OOC: These events take place after this (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=15591.0) thread.
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Clues, clues. She needed more clues. And who better to network with than the whores? Amongst other things, Jinai Rinstgate spent most of the rest of the week figuring out the answers she needed. Not to mention a few nights tantalizing Lord Christy and leading him on, only to leave him a note which she half scribbled before he'd awaken.
'I'm getting married, Lord Christy. I'm sorry it has to have come this way, but what we had has been fun. Please realize, that whatever it is we have can only exist like this, but can be no more. I'm getting married, eloping in a small chapel, but I dare not say where. Please do not hate me. The ceremony will be small and brief, and then I shall return to the seas.
Eternally Yours,
Lady Thames
Now she was on the run, having a short amount of time to get this damn plan together-
But she knew Lord Christy held the last few pieces of the puzzle-
but she couldn't find it written down. So instead of sniffing it out, she was going to simply beat it out of him-
And to draw him out, she figured what better way then to have a man who was desperately in love with her stop her very own wedding?
Only problem now was..
she hand't a groom.
Making her way back to Jude Armand's estate, she let herself in (locked doors meaning nothing to her) And despite hearing the desperate cries of Jude and his 'well paid' "lover", she simply walked into the room as Jude was over Lady Wallsenberg. THe woman was bouncing heavily beneath Jude with each thrust he was giving her, and both would not have noticed the blonde girl walking in.
That was, until she spoke.
"I've come to a decision."
Gasping, Lady Wallsenberg gripped onto the bed sheets to clothe herself, and stared at the other woman, apalled.
"What is the meaning of this?" the dark haired lady shrieked.
But Jinai ignored her, eyes solely on Jude.
"I want you to marry me."
Lady Wallsenberg was a most unexpected visitor. She was not all she seemed to be in her shy manner and seeming quietude. For she had returned on her visit as scheduled, looking to get exactly what she wanted. In the days following his recovery though he was all better now, he recieved fewer clients than he usually did, and he turned down a few invitations to soirees and gatherings of the rich and horny.
He accepted Lady Wallsenberg only on the stipulation he would perform doubly well, on the quoted price as a result of having turned her down on her previous visit. So he should not have been so surprised when she was more than instaiable when at last she did arrive.
Jude was worn out, in body in mind, and could not lose himself. Not that he had any reason too. But he was getting paid to please her, not himself in this occasion, so he supposed it didn't really make any difference. And though he was equally surprised to find Jinai suddenly in his room, he was just as thankful for the opportune interruption. He jumped off Wallsenberg, immediately dismounting and reaching for the trousers he had left on the armchair. Slipping into them, he turned to his guest and apologized for the intrusion. But she was more embarrassed than anything else and trying to remain dignified. She was the first to gather her things and rush out of the room, almost as if she didn't even hear Jinai's words. Jude sat at the edge of the bed and drank his water. "Hello to you too," he said with an eyeroll. "Thanks for knocking by the way."
Lady Wallsemberg was out the door in quite the hurry, gathering her things and tripping over them as she did so. ANd before she left, she hissed out, "You owe me for this, Jude Armand. Don't think I'll forget we didn't finish."
And she slammed the door.
Jinai, unphased, only crossed her arms over her chest.
"We have to be at the chapel before morning."
Jude narrowed his eyes at her and leaned back on the bed, stretching his sore limbs. "Get to the chapel for what? I told you, I'm not a church-going man. I don't even know what you're talking about," Jude grumbled at her. He turned and took a cloth from the drawer of his night table and shifted his pants slightly below his hips, pulling his member out and wiping it of Wallsenberg's sex.
Jinai leaned against the wall to casually remind him, "To marry me, though maybe you were too busy fucking to hear." And at that, she looked over his sweat slicked body appreciatively, and his dick.
"But we have to be quick. I told him we're eloping."
OOC: I like how he didn't hear the part about her asking him to marry her 8D
Jude blinked at her stupidly. "Marriage?" Jude frowned at her, finding the idea distasteful. "When did I ever say anything about that? Telling who we were eloping?" Jude found it foolish to have put his trousers on after sex and took them off again, before climbing back into bed and wrapping himself in the covers. "Besides, I don't plan on marriage."
"I didn't ask for your thoughts on marriage, Jude," Jinai pressed. "I'm trying to draw out Lord Christy to get him to confess on what I need." And here, she sat at the end of the bed and looked him over. "And I need you to play the groom."
Jude hadn't thought she was serious and blinked at her again. He supposed it was a sound plan, and the thought hanging a marriage over Jinai's head if she were to run off again made him grin inwardly. "Ugh, fine! I'll marry you. Can I at least get some sleep?"
Jinai gave a small smirk at his reply. But at his last question, she simply yanked on his covers.
"No."
And she continued to give the blankets a yank.
"How tired are you anyway? I could go for sloppy seconds. Of your sex." And her eyes shined mirthfully at that.
"Oh you would say that!" Jude replied sarcastically and gripping the blankets hard as she tugged. She gave good yanks, but only a part of it came off his body. "You just barge in here, interrupt my work, demand marriage then sex! Ha! If you think I'm just gonna let you finish what she started, you've got another thing comin! Besides, you're much too dressed anyway!" Jude peered at her through the dark and let the sheet be pulled a little further off him.
Jinai continued to pull before moving to sit from the foot of the bed nearer to him.
"Come on. I wasn't joking." Except maybe about the sex part. Mayb.
"I left Lord Christy high and dry with a note. If we don't start making our way to the church now, he might show up and we're not even there. Besides, I need you to buy me a dress."
SHe just assumed he'd have a suit.
"And exactly how many dress shop do you know are open at this hour?" Jude sat up and inspected her in the dark. "Which chapel is it? It's not like Reajh has any shortage of those."
"I know you've got resources. Besides, if we have to- we can break in and just get a damn dress. And as far as which one, I hadn't specified, but It won't be difficult to find one that specializes in elopements."A nd she gave Jude a look. Almost everyone knew about that church.Not many others would survive near a brothel without such.. accommodations!
Jude rubbed his head and neck, then hook his hand on it as he peered at her through a wavy batch of curly hair. "Fine...Fine!" he grumbled, slipping out of the covers and sitting up beside her. "Let me get dressed. I'll see what Sal can do for you on such short notice. She won't like it, but she'll do it." Jude searched oround for some clothes and found something in the armoir. "God, I still smell like sex."
"There are worse things to smell like. Besides, after the wedding, we have to talk to a bunch of whores. Now come." And she moved to help him look through his clothes. Glancing through, she frowned. "What do the rich folks wear at weddings anyhow. I imagine just some nice suit and dress..."
"We wear the cream of the crop," Jude said, finding a shirt and trousers. It was a burgundy suit, waistcoat and jacket. "Don't worry. I know what to wear. But just why are we talking to a bunch of whores?"
"I've told you," she paused, staring at one of his cravates as she held it like some sort of limp piece of snake skin. "I've got connections everywhere. Besides, the owner of the whorehouse near the shore has one of her sister's involved in this and she wants to help where she can. Not everyone outwardly supports the war."
"I see," Jude remarked as he quickly dressed and took the cravat from her hand. He stuffed it in his pocket and motioned her to get going. "How would Christy know which church to show up at if even we don't? We could end up in two entirely different places and no one would be the wiser. Ah, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Let's get you fitted."
"Trust me. I left enough bread crumbs. But who said I didn't know which chapel?" she said, quirking a brow at him. "There's only one church by a brothel. And only one church famous for elopements at any hour on any day, and numbers reaching into the thousands on it's record chart. I've got a few strings pulled. I'm pretty sure we can pull this off." And here, she gave him a more playful smirk. "And Lord Christy will be ours, dishing out the final pieces of the puzzle I have yet to figure out. Look at this."A nd she handed Jude a piece of paper with all of her notes on it.
"It's what I've been working on since I left. It took me a while, but contacting all of those resources as quickly as I did was no easy feat." And she grinned up at him. "Though you of all people ought to know I like... challenges." And her eyes slid across his body appreciatively as she moved in to walk close. But as she did, she wrinkled her nose. "YOu do smell like sex. Maybe we should get you cleaned up first.."
Too bad there wasn't any time.
Jude grinned at her. "My you have been a busy little bee," he smirked at her and gestured her to wllk out the door. "Fair to say I'm impressed. I might have to have sex with you when all this is done. But until then, let's make haste then." He slapped her ass and locked the door behind them before heading down the street toward the dress shop.
"You'd have sex with me anyways. All I'd have to do is ask," she reminded as she stuck close to his side and smirked. "Do you think Sal is awake? I could pick the lock if she isn't home..."
"You do have a point, and I'm almost ashamed I didn't think of it first," Jude remarked, frowning a little at the corner of his mouth. Sal's shop wasn't far down the street, thank goodness and the cover of night helped much. "As much as I'm sure she'd help out. It'd help equally as much to not have too many witnesses capable of detailing our tracks. So, we might as well come in as quietly as possible. There's a door in the alley beside her shop she uses for material shipments. C'mon." Jude began to jog down the street, looking and listening all around him.
"So you think this door will be easier to break into?" She inquired as they moved quietly down the side of the building. "Also, does she live in her shop, or would no one be inside when we break in. It's good to know these details before we start the crime."
"She lives in the flat above with her husband. But's he's grown hard of hearing over the years. Well, if she wakes up, I'll be sure to get her back to bed," Jude replied with no small ounce of anticipation himself. They approached the door and Jude turned this way and that. "Just keep quiet, I'm sure we'll do fine."
Jinai too, looked to see if the coast was clear before pushing Jude away from the door knob.
"Here, let the woman handle the breaking and entering," she said with a smirk, and produced a small wire which she fed into the key hole. Holding her breath, she listened to the metal thread inside, and after a few jostling twists, she heard a 'click' as she grinned.
"Looks like we're in business. Now come on,"s he said, opening the door. "Let's be quick. We haven't got all night."
Once the heavy wooden door was opened, Jude peered out into the alley and when the coast was clear, closed the door quietly behind them. "There." he said and struck a match from his pocket, looking for a more reliable source of light. He found a lantern hanging from the rafters and lit it before the match was snuffed out. He lowered the oil to dim the lighting and quietly stepped through the budles of material and dresses in the back. "Look for something quickly."
OOC: Technically, he'd be lowering the wick in and out of the oil to increase or decrease the lighting *has a few oil lamps in her home*
Just a random comment 8D
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Stepping into the dress shop, Jinai let her eyes rove through the rows of dresses hung on racks and pinned to mannequins. There was quite a lot to select from, but she had no idea where to begin.
"Where would the wedding dresses be kept?" And just as she asked, she turned around to see a HUGE ass puffy one in the front window display.
"Whatever is white and really really frilly!" Jude whispered harshly. He was getting anxious and saw a simple one in the corner hidden away from the rest. "What about that one over there?"
[Whatever you say, Miss, Umbrella-Musket]
OOC: *Kicks*
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"That one's pretty frilly- though.. I'm not sure if it's too frilly?" She said to the dress in the window before peering over at Jude. "Though what would a rich woman wear to an elopement?"
[XD I'm just kidding!]
"I imagine something elegant but simple," Jude explained. "If she's eloping, she obviously doesn't have an audience to dress up for. She also wants something she can get in and out of easily..And yet it's her wedding day. I'm sure you'd like to be the most beautiful woman in the room." Jude grinned at her and moved toward the frilly dress in the corner. "Just try it on. I'm sure I could clip off whatever is too much."
Jinai blinked and turned towards Jude.
"Not many would be in the room. And I could care less. It's not a real wedding." Though she turned to examine the fluffy gown and sighed. "How is a girl to run in this?"
Or throw a punch or kick?
"Good point," he said and made a face as he examined the dress. "Well, we can cut the sides, giving you an even split and take out those ruffles. Gimme a sec." Jude reached over and found Sal's dress shears and clipped up the sides as even as possible. He took his jacket off and rolled up his sleeves to get to the more arduous task of removing the ruffles at the bottom. "How's that?" he asked once he was finished.
"I... guess that'll do,"s he said with a sigh. "Though I should have tried it on to see if it fits before you ruined it." She smirked and flicked two fingers against a diamond that was part of a sparkling set upont he skirts. "Man.. how does one afford something like this." She shook her head. "Oh well, suppose it's time to try it on." And she began to undress, slipping her shirt off from over her head and letting it drop to the floor.
"People with too much money and nothing better to do," Jude grinned as he watched her undress from the corner of his eye. It would have been a thrilling prospect to take her in Sal's shop that night, but even he knew the graveness of the matter at hand. As much as he wanted too, even a five minute fuck, could end up taking fifteen minutes. And that was time they just didn't have. He smiled at her and helped her into the new dress before strapping her in. "How's that? Too tight? Too loose?"
Turning around to observe the thing, she found herself cringing.
"How about it's just plain too much? Though I suppose that's what will have to do. But here, the strings in the back feel kinda loose. Tie me in tight. I'd hate to ruin the dress before our wedding," she teased. Though beneatht he dress, she was still in her street clothes- a short suede skirt and her travel boots. She was not about to go traveling heels.
Jude gave a teasing rub of his palm along her ass before reaching up to tighten the strings on the backside of the dress. "Oh, don't fuss too much about it. I looks fine! You're stunning as always. And I'll have even more fun peeling you out of it. We don't have much time," Jude remarked and knotted the dress properly. "I tell you though, it's a lot easier taking these things off, than it is putting them on. There! Okay, we've got to get going. You can take my jacket, I'll put it on at the chapel." Jude took the lantern and motioned her to come along, plucking up her discarded top on the floor.
Jinai shot a gaze back to him before giving him a light kick when he was done.
"Alright, but let's get back to your place now. Might as well use your carriage to get us over there. Come on!" And she made her way quickly from the street back to his place. Thankfully, they had been close.
"Just relax and pretend we had a long night of drinking. Which I could really go for right now, come to think of it," Jude replied softly as he closed the door behind them and stepped out of the alley. They made it back to his house in one piece more or less and Jude was surprised Jinai managed to keep the dress from getting filth on the fringe.
"Let's just get a few supplies, then be out of here," Jinai suggested as the pair entered his grounds. "The quicker we are, the better.I'd hate for Lord Christy to beat us to the chapel." And she too, was actually surprised how fragile she was treating her pretty, white wedding dress. In the night, she was positively glowing in it.
But it was a shame it was glow that Jude had no time to bask in and so it was lost on him as he gathered what things he knew they would need for an occasion like this. Or as much as he thought they would since he never eloped before. And just before they were heading out the door, Jude turned toward the table in his kitchen and ziplined toward it, pulling out the bouquet and giving them to her. "A bride can't walk down the aisle without her flowers," he suggested as he ushered them out the door.
Jude brought the carriage around and helped her inside before he sat on the buckboard and they were off.
Once inside, Jinai stared at the flowers awkwardly. She had.. no idea what to do with them as she stared at them as if they were some sort of peculiar creature before finally letting them rest onto her lap. She peered at moonlight in silence for a long while, saying nothing but thinking over much on the events to come.
Jude didn't know exactly which chapel it was, but he gave is best guess and ended up a the All Saints Church near the Bee's Bridle Inn, a tavern of some notoriety. He pulled the carriage off into the alley and helped Jinai down from the steps and lead her toward the front doors. The priest was inside, well, if he could be called that as he was puffing on a cigar as he was reading in the pew when they entered and apparently did not hear them.
"Jon, I need you to marry us."
The priest, at first, did not look up.
"Yes, the forms are in the front desk. Simply fill it out and we can arrange the wedding come the morning."
"No, Jon, I need you to marry us now."
The priest finally looked up from his book, and did a double take to see Jinai in a wedding dress.
"J-Jinai!? What on earth is this?" and he was smiling, despite his obvious surprise on the matter. "And what is this none sense? You, marry?"
"You heard what I said. I got the wedding dress and everything. ANd here's my groom. But we have to be quick about it. I need married within the hour."
"Landsakes- withint he hour!?"
"Yeah. But don't expect a lot of witnesses."
Shaking his head, the older gentleman looked Jude and Jinai over and gave a shake of his head.
"There usually never is. Elopements are rather private, after all. Now.. do I have the pleasure of knowing the groom's name?"
"It's not that important. We just have to get married, and do it fast."
"Do you have the rings?"
ANd it was here, Jinai hesitated. Shit. She forgot one minor detail.
Though it was a fake wedding- would they need it?
Jude was relieved that Jinai had prior knowledge of the priest and was able to conjure up the matter quickly. He felt better knowing he was willing to comply though the matter of ring did bring a certain doubt to his mind. Jinai didn't seem the type to wear jewelry willy-nilly. So he looked down at his hand and produced the ring from his own hand, a gift from a client that went well with his burgundy suit and had an elegant engraving on it. It was a signet ring, one with his initials carved into the band. He presented the ring to the father and then to Jinai. "Use this one," he said.
"Yes, that's all well and good, pretty thing..." The priest said, only after he began to actually inspect the ring. But then he turned to Jinai. "But you need a ring to give to him, Jinai."
And it was here, Jinai only stared for a moment as she hesitated in response. She didn't have a ring for him.
"I still have to go grab it. But I'm sure my fiance wouldn't mind starting the paper work while I go fetch it."
It was here the priest nodded, "Indeed. Well.. go off with you then. I shall prepare the wedding ceremony. Do .. either of you have a preference for a sacred verse to be read when I bless you both?"
"Whatever works for you. I'll be back." And the bride turned around, rushing out of the church.
Shit. A ring, a ring. She'd have to find a damn ring and quick.
Jude took the time to painstakingly go over the papers with the priest, giving generic answers where he might need them and wringing his hands all the while. Wishing his fiancee would hurry up.
OOC: I think it's funny she didn't mention to the priest this was a 'pretend' wedding yet 8D
I wonder if she'll ever remember to *snicker*
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It was almost an hour before the bride returned, and by then, the priest himself had fallen back to sleep in the first pew. She approached him and dropped a wooden ring in his hand.
"There."
Awakening, Jon looked less than pleased.
"A child's wooden ring?"
Jinai shrugged.
"Assume it means something to the groom?"
Jon looked over at Jude, who, he noticed had finished the paper work.
"Ah." Ad he peered odwn, furrowing his shaggy brows as he went to read.
"Jude.. Armand is it?" he said, adjusting his spectacles. "And Jinai Rinstgate. Yes, yes, very good. Mm hm.." and he read through it rather briefly before standing up.
"Yes, well, right this way. It should only take about an hour to go through the ceremony properly. Then you shall both become Armand's."
And at the priest's words, Jinai tensed as she followed.
"Um just so you know, Father, this is all just a big fat joke. We're trying to prank a friend you see, and would be a big help if you could help play along. You'll be well compensated, that I promise," Jude was quick to mention. "I hope that isn't a problem for you?"
Jinai stepped on Jude's foot and cast him a nasty glare, right before the priest's eyes went wide as saucers.
"A joke!?" he appeared quite appalled.
"My fiance is quite the jokester," Jinai interjected, taking Jon by the arm and glaring warningly over to Jude. As much as this wedding was to be a farce, she knew it wouldn't be official anywyas- for it'd never come to an 'end'. Lord Christy was on the way, she was sure of it- or so she hoped. She had been wrong before but....
Worse case scenario, she'd ruin the wedding herself.
She also knew, as muhc as Jon would support them- it would take far too long to get him to agree, even with he as a mage sympathizer.
"Isn't that right, darling?" Jude better f-ing agree! Or she'd have to find another damn groom for this!
"You know what, forget it. I feel my skin crawling in this place as it is. Let's just get this overwith," Jude said and pulling his arm away from Jinai's. "Hurry this along. I have an appointment come dawn."
OOC: Jinai always has to be difficult 8D
This plan of hers is also half-assed lol
Would be terrible if Lord Christy never came!
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"Yes, yes," Jon chuckled, finally calming after such a notion surprised him. "That's what's wrong with youths these days. Though if it weren't for two reckless souls such as yourselves, I would not have enough money to run this church. And... on such a note.." he cleared his throat and lifted a brass offering tin towards them both. "An offering to the church must be made in your honor. You may donate what you will." And he waited expectantly.
"Here! Take it and be happy you got anything at all," Jude said irritatedly, slapping the whole sack of coins from his belt into his hand. "Let's get on with this! I can hear carriage wheels already."
"My, my, that's the spirit. I see the groom is having wedding jitters. And here I thought those were reserved for our bride!" And Jon cast Jinai a looked, which made her look away.
"Yeah, let's just hurry up, ok?" And she fussed over her hair and held on tightly to the awkward bouquet, that was slightly crumpled now as the pair approached the alter.
"Yes, we shall begin. Both of you take your positions here and kneel before the alter. I'm going to place the rings in holy water to bless them."
And as Jon did so, Jinai got to her knees and kept her gaze avoidant of Jude. He was probably pissed. She hadn't explained all of the details anyways.
Then again- he never rightly asked?
He could have cared less. His hair was mussed a little and he brushed it back as best he could as he peered at Jinai. "I hope this goes through. I don't need word getting out that I'm getting married," He hissed to her. "Hurry the fuck up father Jon."
Jinai elbowed him sharply in the gut.
"Don't worry. I've got this," she hissed. "Stop acting as if I really want to marry you."
Really, what was he thinking?
"Okay, okay," Jude replied, smoothing down the shirt where she elbowed him. He gave a forced smile and then peered up at her. His voice grew more serious. "You look nice. Fit for the occasion and very much yourself." This time his smile was genuine as the priest finally came back with the rings.
"You think I can be myself in a wedding dress?" She wasn't sure if she was going to buy that one, but her eyes quickly avoided his when the priest approached.
"Blessed are these rings from Angsar. Blessed are their meaning of holy union. It is love that has brought us here, and love that bought these wings. It will be love that unionizes you, and your ushaken faith to the mighty Angsar, who he, and his patron saints of holy duty and love; will watch over the pair of you, Jinai Rinstgate and Jude Armand as the pair of you become unionized through holy matrimony. Now, it's time for you both to bow your heads in prayer and take another another's hand as I read from the sacred book of Angsar."
Clearing his throat, he turned the page in his holy book and went on to talk about the journeys of love and life, all the while Jinai held onto Jude's hand-
Half listening to the sermon, the other half of her listening to see if Lord Christy would soon break through the door.
"When Lord Christy comes, we have to act fast. He'll be stunned once it happens, but-"
"Jinai..." Jon cleared his throat. "Jinai please refrain from speaking. This is a moment to reflect and be at peace. Your turn will happen soon enough."
And Jon continued with his words.
Jude gave her a nod of understanding as he kept his head bowed. He squeezed her hand and let the Priest say his words as he went on then there was a sudden silence. "Huh?"
Father Jon looked at him expectantly. "I said, do you, Jude Armand, take this woman as your wife?"
Jude looked around a moment before looking at Jinai with wide eyes. It was a long second and he breathed outwardly. "You know it!"
"Er, I applaud your enthusiasm, but the words are , 'I do'."
Jinai cast a glare Jude's way, a threatening look that let him know, If you mess this up, I'll pummel you instead of Lord Christy.
"So, do you, Jude Armand, take this woman to be you lawfully wedding wife?"
And the silence returned again- and Jinai felt herself sweating bullets. Where was Lord Christy? The ceremony was almost complete!
Were they TOO fast at getting to this chapel? She fucking hoped not!
Jude scowled at the priest. "What difference does it make how I say, yes, as long as I say it?"
"Because it is, tradition, Mr. Armand. Now, do you take this woman or not?" Jon said, widening his eyes at the prostitute and glowering at him.
"I do, goddammit," Jude said, and was half ready to knock the priest's lights out. But he just squeezed Jinai's hand tightly to stave off his irritation and peered at her, as the same question was presented to her once again.
"Might I remind you not to use our God's name in vain," Jon said with a frown. "Now, take this ring and place it on Jinai's finger and repeat the phrase, 'I Jude Armand, give you this ring as a symbol of my love and devotion.' And then you can go ahead and slip it onto her finger."
And once Jude obliged, Jinai looked up at him as the question was presented to her. She slipped the wooden ring onto his finger, but hesitated over the words- realizing-
'WHERE THE FUCK IS LORD CHRISTY!?'
And again, there was awkward silence as Jon inquired, "Jinai? Do you?"
"Er.. I...."
And just at that moment, the doors flung open and Lord Christy stood, a disheveled and red faced mess at the end of the pews.
"Lady Thames! Do not do it! I love you! You can not possibly marry another man!"
ANd he stormed his way clean on down there, but the second he did and touched Jinai's arm, she socked a fist clean into his face.
Lord Christy was seeing stars before they cleared, and as he lay there on the floor, he blinked up at Jude.
"Jude... Armand?" ANd boy did Lord Christy ever looked puzzled and pissed!
The ceremony completely went out the window by the time the doors flung open and Jude was on his feet, after slipping the ring onto Jinai's finger. Thankfully, there was no time for words as he stepped forward and moved toward the dizzy noble, writhing on the floor, clearly upset and confused. "Sleep now, you'll think this is all just a bad dream when you wake up," Jude said, moving behind the lord and holding his arm around his neck until he passed out in a stranglehold.
While Jon was too startled (and possibly having a heart attack), Jinai leaped in to help Jude out, not wasting any time in ripping up her skirts and binding up the lord securely.
"There, that ought to do it. Now let's get him into the carriage before anyone sees."
And as Jon was gaping still, Jinai moved to help Jude lift the body.
"Confounded! Jinai! What on earth are you doing!?" Jon stammered as the pair were rushing off down the aisle.
"Sorry I'm late on details, Jon, but I know how you feel about the mages. Just assume we're trying to stop something terrible from happening and this man has clues. The wedding was the only way to draw him out so he wasn't surrounded by his men."
Thankfull, her and Jude were smart enough to park their own carriage out back.
"And if Lord Christy has any servants, don't tell them which way we went!"
and soon, her and Jude were dragging the unconscious man out the back door.
Before they went out the door, Jude gave the man a glare and nodded to the priest. "Remember! Silence is golden. Like that sack I just handed you earlier. So shut it," he growled and helped heft Lord Christy into the back of the carriage.
He turned to Jinai. "Where do we take him now?"
For a while, Jinai said nothing, but stared down at the unmoving form of Lord Christy. Really, this was a bit too easy, but as the carriage continued to roll out, she instructed, "Well, we just had our wedding. Why not a honey moon? Come on, put a move on it. We need to get to the coast and fast. But with Lord Christy as a hostage, it'll make the next few steps a tad easier- especially after we interrogate him."
"Do you realize how far the coast is from Reajh? I don't even have a change of clothes, Jinai. Or any idea which city we are headed to. But I guess it's just as well, we should get out of the city first," Jude remarked as he sat on the buckboard and began rolling down the alley and out onto the street. "So we ought to stop off someplace then to see what Arthur has to tell us then? Then we get going to the coast?"
"I've... got a few places we can take him. A few places off the map. Just get us to the city gates and I can show you the rest. It's near there, but don't leave the city. Just keep heading east."
"I just hope it's not a whore house," he mumbled to himself. But he said nothing more on the matter and just carefully, calmly, and unsuspiciously rolled the carriage along streets with the unconscious form of Lord Christy in the back, everyone else none the wiser. It didn't take nearly as long to get to the city gates as possible before he pulled the carriage into another alleyway. "Where to now?"
"There's an allyway to our left. Take that, then the third left and a right. Continue down that street for a while until you'll find us in an abandoned section of town." It was here Jinai gave a subtle smile. "We're taking him to my home. So just keep your eyes peeled for the shittiest looking house there. It'll have a few broken windows and a boarded door. And you'll have to park the carriage around back... unless you want someone to steal your horses while we interrogate him."
Jude followed her directions to the T. But when they got toward the most vile part of town, it was hard to spot her house even amidst the other dilapidated buildings until he found the one with the door that had been all but barricaded. Pulling about to the back, Jude pulled the carriage to a halt and stepped off to help Jinai remove Lord Chiristy from the back. "Well," he grunted. "How do we get in?"
"Follow me," Jinai said as she stepped out of the carriage. "And grab Lord Christy while you're at it. We've got to make this quick." And she moved towards a portion of the house where there was a series of wooden slats covering a hole. A few shimmies of the boards later, and a hole was produced they could fit in through.
"After you," she said, smirking up at Jude.
Once the pair were inside, Jinai lead Jude through a musty, spider webbed interior as a few rats scurried and coachroaches flittered out of the way. There were holes in the floor to be mindful of, but Jinai moved past them as if it weren't much of a thing, and then approached a tattered curtain, which she drew open to reveal a small santuary of sorts on the second floor of the abandoned home.
A pile of rags lay in the corner, obviously used as Jinai's bed. A bunch of clothing was strewn about the floor and mixed with empty wine bottles and opiate discards- and it was to the pile of rags she gestured.
"I suppose you can just throw him there and we can kick him until he wakes up.... might as well get this interrogation started."
It was a labor of labors just to shimmy through the hole and pull Arthur's fat ass through it as well. By the end of it Jude was sweating and tired and readily irritated with the whole ordeal. Why didn't Jinai just slip him a drug of hers to make him all the more compliant, but just enough that he wouldn't remember anything from tonight. There was no sense in having him bruised and beaten. But really, even Jude knew she was winging this if anything else.
And not to mention there wasn't a whole lot of time left before the ships came in. This much he knew.
So Jude set Christy gently on the dirty old rags and stepped back. He took a breathe and peered at Jinai expectantly. "Ladies first."
Thankfully Jude hadn't asked about the drugs. Because well..
she hadn't any. Which was a rare thing for a woman such as she. In fact, she hadn't contacted any associates who had the ingredients for such things in nearly a month- and her supplies, albeit more limited, were not of the stock to use on such a man. After all, the few bottles she now had were minor opiates at best..
and a form of birth control (which was of little consequence to her now until she would find out if she had an infant inconveniently growing inside her or not)-
So when Jude allowed her the privilege to go first, she simply smiled at him.
"How kind of you." And she wasted no time crashing a boot into his rib. And it was at that first jolt of pain that awakened him, as the man doubled over, crying for breath.
"I would have used water, but I suppose you want to make him hurt as quickly and as fast as possible," Jude commented with his arms crossed over his chest. His jacked had been removed and he stood before the writhing form of Lord Christy as he coughed violently and opened his eyes at the pair before them.
"L-Lady Thames!?" he groaned, trying to come to terms with all that was happening. "Mr. Armand!? What is the meaning of this?"
"You tell us what we need to know. And that is all you need to know. What port are the ships coming in from? Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"Ships? What? I-I- I don't get what you mean!" he stammered, and another heavy kick from Jinai silenced him with a wheeze.
"I hardly have the patience for this, Lord Christy. We know about the Grand Duke's visor's plans. So just start spilling the information, or we're going to start knocking out your teeth."
Jude didn't hit him, nor did he feel that he had to as Jinai was doing honors enough as it was. He peered at her from the corner of his eye and he looked back to Christy on the floor holding his gut.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I swear."
"Come off it! I know you know what we want. You're Vesrik's man. And if you don't cooperate, you'll be just another bag of bones."
"What?" Lord Christy looked appalled. "I can assure you you speak ill of me when it is hardly warranted! Lord Vesirk and I-"
And he was silenced by another kick to the gut, then his face, which had the man bound in frilly, white lace, now doubled over from the pain.
"Just keep talking like that and we'll see where it gets you, Lord Christy." Jinai said smartly, then glanced over at Jude. "Grab me that broken bottle. I know how we can get him to talk."
Despite the abuse Jinai was handing out, Lord Christy held steadfast to his ignorance. Jude stepped forward and crouched down beside the lord as he was nursing his wounds. "You know something, Arthur. It would be in your best interests to say your piece before this gets worse."
But Lord Christy just lurched forward and spat at him. "Let me go! You piece of shit! I'll have you both hanged for this! This is some act of treason! I know it!"
Judecasually wiped the spit off his shirt and handed Jinai the bottle she asked for. "I guess he doesn't want to play nice."
Jinai was quiet for the most part, studying the bottle in her hand and letting the words Lord Christy was spewing go right through her. But then after a moment, she tossed the bottle once, caught it, then nailed it right into Lord Christy's crotch, breaking it and then pressing the broken end to the front of his pants.
"I suggest you start talking," she began to say, cool as ever in her ripped wedding gown. "Or you're going to be singing some nasty sort of pain."
Jude stepped back a little as he watched Arthur grow stock still for a brief moment at the threat the broken glass posed to his manhood. Not that he would be missing much anyway. Christy trembled a little before struggling against his bindings.
"I'm not telling you a damn thing!" he growled, still defiant.
Jinai slammed the glass into him, barely an inch from his dick.
"You better start spitting out something, Lord Christy, or this class is going to go lower," she threatened, gripping into his hair and pulling it none too gently so he was forced to look at her. "And when I do go cut it off, I'll be sure to send it back to your wife. Now start,.." she began, throwing him back into the ground as she kicked him hard. "Talking!"
Christy was in agony, but he continued to resist and struggle against his binds. "Let me go! I know nothing! I don't know a damn thing!" He doubled over at her kick and spat at her next.
Jude stepped in and grabbed Jinai's wrist and tried to stay her hand. "Calm down. You get more ants with honey than vinegar. Let me see if I can't talk some sense into him." He gestured his head for her to leave the room as he turned his eyes back to Arthur Christy on the floor. He was crying and in a great deal of pain.
"If that was the case, I'd have him singing by now," Jinai hissed and glared at Jude. "Besides, we don't have a lot of time to do this. Rumor has it one of the ships is heading into port this week- which barely gives us enough time to get to the coast to stop this from happening."
That is, if they weren't already too late!
"I know. And the more you beat him, the more he resists... There are ways to make him talk without cutting him into little itty bitty pieces. You cannot believe I came into this knowing nothing about Arthur Christy. He'll talk once we have it out. Stay your hand," Jude whispered closely to Jinai so that only she could hear. "Leave us. Just a moment."
Jinai was glaring daggers, but let the broken bottle drop from her hands.
"Fine.. do whatever you'd like." And she turned from him and disappeared behind the curtain in one angered rush, leaving Jude alone with their prisoner.
In her absence, nearly thirty minutes passed before sobbing was heard from the room where Lord Christy had lain. His hands were still bound and his head was buried against them, sobbing as he did so. Jude sat down, peering at the nobleman who seemed pathetic in his own blood and tears as he looked back up at the younger man.
"You wouldn't... You can't!"
"I most certainly could. And I wouldn't hesitate for a second if you don't tell me what I need to know," Jude replied, his eyes hard and unforgiving. "Now tell me where the ships are coming in."
Christy finished wiping his eyes and he took in Jude's expression as if he were between a hammer and an anvil. "Breakpoint. The shipping city on the southern coast of Allar. A week in a half. Vesrik promised me a percentage of the profits of every mage sold. I-I...I'll tell you everything."
"Lady Thames," he called back out through the house. "Come back inside. We have what we need."
Still in her torn wedding dress,a nd surprisingly still sober, Jinai stepped back through with her arms folded over her chest.
"Are you sure the song he sung is the one we needed?" she pressed, appearing quite pissed off as she inquired, but her head seemed as cool as it could be.
"As sure as I'm a man-for-hire," Jude replied with a nod. Christy remained on the floor, nursing his wounds and sobbing still. He peered up at Jinai with swollen, sore, red eyes.
"Well, we might have to take him with us," she begrudgingly revealed as she glared down at the man in agony. She felt only a small pang of guilt for him- but to remember the fate of her brother... and what had become of so many other mages through this war's injustice chilled her blood before it returned the rage.
"Or we have to kill him now. He already knows we're working against him."
Jude took Jinai's arm and pulled her aside. "He won't say anything. That I can assure you. I won't kill him. He's not even worth the trouble that it would bring on my head and yours. Have you ever spilled blood before?" he whispered to her. "I say we give him enough drugs to knock him out for a week. And he'll forget this ever happened. And if he doesn't. I have enough on him to make sure he's a good little boy while we work... Or we could just beat him into forgetting. That would be a sound plan as well."
