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Post by Joliette Thorne on Jan 15, 2009 9:49:36 GMT -5
--Revelation-- Leoxander brushed back his hood cautiously, to dig his fingers into his hair, dumbfounded. The scent had brought him here, the sight of the Den caught his attention the moment he’d stepped into the Hallway, and now his eyes scanned the scene slowly with his mouth closed in a neutral line of expression. A wolf whispered by his mind, awakened by the aroma of a fresh kill, but he managed to keep the beast back, hold onto his control and push aside any excuse to give into that wild call. The solid tread of his boots rolled silently across slick floorboards, advancing those first few paces until the only movement in that room snapped his attention toward the rumpled bed. Not a creak betrayed his advance. He noted the feminine wear discarded near the gore smeared tub, and for safe measure, lifted the gathered fabric at the front of his throat, pulling the bandit collar over his nose to muffle that bitter allure. His other hand went slowly for the shifting fabric, hiding what could be a survivor, or just as easily be the killer. His intention… to carefully draw it back and find out. You know that saying: Curiosity killed the cat... disappointment enraged the lycanthrope... The covers first rose under his grip like a brocade ghost in shameful dishabille with a sheet, the being under it still making those soft noises. A moment later, the lycan's removal of brocade and linen (the way one might uncover a spider, lurking), revealed-- whole and in no danger, apart from perhaps potentially choking on a bit of the turkey-leg clamped between her teeth-- was Tenebrae, bright-eyed and groomed to perfection. She was still emitting those soft little noises, more likely laughter than tears, to judge by the mirth in those green eyes, and was clad only in an oversized black, silk shirt. There was a candied apple gripped by its stick in her opposite fist. The woman could not have looked more delighted to see... "Mreo!" Which might've been his name, albeit enunciated through roasted poultry. She'd grab the leg out of her mouth and smile, keeping her lips oddly poised, almost closed as she continued: "Gods, I forgot just how good things tasted. Fancy some turkey?" The leg was offered out to her mate. Leoxander had… not expected to unwrap such a gift. The most hysterical look crossed his features, not so amused on his part but likely hilarious to witness. Brows lifted, jaw slightly dropped, he looked from the turkey leg handed out his way, back to the greasy, candied face of his lover. The sentence started off as polite as one might expect a pirate to express his confusion. “The hell’re you doin’ Joli?” Despite himself, a breath of disbelieving laughter escaped his chest. If only photography should exist in Hollow. He didn’t take that small offering, a shake of his head denying it as respectfully as he might. It had been ages since he’d tasted cooked meat. Instead, both hands went in reach to lift her from the sticky sheets, at least enough to sit her up in a spot that wasn’t full of meat juice and syrup. Tenebrae shrugged, even as his broad hands moved her like a doll or a sticky-fingered child to where he wanted her. She couldn't resist taking one more bite from the turkey. Swallowing hard, she blinked softly and set the candy apple down on the bed, heedless of how -- and to what-- it might stick. "So hungry..." She tossed the well-gnawed leg aside and, with the removal of both the bedclothes and herself from its heap, Leo might notice that it joined an array of discarded scraps on the bed-- sandwich crusts, cookie crumbs, and the like. That said, she smiled again, her lips still held in that odd position, as a ventriloquist holds them almost closed for the sake of illusion. Her gaze shifted wistfully to the apple, though whether it was to avoid meeting his eyes or merely in regret at having to leave the sweet for the moment wasn't evident. "Something's happened, love. Something... odd. And maybe wonderful. Not sure yet." Her tone was hesitant, though there was less fear in it than remnants of her laughter, and she'd scrinch over a bit in case he wanted to sit down. Tene glanced at him then, a sly little glimmer glinting from her peridot eyes, and then back to the toffeed fruit. "Guess what it is." Leoxander did crave a seat beside her, not bothering to check that there weren’t crumbs in that selected spot. His weight dropped lazily, they’d bounce just a half a moment and settle eye level. Her question prompted him to look behind her, at the mess of food, leaning behind her back to pick up the candied apple before it rolled all over the sheets. The other hand scratched the back of his head, an uncertain look crossing his features. “I’d like to hope you’re not bloody pregnant…” He couldn’t help muttering that… food habits like these were legends of mothers to be. And since they hadn’t spent any time together in a while… Wait - it clicked for him, then. She wouldn’t even need food, she could never -be- pregnant, unless…. Feral eyes caught a glimmer of green, then gold, shifting as his head turned to look her in the face, with one hand absently reaching to rub a thumb across her cheek, and remove a bit of turkey meat. “Joli… what’d you do?” He wasn't going to guess. Leo suspected he knew. He wouldn't be left long without an answer, with her mouth fallen open as it was at the suggestion she was carrying... the very thought had her break into a peal of laughter. Only proving the point-- or the lack of them. No fangs were evident, among her rows of perfectly white pearlies. Tene tried to respond, she really did, but she was finding the whole thing all too amusing. Plus, she'd eaten more than a few of those candy apples and her blood wasn't used to being loaded with so much sugar. She bounced on her knees, making it hard for him to remove the remains of food from her cheek, but if he was forced to press a bit harder, he'd also feel the flush of warmth mirth brought to cheeks that were not quite so pale as usual. Tenebrae made a palyful grab for the apple, and said, "I got what I wanted, I suppose. Though I didn't know it was what I wanted, until I got it." Green eyes settled on him again. "It was the pool, it must have... I'm pretty sure it took... Leo... I think I'm mortal." Leoxander only heard that: “I think I’m mortal.” The color drained from his expression as he tried to breathe. What..? Did he ask that whisper out loud or was the question just in his head? So numb to the moment, his hand dropped slowly and his brow furrowed after a moment to consider how serious she was. Not one to over react and panic, he turned his head to look away toward the bath, toward the blood, pressing his teeth together in futile attempt to control his temper. So eager to be angry, the demon on his shoulder repeated certain words… she’d gone to the pool, and how many damn times had Leoxander told her to stay away from it? Hadn’t he told -everyone-?! “That can’t be possible. You… you can’t bloody reverse this, Tenebrae.” Strange, that she should admit how human she is and he should swap to her vampire name. He wasn’t ready to let go of that part of her. Her features would crumple, as it became clearer with every word he spoke that Leoxander did not share delight with her newly reclaimed humanity. "I didn't mean to." Those minty eyes prickled with a sudden sheen of clear fluid, and she grabbed for a corner of sheet, drawing it up and twisting it in her hands. "I had to help Ary." Her voice was small, and there was no anger in it, more quiet apology for once more doing nothing right. "I don't even know if I'll stay this way. But if I do..." The woman's tone dropped so low, it was lucky he had a lycan's sharp hearing. "Is it... could you… would it be so terrible?" Leoxander double took the sight of her tears. That confirmed it - she had to be human if Joliette was crying. This wasn’t a woman who succumbed easily to her emotions, even when it came to him. Because typically.. Leo made the girls cry. “You had to’ve meant to if it’s what you damn well want…” He started a little difficult, but mellowed out into a deep, calmer tone as she presented that last question. Could he? The answer was in his sigh. They’d been through worse. Besides that, she looked so pleased with a full stomach… and he couldn’t imagine the pleasure she was getting out of that candy apple. “Don’t even go there, you know we can. But yes, it’s gonna be rough! I mean, you’re kinda… fragile now.” He was the realist, between the two. At least, in this instance. Yet, despite his small tantrum, he reached back up to place his hand on her cheek. As warm as she was, his rapid heartbeat made him hotter against that toned complexion, still. “Enjoyin’ yourself, then? I bloody guess.” Leoxander looked at the apple in his hand as he said that, then set it aside to wipe his fingers on his pants. Tene had a mortal range of emotions now, which was as fresh and uncontrolled as her appetite for solid foods. Sure, she'd felt things and tasted things that mortals do while she was vampiric, but in an entirely different way-- it could be likened to someone seeing the world in black and white since childhood, then being suddenly exposed to the all colours in the world at once, and Tenebrae was dizzied with it, close to overwhelmed. So Leo's acceptance of her new state only made her cry harder in relief, as the terror of possible rejection un-knotted in her (slightly bloated) stomach. Closing a hand over the one he'd placed on her cheek, she reached for the apple with the other one, and started to pick fluff and bits of crumb off its damp and tacky surface. Sniffing, she gave him a watery smile through the tears. "The change was awful." The mess in the bath might testify to that. "But now..." Joliette shook her head, dragging his hand down to hover over a heart which - thanks to her maker's cruelty- had for three centuries beat, chilled and sluggish, in her chest. Now it fluttered like a bird's wings below warming skin. "I feel so very alive. It's hard to describe." She'd lean forward, press a soft kiss of mixed flavours to his lips, drawing back hastily, a hint of humour returned to her mercurial features. "You'll just have to be a little more gentle with me, I suppose." "An’ what if I don’t wanna be?” Half joking, half serious, Leo sought her eyes for answers. She expected him to be calm after what felt like a century apart? Did she understand that he’d been painstakingly devoted, the whole while? In a mess of female wolves, no less. The touch of agony creasing his brow hinted at it. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re feelin’ good. But I’m gonna have to watch you like a hawk. No bats thirty leagues above the sea, no pissin’ political figures off. You’re gonna have to bloody behave, for awhile.” And they both knew, from experience, that was no fun. Hearing her palpitating heart, he couldn’t stop himself from extending a hand to lay his palm on her breastbone, over her hand if necessary. The change astonished him. “Really is beatin’ in there… isn’t it?" He'd feel it beating even faster then, her pulse surging for a moment as she grinned, and replied to his first concern, "Well. If you don't want to be gentle, I'd just have to find some.. method to ensure my own safety, wouldn't I?" Her change hadn't at all extinguished the capacity of those peridot eyes to shine with an utterly sinful light, from whence they shifted expression to a wide innocence. "And I promise to be good." She nodded, once more moving his hand for him, drawing it over skin and silk to make the shape of an 'X'. "Cross my heart. Hope I don't..." The last word never was spoken, as she was busy licking his thumb now, perhaps searching for a taste of candy. Seemed Joliette might've had a sweet tooth, in her first previous life. Though he'd held that apple in his other hand, hadn't he? Leoxander had, unfortunately enough, set it down. Still, she seemed content enough with the hand that held it. “I…” That was about as far as he got before her actions diverted his thoughts into places it shouldn’t necessarily be. Shaking his head physically, he managed to snap out of that brief daydream. A glance was given toward the open door, then back at the human in his midst, fully vulnerable in only a black shirt that looked… vaguely familiar. “So what now..?” A simple question, that could mean so many different things. But obviously, they couldn’t hang out in a stained room all night, relishing the different tastes of food groups. There would be no hunt, though his stomach was growling from the mingled scents of blood and meat. No getting into trouble, considering he could easily lose her to the wounds they often suffered in result. Leo sat on the edge of the bed, watching her, looking a little lost. A wolf that had his bone taken away. It bothered him to wonder if a human Joliette could accept him, now. Tenebrae huffed a little sigh of disappointment when it became evident that Leo thought now was not the time to experiment with potential safety measures. But she didn't look quite as sulky as she might've, usually. And that, to an observant wolf, might just be a subtle warning that the former vampiress was up to something. "Now? We.. um..." Her eyes left him, and she was done with his thumb (for the present), so she let that go, too, and looked about the room. Spying her pack, she wriggled off the bed. ".. we could go for a walk? Perhaps the woods, rather than the streets because.." Joli nattered on as she slipped out of Leo's spare fancy shirt and rummaged for more appropriate clothing in the bag. "... after all, as you said, it could be more dangerous for me now." Retrieving a familiar scrap of red leather, she'd step into it, drawing it up to cover herself. "In fact.. yes, a walk in the woods sounds marvellous." The look she gave him was quite pointed, as she grabbed the pack's strap and heaved... to no avail. The thing was simply too heavy for her now. Frowning at it, she added, "I insist." Leoxander sat there, as obedient as he would get. Elbows rested over his legs, hands nearly twined together to keep from sprouting claws, he watched the Necromancer undress and rummage without shame. He…fricken deserved to look. Back to her eyes the moment she should glance, then… back to curves when she went about pulling clothes over her figure. “Whatever you want, then.” That’s how it usually went, until she found something he’d disagree with. Like a stroll to the obsidian pool. Fully dressed, and armed to the teeth, he stood up on well gripped boots. They finally creaked on the floorboards this time, when he stood. He slipped up, when he murmured on his way to the discarded turkey leg. “Might as well look for Jack, while we’re out there.” A sniff at the chewed at meat, and because it didn’t agree with his stomach - the smell - he tossed it in a bin. Tene turned her face away under the not-quite-pretense of looking for boots, and a slightly less jam-packed container in which to stow other items she'd pulled from the bigger bag, though what those might be Leo wouldn't see, what with her body shielding them from sight. A small satchel did for that purpose, and with that on her shoulder and her boots tugged on, she'd fall in behind him. "Jack." The name was spoken quietly, and Joli wouldn't voice any of the relief she felt that the Cap'n remained as hopeful as she was for the mutt's safe recovery. But her tone did carry a slight tinge of the ingenue about it. "Let's be off, then?" Leoxander warned lowly. “Get everything you need for a ‘walk’.” It was never around a park, with him. Leo already headed toward the door, mentally checking everything he had on his person, and absently pocketing something genuine silver, on the way out. He reached to the back of his neck to fling his hood back over his eyes, but didn’t bother to cover his unshaven face. Hopefully that stubble wasn’t enough to ward away the chance for another kiss. Until she was ready, he hovered in the doorway, that familiar posture worthy of the title 'assassin'. "Got it." She'd not disappoint him, leaning up her toes to plant a hasty, sugar-flavoured kiss on his mouth before sliding past him and out the door, her first steps toward the stairwell tentative as though she was testing out her newly human legs for any incapacitating change. Leoxander hesitated, being a gentleman for once to let a lady go first. He was still enjoying the taste of those kisses. A swat for her backside purposefully missed, he closed the door most of the way to hide the scene from patrons, on the way out.
