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Post by Khalidah Leaf-Fall on Jul 6, 2013 0:20:04 GMT -5
Khalidah lifted her eyes slightly when Brier sat down at the table across from her but then she cast her eyes down again the moment he asked if she was alright. She would have admitted to him that she should not have shouted at Peregrine like that... should not have threatened him like that.... but the little brat had parked his royal ass down at her table and proceeded to steal her steak away from under her nose. There had been only one steak on the table and now he had helped himself to it and eaten half of it. That was it! He deserved whatever threatening she dished out. Khalidah stood up, snatched up her dagger and stabbed it down into the steak with a slam... even the plate cracked beneath the blade
“Listen here you brat. That was for me....” she hissed, glaring at the young prince. “Next time you will want to think twice about taking a meal that belonged to a vampire. Unless you want your neck to be on the menu instead. Next time you think to steal a piece of meat from under my nose without asking if it's for you first.... this blade will go through your hand”.
With that Khalidah withdrew the blade and ordered a second steak.
“Order your own food from now on”, she added with a snap.
Khalidah ate her steak, making sure to keep it away from Peregrine in the eventuality that he might want to steal that one from her too. Really, Peregrine SHOULD have noticed that it was intended for her when it was just one piece of meat on a plate with no vegetables. Earth calling Peregine... she needed it for the blood. Idiot. She was bored with meat... always bored with it, despite the necessity of eating it. She always had to eat red meat because it was bloody... unlike chicken or fish. She'd rather eat fish. But no, Khalidah needed red meat.... or pure blood. The meat was enough to sedate her blood thirst for the time being until she could go hunting for a large enough animal that would not be overly harmed due to blood loss.... like a moose or a bear. A bear would be a challenge.... but it all depended on the local wildlife though. There was no way that Khalidah would allow herself to hunt while in town... there were too many tasty human necks available. The hybrid shook her head, focusing again. NO! Khalidah would not bite a human... no, never... she couldn't risk it. Having someone screaming out her presence as a 'vampire' was already drawing too much unwanted attention.
The woman lifted her gaze to Brier's face again by the time she had finished her steak, though she dared not look him directly in the eyes. “I apologize for what you witnessed before Brier... I'm afraid that a mix of my anger and my vampiric nature got the better of me.... I'm a pacifist at heart, but at times I loose control”, she explained, sincerely hoping that he was not afraid of her. Yes, she was dangerous... but she had a good heart underneath it all. Most of all she didn't want anyone to be afraid of her. “But my patience runs thin with my companion much of the time, and he does not care that he does either.”
Khalidah added a harsh glare at Peregrine. Friendship be damned for now. Sticking his nose into her business and stealing her food was not on, not matter what might have been between them.
“I guess by now you've figured out that we haven't been completely honest with you”, she offered up to Brier, looking away from Peregrine... refusing to speak to him now. “I admit that I am not high born, and he is not my indentured servant. Part of the way I was acting was an false... however, I do talk like the high born in polite society, but when my anger gets up I revert back to the way of my class. In truth I am a merchant's daughter”.
Khalidah finally made eye contact with Brier again. The hybrid straightened her back, trying to maintain a sense of dignity and pride – ever the Sidhe. Sidhe were regal creatures, and Khalidah was not about to let her true species down now that she was half vampire. She carried herself with pride much of the time... the only reason she had been slouching because Khalidah had been in a momentary sense of vulnerability. “But I never lied. I really do need to get back to Teumnach, I've been out this way for far too long. Him.... he's trying to get home too, but he's full of lies. And he deserves whatever teasing you have in store for him”.
A small smile tweaked up the corner of her lips. “I hear that you wish to discuss my offer further?”
Then Khalidah remembered seeing Brier's wolfhound limping earlier. “Is your wolfhound alright? I have some healing talents... I could take a look at him, or any of your animals if they need some healing tended to. To repay you.... for earlier.”
