Post by Head Moderator on Jan 12, 2014 23:32:50 GMT -5
Tesarik One: The caravan of gypsies had set up near the beach in Shark Cove
in the midst of the Faerie Woodlands. Scout had not quite recovered from the
death of her friend, which had left the small tattoo she'd shared with her on
her hip, but
Tesarik One: the magic had faded. Scout threw herself into her work, then,
and still traveling with the gypsies she'd been given a couple marks in the
area. Several other gypsy caravans had met up at the same place, and there
was warmth,
Tesarik One: laughter, song, dance around many different firepits and in the
colorful vardo wagons many of them lived within. Scout, usually quite
happy-go-lucky- was set upon her task and had said very little to anyone
since she'd found out
Tesarik One: she had a few marks in the area. She finished the food on the
plate she'd been given after having just about shoveled it into her mouth and
handed it back to the older gypsy who'd given it to her. "Thank you." She
downed a good bit
Tesarik One: of rum from a bottle she held between her boots on the ground,
and glassy eyes gazed around the area, barely noticing anyone who happened to
be sitting around her. Noone from her own small caravan it seemed. There was
suddenly a
Tesarik One: voice ringing out behind her, "Scout!" She glanced behind her,
saw the figure hiding in the shadows by one of the wagons, and rose, moving
towards the figure to engage in soft whispers behind the wagon in the
shadows.
psionic wanderer: Bowen had been picked up near the coast after escaping
from the island he'd spent...well he really didn't know how long he'd spent
on the island! For that matter, he didn't even know which coast he'd washed
up on. He just knew that
psionic wanderer: he'd been taken in, and over the months since had come to
see these people as his family. It of course helped that he could hunt with
the best of them, so the caravan he was with never lacked for fresh meat. He
hadn't been with the
psionic wanderer: same caravan Scout was with or he'd likely have met her by
now, but he was with one of the caravans that had met up in the current
location. He was sitting at one of the fires, telling one of the less
unpleasant, but still scary
psionic wanderer: stories of his time on the island to some of the children.
He seemed to bond well with them, probably something to do with the fact that
he'd barely been not a child anymore when he was shipwrecked! And then he
heard a name that he
psionic wanderer: hadn't heard in years, but had thought of every day. He
blinked and interrupted himself by looking over int he direction of that
shout, then looked back to the children and smiled. "Excuse me, kind
audience. The rest of that tale
psionic wanderer: shall have to wait for another time. I've got to go look
into something." He ruffled the nearest boy's hair, then stood up, picking up
his bow and quiver since they were sitting nearby, and slung them over his
shoulder as he moved
psionic wanderer: towards the direction of all that noise! He was attempting
to stay out of both sight and earshot however, in case it was a different
Scout! Luckily he was quite stealthy.
Tesarik One: Scout leaned against the wagon while one of her informants
talked to her, nodding a bit, as hands worked to pull back her long, black
hair into a ponytail. She was all grown up of course, but there were things
about her that still
Tesarik One: held a resemblance to the young Scout he'd once knew. Those
hazel eyes with hints of gold in them, ruddy cheeks, dark hair...but there
were differences as well. All filled out nicely, of course, but she also
seemed to bear a very
Tesarik One: prominent magical brand that moved around her body to always be
visible. At the moment, since she was bundled up for the weather, it appeared
on the top of one hand. A runic brand of a W, known all around Arith as a
Bryonish brand
Tesarik One: for Whore. Easily seen even in the shadows as she swept her
hair off her face. She gave a pat to the man's shoulder. "Thanks." A coin was
placed in his hand and she sighed and looked up into the night sky, then took
off into the
Tesarik One: forest.
psionic wanderer: He stared for quite a while from his little lurking hiding
spot. It certainly looked like Scout. Much more than he probably looked like
the skinny long-haired little weakling she'd known! And then he saw that
brand. Eyes widened a
psionic wanderer: bit at that and then narrowed, cursing ..well, Bryony in
general in his head. And then before he could figure out what exactly he was
going to do to approach her, she took off into the forest! He blinked, then
took off after her!
psionic wanderer: Forests might not be the same as the jungle he'd spent so
many years in, but it wasn't all that fundamentally different either, so he
wouldn't have much trouble at all following her.
Tesarik One: It was into the nearby village she went, having no idea she was
being followed - at least for now! It was just a small village, one tavern in
the whole place, and she headed for the alleyway beside the tavern. She
reached up and
Tesarik One: grabbed the drainpipe and scaled the side of the three story
wooden building, ending up on the rooftop. Nimbly she darted across the roof
towards one of the open windows (Nimble Feet). As far as her mark was
concerned, who happened
Tesarik One: to be in that room sitting at his desk, he had no idea there
was anyone moving about outside (Shadowy Figure). She knelt outside the man's
window on the thin bit of wood there, watching him without him being the
wiser. She was always
Tesarik One: always cautious with her spell wielding marks!
psionic wanderer: And he followed her right into that village! Though when
he realized they were going somewhere populated, he did pull on his hood and
his mask. And his gloves! No sense in leaving much of anything for someone to
track him with, if
psionic wanderer: possible. He watched her disappear into that alleyway, and
he ducked down another one, to also climb up the building and get a better
vantage point! Luckily he happened to be on the roof of a building nearby and
could see that same
psionic wanderer: window and her darting towards it, but...did she just get
all shadowy? Head tilted a bit, and he got his bow strung. If there was
trouble, well..he intended to help her out!
Tesarik One: Since he was pretty much tracking her, he'd see her far easier
than anyone else. Though she had a knack for finding the right shadows to
lean into to keep her well hidden. This mark in particular was wanted dead,
though most of her
Tesarik One: marks were wanted dead or alive - and if dead or alive she'd
normally choose alive. But tonight, this fellow had done deeds that he
deserved to die for and she was going to end his life. She'd wait for a good
five or ten minutes,
Tesarik One: and then she carefully tugged on the window to see if it was
locked. It was, so she flipped herself right on through the glass, landing
with her big flamberge sword that had been on her back pulled. Of course, the
man jumped when he
Tesarik One: heard the glass break and had attempted to use magic on her,
but she had ways around magic and it did nothing to her. From Bowen's
viewpoint, it was a very quick fight and the man went down with ease, and
Scout was out that window
Tesarik One: again, running across the rooftops, jumping between close
buildings, until she had gotten several houses down and pressed herself to
the roof, watching.
psionic wanderer: Well! This was interesting, and he was ready to put an
arrow in the guy the very instant Scout looked like she needed help...but she
certainly didn't, and then she was off! He had already been crouched down to
keep a low profile, so
psionic wanderer: she likely wouldn't have spotted him even if she glanced
in his direction, and he kept track of where she was heading, then glanced
back to the room. He frowned when he saw a rather nimble fellow climb out
that window like it was
psionic wanderer: something he did on a regular basis, knife in hand, and he
took off in the direction she'd gone. Well now it'd be a three way chase. The
other fellow certainly was quick, so Bowen practically sprinted across that
rooftop to keep him
psionic wanderer: in sight! (Also nimble feet!) Though by the time he got to
the edge of it the man had already reached Scout's rooftop. Well, there was
nothing for it! If Scout saw the man she'd see him ready to stab at her when
one, two, and then a
psionic wanderer: third arrowhead came jutting out of his chest, and when he
toppled forward, there were three green-fletched arrows sunk deep into his
back! Oh and she'd also see Bowen standing there, perched very precariously
on the very edge of
psionic wanderer: his rooftop.
