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Post by MARQUIS ESPERANZA on Jan 3, 2011 1:48:52 GMT -5
How he hated idleness, stillness, restlessness. It was a waste of time in his eyes but there wasn’t much else he could do. This was one of those rare opportunities that Marquis allowed himself to lower his guard. After stripping himself bare, he strode towards the already prepared bath before climbing inside and sighing in content. Marquis hated comfort, the warmth of the water loosed his muscles and began releasing the soreness present throughout his body. Marquis was a warrior, his body trained from birth to be resilient. However, all the training in the world couldn’t prepare him for that night. Whilst out on their daily hunt they encountered a dragon, taking notice of its youth Marquis sent forth his most junior members to dispatch the creature. Little did they know that the young dragon was really apart of a much larger family of dragons that quickly became aware of their family members situation and moved in to save him. Before anything could be done they where surrounded. After disabling several dragon Marquis narrowly intercepted an attack that would have killed one of the apprentices at the expense of being practically mauled in half. The blow knocked him off his feet, and despite his mind telling his body otherwise it refused to cooperate. He was exhausted, haven’t not slept or eaten in days his body looking for an excuse to drop over dead.
He grimaced it his scared body, pathetic. What kind of leader was he if he couldn’t even look after himself? They almost died because of his negligence. The apprentices didn’t seem disappointed in him however, more in awe that he took a blow from a dragon head-on and lived. “Maybe I’m just lucky…” Whatever the reason was he wasn’t dead so Marquis must be doing something right. Despite the comfort he was feeling from the water Marquis knew couldn’t allow himself to become content with guilty pleasures such as a warm bath. Such things only proved as a weakness, he needn’t become attached to anything because within seconds it could be taken away. Climbing out of the bath Marquis grabbed hold a towel and tied it around his waist before draining the water. Until the others returned Marquis really had nothing else to do. Currently anchored at a small port town by the name of Escalia most of the slayers had already disembarked the ship (the Mona Lisa, their sloop-of-war) and gone into town for both supplies and information about the dragon academies. How troubling, he would have to inform His Holiness about this recent turn of events by letter soon. Marquis heard the subtle sounds of the few remaining deckhands on boards as they scurried about the ship from inside his cabin. He was half tempted to accent to the top deck if only to find something to do but Marquis knew he’d only get in their way.
Reluctantly he remained down here and was about to punch something out of frustration when he heard something. Battle instincts immediately coming into effect Marquis brandished a small dagger and held it as he tried to pinpoint the source of the disturbance. The closet! Creeping over towards the closed closet Marquis opened it and looked inside fully intending on slitting whose ever throat that was inside slayer or no.
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Post by ALEXEI DRYSTAN on Jan 3, 2011 17:00:04 GMT -5
Absalom already disliked the fact that Alexei, his Dragon Rider companion, had taken on a job of a spy, yet again, when she had forsworn it after getting caught back in Ethaia. But, Alexei couldn’t turn down a fair sum of money when it was staring you right in the face. The man, a bit shady, had come to Alexei after hearing about her being outlawed. Despite the fact that Alexei herself could possibly betray this man, he asked her to go on a job. Alexei had almost refused, until he had pulled out the money he was willing to pay her. Still, she almost said no, ‘almost’ being the key word, until she heard some more information about this job. Something she wasn’t expecting to hear was the word ‘Dragonslayer.’ Alexei, being an Ex-Dragon Rider, had found that word curious. Dragonslayer could only mean one thing: someone who went around killing off dragons. Ultimately, that put Absalom at risk, and Absalom was like her other half. She wasn’t going to travel on her own while on the run from the law and not know anything about these people that killed dragons for a living. So, she took the job.