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Post by Marcell Brier on Jul 10, 2013 0:33:12 GMT -5
road to ruin A princess? Brier didn't quite believe Jack, but he was too rattled by the whole event to do more than give him a patronizing smile; he figured he could make it up to him later, if they saw each other again. He didn't know whether to be relieved or distressed when Jack told him that this behaviour was normal for Khali, but upon hearing everything the young man had to say, he settled on neither. It didn't sound to Brier like Jack cared at all for his companion, and it set him to wondering what their relationship really was, and briefly he considered the possibility that Jack really was a thief. Surely only a hardened criminal could care that little for someone he had clearly spent at least several days with. Brier did hope he was bullshitting about Khali being a virgin; he hadn't a problem with be a woman's first anything, but he liked to know about it beforehand. At least they hadn't gotten past the kiss. ----- Khali Did not answer him at first; instead, she laid into Jack for a second time, and Brier kept himself out of it, not particularly interested in their squabbles. When she had finished, he turned to look at the other man, and raised an eyebrow. "You have judgement for us? Didn't you just tell me that you sucked on some princess's face outside her daddy's fortified castle?" Brier would not deny that he deserved to be judged, and not just for kissing Khali, but he could be just as catty as Jack, and he was damned if he was going to let that little brat have all the fun. He wrapped an arm around Jack, and offered him the same patronizing smile from earlier, "Now, are you sure it was the scullery maid?" He asked in a taunting big-brother tone. Looking back at Khali, Brier shook his head, "Don't apologize," he grinned wickedly, "I fully understand. This fine fellow here seems to get on everyone's nerves, eh? Maybe you should just eat 'im."It kind of stung to hear her brush her behaviour off as entirely driven by bloodlust and rage, since it sounded like she was adding their kiss into that explanation as well, and it wounded his pride, some. But he shook it off and showed no signs of it; he wasn't one for that emotional garbage anyway. Besides, now she was getting to the good part, and he listened with genuine interest as she explained the truth, or at least some of it, he didn't quite trust her to tell him everything. So she was a merchant's daughter, that was no surprise, now that she was speaking normally; but he still didn't know who Jack was, and really, he was the interesting one. 'Full of lies' told him nothing, obviously, though just to hear it out loud did make him more eager to needle it out of the boy. "So what about this princess, Jack? Will you bring her 'round to meet us soon? I'm not comfortable letting you date if your mother and I haven't at least met the girl." Actually, he really was sort of curious to meet this princess of Jack's. "Yes, our little incident encouraged me to reconsider your offer," Brier answered, and prepared to continue, but she interrupted him. He smiled affectionately at her and nodded. "I would greatly appreciate it, and so would he, I'm sure. He's isn't badly injured, the paw is only bruised, but I doubt he can walk far like that. Excuse me, I'll bring him in." He stood and walked out the door, to where his dogs and The Cat were clustered together. He beckoned the hound to follow, and the dog limped over to the table, and promptly slid down onto the floor beside it, looking at Jack and Khali with curmudgeonly suspicion. Sitting back down, Brier thanked Khali once again, and turned his attention back to Jack. "So, what's your real name?" |
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Post by Peregrine Alexander on Jul 10, 2013 0:59:07 GMT -5
Peregrine was having none of it. In one fluid motion, he leaped to his feet, drew his dagger from his belt and held it under the lobe of her ear, where the skin was sensitive. He didn’t cut her, but he held it in a place he knew she knew would sting if he so much as twitched his wrist, all why he gulped down the last piece of steak he had been chewing in peace until her oh-so-dramatic entrance.
“Don’t sass me!” He shot back, in the sassiest voice possible. After the moment had passed, he returned to his seat and resumed eating as if nothing had happened. He was treating her like a child throwing a tantrum, thinking that if he ignored her dramatics, they would eventually go away. It’s what he would have done, if he had been someone else dealing with his dramatics; he didn’t have the time to keep crying about one thing and would go on to different tactics until he got his way. It was one of the many things he had learned growing up as a prince. Of course, he also thought that the entire world revolved around him and all other people functioned the same way he did…another fallacy he had come to accept as truth through his upbringing as a member of the royal family.
“Finally!” He rejoiced, as Khalidah admitted that he wasn’t her indentured servant. “I have been victimized! I have been wronged!” He cried, dramatically, waving his hands in the air before returning to sarcastically eating his stake, a bit of a smug grin on his face. No matter how many tantrums Khalidah threw or how many bearded men she made out with, life was good as long as he was no one’s servant, indentured or otherwise. As she turned back to Beardy, Peregrine finished his stake and lost himself in his ale, thinking back to Adriana. She had the deepest green eyes he had ever seen, and he had seen many a pretty pair. He was rather obsessed with his own eyes, and he had always found their electric turquoise coloring to be striking, but there was a certain fiery quality in hers that was different from the fiery quality in his. He supposed it was because the fire was kept on a short leash behind her eyes, while his got up in everyone’s business.
“I heard that.” He said. ”He’s,” He gestured at Beardy with his ale mug, “Not exactly a basket of truths either, I’ll wager.” He turned back to his ale, which he found to be disappointingly watered-down until he was interrupted from his thoughts again.