Tesarik One: Wouldn't you know it, that damn mage had someone nearby and now
he was heading across the rooftops for her. He was fast, and right behind her
it seemed, so before she could even get her pistol pulled free the man ended
up with
Tesarik One: arrows in his back. She stared across the way at the man
perched on the rooftop, but it didn't pay to hang around and ask questions. A
wave was sent off to the unknown assistant, and she ran across the roof, then
with a few flips
Tesarik One: and shimmies she'd landed with a thud into the alleyway of the
building she'd been on. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she tugged the
hood of her tight coat up over her head and tucked her pistol away then came
to the end of
Tesarik One: the alley, looking left and right.
psionic wanderer: Well then. It was just a wave and then she was on her way,
was it? Not that he could blame her, there might be more bad guys! He ran
along the edge of his roof to try and see where she'd gone off to, since he
had that nice Ledge
psionic wanderer: Walker skill as well, and spotted the alley, then stepped
away from the edge a few steps, before sprinting forward to jump across onto
that roof she'd been on. It was a bit far though, so he didn't intend to
actually land on it! He
psionic wanderer: just caught onto the edge, hung, then twisted and dropped
with his back to the wall, landing hard but not poorly. He had a brief look
around, then started towards that alley that she'd jumped down into.
Tesarik One: She darted into the shadows again, (Shadowy Figure), and stayed
in those shadows as Bowen headed for her alley, and probably got there and
didn't see anyone! Well, he might have, because her hide DC was 16! Anyway,
as soon as he
Tesarik One: showed up in the alley though, whether he'd spotted her lurking
or not, she stepped out of those shadows with her pistol trained on him,
narrowed eyes gazing at him from head to foot. "Stalking me isn't a good
idea, stranger. While
Tesarik One: I appreciate your help taking out that lackey, I can take care
of myself. So fuck off."
psionic wanderer: Well, he hadn't spotted her, but he hadn't been
unexpecting of trouble! And while she was his friend, and really the only
thing that'd kept him going all these years, he wasn't going to not defend
himself either! He had an arrow
psionic wanderer: ready before he stepped into the alley, so when she
stepped out with her pistol on him he immediately drew back that arrow,
aiming at her. Though if she could gauge his aim well from her vantage point
she'd see he didn't intend to
psionic wanderer: shoot to kill if he did indeed shoot! "If you appreciate
my help, then you should put the pistol away, and we should talk." That mask
generally got him into his whispery voice so that people wouldn't easily
identify him by sound, of
psionic wanderer: course!
Tesarik One: She frowned seeing him have that arrow aimed at her, and it
didn't really matter if he was aiming to kill or not, she was a slow healer
so any damage he'd do was more damage than she wanted to deal with. She began
walking closer to
Tesarik One: him, still holding the pistol up, a crooked grin he'd be very
familiar with (usually done when she was about to get them into deep trouble)
was on her face. Also, it was her Daredevil quirk kicking in! "What do we
have to talk
Tesarik One: about? I suppose I could ask why you are following me, but I
ain't taking this gun down till you get that fucking arrow put away." She
just kept walking closer, and hell she was crazy enough to walk right up to
the bow and point the
Tesarik One: barrel of the gun right down the arrow if she had to!
psionic wanderer: Eyes narrowed a bit as she kept walking closer to him, but
he didn't want to get shot, so the standoff was still necessary as far as he
knew! "Exactly, you can ask why I'm following you." He let a bit more of his
natural voice slip
psionic wanderer: out when he spoke, because perhaps she'd have a hint of
recognition! Either way, as soon as she got into melee range he moved,
darting to the side and letting go of the arrow, but not the bowstring! As
the arrow fell he let the
psionic wanderer: string snap as if it'd fired, but only to free that hand.
The somewhat heavy wooden bow was sent in a very quick motion right at her
pistol hand as he dodged, trying to disarm her whether she got the shot off
or not, and if
psionic wanderer: successful, hopefully he'd just be able to catch it before
it hit the ground and got damaged! He didn't want to hurt her or her gear,
but he didn't want a loaded pistol pointed at him either!
Tesarik One: Her nostrils flared a bit, there was a hint of recognition, but
it was his scent not so much his voice that triggered it. But, she could not
recall why the scent that had blown her way was familiar at the moment. But,
it was enough
Tesarik One: to cause her to momentarily furrow her brow right as her gun
was taken out of her hand. She responded by reaching over her shoulder to
grab the hilt of her big blade, but she didn't draw it. He hadn't harmed her,
he wasn't one of
Tesarik One: her marks and he had helped her out, so for now she decided
talking would have to do. "Why are you following me?"
psionic wanderer: Well recognition either way would be a sufficient
distraction for him to do his fancy disarm! He flipped the bow around in his
hand, ready to thrust it at her chest to knock her back if she drew that
sword. while his free hand held
psionic wanderer: onto her pistol, though he didn't aim it at her. "Why
don't we go somehwere better to talk, where some random villager won't walk
by and see us? Not to mention the two bodies we left behind. Forest work for
you?"
Tesarik One: "Sure." Getting out of town was probably a very good thing. She
stared at her pistol, but then moved to the edge of the alley and looked
rigth and left again. Seeing it was clear, she motioned for him to follow and
darted down the
Tesarik One: lane towards the forest. Being a small village, it wouldn't
take long at all for them to reach it, especially not Scout as she'd always
been extremely quick in her running, due to that lynx blood that ran in her.
She stopped at a
Tesarik One: small copse of trees near a stream and knelt down, splashing
that cold water on her face.
psionic wanderer: Since she had agreed, he handed the pistol back to her
before she moved to the edge of the alley. And then off they went, heading
back towards the forest! He might not be as quick as her, but he was
certainly holding his own rather
psionic wanderer: well. Much better than he had been, that much was certain.
Oh he'd picked up his arrow too! Sure, he'd already left 3 as evidence in a
body, but there was no sense in wasting one just dropped in an alley! When
they stopped and she
psionic wanderer: splashed cold water on her face, he pushed back his hood
and took off his mask. Bow was unstrung and put away as well. Perhaps she'd
seen him when the caravans met up! "Do you recognize me at all?" May as well
start with the simple
psionic wanderer: questions!
Tesarik One: "Well aren't you a quick one?" She was used to leaving people
in the dust, but there he was, right with her. She leaned back, and then dug
out a flask and downed a big gulp of rum, and offered it over to him. She
tilted her head and
Tesarik One: looked at him now that he had his hood down and mask off, she
had seen him around the gypsy caravan. "Yeah, you're with one of the
caravans.. I saw you at the camp. Never heard anyone say your name though,
you were telling stories
Tesarik One: to the children weren't you?"
psionic wanderer: He took the rum and had a small sip, just enough to get a
taste, really, then handed the flask back to her. Of course he didn't expect
her to recognize him from way back! That was many years ago, and his hair was
shorter, he was a
psionic wanderer: good deal larger, muscle-wise, and he had a bit of a
scruffy five o clock shadow beard. He smiled a little and nodded. "Yes, I
was. My name is Bowen Scamp." He took in a deep breath, then decided to say a
bit more! "You're Scout.
psionic wanderer: Scout Hollander, right?"
Tesarik One: He was pretty handsome, and now that she was actually looking
at him more than just trying to defend herself she could see that he was. She
smiled a little back to him, and took the rum back and downed a little more.