At Jude's inquiring about her ability to kill, she avoided eye contact with him. The only deaths she had dealt were with poisons, and she was never nearby when they had taken effect- so she never had the true weight of guilt of the kill upon her conscience. And there was only a few times she had to deliver such a blow....
No, even torture wasn't her forte, but for some reason, Lord Christy's very existence turned her soured as she glared down at the floor.
"I could poison him with opiates- so much of a certain kind could... if he survives it... make him.... forget."
Jude reached a hand up to hold her arm. "Then whip something up. You're the expert on this...not me. I'm trusting you Jinai. I trust you. I'm here for you," he said to her, looking for her eyes. "I'm going to talk to him some more, get some more information that we could use." Another hand came up to cup her cheek, raising her chin to his face and he gave her a sweet smile. "We can do this, okay?"
Jinai's hardened features softened at Jude's smile. She found herself turning away before brushing him off with a shrug.
"I'll do what I can. I don't have much left stored here or on me at the moment." And she slipped away to the shadows of the back of the room, popping out vials hidden behind secret planks of wood tucked away in the floor and even the wallsa nd ceilings, and a few broken pieces of furniture, all the while she kept her back to Lord Christy and Jude.
Jude kept Arthur's attention on him, as he sat close to him, peering him dead in the eyes. "Listen, Arthur. You know more than I have asked. Now I need you to tell me what the names of the captains that are coming in to Breakpoint. You know them, and I need all twelve. Do you understand?"
The lord nodded and sobbed a little more before reciting their names and giving a brief description of each one. "And the last one is Michael Kherry," he finished. "Six of the ships are schooners. The others are old abandoned warships, not nearly as small. The port is big, with enough room for all ships to dock safely. The mages will be brought down a day after the ships come in, in passels of ten or less. Big crowds draw more attention that sort of thing..."
Jinai was collecting her vials, so the only noises coming from her were the clinks of glass. She eventually had a small pile sorted, and began to mix a few together, not entirely aware what the effects might be. She didn't have her usual wares about her- she hadn't needed them this past month, and so as she worked them together, for all she knew she'd be sending the man into a frothed frenzy and an early grave. If she got it right, however, he might forget even his own name. For this, she was uncertain. But she remained quiet and listened in, taking special care to note the names he was spewing and inwardly thanking Jude for taking over. She hadn't wanted to harm Christy- as much as she didn't care for the man. Sure, his fucking was alright but...
Torture wasn't her style, even if she had a lot of rage to support it, and she felt heavy and numb now after the fact as she began to wonder... would she have killed him like that if given the chance?
When the conversing was done, Jude stood up from the small stool he'd been sitting on and moved toward Jinai in the darkened part of the room. "Is it ready? We don't have much time," he spoke softly. He took whatever it was she had and examined the opiates mixed within it and gave it a whiff. "Strong stuff. This will do. I'll be sure to give him enough water as well to wash it down with. We have everything we need." So Jude returned to Christy and though he was hesitant at first, he eventually downed the bottle and rubbed his sore eyes until it began to take effect.
Jude saw that he was getting drowsy and soon he passed out on the ground. He took the lace off from his hands and he grunted with effort as he plucked the heavier older man and threw him over his shoulders. Peering back to Jinai, he motioned at her. "Are you ready to go?"
Cold. Jinai felt cold as ice when the man took in her drugs. When he went still, she held her breath, certain death would become him, but part of her was glad it simply lulled him. Even if he were to die, he at least went out peacefully. She hadn't even registered Jude had unbound the man and tossed him over his shoulder until he spoke. ANd numb to it, she nodded her head in reply, unable to speak as a knot sealed within her throat.
"It's all right Jinai. He still has a pulse. I made sure of it before I gave it to him," Jude remarked, noticing the conflict within her visage. "We have to get going soon. And we have to get him home... Though...if it's too much, you can stay here and I'll come back for you within the hour. I promise."
Jinai remained quiet for a time before replying, "No. Let's just get this done with." And she followed him back to the carriage, where she found herself a temporary carriage mate with a sleeping, slobbering, drugged up Arthur Christy. Though when she looked at him, she was seeing through him and escaping into her thoughts- for there was much to think about and much to plan.
When they reached Christy's house, Jude was quick to pull Christy from the carriage and explain to the valet at the door that he and the lord had gone out on a night of drinking when he had a little too much. Jude himself thankfully smelled awful enough as it was and they both went inside to help place the nobleman in his bed before Jude came back to the buckboard and tipped the valet for his discretion.
He rolled along back to his house, pulling it into the gate of his townhouse and allowing Jinai out. "I just need to grab a few thing before we're on our way. Not to mention a bath if it's not too much trouble."
Jinai had remained silent during most of this. She felt hollow and cold, even in her tattered wedding dress, which offered more layers on her than she was used to. So at his inquiry, she only nodded her head. "Yes, and perhaps I can get out of this dress.."
It was tattered anyway.
Jude could tell something was wrong, something was off and he paused before the stairs. He stepped slowly back toward her and didn't know what he could say. For once he was at a loss for words. He paused for a moment before putting his arms around her, pulling her in for a close embrace. His powerful arms encased her tightly to him, and he rubbed her back. "I'll help you do whatever you need to do," he said, reassuringly.
Despite Jude's attentions being exactly what she needed right now, Jinai bristled beneath it. ANd inspite of the moment, she pushed away. "I'm too tired for this,"s he muttered, and moved up the stairs on her own. Though her legs felt like lead, and the stairs seemed endless.
Jude sighed and peered up after her. He discarded his jacket and removed his cravat before going out the back and getting a bucket to bathe in. He moved upstairs and filled the tub, to at least bathe quickly before they had to leave. And when he was done, he moved upstairs toward his bedroom, looking at Jinai with solemn eyes. He gestured toward her dress. "Do you need help with that?" he asked.
She hadn't realized how long he had been since she had taken homage upon his bed, but there she sat, and had sat for the half an hour Jude had gotten himself clean. Her green eyes remained listless and stared through the walls, and only did her thoughts become broken when he returned. She didn't bother to look at him as she shrugged.
"It would make travel a bit difficult if I were to keep it."
And it was only then did she take a moment to peer over at the mirror at herself, to first witness seeing herself in a pure, white wedding dress. ANd she was surprised at the stranger she saw. But it was Jude's approach, with his hair, handsome as ever, even when it was wet and slicked back, as she turned her gaze from herself, unto his.
Jude sighed and gave her a trying smile. He stepped forth and sat down beside her. "You know, you looked quite ravishing today, in the chapel, with the whole action-woman, rogue warrior get-up. It was all very attractive. I just wanted you to know that," Jude smirked at her. He got up to get some clothes and threw a shirt over his head, his hair still wet and carefully removing the towel that covered them, before slipping his trousers on.
"Here let me help you get out of that dress." His hands were quick and skillful in their loosening of the ties and he helped her shimmy out the back of it. "That feels better doesn't it?"
At his words, she forced a smile then averted his gaze in the mirror.
"You would say that. You're just not used to seeing me in such a dress." And once she was free of it, she did feel a bit relieved as she sat there and stared at it for a moment from where it remained a limp heap upon the ground.
Jude kicked the dress up and moved it out of the way, laying it on the bed. He stepped closer to her. Though he knew she'd probably just push him away anyway, he still put his arms tentatively around her, hugging her close to him. "I mean every word I said," he replied. "You're quite mesmerizing." He smiled at her as he turned his head down toward her and hugged her tighter.
As he predicted, Jinai flinched beneath his touch. It wasn't that it wasn't nice to feel his warm body against hers, but she just didn't feel much like anything right now and felt too hollowed- and too tired to be able to fully fight him off, even as she tried to shrug him away.
"My shirt. I knew you grabbed my shirt at the dress shop. Where did you put it?" She was topless, after all, wearing nothing but her suede skirt and boots.
"It's still in the carriage. Here just put this on," Jude let her go and plucked a shirt from his closet. "Wouldn't be the first time you wore something of mine. Just take it. I need a new wardrobe anyway." He pulled a bag out from the bottom and began to fill it with at least a week's worth of clothes and other small supplies they would need before making it to Breakpoint. He peered at her from the corner of his eye and them moved down to put his boots on.
"You did the right thing, Jinai," he thought he would mention. "Giving him your...stash. I mean, he'll be fine. And...." Stopping there he peered down at his bag and buttoned it up before grabbing his coat and cloak and throwing it over his shoulder. "I'm ready when you are."
Avoiding his gaze still, she pulled his tunic on over top of her head before pulling her long blonde hair that had been captured beneath it and let it fall onto her shoulders. She remained quiet, even after his words but simply nodded.
"Let's get going again. It'll take us most of the week to get to Breakpoint, and we haven't any time to spare."
Jude didn't like this dead silence, this emptiness he felt within Jinai, but he took her hand anyway and lead her back downstairs before leading her back to the carriage. He locked the door behind them and opened the door for her. Once they were back on the street, he drove on in silence, unsure of what to say.
Eventually, Jinai had passed out long before the sun had risen- but even the light filtering into the carriage did not wake her. She hadn't realized how long she slept until she woke up sore and stiff and asked, "Where are we?" And then, after a yawn she asked, "And how long was I out?"
The carriage rolled along the country rolled by the time Jinai had awaken. Jude felt his own eyes drifting and feeling tired, and he sorely missed the comfort of his bed. The horses were tired and needed water, feeding, and brushing, and thankfully Jude had enough on the carriage to bring them some comfort.
He pulled the carriage to a halt and jumped from the buckboard, peering into the window as she awoke. "Just a few miles outside the city. I imagine the next town is at least ten miles down the road, but I'm feeling like I'm hit with a ton of bricks. Why don't you take the reins for a while, after the horses rest." Jude opened the door and jumped inside the back. He yawned and removed his jacket, then peered at her with solemn eyes. "What was the matter?"
As Jinai stepped out of the carriage, she tensed at his question. But after a moment, she shrugged it off. "What do you mean?" And she lazily took a seat on the buck board as the horses nibbled on the sweet grass.
"When you were....not speaking last night. Like something...felt too much to take in at once," Jude remarked, unsure exactly how to put it. "You seemed empty. Hollow..." He sighed, knowing she'd never answer him, give him the run around and couldn't fathom how a woman who professed to loving him couldn't bring it upon herself to share what ran through her mind.
"I didn't know what to think." Came her voice,a bit husky at first as she avoided looking at him directly, but simply stared at the horses as they ate. "Or perhaps I was just thinking too much. I... never had to do that before. Any of this." And at that, she found herself smiling, though she knew not why. After all, she still felt awful and empty.
Jude's expression pouted in understanding, despite only comprehending part of them. He peered out of the window. "Come down from there and climb inside," Jude said softly. He opened the door for her expectantly.
Though at his request, she would not come. She merely sat on the buckboard, leaning against the carriage as she stared through the world rather than at it.
"Jinai, get in here please," Jude groaned. "RIGHT NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME."
At his words, a boot came at him through the open window, and if he would have been quick enough, he would have caught Jinai's smirk before she turned away.
"It's comfortable out here."
And also, less confining...
Jude gave a sigh and frowned, rolling his eyes. I don't even know why I bother sometimes, he thought and kept his words to himself. He gave a tired sigh and closed the door before laying back on one of the benches, turning his back to her and closing his eyes.
After a moment of silence, she spoke softly.
"You could always join me out here..." Naturally, she was just too difficult to oblige, but removed herself from the buck board and entered the carriage to scoop up the boot she had thrown at him.
Jude turned and poked his head at her when she came inside to reach for her boot. He said nothing and didn't address her as he turned back once more. Well the moment was passed and there was no use in dwelling on it. So he closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, sleep he sorely needed.
When he'd awaken, he'd find himself much warmer than before, and Jinai had snuck in as he rested and nestled in beside him.
[Shouldn't she be driving!]
Jude awoke all cramped up as he hadn't turned in that two hours. His shoulder was sore and it didn't help that Jinai's face was pressed against his back sandwiching him against the wall. He opened his eyes and turned back to look at her from over his shoulder. "Hey! Jinai. You're supposed to be on the buckboard," he said groggily.
"You said the horses need.to rest. Besides, they were eating grass." A lame excuse but she wasn't going to admit to Jude she actually had wanted to.cuddle, so instead of.fighting him she sat up and stretched her limbs.
"I suppose its time I get.this carriage moving."
And as she peered out from the carriage, she notes the horses were STILL eating the tall grasses. Fat horses!
"Good," Jude grumbled, turning over and slapping a hand along her ass. "So I can sleep more comfortably now." He yawned and closed his eyes again, sleeping on his back.
At his ass slap, she kicked his bench.
"Yeah, yeah, you just sleep, sleeping beauty. I'll get these horses back on the road." And she got herself back on the buckboard and once the horses were snapped back to attention, they were on their way east once more.
It was a shame sleeping in the back was a lot less comfortable than he hoped it was. The road was not at all paved with smooth stones the further and further they got from Reajh and Jude fell from the bench when the wheel went over the bump. He grunted at the shock that waked him.
Jude sat up and rubbed his sore back and head and though the carriage still moved, he opened the door and carefully flung himself up on the seat beside Jinai, bending over and closing the door. He sniffed and brushed his hair back. "I can see the town in the distance. At least we'll be there before nightfall."
"Yeah, we'll probably be there within the hour," she commented, eyes focused on the road ahead of them. But even still, she smirked when she noticed how disheveled he looked when she peered at.him from the corner or her eyes.
"Looks like you slept well."
Jude made a face at her words, taking it for sarcasm and he turned his neck to crack it. "Not really," he grumbled. "I slept crooked, the benches are hard, and I miss the comfort on my bed. Now don't take me for delicate! I can adjust to life on the road. It just may take longer than I'd like. At least the next town should have a proper bed I can finally lay down on. How's the road been?"
He peered behind them, just a natural instinct to ensure they weren't being followed or watched in their immediate area and he leaned back on the buckboard. But before he could do so, he caught the glimmer of the ring still present on Jinai's finger. "Hm, I woulda thought you'd try taking that off by now," he idly commented.
"Well, we can't all afford beds as nice as yours. Some of us make due in the dirt," she commented, half teasing of course before she turned to.him at his last comment.
"Are you talking about my clothes? Because here.I thought you had had enough of sex after.the way I found you this morning." And at that she turned her.attention back to the road.with a smirk. "And I'm pretty sure we wouldn't get far if I were to drive this thing topless."
He laughed at her comment and shook his head. "No, my ring. The signet ring. I mean, not that I want it back. It's immaterial to me, really, but I thought you'd have tossed it to the road by now," Jude replied and sat up, his eyes lingering between her and her hand, then turning his head back to the road. "It looks nice on your hand...just to the casual eye."
Jinai's eyes dropped to the ring.
"Fuck! I forgot about this.thing." And she moved in attempts to yank it off, but a few frustrated sighs later she grumbled, "Fuck. It's stuck on there. My hand must've swelled since the wedding." And she made a bitter face and tried to remove it again, only to find herself swearing again.
Jude laughed at her and her antics and took the reins when she let it go. "You keep struggling like that it's just going to hurt more and be even more painful when you want it off. Oh, here let me help you," Jude paused the carriage for a moment and took her hand in his. "I know this might be a bit nasty, but just bear with me, please."
He took her ring finger and extended it before taking it into his mouth and sucking on it for a moment until it was slick with saliva, and he tugged at it to no avail. "Damn, it's stuck on there pretty good! I guess you'll just have to hold onto it for a while," he laughed, letting her hand go.
Jinai swore and made a face.
"Fuck." And moved to.wipe.off Jude's spit on her skirt before attempting once more to remove the ring. Naturally, it was to no.avail so she gave up and yanked the reins from him while glaring at the.road ahead.
"Geeze," Jude remarked and shrugged. "I think you need a fucking more than I do. I mean, it wasn't like I offered, but well, there ya go." He was silent before looking at her irritated face and he slowly reached a hand up to poke her cheek. "Boop."
Jinai cut a lethal glare his way.
"Shut the fuck up, Jude! And don't you start poking me or I'll throw you under the horse. Besides, why are YOU still wearing that wooden ring? It's a child's ring. You should take it off."
Jude shrugged and sat back again in the carriage. "Sorry, fine," he replied with seeming indifference and did as she instructed. He slipped the ring off his finger and put it in his pocket, not speaking further on the matter. But he peered at her from out the corner of his eye, despite her fumes. "You know...you're devastatingly gorgeous when you're angry."
Jinai cut another, fiery eyed glare his way before tossing the reins onto.his lap.
"And you look gorgeous when I put you.to work. The horses are all yours." And she irritably turned from.him and tried again to.remove.her ring. When she.failed.again, she released a frustrated sigh and stared down at the piece of jewelry and after a long moment.of silence she.finally asked. "So what sorts jewel is this anyway?"
Jude gave her a smug grin when she handed the reins over to him, knowing she enjoyed making things all the more difficult for him. He even chuffed a little and he gripped the reins in one hand and slapped them against their asses. The horses moved a little faster, if begrudgingly. He turned his eyes back to her and watched her eye the ring he'd set on her finger.
"Well, it was a gift from a client back when I started working. I thought it looked so nice, I kept it. I like to change up my jewelry once in a while, but that was a nice ring. Those small blue stones are precious sapphires around the edge of the gold band. You know...you don't have to pry it off your hand you know. You can keep it if you want. I know I gave you jewelry before...but...well, maybe you wanna keep it?"
Jinai gave another feeble attempt to.remove it but gave up when her own frustration was annoying herself. So instead she grew quiet as she stared at the ring instead, all the.while. still.simmering over.the.events of.the.day... And at.how close.they had been to sealing.the knot!!!
Jude peered at her from the corner of his eye and blinked at her for a time when she didn't respond to him. He watched her face and his head tureed to watch her more accurately and without thinking, he leaned across the smlll space between them and kissed her softly on the cheek, a he'd done so often before. But now his lips lingered there, long enough for her to feel their softness and warmth, sweet and resonant.
The moment wasn't.lost unto her, for she flinched only.once before sighing and relaxing against.his.strong form. Her eyes were still upon the ring while her skin tickled her and she found herself inwardly crawlling over the events that happened to.Lord Christy, but she felt herself flush as she.remembered the rushed.intimate scene of their wedding... Damn it, if those rings didn't.mean something more...
Jude let his lips linger there for a long time before turning his face more toward hers, feeling her breath splay across his lips. He looked into her eyes, one hand holding the reins, while the other reached up and touched her cheek, cupping it and his face leaned in to kiss her, relishing in the feel of her breath, the honey of her lips, and he kissed her deeply as he wanted to before the altar.
" Damn it, Jude!" Cracked.her.voice. between a few sniffs. "Why coukdnt this have.gone down easily?" And despite herself, or.maybe because.of.that.and his.sweetness, she began to.cry.
And there it was, the thing that had been prying at her had finally come out. Jude paused in his kiss and retreated his face just a few inches, just to look at her more clearly. "If it was easy...it would have been too easy," he replied, "and we never would have been able to get through it." his arm went around her shoulders and he hugged her despite her prickly attitude and just listened to her sob.
" Don't try to hold me.or.comfort me!" She hissed and bristled within his arms. "I want things back.to where they used.to.be. I want things back to a.time that gave me reasons for a fight. But.now.I just can't... I just can't use YOU to.replace.him, Jude. He was my brother and.you're,-" and here she found her eyes.meeting to his, her lips having fallen open and a thousand passioan and.painfilled questions were begging to.come.spewing.from her.lips. but what also Jude would.see was fear, devotion... And even love hidden amongst her frustrated tears. But still, the emotions remained held captive inside, threaten to come.loose with the threats of tears.
Jude let his arm drop from her shoulder, and rested it atop the roof of the carriage as he turned toward her. And finally the pieces were coming together of all a sudden. He had thought she had been talking about Christy and the abuse that had been given to him, and the uncertainty of his condition despite his reassurances. Jude blinked at her for a time, taking in all her emotions and he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Jinai, but I'm not trying to replace anybody. I am me, nobody else. And if you think I was trying to take your brother's place, I wasn't. That much I can assure you. I'm sorry if I..if I confused you somehow."
"It's not.that," she said with an angered sigh. "Don't you see? I didn't want anyone to replace him. I just wanted to live.life withoutanymore complications. And now... Now what?!" She.looked hysterical and about ready to.cry. "Now I have you and.Renna to.worry.about. But.I never.asked.for.this. I never wanted a friendship. Friendships never work with the sort.of.life I lead. . I mean, God, Jude... You could have been killed! What am I suppose to do? Bury.you as well?" And at that very idea she broke down, and sobbed where she buried her face into her knees.
Jude blinked at her and shook his head. "Jinai, listen to yourself! You speak as if you have to do all the protecting, as if you're taking all the risk. We're all in this together. I know I could have died...even before you came into my life, I lived every day like it might very well be my last. I have many enemies, Jinai, maybe more than you could know, and I've survived this long. And Renna...you're the only one that's trying to protect her. I want to help her too, I want her to live a long, prosperous life... Jinai, you're not the only one in this. The point of having people around you care about is that they'll be there to help you up when you need them. We help each other stand."
"I...Don't.really.have someone.like that. The only.person I was ever.close.to.is dead... And Now,? I don't.know what I'd do if I were to also lose you...." she found herself.looking into his eyes, desperate for.a.solution, before feeling the wet tears.come.down her cheeks as she.looked away and sheepishly brushed them away.
"God.dam. tears."
"You do, though. Me. And in a different way, Renna too," Jude replied. He reached his hands up and wiped her eyes. "And I promise not to die any time soon. Does that sound fair to you?" He gave her a chuckle and tried to lighten the mood, but even he knew the sorrow of burying someone you loved.
Ooc: well, looks like another post on.drugs x.x
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"Don't you laugh about that, Jude!!!" She could have hit him. "I.almost did kill you!"
His smirk only grew, even as he tried to be more serious about it. He leaned forward and cupped her face. "But you didn't! You didn't! You tried to kill me the first night we met remember? You pulled a knife on me. Besides, I think almost dying gives me a whole new outlook on appreciating what I have right in front of me while it lasts." He smiled at her and ran a thumb across her bottom lip and another across her tears.
"You're an idiot," she.stubbornly reminded him as she.moved to brush her.own.tears away but still more fell wetting her face and eyes.
"And what are you exactly?" Jude remark, retracting his hands and cleaning them on his jacket. "What you think I don't understand the gravity of what happened? Do you know what it's like for your entire body to be on fire and not be horny as a beast!? It's horrible! It was hell, really, it was! But Jinai...are really just going to linger on what happened? On what might happen?"
"Linger...no this is the part where I.leave. its how it's.always been. We.had.a.nice.trek.whileit lasted but please... continuing.down.this path. I'M just not.cut.out.for.it, Jude. I wouldn't know.where.to.begin."
"This time you're not," Jude said, his hand shooting out at her wrist. "I'm not going to just let you run away just when the going get's tough. You've run away from me enough! I may love to watch you leave, but I hate seeing you go. Jinai! What part of we're in this together do you not understand? Jinai! You will not go!"
Jinai turned from him to avoid eye contact. She was confused. Sure, she wasn't used to.someone needing her so, or.sincerely.begging for her to.remain at.his side. .could she even consider what he said? A life with.Jude? And hadnt it been Jinai who proppsed marriage? It really was only he, who had become an extension of her mind and body and through ghee.pair.of.them, they have. Been raising hell.
So it was at this thought she turned.to look at.him, emotions so.clear. when words cannot, her eyes begging him to say what her lips were.too afraid..
Despite the fact that he grabbed her wrist, his grip was gentle and he tugged her arm back toward him. "I love you, Jinai," he murmured to her, "I want you. I need you with me. Please stay." He didn't know what more he could say before he leaned in and kissed her.
Jinai was in a daze and completely.at.his mercy. She didn't fight back and in fact,.loosened the.tensenesss on her body the moment he kissed her. Though she.herself.still. felt breathless as he did so.
So many thoughts clouded and dizzied her.mind, and before.she knew it,she grabbed him roughly. "Ah, hell, Jude," and she grabbed him roughly and kissed him with need.
"Fuck this. We'll figure.something out."
Whatever THIS was.
It didn't need any definition. Jude sunk his mouth down on hers, hotly, powerful and with need. His mouth was already sore with the force his mouth presented on hers and when he pulled away, he pulled on her lower lip and whispered against her mouth. "In the carriage. Now," he breathed, his hands finding their way down toward her lower back, wrapping his arm around her.
"But the.horses.." she tried.to.protest, but a kiss in response only.silenced that. and to.think, they.were on.a.timed mission and here they were, fooling around I'm.the back of.the.carriage.
"Jude... We only have so.many. days.."
Jude gave a tired groan and stopped. He knew they were on the time constraint and they hardly had a moment to spare even for a few minutes in the back of the carriage. Still he dug his teeth in her lower lip as he kissed her hungrily. "I know, I know," he grumbled. "But it won't take long. I'll try to be fast...or we could just get to the next town over..." But with a sigh, he resigned and took his lips away from her, going back to his seat. He cursed himself again and took the reins once more, snapping them on the back of the horses and getting the carriage moving again.
Too bad Jinai was.all wound up so at.the.mention to wait, she.wasted.no.time joining him on the.buck board and dragging her.lips and teeth against his.
"M-make room.on.your lap, Jude. I'll fuck. You steer." And before he.could.protest, she.was unbuttoning his pants crawling over his hips.
But Jude did protest . "Jinai! We don't have that kind of time!" he growled at her. "You're right, we can't afford to lose any of it." His hands did fight with her and shoved them away, trying to button his pants up again.
"But no one's.on the road," she insisted, ignoring his shoving and kissed at his throat and nursed on it there with hot breath splaying through her.lips.
"Besides, the wedding was quick.. who's to say we can't consummate it just as fast my husband." And the last part was spoken through a trail of kisses that ended.with a hot breath tantalizing his ear while a single hand smoothed across his shirt.
Jude stifled a laugh between pants and breaths, as her lips dragged up along his neck and toward his ear. "Because our sex never lasts for just a few minutes," he snorted and steered with one hand, pushed her away with the other. But his protests were becoming less and less forceful. Her touch was tantalizing, her breath made him shiver, shivers he knew she wouldn't hesitate to catch on.
Jinai was.no small.woman that could be simply pushed away, and though he fought it, even as half ass as.an attempt.as.it.were... She was unrelenting. Kisses remained to.his throat and ear as skillfully her hands undid his pants. And despite the fact.both were fully dressed Jinai was already straddling him and kissing him.fiercely as the horses continued at a.steady speed accompanied by a most welcomed wind.
Ooc: another.drugged up.post.attemept, woo!
"Jinai! Stop! We're going to crash!" Jude continued to protest, swerving his head this way and that. He panted and momentarily kissed her back, as his hands pushed at her hips, though she would feel his erection through the cloth of his trousers and it hurt more to resist her than to accept her advances. He focus on her and steer at the same time and had to sacrifice one for the other. But really in his current predicament, there wasn't really a choice at all.
"Don't worry what direction your Dick.goes.in. just keep.an eye on the road," she purred as she held onto him and skillful hands plucked open his pants, and one.readjustment of her skirts later, Jinai was fucking Jude.
Her hips rolled with need, her teeth.gritting at any bump along the way, and one in.particular nearly knocked her off, but.she laughed as she caught herself and smashed her smiling lips to his. "Gods this feels amazing."
But Jude let go of the reins as she began to ride him like a wild horse. He leaned back against the backrest of the buckboard and he moaned against her lips. "Jinai! I can't see anything!" he grumbled. But thankfully, the horses seemed to know the way and clopped down the road a little faster, whinnying to each other about the rabbits behind them.
"I don't care!" She panted. "Just fuck me!" She begged, thighs squeezing his as her eyes.rolled.into the back of her.head at the sensation of his member inside her, the winds.carrying around them violently. And the uneasy shaking of the cart. It was almost too perfect of a moment, dangerous, thrilling and real. Who needed drugs when she could fuck Jude like this? She was as high as she could ever be, and was soon singing his name.
Thankfully, she didn't take much longer to get him to come too. Jude leaned back against the bench and was out of breath, even for those few minutes. He turned his head back to her and glared at her. "Really? You couldn't wait until we got a room in town?" he huffed, but his face was flush and his eyes said that he thoroughly enjoyed the action anyway.
Jinai was.panting beside him but smirked at.his.attempt.of.a.snarl.
"You can't.tell.me it wasn't.as good.for.you as.it.was.for me."
Jude rolled his eyes at her. "It was pretty good," he replied with a half-smirk. "Can we get back on the road then? We're lucky the horses don't seem too fazed by your screams!"
"Or your screams," she told him with a.smirk. "Besides, all that really matters is.that felt damn good." And at.that, she raked.her hair.away.from her eyes and leaned in against Jude's shoulder contentedly. And after a time of enjoying this silent moment shared, she commented, " I'm sure.you can add.that to.your list of kinks you can have.done to your clients. It might be good for.business. 'I'm Jude Armand and I fuck women on moving wagons.'" And naturally she tried her best Jude impersonator voice as she teased him.
"PFFFt! You're louder than me!" he argued and laughed. "You would make fun of me after getting your kicks! I thought I explained it to you the parameters of my employment. Kinks are extra!" He growled at her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Awkwardly, he grabbed the reins and began to steer properly again. "Besides, I didn't hear you complaining the first time...and many times that night, I made you scream."
Jinai gave a tired sigh.
"But those times were.different. It wasn't.like we were.married... And half the.time we.fucked I.adored but hated you." And at.that happy admittance she snuggled. In even closer. "You were too.. perfect. And i wanted everything you had. Even that damn smile of.yours. Damn prick." She added with a smirk as she looked away.
Jude laughed and saw before them the town coming closer into view, even though she was still on his lap. "Well, I guess, I'm a wonderful consolation prize, aren't I? You wanted me, now you have me, in a manner of speaking. You're a lucky girl. Lots of people were looking to get their hands on me, most less well-meaning than others."
"Who said I wanted you?" she inquired smuggly. "I was turned on by your life style. Well, more or less jealous of it and now look what's happened." And instinctively she glanced down at her 'wedding' ring and smirked over what theydid. Was Lord Christy.any later... Who knew what would have become of.them!
"Well, I thought I was always a pretty good study of people," Jude remarked and turned his head to face her. "But even though ceremony was never technically finished doesn't mean that I don't see you as someone just as important as a wife should be. After all, you had me at 'fuck me.'" He smiled in jest.
Jinai found herself.dumbly staring back at.Jude before she shook her head with a smirk.
"I think we'd kill one another had.the.ceremony been real."
Jude nodded and laughed. "Probably true," he said in agreement. "You drive me crazy enough as it is!"
"Maybe that's the.secret to.marriage. Two people get hitched thinking it's love then when realize it.entails lot more.effrort...., why... Then I suppose that's why.they make plans with certain courtseans, or who.know, a.visit.to.the brothel. Those places are.always nice to.escape away.to." Though her unpaid stay and.romps with Jude were.entirely.diffrent than the norm but.even she was benefiting from them. And although they both awkwardly admitted it...
WAS this love?
"Fromy my understanding such venturess are often made by those with a dissatisfaction in their life. With so many people being married by arrangement, it's no surprise that men and women seek escape from the confines of their marriages. Well, it's good for me. If business was taken care of at home, I'd be out of business," Jude peered at Jinai from the corner of his eye. The way she leaned against him made him smile a little. "You know...this is as unusual for me as it is for you... In my line of work, I can't afford relationships...barely friendships even. Someone always gets hurt in the end. Usually it's me. I learned a long time ago to keep my feelings to myself...but I find it hard to do so with you...you bring out the best and the worst in me. I suppose that's love. What do you think?"
"Don't.get all.mushy on me and just enjoy.the moment. It is what it is, I suppose."
In truth, she wanted time to think this all over this quiet moment... And to actually enjoy it. It felt nice to be nestled beside, natural almost. But also, the truth of it was she had a.hard.time formulating the right words and just wanted just.a.small moment of.peace, a moment of peace before the chaos of the approaching storm... There was much to.do in such little time and she grew antsy as she shuffled uneasily beside him.
Jude relaxed in the silence the rest of the way toward town. Once they'd made it, he stopped the carriage in front of a small tavern, toward the edge of town and helped Jinai down from the buckboard. "Would you like something to eat? We'll leave before dawn. But we could at least let the horses eat and get some rest. Come on we could use a hot meal and a drink ourselves."
Jinai had nearly fallen asleep when the carriage came to a halt and Jude's voice cut.through her.dreams. She murmured softly, nestling into his side as she grumbled, "Just five more minutes." She didn't even realize she was.already standing as she yawned.
Jude just let her lay against him as he supported her with his arm. He bought a room for the night and when they were led upstairs, a hot meal would be delivered to them at extra charge. But at least it was better than dried rations. The room was dainty enough, and had all the required accomodations, but the bed was hard and the blankets were thin. Still, Jude put Jinai to bed and waited for the food to come up.
The second she was laid upon the bed, she immediately fell back to sleep, her mouth was gaping, snoring loudly as drool began to collect on the pillow. She could be sleeping on a pile of.rocks for all She cared. She was so exhausted.
Jude ate quietly while Jinai slept, her snores hardly interrupting his meal. Her snores were like music to his ears and he had a hard time not laughing loudly at how ladylike she slept. "What a classy gal," he commented shortly before joining her in bed, spooning with her.
By the time she awoke, she had one foot on Jude's face while his arms were clinging around her legs now instead of her arms as she groaned where she lay.stiffly.on the bed.
"God, how long was I asleep?"
Jude was sleeping softly himself, though her foot was smashed against the side of his cheek and he had barely registered her words before turning on his side and getting more comfortable himself. "I-I dunno... But there's food...on the table. Help yourself," he grumbled to himself.
Jinai attempted, though it.was to no.avail as she huffed and.turned back towards him, her.blonde hair a mess about her face.
"Well, I'm trying but you got.my.legs in a.damn.vice grip. Let go!" She demanded as she wriggled like a fish within his grasp.
He shoved her legs away and turned around in the bed, throwing his blanket over his shoulder and snuggling into the bed. "There! Go eat! And go take a bath! You smell like sex and sweat..."
Jinai cut him a glare.
"You would assume I'd need a bath. Too bad I can't blame you this time," she huffed as she sat.at the end of the bed. "And God does my head hurt." She groaned as she raked a hand through her hair.
Jude laughed a little, but kept his eyes closed. "Eat something, and your head will hurt less," he grumbled., trying to get back to sleep.
Jinai scowled but obeyed, groggily moving to the table and eating some bread and water. But as she ate, she eyed Jude all comfortable on the bed before.dumping a glass of.water over.his head.
"We should probably.get.going. We've still got.a ways to go before reaching the coast."
He knew the water was coming and simply turned over, still comfortable to move and shrugged. "Not yet. It's not even morning yet," Jude mumbled and stayed asleep, soaked from the water.
Seeing how Jude wasn't complying, Jinai took up the bread and.began to.break off tiny pieces and tossed them at.his head.
Jude still stayed sound asleep and did not appear disturbed by the bread crumbs. But at long last, he did sit up, hair disheveled and he reached for the soaked pillow and promplty threw it at her face. HARD.
Too bad for Jude the pillow did not.hit its mark and allowed Jinai enough time to.get real close to him once the pillow was down as she stuck a piece of bread up his nose.
"Come on... Wake up, Jude. You can sleep in the carriage."
Ooc: sometimes I wonder about these two >.>
Jude shoved her hands away and blew out the pieces of bread. "Okay! I'm up! Thank gods we don't live together or I'd never get any sleep!" he grumbled and brushed back his hair "Let's get going. We don't have a lot of time." He got cleaned up as well as possible before having a few bits of bread himself.
