Spirits of the Earth

Connlaoth => Reajh => Topic started by: visualspice on November 29, 2012, 04:10:13 PM

Title: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on November 29, 2012, 04:10:13 PM
It had been sometime since he'd been to the Capital, but as always, Reajh was a beautiful sight, it's tall architecture surpassing most of what he knew from outside Connlaoth, and in fact, reminded him of the architecture from his home.  However, he was not there to sight see, and kept himself well hidden in the crowd. Gherrick was no fool. He knew he was being hunted, even to a place as well guarded as Reajh.

But that's just what he expected as he hunted down his own prize, and when the carriage came in sight, he hung back and inspected the line of guards flanking it.  The banners from the Allarrian duchy waved proudly as they passed, and Gherrick did most of what he could not to sneer.

In the center of the carriage sat the guilty and the story behind him was rather rancid.  Change was in the air for the duchy of Allar, and this branch was no exception as he proclaimed himself ruler of his own section of Allar, that had been passed down with blessings directly from the Allarrick noble family.  No one seemed to notice or question the change, except the people, the commoners, who were suffering beneath the sudden exponential rise in tax.  Since the noble had sealed his brothers 'crown' for himself (a silly artifact that meant the world to this blood line, a blood line of truly vile nobility), the common lands fell into hopeless poverty. The last ruler, Gherrick knew, had been a wretched one, but at least the last brother was smart enough to not bleed his people of all their money, (though he had bled them enough).  His current successor, however, was not so.

The name of this noble was far too tongue twisting and irritable, so this information escaped Gherrick as he fastened his eyes upon his prey and watched the horses and men bob along. Lord
`whoever' he was, was about to have a big surprise and it would happen in the most embarrassing of places- right in front of the castle!

Biding his time, Gherrick waited for just the right moment and tipped his bo staff against a crate containing some rounded fruits, and as he walked away, they spilled across the cobblestone just as the men on horses came to pass.

"Halt the horses!" their commander said, and the caravan was held up as the alley ways nearby were inspected.  It only took a few quick moments, and a lot of nonchalant walking, for Gherrick to carry out his plans (though he was a bit surprised how easy it was when he opened up the carriage door and stepped right inside).  The guilty, who was a squat, round, piggish man, red and beading with sweat, was poised over his velvet cushion, his nose pushing out the window as he yelled commands to his men.

"Do hurry up! I can't be late! The Grand Duke will be most upset with me and it will be your heads who I'd blame! Now hurry up and clean up the mess!" the angry noble bellowed, and with a sigh, he sat back into his chair, just in time to do a double take at the man sitting right across from him with red hair, and blue, elegant silken clothes.  But most shocking of all was that he was wearing his crown! 

Gherrick simply wriggled is fingers in a silent hello.

"You!" the nobleman stammered, then his eyes shot angrily towards the crown. "My crown!"

"Your crown?" Gherrick repeated, tilting his head as a wore a knowing smirk.

And as events came to pass, the nobleman was bound like a pig inside his own carriage while Gherrick secured himself the crown. It would fetch a pretty price, hopefully enough to give back to the villagers who were suffering.

He was already disappearing into the crowd when somebody noticed what had occurred.

"My Lord?" The guard was taken back when he opened the door to the carriage, for inside sat his lordship, bound like an animal ready to roast on the spit, and just as furious. Though his mouth was gagged by one of the fruits Gherrick had used in his distraction, and a piece of paper was glued to his face (stuck to it by the exuberant amounts of sweat from the nobleman)  and had a quick sketch of the infamous "bandit": Gherrick.
He even signed it as such:
Thanks for the crown.  Enjoy your Pig.
Yours Truly,
-The Mage Bandit of Allar

Chaos broke out as the leader of the Guards drew his sword.
"Search for the criminal! The bandit of Allar has pursued us to the capital!" And soon swords were drawn as they fiercely searched the crowds.

Gherrick didn't pay much attention, but was enjoying munching on his apple and wearing the silly, gold crown upon his head.  He was pretty deep into one of the allyways and paused at a rusty old mirror to admire himself.

"It could be a good look for you," he told himself, then looked down at the poor, toothless woman at the shop.
"Can I help you, sweetie?" she asked, revealing, in fact, she did have a few teeth left, though they were black and rotting.  Blinking, Gherrick smiled and offered her a fruit.

"I was just admiring the view," he said, taking another bite into his apple as he stared over his shoulder, and nearly choked on it when one of the guards was charging towards him on horse back as he recognized the infamous thief.

"There he is!" the man shouted, pointing his sword. "After him!"

The remaining apples he had tucked into his shirt came tumbling out as the bandit bowed politely to the woman, "It was nice to meet you!" before he turned tail and dashed deeper into the crowded, maze like alleys of the city.

OOC: I wrote this a few times but lost one version- so hopefully this one makes sense~ I wanted to have a rather fun introduction post for Gherrick, so there you have it :)
Tags to Rhiannon with Beatrid~
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 03, 2012, 01:44:04 PM
A Mordecai never had time off, not really. Even when they were on leave, the job never ended.

At this point, after over ten years of service, Beatrid didn't know how to turn off her sense of duty even when she tried, and so it came that she had been minding her business, purchasing new bolts for her crossbow, when a cry rang out. It grabbed her attention and she perked up, body tense. The shopkeeper helping her froze and shifted uneasily. Right. Not her business at the moment. She wasn't supposed to be working.

You're on leave, Beatrid, she told herself as she tried and failed to shut out the commotion, thrumming with curiosity. She pulled some coins from her coin purse and smiled at the shopkeeper as though to say everything was fine, but the expression was strained. Leeeave. Which means, leave it to the soldiers!

But you're a soldier, she answered herself, and that smile turned into a grimace.

It was one of her many bad habits: believing that no one else was competent and that she needed to take matters into her own hands to ensure it got done right. She knew it was wrong, but knowing didn't make it go away. Besides, it had only been a week and already she was going out of her mind with boredom, praying everyday that her stupid scratch would heal so she could get back to work!

Alright, so it was more than just a scratch. It was, or had been, a deep gash earned on a recent hunt. It was healing cleanly and was no longer an open wound but rather a lot of tender new skin, but same difference; a good blow would reopen it.

More shouts sounded, closer by then, and Beatrid let out a huff. Oh, fuck it. A little romp couldn't hurt!

She pushed the bolts back into the woman's hands. "I'll be back for these," she said, and headed off down the street and into an alley, following the sounds, ignoring the small twinge in her side, and loosening her sword in its sheath.

She ran into a pack of flustered guards, some of whom she recognized from her time working the city. They stood at attention as she approached.

"What's going on?"

"Sir! The damned Mage Bandit's at it again! Stole the lord's crown, he did!" one guard spat, and Beatrid thought for a second before a face formed in her mind's eye. There had been a couple sketches done of the man, going off the victims' memories, though the renditions were different depending on the artist. Nevertheless, she had an idea of what she was looking for; the man was notorious. Tall, red-haired, rather wild-looking with beads in his hair and strange clothing. Some people had noticed a dragon theme. Beatrid's first thought was, "Adelan". Adelans loved their damned dragons.

"Where'd he go?"

With some vague direction being her only lead, Beatrid dove into the maze of alleyways while the others split up to conduct their own search. She'd spent a lot of time in Reajh, practically grew up there, so she knew the place like the back of her hand. A few poor peasants sleeping in the alleys were able to give her more conclusive leads and, encouraged, she picked up her pace.

She rounded a corner and came face to face with a tall red-head.

Wearing a crown.

Not hesitating, she drew her sword with a metallic hiss. "Nice crown you got there," she said. "Where'd you get it, eh?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on December 03, 2012, 04:04:36 PM
Gherrick halted in his tracks the moment a strong woman approached, pointing a sword right at him.  Ah, a sword at an un-armed man (though currently his only weapon in tow was his bostaff that was strapped across his back)

He raised his brows at her question and gave a shrug.
"I stole it from the man back there in the carriage," he replied, honestly as he jerked a thumb to point in their opposing direction.  "You can even ask him. I left him there in the carriage. Tied up like a pig. Though, you might want to take the apple out of his mouth before you question him," Gherrick suggested. "I mean, it is rather rude to talk with food in your mouth, but I don't recall seeing that man ever use manners."  He gave a quirky grin and bowed before her, adjusting his crown when it almost fell off his head in the process.

"But I don't believe we've been properly introduced," he stared at her sword, then up at her. "It comes off as bad manners that I met your sword first, rather than your name.  But you can call me Gherrick if you liked. And," he added, showing his hands that were currently empty. "I'm unarmed, so it looks like you got me."  Though his smile never left his face, or eyes as he looked at her, hardly looking like a condemned man or a mouse caught inside a trap. Infact, he looked rather pleased with himself.
"Oh, and by the way, I have to ask your opinion," he started, then gave a point to the crown. "Does this crown make me look fat? I mean, gold kind of matches the embroidery, don't you think? So at least I know I've got the same color scheme."

His long-winded, 'small-talk' afforded him to conduct a few manuevers of slight of hand, and before she would know it, an apple was tossed into the air, spinning between them for a brief moment as Gherrick exclaimed, "Oh my god, LOOK, it's an apple!"
Before tipping his crown towards her and bowing away, using the approach of a nearby group of children who came runnign downt he street to play (despite the warning pleas of the lady who was apparently their care taker (and not doing too good a job of it)).

Gherrick laughed as he wove his way through the children, pausing when he nearly tripped over one as he slowed and held onto the boy so he wouldn't fall.

"Sorry about that!" he said, and noticed the boy was about to cry as a pout trembled across his lips. "Hey, cheer up.  The other kids haven't gotten too far." and with another quick motion, he produced another apple and handed it to him. "Here you go," he polished it on the blue silk of his sleeve. "Nice and shiny. ready to eat!" the child was elated as he beamed at the man, but just as quickly, Gherrick waved him off and went to run, the man only found himself plowing right into the fate lady who was caretaking the kids.

"I say!" the woman shouted, as she nearly fell over from the collision. That's when the woman spotted Beatrid and waved her over. "He's over here! He's over here!" Cringing, Gherrick tried to slip away, but the fat woman kept blocking his path.

"Look, if you'll just let me through..." Gherrick began, bouncing back and forth, but the fat woman was quite agile, and kept cutting him off every time he moved.

"OVer here! Over here!" the woman shouted again, while Gherrick turned to glance over his shoulder, knowing his pursuer couldn't be far off.

"You'll not be going anywhere! IT's the jail house for you, criminal!" the fat mistress stated proudly.  "We've got you surrounded."

Gherrick couldn't help but smile but realize, he was, infact surrounded, and slipped his bostaff off his back.
"Yeah, I guess there's no way to go but up," he admitted, sheepishly scratching the tip of his nose.

"Up?" the woman questioned the preposterous idea, and found herself gaping in wide mouthed aw as Gherrick charged right towards Beatrid, still wearing a playful smile and the crown as he neared her, but a moment later, thrust his staff into the ground and catapulted himself into the air, where he sailed way over Beatrid's head and landed with a noise upon a nearby roof top.

Landing with a crouch, Gherrick adjusted the crown and gave a smirk as he still wore it. It was a silly thing to run with the crown, especially since it was too big for his head, but he figured it would make for an interesting story.
Turning around, he grinned down at the street to where he left Beatrid, the old, fat lady and the kids, who were all shouting excitedly as they pointed up to where Gherrick stood upon the roof top.

"Looky! Up there!"

"A man up on the roof!"


Gherrick grinned at Beatrid, even waved at her, but the commotion he caused (not to mention the length of time he wasted producing such a lavish scene) had already caught the attention of some nearby guards who also pointed up at him.

"There he is!" one shouted angrily. "Ready your arrows men and take aim!"

It was only then Gherrick's face fell at the realization they were going to use arrows.

"Ok, now I'm in trouble," Gherrick said as he held fast onto the crown and his bow staff and dashed across the roof top, arrows sailing through the air and tinkering behind him as they hit off the shingles.  "Good Gods, I need to run faster," he said, panting and nearly tripping over a loose shingle as he dashed to the end of the roof top and jumped, arms flailing as he landed heavily onto a more angular rooftop nearby. He nearly slipped and lost his footing, but quickly regained his balance as he ran across the shingles, his boots making them clatter as he ran.

"Don't let him get away!" the men hollered, and were quick to pursue.

"No, I think you should let him get away," Gherrick commented to himself, before leaping to another roof top, then another, before pausing as he caught his breath and wiped his sweaty, mop-like hair out of his face as he peered over his shoulder, listening to the sounds of the men who were now two streets over.
Grinning, he continued to roof jump until he landed upon a thatch roof, which thankfully made no noise as he stealthy moved across it, only to swiftly find himself becoming swallowed within it as he fell through a lose hole that had been forming in the middle since the winter- and came crashing into the stable below.

Gherrick lay upon his back, winded, as he stared up at the hole he had made as straw rained down upon him.  Thankfully he had landed upon a pile of hay inside the stable as he looked over towards a nearby horse who grew restless and began making a commotion when Gherrick had made his theatrical entrance through the ceiling.

"Hey, hey, calm down girl," Gherrick said, trying to calm the horse down in hopes to keep the pursuers off his trail. Hopefully, no body saw him fall, but when he heard commotion out of the street, he muttered something under his breath and dove into the  hay stack.  At least the horse was calmer.

Getting himself situated, he peeked outside, then noticed the crown.  Reaching a hand out, he snatched it and returned to nestling himself, deeper and deeper inside the tall stack of hay and bided his time, holding his breath-


and just waited.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 12, 2012, 02:58:13 PM
At first, it was nothing personal. Just her job. Just catching a criminal. Nothing special, nothing fancy.

Now, as she pursued the man from the street, Beatrid decided that she hated him, for he embodied every annoying trait from every annoying man and woman she had ever known, and she decided in that moment that when she caught him, she was going to break his nose. Then she would arrest him.

Fortunately, he was easy enough to pursue. For one, he was making enough clatter, sending tiles crashing to the street below, and the other soldiers pursuing him were making noise of their own. For two, it was difficult to race across the rooftops without drawing other types of attention, for that was simply not something that happened everyday. Peasants pointed and stared at the crazy man running amok with a crown on his head and his wild clothes, and people who were indoors when something went galloping across their roof rushed outdoors to see what all the ruckus was about. Some yelled at him to get down before he broke his neck--or someone's roof!

The man left an easy enough trail to follow and she didn't even have to see him to know where he was; she just had to follow the sounds of soldiers and gasping townsfolk, who pointed the direction he'd gone whenever she passed.

That man was not earning himself many fans.

Eventually, the trail went cold. But a young boy told her he had last seen him near a stables--well, on top of one. And then he had just sort of vanished.

Beatrid snorted. No one simply vanished. Thanking the boy for his help, she stalked off toward the stables, panting but having no time to stop and catch her breath. Chances were, he had moved on already and taken his chase to the streets, or was laying low. But it was as good a starting point as any.

That was when she heard a horse's frantic neighing.

Dammit! If he was stealing a horse on top of everything, he was well on his way to swinging.

Picking up her pace, she slipped into the stable, and her eyes fell on the one lone horse in the place. It was calmer, though its eyes were large and it was pawing the ground, agitated. Light was streaming down into the building, casting a spotlight onto a mess of debris and thatch, and Beatrid raised her eyes to the hole in the roof, and smirked. Well. She doubted that was supposed to be there.

Once again, she drew her sword and checked that the door was locked before proceeding.

"You're not a very smart bastard, are ya?" she said as she paced around the stable, nudging the empty stall doors open with her sword and peeking inside to make sure he wasn't hiding in one. "Stealing from a lord, evading arrest, insulting me..."

She started for the haystack. "If you're in there, I suggest comin' out before I start poking around just to be sure."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on December 12, 2012, 10:03:45 PM
"You might want to do that. This hay stack is allergic to swords," the haystack replied.  Gherrick knew he was caught, but decided to bide his time as he thought of a plan, which came to him quickly when he remembered the horse.

All he needed was a distraction!
That's when he recalled he still had an apple or two left up his sleeve and let one drop into his hand.  He'd have to take quick aim, because Beatrid's sword was sharp and he doubted she'd relinquish it (unless he actually believed his joke, which he doubted, she seemed rather quick and diligent. )

It was then Gherrick gave a whistle, the horse turned around, then Gherrick's arm shot out of the bed of hay and tossed an apple in the horses direction, however, he miscalculated and the apple hit against the horses butt.