It surprised
Tesarik One: her when he knew her full name though, and she closed the flask
and tucked it away, then rubbed her bare hands together to get them warm,
only one was gloved. That way the stupid brand stayed on her hand and didn't
show up on her
Tesarik One: face or something. "Yeah, I'm Scout Hollander. Nice to meet you
Bowen."
psionic wanderer: He frowned a little when he saw that brand, and he
couldn't stop himself! He took her hand, if she allowed him, and ran his
thumb along the brand just a little. He still had his gloves on, of course!
"I'm so sorry for what they did
psionic wanderer: to you...if I'd..." He sighed, then released her hand and
looked to her eyes for a moment, those nice pretty blue eyes he had! He
reached into a pocket then, but he kept his hand there. "...I knew you...a
long time ago. You wouldn't
psionic wanderer: have known me as Bowen, though." He was still trying to
jog her memory instead of just coming right out with it!
Tesarik One: She stiffened a bit when he took her hand and touched that
magical brand. "If you'd....." She frowned and pulled her hand away just as
he released it, and stared across into his lovely eyes. She blinked a little,
and leaned forward,
Tesarik One: sniffing the air now that he was so much closer. There wasn't
anyone that she knew from a long time ago in her life, Ms. Hollander had died
in prison so she'd heard. She eyed his pocket, then looked into his eyes
again. "You... you
Tesarik One: seem familiar. But..." Her brow furrowed, and then she sighed
and closed her eyes for a moment. He reminded her far too much of someone
she'd attempted to forget.... someone from her youth! But, she could never
forget him even if
Tesarik One: she tried. "You smell like someone I knew as a child..." she
said softly. "But it's just not possible."
psionic wanderer: "If i"d been there. I might have been able to do something
about it.." Probably not, of course, but that wouldn't make him feel less
guilty! He tilted his head a bit when she said it wasn't possible, then
pulled out that rabbit's
psionic wanderer: foot she'd given him so many years ago! It was strung with
a leather cord, and looked...well shabby. It'd once been nice and pristine
white, but no amount of cleaning had gotten all the grime off of it. "It
might not seem possible,
psionic wanderer: but you gave me this...we were hunting rabbits. I also .."
He sighed again and closed his eyes for a moment. "I drew a star on your
hand. The gloved one. You told me you were going to get it tattooed on."
Tesarik One: She was quick, and soon as she saw that rabbit's foot she
reached out and snatched it from him, bringing it to her nose to sniff.
"THAT'S why you smell like him, where did you get this fucking thing??" She
still would not believe it
Tesarik One: was him! Surely Marco had somehow heard about her and decided
to fuck with her some more, make her hurt more perhaps for whatever had
caused him to decide to hate her when they were children. She pressed her
hand to her gloved hand
Tesarik One: where the star tattoo was covered, and growled dangerously low
at him. "So that's what it is then? Marco couldn't be happy with breaking my
heart just once? What, heard about me somehow and decided to send you to fuck
with me? How
Tesarik One: much is he paying you? I'll fucking double it if you go back to
him and tell him he can go fuck himself."
psionic wanderer: He sighed and hung his head a little, eyes closing once
more, and he rubbed at them a little. "..Scout, Marco didn't send me. I
..was..Marco. I gather from your attitude that you never knew what happened."
He opened his eyes again
psionic wanderer: and looked to her. "After that meteor shower, when I went
home my parents were waiting for me. They knew I'd snuck out, and realized
I'd been doing it for quite some time. They sent me away to learn some
discipline, but the ship I
psionic wanderer: was on ran into a storm and sank."
Tesarik One: This was Marco? She tilted her head, she could see it now. His
hair, though short, still had the same color she remembered running her
fingers through. HIs eyes were the same, his features. She fought back tears
with the realization
Tesarik One: that it was him and before he could even explain what happened,
her hand was sent sharply across his face in a slap that due to her great
strength probably hurt a lot more than it should - unless he somehow knew she
was going to and
Tesarik One: evaded! Then he explained further, and her eyes got big and
wide. She held up her hands, shaking her head, "Wait... wait, what? That's
not what I was told... many times. By your parents in fact."
psionic wanderer: Oh no, he wasn't prepared for that slap, and it caught him
fully off-guard! He stumbled to the side, and almost had to take a knee, but
he didn't seem angry about it, just..more sad, in fact. And then he continued
his explanation.
psionic wanderer: When her eyes got all big and wide like that, he clenched
his teeth and a fist, but relaxed after a breath. "..and what did they tell
you? I don't imagine they told anyone I was lost at sea.." He had a feeling
they told her
psionic wanderer: something much worse, too!
Tesarik One: She couldn't help it, those big eyes of hers got all watery.
This was one of the worst things that had ever happened to her, not as bad as
losing her family but it had scarred her far deeper than she ever even let on
to Clara and
Tesarik One: the others. She stepped back and pressed her back against a
tree then slid down and wrapped her arms around her legs. She swallowed, then
spoke, "They said you wanted nothing to do with me. I asked about you when
your father came to
Tesarik One: the house and you weren't with him, he said you didn't want to
see me, I didn't believe it. But, you never snuck out I never saw you again
so I went to your house. I snuck in looking for you, and got caught. They
told me I was
Tesarik One: gutter trash, and that you were ashamed you'd spent so much
time with me, you'd wasted time with a whore's daughter and had decided to
get back to what was important. Your noble life, and that didn't include me.
I did hear you'd
Tesarik One: been sent to school abroad, but that you'd come back shortly
after and your parents told everyone you didn't want to see anyone."
psionic wanderer: He got silent when she started to explain what had been
said about him. The part about them saying he just turned into a recluse was
hardly surprising, but the lie they'd told her? That was inexcusable. He
started to pace a little,
psionic wanderer: his anger giving him energy that he needed to burn off
somehow, whiel she finished up her story, and he moved over to the tree
nearest him and slammed a good solid punch into it. Thank goodness his gloves
were protective enough! He
psionic wanderer: moved over to Scout then and crouched down before her,
reaching out to take her hands and give them a squeeze. "...I'm so sorry,
Scout. What they did is terrible, and they will answer for it, I promise. I
spent...all of these years
psionic wanderer: on an island. Bel'Berith is what I'm calling it, because I
don't know if it actually has a name. It..moves." He shook his head. "That's
not important...I just..when I heard that person shout your name
earlier..well, I never thought
psionic wanderer: I was going to see you again."
Tesarik One: She closed her eyes, tears wetting her thick lashes and finally
trailing down her cheeks. His punch made her jump, eyes opening again and
when he crouched in front of her and squeezed her hands, she stared across at
him. It was a
Tesarik One: lot to take in, and she'd believed he'd thought she was trash
not worthy of his attention for quite a long time now! She leaned forward,
whispering, "I just want to hear you say it, Marco. I want you to tell me
that you don't think.
Tesarik One: that I'm..." she swallowed, "trash... unworthy of your
attention... you also promised me we'd always be friends, I've thought for so
long now you broke your promise." She squeezed his hands tightly, watching
his eyes, as if trying
Tesarik One: to still make sure all of this was actually happening and true.
psionic wanderer: His brow furrowed, and if anyone could look sadder than he
did at the idea that she needed reassurance like that, well..they'd look like
the saddest person in the whole world! He looked right into her eyes, his own
starting to get a
psionic wanderer: bit watery now, and his voice came out in a somewhat
choked whisper. "Scout...thinking about you every day was the only thing that
kept me going. If I hadn't had my time with you before the island...I never
would have survived it.
psionic wanderer: You're not trash...I never thought that, not even for a
second. And you will always be my friend..I just hope to all the gods that I
can be yours again."
