OOC: This takes place after Rufus/ Ryk finds out Dylanna is back in the city and had run into her at the fair. Because of his history/ interest in her, kleine's character Huxely is going to be one of the one's more or less following her to ensure her safety. Though he's curious as to why.
This thread was brought to you by the creative minds of me and klemens XD
PREPARE FOR SOMETHING SO AWESOME, YOU WILL PINCH YOURSELF
or something >_>
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There was so much to do on her return to Arca. She had spent too much time away. Though it was intentional, she felt guilty- for it not only kept her son off of land, but her business partners were beginning to wonder when they'd have another official meeting. And most of her partners were located, or met with her, in the city.
When she had returned, she kept to herself, only gathering the attention of those she worked with, and she stayed in doors. But her son was anxious to get out and see the city, and when he awoke to hear and see the colorful festivities of the fair- who was she to deny him?
And it was here the single person she had been evading for over 3 years reappeared in her life. She wasn't sure how she was feeling over it, the day had been... interesting, to say the least. She was just thankful she hadn't caught wind of any of Ryk's rumors yet- but she was too busy to even go out to where the gossiping all occurred. But even still, her time in the fair, then to return home to a house full of flowers.....
It was just all so very strange. And she could't help but roam over the meager flowers Ryk brought her in person, rather than the extravagant arrangements of flowers that seemed to be bursting from her room.
She let Samuel have fun with them- where as before,s he might have been more precious to flowers-
except the small bouquet offered to her by Mr. Handalaar. Those she kept in a vase near her bed, or at least somewhere Samuel couldn't quite reach to tear the petals off it. It didn't take long before her house turned into a mess of soft, silken, and partially drying out flower petals that now littered the floor- and just about every nook and cranny she looked. Even as she was stepping outside for the day- for business, of course, there was a flower petal stuck to her cheek.
She hadn't noticed it at first, and went about her business as usual. Some would stare at her, but none said anything, and she was going on and on about her business as usual when one of them called her attention up to the scaffolding above two large vats full of fresh cargo from Cerenis. With a sigh, she gave a nod and shouted, "I'll be right up there!"
And finished her business down below before walking swiftly over and climbing up into the lattice work to meet with the man.
Other women might be deterred at such dangerous heights, but running a ship, and each corner of it, she felt at ease climbing up to such a place, for she knew how to be safe and wise about it. She knew that one wrong step and down you went. So such things were second nature.
Perhaps that's why the preplanned 'incident' didn't go quite as planned. Some order fish, others order crab, and to try to 'push' a woman like Dylanna Swinden off her feet was no easy task-
So the few local kids, orphaned, no doubt and hungry for coin, moved in on their target on behalf of another man, who was watching out for this woman for yet ANOTHER mystery man. The woman only noticed a scurrying of boys who should not be up there in the scaffolding to begin with. But as she was trying to tell the boys to stop running, it was dangerous- they rushed passed her, a group of them, and it set her off balance. Though she was meant to fall off the OTHER side of the scaffolding, her attempts to catch her balance merely had her falling backwards off the opposing side.
But into the wrong, massive crate (or vat, as it were). The kids was paid to push her into a pile of fish (well, not push so much as make this happen 'on accident'- for fish were more cushiony, though no less smelly, than the pile of hard shell, and very much alive, and now panicked crabs she had fallen into. And she, not being a woman to scream, did not do so when she fell- but as she lay there, dazed from the fall and the unearthly clattering of a thousand crabs writhing beneath her reached her brain-
It was only then she released a yelp, a yell perhaps?, a loud gasp, at least-
And it was when she moved did the crabs begin to react a bit more...
like crabs, and with another yelp, and another- she began to feel the panicked, pinching claws of those very spooked pile of crabs.
Never mind the smell- this was a nightmare, and soon she found herself giving a shout and desperately reaching for the walls, which, of course, had no means for her to grip onto, to climb out- and as she stepped and slipped deeper into the pile of crabs, her panic grew-
and so did the pinching from the crab's claws.
It hadn’t been a job anyone was particularly interested in taking. The order to follow and protect Dylanna Swinden had come on the heels of a handful of other assignments the Blood Wolves had found less professional and more personal. It had caused a decent amount of grumbling in the ranks. What did Rufus think they were? His own personal cadre of bodyguards, to be dispensed at whatever whim struck him? It was a natural cause of discontent; with a riskier job than most Soot Wolves, the Bloods liked to think that their lives were being put on the line for, at least, guild business.
In fact, Akello had seemed a little surprised when Arun ‘Huxley’ Zajac volunteered for the job. It wasn’t that he was of a different mind than his comrades - nothing of the kind - but he was quite curious to get a better look at this new woman. He’d heard enough about the young noble woman and the assassin from the gossip that circulated around the barracks. But this new woman seemed different: older, also a love interest as the rumors went, and a single mother. It was certainly enough to pique Huxley’s interest.
And more than just follow her around and watch her from the shadows, Sure, you can learn plenty about someone from watching them unbeknownst, but Huxley was curious to talk to the strong-headed merchant woman. She seemed, though, to have an annoying knack for not needing his intervention. So Huxley made his own plan. Following her down to the docks, Huxley caught sight of a gang of street kids and suddenly had - in his humble opinion - an excellent idea!
“Hey, you lot!” he called to the rowdy group of boys. “You want to make a few coins?”