"Uh, oh,"said the hay stack, the arm disappearing back within. It was clearly a miss, and before Gherrick knew it- the horse let out a whinny, bucking up and kicking back it's legs, breaking the stall right open and nailing Beatrid with it's hooves.

Gherrick only watched in horror as the woman was rag-dolled to the floor.  Leaping out of the hay, he immediately moved to her side, dropping to his knee.
"Hey, lady knight, are you alright?" he asked, not fearing her too much since her sword had been kicked out of her hand, laying in the corner. He gritted his teeth,t hat had to hurt.  Being kicked by a horse was never fun! His blue eyes roamed over her, red hair hanging over his eyes just as the cursed apple rolled to a settle beside her head. "Miss?" He held his breath, blinking as he looked down at her face.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 12, 2012, 11:23:58 PM
Beatrid's eyes rolled skyward. This was just too predictable. They always went for the haystack. "Uh huh. Right."

She started for him, and that was when he threw the apple. At first, she thought it was meant for her, snorted when it missed (really?), and gave him--or the haystack, rather--a wry smile. This was just pathetic. "Really? Ya really think that's gonna--"

THWACK.

Beatrid went down like a sack of bricks, the wind knocked out of her and every obscenity she knew (and even some new ones she made up right then) screaming through her head. She curled in on herself, clutching at her side, and when she could breathe again her breath came out hard and ragged. "Fuuuuck!"

The pain was unbelievable, but familiar, for it wouldn't be the first time she had sustained an injury to the ribs. However, though she'd been wounded by a lot of different things in a lot of creative ways, she had to give the guy credit--getting kicked by a horse was new. Sharp pain radiated out from her side whenever she drew air and she knew then that at least one rib was broken, maybe more. Probably more. Gritting her teeth and slowing her breathing, she focused on pulling herself together when he came over to her.

And then he knelt beside her. Leaned over her.

She turned her head, looked him in the eye, and for a moment just stared at him. Stared because that was such a stupid question, and he was making a seriously stupid move. Eyes narrowed, she growled through clenched teeth, "What the fuck do ya think?"

Before he could answer, she grabbed him by the front of the shirt with one hand and punched him in the nose with the other, and the pain that shot through her when she twisted her body to do it was so worth it. It wasn't as hard of a punch as she would have liked to deliver; the agony stole her strength and the angle was awkward. But it was satisfying nonetheless.

"You deserved that."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on December 12, 2012, 11:49:03 PM
For a moment, Gherrick was seeing stars, then he heard her clever words as he blinked his eyes blue eyes back into reality as blood dribbled from his nose.

"Ouch," he wriggled it and cupped a hand over it, then touched it very delicately with a wince before turning to her.

"I suppose you'd think that I was clever enough to use the horse, and I was planning on using him as a diversion.... though apparently I have terribly aim with apples so..." Gherrick shook his head at his ramblings. "I'm sorry I made the horse hit you." he told her simply, his blue eyes wide, almost with a child like innocence to them before he moved a hand forward. "Here- let me try to help you. That kick looked awfully painful."

And before he said anything else, he pressed a hand against her side, his hand emanating a golden glow of warm light that hummed over her skin, aiming to heal all that was broken within.

He didn't know she was mordecai, nor did he care, as he whispered a prayer to his ancestral Gods and summoned a spell of healing as symbols began to glow across his body, starting from the small, almost invisible pearl like jewel beneath his flesh.  All she would be able to see was the glowing, perhaps the shapes bleeding out in beautiful and intricate lighted glyphs across his arms, even a few of these shapes moved across his face as the swollen-ness of his once punched nose seemed to vanish, though the trickle of blood remained.


He truly hadn't meant to hurt her.  Although for Gherrick, it was all fun and games until someone accidently got hurt..
and  it was only gentlemanly of him to heal her of the wounds he had inflicted...

Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 17, 2012, 01:24:13 PM
Beatrid was only half-listening to his rambling apologies. She didn't give a shit about that. What she did give a shit about was that she was wounded (though thankfully it didn't feel like anything had been punctured) and that, to add insult to injury, she hadn't even been wounded doing anything impressive. A fucking horse? Not even a very powerful, beautiful one, but some nag that was probably used to pull a plow. Who got downed by a fucking horse they weren't even riding while pursuing some simple, cowardly bandit? Ansgar's tits, she would not be able to show her face around the men for some time...

Hissing through clenched teeth, Beatrid began to pull herself upright, face pale as she pushed through the knives stabbing her in the side, and that was when the mage came over to her and laid a hand on her side. She jolted, raised her hand, and was about to belt him again when she saw that he was glowing.

Magic.

One of the few mages she had encountered that wasn't affected by her ability.

Her heart clenched and her eyes widened, less in fear of him and more in fear of her own ability's ineffectualness, and she reacted out of pure instinct and impulse.

"Get the fuck off!" She swung her fist to knock him away from her and then lunged for her sword, only half-aware that her side no longer ached.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on December 17, 2012, 01:46:25 PM
Gherrick had seen the fist coming and jerked his face away just in time to miss his nose being plowed into again.  Attempting to catch her fist, he commented, "Easy there!" only to find his hair nearly standing on end as she went to reach for her sword.
"Woah," scrambling to get to his feet, the crown slipped off his head and went rolling to the ground, where it settled in a corner that rested between them.

It was hard to tell what sort of word he breathed through his teeth as he slung off his bo staff and lunged for the crown, hooking it onto the staff and then raising it up into the air as it slid down along it  and fell to where his hand now grasped the staff.

"Look, it's been lovely chatting with you and all, but I've got a crown to deliver," he said, bowing once before racing towards the door, only to find it was locked. 
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on January 02, 2013, 12:41:46 AM
Beatrid snagged the sword as the mage bolted, ignoring the crown for the moment. It was important, but it could wait, for far more important was apprehending the criminal attached to it--not only a thief, but a magic-user.

Her track record for capturing mages was a good one, and she wasn't about to let some fool tarnish that. And not only that, but things had become uncomfortably personal after whatever he'd done to her--and she didn't want to think about it. Didn't want to think about being touched by...by...

Her hand closed around the handle and she rolled to her feet and lunged for him as he bolted for the door. He was quick, but the locked door cost him valuable time. Enough time for her to come up behind him and press the sword's tip to the middle of his back, just hard enough to let him know it was there, to feel the sharp tip through his clothes.

"Don't move," she growled, "or I will skewer you."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 02, 2013, 08:45:20 AM
Gherrick stared at the door for a good long time as he contemplated the sword pressed threateningly at his back.  Oh, wasn't this a predicament!  Gherrick made a face and slowly raised his arms, indicating surrender.
"That does sound awfully painful," he replied, in earnest because well... surely it would be painful. His innards hardly belonged at the end of a sword!
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on January 23, 2013, 09:27:53 PM
"I assure you, it is," Beatrid cheerfully replied, holding her sword steady. "It's a slow, painful death. Stab wounds take some time to kill, and a thrust to the middle? It could be hours. Days. So you better not even fucking breathe wrong, mage. Now, turn around. Slowly."

She had nothing  with which to bind his his hands, but this was a barn. With horses. Surely there would be rope. She eyed her surroundings out of the corner of one eye and spotted a coil of it beneath a stool just outside the horse's stall.

"I'm gonna have you walk over to that stool. No sudden movements, no funny business. Got it?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 23, 2013, 09:39:50 PM
"Yes, and just think of how much effort it will take to clean off all of that blood from my clothes if it were to happen," Gherrick said wistfully.  But he wasn't a man to make a lady wait, so slowly, ever s slowly, he turned around, keeping his hands where she could see them and gave her a sort of an anxious smile and shrug.  "See? No funny business. Just a harmless old mage!" Well, he was hardly old- maybe he should have used the word charming instead? Charming he could be!

As her eyes searched around, his blue eyes followed her gaze, then went to hers, his nose wrinkling slightly as he pointed with a single finger, arms still raised. "Are you aiming to tie me up?" he asked, giving a blink, then looked over at the stool and back to her again as he hesitated. "Cause I don't think I'd do very well all tied up. It seems rather uncomfortable."

The horse, who had been watching, gave a snort through it's nose, swishing it's tail anxiously as it watched them, appearing wary of the pair at it's rear. "And I don't think that horse is very happy with me right now." The horse, if it could, seemed to glare.  Maybe the woman would see it and have a heart?
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on March 04, 2013, 01:13:08 PM
"A mage is never harmless," Beatrid answered, face impassive and unamused, eyebrows draw together and mouth a firm line. He was not taking this half as seriously as he should be! And she was nearing the end of her threadbare patience. She'd been made a fool of and kicked by a horse one too many times today!

At least he listened well enough to turn around. Grabbing him by the arm, Beatrid tugged him forward and away from the door and placed her hand on his shoulder to guide him, and keep him in arm's reach.

"And yeah, I'm not just aiming to tie you up, buddy. I am going to tie you up. Ya think this is a fuckin' joke or something? You're in deep horse shit, so I'd start worrying more about yourself and less about the damned horse."

She stepped behind him then and gave him another push toward the stool. Her foot hit an apple along the way--probably the one he'd tossed at the horse, she realized bitterly--and she snorted and nudged it out of the way. "I'll give it an apple for its trouble once you're all trussed up. Now, hands behind your back."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on March 07, 2013, 03:19:28 PM
"You know, horses have feelings, too," Gherrick pointed out, seeming most serious as he wore a bit of a frown and peered over towards the horse, shrugging towards the creature as it gave another swish of it's tail and an anxious step on it's hooves as it shifted it's weight about unsteadily from within it's stall.

For the most part, Gherrick was obliging. She was a lady after all, if even a little rough around the edges, so he wasn't about to treat her with any less authority than a man, or the respect a lady deserved, however, he was still not quite so keen on being tied up. He'd have to think on something-
and not remind her that he was partially immune to mordecaism, so, in a sense, the ropes could simply be burned. But that's only if he needed to.

His real concern was when she'd call for more guards, or.. more importantly, more moredcai.
He never had a good run in with them for long when the illness would settle in, and felt himself sweat a little at the prospect. He didn't want to pass out if he was around one for too long and well... if he passed out, he had a feeling he'd either not wake up, or wake up at the most inopportune time-
In other words, he'd find himself with a noose around his neck, just in time to feel himself being choked of his life-
or you know, the chopping block.
He inwardly winced at that.


So, with some reluctance, but still being as courteous as ever, he obliged the woman, hands now behind his back as he sighed.

--------------------

(Just a heads up, I updated Gherrick's profile~ I wanted to change a few things so he was more similar to how I rped him in my last rp, so some of his powers/weaknesses are more defined and his history and stuff have been updated and it's um, more readable than his old profile was)
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 30, 2013, 10:36:26 AM
Beatrid rolled her eyes at the horse comment. God above, she was going to be so happy when this idiot was out of her hair, though thankfully he was cooperating now. Actually, she wasn't yet sure if she should be grateful for his cooperation; after all that fuss and bluster, this made her a little suspicious.

And yet, after she reached with her foot and dragged the rope out from under the stool, she managed to get the rope around his hands and tightly tied.

Maybe he really was whipped.

She didn't dare bend down for the apple (she was not about to let her face get anywhere near foot level with this guy), but she did kick it into the horse's stall so it could eat it, as promised. Promise fulfilled, she took Gherrick by the shoulders and bodily turned him back around so he was facing the door.

"Alright. Time to go," she said, then paused. Right. The crown. The thing that hard started this whole mess.

She pushed Gherrick out of the way and reached down to collect the crown, where it was still looped around his discarded bo staff. "I sure hope this was worth it to you."

[No worries! 8D Thanks for letting me know!]
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on April 30, 2013, 04:09:33 PM
Gherrick rose from the chair, then peered over his shoulder at the bow staff, then to the crown, then back to her. He shrugged.
"It certainly seemed a good idea at the time," he admitted. "You should have seen that man's face. He was as mad as a hornet."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 01, 2013, 12:41:34 PM
"If you survive this, I'd suggest a different hobby," Beatrid said, cutting a small length of rope so she could tie the crown to her belt. She sheathed her sword. "Now move," she added, shoving him forward.

Once outside, she had to take a moment to look around to get her bearings. This wasn't a part of town she came to often; it wasn't even a very good part of the city. Much to her own chagrin, she realized that, honestly, she hadn't been paying much attention to where she was going so much as to where he was going.

Dammit.

Well, she'd figure it out soon enough. Just pick a direction and get going and hopefully things would start looking more familiar.

She turned them both to the right.

"What possessed you to do such a stupid thing, anyway? You mages, I swear. Ya don't fucking think."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 03, 2013, 07:52:47 AM
As he was prodded forward, Gherrick listened in silence. His hands itched a little at the rope, and was rubbing his skin a bit raw already, but he didn't complain, merely moved forward and shrugged his shoulders at her words.

"Oh, but I did think. The plot was pretty well calculated if I do say so myself. None of my heists are done on a whim. I do careful study. It isn't so easy performing my job, much less the final delivery on my end. And as far as I'm concerned, the man had it coming." Gherrick smiled back at her, then looked forward and continued speaking.

"He had broken many of the laws himself, bending them to suit his fancy. Yes, I've been watching Count Dakum for sometime before attempting to cash in on his fool hearty cash, and the icing on the cake is he wanted a crown. A crown of all things. A count, wishing for a crown in a land that doesn't even have kings." He shook his head, even laughed.

"Though he thought himself a king in his own right. You should see all the illegal activity I see him conducting at the docks! Should I even begin? I've sunk one of his ships that was daring to make off with some of the tax money, thankfully, salvaging most of it that I could return to the people he had initially stolen it from. You see, he proposed taxes that were not enacted, so when they were collected, he did not turn them into the broader government, but lined his own pockets with the gold. A brilliant plan for a man of power. It's very easy to over look the nobles and their transgressions. After all, are they not the ones who make the laws. So I suppose it's no sin they break them, even when they go against their own kind, their own government, their own country."

The sarcasm was there, but his tone never changed, speaking over all of these things matter of factly. He didn't think the woman would care to hear the real truth, but he was never a man to lie. So when she asked, he simply told her. Plus he did like a to brag. His feats, his research, his heists were quite impressive. He was sure she would have heard about them all by now.
He was a pirate, a bandit, a thief, afte rall, and a mage. A mage! How scandalous!
He was, Seven of the Sea! The Mage Bandit of Allar, and many other famous things.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 03, 2013, 03:30:56 PM
His words brought Beatrid to a sudden halt, a mixture of shock and anger broiling within her--though it had no real target yet. If he was to be believed, then the very count who this man had attacked was corrupt--and yet, at the same time, two wrongs did not make a right. A man who robbed a thief was still a thief himself, and this man was a mage and a known repeat criminal. Not only that, but he had managed to use his magic on her, something that filled her with dread and grossness, like she had been submerged in taint.

She shuddered at the memory.

"Him being a lawbreaker doesn't make you not a criminal, mage," she said. "If what you say is true, you'll have to tell it at your hearing." And really, it wasn't her place to persecute lords. Her place was here, dealing with mages and other threats to the people. A lord was out of her league; Beatrid wasn't a political mind at all and to be honest, much of that was beyond here. But mages? Petty criminals? Beasts? Those were things she did know how to handle. Those were problems that could be fixed with fists and sword and mordecaism.

She didn't understand politics at all, and had not the patience for it.

Shaking her head, she got them walking again.

"If it's true, you might be granted a little leniency," she added, and then snorted. "But maybe it's not. It's a blood good story, I'll give ya that. Shit, it brought a tear to my eye and everything. I've heard some about ya, though, the trouble you've made. And I hear liars make great storytellers."

She turned a corner and then let out a low curse. No, this was definitely not where they wanted to be; they had officially entered the slums, and straight ahead of them were a group of rough-looking men whose eyes lit up at the sight of a fancy-looking man and a lone soldier with a golden crown on her belt.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 03, 2013, 03:56:08 PM
"Ah, yes, leniency before an inevitable hanging would be quite helpful, I'm sure," Gherrick said, in good humor, though he was evidently mocking the idea. Then again, he spoke in the same tone all the time, ever playful was this particular magely thief. Though as they walked on, he had to wonder where on earth she was taking him, and at the sight of the unruly fellows at the end of the alley, he paused, blinking and quirked a brow.

"So.. um... are these friends of yours?" he asked playfully as he leaned towards Beatrid, but truthfully, even he was nervous. He could take on a number of men, but these men were significantly rougher, buffer and a lot more armed than he was. And well, he was also tied, and tied with his hands behind his back no less as he gave a bit of a worry pout at their ever increasing dangerous situation, considering each of the men began to pull out weapons, one even had a gun.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 04, 2013, 11:00:49 AM
"They fuckin' look like any friends of mine?" Beatrid growled, shoving the mage behind her and drawing her sword again. This...did not look good, to say the very least. She took a step backwards and brought her sword up into a defensive stance. "I should be asking you. You're the damned thief."

