"Heh heh heh. I feel like the Lumberjack story tonight."
"Aw, God", lamented Gren, covering his face with a hand.
"Well, this hot @$$ woman was living with her jerk of a lumberjack husband out in the woods. She gets fed up with his temper and his philanderin', so she takes it upon herself to get revenge by havin' an affair on him. But the problem is, the only men out where she lives all know her husband, and wouldn't cross him out of fear. So she gets a message to the Rangers that she's in danger and needs their help. So Gren and I go rushin' over there. The woman comes out wearin' this real skimpy nightgown, I mean tits out to here . . . " He holds his hands out like he's holding two watermelons.
Gren turned red.
"Anyways, she says there's an orc hiding in her shed. So Gren and I go out there to get this orc out. Problem is there is no orc, she's rigged the door with a bucket of water to soak the first person who opens it. So Gren yanks the door open and BAM! He's drenched. And keep in mind it's the middle of the winter. So he's shiverin’ like a hooker in church.” Here Haddon pitched his voice up to imitate a woman: "Take your clothes off, hun. I'll warm you up." He continued normally, “So Gren takes his clothes off, and he's standing there in his "lucky" boxers with the green oak trees. HAW HAW! You gotta see them! Anyhow, just then, her husband comes back home, he got off early! He sees Gren standing there, and he pulls out this axe about this long!" He held his hands two feet apart. Gren crapped his boxers and ran out of there! HAW HAW! Ran all the way home in his skivvies! HAW HAW HAW!"
"That wasn't funny." Gren sulked.
Izira listened curiously to the story, giving Gren a glance as Haddon talks. Surely Gren had a 50/50 chance of being the one that got lured in by the woman, but she is amused. "Green oak trees?"
Gren turned red again. "They're my lucky boxers! It's because I'm a Ranger! It's like when a chef wears an apron with a spatula on it. Or something."
Haddon guffawed and pounded his fist on the bar.
"Did you truly leave your clothes behind?”
"The guy had an axe, I didn't want to die! Haddon grabbed them and gave them back. After he stopped laughing." Gren gave Haddon a sullen look, while Haddon just smiled between bites of tenderloin.
"You must have been... cold."
"Yes, it was cold. Freezing. But it hurt my pride more than anything."
"Pride! Listen to this guy! HAW HAW!" Haddon clapped Gren on the shoulder.
Izira wore a sympathetic smile for Gren.
"You oughta get Gren to show you around the Headquarters some day. See where we all work."
"I was going to show her!"
"When? You move slower than a snail swimmin' upstream."
"Snails don't swim."
"How do *you* know?"
"Look, I'll take her there, if she wants to go. One day soon." Gren then looked at Izira, finally including her in the conversation. "Would you like to see our Guild Headquarters?"
Izira quietly sipped her water as the two men went back and forth. She glanced to Moriana and Izira filled up the coffee again. "I would, yes. Thank you for the offer." She smiled to Gren and Haddon.
"There you see?" Gren nodded at Haddon.
"Yeah, after I prodded ya. You need to think about stuff like that when you're dating a lady, Gren. It's a good thing you've got a man as experienced as me to educate you on these things."
"Oh, give me a break." Haddon can't stop grinning. Moriana nodded at Izira, she really is drinking that coffee up.
"Would anyone like seconds?" The question more for Haddon than Gren or Moriana, though open to all.
"Hell yeah! I can take another plate!" Haddon belched, then absently picked his teeth with his finger. Moriana shook her head no, but sipped on the freshly refilled coffee.
Gren frowned, then answered. "I'm fine. Everything was wonderful, Izira."
"Thank you, Gren." She set down her water on the bar and collected any dishes that needed collecting before returning to the kitchen to fix Haddon another plate.
Tread Softly
Moderators: Gren Blockman, Izira Nyte
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
-
Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
Haddon grinned at Gren. "I think she liked my story. Ah heh heh heh. Who knows, maybe she'll get all hot and bothered thinkin' about you in your "lucky" boxers! HAW! You ought to be thankin' me, buddy!"