Alexei had followed the man’s lead that the Dragonslayers were in Escalia, a small port town in Thevia. While it was dangerous for Alexei to be in Thevia, just as much as it was Ethaia, she had come to the small port town without any problems. The ship the Dragonslayers were using had been rather easy to sneak onto. When she had arrived, majority of the inhabitants were gone. Just a few guys to sneak by, and she had descended below deck safely. Alexei hadn’t been willing to search every cabin she had found, but the room with the most information was the one she was in now. Having searched the room carefully, Alexei couldn’t believe that this room belong to any Dragonslayer. There wasn’t much information lying about, but taking in small details of both the ship, crew, and cabin, Alexei could tell something strange was going on. She had only touched a few small items and papers, nothing notable that could be taken in as being misplaced. After all, being a thief as well as a spy, she was used to sneaking about. Still, on that note, Alexei could not believe that she had now sunk so low as to hide under the bed. A bed, of all places!
On the other hand, it meant her safety. After a long while of searching the ship and finally landing herself in this room, she had heard quite a lot of activity back up on the top of the deck. Alexei hadn’t thought much of it, trusting her skills, until she had heard footsteps outside the door. She had rolled underneath the bed quickly and easily to hide herself, and resorted to holding her breath when her visitor had entered the room. After a short amount of time, he had gone to take a bath. Alexei had thought of leaving and sneaking out; but she wasn’t getting paid for nothing. Closing her eyes, Alexei had waited out the bath, and when he had exited, watched his footsteps. When his feet had faced away from her, she pulled a coin out of her satchel, and aiming it carefully, flicked it towards the closet. It hit the edge of the closet, making a loud enough sound to draw the man’s attention, and ended up rolling underneath. With the man focused on the sound, she watched his feet make their way over to the closet, opening the door.
With the door opened, Alexei rolled out quietly from her spot underneath the bed. Reaching in her satchel, she pulled out a small dagger. On her tiptoes, she crept forward, placing the dagger at the small of the man’s back, the dagger’s tip pressing against his skin. “I won’t waste time by saying anything tacky, but I must ask, do you happen to know any Dragonslayers?” Alexei asked quietly, risking losing her life. She had already given herself up, why not go all the way?
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words; 691
tagged; Marquis (aka Mar)
notes; No closet-popping for Alex :]
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Post by MARQUIS ESPERANZA on Jan 3, 2011 19:55:09 GMT -5
There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Which troubled him, Marquis was certain he heard something! Noticing an unfamiliar flicker on the ground Marquis crouched down and grabbed the small metallic object from the floor. “Interesting,” he didn’t recognize the coin though it was obviously currency of some sort. The question was, “What’s this doing here?” After closing shut the closet door Marquis moved to turn around only to meet a rather sharp resistance. “I won’t waste time by saying anything tacky, but I must ask, do you happen to know any Dragonslayers?” Ah, this situation made much more sense now.
The individual was obviously female, or a very feminine sounding male. For his sanity, Marquis hoped it was a female. Also, judging from where the dagger was placed she was rather short, at least when compared to him anyway. He had nothing to fear from this woman, a novice perhaps even intermediate at best but not a professional. With the lack of intimidation and fear he was feeling from this unknown assailant Marquis instead decided to humor her by playing dumb. “Dragonslayers? Those are nothing more then myth and fairytale. Don’t tell me you snuck on-board my ship, likely killed off my crew thinking that we where all Dragonslayers?”
He laughed for good measure, though was honestly concerned with the crew. "I'm but a simple merchant, though I have been ferrying people about lately. Some of them I suppose could be considered dragonslayer...ish your free to example my logbook later if you wish." The Knights where out along with most of the apprentices, the only ones remaining on the ship where novices and himself.
“Your obviously here for a reason, you don’t seem like a person that would sneak onboard a ship because it was the ‘right thing to do’ someone must have put you up to this. Probably Marc’Anthony…his always trying to undermine my shipping by stealing all my contacts. Why, just a fortnight ago he had me imprisoned because apparently I was a smuggler for the Elves importing rare enchanted items without paying the hefty taxes. I have you know I run a perfectly legitimate business!” Dropping the dagger onto the floor as a sign that he meant no harm he slowly retreated from the blade before turning around to face her.