The four boys turned to Huxley, their eager eyes rapt on him. “Sure thing, cap’n.”
Huxley smiled broadly to the boys. “Good men! Now,” he leaned forward and gave them their instructions, then two silvers a piece. He didn’t mind being generous with the kids. It’s not like it was his money. He’d taken it off someone else earlier that day.
So Huxley followed, feeling rather pleased with himself, Dylanna as she walked across the docks. Saving her from a vat of fish, what a good idea! No one would be in real danger, but how many charming young men would dive into a smelly vat of fish after her to gallantly pull her out? Then they’d both be covered in fish guts, hilarious! Instant friendship. Of course, that was not what happened. Huxley’s mouth fell open when the boys mistakingly (he hoped! he’d given them all two silvers!) pushed the woman into a vat of crabs instead!
Swearing viciously to himself, Huxley dashed into the crate of live, pinching, angry crustacians after Dylanna, swearing again when he landed on their hard, sharp bodies.
“Don’t worry, ma’am! - ow!” he said with a confidence that was a bit tempered by the pinching crabs. “Are you o - ow! - kay?” Wading through crabs, Huxley discovered while trying to make his way to Dylanna, was awkward. “I’ll give you - ouch, you little fucker! - I’ll give you a lift out of here!”
"A lift?" Though she was ouching inwardly,s he was no where as boisterous as he, but she was not without her own swearing between her teeth. Little fuckers was right, but she couldn't help but stare at the man who just so willingly jumped in to this mess along with her.
"Do you think a lift will help?" came her sharp, shrill reply. Even with his help, she'd have no way of really reaching the top. The sides of this 'crab hole' had no notches like that of the one with the fish. In fact, all of the inside walls were smooth. And there was no way to gain their footing on the unhappy crabs still clattering about beneath them.
"You should have called for a few men to help!"
Now, as far as she could see- the pair were BOTH stuck here, and as she tried to maneuver herself, it only made her swear some more as she seemed to sink further down into the mass of crabby crabs.
Quite the critical rescuee, this one! Huxley swore under his breath as he carefully, and clumsily, made his way closer to Dylanna. He quite wanted to get out of this vat, as well! The pinching crab claws were bad enough, but the thought of where they might pinch...!
At this point, though, people were gathering on the side of the crab hole, including a few sturdy-looking dock workers. Huxley thanked his stars for them. It always worked out! Even if they hadn't been part of his original plan.
"No, look!" he called, pointing to the burly men on the side of the crab hole. "If we can - goddammit! - get over there - ow! - I can give you a boost up to the men waiting there!"
The only problem was getting there! But Huxley was moving carefully, simultaneously climbing over and walking through the crabs. It wasn't pretty, but he was slowly getting closer to Dylanna.
As irritated as she was, and not exactly at this man in particular... She wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible. So gritting her teeth, she tried to wade and push and climb her way towards the wall where the men above began to shout,
"Hey, you down there! Hold on! We're gettin' a rope!"
Thank the heavens they were! She couldn't imagine having to remain in here until they were eventually found. But these crabs- she'd be red and dotted all week from such an attack! How would she explain this to her business partners? They'd probably think she'd be diseased!
Pushing aside that thought, as it was a tad less important than, you know, being rescued, she turned to her fellow prisoner and offered out a hand. "Come on. Over here! The men are getting us a rope!"
And she hoped they'd be quick about it- because...
Dylanna let out a shriek when a crab's claw found her ass, which propelled her straight into the other man's arms. And though it might have been awkward, her removing the crab from her ass came first, as she writhed against him and reached for the crab. Swearing through her teeth,s he yanked it from her rear and chucked it at the wall- not realizing she was gripping on tightly to this other gentleman for support. That was, until one of the crabs clipped at the bindings of her shirt, and a second one did the same, and the weight of the pair of crabs nearly pulled the front of her shirt down to give this man a show!
Talk about things being able to get worse!
"Oops, careful there!"
Huxley deftly caught Dylanna as she lept, crabs dangling from her, into his arms. Boobs first. Well, it was deft in Huxley's mind. In reality, it was just that he managed to catch her without falling over. And as a gentleman (sort of!), he did his best to advert his eyes from the free show down the woman's dress. Somehow managing to balance Dylanna in one arm and stay on his feet, Huxley yanked the crabs off of her, still swearing intermittently as the damned little beasts attacked him!
"Here, up you go, - agh! - out of this muck." With those words, Huxley shifted one hand up to Dylanna's back and put the other on her bottom to hoist her up over the mass of pinching crabs. She wasn't the tiniest of women, and it was a bit of an effort. But while Huxley wasn't the biggest and most strapping men, he was still fairly strong.
The men hadn't reappeared yet with the rope, though, and he wasn't entirely sure they were close enough to catch one. So, in a feat of acrobatics that harkened back to his sideshow days, Huxley stepped carefully crab-to-crab, Dylanna hoisted up over him towards the crab wall. Swearing the entire time.
Grateful to be out of the crabs, but fearful this man's feat my truly harm him, she found herself clinging onto him, afraid to be dropped, but by the time they made it to the wall, she was panting too. And thankfully the rope had come, being lowered swiftly to the pair.
"Oh thank the gods. Looks like we can finally get out of here!" And once the rope was close enough, she clung to it for dear life.
