Spirits of the Earth

It wasn't entirely his idea. No, he could blame his trust advisory for it, however, he also couldn't deny it was a bit clever (if not, too flashy and brash for his own tastes).  Yes, but it had been decided, so the plan was carried through and the announcement rolled throughout the town like the plague.  Yes, today was the day the Duke of Allar was to show case his mother's jewels. It was an intricate work of pearls and rare, black beads and large emeralds encrusted with diamonds- the finest necklace around. In it's center sat one of the largest polished emeralds ever to adorn a necklace, and sweeping out from it three layered strings of pearls that connected to two smaller emeralds (though both were still equally generous in size), and then the pearls joined together as they clasped neatly in the back.


Yes, perhaps it was a bit much, but it was quell any gossip about the Duke being unmarried.  He had thought on this lightly, and though, perhaps more heavily over the years, yet not by choice. To be at his age without a bride, and child, for that matter, to carry on his legacy, the Duke found himself pressed from even foreign relations on it, even if they did not directly ask.

So, out came the pearls from their velvet case and displayed within a glass case for all of his duchy to see that it was proof- Proof he was looking for a bride.
The town was excited, and the event, even open to the public on the first day and swells of people came to the castle and waited in long lines just to see it.

"By Angsar's beard, would you look at that?" one woman said.
"I fancy it would put a sore on my neck just wearing that thing, I can feel a crick in me neck just thinkin' about it!" her friend replied. The women laughed.
"Oh, but to think if we were ever to wear it." They both sighed before moving on.


The Duke, of course, was forced to remain in appearance, though he was greatly agitated. This event was taking a lot longer than anticipated, and the crowds were hardly thinning.  His men wouldn't even allow him the luxury of using the water-closet, as he tightened his lip to prevent it from frowning- though, it was evident he appeared disinterested, maybe even a little agitated as the affair went on. It was hard to save face when he hadn't slept in days and now, of all occasions, he was forced to make this ghastly public appearance.


How many more hours left would he have to endure?
He stared over at the line, his eyes piercing the crowds as he sighed inwardly, since he could not sigh without.

The moment she heard about the exquisite necklace being displayed today she was practically crawling to figure out where everyone would be going. She didn't know who Duke Allarrick was, didn't even belong in his duchy, but she wanted to see what sort of jewels he was letting the public see. That fact alone had her thinking it couldn't be anything special, but all the women were clucking about was how gorgeous they'd heard it was: In a class of its own, one-of-a-kind. The repeated praise had her interest, for sure, but she wasn't expecting what she found once she followed the herd to the castle.

A line. Great. A line to see a necklace. Either these people were poor as dirt or it really was as magnificent as everyone gushed over it being. Judging by the clothes of those around herself, though, it was not the former. That had her even more eager to glimpse this thing plenty of women and men saw fit to fawn over and take time out of their day to see. Surely it couldn't be that big. It couldn't have that many pearls.

She waited, but it really was getting ridiculous. The longer she waited the more outlandish she started to believe it was. It must be the stuff of lore or something, she dared think, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms as anxiousness gradually turned into irritation at how long it was taking.

More than once she thought about just walking to the front to skip the line of gawkers and even went so far with that idea to step to out of line a few times only to meet the eyes of a guard watching it. That only sent her back to her place, but she was slowly growing irritated by the crowd because she had work to do. She needed to evaluate it, see if it was worth her time or if she should move on.

Eventually there was no bright curiosity in her eyes and a scowl had taken its place. She stayed out of pure stubbornness now that she was so close. When she finally reached the front she approached the case with cautious steps and unfolded her arms as her eyes rested upon the center emerald. That was all it took for the grumpiness to slide away, her lips parting in awe as her eyes slowly moved up to the top of the necklace before tracing all the way back down.

Her immediate thought was that it was a fake, but that was short-lived. It was just too beautiful: The accents, the sparkle, the style. It was a work of art, to be sure, and she wanted it bad.

She wasn't aware of how her face had changed through the course of those few moments. She was silent, but she was smiling now and her eyes were alight with greed. She was standing before the case still, but now her eyes were evaluating the case itself. Stepping back a bit she slowly walked around the case a couple of times to eye the necklace and its case equally. She prayed that the owner might be stupid enough to just leave it there overnight.

After taking far more time than she really should have at the display she lifted her eyes to look over the men she hadn't really seen move all afternoon, her eyes settling on each before she finally turned to leave. Figuring most of the guard might be keeping watch of the necklace itself and the people there to see it, Awiergan exited and immediately started walking around the structure to look for an alternate entrance where she might not be noticed. Once she found one towards the back she started exploring every unlocked area she could in search of somewhere to hunker down and wait for the excitement to settle. She'd never been in the Duke's castle before and she knew she was at a disadvantage, but she was also eager to learn what she could about the layout.

Settling herself into a hidey-hole linen closet she finally allowed herself a moment of excitement as she squealed and clasped her hands together. All she could think about was the necklace now and how beautiful she thought it would look on her. The work was well worth it to her in this instance, and her mind started churning out how she might acquire it unnoticed, what ideas might work, what distractions she might have to cause.

Finally the moment had come when the doors were sealed shut and barred from the public's eye. It also sealed away the last traces of a dying day as Calent wilted, but only slightly, in relief of the shadow cast over him by the door.  He adjusted the cuff at his wrist and turned to his men.
"Ensure the necklace is returned to the velvet case," was all he said, and disappeared with his escorts down the hall.

Dinner, even cooked to perfection, grated at his nerves as he ate it in silence. He sat, all by himself, except the short line of maids, but other than that, he was the only one dining at a long, great table that could see an entire ball.  It was unusual, for the Duke to eat alone, and Calent preferred it.  It allowed him more solace in silence and he could let his mind wander after the day.

And the day had been too exhausting.  Finishing his bird, he sat back in his chair and dabbed light at his lips with a clothe. Casting it aside, he looked towards his servant. "THe red wine," he said, and his goblet was served.  But even the rich, buttery taste went down flatly as he lingered bitterly in his seat, staring off into the vastness of his grand, empty room-

Full of empty chairs at his empty table...

His father had once filled the great chair in which he was now seated, his mother, to his left, and he, to the right.  Then a few guests, other nobles and the like visited often for pleasant conversation. Though those sorts of thing bored him and he soon became complacent just eating alone.  He ate at odd hours, and used that, too many a times, as an excuse to remain by himself-


So here he was, not enjoying his wine, his nerves shot from a day of irritants, and brooding over the empty chairs he refused to fill.  His mind drifted wearily over the thought of what today meant-
His duchy needed an heir- and he, a wife.


Frowning, he dismissed his servants and asked for the wine to be taken away and he- a moment of silence...
and after the last foot steps echoed into a fade, he once again found himself considering the idea of the necklace.
he would have to be tactful in choosing a wife- and he knew he had only a handful of elite to choose from but... at what price? He had no desire for a wife, he saw no need for it, though perhaps a woman to lay and bare him children would ease some burden off his chest.  After all, it had been sometime since he considered a good romp in the sheets.

Yes, a good lay with a woman as a prize, fit for a duke, who would bare him children he'd ignore and they'd grow up, adore taxes as much as he and fill those empty seats about him.
He wasn't sure how he felt about it, and wished he had kept his wine.

She waited in that little closet until the low hum had died down she heard footsteps in the distance and a door open and close several times, but she remained where she was until everything around her was dark silence. Only then did she step out to make her way back to the hall she'd seen the necklace in before. Nobody was there that she could see, but she still was cautious with her footfalls as she padded out to the case. Except it wouldn't be that easy for her. A slight panic seized her when she realized the gorgeous piece was gone and she was kicking herself for not being aware enough to keep her eye on the darned thing.

Exiting the way she'd come in, Awiergan tried to remember where she'd heard people. Down that hall? That one? Which door? All she knew was that people had been walking in the area earlier. She groaned at the thought of how long it might take her now to find it again, but she set off immediately.

Slinking through various rooms, she opened drawers and looked in every box she could find. Nothing was turning up, though, and her search grew more frantic as time wore on and her paranoia set in.

Finally, she rounded a corner and entered a room where a case rested at the bedside table. Excited to see the box there she dashed in and snatched it up and went to sit in the farther corner to open it up. Her eyes twinkled with glee at the sight of it and her chest swelled with pride at her hunt proving fruitful at last.

She was met with a surprising but pleasing weight to the piece as she lifted it from its bed of velvet. She wasted no time in scurrying back out the door after closing the case up and setting it atop the table she'd found it on. Awiergan was unsure how to hide such a large necklace. Certainly it would be foolish to wear it, but she didn't want to damage it. She ended up she holding it in her pocket with one hand as she crept back through halls to try and find a new hiding place.

She settled upon the attic once she found a door to it and walked herself along the wall there until she found a relatively safe looking pile of crates to curl up against. It was there that she set out her coat, so she wasn't sitting in dust, and pulled out the necklace from her pocket to admire it in the dim moonlight that peeked through the ceiling. All I have to do is sit here until morning. I'll find a way out then, she kept telling herself as she grinned at piece in her hand, tracing over each emerald with her finger before sweeping her hand across the smooth pearls.

OOC: She should wear it! <3  but she doesn't have to- it would probably be cumbersome to wear >.>

IC:

Irritated, the duke took many hours before retiring for the night. Yet, as usual , he could't sleep, and called his servants to draw a steaming hot bath.  Another chance to be alone with his thoughts. His lips sagged at the idea. What he once yearned for now had him sitting, staring angrily at the walls inside his bathing chambers as the soothing steam heated his body, but did not cool his blood.  It would take more than this bath to ease his anxiety as the Duke leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

If he were to fall asleep here, it would be no seen, but he also dreaded the idea of it. It had been long, agonizing nights when he could sleep, and some began to notice the darker coloring beneath his eyes. Nothing make up couldn't get rid of, but thankfully the bath seemed to liven his face, even though he wore a sagged frown.  It also did wonders to the color of his skin, as hot waters and suds of soap glistened off his body like gold.  His hair, now plastered against his head, appeared nearly a shadow of it's color as he sighed and sunk even deeper into the steaming pool of water.

Forget.. Forget...

All he wanted to do was forget...
The unending nightmares to halt...
and perhaps, even, things to return to something more planar.
He never, ever questioned his inheritance to rule, or even his desires to seek something far greater than he had... something that...

the agitation stirred as he recalled his hatred for the mages.  Drawing in a quick, hot breath; the duke drowned himself beneath the water, until he could hold his breath no more and submerged, the waters spilling down his body as he breathed, gasping, letting the air return to him as water dribbled from his dark hair.


Even then, his mind remained simmering over the hatred he tried to quell, the thoughts that plagued him in the night....
he drew a hand over his facea nd closed his eyes and just lay there, stretched out within the bath, his body barely clothed by the warm suds in the water.


The day had been, too, too long.  He would need to find a wife. Perhaps a wife would be a way to help him ignore the dark ridges of night.

She was far too excited to rest. The longer she spent staring at it, the more certain she became that this was the single biggest find of her short career. It was taking everything she had not to giggle and dance about. That would come later when she was safely away with it, off to hide it. But where might it fit best?

Surely not anywhere close by. She would need to take it outside of the country, take it somewhere people wouldn't know who such a magnificent thing belonged to first.

Absolutely tickled that the night was quiet save the occasional sound of sloshing water, Awiergan rose from her hiding spot in search of a mirror. After digging around a bit she found a small hand one and tilted her head to look at herself through it as she lifted the heavy necklace to her throat. After doing up the clasp in the back and smoothing out her hair, she lifted the mirror to better see in the dim light. Twisting and turning both it and herself, she strained to look at it at various angles, smiling and sighing each time the light caught the gemstones.

The weight did not surprise her, but it became less noticeable to her the longer she stared at it and walked around with it. So enraptured with it was she that she didn't even notice the faint ticklish pricking at the back of her fingers then hand. At first. Once the feeling reached her forearm she frowned and glanced down. In the dark she couldn't see the details, but the shape was unmistakable. 

Eyes bugging wide at the large spider upon her arm, Awiergan threw down the mirror and paid no mind for the sharp shattering noise it made as she stumbled back a few steps and waved her arm frantically in front of her. "Shit! Shit! Get off! Get OFF! GET OFF!!!" she squealed, pitch rising higher with each word as the woman shook her arms desperately to try and rid herself of the "beast" in the dark.

Even when the spider was flung to the side she kept flailing, though, the lingering ticklish feeling on her arm making her believe it was still there. Crying out in a pathetic string of whimpers as she continued to run from the broken glass, Awiergan was far too panicked to notice the small holes through the floor of the attic around an area of termite-weakened boarding. The moment she thundered over it the wood gave way.

Shrieking in surprise, she scrambled to grab hold of one of the still-intact boards. It wasn't doing her any good, though, as the moment the weakened ones were slammed by her momentum they broke off and sent her tumbling down to the room below. Gasping as she braced herself for impact, she woman squealed again as she met not the ground but the soapy waters of a tub. Even more surprising to her, it wasn't cold.

Lifting her head up coughing and sputtering for air she frantically tried to wipe her now sopping hair away from her face while the other hand reached out to try and steady herself. Only, she froze in a mixture of fear and puzzlement when she realized her hand was touching flesh.

ooc: She just didn't want to wear it just walking around in case someone caught her wanderin. xD The prettiesssss

OOC: THE PRECIOUS

IC:

The crack over head, and the scream was enough to raise his head as the Duke looked up just in time for dust, debris and a girl to settle on top.  A moment later, he was coughing from the dust, freeing a hand to wipe at his face before he opened his green eyes and found himself peering at....

"The necklace."


His face went rigid, jaw squaring tight as he looked up from the glittering jewels to the precariously soaked and sooted woman who now was perched on top of him in the bath, faces only inches apart.  If he wanted that distraction, he truly got it as his normally placid face furrowed with much of the irritation he had suppressed before. A hand went out, grabbing her arm sharply as he rose, taking the woman with him as the two now stood in the tub, water gushing down his naked body.  And he stared down at her ominously.

"If you're a thief, you're a pathetic excuse for one. You have one chance to explain yourself to me," he threatened, a bold move, considering his only defense was his menacing glare and perhaps, his physical strength, as the two remained, standing inside his bath waters, bubbles soaking up to and around their calves.


OOC: I Hope this makes sense XD posting when I'm sleepy brings special posts <3

Awiergan grew tense as she realized the stranger was glaring at her now. She didn't know it was his necklace, though, and gasped in an irritated way as he yanked her up. Her eyes briefly scanned his body as she was lifted, but she was irritated at the way he was grabbing her now and her attention was drawn back to the real issue quickly. "Hey!" she cried, squirming to try to pull her arm away from him as she lifted her chin to glare right back at him. "Thief?! I can assure you I am no thief," she protested,

"And I don't have to explain myself to you," she scoffed, though she had no idea who she was talking to right now and was avoiding his attention on the necklace. "It was just an accident, not like I fell on purpose. You don't need to manhandle me. I'll just be on my way and get out of your hair." And with that she ripped her arm from his grasp as she made to jump out of the tub, stumbling and slipping along the floor in the process as she made a beeline for the first door her eyes settled upon.

ooc: It did! No worries :3

Calent's cheek flushed a moment when he realized her eyes went over his body.  This was not a free show! This was a man taking a bath- and- that, that was his necklace she was running off with!

"I can assure you, you are a thief, and a liar!" he growled, leaping from the tub after her as he fetched onto her arm, and in that instance, he fell, dragging her onto the ground ontop of him. Now the necklace was glittering in his face and the position he held her, it was almost as if he caught her, graceful like a dancer, one hand cupped around her back, the other tight around her arm as the two remained in a most precarious position upon the floor.

He felt his face heat up, realizing the other thing in his face was her chest as he stared, just momentarily stunned that such a predicament could exist...

And it only got worse.

"Duke Calent!" a guard shouted, rushing into the room with armed men at his side, only to freeze to realize. "Forgive us Duke Calent, we did not know you had a lady!"
And a lady wearing, most obviously, the royal jewels necklace...
and on top of a very... very naked duke.

The guards being present turned even his ears scarlet as he held the womanly fiercely in his arms and bellowed,
"GET OUT OF MY BATHING CHAMBERS!"
The men didn't need told twice as they turned tail and left, leaving the Duke roaring mad and furious as he turned back to the thief.


OOC: He is *so* out of his element here. Took me sometime to figure out how he'd even react because HE has no idea how he should react ,lol since he should of asked his men to seize her and see her out lol

It's too much unprepared awkwardness for a very stiff, proper and overly prepared over thinker <3

Awiergan yelped as she felt herself being grabbed yet again and felt them tumbling down to the floor. This was not what she had planned. She wasn't supposed to get caught! She wasn't supposed to fall through the ceiling! All she wanted was to run away from the shame of such an embarrassing thing occurring, and it was even worse that someone had seen, or rather, felt, it happen.

She realized how firm a grasp he had on her when she strained to push away. Stopping her struggling once she realized he wasn't going to let go, she stared down at him with a look of confusion and surprise. Who was he to put his hands on her?!

Her free hand braced against the floor, ready to try and escape again as her eyes searched his face for an explanation. Her cheeks grew warmer as the weight of the necklace registered, pulling at her neck as it swung between them. "Uh..."

Her eyes dilated at the shouting outside of the door and she snapped her head up with a gasp to see the other men enter the room. Great, more witnesses. She was going to hang, she was sure of it now. Even worse, they were addressing him as "Duke."

Lips moved now, struggling to make words as she sat there absolutely flabbergasted. This was his necklace. No wonder he was so upset!

Wincing at the angry hollering, Awiergan tried to pull away again. Squirming and ducking under one of his arms, she tried to lunge away from Calent as the men filed out. "I'm going, I'm going!" she assured hurriedly under her breath. The anxiety of being caught red-handed by the duke himself was beginning to set in, and the longer she remained the more she felt like a cornered dog.
   
ooc: *gigglesnort* Well worth the wait xD Poor Calent

Calent caught her, holding her fiercely by the hand as his eyes blazed down at her.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, his tone cold and angry. "I should have kept the guards here to lock you up."
He still didn't know why he didn't as he stared at her, still baffled as to their situation and uncertain what to do.  Only a few guards had seen them, but that's all it would take to start a rumor.
"Explain yourself!" he demanded, staring from her eyes, then looking down at the necklace. "You stand before me, wearing the jewels of my family. A mockery! A disgrace!"
His hand tightened onto hers as she shook with anger. "It is meant for my future wife!"

OOC: he be angry XD
and sorry for the short post, heehee. 

and won't she be upset to learn later he's all mad but he doesn't even HAVE a future wife lined up lol

Despite her lack of progress thus far she continued to struggle every time she was re-caught. Her face paled at the thought of being locked up, and her face twisted in confusion as to why he was telling her what he should have done.

"I have nothing to explain to you! This is all a big misunderstanding!" she pleaded, refusing to let go of her nonexistent defense, and shook her arm angrily when he tightened his grip. 

Hopping as she lifted the leg where one of her knives was strapped to her calf, she fumbled for the blade and held it shakily with her free hand. "Now unhand me!" she demanded, glancing down to his hand as she moved the knife closer to his arm.

ooc: no worries, angry Calent is hilarious xD and YAH. Selfish nobles, wanting their stuff. Pffffffft.

The knife was a wicked and wretched idea. He glowered and released her, his entire being simmering with rage. Not only had she ruined his shower, his thoughts, his moment to himself, but now she was holding him at knife point-
in hopes to steal his jewels!

Baring his teeth, he continued to glare at her.

"So you're a coward as well as a thief," he replied callously, taking a step back. "But know this, the second you take off with that necklace, my men will swarm all over you and take you out to hang."
His anger was almost blinding, but his reputation and prudence was being threatened, as was his future! He could have guttered her with that knife,but in the same breath, he was also angry at himself, for finding himself even available for this sort of situation for scandal.

Unwed.
No heir.
And now the short lived thought to seek out a bride under the Allarick family tradition was being threatened.

"To threaten me, you threaten all of Allar. And to steal from me will only secure your end." His eyes narrowed, but he dare not advance on her. He could take her with the knife, but risk what? "Now take off that necklace." he asked through his teeth, though trying to remain as calmly and collected as he could, standing angry and naked before her. He felt his hands go into fists. "Your skin soils the one item that will be precious to the future duchess."  And even though she did not exist, it was her future honor he had to maintain.

What a story it would be, to tarnish a man so ripe as he, so fair to proclaim any eligible woman his wife- yet here stood a woman, so bold as to crumble the very foundation of his well bred arrogance?  It itched at him so greatly, he still could not comprehend this was not a dream and found himself acting more hastily than he ought.

"Now, give it to me!" he demanded, almost sounding like an eager child, his hand thrust out in a challenging manner, his body poised as if to tackle her, his eyes never leaving hers.

She considered his words fearfully, knowing she'd probably just get run down in the end like some sorry animal, but what if she got away? What if she succeeded? She would have the pretty thing all to herself, outlandish as it was.

Awiergan scowled as he continued to insult her, certain there was very little else he could call her now. "Poor duchess, then, because you're not taking it back!" she growled as she backed away from him slowly. She knew full well she finally owned to the theft.

Her greed made her curious, though, of how badly he wanted it. "What would you give me for it?" she inquired, watching him closely as she gripped the knife tighter.

Calent's face went long for a moment.
Well.. he hadn't expected that. She was still adamant about keeping his necklace. His brows dipped angrily as he took a step nearer.

"I would advice against being brash," he warned.  "Trying to con me for my own item within my own castle is foolish.  Hand it over and I'll spare you a hanging and merely let you rot in jail for the rest of your miserable thieving life."
Such strong words coming from a man not even wearing a towel....
and completely unarmed while she? Well, she had a rather sharp knife, that he seemed to believe might only be ornamental. After all, what sort of woman could really wield such a knife?  Especially one who just happened to fall from his ceiling...
but who ALSO happened to somehow procure his family's necklace.

It was a curious situation indeed, and Calent felt helpless, but wouldn't show it. This was hardly a situation he'd ever be prepared for.
And to think if the real word got out....
what sort of image would this truly be to the public? To have some woman come in and steal his family's jewels and to make a fool of the duke while he bathed?
He felt his anger broil over the idea.

