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The Lady and the fan (M) (Ruby Red)

Started by Mephistel, April 07, 2016, 05:21:46 PM

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Mephistel

Merin, with Irish help, manage to het herself up on the horse saddle and settle herself there. Up there, it felt like a whole different world. She wasn't effraid, she just hoped the horse wouldn't kick her off. Once she was sure she was ok, she nodded to Irish.

-Aye, I'm ok, thanks!-

She said, nodding slowly. She looked at Soleil with a smile and laughed a little. There she was, it was now that it begin, their adventure and her quest to find her lost friend! It almost sounded like something out of a fairy tale.

Ruby Red

Soleil smiles back as Irish mounts onto his horse too, in largely the same movement as Soleil - with the addition of clipping his sheathed blade to the left side of the saddle. Sitting in front of Merin now, Irish pats his horse's side, then looks over his shoulder to her again. "Storm won't let you down, Miss boss." he grins, "So, off to the trail then?"

Mephistel

She nodded softly.

-Yup! -

Even if Irish told her so, she wasn't so sure on how she wouldn't fall by herself so she put her hands on irish's waist and hung onto his clothes, so to be sure. Hopefully, the man wouldn't mind it.

-Off we go!-

She said. She stick out her tongue at him.

-And it's Merin! -

She laughed a little as they were now leaving.

Ruby Red


~~~Days pass as the trio make their way across the wilderness, through the trees and up the hillocks that make up the land. Soleil and Merin finally plot a course together, giving them a heading, while Irish does what he does best; Stand around and look nice. Throughout the passage, none chose to bother the band. Towns and villages passed only offered their coin, not their pitchforks or banditry. It was a hefty sum after a week's movement north. Performances alongside some extra labor and handiwork provided them full pockets and stomachs, enough that their quality of supplies benefited. It was likely one of the perks Soleil used to originally further convince her partner, if he had any lingering doubts. Essentially, they were their own caravan, on a tour that was taking them north. Due to how little they needed and how much they were earning, the profit was clear. A good deed and a payoff for everyone, even Merin, who had many chances to acquire newfound cloths and jewelry, some gifted with the condition of a performance and some gained with the money she'd earned, had plenty to line her pockets with. They weren't as rich as kings, of course, but they could certainly pay for anything they wanted along the way, in addition to anything they needed.

It was a happy trail, a time of merry travel and pleasant dreams on the rise. Horseback with Irish turned out to be definitely more exciting, as he'd occasionally ride full-speed down the path or off it entirely just to get a reaction out of Merin. Certainly, Soleil would have been calmer and more relaxed than the antics of her partner, but it was also in good fun. Whenever Merin would seem to lose her grip, he would always grab her first, leaving no incident of note. It also gave him time to summarize their backgrounds, since Merin seemed interested, and it was such a simple task.

---

~~~Beside the crackling fire lay their bedrolls, cozy from the growing warmth in spite of the setting sun giving golden hues across the sky. Through the canopy, the chirping birds settled down for slumber as crickets' chorus neared ever closer to its beginning. Irish and Soleil had tied their horses to a nearby stump in preparation, but they were still very much active. After bringing in extra firewood as a precaution, having dinner, and planning the next day's movements, Irish had wandered to sit against a tree a few feet away from the fire whilst Soleil had moved to the other side of the horses, practicing forms with her sword.

Mephistel

During their travel, as they were going north, Merin had found herself enjoying this little journey. Tough it would be a long one in the end, so far, it was worth it. All those past troubles seemed to be vanishing the more time she past alongside her new companions. During off time, she would practice her dance, finding new moves and new acrobatics to perform, she tried her best to imagine the music that would go with it, but it was a bit hard with no musician to perform along.

As they went, the panda girl manage to get her hands on new clothes and jewelry, finding her wardrobe to expand as she went. Blue, red, green, white, purple and even orange dresses were among the clothes she was carrying, now in a bigger bag due to their size. More then that, new jewels, bracelets and necklace to add to the whole dress up. They took another bag all to themselves. The young dancer was pretty popular it seemed. And even among the villages they stopped by, she had been asked for her hand a couple of times, which she found very flattering but refused as she had a goal in mind.

