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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 14, 2019 22:49:04 GMT
Rhea’s words clearly surprised both of them, glancing at each other. But Cathal chuckled at Rhea’s attempt at a joke, smoothly letting the strain in her voice slip past as if unnoticed. “Oh dear. Well, it’s a good thing we were preparing to leave anyway. We still have to consider those bandits who were after you,” he explained, while simultaneously trying to settle Rhea’s concerns of being abandoned. The way he said it, however, was clearly trying to help verbally deflect attention from Ciaran; it was obvious which of the two was most obsessed with the men who were chasing after Rhea, but by not singling him out Cathal was subtly letting the assassin take his time in reclaiming any attention.
Which, perhaps not so surprisingly, he seemed uninterested in doing. While his eyes had moved to Rhea a few times around his packing, it was in a manner that seemed to fear something about her. And for once, it wouldn’t be her magic.
Would she ask him again why he was helping her? His inability to answer before was a mix of things; uncertainty as to why his response to her plight and her situation was what it was when he knew what it meant, and an unwillingness to admit the feelings that he knew could end, assumed always ended in pain.
“We should get going then,” he finally voiced, his tone carefully flat and reminiscent of his initial dealings with Rhea, rather than the open tone he had used that morning. Once more trying to push away.
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 14, 2019 23:32:56 GMT
If Cathal’s words alone didn’t settle her, the surprised expression on his and Ciaran’s faces as they exchanged glances, did. In regards to the bandits, Rhea didn’t think they would be seeing the men again, not after what had happened, and she severely doubted that she was important enough for them to keep chasing her after seeing what kind of company she now kept. Even so, she reserved these thoughts and left them unspoken, now didn’t seem like the best time to argue such matters, and they should be leaving anyhow for Cathal’s sake.
At Ciaran’s flat comment, Rhea merely nodded, approaching her horse. A gentle murmur of assurance as she reached out to stroke the beast’s snout, and she mounted, seeing that her companion had already taken the liberty to pack her rucksack onto her horse. It didn’t occur for her to check for the presence of the tiara, assuming that it would be in Ciaran’s possession now he knew of it’s whereabouts. Despite their statuses having been levelled, with she clearly no longer being a prisoner, she waited for Ciaran to leave as she settled on the horse, ready to follow.
***
The small party travelled the rest of the day, coming upon the village a few hours before evening. It was a small settlement based in the middle of nowhere, and the handful of people they had come across so far seemed friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere between the three had not been quite as friendly, with Ciaran’s defensive mask of austerity raised yet again, Rhea had diverted most of her attention to Cathal, whom seemed happy to chat, and to her relief, content not to bring up the awkward situation back at the cave. With no mention of witches or curses, Rhea seemed to be acting as if none of the previous conversation had taken place, perhaps much to Ciaran’s relief as it meant she didn’t try to press him further for an answer as to why he still intended to help her.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 17, 2019 18:44:06 GMT
As Rhea mounted, so did Ciaran, although it was Cathal that finally got the party moving by walking off first, the humans following after him. Ciaran was grateful for the conversation between Rhea and Cathal, easing some of the tension without his having to say a word. The tiger obviously enjoyed having an open conversation, and showed how much he was craving it from having only Ciaran for company for so long. The most the assassin had said was in arguing against Cathal staying outside the town, more concerned with hunters finding him alone rather than any issues they might encounter.
To their pleasant surprise, the townsfolk were able to look at the tiger as a curiosity rather than a fearsome beast. Then again, given where the small settlement was located, who knew what manner of beast came through their settlement on a given day.
Fortunately, finding a place to stay proved just as easy as it was to enter the town, but with the lack of an adjoining tavern, Ciaran found himself torn between staying in the room with the others, or seeking out the local bar. Cathal noted this conflict in him, even though he said nothing as they settled their belongings into the room, the horses safely stabled. Ciaran also hid most of his weapons under their bags, keeping a few daggers on him as always even though he seemed to pull away with nothing but a money pouch by his side. “I’ll be back,” he said offhandedly, but at Cathal’s concerned expression, he sighed irritably.