"What's my incentive if you're going to kill me one way or another?" she scoffed, rolling her eyes and gesturing towards the door with her head. "They called you duke... Are you really this duke everyone's been talking about?"

Her mind was racing through the possibilities; he was definitely rich beyond anything with a castle like this and a necklace like that. Slowly, a sly grin crept to her lips and she shook her head to knock wet hair from her face as she waggled the knife at him. "A pirate could always use a nicer ship... Why don't you give me enough coin for that, hm? Then you can have your necklace back.

"Think carefully on your answer," she warned.

Again, he was shocked at her boldness, and his face, which normally was much better composed,  steamed as he glowered at her.
"You're very bold for such demands," though his eyes slid to the knife, then back to her eyes and at her mentioning of being a pirate, he couldn't help but have his brows raise high upon his head. "You're a pirate!?" He shounded thoroughly surprised, and very much disgusted as his face wrinkled in hate. He hated thieves, but a PIRATE all the way by his duchy, stealing HIS jewels..
He tried to steel is boiling blood, though it was evident his body was shacking, muscles becoming tight.

After a moment, he closed his eyes, sighing then giving way to a frown.

"Well, pirate," he said, the words very bitter on his tongue.  "It's gold for the necklace then. I'll give you as much as you can carry, considering you can slip out of my castle without the noose."

She was surprised that he was actually willing to give in to her for a swap. It made it apparent that it really was that valuable to him, perhaps more so than she'd thought before. 

Perhaps it wasn't just the theft itself that had him so upset. She wondered now just how much she could push, how much he might give her for it if it was worth getting so worked up about in the first place.

She lifted her chin with a victorious smile even though she still kept the knife trained upon him. "Good idea, but I want a pardon letter from you as well, just in case... And you will personally escort me out so that we may make our exchange civilly," she demanded, her eyes taking in his obvious tenseness.

If she thought he was tense a moment ago, he was certainly more tense now as he sneered at her arrogance, his own seeming to match, if not, trying to out due hers as he raised his nose and puffed out his chest, keeping his shoulders more square and regal, like the duke he was.

"You expect an official pardon letter from the Duke of Allar," he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I would rather spit than ever write such a document. No, we will.." he hesitated, recalling he was without close and lowered his fists, which had been clenched the entire time.
"I will return to my room. We will wait until the guards have settled. I will slip you the coin and you, well.." his lips twitched into the subtlest dark smile. "You can slip away and disappear from here forever."

A pirate would NOT make such demands. He was the duke! She would listen and...
Gods, he needed some clothes. Though despite his prudence and situation, he remained very thoroughly a man in command (or so he thought).

She frowned at his unwillingness to fully cooperate now, and the lack of control seemed strange to her as she raised a brow at his words.

"What's there to settle from? Shouldn't your guards calm at your command?" she questioned, chuckling at the idea of a duke waiting on his own paid men. Precarious as it was, she couldn't help but be amused at the situation at hand, holding a knife to a naked, stubborn duke. Her eyes finally took the opportunity to sweep along his body as she became less tense in her growing certainty of a safe escape from this botched robbery.

"I won't be letting you out of my sight, so just lead the way," she prompted as her eyes were finally drawn back to his own. "I won't be leaving without that letter and the gold at the very least, I can promise you that."

At her comment about the guards, Calent's glare grew more solid.
"An improper lady with a duke breaths scandal," was all he said through his teeth.
"You will not mar my reputation."

Then his brow furrowed sharper as she eyed up his naked body, and it wasn't just his face turning red and well, agitations sometimes led to primal urges, even if he were unattracted. The damned pirate was probably enjoying the show.  Despite her knife, he reached for his towel and fixed it around his waste.

Then, at her mention to follow him he snorted, tightening the towel and holding it firm.

"You expect to just.. follow me around?" he eyed the knife cautiously, then looked up at her. 


OOC: Ugh, I'm distracted by the movie Tropic Thudner right now XD
I'd post more but he doesn't just want to um.. agree to that right away, even though he knows that's probably his only solution to come out without any more scandal or even getting a scratch. He doesn't have any scars, you know! lol (though Awiergan might have noticed when she was checking out the goods, haha)  oh the vanity of the nobles,,..

His emphasis on maintaining his reputation and not having a scandal on his hands intrigued her. It was amusing to think that he was scared of a pirate ruining it for a duke.

Watching him cover up with the towel she nodded to his question and shrugged. "If you want this back, yes," Awiergan replied, lifting the side of the necklace with her free hand.

"I could just leave with it now, if you'd prefer that instead. But...I'm thinking you want this back. For your duchess and all. I bet she would be disappointed without it," she ventured with a twinkle in her eyes thinking about all that gold she was about to get her hands on.

ooc: No problemoooo, that's a funneh movie xD

He raised his brows as she spoke, then quickly narrowed them angrily as she pressed the issue, tugging at the necklace SHE wore that belonged to HIM.

"You couldn't get out of my castle quick enough," he threatened, then heard a rap at the door. He turned his head.

"Duke Calent?"

It was a guard.

Calent released an irritable breath, rolling is shoulders before shooting an angered gaze towards Awiergan, then back to the door again.

"Yes?" his tone was raised more than usual. It had been years since he'd broken his tone in that manner and the man ont he other side of the door hesitated.

"We were just checking in."

Silence.


Calent set his jaw and breathed a long, hot breath through his nostrils.

"I'm fine." he tried to compose himself, his face turning to stone as his eyes temporarily seemed to distill.  "Send tea to my room later."


Another moment, then the guard replied on the other side of the door, "Alright. We will have the servants bring you some soon."

As soon as the guard was guard, Calent was glaring daggers at the piratess.

"Let me get my robe," he growled, and moved away, fetching it up as he wrapped it tightly around his waist. "You, you will stay close to my side and if anyone sees us together, you stay silent and let me speak, is that clear?" The duke looked at her threateningly- though he hadn't a blade ot be calling these sort of shots- but he contemplated how quickly he might disarm her...
his eyes went to the necklace before goign back to her.

He would see her rot in jail for this!

She held her breath when she heard the other voice at the door, just waiting for him to order her arrest...or something. But he didn't do that.

Her eyes watched him curiously as he dressed in the robe, wondering if her little blade had stopped him from locking her up right then and there.  Perhaps it was the fear of her sinking it into his chest, though, or damaging the necklace. Maybe it was this scandal he mentioned, a pirate wearing his precious necklace. Regardless, she felt oddly grateful that the duke seemed as though he was going to go through with the deal. 

"As long as you don't try anything funny," she agreed, turning the blade towards him once more before she relaxed the arm to hang at her side.

"And you need to lend me some clothes, too," she added while looking down at herself and the puddle of water at her feet. "Unless you want all this water...and pirate dirt tracked allllllll through your castle," she teased with a snide chuckle.

Calent's displeasure never lessened as his soured expression continued to sag at the frown on his lips. He then eyed her up, almost giving a sniff as he turned away, snatching a second royal robe that he threw at her.
His eyes remained sharply upon her.
"Wear that for now.  At least if you get caught, I can pretend you're just my whore."
Courtesans weren't unheard of anyways, and after a night like this, he might consider the company of one as he stalked away.

"Just don't think about stabbing me in the back." he said, moving towards the door, but halting, standing.. waiting for her to change if she so pleased.

She caught the robe and giggled at the obvious irritation that still plagued him, her shoulders straightening with pride for the small victory. "Thank you," she chirped.

Keeping a hand on her knife at all times and an eye trained upon him should he pull something over on her now Awiergan slipped out of her worn and ill-fitting clothes to leave them in a pile on the floor. All she left on were her shoes, the necklace, and the dagger sheaths strapped to her hip, thigh, and calf before she pulled the robe on. 

Securing it at her waist, she wasted no time walking over to meet him at the door once she was covered. For good measure she cautiously switched her knife over to the hand furthest from him. Lingering just barely behind him off to one side, she smiled and jabbed his arm lightly with a fingernail, enjoying this short time of treating a wealthy duke as her personal doormat. "I'm ready."

OOC: Oh the ways he'd plan to kill her later lol

IC:
Calent heard her shuffling and sighed irritably as he waited, shoulders still straight and square. Then when her fingernail touched him, he visibly flinched, but quickly drew his chin up and calmed.

"Very well then, whore," he said coldly, and opened the door to leave the room.
He moved down the hall, debating where to take her, or who to call on for assistance. It would be too easy to snag a guard but..
how close was that knife now at this back?
and the jewels.. he'd curse himself.. AND HER from the grave, if he were to just die in this silly predicament and she claim that family heirloom.


Moving steadily, and seeing no signs of the guards, he hardly relaxed.
So does he take her to his room or...
Of course it figured a maid had seen them. Calent grew rigid, but barely registered as the woman nodded at the two as they passed.
If Calent didn't have to wear a proper mask he'd be scowling, though his eyes did simmer.

Soon they had made it to his room and he ordered another servant to close the door and leave.
Blast it. Well, at least it wasn't unheard of for him to rbing in a courtesan on occasion..
Though it had been a while. Perhaps they'd just assume it was related to the necklace...


He turned around to look at her.
"How much gold are we talking." His eyes went to her neck, staring at the necklace and ignoring any of the sinful skin exposed beneath.
Did she honestly have to discard her clothing completely? Though he supposed it was best to keep in costume-
though if one were to find out who she really was...
Not that HE even knew who she really was.
Damn pirate.
She probably had fleas.


"Let's talk money. But I want that necklace of your neck." he demanded coldly.

Awiergan kept close the whole way, and her eyes scanned the hall diligently for any sign of danger. Occasionally she glanced over her shoulder in paranoia of an ambush, but everything seemed so quiet and still.

Every moment that passed without disturbance only made her tenser, like a mouse waiting for the snake to strike. As the maid passed them she stepped closer to Calent, ready to use him as a human shield if necessary, but nothing happened. Again.

When he finally took her to a room she scanned for any hidden guards before she allowed herself to relax. Stepping away from the door as he spoke she watched his face as he made his demands.

"I'm not taking it off until I get what I want," she explained, raising the hand with the dagger slightly in case he should make a sudden move for the jewelry.

"And I want what you yourself suggested, Duke Calent. As much gold as I can carry. And I'm strong. Better yet, why not a horse saddled with the stuff? ...I still want that letter, too," she reminded with a waggle of her finger.

The god damn harlot was becoming greedier than he thought (not smarter, though he almost thought that!)
His face showed how irritated he was by this as he glared her down, thinking about just fighting her for that god damn knife when he noted the necklace..
If she broke it.. he swore upon Angasr she'd regret it!

His eyes then turned to her, blazing, but his face remained stiff as stone.

"So you want all my money and a horse," he squared off his jaw, his entire body rigid. "Why don't you just take my whole god damn castle while you're at it." He normally held a civil tongue, especially infront of a lady, but by now, he hardly saw this pirate as a lady. And what worse could be wrong with her? Was she a wretched mage as well? He felt his innards smolder.

"You're not getting a letter, or a horse. I said what you can carry." he was stubborn, but they had made an arrangement.
After all, she was already his 'whore'. What more could a god damn pirate want!?



OOC: I'm horrible but...

"I'm not taking it off until I get what I want"-

OMG, the horrible innuendos this can imply when both are in a towel! lol

"Well, not all of it," she protested, glaring right back at him at the accusation, though she would have eagerly taken it. She could see how displeased he was but dammit she was going to try to get as much as she could out of this odd hostage situation.

"I'll take what I can carry on a horse, then. And you aren't getting your necklace unless I get that letter, too, I can promise you that. I need your word that I'll be able to leave unharmed or there's no point in leaving at all. I'm not going to be run down like some dog," she complained, gritting her teeth at the thought.

"You won't have to see me ever again if you meet my requests," she tried to assure him. "I'll vanish and stay far away from your stupid, ramshackle castle."

ooc: ahahaha
Imagine what the servants must be whispering! o:

OOC: OMg, I meant to type 'both in a 'robe'' XD OH WELL
this is what I get for staying up until 4am posting on an empty stomach when I should be in bed XD

and YES *_*

THINK OF THE GOSSIP


IC:

Calent ground his teeth. Well didn't this little pirate wench think herself on a high horse. But then again.. her.. promise was tempting.
"As if a pirate could ever keep her word," he seemed to spit the words between his teeth as he moved passed her, seeming to ignore her as he moved towards the back room, which was more of a study.

Books, books were everywhere, bu tin the center sat the most beautiful of desks, carved intricately out of the finest of polished woods and embellished with intricate design work.
On top lay a semi-organized pile of chaos- a quill and ink well and hastily, the Duke leaned over the desk, his robe opening partial to expose his chest, as he hastily spat ink to paper then shoved the damn thing into her hands before the thing dried.

"Your damn letter," he said, eyes piercing towards her like daggers.

His annoyance with her was becoming tiresome, and she just rolled her eyes as he went by; she had no idea why he was putting so much effort into being upset over being robbed at knifepoint. Following him into the study she was surprised that she still hadn't met anyone armed in his quarters.

She took in the sight of the desk as he scribbled out her letter, ogling its surface for anything else she might be able to swipe. She wasn't interested in his papers, though. But as soon as he gave her the letter she wrinkled her nose in irritation. "I'm not as stupid as you think me to be. Put your seal on it, then we'll see about the gold," she demanded, holding it back out to him.

ooc: I knew what you meant <3

OOC: Awesome  <3  XD
and poor Awiergan- she has to deal with Mr. grumpy head X3

sadly.. I wonder if he hadn't called the guards because he rather LIKES this ordeal...
>>

<3


SECRETLY BUT WOULD NEVER ADMIT IT, haha

<3 <3 <3

IC:
Calent gave a snort, snatching it from her as he tossed out the wax and press and went about pressing a yellow seal to the official document before throwing it back at her.  He found himself looking at her face finally, not distracted, at least in that moment, over the heavy jeweled necklace she wore.
Too bad she wasn't really a courtesan...


Shoving any thoughts away that he might secretly enjoy a random confrontation like this, he stood erect and straightened his shoulders.

"We need to get you more properly dressed," he said with a frown, then moved pass her without another word.  Yes, a robe on her was rather.. distracting, and he wouldn't let her catch him staring. So it had been a while since he had a woman and well, he'd be damned if his rage would drive him crazy enough to think of a romp in his bed with a pirate!


She probably carried disease, anyway.


"I'll give you a messenger's attire." he stated simply, squaring his jaw. "So no one will question you when you finally leave me alone."
Peace and quiet sounded good about now. Too bad she ruined his bath. He felt like he could use another one. A nice cold bath.

He stared at her again a moment, finding himself studying her before clearing his throat, forgetting he had to go.. well, actually fetch the clothing. Damn pirate!

"Alright," she agreed simply. Holding the letter up to inspect the seal as she followed him out of the study, Awiergan was finally satisfied with the piece of paper. When she heard what he was planning to put her in, though, she lifted her head and narrowed her eyes at him.

"A messenger? I thought I was your 'whore.' Whores wear nicer things than a messenger," she complained. Folding the paper neatly, she reached down into her robe to slip it between the blade at her hip and its holster.

"I don't need a dress, but... Just lend me some of your things. That's believable. Nobody would question me in that," she offered, as if she really had room to be making such bold demands of him.

ooc: Bahahahaha! XD Never ever EVER!

OOC: I dunno why Taylor Swift's "We are Never Ever getting Back together" song popped into my head, haha


IC:

Calent stared at her for a good long while. Then he looked to his bed, then to her and sighed.
"I suppose you are right." he said, setting his jaw, then through his teeth he added. "Though at least with a real whore I'd feel more dignified she'd be riding off into the sunset with my clothes and a horse because..." he turned away, and grumbled. "Well, I'd be far more satisfied and would have paid significantly less gold." The words were almost growled as he made his way towards his closets. Being a duke, and a blood rich one, he had many closets and an array of clothing to select from.

Though with a quick flick of his wrist, he already found pants and a long, tailored shirt for her to wear before tossing it towards the bed.  It was only then a plan came to mind,- he had a hidden dagger beside the bed...

His eyes lingered there a moment before going to her.
If he could find a way to procure it..
he could be rid of this wretched woman once and for all.


OOC: and then he totally needs to try it and she needs to best him and put his royal butt in it's place XD

"What's there to feel dignified about? A whore's a whore," she said with a shrug as she watched his short-lived hunt.

"So...that means you're somewhat satisfied?" she ventured, walking over to the bed with wary steps, her eyes missing the clues in his attention. Running her hand over the fabrics, though, she felt her whole body sigh relief at the mere thought of wearing something soft and comfortable even if it wasn't hers.

Moving closer and setting her knife down beside the clothes, Awiergan wasted no time in undoing the robe and slipping it from her shoulders. She was used to sharing space and changing in the presence of others wasn't uncommon to her, so she thought nothing of it now.

Pulling the shirt over her head was the easy part, but the collar wouldn't sit right with the necklace there. So, instead, she pulled it out from underneath in a bold gesture to let it lie in front for all the world to see its glittering. Even those few moments were a distraction, though. She was letting her guard down and leaving herself unnecessarily vulnerable after all the precautions she'd taken to get herself to this point safely.

ooc: WeeeeEEEEEEEE >.>

Calent shot her a gaze when she commented about being satisfied.

Hardly.

He stood erect, keeping himself composed as he stared at her, but as she moved to dress, he made a noise in his throat and turned partially away, only to catch a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye.  The idea there was a dangerous (but clearly foolish and greedy) piratess in his midst sent a shiver up his spine that he sought to ignore.

And then he spotted the necklace and was almost distracted from his intents.
Now was the perfect opportunity.
The duke moved quickly, extracting the thin blade from his bed before turning around and pointing the sharp end at her throat.  His eyes held a coldness and brooding that seemed as endless and powerful as the ocean as he held the blade towards her.

"I think you've had enough fun, pirate," he said coldly, knowing full well he caught her only half dressed.  It was a dirty trick, but she? Well, she was nothing but a god damn, dirty pirate!

Huh? Fun? Awiergan nearly turned into the blade as she stared at him in confusion, not even noticing it at first. Her eyes quickly simmered to irritation at his antics, though, when she realized what he was doing.

"You are such a sore loser. Put that down before you hurt yourself," she chastised. Her hands were poised to defend herself despite her words, though.

She was absolutely kicking herself for letting him get hold of a weapon, but she was betting on his lack of experience to save her now.

Calent's eyes were as cold and hard as a killers.  Her words seemed not to phase him, the blade remaining as it were- pointed right at her.

"It doesn't appear I've lost," he retorted. "And I can fair rather well defending myself with a  blade." He eyed her up, only briefly before gesturing towards the door.
"Let's get you out of my room and out of my life. To the hall," he commanded. "So I can call on the guards."


Perhaps he'd.. explain this situation later.  Either way, he got her just where he wanted, but then paused and recalled the necklace (he had been trying to avoid staring at her.. chest but, well..) he looked to the necklace then up at her... face.

"Make yourself more decent and get my family's necklace off," he growled, ignoring any burning glow on his cheeks.  Damn woman!  He'd enjoy seeing that noose hanging around her neck!

She made no move to listen to his demands now and instead just stood there glowering at his ridiculousness. At his gesturing her arm shot up to give him a good wallop. It was both a reaction to his arrogance and what she hoped might cause some distraction and confusion to give her time enough to retrieve her own dagger once more.

"You won't get it back if you don't use peaceful means," she warned, her hands fumbling to keep a firm grasp upon the hilt. "And you will lose this precious thing if you try anything funny again! I'm serious!"

The lengths he was going to defend himself against her so much as touching the thing were growing more grating and insulting the more it dragged on.  "And it's a pretty thing, anyway. It should be worn. That's what a necklace is for... You're wasting it.

"But I can arrange for each of these pearls to return to the seas they were born from if you keep this up, Duke." she warned, eyes narrowing as she glanced between him and the pants still lying upon the bed.

"It would be such a shame to lose all this, but if you insist upon being a right ass to me... Don't think I won't disappear with this thing. Then you'll never know what happened to it."

He hadn't expected her to be so foolish, but perhaps he was the one being foolish. Growling that she was now armed again, he took a step away.
"Just get dressed and lets get on with this." he said, moving away from her and to gather his own clothes, but he hardly dropped his own blade and went about fetching up his own clothing. If she was going to get her damn horse and money, it was best to just rip the band aid off his wound fast.

He found something, stepped behind his dressing screen and tossed the robe aside and began slipping into his own clothing, carefully watching her silhouette on the other side lest she try something funny as he hurriedly worked at the millions of buttons on his green doublet. Damn, there were so many wretched god-foresaken gold buttons he had to fumble into the tight button holes.
With pants secure and his shirt mostly fixed, he stepped out, fussing over the collar as his eyes remained coldly upon her, like a calculating wild animal.

"Are you ready, my lady?" he said coldly- the word meant to prod her- OBVIOUSLY she was no lady and the souredness on his tone could not be missed!

"That's what I thought," she snapped back, though her confidence was waning a bit after being caught unarmed. She couldn't let that happen again. Her eyes followed him and remained upon the screen until she was sure he wasn't going to run and attack her or something. Though, she couldn't really be certain of that sort of thing either way. 

Never setting the knife down, she finished dressing, doing up the pants she was given and rolling up the sleeves of the shirt a bit. Her eyes then wandered over to the closets once she saw him come back out. "Not quite. I need a coat," she sighed.

She took it upon herself to go look for one, stepping up to the closets but keeping her head turned so he couldn't just walk up and stab her in the back. "Do you have something practical? I don't like all of these...decorations. They're tacky," she complained.

Calent could have snorted, and perhaps he did, at her request for a coat.
"Sure, help yourself," he seethed, watching her and imagining sinking his dagger into the back of her head. Or, atleast knocking her out and letting her rot in jail. That was almost more pleasing than just tacking away her life.
She'd get hers someday after all was said and done, he was sure of it!


Then she had the audacity to complain about his selection of clothes.
Her rolled his tongue inside his mouth, pressing it against his cheek before sighing.
"You're in a duke's closet," he informed her, nose to the air.  "I don't carry pauper's clothing."