While Jude was waking up, Jinai took the time to clean herself. Jude had made a mess, after all, (not to mention the mess from Lord Christy from earlier, even before there was speak of a wedding.) But it felt nice to get clean, even though it was something quick to freshen herself up (for there was hardly time for a proper bath) and once the pair were both ready, Jinai took up the seat on the buckboard after.untethering the horses from.their post and took a moment to eye.the small town once over before snapping the reins once Jude was ready, and off they were, heading towards the coast once more.
This was going to be a long journey, longer than Jude could have anticipated. But as long as they were on the moved, he did his best to formulate a plan once they did reach the coast. They were still at least five days out, and once there, they didn't have any time to lose. They needed a distraction something big...but what?
Jude needed to sleep on it. So that's just what he did, and drifted off once more in the carriage.
The day was long and boring, but.even still Jinai let Jude sleep most of it.away, and nothing of real importance happened until.the sun began to set and the trail lead them through dense wood. It was then a rogue group attacked as a fire arrow shot onto the side of.the buckboard, scaring the shit out of Jinai and the horses as her leg.was missed by mere inches. When her.wits returned, she was stomping out the flames from.the arrow when a few more sunk into the.carriage's side and made it rock wildly as the horses freaked out and were hard for Jinai to controll as she swore between gritting teeth and gave a sharp snap on the reins to get those damn horses moving as more fire arrows rained down upon them.from.the darkening skies which helped to keep the.mystery fighters hidden from view as long shadows stretched out from the forests and no real position could be pin pointed as it seeemed the.arrows were coming from EVERYWHERE.
it was around this time Jinai turned her attentions back to the.carriage and shouted, "Jude! Wake up! We've got company!" And not the pleasant kind!
Jude was already awake when the first arrow thumped against the board. He sat up jjust as more arrows were nailing against the wood and quickly taking it to smoke. At that smell, Jude immediately shot out of the carriage. The horses were wild with fear and there was little they could do to save the cart. Jude called out to Jinai, motioning her to unharness the horse on her side, to calm them down and get them away from the carriage that was now on fire. He successfully unbuckled his horse and pulled him away. "Jinai! Into the trees, come on! Ah what wonders that we would find ourselves in the middle of a battle!" The last words came out with a laugh as he watched arrows sail through the sky from their cover behind trees.
It took a tremendous amount of effort to.get the last horse free and catch up to Jude and his as Jinai was struggling with the steed as they galloped away.
"You WOULD laugh at a.situation like this!" She called after.him as the dense woods scraped around them as they passed. "Here we could get shot in the head but.you're smiling!" And just as she was.about to get into some long winded, heated shouting at him, an arrow struck her horse and both rider and horse went down hard.
"Jinai!" Jude called hoarsely. He pulled the hair of the horse he was riding on, yanking it to a halt as he leapt from the back, yanking the beast back toward where Jinai fell. There was nothing he could do for the horse now, and just pulled Jinai out from underneath the massive animal. More arrows rained down on them and Jude was narrowly missed as he headed back to his spooked beast. Surprisingly the horse stayed put as he threw Jinai over the back and climbed on behind her, riding hard through the trees.
The fall hurt like hell and the second she realized what had happened she clung onto Jude as the world whipped by them in a blur. Whoever was after them was dogged, for the.arrows continued for a time until they were deep enough in the forests that they were nearly engulfed by its shadows. By then, Jinai was still clinging onto Jude tightly that her knuckles turned white and her mind, still whirling from.the fall.
Being caught in the midst of battle was nightmarish, even for Jude despite his cool. He didn't know if the arrows were meant for them or if they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He heard shouting and screams and clanging steel and musket fire. He would know those sounds anywhere and they just reminded him of the screams of his mother and sister when those soldiers came...
He blocked the memory from his mind, stopping the horse to a walk when they kept walking. The horse still trembled with fear with faint quivers, but at least he wasn't wounded and Jude peeked down at the woman clinging to his chest. "Jinai," he whispered to her. "Are you all right?"
At his words, Jinai grimaced.
"No, pull the horse over. I'm going to be sick."
Jude did as she asked and stopped the horse when they had a moment of peace and slipped off, letting her go beside the trunk of a tree.
Once her.boots touched the ground, she clung to the tree's trunk and doubled over wretching at least twice before she groaned and raked a.hand through her hair.
"Gods, what a nightmare," she groaned, still feeling dizzy as she leaned against the tree the catch her breath. "Are we in the clear yet?" She asked as she wiped off her.lips on the back of her hand and peered over at him dizzily.
"I don't know. I don't think so since we're just a few minutes out from most of the action," Jude remarked, "Best to just keep moving if we can." Jude put a hand on her should and then looked at the food on the floor. "There goes breakfast." He smirked at her and moved back toward the horse. "Poor beast, but we can only afford a few moment's rest."
Jinai scowled at his jest and swatted at him but her smack was weak at best.
"Then let's keep moving. I don't think I have anything left to puke out so come on." And she lamely made her way over to.the horse's side but found herself unable to pull herself onto it as she grew dizzy a moment and had to cling onto the already antsy horse for support.
Jude climbed on first when the beast was steady enough and reached a hand down to pull Jinai up on the horse's back behind him. "Just put your arms around me. I'll ride gently. I don't imagine falling from the horse was any sort of picnic. But we'll be out of this forest soon enough."
Jinai simply obeyed, clinging onto Jude as the horse took them.farther and farther away. Thankfully Jinai was recovering quickly, and as she leaned against Jude many thoughts were running through her.head, but it only took one thing to distract her as she gasped and gave a tug.to Jude's arm.
"Ride carefully. There are some men across the way. See them guarding that shack? Looks like..." And here she.wrinkled her.nose as she recognized the smell. "Gun powder." And there was a shit ton of it in the shack and some already in barrels and loaded on a few carts with about five or.six men guarding it. And it was as she observed them.from afar that she got an idea....
"Hey...Jude... What if we stole that wagon full of gun powder... Might be useful if we bring it to port...."
And Jinai didn't really have to paint out her idea as two and two obviously lead to the idea of.blowing up those ships... And what easier way to do it if they had a nice big supply of.black powder? Only problem was deterring and distracting the guards....
"Hey... Why don't we tether off the horse and start fucking?" She knew men well enough, even military men. If they were to over hear them... Then Jinai and Jude could easily get the upper hand and take down the scouts first, then whatever guards were left... Well, they'd just have to be.clever about getting rid of them, wouldnt they?
Jude made a face at her suggestion. "I don't think that's a good idea," he replied, peering up at the shack ahead. "We need a sufficient distraction that won't leave us with our pants down, literally. Hm...we could pretend to fuck. You're a woman, I'm sure you know how to fake it." Jude took the horse about several yards away, so that they were covered by a dense array of trees before he dismounted. "So what? We just fuck and expect them to come this way? We don't have any weapons... Though, I guess I could use that big branch over there. Just start moaning loudly and I'll hide behind that rock over there, and hit them when their backs are turned."
Jinai made a face and pinched Jude's arm.
"No, you're right. We need a better plan.than that." And from her shirt.she fondled herself and produced a long knife on which she handed to.him.
"Don't start thinking I go places completely unprepared. After all, I pulled this blade on you before." And she smirked and waited for.him to.take the blade before. She told him, "don't worry, I have another one up my skirts." Though arming.thmeseleves with knives against armored men with blades seemed foolish and Jinai was growing anxious this idea just might not.work, that was, until she heard a falcon over head give a caw and it was a call she recognized.
"Maybe we won't have to pretend to fuck in order to distract them," she said with a.smirk before she planted two fingers to her lips and whistled for her bird. A moment later, Feather'swing dove down from the skies and landed on her arm, and Jinai's smile couldnt br wider as she stroked the bird's chest feathers.
"I don't believe you've met. " and she held.up her arm with the falcon for Jude to see. "This is Feather'swing. I found her injured one day and tended.to her, and an acquaintance from the Free Folk taught me ways how to train her. I had almost forgotten about her.until I realized she.must've been following us. Think she might be of use for a good distraction?" And the bird stared sharply over at Jude as if scrutinizing him with her beady eyes.
Jude was taken aback by the bird, unsure what to make of her but what thing was for sure, she was an unexpected companion for Jinai to have. Still, he supposed, a bird was better than a dog. They were better scouts and smelled better, and were useful for hunting small game. He didn't have much experience with birds of prey, but he could tell already her bird was a tough judge of character. So he did the only thing that came natural to him and that was to bow and smile at the falcon. "Good to meet you, Feather'swing. I'm Jude," he said and came back up.
The bird still regarded him hardly, but was relieved when he didn't reach up to touch her.
"All right then? What do you have in mind exactly regarding your falcon?"
"A simple distraction. I don't think it'd be too difficult to get all the men distracted if we use her the right way. Though at times like these I wish I had my.crossbow," she said with a frown. "Though now we have to think of just what she can grab to lure the men away to.give us enough time to get in there and grab what we want. I suppose maybe she could yank their horn. See it on that man's belt? We just have to find a way for her to snatch it and I'm.sure the men will panic. After all, it'd be hard to alert the other soldiers if we've got their trumpet. So it would be something worthy enough to ruffle a few feathers so we can get in there... But the idea of what WE.ought to do once we're there... I haven't quite figured out yet." But then she found herself smirking. " we could always use their gun powder against them..." She mused while rubbing Feather'swing's chest.
"We don't need to make a big racket once we're in. I'm sure they have a wagon somewhere to cart around all that gunpowder. We load up the cart with as much as we can, cover it with some kind of tarp, when they're away or dealt with at least, and take off with the horse. The bird taking the horn would be a good distraction, at least to pull them away from their post for a while, but I don't think that'll take care of all of them. We'll have to knock out the rest. So, shall we do it now, or wait until night fall?"
Jinai fished around inside her clothing to produce a few vials.
"I only have a few left... Though I'm not sure how we'd effectively use them. Perhaps if only a few men were left and caught by surprise..." But even she wasn't do sure what the.results would be.
"If we act now, we know the rest of the soldiers are preoccupied. But come night fall, it'll give us the benefit of the shadows." And as Jinai was mulling the idea over, Feather'swing was scrutinizing her boy.
"Then perhaps now is the time to reap such seeds sewn," Jude concluded and watched the men linger by the small black powder shack. "I'd rather have just these few men to deal with than the whole lot of them at night. The battle is the perfect side distraction for now. So let's not waste anymore time."
Jinai nodded her head while her fingers continued to stroke the chest feathers of her bird.
"We just need a good opening," she whispered, pressing herself up.against a nearby tree as she peered over towards the group and kept her eye on the trumpet, but even as she tensed over what they were about to.do, she found herself somehow smiling.
"Then I guess that only means we wait for a moment before sending your little friend in, eh?" Jude smirked at her and moved toward the large bundles of roots that twirled up through the ground. He crouched behind them and peered out toward the shack. "Well, I guess we got to wait for a moment of separation then? Or maybe when they look the most bored? How am I supposed to know, I've never done this before..."
It was because she knew he was a.novice that she smirked.
"Just calm down and follow my.lead. Normally I just improvise and react in ways the men wouldn't have seen coming." And she continued to.bide her time, her smile growing as she watched the horn man step away to piss.
"Looks like we got.our opening..." She muttered through her smile as she gestured towards the trumpet, letting her falcon study it for a.time before she launched her from her wrist, and the moment the trumpet was gone, the man pissed on his own leg.
"Shit!" she heard him.swear as he stumbled, and it was here Jinai gestured for Jude to take that man out while she crept closer.towards the other men and sent her falcon back in the draw attention the other way. And it worked beautifullyas the remaining men were all gawking stupidly as a bird carrying a trumpet flew on by.
It was only after a.efew moments did someone dare utter a command but before his.words were realized, Jinai tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned, she socked him across.the face, and boy did her hand hurt from.that!
Jude nodded to her when the man came running their way and he reached around for a branch on the ground. When he saw him coming this way, he ducked low from behind a tree and slammed the branch in his head when he came round. Already he saw Jinai head out toward the distracted men and he was quick to follow, staying someone behind to look for any stragglers.
Chaos was abound! The last remaining men were thrown threw a loop, not knowing what to make of the situation before Jinai was able to knock another one out. But by then the men began to realize someone had infiltrated their camps as another commanded, "We're under attack!" And though she flinched at the words, the moment the man near to her reached for his sword, she dove for him, kicking between his legs before sending another fist to his face. And by then, herfist was so.sore. and they still had three, or was it four more men left to go?
"Protect the cargo!" But even as another man shouted this, his attentions were distracted when Feather'swing flew by again with the trumpet, something that was silly enough to make him gape and do a double take.
At the second take, a huge branch had come bashing into his face and Jude had sent the man reeling off his feet and he hit the ground hard. The men were trying to come to a state of order among their own ranks when someone grabbed Jude by the coat tails and yanked him backwards, slashing at his arm. The courtesan gasped and reeled back, falling on his ass as the man raised his blade high to slash down on him.
And that's when a knife went flying into his throat. Thankfully, Jinai had been wise enough to check on her companion's condition, lest he'd fall prey to the blade. She only sent a short smirk his way before moving off- they only had two men left to deal with,a nd she knew the last few wouldn't go down so easily and were both, somehow smarter and working together to protect the gun powder, so when Jinai showed up, the men had to do a double take on her to realize it was just some woman toying with them- and it was at that moment one of them seemed to recognize her face (which only helped because he was a soldier and bounty hunter, when off duty) as he gasped and pointed right at her, drawing out a pistol.
"It's the woman who murdered the former grand duke!"
Jinai could have rolled her eyes, except before she knew it, the man had already pulled the trigger.
Despite all his time in the army, the lead ball had exploded in a puff of dirt and tree bark. Flintlock pistols were not the most reliable of weapons in close quarters combat and just when he cursed and tried to reload, a large branch was slammed into his head. The other man at his side had turned and brandished his blade, slashing it across Jude's chest, cutting into him and making him stumble backwards.
Jude was having enough of this ruin to his wardrobe, especially after just losing his luggage and he lunged forward, tackling him to the ground. He drove his fists angrily into his face, smashing at him until he was black and blue and knuckles stung with blisters and blood. "Jinai! Jinai! Get up! Let's get the wagon!" He gave a sharp whistle and the horse carefully danced over the bodies and cantered toward the shack.
The moment the horse came into view, it was locked and sealed to the cart; and somehow they had organized the heist within moments before Jinai leaped onto the buckboard, laughing herself at how they'd come to survive such a tryst, while reins in her hand commanded the horse forward; and they- trotting off into the on coming night without any resistance or delay..
and a falcon now readily perched upon the tarps that bound the powder well from light and weather as Jinai turned to her companion to blindly beam.
Though Jude rode beside her, he was less than amused and entertained by the whole ordeal. His suit was ruined as was his shirt and his chest was bleeding and he grimaced as he held onto the wound. "Fuck, Jinai!" he growled, "Smile less, drive faster. Last thing we need is someone tailing us." he turned around to see if the coast was clear with no one waking up from their dirtnaps. When he was sure they weren't he turned back and slumped back trying to keep the wound from bleeding all over his damn clothes.
It was only then when she regarded Jude had actually been injured did her smile fade and she regarded him with some concern.
"I wonder if there's anything in any of those stock bags that you might be able to use on that wound," she said through clenched teeth, for she herself had not much on her person for such a thing. Though there was a lot of blood, she just hoped it wasn't something fatal, for she was also not prepared to deal with that sort of consequence, after all.
"That looks like it hurt." And it probably really did!
"It does," he grumbled, and he abandoned trying to save it by hand. It obviously wasn't doing anything to alleviate the sting. At least the shack was out of sight and that gave him some small measure of relief. He looked into the bags and found a small roll of bandages. It wasn't much, but maybe it would catch some of the blood, at least put pressure on it. "Here, stop a moment. Ah.." He carefully removed his jacket and shirt and gestured to the wound.
"Clean and wrap it real quick would you? It stings."
Reluctant at first to oblige, she eventually pulled the reins in on the horses and had them slow to a halt. Then, turning to Jude, she found herself staring at his formerly unmarred flesh to realize, only then, that this truly was something he had only experienced for the first time and she found herself slow and uncertain as she cleaned the wound as best she could and muttered softly to him, "I hope your clients like a little scarring.." considering he had none before! And she secured some lose bandages around them before tightening them up, realizing she couldn't really go gentle since pressure was necessary to help stop the bleeding.
"You're lucky. Looks like it's just a flesh wound- nothing that can kill," she stated, her eyes still fixated upon the red staining bandages.
"I'm sure some of them will," Jude grunted in discomfort. "The warrior fantasy is a popular one and the scar would certainly complete the look," A small, uncomfortable laugh soon followed and he winced just when she tightened the bandages and peered down at her handiwork. It was good enough.
"I'm sure you'd like the scarring enough though," he smirked at her and carefully pulled the shirt over his shoulders. "Nice work. I'll be all right."
"Well, I will admit I'm impressed you've gone this long without blemishing that skin," she said, affording him a small smirk as she peered up at him, part of her eyes hidden behind a frame of blonde hair. "Especially since you're fraternizing with a girl like me. Though I suppose we can't be too surprised with this sort of out come. After all, I've got enough scars of my own..." And how reckless she works, they were both lucky to come out with only his wounds as consequence.
Jude laughed and peered at her eyes through her veil of hair. "Well, I won't say I've gone completely unscathed. After all the scratches you've done to my back are just healing over. You've broken skin more than a few times yourself." Jude smirked at her and grabbed the reins himself, slapping them on the animal's ass to get them moving again.
Jinai simply smirked and tried to shrug away a blush that was forming that even she was surprised he was able to make her do.
"Yeah, well, that's what you get when you fuck a woman who likes things rough," she stated, turning her eyes to the road as she continued to wear that smirk. After all, she could easily say he was one of the best fucks she had, and ironically, they were now playing for keeps. The only problem now, besides the war... was that she was still uncertain if she were with his child, and only due to the sudden increase of tense activity had lead her to forget that little fact until now as her smile began to fade as she realized, well...
since she had been uncertain if she was pregnant or not, she had become quite careless with her preventatives and even now, she wasn't sure if her last bottle would do much good if he had already knocked her up.
Jude too knew the uncertainty of their parental status, but he didn't think it was his place to bring it up, not unless she knew for sure. But another matter that concerned him, was something he felt was all right to bring up considering the circumstances. "So I was wondering something," he began, a little nonchalant. "Since we confessed to each other, and considering our circumstances, I was just wondering where that puts us in our relationship. I'm a man-for-hire of course... And I know your work takes you all over Connlaoth doing whatever it is you do for whoever it is you work for and with and I know that may lead you to do what's necessary to get the job done. I get it but... Well, what I'm trying to say is that...I don't necessarily have a problem with it, I just...want you to be safe and protected and be smart about who it is you have to do what you need to do with. I mean...it...would still sort of bother me, but I just want you know that I get it..."
At first, Jinai had no idea what Jude was going on about. She had been more concerned about their survival from their last encounter, and how to protect a dangerous cargo all the way to the port when she realized, with a blink, what he was going on about as she turned towards him.
"Why are you bringing up sex now of all times for?" she said, making a face most unbecoming of her before she gave a shake of her head. "I'm not really thinking into any of that, Jude, besides, you shouldn't either. That's your job, after all, ain't it? I mean, fucking around."
It seemed kind of odd he was getting... what what was the word.. protective of her? Or was it possessive? Though she herself could not deny her jealousy from the start, they both had jobs to do,a nd she... never normally cared what she had to do in order to get it done on her part.
Though to be honest the last venture with the visor of the Grand Duke left her a bit soured to try her feminine whiles on someone just yet, even still, she was trying hard to digest what he said, and thinking back to her possible 'condition' she wanted even less to do witht he thought, at least in that moment. Give her a few hours and she'd probably try to fuck him again, which only then, reminded her, she was again.. way over due to take care of any problem, and it made her feel quite uneasy at how reckless she was becoming around him, and she shifted uneasily on the buck board and had to turn her gaze away. Gods.. if she were to have his child, and who knew if it were even HIS child (though, Gods knew he was the one she fucked the most since the last time she was on the rag...)
She found herself gritting her teeth as she thought more of it.
"Besides, you don't have to worry about... that. I'll probably lay low from that activity until I'm sure I'm not..... well, you know..." and she couldn't bring herself to fully say it or even look at him when she addressed it, finding her eyes going shamefully to the ground.
"It's been almost two months..." she said, her voice softer and almost not quite there.
Jude peered across to Jinai, watching how quiet she'd become, how heavy the matter was on her and he just gave her a simple nod and gave her a soft smile. "Okay. I'll drop it. We've got things to do anyhow," he replied and nudged her shoulder a little with his own. He just had to say it at the time, it had been lingering on his mind for some time since she had told him what she really felt. Since he nearly died by poison from her own lips.
What did it matter if she slept around, he didn't care who she had before, or who she would have after him. But he did care...in a manner of speaking, knowing he wouldn't enjoy sex nearly as much with other partners as he might with her. She was exciting, wild, and gave him need where he hadn't found it in others. He could be himself around her, he didn't have to play games.
Jude gave her another nudge as his smile widened and he slapped the horse to go faster down the path, as the sky darkened.
She knew Jude was trying to lighten the mood, but it just wasn't happening. No matter how much he tried, she found herself growing uncomfortable under the remembrance of what her carelessness could cost her, and what the reality of parent hood might entail. No, the right thing to do would be to get rid of it, but why, such an idea that had been already posed to her before (for this wasn't the first time she had thought she might have been with child), now it made her feel ill. And she found herself second guessing if she could actually just kill a child of his, even though she knew she herself was unfit as a parent. Perhaps if they gave they bastard away but... even that made her shift uncomfortably on the buckboard and made her ill to her stomach. She had heard stories before that sometimes a woman skipped her intended rag because of stress. Maybe it was just that...
She had to think positively, lest she never last through the night.
And it was in that moment her mind drifted back to Jude's job, and it was only then she found herself turning to thim to ask, "Hey, we'll be gone from the city for a while. Are you sure your job won't suffer since we're doing this?" After all,s he had come to him whle he was already in the middle of fucking a client, with no warning just a 'let's get married' crazy proposition that he blindly followed, and here she was, not even thinking twice about how her life would undoubtedly affect his.
"It might, but if I know my clients, and I do, I won't be missed too much. I can afford to take vacations. And with the right excuses, I have plenty of people who will back me up. Besides, I'm not the only talent in the city. I might be losing money while I'm away, but not much. I don't work every night. One encounter can have me set for a few months alone. I might have a high price, but I'm worth every penny, that I can assure you, darling," Jude answered with a hint of mirth despite the lack of humor in her own eyes.
Jinai stared at him while he commented but had to look away. The same bitterness and jealousy she felt since the first time she met him had returned since-
damn, did it ever remind her she had drawn the short end of the stick in life. Being a courtesan, though she heard enough woes from Renna, seemed almost the perfect job for someone like herself, except.... even she knew that such a revelation was just her fantasizing a way to make her dream away her own life. Even if she were born into such a life, Jinai herself, would never be sated, and perhaps it's why she couldn't look at Jude now.
Jude found himself frowning. "It isn't always easy you know... Maybe to you, it seems glamorous and wonderful, but... It's hard to explain. Not everyone has all the luck, even people that have been doing it for years," he said softly. "Business is just business...it doesn't mean anything. People come to you to you to forget their own life...but when they leave, people could care less what happens to you. Those people I go to parties with, dance with, laugh with, go home at the end of the night with...they're not my friends. They're just shells."
Jinai cut him a look then peered away. Was that how things were for everyone? For she too, felt far too many times the effects of an empty shell. Though the only.time things had been real were with her brother, who now long since was rotting in his grave. But was that love? Was this? It was hard for her to know and she merely shrugged at him and remained quiet, for she was uncertain what to say. She was never really good at.this part, and normally evaded moments where she had to show any ounce of.concern. But with Jude things were different, and she felt different, and surely, life was becoming different. But.even still, reality had been evading her for a long time coming, and she still wasn't sure what to expect.from life now.
Love... What was that fickle thing anyway?
Jude stopped the carriage for a moment and leaned across toward her. His eyes sought hers for but a second longer before he leaned in and kissed her deeply, softly and sweetly. It seemed like the opportune thing to do and he sought to make her smile back to him, at least in spite of their circumstances.
The kiss, albeit soft, sweet and simple, left her reacting in a way she didn't see coming as tears filled her eyes as she jerked to turn embarrassedly away from.him.
"I must've gotten something in my eye," she said lamely, while trying to brush the tears away, but she could not brush the.sudden intense feeling that over took, though she desperately tried.
"Oh come here!" Jude cried and took an arm around her to lean into his shoulder. His head turned again and he kissed her once more, tasting the salt of a tear that managed to escape her brushing it away. "Just kiss me you fool," he murmured against her lips, smiling and laughing. "You make me smile, even in life or death situations. That's the kind of effect you have on me."
"Ah, stop it, Jude!" she protested, even as she felt comforted in the way he held her and professed himself to her so freely, that even after she became prickled by his reaction, she finally sighed and turned to him with a teary smile and shook her head.
"You just drive me crazy," she muttered, still trying to brush away her tears. Damn him for bringing those out! Even though she would not admit it, they were definitely tears for him, and so much more. She breathed out a hot breath and shook her head at him.
"I should have known you were crazy. I felt it in my gut when I first met you," she told him, jutting out her chin in defiance as if to see if he'd challenge that. But she knew he would, or at least his lips would try to quiet her own as she found herself smiling inspite of herself.
"I think it's safe to say that you brought out the crazy in me," Jude laughed as the carriage rolled down the forest path. The horse knew where he was going but was admittedly tired of all the running but made no complaints. Jude kissed her by the corner of her mouth. "If you felt it in your gut why did you stick around?"
"Well, no one ever said I was smart," she told him, avoiding his gaze and finding herself smiling none the less, and it was then she took this moment to try to wipe more of her tears away. "And here I am, crying for no reason." Yet even as she took in a breath, she knew very well the reason for her tears. She just didn't want to admit them.
Jude smiled despite her tears and reached a hand to wipe a stray tear away from her face. "Oh, we never cry for no reason," Jude remarked sweetly. He kissed her again, for there were no end to those in sight. And he wanted only to make her smile. His heart swelled when he saw the corners of her mouth tilted up from it. "You were smart enough not to kill me, so that's something. But nobody's perfect."
Jinai shook her head and turned away from him, finding more tears despite more smiles as she lowered her head and shook it.
"Well, if you must know I was crying over you." And she turned to look at him, regarding him in the pale moon light. "And I thought of ever losing you, and how I felt when I lost my brother, the only one I cared about and..." and it was all she needed to said as more tears rose into her eyes as she looked at him, appearing utterly defeated in the night.
"I never truly felt like this."
Or, more truthfully...
She never admitted it. and hopefully it was a passing thing, for it confused her and made her feel numb and vulnerable.
"I can understand your sentiment. And believe me, it is all new to me as well. Do you think I want to see you cry or upset? Not at all," he replied, smiling at her. "You don't have to be so upset, or afraid for me. Or else when are you going to be happy or smiling? Or do I have to seduce you again?" He laughed and kissed her cheek possessively. "I'm getting tired and this wound is itchy, you take the reins for a little bit."
Jinai half scowled and pushed away from his kiss. He WOULD try to make her forget about things with kisses, but even still, she looked him over thoroughly while taking the reins, shaking her head at him and indeed, smiling only after she realized how foolish she must've looked. And as she snapped the reins and kept a blind focus before them, she realized, it was going to be a very, very long night, and she... was completely exhausted.
Jude smirked at her and gave her one last kiss before taking his jacket and pulling it over him as an offer of warmth and sleeping beside her on the buckboards. There wasn't any space in the wagon anyway unless he wanted to lay on barrels of black powder and that he didn't want.
It would be hours before the sun would rise, and the trail was long as he slept beside her, leaning into her as the night crickets offered their song. She kept her eyes focused on the road ahead, occasionally listening into the noise of the forest, but finding it calm, she kept her eyes forward and focused until the light began to rise and she, finding herself nearly nodding off. Nudging Jude, she offered over the reins to his sleepy hands.
"Here, I can't do this anymore. I have to sleep or I'll pass out," she said, and moved to adjust herself more comfortably on the wooden seat, though she found it was a difficult task, for a buckboard was a most uncomfortable place for sleep.
When he felt something in his hands Jude jumped up and nearly spooked the horse. The beast itself was too tired to press on himself though Jude was now awake. They'd made enough distance during the night and with what energy remained in the animal, Jude directed him into the trees. It would be a nice time to make camp, at least, and look for something to eat. He wasn't a hunter, but he an inkling on how to catch a rabbit, or whatever critter he could find.
He hid the wagon beneath fallen branches, leaves and brambles and gently laid his jacket on Jinai as an offer of warmth. With his supplies lost to the battle, he had little to work with and looked around for something good to eat. The horse was busy munching on grass and foraging for berries.
As Jinai slept away, snoozing in the grasses beside the wagon, her bird was wide awake, preening itself and only moving it's head once in a while to check on Jude. But then when something stirred further out in the forest, it's eyes went out towards it to take in a rabbit grazing out in the field as it's beady eyes narrowed upon it before cocking it's head, then peering back to Jude.
Jude had forgotten about the bird, and only now noticed it's return. Feather'swing gestured to the brush and Jude gave a nod. "If you wouldn't mind sharing a meal," he replied, shrugging. "You catching it would certainly be better than anything I could do."
The bird seemed antsy, and stared at Jude as he spoke, and seemed almost in distress until a loud snore from it's master startled her and the falcon turned Jinai's way. But then after a moment, it resettled itself and cocked it's head at Jude again, as if inquiring into what he had been proposing before.
Jude made a munching motion toward the falcon. "Eat. Food. Rabbit. Hunt?" Jude just gave an exasperated sigh and settled in beside Jinai as she slept. He didn't know what more he could do and no longer wasted effort on trying to communicate with a raptor. He supposed he could go hungry for a day. He wouldn't lose so much weight so quickly.
Jinai slept like the dead, but when Jude settled in beside her she woke up and grumbled, shoving him away as she tried to go back to sleep.
"Quit it Jude, I'm dead tired. Let me at least get an hour of sleep before you start harassing me for sex," she grumbled, and at their antics, the bird landed on the grass beside them, and peered up at the pair curiously. At this, Jinai peeked over at her bird before shoving at Jude again.
"What did you do to my bird? Why is she looking at you like that? And why can't I be left alone to sleep?" She felt miserable and groggy, but she'd be a terrible 'mother' if she just ignored the slightly distressed look of her bird.
"I think she wants you to feed her or direct her to hunt or something," Jude replied, sitting up against the wagon wheel. "I don't speak falcon I'm afraid. I don't know what she wants."
"Feed her? She can feed herself," Jinai grumbled, then after a moment, she peered up with one eye at Jude. "Wait.. were you trying to get her to do something? Sometimes she gets confused if others try to get her to do something." And when she sat up, she noted Feather'swing staring at Jude as she groaned. "Yeah... you were trying to get her to do something, weren't you?" she accused, peering back to Jude tiredly, her blonde hair a mess from her brief sleep.
"All right, I admit it," Jude replied. "I asked her for a kiss. But then I remembered she has a beak." He rolled his eyes. "No, I heard something in the bushes and I think it was a rabbit. I was asking her to fetch it."
Jinai just stared at Jude.
"You asked my bird to do your hunting?" And at that she laughed. "She was probably confused. I don't use her for things like that, but I suppose I could." And she gave a cluck of her tongue and her bird hopped on over before fluttering onto Jinai's arm. She scratched the bird's chest.
"So what sorts of things did you want her to catch? And if you're hungry, you could have waited until I was done sleeping. I could have caught us a proper meal."
Jude raised a brow at her and the bird and back again. "The rabbit nearby," he gestured to the bushes. "Those bushes housed a small critter that could feed all of us and then some. I just want you to make sure that you remember I'm a man-for-hire, darling, not a hunter."
"I know what you are," Jinai said with a smirk, wiping away the remaining sleep from her eyes as she peered over at the brush. It seemed the falcon knew about the bird he was talking about, and with a slight release to her arm, she coaxed her bird into flight, and while Jinai rose herself off of the ground, Feather'swing was circling the skies above them.
"Let's check the cart to see if there is any other supplies besides black powder. If there's some sort of gun, or archery equipment, I could probably shoot us a rabbit down no problem."
Though even she wasn't familiar with guns, she just assumed they worked the same as the cross-bows she had dealt with. Really, you just need to aim... and shoot.
Jude gave a sigh. "I doubt it," he muttered. "But I'll look. This is a black powder wagon, not a weapons cart." He stood and crawled around in the back, but several minutes of rummaging proved to harvest little more than a bundle of ropes and string and horse shoe, no real weapons. "What can you make with this."
"Besides a lump on he head and maybe a sore around your neck? Nothing really,"s he said with a frown. "Though I suppose that's alright, we can make do. The forests offer a lot more food than you can be aware of, and I'm pretty familiar with the sorts of things that can feed you- and those that can kill."
She was familiar with making potions for poison and pleasure, after all.
"Well, if you're going to hunt, then go on then," Jude said with mild irritation. He returned to the wagon and sat beside the wheel once more. The forest was beautiful but he was useless really when it came to anything like hunting. A farm wasn't a forest, and neither was a city.
Jinai rolled her eyes at his stand offish nature before she approached him and grabbed him by his sleeve and dragged him along.
"Don't think you're getting out of this. You chose to come along with me for the journey, and you woke me up, besides.... so I might as well force you to learn a little bit about surviving on the road. What if I die?" she told him, daringly looking into his eyes. "You wouldn't last a week out here. And I know you're smarter than that, so stop being lazy." And she continued to drag him along with her as she went into the trees.
Jude protested and yanked his arm from her grasp. "What the hell you need me for? I didn't wake you up. You woke up on your own. I'd just get in the way," Jude argued in a sad attempt to make his case. But even as he protested he still trudged along beside her.
"What? Are you afraid to get those pretty hand dirty?" Jinai chided as she gave him a smile. "Now quit dragging your feet. We're just going to look for some blueberries. They grow alot around here and aren't poisonous, though I'm sure you've had them before, and don't tell me you're allergic or I'll make you eat them anyway. Now come on! Help me look for them."
"What about those ones right there?" Jude replied half-heartedly. "Honestly, I don't really like blueberries. So you'll have to find something else. They stain anyway... as does blood, I guess."
"Are you serious or are you trying to be difficult? We could find something else, but I'd hate to have to hunt for actual meat. It takes a lot of effort and time." Jinai then made a face. "And what if I shoved he blueberries up your nose? Ugh. I had to decide to date someone so refined. You know we can't all pick and choose what we eat," she grumbled.
Jude rolled his eyes and gave her a trying smile. "Fine!" he grumbled. "I will help you look. But don't expect a miracle. And what the hell is a date? Ain't that some kind of fruit? Is that what you've wanted to eat?" Jude looked around and couldn't find a berry in sight. "This is going to be a long afternoon, " he sighed.
Jinai shot him a look, but after a fruitless search it left her with only a few options, and being they had limited resources, she worked with what she had to construct a trap, then sat back tiredly as she told him,
"And now.we.wait or starve."
And no sooner had she said it did she spot her falcon over head, and a moment later, she doveinto the grasses, completely disappearing from sight.
"Well looks like atleast one of us will eat," she muttered.
Jude had to admit that it was a bit of an enlightening experience though they found nothing. Nothing that was edible at least. He at least learned a thing or two on what berries and plants were not good to touch or eat. It had been years since his life on the farm, all of that had gotten away from him - or he had gotten away from it. Jude never thought he'd be back in the wilderness, with nothing but dirt underneath his feet, trees at every side, and the stench of blood ever present in the air.
When they returned to the wagon, he slumped back against the wagon, and watched as the horse had gotten his fill on the grass around him and was munching at something on the wagon. Instinctively, Jude jumped up and shoved his hand into the bag of whatever the horse was eating and shoved it into his mouth. But after three chews he promptly spat it out and coughed and hacked. "UGH! HORSE TREATS!"