"Yeah, you're a big help, Haddon." Gren's face said otherwise.
Returning shortly with another plate, she set it before Haddon. A carafe of coffee is fixed up next and set out by Moriana.
"Are you sure it's not another endless buffet? Heh. There goes my girlish figure. I'm going to have to retire if I keep eating here." Haddon immediately dug in, going for the beef.
"I am sure your stories will be missed." She looked to Gren, tilting her head curiously.
Gren was about to say something negatively, until he caught Izira's look, then he grimaced a bit, before changing his tone. "Yeah. Missed. It'll be a shame." He still looked heavenward regardless.
She smiled, covering her amusement with a sip of water.
"So what do you and Gren do for fun, Missy?" Haddon chuckled, while taking another long drink of his ale.
"Did you really have to ask her that?" Gren said, throwing his hands up in the air.
She glanced over to Gren with a lift of a brow. "We have taken walks, had dinner, and attended a play."
"Well, at least he's gotten you out of the Inn a couple times. That's pretty fast for Gren Blockman. Heh."
"Why don't you mind your own business. That's private between me and Izira."
"I'm just making conversation! We're all worried about you! How are we going to get a ring on that finger of yours if we don't push you a little?"
Gren turned red once again. "I'll put a ring on my . . . on *her* . . . I'll do that when I'm ready!"
"HAW HAW! Poor guy's flustered. Guess I got a little too close to the mark there!"
Even Izira's cheeks colored slightly with that one. "Perhaps you should grace us with another story?"
"Aw, not another story." Gren hid his face in his hands.
"I think you're girlfriend should get to know more about her eventual groom to be! So what kind of a story do you want to hear, Missy?"
"How about you tell me a story about -your- first outing as a ranger?"
"OH HO!! She wants to hear about *ME*, big guy!" Haddon gives another clap to the shoulder of the sulking Gren. "You're off the hook. Well, let's see . . ."
She softly smiled to Gren, then sipped her water as she waited.
"I was always the big, strong type. So when I was a teenager, I wanted to get involved in a job where I could use my strength to have adventures. Most of the men in my village where lumberjacks and miners. I didn't want to get stuck doing that. So I ran off and joined the Rangers. So after that insane training they put us through, I got shipped off to an Outpost on the western edge of the forest. I was told it was a pretty quiet area, and I wouldn't have anything to worry about. That turned out to be bullcrap, as we were ambushed one day by a flock of griffins from God knows where. Since I was the youngest, they sent me out to get help. I ran all the way back to the Headquarters to get some help, but by the time we got back, all five Rangers were dead. It struck me pretty hard, but I realized we have to enjoy this life while we're still alive. So I try to liven up the guys as best as I can."
Izira blinked at the story and was at a loss for words. She glanced at Gren. Did he know this?
Gren is looking at his plate, trying not to let his previous irritation get in the way of Haddon's story. He looked at Izira and nodded sadly, as if to confirm the story was true.
"I can see why you try so hard to be in good cheer."
"Thanks, Missy." Haddon’s face had lost some of its brashness, and his smile was a little more appreciative than arrogant. "Most of my stories are good ones though. Or boring ones. Nine days out of ten we're either sitting around, wondering what's going on, or off in some God forsaken part of the forest chasing somebody's lost puppy."
"Or a horse through a bog." Izira softly smiled, then patted Haddon's hand and stepped away. She started to fix two bags of coffee grounds.
"Hey, you remembered! Heh." He'd already wolfed down most of the seconds, and was finishing off the last of the brussel sprouts.
"How could I forget? You have left a reminder of your time there on my floor." She gave a tip of her head behind him.
"HAW HAW! Hey, it's an Inn! It's supposed to be well traveled! It makes it look like there's been a lot of people here! Gives it that salt of the earth look!"