"You have something in your ears? I said it's tacky...too much going on. It looks like you try too hard to show you're the duke, you know." Finally she pulled the least offensive one out and pulled it on over her shoulders. She still looked dissatisfied, though, as she turned to him again and smoothed her hand across the front of it. 

"Nothing practical... You must spend your time indoors. What do you do when you go hunting? I bet you don't even do that," she said with a shrug and sigh. 

She started moving towards the door, then, waving her hand at him in an impatient manner. "Come on, I'm ready to leave now. Where's your gold?"

This time Calent did snort as he glared at her.
"I don't keep my hunting attire in this room," he informed her coldly. Why would he? She apparently knew not of the intricacies of royals.  Then again, most commoners could not. Let alone pirates...

"I'll have to summon a servant to retrieve and prepare it.." he said cautiously, realizing it wouldn't be wise for her to go anywhere near where he kept his gold. After all, if she got a hold of his necklace, who's to say she wouldn't come back here to pluck him dry? Though he had a lot of gold, it wasn't for her to just scoop up and steal it all away. He had a duchy to run, after all.

He studied her in his jacket, and his frown deepened.  Not only was she tainting his family's necklace, but soiling his clothing as well.  Though, he wouldn't admit she looked appealing in it; he only again, concluded he'd need a courtesan after all this was said and done. Especially if he was secretly admiring a pirate in his clothes! A foolish notion!

He moved towards the door, but paused in mid-step, his shoulders tensing before he sighed.
He was torn- he also did not want to leave her alone in his room, nor let a servant see her in his presence nor....

"How well can you hold your tongue?" he asked after a moment, regretting his decision when he realized.. it would be wise for her to accompany him everywhere until this was all settled.
"Once we step outside of this place, I don't need you making this situation any worse."

Though at this point... he was ever calculating her demise. He'd have to think quickly on a plan, and then moved to open the door, calling a servant.
"Yes, my lord?" the man asked, briskly approaching the door. Calent blokced the man's view from  seeing Awiergan.
"I need a horse prepared in the stable. And lots of bags of gold."
The servant hesitated.
"Ye-yes, my lord. Do you plan to travel."
Calent paused to think.
"I realized an error in my tax calculations last night and will have a servant carry out the monies to the appropriate person before the morning." After all, the sun hadn't even risen yet.
The servant only looked at Calent, but nodded his head.
"Yes, my lord." and he went away.
Calent's eyes followed him, he still remaining at the door, knowing full well Awiergan would be right behind him.
"Let's head to the stable." he said dryly.

Awiergan gave a brief "hmph" for each of his answers, as they were wholly unsatisfying to her interests of properly staking out the place and, more specifically, what other riches hid from her view. She took the moments of silence between them as nothing more than him sizing her up for a possible attack. It caused her to tense up and she did not relax in the slightest until he spoke to her again.

She shrugged at his question, but as he moved to the door she stepped closer to be right up beside him. Wanting to know who he was talking to, she tried to look over his shoulder through the small crack in the door, but he was blocking it quite well. All she could see was shadows, though she heard their conversation easily enough.

"You know," she began slowly, poised to follow him out, "you could always pay me off. Separately, of course. A good bit of gold could keep me quiet... if I'm too distracted by counting it." She was smirking now. She knew quite well she was asking far too much of him already.

"I'm sure you have enough to keep me interested. From all of your taxes and such."

He remained silent and angrily lead her into the hall.  Ideas were brewing, ways to distract her indeed, but this fiend, this pirate, would NOT get away with her atrocities!

"I only want you on a horse and out of my duchy," Calent said coldly and the hall felt never ending. He supposed, in the unlikely situations like these, that the luxuries of a duke were more of a hindrance, almost a punishment as they went by floor after floor, stair case after stair case before finally the duke pushed the great doors open and the two would walk out into the stone pathway crawling towards the rear of the castle where the stable nestled.

Thankfully, the pirate wouldn't realize weapons were in surplus within the stables-
considering his armed guards tended to these horses from time to time, and horse thieves, although rare, did exist.
As they approached the gate, the duke fished out an iron key from his pocket, slipped it into the key hole and pushed the doors open.
The smell of horses and hay filled the air as he pressed forward, still in silence, not wishing to say any more to this pirate than was necessary.

He examined the area, it was still dark, so the night only greeted them with shadows.
He turned around to face her.
"It seems it might take more time than anticipated for my men to show up with the gold," he told her flatly, keeping his cool about him as they stood in the glow of the moon.  "Perhaps we can go inside and see to your horse?"  He showed now hesitance, only being as cordial and cold as he could, but never let his eyes drift from her.  He wanted to keep this grubby pirate in sight.

"Suit yourself," she dismissed, straightening her shoulders proudly as she followed him through the castle.

As soon as they were outside, though, she was back into flight mode. Her eyes were never still as she scoped out possible routes of escape and oriented herself with where she knew the roads were. The moment he opened the doors to the stables, though, she stopped and hesitated just outside.

She was wary of a possible, if unlikely, ambush; perhaps he'd managed to communicate some signal with his guards. The last thing she wanted was to become trapped within the confines of a smelly barn to meet her death. But... if it really was just the two of them then she thought she might be at an advantage in the darkness.

Cautiously, she finally moved forward to go inside and stand before him. True to her suspicions, the place smelled of leather, sweat, and horses. "I want a nice, strong stallion. Don't try and give me a wimpy little pony. I want fast and I want strong. The better the horse the sooner I'll be out of your hair," she reminded him, though she was just as concerned about being able to flee in case she was  followed.

"I'll give you the strongest, the fastest and hardest riding horse we've got." His reply came, almost mocking her as he brushed past her so his shoulder smacked off of her.
"But don't forget our agreement. I want the necklace back. I want it in tact and," he paused as he was fussing over the saddle beside a black as night stallion. "And I want you as far from here, as far from my duchy as this beast can carry you." His eyes stared at her menacingly, with promise of some dark consequence lest she cross him again. "Because let me swear to you this, pirate wench, that if I ever so much as smell you or your kind in Allar again, you..." his eyes pierced her, as if they were a dagger themselves. "You will be hunted down like the dog you are and when I find you, and my men will, if we're so inclined, you will be put on display to show the world of your true colors of cowardice."

The night was only barely a chill, but because he was so riled by her, his breath could be seen in the darkness.
HE turned back to the saddle.
It was his stallion, beside his other trained mare. Both were of the finest stalk- both he broke in personally. He stroked the black horse's mane.
It would only take a second, just a mere slight of hand to procure the weapon hidden within the saddle..
but he bided his time, quietly, his eyes returning to her...
Like a snake staring at it's victim.

She just rolled her eyes at his threats. She believed him, but she also knew it had been a simple accident she'd been discovered in the first place. What she didn't believe was that he was going to give her his best horse. There had to be something wrong with the thing, perhaps it was crazy. A noticeable wince came as she thought about finding out much later he was irritable or bucked or bit when he didn't want to do something. That wouldn't surprise her; he would be just like his owner.

"I'm not a coward... but you won't see me here again," she answered simply, waving her hand dismissively at the idea of them catching her. 

Ignorant to there being more weapons at his disposal, Awiergan did not fear his eyes upon her, studying her. She was growing impatient, though, as the seconds ticked by and was getting grumbly about her gold not being there yet.

"What's taking so long?" she finally whined, glaring at Calent as if it were his fault, and it was in her eyes anyway. "I swear, if you try to pull something over on me here," she waved her little knife at him, "this gutting you will be the last thing you'll ever see.

"If I die here you're going down with me," she spat, overly paranoid.

Calent remained staring at her, coolly.
"I would't dream of letting your blood soil my land."
His eyes scanned about, but still no sign of the gold. He knew it would take some time, afte rall, that much gold was not easy to just simply gather, nor to cart, and was heavy. He doubted many servants had been awake at that hour and were probably being awoken now.  He sighed inwardly.  There would be... much to explain.

Then his eyes went back to Awiergan as his fingers itched over his hidden blade, but he said nothing, wondering, or rather, slightly curious, how long it would take her to become impatient enough for him to find a good opening to strike-
He just needed her back turned for but a moment....

She rolled her eyes in the darkness, his lack of answer bothering her to no end. She just wanted to be on her way now and she was quietly cursing the servants in charge of gathering her small fortune.

Eyeing the horse, she stepped closer to them now. She snorted as she glanced down to the saddle. "What's wrong with you? Did nobody ever teach you how to saddle a horse?" she mocked, holding her hands out for it.

"Just give it to me, I'll do it, I guess," she sighed, having no idea of his plans.

Calent with held an expression, but merely stepped aside to let her have at it.  His patience seemed to gain him the exact moment he needed as he moved silently behind her, the sword suddenly pressed against the small of her back.

"How about we change the plan.." he told her coolly, words against her ear. "You, drop the necklace. And you, well, you can tke my horse and get the hell out of my kingdom before I run this blade through your back." It was a threat, pure and simple-
He would not be made the fool, and her agitation, her impatience would be the end of her!

OOC: Hope it's ok to assume she went forward, <3 if not I can fix my post!
but feel free to 'assume' any surprise attacks on him lol (OR ADMIT DEFEAT! BWAHAHAHAHA)

Her eyes went wide as she felt the tip of the blade against her back. Goosebumps shot across her skin at the sensation but she was angry more than anything. Inwardly kicking herself for being so foolish, Awiergan's eyes searched the area frantically for anything she could grab to help her or a way to escape.

Her face twisted into a grimace as she tried to look at him over her shoulder. "You know what? You're more underhanded than any pirate I've ever known. Disgusting noble," she hissed.

With her heart pounding in her ears a hand slowly reached up, brushing against the necklace, but it stopped short. It would be a bold move, to be sure, but it was the only way out that she could see.  Immediately, her leg shot back to hook around his own, jerking hard to try and catch him off guard and pull the ground out from under him.

Calent sneered at her comment.
"I wouldn't know. Your kind need to stay at sea."  He was feeling rather confident with the blade at her back, that was, until she did a bold move...
and she succeeded.

The duke fell back, making a noise, but not without spooking the horse in the process as it's legs reared up as it cried, before slamming it's hooves back into the ground.  Calent had been stunned, and looked up just in time to watch the horse rear over top of him, barely rolling out of the way in time before the hooves crashed down towards the earth.

The beast then tore out of the stable and run frantically out into the lawn.

Stunned a moment, Calent realized the opportunity as he kicked back, hoping to trip the piratess and when she'd fall, she'd find him on top of her-
that same dagger that had been pointed to her back then at her throat.  It was only then he noticed the jewels and he growled.

"Remove... the... necklace." he seethed.
He was NOT about to play any more of these silly games!


OOC: Oh noes!
*waits for him to be proved wrong*

Awiergan hadn't expected the horse to startle. Standing in shock of the animal and fearing she might be knocked down and trampled, she entirely missed Calent's own near miss. When the horse ran, though, she stared at it helplessly and sprung to get out of its way when...she tripped.

She didn't fall but she was stumbling forward precariously as her hands desperately searched for something to grab onto. That happened to be the wall of the stall, though she ended up slamming into it as she tried to regain her balance.

As she glared at Calent, though, she saw her chance. She didn't blink as she stared at the open stall door. It was a small chance, but it was the only way she could see of getting out of this both alive and still a bit richer. She bolted for the opening, thinking if she was fast she might be able to catch the horse, too, before he got too far away.

Calent watched in horror as the pirate snaked free and made her way for the door. With blade in hand, he thought quickly, noting the heavy bag used for one of the stable pulleys hanging over the door. With precise aim, and a prayer, he threw the blade whcih sailed int the air, snapped into the mark as it broke the rope that bound the heavy parcel to the air...
And down the thing went, slamming heavily into the ground before her and shrouding the stable door way with smoke.

Calent didn't wait to react as he was on his feet and making his way towards her, tearing across the floor and jumping into the dust-
and a hand reache dout and gripped onto her arm as he dragged her towards him.
"You're not going anywhere!" he roared, but then again, what threat was he? BUt an angered man who was without his blade?

She thought she was in the clear. Thought She gasped in surprise as a blur fell down before her and covered the area in a heavy haze. That caused her to inhale some of the stuff, though, and it only took her a moment to start hacking. Lifting a hand to wave at the stuff did nothing to clear it, but then she felt herself being yanked back sharply and his angry voice was in her ear again.

"Get your hands off of me!" she wheezed, slashing wildly with her knife at the arm she knew was connected to her, though she had no idea and could not see where the rest of him was.

The knife connected with it's mark as the duke winced and pulled away, blood dribbing down his arm as he latched out with his other hand and snagged her again, yanked her towards him so that her body collided into his- his other hand, though bleeding, snatched the wrist of the hand that held the blade and there they stood, dust settling around them and soot their faces and hands as he glared down at her, faces only inches apart.

"Where do you think you're going?"

She yelped in surprise as she was dragged back over and struggled as he subdued her attempts to struggle and stab him more. A snarl escaped her at his words. The nerve of him to keep her there! "I'm leaving, you soulless whelp!" she barked, glaring up at him.

Stubbornly struggling against his hold on her again, Awiergan jerked her knee up in an attempt now to hit him any way and anywhere that she could. She spit at his face for good measure, aiming for the eyes.

ooc: Oh, the drama. xD

Calent growled at her, baring his teeth and attempted to shake her.
"YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME A FOOL!" he roared, voice echoing around them in a monsterous boom-
And it was only then he heard a noise just outside the door and his eyes jerked to see...
Two servants had arrived with a cart fool of gold.

The servant cleared his throat.
"Duke Calent?"


Calent set his jaw, standing there, blinking like a stupid man as he held his.. 'whore'.
In a quick motion, he jerked her hand that held the dagger behind him and glared towards the servant.
"Can't you see we need a private moment alone?" the duke snapped, and the servant, bowed.
"Yes, my lord. We will leave the gold right here."

Calent's eyes were simmering as they remained upon the servants until they disappeared, then he released an angered breath and turned to glare back at the pirate.

OOC: IT was about time they showed up with the gold XD

She continued to glare at him as he hollered at her, wincing as the sound was practically ringing in her ears. When the servants arrived, though, her head jerked quickly to stare at them. She gasped when she realized that this might be her end, that he could just have them hold her so he could kill her on the spot with her own blade. But he didn't.

Her face screwed up in confusion as he ordered them away, but it was not lost on her that her knife was now perfectly positioned. She fiddled with it quietly as she watched the two strangers leave. As soon as it was turned she pressed the tip against his back. "You're going to let go of me now," she whispered to warn him once more. "Just let go and I won't kill you. Step away and you can have your damn necklace."

ooc: I loves it xD

It was about that time he was kicking himself for letting his anger get the better of him, and scowled towards her as he released her from his hands.  Then, slowly, ever so slowly, and without moving his eyes from upon her, he stepped back, once, twice, then settled a few feet from her before releasing an agitated breath.

"It seems we have your gold," he seethed, eyes going to the necklace, then to her.  "Let's just be done with this." He placed a hand out. "The necklace.." he fully expected her to just give it to him and she could deal with the gold as she was.  It was not even about the heirloom anymore, but his pride. He would NOT be bested by her..

EVen though it was clearly evident he was.

She was surprised he was actually listening this time. Adjusting to hold the knife firmly in front of her as he backed away, she relaxed her expression as she waited for him and ended up taking a couple of steps back herself to put that much more space between them.

"It does seem that way," she answered, refusing to look away from him for fear of him attacking. But she didn't want to give it up anymore. The horse was gone, she couldn't trust him to just fulfill his end of the bargain anymore and she had no way of safely leaving with that much gold.

Her eyes wandered down to his hand as he prompted her for the thing and, to appease him, she slowly reached up to touch the necklace again with her free hand. As soon as her hand was on the clasp, though, she turned tail and ran out the door. Almost falling as she rounded the corner, she shoved her hands into the cart to pull out at least some gold as she ran by. Shoving the stuff into her pockets, she bolted right back out the doors they'd entered through and she ran for the hills, and literally for her life now.

Calent's face fell as she took off running.
Then quickly anger became him as he went into pursuit, snatching up a dagger along the way and stumbling to a rush out into the courtyard.  His servants, of course, had listened and left them alone, something he cursed himself inwardly for, that and his snobbish ability to believe he could do everything himself...
but then he saw it, his horse and lifted two fingers to his lips and whistled.
The horse came storming his way and soon, his legs were slipping over the saddle as he rushed her, horse nearly leaping over her as it's hooves hammered into the ground.
Then, with a jerk of the reigns, he had his horse turned around, he and the animal now in front of the run away pirate as he jerked the reigns, and had the horse stomp towards her, not once, but twice as he tried to get her to realize the tables had turned!

"GIVE ME THAT NECKLACE, PIRATE! BEFORE I CALL MY WHOLE ARMORY UPON YOU!"

She thought she was in the clear until she heard that whistle. Her heart sank as she looked back to see him and the horse thundering for her and she altered her course to move out of the way, but she never stopped running. But then he circled back and was right in front of her.

With eyes wide in surprise she skidded to a halt before the beast could step on her. The necklace glittered in the moonlight as she glared up at him for his threats. She lunged forward to grab a fistful of the reins to try to pull them out of his grasp as she poked the beast in the chest with her knife to force him back, hoping all of the sudden movements would knock him off balance.

The horse was startled and reared back, and the momentum, enough to toss it's rider into the mud as the horse kicked once and took off fearfully into the woods...

OOC: I..
would add more but this is SO Much more delicious as a one sentence response! <3

and you'll never see me post something this short normally EVER but...

CALENT'S FACE...
*point points*

IN THE..
*POINTS*

MUD!

X3


<3 reply as you would!
Mockery or freedom..
She has a choice if she can get to the horse...
<3 or you know, stick aroudn with her favorite muddy duke!

As the horse reared her arm was yanked up until she was just standing on the tips of her toes, face twisted in a grimace at the sharp pains that shot through her. It was the fear of being trampled that made her let go and as soon as she did she sadly watched the horse run away without its rider. She was sure this was the only time in her life she'd lost the same horse twice, but there was no way she could catch up to it now.

Turning slowly, she fully expected Calent to be standing there ready to drive his blade through her belly, but he was lying on the ground. He was in mud, to be more specific, and the grime from the soot coupled with mud being caked onto him was almost too much to take now. That and his chance at catching her was fading away.

She stared at him in silence now as she stepped closer to stand over him. Her luck was almost too good to be true... But why was she getting closer?! This was her chance! Probably the only real one she would get.

In a second she whirled around and ran away after the horse while desperately trying to mimic the whistle for the horse with no success.

Face in the mud, his hand shot out and latched onto her ankle, fully aiming to bring her down with him, but she easily slipped away.
He was pissed.
No, he was beyond pissed and as he lifted himself up, his face, hair, his clothes..
It was all covered with mud!
And to think, the poor duke had just gotten a bath!

And then he lunged at her, making chase for a while before suddenly snatching her beneath his hands and grabbing for the necklace desperately at her throat while muck and mud spattered everywhere, only he found himself slipping over top of her and falling...
in a most precarious situation as he went down...
right on top of her..
belly to belly...
face to face...
legs tangled around legs as he peered down at her, as a few splatters of mud from the tip of mud masked face fell onto her cheek...

As he stared at her, frozen in horror....

But not because he was ontop of her in an oh so compromising position, but becuase the neckalce.. as they fell...


It broke.


Pearls and precious emeralds were everywhere, scattering into the grasses- some, truly, would be lost forever!

OOC: XD ok I COULD NOT help myself with this post!
IF you wnat me to adjust anythign let me know!
THis post sorta happened.

Awiergan fought him every unsteady step of the way. She tried to spin, tried to throw him off of her as she flailed her arms and shoved at him, but they ended up crash landing anyway. And a certain, sickening sound along the way seized her attention and had her stomach doing flip-flops. Her back met a slightly less mucky mud and she growled at him as she felt the stuff seeping into her hair and brand new clothes.

She stared up at him, glaring daggers at his muddy face, though she didn't understand his expression, cringing every time mud plopped onto her from him. She thought her heart stopped, though, when she felt some of the rest of the necklace slipping away: loose pearls rolling down her shoulders and neck and emeralds and diamonds down her chest and over her arms.

She let out a shriek of frantic grief when she realized what had happened, what that horrible sound had been, and she pushed at him frantically until she managed to roll them over. That only caused more of the necklace to fall apart, though, and slip away from them. "No! Nononononono! SHIT! .... Nooooo! You idiot!" she screamed down at him, tears burning up to her eyes as she watched with pure despair in her face before she realized she might be able to salvage something and scrambled away from him to try and sweep together what she could in the darkness.

"This is all your fault! You greedy bastard! Why?!" she wailed, snatching up what she could see glittering in what thin strips of moonlight were there.

At her screams- at the sign of tears... glittering like the pearls and diamonds of the heirloom, now lost to the night,.. he snapped.

Rage compelle him, moved him forward as he seized her when she tried to scoop up her prize like some frantic loon, only to find himself tackling/wrestling and pressing her back to the ground with an irritated, heated growl, their faces inches apart, his hot breath across her lips, eyes meeting to hers in one crazy moment...


A hand went to her cheek, eye lids lowering as if..
As if he were about to kiss her when he halted, lips twitching barely an inch away.  His mind whirled, his body reeled back in surprise as he snagged the massive emerald she hadn't realized she had taken into her hand and claimed it as her own, but the heat of the moment, the insanity of desire still burning in his eyes as he glared down at her, her bodies pinned beneath his powerful legs as he stared at her in rage.

"The only real criminal is you!" he roared, voice as feral as a lions.  "You-" his eyes pierced the world like bolts of lighting. "You broke the necklace!" even though the obvious blame was mutual, who could have known who had struck the necklace in their frantic and desperate tumble in the mud-

But both were so eager to blame the other...
and Calent's body and mind was already blinded by such rage and hate that...
It left him lingering with a passionate lust and desire for her that that in itself, began to tear at him internally, like a monster.
How wretched! That he desired to kiss and bait and mate with a pirate right out here in the forests, in the mud..
necklace be damned!

Though the only evidence of his atrocities was the smolder, the passion, a hunger for her growing in his crazed green eyes as he stared down at her- legs locked and pinned on top of her, leaving only her torso, which was hardly spared as it seemed almost pressed beneath the presnce of his heavy and lust-crazed eyes.