"Tha' th' mage erryone been hollerin' 'bout?" one of the ruffians said, a hungry glint in his eye. The group was lumbering closer with the sort of confidence that only a pack of criminals with nothing else to lose and everything to gain could afford, cocky in the knowledge that they had them outnumbered.

And if one of them had a gun--well, shit. They were fucked. They were slow weapons, clunky, and took forever to load, which was why Beatrid far preferred the power and fluidity of a good sword, but once they were loaded one good shot was all it took, and unlike a sword, there was no blocking a bullet. She had to think about this here; one foolish move and it was over.

"Is he?" Beatrid said, shifting her body to the side provide a smaller target--and conceal the crown, though she knew it was too late. "What of it?"

"Well, we was thinkin', there must be a hefty bounty on his head, eh?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 04, 2013, 11:20:02 AM
Gherrick only shrugged at her sarcastic comment, remaining silent as Beatrid stood in front, sword at the ready. Though as the men went on, asking who Gherrick was, he only gave a boyish grin and agreed with their last statement, "Why yes, he does have a high bounty on his head. He's pretty famous, from what I know. Traveling across the seas, all over Allar, through other large cities...  and he might even be here in Reajh as we speak!" Gherrick's grin reached his ear as the men merely stared at him, blinkingly as he went on. "It would be quite a tantalizing bounty to consider. He's got piracy under his belt, thieving.. and most of the rewards come from the high lords and duke's themselves in want to be rid of such a pest. It would be a lot of gold. Several pounds of it from varying lords, if I remember correctly."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 04, 2013, 01:43:23 PM
Beatrid bit back a curse as the idiot prattled off, and if they hadn't already had those thugs' full attention (which they certainly had!), then they certainly had their interest now. With a hissed breath through her teeth, Beatrid turned swiftly and slammed the pommel of her sword hard into Gherrick's gut. "Shut up, you imbecilic moron!"

But it was too late. The damage was already done. Those men were staring at them hungrily like wolves sizing up a herd to pick out the sick, old, and injured, and Beatrid tensed in preparation for the inevitable attack.

And then it happened.

There were five men, and they rushed them then, knives, clubs, and gun drawn and ready. Pushing Gherrick out of the way, Beatrid lunged into motion, blocking a knife thrust from one man and landing a hard downward kick to his knee before whirling to slice a club cleanly in half. Fuck, fuck, where was the one with the gun? That was the one she was most concerned with, but as another man came at her from behind with a dagger, she had no time to locate him, forced again to twist and parry before it landed in her kidneys.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 04, 2013, 11:46:59 PM
Well, he expected chaos, but not chaos happening this quick. Nor did he expect the men to be so.. dastardly. They were all upon the woman within minutes. Play time was over. He had spent enough time in ropes, but before he had the chance to whisper the incarnations to summon a fire to burn them, the man with the gun approached him, pointing it right at his head.

"Don't move or I'll blow your pretty little head off!" the man demanded.

Gherrick blinked.

"I sort of like my head where it is!" he exclaimed. "And surely you must realize I'm worth nearly triple if you bring me back alive!"

And as the man was staring at Gherrick incredulously, the 'thief' was working at getting his own weapon, his boot finding it  as he gave it a heavy kick- unfortunately for him, it simply rolled towards the gunman, who looked down-
but that was enough, Gherrick used that moment to duck and ran full force into the man, slamming him into the wall as the gun went off with a bang.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 05, 2013, 03:21:02 PM
Things swiftly went from bad to worse when Beatrid heard one of the men shout a threat to Gherrick.

Beatrid made a mistake then; she turned to look, just in time to see Gherrick ram himself into one of the thugs.

A gun went off, the sound sending a chill down her spine.

It was the last sound she heard.

It all happened in the span of seconds, but that was all it took. One distraction, one wrong move, was all the time needed for one of those men to slam his fist into the side of her head and knock her down cold. It was such a rookie mistake, such a stupid mistake, and she should have known better--and would hate herself when she came to again.

But right then she crumpled to the ground in a heap, and the thugs stepped over her and turned their full attention to Gherrick, coming up behind him. The one pressed against the wall abruptly stopped his struggling and grinned a wicked grin, peering over Gherrick's shoulder.

"Might wanna look behind ya, mate."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 05, 2013, 03:47:40 PM
When the gun went off, thankfully no one had gotten shot...or killed.
But when he heard Beatrid grow silent, and the footsteps behind him, he breathed out a curse, and something else as he kept his head lowered in silent prayer to his goddess. Not even a second later, the jewels beneath his flesh lit up, glowing gold, and runes of the same color flashed across his skin, the symbols seeming to come out of now where. Even the whites in his eyes were consumed in the glow as he tossed his head back, spoke another word in his language, and lightning coursed across his body, surging off of his skin. The magic leapt out, striking from one man to another in an explosive array of power, sending all of the men away from the still bound mage in a powerful burst.

As the runes and bright light faded, Gherrick blinked and turned around, spotting Beatrid on the floor. He struggled against the ropes, trying to loosen them to get his hands free, but ended up having to use Beatrid's fallen blade to cut them. As the ropes fell away, he dropped to his knee at her side, turning her over to ensure she hadn't been shot by the gun,a nd sighed when he realized she was breathing and ok.

"Looks like she probably just got a nasty bump to her head," he whispered, and upon hearing one of hte men begin to awake, he worked fast, hefting his bow staff (and the crown) onto his back, while cradling the unconscious Beatrid in his arms. He didn't know where he was going, but he had to get her somewhere safe and off the streets. Going back the way they came might be foolish, but so would going deeper into the slums. Either way was like going into a lion's den. ANd should he take her to the soldiers on guard, or wait and hole off with her somewhere until she awakens to ensure she might not need some treatment? He could heal her after all, mordecai or not. He made a quick decision, spotting a sewer grate nearby and slipped it open with a boot.
It didn't smell all too ground down there, but down here, no one was sure to bother them. But then as he landed down below, his boots meeting with a splash in the slimy green waters, he made a face.

He'd need a bath after all of this was said and done. But he pressed onward, carrying Beatrid until he found a small area beneath the grates on a more active street int he center of town. Above them the world was lively, music even carrying down into the sewers they were hiding in. He set Beatrid down upon a high rise of cobblestone, and sat beside her, working idly to clean off his boots of the sewer muck before glancing her over to see if she was ok. But as he did it, some lovely citizen dropped a dirty banana peel into the grate and it landed on his head. Startled, he shrugged it off, only for the peel to land upon Beatrid's face.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 05, 2013, 05:39:52 PM
"What the...?"

Beatrid had been slowly starting to come to, but it was the slimy peel landing on her face that had her clawing her way back up to consciousness. Her head was pounding something fierce--and God have mercy, why did it smell like shit? Her stomach recoiled and with a groan she reached a hand up and felt along her face, her innards twisting as her fingers touched something slimy.

"Ugh..." She cracked an eye open as she peeled the banana peel from her face, expression twisting in revulsion. A banana peel? A fucking banana peel? Where the hell...?

Another breath of air brought with it the ripe scent of the sewer and that was it. With her head swimming and the sewer smells all around her and a slimy, gross banana peel in her hand, it was all too much. That was when she lost it. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. She still had no idea what had happened or where she was, but she had no time to look around and examine her surroundings because the call of nature was far stronger.

Pitching forward with her head between her knees, she noisily emptied the contents of her belly all over the cobblestones, and didn't stop until she was dry heaving.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 05, 2013, 05:58:57 PM
Gherrick wasn't a fan of the stench either, but the desire to keep his skin had lent him enough strength to ignore the smell..
for now. Mouth breathing helped too, but then at times he could taste it, and well..
it just wasn't pretty.
WHen she grew sick, it took some effort for him not to join her, a curled wrist was held against his lips as he turned away. He waited until she was done before muttering, "Er.. sorry. I had to think of a place to get us so we'd be safe from those men." And from soldiers, but he hoped that wouldn't be too obvious (though naturally, both sides of the fence played a danger now). Friends were in awkward places. But it was those people he sought to help. It's why he so stubbornly clung to the crown that now resided on his bow staff that was still slung over his back. He slipped a hand into his pocket, pulling out a white kerchief and held it out to her.

"Here, it might smell like me, but I hope I smell better than sewer scum. Use it to stifle some of the smell. It might help." he gave her a smile, but it was hesitant. He knew she'd be in a most foul mood anyways, so he didn't want to sound TOO sweet when dealing with her.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 06, 2013, 10:14:54 AM
Beatrid snatched the kerchief from his hand and wiped her mouth off on it, then folded it and covered her mouth and nose. In that moment, she was far too ill and unbalanced to resist the offer--though her mind was clear enough to wonder over the gesture. Hell, not even that gesture--all of it. As she slowly came back to herself, so too came the memories of the fight.

Something had gone very wrong, and now...

She glanced sidelong at Gherrick, expression mostly hidden behind the kerchief, though her eyebrows had climbed. "You rescued me?" she asked, voice muffled. "Are ya fuckin' insane? Why?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 06, 2013, 04:25:09 PM
Gherrick stared down at her and blinked.
"Uh, because you needed help? And it wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to just leave you behind," he matter of factly pointed out. "The slums are no place for a lady. Especially one unconscious. And well..." he rubbed at the back of his head, turning away with a sheepish expression. "I couldn't go back to the guards. I wasn't exactly gung ho over the idea of being taken into the authorities just yet." His blue eyes went back to her, studying her. "And how are you anyways? You took quite a blow to the head."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 06, 2013, 08:32:44 PM
Beatrid continued to stare, eyebrows climbing even higher. She couldn't believe that. He could have left her there, rid himself of a big problem; he could have disappeared and to hell with her. He had no reason to care about her! He was a mage! She was leading him to his death! She had been nothing but nasty to him!

And here he was, giving her his kerchief, asking how she was, like they were just two chums in a sewer.

Something about it was utterly infuriating.

Namely, the part where he was too nice. It was easier when they were angry and bitter and violent!

It was easier when she could imagine them as something not quite human.

She looked away from him and scowled down at the muck.

"I'm fine," she growled, though her head was throbbing and she still felt unbalanced. Then she looked back over at him, eyes narrowed. "Why the hell are you being so nice?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 07, 2013, 02:58:20 AM
Gherrick could sense her frustration, so at her question, he simply blinked.
"Why not? I have no reason to be unkind to you. You're merely doing your job. I couldn't criticize you for that. So it's not right to hold it against you." He appeared as if he might shrug, but he didn't, simply studying her, though at a distant. It seemed she was ok, but then again, she seemed prideful. She might not admit it to him if she were not.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 07, 2013, 11:50:14 AM
With a frustrated sound, Beatrid threw up her hands--and instantly regretted it as she got a good whiff of sewer when she did so. Going a little green, she clapped the kerchief to her nose again.

"Well, don't you get to thinking this whole kill 'em with kindness thing is working. I still got a job to do and I intend to see it through." She looked at him, gaze steady. She was nothing if not honest, and she wanted to be sure they were on the same page. "Though it wouldn't hurt if you started acting like a fucking pirate thief or whatever the hell you are. You're too forgiving."

That sounded ridiculous even to her ears, but this kindness was uncomfortable.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 07, 2013, 12:18:04 PM
Gherrick shrugged.
"I'm aware you've got a job to do. I won't hold it personal. Besides, the second I know your'e ok, perhaps we can resume our chase?" he said, giving her a boyish grin. "Besides, it would only be fair, though I most certainly will not cause you any trouble while you're still in erm.. distress."
Though even he was feeling nauseous. "Though perhaps we erm.. ought to take this to the surface? I think we're beneath safer streets by now." He said, peering up at the noise and hustle and bustle of the bazarre above. Yes, it definitely did not sound like the slums.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 07, 2013, 09:36:41 PM
Beatrid couldn't help it. Beneath the kerchief, the corner of her mouth twitched, but she quickly pressed her lips together. "Huh. Well aren't you a good sport?" she said, and looked away again, that feeling of discomfort increasing in a nauseous sort of way that had nothing to do with the sewers.

This was dangerous, and she had to remember herself here, remember who he was, what he was. They needed to get back to that whole headache of chasing and arresting and him being nothing more than a dangerous, faceless criminal that needed to be brought to justice for the safety of them all. He was too close right now, too human, too...

Too much like an old friend she'd long since lost.

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. Her brains had been rattled more than she'd thought.

With a low groan, she pushed herself to her feet and braced herself against the wall as the world pitched and tilted, breathing heavily with the effort. She closed her eyes and let her head hang between her shoulders as she waited for it to stop. "I'll wager that's the best idea you've had all day," she muttered, swallowing back another wave of nausea--this time because of the sewers--and giving him a wry look.

Then another thought struck her--or rather, it finally came to her after slowly working its way through her sluggish, addled thoughts. Instinctively, she reached for her belt. "Where's my sword?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 09, 2013, 07:08:56 AM
Gherrick had been giving her a friendly smirk. He might as well keep himself warm towards her, there was still no reason for hate (you know, despite the fact she was totally willing to hand him over to get hanged. Minor details, really!) But when she asked for her sword, he blinked.

"Oh, erm.." he scratched at the side of his nose. "I must admit, it seems I must've forgotten it when I brought us here. Though ha! Erm, I didn't forget my own weapons. So if you'd like, I could go back there and get it. You'd be safer to stay here. Plus, it would be horrible if some child were to come upon it and accidently cut himself, thinking it's cool to play with swords." Though that was unlikely, considering she had dropped it in the slums, he didn't want her to risk getting hurt again when she was unarmed. Even if he were to become unarmed, he was pretty nimble, especially in means of escape and wit..

Oh, yeah..
He also had magic, too.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 09, 2013, 05:42:00 PM
"What." More bewildered staring. Beatrid's mouth dropped open, and she instantly regretted it when she got a mouthful of sewer air.

"You...are you fuckin' serious? You'd go back to the slums, pick up my sword, bring it back and...and give it to me?" She didn't understand him. She didn't understand him at all! She couldn't tell anymore of he was just that stupid--unlikely, for there was cunning in those eyes and he was a criminal who had been at large for quite some time--or just that foolishly naive! Or, worse, just naturally big-hearted.

Or, you know, trying to lure her into some sort of false sense of security, though she couldn't wrap her head around what he could possibly gain from that. He could have rid himself of her long ago! No need to drag it out!

And he'd even brought up her safety!

Beatrid pinched the bridge of her nose as a headache began to throb between her eyes. "You're insane."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 09, 2013, 09:20:43 PM
Gherrick blinked, then shrugged, before giving her a smirk.
"I suppose some call it insanity, but I don't have qualms with you, so there really is no reason not to get you back your property. Just stay here. It won't take me long. I mean, unless you want to tag along. I does smell awful here. But I shouldn't be too long in retrieving it. Then we can head up to a much safer part of the city."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 09, 2013, 09:47:03 PM
"Let's just get outta this damned sewer," Beatrid said with a sigh, and tilted her head back to look at the grate above, though she regretted the motion when it threw off her still wobbly balance. She stumbled, bumping into Gherrick, and flinched away from him as though merely touching him stung. Goddammit. She must have taken a good hit to the head if she was still dizzy.

She leaned against the wall. "Ugh, after you."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 09, 2013, 09:52:21 PM
"Hey, woah, are you ok?" he asked, reaching for her, catching her lightly, though when she flinched away, he frowned. "Are you sure that's wise?" he tilted his head with some concern. "That's a long climb up, and you don't look stable. Though I suppose you could hold onto my back if you're feeling dizzy while I guide you up there."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 09, 2013, 10:02:50 PM
Beatrid grit her teeth, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath of kerchief. There were few things she hated worse than weakness--except for weakness in herself. And to have him be the one helping her through this? It somehow made it even worse.

But the rational part of her knew she was being foolishly proud, and much as she didn't want to admit it, he was right.

She took another breath, let it out slowly, and did her best to let some of that pride flow out with it. She just needed to go along with this foolishness only as long as it took to get him into custody.