Tesarik One: She smiled a little, then pulled her hands from his so she
could wipe her eyes, but her hands soon came to cup his cheeks while her
thumbs brushed across his skin. Her voice was emotional, but her smile was
growing. After staring at
Tesarik One: him a moment or two, she moved her hands only to grab him and
pull him into a tight hug and kisses were given all over his face until
finally she leaned her forehead to his, rubbing her nose against his, and
gave a soft peck to his
Tesarik One: lips. "You can. I've missed you so much. Even when I didn't
want to, and I cursed myself for it, I've missed you. Just like that star you
drew on my skin... you got written into my heart and no amount of trying to
erase it worked."
psionic wanderer: He let out a little sigh of relief when she pulled him
into the hug and he returned it just as tightly, smiling at the kisses on his
face. Tears that had been welling up went falling down his cheeks when he
closed his eyes, and he
psionic wanderer: nuzzled right back into her and returned that peck to the
lips, resting there for a moment. "I've missed you too. I..I haven't been
back home. They all think I'm dead, and I'd like to keep it that way, at
least for now...that's why
psionic wanderer: I'm calling myself Bowen. That and...the boy you knew...he
died on the island. Mostly, anyway. I never forgot about you, even with all
I've been through."
Tesarik One: She slid fingers up through his short hair and kissed his lips
gently a few more times in between his words. "Bowen, then. Gods, I can't
even .. I don't even know what to say except that I never though this would
happen. If I'd
Tesarik One: known you were lost, I'd have looked for you. I'd have looked
till I found you or I died trying. You do seem to have changed... a bit... "
She slid her hands down his shoulders and upper arms and grinned. "Put on a
bit of weight,
Tesarik One: grown up even more handsome than you were as a boy, gotten some
muscle. And hey, I never thought I'd see the day you'd be able to use a damn
bow and arrow!" She slid her hands down to his hips and
Tesarik One: and then released her hand from him and tugged her glove off.
There was the star, just like he'd drawn it, but there were runin words
around it. Now Scout didn't read Runin so she'd put her trust that whoever
tattooed her had put
Tesarik One: the right quote there. If he read Runin, he'd know what it said
without her even telling him! It said 'everything changes, but nothing is
truly lost'.
psionic wanderer: He nodded. Best if she got into the habit now of calling
him Bowen so she didn't slip up around someone that'd recognize him! "I know
you would have..I'll need to go back home at some point and..make them
understand the error of
psionic wanderer: their ways." He practically growled that last part out.
He'd already been extremely angry at his parents for the last few
years...this just compounded that! And those kisses were returned of course!
He chuckled a little at her grin
psionic wanderer: and her assessment of him. "Well..more handsome in the
face, perhaps, but I've got...scars. Someday I'll tell you more about what
I've been up to, but for now it's still..hard to even think about." He smiled
faintly, then chuckled
psionic wanderer: again and nodded. "As for the archery, it was a skill I
had to pick up, or I wouldn't be here." And then she tu gged her glove off!
He looked down to it with a smile and brought her hand closer to read the
Runin, because he did in
psionic wanderer: fact read it! "Everything changes, but nothing is truly
lost.." He smiled and gave a kiss to that star. "I like it."
Tesarik One: "Scars are sexy, or did no one tell you that when you got off
that island?" She caressed his cheek with her branded hand, and she gave a
nod. "When you are ready to tell me more about it I'll be all ears...Bowen."
Yes she'd have to
Tesarik One: practice using that name! But, she'd done many, many cons with
Nicohlet where she'd had to use various names, so keeping up with a facade
came pretty naturally for her. She grinned wide when he read it, "Yep. I
dunno, I liked the
Tesarik One: quote... I got it added during a melancholy period after I got
out of prison, and was just wandering around. They burnt Hollander House
down, any that got out with me scattered out of Bryony, all of us were
branded. I was pretty
Tesarik One: lost for a while. I suppose ... it's kind of true, I thought
you were lost but here you are."
psionic wanderer: "No, I suppose nobody did tell me that. Of course most
people haven't even seen them." He leaned into her touch, nodding when she
said she'd listen when he was ready to talk! He kissed that hand as well when
she started to talk
psionic wanderer: about her tattoo, and when he heard that Hollander House
had burnt down he frowned, another flash of anger running through him. She'd
probably only notice because his grip on her hand tightened a little, since
he had become rather
psionic wanderer: good at keeping some emotions out of his expression! Well,
sometimes anyway. "That's awful...about Hollander House, I mean. Have you
kept in touch with the ones that got away?" Sure he really only knew her and
Clara very well, but
psionic wanderer: if any of the ladies were in trouble he'd do what he could
to help them!
Tesarik One: She kept on touching him too, she couldn't get enough. She'd
had such a crush on him as a girl, her first love, that's what he was awwwww!
And despite all the hatred she'd burned inside, when the reason for her
hatred was stripped
Tesarik One: away, all that left was all that love there again. "Yeah, it
was terrible. They didn't let Ms. Hollander out, she was already pretty old
but since she owned the place they kept her, and she died there a few years
ago. I've kept up
Tesarik One: with some of the others, Vivien and Clara mostly, the younger
ones. Well, Clara's 30 something now and Vivien's in her mid thirties.
Anyway, they help me with leads sometimes. I hunt mages. There's just so much
to tell you!" She
Tesarik One: sighed a little and laughed softly. "We should go back to camp
where it's nice and warm. Get some food, something to drink, and we can talk
all night if you want."
psionic wanderer: He nodded. Did he remember Vixen? He wasn't sure he ever
really met her! He remembered Clara though, he'd be crazy not to! "I wouldn't
mind seeing them, and talking to them about what happened as well. I'd like
to get as much
psionic wanderer: information as possible before I go back to confront
someone about it." He wasn't sure who to confront, of course, but he'd start
with his parents! At any rate, he smiled. "Yes, let's head back. If any of
the kids are still awake,
psionic wanderer: I'll finish my story, then we can have our all night
talk."
Tesarik One: He'd have probably known Vivien (not Vixen!) just by name and
could pick her out, but he probably hadnt spent private alone time with her!
She smirked and gave him a little poke in the shoulder. "Yeah I bet you
wouldn't mind seeing
Tesarik One: Clara again." She rose upwards and grabbed any of her
belongings that had been put off like her glove, and slipped it back on
again. She stretched, and then glanced around and finally began heading in
the direction of the caravan,
Tesarik One: offering her arm to him as she moved along. "I"m sure they'd
enjoy that."
psionic wanderer: Andy couldn't read that font color accurately enough!
Vivien, whoops! He had a little chuckle, but well..he seemed to have gotten
over his massive fits of blushing! He stood up as well and made sure he had
everything, but..he hadn't
psionic wanderer: really set anything down so he was all set! He took her
arm when it was offered and walked along with her. He never said he'd do
anything inappropriate with Clara! Just talk! Maybe. Never could tell how a
man lost on an island for
psionic wanderer: years would react to a lovely woman!
