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View Full Version : [M] A Light in the Dark [Ashen & Midoripickle]



Ashen
02-29-2016, 09:36 PM
[The following roleplay is rated mature for reasons that may include but are not limited to: strong language, suggestive themes, violence, and mild romance. Reader discretion is advised.]

Whatever had happened earlier that day, it had to have been terrible enough to forget. Weary brown eyes swept the room, stopping at the clothes scattered on the floor, the husky man sleeping soundly in the bed. This was whom she had bargained with? She had never prided herself upon her taste in men, but she usually had better judgment than at least this. The man's rotund belly rose and fell with his breaths. He had just a blanket covering his waist, and what it hid was nothing to write home about. His long, orange beard was unkempt, and his shining head showed off a baldness his prematurely receding hairline had chosen. Or maybe the guy was just old. He was sleeping like a baby, so peaceful and beautifully oblivious. Everyone looked younger when they slept.

Mae gathered her clothes from the floor and hastily put them on. She looked for her two bags, the ones she took with her everywhere. One held the things any wanderer would need: blankets, a pillow, a few coins, some tools. The other was far more important to her. She slipped her satchel over her head and patted its contents gently. Inside her second bag was an ancient book, its spine and pages frayed, its words faded. This book looked much like garbage, written in some foreign language, some centuries--even millennia--ago. It was her most prized possession, and as soon as it was by her side she was again ready to hit the road.

The girl decided, however, to stop in the man's washroom. They were in some inn, of course, in some city whose name she could not pronounce. This girl had traveled the world, but never had she met more naive people than those she'd met here. The man in the next room was a prime example. He had only needed a few drinks, drinks she hadn't even paid for, to be so easily manipulated. It hadn't been bad, exactly, just not memorable, and she'd gotten a free meal out of it. She had even managed to sneak in a nap in a real bed, all at this man's expense. When he noticed just how much of his coin was missing he'd be angered alright, but he'd never be able to catch up with her. She always made sure of that.

After tiding in the washroom, Mae looked somewhat presentable. She had smoothed her long, straight hair, and it hung about her face like a black curtain, shielding the entire left side of her face from view. Her skin was a perfect cinnamon color, except for her nose. An ashen mark stretched from the left side of her face to her nose, crossing the bridge and tainting her right cheek. This mark resembled a sort of port wine stain, covering her whole nose and cheek, and was hidden by her hair from her eyebrow to her chin on the left side. When her brown eyes fell over it in the dirtied pane of glass over a tub of water, Mae immediately averted her gaze and started away.

She was silent as she left the inn, having had too much practice at being a ghost. She snuck around to the back of the inn and approached a familiar stone, one she had visited earlier. After ensuring no one was watching--and why would they be, at such a late hour?--she moved the stone aside and retrieved her sword. After attaching her sword to her waist and covering it with her dark overcoat, Mae headed out, prepared to never return to this city again. On a full stomach, a light rest, and the shining moon, she was ready to leave. She had no reason to even consider staying. After all, she was a wanderer, and one with a mission.

Midori-Hime
03-01-2016, 04:20 AM
The crowing of the rooster stirred him, just as the dawn started to break past the horizon. He rolled over with a groan, feeling too warm and comfortable to want to get up. Just then something wet and hot brushed over the bottom of his bare foot. With a cry, Lochan sat up suddenly from the bundle of hay he'd been sleeping in. He looked up then at the black and white draft horse that was currently licking his foot. "Hey! Stop that!" He whined, yanking his foot away and quickly climbing out of the straw, brushing himself off. The horse snorted, shaking his head, sending his mane every which way. "Yeah, yeah… I guess that's what I get for sleeping in your breakfast, huh?" He asked, picking some straw of of his dark brown hair before patting the horse's muzzle.

Lochan stretched then, fixing his hair and pulling it back into the usual half bun. Still some loose pieces fell about his face. He moved to the barn door, looking out over the fields to the farm house near by. It was then that he noticed some movement coming from the house. "Well, I guess it's time to take my leave. Thanks for the company!" He said, glancing back to the horse and tipping his nonexistent hat to him, before making his way back to the road before anyone noticed his presence there. He followed the road, making his way to the next town that crossed his path. As he walked, his stomach started to rumble and he dug through his pockets, frowning as he realized just how low his funds were. Which were none, in fact. It wasn't too much farther until he reached the next town, he could see it now. Lochan was quite confident in his pit-pocketing skills and figured he'd find some cash in no time at all.

As he reached town, the businesses were already bustling and people were roused from their homes, heading to the market for a day of work or shopping. This was a perfect opportunity he thought. As he made his way through town, most people didn't bother to give him a second glance. It was clear by his worn clothes and rough appearance that he was nothing more than a wanderer. He didn't seem to mind though, taking in the sights. As he neared the market, he was suddenly on the prowl for an easy target. Lochan spotted an opportunity as he passed by a small apple stand. Taking a quick glance around him, he passed by a man, carefully knocking a basket of apples with his foot. The man seemed to think it was his own mistake and quickly scrambled to collect them, along with the owner of the stand. Lochan turned for just a moment, his hand reaching back to grab an apple before he ducked around the corner. No one suspected a thing and he'd made away with his first meal of the day.

Ashen
03-02-2016, 03:51 AM
It had been a long night, and as the darkest hours of the morning ticked by Mae continued on. She traveled throughout the night, preferring it to the daytime hours. As the sun peeked its way over the horizon the wanderer could just make out the outline of a new town. It would be a new place to get a meal, a new place to find some supplies, a new place to manipulate its inhabitants.

The town was nothing marvelous. Mae was already judging as her eyes brushed over it, observing the people and the buildings. It was a lower-class town, a busy town, with a bustling market. She watched some people while she moved about, taking it all in. A focused people, self-centered from the looks of things. No one would even notice her. Her eyes fell to any sorts of pockets, any place where a coin purse could easily hide. She started blending with the crowd just as she plucked a purse from a man's pocket. Stashing it in her own bag, she headed away, her mission successful.

A little distance away she could see a man approaching a fruit stand. She watched him curiously. There was something about him... He looked like a wanderer, like her, who had only recently awoken and was looking to cause trouble. And that he did: soon, the barrel of red fruit came tumbling down, and the vendor was oblivious as the man walked away with an apple. Not the most impressive theft she'd ever witnessed. She waited for the vendor to finish cleaning up his stand before approaching. Tossing him a coin, Mae picked up an apple and nodded towards him. "You might want to be more attentive," she told him. "People like you make it easy for thieves to get by."

The sun was really starting to rise now, and normally that would mean getting to sleep. Mae was a night owl, and the morning hours were ones she normally did not see. She looked over the man's coin purse; minus the one she'd used for the apple, she had only a few coins. The man hadn't brought much money with him, just her luck. Paying for an inn would be a needless expense. How far could she get before setting up camp somewhere nearby? On the roads outside of the town, no one would care to notice her. So, with a chilly autumn wind behind her, Mae set out from the town, prepared to revisit it when she awoke. Her nightly trek had worn her well enough; it was definitely time for rest.

Midori-Hime
03-05-2016, 08:13 PM
The vendor looked up at the woman, confused by her comment and frowned deeply. "W-what? What is that supposed to mean?!" He called out her, as if suddenly suspicious of the woman. But she was already on her way and he warily took her money, going back to his business.

Meanwhile, Lochan was enjoying his quick breakfast. He sat on a stone wall near the center of the market, keeping an eye out for an opportunity to score an even better meal. As the day continued on, the market became filled with people, even for such a small town. His silvery-blue eyes scanned the crowd as he lifted the apple to his lips, opening his mouth to take another bite, when he froze suddenly. His gaze locked on a young woman making her way through the crowds, heading towards the outskirts of the town. He didn't get a good look at her face, but that body had certainly caught his attention. He found himself sitting up, watching the sway of her hips as she walked.

Soon she was out of sight and he sat back again with a soft huff. Well, so much for that. Lochan looked down at his half eaten and then smiled to himself. Who knew, maybe they would cross paths again? He quickly finished up his apple and then hopped down from the wall, starting to mingle with the crowd. No one seemed to pay him much mind until he passed a small group of ladies who took once glance at him before they turned up their noses. Lochan's soft smile turned into a frown, wondering what their problem was. Though as he looked down at his own haggard appearance, he supposed he was due for a good bath, and perhaps he could manage some new clothes. With that though, Lochan headed to the outskirts of town, following the road that he hoped would lead to a river that was not too far away from town.

Ashen
03-06-2016, 01:46 AM
On the outskirts of town was a pond, small enough to not be a popular fishing site but big enough to go for a nice swim in. Mae had checked the area thoroughly before decided to bathe in its less-than-sparkling waters. So she peeled her many layers from her body, and she lowered herself into the water. Mae was a thin girl. After too many skipped meals her skin hugged her bones. Not quite emaciated, she had the curves a dancer would envy. Her chest left prostitutes gawking. Perhaps she could even consider herself among those ranks. She hardly thought of her otherwise plain body as she lowered herself into the water, shivering at the cold. Another freezing bath, after another cold night. It really was a wonder she hadn't gotten frostbite yet.

As she set herself in the water, Mae's brown eyes were on her pile. Her practical clothing was among it, as well as her overcoat, socks, and boots. Her pack was by her clothes, while her more valuable bag was underneath. The way she hid her book would make someone think it was worth quite the penny. She watched it for a few minutes, as she scrubbed the dirt out of her dark skin. After a while her gaze fell away, and she looked at the quiet world around her. The dying grass, the half-hidden sun, the chilling breeze; it was hardly an ideal bedroom, but it would serve as her resting spot until the nighttime.

Then it came time to wash her hair. Mae held her breath as she went under the water, and her straight hair flared around her like that of a mermaid. When she surfaced her hair fell over her face, and she only moved it from one side. Even out here, surrounded by only nature, with no people for a couple miles, she was not willing to show her obtrusive face. So concerned with keeping her face covered, she was oblivious to what was happening to her pile of belongings, and the young man that was suddenly in her presence.

Midori-Hime
03-06-2016, 05:05 AM
He wandered just a short while before he noticed some water ahead. As he got closer, he realized it was a small pond, which was just fine for him. However, he hadn't realized the pond was preoccupied until a goddess suddenly arose from the surface of the water. Well perhaps not a goddess, but Lochan couldn't imagine one being more perfect than this woman. Lochan froze dead in his tracks before suddenly coming to his senses and ducking behind a tree.

He mentally scolded himself, knowing he shouldn't watch so brazenly, but he couldn't look away. Lochan peeked from behind some brush, feeling his cheeks flush as his gaze followed the drops of water as they ran over her dark skin, between her full breasts, and down her flat stomach. Perhaps his only complaint would be that she was a bit too skinny, but he of all people could understand that well. His eyes lingered on her chest for a few moments, before he wondered what to do now. It wasn't like he could just jump out and greet her. That would be a disaster, no matter what excuse he managed to come up with.

However, once Lochan was able to divert his gaze, he noticed her things in a pile just a few feet from him. Lochan stared at it for a long moment, conflicted on what to do. On one hand, he still needed money if he was going to afford enough supplies to keep going. But then, could he really steal from this woman… It seemed Lochan was just desperate enough as he carefully crept over to her things. Besides, a woman like that probably wouldn't give him the time of day anyway. He kept an eye out as he dug through her clothes, though she seemed busy with washing and didn't notice him at all. Just when he was about to give up on finding anything worth while, he noticed a bag underneath her clothes. It was a nice looking bag and was carefully hidden so it had to be worth something, he figured. Lochan glanced back to the woman once more, noticing that she had gone under the water again. Taking that opportune moment, Lochan turned and disappeared towards the road again. Lochan made his way back into town, taking a moment to look through the bag. There were a few coins, but other than that, there was nothing but a crummy old book. "Ugh, just my luck…" He sighed, glancing over the book before putting it back in the bag. Well, perhaps he could still sell the bag itself for a good amount of coin.

Ashen
03-06-2016, 09:09 PM
She wasn't bathing long, and when Mae finished she stepped out of the water and shivered. These damn autumn breezes would be the death of her, she was sure. She made her way back to her pile, all the while running her fingers through her hair. After doing her best with the knots in her hair, she crouched down beside her pile and began to slip on her bra, her pants. Just before putting on her overcoat she noticed something. Her book was missing.

Panic flushed her face, and immediately Mae scanned the entire area. She had put it under her clothes, like she always did. She slipped on her overcoat and fastened her sword, threw her other bag over her shoulder. Her satchel, her most prized text, it was gone. But... How? She'd had it before she started bathing, she was sure of it. Which meant someone had stolen it while she was in the water. Some pervert had been spying on her, and had made off with a book worth more than her own life.

Pure rage darkened her eyes as she started away. Wherever her thief was, he wasn't here. She decided to go back to town, and on her way she noticed something. The ground around the pond was damp, as expected, but was drier the farther from the water it got. And yet, lying in the dried ground just a couple feet away was the wet ring of a footprint. It was too faint to tell its size or direction, but there were more like it, every couple of feet. So, he had gone to town. And he had thought he would get away with this. The fool didn't know what was coming to him.

Mae found her book with very little difficulty, as if her internal GPS had it programmed. A man was carrying around her worn old satchel, sneaking peeks into it as if he expected it to contain gold. Poor fellow, he'd never know the worth of her bag's contents. As she watched on, she noticed that she recognized the man. This was the same thief from before, the one who had stolen an apple from the oblivious vendor. And now she had been made the fool, too.

Suddenly, the people around did not matter. She couldn't care less about the authorities she'd avoided like the plague all her life. Suddenly, she was upon him, her sword to his throat. "Listen here, you bastard," she snarled into his ear. Her body was pressed to his back, and her breaths were rigid on his neck. If he turned to face her, he would see the side of her face covered by her dark hair. "I may have forgiven the peeping, gods know all men are utter dogs, but stealing my things makes you a bitch. Give it back." She moved her sword so that it would just graze his neck, just spark a warm scarlet.

It wasn't long before a villager was upon her. Two men grabbed at her arms but she easily threw them off. "Mind your business," she growled at them. "Are you so hungry for a criminal? Look at yourself, at your rotund belly when your own people go starving." She turned back to the man with her bag. "If it means giving my freedom to the cells of this pathetic town, I will kill you in an instant. Do not test me. Give me my bag."

Midori-Hime
03-08-2016, 01:44 AM
Lochan got up with the bag, about to go about to find the nearest shop that might trade for it, when a flash of silver caught his eye. He froze suddenly feeling the cold, sharp sting of a blade at his neck. Lochan's breath caught, afraid to move even an inch. Suddenly his eyes widened at the sound of the cold voice in his ear and even though he didn't recognize it, he certainly had an inkling. At the same time he feared for his life and the anger in her voice, he couldn't ignore the feeling of her body pressed to his. It took some effort to remind himself that this was not the time for such thoughts. This girl could easily kill him and seemed quite eager to in fact.

However, Lochan was no fool. He wasn't about to give his life for this bag, even if it were worth a great deal of coin. After all, all the money in the world meant nothing if he weren't alive to enjoy it. He tilted his head slightly just to take a peek, though it seemed his suspicions were right after all. The man suddenly let out a hiss as she drew his blood and he quickly put his hands up. "H-hey, take it easy~ A-and I didn't mean to peek, that was an accident." He said with a soft, nervous laugh, trying to ease the tension. He had to admit, a woman who was this beautiful and yet could so easily threaten someone with a sword was really turning him on. Just who was this woman? Lochan was dying to know… However, as she threw away the two men so easily, he was starting to fear for his life again.

"A-all right… N-no harm done. Just take it!" He said quickly, waving his hand that held the bag. He didn't dare move or she might just slit his throat right then and there. "W-what's the big deal anyway? It's just a bag, can't be worth that much?" He had to ask then. Why would she be so willing to give up her freedom for a simple bag and an old book? He supposed it could have some sentimental value, but still, was that really worth being jailed for? Lochan then paused for a moment, his eyes moving to the beaded bracelet around his left wrist, which looked odd since it seemed much too small for a man. "Look, I'm sorry…" He muttered to her then.

Ashen
03-08-2016, 02:34 AM
Mae snatched her bag out of his hand and secured it safely to her body. It was only then that she could breathe again, and she took a minute to do just that. Her sword fell away from his throat and her gaze to her reclaimed treasure. It can't be worth much... His ignorance would have been precious under different circumstances. Mae's anger was only slowly subsiding, and she had to make an effort to calm herself down. Burn his balls off. No, I will not do that. Rip his lungs out. No, stop. Tear his body in two. She was at war with herself again, too common an occurrence for her to pay it much mind. Sheathing her sword, she turned away from the man and gave a carefree shrug. He was undeserving of any answer.

But then... Mae stopped, and a single brown eye turned to watch him. Just what could she get out of this man, anyway? She turned towards him again, went over his words. The peeking was an accident, and he was sorry. Mae had been on her own long enough to know when a man was bullshitting, and she knew it was a rare occasion when he wasn't. This man was no rarity. Dully, she wondered how much he had seen. Her scar? Gods, had he seen her scar? A soft red threatened its way to her ashen cheeks, and she turned away to hide it. If he had, he hadn't said anything about it. No, she told herself, that meant nothing. Besides. No one would recognize her; no one cared to.

She turned to her hand, to the thin cotton glove covering only her left. Had he seen what was underneath that? Probably not, she figured, and if he had, so what? He would only think her mark an exotic tattoo; where was the harm in that? So Mae dismissed his former statement, and instead concentrated on the latter. "Just how sorry are you?" she asked, her voice filled with confidence. She'd done this before, and it was clear in the way she stepped before him. She had all the alluring grace of a swan, and she arched an eyebrow his way. The way to a man was easy, she had it down to a science. She just wondered if this mere thief's wallet was even worth the trouble.

Was she trying to get with a man who'd made her into a fool? Well, she'd done more desperate things before. The coin she'd stolen before would hardly provide for her for a few days. Any extra coin this low-born had would be an improvement. But was she really so willing to mingle with this man still? She didn't want to see him anymore; he'd seen her naked! He had seen her book--her book. As realization struck Mae's facade fell away; she looked down with a panicked expression. Was it possible he'd opened her book? All its words were in a script he wouldn't understand, but there were too many pictures. Did he know the true meaning of her panic, the reason behind her urgency in getting it back?

When she looked up again she bore a cool expression. "Just how much snooping have you done," she demanded. It was an order, not a question, and her hand rested on her hip. From the corner of her eye she could see the townsmen still watching her, still waiting for her to make another threat. She moved closer to the man, close enough that he might be able to see the reaching grey patch on the uncovered side of her face. "How about we go somewhere a little more private?" Her hand had already grabbed a fistful of his shirt. He was thin, very thin, just like she. Then, she tugged him along, subtly enough that anyone watching might just think he was willingly following.

Midori-Hime
03-10-2016, 01:17 AM
He flinched briefly as she snatched the bag away from him, keeping his hands up. He let out a breath as the sword lowered from his neck, suddenly aware of the stinging of the cut. As she turned away without an answer, he lowered his arms and turned to see everyone who was staring them down. While some people pretended to go back to their business now that the thief had been apprehended, other's continued to watch brazenly. Lochan then dared to turn and look at her now though in that moment she shied away suddenly. Why was that, he wondered briefly.

However, when she spoke suddenly, Lochan perked up, tilting his head. "W-what?" He asked, confused by her question. He then winced a little, putting a hand to his neck for a moment, then drew it back to look at the small streak of blood on his fingers. When he glanced up from his hand, there she was, right in front of him. Lochan's silvery blue eyes widened slightly, finally able to see the girl's face up close. She really was beautiful with her dark hair and sun-kissed skin, and her feature's had the perfect proportions.

Suddenly the air of confidence seemed to slip away and the girl looked down in a panic for just a moment. He couldn't guess what was going through her head in that moment, until she questioned him. "N-nothing- None. I didn't do anything to your stuff. I was just looking for money, that's all." He said, raising his brows. It was only then did he noticed the slight mark across her nose that disappeared beneath a curtain of dark hair over once side of her face. It didn't disturb him though, only made him more curious. Lochan then gasped as she grabbed him, dragging him away before he could protest. Well, he supposed he couldn't really complain if it meant getting out of view from so many prying eyes. In fact, he'd probably have a much harder time making it in this town now that he had been seen by so many as a thief. He didn't resist as she tugged him along, though he was also wary that she wasn't going to take him to some secluded place to murder him after all.

Ashen
03-10-2016, 02:08 AM
She walked him a little distance away, into a quiet alley between an abandoned shop and a closed bar. Her eyes were on him and she backed him into a wall, gently enough that he'd not hurt himself. He'd told her he'd done nothing to her book, but was he lying? Did he know just what she was, and was only telling her what she wanted to hear so that she might not kill him? There was a way to find out. Mae dared to look him straight in the eye. She held his gaze for a few seconds, challenging him. Those eyes, those pale eyes; either he was a damn good liar, or he was telling the truth. In a single motion, Mae shoved her hands off of him and turned away.

She lingered in the alley for a moment, trying to decide on a new course of action. If he really did know nothing about her, she was safe to leave. But there was something else in his eye, some desire, and she had to be wary of that. She had gone off to bathe and then sleep; could she really rest, now that this had happened? Losing her book was a real scare, and even now that she had it back, could she release her troubles and sleep? What if this thief, who now knew the worth of her book, followed her, and attacked her when she was vulnerable? Maybe sleep wasn't a necessity quite so soon. Maybe a day awake wouldn't kill her.

She turned back to him and removed her book from her bag, cracked open to the exact page she needed. Dark eyes brushed over the page, too quickly to be reading. If he looked at the book he'd see two pages of symbols he wouldn't recognize, letters from a land no one knew. When Mae finished she snapped her book shut and looked back to him. "If we ever have a run in like this again, I really will not be so kind," she promised, a bitterness lacing her words. "I know how it goes. You need to get by, and who cares about who you screw over, so long as you wind up on top. I know that. And normally, I'd only be a little bitter. But this, this is mine, and you're not even a good thief." In her head she rehearsed the words she'd just read, a promise, a spell with his name on it. "Count your blessings, traveler, and let this be a lesson learned." With that, she turned away from him and started away.

You should have killed him. Mae tried to ignore the voices in her head, the chorus of voices that criticized her decision. She waited until she had walked out of town to address them. "Shut up," she muttered. "I don't need comments from you. He didn't know what it was. I can't kill him for that." You like him, don't you? At this Mae physically stopped and shook her head. True his eyes were the prettiest gems, but like him? Why would she? There was no redemption about him. He was some low-born, who stole from women and watched them without their knowledge, and who looked at them as if they were the most important woman in the world--no. His glance meant nothing. Chances were, he was drunk anyway, and any complimenting gaze was directed only by booze.

She started walking again, trying to remove him from her mind. No harm done. Her book was back, she was headed west, and she'd be traveling through the day. With a gentle sigh, Mae clutched her bag closer and listened to the war going on in her head.

Midori-Hime
03-10-2016, 05:02 AM
Lochan stumbled back a bit in the alley way, his eyes quickly looking for anything he might be able to use to defend himself should she attack him after all. He looked back to her then, his eyes widening a bit as she stared directly into them. He might have been a thief, but he was an honest one, if that made any sense. However, after the long silence, she simply shoved away from him and turned her back to him. He stood there speechless, watching her warily. Then, as he opened his mouth finally, she turned back to him suddenly with her book in hand.

He blinked, utterly confused. Why did she drag him into a private alley way, only to stare into his eyes. And what was it with that book? Why was it so important and what was she planning on doing with it now? All these questions and no hope of an answer, not now anyway. He honestly hadn't even so much as flipped through it but now he was regretting he hadn't. It was obviously a clue to understanding this beautiful, mysterious, and yet dangerous woman. Then, all of a suddenly she put the book away, with a warning. He frowned a little, then looked down suddenly as she called him out for screwing people over to get ahead. Though he didn't feel that was true. He wasn't really that kind of person… was he? "I don't want to be this way…" He muttered quietly. However, his head darted up suddenly. Not even a good thief? "W-what's that supposed to mean?" He gasped, taking mild offense to that statement, but the woman was already walking away,

He watched her go for a moment before he dared to step out of the alleyway. Again he was reminded of the wound on his neck and sighed. She really could have killed him just then, and yet he was utterly fascinated by her. Well, Lochan would admit he didn't have the best sense of self preservation. Walking over to a fountain, he rinsed his hand and then washed the bit of blood from his neck, before heading back to the market. As he walked past the vendors looking for a new target so that perhaps he could get some food, Lochan noticed the many eyes on him. A lot of people in the market were watching him now, whispering to each other. Well this was no good. As he suspected, he was now branded as a thief in this town and even if he managed to get together enough money, few would be willing to take it. With a heavy sigh, Lochan turned and headed towards the west, out of the town. He tried to think of anything else to get his mind off his empty stomach, staring down at his feet as he walked. However, he paused as he nearly stepped on another foot print. It was smaller, more delicate… obviously a woman's footprint. Lochan then looked ahead suddenly, smirking as he spotted a cloaked figure far ahead. Despite her warnings and the chance that she would likely maim him, at the very least, he started after her, following her at a good distance.

Ashen
03-10-2016, 11:44 PM
She was getting quite far from the town now, and her feet were growing weary. The path she was on had only grass and trees, without another town in sight. The distant clouds suggested rain was part of that day's forecast, and once again she'd have no cover. How well would her immune system be able to hold up this time? With a sigh, Mae took a seat on a rock by the side of the road and rested there for a few minutes. Bags were forming under her eyes and she let out a large yawn. Exhaustion covered her like a blanket, and for a moment she thought she might fall asleep on the rock, but then the memory of him flashed by. What if he had followed her? Don't be ridiculous, she told herself. But a rustling from a nearby tree had her grabbing for her sword immediately.

There was no doubt in her mind who was stalking her now. "I was not kidding when I said I'd kill you," she growled, her sword drawn. "Come show yourself, you coward. Your days of peeking at me are over." But the thief didn't emerge, and she was growing angry. "This is truly how you want to play?" she asked him. "Very well." But as she started walking towards the tree, she was greeted by someone else entirely. Perhaps someone was not the right word; the thing before her was a beast. Its beady red eyes stared down at her and there was a smile on his toothless face. His skin was the color of a cloudy sky, and in his hands was a scythe he had poised.

Mae instinctively backed away, just in time to dodge a strike. Already she was cracking open her book, keeping her sword in her other hand. The old text fell open to a page with a picture of the beast before her. The caption told her the beast was called a kokfurende. Mae read all her book had to offer. A zombie, completely blind, who relied on his hearing for hunting. Originally from rural areas--he was far from home. He must have been raised by the Dark Lord, imagine. The Dark One's reaches, all the way out here. She brushed over the rest of the information, the beast's history, its lifestyle, how it hunted, until she got to weakness. His skin was highly flammable, and just dry enough for water to hurt. Even so, she's be playing this one safe. The elements would have to wait.

Mae closed her book and shoved it back into its satchel just in time to dodge another attack. She skillfully took aim and swiped at the beast with her sword, slicing off a hand. She didn't stop there; the woman moved on to decapitate the zombie in one swift motion. His head rolled a few feet away, still chattering. Victorious, Mae sheathed her sword and looked over the twitching body. How beautiful it was as it died, instantly fading away into dust. She sighed and turned back towards the road. A beautiful victory, and no one to have even witnessed it.

Midori-Hime
03-11-2016, 06:13 PM
He followed her from quite a distance, staying just close enough that she didn't disappear from sight. But he also kept hiding spots in mind should she turn around for any reason. Not that he wouldn't have some lie in mind how he just happened to be headed in the same direction. Well, it was half true. He paused as she took a seat on a rock, obviously resting for a bit. Lochan stopped as well, cringing from hunger pains. By the looks of it, the girl likely wasn't going anywhere, so he turned towards the woods then to go foraging. Even if she continued on, he wouldn't be long enough to lose track of her.

After a little bit of searching he came across a weed he knew was edible. It didn't taste the best, but it'd saved him from starvation on more than one occasion. Still, he longed for the day when he wouldn't have to survive on weeds and roots. However, as Lochan was stuffing some in his pockets as well as his mouth, he heard some shouting just up ahead. He bolted upright then, looking around suddenly. Had she somehow found out he was following her? Quickly he ducked behind a tree and then cautiously peeked around to the spot he'd seen her last. It seemed obvious now she wasn't talking to him. But then who?

Lochan simply watched, though he was surprised as Mae started to back up. It was then that he saw the beast making it's attack. He felt a cold shiver go down his spine just at the sight of the thing. What should he do? He had nothing to fight with and yet he felt the almost uncontrollable urge to come to her aid. However, he'd only taken a few steps before Mae made quick work of the creature. It was nothing more than a pile of dust by the time she was finished with it. Lochan just stood there, frozen in awe by this woman's skill. And here he thought he might have protected her? If only she could teach him how to fight like that, but she would more likely kill him before he could even ask her for any favors.

Ashen
03-12-2016, 10:43 PM
She didn't move right away. Instead, Mae looked over the dust and ash the beast had become, studying it. "Yes," she said softly, to no one anyone would be able to see. "It does remind me of cremation. And I didn't even have to use my real fire." It would seem she was talking to herself, and probably not making much sense, either. After mumbling some more, she picked up the creature's scythe and looked it over. Such a menacing weapon; if she were caught with this she'd face suspicion worse than that previous town. Still, if she could find someone to take it off her hands, she might just be able to feed herself that day. So, gripping it firmly in her gloved hand, she started off in search of the next town.

The sun moved higher and higher into the sky, bringing with it the bright skies Mae rarely saw. She didn't know how long she'd been walking but she was exhausted and her legs were giving in. There was a forest before her, one she did not yet want to venture into. Somewhere far away, someone was yelling at her. "I know," she muttered irritably. "I just--Hm?" She stopped when she heard something from within the forest. Quickly her eyes scanned the dark before her. She moved her scythe before her, waiting. "Show yourself," she called curtly. And yet, there was silence.

Just as she was about to relax again, another monster sprung out at her. It was the same species as the one before, except this one had the claws of a badger. Mae was caught off-guard, but still she was able to move out of the way and rip some flesh from the beast with the scythe. Exhausted, she was suddenly engaged in another battle, and this time, she wasn't sure she had the energy to stay alive.

But Mae tried her best, stealing swipes at this monster. This one was more agile than the last, though, and she was more sluggish than she had been. The raging migraine that had come on at the kokfuruende's appearance wasn't helping matters much, either. Everything was too loud; the voices were screaming. She couldn't take it. "Stop," she was mumbling, with every dodge and every slice. "Please, stop." Obviously, the beast didn't listen to her plea, and kept coming at her. Mae took another swipe, but this one was too strong, and the scythe fell out of her hands. She tried grabbing for her sword but it was useless; her coordination was entirely off. Falling to her knees, Mae was completely at the merciless beast's mercy. She was powerless, and all she could do was accept her death. You deserve this​.