"Fine. Ah, that...yeah. That should work."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 09, 2013, 10:12:58 PM
Gherrick had met her types before. They were proud and strong, not wanting help, so it always proved more difficult to help them. So when she agreed, he smiled and nodded and moved towards the ladder.
"It shouldn't take long, but perhaps you should hold my hand in case you get dizzy?" he said, after taking three steps up and turning around, offering a hand. "Or you could just hold onto my back." He gestured towards the blue fabric of his tunic with a jerk of his thumb.  "Which ever makes you more comfortable. But don't grab onto my staff. I'd prefer not to get choked if the worst were to happen and you slipped. And it might not hold as securely as the rest of me." He offered her another boyish grin and waited to see what she'd do, though perhaps giving her more options might be pushing his luck to keep her amicable. But then again, this was Gherrick, or to some, the elusive 'Seven of the Sea' or the 'mage bandit'. So he put out a had, but also kept his back turned to her, the gold embroidered number '7' on the back of it catching hte faint rays of sun that shined down through the sewer grate.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 09, 2013, 10:25:00 PM
Coming up behind him, Beatrid grabbed a fistful of his tunic with one hand, a ladder rung with the other, and placed a foot on the ladder. "Just get climbing," she told him, feeling her face heat with embarrassment. Though she supposed it could have been worse; he could have carried her piggyback-style up the ladder, but she wasn't that damned helpless.

And she thought she might opt to stay in the sewer before she went along with something like that.

Behind him, her eyes caught the number on his back. "What's that mean?" she asked, following him up. "The seven, I mean."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 09, 2013, 10:38:59 PM
At the question, he recalled the crack of the whip, and tensed. But turned around to smirk at her briefly as he continued to climb (still being ever watchful so that she could keep herself steady as they moved up and up).
"I suppose you never heard any of the stories? The legends and rumors behind my name? Though most of that alter ego was wrapped up in my pirating days. Though it's humorous to think I've gained two different nick names and personas in my career, I much like the fancy title of 'Seven'. I think it sounds dashing, and I think some ladies think it sound dashing, too. So when I introduce myself, I normally go by that moniker." He then smiled again, glancing back at her as he paused, nearly at the top of the ladder. "Though you might call me Seven, I don't believe I ever caught your name. What shall I call you when you're chasing me again down the streets?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 09, 2013, 11:02:00 PM
Beatrid started to roll her eyes, but reminded herself that that would be a bad idea. Instead, she settled for snorting when he talked about his nickname and how the ladies found it 'dashing'. "I think it sounds like a number," she remarked, and had to grip his tunic tighter when her foot slid on one of the damp rungs.

Correcting herself, she focused a little less on the design of his shirt and more on where she was putting her hands and feet.

"Well, Seven, you may call me Beatrid. 'Fraid I don't got any interesting stories to go with it," she told him, and added, "Why 'Seven', anyway?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 09, 2013, 11:11:58 PM
Gherrick made sure to take his time, especially when she began to lose her footing. He remained there, waiting to see if she'd need help, but only smiled when she righted herself and pressed the question again.

"Perhaps it's my lucky number?" he said, smirking again as he made it to the top, and with a grunt, he pushed at the grate, once, twice, then finally he was able to cast it aside as his blue eyes peered up into the streets....
just as a carriage rolled over head.
"Shit!" it wasn't like him to swear, but he was nearly run over by the damn thing as he ducked back down into the sewer opening, gripping more tightly to the ladder rung before asking, "Er, sorry about that. Are you ok?" He glanced back down at Beatrid.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 10, 2013, 09:57:17 AM
They were almost there, thank God. Beatrid could almost taste the fresh air, and already she was longing for a bath. Really, all she wanted to do was curl up somewhere and sleep--though she knew she shouldn't, not with a head injury--but instead, nope, she was being taken on some wild goose chase. Hopefully it would end soon.

'Seven' was messing with the grate above, and soon he got it open. Beatrid took another step up on the ladder--and that was when he ducked down with a curse. With a curse of her own, jostled by the movement, she nearly slipped again, hand fisting in his shirt so hard she hoped, in retrospect, she didn't jerk him off the ladder.

She let her forehead thump against his back. "Son of a--will you pay attention?" She barked up at him. "I'm fine, but hurry up. And watch it. I'll stop mentioning the damned number for now, it's obviously going to your head."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 10, 2013, 10:29:37 AM
Gherrick gave a laugh, it was laced with nerves, but was a clear, soft, beautiful sound none the less.
"Ok, Miss Beatrid, I shall try my best," he smiled.  "I must've been too excited by the prospect of reaching the surface and fresh air I nearly lost my head!" HA! Literally....
So peering about, he noted it was clear and crawled up onto the streets, offering a hand down to Beatrid once he got his legs on the solid, cobblestone road.
"Here, let me help you up here. The air smells wonderful."
For it truly did.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 11, 2013, 02:02:39 PM
"Don't call me that," Beatrid cut in, scowling. "It's just 'Beatrid'." Because she was certainly no "miss", and it was always rather jarring to hear it when it was directed at her. "Miss" was for respectable women, certainly not a soldier like her. It was grating, as well; she didn't want to be respectable and quite enjoyed the freedom that came with it.

Reaching up for his hand, she clasped it firmly and pulled herself up, eager to get out. She practically flopped herself onto the cobblestones, sucking in great, gulping lungfuls of fresh air. "Ansgar's teeth, this is amazing," she breathed, and slowly crawled onto her knees, blinking in the sunlight.

Maybe it was just disorientation speaking, but she didn't recognize the place.

"Where the hell are we?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 11, 2013, 02:40:39 PM
After helping her to her feet, Gherrick strained his neck, looking all around at the bizarre bazarr they found themselves within.

"I think this is the South Side Bazarr," Gherrick said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "It borders the slums, so the main street that runs through the city should be just past the buildings over there." He pointed towards a few of the ones that looked a little shabby, but at least there were people about, even a guard posted at the end of the way near a nicer looking manor home.

And not only did the fresh smell of the city greet them, but so did the fresh smell of roasted pig. Gherrick felt his stomach gurgling, and Beatrid might have even heard it too.
"Ugh, that roasted pig sure smells good." And it was roasting outside of a small tavern. He wondered if they had baths available, but no sooner did he think it did he see the sign where baths were available for five coppers. He gestured towards it. "Er, perhaps we ought to pay a short visit to that tavern over there? For all of the mess I've caused, the least I could do is pay you for your time and help you get a bath." He wrinkled his nose. "We reek of sewer." Not a flattering smell, after all.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 12, 2013, 07:53:19 PM
Gherrick was full of surprises.

Honestly, just when she thought they had something of an understanding, he did something that made her think that maybe she was completely wrong. This, just as the one concerning her sword, was another one of those moments. Those moments where he acted like they were all...chummy or something.

While Gherrick had been surveying the area and noticing things like roasted pig and baths, Beatrid had been scanning the area for help--namely, other guards. She needed to be discreet about this, because if the common folk realized who this man was--a confirmed mage and infamous criminal--they could easily have a mob on their hands in no time flat, and there was no way he would survive that, and little she could do to prevent it. Her job, however, was to take him into custody and get him into the proper hands alive and in one piece.

So while she noticed the guard by the manor, it wasn't like she could call out to him. Panic would ensue, Gherrick would notice, and it would be a disaster.

But in her current state, she was useless.

And yet...maybe not. An idea hit her then.

She rubbed her sore head and then rested her hand on his upper arm, as though for support. "A bath, huh?" She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "Why not, if you're intent on buying. Lead the way, then, good sir."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 12, 2013, 11:03:30 PM
Gherrick was surprised when she obliged, but his smile warmed over that fact as he nodded.
"Do you need help walking over there? Here, lean on my shoulder. ANd don't worry about the smell, they won't know whihc one of us is the stinky one if we go in in pairs," he said with a laugh. Though as he approached the tavern, he did notice another guard at the end of the way, but pretended not to notice as the two disappeared inside. Once the baths were ordered, he stepped out into the small alley way leading to the bath house as he fiddled over the soap and towels given to them.
"I wonder if the baths will be warm," he said, making idly chit chat as he moved to open the door, the bell ringing and alerting the bath maid inside.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 14, 2013, 02:07:18 PM
Beatrid complied without much fuss, leaning on his shoulder. Another time, and pride may have won her over despite the pounding pain and dizziness, but now she had a goal in mind and she was eager to get there and bring this mess to an end.

"I'm afraid to admit I hardly notice the shit stink anymore," she said, hoping he couldn't hear the sound of her heartbeat, which sounded so loud in her own ears. There was another guard nearby, closer than the last one--perfect.

Soap and towels were quickly acquired, and she walked with Gherrick through the alley toward the bath house. She glanced sideways at Gherrick. This could get very awkward.

"I've heard they are, though I've never been," she said as they reached the entrance. "Otherwise ya may as well jump in a bloody river."

The door opened, and scented steam drifted out through the crack. Beatrid waved it away and soon could make out the form of a smiling middle-aged woman. "Come, come inside before we let out all the heat!" she said, ushering them in. Tugging lightly on Gherrick, she walked inside into a room that could only be described as comfortably sweltering.

It seemed they weren't doing much business that day, for there were only two large tubs an older man who was just finishing off in one of them. Walking to an hearth used for heat, and to warm various smooth stones, the woman filled a bucket with the rocks and dropped them into the end of the unoccupied tub with a steamy hiss.

"Please let me know if you need anything," she told them. "You can store your clothes over here." She pointed out a table set away from the hearth.

Beatrid paused, raising an eye at Gherrick. The steam obscured much in the room, giving some sense of privacy, but not enough.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 16, 2013, 02:56:24 AM
OOC: I hope I read this right XD If not I'm sorry D:
*is sleepy and woke up with a head ache*

---------------

As the steam cleared, all Gherrick could do was stare.
And stare and stare as he realized the pair of them would hardly have any privacy.
"Er.." he shuffled about uneasily beside her. "Perhaps it's best if we were to take turns?" he suggested, blue eyes glancing down upon her. "To keep modesty." After all, he wasn't about to take advantage of a woman like this- even if well... it was just a bath but... but still! His face was nearly as red as his hair as he tried to steel himself, but his own heart was pumping just as loudly within his chest as Beatrid's.
Ugh.. did they really have to...
Damn these communal baths!
But they both reeked of sewer.. and well....
His hands were already sweating, the tips of his hair collecting water from the steam.
Gods... he honestly hoped they wouldn't have to...
but well.. it WAS a communal bath house....

:|
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 16, 2013, 02:38:41 PM
[ooc: you read it right! xDDD I hope your headache feels better!]

----

It was Beatrid's turn to smirk.

"Really? Modesty?" she said, snorting. She started to undo her belt. "Don't be such a fuckin' prude. It's a bath. Get over it."

She'd gotten over it years ago, herself; military life would do that to you, when you had to dress, bathe, sleep, and shit in close proximity to other people who were doing the same thing. Not to mention those cold nights when you really didn't give a crap about anything else but cuddling up to another warm body so you both didn't freeze. She wasn't an Adhara, either, no Knight of the White Lily. She'd marched with men and women alike and it just didn't faze her anymore.

Belt loosened, she shucked off her tabbard and tunic, revealing the chest bindings wrapped tightly around her scarred torso. She set the tunic and tabbard on the table. "If you're worried about me seeing your dick, don't be. I've seen many a great deal smaller, I'd wager."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 16, 2013, 03:31:57 PM
OOC: LOOOOOOL

and yeah, head ache is gone, but I woke up all stiff the second time around x.x
guess I'm getting old 8D

------------------

Gherrick laughed, though it was an anxious one.
"Nothing seems to phase you, does it?" he said. Though he was impressed, and despite his time at sea, he was a gentleman through and through. "And it's a hard habit to drop," he admitted. "I believe women are to be respected in erm, this regard." Ugh, now his face continued to burn. Though he had seen women in their natural state, it wasn't something he just threw out there or sought after like some men might. He was erm.. a gentleman after all. And not that he had anything to hide, on the contrary, it was more or less for her decency than his own. If he had to he would but well...

He supposed he had little choice. They both were stinky and well... with a shrug... he stepped into the tub with a PLOP and began scrubbing his self down- while he was STILL fully dressed.
"Might as well make use of these waters on my clothes as well!" he said with a smile. Sudsy bubbles were all over his clothing, quickly lathering here an there, he even worked at his boots, propping the black leathered things up on the lip of the tub and worked the to a lather, rinsed, then plopped them off of his feet to one side. Then, once finished with his clothing and pants, he dropped the sopping wet clothing aside in a pile and sighed, reclining back int he tub and just let the rest of his body soak. It was one way to keep himself modest before her, considering she wouldnt have seen anything when he was pulling off his clothing between splashes of water, though she might have noticed the scars on his body as well, and the black detailed number 7 tatoo upon his back. Though he didn't question her scars, he knew they were there an knew she had a story to tell probably for all of them, but it wasn't his place to look or gawk at them or even pry, as he hummed lightly and began to suds up under his arms, his blue eyes as bright as the day, appearing as if nothing at all was out of the ordinary. Just a pair of stinky sewer dwellers looking to get cleaned up!
"So is military life hard?" he said, figuring on starting some idle chit-chat while they bathed.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 16, 2013, 09:40:43 PM
[ooc: DON'T SAY THAT! xDDD I'm older than you! AHHH! xP]

-------

Beatrid had started working on her wrappings, amused at how nervous he sounded--and how red he was. His explanation, however, made her roll her eyes. "Oh, please. I'm hardly a lady--what are you doing?"

Into the bath he went, clothes, boots, and all, and Beatrid was left staring in a mixture of horror and amusement. Amusement because was he really that desperate to be a "gentleman"? And horror because those boots had tracked through the sewer!

"Ugh! You couldn't have taken your boots off first? Now the water's all shitty!" Okay, maybe she was exaggerating, and why else were they there but to get the disgusting off of them? Shaking her head, she motioned the bath maid over and spoke some words to her, then turned back to the bath as the maid blinked, nodded, and scurried off.

Turning back to the tub, Beatrid kicked off her boots, slipped off her breeches and wrappings, and gathered her clothes in her arms. Oh well. May as well join in at this point.

She had a dizzy spell on the way to the tub and nearly made a less-than-graceful entrance, but she managed to steady herself and sink into the water. For a moment, she just allowed herself to soak, enjoying the sensation of heat seeping into sore muscles--and waiting for the spell to pass. "Hmm, yeah. At first. You get used to it, but it still has its challenges. There's always something new--like this," she said with a snort.

She nodded to him. "So did a really shitty seamstress sew that seven onto your clothes while wearing them or what?" she asked, referring to his tattoo.

Indeed, she had been paying attention.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 16, 2013, 10:38:29 PM
OOC: You're not THAT much older 8D
and if it makes you feel any better, I've had neck problems since high school >.<
and for the lamest reason ever |8*

-----------------

Gherrick laughed off most of her comments with ease. He was staring to lighten up a bit and gave a shrug, but then at her comment about his tattoo he gave a laugh.
"That would make for an interesting story," Gherrick said, rubbing his chin in thought and skirting around her question. "But no, I just had a plain old tattoo done by someone who fancied themselves good with ink on skin. Though I suppose it's not as pretty as the seven on my shirt."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 17, 2013, 11:14:28 AM
[ooc: xD! Only a year! RESPECT YER ELDERS! >8D
Augh really? D8]

------------

"Interesting," Beatrid said as she started to lather up, though not nearly as carefully as he had. She couldn't really fathom it. She put enough holes and cuts on her body just doing her job; why would someone pay to permanently mark themselves, even if it was a fancy mark?

"Did it hurt?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 17, 2013, 11:18:40 AM
OOC: Yep XD
when we first got the internet, the computer wasin the same room as the tv, so I'd turn my head to look at it and I strained my muscles doing that for like half a year.. nad my neck has been messed up ever since >.>
Lamest way to hurt yourself.. EVAR
---------

Gherrick shrugged.
"Yeah, but so did most of my scars." He gave her a boyish grin and continued to suds up his back, grunting as it was hard to reach a few places. But he wasn't about to ask for help. He'd eventually get it.. maybe. But it was sure nice getting that stink off, and soon he was scrubbing his nails through his hair, working in a good lather before splashing water at his face, rinsing the sudsy bubbles clean off (or mostly off).
"Not a fan of tattoos are ya?" he asked, smoothing a hand down his face to get the water and bubbles out of his eyes before he popped one eye open to look at her, while his red hair was slicked back and suctioned against his head.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 17, 2013, 04:18:36 PM
[ooc: OUUUUCH! DDD8 Though gotta admit, that is pretty impressive! xDD Poor thing! Darn the TV for not being in the same room--I hope it is now!]

----------

"Not particularly," Beatrid answered, leaning back and popping a leg up out of the water so she could scrub her foot. "It seems a little pointless to intentionally hurt yourself like that. And I've gotten enough pretty marks on the battlefield, I can't see adding some more just because."