"It makes it look like there has been one, very muddy, person here." She set the two bags of coffee on the bar, one for Moriana and one for Haddon.
"And coffee too! That'll keep us up all night! Huh?" He gave Moriana a little poke, she glared at him and batted the finger away. "Aw, she just likes playin' hard to get. So how much do we owe you for the meal, Missy? We gotta get going. Duty calls, you know."
"Gren has it covered."
Gren opened his mouth to protest, then he remembered Izira gave everyone free meals anyway. He smiled to Haddon, "Yeah, 'buddy', I gotcha covered. No hard feelings, eh?"
"HAW HAW! Of course not, pal! I'll have to drop by when you're around more often! I'll gotta tell the Missy here the story about you and that sixty year old hooker!"
Gren swallowed his Broot the wrong way, and coughed explosively. "That's not what it sounds like! Honest!" he pleaded to Izira.
Haddon just laughed harder. "Well, Missy, thank you for the meal! We'll come round again one of these days!"
Izira simply reached over to pat Gren's hand. She smiled to Haddon and Moriana. "Thank you for the visit and the stories. Safe journey to you both."
Haddon waved, picked up his cloak and put it back on, then escorted Morian, who was still scowling at him, out the door. "Anyways, Ferguson ain't one to pass up a lady with her panties down, no matter how big she is, so he goes in anyways . . . ", while out the door they went. Gren's head hit the bartop.
"Yeah, you're a big help, Haddon." Gren's face said otherwise.
Returning shortly with another plate, she set it before Haddon. A carafe of coffee is fixed up next and set out by Moriana.
"Are you sure it's not another endless buffet? Heh. There goes my girlish figure. I'm going to have to retire if I keep eating here." Haddon immediately dug in, going for the beef.
"I am sure your stories will be missed." She looked to Gren, tilting her head curiously.
Gren was about to say something negatively, until he caught Izira's look, then he grimaced a bit, before changing his tone. "Yeah. Missed. It'll be a shame." He still looked heavenward regardless.
She smiled, covering her amusement with a sip of water.
"So what do you and Gren do for fun, Missy?" Haddon chuckled, while taking another long drink of his ale.
"Did you really have to ask her that?" Gren said, throwing his hands up in the air.
She glanced over to Gren with a lift of a brow. "We have taken walks, had dinner, and attended a play."
"Well, at least he's gotten you out of the Inn a couple times. That's pretty fast for Gren Blockman. Heh."
"Why don't you mind your own business. That's private between me and Izira."
"I'm just making conversation! We're all worried about you! How are we going to get a ring on that finger of yours if we don't push you a little?"
Gren turned red once again. "I'll put a ring on my . . . on *her* . . . I'll do that when I'm ready!"
"HAW HAW! Poor guy's flustered. Guess I got a little too close to the mark there!"
Even Izira's cheeks colored slightly with that one. "Perhaps you should grace us with another story?"
"Aw, not another story." Gren hid his face in his hands.
"I think you're girlfriend should get to know more about her eventual groom to be! So what kind of a story do you want to hear, Missy?"
"How about you tell me a story about -your- first outing as a ranger?"
"OH HO!! She wants to hear about *ME*, big guy!" Haddon gives another clap to the shoulder of the sulking Gren. "You're off the hook. Well, let's see . . ."
She softly smiled to Gren, then sipped her water as she waited.
"I was always the big, strong type. So when I was a teenager, I wanted to get involved in a job where I could use my strength to have adventures. Most of the men in my village where lumberjacks and miners. I didn't want to get stuck doing that. So I ran off and joined the Rangers. So after that insane training they put us through, I got shipped off to an Outpost on the western edge of the forest. I was told it was a pretty quiet area, and I wouldn't have anything to worry about. That turned out to be bullcrap, as we were ambushed one day by a flock of griffins from God knows where. Since I was the youngest, they sent me out to get help. I ran all the way back to the Headquarters to get some help, but by the time we got back, all five Rangers were dead. It struck me pretty hard, but I realized we have to enjoy this life while we're still alive. So I try to liven up the guys as best as I can."