OOC: XD

Hopefully this post makes sense and I hope it's ok I'm assuming her blind nab for the goods had her grab the famous emerald <3

and of course the crazy duke suddenly fancies her after all of their fighting lol

He so crazy XD

His insistence upon keeping her pinned and away from the remaining bits of necklace had her thrashing angrily beneath him, though she didn't have the strength to throw him off with her hands full now, refusing to let go like some raccoon clinging to a shiny scrap of metal.  With that hand upon her cheek, though, she thought he was going to try and kill her right there, break her neck, beat her, something... But he didn't, of course.

When she felt him snatching something away from her she yelped and looked down to see what he was holding. The big emerald. Of course. She stubbornly shoved the rest of what was in her hands into the pockets of her now muddy coat.

She didn't see the passion behind his rage now and only took that dark, crazed look in his eyes for loathing. "I did not break the necklace! You shouldn't have been grabbing at it! You broke it! Just you! Are you happy now?! Now let me go!" she growled as her now empty hands pushed at his legs.

Awiergan pushed at his legs as she twisted back and forth, trying to squeeze out from under him. Leaning up some to get more leverage, she didn't care what he might bark at her now; she was certain she would soon be a very dead pirate if she couldn't escape.

It was all so chaotic and insane, and with her moving wildly beneath him like an animal, he felt like an animal too and went against all judgement and better principles as he slammed her back into the mud, hands to her shoulders, then to her neck, to her face as he captured her face suddenly, lips unto lips.....


It was a cruel and wicked moment, one of pure bliss, passion and rage; and the feelings and emotions, so raw and untamed he couldn't stop himself as he feasted upon her lips, gobbling her up into his wild passion and smearing the mud from his hands all over her as he kissed.
The jewelry be damned- he was suddenly overwhelmed by a sudden need, a sudden desire for this pirate he had never felt before and couldn't stop until...


Suddenly he gasped, rearing back, but remaining, legs still pinning over hers as his hair spilled wildly over his face.


Gods.. what had he just done!?


OOC: THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT IF SOMEHOW CALENT TURNS INTO A REAL BOY AND KILLS ME DX


<3 <3 <3 <3

She was ready to beat him senseless for this third instance of pushing her back down into the mud. No matter who he was or who she was that was just outrageously rude! But then his hands moved up. And up. And up. He was smearing mud all over her and now... Now she was caught up in a bruising kiss.

Her eyes went wide as she continued to push at him, her hands now at his sides, thinking he'd gone absolutely mad. Though, she couldn't deny the softness and warmth to his lips.

All of it was quickly becoming so overwhelming: being kissed, caked in mud, and still fearful and frantic about the necklace and escaping to keep her freedom. After a moment she just went with it, playing along so he didn't rip her head off with his greedy, devouring kisses –or so she thought.

When he pulled back she stared up at him with a surprised and questioning twinkle to her eyes, her lips slowly screwing up into a look of puzzlement as to what just happened. And why. And how. Slowly she reached a hand up to try and wipe mud from her cheeks, as if that would help the situation running all along her back. Then, fingertips moved to brush the corner of her mouth as if wondering if this was all real.

"I... You...," Awiergan began, struggling with words and having no idea what to say to the man who'd spent most of the night glowering at her and the rest of it yelling at her. A quick glance down informed her that she was still firmly pinned to the ground, but then she lifted her gaze to just stare at his eyes again. She wasn't sure what to do now, what to say, what might make him let her go, but being kissed by the duke was the last thing she'd expected to happen tonight.

As a duke, for propriety, and as a gentleman, he suddenly found himself removing himself from her, but the look of surprise was still evident on his face. He could't look away from her either, and if the mud wasn't so stuck to his skin..
she might see the fierce burn of his blush.

"I..." he began, but could say no more, all words becoming lost to him as he stared at her, his mind a dizzy, hot mess.

As soon as he was off of her she was scrambling to her feet, if unsteadily. She just stared at him in frightened awe now, unsure what her next move should be. Then she blurted out, "I should leave," and was off once again, bolting across the muddied grounds with the loose jewels and gold that managed to stay in her pockets.

And as if it were a bad dream, Calent could only watch her disappearing form vanish into the woods.  He was unable to think or move, let alone pursue as he collapsed against a tree, his mind whirling.

What had he done!?

Not only was the necklace broken, but his heart was beating like a wild drum and all he could think about was..
He touched his jaw lightly...
.. how much he enjoyed that kiss and wanted more.
He shivered outwardly and tried to shake the sensation away..
Then with wounded pride he knelt down in the cold grasses and mud and began to fetch up whatever remnants of the necklace he could, thankful, at least, the large emerald had remained..

Perhaps the necklace could be salvaged and remade...

Repocketing it... Calent headed back towards his castle in stunned silence, thinking about ways to explain the necklace's sudden condition and also..
the sudden itch to smile on his lips.


He needed a vacation.

After leaving the duchy of Allar Awiergan had gone south to hide away her newest treasures in a small village at the border. She had to admit that it was quite a sorry sight being incomplete now, but it was what she'd gotten away with. From there she headed back to the coast ready to bide her time at the comfortable mercy of the port and sea.

It was bothersome to her, though, that for once she was uncertain of how she might obtain the rest of that necklace. Surely if she walked back into the castle someone would recognize her, and she didn't want to risk that after the close calls she'd had with the duke and all his threats to kill her. Perhaps while he was away? She didn't think many others had seen her and it sounded like a much safer bet. But would he ever let that damned thing out of his sights? She doubted that.

A faint blush came to her cheeks, though, whenever she thought about how she'd left, freshly kissed and muddy. She still had yet to figure out what had compelled him or why a pirate-hating duke would ever kiss...well, a pirate. It didn't help her color to think about the fact that she'd actually enjoyed what happened, sudden as it was, though she wasn't ready to entirely admit that.

Mulling over the how and why was all she did for the next week or so as she wandered about. Every time she was ready to leave she hesitated. She was waiting, listening to the whispers on the streets and not wanting to make a brash decision as to whether she should just go back or move on for now.

OOC: I have plans in another thread, the What a Man wants (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=14001.msg120021#msg120021) Thread featuring Calent and Lady Kathryn, is presumed to take place between this time break :3

Just wanted to make a note of that! There are.. plans of a potential engagement in that thread, and I'm thinking about bridging the gap on the finalities and appropriations of the engagements here!
:3

and now...

FOR MORE EVILS

IC:

A vacation.
He needed a vacation; and also an excuse to just get away. Audric might have been surprised he was not confided in about the news until he was already preparing, but the duke had his mind set. He was going to visit the small island, the island of Breezewell, far off the coast of Connlaoth and to the south, the waters boarding theirs and that of Serendipity.  It was always warm there and pleasant, a find place for any nobleman to seek refuge from the trying situations of his life.

And the duke had much to think about, for soon, well before the year would end; he would have a bride.

And she.. she needed a necklace.
To tend to his wounds, he set out, not only to repair the necklace, but to make it far more grand than it had been in it's previous state. With the massive emerald still in tact, and some of the pearls salvaged, he found it was his duty to invest in acquiring the perfect necklace for a bride who, to the world, he would make known was his perfection.

So, to the port he went, post haste; and a ship and crew of The Forester was well loaded with supplies.  It yielded enough armed men and servants to make the trip relaxing, though the sailing should take nary a day from the main land, it was still quite the ship and would prove a worth while investment.

walking up the blank and onto his vessel, the duke stared briefly over his shoulder at the main land of Connlaoth, before disappearing onto his ship then began his journey out to sea....

As time went on the rumors and gossip of the town had shifted, and she heard chatter at a bar one night of a ship being prepared for the next morning. It drew her interest once she heard whom it belonged to, though, and where it was going. Her immediate, misguided thought was that the duke was going to store his riches there, and she quickly came to the conclusion that he was a coward for doing so.

She went out to see the ship in the early hours before dawn and her selfish little mind only punished her then for reminding herself of all that gold she should have gotten and still felt entitled to in some way. In her mind, she could have had something as nice as this, if not so very grand and big, so she climbed aboard and snooped around to see if she might find anything else of his worth taking.

Exploring the holds didn't yield much of anything of interest to her except food. She got her hands into almost everything she could but she couldn't find any false walls or spaces beneath the floors that might hide something valuable, but she was intent on finding something, anything.

So stubborn in her search was she that she only realized the ship was no longer in the port when she was slammed against the wall of a staircase as the sails caught the wind. With wide eyes she raced back up to the deck only to see that they were in deep waters and the port was getting smaller and smaller... 

As the duke observed, the ship was sailing with the speed of Grace,a nd once satisfied things seemed to be going smoothly, he reported to his men he wished to remain below deck until supper. They obliged him, and Calent opened the door, and began walking down the steps.. not noticing the pirate wench hiding in the shadows below.
No, no, he'd never dreamed he'd see her again, and she was the last thing on his mind.
All he could think about now was his engagement and what it would mean.

he passed his private room and headed towards the supplies, examining them a moment before procuring himself a bottle of fine wine. He was too impatient to call for  servant. Then, with it in hand, he headed back towards his room.

An odd panic set into her heart. She knew ships, loved them, had spent the better part of her life on them, but she felt like a caged bird there for some reason. She was back below on quick feet and was about to sprint down the hall when...she heard the door at her back opening again. She huddled down behind a small stack of crates just barely tall enough to hide her crouched form with her head poking over the side to see where the person who'd entered was going.

Her eyes narrowed at the man she saw, squinting to try and make him out though she didn't catch a good enough look at his face to even notice it was Calent. He kept on going, though, right down the hall. She used that chance to enter the room he had passed by; surely she would be safe there to gather her thoughts on this odd predicament!

She saw a table at the far corner of the room and wandered toward it. The chair with its back to the door seemed...different than the others. Once she got closer she wrinkled her nose at it. The patterns were far more intricate and the stain darker on the wood, plus the cushion atop it felt like it was stuffed with clouds once she pressed her hand to it. She thought it was almost too fine to be on a ship and she was sure she had never seen such a thing, but she wasn't recognizing the clues.

With a quick look back over her shoulder she scooted the chair back and climbed onto it. She ended up having to fold her legs beneath herself, though, as it was more comfortable than letting them dangle over the edge not quite touching the floor like some child. She gave it a good bounce or two and was pleased that it really did feel quite soft and fluffy.

Awiergan's fingertips brushed along the arms of the thing, studying the patterns and markings in the wood. It seemed like it had such...history, somehow. It was polished, but she still thought it looked quite old. Her eyes continued to follow the lines and swirls down the legs of the thing, leaning over the edge of her perch so she wouldn't have to get down to look

ooc: Sorry...this chair just came to me and wouldn't leave me alone. xD Let me know if I took too much liberty and/or you think I should make changes.

OOC: OMGERD, she's MOLESTING his chair!
DX

X3

IC:

Just wine wouldn't do.  He found himself the barrel of fresh apples and took one, polishing it on his chest after he had fetched open his chest from storage. This one contained hundreds of book.
His eyes scanned them, then, finding one of some interest, lifted it up and leafed to the front page, idly reading as he took a bite of the crisp apple and moved towards his room.
The door was slightly open, he need only his boot to push it open and as it creaked open, he stepped inside, well indulged with his nose in his book, apple to his lips as he took another bite and moved throughout, closing the door behind him with a click to lock it, another crunch to the apple, and more words digested from the book.

Still, he had no clue as to the other occupant within his room- blissfully unaware as he enjoyed but a single moment of peace in his life.

ooc: Molest dah chair! (<

ic:

She froze when she heard the creak of the door. Cautiously peeking over the side of the chair she was alarmed at the sight of a person...with their nose stuck in a book. But as that person stepped further into the room she recognized that hair coupled with the side of his face to be Calent, the duke with the nasty bark. That had her snapping back to sink herself into the chair, tucking herself into the middle of the cushion. She hadn't expected him to, well, actually be aboard his own ship.

She thought he might leave, though, that perhaps he'd just come in to grab something, so she waited and listened to him going about, her ears being her eyes while she stared down at the table before her with a panicked expression.

Nose still to his book, he took a few steps forward, slowly reading, taking another bite, chewing his apple, then placing his hand onto the back fo the chair and turned it, pushed it open and took a step to sit..
only to register the sudden extra weight of the pull as he turned to look down, his eyes widened as his apple dropped between them, landing red and bitten, upon her lap.

OOC: Short and sweet <3
looooool

Every step closer had her cursing herself inwardly for not trying to leave or hiding elsewhere. Her heart pounded louder and louder in her ears as she fussed over all the things that might happen if she were discovered: Hung, slayed, tossed out to sea, thrown in jail, tortured...

As she felt the chair being pulled back she almost leapt to her feet right then and there, but he was quick to step up and unknowingly block her escape without awkwardly climbing over the arms or the back. She froze, though, when her light eyes met his dark ones and immediately widened as she clenched her fists and jaw.

Awkwardly picking up the apple, she cautiously held it out to him like she expected him to take it back now.  “I’m not in your duchy,” she reminded him quietly with a slow, sheepish smile.

The book fell second, nearly toppling o top of her head as the pages leafed wildly and fluttered to a hard drop at the floor...
and he, well, Calent was reeling back, yanking out the knife that had been well concealed inside his  jacket and pointed it at her.
"YOU!"
His eyes flared wildly, his body tense, his mind, in disbelief!

Awiergan hissed at the feel of the solid thunk the book left to her shoulder and then arm. At the flash of the dagger, though, she started fumbling for her own and throwing the apple at his face with the hope of distracting him while she scrambled to her feet. "Don't you point that thing at me!" she warned, surprised that he was actually....prepared this time. 

He caught the apple, which, even to him was a surprise, as he continued to glare at her and bared his teeth.
"You're on my ship!" she growled, the knife still pointed towards her as he remained, still in alarm.

"Yes, and?" Awiergan answered with narrowed eyes. Though, she knew what the problem was. She just didn't want to admit that he'd managed to catch her snooping around again. "I swear I'm not this bad of a pirate," she groaned, shaking her head in annoyance with herself as she started backing away to the door. 

His eyes narrowed.
"And just where do you think you are going?" he demanded, taking a step towards her.
"We're hours out at sea, too far for you to just swim away into the main land," he growled.  "And my ship is full of armed men." Another threat, though he didn't press towards her, only held the knife towards her.

She bared her teeth at him at his reminders. "I'm trying to get out of here, I'll find somewhere else to go!" Though she had absolutely no idea where she would hide now that he knew she was there and might send his men hunting for her if she tried to run.

"What else would you have me do?" she barked, her voice rising in frustration as she saw no way out of this now even as she placed a hand to the door.

Calent, hesitating, slipped his blade away.
"I suppose you're stuck here with us until we make land," he sneered, eyeing her up. "You can run all you want, all the good it will do you. My men will be all over you. There's no where for you to escape."

And.. after a moment of scowling, his body hiccuped and.. was that...
yes, a smile bloomed across his lips as he couldn't help himself...
It was just too much...

The pirate who tried to out thieve him...
She was now stuck as a prisoner on his ship....

Appearing leering, he slowly crept towards her.
"So how should I handle this stow away on board my ship? Ropes? Chains? Gagging?" he asked, each word pressed from his lips in a dangerous fashion, eyes solely upon her like a lion stalking it's prey as he approached.. one boot at a time until he had her cornered near the door.
"Or do I have to pretend your're my god damn consort?" the last part was spoken through his teeth.

She scowled at him and kept her blade pointed at him despite that she'd seen him put his away. The look on his face now wasn't helping her nerves; he was frightening and she was uncertain of the intentions behind that smile now.

Each suggestion had her paling further. The last thing she wanted was to spend this trip locked up in a cramped and cold cell gagged and in chains with no food. "I'll take the consort," she grumbled, glaring up at him and warning, "I'll kill you before you chain me up here. That's inhumane."

"And if I like my consorts locked up?" his voice was playful, but also dangerous as he approached, staring at the blade before grabbing her wrist suddenly.
"Let me jsut make things very clear. I can have you killed right here and now and my men wouldn't think nothing of it.  If you want to live to at least taste the fine foods of an Allarian jail, you should hold your tongue, hold your wine, and keep the hell out of my way."
Pushing her aside, he sighed with disgust and moved away from her, pulling a hand down his face as he sighed again and remained, off in a corner, silently brooding.

What the HELL was he to do with her...
and more importantly, why the HELL did he care!?

"Not going to jail," she mumbled, snatching her hand back as he pushed her aside. Feeling slightly defeated she huffed at him pointedly and shoved her knife back into its sheath. She eyed him suspiciously , not understanding the frustration in his actions. Sure, she wasn't supposed to be there, but that was no reason to be so...unwelcoming of her presence.

Cautiously she slinked along the wall with her eyes on the door. Armed men be damned, she didn't want to get caught in there with a raging duke if he lost it on her and actually did try to lock her up. Her eyes were glued to the door now and steps were taken lightly across the creaky floor. Her hands made it back to the door again and she yanked it open quickly now to try and slip out before he noticed.

Calent remained beside the wall, but over heard Awiergan heading towards the door. Sighing, he turned to face her.
"So you're going to just leave and run amok on my ship?" his eyes stared at her coldly, but he didn't dare go after her, just watched her as she stood beside the door, ready to leave.  "Perhaps you ought to be kept in chains..." he threatened and began to slowly approach, but stopped, instead nad began to retrieve his apple and book.

She froze, staring at him in puzzlement now. Running amok was a bit of a harsh term, she thought; she wasn't some wild animal or infernal brat that couldn't be calmed or told, well, not to do that. But his odd fixation upon chains was beginning to unnerve her. Maybe he would try to shackle her after all to let her waste away until they reached his destination. "Don't worry, I'm careful enough not to break things," she replied testily, eyes narrowing at him.

"What else would you have me do? I thought you wanted me to 'keep out of your way?'"

He scowled at her now, for her statement and question.
"Yes, I wanted you to stay out of my way, but here I find you on my ship," he said coldly, wary eyes now upon her as he slowly approached. "And I have still yet to figure out what to do with you." he glared at her still. "I'm not sure if you're even fit enough to pass as a consort." He stared at her clothing with a frown, then back to her. "And we hardly have any suitable places in here for a cage.." the last words were threatened, like a growl.

Damn her for showing up on his ship! damn her! Damn it all!

"Oh, pah!"she dismissed, waving her hand in irritation at his suggestions. "You're all bark and no bite anyway, don't start that with me.

"Of course I'm suitable. Just tell them that I am and they'll believe you, right? Who would they be to question their duke? Their employer?" she reminded him, hoping it might save her from some misfortunate situation like the ones he kept threatening. 

Calent's eyes narrowed towards her coldly.
"It's not as easy as that. I'd rather lock you in chains that raise the idea of any scandal." he growled. Had she no sense of politics? God damn pirate..
"And you'd have to act like a consort.. and I doubt you have of the skills required, after all, consort's act every bit as lady like as a proper woman should."

She pondered his words as she finally closed the door gently and let her hands slip from it. "If that's all I need to do, I can handle that. You never asked if I had the skills to handle it, so don't assume." 

It was an interesting idea, to her; if he didn't want the scandal of dealing with her publicly she could just play along until there was a chance for her to leave. But could she trust him? He seemed to want her dead at every turn, but he'd yet to make any serious attempt on her life. And here he was being the one to suggest such a thing. 

"If you can give me your word..., and make me look the part, I promise I can act it," she tried to assure him, although she was unsure how confident he was in her word, "And nobody will ever have to know I was here."

ooc: I just realized he doesn't know her name. Hawkward. 0.0

OOC: He was too proud to ask for it <3
though I don't think he gave her his.. but I think ti's a bit obvious who HE is XD
Also that's totally like ME in social situations.
I forget to ask people's names, OR I promptly FORGET people's names.
Like..
I still forget some of my neighbors names from time to time T_T
and feel dumb about it XD

Also Calent will forever know her as THE PIRATE lol o rismply PIRATE haha

IC:
Calent stared at her for a time before sighing frustratedly.
"What does a pirate know about being a consort?" he sneered. "Aside from her duties as a whore." he then added, glowering at her. "And proper attire wouldn't be difficult if we were not out at sea. But I could see what I might be able to obtain." He frowned, studying her. Maybe he should not have even suggested them.. playing some sort of act.
Would it not be easier to just be done with her in chains?

It was almost like...a challenge. She'd be damned if she let him best her in this, of course she could look and act the part! "You'd probably be surprised what I know. And I can be quite convincing," she insisted, "You know, with other people. I don't think you'd ever be convinced of a truth that stared you in the face.

"But clothes first. Or costume. I promise I clean up nice."

Calent hesitated.
The only dress he had was meant as a gift for Lady Kathryn. Frowning at the absurdity to allow this scoundrel to wear it, he turned away, beside himself over the very idea.
But what choice did he have?
Damn this pirate, always showing up to pose for scandal.

"I think I have something.."he stated coldly, stalking across the room where he bent over a large chest and worked at the lock. Flipping it open, he looked inside and pulled out a dress-
one of the most beautiful and illustrious things Allar could afford.

It was pillowy, and layered, having pants beneath the soft, ruffled silks. the ruffled skirt was in white, but above it it was encased in a shell of deep, green velvet that was embroidered in gold. The design faired in a similar manner for the sleeves..

Yes, it was meant for Lady Kathryn-
and now a pirate had to soil it.
He held the piece out towards her, delicately as it remained limply between his arms.

"This will have to do," he said bitterly.

She watched, curious what he might have after making such a point of scarce resources. Stepping closer as he produced the gown, though, she merely examined it, having no way of knowing whom it was for or why he even had it.

A hand reached out to brush along the skirt of it, smiling at the softness it was met with. "It's very pretty, very fine," she admired as she reached to take it and cautiously hold it out in front of herself. Looking down, though, she didn't see how such a fine thing would ever be considered wasted upon her as she made note of how the dress might fit on her.

"This will be perfect," she finally decided, giving it a quick twirl before setting her eyes darting about his room that then settled upon the chest he'd retrieved the dress from.
"I don't suppose you have anything...else? To go with it? Any bows? Ribbon? Could you spare me some water as well? And a brush?"

Calent's brow furrowed, and furrowed still as she made request after request.