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Jan 16, 2009 4:24:53 GMT -5
--Frostmaw Tavern--
Drargon's face resembled nothing more than the scarred and jagged cliffsides of his mountain home. Even for a giant he was considered plain, and perhaps it was all the years in service as a warrior that had set his features to a naturally grim countenance that looked a lot like badly-poured concrete with a frown. So it was that his latest expression was near to abjectly terrifying-- a wide and adoring grin set upon a woman who was rendered to Lilliputian proportions by the massive, padded chair she sat in, her small frame wrapped entirely in wolf furs. Tene bestowed a grateful glance on Drargon, who would drool a bit and grin more widely, so that it seemed his face may crack in twain for joy. In a chair opposite the ex-vampire sat a droll little man in fur-lined lederhosen and a large mammoth-fur hat, telling interminable tales of his prowess as a hunter and lover and marksman and warrior, and all the time in a monotone drone that had Tene wish she wanted more than the array of foods Drargon had left for her for supper. Had she fangs, she'd have eaten him, just to stop the noise. As it stood, and not wishing to offend her saviour and host, she simply.... listened. Or seemed to, her eyes drowsing closed now and then.
Leoxander was even frozen by the time he’d shouldered his way through the tavern door, arms wrapped around his leather clad torso. It had been a long and perilous journey, moreso than he’d expected, and after running into several stray wolves and frost mares, he was about ready to call it an evening. The first building that offered sanctuary was where he guided the vampire and her strange bird, slightly fanged teeth chattering and his skull tilted low, as though balling up as much as possible might conserve his diminished lycan heat. His shoulders ached from the ice formed on the outline of his white dressed image, camouflage in the snow but strange for a man that preferred black.
Terra would've protested the stop, but the more she thought about shelter the better it sounded. The owl, didn't care for the idea much but followed after without a noise of protest, surprisingly. A sheet was wrapped tight, nearly frozen to the frame of the vampiress, and snow had long since settled into the curves and wrinkles of a fedora that hid tangled hair. "Now the bird will never leave," and for once, the normally cheerful vampiress sounded miserable as she moved towards one of the few unoccupied chairs to avoid sitting at the giants' table. The bird took to settling on the bones of the dragon's maw, content as it buried head under wing as though ashamed.
"Oh, really. How fascinating…" Tene must've said it fifty times by now, in the same unconvincing tone, as Gregorei J. Pillock III recounted -- once again-- the time he'd saved all of the lowlands from certain death with nothing but a frozen haddock and a bullwhip. Tene took up her ale, her two hands hardly able to lift the massive cup of warmed and spiced brew, and blew a little steam off the top before sipping. On sundry trays on the small (relatively speaking) tables about the fire was an assortment of meals, some waiting for consumption, some already sampled. The pale woman's belly rumbled faintly, not at all from hunger now. She pondered offering Gregorei a chunk of bread, in the hopes he might choke on it. And was actually reaching for the loaf, when the door came ajar with a creak, and a whiteclad figure stepped in, hunched against the cold and... "Leo!" She'd never been so glad to see anyone in her life. Tene turned to Gregorei, who seemed quite put out by the interruption. "Excuse me a moment... Leo!" She waved frantically. "Come have a drink?" Terra entered behind the rogue, but seemed dismal and not too interested in company. Tene mentally shrugged. There was plenty to go round. "And something to eat?"
Leoxander was just to cold to speak. He followed, eyes half closed, half frozen that way, and he bumped into the chair before he decided not to sit into it. Whether near giants or not, Leo needed a fire, and went in search of one. Some might hear the barely audible, deep whine in his throat upon discovery of a cold pit. “I…I-I don’t b-bl-bloody care ab’t a… a st-st-stupid…" Oh forget it, teeth chattered far too much to speak. Then he heard Tenebrae’s voice, turning his whole body as a stiff whole to look that way. “J-J--” That was as much reply as she’d get, and with his hands trembling more than he could bear, he regarded the cold fireplace one last time before heading toward the Necromancer. Terra was likely worse off, considering her cold blooded state.
Terra wasn't sure what hurt more. The ache of cold settling into those dead muscles, sticking to those bones, or when the slightest bit of warmth started to be felt and feeling slowly began the long process of returning. That owl... there had never been a moment when she loathed it more than she did now. Ice on the sheet broke, shattered on the ground and soon pooled by the chairs legs. It felt easier to speak than move to wave and so she went that route on addressing Tene, "Watch out for ... birds." The yet-to-be-named creature moved from the dragon's head towards the counter, where the giant accepted him as another patron. This didn't seem to be uncommon, evidently. Like all owls, this thing was wise and avoided getting too close to either of the cold followers it had led.
A lanky black wolf with curling fur came plodding through the door just before it swung shut in the wake of the tavern's two newest patrons. Large patches of white speckled the canine's fur and upon entering the place it gave it's entire body a mighty shake, letting the frozen debris fall to the floor. While such a sight might be not so common among other establishments, a sign of warmth amongst the snow of the mountains coupled with scents very familiar drew the beast through the door after them. With coat suitably cleared, the animal resumes it's trotting till it stops at the shivering Leoxander's heel, stomach going to the floor and large paws going over its nearly frozen nose.
Tenebrae shifted over in the enormous chair, her slight frame leaving plenty of room for the rogue, even bulked up as she was by the fur-lined ensemble that Drargon had given her, clothing worn by the giant's former wife, sadly human and killed one evening by accident when he was drunk and randy and had forgotten the difference in their size. It was a sad tale, one only spoken of in whispers here, but Tene had surmised the truth of it and was touched by the gift. It was to that giant she now turned, alarmed at Leo's state. "Warming ale, please! And.. stoke that fire up, will you, pet?" At being addressed as "pet", the massive man chortled a happy reply that sounded like, "Oh aye, oh aye, we'arn brolloon", and glomphed with a heavy tread to do as his new heart's desire bid. Tene managed a wave at Terra, despite Gregorei resuming his tale-- the odd little man happy to have some new listeners, and she'd whisper to Leo, so's not to offend the "travelling hero", "He never shuts up. Here, take my ale, it's good." The entrance of the wolf was given a rise of brow, and litte more-- Tene was used to odd creatures. The owl was then studied. Wasn't that the same one that'd...? She gave Terra a questioning look.
Leoxander made his way to Tenebrae’s chair, dropping abruptly into it and ruining her comfort with the chill of his presence. The closer - the better, in this instance, he felt frozen to his very marrow, and went eagerly for any alcohol that might be offered. The quicker the better. A glance toward the wolf offered, his brow crinkled in mid drink, recognizing the tousled black coat of the new lupine lurking near. It made him choke slightly on his swallow of ale. He was just about to ask what she was doing out there, in the middle of snow ‘blazed’ lands, but there was really no point. He didn’t want to reveal that he cared where the cub might be. “We’ve gotta convince these people to let us build a fire, or something.” Two out of four of their patrons might freeze, needing that heat, otherwise. Those that needed a heartbeat to survive.
"Oh really? How interesting…." Unless Tene, or somebody, interjected in a like manner as this now and then, the taleteller would only increase his volume, assuming everyone deaf. Gregorei nodded enthusiastically, almost losing his mammoth-fur hat. "It war innerestin', I tell ye, and war me mither no' a dwarf and me fadder no' a dragon, and me haddock no' as frozen, ye'd all be deed as doorknobs...." And so on. Leo's wish was rapidly fulfilled by a now-glowering Drargon, who'd lumped a giant's armful of wood and kindling toward the fire, clearly unimpressed with those too weak to handle the weather of his homeland. It wasn't even deep winter, yet. Plus, that hairy little vagabond in white was sitting a tad too close to his Tenebrae for his liking. Soon, though, the giant had the hearth ablaze, and stood for a moment, grumbling deep in his throat, until Joli shone upon him a beatific smile and 'thankyou', and requested a dish of fresh, raw rabbit meat, whereon Drargon swooned (no pretty sight) and trundled off to fetch that, and a round of drinks for them all. Tene sniffed faintly, studying the wolfess. Probably yet another lovelorn and hopeful female, besotted with her mate. She was getting used to them. Turning aside to Leo again, she kissed an icicle from the tip of his large nose and asked, "Who's that, then? And I hope you like rabbit, love. I don't recommend the mammoth, it's a bit... chewy."
Rhian 's ears perked as the word 'meat' was uttered and her head rises from her paws, nose thawed enough to let her eyes wander over the two above. The wolf's body rises into a sitting position, nose high about the table. No sign of meat lingered close by, yet the wolf's body rose, jumping and stretching so that front paws touched the table and her nose barely peeked over. All those able to look above the table's edge would see a black nose attempting to rise above the edge, yet no meat smell lingered.