"Perhaps we.ought to move on? Or, we could stick around until we become lucky, but even I'm growing tired of this waiting game. Come on, let's just move onward. We won't starve to death if we.skip a day of eating. Now do you want the reins, or shall I?"
Jude cleaned his mouth out with a sip of water from the skin and spat it out. He dry heaved for a few moments after eating the treats and peered at Jinai like a beaten child. "I guess I'll do it. We'll find something. But maybe it wouldn't hurt to get something to eat in town. I'm not built to survive in the wild," he grumbled and climbed on the buckboard after harnessing the horse. "But yeah, best get a move on. C'mon."
Once Jude took a seat beside her on the buckboard, she looked him over before smirking and giving a snort.
"Ok, horse snack breath, just don't kiss me or anything until you get that mouth more properly rinsed out. I'm pretty sure those things probably taste like shit. Also, I'm not entirely sure we ought to head into a town with this sort of cargo, but if we're careful, one of us could guard it on the outskirts and the other could go in quickly to retrieve supplies."
"That is a much better idea yes," Jude replied and offered her a sidelong glance. "You know, I don't know how you keep your hands off me half the time," he found himself remarking. He gave a scoffing smirk. "I must look devastatingly gorgeous looking rugged, without a shave, some dirt on my face and blood. And now I'm going to have an amazing scar across my chest. Really, I don't know how you do it."
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"You do look... different with the scruff, but I think I like you better smooth. That small beard on your face will probably cut at my skin." And she turned away, leaning back against the bench's small support and closed her eyes.
"Besides, ignoring you is easy, especially when I'm over due for some sleep." And hse stretched her limbs out, making noises as her back cracked and she sighed and settled in beside him.
"And you know.." she said after a time. "You are probably due for a bath. I don't think I'm used to smelling you all... sweaty."
"Never bothered you much in bed," Jude gave her a laugh and smiled. "But I do feel rather grimy. And I could use a new shirt. Goddamn...I lost all that goddamn luggage. Not that I packed much, but I had some of my favorite jackets." Jude rubbed his face and made a face of disgust. "Oh god...I look positively savage. I'll need to scrub for weeks." His brow wrinkled as if he were about to cry, but he did his best to hold it back.
Jinai did her best not to laugh, but it was hard.
"Are you really going to gripe over some lost luggage? We're on the run with stolen gun powder from the army, about ready to head to the coast to blow up some trade ships with it and rendez-vous with some whores and you're worried about clothes?" She looked him over but offered a grin before nudging him.
"Come on, if it'll make you feel better, you can fuck me later, but let's make some ground before we celebrate over anything. Besides, I'm getting hungry myself, and might I remind you I haven't slept much."
And after she settled back in beside him, she sighed, almost contentedly.
"Just be lucky we're alive."
"Huh! So that's your master plan," Jude said with a knowing grin. "Of course you have to go out with a bang, eh. But I am quite intrigued really, to see how this unfolds." As she settled in he adjusted his arm a little and put it around her, holding her and leaning down to kiss her dirty hair. The ride would be quiet and he slapped the horse to go a little faster.
Jinai just smirked.
"I am too."
The plan was crazy, but it was crazy enough to just work- and it seemed things were just falling into their hands and as Jude held her, she willingly leaned more closely into him before commenting.
"Your arm pits really stink."
Jude put her in a mild headlock and forced her face into his pit further. "Smell it!" he laughed. "Smell it and suffer!'
Jinai wheezed the moment Jude nearly strangled her.
"J-Jude! Cut that out!" And she struggled and clawed and elbowed at him, hoping he'd let go! "God, you're going to wipe that stink all over me!" And as she continued to struggle, she reminded, "ANd pay attention tot he road! Did you forget we're transporting explosives!?"
"I don't have to. The horse knows how to follow a path," Jude remarked and released her, before kissing her on the mouth to give her a taste of horse treats. "Relax. Go to sleep. I'll get back to steering now."
Jinai gagged.
"Ugh, Jude. That kiss was foul!"
"Good. Gives you something to think about while you sleep. Now hush," he remarked.
"Why do I feel as if you're trying to punish me for yourself being so unprepared? WHat do you think I do all the time when you don't see me? I don't run off with the whores to get high every day. These jobs are tough, and not all of them tend to be so large scale. Though I'll have to admit, no one back at 'Home' has any real idea of this, but I at least know of some resources I can contact if we need it. Now come on," she said, nudging his side and spitting out to the side. "Let's focus a bit on the road and less on tormenting me. Besides, I only got one vial left, and I'd hate to have to get high in order to just forget what happened a second ago!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jude replied and rolled his eyes. He didn't know what Home was, or what she was apart of, but he supposed the less he knew the better. "Just get some sleep. I've got the steering for a while."
Jinai smirked and nudged his arm.
"Good." And she looked him over before settling in against his side. "Maybe now I can finally catch up on that sleep without you trying something funny." And she closed her eyes and tried to get some rest, but managed to peek at him just once before trying to sleep for real.
The road was quiet and undisturbed, save for their passing, in the hours to come. Jude peered at Jinai once in a while as she slept against him. He took what was left of his jacket and laid it over her to give her some warmth and rode on. nnight would fall soon enough. He just hoped they were making good time.
It was dark before she knew it, and she was finally awakening- her back all stiff as she wrinkled her nose and sat up, surprised to find Jude's coat over her. Throwing a part of it over his lap, she shuffled in closely beside him.
"How's it going?" she asked, rubbing at the slip from her eyes.
Jude had nodded off when Jinai had suddenly awakened. He jerked up and rubbed at his eyes with a spare hand. "Oh, great, fine! A little bumpy. But I think we're making great time! but, maybe now would be a good time to make camp. Or at least look for something to eat. Maybe we'll come across someone's garden or farm. I'm surprised you slept through my stomach growling."
Jinai smirked and nestled in even closer to him.
"You mean you're surprised I slept through your smell." And she peered up at him before turning her attention to the road. "It seems you might get your wish." And she gestured towards a clearing ahead of them. "It looks like we're heading towards a farm."
"Great," he said with half a smile and steered the horse in the direction of the small settlement. "You think they'll take in travelers? Or should we just shack up in their barn for the night and leave before dawn? I'm sure the horse would like the company of other barn animals. At least we'll smell like them."
"The country is at war- it's best we keep as private as we can," she reminded. "Besides, I'm sure if we're smart about it, we can be in and out of this place before the owners would know. Now let's make our way int the woods and find a place to ditch the cart before checking out what food this farm has to offer. Come on."
It was a sound plan for the moment. Jude knew, however, in times like these, the woods could hold all sorts of unpleasant visitors and there was no telling what someone could do with several barrels of black powder they randomly found in the forest. He parked the cart by some bushes and covered it with branches and brambles and ran off toward the farm, ducking low in the bushes and moving between trees.
Once the wagon was hidden, Jinai gave a low whistle, and her falcon, despite having been asleep, eventually came to land on her arm.
"I've trained Feather'swing well," she informed Jude before they left. Making a trio of lower whistles, the bird took off and landed in a nearby tree.
"Birds eyes can see a greater distance than our own. Should anyone come near the cart, she will warn us. Now come on." ANd she moved swiftly at his side as they took off towards the farm.
The farm was a mud pit and smelled of grass, hay, and animals. It brought back all sorts of memories, but they were none that he could linger on. Jude trudged through the tall grass that proved to be ample cover until they made their way to the paint-chipped, wood rotted doors of the barn. He pushed them open and motioned Jinai to follow him within, promptly shutting the doors. He turned and fell back on his haunches, greeting by the snot-covered nose of a cow. He smiled. "Hey. How ya doin?" and immediately scrambled to his feet.
Jinai smacked his arm as she followed in after him.
"Keep your voice down if you don't want to get caught," she hissed. "Besides, it's best we don't piss off the animals. Though I wonder... what sort of live stock they have. Chicken might be a good choice for breakfast." Or in their case, a late night snack!
"I know, sorry!" Jude whispered harshly and peered across the barn toward the chickens. "They look good. Go get one!" He shoved her onward while he waited back, being a temporary look out.
"What? You don't want to come with me?" She said, noticing how quick he was to remain outside. "I thought you said you grew up on a farm. Don't you want to relive those memories?" And she smirked at Jude as she very slowly was approaching the chicken coop.
Jude gave her a clever smirk for he knew she would use that against him. "Fine," he sighed. "I'll show you which eggs are good to eat and which have a chick in them. Wouldn't want to be eating any babies now."
Jinai almost tripped over her own two feet at the mention of babies,but only silently nodded in reply, her smile following was forced before the sight of the chicken coop actually turned that grin, real.
"So I suppose we're going to eat eggs over chicken? I suppose that would do- and would be less suspicious than one of the hens missing."
And she planted her hands to her hips as her green eyes took in the array of clucking hens. They were mostly sleeping, but a few were 'buck-buck-clucking', which sounded like soft cooes in the night. She smirked and swiped at a few white feathers that had fallen towards her facea nd gestured towards the simple latch upon the cages.
"Seems likea nice chicken coop. Each hen has her own space." She knew her chicken coop back at her own parents farm was much less nice, and probably not anywhere as clean as this one.
"Alright, farm boy, work your magic."
"Eggs are easier to eat than whole chickens and a whole less messy. I don't have the tools or the patience to do so either," Jude whsipered as he ascended the area of the cages. The hens were pleasantly asleep and the soft cooing was almost soothing. No doubt the bird would awaken at the opening of the small cage. But Jude's hands were careful and gentle and the bird only partly stirred when Jude reached in and pet the creature for a few moments before coaxing an egg out from underneath the hens. He held them up to the dim lighting to see through the shell and if there was a solid body inside them. "When it looks darker," he showed Jinai, " then there's a higher chance of a chick inside and we don't want those. These four eggs are okay. I think we can leave her alone for now. Here let me show you how to do it."
He guided Jinai on the next cage, his hand over hers and pet the hen for a moment before allowing her to feel underneath. "Just as gently as you can," Jude instructed, "A heavy hand is a scary one and we don't want that." So he helped her pull out a couple of eggs and proceeded to check them. "Just like I showed you."
Jinai, never a fan of chickens, cringed a little when Jude wanted to show her the ropes. She knew enough about chickens, but didn't say anything until she was staring up at an egg to see if it was ok.
"I know some about farms, believe it or not. We lived on my mother's, though it was ill kept."
"My mother would have beat me with a dishrag if I ever let the chicken coops get filthy and stay that way. Same with the rest of the farm," Jude smiled at Jinai. "That eggs look okay. I think we have enough to eat. Come on, lets let them get some sleep." He smiled at her and climbed down toward the bottom level of the barn and helped her down as well. "I don't imagine you liked farm life very much, then, am I right?"
Once she had finished climbing down the ladder, she shrugged.
"I had four older brothers who were lazy shits. My father was rarely around, as he did tradeswork, though we always seemed poor. My mother could never keep us in line, it's probably why she went to an early grave."
Jude sat down in the corner and his visage grew somber. "My father wasn't around. My mother told me he was a soldier who died in battle, but I knew better. I knew he walked out on her. That's why I had to help out more, that and because the farm was a little too big for her run by herself. So I pushed the plough, and fixed the wagon, and fed the pigs, and cared for the chickens, and milked the cow. I'm surprised, I didn't leave that farm either... I guess I didn't have to."
Jinai, who had busied herself by wrapping up the eggs in some soft clothe, peered over at Jude when she was finally done securing a knot. "But you had to eventually. I mean, you couldn't have been a courtesan and a farmer."
"I didn't know I would have been. I just kind of happened. After my mother was killed, I was wandering through the cities a transient. I had little money, one set of clothes, one pair of ratted boots. It was by sheer chance that I just met the right person who introduced me to...everything." He gave a sheepish smile and took two of the eggs, gently cracking them before eating a raw yolk. He gagged a little but peered at Jinai. "It's better than horse treats."
Jinai raised a brow at him.
"Let's find a place away from here and cook these. Ever poach 'em in water? They're pretty good. Now come on." ANd she gestured for him to stand. "And as we walk you can tell me all about your first times for everything," she said with a grin. "It's probably more interesting than mine, in which I fucked pretty much every boy after learning I could, and my brothers were no help there. But I suppose at least most of their friends were somewhat decent looking, and I was a pretty horny in my youth, so I didn't mind so much. But thank god my mother taught me about herbs, or else I'd probably have about fifty brats by now."
"I think I'll just start with being thankful you didn't." Jude was done talking for the time being and just wanted to get out of there. So when the coast was clear, he made for the trees as fast as he could with one egg in hand and his batch underneath his arms.
JInai made a face as soon as Jude was running off, eggs in tow. So she rolled her eyes and followed afterwards, smiling, in spite of their situation as she cradled the eggs as best she could, only one or two breaking along her run. Those of which she let slop onto the ground as she wrinkled her nose and wiped off the sack they had once been resting in, then set the rest down against a tree.
"Let's find some dry wood and make the fire as small and far from the wagon as possible. We don't need to set the entire woods ablaze." And as she began to work at procuring the dry wood, she peered over at Jude.
"So why the cold shoulder all of a sudden? Or are you still upset you don't have a servant to wait on you. No one ever said this journey would be easy."
And did she need to remind him that he blindly followed?
Jude looked up at Jinai with a quisitive look. "I'm sorry?" he asked. "I've never had servants wait on me. I thought you knew that by now?" He laughed and scoffed as he took a look around for twigs of his own and set them in the pile. "I don't suppose you know how to start this thing do you?"
Jinai rolled her eyes and pulled a few things from her pocket.
"A girl is always prepared." And after she started the fire, she smirked over at Jude.
"Too bad we don't have a pot. Can't carry one inside of these," she said, patting her cleavage some before she took a seat on the ground. "We could just set the eggs in the fire and let them cook iside the shell without the water I guess, but we'd risk cracking them. THough I suppose if we used living vegetation, we could make some sort of egg-grate that can hold the eggs we got over the fir and let the heat slowly cook 'em."
"I think I can come up with something. Go on and start the fire." Jude got up and started searching for twigs that were still quite moist to prevent them from burning and took some leaves and grass to turn into makeshift twine to bind them together. "This ought to do it," he said when he was finished making a netting of sorts to hold the eggs over the heat. " We can use stones to hold them. Stack them cairn-like."
While Jude set to work making his little egg cooker net thing of twigs, Jinai got herself comfortable and leaned back against a tree, so once Jude was done, she grinned at him and gestured towards the thing he made.
"I suppose you're going to cook those eggs then, too? After all, seems you've got this all under control now, farm boy."
Jude raised a brow to her, then simply shrugged. "If you wanna eat, you gotta be resourceful, right? You're resourceful up the wazoo. I guess you can take the boy out of the farm, but not the farm out of the boy," he chuckled and cooked his eggs, feeling starved.
Jinai only grinned.
"At least it shouldn't take long for the eggs to cook. And once they do, we should eat them and leave. I'd hate to be stuck anywhere near here come morning when the farmer finds out we've swiped a couple of eggs."
"I don't think he'll mind so much. He had at least twelve chickens to look after. We swiped about eight eggs from two of them. He'll have plenty to sell and eat for himself. And if he does. Who cares?" Jude remarked and he tested the eggs. When they were ready he carefully wrapped one in a leaf and gingerly rolled the shell until it was cracked enough to peel off. "I'm just grateful to find food at all."
Jinai yawned but agreed, finding herself cracking and peeling her egg shells with less skill than Jude, for she was plucking away at egg shells for a few minutes before they were all off, but even still, she seemed not to mind as she quietly ate her soft cooked egg and peered out into the farm fields at night.
"It does kind of seem like home. My parents farm was about this large, though most of our crops rotted out. I'm surprised my mother was able to feed us all."
"Maybe she was too busy fucking and not enough time learning how to grow crops properly," Jude smiled at her and shrugged. "But, it's all passed. I don't ever want to live on a farm again. I know I own one, but I don't go there often, as you know. I like my house in the city. I like being close to life, activity, the city lights. Sometimes I just like to sit on my balcony and enjoy a glass of wine, a cigar and listen to the sounds of the market as it's closing, people walking come, carriages passing underneath me in the evening and in the early morning. It brings me a sense of peace, I suppose... I like it."
Jinai never really thought of things that way as she nodded. She supposed there were times in her life like that, but she couldn't think of one of them, but remained quiet to listen to the chirping of crickets and the call of night birds before eating another egg.
"She probably was. There were 6 of us, after all," Jinai replied with a shrug, and after all the egg shell pieces were finally peeled away, she dug her teeth into it before popping the second half into her mouth.
Jude was finished with two well cooked eggs and took a swig of water from the skin and washed his mouth out of the awful tastes that lingered. He peered at Jinai with a knowing look and simply grinned at her. "You have twigs in your hair by the way," he commented idly before putting the eggs away.
Jinai just shrugged.
"I've had worse."
OOC: Shortest post EVER lol
*sleepies*
Jude's smile only grew and he idly walked by her, and dropped a few pieces of grass and leaves into her hair. "You seem to be growing a bird's nest. At least it's a place for Feather'swing to sleep for the night," he chuckled, walking passed her toward the wagon.
As Jude walked away from her, she shook out the 'nest' plucked up one of the eggs she hadn't eaten, and threw it at his butt. ANd when it cracked and splattered, she slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle back her bark of a laugh.
The egg broke on contact, from the rock of muscle that was his ass, and Jude was fuming when he saw the mess. "Damn you woman! Don't waste food," he growled, genuinely upset. He moved back to the wagon and removed his shoes and took off his trousers to clean off the back of his pants.
Jinai's grin widened at his anger as she got to her feet and brushed the 'bird's nest' out of her hair.
"Relax, its not like I coukdnt steal and cook you some more if.you wanted it that badly." And she produced a kerchief from her bosom.
"Here, use this."
"Yeah well, I don't know why I would expect anything less from you," he said to himself mostly. He snatched the kerchief from her. With it and some water, he did as best he could until it was clean enough.
Jinai rolled her eyes. "Let me know whenever you're ready, so we can get the hell out of here. We don't have a lot of time to get to the coast, and I doubt it needs to be said how unsafe our stolen cargo is..."
"Yeah, yeah! I get the gravity of our circumstances," Jude replied bluntly before he was able to put his pants and boots on once more. He didn't have any more patience for dinner and climbed on the buckboard, taking the reins in hand.
Climbing up beside him,s he put out her hand in offering, "Shall I steer? Seems you're still a bit rattled from the egg on your butt."
"I got it," Jude replied with a sigh. He didn't know what he hated more, life on the road or having to wait for days on end before finding some real food. The offroad path was bumpy and poorly kept and it wasn't long into the ride that his back began to sorely hurt. He didn't complain though and kept steering on. "Where do you reckon we are?" he asked.
"We're probably near the border of Falkenrath and Allar," she said, eyes on the road. "And this port is on the very southern tip of Allar, almost between two duchies and from what I've heard, it's very active. If we're lucky, we can be there in two days."
Jude laughed at her last words. "If we're lucky?" he murmured. "As if we're ever that lucky. But let's just hope we're making great timing. From certain resources, I hear there are military outposts somewhere ahead. We'll have to tread lightly."
Jinai looked Jude over.
"So what else did you resources say? If we know there's military ahead, perhaps we should take another path?"
"Do you realize how difficult it will be to maneuver this huge wagon through woodland territory? But...maybe not all is lost. Perhaps we can skirt around them if your bird does a little scouting ahead," Jude suggested.
Jinai grinned.
"Of course, what do you think she's for?" And she gave a soft whistle nad put her arm out, and a few moments later, the bird was on her arm and peering back at the two of them as it caught it's breath. Jinai still grinned as she stroked her feathers. "So which direction do you think?"
Jude slowed the wagon as he considered the direction where they might be. "There," he said after a while. "The thick foliage might make a decent place for them to hide and we'll hang back for a moment."
Jinai nodded and made a few hand gestures that her bird watched with glossy eyes. Then, after prompting her to take flight, she just hoped a bird flying at this hour wouldn't be noticed, but Feather'swing was a smart one. Somehow, she knew how to be discrete. When she returned, she gave Jinai's hand a light peck, then four more as Jinai frowned.
"Shit. There's at least four encampments in this area."
"Fuck," Jude cursed and peered at the brid intently. "Are they right ahead of us? East? Or west?"
"From the looks of where she was flying over, I'd say everywhere but south. But I can send her that way... only thing if that path is clear, we'll have to pass by the farm house we just stole eggs from."
"Shit... Then we need something else... A distraction maybe to draw all the camps in one direction, or maybe a disguise to help us weave between them. I can only imagine how conspicuous a whole wagon of blackpowder would be to them.
Yes, a distraction made sense, and since it was still night time, they had the advantage of darkness on their side.
"I suppose we could use a little of the powder... make an explosion towards the north of here, then curt tail it south as fast as we can. It would probably take some time for them to figure out what caused it or... we could just start a forest fire. It would be enough of a distraction and hopefully they won't suspect the source."
The farmer lingered on Jude's mind for the longest time and he peered at Jinai with a skeptical glare. "That might work, but it only allows for a small window of opportunity And this wagon can only travel so fast in this rough terrain." He peered south behind them and gestured back to the farm. "I have an idea. Let's go back. Disguise ourselves as farmers, with a load of crops to trade up north. That'll let us pass right through them...that is if they don't raid our stores too much!"
Jinai shook her head.
"That won't work. They still might check the cargo- then how do we explain ourselves?"
Frowning over the idea, she stared back towards the farm. "I'm not sure we have much of a choice. It seems the risky way might be the only way, though this might be easier if we had more men to create a diversion."
"They might, and they might not...We can give them liquor...lots of it and they'll be too drunk to notice anything. I saw some unusual cases in the barn and it did stink like a drunk man had been in there," Jude added though even he had his doubts.
"I doubt we'd have enough alcohol to bribe that many men. I'd rather avoid them all together. Besdies, do you know how long it'd take us to disguise all of this powder? There's barely any room back there as is. If anything, I still say our best bet is creating a diversion, and considering we have a lot to supply us with creating a fire, that's our most solid option. So the road might be a bit bumpy, it's a way better option than confronting soldiers face to face. ANd if they do find us? We could blow up the cart and high tail it out of there, though it seems no matter the route we run some kind of risk. I'm just not partial to direction confrontations if we can avoid it."
"Fine," Jude shook his head. "We take a small amount of powder and ignite it. But I'll be doing the ignition! I don't want you getting hurt!"
"What?A nd risk you losing some of that pretty blonde hair of yours? Besides, what do you know about black powder anyways?" Jinai said, giving him a once over. "I've done more of these sorts of things probably longer than you've been courting all the nobles in Connlaoth. I'm pretty sure lighting the fire would be safer in my hands. Besides, I'm not afraid to get hurt."
Jude stopped the cart completely and turned to look at Jinai with hard, wide eyes. He took the matter more than seriously and he suddenly grabbed Jinai by the shoulder and kissed her, tilting his head and kissing her passionately. He pulled back with a string of saliva hanging between them and soon it was followed by a nod. "I know," he replied. "That's what I'm afraid of."
Jinai, half dazed by the sudden kiss, was suddenly wrinkling her nose a minute later to wipe off the slobber.
"Well you could have put it into a nicer kiss," she said, shaking her head. "And I'd be more afraid of you not knowing what you'd be doing, so of course I'd have to be the one to do it. Besides, it not like we'd be separated for long. We don't have much hours left of twilight, and once the fire goes up, we have to book it the hell out of here."
Jude shook his head and laughed at her, smacking the reins and jumping in the seat as the made for a fork in the road.
"Don't you shake your head at me, Jude," she glared. "I'm serious. I'll knock you out before you try lighting up the forest. You know I'm the better option. It's not like we're fucking nobles here. We're playing with fire, real fire."
"What are you getting so worked up about!?" he grumbled, laughing a little. "I'm not gonna do it! I get the point!" He laughed and smiled.
Jinai glared at him.
"Well how am I supposed to know that!? You were crazy enough to follow me out here! I just don't need you trying to play hero. You think I need someone I care about killed again?" And at the memory, she felt a sharpness to her eyes but looked away. No, she wasn't going to cry. It was just the damn winds.
Jude peered at her and put a free arm around her shoulders. "I'll leave the explosives to the explosives expert. Okay? I won't put myself in danger if I can help it... But dammit Jinai, I do worry about you. That's what love is. When you worry so much about someone you care about it makes you roll over night after night in misery. Well almost."
"You're not in misery, unless you're worrying about when the next time it is we can fuck." And she jut out her chin at that statement, obvious a tease, even if she put some meanness in her tone.
"Oh, shut that pretty little mouth of ours," Jude growled with a playful smirk on his lips, and he leaned his face out and pecked her lightly on the lips. "You would make me out to seem so superficial but you know I care about you. You don't know how to deal with people to whom you really matter, and it makes you defensive."
"Whatever, farm boy," she said with a smirk. It was kind of fun getting him upset. She didn't know why. Maybe it made the sex better. "And I doubt that little kiss would make me shut up anyway." ANd she moved to pull away from him. "But come on. We've got little time to waste. If we're going to do this we should start that fire now."
Jude put his tongue between his lips and spat raspberries at her, and smashed the slobber all against her cheek as he smacked the reins once more. The horse was clearly sick of all the stop and go but didn't complain as he rolled down the path.
"Ewww.. JUDE!" she hissed, wiping at her cheek. "Stop slobbering on me or I'll start thinking you're part dog!"
"We certainly do hump like them, so you aren't completely wrong," he snapped and soon they found themselves off the beaten path.
And as they moved forward, Jinai nudged Jude in the rib cage. "Just keep steering, I'll tell you once I think a location is good, but move us more north, remember? We want to put as much distance between us and the distraction as possible."
Jude did as instructed and moved faster through the brush, the black powder in tow as he steered between trees and bushes and tried to make their tracks as inconspicuous as possible.
"Alright, this should be good enough," Jinai said, gesturing for him in silence before she leaped off the buck board. "Move slowly, keep heading south. I'll meet you on the other side of the farm, you know where that clusters of rocks were? But don't wait too long," she told him, pausing to catch his gaze just once. "If you see smoke for too long after I start the fire, then don't wait for me. We can rendez-vous elsewhere if shit gets too deep. Now help me open one of these barrels. I shouldn't need too much black powder. We can put some in burlap sack, just one of these hsould do,"s he said, yanking one off the side of the cart. "But we only have to fill it up a quarter full."
She gestured towards a cropping of trees. "The way the wind is going, those trees will have the smoke blow towards the camps. There'll be no way they can avoid it- and the flames will soon follow." Turning to Jude, she then asked him simply,
"Are you ready?" And she whistled to her falcon, who hopped over onto Jude's shoulder after Jinai gestured for her to do so. "Keep Feather'swing with you. Two whistles will have her look for me if you need to. But be careful. Id on't need the soldiers shooting her down."
She almost lost her once because of that. Damn gimpy legged bounty hunter.
Once Jude had stopped the carriage, his heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. "I'm ready and I just hope to Ansgar that I got everything you said," he replied as he leaped down from the buckboard and moved toward the closest barrel in the back. He carefully plucked it from the back and pried off the top with a great deal of effort but once it was off, he stared at the black powder with wide eyes.
"I-I didn't realize there would be so much," he huffed before taking the bag she had and filling it with powder until it was a quarter full as she directed and then sealed the barrel up as best he could, covering it up with the tarp that cloaked the rest of them. "Here! Be careful! Come on bird! Let's make some ground."
And Jude hopped back up on the buckboard and slapped the reins on the horses ass, moving south once more.
Once Jude was out of sight, Jinai released her held breath and turned back towards the copes of trees. She just hoped this could work. The last thing they needed was to be hung for treason- or you know, slaughtered by a group of soldiers before they even make it to port.
Taking the bag, she dragged it over to the furthest tree and began to make a trail. Finding the driest and youngest looking trees, and also some ones that would burn the easiest (as she found a few decaying ones that she managed to stuff the powder into some rotting holes), she emptied the rest of the bag out and peered out into the shadows, then after calculating her path f escape, she retested the path of the wind before lighting up.
The smoke came first, like a dark fog in the night, before the laps of orange flames crackled towards the skies. Before JInai appeared at the rendez-vous point, the horns from the camps could be heard and the men- rallying to it's location.
Jinai, making quick work through the forest, took off across the farm land and headed directly towards the rocks. She knew it was dangerous to expose herself to such an open field, but she remained close to the shadows and the buildings before noting the wagon awaiting her.
Checking the moon, she grinned. They were making good time.
Slinking up behind the cart, she leaped onto the buckboard again beside Jude and commanded him, "Move! Move! Move!" It was time to get this baby to fly!
Jude had reached the southern part of the farm far sooner than expected and he was starting to worry about missing Jinai, that she already came this way and he wasn't there. But the sound of horns and men's shouting carrying on the wind assured him that he was just on time. His heart beat in exhilaration, anxiety. Nothing was worse than the waiting.
And when at last she came, moments before he was about to leave, he jumped in in surprise. "Gods, woman!" he growled at her but smacked the reins and they were off once more. Jude had allowed the horse to rest some so when they were down the path, they moved much more quickly and much to Jude's relief.
"What's wrong, Jude? You look like you've seen a ghost!" she teased, knowing very well he was a ball of nerves as she elbowed him and took her bird, who was also a bit ruffled from Jude's outburst. She rubbed her breast feathers to keep her calm and leaned in towards Jude before peering over towards the smoke.
"That ought to keep them preoccupied for a good while, " she said, grinning and moving to lean back in the buck board, getting as comfortable as she could as her bird moved up to settle upon her shoulder from her arm.
Jude didn't have much confidence to say the least on how well this would work, but he supposed it was better than his plans. Already they were nearing the camps, moving as fast as they could once the coast was clear and when then they were well passed them, only then did he unleash a sigh of relief. "Gods, I only hope I'm in good health. I don't need to die of a heart attack so early in life."
"You just need to relax, but we're not in the clear yet. I'm not about to stop holding my breath until morning." And after a moment, she paused to think of it. "Think we might make it to the coast in the next day or so? I'm getting anxious myself. ANd we've got pretty deadly cargo..."
Jude took a breath. "I'm sorry. I'm trying to relax. But I haven't had any sleep in 24 hours. My back hurts, I'm cold, and hungry again. I'm sorry, I'll keep myself under control from now on." He sighed and kept going.
Jinai simply leaned into him.
"That's more like it," she said, then after a time, even she surprised herself as she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "When we're out of danger, perhaps we can rest. I think we're making good time. Though I don't think staying in town will be wise. Perhaps once we get to the coast we'll have to, but we'll need to think up a plan on what to do with the cargo."
Jude gave a laugh and smiled at her. "So just how do you plan on using all that black powder, did you think of any kind of plan when we make it to port?"
Jinai went silent.
"Ok, don't laugh, but I know a few whores.." she began.
After a few minutes, Jude's expression went from surprised to astonished and his grin only grew. Each detail was like a bite out of a juicy steak and in the end Jude peered at Jinai with a quirked brow. "You little fiend. If you're not careful, I may just have to sleep with you when we reach town," Jude smirked at her.
Jinai nudged him away.
"You know I'm being serious. This port city... well, the whore house is one of the few places that helps with the underground mage resistance. No one would dare think an entire house full of fucking ladies would hold about 20 or 30 people beneath it's floor boards in the basement. I know of one of the girl's that works there and well... I'm pretty sure if they hear of our plan, cause I only sent them something briefly, they'll help us hide the cargo and possibly unload it. The only problem is what to do with all of the other cargo once the shops are destroyed. The whore house can't fit those many people under it."
Jude's expression grew grim. "I know, I know. But...well, I suppose them not having ships at all would be enough to send them packing... But perhaps we need just enough to cause a distraction, enough chaos in the city to let things run amok, and perhaps the cargo can escape in the midst of it. Run to the hills or wherever might be a haven for them."
"That's true, but what I'm worried about are the city guards and any soldiers located nearby. We don't have time to scout the area. If there were a way to discreetly get the cargo hidden..." she frowned and thought it over, growing pensive as her bird adjusted it's weight upon her shoulder.
Jude thought the matter over for a good long moment. "These munitions have stamps on them don't they, stamps to show they belong to the army? I'm sure the dockmaster will find a place for them. And what better way to hide them, than in plain sight? His name is Silas Muul. And he looks like his namesake, a mule. He's a friend of a friend, but he would probably be willing to help us out."
Jinai's eyes shot to Jude's.
"Are you shitting me?" She shook her head. "How do you know he can be trusted. A lot of lives are at stake here."
"Now it's you're turn to relax," Jude commented. "Trust me, he's lost plenty in the war, his wife and son among them. He doesn't have any love for the Grand Duke."
"I just-" Jinai began, but then closed her lips and smiled. Shaking her head at him, she forced her eyes forward. "And here I didn't think you could help plan a treasonous scheme against the government." And her lips twitched at that. "Except, you know, to willingly sleep with the enemy." And at that comment,s he tried t tuck back a smile, but it was evidently there. After all, it dimpled her cheeks.
"Have ye so little faith in me?" Jude peered across to Jinai. "I told you when we first met we weren't so different. Of course, in a lot of ways we are, but in many more we're the same. We both have friends in useful places. And we both get around. And we both know how to look out for ourselves... All we had was ourselves until we met... Not to get sentimental on you or anything, but I just hope you see my point." He gave a haughty smirk and looked straight out toward the road.
"Pfft, whatever you say, Jude." she said.with a playful.nudge and kept her gaze to the road.
"Hmph!" he breathed and kept on steering. Jude was feeling sleepy, but his adrenaline had kept him awake for the important duration of leaving the camps behind. Soon, however, his eyes were drooping and felt like he was going to fall over.
Jinai could have fallen asleep herself, but after a time, she noted Jude was dozing. With a smirk, she let him drift off to sleep as she tugged he reins from his hand and continued steering. They had had a long day. Might as well let the 'man for hire rest'. Giving a snap to the reins, she let the horse pick up the pace and soon they were making good timing through the forest. and as he slept, she eventually took a break, scouting the areas for some berries, and then returned to the wagon and continued on her way. She had gotten a small bag full of strawberries, and had them sitting beside her as she snacked on them and guided the horse down an unmarked trail.
Jude had slumped backwards and eventually curled up beside Jinai on the buckboard, with his back on the seat and his legs hanging off the side of it. He dreamt he was at the shore of a beautiful lake, ready to take a swim, drifting along the surface of the water, at peace, relaxed. Certainly anywhere else away from the cold hard road.
As Jinai let Jude sleep, she was eating strawberries and letting the green tops collect on Jude's sleeping chest. Might as well let the man keep dozing. His snores and drool were amusing, after all. And she had a feeling, by the way he was lying, he'd be pretty sore when he did get up. Ands he wanted to be awake to hear those complaints.
Jude was half-asleep when he felt those green tops collecting on his chest. He twitched and felt another plop on there. As he continued to sleep, he sleepily reached down and began throwing them back at Jinai's face, flicking them at her while still asleep.
Peering over at Jude and thinking he was awake, she cast a glare his way to see he was still 'pretending' to be asleep. So she ate half a strawberry, then shoved the rest of it up one of his nostrils.
"Rise and shine, princess. I got us strawberries."
Jude took the handful of greens and chucked them at her head. "They smell delicious," Jude replied, sitting up and stretching, his back cracking in just the right places. He plucked it out of his nose and ate it anyway and took a few of his own. "They're pretty good. Where did you get 'em?"
"Ewwww, did you just eat the one in your nose!?" she asked, appalled. She felt sick and couldn't eat any more, and offered the bag to rest in his lap. " Here, the rest are all yours. Enjoy."