Izira blinked at the story and was at a loss for words. She glanced at Gren. Did he know this?
Gren is looking at his plate, trying not to let his previous irritation get in the way of Haddon's story. He looked at Izira and nodded sadly, as if to confirm the story was true.
"I can see why you try so hard to be in good cheer."
"Thanks, Missy." Haddon’s face had lost some of its brashness, and his smile was a little more appreciative than arrogant. "Most of my stories are good ones though. Or boring ones. Nine days out of ten we're either sitting around, wondering what's going on, or off in some God forsaken part of the forest chasing somebody's lost puppy."
"Or a horse through a bog." Izira softly smiled, then patted Haddon's hand and stepped away. She started to fix two bags of coffee grounds.
"Hey, you remembered! Heh." He'd already wolfed down most of the seconds, and was finishing off the last of the brussel sprouts.
"How could I forget? You have left a reminder of your time there on my floor." She gave a tip of her head behind him.
"HAW HAW! Hey, it's an Inn! It's supposed to be well traveled! It makes it look like there's been a lot of people here! Gives it that salt of the earth look!"
"It makes it look like there has been one, very muddy, person here." She set the two bags of coffee on the bar, one for Moriana and one for Haddon.
"And coffee too! That'll keep us up all night! Huh?" He gave Moriana a little poke, she glared at him and batted the finger away. "Aw, she just likes playin' hard to get. So how much do we owe you for the meal, Missy? We gotta get going. Duty calls, you know."
"Gren has it covered."
Gren opened his mouth to protest, then he remembered Izira gave everyone free meals anyway. He smiled to Haddon, "Yeah, 'buddy', I gotcha covered. No hard feelings, eh?"
"HAW HAW! Of course not, pal! I'll have to drop by when you're around more often! I'll gotta tell the Missy here the story about you and that sixty year old hooker!"
Gren swallowed his Broot the wrong way, and coughed explosively. "That's not what it sounds like! Honest!" he pleaded to Izira.
Haddon just laughed harder. "Well, Missy, thank you for the meal! We'll come round again one of these days!"
Izira simply reached over to pat Gren's hand. She smiled to Haddon and Moriana. "Thank you for the visit and the stories. Safe journey to you both."
Haddon waved, picked up his cloak and put it back on, then escorted Morian, who was still scowling at him, out the door. "Anyways, Ferguson ain't one to pass up a lady with her panties down, no matter how big she is, so he goes in anyways . . . ", while out the door they went. Gren's head hit the bartop.
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
"Do you think it would matter to me if it was what it sounds like?" She said curiously to Gren once the pair had gone.
Gren lifted his head up to look at Izira. "She was sixty years old. And she was a hooker. Yeah, I kind of think you might be a little upset by something like that."
"I see." She drew her hand away.
Gren blinked rapidly. "You wouldn't?"
"It is not as though my own... history... is clear of... youthful indiscretions."
Gren looked to the side, then back at her. "Have there been any sixty year old hookers I should know about?"
"No”, she replied with a soft shake of her head.
"Well there you go." He lifted his hand as if to prove his point. "Izira . . . I know you still think your past is going to bother me. Just because I have a personal desire to avoid certain . . . youthful indiscretions, it doesn't mean I'm going to judge you for what you've done."
"No?" She used the same word, but now with different tone.
He shook his head. "No. I don't think its right to judge someone based on their past."
She softly nodded to his words.
"I . . . uh . . . missed you in the Arena on Saturday. It would have been nice to see you there again."
"I am sorry. The young couple was here and I thought it best not to leave."
"No, that's understandable. I just don't want you to think you're a distraction to me. I was so happy when I saw you walk down those stairs. To see you talk to Rena and Noira. I hope you'll come back again one day."