“Why, aren’t you a beautiful lass…Alexander Von Honeywell at your service.” Giving a bow he moved to kiss her hand before remembering the fact that she was still very much armed. “Whatever Anthony has paid you I’ll double no triple it!” Of course, he wasn’t going to do such a thing. In fact, if she wasn’t an unfortunate middle man in the ever-growing suspension towards him and his order he’d kill her and toss her body overboard. “Please, have a drink…” Walking over towards bar Marquis took out two glasses and began to fill them up with a special brew the slayers liked to called, ‘Spitfire…’ It was an interesting drink to say the least. In fact it could be considered poison rather then a beverage. Dragon’s venom, blood, hidden by the flavor of alcohol it’s quite warming and also quite deadly if you drink too much. Having drunken it many times before Marquis needn’t worry about dying but for his guest it would render her unconscious.
Offering her a glass Marquis took a sip of the other one shuddering slightly as the warm poisonous liquid seeped down his throat. “Now, Miss….I apologize but I don’t know your name…we where discussing how you where hired by Anthony. You see despite being ‘friendly’ to one another for the most part with your presence his obviously decided to take things up a notch. Sending an innocent young girl to kill me, shameful I want you assistance to take him down what do you say?” She need only take a sip and the liquid would handle the rest. If not well, twenty-seven years as a knight and now slayer didn’t leave Marquis unprepared. |
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Post by ALEXEI DRYSTAN on Jan 3, 2011 22:00:27 GMT -5
Alexei resisted the urge to scoff at the ‘myth and fairytale’ line. She highly doubted they were a myth, or her contact wouldn’t have offered to pay her so high for this single job. Though, getting on the ship had been far too easy, which did have her worried just about who this man in front of her was. Reading a bit into his laugh, Alexei could tell that he was a bit worried at the mention of his crew. She wasn’t about to admit that they were all alive, and she had been here before any of them returned, though.
She stepped away from him when he dropped the dagger and began to turn. She could feel within her body her own muscles working, ready to tense and spring into action in case the man in front of her tried anything. Alexei clenched her hand around the hilt of her dagger as he moved closer, then stopped himself; and, also at the mention of ‘beautiful.’ The most she could do was purse her lips and watch the man with a calculating expression, careful not to drop her guard. Alexei wasn’t about to admit it at this second, but she could tell that it was all an act.
Still, Alexei stepped back further and watched the man make his way towards the bar. She didn’t lower her dagger—didn’t dare to. Really, confronting anyone hadn’t been part of the plan of sneaking around this ship. She had only come here to collect information, trade it for the money with her contact, and then if he offered something more…well, who knew? There was a possibility she’d take on another job, but she doubted it. Putting her life in danger when it was already in enough danger itself was starting to become taxing.
Keeping the dagger up at it’s current position, Alexei took the glass gingerly from the man. She looked down at its contents, swirling the liquid around in the glass before lifting it to her pursed lips, but not drinking. “I have no intentions of releasing my contact’s name, though I can tell you it isn’t Marc’Anthony. Neither is your name Alexander Von Honeywell, for that matter,” she said, tilting her head and lowering the glass, watching as she tilted the glass and the contents fell to the floor, splattering about the wood. “I don’t want triple what my contact has paid me, and Dragonslayers aren’t myth. Oh, also—your crew is safe and well.”
Lifting her head, she held the glass back out to him with a sweet, yet fake, smile on her lips. “Finally, I am not going to ‘having a drink,’ simply because I could smell the poison while you were pouring the drink itself. You might think twice next time before offering a poisoned drink to a person who has worked with venomous dragons.”