Midori-Hime
03-13-2016, 05:09 AM
Lochan was feeling a bit tired himself, but he could tell by the way the girl slowed that she was feeling it much more than he was. He wondered if she had any inkling as to where she was headed or if she was just wanderer like him. He paused then, hearing a noise as well. He was bit closer this time though she hadn't noticed him yet thankfully. Just then another dark creature suddenly emerged from the trees. He knew the Dark Lord's minions would occasionally attack travelers, but twice in such a short time… Was there a reason for these attacks? Could it be because of Mae… or were they just lucky?

However, he didn't dwell on the thought as he watched Mae try to fight the creature off. Unfortunately, it seemed she was losing the battle this time. He could see her exhaustion was getting the better of her and the creature was unrelenting. She was in trouble, he quickly realized. But what he could do? He was a nobody who couldn't fight if his life depended on it. But as Mae suddenly fumbled with her weapon, he could only act.

As the beast brought down it's claws towards Mae for a deadly blow, something suddenly slammed into it from the side, knocking it away from her. Lochan stumbled, grabbing onto the beast as it suddenly turned it's attention on him. What could he do, he thought quickly, grabbing a large rock to bash it on the head a few times. The horrible creature growled and swung at Lochan, it's claws catching him on his shoulder and over his arm. He cringed but quickly grabbed for the scythe. With a wild swing he managed to catch the beast off guard, injuring it deeply. It might or might not have been enough to kill it, but it was enough to scare the thing away. Lochan waited and watched, making sure the creature was gone for good, before he quickly turned to Mae. "Are you all right?" He asked her between pants, looking her over for injuries. However, it seemed he was the one who was worse for wear, his shirt now torn and stained red.

Ashen
03-15-2016, 01:28 AM
Her breathing was shallow and she sat there, her tiny form looking tinier as she shook, completely helpless. For a long while Mae didn't even know the battle was over. The silence was deafening, and she could not stand being tormented like this. Why had the beast not just killed her? She'd die without the answers she had devoted her life to obtaining, but at least she would be free from this. What was it waiting for?

Minutes passed before Mae opened her eyes. She was alive. A confused expression crossed her face and she looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun, trying to prevent a worse migraine. Before her was another monster, with its most recent kill draped over its shirt and its scythe ready for--wait. Mae squinted, and she saw the form of a man. Her savior? She didn't fancy being saved, but if this stranger had not shown up when he did, she would have been dead. She turned away, her head still pounding. Had he asked her something? Over the cacophony of voices, she could not even tell.

She looked around her, momentarily dazed. So close to death, and yet, she didn't feel relieved to be alive. She just felt... tired. She looked back to the man, concentrating on the blood on his shirt. "I'm fine," she muttered, trying to wave him off. "But you, are you okay? Do you need something to treat that? I have some salves." She threw her bag over her shoulder to look into it, sifting through its contents. When she found what she was looking for she held it out to him, but retracted her hand when she saw who it was. "You?" she breathed. Suddenly she stood, backing away and moving her arms to cover her body. She seemed to be dizzy, and nearly stumbled. "You've been following me this whole time?" she growled, her hands flying to her sword. "By the gods, you're persistent."

She was upset; as much was clear on her features. However, she was more upset at herself, at not noticing this stranger stalking her, at needing his help in as mundane a task as taking care of a dark creature. He had saved her life though, hadn't he? It didn't matter. He was still a sorry excuse for a man, and she was prepared to refuse him again. Out here, no one would hear him scream.

Midori-Hime
03-16-2016, 01:09 AM
Lochan looked to her, clearly concerned as she seemed completely unaware of what had just happened. It took her a while to even open her eyes and even as she did look up at him, she didn't seem to recognize him. He frowned, realizing how scared she must have been. He dropped the scythe then, and then kneeled in front of her, looking over his own wound as she mentioned it. It was hard to say if it would leave a scar, though it didn't seem very deep and he'd likely recover just fine. "T-that would be… nice." He muttered softly, surprised she'd be so eager to help him. He reached out for the salve and then blinked as she drew her hand back suddenly.

Lochan blinked, stumbling back up to his feet as she stood. Now it seemed she finally recognized him. "W-wait-" He gasped, rushing towards her as she stumbled, still concerned for her even though she had promised to kill him if they ever crossed paths again. However, as she drew her sword on him, he jumped back quickly, pulling his arms up. "No, i-it's not like that-…" Well it was, but it didn't seem she was going to listen to his reason. If he really even had one. "I-I just… happened to be headed this way… But I stayed back so I wouldn't be in your way. " He said quickly. "I-I mean you no harm… I swear. Why else would I have saved you?" He asked honestly. "I-I don't want anything from you… as if you have anything. We're both wanderers… we should be looking out for each other, right?" He pleaded, hoping she would have some mercy on him.

Ashen
03-16-2016, 10:19 PM
This man was so full of it. Mae sheathed her sword and narrowed her eyes, seeing right through him. She maintained that icy eye contact for a moment, then burst into laughter. The ridiculousness of it all, it was setting in. She had just finished two different battles with two different zombie monsters, nearly died in one, only to be saved by the very man who had stolen her most prized possession and watched her bathe. Not only that, she was being tormented by a whole army of voices that were all in her head. It was crazy, this entire thing was crazy, as crazy as she was.

When Mae did quiet down, she rested a hand on either hip. "You claim you were just headed this way," she said calmly, too calmly. "You contradict yourself, breedbate. You claim to be a wanderer. I know better than anyone that wanderers are never headed anywhere. You were following me, this whole time, and you have the audacity to deny it to my face." But she didn't seem mad. In fact, she was talking in a gentle sort of tone. Mae turned away, leaving only the covered half of her face to him. A moment later she was laughing again, seemingly totally delirious.

Once again she quieted, and once again she turned to him. More than anything else, she seemed amused. The man had saved her life; she could at least humor him. "Who are you?" she asked him. "And what's got you out here? Don't you have other places to be? I imagine there are loads of things better than following me around. Prettier girls, they're only a few coins a night, you know."

Midori-Hime
03-17-2016, 05:21 AM
Lochan was finally able to relax, if only a little bit as she put her sword away again. He shivered under her gaze, but tried to scramble together whatever dignity he had left after she had him cowering. However, the sudden burst of laughter left him utterly bewildered and he debated if this woman was actually sane. He waited speechlessly until her laughter subsided.

"Y-yes, well after you exposed me as a thief in that town, I couldn't exactly stay there any more. It's true, I just wandered this way… and then… W-well, I noticed you up ahead so-" He confessed with a small sheepish smile, though she didn't seem to be upset any longer. The smile fell as she started laughing again and he wondered if she'd hit her head somehow in that fight. He blinked as she finally turned back to him.

"My name is Lochan." He told her. "T-that's all there really is to know." He said with a shrug. Of course he had a fake last name so that no one would know who he really was, but even then he was reluctant to give it out. "No… There's no where I belong, no place I call home." He told her. "Perhaps, but the few coin I can get my hands on is better spent on a hot meal. Besides, I don't there is any woman in all this land that possesses the same beauty and fighting skills as you do." He added with a smirk, obviously meaning that as a compliment. But who he was kidding, no woman ever looked twice at him, especially not a woman like this. He probably looked like a mess, especially all cut up like this.

Ashen
03-17-2016, 07:30 PM
The way he spoke, like a small child trying to lie out of trouble, and the way he was grinning shyly; Mae had him by the reigns. She felt no remorse as he told her he couldn't stay in town. If he had been a good thief he wouldn't have been caught. He watched him for a few more minutes, trying to ignore the chorus in her head. Lochan, it was a curious name. He gave nothing else, but Mae knew better than to ask. She was a wanderer too; she knew the reasons for wandering were best left unsaid.

She had her arms crossed over her chest, judging him, as he tried to explain himself. Spending his money on food, that was something she could agree with, but then... What? I don't there is any woman in all this land that possesses the same beauty and fighting skills as you do. Even the voices silenced at this. Had he just complimented her? No, had he just called her beautiful? Mae quickly diverted her gaze. What was she doing? It wasn't the first compliment she'd received. She had received plenty from various men, all wanting a different piece of her. So why was this Lochan any different?

Mae prided herself on being able to spot a liar. She could look through the eyes of men and detect their exaggerations, their infatuations, their pleas of desperation. That was why she could so easily overlook compliments; none of them were sincere. But this one, the way he said it; did this pathetic thief mean what he said?

She couldn't waste time thinking on such trivial matters. Mae looked back to him, though she did not make eye contact. "You ought to watch who you say that to," she warned him. "Some girl might believe it." She turned away, to the salve still in her hands. Glancing up at him, she sighed. "I don't suppose you want this?" she asked, holding it out again. A change of heart. Maybe his compliment meant more than he'd intended.

Midori-Hime
03-22-2016, 02:29 AM
He blinked as she looked away from him, wondering if perhaps he had said too much. However, after a minute she turned back to him, even if she couldn't seem to meet his eyes. He always knew he was a terrible flirt, but really… Had no one ever called her beautiful before? He couldn't imagine that being possible. Lochan then perked up suddenly, curious about her warning. "Is that it?" He asked suddenly, tilting his head, his dark brown hair falling in his eyes a bit. "You don't believe me? Well it's true. I might be a thief, but I'm no liar." He said nonchalantly, watching her with the same awe as one might watch a wild cat… Beautiful but dangerous.

He looked over himself then, examining his wound a little more when she suddenly held out the salve again. Lochan looked at her curiously and perhaps a little hesitant. "T-thank you…" He said suddenly, taking it from her. However, he fumbled and nearly dropped it as his fingertips touched hers accidentally. He turned away a little in embarrassment and then pulled off his shirt, wincing a bit as he lifted his injured shoulder. Despite being so lean, Lochan's torso was quite muscular, though probably more so on his chest and arms. He sighed, annoyed that he didn't have a way of cleaning the claw marks first, but carefully he began applying the the salve to his wounds, wincing occasionally.

Once he was done, he handed the salve back and carefully put his shirt back out, looking at the tears and blood. Well he was definitely in need of some new clothes. He then looking to her, trying to fix his hair a little. "So… where exactly are you headed then?" He asked.

Ashen
03-23-2016, 05:42 PM
Mae shifted away from this thief so that he might not see under her dark hair, at her most defying feature. Of course she didn't believe him; how could she? How could she ever believe anyone who thought she, the scarred and scared sadist from far away, could possibly hold even an ounce of beauty? He was blind, or dumb, or something. Mae just couldn't believe that he was right.

She ignored his thanks for the salve, instead watching him apply it to his wound. It looked painful, and if she had only done what she knew she had been capable of, if she had just offed the beast without losing her control, he would have never sustained such injuries. No, Mae thought, she was not going to feel bad for him. It hadn't been her fault that she'd lost control, it was the fault of the demons in her mind. He hadn't even asked after them, asked why she had so suddenly faltered in that battle. If he did, what would she answer? By the way, I hear voices. Then she'd be getting locked away for a whole different reason.

When he spoke she lifted her eyes to him, a question on her own lips. Where was she headed...? Mae turned away and laughed. "Was it not you who told me wanderers do not have destinations in mind as they wander?" she murmured. However, that wasn't exactly true, and she knew it. She offered him a small shrug. "I am seeking council with the Dark One. Would you care to accompany me?"

The Dark One was a beast by many names, but all the people of the lands knew of him. He was the only mage anyone knew of, and he was using his powers of necromancy to raise an undead army. With it, some said he intended to take over the world. Few survived encounters with his minions; none survived encounters with the Black Dragon himself. Whole villages had been razed by the being's seemingly endless power, and it was clear the Dark One, whoever or whatever he was, intended to show no mercy.

Anyone claiming to want to see such an infamous force had to be completely insane. That was why Mae said what she did, leaving Lochan to guess whether she was joking or not.

Midori-Hime
03-31-2016, 03:51 AM
His eyes widened then, swallowing. Perhaps it was just a joke, but who would joke about such a thing… and it could possibly explain running into these creatures. "A-are you mad… Why would you seek to meet with him?" He asked in utter disbelief. He shuddered to think about the Dark One. What was done to Lochan's family, in his name, made his blood boil and yet his skin crawled with fear.

"Is that why those beasts were after you?" He asked suddenly, his mind racing. He was still amazed that she was about to hold her own against them… Well, almost. But he could see the exhaustion written over her worn body and was even more surprised that she held out as long as she did. He didn't resent her for his injuries… not one bit. That was his choice, as if he had one in that moment, and he didn't regret it.

Ashen
03-31-2016, 07:40 PM
She laughed at his question, at the way he seemed to shake. So, he took her for her word. He was a bit quick to trust, especially for a wanderer. Mae soon quieted and looked over him again. This Lochan... Something had happened to him. The way he shied from her, the tone of his voice; something had happened. There was a personal connection between this man and the Dark One, and she had to wonder just what it is, or how useful it would be to her journey.

His last question was amusing. She had little intention of answering his first, but the last, that would not be revealing at all. "They only target me as much as they would target any other," she told him. "You are a wanderer. Can you truly say you have not run into beasts like those? The Dark One plays no favorites, Lochan. I fight off what attacks me to save my life, not to appeal to some legendary being. For all we know, he may not even be real. After all, have you ever seen him?"

Mae waved him off, then gathered her bearings and started walking away. "Anyway," she called over her shoulder. "What do you say, breedbate? Are you going to continue following me? If so, I think it'd be better to travel together instead of having you stalking behind. The company might be nice while it lasts, and I don't need pigs like you staring at my ass."

Midori-Hime
04-01-2016, 02:13 AM
"No… I have." He answered curtly, a touch of darkness to his otherwise pleasant voice. He noted that she had ignored his first question. There was definitely a story behind this woman and he decided that he would have to figure out what it was. He wasn't about to give up on his overwhelming curiosities. Lochan then tensed slightly, looking away for a moment as he tried to hid his discomfort. "No… He's real. I know that much." He muttered quietly, though his tone suggested he wasn't likely going to say more about that.

Lochan then blinked, looking up suddenly as she simply started to walk away from him. "B-breedbate? Just what is that supposed to mean?" He asked, not sure if he liked that term. However, he quickly forgot about that as she asked him to travel with her. It took him a moment before he composed himself and nodded, a grin slowly spreading across his charming face. "Hey, I'll have you know I wasn't staring. The pond was a honest mistake." He crossed his arms but was eager to walk alongside her. "Oh… By the way, you never gave me your name?" He said, watching her intently, waiting.

Ashen
04-02-2016, 01:00 AM
There was definitely some connection between this man and the dark force ruining the world. She had to admit, the thought did excite her. If he knew something about the Dark Lord, she wouldn't want to let him out of her sight. She did have to wonder. The way he said it, as if he were avoiding some repressed, traumatic memory... The Black Dragon had wronged him, and she was dying to find out how.

The poor fellow didn't even know what her nickname for him meant. That made her stop to chuckle for a moment, then shake her head and continue off. Again he insisted he had not been staring at her. The smirk on his face gave him a charm she hadn't noticed before. She'd be bringing that smirk out in him often, she knew it. At his words though, she stopped walking and looked to him. "Have I not?" she murmured, raising an eyebrow. Mae thought for a moment, then nodded. "I suppose I haven't. Very well. I suppose we should make this formal." She held out her hand for him to shake. "My friends call me Mae," she told him. "Though, that's a blatant lie. I haven't any friends. But that's the name my dad gave me nonetheless."

She was completely unfazed at her own statement. It had been too long since she'd had real companions that she didn't even recall that it was abnormal anymore. Had she ever had friends? Mae wasn't sure, and she didn't waste time thinking about it. As she looked at Lochan there was a small smile on her lips and a mischievous look in her single brown eye. Her hood still shaded her features, and her hair served to hide her, but she wasn't so reserved with this man anymore. Frankly, he wasn't worth that.

Midori-Hime
04-03-2016, 03:18 AM
He blinked as she suddenly stopped and held out her hand to him and his eyes then flicked to hers, staring into the one that was still visible. "Mae…" He said softly, smiling, glad to know at least one thing about this mysterious woman. He let out a soft chuckle at her joke, shaking his head. "You and me both…" He said, referring to her comment about not having any friends. "But perhaps we can change that?" He suggested, tilting his head, even though he knew that was probably a long shot.

He took a moment to look over her features, lingering in the one brown eye he could actually see. Lochan wondered why someone so beautiful would hide half of her face, but he was sure there was some reason for it that he'd yet to learn. All in good time, he thought, starting on down the road again. However, another thought had entered his mind after a moment. "Wait, you must be exhausted… I could see it when you were fighting. I know that's the only reason you couldn't finish that beast off yourself. Did you not sleep?" He asked, looking a little concerned. "If you need to rest… you can trust me. I won't rob you, I promise" He said, raising his hand. "Besides, It's not like you have anything valuable anyway." He said, mostly joking. But he did have a point… She had nothing valuable in his eyes at least.

Ashen
04-04-2016, 09:09 PM
He was a fool to think they would find friendship in each other. Mae turned away and let out a sigh. "No," she said gently. "See, Lochan... The first time I met a child was when I was twelve years old. He was the son of some family who was visiting my father's abbey for some special blessing or another. He did not even spend the night. I come from a town with few children, and those that do exist are far in-between. I never learned to communicate with people my own age. My friends were all double, triple, quadruple my age, even well into my teen years. I just think, after all this time, it would be silly to learn to make friends now, don't you think?" She offered him a simple smile, but took in his expression. He was reaching out to her, for whatever reason. Maybe he was a fool, and maybe she shouldn't have been giving him the time of day, but... "Perhaps," she sighed, "It might be worth a shot."

Mae took offense to his statement about her belongings' worth, or lack thereof. If only he knew just what her book contained, he wouldn't be so easily marking it off. She turned away from him, shaking her head. I know that's the only reason you couldn't finish that beast off yourself. Well, that wasn't exactly true. The chanting spirits had been a large part of that as well, but she couldn't just tell him that. Was she tired? Absolutely. Was she going to sleep? Not a chance.

Mae kept walking, shaking her head slowly. "I am not all that tired," she lied. "I do, however, thank you for your concern." Her body language spoke nothing of the fabrication she had just told, but it was there under her eyes. There were bags there, and an exhaustion painted on her face, that she could not deny. However, she would keep trying. "Worry not of me, Lochan. I'll find some coffee beans to brew in the next town. Tell me, can you make yourself useful? Do you have a map, or do you know just how far the next town is?"

Midori-Hime
04-05-2016, 05:38 PM
His expression fell slightly, as did his hand as she said no. He listened to her story and couldn't imagine what that must have been like. He never had a lot of friends, but he was close to those that he did have. And his sister… But now he would never see any of them ever again. However, just when he was about to step back, she offered him a 'maybe', and that was all it took to return the smile to his face.

His stormy eyes watched her curiously as she stepped ahead then, frowning a bit. He could tell that was all a lie, but it was obvious she wasn't going to listen to him. Of course trust took time to earn and he would have to keep at it. A part of him said that he should just walk away now, but he was much to compelled by her mysteries to do that. Lochan perked up suddenly as she thanked him.

Thinking about her question for a moment he looked up at her with a sheepish smile. "I don't know how useful I'll be… I don't know where I'm headed until I arrive there…" He said. "However, I do happen to know that there is a town this way, much bigger than the last. I'm not sure how much farther it is though. Perhaps half a days walk though, at least?" He said and then wondered if she was really going to be all right. She might dismiss his concern, but he could see the exhaustion in her eyes. "I guess we should get going then, huh?"

Ashen
04-07-2016, 09:15 PM
A half a day. Mae was used to walking for longer period of times, of course, and even while more exhausted than she was now, but never with company. It seemed too far a journey, and for a moment she stopped, considering. Her eyes went to the sky and she judged the position of the sun. It would be nighttime when they arrived at this town, if this petty thief was correct. Nighttime was usually when she awoke, not went to sleep, but under these circumstances she would have to make an exception.

She started walking again, nodding her head. "I guess we should," she replied. You're really going to journey with him? Mae sighed when she heard it, that taunting voice. "Yes," she mumbled, though not to Lochan. "A big town, you say? Good. Those are perfect. With so many people, no one will notice a couple of pockets picked." Maybe she could even find a way to a home-cooked meal, and perhaps a bed. Maybe Lochan would be a key to that.

As they continued walking, Mae turned to her new companion with a blank expression. "So tell me, breedbate," she said slowly. "What talents do you have besides following a lady undetected?" There was something in his eyes, a concern. For her? No, Mae wasn't going to believe that. If he was worried about her... Well, he had no reason to be. Still, the thought would have been... nice, for once.

Midori-Hime
04-08-2016, 05:49 PM
He waited what seemed like a long time, fidgeting as he waited for her reply. Perhaps she was considering rest somewhere after all? But just as that thought passed through his mind, she started again. He then smirked, glad to see she was just as pleased as he was. "Yes, that was my thinking exactly." He said, walking along side her. Perhaps if they worked together as a team they could score even more coin.

He looked to her once again, confused by her question, but then suddenly recalled the new nickname she gave him. "Must you keep calling me that?!" He gasped, still not quite sure what it was supposed to mean, but he doubt it was a term of endearment. He looked down in thought then. "My talents? You mean besides my obvious charm and good looks?" He teased with a soft chuckle. " Well, I guess I can play the pan flute pretty well, and I'm a decent gambler… and knowing how to please a woman~" He said, throwing a wink her way. Though he should have known by now that he was likely getting in over his head with this one. He then swallowed, looking down suddenly, hoping his joke wouldn't offend. Sure he was your typical, healthy young man and had desires, but it was obvious that he was decent enough not to make a show of it, or worse, force it onto others.

He then blinked, looking up at her curiously. "Why do you ask?" He tilted his head, wondering what exactly this woman had up her sleeve.

Ashen
04-09-2016, 12:48 AM
She had to move a hand over her mouth to try to stifle her laughter. One thing she did love was getting on a man's nerves, driving him absolutely mad. While Lochan wasn't quite at insanity yet--or, at least, not with her--using her nickname for him was bringing them somewhere. "Of course," she told him. "It is a fitting nickname. You will grow accustomed to it, I'm sure." Though she did have to wonder whether this man would be around long enough to get used to her.

Mae considered his talents, wondering how best she could use them to her own advantage. His joke barely got a smirk out of her, and she could only narrow her eyes when he mentioned being able to please her. "The only way you'll please me, breedbate, is if you can prove yourself useful to me. You have yet to give me any reason for bringing you along." She did consider his other two mentioned talents as they walked. Gambling was all on luck, and though she wouldn't say it was one of her strongest suits, she knew her way around a card game, a horse race. His other talent, though...

"How good are you at playing the flute?" she asked him, turning to look at him. Have you your flute on you? How quickly can you learn music?" Her expression gave away nothing as she asked. A flutist, an actual musician... Sure they weren't all that rare, but Mae had never gotten close enough to one to actually use one in such a way. If he were good enough, maybe he would be able to play for her her own songs. No, Mae thought suddenly, what was she thinking? She couldn't share a piece of herself with this perverted stranger. So she sighed and faced the road again. "I have my reasons for asking," she assured. "I'd like to know what you're good at, in case it should come in handy later. Knowing the strengths of those she travels with can prove helpful and, in some cases, life-saving. After all, if I knew you were good at, say, horseback riding, I could rely on you to make with a speedy exit upon an equestrian. One can never know when such situations will arise." She paused, placed a finger to her chin in thought. "Not quite sure how life-saving some dice and a flute can be."

Midori-Hime
04-09-2016, 02:31 AM
Lochan frowned a little, not sure if he appreciated his new nickname. He shivered as she narrowed her eyes at him. Well then, someone had no sense of humor. Of course it had been a joke since his experience with women was… quite dismal in fact. Not that he was about to admit that to anyone, much less her.

He then blinked as she mentioned his flute playing skills. "I would say so?" He shrugged. He then reached back into his packet, pulling out the small flute. "I can pick up on almost anything pretty quick. Even faster if I can listen to it once or twice." He said, starting to play a short melody for her. It was rather cheerful and lively, the kind of tune you'd hear at a festival with a small ground of people dancing around in a circle. He then lowered the flute from his lips and looked to her, curious of what she thought.

He then tucked the flute back in his pocket and tilted his head. "Hmm.. life saving talents? Hey, don't underestimate the power of music~. " He joked. "Well, I can't say how proficient I am at riding since it's tricky to steal a horse. But I will admit I do have a way with the beasts…" He smiled at that, thinking of his friend from this morning. But I am pretty agile, not to toot my own horn. I bet you didn't even see me coming when I tackled that creature, did ya?" He raised a brow, grinning at her. "What about you… what are your talents?" He asked then. It was only fair...

Ashen
04-09-2016, 03:20 AM
Mae was respectfully quiet as Lochan played a little tune on his flute. He was pretty good, she had to admit, and she looked on at his instrument with a slight nostalgia. Would she still be able to play? How long had it been since she'd actually played a woodwind? Would he ever mind playing alongside her? No, Mae thought, that was a silly idea. To share a song with this man would be to share a part of her soul. She would never trust anyone enough for that.

When the man went on to mention his skill with beasts Mae stopped walking and faced him, then looked to his torn shirt and rolled her eyes. "A way with beasts my ass," she muttered. It was true that she hadn't seen him coming, but that was for other reasons. She had been exhausted, and terribly distracted. She would have to judge his agility some other time for herself, the next time they got ambushed. Absently, Mae wondered when that would be. Would they be able to reach the next city before another attack? She didn't know that she'd be able to handle another fight without her book, and the last thing she wanted to do was show that off to Lochan.

She started walking again, considering his question. It was only fair he would return her question, and now she had to think of how much she wanted to tell him. "You could say I know how to please a man," she told him slowly. Unlike Lochan, she was not kidding as she said that. She had been at the craft too long to not be good. If he looked closely enough, he'd see the flicker of emotion in her eye, the shame she had to bite back. "I know my way around daggers and swords, and I rather enjoy making mincemeat of my targets. When I was not traveling, I was always exercising creativity. I enjoy writing and playing music, as well as choreographing my own dances. Quite the performer, I suppose, and yet, an audience of none." She turned to him then. "No free shows for you, sweetheart. Maybe after you can pay."

Midori-Hime
04-09-2016, 05:55 PM
He followed her gaze to his wound and frowned. "Well, not monstrous beasts that are trying to kill me. That's a different story…" He said defensively. He started to walk with her again, waiting to hear her reply. His eyes then widened as she repeated his joke, and he gave her a nervous laugh before he realized that she wasn't joking. And unlike him, he could tell she was ashamed to be flaunting that fact. His gaze softened a little, wishing that he could express that he didn't think any less of her for it, but he doubt he should linger on the subject.

His eyes then widened. "You're a dancer?" He said excitedly. Well they could certainly work with that, however, he was a little confused. Did she mean to say that no one had ever seen her dance? He frowned a little, but not just because she told him he couldn't watch. "But why not… I'm sure we could make some decent coins together. I suppose it depends on the town, but if it manage to hit one during a festival, people are more willing to spend their money for some street performers." He told her, a little excitement in his voice. "And I bet you're a wonderful dancer…"

Ashen
04-11-2016, 08:01 PM
Again with the compliments. This man really was a dog. Still, Mae considered his suggestion, if only for a minute. "I am not your average street performer," she told him. "I do not act for coin. That is something I will not do. Perhaps you will do with your talents what you wish, but mine are off-limits." She let out a sigh and shook her head. "Art is a right, not a luxury. One should not have to pay to experience it. That excludes all those who are penniless from ever indulging in it. I will not charge for my art, if I may even call it that. What pleasure would the choreographed moves of a younger me even bring?" She considered something else, then let out another sigh. "If you wish to write something together, that is something I can consider, but I will charge no coin for the fruits of my labor."

Mae kept walking, her mind wandering. Sleepiness drowned out the memories, fuzzed out the edges, but she could still recall. "I was always a dancer," she explained. "My father told me I was dancing before I was walking. There was always a bounce in my step, a sway in my hips, that he could never quite understand. After all, a girl raised as a priestess; what would I ever get from dancing? I was taught to be modest, to not bring attention to myself. Dancing, well... Dancing does that. But not even a group of monks could take the dance from my step. Nor, I suppose, the song in my throat."

When she stopped speaking she turned to face him. Why had she told him that? Perhaps it was the exhaustion, but Mae was more open to sharing her history now than she normally would have been. She faced forward again and shrugged. What did it matter? Her history would mean nothing to him, and besides. There was no chance he would recognize her. Mae had given up the paranoia of being recognized long ago. She had traveled too far, and her town had covered her tracks. Being raised among monks; what did it matter what Lochan thought of that?

Midori-Hime
04-12-2016, 06:09 PM
Lochan could see where she was coming from and he could agree on some level. But perhaps she had misunderstood him. "Well I'm not saying we should charge anyone to watch us perform… but if some passersby happened to like our performance and just happened to drop some coin at our feet in appreciation… what's so wrong with that?" He asked, tilting his head with a small grin.

He listened as she spoke of her past, eager to learn whatever he could about her. It surprised him to hear that she was once a priestess. Now that was certainly interesting.. and unexpected. How did a priestess come to be a penniless wanderer, he wondered. Lochan was lost in thought when Mae suddenly stopped, facing him. His eyes widened, looking up to her curiously. However, before he could ask, she turned forward and continued walking. Yes, certainly a strange one. He wanted to ask more, but he had a feeling she wasn't going to tell him any more than she wanted to, when she wanted to.

It was only fair he supposed. There were things he couldn't tell her, if she ever seemed interested enough to ask.

Ashen
04-13-2016, 07:29 PM
Mae still wasn't sure how she felt about his suggestion. Accepting coin as if she were some charity case, that didn't sit well with her. She was a lot of things, and though her roaring stomach had brought her to do things she would not admit to those she had loved, she still believed herself above a charity case. She held her tongue, not wishing to discuss the subject any longer, leaving a silence to blanket them.

The two of them continued on, towards their next destination. Such a distant town, and already they were in silence. However, Mae didn't seem to mind much. She was never truly in silence, not when the voices of so many constantly spoke to her. So she was unperturbed as she walked on, seemingly forgetting about her companion entirely. She wouldn't, though. Her eyes glanced to him occasionally, and her ears were already attuned to his footfalls. Despite how she may have seemed, she was very perceptive. Mae would catch any sudden motions Lochan would make.

It was a while before she spoke up again. "Tell me, breedbate," she said easily, airily. "You have been watching me with questions on your lips. Among my talents, reading minds is not one of them. So out with it. Ask what you want to know. I do have my sword, in the event you speak out of turn, so there's nothing to be afraid of." Save for the slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, there was no indication she was joking.

Midori-Hime
04-24-2016, 02:21 AM
He walked in silence alongside of her then, kicking a rock occasionally as it got in his way. He glanced to her every now and then, but she never seemed to pay him any mind and he sighed, feeling his stomach starting to rumble with hunger. He still had a pocket full of those plants he'd picked, but the thought really wasn't appetizing. Finally when she spoke again, his head shot up, looking at her curiously.