She splashed her face, then let her hair down and finger combed out the braid so she could wet it and scrub it. "You must think awfully high of yourself to go through the trouble."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 17, 2013, 04:43:04 PM
Gherrick shrugged.
"It was more of a pretty reminder, something nicer than just scars. Even scars fade with time. Well, I suppose not all of them." He said, and went back to pouring more water down his face.

-----------------
OOC: UGh, sorry, short post is short :T

and yeah- sadly, the TV WAS in the same room >>; it was just exactly positioned ot the left of the TV so yeah... T_T
ah well XD
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 17, 2013, 08:11:39 PM
[ooc: pffft I don't mind short! 8D
Poor thing. D8 That still sucks hardcore! Neck problems are the worst. Dx]

------------

Beatrid arched an eyebrow. "A reminder of what?" she asked, hair all soapy and some of it running down the side of her face. "Surely you don't need help to remember a nickname. Especially when it's in a place you can't see."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 18, 2013, 01:12:16 PM
Gherrick stared off in thought. The idea was unique, and there was a reason it was on his back (whip lashes aside). It wasn't a reminder he needed, but a symbol for the world. He saw himself as a different figure than most of the guards or nobles might. To them, he was a simple thief, but to the peasants, a savior, a form of hope. And he didn't want his scars to be the thing they'd remember about him. Life was about luck and chances, and taking what you're giving to see what you got. He just.. went about his methods that way.  He made his own destiny, his own purpose, his own methods to help those in need. And it was quite a clever and calculating method indeed. And it took a brave soul to find and cast judgement on those who deserved it. But most of th etime, it was obvious. When it was unsure, he didn't touch it. I t was as simple as that.

He shrugged after a time. "Of something I've been striving for," he said simply, then went about washing out the rest of the soap from his face before he reclined back inside the bath. "I doubt you'd be much interested in my history anyway. I am your enemy, after all." As if he needed to remind her, though maybe he did?
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 18, 2013, 07:53:33 PM
Beatrid noted his pause. It was interesting how he kept answering the question without really answering it at all. If nothing else, she could include that symbol was significant in some way.

She ducked under the water to rinse out her hair. "Ever heard the phrase, 'know your enemy'? Or maybe, 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'?" A flick of her head sent water whipping his way--and the accompanying dizziness made her gasp and lean back against the tub, eyes shutting until the spell passed. Dammit.

Reaching up to rub the aching spot on her head, she shrugged. "It passes the time, anyway."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 18, 2013, 07:58:26 PM
Gherrick turned to her with some concern. Hair whipping and nice smelling soap and hair aside, it looked like she was still hurting from the head blow from earlier. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he leaned forward and asked, "Hey, are you ok?" his blue eyes searched hers. "Perhaps we should call it quits on the bath. Then we can get to the inn, maybe a nice bowl of soup will help you feel better?" He afforded her a soft smile. Again, it was the least he could do..well, besides the bath. But they both needed that.

Couldn't very well go around the neighborhood being all stinky! (well, not if they could help it, anyways!)
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 20, 2013, 04:36:23 PM
Beatrid jerked a little under his hand, and rolled her shoulder so his hand slipped off of her.

"Fine! I'm fine," she said, waving her hand at him to shoo him away. "I'm not some swooning idiot, y'know. I've had worse. And besides, I still need to wash my clothes."

Which she was taking her sweet time doing. She glanced toward the door, then back to Gherrick; the maid still wasn't back.

Grabbing her breeches, she tossed them Gherrick's way. "Make yourself useful," she said, and began to scrub her tunic.

That was when the door burst open and three guards marched inside, the maid peeking out from behind their broad backs.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 24, 2013, 09:26:36 AM
The breeches plastered to his fore head, and when the door slammed open, he nearly jumped out o fhis skin. Peeling her clothing aside, he blinked, staring over at the guards and the maid.
And while Gherrick was thinking, 'Oh, shit'... he only gave the pair of guards a smile and inquired with a most friendly of voice, "Isn't it rather rude for men to walk in on a lady while she bathes?" and as it seemed they were deterred by priority, he leaned back some and asked casually, "Can we help you, gentleman?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 26, 2013, 10:31:03 AM
The guards looked less than amused by Gherrick, and didn't honor either question with an answer. Two of them marched toward him, swords drawn and shackles out, and one of the pair reached down to grab him so he could haul him out of the tub. "C'mon, mage," he growled.

The other turned toward Beatrid and gave her an odd look. "What the hell is going on?"

Beatrid grabbed her sopping tunic and yanked it over her head, though it was difficult now that it was all wet and clinging to her. "I'll explain later," she said tiredly. "It's a long story."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 26, 2013, 05:41:58 PM
It seemed even as the situation became more severe, Gherrick was hardly affected by the men calling threats and hauling his ass clean out of the tub. The only thing he asked for as he stood there, dripping wet and blushing was a simple and casual, "Well, could you at least afford me the time to dress? I hardly think it would be appropriate to parade me through town naked." And he seemed to sweat more over that idea than being shackled or poked by their blades.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 26, 2013, 09:47:33 PM
As soon as Gherrick was out of the water, Beatrid grabbed her breeches from where they'd sank and struggled to wrangle them on. It was kind of difficult to be authoritative when you were half dressed. Then, wobbling a little, she climbed out of the tub and sat on the edge, breathing a little heavier than she should have been as she waited for her vision to clear.

Meanwhile, the guards were not taking any pity on Gherrick.

"That's the least of your worries right now," one guard growled as he forced Gherrick's hands behind his back so he could shackle him. Clearly, they weren't taking any chances in case the man decided to pull any tricks while he dressed. Instead, they were keen on keeping him off balance, uncomfortable, and vulnerable.

"You've earned your walk of shame."

"Ansgar's pits, you're being ridiculous." With a groan, Beatrid rose to her feet and snatched a towel off the table.

"Be real bloody pointless, don'tcha think, if he dies of cold before he even gets there," she said, and marched--slowly, shakily--over to Gherrick to drop the towel around his shoulders. "Besides, not everyone wants to see that, thank you very much. Have some fucking consideration."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 26, 2013, 10:17:23 PM
Gherrick frowned. As much as it was.. degrading and down right embarrassing, he did take notice the way Beatrid was walking.
"Hey, take it easy. You're still injured." He afforded her a small grin and shrug. "Don't worry about me.. though a towel.." his blue eyes pleaded with her, almost like a dog begging for a bone. "You sure you can't get these guys to at least let me put on my pants?" he asked, leaning forward and whispering the last words just to her.  Really, at least if he were to be arrested, he wanted some dignity. Especially since he was going quietly and had been helping the law, after all (you know, minus the whole crown stealing thing).
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 27, 2013, 04:34:37 PM
Beatrid considered him for a moment, then turned to the soldiers. They were looking antsy to get moving, always uncomfortable around a mage since it was only her ability keeping it at bay, so she wasn't sure how willing they were to wait around and play dress-up--and while she could be pushy and belligerent as hell, she frankly didn't have the energy to argue. All she wanted to do was curl up somewhere, for she'd already pushed her body hard despite the injury.

"Let's at least give him some pants," she said, making it clear that it was not a request. "We don't wanna scar any little old ladies." She found his breeches by the tub's side and shook them out, then shoved them at one of the soldiers.

"Help him out."

One guard unshackled one of Gherrick's hands to make it easier, and Beatrid, very briefly, shot the mage an apologetic look. It was there and gone in a flash as she turned her attention back to the soldiers and shuffled to the table to gather her armor and tabard.

It had been easy to arrest him in that barn, back when he had just been a criminal.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 27, 2013, 04:43:10 PM
Well, as he mentioned earlier, Gherrick was certainly not going to hold this against Beatrid. She was only doing her job, and if he hadn't broken the law to do his, they wouldn'tbe in this sort of mess. And neither would he. So he only smiled at her, gave a shrug and thanked the men as they helped him on wiht his pants.

"Er, and what about my shirt? Can we err.. at least take that with us as well?" he asked, uncertain how much he could push his luck. His clothing was expensive, after all. And it would take forever to embroider all of the detail on it if he had to have the clothing remade yet again.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 27, 2013, 09:16:22 PM
One of the men rolled his eyes and snatched up the shirt. He tossed it onto Gherrick's head. "Don't see what use it'll do ya, where you're headed," he said. "Won't have a head to wear it."

Beatrid cleared her throat loudly and stepped in.

"Thank you, Deir, but me and him, we've already been through the whole 'rubbing his nose in his own shit' deal," she said, and adjusted the shirt so it sat on Gherrick's shoulder instead of his head and face. "Let's just get outta here, alright?"

Now that she was out of the water, and with her wet clothes clinging like sealskin, she was freezing in addition to head-sore. But more than that, she didn't want to look at Gherrick anymore.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 28, 2013, 08:00:51 AM
Gherrick simply obeyed as the men prodded him to walk, so out of the bath house he stepped, although he paused and the men grumbled and poked him with the ends of their pointy spears.
"Hey, ouch! I just wanted to remind Beatrid she needs to grab my bo staff and the crown." The men all made faces at what Gherrick said. "After all, she had caught me trying to steal that, after all, and would work well in the courts if you're trying to use it to build a case."
THe men, irritated, at least took the time to look at Beatrid to see what she would say. This was technically HER criminal now, after all and they weren't sure how she caught him, but it must have been an interesting series of events indeed.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 30, 2013, 09:50:09 PM
The men looked expectantly at Beatrid, and she gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

"He's right," she said, and went to gather up the bo staff and crown, once again securing the troublesome item to her belt. The bo staff, however, came in handy; with her still feeling woozy and faint, it doubled as a decent walking stick, and she leaned against it as she followed the group out of the bath house.

The cold air hitting her wet clothes drove her breath right out of her, and with a shiver that went from her head clear down to her toes, she braced herself against it. She picked up her pace so she could fall in beside Gherrick, and for what would probably not be the last time, she gave him an odd look.

Maybe it was the injury, but she still couldn't wrap her brain around how cooperative he was being, and part of her half expected the other shoe to drop.

The other half of her wanted said shoe to drop.

Then it would feel less like leading a lamb to slaughter.

"I've got him," she told the other soldiers, and pointed to each in turn. "You two, take the back, and you, take front watch."

When they moved to obey, she leaned in close. "What're you playing at, anyway?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 30, 2013, 09:53:30 PM
"I don't know," Gherrick said with a shrug. "I've only been caught a hand full of times, and most of the time my plans just come to me in the moment." He blinked and looked over at her. "Currently, they're not coming to me in this moment, unfortunately." He gave a small smile then another shrug.

"I see my bo staff is coming in handy." his smile brightened at that. "You should be sure to see a doctor after this. You're still not walking properly. They must've hit you pretty hard. How does your head feel?" he asked, peering up at her with some concern.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 31, 2013, 12:24:32 PM
"Like shit," Beatrid answered with a wince. Outside the bath house, the light seemed much too bright and hurt her eyes, but she would just have to deal for now. "Ain't the first time this's happened, won't be the last. I'll deal."

Though she definitely would be seeking treatment once he was dropped off. Only sheer force of will and foolhardy stubbornness was keeping her going; she was a workaholic at the best of times and hated being helpless more than anything, even at the expense of her health.

Something he said registered a little late, thoughts coming to her a bit slower than usual, and she blinked at him. "This isn't the first time?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 31, 2013, 01:45:27 PM
"Yep," Gherrick confirmed with a simple nod of his head. "But every time there seemed to be some sure way of escape. Not sure how to describe it, but one time I was coming into port, threatened by a hanging, but a storm capsized the boat. Not sure how to explain how I escaped the rest, but I'm lucky I'm a sea fairing man. And most escapes on land are easy. Most guards tend to let their jobs get the better of them without much heart, so it's much easier to deliver the quick blows needed to escape." He shrugged again. "It's probably been like.. ten or twelve times easily I've been caught. Maybe more. I don't know." he shrugged again, trying to think back to the numerous times people tried to arrest him, hang him and the likes. "Hrm,..yeah come to think of it.... it's definitely been even  more than that."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 31, 2013, 03:19:31 PM
Beatrid stared at him, eyebrows rising and blue eyes widening. For a moment, she thought her mind was failing and she'd heard incorrectly--she had been hit awfully hard and was pushing herself well past her limits, so it was possible! But then he kept going on, and his words sounded as real as anything. But it couldn't be. Was that even possible?

Blinking several times, Beatrid stuck her pinky in her ear in case she'd gotten water in there, and then removed it. "Come again?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 31, 2013, 08:06:48 PM
Gherrick turned to Beatrid and noted her expression, which caused him to blush.
"Er.. well I hadn't become a famous pirate and bandit for nothing. Not all of the stories and rumors are true but well... some of them.. sort of... are."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 01, 2013, 07:20:30 PM
Beatrid scrubbed a hand through her wet hair. "But twelve of them are? Or more?" She laughed. "I can't tell if you're bluffing or serious."

Though it certainly explained his calm composure in the face of a grim fate.

Still eying him sidelong, she added, "Ever escape from a locked cell?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 02, 2013, 10:42:32 AM
Gherrick laughed, a good hearted laugh at her question.
"Depends on how you interpret a locked cell," he said, but then gave a shrug. "But I guess the question now is 'Can I escape from the noose'?" Though as serious as the question was, Gherrick was still smiling none the less, even as his own nerves were tingling, because well..
for all he knew, he might not escape this time from a locked cell, from the guards, and.. well...
from the noose. And his mind began to churn, eyes flittering around for a sigh of something, anything when a flock of nearby birds gave him an idea-
which was sadly squashed as he was suddenly shoved into the back of a carriage, barred doors slamming in his face. Oh well, there went one idea. He supposed he'd have to think of another. Blinking, he peered out from the small barred window and only smiled at Beatrid as the men took their positions around the carriage.

She was an interesting one. Most of the guards he ever dealt with would have slammed their fists into his face a few times by now to get him to shut up. But this one...
she actually gave him the time of day. Then again, as he reminded himself, they really weren't enemies, and she.. just simply doing her job.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 03, 2013, 11:49:43 PM
It wasn't until the next day that Beatrid saw Gherrick again. The rest of her day had been spent recounting the wild events of the mage's capture--and getting her head treated. It wasn't a bad injury, but she was advised to rest the rest of the day, and she was too exhausted to protest.

She wasn't 100% the next day, but she felt well enough, and she hated sitting idle. Besides, it wouldn't be long before the mage would be taken in for questioning--sooner rather than later, in fact. And as a witness and  the one who'd brought him in, she would be there through it all.

Cleaned up and dressed in her uniform--armor, tabard, and all, her hair neatly braided--Beatrid let the guards lead her down into the prison and pointed his cell out to her. Another Mordecai had been positioned near the cell in the meantime, and when he saw Beatrid, he let out a sigh of relief and pushed passed her.

"He's all yours now," he grumbled as he left. "Have fun."

Clearly, he hadn't found the man nearly so entertaining as she had.

With a snort, Beatrid walked forward to stand before his cell and peered in through the bars. "Still here, hmm?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 04, 2013, 12:15:02 AM
Gherrick, having not much really to do with his time, had fashioned an intricately woven crown out of the hay that was piled inside his cell. So when Beatrid approached, he blinked and looked up from where he had been sitting.

"Yep, and I made this crown," he said, smirking as he approached the cell door and handed it out to her. "Here, you can have it if you want." ANd he gave her a boyish grin, and asked, more seriously. "So how are you feeling? It seems the cut on your head is mending well."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 05, 2013, 01:37:57 PM
Beatrid blinked down at the crown, one eyebrow lifting, then scoffed and gently pushed it back toward him. "Ah, no, I couldn't. You're the one wanted a crown so damned badly, you should wear it."

At his question, she rubbed at her head. "Been better. But not terrible," she said, and leaned her shoulder against the wall near the bars, still facing him. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"You know, all things considered, ya might be alright," she said. "Perhaps flogged and locked away, but you might escape execution." She shrugged. As far as she had heard, there were no records of him having used magic except the one time against her--and mages were allowed that "one time" grace period. So it would be his other crimes he'd answer for, of of those there was rather damning evidence. Whether it was enough for a death sentence was up in the air.

"You'll have to wear the mark."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 05, 2013, 03:56:14 PM
Gherrick stared at her, blinking when she refused the crown. He kept himself draped against the cell bars, staring back at her, though when she mentioned the mark, he wrinkled his nose.
"I don't think it would be very flattering with my attire."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 06, 2013, 01:00:25 AM
Beatrid gave Gherrick a quick up and down look, head to toe and back, and smirked. "To be fair, not much would."