Tesarik One: Well, to the caravan they'd walk, and just when it came into
view crazy Scout and her whimsical chaotic ways stopped suddenly, spun and
pushed him against one of the big trees, pressed herself up nice and close as
her hands rested
Tesarik One: on his hips, and gave him a nice, deep, passionate kiss instead
of those sweet little ones she'd been giving before.
psionic wanderer: He had wondered why she stopped so suddenly, but before he
could ask she pushed him against the tree! He took in a quick breath when she
pressed in all close and slid his arms around her, eyes closing as he
returned that wonderfully
psionic wanderer: passionate kiss, hands moving down onto her ass and giving
it a little squeeze!
in the midst of the Faerie Woodlands. Scout had not quite recovered from the
death of her friend, which had left the small tattoo she'd shared with her on
her hip, but
Tesarik One: the magic had faded. Scout threw herself into her work, then,
and still traveling with the gypsies she'd been given a couple marks in the
area. Several other gypsy caravans had met up at the same place, and there
was warmth,
Tesarik One: laughter, song, dance around many different firepits and in the
colorful vardo wagons many of them lived within. Scout, usually quite
happy-go-lucky- was set upon her task and had said very little to anyone
since she'd found out
Tesarik One: she had a few marks in the area. She finished the food on the
plate she'd been given after having just about shoveled it into her mouth and
handed it back to the older gypsy who'd given it to her. "Thank you." She
downed a good bit
Tesarik One: of rum from a bottle she held between her boots on the ground,
and glassy eyes gazed around the area, barely noticing anyone who happened to
be sitting around her. Noone from her own small caravan it seemed. There was
suddenly a
Tesarik One: voice ringing out behind her, "Scout!" She glanced behind her,
saw the figure hiding in the shadows by one of the wagons, and rose, moving
towards the figure to engage in soft whispers behind the wagon in the
shadows.
psionic wanderer: Bowen had been picked up near the coast after escaping
from the island he'd spent...well he really didn't know how long he'd spent
on the island! For that matter, he didn't even know which coast he'd washed
up on. He just knew that
psionic wanderer: he'd been taken in, and over the months since had come to
see these people as his family. It of course helped that he could hunt with
the best of them, so the caravan he was with never lacked for fresh meat. He
hadn't been with the
psionic wanderer: same caravan Scout was with or he'd likely have met her by
now, but he was with one of the caravans that had met up in the current
location. He was sitting at one of the fires, telling one of the less
unpleasant, but still scary
psionic wanderer: stories of his time on the island to some of the children.
He seemed to bond well with them, probably something to do with the fact that
he'd barely been not a child anymore when he was shipwrecked! And then he
heard a name that he
psionic wanderer: hadn't heard in years, but had thought of every day. He
blinked and interrupted himself by looking over int he direction of that
shout, then looked back to the children and smiled. "Excuse me, kind
audience. The rest of that tale
psionic wanderer: shall have to wait for another time. I've got to go look
into something." He ruffled the nearest boy's hair, then stood up, picking up
his bow and quiver since they were sitting nearby, and slung them over his
shoulder as he moved
psionic wanderer: towards the direction of all that noise! He was attempting
to stay out of both sight and earshot however, in case it was a different
Scout! Luckily he was quite stealthy.
Tesarik One: Scout leaned against the wagon while one of her informants
talked to her, nodding a bit, as hands worked to pull back her long, black
hair into a ponytail. She was all grown up of course, but there were things
about her that still
Tesarik One: held a resemblance to the young Scout he'd once knew. Those
hazel eyes with hints of gold in them, ruddy cheeks, dark hair...but there
were differences as well. All filled out nicely, of course, but she also
seemed to bear a very
Tesarik One: prominent magical brand that moved around her body to always be
visible. At the moment, since she was bundled up for the weather, it appeared
on the top of one hand. A runic brand of a W, known all around Arith as a
Bryonish brand
Tesarik One: for Whore. Easily seen even in the shadows as she swept her
hair off her face. She gave a pat to the man's shoulder. "Thanks." A coin was
placed in his hand and she sighed and looked up into the night sky, then took
off into the
Tesarik One: forest.
psionic wanderer: He stared for quite a while from his little lurking hiding
spot. It certainly looked like Scout. Much more than he probably looked like
the skinny long-haired little weakling she'd known! And then he saw that
brand. Eyes widened a
psionic wanderer: bit at that and then narrowed, cursing ..well, Bryony in
general in his head. And then before he could figure out what exactly he was
going to do to approach her, she took off into the forest! He blinked, then
took off after her!
psionic wanderer: Forests might not be the same as the jungle he'd spent so
many years in, but it wasn't all that fundamentally different either, so he
wouldn't have much trouble at all following her.
Tesarik One: It was into the nearby village she went, having no idea she was
being followed - at least for now! It was just a small village, one tavern in
the whole place, and she headed for the alleyway beside the tavern. She
reached up and
Tesarik One: grabbed the drainpipe and scaled the side of the three story
wooden building, ending up on the rooftop. Nimbly she darted across the roof
towards one of the open windows (Nimble Feet). As far as her mark was
concerned, who happened
Tesarik One: to be in that room sitting at his desk, he had no idea there
was anyone moving about outside (Shadowy Figure). She knelt outside the man's
window on the thin bit of wood there, watching him without him being the
wiser. She was always
Tesarik One: always cautious with her spell wielding marks!
psionic wanderer: And he followed her right into that village! Though when
he realized they were going somewhere populated, he did pull on his hood and
his mask. And his gloves! No sense in leaving much of anything for someone to
track him with, if
psionic wanderer: possible. He watched her disappear into that alleyway, and
he ducked down another one, to also climb up the building and get a better
vantage point! Luckily he happened to be on the roof of a building nearby and
could see that same
psionic wanderer: window and her darting towards it, but...did she just get
all shadowy? Head tilted a bit, and he got his bow strung. If there was
trouble, well..he intended to help her out!
Tesarik One: Since he was pretty much tracking her, he'd see her far easier
than anyone else. Though she had a knack for finding the right shadows to
lean into to keep her well hidden. This mark in particular was wanted dead,
though most of her
Tesarik One: marks were wanted dead or alive - and if dead or alive she'd
normally choose alive. But tonight, this fellow had done deeds that he
deserved to die for and she was going to end his life. She'd wait for a good
five or ten minutes,
Tesarik One: and then she carefully tugged on the window to see if it was
locked. It was, so she flipped herself right on through the glass, landing
with her big flamberge sword that had been on her back pulled. Of course, the
man jumped when he
Tesarik One: heard the glass break and had attempted to use magic on her,
but she had ways around magic and it did nothing to her. From Bowen's
viewpoint, it was a very quick fight and the man went down with ease, and
Scout was out that window
Tesarik One: again, running across the rooftops, jumping between close
buildings, until she had gotten several houses down and pressed herself to
the roof, watching.
psionic wanderer: Well! This was interesting, and he was ready to put an
arrow in the guy the very instant Scout looked like she needed help...but she
certainly didn't, and then she was off! He had already been crouched down to
keep a low profile, so
psionic wanderer: she likely wouldn't have spotted him even if she glanced
in his direction, and he kept track of where she was heading, then glanced
back to the room. He frowned when he saw a rather nimble fellow climb out
that window like it was
psionic wanderer: something he did on a regular basis, knife in hand, and he
took off in the direction she'd gone. Well now it'd be a three way chase. The
other fellow certainly was quick, so Bowen practically sprinted across that
rooftop to keep him
psionic wanderer: in sight! (Also nimble feet!) Though by the time he got to
the edge of it the man had already reached Scout's rooftop. Well, there was
nothing for it! If Scout saw the man she'd see him ready to stab at her when
one, two, and then a
psionic wanderer: third arrowhead came jutting out of his chest, and when he
toppled forward, there were three green-fletched arrows sunk deep into his
back! Oh and she'd also see Bowen standing there, perched very precariously
on the very edge of
psionic wanderer: his rooftop.