"We'll pull the woman out first!" The men shouted, and Dylanna spared him one tired, but thankful look as she climbed and was pulled free of their little vat of crabs. And she couldnt even begin to state how grateful she was, and did not hesitate to help the men retrieve the other gentleman. It was the least she could do.
Huxley helped hoist Dylanna up to the rope, letting her go once she'd taken hold of it. As she ascended, though, a crab that had been attached to her skirts fell and landed on Huxley's upturned face. And - ouch! - the damned thing pinched through the skin on the bridge of his nose! His nose was one of his better features! Huxley wiped away the blood from his nose, cursing. Then the rope was thrown back down, and he quickly grabbed hold of it, pulling his way out of the crab hole.
Crab hole! If he ever got his hands on those kids again...
Huxley clambered onto the deck, taking a moment to shake the last few crabs off his trousers before turning to Dylanna. Seeing the sad state of her dress, which the crabs had unclasped in their attack on its bodice, Huxley immediately took of his jacket and offered it to Dylanna.
"What a way to start the morning!" he exclaimed, putting on a brave face of humor to lighten the situation. "I'm going to have to replace my morning shower with a crab bath from now on. Really got my blood flowing!"
"Are you okay, though, ma'am?" he asked with a friendly, if shaky, concern. "That was quite the spill! Would you like me to collect those kids for you? We can throw them to the sharks, the rogues!"
So much to digest and so quickly. But she shook her head.
"No," she said through a sigh, and nodded to him, grateful for the coat as her hands clenched it closed. "Boys will be boys. I have one of my own. They were just being... Careless." Though at what cost? It could have been those boys who had fallen in, and she would have felt more despair if they had. Having her own child made her soft, she supposed. But she was just glad it was over.
"But you... How are you fairing?" And she studied his face and caught sight of.his nose. "I bet the pair of us look god awful." And she laughed tiredly at that
The crowd around them was dispersing now that eveyyone was safe. After all, they all had jobs to do!
"Oh! I don't know what you mean! I was a perfectly behaved little angel when I was their age!"
The Blood Wolf held his innocent, serious face for a moment before it split into a wide grin once Dylanna broke the tension with a laugh. She was right, they did look like a mess! Or at least, she did, and he imagined he was no better. Probably worse, he thought, wiping more fresh blood off of his nose.
"Well, as a rule, I never tell a lady she looks awful," he said with a wink. Despite his somewhat playful air, Huxley was mostly disarming. He certainly didn't give the impression that he was actually flirting with anyone. "But I think you bear your, ah, battle scars quite well! Please, though, let me escort you wherever you're going. That was... quite the shock. For me anyway! I wouldn't feel right letting you go off on your own now."
Of course she didn't believe that remark, not for one second! But with a smile and shake of her head, she gave a grateful nod in his direction.
"Thanks. Women don't exactly like to hear about that, regardless if it's true."
But such a comment helped to lighten the mood even more.
And at his last suggestion, she sighed but nodded.
"Very well. I was going to visitor Lord Signon DePerre, but I dare say I'll have to reschedule with him. He's a very.... appearance driven man,"s he went on, taking a hand through her disheveled locks and trying to keep them (well most of them) away from her face. "If I show up like this, I'm afraid I'd lose him as a business partner."
She gave a small laugh like that and a shrug.
"So I suppose you could just escort me home. Though what about you?" And she peered up at him curiously. "Do you have a means to address... those wounds?" She had plenty of maids at home to fuss over her. But if she could help him in any means, she certainly would!
"'Lord Signon DePerre?'" Huxley repeated, his eyes widening in an impressed expression. "Should I be asking for a reward for rescuing - er, sort of - rescuing you then?" he joked, grinning.
Huxley felt a drip of blood from his nose hit his upper lip. "What, this?" he asked, wiping the blood off his nose again. Why did facial cuts have to bleed so much for so long! Really, at this point, it was more like Huxley was smearing the blood than wiping it. "Oh, just a flesh wound! I've survived worse. It's not bad so much as," he wiped the blood away again, "persistent!" He gestured for her to lead the way. "After you."
Dylanna sighed. Men. They always tried to act so bold. Really, they were made of just the same material as women. With a shake of her head, she produced a kerchief.
"Here," she said, with a small smirk. "For your cut."
And then with a nod, she began to lead the way.
Lord DePerre's place, thankfully, was no where near her own, so she could avoid running into him. It was funny the things one did to appease their partners, but well- that was how it was. And her father taught her well. Thanks to him, however, her position here was easily accepted- and was able to grow.
The pair passed the center of town and were drawing further and further away from the trade goods district. Though even as they had, the scent of crab lingered.
"If you'd like, you can bathe in my manor home. There are more than enough wash rooms for me to offer you one." And here she paused and realized...
"I'm Dylanna Swinden, by the way." And she paused to offer out her hand. "And you are, sir?"
Huxley took the proffered kerchief with a sheepish, gracious smile. "Thanks." He cleaned the blood off his nose, and the smeared blood around his face before looking at the kerchief again. It wasn't quite so clean and ladylike anymore. "Well, I won't return this to you just yet, then."
