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Post by Narisha on Jul 18, 2009 2:26:57 GMT -5
(From Vicious Circles) Narianne stepped out onto the docks. It was early, but the goblins were already hard at work. Some opening shops, some beginning to work on their wares... the bank and auction house were already open which surprised her. But she supposed, shrugging, that for the goblins time was money. She lifted her hand to hide her yawn. It was very early, but she needed the time to herself. She loved Val, she could accept that she loved him, but accepting that he loved her even after what she had done was much harder. Nari found herself constantly torn between the desire to run from him and the need to be close. She couldn't count the number of times in the few days the had gotten back home in Stormwind that she had suffered sudden waves of anxiety and wanted to run to him in headquarters just so he could hold her. She heaved a sigh... and too often she wondered if it were bad thing that she hadn't. Nari allowed herself a few more seconds to wallow in contemplation before taking in a good solid breath and gazing out across the bay. The sun was just beginning to rise, a faint glow on the horizon as stars clung to their last few minutes in the sky. It was a huge relief to be away from Stormwind, away from Elwynn and Goldshire. And the goblins were certainly amusing. When Val had come home and said he would be gone for about 14 days handling negotiations in Booty Bay, Nari had calmly inquired what time they would be leaving in the morning. She smiled thinking back to the look on his face. Total and utter confusion as he had risen from his spot by the fire and faced her saying the HE would be leaving first thing in the morning. Their discussion over it had been short. She argued that her job was to take care of him and how could she if he were halfway across the continent. He countered with some sort of ramble about protecting and military speak that she paid little attention to. Her reply was simple and truthful. She couldn't stand the thought of being that far away from him for that long and she wasn't going to try and see if she lived through it either. She was coming, like it or not, and here... she sighed happily, breathing in the ocean air... here she was. The children had taken a simpler tactic. When she and Val had both gotten downstairs the next morning, all four were waiting by the door. Claire and Michael sleepily rubbing their eyes, Sophie braiding up Claire's hair, and Edmund holding a huge basket of what Nari knew instinctually was full of Sophie's cooking. The two adults had argued valiantly, but they lost to Narianne's own logic. Sweet, quiet Sophie had looked at her and softly said,
"Why would you think we could be without you any more than you could be without the Master? Of course we're coming with you."
It had nearly put Nari into tears and she had nodded at them. Val locked up the house, a quite curious look on his face. Nari couldn't decide if it was confusion, frustration, or happiness and she felt it was best to let it lay. Palus had given a loud, boisterous laugh at seeing the small crowd. Claire and Michael were thrilled to see him, running forward and practically climbing all over the man.A goblin bumped into her and she looked down at it as she stepped aside. Funny creatures. That one had been carrying a huge stack of books. She shook her head. Claire and Michael had loved the trek through the jungle, as had she. It was beautiful, the wildlife was stunning even if it were frightening. It had done her a world of good to simply be away from everything but the children and Val... and Palus, even if he was a drunken idiot. And she had enjoyed sleeping under the stars, though she had been relieved when they made it into Booty Bay and she realized she was going to get to sleep in a bed again. Another sigh. The sun had begun to tip over the horizon, spilling soft orange light over the bay and she stretched preparing to go wake Val. He had a meeting early and as she knew, to goblins time was money. If he were late it could cost the Alliance funds they didn't have, and since he had not yet included her in his negotiations she didn't want him to be late to any either. Besides... he should see the sunrise... She stood there on the docks, knowing she needed to turn and go back in, but just not quite ready.
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Post by Callahan on Jul 18, 2009 3:44:55 GMT -5
The negotiations hadn't been going well so far. Not that he'd expected much better. Goblins, greedy by nature. they were in for anything as long as it had a profit. Willing to trade off their own mother for a quick turnover. The mages said the Eredar demons would be landing in northern Kalimdor the first thing he had done was to inform the Night Elves. They'd promised army units and supplies for the Alliance's assistance in driving the demons back. The Night Elves had a rather unfriendly history with the demons. Then again, he thought, what race hadn't the ancient species managed to piss off? He sighed, knowing that he'd be in for another week of trying to convince the Goblins that assisting them was in their interests. The Night Elves wanted help. The Alliance wanted full Elven support. But to get help to the Elves they needed to cross seas.