He frowned a little at the nickname, grumbling to himself before he thought about what she had to say. He didn't like the sound of that too much, but still his mind was full of questions that hadn't left him alone since the moment he met her. Even if he doubted she'd answer all of them, it couldn't hurt to ask. Right? "Well… there's so many…" He said, thinking for a moment. "Well, I guess the first one would be… How exactly does a priestess become a wandering vagabond, hm?" He looked to her then, watching.

Ashen
04-24-2016, 03:45 AM
She took pleasure in the way he mumbled about upon hearing his nickname. She would continue calling him by such a name as long as she was able to get a rise out of him. His question, however, made her pause. She was silent for a while, seemingly deciding to ignore his question. Suddenly, she spoke, her voice as level and emotionless as she could manage.

"Priestess-in-training," she corrected. "I was never a priestess, and I never would have been." She hesitated. "I didn't choose to be. It was just what Fate gave me, and so, I was raised in an abbey. I suppose it wasn't the life for me, after all. I left when I was sixteen, and have been wandering ever since, looking for some purpose to it all."

It wasn't the truth. Mae had left just before her sixteenth birthday, but it was not of her own volition. Her excommunication was not something she wanted to talk about, not with Lochan, not with anyone. Her expression was bare, betraying nothing. After a moment she shook her head. "And you?" she asked suddenly. "What brings you here, hm?"

Midori-Hime
05-14-2016, 04:16 PM
He watched and waited for an answer to his question, wondering if she was actually going to answer him after all. But then finally she explained, though it was vague, he could understand. And at least he had some sort of explanation. "Sixteen… huh? And how old are you now?" He asked, the thought suddenly dawning on him. Lochan blinked then, caught off guard at her own question. Of course he should have figured she'd have questions of her own. "There's not much to know… I was orphaned when I younger… I had no other family, no home, so I couldn't stay there. Not after losing everything… So I just left and never looked back." He said simply, giving a shrug at the end. "It's a common story… I guess." He muttered softly, looking down a bit, his eyes falling on his bracelet.

Much like Mae, he'd told the truth but it wasn't the whole truth. He'd wasn't about to tell the details to anyone, especially not Mae. It was the attractive ones that were dangerous…. especially when Mae was already so dangerous. Which brought his next question to mind. "And now my next question is… How did you learn to fight like that?" He asked, hardly believing that she'd learned those skills in an abbey.

Ashen
05-16-2016, 09:30 PM
She looked to him with a raised eyebrow and half a smirk. "Uh-uh," she said, wagging her finger. "Were you raised by wolves? Never ask a lady for the number of times she's been around the sun." She turned away from him and kept walking, swaying her hips a bit. "But if you must know," he went on, "that was two, almost three years ago now. I trust you can do your own arithmetic."

His story was common, and didn't leave Mae with much to go on. She had been an orphan too, stripped from the opportunity of even knowing who her parents were. When she was excommunicated, she had just been orphaned all over again. For that reason, Mae could not pity Lochan, but she could understand him. "Too common," she agreed, "and much too vague. I suppose I will get to unveiling the layers eventually. For now, your answer is acceptable." She glanced behind to look at him again, but soon turned away, continuing on her path.

As she walked, she absently unsheathed her sword and drummed her fingers lightly over the blade of her sword. "You should know the answer to that question, breedbate," she said. "If you were left on your own when you were younger, it would mean you've had to have done some of the things I have. Self-defense is something that comes quickly when you're alone." Suddenly she turned around, her sword held firmly in both hands, its tip right at Lochan's throat. In her swiftness of her turn her bad side was visible for only a second, the ashen mark discoloring her fair skin. She was smiling as she looked up at him with taunting brown eyes. "You always have to be prepared for someone's attack, don't'cha?" She turned her sword away and laughed lightly. "An abbot taught me how to live, the streets taught me how to protect my life."

Midori-Hime
07-22-2017, 01:56 AM
Lochan ran a hand through his hair with a sheepish smile. "Ah, I suppose you're right…" He muttered, though she still answered his question in a way. So she had to be 18 or almost 19 now? They were pretty close in age he realized. Lochan then perked up as she called him out on his vague background story, but thankfully Mae didn't press the issue any further, for now.

He continued to walk with her, his steps only faltering for a moment as she unsheathed her sword. "Must you keep calling me that?" He grumbled. Lochan then frowned a little at her swords. He'd been alone for a few years now, and while he'd done alright for himself this far… meaning he wasn't dying or dead yet, he'd never picked up on skills like that. Lochan then stopped sharply, his eyes wide as they stared at the blade at his throat. Suddenly he was reminded just how dangerous this woman was. He looked up at her, catching a glimpse of what seemed to be a scar that she hid with her hair, but swallowed nervously as he was too distracted with the sharp sword at his throat.

Lochan was finally able to relax when the sword was turned away and he sighed. Suddenly he felt so inadequate. Sure he'd learned to survive on the streets, but being able to wield a blade like that… "Will you teach me?" He asked suddenly, holding her gaze with burning determination in his eyes. "I-I can't exactly pay you… But there has to be something I can do. To return the favor…" He offered. Even if she refused, he was not going to give up easily.

Ashen
07-24-2017, 07:01 PM
She loved how much he hated her nickname for him. Mae looked Lochan straight in the eye when he asked if she had to call him that. With a look of pure seriousness, she answered, "Yes." She then turned away from him, placing a gloved hand over her mouth to hide her smirk. When she glanced back at him, he seemed to be contemplating something. Her answer? He did seem oddly fascinated with how she controlled her blade. Or perhaps he was just fed up with her threatening him. Mae thought back to a previous comment he'd had, after she'd said she had no friends. But perhaps we can change that. Mae stopped. Maybe she was ruining the only chance she'd ever gotten. She swallowed, hard, and made a mental note to stop threatening this man's life.

And then he asked her to teach him. Mae looked to him, her face blank. This man wanted her to teach him to fight? She hesitated, trying to figure out why. She didn't think herself so talented; no, her hear prowess in battle came from a different weapon. "How long have you been on these roads?" she asked, motioning around them. "I've been here a couple years, and this is what I've learned. You mean to tell me you have not picked up the same things?" She found that hard to believe. Surely he knew something if he'd been on his own so long. "You want me to teach you," Mae repeated, turning away this time. She never thought her talents talents at all, but being asked to be a teacher... Wasn't that a compliment? "That's... something."

Mae could hear a few voices talking to her. Two of them were telling her to take this man up on his offer, while another three or four were telling her to turn him away, to even kill him. Listening to them was giving her a headache. Mae turned her attention back to Lochan. "We are on the road now, and my recent battles have left me less than at my best. Why do we not discuss this again when we reach that town you mentioned?" She was remaining calm, but internally her thoughts were all over the place. Teaching Lochan his way around a sword would benefit her--greatly--in achieving her goal. And, Mae had to admit, she quite liked the idea of someone looking up to her, respecting her. It would be a difference she'd need to get used to.

She started walking again. "I warn you that I am no soft teacher." She unsheathed her sword and lazily swung it around as she walked, taking care not to swing it by the thief. "But, by the time I should finish with you--if I take you up on your offer--you will know how to fell any enemy with only your blade." Perhaps she was giving her teaching too much credit, but it felt good in the moment. Mae sheathed her sword again. "Well, come on then. We have a town to get to."

Midori-Hime
07-24-2017, 10:09 PM
Lochan's eyes turned downward as Mae questioned him. He'd been on his own for years, but no he'd never learned the same skills she had. It wasn't that simple. But on the other hand he had developed skills in evasion from other thieves or thugs who might try to do him harm. And of course if it came down to it, he could wield a branch or even a sword to protect himself in a dire situation. But that was very different from actually possessing knowledge and skill with a weapon the way Mae did. He still wasn't sure she was telling him the truth about learning all of that on her own.

Lochan then looked up suddenly as she repeated the question, and then turned away from him. His hopes sank then. Well, I guess that was a long shot… He thought to himself with a small sigh. However, he perked up suddenly as she suggested they could at least discuss it later. Well, she didn't actually say no, so that was something. "Alright… that's fair enough. We both need to rest…" He agreed, seeming a bit more optimistic again.

He continued to follow, flinching only for a moment. He could only imagine how much pain he was going to in under her training. But if he could learn even a fraction of her skill with a sword, then he decided it would be worth it. He was quiet for most of the walk until they came to a fork in the road. He started off towards the right. "This way… It's not much farther now." He told her, eager to get to the next town so they could rest a bit. It would only be another half hour before the town would come into view. The sun was growing low in the sky by the time the town appeared and he started more eagerly down the road that would lead them through the main street.

Ashen
07-25-2017, 07:09 PM
Lochan was quiet for the rest of their long journey towards a new town. Mae didn't break that silence. She wasn't in a silence at all; the ones he could not hear were still chattering noisily. She listened to them as she walked. As she did, she could feel the fatigue begin to claim her. Just a little farther, she told herself, but her thoughts were drowned out by the voices inside.

She watched the sun rise and fall that day. It had been a while since she'd seen that, in that order. Finally, it looked like they were getting to their destination. Lochan knew where they were going, so she continued to follow him. By the time they did get to town, Mae was too exhausted to even speak. The main street was filled with shops and pubs, but she was only looking for an inn. Mae couldn't remember ever being in this town, meaning she could go through her routine all over again. After all, it was easy to find a man willing to pay for her meal and her bed, as long as it was one they shared. She glanced to Lochan then, and suddenly her plan didn't seem like a great one.

They walked past numerous buildings, finally arriving at a tavern. Mae peered inside. It looked decent enough, and the place had a few people dining there, so it couldn't have been that bad. She motioned for Lochan to follow her, and she walked to the innkeep. She was a stout woman who looked used to doing too many things at once. She was serving a couple drinks when she glanced at Mae. Mae bowed slightly. "Have you a room open?" Then, remembering Lochan, she corrected, "Two rooms?"

The woman turned her attention back to the drinks she was making. "We've plenty o' rooms, aye," she answered. "Have you the coin?"

Mae hesitated. She knew Lochan didn't have money to pay for a room. "How much is a single room a night?"

"With two bed spaces? That'll run ye one hundred."

"One hundred coppers?" Mae asked. That wasn't bad at all. She could spare that for a single night, as long as Lochan came nowhere near her.

The innkeep chuckled. "One hundred silvers, lass."

Mae stopped. One hundred silvers... She'd been to inns that looked better than this, and that charged less a night. She turned to Lochan. "Do you have any ideas?" she asked. "Maybe... it would be better to camp out tonight."

Midori-Hime
07-27-2017, 06:54 PM
Lochan looked around all the different buildings, trying to get a lay out of the town in mind and also what sort of businesses there were here. "Pretty lively town.." He muttered to no one in particular. Mae didn't seem like she was in the mood for talking and if he were being honest, he was pretty exhausted himself. He paused when Mae seemed to spot a promising tavern and at her gesture, he followed her inside. He let her do the talking, blinking when she corrected herself. Well he now he knew where he stood.

Even Lochan cringed a little at that price. That seemed awfully expensive and he sighed when Mae turned back to him. "Y-yeah… probably. It'll be difficult coming up with that amount of coin… " Lochan thought for a moment. "Come with me…" He said, leaving the tavern and wandering off the main street. Eventually at the outskirts of the town, he spotted a small farm in the distance with an old barn used as shelter for the cows. Well, it had served him well before…"This way…" He said, sneaking past the farm house until they made it to the barn. "Hey ladies… Hope you don't mind if we room with you tonight~" He called out to the cattle, earning a soft bellow in response.

"Ah… here we are!" He said to Mae, finding a ladder that led up to the loft above. He started up the ladder and when he reached the top, he smiled. "Ah… Perfect. " Lochan then reached out, offering his hand to help her up onto the loft that was filled with hay. "It's no cozy tavern… but it's dry and the hay will keep us warm." He found a piece of cloth and laid it out over some loose hay. "For you…" He said and then went across to find a patch for himself.

Ashen
07-30-2017, 04:14 PM
Mae only blinked when Lochan told her to follow him. She looked back to the innkeep, who had already moved on to wrapping up some sandwiches. The sight of them made Mae's mouth water. She turned and followed Lochan, wondering what the thief had in mind for them.

She was too exhausted to be walking, but she didn't complain just yet. Mae knew Lochan was just as tired as she, and that he must have had some plan to be making them walk even more. He started walking towards a barn, and it was then that Mae stopped. The voices in her head turned to inhuman screams, and she winced at the memory they brought up. She mumbled something, a plea in a language Lochan would not understand, before forcing herself to continue.

His idea was to sleep in the barn. Mae gazed at the cows in a horror she was trying to hide. When one cow brushed against her she had to force herself to not scream. Cows. Of all the things that could be here, this was the barn of a cow rancher. She swore at her luck. Mae quickly followed Lochan to the loft, where she was sure the cows could not reach her. At Lochan's expression, her caramel cheeks seemed to darken the slightest bit. "I don't like cows," she said, though it was very clear there was much more to it than that.

After a moment, Mae edged closer to the ladder and looked down. The cows already had seemed to forget her, which she was thankful for. Her fists were clenched hard around the strap of her old book's satchel. When she remembered Lochan, she released her grasp and looked away from the floor below. "You've done this before," she guessed. "You knew the way here too effortlessly. I do wonder where else you have laid your head, but as a fellow wanderer, I know better than to ask." She backed away from the edge of the loft and blankly stared at the other end of the barn. "Have you ever been caught?"

Midori-Hime
08-11-2017, 01:48 AM
Lochan blinked a bit, wondering if he'd seen wrong or if Mae was actually blushing. "R-really?" He asked with a small smile, though it fell away once he realized there was more to it than a simple dislike for the animals."Why is that?" He asked softly, but he realized it wasn't likely that she would tell him anything personal. "Well, either way… Don't worry. They won't get you up here." He said, hoping to keep her mind off of whatever could be bothering her.

"Heh, yeah… You could say that." He said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Barns are usually my lucky spot. It's easy to stay hidden in the hay, and it keeps you warm. And if it has a loft like this one, it's even better." He then glanced up and laughed softly. "Yeah… I have. Luckily I'm quick. Though once I almost lost my arm to a farmer's pitch fork. He was quite the nasty character…" He murmured thoughtfully, rubbing his left arm as he recalled the memory. "Ah-, don't worry though! Most aren't as heartless as that man… But I'm usually up and on the move before they even get out of the house." He said, realizing such a thought might upset her more than she already seemed to be.

"I'll keep an extra eye out though… So get some rest." He said, watching her as he flopped back into a pile of loose hay. It was getting darker by the minute, though the small window let some light into the loft. With a soft sigh, he stared up at the rafters, wondering how long Mae would stick around before she decided to part ways...

Ashen
08-18-2017, 11:10 PM
Mae didn't want to answer Lochan. The memories were pushing her, the voices reminding her of all she had buried within herself. She glanced back at Lochan when he assured her the cows wouldn't reach her up on the loft, but that was not what she was afraid of. Mae was terrified she would hurt them. She inched even further away from the edge of the loft and clutched the strap of her book's satchel again. "When I was a child, there was an accident, and I've loathed the things since." It was the truth, just not all of it, but he'd have to be satisfied with that.

She tried to focus on him as he talked about his past attempts in barns. Mae chuckled softly at the image of an angry old man chasing Lochan with a pitchfork. "Good thing you are so quick," she decided. "I mean, how helpful would you be to me now if you'd only had one arm? You wouldn't be able to play flute then." She glanced towards the window, where she could just make out the rancher's house. "I'm not worried we won't make it out. You and I would be able to get away from a petty little cow breeder, breedbate, don't you think? Do give us some credit." She looked to him and laughed again. Her laughter was light, though genuine, and seemed rare for her.

"I remember... Ages ago, I was looking for refuge for a stormy night, and I found a bakery. It was unlocked, and so I slipped in. The day's breads and cakes were still out. They would be thrown away upon morning, I knew, when the baker came in to bake more, so I helped myself. I didn't remember dozing off, but I was awoken by who must have been the baker's wife. She screamed when she saw me, a mysteriously dark, cloaked figure slumped against her husband's counters, with half-eaten bread in my lap. I was awake in moments, and scrambled to grab all my things. The baker was quick, and he saw me and gave me chase. He ended up throwing breads at me. They hurt, too! I wasn't going to let the man waste perfectly good bread. So, I caught them as he threw them, which made him even angrier. He got tired after a while, and so I was able to get away, with enough bread to last me a few days even."

By the time Mae finishing recounting her story, she was laughing. She couldn't remember enjoying a conversation like this in ages, but she was thankful for the distraction. Even the voices in her head quieted some, and some even joined her in laughing. Mae sighed, content, and turned away.

"How can I trust you while I sleep, breedbate?" She raised a brow at him. "You do remember how we met, do you not?" But Mae knew she was too exhausted to protest for long. In a few more minutes, she'd be snoring regardless of how he answered anyway.

Midori-Hime
09-07-2017, 02:43 AM
And he was satisfied with her short explanation for now and wouldn't question it any further. He hoped one day she would open up to him and he looked forward to that day when he could learn more about who she really was. Lochan looked up suddenly when she chuckled and he smiled in return. "Not much, I would imagine." He responded with a small chuckle. However, his smile soon fell away into a look of bewilderment and awe as he found himself fortunate to witness her genuine laughter.

His blue-grey eyes widened then as he listened to her story. He gave a hearty laugh, falling back into the hay a bit as he put a hand to his stomach. He laughed along with her until he swore there were tears in his eyes. Soon he sighed, rubbing at his face. "Ah... I haven't laughed like that in quite a while..." He mused.

Lochan sobered up at Mae's sudden question and frowned a little. He knew trust was something to be earned, but he wished he knew a way he could prove it to her now. However a blush spread across his cheeks. "Yes.. I know. I might have stolen your things. But I also returned them, completely intact? Is that not worth something? And I didn't know you then." He said, hoping she might understand, if only a little. But perhaps he'd already lost her trust from the beggining. "But I swear to you, I won't steal from you again. I swear it on my family's grave..." He said then, his expression deadly serious. It was obvious those weren't words he took lightly.

Ashen
09-10-2017, 06:43 AM
Mae, too, sobered at their sudden change of conversation. She had been partially joking, but as Lochan brought up his dead father Mae knew the joke was completely dead. She hesitated, then lay down and sighed. "Very well," she responded. She rolled onto her right side so that her hair covered her marred skin. She still kept an eye on Lochan and spoke to him lightly. "Let's just say if you touch my book again, it will explode and it will take you with it." She was joking, but she would leave that to him to figure out.

Mae didn't want to fall asleep before Lochan, but she didn't have a choice. The hay and the loft together were not too comfortable, but ultimately, her exhaustion won out. She was asleep before very long. Her snores were soft, and she moved a lot in her sleep. She seemed to mumble too, in a language Lochan would not understand. Every few hours she awoke, startled, and looked around. She would fall back to sleep easily enough, thankful for the darkness surrounding her.

She woke up again and looked around. It was still dark, the sun not yet peering through the windows. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and looked down below their loft. She was just able to see the black and white spots that made up the beasts of her nightmares. Panic rose throughout her body and she backed away from the edge, screaming. She had forgotten where she was, forgotten Lochan was beside her. With her screaming came those from inside her head. They gave her an instant migraine, and Mae curled up in a fetal position, clutching her head.

It took Mae a minute to calm down, thanks to her loud humming and rocking. When finally she silenced, she could recall where she was. She was with Lochan, the man she had met yesterday, in a barn with cows below them. She had probably scared Lochan, and maybe even gotten the attention of the farmers. She didn't know how to apologize, how to explain. The only thing she could think to say he would not understand. Mae sat up, but she hugged her legs to her chest. "Lochan," she said softly. "I... I can't.... We must go."

Midori-Hime
09-12-2017, 03:01 PM
Lochan smiled and shook his head. "Yeah, yeah... Don't worry. I'm not going to touch your book." He grumbled and then laid his head back on his arms, staring up at the rafters. Really? That's all she was worried about, that crumby old book? It didn't look like it was anything special, but perhaps it held some sentimental value to her and that's why she was so protective of it. He couldn't even imagine it having any real value otherwise.

As he laid there he drifted off slowly, ocassionally waking again, only to start to drift off again. Her soft mumbles woke him once and he turned his head to watch her curiously, barely able to see her in the dark. He frowned, curious of the language she spoke, but watched her a little longer until he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Though he would wake again, this time to the sound of Mae's screaming. He bolted upright, his heart racing as he tried to comprehend what was happening through his sleepy haze. "Mae?!" He gasped, panicked as he didn't see her laying in the hay, but instead curled up at the edge of the loft. What had happened? What it just a bad dream. Lochan quickly rushed over to her, not sure what to do. He held his hands out, wanting to comfort her and pull her into his arms, but was that the right thing to do? "I-it's okay... It's me, Lochan." He muttered urgently, finally placing his hands on her shoulders as she rocked herself. "You're with me... You're safe. It's okay..." He continued, trying his best to calm her.

Finally it seemed she was calming down, and when Mae said his name he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He glanced out the window of the loft and noticed a light in one of the farmers windows, frowning. "Y-yeah... Let's get out of here. Quickly..." He muttered and then quickly grabbed thier things and started down the ladder, looking up to her when he reached the bottom. "I'm right here... so just come down. You'll be fine." He called up, trying to reassure her that she was safe. Once she came down, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, guiding her past the cows and then behind a nearby bush, incase the farmer was coming out to investigate. "Stay low... and keep close to me, okay?" He whispered and then crouched low, moving through the taller grasses until they had some distance from the barn. Once they made it to the tree line, they'd be safe.

Ashen
09-15-2017, 05:16 AM
Mae knew that this was her fault. They were being moved because of her, and they had both lost a few hours of sleep because of her. Her face was turned downwards as they moved, her fists clenched tightly. She followed Lochan down the ladder, and she stared long and hard at the cows waiting for her. They seemed to be staring through her, large and intimidating monsters. Mae tried to follow Lochan soundlessly, but when she felt one of those black-and-white demons brush against her, her entire body flinched. She forced herself to keep going.

They made their way out of the barn, to a bush that would hide them from the rancher that was definitely approaching them. She did as Lochan instructed, staying close to the ground and out of view. Mae was used to this kind of lifestyle; her dark clothing did well to hide her, and her hair and skin blended in with the night. She was silent save for her breaths, ragged affairs that were still trying to get over the screams from earlier.

As they waited for the farmer to come, Mae looked to Lochan. The man was hidden well enough, but she was more interested in what he had just done. He had not questioned her, had not belittled her for acting as a child. He did not think twice about getting them both out of danger, and he calmly and silently moved with her. Mae was sure most would have reacted with anger. She didn't understand this man's temperament, why he had not just left her where she was.

After a moment footsteps could be heard approaching them. Mae watched as the farmer approached, a large man with an angered expression. He muttered something as he looked around. He walked into the barn, and Mae could hear him climbing the ladder. As he took his first step, Mae suddenly realized something. Her hand flew to her chest, and she patted around while looking frantically. From around her body, her satchel was missing. "My book," she squeaked, just as the farmer found it himself. "Lochan, my book, I... No..." She lifted from the bush, already unsheathing her sword, prepared to kill for that old tome.

Midori-Hime
09-18-2017, 08:58 PM
Lochan watched and listened quietly. Thankfully it was still dark enough that they wouldn't be easily spotted in the brush. He would wait until the right moment, when the farmer reached the loft and they would have some leway to make a run for it. By the time the farmer could manage to get back down the ladder, they would have a decent head start even if they were spotted. Though the moment Lochan was about to make a run for it, he noticed Mae's panicked gestures. He looked back at her questioning, until she spoke.

His eyes widened and before he could even process, he saw her stand and draw her sword. "No!" He gasped lowly, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back into the grass. "What are you doing?!" He hissed, glancing to the blade. He shuddered, knowing that it was no idle threat. After all, she did almost slit his throat yesterday over that silly book. He wasn't about to let innocent blood spill over it. "Just wait a moment..." He told her sternly, staring off as he tried to come up with a plan.

Finally he looked up, hearing the farmer come back down the ladder, grumbling a bit. "I'll create a diversion, and lead him out. Hopefully he'll leave the book beind, but if he carries it... I'll find a way to snatch it from him." He explained quickly in a hushed whisper. Lochan then looked into her one visible eye. "Just don't hurt him." He said seriously, before nodding off to a line of trees at the edge of the field. "If you manage to get the book, go that way... I'll meet you there once I lose him." He said before darting out of the brush and towards the entrance of the barn.

He ducked behind a few bales of hay, watching as the farmer flipped through the book again. He seemed puzzled by it but simply started back towards the doors. Just as he did, Lochan made a run for it, though he purposely bumped into a few empty milk containers, knocking them over with a big clang. Lochan looked up at the farmer in surprise, meeting eyes. "Hey! You there! What are you doing in here!?" He called out and immediately Lochan made a run for it. The farmer quickly ditched the book on a barrel to take up a pitchfork and started to chase after Lochan. Luckily, the boy was much quicker than the farmer. Lochan glanced back to where he'd left Mae, hoping she could get the book and get out of there safely.

Ashen
09-21-2017, 08:14 PM
Mae turned on Lochan with a face like thunder. She did not want to be stopped from reuniting with her book. Mae knew that Lochan could never understand the importance of the old thing, so she didn't begin to try to explain it. But she needed to get her book back, and she was about to break from the young thief's grasp when his words stopped her. He was going to create a diversion. He was going to put himself in danger, all so that she could get her book back. And he didn't even know what secrets that book contained.

Mae was silent as she watched him go. She didn't know how to interpret his actions. Why was he helping her? As Mae noticed the farmer chasing him with a pitchfork, she grew afraid for him. Lochan would be able to get away from the larger man, certainly, but what if he fell? What if his clumsiness caused the farmer to catch up, and shove that pitchfork right through his heart? And all for some silly book? She only stared in disbelief, watching this chase happen, before she finally remembered the reason Lochan was running away.

Mae had to step by the cows again to retrieve her book. Once it was safely around her body, she clutched the strap and stepped around the cows for the final time. Locating Lochan, she started running towards where she'd been directed. She tried to motion to Lochan, but the man did not notice her. She paused then, wondering what she could do. Her fingers danced over the tops of the pages of her book, debating. She glanced back at the cows, then shook her head and removed her book from her satchel. She flipped open to the right page, and her free hand ran down the page. Taking a deep breath, she did what she could to help Lochan.

Suddenly, a blinding light split the sky. This lightning was without rain and thunder, a mysterious beam that left the world squinting. Mae held an arm over her eyes to protect herself. When the light died down, she willed her eyes to readjust. Had Lochan gotten away in the light? The farmer looked confused, lost, but Mae could not see her companion. She tucked her book away again. A faint purple glow was just visible under the cotton of her glove. She tried to hide it, and hoped Lochan would follow her away from this cursed barn.

Midori-Hime
09-25-2017, 11:26 PM
Through the chase, Lochan seemed to get the sense that the man pursuing him wasn't actually agressive. He had ever right to take precautions with dealing with thieves, even if they hadn't actually stolen anything. Some just took what they could before they booked it, but others would kill the innocent and rob them of thier possessions. He got the feeling the pitch fork was just for protection... as well as intimidation. But it worked. Lochan didn't want to take any chances that the man wouldn't just spear him with it anyways and kept running towards a feild with tall grasses where he was sure he could lose the farmer.

Though as the streak of blinding light suddenly split the sky, both of them gave a pause to look towards the sky. "W-what the h-" He farmer muttered, staring at the sky in utter confusion. Though by the time he turned back to continue his chase, the young man was gone from his sight. The farmer huffed, but figured it was just as well. He only hoped the man hadn't gotten into any of his things in the barn. He started his way back inside.

Lochan stayed hidden in some brush, waiting and watching until the farmer was long gone. He sighed then, still wondering about that bolt of lightning. It made no sense. There was hardly any clouds in the sky at this time, and it hardly seemed like storm weather. But he forgot about that for now, looking towards the line of trees where he'd told Mae to wait for him. Had she managed to get her book? Was she still waiting there for him, or had she taken the opportunity to ditch him? He kept low but quickly rushed off towards the trees, finally able to relax once he reached the shelter of the forest. "Mae?!" He called out, his grey eyes searching in the dim light of dawn. "Mae, are you here?!"

Ashen
09-28-2017, 06:28 AM
She couldn't see him. Mae didn't know where Lochan could have gone off to, and she was beginning to worry. At least the farmer hadn't gotten him, she had turned to watch him head back into the barn, but then where was her companion? Had he left her? Mae considered that. Maybe her rude attitude towards him and her neurotic outburst with the cows and her obsession with the book; maybe everything was piling up, and Lochan couldn't take it anymore. How easy it would be to leave now, and never think of her again. She'd been a fool to think he'd want to stay, even after getting to know her just a little bit. But the look in his eyes when Mae said she needed to go back for her book, the lack of hesitation in his pursuit. There was something there that told Mae he would not just leave her, not like this.

She was right. Mae found Lochan calling for her in a nearby wood. She jogged up to him and stopped a few steps away. "Lochan," she breathed. Mae was clutching the book closer to her chest this time. Her single visible eye searched Lochan, then held his gaze. Mae was searching for the right words to say, something to express her gratitude, but she did not know how. A small smile softened her lips. "I don't..." she began, but stopped herself. She took a moment to think, then started again. "That was very brave of you, Lochan. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't stepped in. I..." Her hand fell to the hilt of her sword, her gaze to the ground. "I was prepared to kill him. I was prepared to not think twice. But I am so grateful you stopped me." She looked back to him. "Maybe you're not as useless as I once thought, after all."

It was the only way Mae knew how to give thanks, laced with an insult. She smirked, then turned around again. Would he ask about her book this time? Would he ask about that too-bright lightning bolt? Mae hoped not, but she knew if she were in his shoes she would want to know. She cleared her throat and looked around, trying to quickly find something to talk about instead. "Where are we?" she asked. "It is early yet, and I doubt I will be able to get much more sleep tonight. Would it be wise, now, to start for the next town? Nothing like walking through the early morning to start a day, eh?"

Midori-Hime
10-09-2017, 05:53 PM
Lochan's head snapped up in her direction and an odd sense of relief washed over him when he saw here there. He noticed the way she clutched her book and sighed, glad that his plan had worked after all. He then blinked a little as she stared into his eyes. He was a little taken back by the smile on her face, and the thanks she gave him. He smiled softly in response and even chuckled at the backwards compliment. "I-I don't know about brave..." He muttered, a faint blush tinting his cheeks. But he was glad that he had stopped her from killing the farmer. The man had only been trying to protect his property.