His outfit was very, ah, bold, after all.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 07, 2013, 11:27:23 AM
Gherrick smirked at her reply.
"It is a bit flashy, aint' it?" he said, looking down. He was happy he at least got to keep it. Considering if he did escape this alive, well.. at least he wouldn't have to buy or make another.
"So I guess you're on duty then? Coming here to see how I'm fairing?" his eyes lit up slightly at the question, peering over at her curiously as he was working at making something else with the lose straw in his cell, the crown having since been discarded at the floor, just beside the cell bars of his door.
"Though I suppose guards do more than just patrol the streets, apprehending rascals, such as myself." Though he could see the job of watching over the prisoners as a lot more boring. If he had a choice, he'd take the street patrol.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 10, 2013, 11:46:38 AM
"Well, you're my prisoner," Beatrid said, looking him over. "So you're my responsibility. But to answer your speculation, pfft, yeah. A soldier's life is rather more involved than you'd think. Especially a Mordecai's."

With a sigh, she pulled a stool up to the cell and took a seat, one leg crossed over the other, ankle resting on her knee. "This is one of the more boring aspects, but to be fair, it could be worse. As far as prisoners go, you're one of the livelier ones. For example..." She nodded to him. "The hell ya making now?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 10, 2013, 11:53:06 AM
Gherrick had finished making three small flowers out of hay, turning them into the smallest semblance of a bouquet before over hearing her question. He blinked and looked up at her, then handed the three flowers over to her through the cell bars.
"A bouquet of flowers," he said, smiling broadly as he closed his eyes in a jovial manner, the 'flowers' appearing perky and cheerful, and full of character.. much like their creator.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 12, 2013, 07:48:16 PM
Oh hell.

Beatrid stared at the flowers for a long moment, then at him, all smiling cheerfully and looking just so damned pleased with himself. She rolled her eyes so hard it hurt, but this time, she also didn't deny the "gift". With a sigh, she accepted the "bouquet" and turned them this way and that, looking at the craftsmanship. Why not? Besides, seemed rude to keep rejecting the gifts of a condemned man.

"Huh. Not bad," she remarked. "Hell, with skill like that, ya could've made an honest living as a weaver or some shit." She glanced back at him. "So why didn't you? Make an honest living, I mean."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 12, 2013, 07:59:55 PM
Gherrick kept his smile, though the warmth behind it seemed to fade as he looked at her. That being realized, he drew in a breath and looked down at his boots.
"Ah, well, what sort of life would it be if things were easy enough to simply oblige the law?" he gave a shrug. "I tried though, to be honest. But it seemed the only means for me were the hard way, or be killed." he glanced over briefly to Beatrid, staring at the flowers. "Or to sit by and watch others suffer. I don't fair well watching other people get hurt. It... well, it's not right. Be they suffering from poverty or other dirty means, it's all the same. People don't deserve to suffer if we can help it. So if my little bit of thieving off of men who deserve to have some of their golden crowns stolen, well then, I'll hang for it. But I will stand by my own codes of ethics. I do not blam eyou for doing your job, Beatrid. I have gone against the laws and I am aware of the consequences."
And here he smiled at her.
"What little cost would come from being a weaver, but what greater reward a noble thief."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 14, 2013, 11:40:29 PM
Beatrid stared at him a long while.

"So...you steal for others, is that it? Not for yourself?" That seemed to be what he was saying, and in some twisted way, she could see the logic in it. "Huh. That's a pretty damned noble idea, taking from others with too much and giving to those with too little. Kinda romantic. Could swear I read some stories about it. But it's still wrong. No one deserves to be robbed, wealthy or not."

And, under her breath, added, "No matter how fucking much everyone else hates them."

She laced her hands around her boot. "Interesting idea, though. You do know there's legal ways to help people, right?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 15, 2013, 12:15:48 PM
Gherrick laughed and simply replied, "Yeah, but where's the fun in that? Besides, I'm trying to make a point, and to get a point across, one has to yell."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 17, 2013, 11:10:40 AM
"That's yelling to you?" Beatrid asked, and shook her head. "I'd sure as fuck hate to see your idea of a ruckus."

That when the sound of a door opening, followed by a rush of fresh air, caught her attention. A guard had entered the room, and the increasing volume of his steps said he was approaching. Looking over at him, she arched an eyebrow. "What?"

"Time to go," the guard said gruffly, and Beatrid stretched and stood, stepping aside so the guard could unlock Gherrick's cell.

"Looks like it's time for questioning," Beatrid told him, and nodded to his makeshift crown. "Sure ya don't want to look your best?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 17, 2013, 11:32:01 AM
Gherrick smiled, picked up the crown and dusted it off  before handing it back to her.
"I really think you should keep it," he pressed. "It would look better on you than me." He added with a laugh.
The guard growled.

"That's enough," He said, smacking GHerrick across the back of his head as soon as he opened the cell door. "Stop harassing the woman." and he took Gherrick roughly by the arm, an action that caused him to drop the hay-created crown and inadverentely smashed it beneath his boots. Gherrick was quickly cuffed in iron shackles behind his backa nd pushed forward. "Move it along, criminal. We ain't got all day." And Gherrick turned and gave Beatrid one last glance over his shoulder before he was chauffeured out the door.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 19, 2013, 09:21:19 PM
Questioning could take a while and with no prisoner to guard, Beatrid was put on patrol on the interim. It was an uneventful time, and most of it was spent wondering over the fate of her criminal as she marched through the streets, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. Normally, she wouldn't care; she was used to dealing with unsympathetic people, and she'd convicted many mages over the course of her career. Some had even been condemned, she she'd stood by that decision, even testified against them, and she slept just as well after the execution, secure in the knowledge that she'd done the right thing.

But this man was not a monster, and she didn't believe he was faking it. A man who was faking it didn't surrender at the risk of their own life, or protect the person trying to arrest them even when they had the opportunity to slip away. And at this point, he had nothing to gain through insincerity, but everything to lose through honesty.

Reporting back in to her captain as daylight faded to night, another Mordecai replaced her and she was dismissed. Time to check back in at the prison and see how things had gone--or wait around some more if they hadn't finished. Her feet were sore and she felt a little more tired than usual--a reminder of her injury--but sleep could wait a bit longer. It wasn't long before she reached the prison and, with a word to the guard, was handed a torch and ushered inside.

Rats scurried away from the light as she walked down the cell block and, when she reached his cell, she placed the torch into a sconce on the wall and peered inside.

He was back, all right. And he had a bloody, puffy face to show for it.

"Looks like things went well for ya," she remarked, arms crossed over her chest.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 20, 2013, 05:12:36 AM
At her return, Gherrick's face split into a grin, one that broke open a sore upon his lip.
"They were jealous of how handsome I was, but I think the new marks only make me more dashing."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 20, 2013, 10:12:10 PM
"Ah, yes. Of course. That's why ya got the shit knocked outta you," Beatrid said with a shake of her head as she took to the stool. How he could smile after that was beyond her; she was no stranger to the procedures used to get a criminal to talk.

She propped her chin up with her hand. "So...? How fucked are ya?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 20, 2013, 10:48:02 PM
Gherrick kept smiling,a nd at her inquiry, his smile grew.
"They hang me at first light."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 20, 2013, 10:57:42 PM
A sick, twisted feeling gripped her, like a hand squeezing her innards. Beatrid sucked in a breath.

He didn't have long to live.

"Which crime did it?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 20, 2013, 11:13:07 PM
"Er.. all of them?" he said, giving a more nervous grin with a laugh. "But don't you worry, I'm sure I'll think of some way to save my neck." And a passing guard growled at his cockyness, banging the end of his spear against the cell bar door.

"As if, low life. You've robbed your last nobleman. And the men you killed, to add to the list, would add insult to injury if you were to escape the hang man's noose. Tch," the man sneered as he passe don by. "Don't let him get to you, Beatrid." he said, patting her on the shoulder. "He's quite the cunning son of a bitch. I knwo of at least ten nobleman, merchants and the likes that would easily pay their worth in gold for his hide." ANd he laughed. "Now it seems they have their chance."

Gherrick watched as the gnetleman walked away, obviously to continue his rounds elsewhere. He blinked, then frowned and turned to Beatird before smiling again.
"What a charming fellow! A friend of yours?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 20, 2013, 11:32:37 PM
Beatrid gave a long suffering sigh and roll of her eyes, watching the guard's back until he'd vanished out of sight. When all was clear, she answered Gherrick's question.

"Jolston," she said as though that explained everything. "Patronizing jackass. He's so charming I'd love to punch his smug face in, that's for sure. Bastard's been trying to get me in his bed for months and thinks talking down to women while flexing his miserable muscles is the way to do it. Fucker. Outright told him to fuck off twice and he took it as an invite, and not only that, but he gets in the way trying to show off when I'm trying to do my job."

She brushed off her shoulder where he'd pat her as though he'd left dirt behind.

"Whatever. He's obnoxious." And now wasn't the time to rant about people she hated, of which there were many. Though something Jolston said was bothering her.

She peered into the cell at Gherrick, lips pulled into a frown. "You've killed men?" she asked, though it was less accusation and more...incredulity.

"I don't believe that."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 20, 2013, 11:36:50 PM
"This Jolston sure sounds like a charmer," Gherrick replied, also giving a scrutinizing glare in the man's vanished direction.
Then to her last question...
"It was news to me. I'm about as shocked as you are. But apparently there are witnesses," he said with a shrug.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 20, 2013, 11:47:08 PM
That twisting feeling grew more painful. Beatrid had met killers, murderers. She knew the type rather intimately--and she was more a killer than Gherrick was. She'd killed before, both in self-defense and out of necessity, because it was the right choice, because it was her job. It was hard, especially the first, though you never forgot the faces of any of them, but she could sleep at night knowing it had been just.

Now, justice was unraveling right before her eyes, and she had helped ferry him toward an unjust death.

She shook her head. "That's bullshit. You're hardly killer material and--and what witnesses? Were the witnesses present? And you! How can you be so fuckin' lackadaisical?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 20, 2013, 11:54:46 PM
Gherrick gave another nervous laugh and smile.
"Err.. cause I don't want you to worry?" he rubbed sheepishly at the back of his head, coughing a little, and turned away, spitting out blood. He paused a moment to wipe it off on the back o fhis hand, then turned to her. smiling still with a shrug.
"It's not your fault anyways, dont' you worry. I knew the consequences of what I was doing long before I began to break the laws. If so, then I'd be a greater fool than I am now."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 21, 2013, 12:09:28 AM
Beatrid gave a frustrated huff and threw her hands into the air. "For fuck's sake!" she growled. "Can't you be angry for once? It's a fucked up situation! I'm pissed, and I'm not the one's got a noose with my name on it!"

She crossed her arms over her chest, mind racing. "Fuck this. I arrested you so you could be convicted for your actual, ridiculous crimes. Not imaginary ones. Fines, prison, maybe flogging or a lost ear, and a mark slapped on your clothes. But death for fake murders? Fake crimes? You?" She barked a laugh.

"Un-fucking-believable."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 21, 2013, 12:19:51 AM
Gherrick stared at her with a blink.
"Well, I never exactly started stealing from these men if I hadn't a good reason. And I knew what I was up against. I'm not really a man to go against code or honor. Though none of these men have a code, nor are honorable. So it is of no surprise to me they'd place false evidence here, just to see me hang."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 22, 2013, 11:17:54 PM
"Fuck. There you go again with being so damned sympathetic and likeable," Beatrid growled, glaring down at the ground. Goddammit. Why did he have to be likeable? So many people got on her shit list, so why did he have to be one of the ones that didn't? And worse, why did he have to remind her of her old friend, Hek-Akiz? Which was even stranger, since Hek had been grievously wounded by a mage.

This was horrific.

She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache creeping along the edges of her skull. What Gherrick had said about the nobleman--the one whose crown he'd stolen--swam around in her mind, coupled by the injustice of him being framed. She'd known there was corruption afoot; one would have to be blind not to. But never before had it affected her so directly.

She could just let things run its course; he may be a man with decent intentions, but he was still a criminal, still a mage. Perhaps all his accumulated crimes, plus magecraft, would be enough for a death sentence. Surely it would. She could turn her back on it, tell herself that, and just...let be what would be. No one would fault her for it.

But she would know, and so would Ansgar. Ansgar who still loved mages, but hated the magic. He had used magic, broken the law, so by right he should die for it--but it hadn't been to harm, as much as it made her skin crawl that she'd been touched by its taint.

And justifying in her head what he was dying for wouldn't change the fact that he was dying for false murders. If she let this happen, she'd earn a mark for herself, one embroidered in her soul.

"For all your...flippancy about this, I'm gonna assume ya give a fuck and actually aren't okay with this," she finally said, and looked up at him, voice lowering. "Because I'm not, either. And..." She took a deep breath. "I think I may be about to do something completely moronic."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 23, 2013, 07:54:07 AM
Gherrick laughed softly.
"Of course I care, this is my neck we're talking about," he said, his laughter becoming a bit more nervous, and just the faint signs of sweat could be seen. He gave a shrug. "Though, I'm not surprised in the slightest what has happened. I was aware of the consequences long before I had begun to make this journey and I-"
but then he paused, blinking with his lips pursed out in the middle of forming his next word before his face went long, his lips pressing together, flat.

"What do you mean, moronic? Surely you're not thinking to.." but he caught her gaze, face falling again. "Beatrid, you do not need to worry yourself over me. I allowed myself to be caught and had chosen this sort of life style. THe consequences are mine alone to bear."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 10, 2013, 12:12:43 PM
"There's such a thing as being guilty of indifference," Beatrid said with a growl, thoughts racing.

"Ya ever seen it happen? When a man gets mugged and beat in a busy street and no one even stops? Those people, the ones that just walk on by and do fuck all to help, have that man's blood on their hands. Maybe they weren't the one beating him, but they watched him bleed and decided he wasn't worth helping. Or worse, they're so fucking wrapped up in their own shitty lives to hear his screams."

She shook her head. "There's a special place in hell for people like that. I didn't submit my life to this job to be one of 'em. But if I stand by and let you go to the noose while I have the power to stop it, knowing all the while that you're innocent for the shit that's got you hanged? That's exactly what I am. And my fire'll burn bright."

She met his eyes fiercely. "So don't you say a damned word about what I'm about to do," she said, and rose to her feet.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 10, 2013, 01:27:32 PM
Gherrick felt himself begin to sweat. It wasn't like he never had help before, and it was always appreciated, but like Beatrid, he couldn't just watch someone trying to halt a train wreck.

"What if I said there was a way for me to get out of this?" he said hastily, clinging onto the bars and pressing his face up against them.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 10, 2013, 01:46:24 PM
Beatrid paused and glanced at him from over her shoulder. "Then I'd ask what that is."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 11, 2013, 01:55:14 PM
"Well, remember that part when you realized I was a mage?" Gherrick began, staring at her sheepishly from behind the bars. "Well, being somewhat immune to the mordecai's charms has it's advantages. Though I'd hate to 'break the rules'. But I could create a bit of a distraction...."
A distraction of what? He wasn't sure, but he was positive he could get himself out of this without Beatrid causing undue harm to herself.

Or well, so he hoped. So long as the blessed God-child Evra granted him whatever power he needed in that moment.. for that plan, a plan he was still tryign to cleverly concoct as his eyes roamed around the jail cell and paused up at the window, that was even too high up if he were to jump in attempts to reach it...

"Hrmm.."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 11, 2013, 01:59:10 PM
Beatrid crossed her arms and tapped her fingers on her forearm, lips twisted into a scowl. She wasn't buying it.

"You really don't have a plan, do you." It wasn't a question. Just a flat statement.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 11, 2013, 02:01:04 PM
"Er.. well.." Gherrick said, lightly blushing as he looked back to her with a nervous grin. "Not yet." He admitted. "But I'm awfully good at winging it."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 11, 2013, 08:35:16 PM
Beatrid sank her face into her hand with a sigh.

"Yeah. That's not good enough," she said, and turned again to leave. "Besides, who said I was letting you run free? You're still a mage and still a criminal. And you're still my criminal."