He followed her, watching her curiously as she led the way, holding the kerchief up to his bleeding nose. It was, of course, a familiar path to him. But the surroundings weren't what he was interested in! There was no doubt that the stench of crab clung to them. Without thinking, Huxley scrunched his nose, "We smell like a pair of salty old fisherman, I'm afraid!" Of course, the act of crinkling his nose led to a new trickle of blood.
Huxley looked surprised, though, when she offered that he could bathe at her manor. She certainly wasn't overly-concerned with appearances and propriety! "Oh, well, that's very kind of you! But it wouldn't cause any, ah, stir amongst your household, or anything? I think you've had enough trouble for the morning already! I'd hate to cause any more."
He didn't say any more on it, because at that moment Dylanna introduced herself, proffering her hand. Without missing a beat, Huxley took her hand and took it gently and kissed it. "Dylanna, lovely to meet you. Well," he gave another sheepish grin, "in this case, maybe the circumstances of the circumstances weren't so lovely, but you can't win 'em all." He released her hand, seeing a smudge of his blood on it. With an, "Oops!, let me get that for you," he quickly cleaned it off with the kerchief. "I'm Arun Zajac."
Cause a stir? She thought nothing of it. The man had saved her life! And it wasn't like she had a reputation like Ryk Handelaar! Shaking her head, she was about to inform him it was more than okay, when he went on to introduce himself. She couldn't help but repeat the name.
"Arun?" she blinked. "I've traveled rather far, and I think you're the first man with that name."
"Well, I swear on my grandmother's grave it's my name," Huxley answered with a bit of a bemused smile at the remark. "My family's all Travellers, though. You know: bards, fortune tellers, actors and musicians and the like, traders, caravans and all that. I suppose we have a different set of names among us than typical in Serendipity."
He gave a small shrug. But then brightened up a bit, "If you're a traveler yourself, maybe you've even seen our troupe perform. We put on a good show. A play or two, acrobats, music, juggling. I don't do it anymore, but I can't say I never miss it."
"Oh? So you've retired?" she asked, curiously. "Or is it that such acts are hard on your bones?" Though a jest, the man couldn't be too much older than she. But even she knew acrobatics and the likes took it's toll on the bottom- if you were in shape, or not.
"Retired?" Huxley looked at her with a wide-eyed, mock-hurt expression. "I know I look a little rough after those crabs got at me, but I'm not old enough to be retired from anything!"
He gave a little huff, following Dylanna again down the winding residential streets leading to her estate. "No, I guess I was a bit of the black sheep of the troupe. So they set me out to pasture. Can't have the black sheep ruining the rest of the wool, after all," he said with a wink. "Now I mostly take odd jobs. But I still manage to get the old ukulele out from time to time."
Huxley took advantage of the pause in his own story to look appreciatively around at the stately homes and their stately gardens. "This is a beautiful part of the city, you know."
"Black sheep?" she eyed him over. "But surely they'd know that dark wool would be a unique and valued commodity. After all, they're apparently good at befriending crabs."
She gave a smirk and her interest perked up at the mention of the ukulele.
"I've never really played much on instruments. Sure, I can play the piano quite fair, but it was never a true passion of mine. My son, on the other hand, he seems to be quite fond of music- though I dare say if I were to get him a ukulele, he'd pull apart all of the strings."
Thinking about her son brought a smile to her lips, and at his last question, she nodded.
"Ah... yes, I hadn't thought of it, but I hope you are not offended by me offering you to my home. It was given to me after my father had passed, and I hope to keep it in the family- to will it to my son next." Thinking it over a minute, she then added, "Have you never been to this section of the city? Most merchants and lords live this way."
And she was both- though she didn't outwardly profess the latter. Though technically, she was a 'lady'.
Huxley laughed at Dylanna's comment on black sheep and crabs. "Well, maybe the next time the troupe is coming through, I'll show up with my old show gear juggling a bucketload of those pinchy little bastards and let them see what they're missing!"
Huxley perked up when Dylanna mentioned her son and listened to her warm description with a warm curiosity. When she was done, though, he gave her a surprised look. "Surely you don't have a son! You couldn't possibly be old enough. What are you, eighteen?" He broke the faux-surprised look with a grin. "Don't worry, I won't make you answer that!" he said with a wink. "But you should let him have a go, anyway. You never know what kids will pick up. Children are always pretty attuned to music; he might be more disciplined than you think. Plus a ukulele's the perfect thing for a little boy. Wish I had mine with me now and I could give him a little lesson as a thank you for your kind hospitality."
Huxley gave a guilty, you-caught-me smile at Dylanna's last question. "Well, yes, I have been through this area before. But I think there's never any harm in telling someone that they have a lovely home. Especially, though not exclusively, when it's true."
Dylanna gave a nod and smiled at his compliment of her home.
"Thank you. It's nice to know my ancestors have good taste!" And she hesitated not in unlocking the gate and stepping inside, motioning for Huxley to follow when suddenly a soap lathered 'dog' came rushing their way. With a gasp, Dylanna braced herself and shouted, "Samuel! Your dog!" But it was too late, the pup had already dashed passed the pair of them and was making his way towards the east gardens. With a growl,s he turned to Huxley. "If you'll excuse me, I have my son's dog to catch!"
Huxley had only just processed the word 'dog' when the soap-bubble-laden pup came through the doorway like a cannon ball! The little creature nearly steamrolled Huxley, veering its course only at the very last minute and, in the end, body checking him in that way that only puppies really can.