“Oh, you might catch a glimpse of her when we—“ He indicated Khalidah and himself, “Leave.”
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Post by Khalidah Leaf-Fall on Jul 10, 2013 7:01:21 GMT -5
Khalidah maintained a calm demeanour about her when Peregrine had placed his own dagger to her neck and demanded that she should not 'sass' him. Oh, she would... and at every turn she got. She would give as good as she got when it came to this royal brat she had found herself in the company of. Truth, she regarded him as a friend.... but he was still a pain in the ass and constant hindrance. The sooner he got a reality check the better. She would sass him as much as she bloody well liked, and, Prince or not, there was nothing he could do to stop her. She said naught to him as he sat down in a sulk, ignoring her as much as she ignored him. Sure, they were acting like siblings... but Khalidah had dealt with worse: her brothers. Identical twins and regular pranksters, this little prince had nothing on them.... and Khalidah had a better bond with them than she did with this brat.
She had to cover up a snort of laughter at Brier's catty remark about judgement with a cough, though the smirk that crossed her lips betrayed her. Yes, she certainly found him amusing. Especially with all the teasing he was poking at Peregrine with. Ah, he had reconsidered.... but what happened to the 'travel alone' line he had countered with. And what had changed his mind... the fight, or the kiss? If it was the fight, then he was certainly in store for plenty with those with Khalidah and Peregrine being fugitives, and Khalidah being half vampire (which was revealed in such an undignified matter by the village people) would undoubtedly draw the odd vampire hunter or ten, to 'extinguish the evil' that she so 'clearly' has become. Honestly, she wasn't a demon... though she did consider herself one hell of a monster.
“I heard that.”
Khalidah glanced back at Peregrine as he shot up at her comment about him being full of lies. Well, he was... calling himself Jack, and a theif, and she doubted the story of the princess too. But she would be surprised if he was telling the truth too. Still, that would be a hair brained idea.... of all the fool hardy things he could have done to attract attention to themselves. The pretty little idiot was creating things that would inevitably cause trouble for them.
“You were meant to”, she countered before resuming ignoring him once again.
“For the record Brier. Our incident earlier was not associated with my vampiric side. If you allow the distinction, it was more associated with my natural Sidhe state”, she assured him as an afterthought that she really should separate out the kiss from her anger directed at Peregrine that the Nymph-Goblin had witnessed, they were two completely different incidents, and two very different moments and reasons behind her behaviour. But for the life of her she still couldn't figured out why she had even kissed Brier.... all she knew was that she had enjoyed it. But she hid her startle well when Brier claimed that he wanted to see this Princess that Peregrine had managed to find... and then Peregrine said that he might catch a glimpse when they leave.
“Are you insane?” she hissed at Peregrine through her teeth, keeping her voice low so that only he could hear her. “You're bringing a princess with us?”
Khalidah ran a hand through her hair. “You pretty little idiot... of all the....” She didn't finish the insulted, clenching her fists and breathing deeply to regain her composure.
The Sidhe-Vampire returned her attention to Brier with a smile.
“If you have indeed reconsidered my offer, then you are be quite welcome. Maybe not by him, but I would welcome the company. A decent conversation with a fellow merchant is quite refreshing”, she stated warmly. “I find you quite amusing, and a rather charming fellow”.
Khalidah smiled at the wolfhound on the floor, sliding off her seat to kneel beside it. She moved slowly, speaking to the hound softly in the ancient tongue as she asked it which paw had been injured. She gently took the paw into her hands, holding it for a few moments before letting go. There was no chanting, herbs or glowing lights.... just healing. It was all very subtle. Afterwards she set out inspecting and healing whatever other cuts and scrapes the hound and suffered, healing them as she went, by the time she was finished the hound was in a better state than he had been when Khalidah had started.
Khalidah had only just managed to sit back on her seat when her own wolves rejoined the group, regarding the wolfhound curiously. After investigating, Hania decided to resume his previous position under the table, not even caring about Brier's tender ankles that would have made an excellent chew toy, though he didn't like the prince much... maybe he could chew on him instead? Kachina, however, continued to sniff at the hound. Ever the playful and loveable female, Kachina hardly surprised Khalidah when the wolf pounced at the hound, her front legs stretched out in front while her rear end was raised up, her tail wagging like she was an overgrown pup.
“Seems that even your hound has made a fan out of Kachina, Brier”, Khalidah laughed slightly at the display. Kachina wanted to play with the new hound.