And with that said, she began to head down the hall.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 12, 2013, 01:59:34 AM
Gherrick's expression went flat as he watched Beatrid leave.
"But.."
and she was still going.
"But..." Yep, she was practically out the door.
"Since when did people make claims on criminals?" he added lamely, his hands sliding down the cell bars as he sighed.
"What if I conned you out of it with the promise of cake?" He gave her a cheese grin. "I heard they have a lovely cake shop in Uthlyn!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 12, 2013, 09:34:32 PM
Beatrid wasn't listening to him as she walked away from him, steeling herself and forcing down her fear. This was crazy. This was suicidal. And Gherrick was right--he'd gotten himself into this mess, hadn't he? Innocent of murder or not, decent-seeming as he was, he was a criminal, and the consequences were his to reap. She could just keep walking, leave him be, go to sleep, and sleep in. Miss the execution. Wash her hands of the entire thing and take penance at the church and pray it washed away her sins.

Was one life worth throwing everything away?

Yes. Because it wasn't just about his life, but about her principals.

She would see that justice was still served.

It was easy enough to steal the key. She made some distracting banter with the guardsman out front, and in the meantime slipped it away and up her sleeve. She felt utterly filthy as she did that, but reminded herself it was necessary, and after getting some water--the excuse she'd made up--she returned back inside and took her seat back on the stool.

The guards would be changing out soon. And right now, they were rather relaxed. Gherrick was the only prisoner here, and they were bored. It would be easy enough.

She reached through the bars and, casually, let the key drop into a small pile of straw, muffling the sound of its fall.

"There," she said. "I'm going to be leaving soon. Wait ten minutes after I go, and then...well." Her eye flicked toward the key. "Do what you will with it."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 13, 2013, 07:19:12 PM
The moment Beatrid had left, Gherrick began to sweat. If she thought she was tormented over this execution, Gherrick's innards were doing flip-flops and tying themselves into triple knots as his guilt levels began to escalate. SO when she returned, his now greasy, sweaty hands squeaked down the cell bars as he looked back at her, sighing with relief when she seemed unscathed.
But then she approached, and he noticed something shimmering when it dropped. ANd he knew exactly what it was and didn't have to look at it, his eyes keeping to hers as they shined questionably.

"But what do I do or say to thank you?" he said, but then thought of something right quick and grabbed a handful of straw, grunted a few times before handing out a small, simply crumpled version of a folded bird.
"A dove." he siad, smiling crookedly. "A sign of friendship and peace." And he bowed to her humbly, like the forgotten prince that he was before his blue eyes looked back up onto her. "May the light of the day child watch over you always, Beatrid." Ad he said it so serenely, that she might not have noticed when he slipped back into his playful, boyishness, "Oh,a nd thanks for the key." And with that, he gave her a cheesy grin as red hair spilled over his eyes in a handsome mess.

"I suppose this might be goodbye?" for fat chances were, once he was out of here, they might not ever meet again.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 24, 2013, 01:40:43 PM
With a crooked half-smile, Beatrid finally accepted one of Gherrick's straw creations: the dove. Why not? To reject it would be to reject the sentiment behind it and even if she didn't consider them friends, she appreciated it as a token of peace and thanks.

"Hmm...pretty," she commented as she held it in her palm, for lack of knowing what else to say. She was never good with sentimental shit to begin with; it was painfully awkward. Combine something that already came to her awkwardly and apply it to a strange situation like this and she felt completely at a loss, especially since part of her was still wrangling with this choice and whether or not it was the right one.

It sure as hell wasn't the lawful one.

She rolled her shoulders back and glanced up at him. "Thanks. May Ansgar show you the way," she said, and with a deep breath she rose to her feet and stretched.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, though. You are my prisoner, remember?" She glanced back toward the door, then back at him. "So I'm not going to bother saying 'goodbye'."

And with that said, she turned and left the building before she could lose her nerve and take back her decision.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 30, 2013, 11:01:14 AM
His eyes kept upon hers until Beatrid was long gone from sight. Then, before he lost his own nerve, he reached down into the hay and drew out the key. Examining it for a good long while, he sighed. Then holding his breath, he waited to hear if anyone was coming before slipping the key inside and unlocking the door. Drawing in a breath, he steeled himself before slowly pushing the creaking door open, then once he was outside, he made no hesitation to sneak down the path. He'd need to get his bostaff- the only thing he would want from the guards, so he headed towards the room they were stationed in and peered in curiously. It seemed they were tlaking amongst themselves, and as he looked, he noticed his stuff in the corner. There were only two of them. He could take out two, right?

So he gave a knock at the door and waited, and once the man answered and gave a double-take upon seeing Gherrick, now smiling up at him, Gherrick replied, "Hey, so I was looking for my bo staffa nd realized it was in here. Yes, I do beleive it was that red one in the corner." ANd before the man had a chance to say a thing, Gherrick flashed his hands before the man's facea nd a flash of light blinded him. Wasting no time, Gherrick scrambled across the room, procured his bow staff and proceeded to beat the two guards until they were on the floor and lame.

Twirling the staff at his side, he then noticed the crown and picked it up wit the end of his staff and gave the pair of them a grin.
"Hey, thanks for the crow." then he slipped out of the window without a second thought- that was, until he realized how far up he actually was...
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on October 02, 2013, 06:02:15 PM
Beatrid hadn't left the scene. The timing had been important for two reasons--it gave her a chance to get into position, and she'd timed it so that the guard would be changing out, which gave him a better chance of actually making it.

As she left the scene and headed for a copse, roughly 50 yards away, where she would be well hidden in the dark, she fought against her doubt. She could change her mind. She still had time. She could go back and change things. But this was the right decision, wasn't it? She was doing the right thing? A stupid thing, but justified...right?

She took up position among the leaves and bushes, eyes on the prison. No going back, now.

Everything was about to change.

That was when she saw it: movement atop the roof. Squinting, Beatrid tried to make out the shape, and--ah! No, it was unmistakably Gherrick, because she could see the shape of his bo staff. Something kept glinting in the faint moonlight, too, and as Beatrid narrowed her eyes further she saw that--no. No way. She couldn't tell what it was from this distance, for it was small, but there was only one thing she'd ever seen on Gherrick's person that was metallic like that and could catch the light.

Had he taken the crown again?

He would have had to go through some guards for that!

Slapping her forehead, Beatrid let out a low sigh and settled in to watch. He was going to have to get down on his own, for she dared not go that near the prison yet.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 03, 2014, 04:34:55 AM
And get down from the prison roof top he did. Though it took some effort, thankfully Gherrick was used to this sort of thing. Though it took a lot more time than he had hoped, by the time he had made it to the yard surrounding the place, the alarm was raised and the guards, racing about frantically in search of a red haired man.. and a crown.

Crouching down by a pair of bushes, Gherrick held his breath and waited for an opening, or any other sort of means to get out of the gate. This part might be tricky, but he supposed he was clever enough to find some sort of means to get out of here and it was as he was biding his time that he scouted the walls, seeking perhaps.. another way to be rid of this place than the ordinary and most boring route of just 'walking out the door'.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on January 22, 2014, 08:03:59 PM
Aaaand there was the alarm. Beatrid grimaced. That complicated matters, but they could still get out of here. They would just have to be fast and--

And there he was!

As she had hoped, he dropped down and went to crouch in the bushes, not far away. Glancing about to make sure no one was around that would see her movement, Beatrid stalked quietly through the bushes, moving from he copse and to the shrubs where he crouched.

Carefully she approached him, creeping up from behind, and then, when she was feet away from him, she lunged abruptly and grabbed him, clapping her hand over her mouth as she did so he couldn't make a noise.

"Don't make a fuss, it's me," she hissed in his ear, keeping her hand firmly in place until she was sure he wasn't going to blow their cover. "I'm getting you out of here."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 27, 2014, 10:08:15 AM
Beatrid would be able to feel his body jerk and tense beneath her arms, and his hot breath puffing out between her hand, but when he heard her voice, he halted and turned to her suddenly when he was able to turn around. He raised a brow quizzically at her and inquired in a softer, more whispered voice, "So... aiming to help a criminal again? I couldn't let you, my lady. You've already done so much for me."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on January 27, 2014, 11:47:29 AM
Beatrid rolled her eyes skyward and huffed a breath out her nose. "Would you shut the fuck up about that? What makes ya think you get to let me do jack shit, you ass! I--" Another deep breath, reining in her temper. "Even if I go back," she said, voice calmer, "I...they'll question us all, and I couldn't lie to them."

She was a terrible liar. And then, there was her conscience. She just couldn't.

"I'm an all or nothing sort of gal. So let me worry about me, and you stop trying to save me, and let me finish saving your sorry ass. We'll go this way," she said, jerking her head back through the trees. "There's a trench where the waste water runs under the wall. We can go that way. Quickly, before they bring the dogs."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 28, 2014, 11:56:06 AM
Gherrick smirked.
Ah, Beatrid, Beatrid. Such a strong and clever girl. THough he was wondering if it was his fault for making her foolish.

"Alright, alright, you can be my knight in shining armor again, my lady, but I think I'll owe you more than a few drinks after this is all said and done." And he followed close behind her, ever wary of the guards lurking nearby.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on January 28, 2014, 12:57:06 PM
Beatrid sighed as she lead him along, carefully, through the trees and toward the wall. "That's the best damned idea you've ever had. I'll hold ya to--"

She froze, a chill going up her spine and her heart lodging in her throat, because in the distance came the barking and baying of dogs. And the sound was drawing closer. They had wasted absolutely no time, but she and Gherrick may have lost too much time here. "Shit, they're here! Fuckin' run!"

It didn't matter if there were guards nearby. They had a better chance against them than they did the dogs, who by their howling were already on their scent, and who would tear them to pieces before they landed a blow. Grabbing Gherrick by the arm, Beatrid bolted, full on sprinting for the wall, even as the guards stationed atop it spotted them and cried out their location and took aim with their arrows.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on February 04, 2014, 09:11:17 AM
Stumbling in line behind Beatrid, Gherrick was quick to fall in stride, especially when his fear was heightened by the dogs.

"Well, this can't be good!" he called over his shoulder, and was quick to note the men with arrows. He cringed. "Why don't we avoid the arrows and dogs all together? I say abandon the trench and let's go up and over the wall!"

And before Beatrid might have a chance to protest, Gherrick  lunged forward, latching onto her waist and thrust his staff into the ground. Pushing forward and using the momentum of their run, both he and Beatrid were soon airbourne, he- having used his staff to more or less pole vault them into the air and soon they were flyng, and landing in a crouch upon the wall. Before then, the arrows had been loosed and the men now standing around them- were left gaping at the pair as Gherrick gave a smirk.

"Why hello there. Nice cross bow." And before the bowmen had a chance to respond, Gherrick whacked him hard across the face, then rammed the staff clean into the middle of the other man. Both were soon crumpled in pain upon the wall's inner walk. Taking Beatrid's hand he laughed and began to run.

"Come on! There's the ladder for the wall over there. We can climb down there then run off to freedom!" Or you know.. run off towards more trouble!
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on March 11, 2014, 12:39:19 PM
"Are you mad as well as daft?" Beatrid snapped at him. "How the fuck are we supposed to go over the--"

That was when she noticed that the archers had spotted them. Her heart leaped and she had time only to think, Oh fuck! when suddenly Gherrick had her by the waist and, still running, did something she did not expect.

He planted his staff and then they were airborne, vaulting high into the air. She yelped, felt the breeze of arrows whizzing past them, and thought that if she survived this, she was going to murder him--and then, thud, they'd landed on their feet near the startled guards...that Gherrick promptly incapacitated.

Breathing heavily, Beatrid leaned forward with her hands on her knees, feeling a little shaky after that. Much as she was loathe to admit it, she and heights did not get along.

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you, I swear to fuckin' God," she said, but had no time to recover, for he took her by the hand and they were off again, Beatrid desperately trying not to look down as they bolted for the ladder.

Eager to get down, she broke off from him and reached the ladder first, had a moment of dizziness as she approached the edge, and swallowed hard. Turning her back to the edge and dropping to her knees, she was aware that she no doubt looked ridiculous as she crawled back and stuck a foot in the rung, cautious and careful, and held her breath.

"Don't you dare laugh," she grumbled as she started to descend the ladder, getting her other foot in the rung and clinging to the wall's edge until she got the courage to let go and grab a rung. But once she started going down, it got easier, and she dropped down the last four feet and landed on the ground with a grunt.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on March 16, 2014, 09:55:20 AM
Once they were both down from the stone wall, he gave Beatrid a smirk.
"Not a fan of heights?" he asked, but didn't wait for her smart remark as he gestured for her to follow him as he bolted off into town.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 03, 2014, 11:19:30 PM
Beatrid cut him a dangerous look. "That stays between you and me," she growled, but he no doubt missed it, because he was already bolting off into town. Legs still shaking, she commanded them to cooperate as she took off after him, the shouts of the guards growing louder from the other side of the wall.

Catching up to him, she fell into stride beside him. "You even know where you're going?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on April 10, 2014, 11:55:07 AM
"No!" he shouted back to her before he laughed. "But I'll just do what I always do!" ANd he paused before revealing it- "Improvise!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 15, 2014, 01:04:17 AM
"You're fuckin' kidding me," Beatrid groaned as they reached the city streets, and she grimaced as some neighborhood dogs that heard their running started to bark. That...that was going to be problematic.

Grabbing Gherrick's arm, she pulled them both to a stop. "Slow down," she hissed. "And think with me here a goddamned minute. The guard's gonna lock this place down, you understand? Soon, if they haven't already sent word ahead. We got two choices and we gotta make one fast--we either book it out of town now, or...we find some place to lay low."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on April 23, 2014, 10:33:47 AM
Gherrick paused to regard her as he caught his breath, and at the sudden squeaking of a rat, his eyes went south- and found a sewer grate just beneath their feet. Peering back up at Beatrid, he gave her a boyish grin.
"After you?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 03, 2014, 02:54:13 AM
Beatrid's eyes cut to the sewer grate, then back to Gherrick, and her lips thinned.

Again? What even was her life anymore.

"Gentlemanly a gesture as that is, I believe a true gentleman goes first here," she said, stooping to pop the grate out. "You know. In case there's a pile of shit at the bottom."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 10, 2014, 06:51:48 AM
Gherrick gave a laugh and began to descend.
"If you so wish it," And as he crawled down into the darkness, he peered up at her, only his bright blue eyes visible in the shadows. "Come on! Don't want them to catch us now do ya?" And he disappeared down at the bottom, jumping onto the ground and peering around, taking in the smell with a pinch of his nose.

"Smells like home!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 08, 2014, 10:27:23 PM
Beatrid dropped down after Gherrick, and grimaced when her boots landed in something...

Squelchy.

God almighty, if she never had to visit another sewer again, it would be too soon.

Repressing a gag, Beatrid buried her nose in the crook of her elbow. "Home, huh? So your home is shitty, is that what you're saying?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 09, 2014, 02:55:38 PM
Gherrick gave a laugh as he joined her down in the sewer.
"Hardly! But we have been here far too many times. And home is associated with a relatively safe place and well... My lady," and he gestured with a sweeping motion of his hands. "What safer place can we get than this?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on August 06, 2014, 09:17:49 AM
Beatrid shot him a scathing look, which was likely lost to the darkness. "Don't call me that," she grumbled. "I'm hardly a lady. C'mon. Don't dawdle."

Turning, she started to pick her way along the path, avoiding the worst of the...squelchyness...as much as she could. Now she was on a mission; she wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible.

Around her feet, shadows moved, and she jerked in alarm and clamped a gloved hand over her mouth to repress a yelp as one of those "shadows" ran over her boot. Instead, it came out as a muffled squeak. Rats. God, she hated rats, and they were everywhere--bold and unafraid, and fucking huge. She froze for a second, cringing, and took a deep breath--which once again set her to gagging.

...God, why was she doing this, again?
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on August 08, 2014, 12:15:08 PM
Gherrick gave a light pat on her shoulder before hooking arms with her suddenly.
"Come on," he told her with a grin. "Let's not dawdle, remember?" And he continued to lead them through the stinky, underground labyrinth until ...

"HALT!"

Gherrick nearly leaped out of his skin as he whirled around to where the echoing voice had come from. And just like that, he began to hear the clanking foot steps of a few approaching men in armor.

"Well, now aren't the city guards getting bold!" Gherrick complimented as he turned swiftly on his heel. "What was that about dawdling?" He motioned, giving her arm a tug. "I think now is the time to ..." And then suddenly he was off and dashing, "Run!!" And dragging Beatrid along with him!
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on August 14, 2014, 09:12:25 PM
Whyyy was she doing this, again?! Beatrid's heart leaped in panic, and Gherrick certainly didn't have to tell her twice!

"Oh, shut the hell up about dawdling! I get it!" Beatrid hissed as she ran with him, her free arm over her nose and mouth to block out the stench.

Which, unfortunately, compromised her balance.