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words; 479
tagged; Marquis
notes;
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Post by MARQUIS ESPERANZA on Jan 3, 2011 22:44:04 GMT -5
She was….smarter then he anticipated. That being said, he couldn’t help but frown at the unexpected turn of events. He watched silently as his guest began draining her glass of it’s contents. ‘Right, on the mahogany flooring…’ Laughing at her mention of poison, Marquis retook the glass and sat it back onto the counter. “You’ll have to excuse me I’ve never been much of a host.” Finishing the remainder of his drink, Marquis returned the glass back onto the counter as well. ”An acquired taste, poison is. I acquired it from what your people would call a Lacerta Fulmine…” The toweled man explained, no longer masking his heavy foreign accent. ”I believe a true introduction is in order. My name is Marquis Julius Esperanza…Grandmaster of the Dragonslayers…” He wouldn’t outright kill her, she proved to be…an interesting distraction. ”Regardless to whomever I may or may not be, you’re here for a reason, to investigate the rumors of a ‘ruthless’ order of dragonslayers. Who pray the countryside looking for their next victim.” Digression wasn’t something the order favored nor was it something they could actively be. Killing a fully-grown dragon tended to leave evidence…thirty-foot tall evidence. ”The rumors are true for the most part, I’d be lying if I said we didn’t enjoy it…”
Taking a seat, Marquis watched the woman who was still brandishing a dagger. “I’d feel more comfortable speaking if you didn’t have that out. Besides, do you really think you can defeat me with such a petty trinket?” He scoffed, ”No chance…” Drumming his hands against the seats finely polished wood his ears perked up as sounds of his crew finally returning filled the room. “Ah, they’ve returned…” Perhaps this was the incentive she needed to be a bit more…cooperative. “You should have fled when you had the chance, but I have no reason in harming you my code forbi-“ Wait, someone who worked with venomous dragons? “Hmmm,” He mused, ”This is…troubling…” Morally conflicted, his chivalrous nature spoke out against harming her but his religious duty said to put her head on a platter. It didn’t take long to decide which route to take. With a sigh Marquis stood up. “You’re a rider I presume?” He didn’t wait for her to answer as he strode towards his desk before pulling out his ceramic knife, still stained with the blood of a previous kill. ”These are the words, spoken to every dragon-born before judgment…” Turning towards her, Marquis expertely spun the knife around his fingers before holding it in an unfamiliar position. “May deus misericordia in vestri animus…” He took no pleasure from this, but Marquis would do as he must…”May god pity upon your courage…” And then he advanced. |
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Post by ALEXEI DRYSTAN on Jan 4, 2011 19:28:33 GMT -5
Just by looking, Alexei could tell the man hadn’t been expecting her to dump her drink all over the floor. While he had, as he said, ‘never been much of a host,’ Alexei had never been much of a partygoer. Or a normal guest you invited to any of your events, really. She always seemed to stir up trouble in some way or another. Sometimes, of her own free will. It took a lot of what she had to not give an eye-roll at his laugh, or even react to the mention of Lacerta Fulmine. That was the exact species of her dragon, one of the only few dragons that produced poison. Alexei herself was skilled in creating antidotes from Absalom’s venom, which she carried on her. So even if she had taken some of the wine, she could have easily saved herself from dying.
Of course, she liked her current plan much better. She always had a plan. When something popped up unexpectedly within that plan, she worked within seconds to create a new plan. Alexei’s brain was hot-wired to take in the situations around her and create survival methods for herself. “Grandmaster, hm? I seem to have stumbled into the place that I wanted,” she mused, tilting her head. “But, now I believe I owe you the favor. Information exchanged for information. My name is Alexei Drystan, though I’m not anything special compared to you.” Anything special might be an understatement to those who knew her, of course. Being born in Thevia, growing up in Ethaia, betraying Ethaia, taking on the profession of spying, and being a Dragon Rider all in one go? Not anything a normal person with any shred of sanity would do. Of course, him saying that he ‘enjoyed’ killing dragons was rather disgusting. It was almost murder. Of course, if he killed the dragon to eat the meat, that would be a different story, and it would be like any normal food chain.