And the navy wasn't particularly healthy nowadays. Not enough battleships, not enough troop carriers. Heck, he was surprised people still knew what a navy was. He was well aware this deal was pretty much make or break. Either they got the permission to take their troops onto the neutral Goblin ships and cross to aid the elves with force, or the only force they'd be able to send would be a group to determine whether the Eredar wanted to fight or talk. Outside of that there was little they'd be able to do to assist the elves. Palus said that prayer was always good. Val assumed the elves knew how to pray. Yes, these deals were pretty important. Hence the reason he'd been sent. Nothing says 'official' than the head of the army arriving at the Goblins' doorstep.
All the more reason he was getting frustrated that these talks were going badly. It would have been unbearable if not for the company he was in. Palus certainly did know how to lighten a mood and make things seem less irritating. But no, it wasn't just Palus. He was here with an entire entourage it seemed. Claire and Michael the young children, Sophie the cook, Edmund his manservant, and of course Narianne. She didn't have an official title around the house. Not one that he could think of right now anyway. She was much more complicated, not so easily summed up in one word. She'd been supportive, and she'd needed support, which he'd been able to give her readily.
She was awake already, standing outside in the dark air, the orange glow of the impending morning just behind her. He watched her for a moment before leaving the bed, walking slowly up behind her, feeling the transition of the warm interior to the cool exterior almost immediately. The bay was calm and windy, a great place to be in the morning. Moving behind her he slipper his hands around her waist, pulling her against him and leaned his head over her left shoulder, kissing her neck softly before turning to watch the sun with her. She was more precious to him than anything he'd ever known. The warmth of her skin, the dazzle of her hair, the shine in her eyes, and as he stood there with he close to him, he found that he could sum her up in one perfect word.
Lover.
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Post by Narisha on Jul 18, 2009 4:34:16 GMT -5
"Good morning..."
The soft words drifted from her as she leaned back against him with a contented sigh. Her eyes closed and she tilted her head slightly as he kissed her neck. She let her hands float up and rest on his arms, turning her head and placing a kiss on his cheek.
"You have another meeting soon..."
Her voice was still near a whisper, not wanting to disturb the relative stillness of the morning. Turning back to the skyline, she watched as the sun rose, her fingers stroking along his arms. He was tense, had been tense and getting tenser since they arrived. And she hated it. She wished there was more she could do to help relieve him of the stresses he was piling on top of himself. He needed her, she knew it and knew it well. And she needed him. It was in the still, silent moments when they were completely alone like this she realized just how much she needed him.
"You should let me help you Val..."
The words were little more than a sigh. She figured they would go over as they had every time she'd said them over the last few days. Either he wouldn't answer or he'd say no, and she hadn't yet recovered the courage to just... help him regardless. She was too afraid of making a mistake. Of doing something that would cause her to lose moments like the one they were sharing. Her eyes closed and she rested her head back against his shoulder.
"I am planning to take the children swimming today, but Sophie and Edmund are capable of handling them if I can help you at all..."
She gave her head a little shake, a smile creeping onto her lips as she ran a hand up behind his head to tilt him towards her. Brushing her hand through his hair, she gave him a soft, gentle kiss before letting her eyes drift back to the sea. The sun had nearly risen, the last stars winking out of the sky.
"I would be happy if we could stay just like this..."
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Post by Callahan on Jul 18, 2009 4:51:27 GMT -5
"If we could just stay like this forever." He agreed. He wanted to just stay in the perfect place they were now. Him, her, the ocean, the children frollicking happily without a care. He'd love to get used to this. His arms pulled her tighter though as his mind glazed over to why he couldn't have it though. Arthas, the demons, the undead, the Horde. They'd sooner rip this paradise from before his eyes. If they didn't stop them there'd be no places to relax. No places to have fun. No places to love one another. No places like this, where he could hold the ones dearest to him in the shine of the morning light. It saddened him, but it also fortified his resolve. If Arthas wanted a fight, he'd have to send his entire damned army to try and stop them. He nodded over her shoulder a little as her fingers played tenderly in his hair.
"Palus will be coming by to get me before meeting, though judging by how many pirates he got up to in that drinking game they'd been playing it might not be for a while." He smirked, laying a kiss on her cheek and rubbing against her a little. He didn't know why she was with him, and why not with someone younger than he, but he didn't really care. He was happy enough to not have to be so paranoid about it. "And I think you should take the children. Have fun here. Boring business is for boring men. Unfortunately I doubt the Goblins will ever agree to an offer within our funds to give us access across. Blasted greenskins and their monetary lusts." He exhaled, calming down almost immediately and rested his head over her shoulder. His eyes followed the sun as it continued to rise climb the sky.