Leoxander met the giant's eyes full force. Half his size, the look still seemed to say: ‘Don’t you realize who I am?’ Sure, Leo was a tad full of himself… but he’d killed a giant for three meals worth of gold last week, and he wasn’t impressed with Drargon. Still relatively young in an ancient’s lifetime, he seen it all and it showed fairly well in his matter-of-fact posture as he hooked an arm around his Necromancer, possessively. If only to press cold, leather covered ribs against her warm body. Thank the gods she wasn’t a cold blooded vampire, at that moment. At least the grunt was well off enough to respect his remark, and get a fire going. That would earn a lift of his whiskered jaw, but no fantastic smile. He cast a sidelong glance at the one who won the warrior over in the end, one brow raised curiously. Still, it earned him a meal - or what he hoped was his meal, so he wouldn’t complain out loud. “Can you make it two? She just had the pup…” Leo expected her to remember, at least with that subtle reminder. If not, he might just have to forfeit his meal.. and oh - how he hated being chivalrous. A glance back at Rhian was offered, as she perched on the edge of the table, but he didn’t expect the wolf to understand. She was learning quicker than he had, but these were her first transformations, yet.
Tenebrae made do with his offhand remark for an answer, gleaning from it that this was the same woman with infant she'd met previously. "Rhian, isn't it?" She spoke this to the wolf, who was patently hungry. Not waiting for a reply, which wouldn't be spoken anyhow, she lowered her voice to Leo, "Listen, I have a bit of a plan cooking.. a job. On the shops in Enchantment..." Lower still, she whispered, "That's where I got that potion, I want to steal the recipe. I rather enjoyed being.. you know." She yawned softly and snuggled into his chilly side, laying her head on the lycan's shoulder. "Gregorei there's enough to send anyone to sleep."
Rhian 's entire snout managed to make it over the edge with a great deal of effort, though not enough for her eyes to make out the stranger's meal, but oh did her nose detect those delectable scents. This only encouraged the wolf to attempt rising further, till her abdomen ached. Seems Tenebrae's words were not even comprehended as the beast dropped down and crept on soft pads to circle the one droning on and on in his seat. Her ears flattened to her head and her limbs bent low, tail rising. The only thing going through the wolf's mind as she made to leap was to cease that morsel...
Leoxander would feast... and then he might nap...
Tene stared at Leo, waiting politely for an answer first while he stuffed his face with the meat Drargon had delivered (to a table too high for a four-legged wolf to reach), until he was done, only to watch her rogue's eyelids drooping, his head sink to the arm of the chair, one hand resting possessively on her fur-clad thigh. The former vampiress sighed, blew her sleeping lover a kiss, and turned her attention to... Rhian, who'd just snatched a bit of meat off Gregorei's plate. Fortunately, the supposed 'hero' was just reaching the crescendo of his tale, his arms flung wide apart to indicate the size of the maw of the giant wolf he'd slaughtered with his bare hands and a toothpick, so he didn’t; notice the theft. Tene grinned-- the wolf was in the right company, that was for sure. She'd place Leo's unfinished platter of raw rabbit on the floor, as well as the other. "So, where's your pup?" Tene spoke it in a tone that Gregorei might take for interest in his story, knowing he wasn’t going to hear a word of anything that wasn't himself speaking.
Rhian successfully snatched her prize and lowered her snout to the floor, tearing away at the scrap, tail held high. With the clattering of the plate on the hard floor the beasts ears perk as does her head, parts of the scrap dangling from her maw. As the last of the morsel is tossed up and swallowed, she trots towards the plate, nary a reply being given in reply to the necromancer's query. The dark eyes seemed only for the copious amounts of rabbit, her body settling on the ground and mouth ripping the meal out from between her paws.
Leoxander still appeared asleep.
Tenebrae frowned a little at the wolf. It was hard to tell, with lycans, how the condition would manifest. Some understood common speech while in animal form, some did not. She supposed this one didn't, and was content then to watch the beast devour the food, as if Rhian hadn't fed in weeks. Tene would question her later, should the shift to woman come, content to relax as best she could for now, occasionally nodding to the hearthside bore, who carried on.. and on... with his tale. Beside her, Leoxander snored gently, muttering now and then broken curses and things a man should not speak aloud outside a marriage bed, and she'd pinch his nose to stop the sleeptalk, blushing a little. The half-dwarf gave Leo a hard look, before launching into the next chapter of his apparently neverending saga. Tene snuggled closer to her mate, laying her head on the opposite arm of the vast chair, and simply watched the fire for a time.
Leoxander turned his head somewhat to escape the pinch of nostrils, a soft snort in his throat.
Leoxander took a deep breath as he opened his eyes, and simultaneously, he reached for the first inappropriate place to scratch himself, through leather. A little confused about where he was, it took him a moment to sit up, get his bearings, separate various scents. The second thing he’d reach for was a drink, giving a glance and a sniff over the rim of the mug in hopes of alcohol. It was like coffee, for your typical lackey, in his case. Warming ale seemed appropriate, given that shiver that coursed through his armored frame as he tried to get closer to his human. There was a moment, as he swallowed that drink, where he buried his nose against her neck for a healthy sniff. On his defense, Leo was only half awake, then.
Tene cricked her neck against the chill touch a nose that was, almost ironically, cold and wet- despite her rogue's human form. "Feeling better?" She nudged him, almost causing a spill. "And did you hear anything I said, earlier?" The necromancer dropped her voice. Again. "About doing over that place in Enchantment?"
Rhian made small noises as she ate, little smacks and snaps and whatnot. The wolf's head rises from her mostly finished meal, ears picking up Leoxander's little noises and movements with his waking. Her snout goes back to the plate, inhaling the remainder of the meat before trotting back to the other side of the seat where the other lycan sat. Placing her rump to the floor her dark eyes look up expectantly to the man, as if for some kind of direction.
Leoxander rubbed that nose against her pulse, hiding his face with a muffled response buried in her collar. “M’hungry…” Again. And apparently no, he hadn’t heard a thing. Picking up on normal traits and habits of the living once more in Tenebrae’s company, his hands also seemed to find their own reason and will, sliding around her waist to pull her lithe frame up against his. He’d forgotten all about the frost giant, and now his mug of warm - or warming ale was set aside. His eyes fell closed for the time he was allowed to be lazy, though he was highly aware of the chomping sounds nearby.
Tenebrae huffed another breath of resignation, and waggled her hand by way of ordering more meat. Leo'd get a few more minutes of quiet, before a violent BANG of tin platters hitting the timber tabletop might bring the rogue out of his reverie. Certainly Tene jumped. "Thar y'gah" This was spoken through gritted teeth that resembled oddly stacked pile of dirty bricks. "'N'getcher dorty pahs off'n me wench, 'for ah grind yer bones fer soup." The giant barkeep loomed, meaty fists placed on his hips. Tene gulped a little. Perhaps letting the giant's affections settle on her had not been such a .. wise move.
Tenebrae said to Drargon, "There'll be no grinding, of any sort!"
Rhian had eagerly been awaiting the attentions of the half-waking man, tail twitching to express such. With ears perked a shadow came over her form in the form of the massive bartender and said ears lay flat on her head as her nose moves towards the looming threat. On the one hand, there was the pleasant smell wafting from his hand as he slammed the plate down on the table and growled a few things, on the other the growl signified challenge, though not to her. Her torso lowers nearly to the floor, a growl rising in her throat and a lip curling away from her teeth.
Leoxander turned a sharp look toward the giant, brow creased with a knot. That deadly look lingered there the entire time Drargon spoke. “Your wench? She’s my-… I mean- don’t you call her a wench..!” Nice recovery, there. The glance he offered Tenebrae suggested that she hadn’t made the best move in buttering up quite so much, and he wasn’t entirely one to submit to frost giants staking claim on his woman, even if it meant good status in a tavern. He’d sooner skin the fool. The allure of food won him over in the end, and he scooted the plate closer with his mouth watering behind a grim line that is far from a smile, upon a closed mouth. A deep sniff would tell him everything. How cooked it was, what kind of animal it was… whether or not it was poisoned, or laced. He’d glare at the back of the talkative giant, on his retreat, still bleary eyed.
Tenebrae's mouth was little 'o' of dismay at the trouble brewing -- it followed them like a stray hound, didn't it?-- and shifted in her chair to peer at the growling wolf, once Leo had made it clear he was more interested in feeding than fighting, just at this moment. "Sh, Rhian..." she hissed, and glanced up to find the craggy face of the barkeep, who’d spun about on one colossally-booted heel and returned to the trio with his axe, once more looming over them. Damn it. "Dear Drargon, do forgive us, I fear there's been a misunder.... EEP!" She was plucked from beside her rogue like a ragdoll, tucked under one massive, smelly armpit and tromped out the door before anyone could do a damned thing about it, her plaintive cries vanishing into a snowy distance only partially visible through the bluster of snow to be seen through the door, which Drargon had left open in his wake. In minutes, his vast stride had them both vanish, up what cliffside or down what ravine, was anyone's guess.
Rhian 's rear end rose from the floor, the wolf's growl rising in volume, escalating into a bark. With tail wagging somewhat, her dark eyes look up expectantly towards Leoxander where he sits. Another series of barks was tossed the way of the departing giant. She turned, teeth nipping upon the leather of the man's armor and a few trotting steps taken in the direction of the door before she paused and looked back after Leoxander, if he didn't already pass her by then...
Leoxander had just lowered his eyes back to his meal, pulling back a white runed sleeve in preparation, certain the Necromancer would have things under control. She always managed to, in the past. Then again, she was also immortal, back then. Just about to duck in for a bloody bite, he saw giant arms swoop in for his mate, and the table suddenly squealed across the cold ground with the lycan’s abrupt lurch from his seat. And he would have been on Drargon’s heels and probably clinging to a giant’s belt with a snarl -…if he hadn’t immediately tripped over the wolf in his path. It was just enough of a delay to give that lumbering oaf the second or two he needed to get outdoors, and Leo, crawling to his feet and cursing, would sprint forward and shoulder into the door, chasing after.
Rhian made after Leoxander at a steady run, darting past the door as it shuts.
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mahri
Global Moderator
Bark bad, bite worse.
Posts: 80
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Post by mahri on Jan 19, 2009 5:02:51 GMT -5
Mahri strolled down the stairs, as casual as you please. The way things stood, either Leo and the vampire would be dead, or by some miracle, both will have survived the night. Pausing just a few feet away from the cage door, Marhi eyes the vines that secured it closed. A few muttered words and they disappear into the floor again, leaving holes where they'd grown out of.
Leoxander was a sad sight to behold. He’d never suffered such a low moment. They’d survived the night, but not easily, and with evidence to show for that. Just because he was awake did not qualify him for ‘conscious’. Leo was on his knees huddled over in a corner of the cage with his skull against the bars, cursing muffled, angry words that were traced with emotion the rogue typically didn’t possess. His own claws had grown just enough to turn his tattooed body into a bloody canvas over the hours, fleshy tears still dribbling at either side of his spine. He was so quiet, so reserved huddled in that corner, hallucinating, that it might take her the entire walk to the cage door to realize what was happening.
Mahri had indeed noticed the state that Leo was in, and quite frankly, it worried her. Perhaps he might not smell the water she'd brought down, not in this current state. Mahri winced seeing the rips and tears in the lycan's flesh. She almost turned around and left then, ashamed to be witness to this low point. However, that might show some sort of weakness of spirit so instead, she crouches down so that she'd be eye-level if he looked over. Terra seemed to be sleeping soundly, if restlessly in an opposite corner, and that owl, well it wasn't paid any mind at all, "Leo. I have water." she says softly, coaxingly.