Alexei glanced up towards the roof above them at the sounds of the louder footsteps. He was right, of course. She should have left when she had the change. There was no way she was getting out now. Fingering the handle of the blade, she lifted it up to signify it. “Take you out with this? No, of course not.” Reaching behind her, Alexei pulled the katana at the back of her waist out of its sheath a bit to expose the blade. “This is much more handy for that.” With that, she sheathed the blade again and looked up at him. “Then again, I never said I was going to kill you.”
At the mention of ‘Rider’ Alexei willed her muscles not to stiffed. Her being a Rider and them being a Dragonslayer? It didn’t take much to put two and two together. “And this is why I didn’t put it away,” she murmured to herself, lifting the dagger higher and narrowing her eyes. “Obviously, half naked men don’t have any sense about them. I said ‘has’ as in past tense—Marquis? That was your name?—meaning I don’t work with dragons any longer. So now, if you kill me, you’ll be murdering a civilian.” A lie. But an easy one.
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words; 543
tagged; Marquis
notes; school killed my brain, sorry if it sucks..
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Post by MARQUIS ESPERANZA on Jan 4, 2011 22:02:43 GMT -5
[/blockquote]She should already be dead, so why wasn’t she? What was preventing him from killing her this instant?“-if you kill me, you’ll be murdering a civilian.” Those words continued to echo throughout his head. Would he? Would he really be murdering an innocent? ‘Why is she making this so morally conflicting?’ What was he doing? Marquis never second-guessed himself, yet here he was second-guessing himself. ”Anyone found associating themselves with the winged menaces known as dragons are immediately subject to excommunication from the church. As such, killing you is almost doing the world a service.” A recited line, one that has been spoken many times before, though this time, it almost seemed as though he was trying to convince himself as much as the person he was saying the line to. Disarming her, wasn’t the problem what to do with her afterwards was. Marquis certainly didn’t want to kill her. He gave up trying to figure out why and instead focused on the benefits that could come from keeping such a beautiful…and talented individual. ‘Wait…don’t tell me I’m actually attracted to this…disgusting…heathen?’That couldn’t be possible, Marquis prided himself in having prefect control over his emotions…though having been raised in the church there wasn’t much opportunity to…interact with the opposite-‘Why am I still thinking about this?’ He would, take a cold shower later…for now the woman had to be dealt with.
Snapping back to his senses, without a word of warning Marquis lunged forward dropping his knife on the ground before grabbing her wrist (the one holding the dagger) with one hand while gripping her throat with another. He didn’t apply any force, and in truth would be rather easy to break making the whole process rather counterproductive. ‘It’s almost as though I’m afraid that she’ll break or something…’ This was stupid, completely, and utterly stupid. What good was intimidation if he couldn’t apply force? Despite the mental struggles he might have been going though none of this appeared on his face. ”Now, tell me what I want to know…Miss…Drystan.” Such an unfamiliar word, he could hardly pronounce it Drystan. ”Who hired you to find us? Whomever hired her obviously didn’t appreciate what they where doing. The fools didn’t they know how dangerous dragons can become when left unchecked? ”I don’t want to hurt you Alexei, but whoever hired you is obviously a threat. While I can handle myself against whatever his thrown against me, I won’t any harm come towards my apprentices…” Sometimes Marquis wished he simply journeyed alone, babysitting all these kids was rather annoying…and tedious. ’But they are good distractions and fodder for dragons…wait…that’s horrible..’
Apparently with all the noise they had been making the two managed to gain the attention of his crew whom promptly began beating on the door rather erratically. ”Sir, are you alright we…we heard a bump…we’re coming in!” Wait what? They where coming in now? He couldn’t be seen with her! ”Just a…minute!” Tossing her aside which probably would lead to her being on the bed which in all honestly would made the situation worse. He lunged, dove and seemingly everything else in between to prevent the door from opening. ”Stay out you fools, I was simply trying to practice. That bump was me because someone decided not to mention you polished the floor at some point…” After hearing an apology, Marquis waited a few more seconds before turning around and sliding down the door sighing. ”All I wanted was something to take my mind off from being bored, instead I get a leggy female that probably wants to kill me and an overly nosy crew…” This really wasn’t the way he imagined his day turning out but after turning to look at the woman she did have pretty nice legs.[/blockquote]
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Notes: Hah, that was even worse just finished spazzing out on collage work this is the LAST thing I can do right.