The question was on the tip of his tongue, but he let it go for now as Mae cleared her throat. He would remember it for later however. Lochan took a moment to glance around. "Just at the outskirts of the town... It looks like." He muttered, taking a moment to get his sense of direction. At least that was one thing he was good at. Lochan then sighed and stretched his arms above his head. "Yeah, I supposed you're right. Well... Let's get going, shall we?" He asked, happy that Mae still agreed to go along with him.

He started off through the woods, starting in the direction of where the road to the next town would be. He was a least somewhat familiar with these towns, having traveled back and forth through them a few times. As they walked he tried to think of something to talk about. "Oh!" He turned to her suddenly. "Did you see that streak of lightning?! T-that was probably the strangest thing I've ever seen... Barely a cloud in the sky and yet there was a single lightning bolt. So strange. I didn't think something like that was even possible. But thankfully it distracted the farm enough for me to slip away." He grinned then.

Ashen
10-10-2017, 08:05 PM
Lochan went along with her plan, and soon, it was back to the same daily routine. Mae walked for long periods of time, trying to get closer and closer to the West, but this time, it wasn't so routine. She could feel herself slowing her steps, leaning just a bit closer to Lochan. This time, she had a companion, and she would not admit it, but it made a huge difference.

The silence didn't seem to sit well with Lochan, for soon he found something to talk about. Curse him, he brought up that bolt of lighting. Mae's gaze instantly fell to her hand. It had stopped glowing enough so that it would not be seen through her glove, but the wanderer was still convinced that he would be able to notice it. "Yeah," she said slowly. "It was quite fortunate for you. I wonder where it came from." She looked to the sky, as if to search for some cloud. The cloud, she knew, was not at all in the darkening sky, but within herself. She could not trust Lochan to that yet, not even after he had come this far for her. She shook her head, hair falling over her face. She gently brushed it away.

There was something on her mind, something she didn't understand. Through all this, he'd helped. He knew so little about her, and he was still helping. Did he like her? She didn't understand. Mae grabbed Lochan's wrist and she stopped walking. She watched him, waited, hesitated. Then, with her gloved hand, Mae brushed the hair away from her face.

Mae's face was split almost perfectly down the middle. The right side of her face was smooth caramel, but the left side was an ugly grey. There was a giant splotch of ash that stretched from above her eyebrow to the bottom of her chin. It was uneven, growing thick around her nose and thin below her cheek. In all, the part resembled a discolored port wine stain, and it was now clear why she hid half her face. She was ugly, a disgrace, and as she dropped her hair to fall over her mark she averted her gaze. Even with her hair covering, there was still a patch of grey that stretched to the right side of her face, just at the bridge of her nose and the top of her cheek.

Mae took a wary step back. It was her most defining feature, her flawed face. She hated her mark, hated that she had to hide behind a curtain all the time. But she could not bring herself to show her face freely, and even now she felt terribly embarrassed. She had a mark; everyone believed that to mean that she was cursed. Perhaps she was. But she waited to see how Lochan responded.

Midori-Hime
11-22-2017, 03:39 AM
He followed her gaze to the sky, still confused about it himself. His mind wandered a bit, trying to consider the possibilities. However, before he could get too lost in his thoughts, Mae's grasp on his wrist snapped him out of it. "W-what-" He gasped, looking to Mae curiously, half worried she wasn't going to hit him for some reason he didn't know.

Though as Mae lifted her hair from her face, Lochan froze. His steely blue eyes wandered over the scar marring her beautiful face and suddenly wondered what could have happened to her. And more curiously, why was she suddenly showing him this? But then just as suddenly as she'd exposed her face, it was hidden again behind a curtain of dark hair. Lochan wasn't sure what to say, though as Mae stepped back from him, he wondered if she was afraid. Afraid of what he might think of her?

Lochan frowned a little, realizing that perhaps this was a test of his character. She was testing him, to see if he would mock her, or if her scar would scare him off. Lochan swallowed, cautiously reach out for her. He was hesitant, but finally he brought his hand to her chin, cupping it softly. And slowly he tilted her face to look into her visible eye. "H-how... did it happen?" He asked softly, hoping his question wouldn't offend her. "O-or... Is it something you were born with?" He just wanted to understand.

Ashen
11-22-2017, 09:35 PM
It was agony waiting for him to respond. Mae refused to look at him, not wanting to see what she knew would be on his face. Of course he would be completely changed. He would make fun of her, or abandon her for fear of his own life. All the expressions she had seen on his face thus far would mean nothing; Lochan would be nothing different than the rest. But, finally, when Mae could take it no longer, she looked up to see none of that. Lochan looked concerned, perhaps even a bit empathetic. She cocked her head to the side, trying to figure him out. He even reached out to touch her, baffling her further. At his question, Mae didn't know how to answer. He hesitated, stuttered, but was that out of fear, or something else? What was he afraid of? If it had been her, would he not have run by now? Mae looked away again, not knowing what to think.

"I don't know," she answered. There was shame clouding her voice. "I don't know who my parents are, I never did. The abbot who found me told me I had it when I was just a baby. I must have been born with it, a horrid birthmark. He told me he'd blessed me, profusely. He told me marks like mine were signs of a great curse, and he worked hard to remove whatever had plagued me at birth. And yet, despite all his efforts, he still never had the confidence to show me to anyone outside of town. Perhaps he was right to." Mae shrugged her shoulders. Her eyes were glossy now, though she'd not let a tear fall.

Clearing her throat, she continued. "People don't take to it well. I don't show it to many, but it is hard to hide when the rest of you is exposed for some bedroom game or another." That, too, she seemed ashamed to admit. "I've had many men retract their offers upon seeing my mark. Few wish to fornicate with someone who looks like me." She chuckled at that, though it was a mirthless sound. Mae shook her head. "I was born cursed, after all. I was cursed to be alone."

But he wasn't leaving. After a moment Mae looked up, curious. "You don't run from me?" she asked. "I know you're a risky one, breedbate, but surely a curse from the gods like this would sway even you? Or do you really enjoy living life so dangerously?" She was teasing him, but inside she was hopeful. If he didn't leave, if he looked past this stupid scar, what would that mean? Would Lochan come to be the only person in years Mae could really trust? She looked to her hands, at the completely invisible mark under her glove. Time would tell.

Midori-Hime
12-06-2017, 03:53 AM
Lochan slowly frowned, but because he was disturbed by her story, not the mark. To be told as a child that she was cursed because of this mark she was born with. To feel like she had to hide her face like this all her life. It saddened him. It bothered him even more than some men would refuse to touch her, though he supposed he shouldn't be all that surprised. Those type of men mostly cared for one thing and little else.

"Call me an idiot, if you'd like... But I don't believe in things like curses..." He said softly, offering her a small smile at the tease. Though it fell away slowly as she looked down again. "Don't turn your gaze downward." He pleaded softly, his hand still at her chin. Slowly, and tentatively, he brought it up to brush underneath the dark curtain over hair. His fingertips caressed over the texture of her scarred skin tenderly, looking into her eyes with no judgement in his own.

"From that first moment I saw you... I thought you had to be some kind of goddess." He murmured and then blushed, smiling at his own words in embarrassment. "A beautiful, but dangerous woman... But in all the places I've traveled, I've never met a woman, no, a person as strong and courageous as you." He said, hoping his words came across as sincere as he meant them. Lochan held Mae's cheek for a moment before dropping his hand away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable with his touch.

Ashen
12-18-2017, 10:09 PM
Mae didn't know how to react to Lochan's actions. Her lips parted as if she were going to say something, but she could think of no words to follow Lochan's. He thought she was a goddess? A beautiful and dangerous woman? She surprised herself in not shying from his touch. It was alluring, the way his fingers brushed over her mark, the way he spoke to her like she wasn't some cursed freak. Even if he didn't believe it, she was cursed, cursed with a gift she did not want, but now was not the time to bring that up, too.

Lochan drew his hand away, and before Mae could stop herself, she grabbed it and placed it back against her cheek. The warmth of his touch brought her comfort, though she could not explain why. She drew closer to him, pressing her forehead against his. Her eyes were closed, and she was listening to his breathing. "Thank you," she whispered softly. Then, before she could stop herself, she brought her lips to his in a drawn-out kiss.

When Mae realized what she was doing she snapped away from him. Her eyes frantically looked him over, wondering what he would do now. Why had she reacted like that? She had just felt so at ease, like she'd finally found someone who didn't quite understand, but hadn't brushed her off immediately because of it. She felt comfortable enough to press against him. What was worse, she didn't regret it. Mae's kisses weren't something she safeguarded, in her line of work she had to play around a lot with things like that, but this one, it felt different than the smooches she sold to men paying for her body. This one felt more genuine, and she didn't know what to make of that.

Mae cleared her throat and averted her gaze. "You're a rarity," she said. "Few would want to be where you are. Regardless, I am glad you are here. I... I thank you." She looked to the road ahead. "We should get going."

Midori-Hime
01-23-2018, 03:09 AM
Lochan was taken back by surprise as his hand was grabbed and his grey eyes widened as Mae placed it back on her cheek. He held her cheek tenderly, his eyes softening. As her head pressed to his, he closed his own eyes softly, just enjoying the feeling of having her so close. However, he was not expecting those soft lips as they caressed his. His breath caught in his throat, eyes snapping open, before he returned the kiss. He pressed a bit closer, his other hand moving to hold her neck carefully.

But it seemed much too short when Mae suddenly jerked back. Lochan was left in a daze, staring after her in a mixture of surprise and confusion. He pouted a little, realizing that the moment was gone as quickly as it had come, but he only hoped that kiss had actually meant something. At Mae's words, Lochan's cheeks flushed a little and he looked down, trying to hide the small smile on his lips.

Lochan then looked to her once more. "You don't have to thank me... " He said quietly. He was only telling the truth after all, but then... these days that could be a rare thing. Lochan then followed her gaze to the road and with a new found vigor, he nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right." He said, moving to walk along side her. "So... Where to now?" He asked curiously, wondering if Mae had a plan or if they were just walking towards the horizon.

Ashen
02-17-2018, 10:40 PM
All compliments aside, it was time for the duo to get moving. Mae looked around, trying to locate herself. Past the farm was the town that had been less than accommodating to them last night, and Mae was not willing to go back there. She turned away from that, then continued walking. "We should continue west," she told Lochan. "If I remember correctly, there will be a town a few hours away from here, and it is there that we can rest a while, and perhaps get some food." She looked over Lochan, then shrugged a bit. "If we can find a way to get money. I'm sure you know what to do about that, right?"

They traveled for hours, making conversation a minimum. Mae was comfortable in this silence, and she enjoyed listening to the rhythm her footsteps made with Lochan's. They made good distance, and by the time the sun was high in the sky, they were reaching their destination. Mae stopped just outside the simple-looking town. "I remember it being bigger," she commented. "Actually... A lot bigger." A perplexed expression crossed her features and she looked more closely at the town. The stone buildings stood close to the ground, and their roofs had varying levels of debris upon them. In the center of town was a fountain, and half of the statue in the center was destroyed. The wooden benches seemed charred, the grasses were long dead, and the entire town was barren.

Mae began walking slowly into town. "How... odd," she murmured. As they continued through the town, they found not a soul. Most of the buildings still stood, but remnants of some fire remained. Mae approached a building and ran her gloved hand over the door. It was black from ash and char, and it gave way easily, opening with a long creak. Mae looked to Lochan, raising a brow. "I don't know what happened," she said. "This was a fine town, a quiet one, but it was a happy little place. Something had to have happened. Be on your guard. We should be safe, these injuries look old, but--huh?"

The wanderer was interrupted by the sound of a low grumbling from within the house. She peered into the dark, seeing only the silhouettes of furniture. "Hello?" she called quietly, padding her way inside. The rumbling grew louder in response, until Mae watched as a shape from within darted past her. Her sword was unsheathed in moments, but it was no match for the hoard that overtook her. Within a couple seconds she was on the ground, a disgusting form atop her. Mae shrieked, caught by surprise, and her sword fell from her hand and skidded across the dirt path.

The thing on top of her looked almost human, though its skin was holey and a ghastly grey. Its eyes were white spheres without irises, and its teeth jutted out from its mouth haphazardly. The clothing covering its boney body were filled with holes and bugs. It acted sporadically, slashing at Mae with its fragile nails and biting at her. As Mae regained her bearings, another, similar creature glided out of the house, its blind gaze locked on Lochan. The growling grew louder, and seemed to be coming from within the other houses, too. Whatever had happened in this town, it was certainly not over yet.

Mae hopped up and scrambled for her sword, then slashed the creature. It left a bloodless gash in its chest, but the creature seemed unaffected. A voice yelped in her mind, instantly giving her a migraine and sending her into a panicky state. "Lochan," she murmured, looking around blindly for him. The pain in her head was severe enough to send black spots spiraling in her vision, and she could hear nothing over the sound of the voices in her head. "Lochan!" she yelled. "I don't think... They're too much, we can't.."

Midori-Hime
02-21-2018, 02:48 AM
Lochan nodded simply, following Mae's lead. They were starting towards territory that he was not familiar with, but he had faith that Mae knew where they were going. It was just nice to have company, he thought with a smile. Especially such lovely, interesting company. "Oh I think I have a few tricks up my sleeve." He agreed with a smirk. Despite his more outgoing personality, Lochan was quite okay with pleasant silence and didn't feel the need to fill it with idle chatter. He didn't mind the quiet so much knowing that Mae was there. Though after a few hours of walking, he was starting to get achey and hungry.

He paused to wipe the bit of sweat from his brow before looking to Mae suddenly. The looked out to the town curiously at her comment. As they headed into the town, Lochan was starting to feel more and more apprehensive. "A-are you sure this is the right place... It looks a little-" He paused, searching for the right word before he noticed the charred buildings and the crumbling statue. "Odd... isn't the word I was thinking..." He muttered quietly now.

The creaking door sent a chill down his spine and he frowned, looking to Mae. "Raiders, maybe?" He suggested, though something in his gut told him it wasn't so simple as that. He then tensed at the sound, watching as Mae moved into the house. "Mae..." He muttered, hesitant. But he followed her, not wanting her to go in there alone. Lochan's eyes widened as the shadow moved past them, trying to make out what it was. But before he even knew what was happening, he heard Mae unsheath her sword and her shriek ring out over the growling that surrounded them.

For a moment, Lochan was frozen, staring in horror at the creature that lumbered ontop of Mae. But this wasn't the time to panic, and Mae was in trouble, he quickly realized. Snapping back into action, his eyes darted around for something to use as a weapon. Unlike Mae, he was completely unarmed. Finding the closest object, he grabbed a charred chair. However, before he could help Mae, he had his own creature to deal with. With a yell he swung the chair, though it only shattered to pieces on impact, the ghastly form being only phased for a moment.

He was only able to dodge the attacker, looking for something else he could use. He grabbed anything and everything he could, throwing them at the creatures. But he was quickly becoming surrounded by more. Hearing his name, Lochan looked up suddenly. "W-what do we do?!" He cried out, finding that they'd been separated and Mae was becoming surrounded by more. Lochan's eyes darted frantically between the monsterous beings, dodging them until he found an axe near the fireplace. Brandishing the axe, Lochan before swinging at the creatures, hacking his way towards Mae. It didn't stop them, but it slowed them down if only for a few seconds. "I'm coming Mae!" He cried out, swinging wildly and taking off the occasional arm or leg. "Move towards the door! We have to get out of here!" He called out, getting closer to her now.

Ashen
02-21-2018, 08:31 PM
She couldn't hear him. She could hear nothing but the cacophony of screams and cries from within her brain. The black spots sprinkled about her vision hid some of the monsters from view. They were now slithering out of other buildings, locking on the two that had disturbed their slumber. But Mae was aware of none of it. She clutched her head, praying away the agony that was ripping her apart from within. She was too blinded to notice Lochan approach her, new weapon in hand. She was too deafened to hear the growls and rumbles growing louder as more creatures emerged from the darkness. In only a few moments, Mae lost consciousness completely.

The blackness gave way to a blinding light, and just as quickly as it had come, it was gone. Mae groggily rubbed at her eyes and tried to figure out where she was. Colors bled in, until she could recognize her surroundings. She was at a farm, one with six cows and two dogs, and a barn cat named Tiger that looked nothing like a tiger. Mae looked down at her hands, ungloved, dirty, and childlike. She grabbed at her hair, which was tied back in a braid and much shorter than usual. Mae realized then that she was a child again, that this couldn't have been real. She got up and started moving away from the barn, towards the chapel she called home. Within stood her father, who looked down at her with dark eyes. He called her name, but his voice was not at all how Mae remembered it. Soon, his flesh fell apart, his mouth ripped open into a scream, and darkness poured from his body. Soon Mae was being pierced by a black silhouette, and she was out again.

Mae's eyes opened wide. She saw the monster on top of her, the one that undoubtedly woken her. Its claw was lodged in her chest, and blood was trickling from it, but for some reason, she felt no pain. The voices were silenced, and she could see more clearly than ever. She looked at Lochan, who now held an axe. His panicked expression unnerved her even more than the approaching army of dead things behind him. Mae refocused, and threw the beast off of her. She jumped up and grabbed Lochan. "We need to go," she called sharply. "We can't fight this alone. The Dark One was here, ages ago, and he ravaged the entire town. These must be the people who lived here, once. They've been waiting in torment until we got here. I can't imagine what the Black Dragon did to them, and then to leave them in this state..." She shook her head. Her voice held not an ounce of remorse; instead, there was something like fascination. She motioned for them to continue. "Let's go."

They ran from the town, their previous exhaustion forgotten. Mae and Lochan had to run far, but luckily, the creatures that followed them were not fast. Eventually they could slow themselves to take a breath. It was then that the voices came back to Mae, much quieter than usual. This she could easily handle. She stopped walking and collapsed, famished and fatigued. "Did I... black out?" she asked. "I... I had a dream, I was... Father..." She was struggling to determine what she could tell Lochan without telling him too much.

It was then that a distant voice appeared to Lochan, for only him to hear. She's leading you to your death. The voice was a man's, deep and hollow, and it reverberated throughout his head. Mae was oblivious, for once taking refuge in her quiet mind.

Midori-Hime
02-22-2018, 07:25 PM
Lochan was busy hacking away at the creature directly between him and Mae. But it was a stubborn one and try as he might, he wasn't able to bring it down. However, he managed to steal a glance towards his partner, only to find that she was unconscious beneath the disgusting, lumbering monster. "Mae! Hang on!" He cried out, taking a hard swing at the creature's head. It was enough to knock it over, but it still moved, fighting to get up again. With a loud yell, Lochan brought the axe down and with a sickening wet thud, taking off the being's head. Even if it still wasn't dead, at least it would give him enough time. He panted before rushing past the creature to Mae.

However, by the time he was able to reach her, Mae was already on her feet, grabbing his arm. "Y-you don't need to tell me twice!" He called back. He shuddered when Mae told him this was the Dark One's doing and cringed to think of how these people must have suffered before becoming these grotesque creatures. Lochan ran with Mae until his lungs burned and when they finally stopped, Lochan dropped to his knees, dry heaving a bit until he managed to regain his breath and process everything that had just happened.

"M-...M-mae..." He glanced up at her. "Yeah... You must have-" He started to stay before he paused, trying to understand what she was saying. It was then that he noticed the wound on her chest and his eyes widened. "You're injured... Is it deep?" He said, moving to her in slight panic. Though as he reached for her, Lochan froze suddenly. A look of shock crossed over his face and he put a hand to his head. What was that voice just now? He frowned as he repeated the words in his head. She's leading me to my death? Lochan's stormy grey eyes then focused on Mae again, staring for a moment before he seemed to snap out of it. "We should clean it..." He suggested, looking around to see if there was a water source near by.

Ashen
03-11-2018, 07:33 PM
Upon hearing Lochan's words, Mae looked down suddenly, seeing the deep red running from a hole in her clothes. This triggered her brain to remember that she had been hurt, and suddenly a sharp pain seized her. She grabbed at her chest. "I think so," she responded, trying to save face. Mae shrugged out of her cloak and hesitated, not wanting to take off her tunic, too. She remembered that Lochan has already seen more of her than she wanted, and she slowly slipped out of her tunic. Busy undressing, she didn't realize Lochan's face turn to confusion at what he had just heard.

The wanderer stood before Lochan in just her brassiere. The fraying black fabric was now stained in red. There was a gash between her large breasts. Though it was not long, it did stretch deep, and was too close to her heart. Mae looked down at it, wondering just how severe it might be. "It hurts like a bitch," she snarled. "There's so much blood..." Mae grew nauseous. The dark scarlet ran from her wound freely, soaking her skin. Paired with her emaciated figure, Mae almost looked like an undead monster. Unaware of none of that, she started mumbling in a scared voice.

"What's going to happen?" Her voice wavered, for the first time sounding like no more than a frightened child. "You don't suppose a healer would...? To have created such strong creatures, the Dark Dragon must be something else. What horrors must be contained in his armies, to so carelessly toss aside these beings?" Even as she bled out, she was fascinated with the Dark One. Her obsession stemmed on unhealthy. She was soon broken from her reverie and brought back to the moment. "Lochan, I think I need help. The wound needs to be patched up. I don't know how far we are from a town, from a healer, but... Well, I have thread in my bag." A horrifying thought, but Mae didn't know what else to do, and she was terrified she might not make it out of this.

Midori-Hime
04-27-2018, 05:19 PM
Lochan averted his gaze as Mae suddenly began to undress. Sure he'd seen it before, but that had been an accident and he respected her to look away now. Though once she stood in just undergarments, he glanced back, his eyes focused on her wound. He cringed, worry quickly taking over his expression. "W-we need to stop the bleeding..." He swallowed, moving to search his things for some clean cloth. But he wasn't sure that was going to help.

However as Mae began to mumble, Lochan paused in his searching and looked to Mae suddenly, his concern only growing. "N-nothing, everything will be fine." He replied quickly. Lochan stood and gently took hold of her arms. "I'll help you... somehow. Just..." He bit his lip, trying to think of what he should do first. Mae's suggestion of stitching the wound wasn't a bad idea, but he chewed his lip, trying to recall the lessons his mother and sister tried to instill in him even though he was a boy. He'd never been very good at sewing though and sewing cloth and flesh were likely very different. But he'd have to try. Otherwise Mae might not make it.

"Okay... okay. Come with me first." He said and quickly grabbed her bag before moving to scoop her up in his arms. She was light in his arms and he rushed her down a small slope to a creek running near the road. Laying her down in the grass, Lochan then turned to wet some cloth in the water. Quickly he returned, carefully cleaning the wound of blood so he could see, before quickly digging through her bag until he found the needle and thread. His hands shook as he tried to thread it and he cursed, taking a deep breath before he managed to get it through. "Do you have anything for the pain? It's probably going to hurt..." He frowned.

Ashen
05-15-2018, 09:45 PM
Mae let herself be carried away, not knowing nor caring where they were going. She could feel herself fading, but she refused to let go. Lochan put her down, and faintly she could hear him going through her bag. He'd find everything she owned in there, her tools, a single extra pair of underwear, a blanket and too-thin pillow. She didn't own much at all, but suddenly she was reminded of a small piece of paper she kept in her bag. It had been bent and crumbled so many times, she wondered if it were still legible. It was a letter to her father, the father who had disowned her, the father who'd told her to never come back. Now, as she felt the blood pour out of her body, she knew it would never get to him.

Mae heard Lochan speak, something about the pain. She vaguely could see his hands trembling. There was no way he would be able to stitch her, not like this. Mae used all of her energy to sit up and move towards him. She nudged him for the needle, then took it out of his hand. She took a deep breath, then stabbed the tiny point into her own skin. She didn't have the energy to scream, but the pain blurred her vision. She tried, unsuccessfully, to guide the needle to the other end of the opening. She whimpered softly, and the needle fell out of her hands. "I can't," she whispered. "I'm sorry." Suddenly, her limp body fell back, unconscious.

When Mae awoke, she was in darkness again. She had a killer headache. The mark on her hand was glowing purple, and her body was trapped in place. Squinting into the darkness told her nothing of her whereabouts. Weakly she called out. A deep voice answered her, and instinctively Mae knew it was the Dark One. "You join me, then?" he asked. "Ah, filume, so nice to have you back."

Mae's body stopped moving. She was alive, though a short glance would suggest otherwise. Suddenly there was a voice calling out behind Lochan. "What's going on?" A girl jogged up to the two of them. Her platinum pixie cut was mostly hidden under a headscarf. She had a messenger bag with her. She knelt down beside Mae. "I'm Aaliyah," she said. "The Demon ransacked my village just a few miles north of here, and I've been out looking for survivors to heal. I wasn't expecting to find anyone so far, but it's a good thing I checked." As she spoke, she was rummaging through her bag and pulling out various herbs and ointments. "You weren't going to stitch her by yourself?" she asked, but didn't wait for an answer. Aaliyah applied a strong-smelling mix to Mae's wound before picking up the needle and threading it shut herself. When she was finished, she tied it off and applied more creams. "She's fine," she said, slipping a gooey substance down her throat. "For Him to reach all the way down here..." She shook her head and stood up. "Give her a couple hours. She'll be walking again."

The girl was incredibly young, perhaps only just past puberty. Her clothes were simple, with a few tears. As she looked over Lochan, realization seemed to strike. "You're not from my village," she said. "You're not even from around here, are you?" Hesitating, she backed away. "You're... You're not with Him, are you? I mean, no, of course you're not." She laughed nervously. "Be careful. Things have been quiet for months, but... The Black Mage is back, and he's as merciless as ever. I should keep going. There will be others who need my help." She looked back to Mae. "I feel a very strong aura around her. He must have gotten her really well." Shaking her head, she started away. "Please be careful. Get yourselves to a town, there's one a couple miles west. As soon as she wakes up you should go."

Midori-Hime
07-19-2018, 02:18 AM
Lochan gasped as she took the needle from him, his hands hovering, as if ready to assist though he had no idea how he would be any help. He cringed for just a moment then, watching her sink the needle into her own flesh. But before she could even start, she fell unconscious again. "Mae!" He cried out, putting his hands to her face then. "M-mae, No Mae. Please don't... Don't go to sleep." His voice cracked a little, trembling as he feared she might not open her eyes again. Lochan could only take comfort in the fact that she was still breathing... for now. But he had to do something, and fast.

Just then a voice called to him and he looked back behind him, watching the girl approach them in a bit of a daze. He simply stared as she spoke, watching her dig through her bag. "P-please, she needs help-" He studdered, at the mention of stitching her wound, Lochan pulled his hands back suddenly "I-I was but-" He started to say, but watched in awe as this stranger treated Mae's wound and stitched it up. As his eyes followed the movement of his hands, he seemed to calm again, coming back to his senses. "Thank you... I don't know what I would have done if-... If you hadn't come along." He said, looking down at Mae's weary face.

He reluctantly pulled his gaze away from her as Aaliyah questioned him. "W-what? No-" He said in surprise, paling a bit that the girl would think he might be in league with Him. He frowned at the girl's wandering and nodded his head. "T-thank you again... I'm forever grateful." He told her before she left them. Looking back down at Mae then, he wondered what Aaliyah meant... about Mae's aura. And those words echoed in his mind again. But he pushed it away and carefully lifted Mae into his arms, holding her securely as he started to walk. He didn't want to wait like this, out in the open, as was eager to get to this town as quickly as possible. He stared ahead, determined to get Mae to safety where she could rest properly.

Ashen
07-23-2018, 10:31 PM
Mae opened her eyes to a blanket of stars far above her. She stayed still for a moment, taking in her surroundings. What happened? She remembered entering that town, and being attacked by those creatures. One had slashed her in the chest. Mae's ungloved hand made its way to her chest, where she was surprised to find tight strings holding her flesh together. Stitches? Had Lochan done that? She remembered offering her thread to him, and trying to do the job herself. Was that when she passed out? Slowly, Mae rose to a sitting position, and her eyes scanned for Lochan. They were in a town, this one with more people. The nighttime air was chilly, and Mae's exposed flesh felt the cold. She'd need to stitch her top now, too. But... how did she get here?

Finding Lochan a short distance away, Mae sighed in relief. She called his name and watched as he stared at her. His eyes looked pained, scared. Had he been worried about her? She tried to get up but found herself shaky on her own legs. "Where are we?" she asked. "What... What happened? Did you bring me here?" But she didn't need to ask that. It was obvious, of course, that this man, this mere thief had saved her life. Mae looked away as a heat met her cheeks. "You know, breedbate, I didn't take you for a romantic, too. A picnic out under the starlight, hm?" She gazed up at the twinkling sky again, wondering just how long she had been out.

Mae tried to get up again, using a nearby stone wall to balance herself. Pain poured from her wound throughout her body, but this was far more manageable than it had been before. She looked to Lochan again sheepishly. "I'm... sorry for leaving you on your own like that," she murmured. "I underestimated you. To escape the hell we waltzed into, and to get us all the way out here, all by yourself. You even managed to make sure I didn't die. I... I have you to thank for my breaths, now. ...Thank you, Lochan." She offered a smile but soon turned away. Mae didn't like being sentimental, so she immediately followed it up with, "What kind of picnic were you planning where you didn't even bring food? I'm famished. What's on the menu tonight?"

Midori-Hime
07-27-2018, 06:25 PM
It had been a rough trip to the next town, carrying Mae's unconscious body. She wasn't all that heavy, but the dead weight was awkward like this for so long. It would have been easier to sling her over his back, but he didn't want to disrupt her wound, so he simply kept going, focusing on the town he could see in the distance. However, as they reached the outskirts of the city, he had to rest and searched until he found a well. Carefully setting Mae down against a stone wall, he rushed over to the well, pulling up a bucket and chugged some of the water. He then filled the small pouch he carried for Mae when she woke.

However, hearing his name, Lochan's breath hitched and he spun around quickly to see Mae awake and calling to him. Seeing her trying to stand, he gasped and quickly ran back over to her. "D-don't move-" He cautioned before she asked him a bunch of questions. "Yes... You passed out when you tried to stitch yourself. There was a girl, she treated your wound and then directed me to this town. We just arrived... so I haven't yet figured out where we are going to stay." He said quietly, both mentally and physically exhausted from such a trying day. He then blinked at her joke, feeling a little bit of relief wash through him as she was obviously well enough to make jokes. He chuckled breathlessly, smiling a little until Mae tried to get up. "Easy! You shouldn't move just yet-" He said, quickly moving to hold onto her arms to keep her stable.

Looking down into her eyes, or at least the one he could see, he was left speechless at her words. He smiled softly then. "You don't have to thank me... I couldn't just leave you there." He muttered, shuddering as he thought about that place. He didn't want to admit that there was more to it than him simply being a decent person. However, the sentimental moment was gone in an instant and he sighed, looking around at the city. "Yeah, me too... Though I don't know how far we'll get with no money..." He murmured, looking back to Mae before an idea sparked in his head. "Unless we play the sympathy card... It might work." He said, glancing at her wound.