Leoxander said, "Don’t…” That was all he started with, a whisper like he’d rejected a woman after heartbreak, eyes closed as he looked away. Fingers dug into his hair and caused yellow strands to stick up wildly, a few gummy spots where blood started to dry spiny clumps together. He hadn’t smelled the water, the cellar… none of it. All he could smell was that bitter stench that burned into his brain, driving him closer to the point of insanity. His shoulder drug on the ground in effort to move away, but he only managed to tangle his other arm through the bar, bending that appendage to grip something stable. Never catching his breath, he’d pant heavily in those moments in between, a disgusting blend of foam and blood gathered at the corners of his mouth. His voice cracked, into a furious growl that would start as soft as his whisper, but he was getting angry for no apparent reason. “…Don’t torture me."
Mahri sucked in a breath, as if he might actually think her capable of such. If she cared, and Mahri told herself time and again she didn't, though the Gods only knew why she felt that was a lie, she might have simply walked away then. Instead, she sets the flask of water aside on one of the tables, adorned by a candle set in a wine bottle. Coming back to the doors, the lycan eyes the welds critically. Her and Shi had managed to loosen some of the connections, even though Mahri'd later changed her mind about letting that vampire have any access to the pair inside. Gripping the bars, one or two firm jerks made it creak in protest, another three or four and it was in her hands, set to the side with a release of pent up breath. A few steps more and the flask was in her hand and she was inside, kneeling near Leo. "I have water, to wash out your mouth."
Leoxander revealed his face when he tensed his armorless frame, realizing she was so near. From beneath that blood stuck hair in his eyes, his vision was shadow-rimmed, bloodshot, wet and swollen as though he might have actually resorted to tears at some point. Not likely, considering who this was. But this was a lethally poisoned side of the rogue, not right in his own mind, and further proof would come when he heightened the growl in his throat to a hoarse, crackling sound filled with rage. Despite that she was practically within reach, he yelled roughly, loudly at her, a flash of long white canine teeth glimpsed in the bite of his teeth. If shadow forged shackles were forfeit, and nothing else tied him down, he’d start to move aggressively for her. Aggressively being a weak crawl at this point.
Leoxander shouted, "Get the hell away from me!!"
Leoxander shouted, "Somebody kill this @#^%& dragon!"
Mahri curled her lip at him, growling back and not, in anyway backing off. The stopper on the flask is subtly removed, now keeping it held slightly to the side, "Come and get me, lycan." Oh hell, what was she thinking? Taunting a possibly dying wolf? Pissing him off enough she might be able to pin him and get the water into him? Even Mahri didn't know. The dragon wasn't there anymore, but that didn't seem to matter as she'd shout back.
"Come and get me then, if you want me dead you lazy bastard!"
Leoxander didn’t really want her dead. Somehow, he thought he might have recognized that voice in his mind, but an open maw of a dragon face flooded his feverish mind instead. Grace and ability eluded him that day… he fell flat on his stomach the first time he tried to lurch himself at her, swiping an arm in a bitter attempt to trip up his prey even while down. That didn’t stop him from digging his bloody fingers into the chewed up stone and trying again, but at this point it was like a one armed man in a fist fighting contest… and he was just no match for a perfectly healthy lycan. The most he might do is topple into her, if she didn’t step back to let him fall again. He might tear a piece of her clothing before his shoulders convulsed hard, and his face hid against her (or the floor) for a sickening cough. Weight crumbling to his knees, it became apparent to him then he might be dying… and cursed much more quietly and simply as his anger born strength drained to his cold, bare feet. Give him a moment, he'd probably be up and snarling again. Likely until his last breath.
Mahri wasn't likely to step back so that Leo would find himself atop the female, something she might have otherwise fought against herself, but in this case would take full advantage of and brace one hand against his shoulder, shoving and rolling at the same time to try and get him on his back, and her straddling his heavy, yet weak self. Now, if that wasn't an utter failure, Mahri's knees would inch up to press down on his shoulders, her free hand trying to pry open Leo's mouth and turn his head so when she pourd the water it wouldn't go down his throat but wash over his lips and teeth, rinsing away what remained of the vampire's blood. Otherwise, Mahri might find herself pinned under the 'dead' weight of a very heavy, very solid Leoxander.
Leoxander fought against her, because he couldn’t comprehend what was going on. But worse, was that he couldn’t defend himself against it. As weak and delusional as he was, he still provided enough challenge with instinctive reflexes pushing at Mahri’s hands and wrists, head thrashing to avoid what tasted like acid in his mouth. Strangled sounds might be heard from above as a good portion of that water hit him in the face, some in his mouth, promptly spat out to serve the overall purpose. Coughing and wrenching and cursing, he eventually became too tired to struggle, his wounded body settling reluctantly in that puddle of bloody water as it seems to have calmed him of some of his fever induced rage.
Tenebrae had made it.. somehow... from the rear end of those frozen reaches, through a guard of winter wolves, through the long trek to Vailkrin, and the tunnels under the coffin maker's. Her cheeks were reddened with cold and sunburn, and she was still wrapped in the thick fur clothing of her kidnapper's dead wife, she was thirsty and hungry, and was honestly just looking forward to getting as close to a fire as possible and staying there. She had not expected to step from that tunnel into a scene of... what the hell? She stood, as if the frozen wastes had actually turned her to ice, staring at the woman astride her mate. Her naked mate. The blood. Perhaps it was fortunate she was not a vampire any longer.
Mahri leaned up, if he wasn't still clinging to her wrists as soon as the water ran clear from Leo's mouth. Taking a deep breath, the female slid off Leo, only to look up as a new scent, familiar in a way, but different too, caught her attention. The woman standing there was the same as the one who had been with Leo on the beach when Rhian's baby was dying. Cool silver eyes simply stared back blandly as she got up from the stained floor and out of the cage. She'd meant to give Leo some of that water to drink, but it had taken all that was in the flask simply to clean out the male's mouth. Boldly she approached Tenebrae, jerking a thumb back towards the cage holding both Leo and the other vampire, who had, foturnately slept through that ordeal. It was doubtful Mahri could have done what she did with that one interfering if she'd been awake. "Leo needs medical attention, preferably of the anti-venom type since he took a little taste of vampire last night. He's lucky to have made it this long." Blunt, that was Mahri, and she got right to the point rather than letting Tenebrae vent what was clearly jealous anger upon her.
Leoxander didn’t smell more vampire. Yes, that was a good thing, that day. Not that he could have done a whole lot, in that state he was in. He’d meant to find Tenebrae, not leave her in the cold tundra, but something common had happened on his way to get help and he’d arrived fairly unplanned, unannounced. Hungry. Skip ahead, there he lay on his back, covered in water and self inflicted scratches from a venomous hallucination, one leg bending in a painstakingly slow motion to prove he wasn’t dead just yet. That fire and death taste in his mouth was starting to ease, but he still felt bees inside his throat, crawling slowly for his stomach over the course of the night. Dilated pupils surrounded by hazy, pale colors stared up toward the dark ceiling. Hardly able to breathe, he whispered a desperate name that wasn’t Joliette. He was going to drown, be washed back into the ocean. Where was…? “…Jack.”
Tenebrae drew her lips back over teeth that no longer were fangs, but the gesture was still plain in meaning. "Vamp..." Her eyes cast wildly about the bloodied cell, first at the injured Cap'n, then the red, wet pools, then a crumpled form.... "Terra." Fortunate indeed she was not still a vampire. But whatever rage she might experience had no immortal's power fuelling it, and even if her booted foot 'slipped' on her way across the floor to unfortunately connect with an undead head, she could not really have cared less about the fate of the vampiress right now. Priorities.... Tene's eyes snapped back to Mahri as she strode the distance between herself and Leo, who was moving feebly on the floor of the cage. "What's the damage?" She did not expect the rogue, in his state, to be conscious, and his utterance of that name so dear and familiar to them both drew to to her knees at his side, her hands fluttering over torn flesh. "It's me, Leo. Joli. I'm here." The swathe of fur she wore was soft, and she'd unhook the cloak from her shoulders and bunch it tightly. This held in one one hand, she used the other to smooth a horribly fevered brow, slipping her fingers over it and then to the back of his neck, a slight pressure encouraging him to lift his head. "You stay with me, Cap'n. You stay." There was a tremor in her tone. To Mahri, she said, turning her head quickly that way. "I raise the dead, I have no knowledge of healing.. where's Sophie? Can you find her? Someone..?"
Mahri watched as, oh-ho, now she had a name to go with the woman, Joli made her way to Leo. If there was a twinge of her own, she'd not show it. It was blantantly obviouse the human was mated to the wolf, and that in itself was enough to have Mahri already including her in the pack. "You owe me money by the way," Yeah..money first, then the healer, "I'll find someone. In the meantime, get him to drink something. Milke preferably. It should help neutralize what, if any, of the blood got into his stomach." Leaving those instructions, she pauses a moment, as though she wanted to say something. Perhaps about how different Joli was since she'd last seen her. Weaker somehow. Shrugging her shoulders, Mahri goes back upstairs, intent on finding someone, anyone who could get rid of poisons.
Leoxander said to Tenebrae, "No…” A hand found Tenebrae’s arm now, when he heard a few of her muffled words, but it was unclear what he might be arguing against. He cooperated better to her demands than most, not only because she offered familiar names to his muddled mind, and a helpful touch on the back of his neck that seemed to help him breathe, when he got his head up onto the bunched fur… but also because he knew that sound. Because this had been his partner in crime and life for years, and there had been countless times where she’d reassured him through wounds and hopeless situations before. Starting to settle, if only to prove he didn’t need or -want- more people to show up, he tried to whisper his confused words as calm and quiet as possible. “…D-don’t let it… tear apart the ship, Joli."
Leoxander turned his head as it fell back against the cushioning of the cloak, watching the back of Mahri's feet on her retreat, dazed.
~On the way to the Den~
Mahri shouted, "Rhian! Where are you! "
Mahri shouted, "Rhian, damnit answer me!"
Rhian shouted, "Mahri? Wh're ya'?"
~At the Den~
Mahri runs through the forest, her feet almost not touching the ground. Branches and twigs reach for the lycan as she passes under the trees, and she barely notices or cares when on gets snarled into her hair, tucking out the errant strand here and there, "Rhian!" she is yelling at the top of her lungs, desperatation lacing the tones into something not quite recognized as her own. Sure, she'd kept calm in the cellar, but now that it was clear that without help, Leo would die, the only other person she could think of who could help was Rhian. Stumbling upon the woman just outside the den, Mahri grabs the dark skinned girl's arm, already dragging her back to the Corpse and the cellar below, "You have to come, and hurry. You do have your herbal stuff and healing tonics don't you? You can get rid of poison, can't you?" the words and questions were shot out so fast, Mahri didn't bother to take into account she just might have the baby with her. Of course, why wouldn't she?
Rhian comes lumbering after Mahri as she is now being dragged, trotting to keep pace with the shorter woman's speedy steps, "Oi, wh't's th'pois'n? Th'thin's norm'lly 'ave t'ave a cure'r somethin' t'work, wh't's goin' on?" She of course said this whilst keeping up pace...
Mahri said to Rhian, "Vampire blood." and she keeps going as well, "Now hurrry!"
~Entering the Corpse~
Mahri said to Rhian, "The cellar."