"When I am able..." She gave another soft smile, "Sometimes it is not always easy for me to get out..."
"I understand, you have to run this place. It's nice to be out with you. I want people to see us together. Like when we went to the play, or to Delvers Hall to see Noira."
She nodded, "How did giving Noira the staff go?"
"She's still trying to figure out how powerful it is. She's also annoyed at how talkative it can be. But she seemed to be able to duel alright with it. So it seems it good hands."
"That is good", she replied, heartened by the news.
"Have you . . . uh . . . thought any more about what I said to you by the waterfall last week?"
"Gren..." There was an apologetic smile, she lowered her eyes.
"Izira." He laid his hand on hers, not provocatively, but reassuringly, stroking her fingers with his thumb.
"What can I say?" She looked up.
"You can tell me what you're feeling. Can't you?"
"I care for you... a lot..."
"I heard that once, right before I got a Dear John letter."
"I would not do that to you, Gren."
"It's not that I'm impatient. Or that I don't understand. It's that I love you. I think you could be the one. It upsets me to think that the fear of your past could get in the way of us having something special, something that could last the rest of our lives."
"It is not... completely the fear of my past... you have shown enough that you accept me as I am now, no matter my history."
"I'm glad about that. So what else is it?"
".... I am not ready to risk my heart to another loss."
He sighed and looked away slightly, then rubbed his forehead with his free hand, not letting hers go.
Her eyes lowered again, having nothing come to mind to say to comfort him.
"Let me ask you this . . . Forget me for a moment. Would you ever want to be in love again? Maybe get married one day? Do you picture something like that in your mind?"
"I do not... wish for things that I think are not mine to have."
"Why don't you think they are yours to have?"
"What are the chances that my fate would be any different than those that came before me?" She lifted her other hand to the inn that surrounded them.
Gren glanced at the Inn, then back at her. "I'm not sure I follow you. Because you're the Innkeeper of this place, you don't think you can be in love with someone?"
"I do not think it will last..." She swallowed. "Those that kept the inn before me... they are a part of this place now."
Gren gets a confused look on his face. "I still don't understand. They are a part of this place? And even if they are, what does that have to do with it?"
"Many years ago.... Jeremiah tended here." She looked to the empty bird cage, "The ravens were sisters... that kept the inn together." She pressed her lips together. "They came here lost, as I did. They became a part of the realm, as I have. And when they died... they remain... as I will...”
"Izira, I don't . . . " He shook his head, thinking about what she said.”I don't think that matters. Yes, it's strange. I feel bad for Jeremiah and the sisters, if they didn't want to remain here, that is. But even if you do remain here, that doesn't mean you can't have a life. That doesn't mean you can't share your life with someone."
"Who would want to share such a life? Bound to a realm to serve it in life and death?"
He sat back in his seat a bit. His ice blue eyes glanced over her face. "Someone once asked me what I would be willing to do for the woman I loved. Would I be willing to kill for her? I don't know if I could do that. But I tell you this. I would die for her. Without thinking twice about it. So when you look at it that way, living for eternity with the one I love doesn't sound so bad."
Izira closed her eyes, turning slightly away. A tear fell down her cheek, following his words.
He stared at her silently for a few moments, his hand still clasped around hers.
Quietly, he spoke. "I can go if you like. Give you some more time to think."
Softly she nodded her head, "Please."
Gingerly, he stood from his barstool, then he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on her cheek, softly touching her shoulder with his other hand. "I love you, Izira." He whispered, lingering for a pause.
She looked up to him as he lingered, "Do not stay away too long." Her lashes wet when they fluttered.
"I couldn't do that even if I tried." He gave her a loving smile, before he turned and made his way to the door, not looking back, afraid to, really. He pulled his grey hood over his head and disappeared through the door.
Izira watched him go, sadly. She wanted to ask him to stay but was too afraid to find her voice. She let him go.