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Post by Narisha on Jul 18, 2009 5:28:35 GMT -5
He was thinking about it all again. The little clues were all there; his arms tensed, he straightened his back a little, a tiny sigh coming from him. If she could she would single-handedly destroy that northern bastard with an icicle as he walked by something. Or hell he didn't even have to walk by anything, she'd just drive it right into his head. Turn him into a turkey, stab him with an icicle and let Val eat him for dinner.
The thought made her smile as he kissed her cheek. Though that little move of his had the distinct advantage of reining her thoughts back in and focusing them on the man behind her back again. If Palus was going to be late... She gave herself a mental shake. Meetings first... other things later. Maybe she could sneak away with him and they could have more alone time that evening. The goblins had been keeping him tied up in negotiations well into the night and it was frustrating her. He needed rest even if they didn't.
Then it hit her. The one advantage she had over everyone she'd come across in the entire bay. She turned in his arms, keeping herself pressed against him as she tilted her head back and lightly poked him in the chest.
"I do happen to be rather persuasive you know." Her finger began to trace a distinct shape on his chest. "They love their money this is true, but I have a way with words and..."
She finished the little shape, smirking as she poked him gently one more time.
"Magical fingers..."
The little sheep she had drawn on his chest was completely invisible, but she knew she'd drawn it. Just as she knew he would get what she was saying. She ran her palms up his chest and slipped her hands around his neck, lifting up on her toes till her lips were mere centimeters from his.
"So... Palus is going to be a little late?"
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Post by Callahan on Jul 18, 2009 6:56:17 GMT -5
He nodded as she drew the shape into his chest, knowing what she meant. It was true, she was rather good at getting her own way and causing others to see her reasoning, albeit forcefully. He was just unsure that the Goblins he was currently in delegations with would see the funny side of what she intended. He knew the guards might certainly not, and he did so prefer the girl with her head intact. She pressed up to him, her lips hovering just below his, and he completed the rest of the journey for her, bringing his lips in to touch hers. It was still amazing even after several days since Goldshire, and he never got tired of it. He pulled her closer a little, drawing her a little further into him before breaking away, adding a quick kiss afterwards, before answering his question.
"Palus could be very late. After all, we didn't exactly tell him where we were staying." He gave her a grin, stroking his cheek against hers and smoothing his hands down her back slowly, closing his eyes and feasting on the sunshine's warmth. He wished he didn't have to go talk with the Goblins, would have preferred it if they could just forget the rest of the talks for today, but they'd never let him rest when he got back to Stormwind if he hadn't tried hard enough. And if he didn't try hard enough, how could he prove he loved Narianne anyway? Not doing his utmost to protect her? Forsaking her safety for the spur of the moment? He would get those permissions. If not, he'd be in that diplomatic party. If he couldn't make even that he'd hand pick each member of that group himself.
Bringing himself back to the moment and the beautiful woman in his arms, he cuddled her slightly before drawing her back into the room with him, soothingly brushing his palm against her arms as he led her towards the bed. He pulled her down with him and kissed her neck softly, smiling. Goblins could wait. She was clearly not in such a position. Grinning he rolled on top of her, swirling a finger around her soft hair. "You know what I'm going to do to you...?" He whispered smoothly, bringing his lips up against her ear. "I'm going to bash your head in if you don't open up!" There was a loud banging on the door which stirred him from her for a moment. It seemed Palus had managed to find them.
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Post by Narisha on Jul 18, 2009 17:43:25 GMT -5
"I could start with him you know..."
The pound on the door had nearly given her a heart attack... not to mention completely thrown the mood. Her head dropped back into the pillows and she sighed in frustration, wiggling out from under him to open the door. She faced the Paladin with sparks shooting from her fingers.
"Good morning Palus..." She grinned evilly at him. "Shall I give you a heart attack like the one you just gave me?"
The man's eyes widened a bit, but before he could say a word, Nari's shoulders slumped and she stepped aside to let him in. She moved through the room to a screened offed corner, letting her hand drift along Val's leg as she passed the bed. A few moments later her robe was tossed over the screen and the sounds of her dressing could be heard.
She let the men talk as she dressed in silence, before wandering out her hands working on putting up her hair.