~In the Cellar once More~
Tenebrae said, "The ship's in port, Cap'n." her voice was a low whisper, a murmur full of all those same years. "Storm's passing. But..." How long would take to bring a healer? He was looking so.. frail. Joliette swept her gaze down the length of him, frowning. She had an idea. It was possibly insane. But it was an idea. "Leo. There's another coming. It won't kill us. I hope. But it's a big one, blowing from hell. You stay with me now." Her head lifred toward the stairs, and she called for Steadman, hollering an order for two things. "Milk." was the one. "Keys." The other. It wasn't easy, this. She had no idea what'd happen. One thing she knew, she couldn't leave Terra in that cage. Sadly, having her torn apart might only make things worse. "My darling.. stay still. I have to check the uh... sail poles." If he relinquished his weakened grip, the human woman wasn't long in dragging the vampire from the cell, her body dumped a safe distance from the steel bar. Then she dragged the broken door upright, no easy feat, turned the key in the lock and prayed it was enough to hold him, whispering, "I'm sorry, Cap'n. Batten the hatches." Her voice grew louder. "Leo. I'm leaving you. I have had enough. And I have a new mate. He's.... she glanced about, her eyes alighting on Steadman, whose arm she grabbed. "Right here. Look, Leo. LOOK AT US." And then she took a deep breath, held it and... kissed the bartender, soundly, whose only response was a muffled, "Mrghph!?"""
Leoxander was now in the cage alone. How exactly that had happened, he’d never be able to explain after that night, but while he was laying there in that puddle he was determined to ‘prepare for the storm’. Gripping a cage bar, it took all his effort just to sit up, and then a little extra to lean over and throw up the little bit of blood that had trickled down into his stomach. This give Steadman due time to return with essential items, for Tenebrae to get that lock secured without anything more than a weary glance. What hatches..? What the hell was that smell? -‘Leo…’- the name rang familiar in his ears, the tone uncertain, and his mismatches eyes, so exhausted and stricken from his fever, strained to focus upon her. At first, her news only twisted a knot in his brow and earned her a scathing look. He shook his head dolefully, to plainly say: No, you’re not. But it was hard to decipher truth from fiction, wrong from real with his mind as altered as it was. The expression on his face changed at once the moment she indulged in a passionate liplock while he was laying humiliated, naked, near his own puke and blood. There was Tenebrae: kissing the bartender to prove a point. And basically… Leo couldn’t let that happen.
Mahri 's feet slapped against the steps, not bothering to hide the fact she'd returned with Rhian in tow. "I brought someone! I brought someone.." she stumbles to a halt, not caring if Rhian ran up against her or not and stumbles forward a bit more. She probably had quite the comical look of shock on her face as she darted looks between Joli and Leo. Joli kissing that cyclopian bar tenderd and the lycan behind a door that just sorta..leaned in place. "Oh dear gods.."
Rhian had struggled to stay in tow with Mahri, an arm cradling the bundle hung around her chest tight. Midway through the trip over the babe had began to cry his protests, the sounds now echoing through the place as the healer bumped headlong into the slightly shorter alpha. With black eyes puzzled and infant wailing ringing in her ears, she looked around the area, first at the somewhat familiar woman switching tongues with the tender and then at her apparent lover caged only a little further away. Her dark brows furrow together, was this not just another day at one of Hollow's pubs, and a relatively virtuous one at that? Her weight shifts from heel to heel as she hears Mahri's utterance and juggles the squealing babe and her shrugging off her pack all in one action. "Well wh'app'n'd?" she asks, Mahri's former urgency edging it's way into her voice.
Tenebrae , despite the desperately struggling Steadman's flailing limbs, managed to keep her mouth locked on the man, and swing him about so she could get a good view of the new arrivals. So Mahri found a healer, after all. The barkeep was let go, whereon he backed up hard and voiced his outrage, his one eye firmly set on Leo. Tene's turned that way too now, a weak little smile on her lips, her hands raised palms up in a sort of shrug. "Oh look, sweetheart. The uh.... storm has passed, now. And I am.. you know. Wasn't kissing anyone. Damned delusions..."
Leoxander was going to show Rhian that what had happened hardly mattered. There, he’d been on his death bed and hallucinating just moments ago, and now the lycan was somehow finding the strength, in his dying moments, to crawl to his feet. He’d stumble, and threatened to fall, and in moments Leo literally shivered with rage, but once he’d managed to close the distance between himself and the locked door, things looked up from there. The flat of his hand pushed hard against the cage door, hard enough that it would have shivered on it’s hinges - if it were still attached. Instead, it smacked the cellar floor with a terrible, shattering sound that would cause the wailing child to start all over again. That ear piercing, sorrowful sound only intensified his rage, until needle like quills of fur sprouted from his pores, all over his shoulders and arms. The lower portion of his jaw looked uncomfortable, and both yellow tinted eyes were locked upon Steadman, to his one. He'd always suspected that bartender hated him...
Mahri slowly raised an arm to keep Rhian behind her, so as not to attract the attention of the enraged Leo. "He bit a vampire," she mutters in response to the question, "And for the love of the Gods, quiet the baby." Mahri edges out of the way as Steadman steadily backs away to the stairs, giving him plenty of room if he decides to run, which would be a very bad idea.
Rhian 's eyes widen upon seeing the transformation, gulping down the instinctual growl that rose up among other things...most horrid of all to join the sport against the innocent cyclops. Her attention turns to the babe, pack hung over one arm as it curls about and helps hug the child to her chest. She attempts bouncing him as he wails, soft 'shush's frantically coming from her lips at the infant. She edged away with Mahri, all the while struggling to get the child to shut up already. His wailings only continued unfortunately until he coughed and spewed all over his cloth carrier...That at least softened him through the process, even as the gunk dripped onto mommy's arm.
The situation was... tricky, thought 'Captain Obvious', as she backed up against a table. On one hand, the shift cured Leo. On the other... "Um. Steadman. I think there's customers. Mahri..." Her smile was brittle, one hands fluttering the way of the stairs. "Might want to lock the door after him?" If the wolfess was close enough. She'd give the quieting baby a grateful look, for its messy silence. Back to the rogue.. wolf.. man. Leo. He was on the way to dangerous, and she hoped he'd still hear reason under it. But he'd have to be fully 'dangerous' for the cure to work. Tene eyed the other cage, keeping her eyes on the shifting lycan, stepping backwards again. Maybe she'd have time to reach it... The keys dangled in her hand, clinking slightly.
Mahri nods in understanding, gently herding Rhian towards a shadowed wall, hopefully keeping her and the baby out of sight. Damnit all, if she'd known what Joli was going to do, she'd never have brought either one down here. As soon as Steadman made it up those stairs, Mahri was at his heels, locking the door as it closed behind him and just as quickly, she came back down, placing herself yet again between Rhian and Leo, "You better know what you're doing, woman. Else we're all in a bit of trouble down here." she says to Tenebrae, otherwise known to Mahri as Joli.
Leoxander might bite another one, judging the look he sent toward Tenebrae, as his hands gripped either side of the barred doorframe. But then, technically… she wasn’t a vampire, at that given moment. Ears that sharpened, tapered with a bit of pale fur, turned in aim of the screaming child, who only seemed to get louder by the moment. Steadman, not at all a stealthy individual by any means, was spotted making his retreat - and all hell broke loose. The more his tattoos were buried in fur, the more bones audibly popped and muscles bulged, the more strength he conceived. It all happened very quickly and resulted in Mahri, Rhian, and the baby, potentially being in the way of an enraged lycan, looking to snatch a one eyed bartender… by his spleen.
Leoxander might not get to Steadman on time, but he is also aware of who helped the bartender.
Tenebrae shouted, "Hey Leo!" Tene summed up the situation, in a blink. "Over here, furface!" She took one of those candled bottles and tossed it his way, ungently, beating a hasty retreat for the smaller cage. "Steady is a better kisser than you, you know...""
Leoxander lifted an arm to shield his head, glass shattering against his fur covered appendage, shaken from his fur with an unappreciative snarl. Why did she insist on taunting him? Torturing him..? Didn’t she realize that eventually she might get hurt? In a flash, he was lumbering down the stairs, dropping to four legs in a two-legged frame, to sprint toward her safety zone. Lucky devil that she was… Tenebrae would get behind a closed cage door just as the impact of his hit rattled it, but the predator only circled back at once, his coated shoulders high above a lowered, wolfish skull. Still in that mid-transformation phase where pain was overwhelming and reason was null, it wasn’t long before he crossed Terra’s unconscious body, and started to pick the woman up by her throat, growling viciously close to her pale face.
Rhian was hurried into a shadowed corner soon after the raging lycan was headed towards them, the door, the stairs. The woman all too eager to be herded, shoved even, escaping for the refuge of the corner just as the raging Lycan reached for the locked door and clutching the messied child to her chest with her other arm weilding the heavy pack like a mace, she was in a pathetic position to defending herself if he even thought of tumbling in her general direction. Tenebrae's taunts reached her ears, not distracting her gaze one moment from Leoxander, only making her arm tense all the more as the child had sufficiently emptied himself and paused in soft whines in preperation for another trumpeting scream in those tiny lungs.
Tenebrae dropped the keys, on that impact, watched with horror as the tranformed Cap'n went to make exactly the same error he'd made... "Stop him!" All she needed was a dead mate to top the day off. As much as she might have enjoyed the impending result of his rage, at the moment. She'd rattle those bars, hard. "Don't let him bite..!"
Mahri barks an order to Rhian, "Stay down, stay small, don't be seen." Leo was pure predator now and well, Mahri wasn't about to let him hurt anyone, even if she might be too late for Tenebrae, stupid woman to taunt and mock him that way. It almost seemed she deserved whatever she got, and she'd get no sympathy from Mahri at all. "Put her down, Leo." she says, that same tone of authority in her voice as she'd used with Shishi the night before. Leaving Rhian and the baby in the corner, Mahri stalks towards the cage, this one with the fully functioning door. Her stance outside of it said she was ready, and nearly willing, nay eager to fight with Leo. An arched brow expressed her expectation that even now he'd do as she said, and if not, well, let the games begin.
Rhian was all too eager to obey, a silent prayer being offered to any spirits that favored her in the area. The pack was still held as if a bludgeon and her back pressed against the corner's walls with babe held tight to her chest. She bounced him, whispered inaudible coos into his downy head, anything to keep that wail from breaking loose.
Leoxander was so tired. Hungry, but sick. The brief moment of comfort had just not lasted long enough. And now… he was angry. Enough that he’d throw a body like a barrel, flinging Terra back forcefully against the first wolf to come his way. He recognized their scent, their pack status… but the lack of respect was humiliating. Leo forfeit his place to the know ledged, wiser wolf, and for good reason given these little outbursts. He was far too confused to try to understand why she would rebel against him, now. The only option was to take them down… Mahri could catch her and deal with that burden, dodge and let it her fall… it hardly mattered to him. His dire need for the moment altered, when the screaming child suddenly became too much. That’s when his path changed toward Rhian and the baby, and that was probably all the challenge he might need to present to encourage a full lycan brawl in a small, enclosed cellar. All predator, his fever dangerously high and causing pinned ears to ring, he didn't hear his name, anymore.
Tenebrae really couldn't do much but watch, her fingers clung to bars, her breath stilling-- but not as it once might have, she'd actually need to inhale, sooner or later -- until it was clear Leo wwas both fuly changed to his resilient, lupine form, and wasn't going to poison himself again. That a fight was impending was obvious, but it was better than the alternative.