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Post by Marcell Brier on Jul 13, 2013 1:14:15 GMT -5
road to ruin Brier put on his innocent face, "I have been nothing but truthful this whole time." Which was technically true. But Jack was technically right, too. As the two of them continued to squabble, he wondered if perhaps he should pretend his change of heart was to give them a map to Teumnach, and get lost before saddling himself with them for that long journey. But Khali chased those thoughts away by assuring him that their little "incident" as she called it, was in fact not something she seemed to regret. Though she also didn't seem to know how to process it. Well then, he had to go with them, didn't he? Someone had to teach the vampire faerie the joys of physical contact. “Oh, you might catch a glimpse of her when we— Leave.” Brier blinked in surprise, he was bringing her along? Was that legal? What parent in their mind would let that guy carry their daughter off? Brier had never gotten away with that! Damn it. He found himself nodding in agreement with Khali; of course the little prick was insane! You could see it in his eyes, he was a total nutjob. He started sniggering, but made no comment; he was going to save all his cheek for the road, where the princess could hear everything. Bwahaha. The wolfhound was wary of the woman, unsure what she was up to, but he allowed her to do it at Brier's insistence, and he sighed deeply as Khali held his paw. As she tended to all the other minor bumps and scrapes he'd acquired over the past few days, he told Brier grudgingly that yes, she was an acceptable not-dog. When the wolves returned, Brier watched the male closely, making sure he didn't bite as he went under the table; the last thing they needed was his hound tackling the wolves. Khali's comment startled Brier, and he looked back in time to see the hound up against the wall, staring daggers at the she-wolf, "Ah, he isn't friendly. And he's a wolfhound. She might be better off playing with the other two, they're more inclined to be civil."Glowering, the hound made his way outside, to take up his vigil by the door. Brier stuck his hand out toward Kachina and wiggled his fingers in an invitation for ear scratching, to make up for the hound's rejection. "So as I was saying, I've reconsidered your offer, and would like to invite myself into your travel group. Though normally I prefer only the company of my animals, it would be nice to converse with another merchant. It's been rather a long time since I've had humanoid companions." He looked at Jack, "And of course, Jack and I have become such dear friends, he's even given my a nickname! I don't think we could handle such a long time apart."(( omg, think of the epic hybrid baby Khali and Brier could have. Peregrine could be the god-daddy! And yes, I know she's not technically a vampire FAERIE, but it sounded funny. And it's Brier. )) |
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Post by Peregrine Alexander on Jul 13, 2013 3:27:51 GMT -5
"Shhh!" The prince said, condescendingly. "The princess will be fiiinneee." He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture in their direction. He made his point of showing how much he didn't care about their princess-related concerns by cutting another piece of meat off his steak and inserting it into his mouth. He ate delicately, carefully, like someone who had been groomed by a table manners couch when he was a young boy would. In order words, he ate like a prince, and it showed, if one knew what they were looking for.
He finished chewing the meat in his mouth before he spoke, but he wasted no time in turning his entire body to fix Beardy with a look dripping in sarcasm. Swallowing his food, he made a kissy face at the man before speaking. "Oh honey-baby, I love you so! Let us always be together, my love!" And then he blew a kiss at him and returning to his food.
"Yeah, he's not coming with us."
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Post by Khalidah Leaf-Fall on Jul 13, 2013 11:17:37 GMT -5
Khalidah Minuialwen Leaf-Fall 
“Oh wonderful, so not only do I have to keep you alive, but a princess too. My job isn't getting any easier it seems....” Khalidah sighed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes at Brier. Surely her fellow trader would understand her exasperation over the situation. With her luck for danger, travelling with them was no place for a princess. Sure, Khalidah could fight, and heal, rather well.... but she still didn't want to be saving the lives of TWO royals every hour or so.
Even Khalidah felt bad for Kachina when the wolfhound glared at the she-wolf, making her cower beneath his gaze with a faint whine. The white female was the far more sociable of the two wolves and was easily disappointed when anyone refused to play with her... while her mate, Hania, was more socially recluse – he preferred to be left alone; though he tolerated Kachina's playful advances since they were a mated pair. But the wolves could agree on one thing: Brier was alright, after all he had assisted saving Khalidah's precious life from the guard that was now a corpse. Sure the orange cat had done the actual deed, but they had sought Brier out to aid the woman. They didn't like Peregrine though, they glared at him as much as he glared at them... even Hania had taken to giving him a nip on the leg occasionally just to see the boy yelp. But no, he had no interest in using Brier as a chew-toy any longer, resigning to curl up and fall asleep with a heavy groan.