Tesarik One: Wouldn't you know it, that damn mage had someone nearby and now
he was heading across the rooftops for her. He was fast, and right behind her
it seemed, so before she could even get her pistol pulled free the man ended
up with
Tesarik One: arrows in his back. She stared across the way at the man
perched on the rooftop, but it didn't pay to hang around and ask questions. A
wave was sent off to the unknown assistant, and she ran across the roof, then
with a few flips
Tesarik One: and shimmies she'd landed with a thud into the alleyway of the
building she'd been on. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she tugged the
hood of her tight coat up over her head and tucked her pistol away then came
to the end of
Tesarik One: the alley, looking left and right.
psionic wanderer: Well then. It was just a wave and then she was on her way,
was it? Not that he could blame her, there might be more bad guys! He ran
along the edge of his roof to try and see where she'd gone off to, since he
had that nice Ledge
psionic wanderer: Walker skill as well, and spotted the alley, then stepped
away from the edge a few steps, before sprinting forward to jump across onto
that roof she'd been on. It was a bit far though, so he didn't intend to
actually land on it! He
psionic wanderer: just caught onto the edge, hung, then twisted and dropped
with his back to the wall, landing hard but not poorly. He had a brief look
around, then started towards that alley that she'd jumped down into.
Tesarik One: She darted into the shadows again, (Shadowy Figure), and stayed
in those shadows as Bowen headed for her alley, and probably got there and
didn't see anyone! Well, he might have, because her hide DC was 16! Anyway,
as soon as he
Tesarik One: showed up in the alley though, whether he'd spotted her lurking
or not, she stepped out of those shadows with her pistol trained on him,
narrowed eyes gazing at him from head to foot. "Stalking me isn't a good
idea, stranger. While
Tesarik One: I appreciate your help taking out that lackey, I can take care
of myself. So fuck off."
psionic wanderer: Well, he hadn't spotted her, but he hadn't been
unexpecting of trouble! And while she was his friend, and really the only
thing that'd kept him going all these years, he wasn't going to not defend
himself either! He had an arrow
psionic wanderer: ready before he stepped into the alley, so when she
stepped out with her pistol on him he immediately drew back that arrow,
aiming at her. Though if she could gauge his aim well from her vantage point
she'd see he didn't intend to
psionic wanderer: shoot to kill if he did indeed shoot! "If you appreciate
my help, then you should put the pistol away, and we should talk." That mask
generally got him into his whispery voice so that people wouldn't easily
identify him by sound, of
psionic wanderer: course!
Tesarik One: She frowned seeing him have that arrow aimed at her, and it
didn't really matter if he was aiming to kill or not, she was a slow healer
so any damage he'd do was more damage than she wanted to deal with. She began
walking closer to
Tesarik One: him, still holding the pistol up, a crooked grin he'd be very
familiar with (usually done when she was about to get them into deep trouble)
was on her face. Also, it was her Daredevil quirk kicking in! "What do we
have to talk
Tesarik One: about? I suppose I could ask why you are following me, but I
ain't taking this gun down till you get that fucking arrow put away." She
just kept walking closer, and hell she was crazy enough to walk right up to
the bow and point the
Tesarik One: barrel of the gun right down the arrow if she had to!
psionic wanderer: Eyes narrowed a bit as she kept walking closer to him, but
he didn't want to get shot, so the standoff was still necessary as far as he
knew! "Exactly, you can ask why I'm following you." He let a bit more of his
natural voice slip
psionic wanderer: out when he spoke, because perhaps she'd have a hint of
recognition! Either way, as soon as she got into melee range he moved,
darting to the side and letting go of the arrow, but not the bowstring! As
the arrow fell he let the
psionic wanderer: string snap as if it'd fired, but only to free that hand.
The somewhat heavy wooden bow was sent in a very quick motion right at her
pistol hand as he dodged, trying to disarm her whether she got the shot off
or not, and if
psionic wanderer: successful, hopefully he'd just be able to catch it before
it hit the ground and got damaged! He didn't want to hurt her or her gear,
but he didn't want a loaded pistol pointed at him either!
Tesarik One: Her nostrils flared a bit, there was a hint of recognition, but
it was his scent not so much his voice that triggered it. But, she could not
recall why the scent that had blown her way was familiar at the moment. But,
it was enough
Tesarik One: to cause her to momentarily furrow her brow right as her gun
was taken out of her hand. She responded by reaching over her shoulder to
grab the hilt of her big blade, but she didn't draw it. He hadn't harmed her,
he wasn't one of
Tesarik One: her marks and he had helped her out, so for now she decided
talking would have to do. "Why are you following me?"
psionic wanderer: Well recognition either way would be a sufficient
distraction for him to do his fancy disarm! He flipped the bow around in his
hand, ready to thrust it at her chest to knock her back if she drew that
sword. while his free hand held
psionic wanderer: onto her pistol, though he didn't aim it at her. "Why
don't we go somehwere better to talk, where some random villager won't walk
by and see us? Not to mention the two bodies we left behind. Forest work for
you?"
Tesarik One: "Sure." Getting out of town was probably a very good thing. She
stared at her pistol, but then moved to the edge of the alley and looked
rigth and left again. Seeing it was clear, she motioned for him to follow and
darted down the
Tesarik One: lane towards the forest. Being a small village, it wouldn't
take long at all for them to reach it, especially not Scout as she'd always
been extremely quick in her running, due to that lynx blood that ran in her.
She stopped at a
Tesarik One: small copse of trees near a stream and knelt down, splashing
that cold water on her face.
psionic wanderer: Since she had agreed, he handed the pistol back to her
before she moved to the edge of the alley. And then off they went, heading
back towards the forest! He might not be as quick as her, but he was
certainly holding his own rather
psionic wanderer: well. Much better than he had been, that much was certain.
Oh he'd picked up his arrow too! Sure, he'd already left 3 as evidence in a
body, but there was no sense in wasting one just dropped in an alley! When
they stopped and she
psionic wanderer: splashed cold water on her face, he pushed back his hood
and took off his mask. Bow was unstrung and put away as well. Perhaps she'd
seen him when the caravans met up! "Do you recognize me at all?" May as well
start with the simple
psionic wanderer: questions!
Tesarik One: "Well aren't you a quick one?" She was used to leaving people
in the dust, but there he was, right with her. She leaned back, and then dug
out a flask and downed a big gulp of rum, and offered it over to him. She
tilted her head and
Tesarik One: looked at him now that he had his hood down and mask off, she
had seen him around the gypsy caravan. "Yeah, you're with one of the
caravans.. I saw you at the camp. Never heard anyone say your name though,
you were telling stories
Tesarik One: to the children weren't you?"
psionic wanderer: He took the rum and had a small sip, just enough to get a
taste, really, then handed the flask back to her. Of course he didn't expect
her to recognize him from way back! That was many years ago, and his hair was
shorter, he was a
psionic wanderer: good deal larger, muscle-wise, and he had a bit of a
scruffy five o clock shadow beard. He smiled a little and nodded. "Yes, I
was. My name is Bowen Scamp." He took in a deep breath, then decided to say a
bit more! "You're Scout.
psionic wanderer: Scout Hollander, right?"
Tesarik One: He was pretty handsome, and now that she was actually looking
at him more than just trying to defend herself she could see that he was. She
smiled a little back to him, and took the rum back and downed a little more.