Mahri automatically caught the flying body of the vampire, and heaven only knew why she'd simply let the body fall with a thud to the cold cellar floor. Of course, that might have been better than flying into a wall. At the same time, she passes the cell that Tene had gone into, shoving the door closed behind the woman, "Stay there." As if she'll listen..shucking her clothing, Mahri does the abridged version of her own shifting, claws clacking on the floor as the wolf races towards Leo and her packmates. Skidding around him, a blur of black, Mahri wedges herself side ways, hackles raised and spittle dripping from her fangs in a growl deep and low with warning.
Rhian 's fears had only been confirmed as the hunk of blonde came lumbering towards her. The child was far too unhappy now to be quieted by motherly comforts. There are warring instincts raging in her mind that come to a plain conclusion, the human winning out for now as she attempts darting to the side, only to stumble over odds and ends to the ground and thankfully rolling in mid fall to her back, cushioning the child's fall. The pack was abandoned to the ground and both arms held tight to the child whose muffled cries continued to echo through the place. Upon rolling to her side she comes face to tail with Mahri's furry backside, the woman scrambling to her feet, a lanky arm always clinging to the bundle in a sling. It took every human control she had not to break into challenging snarls towards Leoxander and with each passing moment of aggression it became harder.
Leoxander was towered over Rhian, staring venomously at the terrified infant in her arms. No claws poised to kill, a tension other than a preparation of a pounce, and suddenly his roar splintered through the cellar as his disrespectful Alpha should have the nerve to come between them. He engaged almost immediately, his temper fully blown and run free in his disoriented, half shifted state… and it refused to cross over into the fluid, nature born beast Mahri achieved. The smack regenerating limbs the crunch of teeth amidst a duo of growls, and bits of blonde and black fur would dust the floor, more pale than dark. Simply too much of his coat to be caused from a few less than fatal bites. There is a point in this terrifying fray where Leoxander’s energy simply can’t hold up to his temper, and all she will need is a moment, a mistake, to take the upper hand in that short lived duel. He remains painfully lodged in a familiar state of incompletion, ready and willing to tempt death.
Tenebrae eyes flickered again and again to the fallen vampire's form. It was like a lump of baited liver in a kennel, lying out there, and Leo wasn't yet shifted as she'd hoped. Her lips pressed thin, she saw no choice but to attempt to remove the danger, not only to Leo but the others as well-- she couldn't know how in control any of them were, in situations like this. So Mahri's directive was for the moment ignored, the key scraping softly in the lock. The door mght whine gently as she swung it open, but the battle would hopefully mean Leo's attention was diverted long enough for her to get Terra to safety. Leo's safety, that is.
Mahri took entirely all advantage she could. Her jaws snapped those lethal teeth at Leo, seeking any sort of flesh to sink into, and once she had that grip, the wolf would pull and tug and try to drag the half formed lycan away from the mother and her pup. Her claws dig furrows into the floor as the scramble for purchase. Where his teeth and claws had gotten her, fresh blood coated and matted the black coat.
Rhian managed to get to her feet, both arms clutching the whining bundle once more, no comforts whispered him as she kept her black eyes on the ensuing brawl. She pinned herself as close to the wall as possible, edging along it and tensing as the fight came near only to veer away. Her path took her towards the door, the only escape for her and her child in this chaos. The black eyes flicked over to Tenebrae as she made her sneaking escape from the kennel and halfway on her journey if not stopped she paused, sudden debate over whether she should attempt making her own escape or not.
Leoxander heard his own voice break, a growl into a human yell, just as Mahri’s fangs dug into the bare skin at his ribs, giving a good pull. The pain triggered his wolf defenses, but only his eyes and teeth flashed now as his blood hit the ground anew. He’d never rightfully lost a serious brawl, a fight, or anything similar. Though not in his best conditioning, with a strange excuse for the challenge, the alpha could now justify her rank, now that she’d humbled him a little. It was always going to be difficult to tell just when Leo was ‘down’, as he always tended to pop back up like the dead villain at the end of a brutal tale. But as the transformation reversed back in the opposite direction Tenebrae wished it to go, and his cheek hit the floorboards with a panted breath, that seemed to be as down as he could get. Needless to say his arrival had made an outstanding impression on the Corpse cellar, over the past couple days. A second or third time, and -still- those cages weren’t reinforced for an out of control werewolf.
Tenebrae said, "Ohshi..." Tene almost had Terra in the cage, when her plan went to hell in a handbasket properly. Stuffing the vampire's limp form in and securing the door, she'd wheel back to where a decidedly more human -- and presumably still poisoned Leo lay, her eyes helplessly seeking the others. "He needs that healer...""
Mahri released Leoxander just as he hit the floor. Her intent had never been to seriously wound, not even establish her rank with him, it had merely been to keep him away from Rhian and the baby. It seemed to have worked, and, sides heaving as she caught her breath, the wolf backs away from Leo, laying down with a soft whine as she begins to lick at her own wounds.
Rhian supresses a sigh as the blatant interruption to buisness finally comes to a halt. Her black eyes flick first to Mahri, then to the wounded man, then to Tenebrae. As she walks back to the corner to rifle through fallen supplies and draw out the gnarled strap of her pack, unfortunately caught in the crossfire of the two wolves, she passed by Mahri, glancing towards the matted fur and saying in hurried hushed tones, "If those ar'n't done fixin' 'emselves y'next..." "I'll need someb'dy t'old m'kid, Lady Tene," she said louder as she stepped towards the felled man, kneeling down with one hand still clutching her son protectively tight in his stinking sling. Finally his cries die down to a few whimpers before he has sufficiently cried himself into quiet slumber.
Leoxander posed no more threat for the time being. The beast was finally subdued - poisoned, but too tired to suffer.
Tenebrae stared at the baby. Irony abounded, that was for sure. She glanced to the wounded, back to the child, and nodded, holding her arms out to collect the infant. Last time she'd done this, she'd been planning on a tasty snack.
Mahri lifted her muzzle in a wolfish grin to Rhian, nonpulsed by the girl's threat of being 'next'. Idly, she went back to cleaning the wounds, some deeper than others, some merely scratches that would heal as soon as she shifted back. Others though, might require a bit of time, but weren't nearly as bad as the recent wound she received from a bit of stupidity and a novice swordsman.
Leoxander looked the most peaceful he’d been in a long time, save the blood and bites. He was dreaming, even if they might never know it. Better, brighter days, the ongoing horizon at sea… those kinds of things. All that showed of the pirate through the blood and muck, face down, were those rites of passage, an runed, desert temple design woven into tribal threads of ink. Spanning his entire upper back, barely faded from the sun.
Rhian passed the softly breathing bundle into the hands of Tenebrae, her nose sniffing once more in the stale air just before the vomited fabric touched the other woman's fingers. No bitterness filled her confidence a bit as she let her pack drop to the ground and hunched over it. Her bony fingers deftly began undoing the tight knot, not even a lycan brawl had managed to tear it open. Upon being opened, her hand dissapeared into the pack, rummaging around. She proceeded to withdraw a few plant bundles, a wine skin, mortar and pestel, and a small daggar. A hint of unease entered the woman's black eyes as she surveyed the plants laid in front of her. One for poisons, the other for...fever that was it. A bony hand went up to feel around Leo's face, keeping a wide berth of his mouth. "Alright, wh'ev'r knows th'most 'bout vampir's spew all y'know quick so I c'n make this work right," she queries, gaze shifting momentarily to Tenebrae.
Rhian also made to heave the man over onto his back while she was at it, a formidible feat with his dead weight. . Isen slips in down from above, viewing the situation silently, while taking a position atop a barrel.
Tenebrae held the thankfully sleeping baby awkwardly, like a parcel that might contain something unpleasant, all the while studying her mate's unconscious form with apparent distress. "Never should have...idiot." This, muttered under her breath, and like self-blame, until Rhian's comment broke the thread. "Hm? Vampires. Well. The blood is poison, to a lycan." Terra's direction was given a filthy look. "Depends on how much of it he got in him. I was hoping a full shift might.." The woman swallowed, shook her head. "It's not fatal, unless there's a huge dose. But he'll be sick. Fevered. It'll slow his healing, the wounds need help." Tene glanced to Mahri, glad the female lycan wasn't too harmed. "Somebody needs to help him make that shift more smoothly. He can't go on like this." Then those minty eyes returned to the man on the floor, scanning over the strange markings. One more thing it was probably best not to ask him about.
Mahri rests her chin on folded paws, eying Isen as he takes a casual seat. Normally she'd have shifted back by now, and had been preparing to do as much. However, a naked female might not be the best thing at the moment and her clothes were on the floor near the eastern cage. Besides, watching Tenebrae with baby was entertaining enough. Shifting her silvery eyes that direction, Mahri gets up and meanders, albeit with a slight limp, to the woman, her tail giving a slow wag in reassurance in regards to Leo's skills at shifting. This lycan had a plan and an idea. She just had to get to see that old Crone again.
Leoxander would reject no treatment, and offer no modesty in his unconscious state. Rhian would have no grumbling, cursing opinion to deal, nor Mahri a reprimand for her trying to be the ‘hero’ again. No growl Tenebrae’s way, and he missed giving Isen the usual silent nod. He laid there and his body focused it’s energy on simply breathing. What a strange dream... that was the cause of a sporadic muscle twitch or two.
Rhian felt warmth under her palm, eyes always focused on her work, even with the arrival of the new smell among the wolves. Her hands moved back to the menagerie of supplies, head bobbing along with Tenebrae's words even as Mahri passed. "I c'n bandage 'im up n' give 'im somethin' t'elp th'pois'n n' th'fev'r. Aft'r t'at it's up t'im," she says as she takes the dagger and works to chop a bit off the bundles, place them into the bowl before getting to work grinding them down. All manner of such steps were gone through, the woman muttering a few strange words under her breath as she poured water into the fine paste made of the herbs. Leo's head was lifted, her thumb coming around to pry open his mouth and pour the contents of the bowl into it little by little for him to swallow. If such were a success she'd rummage in her pack some more, taking another skin, some clothes, and a thick roll of bandages out to place them amongst her supplies and begin the arduous procedure of patching up his wounds.
Tenebrae watched the healer at work, now and then rocking Rhian's son, as she'd seen the village breeders do to their endlessly arriving brats. This day had made plain to her the fears she'd been left to muse on up in that mountian camp were not unjustified. Her gaze swept the roomful of lycanthropes, Isen included, the male given a wan smile of greeting. Then to the stairs, where her eyes would focus for a long moment. Valikrin was no place for a mortal, unless it was to become somebody's meal. And a clan full of immortals could not respect such a fragile leader as she'd become. Leo was not the only one whose mind turned to fairer climes, at that point. No, this was no longer her place. But the decision was not voiced, above a soft and ancient elvish lullaby murmured past rosy lips, more for her own comfort than that of the healer's son.
Mahri shuffles past Tenebrae, gathering hastily discarded clothing in her mouth before slipping between tables to a rather dark corner, once more shifting, sans the long description of such, sufice to say it was not a pleasant experience as could be heard from the whimpers and then human groans. Taking a moment to acclimate herself, Mahri is soon dressed and wandering out of that corner, pushing her hair back out of her face before coming to stand near, if not next to, Tenebrae. "Want me to take him?" she asks softly, indicating the bundle in her arms.
Leoxander was soon dressed, in the sense his ribs and arm were well bandaged, not to mention he’d breathe easier almost immediately after ingesting Rhian’s home made remedy. Though no one knew him to be half awake, he was listening to the necromancer’s melody, a song not at all like her. But then, she just wasn’t herself, anymore. Dreams shifted to concerned nightmares before they gave way to the few happy memories he had, his mind reeling rapidly through to make it a very restless sleep. But sleep is exactly what he did, pooling a noticeable lycanthrope body heat that is only enhanced by his fading fever.