She could probably see him through the window, making the familiar trek down the gravel path, and those strange blue lights sparkling around him as he vanished from the realm.
Gren lifted his head up to look at Izira. "She was sixty years old. And she was a hooker. Yeah, I kind of think you might be a little upset by something like that."
"I see." She drew her hand away.
Gren blinked rapidly. "You wouldn't?"
"It is not as though my own... history... is clear of... youthful indiscretions."
Gren looked to the side, then back at her. "Have there been any sixty year old hookers I should know about?"
"No”, she replied with a soft shake of her head.
"Well there you go." He lifted his hand as if to prove his point. "Izira . . . I know you still think your past is going to bother me. Just because I have a personal desire to avoid certain . . . youthful indiscretions, it doesn't mean I'm going to judge you for what you've done."
"No?" She used the same word, but now with different tone.
He shook his head. "No. I don't think its right to judge someone based on their past."
She softly nodded to his words.
"I . . . uh . . . missed you in the Arena on Saturday. It would have been nice to see you there again."
"I am sorry. The young couple was here and I thought it best not to leave."
"No, that's understandable. I just don't want you to think you're a distraction to me. I was so happy when I saw you walk down those stairs. To see you talk to Rena and Noira. I hope you'll come back again one day."
"When I am able..." She gave another soft smile, "Sometimes it is not always easy for me to get out..."
"I understand, you have to run this place. It's nice to be out with you. I want people to see us together. Like when we went to the play, or to Delvers Hall to see Noira."
She nodded, "How did giving Noira the staff go?"
"She's still trying to figure out how powerful it is. She's also annoyed at how talkative it can be. But she seemed to be able to duel alright with it. So it seems it good hands."
"That is good", she replied, heartened by the news.
"Have you . . . uh . . . thought any more about what I said to you by the waterfall last week?"
"Gren..." There was an apologetic smile, she lowered her eyes.
"Izira." He laid his hand on hers, not provocatively, but reassuringly, stroking her fingers with his thumb.
"What can I say?" She looked up.
"You can tell me what you're feeling. Can't you?"
"I care for you... a lot..."
"I heard that once, right before I got a Dear John letter."
"I would not do that to you, Gren."
"It's not that I'm impatient. Or that I don't understand. It's that I love you. I think you could be the one. It upsets me to think that the fear of your past could get in the way of us having something special, something that could last the rest of our lives."
"It is not... completely the fear of my past... you have shown enough that you accept me as I am now, no matter my history."
"I'm glad about that. So what else is it?"
".... I am not ready to risk my heart to another loss."
He sighed and looked away slightly, then rubbed his forehead with his free hand, not letting hers go.
Her eyes lowered again, having nothing come to mind to say to comfort him.
"Let me ask you this . . . Forget me for a moment. Would you ever want to be in love again? Maybe get married one day? Do you picture something like that in your mind?"
"I do not... wish for things that I think are not mine to have."
"Why don't you think they are yours to have?"
"What are the chances that my fate would be any different than those that came before me?" She lifted her other hand to the inn that surrounded them.
Gren glanced at the Inn, then back at her. "I'm not sure I follow you. Because you're the Innkeeper of this place, you don't think you can be in love with someone?"
"I do not think it will last..." She swallowed. "Those that kept the inn before me... they are a part of this place now."
Gren gets a confused look on his face. "I still don't understand. They are a part of this place? And even if they are, what does that have to do with it?"
"Many years ago.... Jeremiah tended here." She looked to the empty bird cage, "The ravens were sisters... that kept the inn together." She pressed her lips together. "They came here lost, as I did. They became a part of the realm, as I have. And when they died... they remain... as I will...”
"Izira, I don't . . . " He shook his head, thinking about what she said.”I don't think that matters. Yes, it's strange. I feel bad for Jeremiah and the sisters, if they didn't want to remain here, that is. But even if you do remain here, that doesn't mean you can't have a life. That doesn't mean you can't share your life with someone."