“I can hardly keep traveling around with a bloodied shirt, can I?” he asked hotly, lifting a portion of the stained, cut fabric before heading out. Cathal let him go wordlessly, but knew that the man was likely to not return without a drink. Alcohol, it seemed, was one of his ways of dulling confusing emotions, and the tiger could sense from his tension along how conflicted he was feeling.
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 17, 2019 22:17:23 GMT
It was a pleasant surprise to find that Cathal would be able to join the two humans rather than be banished to the forest like he normally was. In Rhea’s case, his presence was always welcomed, and there was of course the added bonus that he was a welcomed buffer between the assassin and the thief when tensions ran high. It seemed that at the moment they were certain to do so- things had not eased between the two since their interaction back at the cave. Ciaran and Cathal’s readiness to continue travelling with her seemed to be an admission of their willingness to help, but Rhea felt on edge without discussion or elaboration into the help she would need once at the castle. Despite this, she was loathe to bring the topic back up, lest her hurrying jeopardise anything. Best to just let the two mull it around in their minds and bring it up themselves, even if it did drive her crazy with anxiety whilst she waited.
In the meantime, Rhea watched the interaction between the two wordlessly, but as Ciaran headed out the door and out of earshot, she turned to Cathal questioningly, and asked “So… where’s he really going?” Ciaran had seemed way too defensive to the look the tiger had shot him, and it was clear that something unspoken had passed between the two. Rhea did not know the assassin well enough yet to know what it was that Ciaran was concerned about with the man’s departure.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 18, 2019 15:43:50 GMT
Cathal looked over at Rhea at her question, momentarily surprised that she had noticed the dual meaning in their interaction. But that look quickly melted into a smile, the sort a parent might express when knowing their child was about to make a mistake, but that they needed to learn it for themselves.
“I’m sure he’s going to be getting a new shirt,” Cathal replied, glancing back at the door before continuing. “But… I know he will probably find somewhere to get alcohol. It’s his way of…” He paused for a moment, unsure if he should explain in so much detail. “Of helping… with feelings he struggles with,” he finished, clearly picking a different way of explaining it than he had originally started with.
Defending Ciaran to Rhea, explaining some of his attitude… that was fine. But revealing just how he coped with problems he wasn’t as comfortable with. It was mostly because he knew Rhea needed an answer - not only to this, but to Ciaran’s earlier hesitation - he gave her at least something.
---
It hadn’t taken long to find a new shirt to replace his tattered one, Ciaran wasn’t picky and the seller was more than happy to toss the stained and torn shirt into the fire. It gave the impression of a man who was accustomed to getting rid of incriminating clothing, but he seemed affable otherwise.
Just as Cathal had predicted, as soon as he stepped back out into the street his eyes were scanning the signs that hung, following it down to the bar. Entering was again pleasantly unimpressive, hardly earning a glance as he entered and approached the barman, ordering a drink - and carefully watching to make sure the drink didn’t come from an unopened bottle.
Sitting at a table near the wall, Ciaran drank slowly and silently, trying to sort through what had happened that morning. And all the mornings since meeting Rhea, the way his initial attraction had deepened, how her strength and resolve had impressed him… and how dangerous all of that could be. HIs gaze was focused mostly on the table, or studying the cup in his hand, almost willing the alcohol to start dulling his feelings and make it easier to sort things out.
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 21, 2019 21:49:35 GMT
As day melted into evening, the cabin fever of the two only seemed to grow. Both seemed anxious with the absence of Ciaran’s presence, if for different reasons. It was not that Rhea didn’t enjoy Cathal’s company; on the contrary, the only other individual she had felt so at ease with as she did with the tiger, was Minerva. Even so, it was clear that Cathal was worried for his 'cub', even if he tried to pass off his concern as nothing, and that tension seemed to underlay even their easy conversation. Eventually Rhea decided that it would be best for both of them if she sought out the man herself, although of course she also wanted to know just where exactly he had gone... as well as check that he was okay. Of course, the assassin was a force of nature and could surely take care of himself, but if Cathal was concerned for him then Rhea trusted the tiger's instincts. Besides, if the man was drinking, his reasoning was likely to be tampered, and her presence might be needed to diffuse some untoward situation.