"What does a pirate know about ribbons." he growled, walking past her with a wave of his hand. "And if you wish to... " he paused, eyeing her up. "You'll have to use my quarters to do so." He glanced over to the corner, where a wash basin sat behind a screen. He frowned.

"And despite protocol. I..." he cleared his throat, blushing.  "I can't leave you here alone." He cast a sharp eye on her. "You'll have to bathe, and to do so quickly behind the screen." He moved away. "There is already water prepared. It was intended for my evening bath but..." he sighed, snorted then looked away.
"I suppose this is better. You should wash off your filth before soiling that dress." then he paused, taking her arm as he added. "And don't you think about ruining that dress or I'll gut you and throw you over board myself."

Awiergan just rolled her eyes at his disbelief in her knowledge, but they then followed his gaze to the corner with the screen. It was a little unsettling that he wasn't willing to leave her alone to get ready, but she couldn't really blame him for it after their first encounter.

As he took her arm, though, she merely played dumb and gave him her best doe eyes. "Ruin it? Why would I ever want to ruin such a pretty thing? Don't you worry, my duke," she chastised, pulling her arm away as she went over to the screen. Despite the temptation to goad him with poor treatment of the dress she just draped it over one corner of the screen and got to work on disrobing and getting cleaned up with one hand always hovering at the knife she'd set down beside the basin.

Rummaging around his changing area she grabbed the first comb and brush she saw and got to work taming her windswept hair into something far more manageable and, well, ladylike. It was a pain to do it, though, and she'd be the first to complain if she ever got the chance.

Once that was done she turned suspiciously and peeked out from the side of the screen to make sure he hadn't run off and gotten his guards or anything. But she said nothing, just stared for a moment before returning to her tasks. Dressing, though, was....daunting, in such a gown.

She managed to get most of it on her own but she realized far too late that it was not the sort of thing one just slipped into. Waddling cautiously out from behind the screen holding the bodice up to her chest with one hand and the back 'together' in vain with the other, Awiergan looked to Calent now with pleading eyes and flushed cheeks. "I need some help here," she spoke quietly, a bit embarrassed now for not being able to do the thing up by herself, though she fully expected him to just help her without question.

Calent had been idly watching her work, not realizing he was staring until she moved from behind the screen. It was only then he found himself staring, but as she shuffled out, blushing and groomed and half in the dress, he found his face flushing hotly.

Rising, he moved forward without a word and moved behind her.

Grunting, he worked at tightening the ropes on her corset, but it seemed she wasn't working with him as he growled.
"Keep still," he snapped. "If I would have known I'd be entertaining a lady, I would have brought along a maid." He kept pulling, and pulled, and pulled until... securing a knot, he smoothed the back of her dress and moved away, clearing his throat as he stood there, hands clasped behind his back.

"There.." he gave her a shy once over, then looked away. "You look.. presentable, now." He cleared his throat again.

Her expression was a fixed frown until she was done up in the dress finally. When he was finished with it she finally relaxed her hold on the front and made her adjustments here and there while trying, and failing, to see his work at the back over her shoulder.

"Presentable," she repeated, giving the front one final fluff before pattering over to the chest he'd gotten the dress from to hunt for ribbon. She settled on the first thing she found, a gold to match the embroidery, and went to the mirror to fuss with her hair more before she'd call her ensemble complete. Lacing it through her hair to make a neat bow at the back, she twisted in the dim light to make sure it was to her liking before she stepped away with a triumphant smile; if she was going to dress up, she was going to at least have something she wanted.

"There. Do I still look alright?" she asked, knowing he minded how she looked if she was going to 'represent' him but not caring if he thought it to be too much personally. "And...is there lunch today?" she added, glancing to his half-eaten apple from earlier.

Calent only stared at her.
For a moment, he wondered what had become of the pirate, but at her words, the curious look he had was quickly replaced with a scowl.
"Of course there will be food. We are not heathens." he hissed, then looked down at the apple she was admiring and sighed. "not for another hour." He eyed her a moment, eyes narrowing. "Stay here." and he slipped out of the room...
returning a moment later as he tossed an apple at her.
"Snack on that. It will have to do for now." And he collapsed onto his desk with a sigh and ran a hand through his hair as he leaned over his paper work, his mind reeling and unable to be focused...

God damn that wretched pirate.
He snorted through his nose, with disgust and shook his head and tried to focus.

Documents.. documents.. everywhere...
and these ones, naturally, needed revised.

She caught the apple and only shot him a grateful look before she set to munching, leaving him to his papers for now as she walked about and familiarized herself with the room properly now. It was a bit disappointing, seeing no sign of the rest of the necklace she'd boarded the ship in search for, but he still had many fine things worth her time to look at.

"So, why are you here? Where are you going? What are all those...papers for?" she asked, feigning ignorance now as she wanted his own words on the matter, not the gossip she'd heard.

At each of her questions, he felt his eye brow twitch.

"Perhaps none of it is your concern," Calent told her coldly, and sighed, leaning back as he frowned at his papers. Looking over her, his expression soured even further as he rose from his chair.
"Stop slouching," he told her, taking her shoulder and trying to right it. "ANd stop.. stop whatever you're doing with your posture." He sighed, his brows dipping sharply as he looked at her, then he moved away, guiding her towards a mirror.
"here, why don't you practice standing like a lady while I read?"
And he moved away from her, collapsing irritably back onto his desk chair.
It was only then he frowned when he recalled...
the pirate had sat here earlier.
He brushed off the invisible dirt with a scowl.

"God damn pirate.." he muttered, not realizing he never caught her name....

Her expression flashed to pure puzzlement at his pickiness, as she was sure she hadn't been slouching in the least. "Posture? Really, my posture?" she scoffed, offended by his need to correct something she was sure wasn't there. "I think you're seeing things, duke. Might want to take better care of your eyes."

But she left him to his papers and continued to go about the room, if only to make an obvious show that she knew what she was doing. At least for now. She heard his muttering, though, and was only amused by his unhappiness with her. She was getting an ego boost and a sense of satisfaction knowing she was getting her way despite his aversion to her.

"Have repairs been made to your shabby attic yet?" she asked as she finished her apple. "You really need to get some cats or something. You have an awful lot of pests hiding up there."

He was all but trying to ignore her..
that was, until she mentioned the attic..a nd rats and..
He shot her a deathly glare.
"Perhaps I kept it suitable for it's visitors," his eyes narrowed icily, before he sighed and slammed his fists onto the desk and made rise.
"Constant bickering. Perhaps you'd have better luck if we strolled up on deck?"
though perhaps it was just he who needed it as he latched onto her wrist and dragged her along with him and as they made their way, forcefully up the stairs, he slipped his arm around her.
"Just stay quiet and enjoy the fresh air before we eat." he warned into her ear, and began moving wiht her across the deck, pausing only when they had made it to a more private section where he released his grip upon her and moved to lean against the side.
He would have sighed, perhaps, internally he did before he shot her a gaze, but said nothing, eyes returning to the ocean where they went distant and brooding.

Her eyes widened in panic as she realized she'd left her knife out on the table as he dragged her out. She only cooperated on the stairs so she wouldn't fall in the cumbersome outfit, but as soon as they were outside she had her eye out for anyone she could make a scene towards at his expense. Yet, there seemed to be no one, like somehow everyone knew to keep away from him.

Once he released her she took a few steps away, a bit irritated at this strange, small victory of his. The spots he had touched felt different and she found herself now trying to smooth out the fabric of the dress all over again, though it was already fine. A pout set at her lips for his continued insistence that she keep quiet, Awiergan threw the apple core out into the waves now to watch it become smaller and smaller and eventually be swallowed up.

"And what is it I'm supposed to be having better luck with, exactly?" she demanded, shooting him a glaring glance before setting her eyes upon a lone gull riding the currents in the distance.

Calent's lips sagged. His mind had drifted off into melancholy, and surprisingly, he was thankful for the distraction, but also irritated by it.
"To have more luck finding yourself distracted." he grumbled. He kept his eyes averted from hers, green eyes piercing at the ocean.
"Can't you just appreciate the silence and the sea?"

OOC: He is so mr. grumpy pants XD

Awiergan assessed him with wary eyes now, wondering what had set him into such a snappy temper or if he was just...always like that. "I am capable of it, but won't I have plenty of time for that later? How long are we going to be out here, anyway? You never answered my question," she reminded, though she doubted simply telling him that would get him to cough any information up.

"Why are you so tense? Are you getting seasick? Is that why you wanted to come out here?" she wondered, taking a couple more steps away from him.

All of her questions were certain making him SEEM sick, as he glowered at her. What was with the millions of questions, but he supposed he brought it on himself for.. for whatever reason, allowing her to be his 'courtesan'.

"I'll have you know I enjoy staring at the ocean," he informed her between his teeth, then set his eyes to glare back at the sea.  "And dinner can't be ready fast enough," he grumbled irritably. "Perhaps I can inform them we should eat earlier, considering it doesn't appear you'll remain as a silent companion." he glared daggers at her again and began to walk away.


OOC: Why.. is Awiergan SOOOO cute *_*

SO MUCH COOTNESS

"Well, we could always talk after dinner instead, if you'd prefer," she offered, though she knew it would be a lie to say she wasn't going to insist on speaking with him at any point.

She followed after him when he started walking away, her eyes staying at the back of his head and matching his footsteps as she also didn't really trust him enough to let him out of her sight for long. "Where are we going now? I thought you wanted to see the water."

ooc: She's like a puppy lol xD

OOC: SHe is! She almost reminds me of my character, Feni'tat- XD~
except he like almost IS a puppy the way he acts sometimes, haha

IC:

Calent let out an unhappy noise at the thought of 'talking' with the pirate. THough he supposed some talk should be avoided, but this was NOT how he expected to spend his time abroad. The island seemed so much farther away- a futile escape from the clutches of obligation...
and the clutches of this god damn, wicked pirate!
He shot her a glare, inwardly brewing at the thought of being stuck with he, anger ever clear on his face.
"I'm going to inform my men we'll be dining sooner." though he paused a moment, then turned around. "You.." he eyed her up. "Stay here on the deck while i make the arrangements. And don't think I won;t think twice about locking you away if you try something petty... pirate."

And he walked away, storming off to inform the servants that he wished to dine earlier,a nd while he was expressing his wishes, he mentioned his desire to eat with his.. companion alone in his bed. The cook, a bit surprised to find out a lady was on board, simply nodded and the duke went storming out of there- still angered from before and as he looked about- he hoped to find Awiergan in no means of trouble..


So Angsar help him if she were!

She eyed him suspiciously for his words. As if she would just throw away a chance at survival and freedom again for something petty! Oh, but she couldn't deny her curiosity. About everything.

Nodding and watching as he walked away from her, though, she immediately set about to exploring everything and anything that counted as on deck. It was like a game to her to see how much she could see and how many pairs of eyes she could alert to her presence. She ended up at the stern, though, looking out at the horizon she knew to be the mainland.

Looking down at the water she seriously contemplated her chances at making it back alive if she just...let herself fall. For now her hands were braced against the edge of the top rail, but as she leaned over it she knew all it would just take a little slip, a bump, some accident, and she'd be over and down. She could swim like a fish, but now this plan clashed with the dress she wore; she was sure she would drown in it before she'd gotten a mile if only for the tight binding at her back.

Still, she didn't set her feet down and only perpetuated her precarious position by swinging her legs up to sit facing out at the water, legs dangling over the edge and occasionally swinging out in mock chase of a wave as she watched them curl before being folded back under the surface.

Where had that damn pirate gone!?
He had stepped away for all of five, maybe ten minutes, and she had made herself scarce! Growling, he stalked cross the ship's deck, looking this way and that, and upon finding her in her precarious position, he approached very intentionally loud, from behind.
He let out an angered breath.
"Enjoying the view, pirate?" he breathed the words hotly against her neck. "You should be more cautious.." he said, fetching her wrist. "Lest you fall over the side." and he frowned, wondering if that was her plan all along.

She didn't turn as she heard him storming across the deck or even when he spoke the mocking words in her ear. As he grabbed hold of her wrist, though, she made no move to pull away or get down from her seat. If it aggravated him that much to see her there she was certain she would be doing this again, if only to put him on the verge of a heart attack.

"And if I don't fear falling?" she asked, still staring out at the water and just enjoying the view of it before the darkness would swallow it up.

"Then I would hardly be surprised!" he spat vehemently. "I wouldn't be surprised if you fell in, becoming some black shark, probably as dark black in color as your heart."
Though the words were wretched, he was fuming mad. He did not like the idea of courting around a pirate, finding himself ever irritated and...
ever more attracted by the way the evening sun glowed off her body, captured her in the dress and...
He pulled away, face hot with a flush as he stormed across the deck in tempered solace.  Here he was, fantasizing over that godless pirate and..
he didn't even know her name!
Not that he wanted to...

Good GODS, would he ever survive this trip?

OOC: He so mad XD

His words hardly made sense to her and she found herself actually stifling laughter at his accusation. "As if people can just become sharks," she teased, watching him over her shoulder for a moment with a smirk as she still dangled there... But only for a bit longer.

Finally turning and lowering herself to set her feet back on the deck, Awiergan eyed him thoughtfully. "Do you think me so evil? Do you think my heart to be black as the depths in the night?" she wondered, placing her hand over her heart as she stepped closer, studying his face as she looked him right in the eye.
"You have nothing to base that on, you know," she reminded him, not thinking her theft of his necklace enough to say she was some heartless woman. "And you should be careful what you say about me."

Calent tossed her back a raw, haughty glare.
"I know enough about pirates," he growled. "All pirates, thieves and mages.. you're all the same! Full of lies and deceit!"  He didn't know why he was breathing so heavily and turned away to growl.
"Lest you forget you were found in my castle stealing my jewels." He frowned and looked at her, looking her over. "I have enough." he finally reported. She was deceitful! How dare she think anything else! "You can wonder the deck on your own." he growled, storming off to be alone...
or so he hoped.


OOC: He's so blind by his hate I think he's just going to start spitting rocks now or something lol

Her brows furrowed as he fled and she was quick to follow after him. "Excuse me! Nobody found me! If your castle wasn't in such poor condition you never would have known I was there, let alone anyone else," she reminded him, irritated at his generalizations.

"And when have I lied? When have I been deceitful? I am not the same as all 'pirates' and 'thieves,' and I have nothing to do with 'mages' you narrow-minded, unpleasant, selfish little brat!" she barked, fists clenched and teeth bared as she followed him. He was being totally unacceptable! She was never going to stand for that, even being a 'pirate!'

Calent heard her barks, growling at each one of them before whirling around.
"You know, for all the good it's doing you, your words mean nothing in this world of pretend." And suddenly a man showed up, addressing the two as Calent froze.

"Duke Calent, if you please, dinner shall be served shortly."
Calent blinked, then nodded his head and turned away.
"Just bring it to my bed chambers." Calent waved the man away, and after he was gone, he said nothing more to Awiergan as he began to stalk back towards his room.

She wasn't quite certain what he meant, but it still had her feathers ruffled, nonetheless. As the man came out and interrupted what else might have been said, though, Awiergan watched him as he left and remained where she stood as Calent fled the scene as well.

If he wanted to be isolated for dinner then that was fine with her. She, however, was not going to subject herself to more ridicule tonight as she was finally recognizing that his temper was firm and unchanging towards her.

Following after the stranger, Awiergan stopped the man in hall to remind him it would only be Calent dining in his quarters and that she intended to take her dinner separately. She was willing to go anywhere and just sitting up on deck was sounding good to her now, so she followed the man back to the galley to wait for and receive her plate.

Calent ate in brooding silence.  The room was dark and quiet, almost too quiet for his liking.  Frustrations were high, and he almost wanted to smack the remains of his food before he stood up, wiped his mouth off quickly and tossed the clothe aside.
Storming out of his room, he set off to find the pirate...
He'd be damned if he'd just let her run amok on his ship.. pride or not!
He should have been more careful- what if she tried to pull a fast one on one of his crew mates? No, he had to find her, despite his growing rage, and keep her locked away inside his room for the night.

But.. damn her!
Where had she gone!?
Visibility was low, the stars already having blossomed in the sky, and the moon, nearly veiled behind a soft blanket of clouds.

She'd quickly put away her dinner sitting outside but afterwards she didn't want to face the duke again or anyone else really. It was strange for her not being in control of the course, not knowing exactly what was going to happen and when. She'd set her plate aside and wandered around a bit more before awkwardly climbing the main mast of the ship in her dress and settling down in the sail like it was her hammock.

She heard footsteps below but she didn't care to know who they belonged to. All she wanted now was to be off this wretched trap of a ship with a stubborn, ill-tempered duke, no jewelry, and no gold in sight. She sighed as she stared off at what stars peeked out from the clouds, quite confident she could just fall asleep as she was.

After too long an extended of time for him searching angrily about for the pirate, he finally swallowed his pride and asked around, covering his inquiries with a cool tale that his 'courtesan' had gone missing since dinner and he wanted to ensure she was alright. Someone eventually knew where she was, and upon straining his neck up at her with an angered gaze, he stormed over towards the mast and began to climb it.

Once at the top, his hot, heavy puffs of panted breath could be heard quite clearly as he glared at her and moved to stand before her, a long shading casting across her, body capped by silver light of the moon.

"You have some nerve," he growled at her, dark eyes penetrating her form.

By the time he started climbing she was drifting, almost in a daze. She didn't look over to see who was coming up as she was sure nobody else would have taken the time to bother her. His noisy breathing broke her peace and quiet, though, and she turned her head to scowl in irritation at his disturbance when he got up finally and moved to stand. At his words, though, she just waved her hand back over the side he'd come from in dismissal.

"...Nerve? What is it? What am I doing wrong now?" she asked, tired of his tone and the way he was blocking a finally clear view of the moon.

Calent fetched onto her arm.
"No consort of mine sleeps in a mast," he growled. "And further more you're in my dress." His words, spoken angrily through his teeth as he continued. "And secondly, you will not continue to make a fool of me." He hefted her angrily from where she lay, nearly knocking her into him by the force. "You will sleep in my cabin. You will not make any other fuss, and you will play with me in a manner that's tolerant." he warned.

Glaring at him as he spoke and pulled at her, Awiergan found herself glaring right up at his eyes despite the darkness. "First of all, I wasn't sleeping and I didn't intend to sleep here anyway. You should have asked me...and what does being in this dress have anything to do with it? No wonder you're so angry all the time, you make yourself absolutely miserable!

"I am not your puppet," she hissed, yanking her arm away from his grasp and stumbling a few steps back. "And the only one making a fool out of you is yourself. Why did you even come up here? Just to bother me?"

"IF you are to play my courtesan," Calent began, grinding his teeth. "Than I suggest you start acting like one. A proper lady would hardly find herself all the way up here." Though any romance of the sight was lost- A beautiful, silver moon casting across them, the glittering specs of stars breathed across the heaven...
"I have no qualms locking you away if you continue to be stubborn," he threatened, merely looking at her beneath the glow of the moon.  "And if you like it or not, you are under my jurisdiction."

"You left me with no choice!" she tried to defend. "I'm quite sure any lady would rather dine alone than with your foul mood. And it doesn't sound like you leave me with any choice of avoiding it anyway, because so long as you think I am stubborn I am doomed." Awiergan crossed her arms now as she found herself struggling to find a reason to continue playing along with their little game. In her opinion he was being ridiculous to make all of these demands while offering her nothing but her life in return. And even that she was unsure what he intended to do with.

"If you will stop harassing me and control your temper," she finally began again as she gestured to the mast. "I will come down quietly and we can continue on as we're supposed to, and we'll just forget this hiccup happened. Deal?" She offered her hand now, intending to shake on it.

Calent flattened his lips, set his jaw and stared at her, the fire still evident in his eyes but...


She was right. A cool breeze sifted between them, cooling off the fire on his cheeks as he released a hot breath.
"I will not harass you, so long as this game is well played," he warned, trying to control his voice, even as his body was still tense and raw, filled with his brewing anger and agitation. And he was tired, wanted to sleep...
but realized he'd find no luxuries of that kind here..
Even if he dragged this wretched woman to his room...

And he would refuse to acknowledge her hand. A hand shake.. it meant he would form a solid deal with her- and she was a pirate! What sort of propriety or responsibility would she keep anyways!? He looked only once to the hand, then away, too proud to accept ... that.


The nightmares would still find him.

"Whenever you are ready," he added quietly, stepping away from her to let her make the first move, to climb down.  His green eyes continued to brew, a heavier wind carrying through his hair-
Rain,.. or a storm seemed to be brewing somewhere out at sea...
but it's power seemed only numb compared to the storm brewing inside Calent's soul, showcased in the wold depths of his simmering eyes.

She stood there just staring at him for a few moments longer than necessary before she lowered her hand and looked away. If he was going to be stubborn she couldn't help it, but it seemed to her that any sense of good faith was lost upon this miserable man. "Alright," she agreed, finally relaxing her shoulders as she peeked over the edge to the deck below.

There was no one there, no scene gathered, but she still took care climbing down as daintily as she could manage if only to not spark up the duke's temper again for being 'unladylike.'

Once she was down she waited patiently and quietly for him, folding her hands together and staring off at the door to the stairs with a dull, disinterested expression. "Thank you for dinner," she finally offered, wanting him to think her thankful for once.

Once on deck, Calent smoothed down his attire, squared off his shoulders and had taken a step towards the staircase leading below deck, and his cabin, when she thanked him. He halted in his step, tensing at it.  He was certain, mostly certain, she must be mocking him, so only replied, "A mn takes care of his lady." But his words were cool, harsh even as he walked away, assuming she'd follow as he made his way towards his cabin, opening the door for her and with a sweep of his hands, motioned for her to enter first.

"After you, my lady."

It was difficult not to return to mocking him again, he just made it so easy, but she didn't want to start up any argument again; if they were going to fight she wanted him to have to be the one to do it. She wasn't sure how long that mentality might last, though.

She followed him down the stairs and nodded to him when he let her pass through the doorway first, though she already knew he wasn't doing it out of kindness or consideration for her. Once inside, though, she kept quiet and moved to the furthest wall from the door so she might not have to have much more contact with him.