But Huxley didn't miss a beat. Huxley got back on his feet and in one motion said to Dylanna, "No problem! I'm on it!" and bolted after the escaped pup.
Before Dylanna could protest- there went Huxley, and soon disappearing from view was the pup! She gave one look towards her manor where Jasper stood exasperated and she cast him an apologetic look before dashing off behind him.
"Don't let him get too far into the East Gardens. There are bramble bushes back there!" And the last thing she needed was to dig those out of a soapy and squirmy wolf pup!
Sprinting after the pup, Huxley made quick progress towards the puppy, but away from Dylanna. So that the last thing he heard was, "Don't let him get too far into the East Gardens." That, of course, just sped Huxley up and he completely missed the second part. The warning about the brambles!
So when Huxley finally caught up with the pup on the far side of the East Gardens, he took the opportunity to dive and tackle the puppy. The result was that both man and wolf skid full on into the brambles. Huxley swore as they skidded to a very prickly stop. But at least the pup was firmly in his arms. He scruffed it, though not roughly, to keep the soapy pup from squirming away from him.
Huxley and the wolf pup returned to the steps of the estate a few minutes later, covered in small bramble-scratches and burrs, both in Huxley's clothing and the pup's wet fur.
"There are a lot of brambles in the back of your gardens," Huxley said apologetically in attempt to explain their unkempt appearance.
Dylanna hadn't gotten to far when she got held up by her son Samuel. She would have helped Arun but by the time she had her son calmed, the man was already heading back- soapy dog in tow-
and also it appeared the two had a very bad case of the brambles. At such a sight, she found herself gasping and holding a hand over her lips. But when the little wolf pup gave a bark and wag of it's tail, seeming quite pleased it had brambles mixed with it's soap-
Dylanna gave a snort as hse tried to hold back a laugh-
which only lead to her shaking as she tried to resist it but..
"Good, Arun, you'll have to forgive me but you and the dog...."
"It's a wolf, mama, a wolf pup!" her son corrected.
Dylanna gave a laugh, her eyes nearly in tears from it as she adjusted her son's weight upon her hip and smiled at him.
"Yes well... it seems our pup, as well as his hero, have a bad case of the brambles!"
And at such an explanation, Samuel was giggling too.
She gestured to Huxley.
"Well, come on inside you two." And she looked the pair over, giggling again. "Oh.. what a day. And what a story I have to tell you, Sam!" She said, giving her son a big kiss upon the cheek as she held him
Samuel made a face.
"Mommy, you smell bad. Like a stinky old fish!"
Dylanna laughed.
"That isn't too far from the truth, Samuel. Now help us get your pup to the tub so he can get washed again. And once that is all taken care of- and you both behave, I might share with you the story of what happened t me today."
Sam's eyes went wide.
"Did something real bad happen, mama? Your skin is all dotted. Looks like you got hurt." And he pouted.
She gave a nod.
"That I did, but mommy is strong. And so are you." ANd she kissed the top of his head befre setting him down and sighed as she turned to Jasper, whom she gave the orders to to take care of the brambled beast. Sameul, wanted to help- and was soon trailing behind Jasper's heals before Dylanna found herself alone with Huxley.
She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head.
"What a long day. But it seems I owe you for two rescues today. Perhaps you can stay for dinner? After we clean up, of course."
Huxley didn't seem too bothered to be laughed at, all things considered! He grinned happily; he never really minded being the center of attention. He watched Dylanna interacting with her son with a delighted expression. What a cute kid! What striking, he thought, blue eyes.
Huxley handed the soapy wolf pup over to Jasper, leaving himself alone with Dylanna. "That's a pretty adorable kid you have there," he told her, "if you don't mind me saying! I'd still have said you must've been his older sister, though! Bet he keeps you on your toes."
He looked at her with a bit of surprise when she invited him to stay for dinner, though. "Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude so much on your hospitality! You're being awfully kind already."
Dylanna rolled her eyes at such a comment.
"I hardly look anywhere near my son's age," she retorted. "But thank you," she went on with a sigh. "He is my world."
It was only at his reply to her offer of dinner did she take her eyes away from her son.
"It's not intruding at all, or I wouldn't have offered. Really, it's the least I can do. First the crabs.." she went on with a smirk and tucking back of her hair. "Then a rampaging wolf pup covered in brambles. You've definitely earned some reward,a nd I think dinner is really the least I could do."
"Of course he is," Huxley remarked warmly, watching Sam take off with the housekeeper and the soapy wolf pup. "You and his father must both be very proud indeed."
At her insistence that he stay, Huxley simply bowed his head in gracious consent. "Well, if you insist. I try never to say no twice to rich, beautiful women," he said with a grin and a wink. While there was no denying he was a bit of a charmer - at least in action if not always effect - there wasn't anything overtly flirtatious about Huxley's mannerisms. It almost seemed more like a habit than anything else. Or perhaps just a way to keep the mood light. Anyway, Huxley figured, she was beautiful and at least by appearances, rich. What was the harm in saying so? "But I couldn't possibly join you for dinner," he gestured to, well, all of him, brambles and all!, "like this."
Dylanna smirked and hooked arms with him.
"Then let's get you to the bath. I need to clean up as well. Come, this way," and she began to lead him up the large , grand staircase to the second floor.
