never thought of Leo in those terms. To her, for the most part, it'd be his ship, and she'd just be tagging along. And probably a big pain in the rear, to boot. "So.. I was wondering...." She tore another small piece from the brownie. "What use, exactly, am I going to be on board. I mean..." She popped the morsel in her mouth, chewing quickly. "I'm going to be there. And hopefully, not just as ballast." She enunciated that word a little too clearly. Tene had been studying up.
Leoxander had a suggestion ready for that one, and he scooted back a bit with a ready grin, in case she took a swung at him for the bold words. "Well, I could give you a bucket and a brush, and watch you scrub the deck in that bikini you wore in the hot springs the other day." Hey! It seemed like a good idea to him! He took another drink of water, laughing a little bit down his chin in mid drink.
Tenebrae found good use for the rest of her brownie, piffing it at the rogue - she could think of a few better things to call him just now, though none more appropriate. "You know.." Her grin was as wicked as his own. "I might just do that. That'd teach you." And if he was paying attention, he might be able to tell by that amber flare flickering in her eyes that she really wasn't kidding.
Leoxander still seemed amused, even after plucking brownie off his shirt to toss it to Jack, who caught it with a snap of jaws mid air. "I think your beau might end up locking you in your honeymoon quarters, Mistress..." After all, he wouldn't be the only pirate to appreciate that scene, that was for sure. He lifted his gaze bravely to the alluring dare in her eyes, and looked away casually before he fell under that spell of her eyes, again.
Tenebrae lofted a brow, pushing palms to the moss and hoisting herself up to kneel. "I dare say he might." Palms were swept down the front of her bodice, displacing stray bits of moss. "Might as bloody well, for all the good I'll be to you." That would explain the attempt at fishing - remarkably failed attempt, rather. "I hate feeling useless." a frown marred the smooth skin of her brow. "Still, I'll have the clan to run, and a few other things to worry about. I s'pose a little relaxing won't harm me." She couldn't quite meet his eyes, either.
Leoxander watched her for a moment, easier, when her gaze wasn't penetrating into the depths of his being, threatening to read his most private thoughts. Sometimes, he swore the vampress' gaze capable of those things. But after watching the wind toy with inky strands of long hair, remembered so soft against his rough hands, Leo crawled forward, toward her, closing the distance they'd kept between them from her arrival, until he finally broke the barriers. "...I'll keep you on your toes, pretty..." A sly smirk pulled the edge of his mouth, face nearer to hers, easier seen in the darkness. "Don't I always?"
Tenebrae nodded, eyes locking to his own scarlet and azure gaze. "Yes. That you do." His proximity had her scenting the sea. She was sure of it, sure that's what smelled so good about him. "Don't know what I'd do without you.."
Leoxander had an idea what she'd do, but he wouldn't voice it. Content to stretch back out on the grass, the food was left on the makeshift picnic blanket, turning so that he could rest his head on the comfort of her thigh, so long as she cooperated to lean back a little. "You'll learn to love it, I told you that."
Tenebrae was soon stroking that wayward hair from his eyes again, the other hand leant behind her for support. As her fingers traced his brow, she smiled down at the rogue. "I honestly believe I will."
Leoxander was comfortable, and it wouldn't take him long to relax right back into a nap similar to the light snoozing Jack was doing beneath a tree not far away. His head turned to rest his cheek against her leg, making it almost impossible to brush that hair from his eyes completely, but maybe it meant she'd just keep trying, and keep petting her fingers against his scalp.
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