Keeping her back to him, Awiergan took to organizing the mess she'd left in his changing area earlier that day and, while she was there, took care to hide her dagger at the back of a drawer so she wouldn't get fussed at for holding it like some paranoid loon but could still have peace knowing it wasn't lost.

ooc: If it's not enough I can add more. I just didn't want to move too far forward xD

Calent moved in behind her, closing the door with a tight click. Then he moved over to his chair and began unlacing his boots, paying not a whole lot of attention to her as he slipped one off, then worked at the laces of the other.
Boots cast aside, he leaned back in his chair, working at the copper buttons around his collar, and once undone, sighed and leaned his head back into the chair again and just closed his eyes.
The day had been far, far too long, and his body was far, far too tense.
He was exhausted, but now he feared trying to sleep for two very different reasons.

OOC: Your fine! We should also start thinking when we want the ship wreck to happen X3 perhaps that night? Though I think it might be nice to have it happen after Calent starts to show some civility towards her- perhaps something happens between them after he suffers one of his chronic nightmares or something? X3 we shall seeeeeeeeeeee

Once she was done she wandered back out to see what he was doing and was honestly surprised to see him just...sitting in the chair. Observing the boots beside him, though, she stepped a bit closer to see what he was up to. It only confirmed to her, though, that he was indeed just lounging there.

"If we're done for the day, can I get out of this dress..., please?" she asked as she reached back with fumbling fingers to find the knot and tug at it with little progress. Quickly frustrated with it she moved closer to stand beside him in his chair so he might not have to actually move much. "And could you just help me get it started? It's difficult to breathe or stretch in this thing and it's stuffy enough in this room without that."

Calent smeared a hand down his face, sighing. but she was right. And he'd rather not have her in that thing.
Without a word, he obliged, rising only to greet the laces of the corset with deft fingers.
The lace pulled, it gave, and soon the woman might be finding herself breathing again.

Moving away from her, he simply informed her, "I'll get you something to sleep in." and fetched into a second trunk, gathering a simple, white long sleeved shirt of his own and soft pants to match before tossing it at her.
"I don't carry with me women's sleeping garb. You can rest in these." and he went about, unbuttonign the layer of his green, black and gold embroidered doublet, before slipping it off, draping it behind his chair and sighing. Now, only wearing a simply, ivory shirt himself, he began to fuss over the buttons, loosening the cuffs on his sleeves before rolling then back, and again, reclining into his chair, smoothing a hand across his face, then through his hair as his lips sagged into a frown.

He had a head ache.
he was exhausted.
And he had no idea what to do with himself.
He was now stuck between a world of nightmares...
and this peculiar world of dreams.

He had a woman inside his room, beautiful even, one who grated on his nerves.. yet...
he peered over at her through half lidded eyes, studying her in cool silence.

Once the lacing got started for her and she was able to relax a bit again Awiergan stepped to the side to work on getting it loosened all the way down while he got her things to change into.

As she caught the clothes, though, she had to bite her tongue to not make any jokes at his expense and just take what was given to her. At that point, though, she just mumbled her thanks and drifted away again to change in relative privacy.  In the new clothes she had to roll up sleeves and legs to fit her shorter body, but they were comfortable and huge enough on her not to inhibit any movement.

Taking the dress in her hands she folded it up and set it atop the trunk it had come from originally before she figured she'd done what she could for the day to keep things tidy. Turning to look at the bed, though, had her immediately glancing between it, him, the door, and back again.

"So I'm to sleep here?" she asked, silently hoping he might just send her away at this point if she kept asking questions.

Wearily, he turned his head to her, staring at her through fingers draped over his face.
"Yes." he said, then gave way to frown as he looked over at the bed, then back at her.  Sighing, he leaned back into his chair.
"You can have the bed for this night." was all he said, closing his eyes as he grumbled out a sigh.
His head was still pounding, and he knew he wouldn't get much use of the bed, despite wanting to sink right into it, and then off into sleep.

"Oh, all right," she answered through a small yawn. She didn't expect this was the action of a martyr, but, again, she wasn't going to look his gift horses in the mouth.

Pulling back the covers on one side she cautiously crawled into the bed fully expecting it to be made of clouds or something similar. And she did practically sink into its softness. A contented sigh escaped her as she settled in and scooted herself to one edge of it. Eyeing the chair he sat in, she stared for a moment before offering him a quiet, "Thank you, it's soft... Good night." 

Her gentle words actually soothed him, and for a time, Calent found himself staring at her delicate form. It was almost as if he could see her for the woman she was, rather than the pirate. But he pushed away such thoughts, sighing and leaning into his chair as he drifted off into another dream...


The nightmares all came the same...
Bloodied, black hands...
chaos and suffering.

But this time he could hear her screams, hear her cries as his fingers tore into her, black power extruding out from the tips of his fingers and shredding apart her flesh..
the magic gutted her, rotted her, and stole her whole life away..
and he felt it brewing wildly around him, an enormous rage, like a storm...
violent and uplifting, curling towards the skies....

and her blue eyes looked up at him, tears in it as she spoke, words and life almost gone...

"But I loved you, Calent.."
then nothing more.


The wickedness haunted him, threw him into a pit of despair; but the dreams were hardly through with him....

and as he dreamed, outside a storm was brewing.. with heavy dark clouds curdling mercilessly their way......


But Calent still slept, even as the boat began to rock.. slowly and more angular, this way, then that... rolling his chair slightly as he slept, making uneasy noises as he continued to become swallowed in his dream....


As the waves raged outside, alerting the men the boat needed their attentions, Calent's mind was becoming lost deeper and deeper into the powers within, his body twitching, convulsing even as his mouth opened, body beginning to glow in a faint light of blackness as he groaned, face furrowing in pain as the powers held captive, brewing deep within his body began to rise him up from the chair...
and there he remained, floating, like a doll cradled within the bosoms of an invisible force, pain evident on his face as black wisps began to grow from his lips and body, swirling around him, licking at his body like a wicked tongue of lightning....


OOC: I hope this makes sense XD
He falls asleep, has his nightmare, and while he's dreaming AND a storm is surging outside, his bdoy starts to float and the darkness inside him begins to creep and crawl out across his skin-
pretty sure it'd be a creepy sight for Awiergan to see X3

JUST SAYIN <3

The distant creaking of the ship awoke her in the night, though she did so with a start as she was aware of something being...strange, and different. The fact that she hadn't woken up to the pain of a knife in her chest and a grinning duke over her was reason enough to be surprised, but then she realized the room was moving.

Waves swayed her as she sat up in bed and squinted to peer out into the darkness wondering what was making those god-awful noises she was certain could wake the dead. Then she finally saw him there in a peculiar glow. "What are you doing over there?" she asked sleepily, leaning closer to get a better look.

That was when he started floating, though, his chair slowly sliding out from under him and away with each rock of the ship. Her eyes widened once she realized it wasn't just him there, that the light was coming from...around him. Almost. It was like she could see his silhouette yet there was something more, something she just couldn't put her finger on.

The blackness around him was unnerving as she watched it swallow him up into its swirling depths. Startled, she got out of bed and approached him with wary eyes watching the clear, twisting pain in his face. "Hey... Duke...? Calent? Helloooooo?" she waved her hands at him, watching as the lines of glowing darkness raced around him, crawling against his flesh like a ghostly spider's thread.

Taking a few steps back as she snatched her hands away for fear of the 'thing' latching onto her as well, Awiergan feared she was watching death, watching this thing lift whatever soul he had right out of him.

She was questioning it all now, too. Was she losing it? Could it all be some strange dream? A premonition? A warning? 

The moment seemed lost, swallowed when suddenly the entire boat tipped, the wooden hull groaning as the wood blistered under the sudden weight of heavy waves crashing about it. Then it heaved heavily the other way, jostled by a second massive wave from the storm-

And it was then a mass of black salt water slammed into the door, spilling through the floors and cuasing the wooden frame to buckle.  And as the boat continued to rock, creaking as it settled across another mighty swell of waves, a most terrifying roar echoed from outside the ship, hauntingly eerie and barely swallowed away by the ferocious growls of thunders that purred.

Another wave shoved forth, and the door finally gave way to the room, salt water gushing inside and washing away the image of hte Duke, one wrapped in a dark, magical clothe, now wrapped and being sucked beneath a heavy black wave from the sea....

Awiergan was practically thrown across the room into the furniture as the ship tipped from one extreme to the next within the storm. With bruised limbs she found herself continuously fighting to find her balance as she listened to the horrible sounds of creaking, breaking boards, shouts of men above, and the water that seemed to be rushing outside every wall. A normal storm was nothing, but something terrible was bearing down upon The Forester.

The roar seemed close, and the sound of it rumbled through the entire ship. She felt it right to her core, and her nostrils flared in fear as she snapped her head to face the sound. Her eyes were drawn back to Calent, though, once she'd gained her balance again, and it seemed whatever was happening to him wasn't stopping anytime soon.

A string of profanities sprung from her lips the moment the door was forced open by the weight of water. A quick glance was all she needed to see the rushing through the hall and know that the ship was taking on water fast. Then it was touching her feet, then ankles, then calves as it filled the room, the ship's heaving not helping their situation. "We need to leave. Now. Like right now, please wake up!" she screeched hurriedly at him, jogging back and forth between him and the door as she struggled to figure out he wasn't just going to...go on his own.

With a frustrated snarl and water rising fast on them Awiergan reached out and grabbed hold of him to drag him out and along with her. Fighting the water and movements of the ship on the stairs, though, it was a trial to get them both out to the chaos that awaited above.

Once she reached the top of the stairs and got them up onto the deck more huge waves crashed over the side of the battered ship and she found herself hurrying to pull them out of the way of the doorway so they weren't flung back into the dark, trapping depths. That was when another roar ripped through the air that shook and rattled the ship almost independently of the storm crashing around and above them.

It was only in the instance when hot bolts of lighting snaked across the skies that the terrible beast was illuminated, another fierce wail escaping it's throat.  It had many arms extended, moving against the ragging seas, and it's terrible eyes staring right for them as one of the many arms rose high into the air, then smashed into the ship before them- splintering the deck apart.

It was only then the duke began to stir, body still trapped in a world of twinkling darkness, his eyes opening, the pits of them bleeding to black as he remained, limply within her arms, staring at the raging beast before them as it drew one of it's tentacle arms high up into the air to strike again, reading to smash the rest of the ship apart.

Awiergan was nearly paralyzed as she stared at the creature in wide-eyed fear and disbelief as it broke the ship apart. The crashing and smashing was piercing in her ears along with the crackling claps of thunder in the sky but still she sat. Only when she realized nearly half the ship was already lost did the fear of death spur her on.

Hoisting Calent along with her, she scrambled back away from the beast to what high ground remained. Her mind worked to find a solution, to find a way out. Perhaps she could swim to safety if she didn't catch the creature's attention, but what of the duke? She finally looked at him then and was surprised to find his eyes open despite his dead weight. Yet...they were changed in a way she couldn't really name. That didn't really matter to her right then, though. "What are you doing?! Why are you just sitting here?! Can you swim?!" she yelled at him frantically, eyes wandering to the raging waters around them.

In the midst of all of the chaos, his hands moved, slowly, gently, carassing at her lips, his eyes black and crazed, and the words that uttered from his lips were non-nonsensical, and old...

"Sah. ishe mortinwah awah..."
Yes, he sounded other worldly... dangerous and cold.

But the bizarre moment came to an end when the terrifying beast smashed it's arm upon them, the arm slipping quick and tight around the girl as the beast hefted Awiergan high, high up into the air and let out a mighty roar, it's remaining arm smashing the remains of the ship to bits!


OOC: I'll leave it there X3 sorry for the shorty C:   

ooc: oooo, fancy talk lol xD
bic:

She stared at him like he'd lost his mind and gone crazy and his words... His words made no sense. She didn't even think they were words, but she had no time to even ask about it before she was snatched up by the beast.

Cries of surprise and pain escaped her as she was dragged away. Desperately trying to cling to something only left her with sore arms as the thing ripped her from the ship to dangle above the roiling seas.

This was it, she was sure. This was how her life would end. Fish food. Or rather, monster food. Ironic, considering the amount of time she'd spent safely at sea throughout it, but she'd be damned if she went out without a fight. Not that the creature wouldn't be able to find her amongst the wreckage if she succeeded even once.

Screaming did nothing but hurt her as the arm around her constricted whenever it was given the chance, so she was silenced quickly. Writhing desperately to try and slip out of its grasp, though, Awiergan heard more of that horrible crunching and crushing and hoped if he were still alive that he would find a way to escape and swim to safety as she was sure he was the only one left on the ship not already killed by the beast.

The shock and fear dispelled from the moment shook through him like a cold ghost. His body moved, twisting as the ship got gobbled up by the sea.
But the chaos hardly phased him, Calent's body moving as blind as the wind, black and evasive, moving at full strength...


and suddenly the monster cried out in alarm, in pain and suffering as a massive black ball of power smashed into it's side.
Dropping the girl, it's limbs began to smack desperately at the sea as the beast roared out-
but he was not the only beast roaring as a terrifying cry came from the duke, as he moved like a beast, aiming to tear the wicked creature apart.

Limbs began to fall, dark blood oozing and tainting the foaming sea..
an da moment later...
as the massive squid reared back, it gave, one long, last echoing cry of despair...

before it suddenly exploded, torn apart from within....


.......

...............

......................



The seas calmed as the rains continued to pour, the thunder nothing but a gentle purr as the black waves lapped against the blood and gore and splinters of the remains of the ship....

and there, against the swell of a simple wave, Calent remained, still, with the blackness gone and faded, his body laying limp, visible only against a flutter of light from the distant blink of thunder...
then he was gone, slowly sinking beneath the waters of the deep.

Suddenly she was being flung about like a rag doll with the creature's cries deafening in her ears. And then she was falling. Flailing wildly as the water quickly came up to meet her, Awiergan rose to the surface only to freeze in horror as she watched the scene before her.

The way he tore into and tore apart the beast with his bare hands almost didn't seem...human.  She wasn't even quite sure how he'd gotten to the thing, but all she could do was watch as she witnessed raw flesh from the animal being tossed about through the winds as blood gushed from its wounds. And then, suddenly, it was all over.

As guts splattered out she ducked under the water as if it might save her from something but what she felt swirling around beneath the surface made her far more squeamish as chunks of flesh sunk to her and she realized she was currently floating in much more blood than water. Rising up again and gasping for breath, though, she swam through the gunk towards what parts of the ship were still left. It was only then that she realized there was a body, or at least shoulders, still bobbing in the waves that were slowly pulling it under.

Without a second thought she lunged out and dove after it. Latching onto his arm she hauled him back up with her and tried to keep his head above water as she fumbled about in the darkness, reaching for anything to hold onto. With what flashes of light the now retreating storm allowed her she managed to find a bit of siding left from the ship which she promptly flung herself onto before pulling him up alongside her.

She was surprised to find that he still had a heartbeat after his mysterious episode and crazed attack, but she wasn't sure how long that might last. Huddling there in the rain in the middle of a poor excuse of a raft, Awiergan looked around helplessly at the remains of the ship and...there was nobody else. It was just them, drifting endlessly in the quieting sea.

ooc: wasn't sure how far ahead you wanted it...I can expand if you'd like otherwise feel free to have something happen with them now or skip ahead some. xD

As the waters lapped at them, splashing and knocking into the make shift raft, the duke began to open his eyes, making a gentle sound that might have been lost against a soft purr of distant thunder.  THe first thing he spotted was Awiergan as he moaned, barely able to keep his eyes open.

"P...pirate?" he released a breath, realizing they were in the roar of the ocean, slowly rising and falling against the mercy of the waves. He didn't understand, but all he knew was that there was a ship's pieces all around them, the smell of blood in the water, and the pirate right beside him.

And it was a curious time to ask, but it was only after he spoke her name, like a title, that he knew not what it really was.

"Does the lady have a name?" he inquired softly, weakly.

Once he began to stir, she breathed a sigh of relief. She only nodded as he addressed her, though her eyes were filled with questions, and she chuckled in disbelief at the odd timing of him asking her name.

"Awiergan Soroka, wretched pirate," she teased, though her voice was tired and held little enthusiasm. "But I suppose you can call me Awiergan. And...I assume you really are Calent, then?" 

She hesitated now, her next question at her lips yet she wasn't sure how to broach the subject of what had transpired.

The meaning behind her words was lost to him as he smiled at her, a small smoldering remained in his eyes of the man he once was- but he was too exhausted to move as he held on limply to the piece of wood.

"Awiergan," he repeated, as if trying out the name. He smiled. "Awiergan, the wretched pirate." he seemed to tease back before his eyes gently slipped close at his last comment.  "Who else would I be?" he simply commented, far too softly, far too weakly, and far too unrealizing that she had ever truly meant he could have been anyone at all...

Groaning he looked around them, the seas unending, the wooden ship in splinters, and he barely registered the blood in the water had it not been stained across her form.
He blinked slowly, still unable to lift his head.
"What... what happened...  There's.. there's so much blood."
Another blink.
"And the ship...?"
but he could speak no more, eyes growing heavy, body exhausted as water splashed against hiss tired face, and he didn't even flinch in response, taking water into his mouth without a care.

Awiergan nodded as he said her name and answered her question. She laughed under her breath, then. The simple nature of exchanging names was oddly soothing against the strange series of events that landed them there.

"We were attacked," she said with a sigh. "And the ship." She looked around at what she could still see of the wreckage around them. "I don't think it made it."

Looking down at his face now, though, she chewed at her lip as she wondered about what she'd seen before. She brought  her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs as a chill began to set in. "Do you not remember what just....happened? What you did?" she ventured cautiously. 

The duke was weak, but still managed to raise his brows at her questionably.
"All I remember is falling asleep..." he closed his eyes, furrowing his brows as his face wrinkled at the thought.  "I was having a nightmare..." his voice wavered, tired. "The storm... I somehow must've slept through the storm."

He slowly forced himself to look at the world around them, but found himself becoming dizzy, almost nauseated by the roll of the black waves melting into the dark skies, only lit by faint remnants of lighting.

Now she wondered if she'd just imagined everything, but that was just impossible, right? She'd felt the ship rocking and the water flooding in. She'd seen the ship destroyed, and she still ached from the vice grip that had held her. She'd heard his words, or gibberish, whatever it had been.

Yet, he didn't remember.

"But... I saw your eyes open, and you spoke to me. And the smoke, the, um, fog, the glowing; what was all that? It was like you were someone else... Or something else." Awiergan shook her head. She was tired and what little light they had was fading into the distance as the storm rolled away. She had no way of proving a thing on their little raft except for the ship being gone and their own worn state, but she was still convinced that it had happened, that it wasn't all just a nightmare.

Calent made a face. He had honestly no idea what Awiergan was talking about.
"Perhaps someone put the ship on fire," he tired replied, not even bothering to open his eyes. "I do not hold favor in everyone's eyes." ANd he was too easy of a target in the position he had put himself to make this little venture towards the islands to have the necklace fixed. And now what of it...
it was only then a small chest floated beside them that it caught his attentions.  Slipping his hand aside, he pushed himself with whatever force he had left over towards it.
Locked.


God damn it. It figured the chest the necklace was in would be salvaged, but here, he was without a key. Sighing, he let himself wilt before it, forehead pressing against the metal lock and sighed.


"So, what I gather is we're stuck in the middle of a stormy ocean," the duke stated with a sigh.  "And my body feels like lead." He closed his eyes, his entire face sagging with a frown before he looked over towards her.
"Why is it that you saved me from the waters?" he inquired. "You could have let me drown with the rest of the ship and crew." his voice was soft, his eyes, tired as they looked at her from his small perch of broken wood against the lap of waves.

It felt strange to think she might have been the only witness to what had happened, that he really didn't remember any of it. She watched as he retrieved the little chest from the water, though, and her brows furrowed as he tried to get it open. She didn't realize what was inside of it yet, or that she had even seen it before, so she ignored his struggle for the moment.

"Why?" she repeated, looking up towards the cloudy sky that hid the moon and most of the stars. Morning couldn't come fast enough.

"I wasn't going to leave you to die after you saved my life," she sighed. "And how did you manage that?" she ventured on despite his seeming lack of memory. "I couldn't get that...thing, monster, animal, whatever, to budge at all. How did you kill it?"

Calent lifted his head to look at her through a mess of his dark brown hair.
"What are you talking about?" though as his eyes drifted towards the water, he again, noted the blood.

"Blood..." he whispered softly, wincing as he felt himself growing pained, and also tired. She released a shudder, but slowly opened his eyes to look at her again.

"How do you mean? You're saying I saved your life? Slayed some monster?" he couldn't wrap his head around the idea, and felt dizzy when he tried.

"Yes, exactly! It was a... a, uh, squid thing. I don't know, it was the biggest I've ever seen." She finally lowered her head to look at him again as she wondered how much he might actually believe.

"I saw everything with my own eyes. You just...tore it apart after it snatched me off the ship. It was smashing the whole thing to pieces, too. I don't know what it was after. Maybe just food, but you did kill it. There was blood..." She looked around them, the smell still quite obvious in the salty air. "Blood just went everywhere. It was too late for your ship, though, I'm afraid. Far too late."

Calent kept his face pressed against the board of drift wood he was resting upon, his mind too jarred to follow all that she said.

"I"m so exhausted..." he closed his eyes, mouth open as he breathed. "Perhaps this is just another one of my dreams." He frowned at the thought-
though this one was far more confusing than the others if it was...
and felt too raw and real to be anything but a cold reality.

He shivered.

"So we're the only survivors?" he asked again, not lifting his head.

She desperately wanted to snap at him for his comments, but she rationalized that if he was saying such things just because he was so tired. She hoped he might take it more seriously if he managed to get enough rest to see their situation with open eyes.

Sighing at his question, though, she looked around them once more before settling her cheek to rest against her knee. "Yes, I think so. I haven't seen or heard anyone else.

"Do you know where we are, though? Or anywhere we might be close to?" she asked, hopeful that they might have been near some milestone along their course.

"It's too dark to tell," he murmured, barely lifting his head to check. "We were barely half way past our mark." His expression deepened, as did his frown.  "The only known territory out in this water might be a few, uncharted islands, too small and rocky for most to care to inhabit or claim...."
Though as his eyes drifted towards the horizon, he noted a light house and furrowed his brow.