"If you didn't want me to eat it, you shouldn't have stuck it there! Don't tease a hungry man," Jude growled playfully and threw his scrap greens at her face. He laughed and scooted in beside her. "You know this is the longest we've ever gone without sex. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying. I think it's quite funny actually."
"That's what you think. I had sex with you while you were sleeping."
"No you didn't," Jude nudged her. "Don't you think I would have awakened to the sounds of your screams? You're incapable of being silent. Not to mention that would be incredibly selfish of you!"
"How would you know? You were snoring incredibly loud. Besides, I think it's you who can't keep quiet. But don't worry. I didn't have sex with you. It wouldn't get up in your sleep anyways," she added with a smirk, eyes still on the road.
Jude made a face at her, taking the bait. "Oh yes it can! I am a MAN! " he huffed and ate the strawberries irritably.
At his retort, Jinai only laughed, and laughed loudly.
"Oh, yeah, we've already established that!" and she smirked, keeping her eyes to the road and gave a like flick to the reins.
"Damn you," Jude smirked, with nothing short of amusement on his own lips. He kissed her cheek and continued to eat the rest of the strawberries.
"Sorry I couldn't get any more strawberries. I'm sure you probably wanted some so we could have some fun, but we'll probably have to just deal with normal, boring old sex beneath the trees." Still grinning, she peered over at Jude. "So are you still hungry? If so, I'm sure you could eat the bag," she teased.
Jude laughed and cleaned up the rest of the green stems back into the bag. "I think I'll be okay for now. However, I do have to take a leak," Jude winked at her and motioned her to stop the carriage for a moment before getting off and wandering a little further into the trees and taking care of nature.
Jinai rolled her eyes and stopped the cart. She might as well take a break herself, and when he took are of nature, she did as well. Though as she was in the forest, something interesting caught her attention as she noticed some boot tracks decidedly not theirs, and there was a lot of them.
Soldier tracks..
had themen come this way?
Returning to the cart, she directed Feather'swing to take flight. It was better to check and be safe rather than sorry.
When Jinai would return to her cart, Jude would already be seated and he looked at her anxiously, motioning her to get in. "Jinai," he whispered. "I saw something in the forest. It looked like a man with twigs in his hair, he was just watching me. nnot a soldier, but he just knelt, crouched in some bushes. If you look carefully to my right, You can see him plain as day."
"What?" Jinai made a face and turned around, furrowing her brow at the man. "Oh, you're right. I do see him." She tried not to laugh. "I wonder what the hell he is doing, because if he's scouting, he's doing a horrible job of it."
"Then, it's more than obvious, he wants to be seen," Jude remarked. He knew in this kind of wilderness it was easy to blend in if you had the right equipment. The man had leaves and branches sticking out of his hair and dirt covering his face, but he was still visible plain as day. Jude didn't like the look of this. "Maybe we just shouldn't stick around," he said plainly and reached for the reins.
As they moved back down the path, trying to make good time, leaving the 'scout' behind, Jude had an irrevocable sense of being followed. And when they turned the corner in the path, Jude pulled the wagon to a halt to find the man standing in front of them, this time with a bow in his hand, though it wasn't yet taut.
"Halt!" he called out and Jude could see from the corners of his vision that he was not alone. "What are you doing in our territory!? Don't you know there's a war going on? Come with us before your captured by the real enemy. That isn't a question, it's an order. Move."
[I'm thinking the guy and his people are apart of one of the guerrilla mage groups, maybe they can help them out, give them food, water, or help them pass through enemy lines or whatever. Random thought is random, I know.]
Jinai stared at the man. Unfortunately for him (or perhaps, fortunately so) she didn't know who he was, though she knew with the onset of war, there were a lot of guerrilla groups wondering the forests, she was just surprised she hadn't really encountered any others until now. Quirking a brow, she squared off her shoulders.
"And if we refuse?" she asked, seeming unphased the man had a weapon pointed at her. "And whose to say we aren't enemies? Are you so foolish to trust anyone on this trail not in armor?" And when the man raised the arrow at Jinai, she only smirked in response.
The man gestured to another, and as he moved around back, he inspected their wares and swore.
"By the Gods, they're packing black powder!"
Jinai, pissed she didn't notice the man get closer, swore beneath her breath and that's when the arrow was pointed more threateningly at the pair.
"So.. how about the two of you come iwht me? We can figure this out after we tie the both of them up for interrogation. Now come on, back away from the cart before I put this arrow through your head." And Jinai only stared at him. Yeah.. this man meant business. Shit.
Jude put an arm out in front of Jinai and shoved her body behind his back. "We'll go with you. But I'll tell you now that your interrogation will tell you nothing that we won't already tell you to begin with. Lead the way, sirrah, we'll follow right behind you." He turned back to Jinai and mentally cursed her for her defiance, but knew she just couldn't help it.
"Come on," he muttered and jumped off the buckboard of the wagon, helping Jinai down and standing beside her. He moved toward the man and held out his hand. The man grimaced at the pair and gestured them into the roadside brush.
Jinai glared at the back of Jude's head. What was he doing? Was he crazy to stand in front of her?
Though she supposed it didn't matter, and when he helped her down, she gave him a look before moving away.
"Be careful with that cargo!" she barked. "We've been discrete with it so far. Don't do anything clumsy to knock it over and blow us all up."
And the leader, the one wiht the twigs all in his hair, couldn't help but smirk at her sassyness, glancing over at Jude as if to inquire more before his eyes hardened back to his men.
"You heard the lady," he laughed. "Careful of the cargo and let's get these two to camp for questioning!"
The path of course, was not an easy one and Jude stumbled here and there and felt the prod of the arrowhead on his back when he did so. "Walk straight!" the leader growled. Jude obeyed and peered at Jinai who didn't seem to be too happy with him at the moment. After a few minutes they were within the renegade camp and Jude stepped forth between the tents and makeshift homes.
Men and women not in lieu of them lingered around camp pounding at heated metal, or tending to the wounded, or looking over maps of the immediate area. They did not seem to notice their presence when the leader ordered both of them inside one of the tents.
He eyed the pair of them and moved behind a small table that served as a desk and set his bow and arrow on it. "Name's Asher Reming. You can start by telling me who you are and what you're doing in my forest," he commanded, appearing grim.
Jude gave a passing glance to Jinai before nodding to the man. "I'm Jude," was all he felt he could say in that moment.
Jinai stumbled in along wtih Jude in silence, keeping Feather'sWing close at hand while her eyes surveyed the camp. Though while Jude gave his name, Jinai was being ignorant and Asher cleared his throat.
"And the lady's name?"
And even as he asked, JInai still ignored him, eyes searching for some means to escape- just incase this situation got ugly. Shit. It seemed their forces stretched pretty far into the forest. Damn.
Jude cats his eyes Jinai's way and when she chose not to give her name, or even an alias, Jude nodded to the man as he said. "Jinai. Rinstgate."
At Jude's reply, she spun around and hit him, hissing, "Idiot!" beneath her breath, but seeing how the man reacted, she assumed he probably didn't know her.
"Jude and Jinai- what are you two, brother and sister?"
Jinai, taken back by such a suggestion, growled suddenly there after, "No."
"Cousins then? Either way, I need the pair of you to sit-a nd I hope that bird on your shoulder is trained well. If I see the bird fly out from camp, we'll shoot her down- no questions asked."
Jude's expression was hard, looking at Jinai sternly to cooperate or else. But he knew in heart she'd be hard-pressed to do so. So he answered for them and nodded to Asher before taking a seat on the bench just by the door and forced Jinai to sit beside him, putting an arm around her waist to keep her still.
"What do you want with us," Jude asked. Asher's frown turned wry and he gave a sigh.
"I could ask you why you're wandering around my forest with six kegs of black powder but that question is too obvious. Instead I'll ask you where you're headed. So spill. I don't have all day."
Jinai, not liking at all being restrained by Jude, glared defiantly back at the man before muttering, "None of your fucking business." But by the looks she was getting from him, she glared over at Jude before the man suddenly back handed her and she was left on the ground, seeing stars.
"Tie up the girl. We'll question the man. And cage the bird."
Jinai barely had time to wipe any blood running down her nose as a group of men was upon her and fighting to get her hands behind her back. Once she was tied up, she gave Jude a nasty glare before she was dragged off. And her poor bird, she had to watch in horror as it was being wrangled and tossed into an empty chicken coop. It was while Jinai was being dragged off that Asher looked towards Jude.
"So, let's try this again.. where are the pair of you headed?"
OOC: I had to look back to see what the port city was called >_>
You called it Breakpoint
but then I typed up THIS response and yeah...
Jinai's so stubborn.
bt they've come so far D8 she doesn't want to ruin her plans!
Jude expected her defiance, but he had not expected her to be lashed out at. And after Asher had struck her it took every ounce of strength not to lunge at the bastard and pound him into oblivion. Instead Jude just clenched his fists, knowing it wouldn't do either of them any good to be hogtied and captured.
"Breakpoint," Jude said plainly, relaxing his hand and meeting Asher eye to eye. "The port city. We're a few days away and we were making great time until well, y'know." He clenched his jaw and grew grim.
"Breakpoint? So aiming to smuggle out the goods, eh?" The man seemed somewhat relieved, but gave a more scrutinizing look over of Jude.
"Though if you're looking to sell the goods, I'm sure we might be able to make you an offer, so long as you realize, once we let you go, this never happened."
"Don't you dare do it, JUDE!" Jinai roared. Somehow she was able to hear them all the way from across camp, even bound up inside the tent. And the men were thinking about a gag at this point, too. "AND STOP TELLING THEM ALL OF OUR PLANS!" Boy was she ever pisseda nd wriggled fiercely beneath the ropes that it began to rub and burn at her skin.
Jude's eyes narrowed, hating this man but knowing that perhaps it was better to make friends than enemies with these sorts of people. His eyes were unamused and he gave a sigh. "We have proof of a shipment of mages being taken to Breakpoint to be taken and sold into slavery to several ships coming in to port. The kegs are meant to blow them to smithereens if you catch my meaning, before the mages can be loaded for transport. We're running out of time. And if you continue to hold us, a severe blow to your cause will be made if we're too late. I've heard of the guerrilla camps riddled all over the wilderness, trying to fight the soldiers. That is our plan. Now are you going to let us go or kill us? Make your decision now becauseif not than you're wasting precious time."
Asher rubbed his brow thoughtfully at what Jude had to say. And despite being so far away, Jinai was fuming made.
"I'm going to punch you in the face, JUDE!" came her voice, and Asher turned in her direction as he quirked a brow. "Then I'm going to kick you in the balls!" Looking back to Jude, he shook his head.
"Ex-lover of yours?" Asher presumed. "And that's an interesting theory, but just how the hell do you think you can sneak aboard a series of ships and just blow them up?" He was intrigued by this idea but really... it seemed rather far fetched. "And it'll just be... the pair of you... handling this?" Yeah.. he was starting to think this was a load of bull-shit.
"That's for us to worry about not yours," Jude replied plainly. "It's true no matter what you think. Do you honestly believe that Jinai would be this upset if I were telling you a bunch of hodgepodge!?" Jude began to laugh and shook his head. "It's a big endeavor I know. But we have our plans in place when we arrive. We obviously don't plan to kill a bunch of sailors, so we plan to distract them with lots of beer and lots of women. If that helps answer your questions."
"Yes, but not the one.." and his eyes lingered over towards the tent where Jinai's curses could be heard coming from- promising death. That was, until finally someone had the sense to gag her. Turning back to Jude, he quirked a brow.
"She your wife or something?"
Jude's frown deepened at the question. And also at Jinai's silence. "Almost I guess," he replied with a wry expression. "But just be lucky I have to deal with her and not you."
"Ah.." the man nodded, looking Jude over before he smirked. "So it seems you've got quite the plan. Clever, I dare say, though I must say i'm impressed if you're working on this alone. Do you honestly think it can work?"
Jude shrugged and shook his head. "We won't know until we try," he replied, looking at Asher with furrowed brows. "Now..will you let us go?"
"Not so fast," Asher was quick to put in. "We had terms to discuss. An agreement if you will."
"We won't tell anyone. Why would we? You know enough as it is."
"Yes, but one can not simply trust easily. So what are your plans after the ships are sunk? How will we know you won't just run off and give away our locale? No.. perhaps we ought to keep the girl here, or at least the bird, as a sort of compensation until your mission is complete. That way we can be certain you won't just sell us out to the army," Asher said bitterly. It seemed like that sort of thing may have happened before.
"I don't know, frankly. Jinai didn't tell me that much after the main task at hand. But I suppose we'll have to think on our feet afterward. You see, we still don't know what we'll do with the mages after the ships are sunk. Of course we'll have to set them free, but to keep them safe from guards and soldiers on hand to investigate the incident. We'll have to get them out of the city...but how I don't know."
Asher thought the situation over before flashing Jude a grin.
"I might have an idea. You don't seem to have the numbers to help herd the refugees to safety- but we do. Come on, let us talk with your girl to see what we can devise. I'd hate to ignore an obvious mage supporter group with a pair of balls when we have so many men who could be assisting. Come on." And he guided Jude back to the tent where Jinai was kept and as he did so, Jinai looked up at the pair of them, a gag in her mouth and her face, beet red from anger.
And suddenly she jerked forward against the ropes, screaming against the gag something nasty. It wasn't one of her more dignified moments, and she looked plain ugly as she strained like an animal. And at her antics, Asher sighed and gestured for the man beside her. "Undo her gag." ANd to Jinai he studied her anger glossed eyes.
"So we've come to an agreement. Seems we're goin to help you."
And once the gag was dropped, Jinai spat clean on the man's face.
"Fuck you!"
Jude crossed his arms over his chest (though frankly he felt they could probably be put to better use guarding his crotch), and rolled his eyes at Jinai's -currently - impotent rage. It wasn't anything new to him. He frowned at her and shook his head, hoping to reason with her. "They can help us with our quandary Jinai. They can provide the manpower to get the mages out of the city. It's certainly more than what we can do."
Jude felt his face grow red with minor shame, but he reasoned it away that any anger toward him would just have to be spent later and he gestured to Asher. "You should probably untie her. Don't worry. She's going to attack me first."
Asher hesitated before undoing the bindings. Though despite Jude's initial thought, she hit Asher first - a heavy kick to his shin and a punch to his face. The other man with him tried to subdue her but as predicted, he got a punch to the crotch and as he doubled over wheezing, a third man pulled out his gun.
"ENOUGH!"
Though it was Asher who stepped in after Jinai halted in her frantic attack. She glared over defiantly at the group before spitting at the gun, and glaring hatefully at Asher.
Jude knew if he didn't recieve the brunt of her wrath now he'd surely get some later. Knowing Jinai, she'd likely find other ways to punish him for his actions. But Jude oould just have to live with that.
"JINAI!" Jude roared, his turn to be red in the face. "These men can help us! They have resources we just don't at the moment. If you want to kick someone's ass, kick mine. But later. But for now if you had any sense of a mule, you'll listen."
Jinai turned her angered gaze onto Jude.
"And you believed them!?" she said, eyes wild, like an animals. "Who's to say they can do anything to help us except turn us in? The armies aren't even that far from here and-"
"The armies? You've seen them?" Asher interrupted, and Jinai gave him a glare.
"About a days ride from here, and there was more than one camp."
Asher swore. "Shit. Their numbers are growing."
"Fuck Angsar they are," she growled. "Now have you man lower his gun before I steal it and use it on your face!"
Asher, annoyed, waved his man off before he looked over towards Jude- hoping he'd restrain his girl if he had to.
"So the armies numbers are growing. The duchies must be encouraging sign ups." he shook his head as he paced. Jinai only watched him, as sourness twisting in the pit of her belly- and she felt sick.
"Jinai, I know we can't risk this mission. We're also running out of time and running out of options. If you can at least listen to him, to what he has to say. At least give it a chance," Jude impored Jinai. His eyes turned to Asher. "The soldiers were far off. East of here at least fifty miles at best. We used a little of the powder to divert them and now they're most likely on high alert because of it. It won't be safe for long for your camp to remain here. You said you could help us. Then rendevous back with us at Breakpoint to help escort the mages from the city!"
JInai's eyes shot angrily over to Jude.
"Give them a chance!?" she waltzed clean up to him and slammed a fist into his arm, hard.
"Just like you gave them a chance to tie me up? I didn't see you asking them to unbind me, Jude. And as far as I'm concerned, we're not going to risk this mission by bringing in them to help us! We're already running out of time!"
[LOL! Um, she DID in fact see him tell them to unbind her. He was right in front of her when he said so.]
Jude set his jaw and took the daggers that became her eyes. "Precisely. That is why we must not throw way this opportunity. We don't have time to waste. And standing here arguing is doing exactly that." It was his turn to become fuming mad and he turned on his heel walk out toward the camp. "Asher, you should probably begin assembling your forces, no doubt the soldiers are likely on the move now. Will you help us then at Breakpoint?"
Asher turned his eyes to Jinai and then to Jude and was taken aback by the resoluteness in his eyes. But he gave a nod to him and shook his hand. "You're damn right I will," he replied.
OOC: Lol we'll just assume she's mad because he tried but didn't THROW himself at the men and force them to unbind her, or something :T
yeah >_>
-------------
Jinai glared at the back of Jude's retreating form, and out of anger, grabbed a nearby rock and threw it at him, though it was a half assed attempt to hit his head as it ended up bouncing off his ass. She should have been amused by this, except in that moment, she was so angry that she turned away and got to her knees and puked.
Ignoring her, Asher stormed out of the tent and gestured for men to keep watch of the girl before he himself rushed off to begin the preparations.
Jude turned and watched Jinai grow sick. He frowned and rushed back toward her, putting an arm on her shoulder. "What good would it have done to fight them and put myself in chains too?" he said somberly. "You can take it out on me when it's more convenient. But now we should get back on the road after some food and water. Jinai...please understand. I only did what I thought was best."
Jinai, still hanging over her vomit, was breathing angrily before she lifted her gaze and peered at Jude through a veil of thick hair. And just as it seemed as if she might have something to say, a hand slapped over her mouth, then quickly was torn away as she vomited again to the ground.
When the second wave came, Jude instinctively stepped back and watched her with somber eyes. He moved away from her and tore off a sleeve of his worn shirt, a sleeve not covered in blood and offered it to her once the wave passed.
Still angered with him, she shoved the torn sleeve aside and shook her head before cautiously standing on shaky legs. It was only at the sight of the pair did Asher pause from where he stood near the tent's opening and turned around to observe them with a frown.
"Seems your friend has worked herself ill. Just get her to lay down and I'll rally up my men so we can formulate a proper plan."A nd with that, he left, his barking orders easily heard outside the tent's flaps.
It was Jude's turn to toss a glare in the back of Asher Reming's head and he gave a sigh before turning back to Jinai. Whether she wanted him too or not, Jude carefully scooped her up into his arms and moved out of the prisoner's tent before moving toward an empty one he found, and laid her on the bedroll.
"Here's some water," Jude said, smelling a canteen beside him and offering it to her. "Drink."
Jinai struggled in his grip, but it was weakened as she felt the urge to vomit again rise up within her belly, forcing her to calm down and let him carry her away. Once she was laid down, however, and offered water, she jerked around and punched the canteen aside before slapping a hand over her mouth, this time fighting off the urge to vomit again. Though this time she just ended up dry heaving.
"Fuck," she groaned, half draping out of the bed roll.
Jude just watched her in somber silence as she felt sick all over again. He didn't know what to say so instead he picked up the canteen for himself and took a drink of the water, feeling phsyically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.
When finally the nausea passed, she lightly smacked his arm. "Here... water... I'll take that now."
Jude gave her a silent glare before handing the water canteen to her and helping her drink it.
Gulping down the water, she half choked on it before downing some more and wiping away the dribble from her mouth. She groaned lightly, trying to collect herself before finally turning to Jude.
"Fine. They can help, but I want a damn good night's rest at Breakpoint once we get there. I hope the whore's can spare the room."
Jude smiled. He couldn't helpt it despite how she took it. He wasn't going to fight with her. He didn't have the energy for it. But just when she thought she would get a moment's rest, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I'm sure they will," he replied. "Now come on we should get going. The company is leaving soon."
Jinai went quiet at the kiss, blushing because of it, even though it was against her will. She gave just one look his way before rising, using his shoulder to steady herself.
"Ok. Sounds fair enough. I think we've wasted enough time already. Just help me to get outside and I should be fine."
"My pleasure," Jude nodded to her, putting an arm around her waist and helping steady her on her feet. He held her tightly to him until they were out of the tent and Asher had brought forth their carriage and a freshly fed and watered horse as the rest of his men were readying their gear. Jude helped her up on to the buckboard and sat beside ber, allowing her to take the reins.
Once seated, she grimaced and handed the reins back to him.
"I shouldn't be steering. Not in my state. I'm too pissed off I'm making myself sick. But what's the plan now anyway? And are they really just giving us back our powder? And actually going to help?" Really, to her, it was unbelievable, but then again- she trusted no one. Jude was the exception. She stared back at the carriage in disbelief.
"I told you, you can get more with honey than vinegar," he replied with a sly grin and snapped the reins, maneuvering the wagon around the rebels and fighters and back into the path.
Jinai elbowed him.
"Are you trying to take credit for this?"
"Not at all. But you can't deny that I helped out where you likely could have failed. You were not planning on listening to anything he had to say were you? I wasn't going to get myself in binds like you did. And I wasn't going to let them keep you there. One of us had to be the voice of reason."
"Voice of reason?" She stared at him skeptically. "Maybe this time it turned out alright, but what if they were soldiers in disguise' though I suppose we'd be in deep shit now if they were." And after a few minutes she grumbled, "Thanks."
"If they were, I'm sure they would have executed us and taken the powder from us. If you're still unsure, then feel free to check the barrels to be sure."
They hadn't gotten far when Asher returned. His men were quickly preparing and the outpost really came to life.
"My men are already beginning to organize, but we'll need a solid plan. This means as much information from the two of you as possible." And his eyes went to Jinai who only glared a bit childishly at him in return. "We know you mentioned there are mages that had been round up that are to be sold over seas into the global slave trade- but do we know from where and how they will be coming?"
Jinai looked to do, before sighing and giving Asher as much of the low down that she knew.
"So we're planning on using the whores to help to a degree, working as a distraction for the men and their ships while Jude and I load the cargo on board. The only problem is, getting enough people per ship to light them all off at once and getting the hell out of there before shit hits the fan. Those sailors are not going to be happy when their ships are in the bottom of the port waters."
Asher smirked at that and regarded the pair.
"We can help with that. I'll send a man to meet you both- perhaps at the whore house? Or would that be too dangerous?"
"Dangerous? Well, only if they're not into kinky threesomes..."
Asher smirked at her response, glad to see she was complying AND able to make jokes before he pat Jude on the shoulder.
"We'll have to take a rein check. I do believe you said there wasn't a lot of time."
Jinai nodded. "Yeah, we're planning to be in the city before the next day- that is, if we can manage."
"Ride all night and you can do it. We'll be bhind you every step of the way."
Jude finally let Jinai have her turn at explaining the situation to Asher and in turn got a little light on the situation as well. He hadn't asked Jinai about everything, and he wasn't sure how much she would have told him even if he did, but at least now they seemed to be putting things in much faster motion than before. Progress was progress and as tired as Jude was, he was ready to get going.
When Asher left, he raised a brow at Jinai and glared at her. "You're out of your mind if you think I'm sleeping with one of those ugly, unkempt bastards!" He snapped the reins once more. "Or sharing you with him either!"
Jinai smirked at his last statement
"Why not? I haven't had a threesome in a while," she teased.
"Over my godddamned dead body," Jude growled a little and kept his eyes on the road, pushing the horse to go a little faster.
Jinai smirked and leaned into him, being more affectionate than she might normally be. Though it was fun to cuddle him when she had pissed him off. He deserved it anyway, and idly she rubbed at where the gag had dug into the side of her mouth, and then to where the rope had rubbed some skin at her wrists and made them raw.
"And here I thought you let them bind me up so you could do something kinky." She rolled her eyes and gave a flick at a piece of his hair that laid across his brow.
"But kinky fantasies aside, you really don't like sharing, courtesan." SHe smirked again and this time, cast her eyes out onto the road. "Either way... I suppose I'll have to get used to it.' And she leaned her head to test against her knees, which were tucked now against her body, some blond hair spilling over her shoulders and after a time, she grew quiet as the cart rocked against the uneven terrain.
"Jude...." she began, hesitating, but then frowning, she looekd away. "Never mind. I hope we get to the town alright."
So far, they were already pushing their luck, and as she moved to rest one hand on her belly, she began to feel a bit queasy again.
Jude slowed down the horse, but kept a steady pace, knowing they could lose their load - and Jinai her lunch - from going too fast. He peered across to her and furrowed his brow. "What's the matter? What's wrong with your belly?" he asked softly.
Jinai held the back of her hand to her lips, and swallowed back the raising sting of acid in her throat before sighing through an easy belch.
"I don't know. Maybe it's what we ate," she grumbled. Or didn't eat.
Whatever it was, Jude didn't like the look of it and new it would likely come again. He kept the pace steady and didn't work the horse too hard as they needed to ride on through the night to make it Breakpoint by dawn at this rate. He could relax a little for they had protection following them, yet even that didn't make his stomach stop feeling queasy himself.
Jude peered at Jinai and steered with one hand as his other found its way around her shoulders. "Go to sleep then. We'll make it to Breakpoint in time, don't worry. Have my coat, or what's left of it anyway." He pulled it up over her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her cheek.
Instinctively, she flinched at the kiss. She still wasn't used to all of this attention, plus she felt like shit.Nestling into his coat, she leaned into him and grew quiet- though it would be difficult for her to fall asleep. Yet somehow she did, maybe an hour down the road, and she had made a pillow of his chest and slept contentedly.
The night was a long one and Jude was alert as could be, looking every which way and never really feeling at ease. Every mile they prodded down the dark and weary road made Jude even more anxious for all this to be over with all ready. But instead, he felt good only knowing that Jinai was safe on his arms and they were making better time. Dawn would soon come.
It was still night by the time they made it to Breakpoint, and Jinai had slept off nad on throughout the last legs of their journey. She had gotten sick a few more times, but had passed out a second time and was once again rousing as she mumbled and shifted into his arms.
"I smell the sea," she said, not even aware the town was beginning to pull into view.
Jude's eyes were half-lidded and tired by the time he saw the city lights coming into view. By then the trees had thinned the closer they got to the coast and the air was cool and breezy as the sea blew onto them. Jude hadn't seen the ocean before, but damned was it a sight to behold. "We're nearly there. Look," Jude said, nudging Jinai a little. "It's a shame such a gorgeous city would have such a foul thing happen to it."
Jinai had only see the beach in passing- travel kept her near the capital, but her family had gone there once when she was young, and then a few other times to visit the whore houses here to make a little bit of money- and gain some interesting contacts. Seeing the ocean now and it's beauty belayed the situation that was about to unfold. It also helped cure her of her ales, as it seemed her stomach only then, finally became calmed.
"The ocean is pretty amazing. To think there is that much water, and farther than the eye can see. Makes you feel pretty insignificant against it, don't it?"
Jude's eyes glittered and he gave her a nod. "I feel insignificant against a lot of things," he replied softly. "But that's okay. It's the way of things. Keeps the balance of power so to speak..."
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Are you done gaping yet? We need to find the She Sell's. It's the whore house I was telling you about. Maudy is the woman who runs the place." And she flashed Jude a grin. "I think you might like her, come on!"
"Maudy," Jude made a face at the sound of the name. "She sounds old and fat." But he didn't sit long in judgement when they pulled into town at last. Asher had done them the courtesy of covering up their cargo to make it a little less conspicuous but at last they made it to the red lamp district of Breakpoint and Jude pulled the reins before jumping off the side.
On this side of town, a stone road with lanterns strung across the way, followed along the sea side and the warm winds ruffled Jinai's hair. Peering out towards the ocean as they walked, she paused a moment to observe the surroundings. They had set the horses in a safe a spot as they could- and Jinai, being as ever paranoid as she could be, said this meeting would only take a few minutes. But it seemed she was distracted, green eyes following the sparkling waves- even when the She Sell's whore house was right behind her.
Whatever it was that caught her attention, gave Jude enough time to catch up with her and he put an arm on her shoulder. "You didn't think you were going alone did you? I'm coming with you!" he said and gestured her to lead the way.
Jinai smirked.
"I thought you didn't want a threesome," she said, her grin growing as she looked at him.
Jude shook his head. "We didn't come all this way for jokes," he said. "But we're in this together, aren't we? Let's go."
"Who.said I was joking? Maudy's skilled with her fingers. She's the best fuck on this side.of Connlaoth. You might havesome competition." And her smirk widened as she moved towards the door.
"I really hate you right now. Let's just get this over with. We don't have time for distractions," Jude muttered, annoyed.
Jinai just smiled it.off as they entered the whore house and after inquiring to a whore named Sue, Jinai was suddenly groped and shoved up against the wall, a woman's lips finding her.own as hands slid all over Jinai's body and up.her skirts.
"So here for a.fuck? You know the first is free." The woman said with a smirk.
Jinai, breathless and flushed from the kiss, turned from the sandy blonde haired woman before her and turned to Jude.
"Not this time. Maudy, this is Jude. Jude, Maudy."
Maudy nodded her head and looked him over.
"I see. Hello, there. Anyone that's a friend of Jinai's is a.friend of.mine. Though if you're into something kinky, I can fuck you both at once. Won't even charge a copper." And she winked to Jude. "I even teach lessons in love." And she gave an affectionate squeeze to Jinai's.ass.
"Sadly, we'll.have to pass.this time Maudy. But we will need a room."
The sultry, curvaceous woman gave them a look over. She was.gorgeous, even though her age was beginning to.show, but it was evident how she attracted clients.
"A room but no fuck?" She asked. Pouting.
"The thing of.it.is, we don't need lessons. He's been trained."
Maudy's lips formed an 'o'. But the real kicker was when Jinai revealed, "And I think we're in love."
Jinai did all the talking for them, and all the action too. Jude just stood back for a moment and blinked at the exchange before his eyes remained glued to Maudy. In opposition to his previous observation, Maudy was aging gracefully, elegantly, admirably. She was much younger than the woman she reminded him off, Anita Hawthorne, and she still maintained her dexterity, her energy, and her youth. He found himself smiling when she greeted him.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Maudy. I'm Jude Armand," he said, shaking her hand firmly and giving her a once over. As much as he liked what he saw, Jude made a point to get right to the heart of the matter. "Jinai said you could help. And we'll need lots of it. Not just this house...but many houses on the block."
Maudy gave the man a peculiar look before nodding.
"Yes... Let's take.this upstairs." And she gestured for both to.follow, but not.without giving Jude Armand an appreciative once over. Then, a twice over and grin.
Jude stalked behind the pair of them and stepped carefully. Certainly it had been years since he had set foot in a place like this, those working days, however, were far behind him. But the sights, the smells, the sounds, the atmosphere certainly brought the memories back, some more pleasant than others.
When Maudy led them to an empty room, one that seemed more a suite than a room simply used for a quick fuck. It was a day room so to speak, with a couch and a table with a liquor cabinet off to the side and a bed not far off in the corner partly covered with a silk-screened partition.
Jude stood beside Jinai, looking around, paying attention to every little detail about the room.
Maudy set to work, lighting some candles and incense, whose colorful.smoke drifted towards the ceiling.
"Houses, sounds like you're gonna be busy. On.your honey moon?" She didn't miss the ring on Jinai's.finger.
"Something of that sort," Jude replied as he put his hands in his pockets and strode around the room, observing the window off to the side and looked to Jinai to give more of the details. He had after all spilled a little too much with Asher and had gotten lambasted for it. Perhaps it was better to leave this part of the talking to Jinai.
Jinai rolled her eyes at Jude before turning to Maudy.
"I know it sounds odd I'm coming here and not asking for sex, but what we've got going on is a lot bigger than that."
Maudy looked to Jude's pants. That made Jinai smirk. That's why she loved Maudy.
"We stole some black powder."
Maudy quirked a brow. "Oh?"
"We're aiming to blow up a few ships."
Maudy tilted her head curiously, and looked Jude over.
"Sounds like a blow job."
Jinai smirked, "It sort of is. We've got some information- some men were going to use mages that were being escorted to the camps and were offering to sell them over seas or down in Essyrn. We have all of the right to believe that will happen here."
Maudy blinked. "Goodness, that really does sound like a blow job."
"It is, but we'll need your help. I know your girls are good at keeping sailors in their beds..."
Maudy smirked and looked the pair over. "Sounds exciting. And we get to save a few refugees?"
"Bigger than that. There are a lot of them to be sold- and I have reason to believe some of their cargo might already be in town. We have to figure out where they'd be able to hide that many people before the ships come in. And, for all we know, one or two of the ships may already be in port." Producing a piece of paper, she handed it over to Maudy as she read it against the candle light.
"Sounds like we've got our hands full."
Jinai smirked. "You can say that again."
Maudy turned to Jinai, a hand ghosting over the woman's hip as she admired Jinai's body then turned to Jude.
"So your boy isn't interested in a quick fuck? This idea is getting me... excited,"s he siad with a shiver. Jinai only smirked and turned to Jude.
"We're sort of limited with our time- and we met a few friends on the way."
"A few friends?" Maudy's hands were playing with Jinai's skirts before she turned towards Jude.
"We met a renegade group- not too far from Break point."
Maudy raised a brow, then scowled.
"Oh, Asher." She narrowed her gaze. "That man is surely no fun." Her hands smoothed down Jinai's skirts as they rested on her thigh. The woman looked flustered. Jinai only smirked and placed a hand to Maudy's thigh.
"Maybe we'll take a rein check on some play later, Maudy. I think I owe you and some of the other girl's-"
There was a knock at the door and Maudy sighed. She was enjoying the attention from Jinai- she always did. Stealing a kiss to Jinai's lips she turned away with a fluff of her hair, her hand stealing another feel down her body before she turned towards the door, and was taken back to see-
"Asher!?"
Jinai put a hand to her hip and moved to stand near Jude now, leaning into his side as one hand smoothed across his back.
"You didn't have to follow us here," she told the leader, but seeing Asher's frown, she inquired, "What's up?"
"The ships- there are two of the ones you informed us back coming into port."
Jinai turned to Jude, and soon all of them were running back outside. Seeing the shape of a ship coming inland, Jinai held her breath.
It seemed this blow job was about to begin.
Maudy was proving to be as much of a distraction as much as Jinai claimed she could help. Jude wasn't rellly buying it, but it wasn't his place to say anything. Instead he just listened to the exchange, his eyes narrowing each time she laid a hand on Jinai. But he didn't move from his place beisde the liquor cabinet and then soon cut his eyes toward the window where it over looked tthe harbor.
He saw the ship even before Asher had mentioned it, before he even came in and was the first one down the stairs and out the door to view its docking. "Jinai!" he said quickly, turning to her. "We have to have each barrel in place and ready to be moved as each ship docks, even before it docks even. The harbor always has all sorts of inconspicuous barrels, we'll stash them there and have your men in place, Asher, to be ready to move when all the ships are clear on their sailors. Maudy, you have to get the message to the other whore houses that business will in fact be booming tonight. Keep every sailor on those ships occupied. Don't let a single one leave!"
Asher nodded.
"Allow me to search the docks. I'm familiar with which ones are vacant and which ones are not. I'll find a place to store the powder and report back to you all withint he hour." Looking Maudy over as she glared at him, he smirked. "Seems you'll be getting that business you always wanted after all."
Maudy rolled her eyes and turned towards Jinai, who was leaning in very intimately close to Jude.
"Seems like our plan is really coming together," JInai said, eyes upon the sea.
Jude turned his eyes to Jinai and gave her a tired nod. "It would seem so, yeah," he turned his head toward hers and cupping her face. "I just hope it goes off without a hitch. This one of the biggest plots I've done in a long time. We're not finished until we're finished." He leaned in and took her lips to his, kissing her with considerable pressure before parting his lips from hers.