"We have a guest bath. Ill alert Jasper to prepare the water for you. Is there anything else you might need?"
Interesting. Huxley made a mental note of Dylanna's cool side-stepping of his mention of Sam's father. He knew, of course, that whoever it was wasn't in the picture. He'd been following them long enough to know that. But, well, if she were a widow or some such, surely she would have said something nice about his memory there?
"Well..." Huxley gave the distinct impression of 'not wanting to ask for anything more', but he looked frowningly down at his crab-smattered clothing. "I don't suppose I could borrow some clothes from any of your staff? It'd be awfully embarrassing for me attending dinner smelling like the main course."
Then he looked up at her with a sudden, worried urgency. "That was a joke. We won't be having crabs, right? I'm not sure I could... But then again, there might be something satisfying about skewering the things."
"And here I thought you liked crabs!" Dylanna said, feigning ignorance. "Considering you had jumped into a pile of them." But she was soon smiling and nodded. "I might have something that could fit, but I'm not sure my father was your size..."s he mused, looking him over with her green eyes. "Come, follow me. We might as well see. Dinner will take some time to cook anyway, so we've got some time to kill."
Huxley did as he was bid and followed Dylanna, eyes wandering curiously around the grand house. "Oh, any of the staff's clothes would be fine," he told her. "I don't mind wearing a uniform or anything like that. It's more the smell I mind!" he said with a grin.
"You know, I was thinking though," he added brightly after a moment. "I know you said you're doing the least possible, and all those polite things you're required to say when you're a host. But I still think you're being awfully kind. And I remember you saying your son - Sam, right? - that he likes music. If you like, I could give him some lessons. As a thank you." His dark blue eyes watched curiously for her answer. "Oh, I mean, not tonight. I don't have anything with me. But I could come by and teach him a bit of ukulele or horn or lute or so? Just if you'd like."
Dylanna Swinden had Huxley thoroughly intrigued. He didn't want to just go back to watching them from the shadows now. There was so much more he wanted to learn. Plus, what better way to keep an eye on them, anyway?
Dylanna's eyes lit up at the idea and her smile broadened.
"I think Samuel would approve," she said, and continued to lead the man onwards towards a large room on the second floor.
"You'll have to forgive the room for being a bit chilly, but I'll bring up some wood so you can start a fire in the hearth. There's a wash room just over there," she went on with a gesture of her wrist to a privacy screen in the corner. "And you'll find everything you need, except the water. I can fetch some from the well. But oh yes.. clothing!" she went on, a bit breathlessly as she walked forward with long strides and opened up a massive walk in closet and gestured.
"There are plenty of suits you can borrow. They were my father's and... well, he has since passed."
And by the looks of things, it wasn't fairly recent, but was a topic that still made the woman sad.
Sensing Dylanna's sadness, Huxley put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. It was, perhaps, a little presumptuous since he had 'only' just met her that morning, but it seemed to him the most appropriate gesture at that moment. All he said, though, was, "Thank you very much. This is extremely kind of you."
After Dylanna had left and the household staff had fetched water and made a bath, Huxley cleaned himself relatively quickly. Normally he would love to take his time over such a luxurious thing, but he was still on the clock and taking his eye off of the Swinden family for a fancy bath would not be looked kindly upon by the bosses. He chose the simplest of the suits available to him, putting on the clean white shirt, but opting to leave the dinner jacket behind. Huxley didn't want to look grander than he was, after all.
Once he was cleaned up and dressed - his dark blonde hair carefully mussed - he left the bedroom neat and tidy to walk through the grand house he'd only ever seen the outside of before. It seemed, to Huxley, awfully empty despite the staff and the boy and the soapy wolf pup. And he found himself wondering how large of a space her father had left behind in Dylanna's life.
Where as Huxley did not indulge in his bath, Dylanna certainly did! She trusted the man enough to leave him be in her home while she was preoccupied in her own bathing room, her figure a silhouette behind the room screen.
Yes, a nice steamy bath was definitely in order after what she had been through today. And seeing all of the crab pinch marks all over her body, she gave a shake of her head and went about to thoroughly wash just about every inch of her body- and well, it didn't hurt to add extra lavender in the water. She positively stunk like fish! (well, technically crab!)
She found that just laying in the water, with it's steam rising leisurely into the air, helped her forget about all those itchy scratch marks as she peered up at the ceiling. Ornate tile decorated it, with even fancier trim on the sides. It was funny to think all of this just belonged to her and Samuel- and just like Huxley, she felt the place was awful empty as well.
Then again,s he was rather here- so why fret over the feeling of an empty home? It wasn't like she had any desire to marry....
Though perhaps it was time to consider getting Samuel some tutors. He was still very young, but she had heard others begin to have their children taught at much younger ages. ANd as she thought htis all over, she closed her eyes and just let herself sink back into the water until she was nearly consumed in it. Just her nose nad lips nad the point of her chin was exposed. And when she sighed and opened her eyes, she saw something move just above the water.
Sitting up int he bath, the water gushed down her form as she smoothed the waters out from her eyes, slicking her hair aside before looking up to see-
A spider.
And her breath caught in her throat as she screamed.
Huxley was just one turn-of-the-corridor away from Dylanna's bathing chambers as he strolled through the beautiful home, taking in all the details that interested him. He could almost forget that he was still 'working.'
Almost.