Rhian rolled the remainder of the bandages, tossed aside dirty rags, and corked the whisky skin, though her eyes lingered on that one longer than they should before it was thrust back into the pack with the other supplies. A small sigh of relief was allowed as she wiped her sweaty brow and started tying the pack back into the tight knot that sealed it. Her attention shifted to her patient, dressings done neat enough, his condition improving ever so little. A crooked grin finally quirked her lips that night as she shouldered the pack back over her shoulders and turned to face Tenebrae and Mahri. "Make sure 'e gets plenty o' rest if y'can," she says to the former vampriss before her attention trails down to the sleeping bundle in either of their arms. Her hands hastily went out to re-take her child.
Tenebrae nodded again, her song ceasing. The sleeping child-- and he would sleep deeply, the song an old spell for soothing children, though Garath had never told Joliette that detail- was handed over gently, and she stepped toward the equally recumbent rogue. "Thankyou." It was a small word, in a small voice, directed toward Rhian, and she said nothing more, only kneeled, lifted her forefinger to her lips and kissed its tip. This was then pressed the Leo's brow. "I'd be happy to give you gold, for ongoing treatments, if needed. Just to make sure..." Then she stood, straightened her furlined dress. "Steadman will be instructed to pay you. And you too, what I owe you." The last was to Mahri. "But I have to.. I have some business to see to."
Mahri was going to take the child, but Rhian beat her to it, much to her chagrin. As Joli attended her mate, Mahri watches on, her features carefully schooled into a mask of indifference, "Don't worry about what you owe me." she shrugs off the debt, deciding to assume it never existed anyway. "We'll be sure he gets well."
Tenebrae smiled again. softly, and said nothing more before she made her way the tavern's stairs to unlock to the door, and there was a pause of her shadow she cast against the light there, before it shifted and there was only the candleabrum's glow.
Rhian opened her mouth as if in protest, but the woman had already taken her leave by the time any words made effort to rise in her throat. Pursing her lips she looks down to Leo, then back up to Mahri. "W'should move 'im somewh're nic'r th'n th'basem'nt," she says as she adjusts the vomitted sling back around her chest to let the babe lie comfortably once more. Only then does she curiosly glance towards Isen before attention returns back to Mahri and the issue at hand.
Mahri nods, chewing her lip a moment before suggesting, "I believe there are rooms upstairs, perhaps..one of them?"
Rhian nods her head, wincing at the daunting task of dragging the dead weight of the man between them up so many stairs. "I know one, got some real nice weavin's on th'walls." After a pause, where the child was re-adjusted once more, "We'd bett'r get start'd th'n..."
Mahri nods and moves to stand on one side of Leo, stooping down to hook an arm under his and grip at the naked male's shoulder. Of course, she studiously avoids looking any lower than perhaps his collar bone. "If you can't, I'll do it myself, Rhian."
Leoxander shifted somewhat when moved, proof that he hasn't passed away, since his breathing has become normal and quiet once more. A half hearted groan, cut off, as he yet lacks the voice for it.
Rhian rolls her eyes, granting her alpha and friend her second grin of the night, "Nah, I c'n 'andle a scrawny man like 'im." She positions herself at the end of his legs, kneeling down and letting her arms lock around his ankles. "On th'count o't'ree? One...two..." and on the third beat she moved to heave the man's bottom half upwards.
Leoxander doesn't seem to object further. His head falls back almost lifelessly, revealing yet another complicated design on one side of his neck. He had his markings, in either form.
Mahri chuckles, a surprising sound considering all that had gone on that night. With Leo's top half raised, and now his legs, it might be easier to get up the stairs without having to totally drag him, "Just tell me which one, I've only been up there once and in one room. Lots of stuff in there.." she trails off, beginning to move backwards, glancing over her shoulder once in a while so as not to trip over anything. The stairs wouldn't be much of a problem..she hoped.
~Upstairs, in the Corpse~
Mahri huffs a bit from carrying Leo all the way up them stairs, even if she had Rhian's help. There was still another flight to go as she edged around tables, careful not to knock Leo against any of them. Steadman, to give him credit, stays behind the bar only eyeing the lycan the two females carried between them.
Rhian came walking up from the cellar, with Mahri in tow, both women carrying a seemingly unconcious Leoxander towards the stairs leading to the rooms. With a few grunts the entire way she continues onward up the other set of stairs with the ontorage.,
Leoxander remained unconscious, surprisingly lean, despite his height. In this human form, which appeared covered in bandages, the definition of his ribs show to prove he hasn’t eaten well in a while. Which could be an important detail, given his behavior downstairs.
~In a Hallway~
Mahri arched a brow to Rhian, "Which one?" She knew the room directly north and behind her was far from a bed room. Interesting stuff in there though.
Rhian points towards the room to the east, Den of Vixens it was known as to others, though she only knew it to contained a good bath and a good bed.
Mahri nods, "You first." As soon as Rhian moves, Mahri would actually follow. It made more sense than trying to turn in the hallway.
Mahri and Rhian both manage, with some swearing from one, and snickers from the other, to get Leo onto the bed that dominates the room. When he's as settled as he is ever going to get, Mahri brushes her hands against leather clad thighs and glances at Rhian, "You are exhausted. Go back to the den and take care of Aiden, I'll stay here tonight, on a couch, and keep watch." Rhian, for her part, didn't argue, simply nodded and left mumbled instructions, which Mahri waved away before settling onto a couch as promised. It was unlikely she'd actually sleep.
Leoxander recovered as he rested, for more time than might actually seem to tick by. As Rhian had suggested, he needed it. Throughout the night he dreamt of Jack, hand reaching over the edge of the bed in search, a wince crossing his features as he instinctively rolled onto his ribs, and stayed there. He didn’t like putting his back to the world as he slept, but he favored opening his heart to it, even less. The other arm remained curled about his middle in support, and over time, he worked through his fever and finally stopped shivering beneath cotton sheets. When the aid of Rhian’s herbs finally wore off, discomfort touched his features, one subtle detail at a time. Tension in his jaw at first, then a crease in his brow. Callused fingers hanging off the edge of the bed would eventually twitch.
Mahri 's eyes were drawn to the twitching fingers. What she might have been thinking about through that night was quickly shoved to the back of her mind as she got to her feet, wincing at the pins and needles that came with immobility for such a long period. Coming to the edge of the bed, she reached out, tentatively, to brush the tips of her fingers over Leo's forehead. She told herself it was to feel for a fever, and she almost believed it. Any idiot could see it had broken during the night, "Leo?" she calls softly, almost hoping he wouldn't wake up.
Leoxander mouthed the exact name she was looking for almost immediately in response, no sound to back him up, though. He knew who she was, that she was there, in half of those most recent dreams if nothing else. If he had managed anything at that point, it would have been a hoarse croak, due to his love for growling when angry. Leo didn’t open his eyes for anyone or anything, yet. In fact, the more conscious he became, the harder they tried to shut. Still perfectly still with his face only half buried in a pillow and remaining there. Maybe she got her wish.. maybe he hadn’t woken up…
Mahri sighed softly, letting her hand fall to her side again before settling on the edge of the bed, pondering a moment the advisability of getting him water. It was doubtful that Steadman would be inclined to bring any up. Reluctant to leave him though, Mahri stared at the door, indecisive for once. Why hadn't she just gone back to the couch? Maybe..she felt some what responsible for the current condition Leo found himself in. Oh, she knew it wasn't her fault exactly, but she still felt that maybe, if she had just gotten that vampire out of the cell, or if..bah, so many ifs, and she wasn't going to dwell on them. Making her decision, Mahri gets up, the bed shifting with the loss of her weight and heads towards the door.
Leoxander made a gruff sound against the pillow just before her hand might touch on the door handle, and by the time she turned he was stupidly trying to crawl out of bed. At least to the point where he might put his hands near his shoulders or his elbows to the sheets, to pick his face out of the linen. But fingers dug into his scalp and he forfeit the idea almost at once, feeling the uncomfortable ache that tore through his limbs and nerves. Whether Mahri left at that point, or lingered to see him drop back to his stomach, she might catch the slurred words he hissed bitterly at himself. “…the hell’d I drink..?” He had one hell of a hangover, that was for sure.
Mahri hadn't left, in fact, the groan that came from the bed had her turning with raised brows and hurrying back, "Drink? What did you drink? Oh don't tell me you don't remember.." Why would he remember? What a stupid question. Stupid seemed to be the theme for the night as she placed one knee on the matress and one hand on Leo's shoulder, "You took a lovely little bite out of a vampire and almost died, that's what happened." She wouldn't be gentle as that hand on his shoulder tried to shove Leo hard into the mattress, uncaring, perhaps due to her own worries, if it caused more discomfort for the lycan.
Leoxander couldn’t fight her, not now. Her words came as a muffled explanation and the breath left him almost a heavy sigh of relief as he was guided to collapse back into the soft bed. Of course, leave it to him to come up with the most inappropriate and selfish thing to remark about in a low mutter of response, when she revealed what happened. “…I gotta headache.” A life-ache, was more like it… even the hair on his arms and legs hurt from the way it had grown from his pores in transformation. A wave of dizziness came and went, mismatched eyes finally cracking open, to reveal one at least… a washed out blue color more pale than the hue he’d been born with, glazed with a thin film of moisture that only hinted at his discomfort, and disoriented state. He’d have a hard time focusing on Mahri, but managed for a moment.
Mahri ground her teeth together. It beat the hell outta her why she cared but she muttered a "be right back" and went to the door, opening it to bellow down the hall and stairs, "Steadman, bring up water, or have someone else bring it up. I don't care how it gets here, just get it here!" Closing the door with a not so gentle push so that it fairly slammed into place, Mahri stalked back to the bed and dropped heavily onto the edge. Her silvery gaze traveled over the too thin lycan laying there before she accused, "You haven't been eating." Just then, a timid knock came at the door and Mahri vacated her spot to answer it with a glare, taking the tray holding a pitcher of water and a glass without so much as a 'thank you' to the poor wretch who'd been chosen to bring it up. Toeing the door closed, she didn't quite get the satisfaction of another slam as she brought the tray to the bed, setting it on the table next to it and pouring a glass for Leo, "Here, drink." she orders, albeit kindly, holding out the glass for him.
Leoxander seemed to have one eye glued shut as he opted to turn his back to the pillows, sitting up a little higher in bed but not high enough that the sheets won’t keep him decent. Elbows propping his weakened position, he grimaced and groaned like he was four times his age, trying to swallow the sounds by the time the door was slammed to punctuate Mahri’s demand. Squinting through the dull light, he met her eyes wearily, in silence, barely starting to think of a defense when the knock interrupted that short lived conversation. He watched, waited, and complied, sitting up with a hand reaching out to steady the glass he abruptly sneezed against and pulled away from. An inked arm wiped across his mouth as he muttered, only half surprised, “There’s something in it…” All he needed was a wiff. “Foxglove purpurea.” A subtle and simple way to get a patron sick, hardly lethal. But did she really expect Steadman not to -try-?