Kachina however not only accepted the ear scratch that Brier offered but actually jumped up onto the bench beside him and leaned into him, slobbering at his face and rubbing her head against his – giving him what was her version of an enthusiastic cuddle. Kachina liked this humanoid. She was a little short of brain cells half the time, but she had noticed that Khalidah was far friendlier with this one than the other humanoid male – and he was going to be travelling with them now, so that made him a pack member to her (in her mind). Plus he smelt like a dog, anyone that smelt like a canine was probably acceptable.
Khalidah laughed at the display, smiling brightly at it. She had never seen Kachina so enthusiastic about anyone before, aside from herself of course.
“She certainly likes you”, she commented, standing up to walk around the table and push Kachina off Brier. “Alright, settle down you overgrown pup”.
Kachina slunk off the bench to slink under the table and curl up at Brier's feet instead. Khalidah however leant against the side of the table rather than heading back to her side of the table, after all her blood lust was reasonably under control now that she could cope with being close range to people again.
The sidhe-vampire could hardly stop herself when she raised an eyebrow at Peregrine's false flirting towards Brier. What was that? No seriously, what was that?! Khalidah knew that it had all been an act and sarcasm in response to Brier's own tormenting about their state of 'friendship'. The whole display between them was very amusing but seriously... what on earth?
“Something you're not telling us?” she piped up at the display with a smirk. Khalidah simply could not resist from playing out a little bit of cheek at that. “For shame Jack, cheating on your princess already? You better hope she isn't the jealous type”.
Jealousy could be a dangerous thing in the hands of a woman, especially those that had fiery hearts. Khalidah was amongst the latter, but she had never had a reason to be jealous. And she still had no reason.
"Yeah, he's not coming with us."
Khalidah rolled her eyes again at Brier with a grin.
“Quamdiu putas non futurum, quod antea prorsus figurae prohibere te?” she asked Brier in the ancient tongue, knowing full well that Peregrine wouldn't understand a single word of it. Besides, Khalidah had every right to invite Brier along... he attracted less attention than a princess would. While he was an attractive fellow, true enough, he didn't seem the type to carry a 'higher than thou' presence and attitude. He seemed rather down to earth more than anything else.
Wait.... had she just admitted to herself that he was attractive? While she wasn't usually one for facial hair, it did give him a rugged look that was rather pleasing to the eye, in her opinion, and there were other features that drew her attention – such as his curly dark auburn hair and striking blue eyes. Stop it Khalidah! She snapped her gaze away from him when she figured that she had been looking at him for far too long... borderline between staring and downright perving. The there was that kiss from before... Khalidah had to admit that she had enjoyed it... and part of her was furious that Peregrine had interrupted it, but she was also very hesitant and uncertain about what could have potentially followed. Get a grip Khalidah! A faint red tint brushed across her pale cheeks at the thought of the kiss and at her other thoughts.
Peregrine WAS right earlier in stating that Khalidah was a virgin, and Brier was equally correct in assuming that Khalidah didn't know how to process the fact of the kiss she had shared with Brier earlier. She was not naive of the world, she knew perfectly well what the notions of love, lust and sex were all about – it was just something unusual for it to be directed at her for once, considering her usual ideas on the subject. Khalidah did not believe in love, somewhat, her parents had loved each other once, but twelve years of marriage had not saved their relationship. Khalidah occasionally felt that she was the one to blame for it all; how could she not when they had split apart mere months after she had returned home from the academy. Had they been happier without her?
Khalidah snapped herself out of the past and plastered a warm smile on her features to hide her thoughts as she returned her gaze to Brier.
“Et cum iam non sum in mundo, nisi crucis species, aliud nosse dolor sit ... et unus ex patria”, she continued in the ancient tongue. It would nice to use her native language again, for the last few years she had only ever used it when addressing her wolves, but she was pleased to be able to converse to another Teumnach national that would, hopefully, know the language.
TRANSLATIONS:
“Quamdiu putas non futurum, quod antea prorsus figurae prohibere te?” - How long do you think it will take before he figures out that he can't exactly stop you? - LATIN
“Et cum iam non sum in mundo, nisi crucis species, aliud nosse dolor sit ... et unus ex patria ?” - And since I am no longer the only species-cross in our world, it will be interesting to get to know another one... and one from my own country. - LATIN
((Yep, using Latin as a writing aid for the “ancient tongue”. And OMG Ormanda, that would be the Mutt of all species Mutts if they did. LOL. I'm suddenly having flashbacks to the mutant dragon-donkey babies from Shrek... AWESOME!))
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