It surprised
Tesarik One: her when he knew her full name though, and she closed the flask
and tucked it away, then rubbed her bare hands together to get them warm,
only one was gloved. That way the stupid brand stayed on her hand and didn't
show up on her
Tesarik One: face or something. "Yeah, I'm Scout Hollander. Nice to meet you
Bowen."
psionic wanderer: He frowned a little when he saw that brand, and he
couldn't stop himself! He took her hand, if she allowed him, and ran his
thumb along the brand just a little. He still had his gloves on, of course!
"I'm so sorry for what they did
psionic wanderer: to you...if I'd..." He sighed, then released her hand and
looked to her eyes for a moment, those nice pretty blue eyes he had! He
reached into a pocket then, but he kept his hand there. "...I knew you...a
long time ago. You wouldn't
psionic wanderer: have known me as Bowen, though." He was still trying to
jog her memory instead of just coming right out with it!
Tesarik One: She stiffened a bit when he took her hand and touched that
magical brand. "If you'd....." She frowned and pulled her hand away just as
he released it, and stared across into his lovely eyes. She blinked a little,
and leaned forward,
Tesarik One: sniffing the air now that he was so much closer. There wasn't
anyone that she knew from a long time ago in her life, Ms. Hollander had died
in prison so she'd heard. She eyed his pocket, then looked into his eyes
again. "You... you
Tesarik One: seem familiar. But..." Her brow furrowed, and then she sighed
and closed her eyes for a moment. He reminded her far too much of someone
she'd attempted to forget.... someone from her youth! But, she could never
forget him even if
Tesarik One: she tried. "You smell like someone I knew as a child..." she
said softly. "But it's just not possible."
psionic wanderer: "If i"d been there. I might have been able to do something
about it.." Probably not, of course, but that wouldn't make him feel less
guilty! He tilted his head a bit when she said it wasn't possible, then
pulled out that rabbit's
psionic wanderer: foot she'd given him so many years ago! It was strung with
a leather cord, and looked...well shabby. It'd once been nice and pristine
white, but no amount of cleaning had gotten all the grime off of it. "It
might not seem possible,
psionic wanderer: but you gave me this...we were hunting rabbits. I also .."
He sighed again and closed his eyes for a moment. "I drew a star on your
hand. The gloved one. You told me you were going to get it tattooed on."
Tesarik One: She was quick, and soon as she saw that rabbit's foot she
reached out and snatched it from him, bringing it to her nose to sniff.
"THAT'S why you smell like him, where did you get this fucking thing??" She
still would not believe it
Tesarik One: was him! Surely Marco had somehow heard about her and decided
to fuck with her some more, make her hurt more perhaps for whatever had
caused him to decide to hate her when they were children. She pressed her
hand to her gloved hand
Tesarik One: where the star tattoo was covered, and growled dangerously low
at him. "So that's what it is then? Marco couldn't be happy with breaking my
heart just once? What, heard about me somehow and decided to send you to fuck
with me? How
Tesarik One: much is he paying you? I'll fucking double it if you go back to
him and tell him he can go fuck himself."
psionic wanderer: He sighed and hung his head a little, eyes closing once
more, and he rubbed at them a little. "..Scout, Marco didn't send me. I
..was..Marco. I gather from your attitude that you never knew what happened."
He opened his eyes again
psionic wanderer: and looked to her. "After that meteor shower, when I went
home my parents were waiting for me. They knew I'd snuck out, and realized
I'd been doing it for quite some time. They sent me away to learn some
discipline, but the ship I
psionic wanderer: was on ran into a storm and sank."
Tesarik One: This was Marco? She tilted her head, she could see it now. His
hair, though short, still had the same color she remembered running her
fingers through. HIs eyes were the same, his features. She fought back tears
with the realization
Tesarik One: that it was him and before he could even explain what happened,
her hand was sent sharply across his face in a slap that due to her great
strength probably hurt a lot more than it should - unless he somehow knew she
was going to and
Tesarik One: evaded! Then he explained further, and her eyes got big and
wide. She held up her hands, shaking her head, "Wait... wait, what? That's
not what I was told... many times. By your parents in fact."
psionic wanderer: Oh no, he wasn't prepared for that slap, and it caught him
fully off-guard! He stumbled to the side, and almost had to take a knee, but
he didn't seem angry about it, just..more sad, in fact. And then he continued
his explanation.
psionic wanderer: When her eyes got all big and wide like that, he clenched
his teeth and a fist, but relaxed after a breath. "..and what did they tell
you? I don't imagine they told anyone I was lost at sea.." He had a feeling
they told her
psionic wanderer: something much worse, too!
Tesarik One: She couldn't help it, those big eyes of hers got all watery.
This was one of the worst things that had ever happened to her, not as bad as
losing her family but it had scarred her far deeper than she ever even let on
to Clara and
Tesarik One: the others. She stepped back and pressed her back against a
tree then slid down and wrapped her arms around her legs. She swallowed, then
spoke, "They said you wanted nothing to do with me. I asked about you when
your father came to
Tesarik One: the house and you weren't with him, he said you didn't want to
see me, I didn't believe it. But, you never snuck out I never saw you again
so I went to your house. I snuck in looking for you, and got caught. They
told me I was
Tesarik One: gutter trash, and that you were ashamed you'd spent so much
time with me, you'd wasted time with a whore's daughter and had decided to
get back to what was important. Your noble life, and that didn't include me.
I did hear you'd
Tesarik One: been sent to school abroad, but that you'd come back shortly
after and your parents told everyone you didn't want to see anyone."
psionic wanderer: He got silent when she started to explain what had been
said about him. The part about them saying he just turned into a recluse was
hardly surprising, but the lie they'd told her? That was inexcusable. He
started to pace a little,
psionic wanderer: his anger giving him energy that he needed to burn off
somehow, whiel she finished up her story, and he moved over to the tree
nearest him and slammed a good solid punch into it. Thank goodness his gloves
were protective enough! He
psionic wanderer: moved over to Scout then and crouched down before her,
reaching out to take her hands and give them a squeeze. "...I'm so sorry,
Scout. What they did is terrible, and they will answer for it, I promise. I
spent...all of these years
psionic wanderer: on an island. Bel'Berith is what I'm calling it, because I
don't know if it actually has a name. It..moves." He shook his head. "That's
not important...I just..when I heard that person shout your name
earlier..well, I never thought
psionic wanderer: I was going to see you again."
Tesarik One: She closed her eyes, tears wetting her thick lashes and finally
trailing down her cheeks. His punch made her jump, eyes opening again and
when he crouched in front of her and squeezed her hands, she stared across at
him. It was a
Tesarik One: lot to take in, and she'd believed he'd thought she was trash
not worthy of his attention for quite a long time now! She leaned forward,
whispering, "I just want to hear you say it, Marco. I want you to tell me
that you don't think.
Tesarik One: that I'm..." she swallowed, "trash... unworthy of your
attention... you also promised me we'd always be friends, I've thought for so
long now you broke your promise." She squeezed his hands tightly, watching
his eyes, as if trying
Tesarik One: to still make sure all of this was actually happening and true.
psionic wanderer: His brow furrowed, and if anyone could look sadder than he
did at the idea that she needed reassurance like that, well..they'd look like
the saddest person in the whole world! He looked right into her eyes, his own
starting to get a
psionic wanderer: bit watery now, and his voice came out in a somewhat
choked whisper. "Scout...thinking about you every day was the only thing that
kept me going. If I hadn't had my time with you before the island...I never
would have survived it.
psionic wanderer: You're not trash...I never thought that, not even for a
second. And you will always be my friend..I just hope to all the gods that I
can be yours again."