Mahri glared daggers at the pitcher, and if it was that one-eyed poor excuse for a bartender, he'd have been dead about three seconds ago. "I'll kill him my self, bastard." Taking the glass back, sloshing a bit of the water, Mahri gets up from the bed and begins to pace, not making a move to go down and make good on that promise..yet. Runing her fingers through her hair, the midnight strands flutter down her back. "Don't bother? Fine?" She rounded on him, that glare squarly meant for Leo now. "How can you say that? You almost died from biting that little blond vampire, who by the way you threw at me. You are entirely too thin and weak. Honestly..what is to be done about you? Your mate should take better care of you.." the last is muttered even as her temper deflates and she sinks onto the couch. Mahri stares at the glass of water she seems to have kept a hold of.
Tenebrae shouted, "Hell....oops."
Tenebrae shouted, "Ow. Hello?"
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mahri
Global Moderator
Bark bad, bite worse.
Posts: 80
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Post by mahri on Jan 19, 2009 5:04:09 GMT -5
Mahri stares at the glass of water she seems to have kept a hold of.
Leoxander sank back on the bed with his headache, trying to figure out what was going on, while Mahri was obviously stressed and upset over something. He noticed how battered she looked, it was difficult to miss how battered he felt, so after putting together two and two he only assumed they’d been in some kind of… drunken bar fight? She hadn’t seemed the type for that kind of sport. A pause given, because as soon as his mate is brought into the conversation, he hears her yelling from downstairs. “Well in case you didn’t realize it…” his voice remained surprisingly calm and deep this time, when he spoke. He was too tired for any kind of temper, and half lidded eyes showed it. “…we don’t exactly see things… eye level.” That seemed to be the most delicate way of putting it. Did Mahri realize what she was demanding of Tenebrae? He nearly laughed at the idea of trying to hunt something with a vampire around, and the spilled blood that would result. They’d be at each other’s throats over the kill like starved dogs for a table scrap.
Leoxander said, "...What little blonde vampire?"
Leoxander paled considerably, the moment the question left his mouth. Mahri snorts at what seemed to be the understatement of the century, and almost took a drink of the water herself before remembering and putting the glass on the floor, "Sounds like a rather interesting relationship." Drawing her gaze from her place on the couch to the lycan in the bed, Mahri shrugs at the question, "The same one you kept looking at like she was about to be your next meal. I don't know her name. She's just..small and blond"
Tenebrae was in time overhear that last bit, because she was listening at the door. She'd thought she'd seen someone in the window of the Den of Thieves, and called up a quiet greeting, interrupted by a vampire child who'd mistaken her for supper and nipped her hand, only to be dragged away by its terrified-looking siress. A hasty journey up the stairs, hoping it was Leo, hoping he was still there.. and all she'd found was evidence of some lycan/vampire party. And quite the party, to judge by all those bottles. So, she'd tried without the benefit of sharper senses to track any sign of blood or fur to him... heard the voices, knew the tone. And now the answer to Leo's question, and the reason for it, was of a deal of interest to the necromancer, as she opened the door --which was closed-- gingerly. Tene had not a lot to say, right now, but to cast a quick glance across Leo, presumably to see that he was alright.
Leoxander didn’t bother to hide the expression on his face right away - he forgot to. Shock, was the most simple description. But his eyes were far away and there was a tinge of fear as he realized who Mahri was speaking of. Not denying the way she described the look, even if she only referred to his werewolf ways. Pain etched back into his brow and he took his eyes away from the Alpha, ready to take a breath and dare to ask if Terra was alive. If she’d already mentioned it, his brain was too reminiscent of slush to comprehend more than a few words at a time. The sound of someone at the opposite side of that door paused him, and he turned his head, too weak to lift it from the pillow, to look. Eye contact with Tenebrae made, he studied her face passively to see how much she knew. About this… about everything…
Mahri followed Leo's gaze to the door and got up from the couch, leaving the glass on the floor, after all, she wasn't a freakin' maid or anything like that. "I'll be going then.." and she will, if not stopped, even though she really didn't think either one of them would make such a move. Pausing to speak to Tenebrae, she says simply, "Feed him. He's weak from not eating. Such a sad state, really." Offering the woman a faint smile, the lycan exits the room, leaving the rest of the male's care up to his mate.
His mate raised a brow and nodded by way of reply to the lycaness before she stepped properly into the room. Leo's groggy stare had the other one lift to match it. "Your little blonde vampiress is in a cage, below, if nobody moved her." She'd add, "Quite alive. Hard to tell, though, with the undead, you know how it is." A set of keys were drawn from the pocket of her dress, and tossed on the bed from a few feet away. "So, how are you feeling, Leo? Up to some supper?"
Leoxander didn’t like the idea of being a burden. Bleary eyed and achy, he took his attention from Mahri once she’d made her way to the door, tempted to keep her as a witness but knowing the last thing she probably wanted, or deserved to do, was waste more time aiding him. Tenebrae, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have much choice in the matter, judging by the way the Alpha gave her advice. He didn’t argue, nor did he agree with her comment about his condition. Instead he went right for the core of the conversation, his voice rough and hoarse. Never one to lose the opportunity for sarcasm. “As long as it’s not vampire.” A slight shudder coursed through him at the word and he looked almost sick, giving her a good reason to wonder if he’d ever be able to tolerate those things, if she returned to her immortal state. "I feel like $#@&." ...Nor would he miss the opportunity to curse.
Tenebrae 's smile was... broad. "Now, now, you weren't that rough with the ..." She caught herself. "Woman. Plus, she's a…. vampire, she probably liked it. No need for guilt." Tene bustled about, picked up the glass, looking for a means to refill it. "I'll have Stead... er." Steadman was nowhere to be found, at this point. At least, not to Tenebrae. "One of the lasses bring you a steak. That ought to help." She'd have passed for a fur-clad Florence Nightingale, she was so brisk. "Better in no time."
Leoxander studied her mouth as she smiled, as she spoke. Little things, he was gladly remembering again. The way she articulated most words, and caught the mistakes in a few others. He’d have to blink himself out of that daze as she finished. A slow nod accepted her reassurance, but he couldn’t help but remark quietly as he felt his weight ease back into warm pillows, bandages instead of armor secured to his frame. “M’kinda tired, this time…” It wasn’t as bad as him admitting he was getting old. Age wouldn’t exist for him for another century, at least. It was a moment of honesty, a moment of weakness, that he would offer no one else the opportunity to see. It was hard to ignore the fact that she avoided the bed. "Joli...?" He finally sought to stop her pacing with a quiet call of her name.
"Hmm?" There was that little uptilted note at the end of the sound, as she turned from the task of making sure he wouldn't choke on any stray bits of dust clinging to the desk. A frown crossed her brow, as she realised the covers were disturbingly untidy, but stood waiting for him to finish whatever he was going to say.
Leoxander didn’t alter his expression. Not in the pause or when he finally spoke. It was borderline between anger and concern, as though he had some reason to be the one offended. “I kissed her. Once. It was an accident.” There would be no taking those words back, but he wouldn’t have wanted to at that point. Tenebrae never had to rant her jealousy to show it; she had far more subtle ways that managed to prod the lycan’s guilt until… even a thief was confessing his weakest moment. Or maybe it wasn’t her doing, at all. “That’s it.” No simple thing, but he managed to keep it sounding small until he knew how she might react. Good thing she was human, or he might have been in extreme danger, at that moment. “How many sins do you want before you’ll have a seat?” Apparently unafraid that she might condemn him for this, he tipped his jaw toward the empty space on the bed, waiting.
Tenebrae took in a long, slow breath. "I don't need to hear any more than that, Leo. But I'm not sitting down." Her lower lip was chewed a little. "That whore's been after you for a long time." Tene shrugged. "She wins. I hope you're happy. But I.. I can't do this, anymore." She shook her head, turned away. Tenebrae would be sure to order that steak for him, though, before she made her final exit of the Corpse.
Leoxander watched her demeanor change very little. He had a suspicion then, watching her shrug, her eyes tear away, that she’d made her decision long before his confession. At first, it seemed he would only stare with a lifeless and unchanging expression of his own, mismatched eyes following her steps to the door as she went to… order his meal. But the moment she started to take that first descending step, she’d hear the rogue’s weight hit the floor next to the bed, a heavy grunt of ache, and her name growled to the point even the coffin maker next door might hear it. He was really sick, or he’d have easily stopped her.
Tenebrae winced at the sound. There was still no overt show of emotion in the human, even as her name tore the air like his voice had claws of its own, nor as she heard the thud of his body. But she did stop her foot hitting that next step. Her eyes rolled ceilingward as she paused there, hovering between one state of mind and another. Perhaps the vampire Tenebrae might have kept on with her descent and then set fire to the imprisoned Terra on the way out, just to let him know she wasn't happy. The human Joliette had more heart, though-- and even as much as she wanted to be away from the rogue, just now, could not leave him where he lay. So, she turned back, stopped over his fallen frame. He'd see a pale hand extend down, fingers splayed. “C'mon. Back to bed."
Leoxander remained broken, weight on his arm, and what appeared to be a grimace on his features. Panting for breath that came with a slight sting of pain, he waited, biding his time until that moment pale fingertips were within reach. Because she couldn’t have expected it, and because her human reflexes were not entirely matched to a lycan, even a sick one… he should have no problem suddenly reaching for the back of her leg, the back of her neck, twisting her down until her back thumped hard on the floor. He could hardly sit up, but that didn’t stop him from crawling half on top of her, to pin her down with his weight. The vibration of a growl rumbled through him, through her, through the bed and ground. She might hate him. Worse she might bite him, but regardless, he crushed his mouth down on hers forcibly, and took a long and aggressive - albeit, still passionate kiss that would leave her rosy lips all the more red from abuse. Face close to hers and entirely out of breath, he found enough to say. “It -wasn’t- like that.” She didn’t want any more details, but he had to make a point. A hand gripping her hair, his narrowed eyes held hers, and he bit down sharply on each and every word. “I. Don’t... Love. Her.”
Tenebrae sucked on a fleck of blood he'd drawn to her lip, her breath hoarse under his bulk, and the discomfort, and... perhaps a little fear, mixed in whatever else she was feeling. It'd be hard to tell exactly what. "Liked her well enough to leave me in the fecking snow and go running back here to stick your tongue down her throat, though." It was spoken calmly, her body poised in the tautness of the moment. "I think you must not love me much, either." Those words almost undid her demeanour, and a sharp sting in her eyes made her blink. "Let me up, Leo. You need to get back to bed."
Leoxander didn’t have the patience for this. Fortunately, he didn’t have the strength either. “That’s not what happened!” His words were beyond a yell, they were with a force that could leave her ears ringing, but if that wasn’t enough, a fist was slammed on the floor so close to her head, that a sharp crack warned the lycan to get control, before he broke something. Trembling fingers unfurled, and he panted words that cracked, gradually taking his ability to be terrifying, let alone speak at all. “…I thought you would forgive me.” But he had thought wrong, that much was clear. She wasn’t going to ask him details, she wasn’t going to listen to him if he tried. And despite that he was the sinner, she disgusted him enough at that point that he pushed off her and turned, not even bothering to drag himself back into the bed. His shoulder supported a lean toward the corner of the wall and the bedpost, and he felt sick again. Too sick to keep his eyes open, anymore. He still wouldn’t manage to eat a meal, that night.
"And I thought I was your girl." She'd let him bask in his self-pity if that's what he wanted, the man was clearly not in mortal danger and didn't need her imminent aid. The necromancer turned toward the door again, casting a look back to see him still turned from her. Her voice was small, and there was nothing of bitterness in it. "Like I said. Be happy. "
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