Because it was as they turned a corner that she stepped in something extra slippery and, with a howl, her foot shot out from under her and she went splashing into the goop, dragging Gherrick, who she'd been clinging to, down with her.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on August 22, 2014, 02:03:57 PM
They probably appeared quite the mess, with arms and limbs entangled, and their bodies not covered in the wretched goo. After a moment of floundering, Gherrick was able to detangle himself from Beatrid, but the guards were already just a few feet away

"Halt!" One called out, and the hiss of his blade withdrawing echoed down the sewer.

Gherrick's blue eyes flashed as he stood, at the ready, and whispered over to Beatrid, as he was in the middle of offering her his hand to help her stand up...

"Hey.. you wouldn't mind handing me my bo staff, would ya?" It was kind of in the sludge, but hey- the pair were already covered in shit water. And well...
It would be better to face these guards with some form of weapon, right?
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on August 24, 2014, 02:04:09 PM
Beatrid didn't answer Gherrick, because the second she managed to get upright again, she didn't stay upright long--because it was all too much, being covered in that stuff, and the smell, and--

Well, Beatrid couldn't answer Gherrick, because she was too busy doubling over, hands on her knees, and vomiting.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on August 29, 2014, 07:39:23 AM
The stench was foul, but he was trying to be optimistic and not breath it- but when Beatrid lost her lunch, not even a second later, so was he.

He grimaced.
"So much for making a grand retreat," he groaned, gagging a bit still at the smell as he attempted to rise from the water. "Well, if we can't run from the guards... we could try throwing the sewer water at them."

Yeah... he was going to need a thorough bath once this was all said and done.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on September 14, 2014, 08:54:53 PM
"Just--just don't fuckin' talk to me!" Beatrid choked, because she was done. She was so, so done! She'd become a fugitive, just like that, but not even that compared to THIS! Finally, after years of soldiering, of getting bloodied up and bloodying up others, of dealing with battlefield offal and other sorts of nastiness...nope, this was her limit. She'd finally found it today. Her limit was getting covered in SHIT!

And she didn't want to talk because some of that had come awfully close to her mouth, and because she imagined that by opening her mouth, she could taste the awful stench in the air!

And she couldn't even wipe off her mouth because her arm was covered in shit!

She was, at that moment, half tempted to just let the guards catch her and take her away, because at least she'd be out of this godforsaken sewer!

Instead, she thrust a hand into the mush and shoved Gherrick's bo staff at him with a withering look, then grabbed his hand (ew, ew, their hands squelched together!) and took off at a run. Well, as much as you could run through the muck of a sewer.

Fortunately, the guards were human.

Seemed they were having a difficult time with the smell, too.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on October 04, 2014, 04:25:30 PM
"We really need.to stop making a habit of meeting in these kinds of places." Gherrick went on. "But I promise you, next time I'll take us some place nice!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on October 21, 2014, 12:55:58 PM
"Oh yeah?" Beatrid said, voice strained with her effort not to gag. "Maybe a manure pit next time? That's at least above ground!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on November 30, 2014, 03:35:19 PM
Gherrick couldn't help but laugh, but was soon choking on the putrid vapors.
"Y-yeah.." he said through gags of breaths. "Something like that. But I was thinking more along the lines of a fine, silk white table clothe, a single, white candle- white roses, and something very fatty to eat."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 08, 2014, 12:07:32 PM
"Stop," Beatrid said, holding her hand up and grimacing, her face pale as she fought down the urge to hurl. "Don't...don't fuckin' talk about fatty anything right now. Alright? Ansgar, what's wrong with you?!"

She didn't exactly want to talk about food when ankle-deep in excrement and who knows what else.

On the bright side, they seemed to have lost their followers, at least for now. It was dark down there, and they had apparently taken some twists and turns when they ran, though Beatrid didn't remember any of that. All she knew was she'd been running for her life through piles of shit! And if she'd been unable to go five steps without puking, she was sure those guards were facing the same challenge.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on December 10, 2014, 10:32:32 PM
"Well it wasn't like I described it!" he said with a laugh. "But say- I smell something different than waste." And he stumbled forward a bit. "Fresh air... at least I hope it's fresh air. Come on! Down this way!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 15, 2014, 12:44:30 PM
Beatrid didn't have to be told twice. She practically shoved past Gherrick in her rush to get the hell out of there, because she was so done, so, so done.

"How is it that I always wind up in literal deep shit with you," she grumbled as she sloshed along, and felt relief surge through her when she felt a trickle of cooler air against her skin. Which meant that somewhere up ahead, there was a way out. "Shit, and baths. Because I'm gonna need to wash this shit off fast, again. Why is it always shit and baths with you."

Which...actually worked out well, because as they turned a corner, the area became brighter--showing off all the skittering rats and cockroaches, but also showing that, up ahead, the place opened up and dumped into a river.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 22, 2015, 03:17:48 PM
Gherrick's eyes sparkled at the heavenly sight before them.
"Great Goddess Child's Luck..... a river.."
And he hesitated not to meet Beatrid's speed with his own, soon passing her as he wasted no efforts in leaping out from the sewer opening and into the river, only to groan as he realized..

"Ugh, agh, GODS ABOVE! THIS WATER IS FOUL!" ANd desperately he tried to swim up river, doing whatever he could to rinse off whatever new filth collected with his old filth and even long after he had felt and tasted the fresh river water flowing into the bad, he did not stop swimming.
It was all upstream from here!
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on January 25, 2015, 09:43:34 PM
If Beatrid's hands weren't covered in unspeakable things, she would have face-palmed.

Because there Gherrick went, sprinting on ahead and jumping merrily into Shit River and discovering what she could have told him if, you know, she knew he was going to go diving in like that.

So unlike Gherrick, she didn't leap into the river. She stepped down carefully into it, cringing all the while as sewage sloshed around her as she lowered herself in. God. This day. This was, without a doubt, The Worst Day.

She waded out into the center until she could no longer wade and had to actually start swimming. "I hope you had your mouth shut!" she called after him, and closed her own mouth as the water crept up her neck. Holding her breath against the smell, she swam after Gherrick, up the river, and even when the water turned clear she didn't dare get her mouth in it.

"This is, without a doubt, the shittiest day of my life," she whined as she swam closer to Gherrick.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 26, 2015, 04:20:33 PM
Gherrick gave a laugh.
"I suppose the same could go for me! It isn't everyday I go swimming in such filth."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on February 03, 2015, 11:33:51 AM
"I should damned well hope not!" Beatrid said. "Though you could've surprised me, what with how many sewers we ended up in. Goddamn."

The water was clean now, but she still felt covered in grossness, felt like she'd  never be clean ever again. Swimming to the shallower part where she could touch the rocky bottom, she started to strip off her clothes, cringing as she did. Though the water had washed away much, she still felt like some filth might be stuck under her clothes and in her boots.

"I'm sorry, but fuck this shit," she said as she tossed her tunic onto the shore and started to undo her breeches.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on February 04, 2015, 05:46:46 PM
Realizing what Beatrid was doing, his face went red as he turned away.
He couldn't blame her... this stuff was foul! But even as she was stripping.. he knew he should do the same- and soon his own, nasty clothing was slopping into a pile next to hers, but his back was still turned. The lady deserved some privacy and respect, after all!

"What can I say? I must just be a lucky guy!" he joked, ears still red from their close proximity and well-
nudity.

:|
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on March 10, 2015, 11:19:19 PM
"If this is your version of luck, I'd hate to catch you on a bad day," Beatrid grumbled, before she glanced over at him when she noticed how he was avoiding looking at her, and how red-faced he'd gone before he'd turned his back. With a snort, she picked up her soiled clothes and started to swish them through the water, hoping to dislodge any more...

...things...

That had gotten stuck in the fibers.

"Really, man? We just finished sloshing through shit and you're gonna get all flustered now?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on March 20, 2015, 09:11:32 PM
"A gentleman must always remain honorable to a woman, to give her respect- no matter the situation," he went on, then gave a humbled bow, back still to her. "And you, are still a lady."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 03, 2015, 05:57:52 PM
Beatrid rolled her eyes until she was just about seeing her brains.

"I'm no lady," she said, as she drew her clothes out and checked their cleanliness. "I'm a soldier."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on April 16, 2015, 06:33:06 AM
"A lady soldier is still a lady," he reminded. "Besides, it would be wrong of me to look. Odd circumstances aside, I will always hold women in the highest regard."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 17, 2015, 04:59:58 PM
"I'm not saying that's a bad way to be, mind you," Beatrid said with a snort, and made a face at her clothes. They still stank. It would take a lot of washing and soap to get the smell of shit out of them.

"It just amuses me. Anyway, relax," she added, having not missed his blush. "I'm probably the safest woman you could be around like this."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on April 17, 2015, 07:53:47 PM
Gherrick smirked.
"Safe? I don't know about that.. I saw how you handled those guards back there. And you've got a mean right hook, besides. Either way, I owe you for this one. And maybe for some of the others, but once we figure things out, well... guess I'll be buying you dinner. Or... at least some new clothes."

They both smelled like shit, after all. Though he hated to think he'd have to get rid of what he wore. It was his signature attire, after all. But maybe... he could find a seamstress to make him another pair. Though he knew the right silk would be hard to find.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 19, 2015, 11:09:49 AM
"How about both?" Beatrid said with a tired laugh as she started to, reluctantly, dress. "I'm fucking starving, which I guess is a damned weird thing to be after that, but fuck. You've run me ragged."

She wrung the water out of her braid when she was dressed, and added, "By the way, you're fine to look, now. Your virgin eyes are safe."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on April 19, 2015, 01:34:52 PM
Once he was decent, he turned to give Beatrid a salute.
"As much as I'm a man of my word, we should first figure out a direction our new adventure would lead us," he went on, all smiles as he was before. "I'm all for exploring the unknown and all, thrill of the mysterious and all that, but if you had any ideas of where we could go to lay low for a while..."

"Oh.." he then added, giving her a sheepish look. "And if I haven't said it enough, I'm sorry to drag you along with me. I know what we have probably isn't anything you'd ever dream of encountering in your lifetime. But hey- just think of it this way.." he went on, cheekily. "You can tell your grand kids this tale and laugh!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on April 23, 2015, 08:12:45 PM
Beatrid flashed him an amused, wry smile. It was clear to her that he hadn't yet connected the dots, which was fine by her. Most people didn't, and she kept it secret from most, anyway. It just wasn't something one could openly talk about, something nearly as taboo as magic.

"I won't be having grandchildren," she said. "Or children, for that matter. Well. None of my own, in any case."

Cracking her knuckles, she gathered up her weapons--hopefully her pistols would still work after being waterlogged!--and headed over to him, nudging his shoulder. "Let's go. I do, in fact, know of a place that can shelter us for a night, at least."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on May 03, 2015, 07:56:39 AM
Realizing her comment, her frowned and gave a nod.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Though as he thought it over, perhaps she just didn't want children? Though the way she phrased it, it seemed as if she could not. And he knew a lot of women who were sensitive about being barren.

Turning to walk along with her, he inquired, "So where is this place? And do you think they have food? Also, I'm beginning to feel as if I might forever be in your debt!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on May 06, 2015, 06:16:11 PM
"You bet your ass you're forever in my debt," Beatrid agreed, and from the way she said it, she meant it, the humor absent from her tone. Because really, she was so fucked now. She'd followed her conscience over her duty, and now she was well and truly fucked. "I wouldn't be in this situation if you hadn't stolen some guy's crown like a jackass."

She rolled her neck, popping it. "Anyway, there's a church in a town a few miles up river. We can just follow the water there. If we go there and beg sanctuary, they'll give it to us." She paused, and shrugged. "Probably."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on June 12, 2015, 08:16:28 PM
Gherrick frowned at the idea.
"Are you sure that's wise?"
Then again, their choices here seemed to be limited!

"If we keep to the river, acquire a boat... I might be able to navigate us somewhere where um.. people are a bit more accepting of my presence. And well," he went on, with a grin. "Of yours too! These people, once I tell them all that you've done, will see you as a hero!"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on June 13, 2015, 09:47:20 AM
"A hero," Beatrid repeated with a bitter scoff, rubbing her fingers over her temples. "I'm a goddamned traitor. What kind of people would think that? Mages? I'm a fucking Mordecai."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 14, 2015, 02:06:43 PM
Gherrick raised both brows curiously.
"Mages?" he frowned through a partial smile. "Not all victims in Reajh are mages."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 29, 2015, 12:18:24 PM
That gave Beatrid pause. She looked at him, still frowning. "What do you mean?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on September 01, 2015, 02:46:01 PM
"Well, it's true I'm a mage of sorts, but that's not why I've been running from soldiers and guards. People are suffering- magic or not. The people out on farms and living on the streets are still hounded for taxes, even when they've got nothing, or have had a bad crop after a dry summer. Then again, most lands re like that, sadly enough," Gherrick went on with a sigh. "But I suppose Connlaoth is lucky. It's got two sets of prejudices it deals with. And a lot of people that are poor are simply grouped with mages, making them doubly unlucky. Though bad luck is bad luck, right?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 14, 2015, 12:35:10 PM
Beatrid's frown deepened at his words, her shoulders stiffening. It was true. There was corruption everywhere that stemmed from places deeper than magic, and it was part of why she enjoyed being a Mordecai--a soldier. Helping people, protecting those weaker than her. Even before she knew she was a Mordecai, she would have liked to be a soldier--it had just never been an option until her gift manifested.

"So where are we going, then, that poor, downtrodden people would be more accepting of both mages and Mordecai?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on January 23, 2016, 10:11:16 AM
Gherrick tossed her a wistful smile.
"You'd be surprised how accommodating they are. But if you're willing to bear my presence a little longer, I can take you to a little place of sanctuary." And then he leaned forward, adding in a whisper, "And I swear it's not the sewers."
He still felt he owed her one (or two!) for that!
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on February 01, 2016, 11:04:31 AM
"Good, because I swear to God, if it's another goddamned sewer I'm gonna skewer you," Beatrid grumbled before she gave him another look. A softer look, even though she tried hard to mask the worry broiling within her.

"And you're...absolutely positive these people won't just kill me on sight? You can guarantee that?"
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on July 02, 2016, 03:06:56 PM
"Yep, completely," he assured her, grin playful, but genuine. "These people wouldn't lift a finger against you. They trust me, and if I tell them you're my friend, you'll be respected... well enough," he went on with a shrug and smile.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on July 07, 2016, 02:31:41 PM
Beatrid chewed at the inside of her cheek, still trying to mask her anxiety. Now that she was out of the moment and away from the chaos, the truth of what she'd done was slowly sinking in. She'd just ruined her career. Her life.

Oh God, what would her family think?

A sick feeling began to twist in her stomach as she realized that she really had no choice but to trust Gherrick, because she had no idea where else to go now.

She was a traitor...

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I'll hold you to it, then. But I swear to God if I die, I'll haunt the shit out of you 'til you die of a fucking heart attack before thirty."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on February 21, 2017, 03:33:57 PM
He could sense her ill at ease and moved to stand nearer to her and- something she might not expect; he hugged her. The moment was quiet; strange, and before he broke away he told her softly, "Thank you. I know you've risked so much for me. This really... it's the least I can do. Just er.. too bad I can't get us there any faster." He gave her a sheepish look. "But if we're quick and wary, there should be no further problems ahead."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on March 21, 2017, 09:29:33 PM
Beatrid went stiff when he hugged her, sputtering wordlessly. In all honesty, it took everything in her will power not to punch him, because he was the one that had gotten her involved in all this fuckery to begin with! With a soft growl, she shoved him back and glowered at him.

"Oh, don't think you can butter me up now. I'm still fucking pissed at you," she snapped. "I mean, what the fuck were you thinking?! Running around robbing nobles like a fuckass! You, a known mage and criminal! What the hell did you think was gonna happen? I can't ever show my goddamned face around here again because of you."
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: visualspice on March 26, 2017, 04:34:04 PM
"Criminal is up for interpretation," he was quick to point out but...
retracted any further comments as he went sheepish again. But he was still all smiles.
"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't plan on dragging you in with me."
Yep. he was totally innocent!... in that regard.
Title: Re: Thanks for the crown. Enjoy your Pig.
Post by: Rhindeer on December 06, 2017, 01:44:35 PM
Beatrid snorted, and hung onto the anger. If she stayed angry, she wouldn't have to face the fear, and she had never been any good at dealing with that.

"Well, you did. Intent don't mean shit. Now can we get going? We're like sitting ducks out here, and both of us are too high profile for them to just lose."