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Post by ALEXEI DRYSTAN on Jan 5, 2011 20:33:33 GMT -5
She could see conflict in his eyes. Sometimes, it was so easy to trick people. Really, though, Alexei had never seen someone’s thoughts in such a disarray about what was right and wrong. She couldn’t help but wonder where this man was from, and how he was raised. Most people would have either stopped dead in their tracks and given up, stopped to think about it giving Alexei an advantage to attack, or continued to try to kill her. None had ever had an actual war within their brain, though. “‘Associating,’” she accused. “Not ‘associated.’ The past tense.” Another lie. Lying was almost becoming an artistic talent for her. Not that he was listening either way. Smirking slightly, Alexei sidestepped with a glance at the door. It didn’t matter how many people were above, she could make it out of here alive and without killing anyone.
Of course, her current idea of escaping was easily thwarted. Hearing the sound of a heavy footstep, Alexei jerked her head to look back at Marquis, only to have his hand meet her throat and claim her wrist at the same time. She dropped the dagger in surprise, and went to take a step back before realizing that Marquis didn’t even have a choke-hold on her. There was no pressure, no cutting off her air. Again, she was left wondering what was going on through this man’s mind. “I can’t give away any of my contact’s information, even if it means my death.” While Marquis was obviously determined to protect the mentioned apprentices, she was determined to protect her contacts. She made that promise after she had been kicked out of Ethaia. If she were going to take on spying as a normal job, she had to protect the ones hiring her. After all, not all the jobs she did were dangerous, but even the easy ones could cost someone their life.
Alexei flinched at the beating on the door, eyes straying away from Marquis’s and studying the door curiously. She couldn’t help but bite her lip. If anyone came in through that door…she was as good as dead. She might speak lightly of death, but she didn’t truly want to die—yet, anyway. She had too much unfinished business to take care of.
Suddenly, they mentioned coming in, and that’s when Alexei felt the force on her throat as she was thrown aside. She stumbled, but landed safely on the bed. Giving a grunt of indignation, she scowled at Marquis’s back as he yelled through the door, and reached down to snatch her dagger back up. Pushing herself off of the bed, she made her way towards the door as he slid down it. Leaning forward, Alexei placed the knife against the skin of his throat. “I actually don’t want to kill you, or I would have done it already. Same for your crew. But, I have no intentions of doing so. You, though, are going to help me get out of here—alive—now that I have a sufficient amount of information.” She didn’t place any pressure against his throat, after all he had done that much for her.
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words; 528
tagged; Marquis
notes;
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Post by MARQUIS ESPERANZA on Jan 5, 2011 23:24:19 GMT -5
Why couldn’t he live a simple life? Well, a simple life that still consisted of slaying dragons on a daily basis. Looking away, Marquis rather then look at her another second closed his eyes and released a low sigh. ‘I have to come up with a decision. What should I do with her? I obviously can’t allow her to leave.’ The Church has made it perfectly clear that anyone even those that where previously…associated with dragons are subject to immediate excommunication and therefore death. ‘I’m not a murderer…’ Everyone his killed in the past where guilty, but this woman. He couldn’t rightfully harm her, ‘Perhaps I’m too noble for my own good, it’s clouding my judgment. I’m allowing my personal feelings get in the way of making the right decision.’ Then it was decided, everything made perfect sense to him now. Reopening his eyes Marquis wasn’t surprised to see a blade pressed to his throat, “This is becoming really old…” Why did she offer up such resistance? “I will do nothing of the sort.” He started eying the blade in an almost bored fashion, “In fact, I’ve all interest in you now…” While he might have played nice the first time around, Marquis wouldn’t be pulling any punches a second time. “You’ll have to excuse my manners, their somewhat lacking when it comes to uninvited house guests.”