"It can't be..."
He pressed himself up, the board beneath him shaking in the water.
"That island..." His lips continued to frown. "The Island of Songs..."
In legend, there was an island men tried to tame in the wild seas, even put a light house onto it, but had since been abandoned when all of the inhabitants wound up dead one day.
He shivered at the thought, but realized... that might be their only hope.
Glancing around, the duke pushed himself so that his legs and bottom slipped into the chilly waters and began to kick and push with his arms.

"We could at least try to make it there, so the sea doesn't swallow us up."

Awiergan squinted as she tried to follow his gaze. It was a bit disheartening to see how...small the lighthouse looked from where they were. Watching as he slid into the water, though, she immediately moved to follow; if a duke was willing to swim to safety than she'd be damned if he showed her up.

"Alright, let's just get this over with. It looks far away," she groaned as the chilly water once again enveloped her. She braced her hands against their raft and matched his pace as best as she could so neither was burdened with the other running away with it.

"And if the sharks come to eat us," she warned after a bit of visible progress was made, "I am blaming you entirely."

"Well, if I have the strength you claimed I had to tear apart a giant sea monster, I hardly see the logic to be terrified of a smaller fish with big teeth." his words were curt, perhaps a half jest as he continued to pull at the water, and kicking forward with his feet.  He was lucky he was in such top shape, despite most of his time spent indoors, he did spend a lot of time training, hunting and practicing with a sword.  He was a man that did not like being bested, and although he was tired and the vision of the light house seemed so far, he pressed onward.


After all, they had little choice.

Soon they were nearing the island, and taking to the waves, he halted in his tireless efforts to swim them, and simply held onto the make shift raft tightly nad let the waters carry them away. He hadn't made mention when he dagged the small drunk onboard with them-
after all, he migh tas well save whatever left of it he could.

But knowing his luck, the damn pirate would steal it anyways.

As the two reached the beach, Calent found himself collapsing wearily into the sands, his cheeks pressed to it as he took in the scents of fish and shell.
"We made it." was all he could say.

By the time they'd reached shallower waters she could truly say she was exhausted. Even so, though, she was trying not to let it show because they really had made it and that was reason enough not to complain. Everything else could come in stride but at least they were out of what danger the sea might have held for them.

Walking their little raft up the beach so it wouldn't get swept away, Awiergan eyed the lighthouse suspiciously. Moving to stand beside him, she asked, "You said this is the...'Island of Songs?' I have to admit, I've never been here before. How do you know this place?"

Glancing to the lighthouse again, though, she pointed and wondered aloud, "We should see if someone lives there. They might at least let us stay inside for the night."

It was after some time before the duke pushed himself up and off of the sands. He stared at the lighthouse, deep in thought t her question and sighed.
"Nobody lives here," he commented. "But it would be an ideal location to camp for the rest of the morning." The sun was slowly beginning to rise by now, but he was exhausted, his legs feeling numb as he walked forward towards it.

"The island of song is said to be cursed," he began, legs moving him into the tall brush and onward, towards the stony building. "It's said many ship wrecks occur here, many men have been lead to their death by the sirens and mermaids in this area." He shook his head.
"But really, the sound the waters make here are probably just more eerie sounding than others, and the rocks we passed on our way in would surely have made it difficult for large ships to pass."

Really...a cursed island was silly. And he could care less.
He just wanted to get to the damn light house and sleep.


He would deal with their situation, tomorrow...

"I see," she acknowledged, finally just soaking in what he told her rather than fighting it. Walking along with him left her staring up at the structure, studying it. The stones were obviously old and well-weathered, but if it had stood the test of time she hoped it might stand at least one more day for them to make use of it.

Pushing onward to enter through the door with a mess of gaps and holes in it, Awiergan only took a cursory glance of this entry room before she made up her mind it was good enough. Walking a beeline for the far corner, the piratess huddled up and settled in. She was just happy to finally be somewhere dry and out of the elements.

ooc: Blarg, sorry it's short

The duke followed in shortly behind her. His entire body was sore and once he had the moment, he collapsed into  heap upon the floor.
His body was cold and wet and weary and soon found himself shivering from the cold. It was hard to get comfortable, with stone floor making it cold and hard, and the room- well, it carried with it a draft from the sea.

He knew most men died of pneumonia and of the cold... but was too proud to suggest the two huddle together for the much needed warmth they should require..
something that might be part of a necessity to survive the chilling cold.  Instead, his teeth just chattered against the cold of the remaining night.

Her sleep wasn't restful in the least. The uncomfortable floor coupled with the cold made it almost impossible to stay asleep for long. She was tossing and turning as she shivered in the corner and she was almost thankful when she awoke at midday.

Everything ached but she dragged herself outside to get into the sun for a while. As soon as she was out, though, she didn't want to even think about going back to the dreary inside. Settling herself into the sand now, the warmth almost hurt against the chill in her bones.

Looking out at the water, she thought about the previous day. It was all so surreal. It couldn't have been a dream, she was sure of that now else they wouldn't have been on this island. She heard a faint snorting and rustling in the distant brush, but for now she ignored the sounds as she'd lost her weapons to the sea and wouldn't dream of confronting anything without fashioning something new.

When Calent awoke, he felt feverish and shivered, but then gave a cry of alarm as he realized he had no idea where he was.
His mind rattled, head, feverish, it took him some time to gather what had happened..
but slowly his mind returned to the ocean...

And then he recalled, with a blink- that he had no dreams last night. The idea sent a chill up his spine. It was rare when the familiar nightmares didn't awaken him from his slumber, and though they pained him, it had become a known companion, and only brought up questions as to - 'why did they not happen this night?'

Slowly, groggily, Calent pushed himself to his feet, needing to use the walls for support since his head was still spinning.


Yes.. he was ship wrecked.

He was ship wrecked and...
He spotted Awiergan, and the image of the pirate was enough for his legs to give way.
He made a grunt of alarm, growling at himself as he toppled against a tree, resting against it for support as another spell became him.

He shivered again, and a cool, afternoon breeze was welcomed as he closed his eyes, sweat collecting across his skin and brow.

Another sound reached her ears as he emerged that caused her to turn to see him there leaning against the tree. At first glance she didn't notice the sheen of sweat on him and chalked up his haggard look as the remains of what had happened in the night; she figured she probably looked just as bad.

"Morning," she greeted quietly as she moved to stand. "Has sleep jogged your memory?" she wondered, eyeing him now for the odd way he clung to the tree as she hugged herself against the winds swirling across the beach. "You know, if you could figure out how to do that...flying thing again we could leave anytime."

Calent only stared at her, brow slowly dipping forward with irritation at her suggestion.

"I... dreamed nothing last night," he spoke, but only realized she might not understand what he meant until after it was said. His face sagged a bit, his vision weary as he shook his head. "No, I still remember nothing. Only waking up to the blood and the sea."
His body felt hot, though he felt cold as he involuntarily shivered a moment, but tried to recover, shaking it off as he moved to stand.
"Did you get a chance to scope out the island?" he asked, barely able to make it to her side without collapsing, but he composed himself well..
He did have a lot of pride..

"You dreamed nothing because it wasn't a dream, don't you see?" Awiergan sighed, deciding to let it go for now if he wasn't willing to be openminded so soon upon waking.

Looking out around them at his question, though, she shook her head. "I didn't want you panicking if you woke up and I was gone," she teased, though her smile was faint.

"Really, though, I was just trying to warm up. It's so cold out here. Shall we go together? I heard something over there, earlier, maybe we can catch some dinner," she suggested with a hand raised as she turned to face him and pointed out to the thick line of green in the distance. "Or do you only hunt from your steed?" she challenged.

Calent seemed to blanch at her comment about it being warm. Yes.. it felt warm.. but also cold. He wiped at the sweat from his brow, dark circles making him appeared haggard beneath his eyes as he sighed and moved forward.

"Yes, hunting, but with what?" he shot her a look. "Are you packing any weapons in those clothes I loaned you.." though it was only then he realized... how unlady like his clothes appeared to fit her and looked away. If he wasn't in a flushed state from his growing illness, he would have blushed.

"I might have.." he padded down his legs, then felt inside his boot and pulled out a long knife. "Well, this blade might be of some use but..." he shook his head. "I don't feel I'm in any state to be chasing after wild game." he made a bitter face "Those animals can run faster than rain. Though I suppose we could scout for any fruits off the trees or bushes, though tree fruit is safer, this is to be sure."

He wobbled away from the tree, keeping his shoulders as straight as he could as he crane dhis neck up at one of the tall trees swaying against the coastal breeze.
He felt dizzy after a time, but spotted a pair of sea fruits, and as he backed away, he lost some of his footing and found himself stumbling forward, and catching Awiergan's shoulder for support

She had to admit he was right about the weapons. She'd be hard pressed to catch anything with her bare hands. Watching as he produced a blade, though, she only saw it now as a tool instead of a weapon. "We'll find use for it yet," she assured as she tilted her head to look at the tree he was staring at.

"I can try some traps at least, but fruit sounds good. Hopefully there's plenty of--" She was cut short as she felt herself being pulled forward and down sharply against the sudden weight at her shoulder. Reaching out to steady him her eyes went wide with alarm.

Furrowing her brow she put her other hand out to rest against his arm. "What's wrong? Did you trip? Are you hurt?" A quick glance at the ground yielded nothing clearly in the way, but that didn't mean there wasn't some hidden sinkhole. It was only when she lifted her gaze to stare into his face she noticed just how pale he was, how it accentuated the bags under his eyes. "You're white as a ghost," she gasped, having no idea how she'd missed it before.

Calent growled and pulled away from her, though unsteady as he was, and clutched onto the side of his head.
"I'm.. I'll be.. be fine," he said, using his hand to wave her off, a scowl ripe on his face as he began to move forward. "Let's just get those fruit. I just.. tripped over my boots..." then he added, "And either one of us would look wretched after the storm." Though he wouldn't mention she seemed to look fine.. even, provocative in her clothing and wild hair..

The surprise in her face quickly fell as his sourness returned. "Your boots..." She blinked at him in disbelief but left it at that as she walked alongside him. "I'll climb if you catch," she decided, peering up at the trees to scope out her first targets.

Brushing past him decisively she approached one of the shorter trees in the cluster and immediately began a cautious trek up to the fruits dangling near the top. It was slow going as she hugged the trunk in a vice grip with her legs and essentially pulled herself up bit by bit. Once there she took what she thought looked ripe and turned her head to look down for him as she held her hand out with her finds. "Ready?"

Not liking the idea the woman seemed to be doing the work, he souredly agreed. Even he had to know he was in no state to be climbing, though he denied it.
As she climbed up, he felt a spell of dizziness over take him, and as he craned his neck up towards her, he began to see double- so it might have looked like he was nodding when really- his eyes were looking far- far away...

At what she thought was his signal Awiergan turned her hand over and released the fruits right over his head. Hugging the tree close, she craned her neck to watch their quick descent for but a moment before leaning away from safety of her perch to try and reach another tree's fruit. She didn't want to go through  all the effort of climbing again, but it was proving difficult to get a firm grasp on her next 'victim' as she leaned precariously between trees.

A fruit hit him atop of the head.
Then another.

Then another.

He was more angry than dizzy in the end, but somehow managed to catch the fourth fruit that dropped in an outstretched hand as he blinked, then glared up at her from where she was perched.  THe he watched he lean out, his brows furrowing at what she was doing.
"Hey- what are you.." he moved, awkwardly to stand beneath her leaning form between the trees and shouted angrily, "Why don't you be careful!?" he shouted, face still hot with fever. "Don't go falling on me now!" he warned.

Startled by his shouting she abruptly fell forward against the second tree, putting herself into a predicament as her hands braced against it held her up but didn't have a firm enough grasp pull herself any higher as she was gradually slipping down. Looking down at him between her arms she narrowed her eyes sharply at him and, upon noticing he only held one piece of fruit and the rest was strewn across the ground, her glare only continued to grow.

"What is that?" she scoffed, waving one hand down at the singular fruit before quickly placing it back on the tree to hold herself up. "I'm not going to fall! Just...do your job and quit yelling at me!" Stubbornly she reached up again to try and grasp the second tree's fruits. It was as if nature were teasing her, though, as her fingertips brushed against it again and again but she couldn't snatch it off.

Annoyed with it and impatient, she finally made a lunge for it and tried to jump fully between the first tree and the next. She finally got her fruit but she found herself sliding down some to pay for it as her limbs desperately worked to hug the new tree. "Hah! See?" she taunted, holding it over his head before dropping it to him. "I can get these, I just have to climb a bit further..."

The duke was dizzy, but kept his eyes up at her, scowling a bit but this time he was more prepared. He was able to catch all of the fruit she was dropping at him and set them into a pile. Glancing up at her, he eyed her precarious position against the tree.

"Are you sure you're alright up there?" he inquired- but really, why should he care?

OOC: Sorry, a shorty D:

THis is what I get for rping and cooking XD  AT THE SAME TIME

"Perfectly fine," she answered tightly before sending the last of the tree's ripe fruit down to him. That was it, though, she knew it would be stupid to attempt to jump to any other trees from where she was. Cautiously she began to climb back down, the descent much more difficult than the climb. Once she was a few feet off the ground she released her legs to let herself dangle there before dropping down into the sand and grass.

"There," she breathed, chest heaving slightly as she surveyed the small pile of fruits "Do you think that'll be enough for now? I don't want it to spoil," she explained, already leaning to pick up half of them.

ooc: Ish okay (:

Calent wiped the sweat from is brow, it appearing he had worked as hard as she did, despite having remained just in the grass.
"It should be fine," he replied bitterly, though not towards her- he was feeling tired and grouchy and began to scoop up the fruits into his hand, offering one to her.
"Perhaps we should make sure they are ripe, but beggars can't be choosers." And with that, the duke took a bite of the food, juices dribbling down his chin. He wiped at it, licking his lips.
"Id' say they're a bit tart, but ripe enough."

Picking up what she could hold she took what he offered her and bit into it. It was quite tart, she found, it wasn't just the duke being picky, and she felt bad for it as she looked up at the trees she'd left untouched. "It is some, but they were the best looking of the bunch," she apologized. "But I suppose you're right. We need food, we can't afford to lose our strength out here," she sighed.

Turning to look out at the water now, her face took on a more solemn expression. "Do you think it would even be worth it to make a signal fire? I mean if I didn't know of this place I wonder how many would know it's out here."

Calent was well into his third bite of the sweet, but tart fruit as she gave her suggestion. He stared over at her for a minute, then back at the light house.
"We might not have to make a signal fire. Perhaps if we can get the light house working again..."
Though even he knew it might seem fruitless, the stairs that lead to the top were already crumbling, making ascending almost impossible.

But if there was a way...

"Perhaps we can scope that out after we check out the island?" he said, wiping the clammy sweat across his brow.

If it worked that would be their best option, but she had to admit she had little faith in it since it looked so old and worn already. Turning to him as she munched on her fruit, she took note of how he kept wiping sweat from his face and hummed her agreement, walking around him to start heading out into the island proper they'd yet to lay eyes upon.

"Maybe there's water somewhere," she hoped, though she supposed they could survive off of fruits if they needed to. "Or at least other things to eat."

It was only then as she moved along that she began to wonder about him again, how he'd seemed so pale earlier and wouldn't stop sweating now even though his only task had been to stand there and catch fruits. Peeking up at him, she stared curiously, just watching for any continued oddities as she remarked, "If you want to remain indoors I can do this alone, you know."

Calent hadn't been paying much attention to her. His head was still spinning, and he was finding it difficult to keep her pace, though he did, so when she paused to turn around, he let out a noise as he accidentily ran into her.  Instinctively, he grabbed onto her shoulder so he wouldn't fall, but the sudden movement made the world spin ever more violently.  It was only then he raised his face towards her and she'd get a good look at his paled expression, the sweat across his brow,and  the heat upon his face.

"No," he growled weakly, forcing himself to stand as he pressed a hand to his eyes in attempts to stop his dizzy spell. He shook his head. "No, I can help us look for more resources. We can't just stay on this island." he quipped, then turned his eyes outwards towards the ever crashing sea.
And from it's expanse, he realized how really alone they both were-
as miles and miles of water stretched out endlessly around them.

She let out an irritated grunt as he, once again, knocked into her. As he righted himself this time she moved to get right up in his face. With pursed lips, she glowered as she assessed him. He seemed so different from the previous day, just off in general but she had no idea what it was yet.

"Yes, I know that. And if you fall on me again I'm going to make a cane for you," she grumbled, still staring at him. "Are you dizzy or something?" she asked, waving a hand in front of his face before reaching up to feel his forehead. Her eyes widened in surprise at the heat she felt there, though, and she immediately dropped the fruits she'd been holding to try and feel his cheeks as well.

"You're burning up! What happened to you? Did you get into something? Touch something poisonous? Did you get bitten? Stung?"

Calent felt dizzy from all her noise and pushed himself away from her, slicking a hand through his hair.
"I'll.. I'll be fine." he steadied himself after a few steps and braced a wrist against his forehead, feeling the sweat and heat there with a frown.
"It's just a fever. It will go down once we find water." he gestured for her to follow as he pressed on. "So perhaps we should look to see if there's anything besides fruit here. If there's a lighthouse, maybe there's a well."

She watched him take those stiff, short steps onward and found herself shaking her head at his stubbornness. "Just a fever," she mocked as she scrambled to pick up the fruit she'd dropped and fall back into step with him. His musings got her thinking. Though, mostly about how she hadn't had any water since she'd board his accursed ship.

"It'll be a miracle if it isn't dried up. This whole place looks so...untouched." She didn't want to admit that it was all a bit spooky to her even in the daylight.

As Awiergan trudged along without noticing any sign of a well, she took it upon herself to continue eating more fruits, if only for their juice to soothe her dry throat and the everlasting taste of salt that wouldn't leave her tongue. "Can you see anything?" she grumbled after what seemed like hours to her.

It was becoming increasingly more difficult for him to fight off the fever and dizziness, but he still clung onto his pride and kept himself assertive, or, at least as assertive as he could be. He was beginning to see things, sharp bursts of light kept hindering his vision, but he merely closed his eyes, waiting for the spell to pass before pressing on.

"If there's not a well, we could perhaps find a water source, or a small stream." He pressed his lips together, eyes searching across the way from where he remained braced against the rough bark of a tropical tree. A cool wind passed by, feeling wonderful against his fevering flesh as he closed his eyes and drew in a breath. He felt enough strength to continue, so as he pressed onward, he hadn't noticed the trap set in the earth, so as his boots pressed into the loose ground, it gave way; his cries becoming swallowed in the darkness and the debris from the fall. He landed with a grunt, his mind swaying, barely clinging to consciousness as he lay upon the dank and muddy floor of what appeared to be some sort of underground labyrinth before he looked up towards the world above him, seeing only silhouettes before his world fell into black.

"You're right, maybe that or a spring or something," she mumbled, continuing on. His scream was drowned out by a flock of birds he'd startled. She tilted her head back at the odd, screeching calls they made as they flew from the area. "Hey, maybe we can follow them to water!" she said excitedly as she turned to look back at where he should have been. Her face fell when he wasn't there or anywhere else in plain sight as she turned this way and that.

"Calent, this is no time for games!" she called, annoyed as she marched to backtrack their steps while looking on at the disappearing birds in the sky. When she saw the disturbed ground, though, she rushed to the edge of the pit and sighed with both relief and annoyance as she peered over it to find him lying there in the dirt. "Are you okay?" she asked, not realizing he was out cold, and a bit startled at the slight echo she was met with.

The only response was her own echo, and the winds that picked up. It seemed another storm was coming in off from the distant horizon. Flashes of lighting fluttered, and another chilling wind carried through, but even then, Calent remained still and quiet at the bottom of the hole, even as a few cold drops of water began to plop down onto the world below.

She cursed under her breath as she stared down at him. It wouldn't be nice to just leave him there, but she was convinced this was somehow an active choice of his to try her patience.

Seeing no other way around it as the storm brewed around them, Awiergan shoved her remaining fruits into her pockets and carefully grabbed hold of the edge of the pit and began to scale her way down. Getting down was simple enough, but she looked up to the ominous sky as she finally reached him. "Seriously, what are you doing?" she grumbled, tapping his shoulder repeatedly with the toe of her shoe.

Crouching down beside him, she rolled him onto his back to at least check that he was still alive.

Calent rolled over onto his side without much effort, though from the effort, he let out a groan. His brows furrowed and he breathed ragged, but he didn't move to rise. He merely shivered as he remained, half coated in mud as a frown sagged across his face while the winds picked up from the world above them, and an ominous wind carried through the dark labyrinth to their right. The fever was getting worse, his skin hot to the touch and his mind still racing over it. HIs eyes were moving beneath the lids, his body tensing as he shivered again, muttering something that barely resembled the words, "Taxes...

OOC: lol- I think he let the illness get the better of him >> poor Awiergan has to deal with him being a sick and muddy lump :T

X3

She slowly began to realize that she wasn't going to get anywhere with him this way, assuming he would insist on lying in the mud like the sorry, stubborn person he was even if she managed to rouse him to his senses. "Have it your way," she grumbled as she snatched him up under the arms to drag him out of the way of the coming storms. At least there was some bit of shelter down there.

Propping his back up against the wall of the passageway, she shivered as another gust caused her to shiver and the hair at the back of her neck to stand up. As she gripped his shoulder to look him straight in the face, however, her attention was drawn back to the burning fever she'd felt before. Gasping at the feeling of heat upon him, she lifted her hand to touch his forehead and cheeks again as a scowl grew more and more sour upon her face. "You really are sick. Just look at you," she spat as her hands sprung from him, mostly in disgust at herself for not noticing the severity before.

With a sigh she sat beside him, pushing her hands through her wild hair in an attempt to calm her nerves and think as the rains pelted down harder at her other side. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked herself aloud.