With Cathal’s obvious, if unspoken blessing, Rhea left the inn and went in search of their companion. It was a small village, so it didn’t take long for her to find the familiar sign that signified a tavern, swinging and creaking gently on a rusty rail. Little noise exited the building itself, which she thought a good sign, as it suggested a calm atmosphere too often at odds to what she had come to expect of such places. Rhea usually took care to avoid such establishments, all too aware of the kind of men they attracted, but this tavern both looked and sounded promising. Stepping inside revealed a warm, cosy atmosphere with a minimal amount of people… one of which, she was pleased to see, was Ciaran. He didn’t appear to have noticed her yet, sitting at the edge of the room, his gaze focused into space. She approached the bar, first, uncharacteristically opting to join the man for a drink, despite what had happened the last time she had. But of course this time, everything was different.
The assassin appeared to continue to be unaware of the thief even as she approached, only really being moved to react when Rhea set her wooden cup down onto his table. “Hello, stranger.” She began, a twinkle in her eye as she pulled out the seat on the opposite side of the table, swiftly planting herself down. “Cathal said I might find you here.” She spoke with a hint of a tease in her voice, raising the cup to her lips to take a sip of whatever concoction the barman had decided to bless her with. An accidentally endearing wrinkle of the nose, however, showed that she did not think much of his sense of taste, as she set the cup back down again. “Ugh. I hope yours taste better than mine.” She commented, all earlier tensions seemingly gone. Whether it was because of their time apart, or she was simply acting at ease, was not immediately clear.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 25, 2019 22:33:29 GMT
Ciaran had little idea he’d been followed until the cup was set on the table in front of his listless gaze, bringing his attention back to the moment and looking up at the intruder in time for the teasing remark.
His neutral expression immediately stiffened at recognizing the figure now sitting opposite him, his gaze momentarily dropping back to the cup in his hand. Trying to sort things out was hard enough alone… with Rhea there, it would be impossible. Mask back in place, Ciaran looked up in time to see Rhea try her drink, and her reaction to it. He managed to control his own, taking another drink to help the lump in his throat. How was she able to make the most innocent thing so… complicated?
“It’s fine,” Ciaran replied softly to Rhea’s remark, considering his words carefully before speaking. “You’re not a drinker,” he added, almost unintentionally. The drink was affecting him, but not in the way he wanted, not at the moment. Ciaran’s eyes dropped away from her again, unsure what to do after offering such a comment.
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 26, 2019 8:54:53 GMT
If Rhea noticed Ciaran’s stiffness, she didn’t acknowledge it in any way, appearing instead rather comfortable in his company, even if he currently wasn’t in hers. At his comment, a small, amused smile slipped onto her lips. It had been pretty obvious by how she had handled the hangover that drinking was not a pastime she would often partake. “True. But I know enough about it to know that a man shouldn’t drink alone.” She took another sip of the foul-tasting concoction, unwilling to waste her coin but openly showing her contempt for it. “It’s so bitter!” She complained, “Surely you can’t be drinking because you actually enjoy the taste.” It was a veiled attempt at asking why Ciaran had chosen to come here at all, even if she was already pretty sure as to the reason.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 28, 2019 22:11:20 GMT
Rhea’s apparent ease with their conversation helped Ciaran, as it allowed the conversation to move forward without his having to do much. She wasn’t bringing up uncomfortable topics, although she was trying to engage him enough to speak. Usually, Cathal was more than happy to chat with her, and Ciaran was by now aware of how easily Rhea could talk. He was usually quiet for those times.
Her focus on the bitterness of her drink gave Ciaran something other than her questions to focus on, finally reaching over to her cup. After a brief sniff, he tasted it, managing to resist the shrug to its bitterness. Not too bad, but he got the feeling Rhea had been outed by the bartender as a non-drinker. “Wait here,” he said, standing slowly but without provocation, but instead of leaving, he went back to the bar. Speaking with the man for a few moments, it wasn’t long before he was handed another cup in exchange for a coin, and was walking back to the table. He set the cup in front of Rhea before taking back his own seat, watching her for a moment before finally explaining.