“Though I’m apologetic that it had to come to this, if you where in my position you’d understand why I can’t simply let you leave.” Once again grabbing hold of the hand that held the dagger, Marquis turned the weapon against Alexei by pressing the blade against her own throat with enough force to draw blood should she try anything foolish such as escape. Straddling her, Marquis used his free hand to help keep the rest of her body from moving as he began to forcibly interrogate her. “No more lies, no more deceit, try and fool me again and I’ll slit your throat.” Narrowing his eyes Marquis kept both eyes on her ensuring that she didn’t figure a way out. “I can appreciate your…sense of loyalty, Alexei…” He paused, the sound of her voice laced with his heavy accent sounded…strange, “Regardless to how it apparently gets you into dangerous situations. You needn’t tell me your contacts name, I’ll find him soon enough and believe me he will be dealt with. But, you seem capable, and I’d very much prefer to not kill someone with your skills.” She did seem to possess a unique talent when it comes to tracking and information gathering, two things he could use while on a foreign continent. “What I propose is a…partnership, in exchange for your life. You shall report to me for…assignments, if you decline well then I’ll have to slay your dragon after dealing with you now won’t I?” It was fairly obvious that she was a Dragon-Rider if not because seemingly every capable man and woman here was one but because she seemed so determined to prove him wrong earlier about the comments.
“It’s interesting though, you being a rider…though not unexpected I supposed it’s simply that with this war I’m hearing seeking out rumors regarding to a Dragonslayer would be the last thing on their minds unless direct aggression was made on our part. Which means you’re a rouge of sorts…your eyes spin a pretty tale, but I’ll skim the pages for now. You must have taken this contract for the money but the rumors of a Dragonslayer must have exited you if not disgusted. I’ll admit, I underestimated you…Alexei but I won’t do it against a second time…”
After adding pressure to emphasis his point Marquis released her and stood up, taking the dagger with him. Stabbing the blade into the wall her offered her his hand, “Take a moment to think this over but please be fully aware of your situation and what’s at risk.” |
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Post by ALEXEI DRYSTAN on Jan 9, 2011 17:30:58 GMT -5
Holding the blade against his throat, she couldn’t help but think that maybe she should apply pressure. That maybe he’d listen to reason if he knew his life were in jeopardy of being in danger. Many ‘opponents’ underestimated her, but she always pulled out a surprise in the end. Still, she wasn’t a killer, and he hadn’t cut off her air supply when he had the chance. She felt as if she owed him something. But, being this close to him, she noticed a change in him. While he was still waging an inner battle, the way he looked at her blade told her something was up. Alexei glanced at him sharply. It was becoming old? She almost wanted to laugh. What did he expect in a situation like this? For her to not attack again because she wanted—and needed—to get off the premises of the ship. “An uninvited house guest that, might I add, you just hid from the men outside that door, whom I’m sure could have killed me.”
Feeling his fingers against her skin, Alexei jerked her hand back, but to no avail. He had hold of her wrist before she had ever claimed it, and her knife which had been pressed against his throat was now pressed against her’s, with Marquis leaning over her. Since her body was tense, her shoulder blades were pressed against the floor uncomfortably. She couldn’t help but glare up at him defiantly, not liking the current situation in the least. “Kill off my contact and you owe me the money he offered,” she said, venom seeping into her voice. The man that had hired her was middle-aged. There was no way, if she could prevent it, that she was going to let the man in front of her kill off her contact. At this thought, she already had a few plans working in her mind. She held her tongue at the mention of her dragon, not wanting to bring up Absalom’s name. Especially since she knew if she opened her mouth, a threat would be the thing that left her lips, and that wouldn’t help her case any.