He walked, offering his arm to Mae while her legs were still weak. "There... that tavern there. That seems like a good one." He said before looking back to Mae. Suddenly he'd scoop her back up into his arms. "Can you act like you're on the verge of fainting, in pain?" He asked with a smirk. "Shouldn't be much of a stretch..."

Ashen
07-27-2018, 08:58 PM
Mae noticed the way Lochan was immediately by her side when she tried to move. He was concerned for her, babying her even, and while Mae didn't like depending on anyone, she found the thief's worry heartwarming. She had almost died, and to think she was only alive because of this man and whatever girl he had found along the way; it gave her some hope. She thought back to a previous conversation, when the two of them had only just met. Lochan had hoped they could be friends. Was that what this was? She had to admit, she felt something for Lochan, though she didn't know friendship was an adequate word.

Shaking her thoughts, Mae followed Lochan's gaze to the tavern just a short distance away. While she didn't like begging, she also knew, with her lifestyle, sometimes she didn't have much choice. She removed her town cloak and shoved it into her bag, then fiddled with the new opening of her tunic. She was startled when Lochan picked her up again, but soon relaxed in his arms. As he carried her, Mae wrapped her arms around his neck and burrowed closer to his chest, convincing herself it was part of their act. "I can do better than that," she murmured.

When they reached the tavern and Lochan set Mae on the ground, the wanderer's clothes were now more torn than they had been. Mae had been pulling at the stitches of her top while Lochan carried her, and now, there was a sizable hole. While inviting the chilled air to her stitches, the hole also allowed for a full view of Mae's cleavage. She looked around to see how many men were about, and then she got to work. Even as she acted pathetic, there was some charm to her, in the way she moved so her breasts almost covered her new scar, in the way she seemed to bat her eyes, in the way her lips seemed to invite people to her. Mae was no amateur at this, and as she heard the coins fall around her, she smiled to herself. People were so easy to play like this, and she dreamt of the meal they would have when she was done.

After some time begging, Mae gathered up her coins and threw them into a bag. She made sure everyone who had given her coin was gone, then slowly made her way back to Lochan. "What do you know?" she commented, "You do have good ideas sometimes after all." She rattled her bag and listened to the harmonious clang of silver and bronze. "Maybe I'll have to show you how to have a proper picnic," she said, grabbing her cloak from her bag and tying it around her neck again. "Let's get something to eat and return to our spot, shall we?"

Midori-Hime
08-09-2018, 12:55 AM
Lochan looked a bit confused, wondering what 'better' plan she had in mind. He watched her closely as he set her down, simply watching and waiting. Seeing that her bosom was now suddenly spilling from her gaping top, he sucked in a breath. Warmth spread over his tan cheeks and he tried to avert his gaze while still looking out for her. His eyes followed her as she passed by the male patrons. And it was working too. Though with a body like hers, well... that really was no surprise. In a way, he was jealous that he hardly seemed to have any of the charm she did. Certainly not the kind that would have women swooning and offering him coins. However, in another way, he was jealous of the other men's eyes on her and he could feel himself tensing, his eyes shifting between the other men than oogled her even after she passed them by.

But he reigned his emotions in quickly when she returned. He had no right to be jealous or dictate anything Mae did. She was her own woman... It's not like she belonged to him. Lochan quickly raked a hand through his hair, gripping it suddenly with a sharp yank as if to force the thoughts from his mind. Hearing Mae's comment, he blinked, quickly dropping his hand. "A-ah, well... T-that wasn't exactly what I had in mind." He admitted with a sheepish smile. But he relieved at the change of subject and nodded in agreement. "Wouldn't you rather a hot meal, and a night in the Tavern for a change?" He asked her. "It looked like you had enough coin." He suggested, glancing back at the Tavern before they moved too far away. "You need proper rest..."

Ashen
08-09-2018, 03:23 AM
The idea of a hot meal and a real bed did sound awfully tempting. Mae stopped and turned back to the tavern, hesitating. "Perhaps you're right," she murmured. She had been looking forward to a night under the stars with Lochan, but he was right; a warm night would do her healing body good, and from the looks of things, there would be plenty of time for starlit picnics later. "Don't you try to weasel out of our picnic," she teased. "We will have one, and I will show you a proper romantic dinner." After the words left her mouth she hesitated, but shook it from her mind. Had it been a joke? She started away dismissively, heading into the tavern.

Inside, Mae sighed when she saw the innkeep was a woman. She ordered two warm meals and paid for a single room for the night. As an afterthought, she turned to Lochan and muttered, "Hope you don't mind. It's cheaper." With their trays of food they made their ways to a table and sat down. Mae spooned a meaty stew into her mouth, savoring the mixture of flavors. She could feel her hunger fade away and by the time she was finished for the first time in ages she felt full. "Another good idea," she commented to Lochan. "Remind me again why I didn't seek you out before?"

After dinner, Mae waited for Lochan to finish before heading upstairs to their room. It was a simple thing with a double bed and a small bookshelf. Mae's dark eyes immediately went to that, and she sat on the bed looking through the different titles. "A curious language," she said, plucking one book off the shelf. "I suppose we are getting quite far west, aren't we? I wonder how long we have until a language barrier exists?" She set the books down and plopped down on the bed, flinching with the pain that came from the sudden movement. Her fingers lingered over the hole in her shirt, and she let out a long sigh. "I'll have to sew this," she groaned. "I hardly want to look at that needle again." Sitting up, she turned to Lochan. "Though you'd probably prefer I didn't fix it at all. I saw stray eyes while I was out there, breedbate." Mae's playful smile invited him to the bed with her. She didn't seem upset at all, just amused that her act had even charmed her peeping Tom companion.

Midori-Hime
08-09-2018, 03:48 AM
He smiled when she finally agreed, however, it faded quickly as she mentioned the picnic again. "Y-you're serious about that?" He asked with a bewildered expression, his gaze following her. He had thought that she was being serious, even if it did sound very nice. But since Mae didn't say any more on the subject, he would just have to wonder. As they stepped into the Tavern, his mind still lingered on the word 'romantic'. But surely she was just teasing him. He wasn't paying attention until Mae asked him if he had minded a single room. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts. "Yes, that's understandable. If you're not bothered, then I'm not." He said simply.

The smell of hot, thick stew was amazing and he could hardly wait for it to cool enough before he shoveled spoonful after spoonful into his mouth. He smiled at her comment. "Because you didn't know what you were missing~" He teased with a wink. Yeah, he certainly didn't have Mae's charms. Once he was finished, he patted his stomach with a content sigh before heading upstairs for bed.

However, now that he was standing in their room with a single bed, he was a little hesitant. Of course he'd let Mae take the comfort of the bed over him. Again he was pulled from his thoughts as Mae flipped through one of the books. "How far west do you plan on going?" He asked curiously, remembering the girl's warning. He should tell Mae... But seeing the pain in her eyes, he decided he'd tell her after she'd gotten some proper rest. There was no use worrying about such things right now. Lochan's silvery grey eyes wandered down to the hole she spoke of before he quickly averted his gaze again, his face heating up. "W-what?!" he gasped then, looking back to meet her eyes now.

His face was quickly turning to a bright red at her accusations. "N-no I-... I was just-" He stammered, running a hand through his hair nervously, however, he trailed off seeing Mae gesture him over to the bed. All of a sudden his throat felt tight and his heart was beating faster, but he moved over to the bed and sat down. He tried not to stare and instead pulled off his torn shirt. He was really going to need a new one soon as well. Lochan had suffered a few minor scrapes from the incident earlier, one on his arm and another on the left side of his chest, but he hadn't noticed them with his concern for Mae. Nervously, he slowly sank down onto the bed next to Mae, being sure to keep his distance.

Ashen
08-09-2018, 04:08 AM
Mae didn't acknowledge his question, nor did she know how to. She didn't know how far she'd be going. She'd spent the last few years out on the road chasing an invisible goal; how could she know when she was there? Instead she watched as he became flustered. He was an adorable red now, and Mae's eyebrows arched when she saw him removing his shirt. It was then that she saw his body, war-torn and broken like hers. That had been her fault, and suddenly his question burned in her mind. How far are you going to drag him? some voice called from within. Will you make him die for you, too?

The sudden headache caused her to look away and ground herself. She shook her thoughts, not wanting to focus too hard on such stressors. She needed rest after all, and maybe a little fun... "As far as it takes for me to get where I'm going," she supplied. She noticed the distance between them and slunk closer to him. "Now breedbate, there's nothing to be afraid of. I'm certainly not contagious. My bites are just for fun." She smirked at him, loving the way he uncomfortably edged away from her. But what was the discomfort from, she wondered. Was he afraid of hurting her? She placed her palm on his bare chest and pressed him down onto the bed. "You look so tense," she commented. "I know what would help you relax." Her voice was like a song, and as she began her knead his shoulders and massage his arms she wondered how much longer Lochan would be able to take it.

Mae was no stranger to this. She'd often gotten what she wanted through similar means. Yet not, things were different. Lochan had nothing to offer her. The amusement was one thing, but there was something else keeping her going, something Mae did not want to come to terms with. She moved a leg so that she was now kneeling with a thigh on either side of his hip, smiling down at him and blinking slowly. Her massage was not making him any less tense; she figured the opposite was happening somewhere south. Whispers rushed past her thoughts as they normally did, but these were stronger, more eerie. She paused, staring down at her man of the night, before moving off of him and sitting beside him. The whispers grew louder at that, but Mae knew she'd had to stop.

She didn't want to manipulate him. Of all the times she'd done that same act, only now did she feel dirty and wrong. She pulled at the cloth barely covering her chest, back turned towards Lochan. "I shouldn't tease you so much," she said quietly. "I should... let you prepare for bed, huh?"

Midori-Hime
08-09-2018, 04:51 AM
'As far as it takes me to get to where I'm going'. That phrase repeated in his head. Instead of answering his question it just raised another. Where was she going... and was he welcome to come with her. It seemed like had accepted him as a companion. But for how long? However, that train of thought was quickly derailed as Mae laid a hand on his chest. He looked to her visible eye sharply, his lips parting slightly in wonder. Despite her coaxing, her hands were doing anything but making him relax.

However, his eyes became heavily lidded as her hands worked into his lean muscles. It did feel good, but he hoped she couldn't feel the way she was making his heart race. And then suddenly he sucked in a breath as Mae's legs moved to straddle him. His stormy blue eyes widened as even more blood pooled in his cheeks, as well as elsewhere. But just when he feared she'd feel too much, she was suddenly sliding off of him. He didn't know what to say, left speechless as the woman who was just straddling him moments ago now had her back to him.

His mind was utterly swimming, wondering if he'd done something wrong. Maybe it'd freaked her out after all, or she didn't find him attractive enough and simply changed her mind. And then she said she was only teasing him. It stung a bit, but despite that, he let out a soft, albeit breathless chuckle. "Y-yeah, you had me going there for a second. But we need to get some good rest while we have such comforts." He answered, trying to simply brush it off. He swallowed, getting up from the bed and crossing the room to splash some water from the pitcher on his face, hoping it might cool him down. However, it did little to help the ache as he got back into bed beside Mae. He blew out the candle, leaving the room dark except for the light from the moon and laid awake for a while, thinking of Mae and how foolish he felt.

Ashen
08-10-2018, 04:53 PM
The mirthless chuckle reverberated in her ears. Such a dull sound now pierced her head, intensifying her headache and the voices that came with it. She'd hurt him, again, and she felt it deep in her chest. To get a man started and so quickly change her mind... Had Lochan been looking forward to something more? She cast a glance at him, watching with her good eye as he splashed water over his eyes and blew out the light. His silhouette moved towards her, somehow smaller than she remembered him to be, and lay a good distance away from her on the bed. She waited until his breaths became even, then slipped out of her shirt and reached for her bag.

Being a nocturnal wanderer, Mae was used to working by little or no light. She felt the thread she carried, felt the hole in her shirt, and sighed. Her bare body was cold so she worked fast to patch her shirt, poking her bare fingers countless times. She did not want to puncture her glove, now on the table beside the bed, and the curious mark beneath it gave off the faintest purple glow. She finished patching up her tunic and set that too on the nightstand. Mae cast a glance towards Lochan again, wondering if he had managed to drift to sleep. She lay down and stared at the dark ceiling above her. How long before her companion got tired of her? How much more teasing would he tolerate before he left for good? And why did she care so damn much?

Her questions were reflected in the voices of her inner demons. They were keeping her up. Most were asking questions about Lochan, making assumptions about what he would do, but a lone voice, a whisper, stood out to Mae. It was that of a child. Her voice quivered among the rest. She was saying something about being lonely, wishing it all hadn't happened, wishing Father had not abandoned her. Mae wished she didn't recognize the voice or the devastating feelings it reminisced, but she knew, no matter what, she could not escape herself.

After some hours of her sleepless night, Mae turned towards Lochan and listened to his breathing. The moonlight drew the curve of his nose, the fullness of his lips. Despite her inner protests, Mae pulled closer to him and threw an arm across his body. She pressed against him, forgetting she was bare in her bra, falling in love with his warmth. She rested her head on his shoulder, listening to a distant heartbeat. "I'm sorry," she murmured, an imperceptible plea in the night.

Midori-Hime
08-10-2018, 05:53 PM
Although his thoughts had kept him awake, eventually he would fall asleep. Unforunately, it was hardly pleasant, dreaming of fire and a young girl calling his name. It wasn't the sort of tossing, cold-sweat, crying out sort of night terror he commonly had, but it was unsettling none the less. Only his brow flinched softly now and then, his fingers twitching as if he were reaching for something he couldn't grasp. Though suddenly the flames would fade, leaving him in darkness that slowly became illuminated by billions of stars like the night sky.

As Mae pressed to him, his body curled towards her warmth like a flower starved for light. He turned his head against her, softly breathing in the scent of her hair, and his hand moved to rest in the curve of her waist. He murmured softly, his arms tightened slightly to pull her tighter to him, but not uncomfortably so. He slept sounding then, barely moving, his face peaceful again.

Late the next morning, light filtered into the room, the sun from the window falling on his face. He groaned softly as it woke him and he lifted his hand to rub his eyes. However, he quickly realized there was a weight on it. Blinking awake, he looked down at Mae who was draped across his body. Immediately a blush came to his cheeks and he wondered vaugely if something had happened last night that he wasn't aware of. He was also quickly aware of the fact that his hand was on bare skin, as Mae was barely clothed. That was certaintly not helping his usual morning 'problem'. Swallowing, he pulled the blanket up a bit to cover her more, but he couldn't ignore the feeling of her full breasts pressed against his side.

Otherwise he stayed still, not wanting to wake her. Partly because he was afraid of what she'd think when she woke in such a position, and partly because she looked so lovely like this. Lochan watched her for a few moments, taking the opportunity to admire her in a way he didn't dare when she was awake. He bit his lip as his stormy eyes wandered over her soft face, half hidden behind her dark hair. They wandered from the curve of her thick lashes and down her soft cheek to her full lips, suddenly recalling how soft they'd been. Slowly he raised his free hand, stroking through her dark hair once before, hesitantly, brushing it away from her face to look at the otherside softly, before letting it fall back.

Ashen
08-10-2018, 06:38 PM
Mae woke slowly, cursing the sun in her dark eye. She rolled over so the window hit her back instead, and as she did she came to the sudden realization that she had not dreamt that night. A wildly uncommon occurrence, Mae startled and sat up, wincing when the pain from her stitches greeted her. She was suddenly aware she'd fallen asleep without her top. She then remembered Lochan, and turned sharply to find him watching her. She quickly grabbed for the blanket, suddenly embarrassed at her bare skin. She turned away and attempted to run her hands through her hair to fix it over her face but her fingers got stuck in the knots. Her hair fell away from her face, sticking up in odd places. She sat awkwardly, back to Lochan, racking her brain to remember what she had done last night and how she had gotten like this.

As memories flooded in, she remembered she was to blame for her current appearance. Lochan hadn't touched her last night, at least not until he was asleep. She masked the disappointment that came with that. "Sorry, I..." she started, but she didn't know where she was going. She was feeling lonely and vulnerable, and clung onto him like a child? She couldn't tell him that. Noticing her tunic on the nightstand, Mae grabbed for it. Her nighttime stitches were uneven, but they were intact. She slipped into her top and turned to face him. "After I fixed it, I thought it would be easier to just leave it where it was," she said by way of explanation. She tried her best to pat down her hair. "I look a mess," she muttered. "I haven't slept next to someone like that in a long time." Suddenly her eyes widened. Did he realize they were pressed against each other? Had she turned away in her sleep? Mae turned away again, cursing herself for being so flustered.

She kicked off the bed and walked to the water jug in the corner of the room. She splashed some water over her face, then retrieved a broken-tooth comb from her bag. Mae tugged at her knots, flinching at the bigger tangles. "I trust you slept well," she said, trying to kill the awkward silence. She pulled out one knot and gazed at the black mess in her hand. She noticed suddenly that her hand was gloved and, panicking, she turned her hand over. Her mark was faded, but it was still there. She glared at Lochan, wondering if he had seen it.

Midori-Hime
08-10-2018, 07:34 PM
Slowly his hand caressed down her arm to where her hand rested on his chest. It was then that something odd caught his attention and he tilted his head to try and get a better look at the strange mark on her hand. However, before he could really see what sort of mark it was, Mae was pulling away from him. His eyes widened then as Mae suddenly bolted upright and he sat up on his elbows, before freezing as he was. His lips parted, not sure what to say as Mae looked back at him. It seemed as though she was suddenly aware of her state of undress and Lochan quickly averted his eyes, worried she'd thought he was some sort of pervert that had taken her clothes off while she'd been asleep. He hadn't... right? He couldn't remember...

However, hearing Mae's apology and explaination, he felt relieved. He'd like to think he'd never do such a thing, but it seemed Mae was starting to test his self control as of late. Quickly Lochan pulled the blankets to cover his lap while she fussed with her hair. He smiled a little. "You look fine..." He replied, peeking up at her, but immediately her back was to him again. Well, it was nice while it lasted. He thought with a soft huff. He watched her cross the room and slid out of the bed. "Yeah... best sleep I've had in a long time." He muttered, though it didn't have much to do with the bed. With his back to her, he pulled on his tattered shirt. Lochan looked down at it with a sigh. He looked a mess and decided he needed a new shirt before he really started to look like a beggar. "So... Where are we headed today?" He asked, trying to fix how own disheveled hair that when down, reached just past his shoulders.

Ashen
08-13-2018, 02:02 AM
Mae was glad to hear that Lochan slept well, and she had to admit she'd enjoyed her half night of sleep curled up next to him, too. As he clothed, she caught the strange look on his face. True his clothes were worn. Dark eyes wandered to the window, glancing over the people bustling outside. "We shall be heading out of this town," she announced. Her wound still ached, though she knew it would not impede her too terribly. "But first, why don't we check out what's around town? The place doesn't look half bad, and I think we've still some coin leftover from yesterday." She started towards the door, tucking her broken comb back into her bag. When she turned to face him again, her hair was straight and back in place over her scarred skin. The bags often under her eyes were gone, leaving her one dark brown eye with the allure of a woman unaware of her beauty.

After returning the key to their room to the innkeeper, Mae guided Lochan into the streets and through the small crowds of people continuing their day. She stopped in front of a man selling bread. She signaled to Lochan, then got to work distracting the man, paying for an inexpensive loaf while she knew her companion walked off with a better one. They ate and walked, and while they did Mae's attention was grabbed by a small shop. No signs hung near the open door, but Mae could see inside. It was a boutique of sorts, and though Mae couldn't afford to be one for fashion, her fingers traced the uneven stitches in her tunic. She glanced towards Lochan. "Let's see what rich people are willing to spend their money on," she suggested, and she started inside.

The place was dimly lit, and in the back of the quaint shop was a man working furiously on a pair of trousers. He looked up when he heard Mae and Lochan walk in, but he did not address them. He was mumbling to himself, so Mae took the opportunity to look through his shop. He had many dresses for sale, enough to line a whole wall, and they ranged from the most elegant royal dresses to the simplest and most practical. Around the rest of the shop were clothes for other people; he also sold men's clothing, sleepclothes, and even outfits small enough for babies. The man's work was certainly impressive, and she had to wonder if he made it all himself. She walked up to one of the dresses, an elegant pink ballgown, and sighed. "Someday," she said to Lochan, though she knew that could only be a joke.

She walked back to her companion and shrugged her shoulders. "What if we had a little makeover?" she asked. "These look well made, and I don't know if you've looked at us lately, but we're certainly a sight for sore eyes." She dug into one of her shoulder bags and pulled from it the leftover coins from before. "This might fetch a new shirt for you... Oh, what about this one?" She walked past him as a dark blue top caught her eye. "I think you would look stunning in this," she mused, then shook her head. "Well, I'm sure that could be useful for us, you know? Sometimes appearance can be everything. What if... What if we stayed a while and just tried things on?" She turned to the tailor. "Is that alright, sir? We'd like to try some things on, possibly get fitted... Your work is very lovely, and we should be overjoyed to walk out with new outfits today." The tailor didn't pay her much mind, only nodded her way. Mae turned back sharply towards Lochan. "Try this one, would you?" she urged, shoving the top at him.

Midori-Hime
08-16-2018, 04:16 AM
Lochan finished pulling his hair back, keeping it as a low ponytail for now. He looked up and smiled as Mae turned to face him, having gussied herself up a bit. He was relieved to see the fatigue finally gone from her eyes. "Sure... Sounds like a plan." He agreed, following her downstairs to return the keep and head out into the town.

He ate his bread with a satisfied grin, noting how they seemed to make a good team. Though seeing Mae's attention captured by a shop as they walked by, he broke away from his thoughts and watched her curiously. "Uh, sure..." He said, following her inside. When was the last time he'd been in a shop like this? He wondered to himself. When was the last time he had money to buy goods properly? It had been a long time...

Lochan followed his companion through the boutique, thinking how beautiful Mae would look in one of these gowns, though he could never afford anything so fine. He blinked at Mae's joke and snorted with bitter amusement. He looked over some simple tunics before he heard Mae's suggestion and turned his head to her suddenly in surprise. "Really?" He raised a brow before coming closer. "Just how much coin did you get?" He muttered in disbelief, looking to the dark blue shirt in her hands.

"Well, yes that's true but..." He trailed off a bit. Mae was right, the way they looked down, people were likely to steer clear of them. And it would be nice to have a fresh pair of clothes. Clothes that actually fit and not simply whatever he could grab without being caught. But he'd rather Mae spend that money on herself instead of worrying about him. She'd earned it after all. But before he could protest, she was shoving the shirt into his hands. "A-alright." He agreed, pulling his shirt off over his head. Putting it aside, he pulled the fine blue top, flicking his hair out from under the collar. It felt nice, light, but well made. After looking over himself for a moment, he glanced up at Mae. "What do you think?" He asked. The color played nicely with his eyes and the shirt fit him well, not too tight but not baggy as his old one had been.

Ashen
08-24-2018, 01:56 AM
Mae watched Lochan undress, a sudden urge to reach for his bare body as he did bubbling within her, but she turned away and waited for him to put on the new shirt. When she looked back to him, she was surprised at how well the shirt hugged his torso. For not having been made for him, the shirt fit him perfectly, and it so beautifully brought out the color of his eyes. Mae was taken aback for a moment, surprised at how different he looked now. She moved towards him and took his hair from his tail, watching as his dark curls spilled over his shoulders. "Lochan," she murmured, "why are we letting me be the breadwinner when you can look like this?" Her fingers danced over the soft fabric of the shirt, trailing down the dark sleeves. She pulled at the strings at his cuffs, loosened the strings at his collar, and absently mused about how beautiful he looked. All of a sudden she realized Lochan might not have liked being her dress-up doll, and awkwardly Mae backed away, mumbling something about how he'd turn more heads wearing that than she could even exposed.

Mae cleared her throat and turned towards the opposite wall, where the gowns beckoned to her. She ran her fingers over the silky fabric of a green dress made for a queen, then felt the cotton of a yellow princess's gown. Her attention was drawn to a dark purple dress. It was shorter than the other dresses, with long sleeves and an elegant lavender design crawling up the front. "Oh Lochan, isn't this one pretty?" she called to him. "Such a lovely pattern, but it looks comfortable and easy to move around in, too. Really, the work of this tailor is incredible." She cast an eye to the man behind the counter, who was trying to hide a smile. Mae turned back to the dress and pulled it off its place on the wall. She slipped out of her top, making sure to face the tailor in case her gifts might entice him to give them a discount, and she pulled the dress over her head.

It was shorter on her than she'd anticipated, though her leggings prevented anything from being too exposed. It was loose around her waist, though she loved the way the sleeves drooped ever so slightly. She walked over to Lochan. "I look like an old sorceress," she mused, knowing full well such jokes were never appreciated with such a powerful sorcerer wreacking havoc. She twirled in it, loving the dark and mysterious vibe she gave off. "What do you think? We make a beautiful couple, don't we?" It was a joke, a game of pretend, but her mind wandered, and as it did, a blush met her cheeks. She shook her head, not wanting to make the fun outing more awkward than it had to be.

But soon, reality began to set, and Mae knew they would never be able to afford the clothes. She asked the tailor for his price tag, and though she was amazed at how cheap he was offering, they still could not afford a whole new wardrobe. Mae looked to Lochan and shrugged. "We can still afford your shirt," she said quietly. "I think you ought to get it. You look very beautiful in it, and well... I can always get new threads some other time."

Midori-Hime
08-24-2018, 07:01 PM
Lochan glanced over himself for a moment, admiring the material, before he lifted his head to look at Mae... Who was staring. He blinked as she came closer, frozen while her hand tugged his hair free. Hearing the way she said his name, he felt his heart flutter in his chest a bit. "Wha-" At her comment, Lochan's cheeks warmed and he played with his hair almost embarrassed by her compliments. "What are you talking about..." He muttered quietly, dismissing such a notion. Lochan suddenly felt anxious under her gaze. But he let her adjust the fitting of the shirt, holding his breath a little as Mae opened up the collar to show a bit of his chest. His blush only deepened as she continued to shower him with quiet compliments. It wasn't that he disliked it, but he certaintly didn't know what to make of it. He couldn't imagine that something as simple as a new shirt could warrant such a reaction from a woman like Mae.

He broke from his slight daze as Mae cleared her throat and then went searching for her own clothing. He found himself looking as well, trying to picture these dresses on her. He smiled then, noticing the way she seemed to light up as she looked it over. He imagined the color would be lovely with her skin and dark hair. Though as Mae pulled off her shirt, he turned turned away to give her privacy. Not that he hadn't seen it before, but still, he wanted to be a gentleman as much as possible.

He turned as Mae approached him and he felt his heart skip a beat. He found himself staring, noting the detail of the gown, how the color looked even better on her than he'd imagined, and more importantly, how well it fit her. He watched her twirl and smiled softly. "Hold on..." He murmured, moving behind her quickly to pull at the strings that laced up the back. It drew the dress to fit her form better around the waist, but not so tight that it was restrictive. Lochan swallowed past the lump in his throat then. "You look... really beautiful." He murmured softly.

Once it came down to price, Lochan bit his lip, feeling horribly guilty. Even if she didn't seem bothered, he could see the light in her eyes fading. Not to mention it was a damn shame when the dress seemed to suit her so well. Lochan would turn to the old tailor and lean in. "Is there anything I can do to make up the difference? I'll do anything you need-" He begged quietly, but the tailor put his hand over Lochan's hand that held the money. He could see the conflict in Lochan's eyes and gave him a knowing sort of smile. "It's fine... just take them." The tailor said, taking the money they had to offer. Lochan thanked him and looked to Mae with a grin that lit up his whole face.

Ashen
08-29-2018, 07:18 AM
Perhaps it was the way his eyes seemed to linger on her form, or maybe it was the way he had to choke out his compliment, as if dazed, but Lochan's words caused Mae to look away, a new heat meeting her cheeks. She wandered to the mirror in the corner of the boutique and checked herself out. With the strings tied in the back, Mae loved the way the dress shaped her thin body, showing none of her malnutrition and much of her cleavage. She twirled in it, noting how the lavender pattern snaked up her back. It was a gorgeous thing, she had to admit, and she felt awkward and misplaced in it.

Too busy examining her unreachable treasure, Mae didn't notice Lochan go to the tailor. She caught a glimpse of him out of the mirror and turned to face him. He was talking to the old man, handing him the money for the shirt, but suddenly a smile split those lips. Mae raised a brow, parting her lips slightly as Lochan walked towards her. Was he so happy about his new shirt? "Don't you look so dashing," she mused. "It almost feels like I'll be walking down the streets with a prince by my hand. I never thought I'd get there." She turned away and sighed a bit. "A prince and his beggar," she said quietly.

But then Lochan told her that he wasn't the only one getting new clothes. Her head perked up and she glared at Lochan, looking for the hint of a lie. Finding none, she turned to the tailor, who seemed to already be done with the two. "Thank you," she said to him. She walked over to him and kissed him square on his mouth. "Thank you so much. You're a wonderful soul, and I'll never forget this kind act." She returned to Lochan's side, done kissing up to the tailor. "We get to walk out of here with these..." she said. "Look at us. It's been so long since I've had new clothes, and to think we get to keep things as beautiful as these." She twirled again, laughing a confident laugh. "I bet I could choreograph a great dance for this dress. Something to show off the way it hangs by my hips, and you could be in it..." Mae seemed to be talking more to herself than Lochan, but she snapped out of it soon. She grabbed Lochan by the hand and, after thanking the tailor again, headed back onto the streets. "I think even if we ran into another horde of zombies, nothing could ruin this day."

Midori-Hime
09-11-2018, 12:37 AM
His smile quickly fell into a frown as Mae referred to herself as a beggar. "No one would think you a beggar in this dress." He told her then, putting a hand gently on her shoulder. "The dress is yours..." He informed her and then chuckled softly when he caught sight of that glare. He watched and waited as she moved to thank the tailor, though as she kissed him suddenly, he stared on in shock. But he quickly composed himself and gave one last nod to the tailor before they left.

"Y-yeah... Perhaps the first time I've ever purchased my own clothes." He agreed, smiling as he watched Mae twirl, her giddiness rubbing off on him as well. He grinned at the thought of perhaps getting to see Mae dance, however, her next comment had caught her off guard. "M-me?" He blinked, blushing a bit then before he realized she wasn't actually speaking to him. He didn't think of himself as much of a dancer, though it had been some time since he'd had the occasion to. Of course he was all for the idea of playing music to accompany Mae's dance.

Looking down at Mae's hand grasping his, he smiled to himself and followed her out onto the streets. For the first time he felt like he could fit in among these people, instead of sticking out like dirty vagabond. People no longer stared at him with a wary expression, but instead gave him approving looks as they passed. Suddenly his strides seemed more confident and there was a slight lift to his chin. "Yes... Well, we should probably still try to avoid hordes of zombies." He replied with a chuckle. "Another good thing about our new look... We'll probably be able to get away with much more now that we don't look so suspicious~" He gave her a playful nudge. "Where to now?" He asked, tilting his head.