"Val... could I possibly have your help?" She glanced over her shoulder at her back. "Laces need tying..."
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Post by Callahan on Jul 18, 2009 18:30:57 GMT -5
He grinned as she welcomed the paladin into the room, him stepping warily inside as though expecting to be assaulted the second he touched the floorboards. She waved him across, stroking along his leg as she passed him, and he returned the gesture along her arm. He watched her with hungry eyes as she passed from view behind the screen before returning to Palus. The paladin was sat in the chair across the room, his eyes following too and snapping back a second after Val's met his face. A second too late, and he cleared his throat a little. "Morning Palus." He grinned, listening to the sound of rummaging clothing in the corner. "How many pirates did you get up to last night?" Palus groaned, grabbing his head. "Just short of fifty. I swear they were watering down that woman's drink." Val paused for a moment, thinking, before realising who he meant. "Palus, that was a young boy with long hair." Palus coughed a little, obviously surprised, but Val brushed past the matter.
"Anyway main thing is you beat him. Now, any reason I can expect such an early greeting?" He stood up, wandering around a little to get the blood flowing around his legs again. "You know we're due in the Goblin meeting. How well do you think these meetings are going?" Val scoffed a little at the question, finding words unable to describe them. "Dreadful. The Goblins are never going to let our men cross that sea. Not unless we offer them most of the treasury in return." Palus nodded, agreeing. "And they have no sense of honour or decency we can appeal to. No morals. It's like bargaining with a child." "Well you'll know all about that, after last night." Palus laughed heartily at him. "Aye my friend, sometimes though you've got to do unpleasant things to get your way."
Val's answer was put on hold as Narianne stepped from behind the screen, draped in a stunning black and white dress, her hands in her hair and the dress only barely managing to keep itself high enough to cover her breasts. He smiled, nodding as she requested his able hands and moved over. "If you'll excuse me, Palus. Unpleasant business and all that." He spoke softly to the paladin so only he would hear, leaving the paladin with a great smile on his face. Val approached her, rubbing his hand down her smooth back before taking the laces and pulling them to a suitable tightness, tying the laces and kissing the side of her neck as he finished. His hands strokes softly from her back along her arms, disappearing from touch at the end as he brought them around her waist. "You'll have a good day with the children, right?"
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Post by Narisha on Jul 18, 2009 18:57:03 GMT -5
She smirked. He knew quite well she wasn't taking this dress to the beach with Claire and Michael, but she chose to play along.
"Oh I absolutely will."
She rested against him as she put the last few pins into her hair.
"I think you scared the Paladin away my darling with all your talk of women being boys. Though you since you were the only sober one at the table last night I'm sure you know better than he does who he was playing against."
A happy sigh escaped her and she let them linger a moment longer before turning to face him.
"You need to dress while I go wake the children. It will hardly help things if you're late."
She leaned up and pressed a sweet, loving kiss to his lips before stepping regretfully away from him and moving to the door.
"I'll be bringing you lunch today. Probably around one. I highly doubt you're being well cared for by the people you are speaking to. And I'll not have all my hard work set back because they are too cheap to feed you."
It was her cryptic way of saying that if things had not improved in the negotiations by the time she brought him lunch she would be staying to help. Opening the door she stepped out into the hallway and proceeded to check on the children. Claire and Michael were dressed and bouncing on their beds, Sophie was gathering up toys for them to take, and Edmund was packing the food that Sophie had prepared into a few baskets. She hardly had to tell them what was going on. They had all been watching with some worry as Val had struggled with the frustration of trying to work these negotiations. Nari hadn't said a word to him, but the past two nights he'd been having nightmares. She was worried about what would happen if he didn't have things they way he felt they needed to be and he lost more men because of it. He would likely never forgive himself regardless of it not truly being his fault.
She made her way down and out of the rooms they were staying in and leaned against the doorway staring back out across the bay. He was not going to lose these negotiations. She would make sure of it.
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Post by Callahan on Jul 18, 2009 19:54:02 GMT -5
He looked up, seeing Palus had indeed left. Maybe he had other things to take care of. Maybe he had private matters to arrange. He probably just didn't want to have to stand around waiting for the two to finish whatever they were doing with one another. He knew what the paladin was like. He also knew that he himself wasn't being overly sensitive to the man, but the feelings he was having with Narianne seemed to cause him to ignore all that. She informed him that she had to go awaken the children and have them prepared, and he nodded, pulling her closer as she kissed him. Pulling away, she began to leave the room, though he remained in position savouring the taste of her lips on his. Pausing at the door she let him know she'd bring him food. He thanked her, not sure about what her intentions were.