Calent groaned, half awake as he tried to sit up. "I'll be fine." But it was evident he wasn't even fully conscious as he spoke, trying to stand, but merely leaned against the wall of the underground labyrinth only a few inches from the ground ( from his failed attempt to get off his feet), his breathing still sharp and labored as he kept his eyes closed. He looked and felt a mess. "We.. just need.." he said, his voice testy as he took a moment, his mind in a whirl and dizzy. "To.. to find... water.." and then he lost whatever support he had against the ground and slumped beside it, groaning as he furrowed his brow. Even in this state of delirium, he hadn't a clue (or could still not admit to) being as severely ill as he was.

"You will not be fine," she barked at him, watching warily as he attempted to right himself. "You'll get worse before you get better...if you get better at all. Don't you dare just...brush this off! I might as well be alone in this now," she lamented. Falling silent, she watched him for a time, taking note of the faces he was making. Then, she glanced between him and the rainwater pooling just outside their place of shelter until an idea finally formed.

Standing in a rush, she tore at one leg of her pants, ripping the fabric up just past her knee before peeling what she'd gotten off of her leg entirely. Trying not to get soaked by the rains, she stood at the entrance and rinsed her makeshift cloth before holding it up higher to soak up as much water as it could carry. Then, she took it back to him, kneeling before him as she held it up to his face. "Drink," she urged.

Calent made a face, flinching away. It wasn't because he did not want the water, rather than due to his own natural instincts to be repulsed by the aid of a pirate. It was only then he realized what it was she offered, and he moved his hands around the make shift cupa nd began to drink it down, but not without sputterign and choking on the waters first. His throat was still dry and aching, but eventually he was able to get some of the water down as it dribbled from his lips, down his chin and trickle down the open part of his shirt to the exposed skin of his chest. Once that was down, he gasped and sat back, breathing heavily as he rested a hand to his eyes.
"Water... can I get some more?" He was so incredibly thirsty, that was the only thing he could think of in that moment of fever.

While his moment of persistent stubbornness was annoying, she was relieved he was able to get some of it down. "Yes," she agreed to his request, moving back to the entrance to soak more water into the cloth. "You're lucky the weather hates us so," she remarked when she brought it back 'full' for him.

"And you have such terrible luck, don't you? Or is that only when I'm around?"

Calent downed the drink quickly, then wiped at his lips as more water dribbled down it. It was then he finally found the strength to open his eyes as he looked back at her. It even appeared as if he were smirking, though in the darkness it was hard to tell, and it was subtle, at best.

"Pirates can only afford people bad luck," he replied, then closed his eyes as the fever still got at him, but the moment subsided and he opened his green eyes to look at her again.
"Thank you."

She snorted at his response and even chuckled a bit as she folded the cloth up. "Believe me, Calent, I've never seen someone with such terrible luck as you. It's not like I could put some curse on you, I'm no witch." His thanks was unexpected, but she nodded in acknowledgement and smirked to herself at the thought of his fever making him both a pain and reasonable.

"You're most welcome," she said as she stood to retrieve a few gulps of water for herself. It was pleasant to feel as though it brought her back to life. "Would you like any more? We'll need to stay here until this storm has passed, I'm afraid..."

Calent listened to her words, closing his eyes a minute before nodding.
"Some more to drink might be wise." His throat still felt a bit parched as he lapped his tongue inside his mouth and shuffled uneasily from where he sat. It was only then he sat up, rubbing his hands over his eyes that he looked around and asked, "Where are we?" It seemed he had already forgotten he had fallen into this rotten hole.

As she finished her own drink and soaked the cloth again for him, she cast a look over her shoulder at him, trying to judge the seriousness of his question. "You mean you don't remember how you got here? ...I'm assuming you didn't see the gaping hole in the ground and walked right into it," she said with a shake of her head. Bringing the water back to him again, she sat beside him and got settled once again as she stared out at the rain.

"We're still here, though. On the island, I mean."

At her response, Calent lifted his head and glanced past her, and up to the massive gaping hole above them. He frowned. Was he so dense not to see such a thing? Even if it was some sort of trap (which it seemed to be, judging by it's construction..). His frown deepened the more he thought about it, which made his head throb as he grunted and took the water.
"Thanks." His lips twitched at his own response, but he drank the rest of hte water down less quickly, his eyes roaming over her before he finished the drink and then moved to hold the clothe over his forehead.

"This fever must be getting to me.." he started, then there was that smile again. "To think, I'm feeling gratitude towards a pirate."

But then once he was reminded of their plight, he opened his eyes again and frowned. They were still stuck, and as of now, there was no real way to get off this island. Sighing, he moved to stand, and found just enough strength to keep his body leaning against the wall.

"We should figure out where this place leads." he suggested, closing his eyes and keeping the wet clothe to his forehead.

Moving to stand with him, she took a few wary steps further inside. "Just remember who saved your ass from drowning, kraken-slayer," she said, smug at the memory he seemed to have forgotten, terrifying as it was.

After assessing the darkness beyond, though, she was wary of how blind they would be if they continued on.  "We could," she agreed, the words spoken slowly, turning to rest her eyes upon him again. "But am I just going to end up carrying you the whole way?" she wondered, entirely serious as she raised a brow in question.

Calent lifted his head up at her last statement. He blinked, then made a scowl.
"Perhaps we should rest here," he managed to mumble. "My head hurts something fierce."

She felt a bit bad that she'd seemed to have dodged the illness bullet, hearing his comment, but she didn't even want to think of what progress they might have made, or the lack thereof, if she were sick as well. "Then we'll rest," she agreed, moving to sit by the entrance once more. "You should lie down at least, maybe you just need to...sleep it off."

"Sleep," the man scoffed. "So you can steal from me some more?" but it seemed even the sick duke was breaking down, and that his words were actually in jest, despite how serious and sarcastic they may have sound. He shook his head, closing his eyes a bit and nodded.
"You might be right, pirate," he said, then opened his eyes and realized. "And to think, I've had to suffer all of these consequences because of your insatiable desire to try to steal my fiance's necklace." He looked at her warily. "Though who knows the fate of it now." And he frowned bitterly over the idea of having lost it.

She frowned at the idea of stealing from some ill man. Even though it was him it was just as bad as stealing from some blind old woman; there was no challenge to it. "Believe me, there's nothing else you could possibly have with you now I would even steal anyway."

She stiffened at his accusation, however, true as it was. "Your fiance's necklace?!" she scoffed, rolling her eyes as her voice dripped of sarcasm and bitterness over his wealth. "Oh dear, I am so sorry. I'm sure she needed it more than I did."

Awiergan fell silent for a time, thinking back to her embarrassing attempt for the necklace. "Did you end up telling her about kissing the pirate?" she wondered aloud, smirking at him as she pondered the possibilities of blackmail. That was, if they ever made it off the island alive.

Calent was growing more and more soured and upset the more and more Awiergan spoke. But when she brought up the last bit, his eyes were nearly flaring up like two green flames.
"Such an act would never happen again." He promised between his teeth. Then His eyes narrowed. "I'll refer to it as realistically as you refer to the kraken killing." he sneered. "As far as I'm concerned.." he looked away. "It never happened."

"You must be so forgetful, then, all because of me," she teased, still proud she'd gotten a rise out of him. "I wonder what she would think of all the people that could attest to seeing us together," she continued as she moved to settle and get as comfortable as she could lying on the damp ground.

"At least I have no reason to lie about you, floaty, black-magic man."

Calent's eyes narrowed hatefully upon her.
"You would do wise to forget what you thought you saw," he warned her, keeping the wet clothe still to his fore head before lowering it as he continued to glare, wet hair plastered to his fore head. "You have no idea who you are dealing with." And as he thought it over, he added, "And it's best you even forget about that kiss." His voice sounded dangerous, laced with a dark promise. "No one would believe a pirate anyhow."

"Ah, but they don't know me as a pirate, Calent. At least, everyone who did died on that ship," she sighed, a bit regretful for the lives that were lost. "And even then, who would ever believe you?" she pressed, ignoring his tone and having no real idea the influence he carried, that his word was practically law. "Would you have your people believe you willingly spent time with a pirate? In your own home?" she chided.

Calent was quick to anger. She was really beginning to get on his nerves, and he didn't like being in this sort of predicament. Considering... well.. he had wanted to kiss her. And that had him all the more confused. She infuriated him, and she was a 'no good', someone against the law. Yet here he found himself, stuck with her on some lonely, tropical island. (Hopefully not for all eternity..)
He set his jaw as his eyes burned into her.

"When we get off this island, I'll see to it that we've never met," he seethed.
and that was a promise.

She frowned, tilting her head to glare at him for his threat. "Oh? And what are you going to do, kill me? Why should I even help you, if you're going to be so ungrateful?" she wondered, shrugging. "At least I know how to live on the land. You'd think I'd get a hero's welcome for bringing Duke Calent home alive," she tsked.

Calent stared at her incredulously before looking away as he released a hot breath.
"Name your price," he said coldly. He could at least pay her for her silence, he supposed.

His words were as good as an admission of defeat, and she smiled just as proudly for hearing them. "How about half of those taxes you're collecting? Yearly. Forever, not just once," she added, remembering his earlier ill mumblings. "It's not like you could even enjoy them without me."

Calent glared at her. She had some gall!
"You would have the nerve to ask for so much money. Where do you think all of that money goes?" His face twisted angrily. "I have a duchy to run, not some pirate's charity." His hands gripped into fists.  "I'd rather die than give that much money to you." He said, standing up and finding enough strength, he simply began to walk away from her. He could explore this damn labyrinth himself.

She chuckled at the anger behind his words, apparently enough to propel his bullheadedness onward into the unknown. With a last look to the sky above, she followed after him and tried to block his way. "Now how was I supposed to know how much you get? Will you at least counter?" she pleaded, not wanting to go wandering around after him.

Calent growled as she stepped infront of him.
"Out of my way." Then when she tried to press the issue, he growled again. "There is no negotiating with a criminal. You will get nothing and I'll find a way out of this on my own." and he brushed past her, fully determined to go at it on his own- that was, until his boots stepped on a trap, trigging something that began to click-click-click- behind the walls and ceiling, unseen.

Mouth dropping open at his words now, Awiergan's face twisted in irritation. "I haven't stolen anything since we got here!" she pointed out, following after him and carrying on. "In fact, I've done nothing but be helpful since last night! Come on, give me a break," she pleaded. "What are you going to do without me, anyway? Get lost?" It was then that she finally noticed the faint ticking clicks around them, her eyes widened.

"What's that? You hear that?" she whispered, moving in closer to him, looking all around them and wondering if she was somehow going mad.

Calent was irritated, but he froze too the moment he heard the gears shifting behind the walls. When he lifted up his boot, he cursed.
"We set off a trap."
ANd with a lurch, a massive blade came swinging at them. In a blur, Calent smashed himself against Awiergan, pressing the pair of them against the wall as the blade swung past them barely a second later. But then as the pair of them were now up against the wall, he could hear another series of gears within it and cursed again. They barely danced out of the way of the second blade, putting them infront of the first, and had to zig zag their way between the sweeping blades until they made it to the end of the path. It seemed adrenaline was able to carry Calent forward, who dragged the piratess along with him, but by the time they reached the end of the path, he was sweating something fierce and growing light headed again. But when he moved a hand to rest upon the wall, he felt himself press into another lever, and another click, and another sound of gears in the wall made him groan.

"Not again," he hissed, as he turned around, watching in horror as the wall crumbled away and salt water came rushing at them and carried them away down the dark and narrow pass.  The pair were eventually dumped out above a large, metal grate where the water filtered through, but their bodies remained laying upon it. Calent had taken much water in, and now that the water had passed, had since turned over and wretched out the water, and what ever contents were left in his belly.

"A...trap?" she repeated, thinking it a joke until she heard the blade swinging toward them and felt herself smushed against the wall. Numb, she followed him along as the blades swung with inches of them every time. Once they'd gotten through, she just stood there trembling, her nerves on end as she stared at him. She wanted to blame him and thank him all at once, but the sounds of rushing water startled her and she turned to watch it just in time to be swept away.

Once her world stopped spinning she pushed herself up and she coughed up the stinging water. "You okay?" she asked, watching him with a grimace. Turning, she stared at the path ahead with red eyes and pointed at the faint glow of light just beyond. "Look! What's that?" she wondered, reaching up to grab hold of any little crack in the wall she could to help right herself. As she pulled herself up, though, she grabbed onto a rock that, to her horror, sunk down with her hand. "Shit!" she muttered, scrambling back away from it like it had burned her hand.

She was tense, waiting for whatever would happen next, but all she heard was a winding noise above them, and then she was falling. As the grate dropped and swung out from under them, Awiergan desperately tried to grab for anything as she fell, but there was nothing. She cried out as what light above her grew smaller and smaller. Her scream turned to terror, though, as it started to feel like she would never reach the bottom and the thought of forever falling, like in some terrible nightmare, grabbed hold of her. Then, she fell silent as she crashed into a stale pool of seawater.

Calent was never a man to scream, but he too, found his own deeper voice joining hers as the pair fell into the darkness. Then after sometime, there was a SPLASh as the two smashed into stale sea water at the end.
And everything that was possible hurt. Gasping, he broke through the surface of the water, sputtering out what he had inhaled as he grimaced.

"This water smells like shit," he said between his teeth, and moved to peel the slimy residue from his face. Yuck.  Turning to Awiergan, he realized she was just as worse for wear as he as he released a heated breath. Glancing around, there was barely any light within here, so it was difficult to see.
"We need to find a way out." he said, and began to swim his way towards the edges, but from the looks of things, they appeared to be trapped. He felt his hands against the walls, but it was thick with slime and nearly impossible to get a hold of. Irritated, he smacked his hand across the water before raking it through his hair as he breathed.  "So much for finding any more lucky traps," he muttered, not realizing there were dark creatures, long and sleek, like snakes, swimming just beneath them. He was in quite the sour mood, and assumed this place was as good as any to become their grave upon this island.

As she broke the surface again she flew into a bit of a panic, swimming around the space trying to find some way out, some passage they were missing. "No shit!" she snapped at him, her hands still grasping at slippery walls as she tread water. Hearing the crack of his hand across the surface, she turned to look at him, gasping just in time to get a wave of water in her face.

Wiping the stuff from her face, she snarled and swam to him, pushing at his shoulders and smacking him in the face. "This is your fault, you stubborn ass! If it weren't for your pride, we wouldn't even be in this mess! So what are you going to do about it?" she asked, her voice holding some warning she probably wouldn't ever be able to make good on, oblivious to the danger below.

Calent growled. He had just enough of this shit, and was about to give her a piece of his mind when something suddenly wrapped around his ankles and yanked him under the water as he yelped, disappearing from sight.

Watching him disappear in the dim light that remained startled her, but she didn't take it seriously at first. "Stop fooling around!" she demanded, clapping her hand down hard against the surface. When he didn't come back up immediately, though, she let herself drop beneath the water. There was no way she was going to let him get away with trying to pull this over on her!

It was dark and she moved blindly, only seeing a flicker of movement here and there as she went down. When she finally made contact with him, feeling hair brush against her forearm, Awiergan seized a fist full in her grasp and yanked hard, trying to drag him back up with her all the while remaining oblivious to the danger just beyond.

As Awiergan tugged at his hair, he let out a yelp, gasping and taking in water. ANd as she continued to pull, a black creature slithered at her side, skirting against her legs and moving like a dense shadow just inches behind her so she'd be able to hear the movement cutting through the water as it wavered around her ears.
And then a moment later, one of the creatures curled infront of her, circling around...
and all that could be seen of it was a dark as ink silhouette.. and the faint glitter of silver around it's jagged teeth and eyes.

Confused for the bubbly yelp, Awiergan let go when she realized the resistance she was meeting with him was firm. Startled by the touch of something against her leg, she shied away and whipped her head to watch what faint movements she could discern. The sounds so close to her ears finally got her connecting the dots that this wasn't Calent's doing. The flicker of light bouncing off of the creature right in front of her sent her into a panic as it confirmed her thoughts.

Rising to the surface for a moment to take another gulp of air, the piratess had no idea what she could do, being at such a disadvantage in the dim light beneath the surface. Knowing he would probably drown without her, though, she dove back down in search of the stubborn duke. Each brush of the slimy creatures had her flinching, but finally the touch of his drenched shirt alerted her to his presence and she latched onto him. Desperate with her own depleting supply of air, she looped her arms around his back to pull him by his underarms as she kicked hard against the creatures she could feel beneath her feet.

ooc: Really sorry about the huge delay. >.<

OOC: That's ok! It happens sometimes!
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His lungs were burning with the intake of water,a nd he was panicked and fighting harshly against the creature, so when Awiergan looped her arms around him to help, it was almost impossible for him not to accidently bash his head into hers. But even in his state of panic, and with the aid of the piratess's pulling , he got one arm free and went for his blade; and a moment later a sharp glint of a blade struck out int he water... the creature went limp; and soon the water was warming with it's blood.

Now free, he rose to the surface, gasping and sputtering out water, and before he had a chance to even think of 'thanking' her; another one of the serpentile creature roseout of hte water, hissing and exposing a glinting row of needle like teeth. Swearing under  his breath, Calent managed to catch the serpent's head when it strukc forward for a bite; and while he struggled with it beneath his grasp, he was able to get a cut in; and struck out quick. And now there were two dead bodies of these creatures floating in the waters.

"Gods.." Calent stammered, his eyes wide and his heart beating heavily like a drum. "How many more of those creatures can there be?" He hoped just the two, but he had a feeling they might not be so lucky. HIs eyes skirted the water, before quickly looking around them.
"We need to find a way out."

Backing herself against the wall as the one rose up out of the water, Awiergan was shivering with both cold and panic now. She stared at the vile creature and, once he'd felled it, stared at him instead with the wide eyes of a frightened animal for his question. She didn't even want to know, want to think about it.

Whirling around quickly, she ran her hands against the wall once more until she finally found some uneven stone to grasp. As she looked back over her shoulder she could see the rippling of the water from the creatures below. "They're angry, we better hurry. We'll have to climb, I don't see any other way," she said, though she was skeptical of their success as she slowly, shakily pulled herself up from the water and could already feel the rough edges of the stone tearing up her hands.

Like Awiergan, he too, was seeking a way out of this hell hole. Though as she groped and finally found some semblance of leverage to pull herself up out of the water, he moved swiftly towards her to help, just hoping in the same breath as he offered his shoulder for her to climb on and get a hole of the rocks sharp edges, she might do the same thing for him once she was clear of the water. And it was only then, near to the edge that he noticed a small recess and gestured towards it with his blade.

"Up there... do you see the ledge? Try to climb for it then when you're up there, give me your hand and help me up." And his heart was beating rapidly, for it seemed they hadn't much time, for the creatures in the water were swimming for them, and swimming for them fast!

She was grateful for his help, but the fear squeezing her throat made it difficult to say anything as she struggled to pull herself higher. Looking down as he told her his plan, she was distracted by the glimmering of scales and the rippling waters rushing towards them. "Ledge... Okay, the ledge," she repeated under her breath as she squinted to peer up in the darkness. Seeing what she thought he was pointing out just a little ways further, she stretched up as far as she could.

After a few slips she got a firm hold on the stone ledge and began hoisting herself up. It was just as she'd gotten her elbows grounded and was ready to crawl the rest of the way that she felt a sharp, searing pain in her calf. Yelping and flailing her legs did nothing to relieve it and she instinctively reached down with one hand to try and pull off the source of the pain, which only led to screaming when she realized one of the creatures had latched onto her. In her panic to clamber up over the edge as quickly as she could to rid herself of the vile creature, Awiergan instead sent her head straight into the wall with an echoing thud.

Immediately becoming dizzy and disoriented as she kneeled on the ledge, she lifted a hand to hold her unusually warm head. Teetering there on her knees, the fanged creature already forgotten in her greater pain, Awiergan was startled to feel a sticky dampness spreading in her hands that had not been there before. "H-Here, Calent," she muttered, numbing to the venom as she turned to reach down towards him. With her injuries, though, it was only a few moments more before the piratess blacked out and rocked herself back over the ledge and down into the water again.

OOC: Oh God, I didn't realize I let this thread sit for ten days without replying D:
I'm sorry! I post now >_<

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It was a nightmare, with the pirate being his only hope for survival (and he had already been working past that begruding part!), he found himself splashing back into the water in order to catch her while the sharp toothed creatures were making fast work towards them. The first one broke through the surface, frothy water rivering down it's slick, dark body as Calent saw only it's white, spiny teeth in the dark. A moment later, another joined it, and they were snapping at the pair as Calent splashed int he water in hopes to evade. He was able to punch one aside, but the other bit onto his arm,a nd another was biting at his and Awiergan's leg. And just as the numbing effect began to make it's way through his body- he felt something become him- and like Awiergan's fate, he too, 'blacked out'. But instead of passing out, the dark magic within him was resurfacing, and soon the madness took over, and the future Grand Duke was tearing each eel like creature apart.....

Moment later, their bodies- died pink from the blood in the water, were soon sprawled upon the grass and sands as the night time skies began to change, and pink clouds dotted the horizon where the sun was beginning to rise. Though it had been cold at night, the morning sun was quickly warming them as it bathed their bodies in a pink light, making the blood stains stand out even worse than they were...

And there Calent lay, his cheek in the sands and dirt with one arm over the pirate and both appearing as still as death. It was hard to say for sure what had happened, but evidence of the battle was in his finger nails, where the dark scales, skina nd blood from the water eels remained, and the bite marks on their flesh- still throbbing as the venom eventually worked it's course out of their bodies.  But it was still hard to say just how they got out of that damned place, but one thing was for certain- now the pair were free.

She was completely out and then...awake. Squinting up at the sun as she wiped sand from her cheek, Awiergan was nothing short of confused. Had it all been some terrible dream? No, they were still on the wretched island, and the heat and throbbing in her leg reminded her of the wound she'd sustained. It stung as it dragged through the sand as she sat up, feeling too out of sorts to stand immediately.

It was as she looked down at herself that she noticed the strange tint to herself and to Calent beside her. Not knowing anything that had happened she shook his shoulder to try and rouse him, though he looked completely out. "How did we get out here?" she demanded tiredly.

Calent groaned as he came around. The world around him was blurry, and he could barely make out Awiergan's form.

"A ship wreck," he growled, baring his teeth and wrinkling his nose at her before he wilted back exhaustedly into the sands.