Ashen
10-12-2018, 11:27 PM
With the world now at their fingertips, Mae felt a new confidence wash over her. The wound in her chest forgotten, she started off with Lochan by her side, not having a direct route in mind. She told Lochan as much, expressing only that she wanted to head west. After talking to some of the townsfolk, Mae and Lochan learned that there was a great forest to the far west, and to get there they had to follow the river just south of town. With no other direction, they decided to do that, and after stocking up on what supplies they could pilfer, the two set off again.

It didn't take long for them to find the river. Mae walked up to it and peered at her reflection in the water. She smiled as she fingered the neckline of her new dress. "If I wasn't so horribly scarred, I might look like a princess," she mindless muttered to herself. Slowly, she lifted the hair away from her face. Seeing her ashen skin caused her to recoil, as if she'd been struck. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She had never quite admitted to anyone how much it pained her. As a child she'd been ridiculed by adults, called an abomination and a witch. Her own father had told her once that she would have made a beautiful woman if not for her mark. Mae loved her new dress, she loved the way it made her feel, but she couldn't help but think she'd never truly be beautiful.

She trusted none of this to Lochan. "Alright, so we head west now," she said. "So that would be... this way." She turned along the river and started walking again. "It sounded like we'd have a while to go before we reached the forest. Maybe when we get there we can have that picnic after all." She looked back to Lochan, glancing over his new shirt again. "You really do like fine," she said with a smile. "If I had the money for reliable thread, I'd love to make you a similar shirt in red. I think it would be just bold enough to fit you." She turned back to the road they were on. Knowing she was a lost cause, she could at least fantasize about making Lochan as beautiful as she could. "Hey, if there are wildflowers in this forest, would you let me braid your hair? I've never braided the hair of anyone else, so it might look frightful, but I do think it would be fun, and you'd be oh so pretty. The ladies really would be all over you then."

Midori-Hime
10-27-2018, 04:39 AM
Lochan almost felt like a new person. It really was amazing what a new piece of clothing could do to boost ones confidence. But more than anything, he was excited to be on the road again, wandering without a destination... with his companion. Lochan looked over at Mae, smiling as he watched her admire her new gown. He smiled to himself then, looking away and missing Mae's moment of turmoil. He followed her directions, walking with her along the river. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, but with a gentle, cool breeze from the river. For once, Lochan actually felt at peace. Suddenly he looked to Mae with his stormy blue eyes and chuckled. "You were really serious about that?" He asked, raising a brow. "But, sure... Why not?"

However, the next comment quickly interrupted his little daydream of a romantic picnic with Mae. "Y-you really think so?" He asked, offering a somewhat shy smile. The grin lingered as he looked down over himself. How he'd cherish a cloth made with Mae's own hands. The grin suddenly fell away with a look of surprise and perhaps a little embarassment. "Braid my hair?" He repeated, reaching to feel over the locks anxiously. "With flowers?" A soft blush tinted his cheeks then. "Heh, is that so?" He muttered then. Though he wanted to say that there was really only one woman who held his interest.

Suddenly Lochan moved a little closer. "Only if you let me braid your hair in return. How's that?" He said with a smile, daring to reach out and gently brush some of her dark hair behind her ear. He knew better than to touch the other side, for now. "I think the flowers would suit you much better." He said before dropping his hand and looking ahead now. His cheeks were definitely red now.

Ashen
11-03-2018, 12:01 AM
Lochan's sudden movement and suggestion both shocked Mae, who looked away shyly. "You wish to braid my hair?" she asked, running a hand through it and getting frustrated at one of the many knots her fingers met. Her cheeks turned the palest red when he moved her hair away. Instinctively she almost moved away, but she decided against it, letting him gently play with her. She could see the red in his cheeks too, and she laughed at that. Moving away suddenly, she said, "Well, Lochan, I didn't peg you for the type to get nervous just thinking about braiding a woman's hair. How will I ever get to truly enjoy you if you can't even think of that?"

It was a joke, though a joke perhaps in poor taste. Mae turned away and started walking along the river again. That thought--the one of she and Lochan enjoying each other's bodies--sent a deeper red to her cheeks. She shrugged her shoulders. "If you can manage to braid it, fine, I will let you do so. I wouldn't be surprised if you were a mess at it though. Men often are, I find. My father didn't know what to do with my hair. He left it down most times, until I was old enough to style it myself. He's tried a braid once or twice, but that's never gone well." She chuckled at the memory, then turned back to Lochan. "Just don't move my hair from where it shall stay, and you can do whatever you want."

Mae opened her mouth to speak again, but suddenly she noticed something in the distance. She stopped and placed a hand on her sword, waiting. The creature before the duo jumped from a bush and growled at them. It was a small, ghastly-looking thing, an obvious undead creature, one of his army. It charged at them, but it was far too small and slow to be threatening. As it charged, its long fangs bared, Mae drove her sword between its narrow eyes, killing it instantly. Once it died, she looked around. "Weird," she said softly. "I wonder if there are any more where that came from. We should be on our guard from here on out. Maybe the Black Dragon is near." She couldn't tell if she'd hid the excitement in her voice at that.

Midori-Hime
11-03-2018, 04:00 AM
Lochan blinked at her laugh and then tilted his head curiously. His light blush turned his whole face red at her comment and he stammered. "W-wha- T-that's not-... Uh-I-I-" What was he going to say? 'That's not true'? When it absolutely was... Not that he was going just come out and announce that he was a virgin. Even if that obvious enough... Though if Lochan wasn't mistake, Mae seemed to be blushing as well. The sight brought the tiniest smirk to his face. Maybe he wasn't completely hopeless after all. "Hey now... I'm actually quite good at braiding. My little sister forced me to braid her hair all the time." He corrected her. His eyes glanced down at the bracelet on his wrist, his eyes saddening just a bit.

However, he was quickly sobered by Mae's silence, noticing the way her hand went to her blade. He suddenly felt defenseless, his eyes searching the trees before them. He tensed when the creature suddenly leapt infront of them, however, Mae made quick work of it easily. Lochan sighed then, feeling useless as a male who needed a beautiful woman like Mae to save his ass. He shivered then with a quiet nod. "I really... wish you would teach me how to fight?" He suggested once again. "I hate being nothing but a useless liability." He sighed then, following behind Mae as they started into the forest. Despite the creature they had just run into, the forest seemed untouched by any of the Dark One's influence. The birds were singing and everything seemed vibrant and alive. They would continue to walk for a while in the quiet of the forest.

Ashen
11-06-2018, 09:36 PM
As they traversed the forest, Mae was surprised at how peaceful everything seemed. The singsong of the birds provided a nice, melodic break from the whispers in her mind, and she found herself drumming her fingers against her thigh to keep tune with them. The gentle winds shuffled the leaves around them, and from the cracks in the canopy above them, Mae could make out a darkening sky. Soon stars would alight the scene. This forest, despite how far west it must have been, despite its location all too close to the Dark One's path, seemed like paradise.

Suddenly Mae stopped walking and grabbed Lochan's hand. "Here," she mumbled. She waited until he was stopped and facing her before unsheathing her dulled blade. "The way around a sword is easy," she stated. She ran her fingers over the handle. "This is called the haft, though in most places it's referred to as the hilt. The grip is what you hold onto; see how mine is made for a hand?" She wrapped his fingers around the grip, demonstrating the grooves her fingers had solidified over the years. "The very end," she continued, "is called the pommel. Sometimes, for people with money, it's decorative, but mine is plain. The guard is this piece here between the haft and the blade that makes sure the sword doesn't slip and slice your hand open. And the rest is the blade. That's pretty self-explanatory, I think. It's best to know a weapon before you attempt to wield it effectively."

Once Mae finished showing Lochan the parts of her sword, she then handed it to him. "You want to stand like this," she said, parting her feet. "Knees slightly bent, feet firm; make yourself impossible to tip over. Or, well..." She looked Lochan over, then reconsidered. "Actually, you'd be better using your lithe to your advantage, so stand in a way that would allow you to duck and run quickly. Hold your sword with both hands at first, until you get the feel of the weapon. My sword is better two-handed, though it's light enough for one-handed operations too. Just put your non-dominant hand here, and your dominant here to be the driving force."

Mae pointed and moved Lochan's hands over the weapon as she explained everything. She'd never taught anyone to use a sword, but that was hardly obvious. She spoke as if she had been doing this for years, and when she finished she left the sword in Lochan's hands and backed away. "Now attack me," she instructed. "Don't worry, I'm more nimble than I look. You won't hit me."

Midori-Hime
11-07-2018, 05:33 AM
Lochan blinked in surprise, stopping short when Mae suddenly grabbed his hand. He was bewildered as she drew her sword suddenly, explaining in detail all the different parts of what made a sword. He stared, watching the way her hands moved over the blade with an intimate familiarity. His breath stopped for a moment then, as Mae placed his hand around the hilt. The weight of it surprised him, and only impressed him further that Mae would weild it with such skill. He could almost feel it as an extension of her being.

Swallowing, he took it from her carefully, staring down at the weapon in awe. Hearing her instruction, he finally looked up at her in surprise. Was she really going to teach him? He tried to do as she instructed, but then changed to a stance that seemed much more comfortable for him to keep light on his feet. Then looking between her and the sword, he took the hilt in both hands. A soft blush tinted his cheeks and Mae took his hands, shifting them subtly over the hilt, aware of how close she got a times. There was just something strangely intimate about it. But then, he was probably thinking too much.

However, the young man did a double take as Mae instructed him to attack. His stormy blue eyes widened, mouth falling open. "W-what?" He hesitated, looking at her in disbelief, even with her reassurance. But tightening his grip on the sword, he swung it back before slowly taking a swing at her. It was much too slow, but it was obvious that he was nervous about following through with her instruction. "I feel stupid..." He muttered then, looking down as his blush deepened. But then he realized this was it, this was his chance, and he had to put some effort into it if he was ever going to step up as a man. Suddenly Lochan swung from the other direction, taking a step towards her as he did.

Ashen
11-08-2018, 06:57 PM
Mae was amused by Lochan's surprise at her instruction to attack her. He was reluctant, and if that weren't made obvious by every visible part of his body, it was made even more obvious by the weak swing he tried to pass off. "Try a little slower next time, I don't think the snails could quite keep up with you," she teased. "You're not stupid, you're just a coward. Now come on, hit me." Mae stepped away from him, then hopped from foot to foot. "You're going to want to be swift. That's gotta be your strong suit, because you're not built to be sturdy. Come on, breedbate, come at me."

Lochan swung again, and this time Mae had to move out of the sword's way, though admittedly not much. "That's better!" she encouraged. "I almost felt threatened there. It might help you if you step into your swings. Swords are awkward and clunky if you don't know how to use them, and if you just use it as some stick you swing at people to cut them, you're not going to get anywhere. Think of it more as like... an extended arm. When you shove at people, you put your whole arm into it, moving with your shoulder instead of just moving your shoulder. Right? So you want to move with your sword, fall into its motions. Your movements would be a lot more fluid that way, and less predictable." She stepped away, remaining on the tips of her toes. "Try again now, but this time I want you to not look like a clown when you swing at me. Don't swing the sword. Move with it towards me."

Mae instructed Lochan some more, giving him all the pointers she had picked up over the years. Time went on, and she could see Lochan growing tired, but he was getting better. "You don't look like a jester at least," she said, a compliment. "How about we take a break for now? Overexertion is a good way to make yourself useless on the battlefield anyway." She took her sword back and placed it back in its sheath. "Though... Something we can work on is your movements. When wielding a weapon, it's also important to know how to go against your weapon. Like I said, you're a small thing, so we want to make use of your ability to get out from under the blade. Here." Mae grabbed Lochan's hands again. She parted her feet, pointed them in opposite directions, and stayed light, remaining on the tips of her toes. "If you don't know which way someone will swing at you, you want to make sure both your right and left are clear, but if someone's favoring their right, for example--and pay attention to dominant hands, since they're usually easy to tell--you should be able to make decisions on what would be the best escape route. Don't attack unless you have the upper hand, and keep moving around until the battle's in your favor."

She crouched down beside Lochan and tapped on the backs of his legs. "You need to be lighter," she said. "You're a thief, and that's good for light footsteps, but you need to make sure you're not too grounded when you're being defensive. So try more like this." She got up to his eye level again and began walking around on her toes, making no sounds on the moist forest floor. She danced around between the trees, showing off a little as she did so. "See?" she demonstrated. "Like a ballet. You... You know how to dance, don't you?" Mae extended a hand to him. "Why don't you show me?"

Midori-Hime
11-11-2018, 06:33 PM
Lochan narrowed his eyes a little at her teasing, before he'd made his second swing. It seemed being called a coward had struck a nerve as he came at her again with more speed and aggression this time. Though immediately his heart skipped a beat when Mae barely moved out of the way. But this time he'd earned her praise and he began to trust that she knew what she was doing.

Carefully listening to her instruction, he looked down at his feet and then to the sword, trying to fully understand what she meant. He continued to practice under her instruction, doing his best to act on it, though he wasn't sure if he was doing much better. But soon enough he'd earned a compliment, if one could call it that. By now Lochan was panting softly, loose pieces of his hair clinging to his brow and neck with sweat. He nodded at the suggestion of a break. Though not wanting to sweat too much in his new shirt, he slipped it off over his head while Mae sheathed her sword.

Hearing that his movements needed some work, he supposed he couldn't argue with that. However, her comment about his scrawny frame had him looking down over himself with a frown. She wasn't wrong, the way his ribs and hip bones stuck out. Though perhaps with some more training he'd fill out nicely. Not to mention some hearty meals. Lochan blinked suddenly as she took his hands, then watched her as she stood on the tips of her toes with ease. Then before he knew what was going on, Mae was tapping at his legs. Lochan blinked, watching her curiously before attempting to follow her example.

Lochan stood on the balls of his feet, albeit much less graceful than Mae was. It was a bit awkward for him and he stumbled occasionally on a rock or branch. However, he stilled as Mae began to dance around, mesmerized by her movements. He blushed a little as he watched her, dancing around in her new dress. Mae's question snapped him out of it however, and he bit his lip. "Aah... N-not really, no. Not formally atlea-" He started to explain but then blushed when Mae asked him for a demonstration. Slowly Lochan took her hand, hesitant a moment before he drew her around in a circle. And then he began to move in a lively jig that one might see at a festival, knowing this was likely not what she'd had in mind, but it was all he knew. He then gave her a little spin before stopping her to face him, and with his hand at her waist, he drew her hand to his waist, twirling with her with lively steps. His eyes met with hers as they twirled and he couldn't help but grin.

Ashen
11-14-2018, 03:12 AM
Mae thought they might have looked like children then. Lochan was dancing much faster and clumsier than she'd expected, but she quite liked following his footsteps. It didn't take her long to learn his rhythm, and when she did, she was even challenging him to go faster. Mae adored the way her dress flared as she moved, and if she pretended enough, she could believe she was at a ball, dancing with a beautiful prince. She looked into Lochan's pale eyes, his sweaty hair threatening to cover them, and she smiled to herself. Close enough.

After a few moments Mae stopped and pushed away from him. "You're a fine dancer," she commented, noticing the way sweat glistened on his bare chest. "You're not graceful, but the kinds of dances you'd be used to seeing wouldn't demand that, I'd imagine. You've got some movement in you, and that will be useful. But..." She took his hands again, this time drawing him close enough that he would feel her breaths against his cheek. "Slow dancing is just as important on the battlefield," she told him. "Let's try a simple waltz. It's almost fitting with the way the birds and the winds seem to be playing for us, don't you think?"

Mae taught Lochan how to dance, starting with soft, slow steps to first demonstrate what he should be doing, then gradually getting faster, forcing him to keep up. She twirled him a few times, reminding him to expect the unexpected, and she laughed lightly when he stumbled. Soon, they were dancing like an old couple at a fancy party, and Mae had to laugh aloud at that. "You know, Lochan," she murmured, "if anyone were to see us now, me in a fancy dress, you with no shirt on at all, dancing the evening away with no one around to see us... What would they think?" She looked to him, batting her eyes ever so softly. In that moment, Mae thought everything was perfect. She couldn't remember enjoying a dance this much since her childhood, and never with another person, least not one as beautiful as Lochan. The gentle song of the forest provided a fabulous soundtrack, and before Mae could stop herself, she reached to Lochan and brought her lips over his, embracing him in a long, ever so perfect kiss.

Midori-Hime
11-15-2018, 02:13 AM
Mae looked stunning as they twirled together, her new dress and dark hair floating around her. Seeing Mae enjoying herself was worth making an ass of himself. Though as she pressed away from him, his smile fell a little, panting now to catch his breath. His smile brightened once again at her compliment, brushing a hand back through his mousy brown hair in a attempt to tame it. "Y-yeah... But I never claimed to be." He chuckled breathlessly but listened curiously, wondering what she was getting at.

And then his stormy blue eyes widened as she drew him in to her. His cheeks were already a bit flushed, but the red deepened as his hand was brought to her slim waist, so close their bodies were almost touching. His head was swimming as he tried to focus on her lesson, and not the way her breath brushed his skin, her hand on his bare skin, or the warmth from her chest so close to his.

He did surprisingly well. However, whenever he seemed to realize that fact for himself, he would suddenly trip up his steps. Lochan smiled brightly at her laughter, finding the sound quiet magical and in tune with the song birds. "They'd probably wonder what business that brute has with such a lovely goddess..." He murmured softly, smirking a bit. He was suddenly distracted by the fluttering of her long lashes, and before he could really comprehend what was happening, he felt Mae's soft lips against his.

For some time, Lochan had wondered if that first kiss was simply a mistake, never to be spoken of again. This time however, he was determined to make this moment linger. A soft pleased sound escaped him, his hands instantly winding around Mae's petite frame to pull her flush to him. Yet Lochan was always gentle, never meaning to hold her against her will. One hand held her around the waist while the other brushed up along her spine to play with her dark hair, while his lips tentatively moved against hers. Perhaps this was all a dream and in reality, Mae had knocked him out during their training. But he hoped this was real...

Ashen
11-15-2018, 06:41 PM
His compliment lingered red on her cheeks, and Mae found herself leaning into him more. She adored the way his hands crawled up her body, fingers played with her hair. She didn't want this moment to end, this fairytale kiss. Lochan was gentle, so unlike all the men she had slept with, so much better. She didn't feel trapped, as she often did with others; instead, Mae was there, wrapped in his embrace, because she wanted to be, because she felt it was right, and because she loved this.

She began to move her hands along his body, tracing his arms and rubbing his back. She pushed closer to him, giving herself to him. Mae turned her head, kissing him at new angles. She held her kisses as her hands explored his backside, coming up to lightly massage his neck, then his scalp. If nothing else, her experiences with other men had taught her what touches they liked. While Mae didn't want to take advantage of Lochan, not now, she did want to make him feel good, and she knew she was succeeding in the way he drew closer to her and moaned ever so softly. She was loving his reactions even more than she was loving his touch and she thought, in a perfect world, she could do this forever.

But their world wasn't perfect, and Mae stopped when she suddenly heard loud, clumsy footfalls behind her. She broke away from Lochan and located her sword, leaning against a tree a little distance away, where she had put it when they started dancing. She turned to the source of the sound, hiding behind some trees and bushes. After a few minutes, a deer poked its head out, and Mae cursed at it for interrupting them. She turned back to Lochan and sighed. She began to speak, but a distant grumble caused her to stop. She looked down at her stomach and narrowed her eyes. Then, as an idea struck, her eyes lit up and she looked back to Lochan. "What a beautiful time for a picnic," she murmured. She looked up at the sky, where stars were twinkling between trees. "You owe me one after all," she reminded. "What do you say?"

Midori-Hime
11-16-2018, 04:29 AM
Lochan let out a soft sigh, shivering softly as her hands trailed over his body, leaving his skin a blaze in their wake. He tilted his head to match her movements, returning her kisses just as eagerly. A soft moan escaped the young man then, as Mae's hand weaved it's way into his hair, loosening it from it's tie to spill over his shoulders. His hands dropped to her hips and tightened their grip, deciding that her touch over his backside might give him permission to attempt the same. One hand dropped tentatively then, carefully giving her body a more intimate feel.

His breath then caught as Mae suddenly broke away from their embrace, thinking that perhaps he'd pushed the boundaries too far. He was about to apologize when he too heard the rustling from the bushes. Seeing her reaching for her sword, his heart began to pound for a different reason. He was weaponless, but he quickly picked up a thick stick from the ground, hoping that his short lesson might make him slightly more formidable.

He stood ready beside Mae for whatever dark creature might be lurking, waiting to attack. However, when the dark being turned out to be a common deer, Lochan let out a huff and dropped the stick back to the ground. A humorless smile spread across his face then and he shook his head with a breathless chuckle. It seemed he just couldn't catch a break...

Hearing a distinct rumble from Mae, Lochan looked to her softly, not sure what to say after all that had just transpired. "A picnic?" He repeated then, surprized by the sudden request. But now that he had a moment to rest, he realized he too was quite hungry after all that... activity. Lochan smirked then and nodded. "I do..." He agreed. "Sure... A picnic sounds perfect." He said before looking to their things and then glancing around them a bit. Spotting a nice grassy patch beside the river, he quickly grabbed his shirt and the pack of food they'd gathered before leaving town. "Hmm... I don't really have a blanket, but I hope this will do." He said, walking over and taking a seat in the lush grass. Since it was getting cooler now, Lochan pulled on his shirt before hurrying to fix his hair once again. Though the thought of why it was so disheveled in the first place brought a warm blush to his cheeks.

He smiled at Mae as she joined him and then he opened the bag, taking a look and deciding what he might want to eat. He pulled out some bread, cutting himself a slice, along with some cheese and began to snack on that. Sitting closer to the river gave them a better view of the night sky and the full moon rising illuminated everything well. "Mm... I could get a fire going for us, if you'd like? But I think the moonlight is pretty nice too, don't you?" He said, looking to Mae then.

Ashen
11-28-2018, 08:32 AM
Mae sat beside him on the grass, commenting that they wouldn't need a blanket. She crossed her legs and looked over the food they had. Grabbing for herself a couple slabs of meat and some bread, she set her gaze to the sky. "Don't bother with a fire, not yet," she said softly. Mae carefully pushed her hair behind her ear, showing her whole face, her mangled scar included. If Lochan were to stare, she'd keep her gaze trained on the stars. "The moonlight is so much prettier, and I think I like the quiet."

As they ate, Mae's mind wandered. It was a perfect night, despite the deer, despite anything that could go wrong. She felt comfortable around Lochan, comfortable enough to perhaps even... No, she thought, don't be ridiculous. Do you want him to leave you? A choir repeated the words in her head. Mae shook her head, causing a few strands of hair to fall back over her face. But he deserves to know, said a small voice in her head, young. Mae looked to Lochan, to his beautiful face. He really did have the features of a prince, and he was stuck following around a demon in disguise.

Mae turned away. Her gaze fell from the stars and her sandwich lay by her foot, abandoned. "Lochan," she said quietly. "I'd... I'd like to tell you something." She couldn't bring herself to look at him. The words kept getting stuck in her throat, and for a while she was silent. Every time she tried to speak she got drowned out by the voices in her head. Finally, Mae got fed up with trying to fight her way through words, so she turned to actions instead. She removed the glove from her left hand, revealing a purple, exotic-looking tattoo. Mae cupped her hands and closed her eyes. She muttered something under her breath, and in moments there was a weak, sparkling flame sitting in the palms of her hands.

The mage let the fire dance for a few seconds before putting it out with a swift movement of a hand. There was silence for an agonizing amount of time before she looked up, daring to see Lochan's reaction. "I'm a witch," she said quietly. "I always have been. My father excommunicated me because I can't control it, or, I can't control it as well as I should. I get in trouble a lot, so I keep it hidden, but... I'd be lying if it didn't have its perks." She stared at him, praying that he'd take this well. Magic was outlawed all over the world, and with the Dark One being so powerful, all mages were automatically suspected of working with him. Would Lochan jump to the same conclusion? Would he come to hate her now? All she could do was wait as the uproar of voices told her what a mistake she'd made.

Midori-Hime
11-28-2018, 10:18 PM
Lochan smiled to himself, hearing Mae agree with his sentiments. However, as he glanced her way, his smile was suddenly replaced with a look of surprise as she brushed her hair away from her face entirely. He followed her gaze towards the stars, not wanting to make Mae uncomfortable. Though if he was caught staring, it would probably be for much different reasons than Mae might assume. "Yeah... Much more beautiful." He murmured, before peeking over at her softly.

He continued to eat, snacking on some meat and cheese than they had packed. And some dried fruits for dessert. He sat peacefully beside this amazing woman, in awe of this night and her. He couldn't recall the last time he'd had such a fulfilling day. Perhaps they could have done without the undead creature attack. But then, he might have gotten the opportunity for Mae's sword lesson, which then lead to dancing... Lochan's cheeks warmed a little, before Mae calling his name broke him from his thoughts.

He could tell by her tone that this was something important so he looked to her, giving her his full attention. "Sure... Anything. You can tell me anything, Mae." He reassured her softly. He studied the expression on her face, becoming a little nervous himself as he waited for her to finally speak. Lochan seemed a little puzzled as Mae instead removed her glove and then slowly his brows knit together as he looked over the marking on her hand. And then suddenly she seemed to conjure up a flame that she held in her hands. Lochan flinched back in surprise, his body tense and poised to jump up to his feet.

But he stayed put, frozen even as Mae put the flame out. Lochan's eyes were wide as Mae finally looked to him, silent and unmoving. And then as she said those words, he could feel his stomach drop. This amazing, beautiful woman that has been preoccupying his mind since the moment he met her... Was a mage. Just like the Dark One. The Dark mage that had taken his family away from him, and would have taken his life too, if he hadn't escaped.

Lochan got up to his feet abruptly. "I-I... I need a moment." He muttered lowly before turning away. He got as far as the tree line, putting a hand to one of the thick trunks as he leaned against it. Mae was a mage. His whole life he'd been warned that mages were only the servants of the Dark One and were not to be trusted. But Mae was different, a voice in his head suddenly reminded him. Mae was nothing like them, and she had saved his life on more than one occasion from the Dark One's minions. He could trust her... Finally, Lochan's body started to relax, though he still struggled to process what this might mean.

Ashen
12-16-2018, 03:21 AM
He'd left her. Mae stared, wide-eyed, at the retreating form of her prince. Why had she trusted him with this? Why had she been such a fool? He was leaving her, of course he was leaving her, she was a demon and she deserved to be dead. The voices in Mae's mind turned harsher, louder, until she could no longer hear Lochan's breaths. She looked down to her hands, unburned, the evil hands that had sparked that fire, that had killed those girls, that had ruined countless lives. She'd been a fool all along, and now, when she thought she could finally trust in someone, she was again proven wrong.

After a few moments Mae forced herself to her feet. They were wobbly, and she took a few seconds to balance herself. She cursed the tears pricking at her eyes. "Shut up," she snarled quietly, but the voices disobeyed. She started walking away, knowing it was better that she did. If she started away, maybe she could kid herself in thinking it was her choice that she and Lochan parted. Maybe she could kid herself into thinking she had any power in determining who she spent her time with.

Her hair fell back over her face. Mae slipped her glove back onto her hand and held her old messenger bag closer to her chest. She had to suppress the urge to page through the pages of her battered book, look for some spell that would end her suffering where she stood. But she couldn't, not now. She would not give up her entire life's mission over some stupid guy. Wiping at her eyes, Mae started off, not daring to look back. If Lochan felt safer away from her, then she would let it be.

Midori-Hime
12-16-2018, 05:42 AM
Once he had collected himself, he turned to confront Mae about it finally only to see her walking away. Mae was leaving him. The thought make his heart drop, confirming what he already knew to be true deep down, beyond any of his silly doubts. But of course she was... She had finally opened herself up to him and he stupidly turned his back to her. "W-wait! Mae!" He called out suddenly, his heart racing as he came after her.

Lochan caught up to her quickly, his hand catching her arm to stop her, but he was never forceful with her, just firm in his desperation to keep her from leaving like this. "Wait, please Mae... I'm sorry!" He pleaded. His hand still held her, but his grip had loosened and dropped to hold her wrist, hoping it would be enough to keep her there. "I'm an asshole, I know. I just-... It was a lot to take in... A-and it startled me-" He sighed, dropping his head down to stare at the ground. "It's just that-... It was mages who killed my family. Followers of the Dark One. They murdered my father and then burned down our house, while my mother and little sister were still inside." He explained in a quiet voice.

But then suddenly Lochan would lift his head. "But you're nothing like them... I know this. I asked you to tell me the truth, and the next moment I turned my back on you. I shouldn't have... and I'm sorry." He said, drawing her to look at him face to face. Tentatively Lochan lifted his hands to cup Mae's face tenderly, brushing her hair away from her scarred face. But he never looked away from her eyes, noticing how they were glassy with tears. "Please don't leave me. You're the best thing that's happened to me... in a long time, Mae." He murmured softly, though there was a desperate hint to his voice as he stared into her eyes. His throat moved as he swallowed nervously past as lump, wondering if this would be the end of thier journey together.

Ashen
12-16-2018, 08:41 PM
Mae stopped at the sound of her name. She didn't dare turn to face him. What would he want to say now? She urged herself on, to keep walking and spare herself whatever insults Lochan had to hurl, but she couldn't move. A part of her wanted to hear him out. A part of her thought she deserved it, deserved whatever this man had to say about her. Maybe, if she were lucky, he'd take her own sword and put her out of her misery. Or, she thought, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't attack her at all.

He caught up with her easily, and his hand grabbed at her. Mae visibly recoiled. She didn't turn around still as he spoke, until those two words fell from his lips. I'm sorry. She faced him and stared, wide-eyed, at his face. He was sorry? She didn't understand. Why was he the one apologizing? She stammered for a few moments, but as Lochan started to talk of his family, she silenced herself, and she understood.

Mae felt deeply sorrowful when Lochan talked about his late family, but she couldn't help the excitement that fizzled underneath her skin. Mages? Plural? Mae had never met another mage before. She was under the impression that the Dark One was the only one. Was that still true? If the mages were followers of the Dark Lord, perhaps he had formed them, created them from the corpses of those he murdered, as he often did. But... Was it still possible that there were people out there like her?

Mae had to bury these thoughts. "Lochan, I'm so sorry," she said quietly. She listened to his pleas, to the desperation in his voice, and she clenched her jaw. "Lochan..." She turned away, looking back to her hands. "I was a mage all my life. The abbot knew, when he adopted me, but he thought if he could raise me right, he could train the magic out of me. He never exactly discouraged me from doing it, not until my spells got more reckless. I just... I can't control it, and I don't know why. Whoever made me gave me half-assed powers. I wanted to get better, wanted to control it, so I kept practicing, until I... I practiced the big one..."