She had ask many time about her friend, Lema, if any had seen her, giving a accurate description of the feline girl, but to no avail so far. Far from being discourage, she tought that perhaps she had taken another road. The world was big after all.

As for horseriding, the girl was getting more used to it day after day, and when Irish would get into one of those mood and ride at full speed, she would hang on tight, her body firmly push against his back and her arms wrapped around him in order to avoid falling off the horse. Thankfully, if she was to fall, he would catch her back in time. She did enjoyed them, even tough the first time she had screamed and almost hit him on the head for him to stop the horse.


And then, it was time to set camp. While Irish was sitting away, Merin had decided to practice her dance, going with new moves. She was wearing one of the new dress she was given. It wasn't as sexy then the others, but it was comfortable and cute. A white shirt with orange overall, a orange dress with frills at the edge, opening on each side of her waist, showing her legs. The shirt was very short, showing off her belly and the small jewelry she was wearing there.

Her movements were swift and slow at the same time, she was imagining the song in her head while performing on her own.


Ruby Red

He had seen her dance many times, to be sure. The entrancement of the beginning had faded more into idle interest with time, he would always see it tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that, so there was no clamber within Irish's eyes to watch. Though, for a time he did, his interest slowly turned more to Soleil. It was more of a disapproving look, nothing like a cautious or nervous one. Obscured by the horses, it made it hard for Merin to tell exactly why he was looking to her with such disapproval, but guesses could easily be given. 

Irish pushes himself to his feet, and casually move around the horses and up to Soleil on the other side. Leaving Merin only just out of his eyesight wasn't exactly a careless mistake - he knew where she was, a few meters around the horses, and there was nobody around, so they were close and without threats. It wasn't an uncommon event, during the week, that the two would avoid smothering her like that, it was more of a 'just in case' event that was fairly lenient in practice.

Mephistel

She was over with practice, she had improved it was to say the least, but she was eager to find a musician to accompany her, it wasn't the same without one. She sat back down next to the fire, sometime wondering why irish looks was different. But she didn't dare asked question.

They were close to a river and she felt like refreshing herself up a bit. So walking off into the bushes, she made her way to the water. It was crystal clear and and the current wasn't fast, that would make do. She took off her shoes and put her feet in the water, rolling up her skirt to avoid making it wet.

-Ahh...it feels good...-

She said as she sat on the edge of the river. She closed her eyes for a bit, smiling as she was daydreaming, until something came next to her. She first thought it was Irish or Soleil, but as she opened her eyes, she faced herself with a mountain of brown fur, small wet nose and black eyes. A bear was looking at her, and it was big, and very close. She was stuck between screaming and holding her breath, as if that would make it go away.

The bear was sniffing her, pushing her a bit with it's muzzle and she didn't dare to move, too scared to do anything. Even tough she was partially of the same family, they were pretty different. This one was certainly far from been a dancer.


Ruby Red

The sun's rays fell lower as the cricket's chirping began. Trickling water, alongside the ambient insects' symphony, cut between the silent pair the same way the starlight did, though not the same starlight. Darting in front of the bear's nose is a small sphere, giving off a gentle light and the warmth like the campfire Merin had just meandered from. To the bear, it felt much the same, with the added affect of stroking its instincts in another way. Merin, shielding by the soft ball of starlight, suddenly appeared as neither predator nor prey, simply not a threat, and not a piece of tasty meat.

Safety in light.


Mephistel

She looked at the light, this small sphere that stood between her and the beast. She had no idea where it came from and she was almost mesmerize by it. It took her a moment to realize that the bear wasn't attacking her nor touching her anymore. It slowly went away and disapeared into the woods, on the other side of the river.

She hadn't notice, but she had been holding her breath the whole time and so, with the bear gone, she let out a long sigh and breathed again. Then she turned her head around to see where the light had came from. Irish, Soleil? She wasn't sure, it had been the first time her life was in danger since they had started traveling.

Ruby Red

The light drifts off several feet in front of her, in the direction of camp, illuminating the darkness past the light-level that seemed evident. It slows, and eventually stops, then swoops back to Merin to hover over her right shoulder. Lighting the area around and providing warmth, the path was clear for her to return to the group. Seemingly, by the initial movement, that's where it was directing.