Then he heard a woman scream, loud.
Huxly automatically went into 'action!' mode. Normally he would be stealthier, check out a situation before bursting in, do some reconnaissance, that sort of thing. But the scream he heard then meant there was danger now.
So the Blood Wolf lost no time kicking open the door to where Dylanna was bathing, braced for a fight. Thankfully, at least, he had yet to draw the dagger he'd slipped into inside of his pant leg. Huxley liked to get his fists a bit bloody first. So he didn't look as stupid when he burst into the burst into the room only to see...
A spider.
Huxley looked urgently around the room for half a moment to look for the real assailant. But there was none. It was just...
A spider.
He couldn't keep a deep blush from coloring his face when he realized. It would look, perhaps, that he was embarrassed to find Dylanna in her current state. But really Huxley was embarrassed to make such a stupid mistake! He'd rushed in her like she was about to get gutted and it was a spider! Well, at least he had a record of hasty 'rescues...'
"Oh, I'm so sorry," he blurted, quickly averting his eyes from Dylanna. "I heard... I thought... Oh, geeze."
She didn't consider the series of unfortunate events that could soon follow her scream in fear of the arachnid, but as it were- that's sort of how it happened- for the second Huxley burst into the room, which was quick enough for Dylanna not to get her wits about herself, she found herself in a truly awkward, most informal manner: nude and soaking wet before him. Though not all of her had been revealed, it was still more than inappropriate!
Well- had he not burst in to most obviously aid in her distress! Dylanna remained in the tub for only but a brief moment as she naturally moved to shield herself, then realizing the spider was still dangling over head, she growled and decided to deal with that fiend, first!
Yanking her scrub brush from the waters, she hesitated not to whack the long legged black spider from where it hung, sending it sailing towards the wall and racing across the floor.
"Oh no you don't!"
She was NOT about to let that stupid spider live after that! And leaped out of the bath, water gushing everywhere as she began to make chase. She only had a limp, and now soon soaking wet towel to clothe her from Huxley- but she'd be damned if another damn creature was going to get her goat today!
Not one who was fond of spiders, but not one to scream so easily, she was hardly going to let this embarrassing moment go- so as she rushed after the thing, trying to whack and beat it with her scrub brush, somewhere int he middle of it all, the half-mashed spider became air born, flinging off the end of hte brush and over towards Huxley- where the spider landed in his hair.
And as the soaking wet Dylanna held her towel to her body (which was barely doing its' job to keep her modest anyway!) her mouth dropped open and she stared in horror.
Arun Zajac stared.
What else could he do?
A wet, soapy, nearly-naked woman was running around the bathroom in a vengeful race against one doomed little spider. Who wouldn't stare? At first, Arun didn't even notice the wet plop that landed in his hair - in his very carefully handsomely disheveled hair, at that! He just stared open-mouthed at Dylanna, until he noticed her eyes on the spider-goop. Then he felt the wet drips of water-and-mushed-spider-and-soap down his forehead. He barely took his eyes off of her as he quickly but carefully removed the remains of the spider from his own damp hair.
Only then did he realize that he was staring!
Slowly, an amused, lopsided grin replaced his look of surprise. But he was a gentleman, and he still remembered to avert his eyes.
"Well," he said through a half-stifled laugh, "clearly you don't need any help fending off any danger in here," he started side-stepping his way out of the bathroom, a hand placed in dramatic 'not-peeking!' fashion over his eyes, "so I will," step, "just see myself," step, "out -!"
Unfortunately for Arun, as soon as he'd said the word 'out' he managed, while side-stepping and Not Looking! with his eyes covered out of the bathroom, to step right onto a bar of soap! He took a dramatic, almost staged fall forward and nearly caught himself. But his momentum was too great, and the Blood Wolf went hurtling directly into Dylanna's tub! Sending a wave of bath water out of the tub and onto the bathroom floor!
Dylanna was even more embarrassed when she realized he had been staring and her cheeks flushed a deeper red. But at the spectacle he then proceeded to make of himself, Dylanna couldn't help herself as she smirked and offered him a hand.
"Yes, I am quite capable of rescuing myself and those who fall prey to my bath. Here, let me help you out of there and I'll get you a towel."
"Yes, this is a very treacherous bathroom that you have here, Lady Swinden," Huxley sputtered through soapy bathwater. "Who knows what might happen!"
He accepted her hand, pulling himself up out of the bath. Once he was on his feet, a puddle began to instantly form around him. After all, he'd fallen into the bath fully clothed. But he preoccupied himself with not looking at Dylanna. As much as he was tempted to peek, he figured there wasn't much he hadn't seen of her at this point!
"I swear, when I heard you scream, I thought it might be, I don't know, an intruder or something," the soaking wet man explained sheepishly. "I swear I didn't burst in here just to, you know, play 'peeping tom' or anything of that nature!"
He looked down at the pooling water surrounding him. Yes, he would need at least 'a' towel. Probably several!
Naturally, she believed him. He did, after all, deserve the benefit of the doubt. Saving a woman from a vat of crabs...
Well, thankfully for him, she was indebted to him. Other wise, things could have ended a lot more poorly here. So after getting hi ma towel, and then a few MORE towels, she offered him another set of spare clothing for his trouble before they were to part ways as she finished preparing for dinner.