Tesarik One: She smiled a little, then pulled her hands from his so she
could wipe her eyes, but her hands soon came to cup his cheeks while her
thumbs brushed across his skin. Her voice was emotional, but her smile was
growing. After staring at
Tesarik One: him a moment or two, she moved her hands only to grab him and
pull him into a tight hug and kisses were given all over his face until
finally she leaned her forehead to his, rubbing her nose against his, and
gave a soft peck to his
Tesarik One: lips. "You can. I've missed you so much. Even when I didn't
want to, and I cursed myself for it, I've missed you. Just like that star you
drew on my skin... you got written into my heart and no amount of trying to
erase it worked."
psionic wanderer: He let out a little sigh of relief when she pulled him
into the hug and he returned it just as tightly, smiling at the kisses on his
face. Tears that had been welling up went falling down his cheeks when he
closed his eyes, and he
psionic wanderer: nuzzled right back into her and returned that peck to the
lips, resting there for a moment. "I've missed you too. I..I haven't been
back home. They all think I'm dead, and I'd like to keep it that way, at
least for now...that's why
psionic wanderer: I'm calling myself Bowen. That and...the boy you knew...he
died on the island. Mostly, anyway. I never forgot about you, even with all
I've been through."
Tesarik One: She slid fingers up through his short hair and kissed his lips
gently a few more times in between his words. "Bowen, then. Gods, I can't
even .. I don't even know what to say except that I never though this would
happen. If I'd
Tesarik One: known you were lost, I'd have looked for you. I'd have looked
till I found you or I died trying. You do seem to have changed... a bit... "
She slid her hands down his shoulders and upper arms and grinned. "Put on a
bit of weight,
Tesarik One: grown up even more handsome than you were as a boy, gotten some
muscle. And hey, I never thought I'd see the day you'd be able to use a damn
bow and arrow!" She slid her hands down to his hips and
Tesarik One: and then released her hand from him and tugged her glove off.
There was the star, just like he'd drawn it, but there were runin words
around it. Now Scout didn't read Runin so she'd put her trust that whoever
tattooed her had put
Tesarik One: the right quote there. If he read Runin, he'd know what it said
without her even telling him! It said 'everything changes, but nothing is
truly lost'.
psionic wanderer: He nodded. Best if she got into the habit now of calling
him Bowen so she didn't slip up around someone that'd recognize him! "I know
you would have..I'll need to go back home at some point and..make them
understand the error of
psionic wanderer: their ways." He practically growled that last part out.
He'd already been extremely angry at his parents for the last few
years...this just compounded that! And those kisses were returned of course!
He chuckled a little at her grin
psionic wanderer: and her assessment of him. "Well..more handsome in the
face, perhaps, but I've got...scars. Someday I'll tell you more about what
I've been up to, but for now it's still..hard to even think about." He smiled
faintly, then chuckled
psionic wanderer: again and nodded. "As for the archery, it was a skill I
had to pick up, or I wouldn't be here." And then she tu gged her glove off!
He looked down to it with a smile and brought her hand closer to read the
Runin, because he did in
psionic wanderer: fact read it! "Everything changes, but nothing is truly
lost.." He smiled and gave a kiss to that star. "I like it."
Tesarik One: "Scars are sexy, or did no one tell you that when you got off
that island?" She caressed his cheek with her branded hand, and she gave a
nod. "When you are ready to tell me more about it I'll be all ears...Bowen."
Yes she'd have to
Tesarik One: practice using that name! But, she'd done many, many cons with
Nicohlet where she'd had to use various names, so keeping up with a facade
came pretty naturally for her. She grinned wide when he read it, "Yep. I
dunno, I liked the
Tesarik One: quote... I got it added during a melancholy period after I got
out of prison, and was just wandering around. They burnt Hollander House
down, any that got out with me scattered out of Bryony, all of us were
branded. I was pretty
Tesarik One: lost for a while. I suppose ... it's kind of true, I thought
you were lost but here you are."
psionic wanderer: "No, I suppose nobody did tell me that. Of course most
people haven't even seen them." He leaned into her touch, nodding when she
said she'd listen when he was ready to talk! He kissed that hand as well when
she started to talk
psionic wanderer: about her tattoo, and when he heard that Hollander House
had burnt down he frowned, another flash of anger running through him. She'd
probably only notice because his grip on her hand tightened a little, since
he had become rather
psionic wanderer: good at keeping some emotions out of his expression! Well,
sometimes anyway. "That's awful...about Hollander House, I mean. Have you
kept in touch with the ones that got away?" Sure he really only knew her and
Clara very well, but
psionic wanderer: if any of the ladies were in trouble he'd do what he could
to help them!
Tesarik One: She kept on touching him too, she couldn't get enough. She'd
had such a crush on him as a girl, her first love, that's what he was awwwww!
And despite all the hatred she'd burned inside, when the reason for her
hatred was stripped
Tesarik One: away, all that left was all that love there again. "Yeah, it
was terrible. They didn't let Ms. Hollander out, she was already pretty old
but since she owned the place they kept her, and she died there a few years
ago. I've kept up
Tesarik One: with some of the others, Vivien and Clara mostly, the younger
ones. Well, Clara's 30 something now and Vivien's in her mid thirties.
Anyway, they help me with leads sometimes. I hunt mages. There's just so much
to tell you!" She
Tesarik One: sighed a little and laughed softly. "We should go back to camp
where it's nice and warm. Get some food, something to drink, and we can talk
all night if you want."
psionic wanderer: He nodded. Did he remember Vixen? He wasn't sure he ever
really met her! He remembered Clara though, he'd be crazy not to! "I wouldn't
mind seeing them, and talking to them about what happened as well. I'd like
to get as much
psionic wanderer: information as possible before I go back to confront
someone about it." He wasn't sure who to confront, of course, but he'd start
with his parents! At any rate, he smiled. "Yes, let's head back. If any of
the kids are still awake,
psionic wanderer: I'll finish my story, then we can have our all night
talk."
Tesarik One: He'd have probably known Vivien (not Vixen!) just by name and
could pick her out, but he probably hadnt spent private alone time with her!
She smirked and gave him a little poke in the shoulder. "Yeah I bet you
wouldn't mind seeing
Tesarik One: Clara again." She rose upwards and grabbed any of her
belongings that had been put off like her glove, and slipped it back on
again. She stretched, and then glanced around and finally began heading in
the direction of the caravan,
Tesarik One: offering her arm to him as she moved along. "I"m sure they'd
enjoy that."
psionic wanderer: Andy couldn't read that font color accurately enough!
Vivien, whoops! He had a little chuckle, but well..he seemed to have gotten
over his massive fits of blushing! He stood up as well and made sure he had
everything, but..he hadn't
psionic wanderer: really set anything down so he was all set! He took her
arm when it was offered and walked along with her. He never said he'd do
anything inappropriate with Clara! Just talk! Maybe. Never could tell how a
man lost on an island for
psionic wanderer: years would react to a lovely woman!
Tesarik One: Well, to the caravan they'd walk, and just when it came into
view crazy Scout and her whimsical chaotic ways stopped suddenly, spun and
pushed him against one of the big trees, pressed herself up nice and close as
her hands rested
Tesarik One: on his hips, and gave him a nice, deep, passionate kiss instead
of those sweet little ones she'd been giving before.
psionic wanderer: He had wondered why she stopped so suddenly, but before he
could ask she pushed him against the tree! He took in a quick breath when she
pressed in all close and slid his arms around her, eyes closing as he
returned that wonderfully
psionic wanderer: passionate kiss, hands moving down onto her ass and giving
it a little squeeze!