"Who would want to share such a life? Bound to a realm to serve it in life and death?"
He sat back in his seat a bit. His ice blue eyes glanced over her face. "Someone once asked me what I would be willing to do for the woman I loved. Would I be willing to kill for her? I don't know if I could do that. But I tell you this. I would die for her. Without thinking twice about it. So when you look at it that way, living for eternity with the one I love doesn't sound so bad."
Izira closed her eyes, turning slightly away. A tear fell down her cheek, following his words.
He stared at her silently for a few moments, his hand still clasped around hers.
Quietly, he spoke. "I can go if you like. Give you some more time to think."
Softly she nodded her head, "Please."
Gingerly, he stood from his barstool, then he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on her cheek, softly touching her shoulder with his other hand. "I love you, Izira." He whispered, lingering for a pause.
She looked up to him as he lingered, "Do not stay away too long." Her lashes wet when they fluttered.
"I couldn't do that even if I tried." He gave her a loving smile, before he turned and made his way to the door, not looking back, afraid to, really. He pulled his grey hood over his head and disappeared through the door.
Izira watched him go, sadly. She wanted to ask him to stay but was too afraid to find her voice. She let him go.
She could probably see him through the window, making the familiar trek down the gravel path, and those strange blue lights sparkling around him as he vanished from the realm.
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
Thursday, October 31, 2013
The raven arrived early Thursday morning, carrying with it a note for Gren. The bird did not linger for the return missive, but circled and took to the air once the message had been delivered.
Gren -
Pascal has taken ill and I must take him to be seen to immediately. Had I the option, I would wait for you to join me, but I think it best I not delay. I will come to your home as soon as I am able.
With much care,
Izira
Gren watched the raven fly away curiously, then looked down at the note. He read its contents and frowned in concern. Pascal seemed like a nice pet, he hoped the little rabbit would be alright. Then he thought of how the cat and ravens were really former caretakers of the Inn. Was Pascal . . . ? He had no way of knowing yet. He sighed and thought of the last time they saw each other, the tear that rolled down her cheek, and her wet eyelashes. He hoped she wouldn't be gone long. Hefting his staff onto his shoulder, he pocketed the note, then went off on his daily patrol of his sector of the forest.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
No word came again from the lady until she arrived at Gren's home on Tuesday, early in the evening. She wore a simple dress with brown heels and the locket Gren had given her. With her, she carried a basket in one hand. Her other hand lifting up and, after a pause, doing the secret knock... two knocks and a whistle.
Gren was starting to get worried by the time Tuesday rolled around. He had almost made the trek to the Inn that morning, but he had been called to a secret meeting at the Headquarters regarding Phipps and his management, or lack thereof, of the Guild's supplies. Hearing the 'secret knock', he knew immediately who it was, and almost ran down the steps and flung the door open. "Izira! I was worried about what happened to you." Gren can't help but put his arms around her waist and give her a kiss in greeting.
There was little time for a quick explanation before she was in his arms and her lips beneath his. The basket in her hand dropped to the ground, luckily staying upright, as her hands settled against his arms.
After he's satisfied with the kiss, he embraced her, putting his head next to hers as he spoke in her ear. "I missed you. I hope everything went alright." He then pulled back enough to look into her eyes when she answered.
She gave a soft nod before she found her voice following that kiss. She smiled, "Yes... Pascal... he ate something he should not have. And when he was better he did it again." She shook her head, "I do not know what got in to him, it was all very unlike him." Her hand reached up, allowing her finger tips to move through the thick brush of his bread. "I am sorry if I worried you."
"That's alright . . .” Reflexively, his hand went to brush her cheek as she touched his beard, he looked into her amber brown eyes. "I'm just glad you're back and I get to see you again. Come inside! We can sit down for a while."