Mephistel

Merin decided to follow the light and eventually reached the camp, without getting lost of hurt, thanks to the small sphere lighting up the path. As she was back, her sandals in hands, she could see the fire of the camp and search for the two others, feeling a bit guilty.

-Ah...I'm sorry...-

She spoke quietly, looking down a bit. She had caused troubled after all, probably.

Ruby Red

Only Soleil was awake to greet her, sitting next to the fire in a somewhat casual position. Irish, against the tree again, had dozed off at some point, leaving his involvement out of question. Soleil glances up as Merin approaches, smiles, and returns to prodding the embers with a spare stick. The light over Merin's shoulder floats away as the nearby firelight takes over, offering the lighting that any fire would. After a moment, the orb flutters into the embers as well, enveloped in the light.

Mephistel

Merin sat next to Soleil and watched the fire for a moment, her eyes lost in the ember and ashes. She was lost in thoughts for a moment, then asked.

-Tell me Soleil...do...do you think you...could show me how to ride? and maybe...how to wield a sword? -

She turned her head toward her, looking serious. She didn't want to be a burden, even tough she had been told not to worry about it. But all she did was dancing all day, and somehow, she wanted to be able to fend for herself as well.

-but...if it's too much, you don't have too!...-

She said, shaking the idea off, it might as well be a bad idea.

Ruby Red

It's several moments before she answers, as she too is lost in the fire much the same way. "Riding a horse is only about as difficult as the horse. For Storm and Hecate here, it's just a matter of keeping steady onboard and letting them know what to do." She tosses the stick fully into the fire. "As for swordfighting.. I've never been good with that. Can't seem to find the right balance, even after years being around him-" Soleil nods to the slumbered Irish, "-so I'm probably a lost cause there..." A pause, then she continues. Again, Soleil could sense Merin's doubts of herself. It wasn't really hidden anyway. "You won't be a burden just because your skill set isn't the same. Are you a burden to the performance since you aren't the musician?" She asks. "Everyone has their part to play, nobody is truly a burden to others. "

Mephistel

-I see...-

She tilt her head slightly.

-But I do want to learn how to defend myself...-

She said. Then perhaps she should ask Irish about it. And if riding a horse was as difficult as the horse, then perhaps she could get her own horse in the next village, she probably had enough to buy one for herself by now. She smiled softly.

-Tell me Soleil...do you have any dreams? Or a goal?....I mean, you travel a lot...isn't there something more that you'd want?-

She asked, turning toward her.

Ruby Red

Soleil answers with a long pause, her own thinking taking hold again. Lying was the obvious choice, by now it had turned into a habit as instinctual as breathing. "...Nothing really..." Another short pause, "...Don't really have anything on my side of things, just helping Richie along..." At least it was a safe lie to make. Soleil was quite good at it too because, after all, it was natural by now.

Mephistel

-Really? -

She asked, a bit surprised. She was a bit disapointed, she would have like to talk with her about dreams and how they could make them happen. But she had a feeling she didn't really wanted to talk about it. She gazed back into the fire.

-Well...thanks anyway...I'll...just go to sleep...-

She walk to her bedroll and got in, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Ruby Red

Soleil too lays down, across the fire in her own bedroll. Maybe one day she would know how to answer correctly. Eluding her for ages, truth only distanced itself farther and farther with each passing day. Hope too disappeared with it, as such, she believed that answers would likely never come. The reality around strengthened that. Nonetheless, Soleil pushes her regrets aside for the coming morning and rest through the night before them.

Mephistel

Night passed and morning came, shining bright on the sleeping trio. Only when the ray of the sun came flirting around Merin's nose, did she woke up, opening her eyes slowly. She sat up, stretching and yawning to chase the remaining of sleep and looked around her.

Somehow, today, she didn't feel like dancing, she was wondering about what Soleil had told her. Had she ask something too personal? She waved at those already awake then set off to the river once more, in order to clean herself. Making sure there was no bear around and that it was safe, she started undressing and soon found herself dip in the water, washing water over her body and sighing in relief.

It felt good and refreshing as it was hot.

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