Sure she looked after him, brought him food and kept him healthy, but there was something in her voice that he wasn't particularly fond of. He tried to shrug it aside, instead bringing himself to get himself ready. He removed the worn shirt and trousers, changing them for some smoother, more comfortable clothes suitable of a diplomat. He wasn't a diplomat, of course, just a substitute. The silky garments felt strange against his skin, even though they were loose hanging and fine cloth. Shaking his head at himself he glanced back at the doorway hoping to spot her again, but she wasn't there. He left his room, stepping into the corridor and closing it behind him, seeing a large figure further down the corridor in dim lighting. "About time you showed up. Come on then, or we'll be late."
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Post by Narisha on Jul 19, 2009 3:40:27 GMT -5
It was happening again. The overwhelming feeling of inadequacy that had been smothering her since he had rescued her from Goldshire. Nari had given him a kiss goodbye and wished him luck, promising to stop by for lunch.
It had started as light little butterflies floating in her stomach. She noticed them as she stood picking things for them to eat from a food vendor. When she went to hand over the coins to the little woman, they suddenly turned into rocks churning in her stomach. She nearly lost her footing when a wave of nausea hit her as she walked to the Salty Sailor Tavern. She made it inside, the little rocks suddenly turning to boulders and knew she would never make it up the stairs to him.
Setting the basket of food on the bar, she asked the bartender to please take it up to the human men in the meeting above her. She could hear his voice, and knew he was there. It only made the anxiety worse. She would feel even worse if she ran up there to him and interrupted his negotiations just because she needed him to hold her. The goblin agreed, giving her a perplexed look and she tossed him three gold for his trouble, running on trembling legs out of the tavern.
As quickly as she could she vanished from the bay and into the jungle. Nari stopped by the children to check on them and waved her hand in a general direction of where she was headed for Sophie and Edmund. And she left. She wandered along the beach for a bit, eventually finding an old worn path up the side of a hill. The sound of running water and the pathway eventually led her to a small pool, high enough up that she could look out and see for what felt like miles. Close enough to the children and the bay that she could see them, tiny though they were, below her.
She watched them play for a long while. Just sitting in the sun on the rocks and listening to the soothing sounds of the jungle before the water finally tempted her. She slipped out of her dress, leaving her chemise and slipped into the cool water. She played and floated for hours just enjoying the peace, forgetting all her insecurities, her anxieties, finally feeling refreshed.
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Post by Callahan on Jul 19, 2009 11:01:40 GMT -5
They were disgusting, small, green and slimy. They smelled worse than anything he'd ever experienced before. Even the sight of them was enough to make him want to vomit. "Palus..." The paladin looked over, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Why are you eating seaweed sandwiches?" The paladin shook his head and munched on another bit of... 'food'. Val crossed his arms and looked away to where the Goblins were returning from their break. He hadn't moved, they'd apparently been consulting something, or just having a relaxing time, he wasn't sure. He stretched out an arm as they sat down, feeling tempted to knock the food away from the paladin as he did so.
"Now, where were we?" One of the Goblins said in a high, squeaky tone. Val furrowed his eyebrows. "The same place we have been for several hours, if not days now. Demons will be landing across in Kalimdor, and we need to get our army there to assist the Night Elves. We don't have an appropriate navy and so would like to use your ships." He groaned, repeating himself for what felt like the 20th time. "And, if I remember, we wanted to know what was in it for us?" "How about a lack of demons assaulting your ports and slaughtering your population?" The goblin's fingernails rapped across the desk rhythmically as he thought it over. "True, but what about something more immediate?" "As we've said before our city is struggling as it is and we are still getting back on our feet." "Though we do have some excellent whores." Palus had decided to join in and at just the wrong moment. Val sent him a dagger of a glare, before withdrawing it and focusing down to the floor.
Narianne hadn't been here all day. In fact he was starting to get worried again. She did often tend to end up acting a little strange from time to time after their encounter in Goldshire, but he'd hoped she'd get over that. Hoped she'd come to trust him and herself again. Her lack of presence indicated that maybe he was wrong, he sighed, continuing with the talks only half concentrated now. The Goblins weren't going to let them have the crossing without a significant payment, and that's something he knew Stormwind couldn't afford. He looked over to Palus, hoping for maybe some guidance or inspiration, but was met only with the man biting into another sandwich as though oblvious to the situation.