Then his gaze turned to Maudy. "Let's go organize those brothels. We need them ready as soon as possible."
Jinai peered up at Jude.
"So you've done something this big before?" And she leaned forward so their hips were touching, though as his gaze went to Maudy, her's followed.
"If you want, I can help spread the word." She turned to Jude. "I'm pretty familiar with the town."
"Maybe,"Jude replied and gave a nod after a second of thought. He put his arms around Jinai's hips, holding her hips to his, waist to waist and felttthe wind sweeping across his face and hair. It was wonderful to behold and the smell of the sea was quite intoxicating as he looked at Jinai.
"I guess we should get moving then."
Jinai smirked. With all of this attention and excitement, she was getting horny. Too bad they couldn't go for that threesome. Maudy always had a lot of fun tricks up her sleeve to keep Jinai (and her customers) always on their toes. Then again, nothing compared to what she felt for Jude. But she couldn't help herself. It was in her nature to roll around with anythign that offered to it- when she was willing. And old habits were hard to break. ANd her sex drive, anything but pittering out.
So as they moved along, Maudy took the Brothel to the North- the Secret Shack, and her and Jude moved south, towards the Pink Pearl. ANd once the pair stepped inside, the entire greeting area was thriving in one massive orgy. The Pink Pearl was a... unique place. Not as quiet and private as the others- it was come ina nd have some fun, and Jinai only smirked as she watched a whore and sailor go at it right next to the front door. The whore flashed a grin up at the pair from wehre she was being fucked against the wall.
"Hey, Jinai. What's shaking?" And she took in Jude. "My, handsome fellow. You two aiming for a fuck?"
Jinai smirked.
"Something like that, Alaina. When you're done, I've got something to discuss."
Alaina smirked.
"Well, he paid a good silver, so shouldn't be more than an hour."
The man grunted and thrust into her harder, making her heavy breasts bounce from where she was half clothed. "Hour? I might need more than that!"
And Alaina laughed and went back to her client, moaning as he took her against the wall.
Jinai only smirked and turned back to Jude, eyeing him up a moment before walking deeper inside the place.
"Seems everyone's having a good time,"s he said witha smirk, trying to eye a place the pair of them could sit, but just about every seat was taken ad behind them- a whore giggled as she raced past, a client- butt naked, pursuing her for sin.
"Maybe we'll have better luck if we move up stairs. That is.." she said, giving him another once over as she leaned in against him and whispered into his ear. "You wouldn't mind joining in in alll of this fun." Her hands slid over his waist.
"There's a room in the basement that's pitch black... could be fun."
She'd done it before- and had no idea who she was fucking, but the idea Jude had to find her in such a place in the dark made her grow even more heated. Then again, she had no idea if Jude would want to play.
The place was unforgivably surreal and to wllk through the doors of the Pink Pearly made an honest smirk play on his lips, remembering the clients and (even some of Anita's girls) tiptoing up the stairs toward his room fora quick romp. It certainly was a blast from the past, when he didn't care about anything other than making a name for himself, earning his keep and then some. He greeted Alaina with nothing more than a wave as she went back to work and Jinai led him toward the stairs.
He knew the look Jinai had been giving him, the look all women gave him, but at least for Jinai it had a deeper meaning. At least he hoped it did. He leaned against her and behind her, dipping his head against her neck. He knew they didn't have time to waste, but he couldn't help himself as he splayed a hand down her lower back then down toward her ass, gripping the muscle there.
"A room?" he found himself mimicking. "You wouldn't happen to want to lead the way would you?"
Jinai's smirk grew as she took him by the hand, his much larger than hers, as she lead the way.
"Come on." And snaking through the sexual chaos, they found themselves before an open stair case that lead ito a dark basement. Below, a few gasps and giggles and moans could be heard.
"Seems like some others are enjoying this place to. Come on. Ihaven't had a good fuck int he dark in years." And she took his hand and guided him down into the dark, until both of htem were enveloped in blackness she could no longer see him.
And the second seh could, her hands smoothed across his abdomen, then his chest as lips met to his.
"I guess this is the where I let go of you and you have to find me." And before he'd have a chance to snathc her, she let go of him and slipped into the darkness, taking a few steps and whispering, tauntingly.
"Come on. See if you can find me." And she made herself suddenly 'disappear'.
He would find her. He could smell her from where she hid in the darkness. The thrill of the chae made his blood run hot and already he was as hard as a steel pipe at the thought of finding her in the blackness. He laughed and gave her a few more seconds to hide before he made his pursuit, using his hands to feel along the wall.
His hands led him to a curtain partition and he heard some giggling and moaning behind it as he ventured through. He must have bumped behind someone's ass as they moved and he herd a growl and a hand shoved him away. "This ain't your party mate! Shove off!" said a man's voice and the woman before him laughed.
Jude found his way back through the curtains and held his hands out before him, wandering fruitlessly in the dark. "Jinai," he whispered, "You have to at least give me a hint."
There was more giggling as he walked through- and soon Jude's hands found something warm and soft. And the woman in the dark appreciated that- for Jude's hands had found her boobs.
Jude didn't know if what he touched was Jinai's body for he knew he form, but he heard the laughing and moved forward, feeling along her body. Her skin was unbelievably soft and he felt upward toward her face. He felt kisses along his neck followed by more giggling. "Jinai," he breathed. "You feel so good..." But when he reached her hair, he suddenly felt something shift unnaturally and when he pulled his headback he had plucked off a wig. He gave a small cry and dropped the thing, stepping away and stumbling backwards. "Gods! You're not Jinai!" he growled and moved away from her, continuing his search once more.
As he moved away, he bumped into another form. Though this one, when he'd reach out for it, moved away, causing a breeze against his back that would make the hair's on his neck stand on end.
"Watch we're you're going, Armand..."
Jude turned swiftly but missed the shape that dodged him in the dark. "You can run, but you can't hide," Jude hissed as he followed where the gust of air moved. He was wandering blindly and stumbled when he bumped into a wall, then followed along it until he passed another curtained partition.
As the curtain closed behind him- he'd be able to hear Jinai's chuckle. But from where? It sounded ghosted, and faded away as quickly as it had come.
Jude paused and listened, hearing her chuckle and felling the gust of movement as something shifted through the curtains behind him. He quickly lunged for it. "Gotcha!" he growled, but closed around nothing but cloth. He scowled and soon chased after it.
With Jude making chase, he'd be able to hear her boots pounding against the ground. And then- as he'd pursue, a moment later- nothing. Nothing but the giggles and moans of others having fun in the dark.
Jude rested by a wooden strut and focused his senses as best he could. He smiled though he could see nothing in the dark and instead listened to the soft breaths and moans tha echoed through the basement. He felt his breath hitch, his blood running hot before he began to move much more quietly now, seeking the one he desired most.
As he moved forward, his legs might have bumped something- though if he were to reach out, there was nothing in front of him but air. Down below, however, a hand smoothed up his leg.
Jude nearly tumbled forward with the thing that impeded his path and he jumped at the sensation of a hand on his leg. He said nothing, but his breath left in in small shudders. He listened, waiting and felt for a wall alongside him, leaning against that.
The hand continued to creep up his leg, and the higher it went, the closer the person came to him until their body was pressed against his and a hand smoothing across his chest and before he'd be able to speak, lips met to his.
Jude could hear only the moans of others in the basement and the shuddering of his breath as he suddenly he felt lips seal over his and his knees nearly buckled at the contact. A groan escaped him, and he felt his back sliding down against the wall, as he tried to make sense of the sensations around him.
Lips smiled against his before fingers met around his clothing and soon, hand were traveling south as a tongue slipped inside his mouth, and a slender hand slipped inside his pants.
Jude was at the mercy of the form in front of him and he found that the cool hand that touched his memeber was more than pleasing. He kissed the mouth deeply, hotly, finally leaning in to it and his arms found a slender waist following it. He moaned again, turning his head to deepen the kiss as another hand moved toward his pants and began to undo the ties that entrapped him.
The woman worked deftly, letting his pants drop away to.free his member and explore it's length and connecting skin. And as she did so she moved forward and he'd feel the skin of his member against the skin of his thighs. Kisses now moved to his throat as long hair and bangs tickled his skin.
His breath audibly hitched and he opened his neck for her to explore. A shiver coursed through him and his erection swelled painfully, eagerly before her. In the darkness, he felt hugged all around smothered, and his other senses were heightened by his lack of sight. His hands felt up along her belly, felt the cloth of a shirt and gently pushed it up along her back.
His actions freed her breasts and his fingers would find pert nipples against softer skin. And as she helped him toss her shirt aside, she drew nearer, so that his sex slid across hers and hed feel a hot, wet entrance. She let his erection slide back and forth to taste it before her hand guided him in all the way.
Jude shuddered and quivered all over. The darkness enveloped him, her, both of them and when he felt the moistness of her sex, he uttered a gasp and leaned back against the wall. His hands gently grazed the tips of her nipples, before taking them between his fingers and rubbing them gently, his hands moving lower and cupping her breast, pushing them upward before his head leaned down and he took one into his mouth, sucking gently.
With expert skill, the muscle of her sex.clamped down on him though despite it, his sex was still able.to slide in and out. The women knew a thing or.two about sex, and hand hands massaging his member, a thumb to her clot all the while she rocked her hips and took him in and out of her.
Jude positioned himself just low enough to allow her to mount his hips if she so pleased. Not that she needed to as she gently allowed part of his length to move in and out of her. The pressure was intense and made Jude gasp and let a shuddering groan and let his mouth hang open. His hands pressed down toward her lower back, pushing her down on him as she moved, undulating his hips.
Guided by his hands, she stepped forward, not uttering a sound but he'd be able to hear her breaths and then feel them as she stepped close. Now, their bodies were presses together, and lips sought his again. He'd be able to smell her, something faint like incense and something smokey, perhaps a candle, as hair brushed against him, and her nose nuzzling into his neck as she kissed.and sucked at the skin there and rocked her hips, fucking him.excrutiatingly slow. But it felt so wonderful.
He still stood, but how, he didn't now. If it weren't for the wall at his back, he might have fallen to the floor by now. But Jude's legs were strong and he was able to carry her as she teased and tortured him with her gentle motions, he continued to quiver underneath her. Soft groans escaped his lips, and he felt her, all of her as he slid in and out of her. Her scent was intoxicating, and filled his senses sent him into a high.
Sex in the dark was always intoxicating. Not.knowing who you fucked added to the thrill and made people want sex in a primal way, causing it to be more natural and wild. The woman knew this and for it, kept her lips sealed . After all, the man needed it and heck, so did she. Though after tormenting him with slow sensual motions of her hip, she gradually slid him out of her and turned as if to leave but a moment later, her back pressed against his front and her ass rubbed against his hip as her sex sought his and it wasn't long before the woman was teaching Jude all.sorts of.tricks of pleasure in the dark. Perhaps the courtesan would learn something?
He was almost starting not to care who it was as she rode on his hips. He was in bliss, his eyes rolling back into his head, his heart racing. He couldn't say anything, no words could come. She turned from him and he gave a frustrated grunt that had him biting his lip until he felt her back pressing against his front and she would be able to feel his heart reverberate through her. His hands dropped to her hips and he gripped the skin of her rear, letting his hands explore the softness of it, his member caressing her sex as he remained low against the wall, pushing himself against the wall with his legs.
Jude's arms found a way around her waist, his heart pounding in his ears, and he pulled her back against his chest, coaxing her to sit on his lap and slid inside her easily. The darkness deafened him, and he now relaxed into relying on his touch, hearing, smell, and even taste as he moved within her.
The woman obeyed, and it seemed the pair of them might have been learning something deeper about the other. Where his body coaxed her one way, she coaxed his and she was nothing short of surprised to find this man knew the ropes so well in the dark. But now, sitting on his lap, she let him bounce her as she felt the full force of his member pounding up inside her.
Ah, yes... this was definitely heaven. And she needed something like this so badly. The day had been a long and terrible one, after all.
Jude moved a little faster in her than his partner had done for him. He panted and groaned as he moved behind her, gripping her hips tightly so that his knuckles went white. Not that he'd be able to tell in the dark.
"Gods! Jinai!" he found himself moaning loudly.
This man was a God, whoever he was, and if she didn't love surprises, she would have tried to find out through a whisper to see- after all, it was good to keep tabs on a good fuck.
But she didn't have to when the man suddenly called out her friends name as Maudy blinked and turned towards him as he fucked her.
"Jinai?" She blinked. "Jude?" What a surprise! But then again, why should she be? Jinai only liked the good fucks best. And if she were to be 'in love', it might as well be with a good lay!
A muffled groan came from the other side of the room.
"Maudy?" And then suddenly, thebounding of boots followed by a torch light spilled across the room, to reveal mena nd women in all sorts of poses in all sorts of ways strewn across the room.
The real Jinai was much closer towards the exit, now blinded by the torch light as she as on the floor, sandwiched between a woman wiht her finger crammed inside her, and a man with his dick along with it. And if one were to observe even closer- a second man seemed about ready to join as he lifted his head from Jinai and everyone int he room stared over at the man wiht the torch.
"Maudy Wensless!" Asher glared at her, holding the torch forward as anger burned inside his eyes to see her staked ontop of a man. Maudy only shrugged and turned towards Jude.
"Seems like our party got started earlier,"s he purred and kissed Jude on the lips. "But did you honestly think I was your girl?" She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling. "Though I'm sad to see you wanted to have more fun here than at my place." ANd here, she pouted at him to show she was playfully upset she had to go to another whore house to fuck him.
"Maudy..." Asher's voice came again.
The whore sighed and rolled her eyes. How irritating was that man!
"Asher, we all came here to have some fun, now put out that light so we can finish. The world won't end without us. Besides, we only need a few hours to fuck."
Pissed, Asher simply stormed out. He had no patience for Maudy or these shenanigans and as he left, they all returned to the dark. And Jinai caught Jude's eyes fo ra fleeting moment before both disappeared into the sea of chaos again.
He didn't know why. And there was no reason for it. But he suddenly felt extremely aware of himself and his surroundings. And almost ashamed of himself because of it. As soon as Maudy was off of him, he stood straight up and pulled his trousers up, quickly tying his pants and straightening his clothes.
"Maybe some other time," he murmured to Maudy and moved toward where he remembered seeing the staircase, even in the dark. Admittedly he felt even more foolish when his foot hit the bottom step and he took a tumble, falling down and hitting the steps hard.
But he recovered quickly and carefully walked up the rest of the way.
Jude wasn't the only one foolish. Jinai hadn't gone in there to have naughty sex with someone else. ANd turns out- she had sex with three someone elses. Hastily fixing her clothes, she followed after Jude.
"Jude, wait!"
And as Maudy watched them throught he darkness, she sighed.
"And it had been a good fuck, too." ANd she followed them as well, though much slower than the rest.
Jude was at the top of the steps, tucking his shirt in his trousers and brushing his hair back when he heard Jinai emerging up the stairs. He waited for her and took her hand when he saw her. "We've got work to do," he said plainly, giving a forced smile.
"Yeah... I.. I guess you're right," Jinai agreed. This felt awkward. She never really felt guilt before because honestly- she never truly cared. Avoiding Jude's gaze, she began to wonder what came over her. Having sex int he dark obviously can come out that way- but she began to wonder if things couldn't have been more awkward. Jude and Maudy- and she and three strangers.
Ok, so it felt good, but the guilt didn't. She just assumed Jude was ok getting kinky with her and sharing in the dark. She must've guessed wrong. And she didn't even know how to feel that he had taken Maudy. That was just weird. Though she had to wonder if their sex was good. Even still, she felt unsatisfied and realizing the pair hadn't gotten their fuck (well, fuck together), it made her even more antsy. She was almost tempted to go back and finish- but quickly scolded herself. Gods, she was still horny. All of this danger, the having sex when she shouldn't...
she grit her teeth.
Time to put it behind her. They had a job to do. Though as they rounded the bend she paused in mid stride.
"Jude?"
Still not looking at him,w henhe'd turn to her he'd find her lips upon his, and the kiss was long and needful.
"I need to fuck you."
Or else she wouldn't be able to even focus. Gods...
maybe she had a problem. Was there such a thing as sex addiction? Or maybe it was just Judeaddiction- or both.
When they turned, and Jude was suddenly trapped beneath her lips, he paused and grinned behind her kiss, pulling away a little. A laugh escaped him. "You didn't get enough in the basement?" he chuckled, amused. "Listen, that was a fun idea. Really. But I was really hoping I'd bump into you...not someone else. Or three someone else's in your case. I'm not upset but..." He didn't finish his sentence, unsure as to why. But he smiled at her nonetheless, leaning down toward her lips. He kissed her and pulled on her lower lip. "When the ships go boom, I won't let you out of the dark..." he whispered to her.
Jinai shivered at his words, but a voice behind them made her jump as Maudy slapped Jude's ass.
"Come on you two. We got a job to do." And tossing them both a wink, she strolled before them, leaving Jinai a bit tense at the reaction. Which was odd.. for her. Thoughs he couldn't help but wonder... if they had liked it..
and the idea..
hrmm maybe that's what jealousy was like. Turning to jude she sai,"let's go."
Jude gave a sigh and frowned when Maudy showed up. He might have taken Jinai up on her offer if they hadn't been interrupted. He nodded and followed the whore outside. He stepped into the street and looked for Asher who was waiting for them. "Is everything in place?"
Asher walked with them and talked.
"We found the perfect place. It's on the Northern side of the port at the very end near the pier. I've already got my men discretely moving the cargo there." He gave Maudy a look, then a glare before he moved even faster, remaining at the front of the line as they walked.
"I marked each crate with a J- so the pair of you will know which is which. It was in red paint. Now, I've gotten some reports on which boats and ships are at the dock. Perhaps we can go over that information over dinner." And he turned to Jinai, who raised a brow at him and looked around at the group. Why was he looking at her?
"Er, I guess that's ok... is there a good place to eat around here?"
Asher gave a smile, almost a mean one.
"Yes, the most heavenly sea food you can find. Come on. It's just north of here." And he moved to lead the group once more. It was here Maudy stole a look to Jude and wink.
Jude wished all this could be over with all ready. It was difficult coping with the anxiety of all this hanging over their heads, but there was not choice. It would take hours before all the ships came in and were cleared of their sailors. Asher had set up scouts to check the ships and report back to them once the ships were empty then the black powder wold have to be strewn across the entire ship to set it ablaze evenly and all the ignitions would have to be done at the same time.
And the arrival of the cargo was another matter altogether. Jude paid little attention to Maudy or Asher once they were moving toward the North end of the city. He had his eyes on Jinai and all the strangers around them.
Heading North,t he group decided to go separate ways, leaving Jude and Jinai alone for dinner. The tavern they approached was small looking on the outside, but seemed a bit bigger once you entered. Though the atmosphere was cozy, Jude and Jinai had to wait a bit before finding some place to sit, and once asked what they'd like- it seemed the only option was seafood, seafood and more seafood.
Ordering some crab, bread and ale, Jinai looked down to her drink and idly picked at her finger nails.
When they found their way to the comfortable tavern, Jude had pulled the chair out for Jinai. Then took the seat for himself and when the bargirl looked for his order he wanted a small glass of wine and a plate of fried fish with a side of oysters for the both of them. At her awkward glances, Jude reached his hand forth. "What's the matter?" he asked.
Glancing up from her finger nails, she blinked and made a face.
"What do you mean?" She looked defensive. "Do I look like something is wrong or something?"
"You seem a little nervous I guess," Jude said with a small shrug. He frowned and tried to reach for her hand.
"Nervous?" she went to move her hand but found it caught on Jude's. She peered up at him with a frown. "Yeah, I'm fucking nervous. Do you realize how crazy this all is? For what we're planning to do? I can't believe it's even running as smoothly as it is."
True, she was a ball of nerves over it, but that wasn't entirely it. she made a face "Oh, and I still fel ill. I think I'm starving. I hope the food fucking comes soon." She grumbled.
At least the bread did. She scarfed that without so much as taking a breath and washed it down with ale.
Jude could see it wasn't the whole story after what happened in the brothels. He gripped her hand in his as she scarfed down her bread. The food wouldn't come so quickly despite how she acted. "I know that's not all of it," Jude remarked, turning her palm over in his hand and tracing his finger across the folds of her skin. "What's really on your mind?"
JInai blinked with the mug of ale to her lips.
"What? What are you talking about? Aren't you nervous about this, too?"
Jude gave a small sigh of "Yeah." He nodded and looked back at her intently. "I am. Every second is nerve-wracking but I'm more worried about you. You seem out of it."
Jinai stared back at him, then averted her gaze.
"Well, yeah. I think I'm just exhausted."
Yep, definitely not it.
He could tell he wasn't going to get it out of her here, nor was she going to tell him in willing conversation. Their food came and he was thankful for the distraction, letting go of her hand for a moment. He ate quietly. "Well, we'll get some rest soon." And took a few sips of his wine.
The crab was good. Real good, and she found herself scarfing it down without any problems and ordered another drink. SHe needed it, and she was already feeling better- and tipsy.
"Yeah, I could sleep for days,"s he said, leaning back in her chair and patting her belly. She closed her eyes and it almost appeared as if she were sleeping there- maybe she was.
Jude licked his lips as he finished his food - for he'd been hungry and took another sip of his wine. He smiled at her and sucked on his lower lip for a moment. "Yeah me too. But maybe we just don't have that kind of luck," he muttered and before he could waste anymore time thinking about it, he stood up from the chair and took her by the hand, tugging her to stand. "Let's go out to the back... I'm sure there's a closed off alley there of some kind..."
Jinai blinked as she was pulled to her feet.
"Back alley?"
"Well, it's not dark, but it's partly secluded, and...there's always the risk that somebody might see us," Jude smirked as he pulled her up against him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two silvers, enough for the meal and left them on the table. He turned the corner and pulled Jinai with him, pressing her body to his. "You're feeling shitty because you're afraid I liked having sex with not you even though we wanted to fuck each other in pitch black darkness... Well, let me tell you, I though it was you...I wanted it to be you, I even moaned your name... And if I couldn't have you in the dark...I'm going to have you now."
It took her a moment to get what he was saying as she was guided away.
"But in the alley.." And as she tried to play it off she was surprised, she was more excited than startled. Though she felt odd when he brought up the whole 'we just had sex with other people thing' but hey- she had felt the same way too- and found the words coming out.
"Yeah- I thought you actually wanted to be kinky with me," she said, feeling lame, but the moment their bodies connected, she smirked. "So now?" she said, letting her hand smooth up his body. "Right here?" She leaned forward, seeming to kiss him but lingered but an inch from his lips. "I'd be game for that." And he'd feel her hand roam over his crotch.
Jude bit his lip, feeling her pulse racing, through her clothes, her body and his...his heart pounded relentlessly in his ears. He smirked and let is hands rove down her clothes and shifting them up a little. "I did...and I still do... Maybe when business has died down a little, we can make a dark room of our own," he murmured before leaning forward and pecking her lips. His hands found hers more explorative and shook his head. "I think what you're looking for is more over here." A smirk and he shifted her hand more toward his left, where she'd feel him. "I meant every word I said."
Jinai smirked and shoved her hand down the front of his pants.
"No.."s he said, grabbing his dick. "It's right here."
"Ansgar's balls," Jude gasped when she grabbed him, but he didn't know why he was so surprised since this was his idea in the first place. "Your hands are cold." Clearing his throat, he grinned and moved toward his hands down toward her hips, pulling the cloth of her skirts up with spider fingers, crawling down her leg. He kissed her neck, moving in closer to her and pulling one arm around her waist.
With one warming hand secured around his dick, the other opened his pants and kept them open by smoothing across them befre letting them drop to his knees. Stepping forward, she pressed their bellies together and guided his member between her legs as lips trailed up his neck.
His blood ran hot through his body as she pulled out his rock hard member. His breath hitched, feeling her legs parting for him and he quickly held her skirts, with one hand and pulled her up onto his hips with the other. He smiled against her neck, kissing her flesh and up to her ear, biting her earlobe and pulling on it with his teeth. "Woman," he growled. "You are insatiable." Just before he pushed himself inside of her and rocked his hips, pinning her against the wall.
She gasped, her mouth hanging open at the sensational force of him pushing into her. WIth his body consuming all of hers, she tilted her head into a kiss and smiled.
"And here I thought it was your idea to fuck me outside.."s he whispered into his ear, feeling a thrill rush through her as they fucked in public, her smile only widening when someone scurried by, pretending not to see.
"Oh shut up!" Jude growled, only now remembering that that indeed was his intention that never came to fruition. It was a shame almost, but Jude had no regrets and he certainly wasn't going to stop now that they got started, even if it was in public. He grounded his hips into hers, painfuly slow like how Maudy had done to him at the Pink Pearl. But he had only Jinai on his mind. He kissed her hotly and deeply, thrusting deeper and deeper. But it didn't matter if anyone saw them. They both needed this momentary release.
As Jude moved to tease her, her eyes rolled int the back of her head as she arched into the tavern wall.
"Gods... Jude..." She closed her eyes tightly and he'd be able to feel her sex tighten, and on times, pulsate and move, as if trying to taste the shaft he was cramming inside her- but oh so slowly, and oh so sensually. She shivered nad her finger nails dug into his back side. She was soaking wet in minutes. Having not finished her foursome from earlier- a good fuck against an alleyway wall was just what she needed as she dragged her fingers down his back before grabbing onto his ass and held him so their hips were flush. But still, it seemed he teased, and she- moaned against every inch of it.
His teasing made him hitch and squirm as much as it did for her. Jude had always been talented in the arts of lovemaking, he had been taught by the best. But even he succumbed to his own tactics on occasion. His body shuddered and grunts escaped him as he moved into her, slowly and deeply. Her sex hugged his like a second skin, no matter how many partners she had had. She was unbelievaly tight and when she moved her walls against him, he shuddered and would slip in just a little deeper each time. He moaned, holding the bottom of her ass againt him, continuing to move achingly slow.
Footsteps came and a shrill mousy shriek was heard of a bargirl screaming from the sight as they resided against the wall of the door near the alley. "Get a room you two!" a voice called at them angrily!
As they were fucking, Jinai had to wonder if Jude learned something from Maudy. Maudy had always teased this way, and the idea that- if he did, and had enjoyed it, made her grow a little hotter, a little more slick that he could even enjoy this as much with someone as it was with her- then again, itw as in the dark and well..
Maudy was Maudy. She was always a good fuck.
But as her mind reeled over it- she had to wonder..
Was she jealous? Though the feeling of jealousy made her all the tighter, and made the sex feel better, as she felt internally tormented and needed release.
Well, sex was a good way to do it and Jude was so skilled at it that soon she was rolling her eyes back a second time as his sex nursed at hers.
"Goooooooooods, Juuuuuuuuuuude,"s he moaned, ignorantly smiling at the reaction from people who stumbled too close as she laughed and arched her back more deeply int the rough side of the building. ANd as he fucked her, she began to slip off her shirt, exposing her breasts for him, an the world as they bounced along beneath his thrusts.
Jude was nearer to pure bliss than he'd ever thought or hoped to be that he could. Of course sex with Jinai was usually good, the excitement fo the moment, the tension of the uncertainty, made it feel oh so much better. He worked in her a little faster, still teasing but he wanted to hear her drawn out moans, to know that he was driving her as mad as she made him.
When her breasts were exposed, Jude gasped and reached for them, his hand encapsulating them. His head arched down and kissed one, taking the tip into his mouth. He hummed against it, murmuring her name and pushing into her as deep as he could go.
"Gods, Jude.." she entangled her fingers into his hair and hugged his face to her breasts. The sex felt amazing, and she let one free hand rest against his ass as he made slow work inside her and gods, she could feel every inch of him as it spear headed it's way deep within her. And the moment he reached the back of her, she moaned even louder, clenched him even tighter and found herself growling as she orgasmed. She had to hug him fiercely, clinging to him so tight as her sex exploded all around him in a symphony of sinful sensations.
The sensation of her pleasure made his body suddenly jerk and he moaned louder and louder, his entire body shuddering as he came within her. He laid his head on her chest, mouth agape until the final seconds of his climax washed over him. "Jinai," he muttered. Unable to find anymore words to add.
At such an angle, she could feel his hot cum gush inside her. It was an incredible feeling to feel the hot shot of a man's seed. If sex was too quick,s he normally missed it- and most sex was. But this was slow and sensual and they peaked when neither could stand it any longer.
"God... Jude.."s he moaned, shivering against him as her cheek now rested to his. After a moment, she found herself smiling, long bangs tickling her face, and his. "We should do this more often."
Then again- she always had a thing for outdoor sex. It's one reason she fucked him on the buckboard- and woudl gladly do that one again. Maybe while thye were here... they could go at it on the beach. They had some nice rocks down there...
"We'll have to do this again."
"I'll have my secretary contact you with a time and rendevous point," he laughed. He gave her a knowing grin and let her down easy, his sex carefully sliding out of her. "You never paid me for that first night you know." His hands stayed at her hips and his head leaned in to kiss her softly. "But I'll be willing to forgive the debt if we can find a room to bunk in for the night. You wore me out, woman. And I'm beat from the travel."
Jinai laughed.
"You think I have money?" She jutted out her chin, giving him a smug grin.
"Besides, I wasn't going to pay you anyways. And we can just sleep at the whore house. Maudy won't mind." THough normally Jinai was having sex with her when she did...
Jude hugged her against him and reched for her shirt to keep her half decent. "I don't want to stay with Maudy. We can stay at another whore house," Jude cleaned himself off then pulled up his trousers.
JInai blinked as she was smoothing down her shirt.
"Not stay with Maudy? Why?"
"Because she's nosy and invasive and I don't like her having her hands all over you or in you for that matter," Jude said plainly. "Call it what you want, I just don't much care for her."
Jinai blinked, then suddenly barked a laugh in his face.
"Well she is a whore, Jude." But she shook her head and turned away. "But about that.. " ANd her smile turned into a cringe though it was hidden. "I can't lie. I was jealous of you and Maudy, too..."
Despite the revelation, Jude smirked at Jinai and tucked a finger under his chin. "I figured as much. But you have to understand, I thought it was you I found in the dark. God...you wouldn't believe how much I wanted you. I still do... Maybe when this is all over, we can give it another try," Jude offered. "I love you, you insufferable woman. And I want to make you feel all the things you make me feel when I look at you."
Jinai would have commented, really, but his comment made her tongue tied. She just stared at him, her entire face going red- and she probably looked awkward.
"God, this is so weird."
"For you and me both," Jude laughed. He kissed her cheek and redressed himself, tucking what was left of his shirt in his pants and smiling at her. "Come on let's get out of here and shack up in some whore's room."
She blushed, took his hand, then smirked as she followed after.
"You mean, Maudy?" she teased, shaking her long bangs from her face.
"NooooooOOOOoooooo!" Jude playfully howled as he pulled her against him and walked out of the tavern, heading south on the street. The sea air was still wonderful to smell and made the night especially chilly.
Jinai shivered and followed after, eyes going to the ocean.
"You know, we should have sex on the beach."
"Hm?" Jude turned to her, giving her a quirked brow. "Oh? Another devious idea. How scandalous, Jinai. It's positively...scintilliating." He leg his fingers run down her arm. "Why don't we just take a walk down there. I've never been to the beach.." He gave her a smile and put his arm down low by her waist, holding her as they walked.
"You want to go now?" She grinned at the suggestion, but leaned into him and just let him guide her away. They might as well make good use of this spare time they had- andit had been too long since they really had gotten to have any fun-
All work and no play made Jinai extremely horny as she grabbed his ass as they walked and gave a squeeze.
Jude feigned a gasp when she grabbed him. "Careful with the merchandise, darling," he smirked at her. His grip along her waist tightened and his hand played with her side for a moment. He walked along toward the sound of the waves and peered along the shoreline for a moment the closer it got. "So tell me? How did you meet our mutually horny friend Maudy?" he smirked, though he didn't really mean to ask about it.
Jinai shrugged. Why was he asking about Maudy now?
"I was pretty young when we met- and she had a lot of appeal. Inadvertently, we realized we both were mage supporters so we kind of kept close since. So our friendship has lasted a good few year now." She turned from him and looked out onto the ocean, her eyes going distant in thought.
"I'm just making conversation," Jude remarked, noticing the distance in her voice. "You know, you hated my guts when we first met, I knew a challenge when I saw one and I gladly accepted. You know I could have sworn you wanted to kill me once or twice..." He smirked at her and turned his eyes to the waves as well. "They're beautiful aren't they?"
Jinai just shrugged.
"I guess so."
her mind was still distracted, still thinking back to when she was younger- always high on drugs, pleasure and life.
Jude frowned a little and cut his eyes to the waves as they neared the beach and Jude turned them back to her from the corner of his eye. "Is something the matter?"
She turned to Jude and wore the same smirk she normally did, masking every emotion.
"I was just thinking about how life was before you." And her fingers grazed over his as she studied his hand. "I remember hearing about you want volunteering for the job. It sounded exciting, and dangerous."
"Proper lies. You had no idea what you were getting into," Jude quipped and stuck his tongue out at her. But he laughed a little and observed her hand as they walked more toward the sand and rocks on the eastern edge of the city. "But I guess the uncertainty just adds to the excitement. The tension. The...final release."
Jinai's elbow sunk into his belly.
"Yeah.. final release,"she rolled her eyes and simply walked away from him.
Jude made a loud -oof. He doubled over and groaned. "Hey! That hurt!" He picked up a clump of wet sand and chucked it at the back of her head and ran back to her.
Jinai dodged it and like a child, retorted, "No it didn't!" And she kept on running.
Jude skirted low to the ground like a ball player and scooped up a compacted ball of sand and split them into two fistfuls. He dashed through the sand, kicking it up as he went and chucked one at her again. "We'll see how you like it!" he laughed, turning on his heel and throwing one at her once more.
THe sand balls crumbled before they hit her, and sand sloshed against her legs.
"Eww, Jude! Cut that out!"a nd she tossed a sloppy handful of sand back at him.
Jude put his hands up to protect his face as a wave of sand came up at him. He caught some in his mouth however and spat some out and shaking some out of his hair. "HEY! PBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBT!" He spat furiously. "That's disgusting!" He moved around her and kicked more sand her way. "Whatcha gonna do now?! Huh!"
At his comment, she turned away from the sand he kicked, but retaliated by kicking more sand in his face, then picked up a few sea shells and laughed as she threw them at him.
"That!"
The seashells hit their mark and Jude yelped and jumped when they impacted his side. One bounced off his ass and hit his ankle... "Quit it!" he laughed and picked up some sea weed and whipped them at her.
Jinai only laughed at him and ran away.
"Yeah right" And threw another seashell at him before she rushed out into the deeper waters and found a large rock and began to climb on it in attempts to get away from Jude. Once she got to the top, she laughed as a huge wave rolled in, which would deter Jude from getting to her.
Jude paused for a few seconds to wrangle his boots from his feet and tossed them off to the side. He shifted his pants up though they were already dirty and covered in sand. Bolting after Jinai he picked up some shells of his own as Jinia climbed her rock. Jude was swept in the wave and staggered backwards as she climbed. "You forgot your shells!" He chucked some more at her and laughed. "Be careful or you'll slip!"
Jinai just ignored him and remained on top of the rock unseen. His seashells would simply bounce off the side and become devoured back into the ocean below. Up on the rock, however, Jinai lay on her bck and stared up at the skies, listening to the sound of waves crashed against it and feeling it's power vibrate against her back side.
Jude huffed and threw the last shell into the water. He walked around it and jumped out from the cold water. Leering up at her he folded his arms against the rock. "Want some company?"
Jinai only grinned.
"Well yeah, I thought we were supposed to be having sex!"