“I’d prefer if you not voice the assumptions you make of me,” Alexei announced. Yes, she was a Dragon Rider. Curious that he had figured that out. A rogue? Maybe a bit, but he didn’t know her story and she wasn’t about to announce it to him. All he needed to do was keep this thoughts to himself. “I took it for the money, yes; but I’ll tell you now, I’d gladly give up every coin I have to anyone suffering from the war that plagues this country. As for exciting and disgusting me, you obviously don’t know how my mind works if you think those are the first two words that came to me.” Her retorts were just that, retorts, and she watched as he stood up. He was lucky she didn’t come up with any actual threats, like she had so wanted to earlier.
Studying his hand, Alexei pursed her lips. She sat up, ignoring the offer and glaring at the wall. What would come if she did agree to work with this man? For one, he wasn’t even from the same country; and she would rather die than except no pay from him. After all, she had to make a living somehow. The more money she had on her, the easier it was to stay away from anybody who knew who she was.
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words; 586
tagged; Marquis
notes; ack, it sucks! Sorry. I've been busy, but I knew I owed you a post so I replied quickly
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Post by MARQUIS ESPERANZA on Jan 9, 2011 18:13:00 GMT -5
‘Defiant, to the bitter end…’ It suddenly felt like he was dealing with a child, an ignorant, defiant, child. When Alexei made it abundantly clear that she wouldn’t accept his most gracious offer Marquis needless to say wasn’t surprised. ‘Perhaps it’s foolhardy to expect any degree of self-preservation from her…’ Retracting his hand Marquis grumbled several insults towards her intelligence in his own native language before lowering himself into a crouching position in front of her. “Look at me…” He said, “Look at me!” Marquis repeated, grabbing hold of her chin, turning her head. “I could care less about whatever petty conflict this country of yours is currently suffering from. The only reason you’re not dead is because I see you’re a woman of worth. While we might not have met under the best of circumstances I would hate to see you swept up in the upcoming storm that is my march.”
“Have you ever heard of-no of course not, this isn’t something your people would know…or remember. My country, a country whose name you wouldn’t be able to hear nor understand it’s meaning. Our dialect is far different then the grunts your people consider intelligent speech. We’ve hunted Dragons to extinction, the final battle, we call it Drake Fall. Hundreds no thousands of dragons died as they descended from the skies. The March was complete, the Drakes had fallen and we where victorious.” Marquis had always loved history, partially history pertaining to the Dragonslayers. “Your people believe that we simply kill Dragon’s out of xenophobia you would be wrong. Originally our country was plagued by a Dragon considered to be the King of all Dragons. The Black Dragon, it drove my people from the motherland to the islands where we currently reside. It followed us, and when we finally managed to slaughter the beast we where surprised to find out that once dead it could simply transfer bodies. Now this process could take any number of years but eventually the dragon would return with its horde and drive us to near extinction again.”
“You sought evidence against us, there you have it. I doubt you want to know our full history so I’ll leave it on that note.” He knew what he had to do, while the man raised by the church said he should kill the heathen, the slayer within him told Marquis to let her go. “Alexei, I doubt want you as my enemy…but something’s must be scarified in order to ensure the survival of those we fight to protect. The Black Dragon is far more dangerous then you can possibly imagine, not only possessing strength only matched by it’s disgusting grace as it slaughters it’s foes it can bend the mind of any Dragon it encounters. These dragons you ride, intelligent, tame as they may appear will be turned feral under the Black Dragons influence. Every member knows this, and even if you don’t understand it please at least know that despite our actions we only wish the best for humanity. I’m telling you this because, you’ve shown yourself capable. Unlike these many others I’ve encountered on my travels, and so I respect you Ser Drystan.”
Releasing her from his grip, Marquis stood back up and walked across the room and returned to his seat sighing. “You should take your leave, we shall be departing soon. You no doubt have to return to your contact and tell him of your discovery. It doesn’t matter, like I said he shall be dealt with should the opportunity arise. Goodbye Alexei, may god pity upon your courage…” |
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