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Post by Narisha on Jul 19, 2009 17:49:25 GMT -5
The sun had passed it's high point and was headed towards the horizon when a sudden wave of sleepiness came over Nari. A light breeze drifted over the small pool as she floated happily on her back. Shivering a bit at the cool air, she ducked back under the water and then pulled herself up onto the outcropping of rock, gazing over the edge to watch the children a bit more.
She settled onto her stomach, laying in the sun to dry off. She'd long lost track of the time, but judging by the sun she figured she had a good 3 hours or so of sunlight left. Plenty of time to dry off, redress herself and get back...
Her eyes drifted closed and she cradled her head on her arms. Warm sun, soft breeze, warm rock... her mind was at peace for once and she drifted off into a relaxed sleep.
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Post by Callahan on Jul 19, 2009 20:46:41 GMT -5
The sun was already on its way down as he left the building. He frowned a little. The last time he had been out here it had been on its way up into the sky. The last time he had seen Narianne that day. He sighed, watching the breeze flap the flags nearby and press the ocean into making waves. Palus had already headed off to the pub to try and beat his previous score of pirates, and left the Grand Marshal to find the rest of his household alone. He didn't even have his sword with him. Apparently it caused too much trouble with the local guards if he was carrying a weapon around in diplomatic meetings. He shrugged and headed towards the north entrance of the harbour. On the other side of the cave he knew Sophie and Edmund would be with the children, and maybe Narianne too.
The walk through the town wasn't a particularly pleasant one. He didn't hate the inhabitants, but it's kind of hard to enjoy a place with everyone trying to get you to buy from them, or scam you into getting things you didn't need. Glad to be past most of the traders and their silver tongues, he pressed further away from the town into the cave entrance, the dancing shadows of the torch fires keeping him a little on edge in case of any muggers he'd need to beat down. No one, the place was pretty empty except from a couple of bruisers at the end of the cave keeping watch. He saluted them as he passed, receiving no gesture in return before turning left.
In the small bay nearby he found Sophie and Edmund joining in the water play with Claire, Michael and some other children. A few adults watched nearby but they seemed content with keeping dry. He watched for a few seconds, not sure whether the four he was familiar with looked more like their own family or a group of his children to him, before catching Sophie's eye and beckoning her over. "Sophie, you don't happen to know where Narianne is, do you?" He asked her, having noticed she wasn't here. The girl paused, thinking, before nodding and nodding down a beaten path into the jungle. "She went up that path, sir." He nodded, seeing it was getting late and headed off there immediately.
The trail let him up a winding path heading into the hills. He couldn't see very far in front of him, but enough to tell that many of the animals of the jungle were apparently avoiding attacking him. He wasn't sure whether he was going the right way, but continued anyway. If she had came up here, it definately wasn't recently. Animal tracks scuffed all over the ground obscuring any footmarks that may have been there. He was considering turning around and heading back until he heard the sound of water. Curious, he pressed on a little further. He'd found her, for certain. Naked, maybe, he couldn't be sure, but she didn't seem aware of him so he decided to move in quietly behind her, taking soft footsteps until he was looking over her shoulder at her. She actually seemed asleep. "Comfortable?" He asked, grinning, talking rather loudly.
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Post by Narisha on Jul 20, 2009 3:22:31 GMT -5
Something was poking her in the side and she didn't like it. But she was warm and sleepy so she just shifted and muttered, mostly asleep,
"Val... quit poking me...."
The little rock persisted in digging into her skin and she groaned in annoyance when she heard speak.
"No am not.." She mumbled. "Stop being so noisey and stop poking me..."
When the little rock continued to insist that she get off it, she made a little complaining whine and rolled onto her back... right into the water. She fought to the surface, sputtering and grabbing hold of the rocks. She could hear someone laughing, and as she wiped the water from her face she looked around trying to remember where she was.
Her eyes took in Val grinning at her as he laughed and she gave him a half-hearted glare before swiping her arm through the water and splashing him.
"Teach you to laugh at me"
She stuck her tongue out at him playfully, now fully awake, and swam a bit away from him.
"Join me?"
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