Jude laughed. "Well, you went all the way up there like you wanted to be alone!" he growled and climbed up the rock, only to loose his footing and slam onto the lower part of the rock, falling down into the water, flailing as he did so.
JInai heard him slip and rolled over onto her side and peer down into the waters below. Seeing him flounder made her laugh.
"What's the matter? Giving up since you have to work for it?" she said, giving a playful twirl to her hair. And then she disappeared from his line of sight, only to suddenly throw down her shirt at his head a moment later. ANd soon following that- her skirts.
"You would laugh at my drowning!" Jude growled and threw her clothes back up to her. Once he'd gained his footing in the shallow region, he carefull ascended the jagged rock and whipped her with his wet shirt.
Jinai only smirked and stretched out across the rock. She was completely naked and just lazily lounged beneath the sun. The scars on the body were evident, so was her hard tan, which stood out easily in contrast to her sandy blonde hair, which fluttered lightly in the sea winds.
"As if you're actually angry,"she told him with a laugh, and crossed one leg over the other. "So you going to get over here or what?"
Jude stuck his tongue out at her and feigned a scowl. "I think I'll leave you to the gulls," Jude quipped and threw his shirt off with the rest of her clothes, now soaking wet and smelling of sea water. "Besides what if I really was mad! Not like you would do anything about it!" He stuck his tongue out at her again.
Jinai just rolled her eyes.
"That would only mean I'd get rough, angry sex," she said and peered his body over. "What's taking you so long anyways? I'm so cold over here. Get your ass down here. Can't you see how hard my nipples got? I could poke your eyes out with them,"s he then added witha laugh.
Jude peered at her and bite his lip, playfully growling at her as he crawled over the jagged rocks and laid out beside her. "So because I'm a man I have to do all the work?" he grumbled and leaned on his side. "It is pretty cold tonight," he idly commented. He let his free hand reach up and play with the tip of her nearest breast. "I don't think even hot, rough, angry sex could thaw you out!"
Her hand ghosted up his side before smoothing across his chest.
"Then you'd better find a way to make it extra hot.."s he told him, folding her arms around him and pulling him in close for a kiss.
Jude kept his face at a distance from hers and he leered at her. Hoping to keep the kiss at bay by continuing his words, he sighed and grinned. "Well how hot? I mean I don't know if you could handle the full heat... I mean I could explode like a volcano and you could be burned alive. "
"You've exploded like a volcano before, trust me," she told him with a smirk, her hands smoothing down his body to where they stroked over his cock. "But seems you're not quite ready for that!" she said with a laugh, before grabbing his member and hoping a few playful strokes would get him aroused.
All the teasing and play was enough to make him shiver and when her hand closed around his member, Jude smirked as he felt blood rush through it and it hardened in her grasp. He gasped and shivered, felling flushed suddenly. "When you play with fire, you're bound to get burned," he purred, biting his lip.
Jinai laughed.
"I think my hands are calloused enough over from years of this sort of play,"s he told him, feeling up and down his member and her smile grew with appreciation as the length grew in her hand.
"So I think I'm quite safe."
Jude glare at her with one eye. "Safe...with that thing in your hands?" he smirked. "You wish. " He laughed and leaned into her, breathing softly as he felt his heartbeat pick up. His head leaned into her shoulder and he kissed her neck.
Jinai smiled at the attentions and continued to work along his shaft, closing her eyes as she felt lips against her neck and her other free hand smoothed across the muscles of his back.
"You really do have a nice body," she said through a smirk.
His moans came softly and under his breath as her hand worked along his member, stroking him. He reacted to her very touch and the thought of being taken by her only made him all the more eager. The sea breeze doused them with droplets of moisture and made Jude shiver in the cold evening air. He leaned in and deepened the kiss to her neck, tasting the salt of it and letting it play on his tongue. "Oh really?" he purred along her skin. "How nice is It? I'm starting to get the feeling you're only with me for my body."
"Well, duh," she told him through a laugh, lips finding his before she trailed kisses down his neck and shoulder. "MMmm, to think if you were any other man.."s he said, her hand tightening around his member and moving in quicker, jerking motions as she stole a glance to his face to see what sort of expression she could coax out. And how many moans he could make.
"Ansgar's Balls!" he growled. "Easy! You trying to rip it off!?" He gripped her and panted faster, moaning louder as she tugged on him. "I thought you wanted to have sex not just tease and torture me." His whine came out as a groan, his eyes flickering to the back of his head.
"You wish you had Ansgar's balls!" she laughed. "And what's wrong with a little torture?" she said, nibbling at his neck, her hand, unyielding. "Besides, I have to make sure you really want sex before letting you in between my legs."
Jude held back a moan. "Bah! You...you just want to watch me squirm at your hand! Ugh ...and it's working," Jude panted. "Just fuck me all ready! Gods.."
Jinai laughed as she lay underneath him.
"You have to take it, I won't give!" she grinned,a nd continued to work at his member, this time faster and favoring the spot that made him squirm.
"You better start fucking," he said through deep pants. Moans came from deep within his throat. "Or I'm gonna make you wish you did!" And with that he shot up and wrapped his arms around her, taking her breasts within his mouth and knotting her legs around his waist, turning her hand from his member grabbing himself, directing it toward her sex.
Jinai laughed, but didn't fight it, and let her legs spread open as he shoved his dick between her legs. She was still slick from earlier, so as he prodded her, he'd find himself soon slipping in inside her body as her eyes fluttered close and her limbs clung to him as they were united.
"Gods.. Jude.." though her voice was almost lost against the roar of the winds and waves.
Jude took her against the grating rock alobg the shore. They were laregly hidden from view, but even if they had a crowd surrounding them, Jude wouldn't have cared as he pumped in and out of her. He kissed her hotly, passionately, even possessively. "Jinai... Tell me what you want, what you need," he breathed against her lips.
Her sex melted with him inside it, gripping him as her limbs did the same. She rolled her head back, moaning and uncaring her back was getting scraped by the rock as he pounded into her. Finger nails dug into flesh as she found herself screaming his name.
"What I want?" she laughed, and threw her head back. "This is all I want." And she dug her teeth into her lower lip.
"Just fuck me Jude. Just make love to me all night."
Jude laughed as he fucked her, feeling all the warmth and muscles of her sex. "That's what I meant!" he smirked. But he leaned down anyway and stole her lips away, kissing her deeply, moving over her with growing ferocity. "One night of hot angry sex coming up. Brace yourself, darling."
Jinai laughed and kissed him back, hands roaming up his back.
"I don't think this counts as angry, but it definitely feels good!" she exclaimed, moaning as waves crashed all around the rocks, the very powerful-wildness of the ocean and the fast slamming of his dick into her drove her crazy.
"Gods.... you have no idea how good these feels,"s he moaned.
Jude laughed. "Probably better than how I feel," he quipped. "This rouch stone feels horrible on my knees," he growled. "But I'll make due." Jude positioned himself over her and paused his sudden wild motions and pulled out of her. "I don't want to spoil you," he panted. "I think you should learn how to say please." He teased her with the tip of his sex. It was hard not to ease back inside her but even as he did so, he pulled back and bit his lip, tense even from his own teasing.
"Oh, and what about my back?" Jinai spat back, but when Jude began to tease her, her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
"Gods... Jude... You have to be the God of sex or something."
She couldn't remember one time, or anytime, their sex had been anything but stellar. But then again, she had never wanted anyone as she had wanted Jude.
Jude smirked down at her and watched her facial expressions. He continued to tease her, to stoke her fire until it was positively unbearable, but even he wanted nothing more than to fully take her. "You flatter me," he laughed a little. "But only for you Jinai. I want to please only you..."
Each time he stroked her, each time her sex clamped to his; she felt herself nearing her peak as she writhed beneath him. Teeth bit into her lower lip, drawing blood and finger nails clawed at his back and limbs clung to him desperately.
ANd while the waves were crashing violently and powerful, she sung out his name as she began to cum- and her vision went white hot as she entered into a wild moment of ectasy.
"Gods.. Jude..."
Though she was far from over, she clung to him and moved beneath him, hips rocking fast, hips rocking wild, and her hands were fierce as they held onto his hips, keeping them flush with hers as she moved fast and quick with need.
It was his turn to be completely at her mercy and Jude quivered when she forced the rest of his member to be swallowed up inside her. She urged him to move faster, to hit her sweet spots and soon he was crying out her name in one of the highest points of pleasure he had ever known. She always shared in her pleasure, even when she was greedy and he pulled her hips tightly onto his, pushing into her fiercly. "Ansgar! Jinai!" he heard someone yelping in his voice. "Mercy!" he begged but he hoped to the gods she wouldn't listen to him.
Jinai never was a good listener, and as he begged and cried she eventually turned him over, slamming his back into the rough rock to give hers a break- and as the sea waters splashed onto her sore flesh, she ignored it for the sweet, burning pleasure of their sex. She rode him like a stallion, hips rolling like the wild waves below them as her blond hair whipped about as her bangs began to become slick with the sea's mist and stuck to her forehead. ANd her breasts were bouncing wildly, her body glossy with both sweat and sea- and as she moved over him, she arched her backa nd grit her teeth, eyes closing tightly as she found just the right spot and began to ride him out as she screamed his name in sweet ecstasy.
But that was only two- and she'd hardly stop there.
Shivering over him, now she lay over his body, pinning his arms down to the rock as she moved his sex inside her nice and slow. It was tantalizing, and she took him in quick, but pulled out slower than molasses, so thathe'd be able to feel the velvety contours of her sex as his was drawn out to the very tip- then again, she'd thrust him deep inside, devouring him and shivering all the while, enjoying the pleasure far too much.
"Gods.." she said, hot breath in his ear. "This is like heaven."
And she took her teeth to his ears, sex gripping his as she rammed him in deep inside her and paused, lips trembling against his as she drank down a deep kiss.
"Gods.. if we die tomorrow, I don't care."
And a wave crashed heaviyl into the rock's side, spraying them both.
"If the promise of heaven is perfection, I think I know what I'll be doing for all eternity." And she peered deeply into his eyes before kissing him again- and she road him like crazy, as more waves crashed around them and she was taken to heaven a third time.
How she tantalized and teased and poked and prodded, drove him clear over the edge and back again. Jude was lost, drowning in waves of pleasure, roiling over in the roaring of wind and waves. The tide had risen and washed over them now as they made love on the rocks. His skin was stung with the salt of it, his body aching for her, his heart yearning for her. He cried out, completely at her mercy, trying to regain control of his heart as it was about ready to burst out of his chest.
"I would care," he panted beneath her, undulating his hips beneath hers, moaning softly in his pleasure. "I would want to be alive long enough to share this with you time and again. I would never want it to end."
Jinai felt a smile quiver across her lips, which she hid as she kissed him- even hiding a few tears she could, if he called her out on it, blame on the wind.
"But we can't live forever... though I intend to live each moment to the fullest."
Each moment, learning love with you.
The spray was cold on his behind as he rolled them on their sides on the rocks and he raised her leg over his. Jude leaned in and drank of her lips deeply, so taken with her that nothing could interrupt this moment.
"No regrets. No second lives. Just you and me," he breathed against her skin. And just when he was ready to make love to her again, he paused when he heard screaming on the wind. He perked his head up and saw in the distance, the faintest figures on the beach.
"A-ASHER REMING!" a screech called out and Jude narrowed his eyes as he focused in on the two figures far from them on the beach.
"Dear gods," Jude smirked and laughed. He turned his eyes to Jinai. "I think we're not the only ones stealing a moment on the beach. Seems Maudy finally found some common ground with Asher."
"Either that or Maudy is pissed," Jinai laughed hotly into his ear before taking her teeth to it as she playfully purred. "Though who cares what they do. Just keep on fucking."
"Yes, Madame," he growled. Jude blushed at her attention. His teeth sunk deep into his lip and subsequently hers as he kissed her once more. Jude's hand slipped down to her sex and carefully prodded the lips of her sex with exploratory fingers. His whole hand soon followed as their passion persisted on the rocks of that burning shore. He coaxed her on her side until she was squealing and just as soon turned her over and coaxed her on all fours. His front pressed to her back, his hands sealed to her hips, guiding her.
"Gods... Jude," she moaned. How many times would she scream his name? And to the Gods? Or to Ansgar? She didn't care, and ultimately obeyed as she was on all fours and letting him into her as they fucked like animals, her knees and hands being scraped by the rock. But she didn't care. Gods, did it ever feel good.
Jude wanted her to feel him, deeply and wholly and gave her all he could. His body was trained on hers, slapping against her sex, his own knees digging into the rough stone. His delicate skin was breaking, scratched and bruised as he pistoned behind her. But he didn't care. The salt burned his open wounds, making him clench his eyes tightly. Jude was lost in her and shared and guided her in all the ways he knew in how to love her.
Soon the pair were rolling around and Jinai, somehow on her back again as she laughed as the waves crashed dangerously close to her head. They were practically falling off the rock, but alls he could do was groan and clutch onto his hips and begged for more.
"Gods, Jude! Yes, yes, yes, YES!" And sweet ecstasy came along with the crashing of a massive wave that threatened to drown them both-a nd soon they were both suddenly entangled in the ocean while being entangled within one another.
When they fell down into the water, at least Jude was prepared and promptly stood as he held her against one of the rocks. He was laughing the water reaching just under their chins and he laughed louder as he pulled her from the rocks and onto shore, falling down in the sand just underneath her. "I know you don't care if we die tomorrow, but I kinda was hoping to live through the sex. That's my favorite part after all," he laughed, grinning up at her.
Jinai laughed and pinned him down underneath her so that his back sunk into the wet sands.
"Good. Because we're hardly finished yet." And she sealed her lips over his as their bodies united again.
"JINIAAAAAI!" Jude howled but his cries were muffled as she took him again. He writhed and soon screaming her name in white-blinding ecstacy. "Mercy! I'm going to lose my mind woman! Good gods!"
"You're gong to lose more than that," she whispered, body moving over his as she laughed.
"Gods.. Jude.." she moaned, sitting over him, moving over him and smiling as she closed her eyes. "Gods you feel so good."
Jude just laid back and let himself enjoy the ride. His eyes had seen his brain and then some and did a full three sixty in his head. He didn't fight her, didn't want to as her hips rolled over his. "How good? Don't sell me so short!"
"Better than Ansgar!"s he shouted, rolling her hips rough. "Better than the Gods! Better than drugs, hell- better than everything! Gods, just fuck me! Move those hips!" she begged, rolling over him as wildly and as fast as she could, holding onto his hips as she took him in hard and deep as she herself was seeing her brains as well and crying out and begging for more. She was so close to heaven, but it seemed so far away.
"Gods..." she moaned in a whine, her tone begging without her even asking any more as she gripped him tighter and continued to thrust him inside her as deep as he could go.
Jude smiled and began to undulate his hips underneath hers. "You have to relax, Jinai," Jude said, leaning in with his forehead pressed against hers. "If you try to force it, you won't be able to feel it when you want to... Relax, Go slow, Easy, Relish every inch. Feel it," he replied.
Jude gripped her hips hard and eased her hips down onto his. He pushed higher up just as she came down onto him and his breath hitched in each gasp, thrusting harder each time.
As he forced and urged her to go slower, her moans grew louder as she shivered against him, their faces nuzzled together as her hot sex was worn over his like a second skin. ANd how they had done it earlier, she moved with him, real slow, real simple, and dragged her body up and down along his. and when she drew his sex out- it was painstakingly slow and made her ache, and her breath hitch- then when she took him in, it was quick, fast and he was swallowed up within her- making her cry out in sweet bliss.
Jude loved her sound, her voice, her pleasure, to know that he could make her feel as loved in body as he did in heart. He kissed her throat, the soft roll of her chin and let his lips linger along her chin. "Easy," he murmured against her lips. "Just like so... You feel like heaven...gods, Jinai. I...I love you so much."
Jinai gasped, faltering in the moment before her eyes rolled back and she shivered over him, her sex melting as it pulsated wildly as she came.
"Gods... Jude.." and she lay over top of him, her wet body glued to his.
And after catching her breath, she replied softly, "I love you, too."
Jude had come too and wrapped his arms around her back. They were slick with sweat and sea and sex and he felt more at peace than he could have thought in that moment. He smiled and kissed her deeply, sharing panting breaths. "I-" He could find no words to speak, only his breath to recapture. Perhaps it was best to leave words to the poets and diplomat. For they need only understand the language of their bodies.
She could have fallen asleep there she was.so exhausted. And when he attempted words, she merely smirked and closed her eyesx breathing onto his chest. And even as a wave crashed onto.the shore and its cool waters lapped at.their bodies, she simply sighed and held to him tighter .
Jude still said nothing and nestled his head into her hair, heavy and stringy from the ocean water. His hand came up and brushed it out of her face. "As lovely as the sand is, darling, I'm getting it all sorts of weird places. Maybe we should get a clean bed somewhere? Or maybe we can just stay here on the beach the rest of the night. Up to you," he murmured, running his thumb along her cheek and gently pushing stray hairs behind her ear, and flicking off bits of sand with his index finger.
Jinai smirked, positively melting into the sands.
"I don't even care right now," she whispered. She didn't even attempt to get up or even bothered to open her eyes as she smiled. Let the sand go up her ass. She didn't care. This moment was perfect, and she- about ready to pass out from afterglow of bliss.
Thoughts strayed slightly to what lay before them. The ships would likely be all in soon and the cargo? Well, they still didn't know where that was, but Jude wasn't worried that they wouldn't find out in time. He just laid beneath Jinai in the moment. His knees had scratches and scrapes on them from their long endeavors and so did his back where her nails had dug into him. His body was hot and cold all the same as another wave washed up at their feet and he leaned his head up and kissed her cheek gently. "I think our clothes washed with the tide!" he laughed. "But that's okay, I don't want to get up anyway. I don't think I could walk very far after what you did to me."
"Lazy sack of shit,"s he teased, sighing contentedly as he kissed her cheek.
"They're probably still on the rock."
"Or they might have washed away at sea," came another, familiar voice. Jinai's eyes opened as she peered up at Maudy, who's white dress was now plastered against her body, except the fringes that the sea-air tossed wildly about against her legs. "Seems you two had quite a fun evening."
Jinai, spotting Asher not too far off redressing on the beach, only smirked. "The same could be said about you!"
Maudy flashed her friend a broader smile. "Come, why don't the pair of you come back to She Sells? We have more than one free one available for you."
A blush got the better of him but at least it was difficult to see in the dark as Jude grunted with some effort to sit up. He smirked at Maudy but then cut his eyes to Jinai. When his legs didn't feel like jelly underneath him, he walked over to the rock and was surprised to find their clothes still there. He redressed and tied his the buttons of his trousers up and shoved his feet into soggy boots. He just tossed his shirt over his should and tossed Jinai her dress. When she was decent enough, Jude stepped toward Jinai and plucked her off the sand and into his arms whether she liked it or not.
Jinai just shrugged, remaining lazily within the sands, though she stared at Jude's fine, fine ass as he walked away back to the rock. Smirking, she heard Maudy's throat clearing as she looked her way.
"So... found yourself a keeper, huh? Who would have thought," Maudy said, her eye roaming Jinai's form appreciatively.
"Yeah, surprised the hell out of me too. But I guess it makes sense when the sex is good," Jinai jested and Maudy only smiled.
"Is he a better lay than me?"
Jinai didn't have the time to answer that when Jude came back. thankfulf or her clothes, she shook out the sands from them before rising and brushing off what snad she could on her body before slipping on her skirt, then shirt- and before she had a chance to even adjust the ties, Jude scooped her up into his arms.
"J-Jude!" she exclaimed, clinging to him suddenly. "What are you doing!?" Really- and where was he taking her!?
Jude held her in the vice of his arms and just unleashed a cackle. "Silence, Crone! Screaming will not change your fate!" Jude smirked at her and winked at Maudy before stalking off the beach. "You will be mind until I split you in half-f-f-f-f-f!" The last F's came out in a long rapsberry that Jude purposefully enunciated.
Maudy rolled her eyes and planted her hands upon her hips.
"So I take it I'll see you both back at the She Sells?" she called after them, all the while Jinai still squirmed in his arms.
"Jude! You just spit on my face!"
"Trust me that's among the most benign of things that could happen in your face," he said and kissed her cheek roughly. No matter how she wiggled, squirmed, or protested, he carried her against him like an unruly child and turned his head back to Maudy.
"You will see us there, Maudy. Don't be too hard on Asher."
"Jude!" she called, still wriggling. "I'm not even fully dressed! Where are you taking me!? Come on, my legs aren't broken! You know I can walk!"
"Oh Jinai, can't you just let me feel at least punily heroic for once?" he said, holding her still. "The brave knight carrying his lady fair. It's all so romantic and moving. And all that lovemaking we did on the beach...oh, the stories of such love would make our Lord Ansgar blush!"
"Heroic? And just what are you trying to save me from?" she said, her feisty antics halting as she glared up at him, eyes glistening with challenge.
"The hideous and decietful ocean serpent that nearly devoured you but moments ago!" Jude said with a forced scoff as if wondering how she could forget so easily. "Your brave knight came dashing into the fray. Naturally, me being too beautiful, I stood back and watched with mild horror as he was swiftly gobbled up. Since I was much too much of a gentleman to leave you in danger, I stepped in to slay the beast and rescue you from devourment. Then we made passionate love on the sands and now I am carrying you back to a bedroom where we can continue to make wild, passionate love in a bed." He stuck his tongue out at her and continued to walk.
"You know I'm not a whore!" Jinai said with a laugh. "You planning to make me sore with all of this sex?"
"I realize that!" Jude winked at her. "But I think you're forgetting that I AM!" He laughed, throwing his head back and started to run a little faster. "I plan on making it so you won't walk for days!"
Jinai smirked. It seemed, despite all of their antics and the long day- Jude had the energy of a child. It was refreshing, but she had a feeling he was going to crash at some point- Either way, she supposed she ought to enjoy it.
"Ok, my whore prince,"s he said with a grin. "The She Sells is right over there. Let's get in there and find a bed so you can make good on that promise."
He didn't have much money left in his pants pockets, and when the woman recalled that Jinai didn't have to pay for a room, Jude thanked her and quickly bounded up the stairs for the nearest room, that didn't have loud moans emanating from it and kicked it open and slammed it shut with his other foot.
"Your chambers my lady," he teased and gently eased her on the bed. "Please don't be too hard on the decor... It wasn't my doing." He smirked at her and leaned over her, kissing her neck. Then he retracted and motioned for her to lie down. "Perhaps a kiss is took quick, after all you need some respite from our long and aruous dat. Perhaps a massage might be in order." He smiled and sat beside her, gently kneading his hands into her back.
"Hey, I won't turn down a massage. I don't get enough of those. Just be wary of my sore skin, Prince charming, and I'll just lay here and enjoy it!" And she nestled her.face into her folded arms and sighed contentedly as he worked.
Jude was feeling it now the throes of just how tired he was. Their excursions at the beach had truly worn him out. Not to mention he was squirming here and there from sand that had gotten into those weird places. But he leaned into Jinai, focused on her back and worked his hands gently over the scratched skin. His fingers walked along her scars, his palms pressing gently in the lower muscles, and remembering the stitchings he had given her in that hotel room so long ago. He recalled that night, and the many nights before, their first encounter, her coy and leading smiles, teasing him, taunting him, wanting him, hating him, sobbing for her brother...
Jude knew she had been through so much, and he wanted only to be able to give her reprieve. True many sought him as a means of escape. He was a hired lover, probably the highest paid of his kind. But they had forgotten him, he was but a momentary existence in their eyes. It wasn't always a hard thing to bear. But for the first time in his life, he didn't want to be forgotten. Not by Jinai.
They say be careful what you wish for- but it seemed Jude Armand might have gotten his wish. Ever since they met, Jude Armand was a hard thing to shake- and their peculiar partnership was something she never could have imagined would have turned out to be so much more. Where she had a half ass planned to steal information from him, it seemed she hadn't been prepared that she'd find her better half in Jude.
The only other person she could ever claim she felt so at home with was her brother- and he was dead. Though she still had a ways to go with Jude, he was the first person in a long time she could (somewhat) open up to-
and now he was spoiling her rotten.S he had never enjoyed the finer things in life until he came along, too; and perhaps it was her being able ot take out moments in life and enjoy them that had her realizing how much she needed them-
and how much she needed him.
"I think I could get used to this," she said through a contented sigh as she melted into her pillow.
"I hope you intend to," Jude purred behind her. His hands dug into her shoulders now and focused more and more on her neck and upper back now. "You heal so nicely. Your back...I can only imagine what it must have been like getting those. But as far as I'm concerned...they only add to your beauty. I would never find them ugly or debilitating. I love that you throw yourself into the fray, but that also terrifies me, knowing you jump into something you were unprepared for and I would lose you with no word or knowledge of what happened. I love your bravery, I love your smile, I love your temper, I love your sense of humor - even at my expense. I even love your nose," Jude went on and crawled over her to lay on the other side of her. "But sometimes I go crazy with worry..." His massage had come down toward her arms and massaged her down to her elbow and her forearm.
"You clearly have strange tastes!" she retorted, which was accompanied with a bark of a laugh before it. She, naturally, was not used to such compliments- except maybe from drunk men and whores, so to hear these words for the first time had her feeling awkward and uncertain how to reply. So she imply shook her head, but at the compliment on her nose, she hid it within her folded arms.
"Gods.. don't bring that up," she muttered. "It consumes my entire face." Or so she felt. "Although.." and here she changed the subject to something else on her body.."I suppose the scars I have build character- each one is a reminder of a story- or a story I forgot!"
Jude laughed at his lover and he rolled off the bed at last to observe a liquor cabinet in the corner. "I could use a good stiff drink. Let's see what our resident prostitute enjoys most." As he inspected the liquor cabinet, Jude gasped when he found a full bottle of fine wine and pulled it out. "This should help us wind down for the night!"
Jinai peered over at Jude but remained laying lazily upon the bed.
"Sure, bring some over here,"s he said with a grin, before nuzzling into the blankets and tiredly closing her eyes.
He brought the whole bottle and he didn't bother with glasses. Popping the top, he smelled it first and allowed it breath for a few minutes before knocking it back. "Whoooo that's strong." He offered Jinai a taste and set the bottle on the side before he crawled in beside her. He was still largely in his wet sticky clothes, but didn't bother to change out of them when he slid in next to her. "I guess falling asleep is a better prospect than getting drunk. I could sleep for days," he murmured.
Jinai smirked and admired his face.
"I guess every man for hire turned criminal needs his beauty rest." She gave him a nudge as she looked him over. "YOu know, our clothes are still all wet."
"And you're not at all clever in wanting to get me naked again," Jude said and leaned back, leaning his legs up to shimmy out of his trousers. He draped them across the bed post to dry out as well as his shirt and reached across her to take another swig of the bottle of wine, a little longer this time and smacked his lips from the tip of it. Settling in beside her once more, he nestled his face in her hair and smiled. "We can fuck in the morning. We both need our rest for now. Is that a deal?"
Jinai smirked, eyeing him up before stretching out lazily on the bed against his side.
"I suppose so, but if I have to wake you up in the middle of the night- you'd better oblige. I'd hate to have to seek out Maudy for sex." She teased. She didn't know why, but she enjoyed seeing him grow jealous. Perhaps it was because she was mean or cruel, or perhaps it was because she never got to have someone jealous over her before.
"If you wake up in the middle of the night, it means I didn't do my job. If you go to Maudy, I'll have to be rough with you," he growled and put his arms around her waist and sealed her against him possessively. "And as a man for hire, I made a vow to leave my clients more than satisfied by the end of the night. I'm sure Ansgar's getting sick of you proclaiming my name all night."
Her forehead rested against his as she smirked, green eyes meeting to his- and there seemed to be a sparkle of mirth and a challenge unspoken in her eyes.
"You might be right, but there are other gods I could be screaming to,"and her hands smoothed up his hips as she wrinkled her nose. "You're covered in sand,"s he said, playfully flicking hte gritty stuff at his chest.
"Oh yeah? And what gods would you pray to?" He laughed and kissed her lips softly. He could feel the sand like gravel on his skin, making him itchy and antsy a little. "Why don't you clean me off then?"
Jinai smiled through the kiss and leaned into it a little. Though at his words, she made a face.
"You expect me to do work?" she felt perfectly content remaining completely filthy and just passing out.
He burst out with a small laugh and brushed off some bits of sandfrom his chest. "I guess you don't mind your lover coated in sand and getting it all over the bed and into your ears and nose and butt and everywhere else," he smirked at her. "You just like me dirty."
"I already have sand up my butt," she told him with a laugh. "And I'm too lazy to care. We're going to have a long day tomorrow anyway. So why don't you wash us both off if you've got that much energy?" And she lazily nestled in against him with a yawn.
"I would. But I'm not some boy fresh off the boat looking for a job at the nearest Uthlyn bathhouse," he leaned in, turning his head down to nurse at her neck. She smelled sweetly of sex and sea water and he kissed her deeply along her throat. "But I might be persuaded to brush it off of you...for a kiss. A good one."
Jinai smiled, toes curling at the attention, but she kept her eyes closed and sighed through her nose.
"Mmm.. do I have to?W ell, you can have one so long as you come get it."
Jude deepened his explorations and let his hands rove down her hip. He moaned a little in her ear and smirked when his face came back toward her view. "You WOULD make me beg when all I want is one little tiny kiss... You want me to take it then, hmm? All right, I'll take it..." Jude leaned over her and pressed his mouth on hers, breathing in her scent, his nose plastered to her cheek and his hand holding her head toward his.
Jinai was finding she liked this sort of attention-a nd it had been too long for either of them to go without it, so it seemed they were even more worse for wear and needed each other a lot mre than usual- though perhaps part of that could be blamed on the fact they could very well die over this ordeal.
Smiling as their lips met, she cupped a hand behind his head and leaned into the kiss, putting all of her feelings and love behind it while her other hand found his and their fingers threaded together as tehy kept close. But hte kiss was powerful and moving, and she found her entire body leaning into hisbefore her lips parted and her tongue sought out his to where they wrestled together as she moaned and smiled and then kissed him again, lips open, faces close.
Jude found himself trembling beneath the power of her kiss. At the taste of her mouth, the feel of her tongue on his, it wasn't difficult for her to get him to bend to her whim and to suddenly feel like a teenager all over again. Jude too gave a breathy moan, feeling her body press against him. His hand squeezed hers and moved it up above her head. He covered her with his body the, leaning over her, putting his other arm around her waist and brushing off what sand had collected there.
Her face.cupped his as the actionbrushed off.sands as.she kissed him.over and.over.again. It was powerful, it was passionate and she drank him down like a fine wine. And she could feel him.growing giddy and aroused as her body pressed more deeply to.his as.their kissing grew more intense.
Jude had always lived as if he were to die by morning, to live only for one day. It was only then in that moment that he realized if he did, he wouldn't care, as long as he could do it by Jinai's side. He turned over enough until he was atop her and his kissing turned increasinly hungered. His hands coaxed her legs to entwine around him. But he did not yet take her, and instead focused on the intensity of her body, in making her feel just as good as he felt in that moment. Perhaps even more.
There could be pleasures greater than.sex, and in that moment she was.feeling it and.reveling in its intensity. Her body felt at.one with his, their hearts united, their lips joined. Kissing and touching had never.felt.so good, and she let.him know that as she moaned and.clung to him.
In that moment of intensity, Jude wrapped her in his arms. His whole body trembled over hers, wanting her, needing her, and wanting her to want him. He broke the kiss for but a moment as his eyes lingered on something in the corner of his eye.
The oil lamp.
He reached across and turned the knob until the room was pitch black. Even the curtains had been drawn to keep moonlight from pouring in. A shiver coursed through him as Jude leaned down onto Jinai once more. "That's more like it," he purred against her.
Jinai smirked,and that would be the last.thing he'd see before darkness consumed them. Then lips met.lightly to his and ghosted over his.cheek then down.his.throat as her hands felt up his body.
"Mmmmm, sex in the dark?" She asked in a purred whisper as her hands.wrapped around him and finger niaks.dragged lightly.down his back.
"Wasn't that idea in the first place?" Jude murmured. He could hear the intensity of her breathe. Everything seemed so much louder in the dark than by lamplight. And the sensations more intense. "Hmm, who are you again? I didn't catch your name mid-moan..." He chuckled against her lips before devouring them with his own.
"Maybe I don't have a name," she spoke between kisses, dragging her lips against his before pressing them deep. "Or maybe I don't want to share it."
He smiled on her lips, though she could not see it in the dark. His eyes could make out shapes, partly but nothing distinctive. "That's fine by me," he breathed. "Just think of me as...nothing more than ghost."
Her hands ghosted over his body, lips trailing across his neck.
"But if.you are a ghost, then I can't touch you.." and her lips ghosted just above his neck.
"Then I am only able to t come physical with you. For a moment..." Jude smirked at her and he undulated his hips a little so that she'd feel him sliding against her. "You could touch me...if you wanted to."
"Touch you?" She repeated, breathing the words against his neck. "But where?" And her hands smoothed up along the insides of.his legs.
Jude purred against her neck and kissed her throat there. His kisses were moist but not sloppy. He sighed softly at the contact of her hands against his legs and shivered. "Wherever your explorations take you."
Jinai smiled. He shouldn't have given her the go ahead, because her hands reached and stretched and stroked over everything. Down the front of his chest, his back, his firm buttocks, the muscles of his thigh, the muscles of his calves- his arms, his biceps, his fingers-
then gently, almost ghosting, her hands tickle and traced up his nekc, both of her palms on either sides before she felt his cheeks and thumbed over his chin and groped around with it untl she found the softness of his lips.
She smiled again and this time leaned forward, but did not kiss him- instead, she let her lips brush against his, before dragging them across his chin and cheek and seeking out to breath hotly against his ear.
Her touch was positively maddening, her explorations so light, yet intense, to feel every curve of his body. He was built to please, at least in the sense that he did not tire as easily or as quickly as other men, and that when it came to Jinai Rinstgate... Did he really have to go on?
With the darkness smothering him, Jude's shivers became more intense. He leaned down on her and took her lips though she breathed on him and broke the kiss with a smack of his lips. It was his turn to explore and he sat up over her, rolling her over to let his hands carefully rove down her back and down toward her ass, her thighs and legs, even her feet. He rolled her back over and slid his hands down from her feet to her legs and paused just at her hips, gripping either side of them and feeling along the curves there. When his lips found her hips, he drew them upward along her belly, kissing her softly.
With his attentions on her skin, it made her gasp softly, breath softly as she curled her toes. Such attention was driving her mad, making her breathless as she writhed.
"Jude.."s he whispered through a released breath. "Gods, your touch.."
Need she say more? It was heavenly.
Jude kept his kisses on her belly, smoothing his hands up her sides and lowered his lips down onto the skin just above her sex. "You feel divine," he murmured. "You smell like the ocean." He leaned down onto her hips and took his mouth to her warmth.
Jinai shivered. Such attentions had her melting.
"Ansgar's name... Jude..."s he moaned, eyes fluttering closed as her teeth sunk into her lower lip. If there was one way to get her more heated, it was definitely the attentions he was gracing her with as she squirmed beneath him, albeit it subtly. It just felt too good, and her small gasps in the dark proved it.
"I said I would return the favor didn't I?" he smirked and continued.
Jude lapped at her sex, generously and over abundantly, pulling her thighs up onto his shoulders, his hands running down them, holding her in place as he tasted her. Much like his talent for kissing, he applied similar techniques to his ministrations, holding nothing back.
Jinai smirked, dimples cutting into her cheek, though he wouldn't have been able to see it.
"Chh.. yeah.. ten fold,"s he murmured, stretching beneath him as she squirmed beneath his tongue. The only evidence of how good it felt was the way her gasps and moans came out, radiating from the dark.