She wore something simple, she always did, but well, to make sure she didn't smell like crabs, she put on a little perfume. She rarely wore any so the pump was nearly full, and sighed once she sprayed herself, just once (she didn't wnat to over do it!) before making her way down for dinner.
As she was walking down the staircase, she wondered what had become of Sam.
"Samuel!?" she called out, voice echoing along with her footsteps down the grand steps.
When Dylanna entered the dining room, she'd find a (now dry and re-dressed) Arun standing a few feet away from the table with Sam, with Arun's back to Dylanna.. In his hands were three bright oranges. Sam was standing in front of Arun holding another orange.
"Now the trick," he was telling Sam, "is to always be catching and throwing. You can't hold onto any of them once they're going."
With that, he tossed the first orange up into the air, adding the second and third until he was juggling the three fruits for the boy, much to Sam's amusement.
"Go ahead," Arun coaxed, "toss me another." And, when Sam complied, he deftly caught the fourth orange and added it to the whirl of fruit. The wolfpup, also now scrubbed and clean, watched with interest. Just waiting for one of the bright orange balls to drop!
When stepping into the dining room, she was taken back at the scene before her-
For in a circle were tossed a series of orange balls, and upon further scrutiny, she realized those were oranges. Her lips twitched into a smirk as she slowly approached, but as quietly as possible. Once she was directly behind Arun, she spoke, "Impressive. I didn't think you were so coordinated."
Especially after the 'spectacles' from today.
Huxley, of course, heard Dylanna coming. After all, that was his job. But he acted like he didn't hear her so that when she spoke from immediately behind him, he feigned a start. All four oranges went straight up into the air as Huxley jumped around to face Dylanna. Then, as the plummeted to the ground, he deftly caught them all.
"Of course I'm 'so coordinated!'" he answered brightly with a broad grin. "I told you, I grew up in a performing troupe! I've got any number of tricks like this up my sleeves. It's just, ah, spiders and crabs that sometimes throw me off my game. You know how it is."
Dylanna gave the man a smirk.
"Impressive, even with the below average skill when dealing with spiders and crabs.." she went with a tease, "But really, you need not entertain us if you do not wish. You are our guest. The meal is free. After all, I owe you a lot for your daring efforts."
"Yeah!" Sam piped in. "I want to hear all about the crabs!"
Dylanna sighed and gave a smile and roll of her eyes.
"Perhaps after dinner. Come, let's get your hands washed and seat ourselves. Dinner will be ready soon."
[A few weeks later...]
Arun had kept the post tailing Miss Swindon. And it had only gotten easier and, if he were honest, more enjoyable! In addition to his solitary, hidden nights spent watching the small family from afar, Arun had made himself something of a few-times-a-week fixture in the household, teaching little Sam the ukulele! In fact, that's exactly what they were doing now. And today was an extra special exciting day for Sam, because today was the day he would play a song for his mother for the first time! They were just practicing again for the last time before Sam would be playing for his delighted audience. And going over important things like 'how to not be nervous,' though Arun didn't tell him the old trick about imagining the audience naked. Because, well...
But when he led Sam into the sitting room where Dylanna was waiting, he decided that he might be nervous, too. And of course he had no family connection. Ahem.
"Ready Sam?" he stage whispered to the boy once they were in the sitting room, his mother sitting in the center of a neatly arranged row of chairs. When Sam nodded, Arun stood dramatically and announced in his old, projected show voice, "Ladies and gentlemen - or, in this case, lady," he corrected, throwing Dylanna a wink, "may I present for you tonight, the one and only, the exalted, the masterful, the very-practiced, whose stage presence far exceeds his stature... playing an original song with original lyrics written by himself... Samuel Swindon!"
Before Samuel had even begun to play, Dylanna was melting with love for her son. To see him so sweetly sing (if even a bit off key and some words that made no sense!), she was a proud mother in that moment, her heart swelling as she beamed.
He sang of the sea, of the winds, and it took her back to those long months she and her son spent close time together. The child truly was a sea fairing one, that was was evident, and when he was done, his crooked smile consumed most of his face.
"What do you think, mommy?"
Dylanna was about to cry, and brushed a few leaking tears away.
"Oh, Samuel, the song was beautiful." And she embraced him and kissed him all over his face before pulling him in close and smiling warmly to Arun.
"You're a wonderful teacher. To think he learned all of that in such a short time."
She knew she was a smart one but-
she couldn't help but think in that moment-
He was quick and clever, a natural talent of his father.
Dylanna wasn't the only one beaming with pride over Sam's song. Though Arun suppressed his own, the Blood Wolf watched Sam with a reserved, but clearly proud smile. After all, he didn't want to get in the way of the moment between the woman and her son; it was a mother's place to gush, not the 'music tutor's.'
When Dylanna complimented him, though, his smile broadened a little and he inclined his head in thanks. "Well, I try not to turn down compliments from beautiful women," he said with a roguish, but obviously harmless grin. "But I think, in this case, it's Sam who's the excellent student. He's picked it up in half the time as a boy twice his age. That's real talent. You can't teach that. As much, of course, as I'd like to take credit."
And before Dylanna could give any sort of reply, Samuel burst out, "Again! I'll play it again!"
And there he was, going through the same song routine with more gusto. Dylanna was all smiles, shaking her head happily towards her son.
"I think you've started Samuel onto a new obsession with music."