“It’s elderberry wine. It’s not bitter,” he said before taking another drink from his own cup, still ignoring her comment about his wanting to drink alone, or what his preferences in alcohol were. There was meaning behind those questions, he could tell, and he didn’t want to get into the answers. Ciaran was still trying to sort out the answers for himself.
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 28, 2019 23:56:46 GMT
Rhea watched with increasing interest as Ciaran took her cup, resisting the urge to cock her head to the side questioningly. As he raised the cup to take a sip, she found her eyes drawn to his lips, and then his neck as he swallowed. For some reason, the motion exhibited a strange response from her, the innocent gesture provoking a fluttering of butterflies in her stomach. Before her mind could go into too much detail as to what Ciaran’s mouth had done to her he was standing up, telling her to wait. In that moment, she was glad he was leaving, maybe he left in time to miss the pink flush that she could feel suddenly heating up her cheeks.
What is wrong with me?
Why would she think on that night right now? Perhaps it was the familiar surrounding of the bar and drink that had triggered her memories. Either way, she worked to compose herself before Ciaran returned. She had just turned in her seat to check that he had not in fact just left as he returned to the table, setting her cup down back in front of her. Taking it, she realised that the concoction inside was of a lighter colour, and Ciaran soon explained why. The corner of her mouth tweaked upwards, and she looked amused as she spoke. “So, you’re secretly a gentleman!” She teased, surprised but pleased by his sincere gesture. She raised the cup to her lips, and was happy to find that his choice had been a good one, the liquid sweet and much better than the bitter-tasting brew she had had before. Taking a deeper drink, she set the cup back down, licking the glistening residue from her lips before speaking again, sincerely this time. “Thank you.”
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 29, 2019 0:28:12 GMT
Ciaran had been in the middle of taking another mouthful of his drink when Rhea teased him, pausing with his gaze returning to her, one eyebrow raising. This look was all that was needed to convey his response; … Really?
Not unsurprisingly but still frustratingly, Rhea moved past his response with ease, experimentally tasting the drink before deciding it wasn’t poisoned. Or bitter… He had a response to her taking a settled drink, that if she wanted to drink she’d need to know what she was looking for, but what she said next made him pause again.
Obviously, Ciaran hadn’t expected to be thanked for the drink, at least not in such a way. He had thought her tease was her thanks, but the sincerity in her voice… Ciaran watched her for a few moments, but his gaze quickly dropped down, unsure how to respond at first. “You’re… welcome,” he finally responded, taking another drink, clearly more accustomed to handling Rhea’s snippy attitude than sincere feelings. It answered several questions about his reaction back in the cave… while raising several more.
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 29, 2019 0:44:34 GMT
His stilted way of responding was telling. Clearly, she had hit the nail on the head in assuming that he normally drank alone. Well, with Cathal as his only company, that did make sense. Even so, she wasn’t sure whether to be amused by his silence or irritated. Surprisingly, she found she wasn’t annoyed by it, despite the fact that she clearly wanted to talk and he was making no effort to do so. Maybe it was because she could sense his wariness. She could sense that he wasn’t being so guarded on purpose; he truly didn’t seem to know how to act around her. Besides, he had bought her a drink, which seemed to suggest that despite feeling awkward in her presence, he wasn’t quite telling her to go away, just yet. So, for those reasons, she decided to cut him some slack, although that didn’t mean that she’d give up so easily on trying to talk to him, though unfortunately her choice of topics probably were not going to help with his silence. Especially the one she was about to broach, but she felt the need to clear the air, at least in her head, even if he no longer even thought on the matter. “I… um, wanted to apologise, by the way.” It was her turn for her gaze to drop, falling to her cup instead as she swirled the mixture inside, gently. Apologising was not something she was well-versed in, and therefore she found it difficult at that moment to look him in the eye. But, it needed to be said, especially after that time he had apologised to her after offending her. The least she could do was return the favour when she had wronged him.