"Gods... Juuuuude..."
Just when she thought he was going to give her some reprieve, Jude leaned in further and licked her sex vigorously until she was trembling with pleasure, and her moans were unable to be contained. He wanted her to scream, just as she'd made him, and he wouldn't stop until he made sure of it.
Jinai was seeing white, even in the darkness. The pleasure was so intense, that finally, she could stand it no longer as fingers gripped into Jude's hair and she screamed his name to the heavens.
Jude felt the remnants of ecstasy leave her and he moved over her in the darkness, laying down beside her and stretching out along her frame. "I knew I could get you to scream...among other things," he whispered triumphantly and leaned his head down against her breast.
Jinai melted in beside him, fingers still curled into his hair.
"Mmmm.." her moan came out softly, almost crackled from all the strain on her throat from the screams she endured throughout the day. And she smiled, kissing the top o fhis head before sighing and nestling in.
"I think you've finally worn me out," she said, smirking and not bothering to open her eyes as she breathed softly in the scents of his hair. He smelled of the sea and sand, and very faintly- of some cheap perfume. She wondered if htat was the remnants of Maudy, or if Jude's soap was just that fragrant.
[LOL! That's probably Jude's soap!]
Jude nodded against her and sighed at her hands playing through his hair. "I should hope so... But if you're itching for it again, don't hesitate to wake me up," he sighed. He kissed along her chest before finailly stretching out on his back and closing his eyes, not bothering with the blanket, content to be warmed by her.
Jinai slept like the dead. There was nothing that could wake her, and despite the next day possibly being their last, she felt she had nothing to fear. Though hours later, well into the morning, when she did open her eyes, green eyes looked back at Jude as he slept.
He was handsome- perhaps more than even she gave him credit for, and she took this moment to admire him as she lay there at his side. The sun cast in through heavy curtains, casting the room in a deep orange glow. His skina nd hair seemed golden- this moment, other worldly.
A hand ghosted over his face, stroking the air above it before fingers lightly pressed through his hair. ANd seeing him rouse at her attention, she smiled.
"Hey." Her hands continued to brush through his hair. "Good morning."
Jude had been stretched out, quite soundly asleep when she captured his attention. Her hands was soft to the touch, scratching against the stubble of his face and he smiled when his eyes opened. "Oh, good morning," he said, blinking at her to make sure she was really there. He only vaguely remembered that this was the first morning she had actually stayed through the night.
Carefully propping himself up on one arm, he ran a stray hand through his hair and beamed at her. "Is it time for morning sex already?" he laughed.
Jinai punched his arm.
"You would say that." And smiling, she turned to him and kissed him softly on the lips, a notion unlike her as her hand sought his as she lay on her belly beside him and threaded their hands together.
"But I'm game for whatever you are."
"You know? I await the day when I go to sleep and you're not there...but I wake up and you're sound asleep beside me. Why didn't you ever visit me in Reajh, except when you needed me for exploits like this I'm curious?" Jude smirked and kissed her again softly. "Ahh, nevermind my question. You're here now. That's what matters. Maybe a little touch and feel might be in order. I only know long this can last. I want to sure I have evry inch of your body commited to memory."
Jinai smirked at his inquiry but cast her eyes away so she was staring at the bed sheets as she idly played with them beneath her fingers.
"I was busy," she told him. BUt that was a lie. Well, partially. She was busy avoiding him. And as he wet on to change the subject, she smirked and looked up at him through her messy blonde hair. She needed a hair cut. Her bangs were getting long they nearly hid her eyes completely. But maybe she just liked it that way. It was harder to read them if you could't see them.
Jude loved it when her hair looked messy. He liked it when it was fixed and pushed back. He reached an idle hand upward and brushed it out of her face, he didn't care what her reasons were staying away were. As long as she was with him now, he just wanted to love in the moment. He leaned in and kissed her nose and gave her a broad grin. "I see I have lots of lost time to make up for then," he whispered. "We've only just put a dent into it."
Jinai jutted out her chin.
"Well, we at least have the morning. But I think as soon as we hear word-"
And there was promptly a knock at the door that drew her attention away, and a second later, in stepped Maudy.
"Good morning sunshines, who's up for ale?" And she tossed them both a flirty wink as she held up a jug of drink.
Jude made a face at Maudy for her intrusion, his brows furrowing and expression grim. He sat up nontheless with a sigh and shook his head. "No thanks Maudy. No ale for me this morning. It's too early for a drink. Though I'd be eternally grateful if you actually had something to eat around here?"
Maudy smirked and tossed an apple at Jude.
"Normally Jinai and I share morning apples, but I suppose we can all share in on that little treat." She tossed a wink at him before placing her hands on her hips. "So you two think you're ready to meet a boat load of caged mages? Because let me tell you, you won't believe what we found."
Admittedly, Jude didn't care for apples this early in the morning but it was better than nothing and the last hot meal he had was 12 hours ago. He gladly took it and bit it. It was juicy and ripe and offered a bite to Jinai. Turning back to Maudy, he perked up. "If there's things to do, then we best hop to it!"
JInai accepted the apple and turned it around in her hands before peering over at Maudy as the woman paced about the room.
"Turns out, some of the rich folks here are into this scheme. They've used the basement of their houses to keep the mages. Others have rented some warehouses and they're kept there. It migh tbe hard to get all of the locations down and infiltrated before the ships take port, but we've got a few inside men working at the docks. Nothing will get in and out of those ships without us knowing. Now, this is the good part... Turns out, some man named Vesrik will be there- and he's the Grand Duke's ruler visor! Can you believe that?"
Jinai's face dropped as she looked at Jude. God damn it! The man lived! She had hoped to find out other wise, but turns out, her luck was heading south.
"Damn." Setting the apple back into Judes hand she rose from the bed.
"So how much time do we got?"
"A couple of hours, but we're trying to think of a way to get into this lord's home. He's got extra guards stationed on his street, and we- without some fancy pants to aid us."
The fact that Vesrik was still alive too made Jude sit up beside Jinai. He looked at her and frowned. "He must be here to organize the transfer of the mages," Jude said thoughtfully. He jumped out of bed and slipped his trousers on.
"Gods, I need a fucking smoke!" he said with a haggard breath. "All the ships are in right? When the barrels go off, they all have to go off at the same time. We can't afford to have a dud or waste a second more. Are Asher's men ready to move? Did he say where he was going to transport the mages once the chaos begins?"
"Asher's still finalizing plans. It was a good thing the pair of you met him when you did. How on earth did you plan to pull this off with just the two of you?" And as Maudy raised a brow, she noted the look in Jinai's gaze. "Oh... you were expecting that much help from me?" The idea was enough to make her laugh. "Really now, Ansgar's name, that's adorable. But come on, come on, get yourselves ready. We're to meet him at Eldenbird's for breakfast. So get your pants and order and keep your dick out of your mind- we've got lives to save!" And with that, Maudy made a sultry, but hasty retreat.
Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Jinai smirked up at Jude. "You heard the woman. Come on. Let's get moving!" and she slapped him hard on the ass before rising off the bed.
[He already put his pants on! 8D]
Jude held his ass and grabbed his shirt, throwing it over his head before redressing completely before grabbing Jinai by her ass and chasing her downstairs. "So where is this Eldenbirds? Another whorehouse?"
OOC: Shhhh, lion. *pets* Shhhhh
Maybe she says that toa ll of the men in the whore house :|
-----
As Jude fondled her down the steps, she gave him a gentle elbow to his gut to get him to stop.
"Eldenbirds is a respectable tavern- "
"Yes, respectable," Maudy chimed in. "The man there raises my child." Thoughs he glanced to the pair once over before adding, "Though the girl has no idea who I am to her- ad I aim to keep it that way. Shall we proceed? Are the pair of you ready, or do you need a morning fuck?"
Jinai made a face at Maudy.
"No, we're ready. We've had enough of that.." And she shot Jude a look incase he wanted to add some foolish two cents to it and she hoped her gaze could stop him.
"Fine, then let us be off." And she stalked out of hte room with a sway of her hips. Jinai only smirked and followed afterwards, and it wouldn't take them long to find themselves at the Eldenbird. It was much quiert and homely compared to She Sell's, but those that were there were evidently tradesmen who didn't wish to stay all night with diseased women.
Gesturing for them to follow, she guided them to a back room, hwere most of it was dark- not even a candle to light their way.
"Stay close. We're to meet in the cellar."
And eventually Jinai's eyes adjusted tot he darkess a she groped after and followed Maudy down.
"Well that was the idea until you showed up," Jude remarked, rolling his eyes as they walked downstairs. He was prepared for whatever they were to go. He slicked his hair back, out of his face then looked at Maudy with furrowed brows. "Is he the father?" he asked idly as they walked on.
His question would go unanswered when they made it to the tavern. Jude was surprised to find that it was actually a tavern, compared to most establishments on this street and quiet and well tended to. The barkeep had smiled at Maudy in their passing as they went toward the cellar. In the middle of it, Jude plucked a lantern from it's hook to help light their way down.
As Maudy moved to take the lead, she eventually slipped int darkness and disappeared from sight.
"Hey, Maudy- wait up!" Jinai called down, but a yelp later had Jinai pressing against Jude in the mid-step down the stairs- then she was smirking a moment later to hear,
"MAUDY!"
"Seems she found, Asher. Come on." ANd Jinai slipped a hand down the back of Jude's pants and leaned in close to him. It felt nice to be near someone like this. She almost wished she coudl be selfish so this time with him would never end.
Such moments were rare indeed, but they were not destined to last and Jude made a face at Asher as he found him face deep in Maudy's hair as the woman buried her lips against him. "That's enough you two. We have work to do," he said and set the lantern down on the table.
"Where are we rendezvousing all the mages to get them out of town Asher?" he asked matter-of-factly. "Maudy, get off his face and sit on his lap like a lady."
Maudy gave an impatient sigh and swung her legs out and crossed them while she settled onto Asher's lap. "Very well," she said with a smirk, and Asher's face was as red as the lipstick now painting his lips.
He cleared his throat.
"You won't believe this, but we'll be taking them to the church."
Jude leaned down with both hands on the table, eying Asher with no small amount of skepticism. "Really? And just how did you manage that?"
"Apparently the church here isn't really a church for Ansgar," he hesitated before proceeding to reveal. "And it's not much of a church if you look into the bottom of it. Turns out, the priest there has been harboring refugees for years, even let's some live there if they can lay low. No body questions it since this port city is so active. I never would have thought..."
"And neither had I,"Maudy added with a purr. "Turns out... one of us know the right people." Asher blushed at her leer.
"So... we're goin to save boat loads of refugees right in the basement of an Ansgarian church." JInai gave a bark of a laugh. "Well, that'll work well with the fire works- but what about the after math? We'll still have to find a way to get these people out of town-a nd quick."
"Naturally," Maudy said. "But when the ships blow up, it'l be the perfect distraction for those traveling on foot or horse to make their get away. We're expecting chaos. Though for those who wsh to stay - taht basement is as good as any other to weather this sort of storm."And she gave Jinai a wink.
"How clever..." Jude said, smiling at the Maudy with no small amount of admiration. He turned to Asher. "I don't expect you have a small amount of men and carriages at the ready to transport some of the mages when they're ready to leave."
"Don't you worry about that, Jude Armand," Asher said with a small grin. "I have my men on it all ready. All you have to do is worry about helping getting those barrels onto the ships. The last one, fromtthe list you showed me docks tonight. Like you said, when all the men are off, all the barrels will be ready for transport."
Jude stood straighter and looked at Jinai, and nodded to her, "In that case we don't much time to waste. Though one thing remiains, the distraction. Maudy, how can you be sure that every sailor won't go staggering back to one of the ships? We can't afford to have any casualties you know."
Maudy's grin grew and grew.
"Oh, they won't be going back. Every whore house from here to the end of the shore is offering a free ride, and then some."A nd this time, she gave Jude Armand a wink.
Jinai rolled her eyes.
"Free ride. Doesn't sound fair the rest of us are working while you get to play."
Maudy sighed and gave a fluff to her hair. "Just all part of the business, love. But if you want, I wouldn't mind a foursome when this is all said and done."
Asher's face went red at that.
"Well some others might.." he grumbled, but Maudy only smiled.
"That's very generous of you," Jude smirked at returned Maudy's wink but it was quickly followed by a shake of his head. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave as soon as this is over. I have to keep up appearances."
Jude looked up at Jinai and his eyes seemed to want her to come with him, but he didn't say anything of it. Instead he reached for her hand and threaded her fingers between his, meeting her palm to touch.
"It sounds like most of everything is in order then," Jude said, standing straighter. "But what are we going to do about the Grand Duke's visor? I have a feeling he's going to be sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. In fact he's running the entire exchange."
Jinai peered up at Jude.
"We could try to finish the job," she suggested. "Just because the poison didn't kill him the first time, doesn't mean we can't try again."
Jude was lost for an answer for a moment, but his eyes widened. "Again? I-I don't know Jinai. If we do this, we have to do it now. But how in the world would we even get out alive. And don't even think about heading off alone. I know what happened last time, but I'm not letting you get hurt because I wasn't there to help you. I won't tolerate any bull-headedness about this. I go with you, or you won't go at all. Besides...I have a score of my own to settle with him.
"Maybe.. we can seek him out in the after math? No doubt he'd want to flee and chasing him on the road would be easier than cornering him here. And I'm pretty sure my face would alert him too much- if he hasn't already assumed my other identity yet."
"Perhaps," he murmured, his eyes going low, the image of Vesrik pounding fervently into Jinai made his stomach grow sour and his blood boil in rage. His jaw muscles clenched in frustration and he gripped the table.
"Very well. Asher, keep a man on him and his movements and alert us as soon as Vesrik attempts to flee the city. We have a lot of work to do people," Jude muttered, his face hard and grim.
The plans were soon set in motion, Asher getting his men into position, and Maudy- her ladies already working their charms. It was doubly effective as her place was bursting at the seam with sex and infidelity. Though as the town seemed thriving, the docks were left relatively alone, except a few guards and soldiers to keep watch.
Jinai now walked with Jude on the beaches, her hand in his as the silver moon lit their path.
"It's almost time.."s he told him, looking off towards the ocean, away from where the ships loomed they'd soon have to dock. "I have to admit, I didn't think I'd be this nervous."
"Neither did I," Jude admitted, gripping her hand tightly. He hand another hand in his pocket and he grit his teeth, unleashing a soft breath, to still his nerves. "I need a smoke. A good one. It's a shame I lost my trunk in the middle of that skirmish, and my carriage. Fuck. But it would certainly do wonders to calm my nerves."
"Yes,"she replied with a hollowed laugh. "I could easily get high before this."
It would be so much easier to be somewhere else.
"But we can't," Jude said flatly. "We have to concentrate in the here and now... Asher said that a few of his guys are disguised as some of the guards. They'll take out the rest and shove the in some back alley or another. And then we make our move. We're getting close to the docks. It could be any minute now." He didn't realize it but he was squeezing her hand rather tightly and before taking another step forward, he turned suddenly and planted a deep, hot kiss on her, pulling her tightly into his arms. When a minute passed he pulled just a breath away and licked his lips. "For luck," he breathed and set her feet on the sand again.
Jinai felt dizzy from the kiss, and wasn't set back into reality until her feet were on the sands.
"Yeah.. luck.." she said, a hand smoothing across his chest.
"Guess it's too late to ask for more sex.."
Jude still held her against him, his hand moving along her waist. "Yeah," he smiled, breathing against her. "That would just have to wait until after. But at least your pulse is racing from a kiss and not because of nerves." He laughed and kissed her again. "Just in case it's the last time I get the chance, I want you to know I love you."
Jinai smirked at his reply-
"Yeah, your kiss and not my nerves," she said, punching lightly his side. But at his confession, she faltered before him and stared up into his eyes.
"You afraid I'll leave after this?" she said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Why would you talk like this. It's not like we're going to die."
Though the fear had crossed her mind..
It was a very dangerous operation, and this was the first time she was goin to accomplish such a thing with someone she actually cared for.
"It's for...'just-in-case' purposes," Jude laughed, tryung to lighten the mood. "Besides, you have been know to run off one time or another."
Jinai tried to smile at him, but dropped her gaze. She wasn't sure she could say it too. She felt as if she was damning herself if she did, and it was putting a cold feeling int he pit of her stomach.
Jude put his thum under her chin and turned her head up to his. "Look," he smirked. "Don't worry about it. Don't be ashamed, or feel like you have to explain yourself. In fact...it's kinda hot if you think about it." He laughed again and gestured his head toward the docks as he turned and saw the signal from the beach, one of the 'guards' waving his arms. "C'mon, we gotta get this party started."
Jinai said nothing,just wore the same cool smile she always did and silently followed after. As they neared the docks, she noted the soldiers and once she got a glimpse of one of the faces, she smirked.
"Looks like one of our guys, come on," and she gave Jude's arm a tug and moved towards the wooden walk ways of the dock.
It wasn't long before all the barrels were put in place, all were to be put at the bottom of the ships as possible, to ensure the explosion would sink the boat as fast as possible. It was all quiet on the dock front, each one had a barrel and another to watch their back while they were rolled up the gangplanks and on board the ships. Jude took the barrel across the way from Jinai and he nodded to her just as he pushed the barrel over the ramp onto the otherside.
"Don't forget when we get this barrel below ship.. we have to make the gunpowder trail long enough so we can get off before it explodes," she told hm in a whisper- though it was eerie- the night was quiet- almost too quiet, the only noises coming from the saloons and whore houses.
"Sounds so quiet.." she said, pausing to wipe some sweat from her brow. "ALso sounds like the men are all having fun on shore."S he gave Jude a smirk. "You ready to light these? I think this is the last one. I've got the signal flag, and the others can light their boats on fire too- but we gotta be quick. So it's either you or me starting this thing."
And she smirked at him, her heart fluttering in loops and her stomach, tumbling into knots.
As they rolled the barrel into place, the only sounds were the moaning of lovers in heat, the creak of wood and the soft swish of ocean waves. Jude was sweating too and nodded to her, he listened for a while before staying her hand. "I'll do the honors. You got to light the last one remember. The trail looks long enough." He gestured for her to turn back. "Go. I'll catch up with you."
"Yeah, but we have to make sure we get this before the others blow up, so be quick," she whispered, though as she took a few steps away from him- one of the ships suddenly exploded.
It was the one on their left, not the one they had just set up the barrels for and the heat from it's explosion was intense and the force, knocked Jinai clean off her feet.
A moment later, she dizzily pushed herself to her feet.
"Shit!" That ship blew up just one moment too early.
"Quickly, light that thing so we cna get the fuck out of here!"
Jude stumbled against the wall and watched Jinai do just about the same. He was dizzied by the blow but soon he was at his feet once more, once the ship had settled and lit the fuse with the match in his hand. The spark was powerful and he had moment to watch. He grabbed Jinai by the wrist and he dragged her along.
She scrambled off behind, making her way to the plank when something at the end of the dock caught her eye-
A gun.
"Halt right there!"
Jinai's breath caught in her throat- as she and Jude were paused on the gang plank between one ship about to be blown up- and a gun readied to be fired directly at them.
"Put your arms up and move off of the ship slowly or I'll shoot!"
But Jude didn't stop. He was too much in a hurry, barreling out of there, to stop from the point of a gun. He hadn't even seen it before his body collided with the man's and the pistol went off. Jude, in his panic, stepped on the man's throat and stumbled to the ground. "Jinai! Let's go!" he called, and went back for her, kicking him in the face for good measure before running off again.
Jinai was stunted in the moment- finding herself frozen in place when the gun had gone off. She watched in horror- not certain what to make of the mess but when Jude came back to her, she released a held breath and took a hold o fhis hands. But they only made it two steps back down the gang plank when suddenly, the ship behind them exploded, and the next thing Jinai felt was intense heat before she was thrown into the dark waters.
Jude had been thrown off to the side of the dock, wood splintering everywhere, throwing fire and raining metal and wood and everything else that was on the ship. He plunged down into the water, only a second to catch his breath and holding it, while he watched a smaller body falling down into the water opposite him. Jude's ears were ringing, and while he was still conscious, he turned around in the water and began to swim through the deep, through ripples of fire and fury.
Her ears were ringing, even in the suppression of the dark waters around her as they lit up foggily from the explosions. Even from down here, the waters shook as the other boats began to blow up; one at a time.
It was just so surreal, and the world, tranquil and quivering in both darkness and burning light- yet there she was, eyes towards the surface of the waters, as she sunk deeper and deeper from the world.
Jude could feel both cold and sweltering heat as he swam through the water. The salt burned his eyes and in the deep darkness, he could only see what the fire had alit in its brief life. Jude could see Jinai sinking quickly into the deep and his lungs already were hurting from the strain.
He reached her limp body and dragged her up by the collar, only hoping he reached the surface without passing out.
By the time they resurfaced, the Port City had turned into chaos. Bells were ringing, the soldiers were all scrambling around to figure out what the hell just happened, and Jinai lay limply beside Jude in the water, the blood turning red from where the gash in her head and back was leaking.
Jude placed her arm up onto his shoulder and put an arm around her waist as he waded along, swimming to the other side of the shore before pulling her up. "Gods, Jinai. Wake up," he pleaded. For now, they were out of sight from the city guard as he watched the ships alighting the horizon. He turned Jinai over and immediately pressed his mouth onto hers, blowing air into her lungs before pumping his hands just below her chest.
Nothing happened, nothing fast- nd she felt as cold as the waters that coated her- slicking her hair against her face. Though the waters and shores were glittering with fire and the chaos roared around them- she seemded impervious to it all-
But then another breath unto her had the water rising and with a sudden lurch,s he retched out water and began to cough and sputter for breath.
She could barely see- the world around her swimming as all noises came in ghosts of sounds. And her green eyes tried to register Jude before her, but nothign came to mind as she breathed heavily, blood now dribbling down from her nose.
"Jinai...Jinai!" Jude breathed desperately, pulling her up into his arms and brushing her hair back and splattering kisses all over her forehead and breathing one last breath into her mouth to make sure all the water was out of her. He peeled hair from her face and he shook her a little. "Jinai, wake up. Can you hear me? Can you see me?"
Jinai sputtered and choked out more water, and as he held onto her, pulling her hair from her face, she found herself muttering.
"I'm sorry about the poison, Jude. I'm sorry."
And she closed her eyes and slumped off, breathing softly- but at least breathing.
Jude shook his head. "Don't even worry about it. It passed and we're both alive. Maybe not well, but alive," he murmured. He kissed her cheeks and then her lips and squeezed her face between his hands. "Jinai, you have to get up. Vesrik, he's going to escape!"
Vesrik was far from her mind, her entire body numbed but throbbing all at once; and it was then she suddenly felt a pain jolt inside her belly as she let out a yelp of pain and clutched somewhere she just happened to not be bleeding from.
"God, it hurts.." she said, trembling against him.
"Jinai!" Jude said stunned, eyes wide and clutching her against him. "What's wrong? What hurts!?" He pulled up her shirt and observed nothing there. "What's the matter?"
SHe was in too much pain to answer him, grimacing as she leaned into him.
"Just.. just get me out of here," she asked, her body trembling as she moaned in pain.
Jude didn't know what more he could do. He plucked her from the ground, his tired limbs screaming for him to take a moment of rest. His adrenaline was kicking in just about now as he lifted her up into his arms, cradling her by her shoulders and another underneath her knees. He turned around and went up from the beach, passing through the chaos back to where Asher had said he had left his horse. The last horse in the stables near the back of She Sells.
The animal screamed wildly in panic at the fire and chaos around them. When Jude found the horse, he had to calm it for the moment, setting his hands up and reassuring it before freeing him from the stall then climbing up into the saddle with Jinai in his arms. "KYAH!" he cried out, and the horse bolted from the stables, running through the chaos and weaving between the streets.
Every movement was painful, every drum of sound- grating on her as she grit her teeth and leaned into him. It hurt, no matter what way she turned as she clung onto Jude.
"Gods.. it feels like hell," she told him, not realizing she had begun to cry.
"Just hold onto me," Jude said, clutching her to him as he rode like a bat out of hell. The horse was rounding up and about through the chaos of the city. People screamed everywhere, loud voices ran about, and though the horse was frightened, he wanted only to escape, and he remained steady on his feet. Guards moved passed them, seeming to ignore them in the moment of temporary insanity. Jude buried Jinai's face into his neck and clutched onto her tightly. The exit was getting closer.
She was hoping to see this through to the end- but what suddenly enveloped her blinded her to everything but the pain. She wished she could pass out, to be anywhere else but awake and in this intense pain for it was incredible and not subsiding as she tried to swallow back a few screams as the horse galloped along and she, buried her face into Jude's chest.
He smelled of musk and sea water- and the faint remnants of gun powder. Though the smells were familiar and welcoming, she soon began to feel nauseous as she clutched onto her stomach and moaned.
Jude should have paid more attention to the blood that stained her skirts and his pant leg. It was unfortunate however, that all he could focus on was holding Jinai and gettng the hell out of Breakpoint before it was too late. Smoke filled the air, people screamed left and right, soldiers cried. But it was not long before the buildings began to thin out and they were headed downhill.
Jude steered the horse off the beaten path, pounding the ground hard until the steed grew tired and eventually slowed when the port city was well out of sight.
"Asngar's name, Jude... it hurts, it hurts so much,"s he cried, trembling against him. She wondered if she was dying, if the whole world had gone to hell as the silence that now encircled them made her realize she was sobbing.
"Gods, I can't stop.. stop crying," she murmured, still shaking- still in shock.
Jude was sweating, he was soaking wet, and shaked from it all. He slipped off the saddle and took Jinai's form with him. He stumbled to the ground and fell to his knees. It was then that he saw the blood. "Gods... Jinai.. You...you didn't tell me?" But words escaped him. He held a shaking hand to his mouth. He just clutched her to him. "I'm here for you, Jinai. Just hold onto me."
"What? I don't understand. Am I wounded?"
Am I dying?
"No," Jude breathed. "You're miscarrying... You were with child."
"W-What?" she stared up at him, blinking through tears. "Mi..miscarrying?" she looked down to where his eyes had been and she noted the blood and suddenly clung onto his hand, her body shifting uncomfortably as she turned away, and retched into the grass.
Jude lnew there wasn't more he could do for her than what he was doing now. The question of who was the father lingered in thought, but he couldn't be sure...whether it was his, or another man's or that bastard Vesrik. It didn't matter now, all that mattered was holding the woman in his arms to him, supporting her in her hour of need.
Even long after the pain had subsided, her tears continued to fall. She had knew she was with child for a while now but fervently denied it, ignored it, and pretended it wasn't so. The illness, the missed time on the rag...
Like Jude, she had no idea who the father could have been- though odds were more in favor it was Jude's, since most of the other men she had been with she had taken.. precautions with and..
after a time, since her and Jude had fucked so much- she sort of just...
stopped.
She didn't know how bad the consequences could be- or that being tossed bodily from an exploding ship would have set off the chain reactions-
but now that the truth was evident.. and the child, lost-
She could not stop her tears as she curled up and sobbed against her legs.
"Oh Jinai..." Jude breathed as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her close to him and said nothing more. Nothing needed to be said. All he wanted to do was take her away from all of this, just hide away from the rest of the world. He covered her with his body, pressing her to his chest.
She didn't know what to say, what to do, and she was shaking so bad the entire port bombing was lost on her. For all she knew, it hadn't fixed the moment they were trying to thwart- but in that moment, she didn't care.
"I.. I want out of here,"s he said, closing her eyes tightly as hot tears slid down her face.
Jude nodded to her. He leaned down and lifted her up from the ground, ignoring the blood that dripped from between her legs. He lifted her up back into the saddle and climbed back up behind her, holding her too him as he turned the horse anywhere west.
It was still dark when Jinai begged Jude to stop- and they found a small cabin in the woods off the clear bath. Her body was too muhc in pain for her to want to keep riding, and she- just about ready to pass out. Though as she curled int Jude, she pressed her weeping face into his chest.
"Stay with me," she whispered, shivering.
If it weren't for Jinai pressed against him, Jude would have very likely froze to death. He was exhausted, the horse was exhausted, and he was sure Jinai got the worst of it. He breathed against her softly. "I'll take care of you," he answered with a nod, slipping off the rear of the saddle and pulling Jinai with him, cradling her in his arms.
The cabin was small and squat, and at least it was warm and dry and Jude found a small bed to lay her down on. "I'll start a fire," he murmured, gesturing toward the hearth. "It's freezing in here."
Jinai didn't answer- she felt so numb, so cold, and she could not stop shaking. Though it wasn't just the chilly air that made her tremble. The pain, at least for now, was subsiding, but her nerves were worn. And as she lay there on the bed, all she could do was look at Jude and tremble.
Jude's shaking hands somehow managed to strike a spark and the small kindling took to it. He put a few more pieces of wood into the fire until they burned well enough and he moved to close and lock the door. Jude returned to Jinai's side and removed his wet cold shirt and his trousers as well. "Here, let me help you. It'll subside the cold," he said softly as he helped Jinai undress and extended their clothing by the fireplace. Jude said nothing more and moved beside her once more, sitting down and coaxing her into his arm. He gently rubbed her back, like she was a child he was trying to soothe to sleep.
Jinai lay there, hair a wet mess across the straw better, and her body- unnaturally pale and cold as she shivered. More violent tremors would come and go, but after a time, it quieted and just the simple shaking remained as her eyes stared listlessly into the fire until no more tears could fall.
Jude noticed her trembling, the soft motion of it almost in tune with his. He leaned back on the bed, until he was completely flat, coaxing Jinai to lay on his chest. He continued to rub her back and his eyes followed hers to the fire. Despite warmth flooding the room, he too shivered still. His body was beyond exhaustion and the poorly padded bed was a wonder to cold hard ground.
His voice broke the silence. "You asked me once about my first time when we were back at that cozy farm," he said softly, musing aloud for the comfort of them both. "I never answered for we were in quite a hurry. But what I would have said was that back in the village, I was..maybe sixteen, there was this clockmaker's daughter. She was cherry haired with luscious brown eyes. Her name was Adelaide and she was a sight for sore eyes. We grew up together in a manner of speaking...when my family would come into town taking our stock to sell, we would speak and play and soon she kissed me...and dreamed of me becoming a soldier one day. She said she always wanted to marry a soldier, someone with great valor and courage and with stories to tell." He laughed softly. "If only she saw me now, I have plenty of stories to tell, but none of them from being a soldier. We made love shortly before the Mordecai came to the settlement... She ran away with a captain and..." His voice went on telling small tales of his childhood, of life on the farm, his sister, his mother, all to settle the mood and comfort the woman in his arms.
His words comforted her- no matter what he had said- and it was difficult to tell if she was even listening, but listen she did- for listening was all she could do. And though she was exhausted, sleep did not claim her for many hours, and the only word she uttered, in a slight delirious state was, "I don't even know how to love... you.." before sleep became her and nightmares rattled her mind for most of the night.
"That's okay," his mouth formed the words, but he didn't voice them. He closed his eyes too and feel into an uneventful slumber, his exhaustion finally taking over.
It was barely morning when she awoke, her eyes staring like two hollowed voids at the dusty fragments of the rising sun that poked through the cabin. She felt listless and numb, and didn't dare move- lest the nightmare come true; and she'd have to accept the consequences of all that occurred. She couldn't even feel Jude, even though she knew he was there, and just kept staring, staring into the greyness of the day.
Sunlight warmed his extremities and danced across his vision. His eyes flickered open and he felt stiff and sore, and only partly rested. He felt Jinai nearest him and he turned his head down at her. He said nothing, just turned a little and wrapped an arm around her.
At his sudden touch, Jinai cringed and bristled, jerking away from him.
"Do you think there's a river nearby?" she said after a time. "I'd like to bathe."
She felt dirty all over, and empty in her skin. She wasn't sure what bathing would fix, but it would at least wash away the nightmare that still stained her legs.
Jude frowned at her bristling and refrained from touching her further. He sat up and cracked his neck a little and peered at her from her place on the bed. "Probably," he said, moving over her to check on their clothes. "I saw a small stream passing through on our way here. In fact I can hear it now." He looked through the window. "Yup, just past that bush there."
Jinai sat up, not even bothering to look at him as she tried to rise to her feet. SHe stumbled a bit at first, her legs feeling like jelly, but she didn't ask for any assistance as she groped her way towards the door.
Jude gave a gasp as she tried to get herself out of bed. He moved toward her but he didn't grab her, as he only stood there to catch her if she needed him. He looked across and saw a walking stick in the corner and he handed it to her. "Maybe this will help."
Jinai pushed the stick aside.
"What do you think I am, an old woman?" she snapped, but one wrong step had her most conveniently falling into Jude. SHe grimaced. "Just.. just help me get to the water," she grumbled, miserably.
"Instead of being stubborn..." Jude didn't even finish his sentence as he helped her to her feet and helped her get through the door of the cabin and hobbled down toward the small creek that resided just beside the cabin.
Jinai was hoping for something a lot deeper, this barely went up to her thighs, but she didn't waste any time once she approached the waters, and began to peel off her clothing before letting herself fall into the waters.
The water was freezing cold and stung her. But she didn't care- and sat there, unmoving, as the waters rushed passed.
[She's already naked. 8D]
Jude didn't know what more he could do and turned back toward the cabin. He collected their clothes and took a blanket from the rack beside the bed and carefully dressed before returning to the stream.
OOC: Whoops XD
WELL THEN
double naked 8D
---------
Jinai remained in the stream for a long time, sitting down, knees drawn to her body while her eyes stared listlessly at the moving waters. She didn't even bother to try to wash herself, just stared at the watersa nd let the current remove the blood and filth.
Jude had forgotten that he himself hadn't had a bath in days and he likely smelled worse off than she did. He undressed again, setting his clothes neatly beside Jinai's on the soil of the creek and he joined her, though he sat beside her, looking at her with a somber expression. "Do you..." he hesitated at first. "Do you want me to help clean you?"
Jinai said nothing for a while and simply stared at the stream.
"No."
"All right," he said and sat down into the stream, just on the other side. He looked at her from the corner of his eye but he didn't reach for her. He was there in case she changed her mind, but other wise he just cleaned himself, dousing his hair with cold water and he laughed a little. "Whoo! It's zesty isn't it. We don't get water this fresh in the city. I forgot how much I like the outdoors."
Though Jude went on with his business, Jinai remained distant and quiet.
Jude scrubbed his face and his hands and his sex, hips, legs, and feet. He moved over to Jinai and just looked at her.
And Jinai just looked right past him.
"I think I'd like to leave," she told him dryly, not even bothering to look at his face.
"Okay," he answered. "You can leave. The horse is right there. You always leave me behind." His eyes were somber and he scratched the scruff that had been growing on his face, and he just turned to face his wavering reflection in the water.
The worlds barely registered, and she, barely had any strength to even stand. Somehow she did. Somehow she got out of the water, somehow she had gotten herself dressed and over to the horse. But it took an eternity, and the cool winds were the only thin she felt on her still moistened limbs and when she was beside the horse, all she could do was stare at it, through it, and into something else.
Jude didn't know what more he could say, there was nothing he could do, certainly. She would not leave with him; she never left with him. She would take his horse and leave him there by the stream. He got up and took the blanket, wrapping himself in that before sitting beside the stream and washing his clothes in the creek.
When no one came for her, when no one was there; she realized then how much she needed him.
And it scared her. It scared her shitless.
Perhaps it was goodbye forever, she didn't know. She had to leave this place. She had to go away.
ANd she didn't bother to turn to him as she mounted the horse and kicked into it's sides and let it carry her away.
The sounds that echoed behind him would haunt him for the next months to come, however long it would be. Jude let out a quiet breath and he scrubbed away at the legs of his trousers.
[Continued in Softly, Does Evening Fade (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=16345.msg176899#msg176899)]