Mae slunk to the ground. She opened her book to a doggeared page. On it were mostly words, written in a script Lochan would never recognize. The single picture on the two pages was of a dark purple vortex with a skeletal figure within, caught in an eternal scream. Mae cleared her throat. "I found this one, and it says here, under its name, that it's the most powerful spell a black mage can cast." As she spoke she traced the symbols with her finger. "I thought I could do it, I didn't look at what it said it did, I just wanted to prove to myself that I could control it. I... I couldn't."

Mae slammed the book shut and put it back in her bag. "It was a good thing I'm such a bad mage. The... The Death Chant, I guess that's what you'd call it, it's supposed to kill every living thing in an area. I was lucky. It only killed the animals, every animal in my hometown, all the cattle, my village people's entire farms, and those girls... It was just strong enough to kill the twin girls, the two-year-olds, the only children in town. They died because of me." Mae stifled a sob. She was silent a few moments, but soon shook her head and continued. "I don't blame Father for banishing me after that."

Mae got up again and clenched her fists. "I understand why people are scared of us," she murmured. "I've killed so many people since then, people who will never return to their families. They join me, each and every one. Their voices join the choir in my head, hallucinations Father called them, but they're real, I hear them. They're the voices of the people whose lives I've ended." She looked back to Lochan, her eyes a dark, emotionless hue. "I'm a madwoman, in every sense of the word. I will not blame you if you leave now, but I thought you should know it all before you decided."

Midori-Hime
12-17-2018, 06:09 AM
Lochan frowned suddenly as she turned away from it. Was his apology not enough? She was going to leave him, wasn't she? But before he could jump to too many conclusions, he quieted his thoughts to listen to her. He frowned a little as he spoke ill of herself, wanting to tell her she was wrong. But then he what did he know about any of it?

His eyes followed curiously as Mae sunk down, flipping through her book until she found the pages she was looking for. His brows knit together as he looked over the image, which was rather unsettling to say the least. His stormy eyes then flickered up to her face as she explained further. "Black mage?" Did that mean there could be white mages? He'd only even known mages to use their powers for evil. Yet even as Mae explained her dark past and her grave mistake that cost two young children their lives, he could see the regret and remorse in her eyes and the way she sobbed. If there were such a thing as a white mage, Mae would be one. He was convinced.

His eyes then followed her as she stood again, his body tense, as if ready to chase after her if she ran. He frowned a bit then, as she went on. So Mae had killed after all. But she was still different than the mages that came to his home that day. They felt nothing as they took away everything he'd ever held dear. They would have killed him too... And they would not have wept for his loss the way Mae did. And was it not punishment enough to carry the voices of those that she killed, forever in her mind? He couldn't even fathom what that must be like.

"I suppose... that comes with the territory when you wield a sword. Defending yourself against others who also wield swords. Or even those who don't." Had he been more than just a boy... Had he skill with a sword, Lochan would have killed those mages that day. Or died trying... After taking a moment of silence to take it all in, Lochan finally met her eyes. "There's still so much I don't know about you Mae, but I know you enough... to know that you didn't kill those people in cold blood. And I can not blame you for doing what I'm sure you had to do to survive. I also know... You never deserved to suffer through all of that." Lochan then looked down at her gloved hand, slowly reaching out to take it in his.

Ashen
12-18-2018, 08:55 PM
The long seconds when he didn't speak were agonizing. Mae hated the conflicting opinions in her mind, and she wished Lochan would speak so that they may quiet or she may have another sound to concentrate on. Finally he did, and he seemed gentle, understanding even. The wanderer looked him over. He was trusting her, from the sounds of things. Despite it all, he was still standing by her, ready to take her side. Mae could feel the lump in her throat start to rise, but when she saw him lift an arm, offer a hand to her, Mae fell to her knees.

The tears came all at once, light dewdrops racing down Mae's face. She tried to wipe them, but they were too numerous, and she was uselessly dampening her sleeve. Mae cursed herself for the pathetic outburst, but she couldn't help it. This man, this mere thief who had joined her on a whim, upon finding out she was one and the same as those who had murdered his family; he still wanted to be with her, to support her. She couldn't understand why. Mae wanted to ask him, but the words wouldn't come. Instead she sat, silently sobbing, for a few minutes, until finally the tears died away and she was left alone with her friend.

"I'm sorry," she finally announced. Mae got to her feet, legs wobbly, and avoided eye contact with Lochan. Her eyes were still glossed over, her cheeks damp, and she stood, embarrassed, before him. She cleared her throat. "I've never had someone like you in my life, Lochan," she mumbled. "Anyone else would have left, if not by now, then definitely after that. You're... You're something special, and I'm not certain I deserve you here."

She spent a moment straightening herself. Mae looked out at the field around them. "I don't use it much," she reasoned. "There's too much risk in its backfiring. I've mastered minor spells, like the fire earlier, but I try not to use them much before I hate who they make me into." She tapped her book lightly. "Every spell in the whole world is in here, I'm sure. That's what all those words are, incantations and ingredients. Experienced mages don't quite need those things, especially not for easy spells. There are white magic spells in here too, but I never got the hang of them. I seem to specialize in black magic, but I have a decent grasp of fire and lightning magic, and I've successfully pulled off ice, earth, and wind as well." She turned to him, finally looking at him. "So there I am. Maybe now that I won't have to hide, we can find a use for all that. For now... Maybe we should get going before I have another breakdown."

Midori-Hime
12-19-2018, 03:55 AM
His breath caught as Mae fell and he bought himself down to his knees in front of her. He frowned deeply, not knowing what to do or say to comfort the woman weeping in front of him. He wanted to hold her, to wipe away her tears, but he was afraid touching her mind only upset her more. Were they tears of happiness, or joy? He couldn't quite tell and it bothered him to feel so useless at a time like this.

Finally she seemed to calm, at least enough to speak and get back up on her feet. He too got up slowly, awed by her words. She thought he was special... and that she didn't deserve him. No one had ever said such a thing to him before, even if it wasn't true.

He listened to her further explain all her powers and what she was capable of. It was both impressive and a bit terrifying to be honest. Though something she'd said stuck out to him and suddenly his eyes widened. "I-in the field... That strange bolt of lightning... That was you, wasn't it?" He said, realization dawning in his deep blue eyes. "You saved me back then..." He murmured with a warm expression on his face. "Even if it's 'black magic', you can still choose to use it for good." He told her softly, glad to see her able to face him again.

At her suggestion he paused, looking to the stars and the moon. "Get going? But it's kind of late, isn't it? How about we just find a good place to rest, and I can get a fire going." He suggested, lightly brushing his hand against the small of her back, lightly guiding her towards the forest. As they walked slowly, Lochan wondered how he'd ended up falling for a mage. But here he was and he couldn't say he wished for anything to be different.

He didn't want to stray too far from the river, as it was a good source of water, but it would be good to get some cover as well. They only went a few yards from the river until they came upon a small clearing surrounded by some younger trees. "This looks good, don't you think?" He suggested, then began to wander around, gathering as many fallen branches as he could hold. He snapped a few over his knee until they were a good size and then gathered them in the center. "Hmm... I need a good starter..." He murmured, looking for something dry enough, before it suddenly dawned on him. Lochan suddenly looked up at Mae and smiled. "Unless... you want to do the honor?" He teased, hoping to lighten the mood after such a serious talk.

Ashen
12-20-2018, 04:43 AM
Mae raised a brow at Lochan's realization. She had nearly forgotten about that field, about the trouble they had gotten into and her taboo to get them out of it. She nodded meekly, shrugging a bit. She had saved him with her magic, the same magic that had ruined her life and stolen so many others. Maybe Lochan was right; maybe having this ability didn't make her evil at her core.

She looked around them, at the forest where so much had happened. Mae shifted, wondering what they should do. She was worried just staying here would remind her of it all, the betrayal from moments ago. Even if Lochan had come back, the thought that he might not have had created such a pain in her chest that it was still seeping out. But she had other memories; their picnic and their dance lesson and their sword lesson. Maybe a night in a forest wouldn't be so bad, after all. Mae let Lochan lead her deeper into the forest, to a place of youthful trees and brush. "This looks alright, sure," she replied. "Nature looks so new here. I wonder if there might be a forest spirit around." She was joking, not much a believer in spirits and the like, but she had to admit, she liked the idea of having someone watching over her through the night.

They began to settle down and Lochan started looking for some wood to burn. Mae wanted to help, but she felt exhaustion creep up on her like a great enemy. Getting so much off her chest at once proved to be taxing, and she wanted nothing more than to sleep. When Lochan returned with firewood, Mae looked up at him, an eyebrow raised. She smirked at what he was offering. "Using me now, are we?" she asked, but she was already removing her glove. In a few short moments, the fire returned to Mae's hands. She got up and stood over the firewood, then dropped the flame onto it. The orange ribbons slipped from her fingers like liquid, landing on the wood and torching it. Mae took a step back, satisfied. They had a fire that would last several hours. "Child's play," she said. "What else can I do for you, Your Highness?"

She was back to joking, and it was clear in the way she smirked at him and spoke sarcastically. She moved to slip her glove back on, but she decided against it and instead put it into her pocket. The tattoo was glowing brightly. "It glows when there are evil beings around, too," she said. "Maybe, at least when we're alone like this, it'd be better to not cover it up." She sat next to the fire and sighed. "I'm really beat," Mae admitted. "It's been such a long day, but you know... I'm glad it happened." She looked Lochan over, his new shirt, his exhausted face. "I can't much call you breedbate now, can I?" she teased. "Not in that shirt I can't. Ah, well. You'll still be my breedbate, we'll just have to work on getting that shirt off of you more." She cast a mischievous glance his way. Mae shook her head and collapsed back on the grass. "Even if I weren't joking, I feel too tired to move. What do you say about turning in?"

Midori-Hime
12-26-2018, 10:24 PM
Lochan smiled sheepishly before looking down at her hand curiously, as Mae removed the glove. His eyes wandered over the marking, having no clue of it's meaning and watched in wondered as it glowed. As fearful as he had been just a few minutes ago, Lochan now marveled at Mae and her powers. For the first time in his life, he was perhaps beginning to see mages in a new light. After all, if Mae was a mage, then that meant that not all mages were evil at their core. They weren't all slaves to His bidding.

Watching the flame that Mae had conjured lap at the wood and gradually grow into a warm, crackling fire, Lochan was too absorbed to realize Mae had spoken. He chuckled at her joke, once he'd broken away from his deep thoughts. It made him happy to see her in such a light mood once again. "That's quite helpful..." He muttered then, his gaze flickering back to the strange mark on her hand once again. Lochan was about to agree, but he simply smiled, nodding softly. "I agree..." He replied, glad in the end that Mae had opened up to him and was still with him now.

However, the warm smile on his face quickly fell away. "I still don't get what you mean by that!" He whined, before looking down at his own shirt curiously. Though her next comment had him blushing and he looked up sharply, just in time to catch the devilish look. His blush only deepened and he watched as Mae laid back. "Yeah... That's probably a good idea." He agreed, though he seemed hesitant about something. Finally Lochan scooted a little closer until he laid back beside her. "It'll be easier to keep warm... if we stay close." He suggested, not quite meeting her eyes.

Ashen
01-04-2019, 09:15 PM
Mae chuckled quietly at Lochan's outburst. She loved that he was clueless about her nickname for him. In a way, she felt that it meant more that way. Instead of just the low-born thief the moniker implied, it also meant he was clueless and feisty, that he was so Lochan. It was a unique name for him now, and despite how low-born Lochan no longer looked, Mae would continue to use the name, to get under his skin.

She let out a long sigh and closed her eyes, but suddenly she felt Lochan beside her. She opened her eyes again and looked at him, at the rising blush on his cheeks and the averted gaze. Mae chuckled softly and pulled him closer to her. She draped an arm around him and sighed again. "I think we will be plenty warm," she said quietly. With her leg she moved his so that it was sandwiched between hers. She thought to nuzzle against his chest but stopped herself; she could already feel how nervous he was, and she did not want to make him worse. Mae closed her eyes again, and for a moment she drew in his warmth. "Good night, Lochan," she breathed. "Sleep well."

Mae awoke to find herself in total darkness. She figured she was in a dream not long after; it was far too silent to be reality. She tried to step forward but found her whole body paralyzed. In the distance, a figure came into view. It was Lochan, clothless, standing bare and bruised. She tried calling out to him, but her voice faded just as soon as it left her mouth. A larger figure appeared behind Lochan, its dark, wispy appendages reaching for the helpless thief. Deep red eyes glared at Mae. "You told him," the figure said, and Mae recognized the voice. "He cannot know." In the next moment, a blur of black shadows moved across Lochan's throat, slicing it. His head fell to the floor with a deafening thunder, and blood spattered all around the now decapitated body. Mae's screams, too, were drowned out, this time by a mighty laugh from a great necromancer.

Mae woke up screaming. She grabbed at her knees and rocked herself to calm down. In a minute she silenced herself, remembering where she was. She'd known it was a dream, but the sight of this man, the only man she'd trusted, lifeless and destroyed... Mae turned to Lochan, whom she had undoubtedly woken up. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. Voices scolded her from the depths of her mind, but she didn't need them to tell her how guilty she needed to feel. "Just another nightmare, I'm fine, I..." She looked around them, at the forest they'd slept in. It seemed darker here now, as if...

The mage caught sight of her hand, now glowing a soft violet. She sighed. "Lochan," she mumbled. "We are not alone. Their presence is weak, but still, be wary." She groggily got up and looked around. The forest was silent. "If you wish to go back to sleep, I can keep watch. I don't mind. I... I don't think I'll be falling asleep again soon."

Midori-Hime
01-13-2019, 07:06 AM
His stormy blue eyes widened as he felt Mae draw him closer, wrapping her arms around him. And then just as he turned to face her, his breath caught, feeling his leg being cradled between hers. He didn't dare move, not wanting to do anything that might seem too forward, but then... perhaps he didn't have to worry about that. Lochan then blinked as Mae simply wished him a good night and closed her eyes. Despite his anxiety from the closeness, the warmth was extremely comforting and it wouldn't be long before he drifted to sleep, his arms wrapping around Mae in turn and drawing her in to his chest.

It was a peaceful sleep, which was unfortunately interrupted by a horrifying shrieking. Lochan's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding as he tried to figure out what was happening in his sleepy haze. He bolted up right, immediately searching for Mae until he realized she was the one screaming. But why? He scooted closer as the woman rocked herself, yet he couldn't see anything threatening them in the dim glow of the fire. "M-mae, what is it? What's wrong?" He murmured, his hands reaching for her but then he paused, not wanting to upset her even more.

But then finally she turned towards him and he couldn't hold himself back anymore, gently placing his hands over her shoulders. "It's alright... I know how that is..." He murmured softly with a warm smile, hoping to comfort her in some way. Though as she said they weren't alone, he immediately drew her closer, his eyes searching the trees around them. He was reluctant to let her go, but then he knew she was the one who could actually protect them. That realization bothered him once again. "No... I don't think I can either..." He murmured. Even if he felt secure enough to sleep again, he wouldn't feel right when Mae was the one watching over him.

Ashen
01-13-2019, 09:48 PM
Lochan was understanding, and Mae wondered how she had become so lucky as to find him. She noticed the way he reached for her but thought against it, and she wondered if that was more for him or for her. Brushing it off, she was about to get up when she felt his arms on either side of her. Mae paused, startled, but she soon relaxed. His touch was warm, safe. She smiled back at him, and her smile only grew when he pulled her nearer. Mae silently swore at whatever dark being was around them, whatever was driving her away from her Lochan.

Lochan had to let go, and Mae was able to draw her sword. She was silent as she surveyed the forest. She didn't hear or see anything, but then, she recalled countless times when she had not heeded her hand's warning and had gained a new scar as a result. Mae walked over to the small trees around them and waited. Her hand was still glowing, but why? She made her way back to Lochan with a shrug. "I don't know what's here," she mumbled. "I doubt it would be a false alarm, but..." Mae turned her eyes up, to a blue sky half-hidden by trees. She saw the sun rising, but beyond that, she saw a curious purple cloud. "Lochan," she said quietly, motioning her chin towards the sight. "I think I found it."

It was hard to see through the forest, but the dark cloud seemed to be coming from the ground. There was a darker, larger cloud at its base, and Mae wondered what could be there. She reached for her bag with her beaten book and opened it to a page without pictures. Mae's eyes soared over the pages, searching for anything about this fog. "Tenenomu*," she said suddenly. "Tenenomu comes from the more powerful dark magics, almost like a byproduct of the spells. It's toxic, and unless it's dispelled, it never goes away." Mae looked up at Lochan. "We have to stop it," she announced. "Or it'll reach the forest, and civilizations..." She packed up her book and grabbed her bags. "Not the wakeup call I would have wanted, but I guess today is a day for adventure."

* tenenomu - from Mae's language, translated as "poison bog"

Midori-Hime
01-21-2019, 03:02 AM
Lochan watched her draw her sword, searching the trees and he stood as well, keeping his eyes and ears open for any sign that something was out there. But then Mae turned to him with a perplexed shrug and he relaxed just a little. "But... There's no immediate danger?" He suggested to finish her thought. However, hearing Mae call his name, Lochan quickly followed the motion of her gesture, his eyes catching sight of the strange, ominous cloud.

"What... is that?" He asked, squinting his eyes slightly in an attempt to get a better look. Though it was hard to in the dim light. He then looked back to Mae at the sound of rustling paper, watching her curiously. Now he understood why that book had been so important to her. Lochan then blinked suddenly at the foreign word, stepping closer as Mae went on to explain it's meaning. His eyes then widened. "Stop it?" He knew what she said was true. So many innocent lives could be taken by this thing. But... "How are we going to stop it?"

He watched her pack her things and he too moved to quickly grab the rest of thier things. Perhaps Mae would be able to disspell the tenenomu with her own power, but it was still cause for concern.

Ashen
02-02-2019, 10:36 PM
Lochan's question drummed intrusively at the back of her mind. Mae knew they had to halt this death cloud, they had to save all the innocent people near and far, but she had no idea how to dissipate such a dark magic. White magic was their best bet, but Mae had never been any good at that, and anyone who might have been was most definitely too afraid of the taboo surrounding magic to say anything. What did that leave them with? A thief half-decent with a sword and a mage who could only add her own ugly darkness to this problem? Mae bit her lip, not knowing how to respond.

She kept going, however. Even if she didn't know what to do, she figured they had to get moving. "First thing's first," she announced while running towards the death cloud, "we have to stop whatever the source is. I don't know what could possibly be making a fog so big, and so... thick. Whatever it is, we have to stop that." As they exited the forest, more of the fog came into view. Even from the distance, Mae could see how dark and thick it was, Was she getting in over her head? Absolutely. She was dragging Lochan along, too. But deep down, she knew she had to get to this cloud for another reason. A dark mage capable of such a deadly toxin; it had to be the Dark Lord, and she sought his company.

They made their way to the base of the cloud, to a village enveloped by it. Mae lingered outside the grasps of the purple haze. How would they even approach? She caught a whiff of the gas, and instantly she felt herself grow nauseous. She backed away, dizzy. "Be careful," she begged Lochan. She turned back to the village. Distantly she could hear people screaming, but their cries were being drowned out, as if the fog were a black hole. From the depths of it, she could see a large, dark figure. Its shadowy limb was pouring into the mouth of a dead person. Within moments, the corpse rose, a hungry look in its eye. "Reanimation?" she murmured. It was the Great Necromancer; she'd made it.

But Mae knew she couldn't expose Lochan to this quite yet. She stepped away again. "Lochan," she called quietly. "I think that's him." She was trying to keep her voice level, give nothing away. "Maybe we're out of our league," she continued. "Maybe we should try to get some help. We... We can't face him alone." If she could just lead him away, maybe she could meet with him alone. Filled with a new lust, Mae was too distracted by her goals, by how close she was.

Midori-Hime
02-21-2019, 04:33 AM
Lochan waited, but instead of giving a response, Mae just started rushing towards the death cloud. "M-mae?!" He called after her, but had no choice but to follow. As they ran past the line of trees to the base of the ominous cloud, he tensed, watching the heavy, purple vapor loom over the unfortunate village. It was even more intimidating now and he wondered how, if they couldn't get rid of this horrendous, deadly mist, they were possibly going to stop the cause of it. His eyes widened as he watched Mae back away, getting too close for comfort. "You be careful!" He retorted, moving closer to her almost protectively.

He was too concerned for Mae to see what she saw, blinking curiously as she mumbled something. It was then he looked up, looking between Mae as she backed up and the dark figure at the center of the fog. Then suddenly he tensed all over. Him... Lochan suddenly felt a cold sweat come over his body as he stared at the dark shadow with a horrible mixture of fear and rage. The dark mage that had murdered his family in cold blood. The dark one would have killed him too...

Lochan's breaths became uneven and he trembled as he stared into the center of the fog, fighting between the urge to rush a blade into his heart, or to run for his life, knowing that he wouldn't stand a chance. Finally Mae's voice seemed to reach him and Lochan's gaze snapped to her somewhat frantically. "Y-yeah... you're right." He muttered, sighing as he gave in to his fear. But he wasn't stupid enough to think that he could do anything to avenge his family. As it was, he'd probably die from the purple mist before he even got close to the Dark One.

Ashen
03-10-2019, 09:07 PM
Mae could feel the tension beating under her skin. She felt her breaths quicken, counted the pulses of her rapid heart. She was so close, and all she had to do was waltz into this deadly poison to finally get what she wanted. Lochan was going to go, was going to get far, far away from this, so it would just be little wanderer Mae and her idol. Fascinated, the mage looked out on her legend, watched as the creature he resurrected walked with purpose through the town. She could finally taste this. Maybe, finally, she could get what she wanted.

But she was snapped away from her thoughts by Lochan. His tone, the look in his eyes, the quake in his feet; there was a nervousness there stronger than Mae would have assumed. Lochan had seen the Dark One before, had had a serious run-in with him, she could tell. He was terrified and determined, but what did he want to do? The terror in his movements brought pause to Mae's excitement. She couldn't do this, couldn't talk to him now, not with Lochan so terrified. She thought to that time in the barn, or just earlier, when Lochan was there for her when she had been scared. What kind of person would she be to not return the sentiment? Stealing one last glance towards the Black Dragon, Mae grabbed Lochan's hand and started running away.

She was going to regret this. She would regret this for a long while. Her dream was so near, but... Would she have even succeeded anyway? Would she have gotten past the fog to even manage to get to the Dark One? She was foolish for thinking it possible, and yet... The irrational side of her still wanted to turn around and charge in there, to reclaim what she knew she needed. Regardless, it wasn't time for that now. Now, they had to go.

Mae's legs felt wobbly. She wondered briefly if the little bit of poison she inhaled was responsible, but she decided speculating would only cause paranoia. She shook the thought and turned her thoughts away from herself. "I don't think anyone saw us," she said. "I think we'll be safe if we keep moving. But... Those people." She slowed and turned back to the now distant poisonous cloud. "All those people are going to die, and there's nothing... We... I could have saved them, but now they're all going to die." She hated the thought. An entire town was so easily disposed of, and she felt responsible. If she had charged in there, would she have been able to make a difference? She shook her head and started walking again. She couldn't waste her thoughts on the things she could have done.

As they continued, voices within Mae's mind chirped about all the dead spirits now in that village. Attempting to ignore them, Mae glanced at Lochan. "You have emotional stakes in this," she guessed. "You wanted him. You wanted to end him. He hurt you." She faced forward again. "I suppose we touched on this before, but... I think we're both seeking him, aren't we? I think you want him to pay." Would that work in her favor? She didn't want to agitate Lochan further, but if she could bolster his confidence, maybe he would help her find him again, when they were more prepared. "What if... What if we teamed up, became as strong as we could... to end him?"

Midori-Hime
04-02-2019, 04:35 AM
Lochan stood frozen, unable to gather the will to step forward, yet reluctant to retreat and lose this chance. But then, what chance could he possibly have against the Dark One? The fearsome and powerful dark necromancer. He would likely be killed by the poisonous mist before he ever got near him. And yet, the other part of him wanted to charge forward regardless if it meant his death. Though before he could decide, Mae grasped his hand and dragged him along with her to safety. And he didn't fight it. At this moment, Mae was the only thing he felt he had to live for.

As they slowed to a walk, Mae's words rang in his head. 'I could have saved them...' He closed his eyes tightly, bracing himself against the waves of emmotions coursing through him at the moment. He almost didn't hear Mae, but then looked up at her sharply. Lochan stared, but it seemed all of her guesses were hitting home by the way his silvery eyes darkened, like storm clouds rolling in. "Yes, I wanted to end him." He answered, his voice low and filled with such hatred that it surprised even himself. "I want him to pay... and I want to watch him suffer for what he's done before the end." His body was tense and fists were clenched at his sides.

However, Mae's suggestion surprised him and he snapped out of his dark thoughts once he remembered that she was in his company. "Y-you really think that's possible? Maybe you could... B-but I'm nothing but a coward." He said as he turned away from Mae, still trying to calm himself. But seeing the Dark One again, after all these years, brought back the horrible memory of that day. He could remember it all so clearly, as if it had happened yesterday, though more than a decade had passed. "I was a coward then... and I'm still a coward now." He muttered, dropping his gaze to his feet. 'I could have saved them...'

Ashen
04-17-2019, 06:41 AM
Her questions were striking a nerve. Mae watched Lochan's eyes gloss over with regret. She was poking at something very important to him, and she wanted to recoil. The human part of her wanted to stop prodding, to console him, to remove the storms from his eyes and bring to him the comfort she owed him. And yet, a part of her wanted to keep going, to keep asking, to rally him against the being she so desperately wanted to meet. Plans filled her thoughts, questions to ask, words to say, just the right things to guide Lochan to an inhumane vengeance. But suddenly she stopped, and a similar storm met her brown eyes. What kind of monster was she?

She was silent for a few moments, her thoughts tugging in far too many directions for her to think straight. All those dead souls, and her dream, and Lochan, but Lochan... She looked back to him, at the shame spiraling behind those storms. Now was not the time for manipulation. Now was the time, perhaps the first time, to be a friend.

"All heroes were once cowards," Mae said softly. She started walking again, a new confidence in her step. "But then something happens. They find a cause to die for, and they put everything on the line. No man is born courageous. We're all just cowards looking for causes to pretend to be heroes." She shrugged her shoulders. "I think, if you are a coward, it's because you're not ready to be a hero. Every man has his moment, though. Maybe you're useless now, but if you keep practicing with a sword, and keep practicing your footwork, your form and purpose... You'll turn into something greater."

She glanced towards him, wondering if her words meant anything. She was no good at pep talks; why would she be? She'd been alone for so long, and in her hometown, certainly no one had come to her for advice. Still, she hoped Lochan would get something out of this. "I was a coward too," she murmured, speaking without thought. "I was a coward afraid of the fire within herself. I... I still am. I shouldn't be able to just... do the things I do, you know? But I can, and when I started accepting that, I stopped fearing getting burned. Sometimes, we just have to turn our fears into a different kind of energy."

Midori-Hime
05-14-2019, 01:13 AM
His eyes softened slowly as he looked at her, listening to her words of encouragement. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he could become something greater than he'd made himself out to be? Besides, for the first time since that fateful day, Lochan felt like he had something he wanted to protect, someone he would die for. It was also terrifying, having something to lose... But he would not fail this time.

Lochan met her eyes, staring deeply as he thought about everything she'd said, and who she was. Slowly he reached out, taking her tattooed had, this time without fear. "Thank you Mae. I don't know what I would do without you." He muttered softly. "Well, I have some theories." He said with a grim sort of laugh. He looked down a little, releasing her hand. "Where do we go from here?" He asked finally, still a bit shaken up with their encounter, but eager to move on and come up with a plan.

Ashen
05-14-2019, 02:24 AM
I don't know what I would do without you. Mae turned away at Lochan's words, overanalyzing them. Surely he didn't mean that? He attached a joke to the end, and Mae rode on it. "I'm sure you'd be peeking on other women bathing," she teased with a smirk. Still, her mind wandered. Did he think that highly of her? Why? No matter how many times she witnessed Lochan tell her he cared about her, she wasn't sure she'd ever actually believe it.

Now they had to decide where to go. Mae looked over Lochan and, noticing how shaky he still was, how uneven his breaths still were, she got an idea. She looked around, surveying the area, trying to make out any of her surroundings. How long until the next town or city? She turned back to Lochan. "I've an idea," she told him, "but I need you to trust me. We should try to find an inn for the night, get some rest. I think we both need it. Some come on."

They started off without any real direction. Mae figured they would stumble upon something sooner or later if they just kept walking in the same direction. Luckily, nothing bothered them on their walk, and with how tired they both were, neither said much. They walked for hours until finally Mae could see distant bonfires and lanterns and hear the chatter of civilization. Finally, they had made it.

They entered the large town and looked around. This place could almost be classified as a city, and as it prepared for sundown, smells of supper filled the air. Mae's stomach growled, and it led her through the streets and to a shop that was selling meat pies. She turned away hungrily, knowing it was better if she didn't waste the money. "This place is so alive," she murmured to Lochan, and it was then that she saw the square. There, several men were playing instruments while another danced before them. On a sign behind them was their name, The Dancing Daugherty's, as well as a small list of others who would be performing. "I think we found a concert," Mae said to Lochan. "Oh, can we watch? I love watching foreign dances. It gives me ideas for my own."

Midori-Hime
05-14-2019, 04:16 AM
Lochan almost reeled when Mae turned away from him and suddenly he was going over what he'd just said in his head, wondering what could have offended her. Though a moment later, Mae was simply teasing him like always. Was he just overthinking things? Maybe he was just a little sensitive after the whirlwind of emotions he'd just gone through. He offered her a smile, though it seemed a little off, not quite reaching his eyes. "It's not normally a habit of mine, you know!" He grumbled playfully, but he still seemed on edge.

He watched as Mae took a look around, getting thier bearings, waiting to hear her decision. When she finally turned back to him, Lochan blinked curiously. "O-okay." He said slowly, surprised by the suggestion. He stared into her eyes and then nodded firmly. "I do."

Though he still had no idea how they were going to pay for an inn. Maybe they had enough money still, but did she really want to use the last of it on that? Lochan was quiet as they walked, his mind still swimming of thoughts of thier encounter with the dark one, what they would do after reaching town, and of Mae... He stared down at his feet for most of the time, until they reached a large town. His eyes widened a little, growing a little more eager now. A big town meant lots of people... usually lots of wealthy people.