“For how I responded… when you told me about what you planned to do with the reward money. I didn’t want to believe that you could have noble intentions…" I didn't want to like you...
"...what I mean to say is, I misjudged you. And I'm sorry for that.”
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Apr 29, 2019 1:17:39 GMT
With Rhea’s presence, it was much easier to drink faster, which, ironically, was more likely to help get him drunk faster. He’d already downed the rest of his ale and was about to get more when Rhea began to speak again. Her words made him question how much he had had already… no, not enough to mishear that. Not nearly enough.
Ciaran’s eyes were drawn back to Rhea as she went on, now unable to meet his gaze. For a moment, he had to recall; had he told her his plans with the reward money? Oh… wait, yes, he had. Out of a sense of self defense, not long after capturing her. She was clearly convinced he had some devilish plan to use all that wealth on, and had been irritated when he claimed otherwise.
Was this coming up because of his response to being handed the tiara before? He’d tossed it aside, hurled it really, and had clearly startled her with the gesture. But he couldn’t see any other reason for her bringing this up again.
Her apology hung heavily in the air for a few moments, Ciaran shifting uncomfortably before responding. Gaze dropped, his tone low, he said possibly the last thing she’d expect. Although, by this point, with how she managed to pull on emotions he thought dead and buried, he wasn’t sure how much more unexpected his reactions could be.
“Don’t,” was how he started, slightly tense, not with Rhea but her assessment. “I don’t have noble intentions, and… you know what I am. What I do. I have no other use for the money, and it would repay… a great debt.” A debt beyond words, and one Cathal would undoubtedly argue against. “You weren’t wrong.”
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Post by Kelathi on Apr 29, 2019 1:43:48 GMT
His response did surprise her. She didn’t necessarily expect him to just take her apology, but she certainly didn’t expect this. Instead of backing down, or remaining quiet, she argued against his words, which, considering who she was, was probably not surprising. “I was wrong.” She reiterated firmly, leaning forwards and resting her forearms on the table, silently willing him to look at her, even as his gaze remained stubbornly focused elsewhere. “You had no reason to tolerate me and every reason to hurt me, but you didn’t. Any other man would have done just that, to make me give up the tiara… or would have killed me. I’ve known men to do worse for much less.”
Or, for no reason at all except that it pleased them at the time.
Her last phrase had been spoken with a pained sense of hollowness, as if speaking from some haunted experience. There was an ache in her tone, provided by the presence of those words that were spoken only in her mind, hanging in the air between them. A pregnant pause as the words sank in, and then she sighed softly, pulling back again, increasing the distance between them once more.
“Yes… I know what you do. But that’s not all you are.” She added, quietly, ivy-green gaze on his face as she tried to gauge his reaction. Had she spoken too much? Too candidly? She was never sure of what his response to her would be, often, he was as unreadable as she was to him.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on May 1, 2019 19:14:46 GMT
Ciaran’s gaze darted to Rhea for a moment as she - most unexpectedly - argued with his own self assessment, the surprise clearly lit in his eyes. He looked away again as she went on, clearly disagreeing with what she was saying, even if he did seem to pause a little and glance at her out of the corner of his eye at her last few words, hearing the pained undercurrent in her tone.
As Rhea finally leaned back, waiting for a response, Ciaran resisted the urge to shift again, knowing how much of a signal of discomfort it was. He’d seen it enough times in others. His hand was still holding the empty mug, thumb sliding against the smooth wood as he considered his options, clouded as they might be with the thief’s presence and words.
Finally, he shook his head a little as he let out a soft sigh, like a held breath. It was a clear admission, he wasn’t sure what to say. “How can you be so certain of that?” he asked, softly, almost unintentionally voicing the words. She seemed so confident that she knew… but he knew what he’d done. Not that he was ashamed of most of it, but he knew he hadn’t lived a ‘normal’ life. All he knew was fighting, war… he honestly wasn’t sure what Rhea could possibly see beyond that.
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