His eyes searched the crowds, surprised to see it so lively even as night approached. He then blinked as Mae echoed his thoughts and smiled. "Yeah..." He said, sticking closer to her as they wandered through the crowds. He then noticed the performer and glanced to Mae, smiling at the way her eyes seemed to light up. "Sure, why not?" He said, smiling softly and looked around until he found a stone wall that was a little less crowded and drew her over to take a seat. "I think I'd much rather watch you dance though." He murmured softly in her ear as they sat down.

Ashen
05-15-2019, 05:13 AM
Mae didn't hear Lochan's comment, or she chose to ignore it. She wriggled between a few people to get close to him against the wall. Instinctively, he foot tapped along to the beats of the song. Her brown eyes were glued to the dancer, a brawny man with wide shoulders who was light on his toes. The wanderer became enamored with how he held himself, how such an ungraceful size could appear so natural on the dance floor. She made mental notes to herself, a juvenile habit, of someday choreographing a dance and incorporating a dancer of this man's size.

Before she knew it, The Dancing Daugherty's had danced their last, and another group was taking their place. This one was an all-woman group, dainty things that swayed to a soft harp. The group after that played an upbeat tune, and it was then that Mae could no longer quiet the dance within her.

Mae kicked off the stone wall behind her and grabbed Lochan by the hand. "Come on now," she said to him, and she placed a firm hand on his waist. "You want to follow me," she said quietly, and she stepped right into tune with the song, as if she had practiced this dance for weeks instead of coming up with it on the spot. The cheery tune cause her pace to quicken, and she looked directly into Lochan's eyes, daring him to keep up. "You can't bring me to a festival like this and expect me to not dance," she said with a sly smile. "Let's practice your moves, yeah?"

She was a natural. As the music flowed through her veins, a light danced in her eyes. This was the kind of relaxation she needed. This was the break she needed from her mission, her crazy life fighting undead things. As she looked at Lochan, struggling to keep up, she let out a laugh. "Oh wouldn't you love to do this more?" she asked. "Maybe an even quicker step!" The more she danced, the more eyes she drew, not that she noticed. Only she and Lochan mattered in that moment, and she was loving it.

Midori-Hime
05-17-2019, 03:58 AM
Lochan smiled, watching excitedly beside Mae, though most of all, he was enjoying watching her. Her eyes were fixed on the dancer, studying his moves, and his eyes were fixed on her. It made his heart flutter to see that light in her eyes. Lochan soon began clapped along with the music, the joy of the festival goers making him forget all about the whirlwind of emotions he'd felt just that morning. However, he was startled as Mae leapt down from beside him and he blinked curiously as he was grabbed.

"W-what? W-wait Mae, I can't-" He gasped, immediately blushing as her hand grasped his waist. He barely had a moment before Mae was pulling him along into a lively dance. He was a little shaky on his feet, embarrassed by his missteps as he tried to keep up. But as he looked into her eyes, Lochan forgot all about 'steps' and just began to enjoy himself.

Soon the young man was grinning from ear to ear, learning to match her quickening steps. Of course, he would never be a graceful as Mae, but he managed to come up with a few moves of his own, hoping to surprise her. Taking her hands in his, he would twirl Mae into his arms and then spin together with her, their arms linked. The crowd began to take notice and soon they formed a circle around the pair to watch, clapping along in encouragement. His was panting, his hair falling loose and clinging to his damp skin, but he never once stopped grinning. "I could do this every day with you..." He breathed a reply, before letting out a breathless laugh.

Ashen
05-17-2019, 07:17 PM
Mae didn't hear Lochan's protests, or she didn't acknowledge them. She could not be stilled with such music filling her with a need to move. She was delighted that Lochan eventually caught up with her, not quite keeping pace but giving his best effort. She'd make fun of him later, but now, she was grateful to finally have someone who even made an effort.

She was blind to the crowds gathering around them, and she only slowed her step when Lochan spoke to her. He was panting and his voice was breathy, but she still heard him perfectly. She was thrown off-guard, and Mae had to stop herself from tripping over her own two feet. A deep blush met her dark cheeks while she scrambled to catch herself. She stepped back into line, but his words lingered with her. He'd do this every day with her? Really? Despite all she was, this man, this commoner who had more reason to hate magic than even she did; he would spend every day with her dancing?

The music slowed to a stop, and it was only then that Mae noticed the crowds gathered around them. She awkwardly shifted, surprised that so many had gathered. She glanced to the band that had been playing and sent an apologetic look. She hadn't meant to take their thunder, but as people started to drop coins by her feet, she didn't regret it. She looked to Lochan, an eyebrow raised, and danced the donors. "Lochan," she said quietly, "I can have a dance thought out by tomorrow morning. We'll get you practicing, and I think we could actually get somewhere with this." Maybe setting up and dancing for a little while wouldn't have been such a bad idea. Mae didn't want the money, though she had to admit it was a nice benefit. She just wanted to perform, to show Lochan and her audiences her choreography, and if Lochan was really willing to do this... She shook her head, and with it her silly thoughts. All the couples she'd seen dancing, all the pairs who ended their magnificent performances with a kiss, with a look of true love... Mae looked back to Lochan's eyes. Stuff like that wasn't possible for her, but a girl could dream.

Midori-Hime
05-18-2019, 03:57 AM
As the song came to a end, unfortunately so did their dance. He was panting heavily, his heart racing, but a grin was still plastered on his face. Especially when he saw the way Mae's cheeks warmed. He finally broke his gaze away from his lovely dance partner, glancing around them in awe at the crowd they'd gathered. He too was surprised by the money tossed to them and his grin widened even more.

Lochan then blinked as Mae adressed him, turning his attention back to her with a curious look. It took him a few moments to really catch on to what she was saying, but then his eyes widened. "R-really?" He gasped and then suddenly grasped her by the waist, lifting her up and twirling her for a moment and then setting her down. "I think you'll be amazing..." He murmured softly then, staring into her eyes. The same thought seemed to cross his mind, his gaze dropping to her lips, and yet he was still hesitant. He didn't want to ruin such a nice moment by offending her, so instead her took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles lightly. With a soft smirk, Lochan then bowed to the people and started to collect the money tossed to them. "I think we will have plenty here for a comfortable room and a nice hot meal."

Ashen
05-18-2019, 06:43 AM
The crowd around them was starting to disperse as the next act took their place on the stage. Mae was still too excited from their evening to really take in what was going on. She had agreed to come up with a dance for them, an actual dance, this time with real people. Wasn't that one of her childhood dreams? To map out the moves and the music for actual people, not just her imaginary friends, to dance along to? She shook her head. It shouldn't have been that exciting, she shouldn't have been getting this pumped, but that childish giddiness ran through her and forced that bounce to her step.

The money they'd gathered was definitely enough to live comfortably that night, and Mae took that realization with surprise and grace. She nodded excitedly when Lochan realized it too, though his words lingered. Quick-witted, Mae thought, I want you to be my meal, but her thought shocked her. She silently scolded herself for treating Lochan like she would any of the mindless men she slept with, and suddenly her cheeks grew even darker. She'd slept around plenty, could make a living out of it if she wanted to, but Lochan... Why did the thought make her face so hot? Why was she so intrigued, yet so... nervous? Mae the Wanderer, Mae the Prostitute, nervous at the prospect of sleeping with a man? But as her thoughts wandered, she found herself straying from Lochan, as if to protect him from herself.

Shaking her thoughts, Mae headed off in search of an inn, leaving the rest of the concert behind them. "I would love something hot right now," she breathed. She was already drooling thinking about it, and only as an afterthought did she cast a gloved hand across her mouth. They found an inn not too far from the plaza and Mae paid for a room with two beds. She looked over the menu and decided on a slab of meat decorated with vegetables and spices she couldn't even pronounce. She turned to Lochan, wondering what he would order, and nearly bouncing out of her seat in anticipation.

But something was still bugging her. As Mae thought of all the dances she could get Lochan to do, as she thought of her meaty dish, of the soft sheets she would fall onto in only moments to sleep, she couldn't help but think of Lochan himself. The man had been with her for a number of days now, a small amount of time, but even so, Mae felt closer to him than anyone she'd known since her excommunication. Her eyes slowly traced his form. Did he feel the same way? Those things he'd said about her, were those sincere after all? She turned away again, thinking it over. He was just a low thief, she reminded herself. He was nobody, but to her...

Her meal came out, and Mae hesitated before taking a fork to it. She looked to Lochan again, this time with a girlish smile. "Hey, Lochan," she said quietly. "Thanks, for everything." Mae gave a small sigh before saying, "Finally, I'm starving. Let's eat and get some much-deserved rest, yeah?"

Midori-Hime
05-19-2019, 03:27 AM
Lochan hurried after her, having trouble keeping up with her quickened, bouncing steps. She might have been used to the work out, but right now his legs were beginning to feel like limp noodles. But he too was eager for a hot dinner for a change and so he hurried to join her. His stomach rumbled the moment the smell of hot food hit his nose and he looked around the cozy inn, liking what he saw. This would be a nice, comfortable night and he felt they deserved it after everything they'd been through these past couple of days.

They took their seats once they'd paid for their room and Lochan looked to Mae, nearly laughing at how utterly excited she looked. Though he couldn't blame her. He hid a little chuckle behind his hand, his eyes a light, bright blue as they watched her. When it came time to order, he decided on a hearty beef and vegetable stew, with a side of fresh bread. "Mmm, I can hardly wait..." He said, rubbing his hands together before looking around at the other patrons of the inn.

When their meal arrived, he looked to Mae and smiled, about to take a bite when Mae thanked him. Lochan blinked, pausing suddenly and then set his spoon down. "W-what do you mean?" He asked with a confused look. He couldn't fathom what he'd did to earn her thanks. He stared off blankly for a long moment, before looking down at his bowl of stew again. "Mae... I should be thanking you. Tonight has been... so perfect and I just think-" He paused for a moment, trying to find the words. "Well, just... If you hadn't said what you did then, things could have gone very differently." Was all he had to say, before flashing her a brilliant smile and digging in.

Once he was finished, Lochan sat back with a heavy sigh. "Ah, that was wonderful." He said with a blissful look. "I don't know if I've never been this stuffed in years." He chuckled, looking to Mae softly. "How was yours?" He asked, putting a hand to his stomach. Soon after a soft yawn escaped him and he glanced around. "Shall we head up to our room then?" He asked, eager to sleep in a comfortable bed again.

Ashen
05-19-2019, 10:42 PM
Lochan's words fluttered through her mind, matching the movements of the beasts in her stomach. It was starting to shape into the perfect night, certainly, but she wondered if she could go further, if they could do more to make this night truly spectacular. She cast an eye towards him, over the beads of sweat on his forehead, the slightest quiver of his legs. She watched him breathe in the hot stew he had ordered, sigh as it crawled down his throats. She looked over his full lips and thought they'd make the perfect accessory to hers.

With their meals finished, Mae beat Lochan in letting out a large yawn. She giggled softly when he mimicked her and pushed away from the counter they'd been eating at. "That tasted like heaven," she replied, still loving the aftertaste of the strange spices on her tongue. She nodded slightly and followed him up to their room. It was a simple yet cozy thing, a bed on either side of the room, a window between them, some comfy-looking chairs in the middle. There was a dresser in the room and, on it, an unlit candle. Mae took one bed and fell onto it, and she was surprised at how soft the mattress was, how warm the blankets. She wrapped herself up in one and looked up at Lochan. "I'm quitting my day job," she told him. "As of right now, I'm becoming a caterpillar. I'll be hiding in my cocoon indefinitely."

But after a few minutes, Mae unrolled herself. She set her bags down and shrugged out of her cloak. She slipped off her boots and socks, and finally, in her leggings and tunic, she lay back down. The fireplace in the entrance room of the inn heated the entire building, and Mae found herself tugging at her tunic, too. She had an undershirt over her brassiere, and Lochan had seen her naked anyway... What did it matter? She pulled her tunic over her head then and sat up in bed, staring at Lochan. He was so far away, on the other side of the room. She turned to her own bed, made for one person but plenty of room for two. She shook her head, not wanting to make things weird. He probably wanted to be alone for a night, and she should finally give that to him. "Right," she murmured, "we should take advantage of these beds. It feels like it's been ages..." She threw her head onto the pillow and wrapped herself up again. "Do sleep well. I'll have that dance by the time you wake."

Midori-Hime
05-20-2019, 12:48 AM
"Hmm, how do you know what heaven tastes like?" He teased, leaning in close to her ear for just a moment. As they entered their room for the night, Lochan paused and looked around in awe. "Wow, this is... really nice." He said, impressed by the space and the cozy looking furniture, not to mention the beds. Though there was one thing that was a little disappointing, Lochan realized as he noticed the beds at the opposite ends of the room.

He chuckled as Mae flopped down onto her chosen bed and then 'cocooned' herself in the blankets. "Alright then, Madame Butterfly~" He said with a grin, moving over to claim the opposite bed as his. He put down his bag and sat back on his bed with a soft, blissful groan. "Ahh, yes... I do think I share your sentiment." He sighed, laying his head back on his hands. He then glanced up at Mae and blushed a little, seeing her just as she pulled off her tunic. It brought back memories of thier first night at the inn, though things had been a little more dire then.

"R-right..." He murmured then, sitting up to kick off his boots and pull his shirt up over his head, laying it carefully on the chair beside his bed. He didn't seem quite so skinny as when they'd first met, and hopefully with some more training, he'd fill out nicely. He then laid down, slipping under the covers. "Good night, Mae. Sweet dreams." He murmured softly, rolling onto his side to glance over at her from across the dark room. Though try as he might to fall asleep, his mind kept wandering to last night with Mae tucked against him. The smell of her hair and the warmth of her body, and the way she fit so nicely in his arms...

Ashen
05-20-2019, 01:16 AM
The darkness swirled around her, softer even than the blankets covering her body. Mae could take solace in this peaceful quiet. They had been on the road too long, facing too many foes they could not stand against. She wondered where they would go from here, when she would tell him that she wanted to see the Dark One. How long would they continue to travel together like this, finding the small joys in their days? Squinting into the darkness to his side of the room, Mae absently wondered how long she still had with him.

She rolled onto her side and closed her eyes, suddenly picturing a stage. She'd told Lochan she'd have a dance mapped out, and she'd meant it. Quick with her choreography planning, Mae was piecing together footwork and music all in her mind. The voices were quiet as she did so, as if they recognized her excitement and for once wanted to give her piece. She hummed quietly, unconsciously, as she thought out Lochan's moves, how his slender body would look sliding across a stage, with her on an arm... The anticipation kept her wide awake, until she turned over in bed again and saw the glimmer of Lochan's gaze.

He was still awake. "Lochan?" she murmured quietly. "What... what is it?" She sat up in bed, cocked her head. "Having trouble sleeping?" She crawled over to his bed, creeping up on him ever so slowly. "Did I not wear you out enough?" she teased, but a part of her paused. Maybe they could wear each other out more--no. Why did she keep thinking of that? Sobering, she sat by him and awkwardly cleared her throat. "Would cuddling help?" she blurted, knowing it was more for her benefit than his.

Midori-Hime
05-20-2019, 01:44 AM
Even if he was having trouble, he found that it gave him peace to watch Mae sleep from across the room. Knowing she was safe and sound, and warm. Though suddenly her eyes were meeting his and his heart immediately skipped a beat. Damn, he'd been caught, he realized and his cheeks began to flush with embarassment. "A-ah... it's nothing-" He whispered softly, feeling bad as she sat up, not wanting her to fawn over him.

Though as she came over to his bed, he felt his heart pick up the pace. He watched the way the moonlight moved over her as she passed the window and he couldn't look away, breathless at how beautiful she looked. He'd just barely caught her joke. If only... He thought but then quickly shoved it way deep down. Lochan shifted to sit up as Mae sat beside him and he was quiet for a long moment. As much as he wanted to, he wasn't so sure it was going to help him sleep any better.

But as he looked up into her eyes, it was impossible to say no to that. "Perhaps..." He muttered softly, offering her a small smile. He scooted over to give her half the bed and lifted the covers to let her underneath. Tentatively, Lochan laid his arm over her, holding her close as his fingertips lightly and rythmically brushed up and down the soft skin of her arm.

Ashen
05-20-2019, 03:31 AM
Mae was surprised at warm he felt, how nicely his fingers lingered over her bare skin. She was sure her hair was pooling into his face, but he didn't complain. He was so comfortable, and Mae knew she could sleep like this forever, except. "Lochan," she said softly, a mischievous grin splitting her lips. "You're poking me."

She wriggled around to her other side so that she was staring into Lochan's eyes. Her hand cupped his cheek, feeling the warmth it radiated. So nervous around her, yet he was still here. What did that mean? She traced his jaw with her fingers, her other hand placed firmly on his chest. She wanted to ask him a million questions--Are you afraid of me? Are you alright with this? Do you want this as badly as I do?--but she remained silent, looking still into his moonlit eyes. She wanted more than this, this cuddling, this closeness. She wanted to be closer. Her mind wandered to what he'd said earlier, calling this a perfect night. A perfect night for... that? But no, she couldn't subject him to that.

Instead she wrapped her hand behind his head and pulled him into a kiss. She held it a long while, melting into his touch, ever so slightly grinding against his waist. She wanted to show him how she felt, but she wasn't even sure she understood that herself. Several voices within her offered their own opinions: Kiss him harder! Pull him closer! Rip his clothes off already! Just listening to them was making her hot. She pulled away from the kiss, a question on her lips. Suddenly, a hand was at his waist, waiting. Was she really asking him for that? But he wasn't ready. She wasn't ready. But, so hot over her, so kissed by the stars like this, Mae had to admit, the man in bed with her was absolutely gorgeous.

Midori-Hime
05-20-2019, 04:28 AM
Lochan closed his eyes, pressing his face into her dark hair and reveling in her scent. He was so lost in the warmth and comfort of her that he hadn't been paying attention to a little... problem. That is, until Mae suddenly pointed it out. Immediately his eyes widened and he tensed. He didn't know what to say, looking like a deer in headlights as she turned over to face him.

His cheeks were bright red, which was visible even in the darkness of their room. He half expected her to scold him, or at the very least, tease him. But instead, he was startled by the soft hand on his face. Lochan just stared into her eyes in wonder, not sure what to do or say, shivering as those fingertips wandered, the other hand coming to rest on his chest. Could she feel how hard she made his heart pound?

And then she was kissing him and he melted into it with a soft moan. His arms moved to wrap around her, gently pulling her closer and eventually he shifted to lean over her. Lochan squeezed his eyes shut, feeling like his whole body was on fire as Mae started to grind up against him.

"A-ahn, Mae!" He gasped, breathless when they parted. He stared down into her eyes, his own light and glimmering like star fire. He could feel her hand resting there, making him ache. "Please, Mae... If this is just to poke fun... I-I can't take it." He whimpered, hoping this wasn't just another joke like the last time. He hoped it wasn't... He hoped she actually felt this way for him, but he couldn't be sure and it was going to drive him mad unless he got some answers.

Ashen
05-20-2019, 04:53 AM
She could feel it all, the way he drank her, sending little sounds of pleasure waltzing into her ears. He pulled her closer, close enough for Mae to feel the heat, feel the slightest quake. She loved it all, and she wanted more, more signs that he was enjoying this, more signs to keep going.

His words made her giggle. She shoved him down and straddled him, staying just above his waist, not quite willing to sit on him that way yet. She looked down at him, at his whimpers and his squirms, and a dirty grin lit up her face. She pushed her hair behind her ear, revealing her other eye and her marred skin, the parts she kept hidden even from her partners. Leaning by his ear, she whispered, "What'll you do to make me stop?"

Perhaps she was teasing him too much. That thought, ever present, lingered too long, and it made her crawl off of him. She instead opted for laying half-beside him and half-on top of him, her mouth dangerously close to his neck. Her fingers danced down his stomach, resting a moment too long at his waist before riding back up towards his ribs. "I've teased you enough," she said quietly, thinking aloud. "Maybe it's time to stop teasing you and make good on my word, mm?"

She wasn't all that graceful in her question, but she had the best intentions. Mae wasn't going to move any further without his permission, but she wasn't used to asking for it. Anyone she'd brought to bed had, at best, asked her, and at worst, just gone for it, assuming she'd go along. This was new to her, and as she looked over his handsome face, his set jaw, his sparkling eyes, she couldn't help but smile herself. "What's say you and I make this a really perfect night?"

Midori-Hime
05-20-2019, 05:38 AM
Lochan's eyes widened, not even sure what had happened until he was suddenly on his back, looking up at Mae as she straddled him. The way she kept him pinned left him breathless and he shuddered as he watched this goddess sitting on top of him. He was surprised to see her brush her hair back, but eagerly took the opportunity to truly stare into her eyes. The whisper in his ear made him squirm, but as she slid off of him again, he felt his heart drop. So she was just teasing him again?

But no, this time was different. At least he hoped so, the way her continued touches were driving him crazy. His stomach quaked under her fingertips and he met her eyes curiously, trying to comprehend what she was saying. "Mae, I didn't say that to make you feel like you had to... I just-" He swallowed then, searching her eyes. Did she really want him? "Are you... sure? Is this- Am I really what you want?" He breathed, hoping it was true but fearing it wasn't.

Ashen
05-20-2019, 06:31 AM
He was adorable, fidgeting and gawking like he was. Mae rested her head on his shoulder, still tracing his body. His breaths were uneven, and he squirmed under her softest touches. Was this really what she wanted? She turned the question over in her head, considering it for a long while. What had brought this on, anyway? How long had they been traveling together? Was she sure she wanted him? After so short a time? But that was it, wasn't it? She'd spent so long on her own, so long looking for someone to respect her, someone like Lochan. "I've never wanted anyone more," she replied, her voice level, her gaze now trained on him. In the next moment she was on top of him again, pressing her lips into his.

A million thoughts filled her mind, outnumbered only by the millions of voices. She was conflicted; she wanted him yes, but this was wrong. Mae had no business sleeping with a man she'd only just met, but it was more than that. Lochan wasn't like the other men; she didn't want to sleep with him. Rather, she wanted to make love to him, to make the most of this soft bed and this perfect night, and she was sure of that.

But he still seemed so reluctant. She watched his wandering eyes, his nervous demeanor, and she inched off him again. Was she being too forward? Her hair fell back over her face when she moved off of him again. He was hard to read, or she was reading him too hard. Either way, Mae couldn't make a move. "Are you sure?" she asked quietly, almost childishly. "Are you sure you want someone like..." She turned away then, suddenly reminded of her scar, of her magic, of everything that made her a freak. "Someone like me," she finished sadly, then realized she was a fool to push him this far. "We... we don't have to," she murmured. "I'm sorry, I just..." With all her rushing thoughts, she couldn't even finish her sentence.

Midori-Hime
05-21-2019, 12:40 AM
Her words shocked him and he was left speechless, though it didn't matter as a moment later she was claiming his lips again. His hands trembled as they tentatively went her waist, too hesitant to move higher or lower from that position just yet. God, as much as he wanted her, he quickly realized he had no clue what he was even doing. Would he even be able to please her?

He suddenly felt panicked as Mae drew back once more, hoping that she wasn't changing her mind. Perhaps she had come to the same realization that he had? He then blinked, staring up at her with a bewildered gaze. "I've never been more sure..." He breathed, looking to her sadly as she retreated, talking down on herself. He quickly caught her face, gently drawing her to look down at him again. "You don't have to worry about such silly thoughts. You're the most amazing, beautiful, strong woman I've ever met. And I mean every word of that. Of course I want you..." He said softly, smiling up at her as his hand gently caressed her scarred face.

"But Mae, I only want whatever you want to give me..." He said. "If you don't want to-... I understand. I don't mean to pressure you." He said quickly to clarify. "I'm not sure I'd even be... adequate, t-to be perfectly honest." A deep blush flooded his cheeks once more and this time he averted his eyes, which were still glimmering with his desire for her.

Ashen
05-21-2019, 10:07 PM
The way he didn't let her look away, the way he spoke sincerely, all the right words; Mae smiled again. She couldn't believe him--there were far prettier women, far stronger and far less deranged--but she believed that he believed what he was saying, and that alone meant the world to her. She leaned into his touch slowly, knowing he would be feeling the burnt bumps of a mark she'd cursed all her life. Despite that, despite all her insecurities, as she looked down at Lochan, she thought maybe they didn't matter. He was here knowing all he did about her, and that had to mean something.

He was putting himself down, and at that, Mae laughed aloud. "Adequate?" she repeated. Suddenly her fingers were wrapped around him through his pants, and she had a mischievous glimmer in her eye. "Oh trust me, Lochan, I'd say this is adequate." Her fingers moved along him gently though expertly, and she kept her eyes trained on his. "You're new to this," she murmured, more a reminder to herself. "That's almost endearing, in a way. I'm honored. It's a good thing we've got you in good hands then, literally." She smirked, watching the way he reacted to her touch, knowing that she was only just getting started.

Suddenly Mae stopped her motions, her fingers lingering now at his waist once more. She looked at his expression, studying it. She wanted to be absolutely sure he wanted this. She was willing to go gentle for him, and she found it amusing, if not sweet, that she'd probably have to show him what to do, but in a way, she appreciated that. There'd be a bond there, a memory permanently etched into his mind, of her​. She leaned down into his ear, leaving her voice to send him shivering. "I want you, Lochan."

Midori-Hime
08-30-2019, 02:26 AM
The warm light of the afternoon filtered through the window, shining across Lochan's face. He squinted, closing his eyes tighter before turning his head into a pool of dark, silky hair. He breathed in the pleasant scent with a deep sigh. He felt so warm and content in a way that he couldn't ever recall feeling before. Though it wasn't until he tried to move his arm that he realized there was a weight on it. He tried to shift again, but limbs were tangled with his, feeling something shift it's weight beside him.

Immediately his eyes opened, momentarily startled by the sleeping goddess beside him. Lochan's eyes wandered over her peaceful sleeping face as last night's events came flooding back to him in a pleasant reverie. If it weren't for Mae's bare form wrapped up in his arms, he would have written it all off as some beautiful dream... But that had really happened? He and Mae... They-

Suddenly Lochan's cheeks warmed and lightly he traced his fingertips up along the soft skin of her waist up to her shoulder. His fingertips stroked lightly over her skin, admiring her sleeping face. He remembered he'd told Mae that he loved her... And even though she hadn't answered, she hadn't rejected him either. He hoped that perhaps the way they'd made love had been enough of an answer to how Mae felt about him. But would that all change once she opened her eyes? Lochan's brows furrowed slightly at that thought. For now he just reveled in this feeling of waking up with the woman he loved resting in his arms.

Ashen
09-05-2019, 03:52 PM
Mae's sleep was restful, her dreams quiet. The voices that often filled her nightmares were now only whispers, soft and sweet against the petals of her subconsciousness. They spoke of warmth, of a man they wanted to hold, an embrace they never wanted to let go, and feelings that blossomed across every inch of her body.

She blinked awake to find fingers tracing her body. Mae arched a brow, turning her gaze down towards the arm reaching over her. She smiled warmly. Lochan was still here. Pale and perfect against the sheets, he was watching her, deep in thought. She reached out to cup his face, meeting his gaze with smiling eyes. "Good morning," she chirped quietly. She pulled him closer, melting into a hug she hadn't known she'd missed. Thoughts from last night circled in her mind, comforting her like the warmest blanket. She'd been in bed with dozens of men, but last night was new, was different, was perfect.

Mae sat up in bed and turned to the window in the room. It was morning, time for them to start out on their adventure again. She glanced back towards Lochan, a pain in her eyes. After everything that had transpired, it almost felt blasphemous to chase the Black Dragon. Mae bit her lip, not wanting to get up. Her entire life had been devoted to getting her answers, and what usually filled her with joy now felt... wrong. The man she'd been with, the man curled up beside her, had he so easily changed her resolve? No, she told herself, she was not going to give up on everything she wanted because of Lochan. Even if it pained him, she had to do this for her.

Gathering up her clothes, Mae moved the hair back over her eye and sighed. "I hope you slept well," she said softly. "Hope I didn't tire you out too much, mm? We've got places to see." She cast a mischievous glance over her shoulder. "Besides, I don't know about you, but I am starving."

Midori-Hime
09-28-2019, 02:53 AM
Lochan paused suddenly as she opened her eyes, wondering if perhaps that kind of touch wasn't welcome. But then she was reaching out to him, holding his cheek, and Lochan smiled back warmly. "Morning~" He hummed and as Mae pulled him closer, her wrapped him arms around her and pulled her even closer still. His arms encircled her in a warm embrace as he buried his face in her dark hair with a content sigh, not wanting to ever let go.

However, he quickly pouted as Mae drew away from him, sitting up and looking to thier window. Damn sun... Why couldn't it stay night forever? Lochan watched her softly the way she looked, bare, bathing in the sunlight that poured in from the window. Though her expression caught him off guard and immediately he sat up, reaching for her, but she was standing before he could. He didn't get the chance to ask what was wrong, when everything seemed perfectly fine all of a suddenly. He only hoped there wasn't a part of her that regretted this. But with that flirty glance, Lochan brushed his worries aside for now.

"Y-yeah, I could eat." He breathed with a warm grin, watching her for just a moment longer before sliding out of bed to find his clothes. Even after everything that had happened between them last night, Lochan was still awfully shy, attempting to hold the sheets to cover himself as he struggled to get his clothes on. Eventually he just had to turn away and try to yank on his pants quickly.

Ashen
09-29-2019, 07:19 AM
Soon, they were both up and ready to start their day. Mae didn't bother teasing Lochan on the way he hid from her, only thinking it was her fault and that, maybe, she had done something wrong, but she didn't spend too long dwelling. Instead, she set about tidying the room, lazily throwing the sheets back onto the bed in a presentable manner and straightening the furniture that they'd moved. Once the room looked presentable enough, she set out with Lochan to find some breakfast.

They wandered outside after dropping off their key with the innkeep. Now, in the bright hours of morning, people scurried down the streets. Everyone had somewhere to be, and their stay in this town was over. The two of them set off westwards, Mae leading the way, heading towards the wilderness where, hopefully, they would be able to find their own meal.

"I'm in the mood for something gamy," she announced. She unsheathed the sword at her hip and absently juggled it between her hands. "Some venison would be lovely, but I don't know what we can find around here. Maybe even some birds of prey..." Her mouth watered as she thought of the different meats, but she shook her head. She couldn't be picky, and she was sure, hungry as she was, she would settle for anything.

It didn't take long for them to find a boar, an unusually small creature just big enough to feed them both. It was killed easily, roasted well, and cut in half to be shared between them. Mae took her time savoring hers, thinking no better breakfast could exist. When her meal was done, she turned to Lochan, a question in her eyes. She wanted to seek the Dark One, but perhaps that could wait. "Where would you like to go?" she asked. Delaying her trip a few days, if just to spend time with Lochan, would be alright, she was sure. She'd waited this long, anyway. Besides, she was enjoying the company of her friend--was he a friend?--too much to let him go just yet.