Another nod, she was stepping to go in before she remembered the basket. Quickly turning to reclaim it, she held it up and lifted the cloth covering the food within. "I brought dinner. I thought, having not seen each other for a while, your stomach would be growling." Stuffed chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, and steamed greens sat in individually wrapped packages. An apple pie crumble was waiting as well. She stepped into Gren's home and moved up to the kitchen to unpack the food.
"It smells great!" He followed her up to the kitchen, keeping his arm around her waist as if afraid she'll get away from him again. Reluctantly, he withdrew it as she began to unpack the food, but he stood close enough to watch. "So what exactly was it that Pascal ate?" He then moved to get some plates and silverware out for them, figuring he can at least set the table after she brought dinner.
"The specialist I took him to thinks he ate a poisonous plant from the woods the first time... the second time he managed to get into the doctor's supplies." She frowned and shook her head.
"Aw, sorry to hear that." He put the plates and silverware on the table, and went back for some glasses and napkins while he talked. "Uhhh . . . Pascal isn't . . . like Jeremiah is he? I mean, a person in animal form?"
She paused in getting the food out, adding portions to the plates Gren put on the table. "I... have not thought so..."
"Oh. He wasn't there with Jeremiah and the ravens, then?" He went to his icebox and pulled out a Broot for himself, and the half-full bottle of Red Merlot that he got for her the last time they had dinner. "Is Merlot alright for you?" He says, holding up the bottle.
"I... found him in the forest one day..." There is an edge of uncertainty in her voice that has little to do with the wine. She quickly nodded. "It is."
He nodded and gave her a curious look, then popped the cork and poured her a glass, leaving the bottle on the table. "What made you decide to bring him home with you?" He went over to his chair and took a seat, trying to keep an eye on her and not the chicken breast.
"His leg was hurt..." She finished setting out the two plates, leaving the pie in the basket for the time. Izira took her seat, still thinking, "But when I returned to the inn with him, it was fine... and he had no interest in returning to the forest."
"Well, that's interesting. Huh." He rolled that over in his mind for a moment, while he took the first bite of the chicken. His face brightened. "That's really good! Is that . . . thyme?"
"You have a very good palate. It is a pity you are not a chef... but, perhaps, I will make one of you yet." She smiled softly, even with her thoughts lingering on the rabbit.
"Hey, I already make a mean Cherry-Pineapple Cobbler, you know." Never mind it was half made up for him. He was still thinking about Pascal as well. "It's not natural for an animal's leg to heal itself like that. For him to not want to return to the forest either. It sounds to me like there might be something special about Pascal."
"If.. there is... it would make sense that he would prefer the inn to the forest... but why would he be so careless in what he eats now?"
Gren was eating a spoonful of the potatoes, and swallowed before speaking. "I don't know . . . purposely eating a poisonous plant, or doctor's medicine . . . " Then he thinks of something. "Has Jeremiah returned yet?"
"It looked as though Silas had been through the inn.. but I had not thought to linger to catch up... I... I had wanted to see you."
He smiled softly. "That good to hear. For my sake, at least. I'm glad Jeremiah is back too." He ate a few green beans while he thought. "If Jeremiah is back, maybe you could ask him what's going on. He would know if Pascal was more than a rabbit, wouldn't he? And how to talk to him if he was?"
"It is a reasonable enough thought." She thought more than ate, a soft sigh. "I know it is unfair of me to think this... perhaps, if what you say, if Pascal is more than a rabbit, Jeremiah had his reasons for not telling me.... but...it slightly feels like another of his games."
Gren frowned a bit, was kind of thinking the same thing, but didn't know how to say it. "Maybe he's trying to protect Pascal. Or maybe he's important to the realm in some way." He took a drink of his Broot to wash down what he'd already eaten.
"Perhaps." Those were more questions that would not be answered that night. Izira finally shook her head and pushed on to other topics, "Tell me what I have missed."
The raven arrived early Thursday morning, carrying with it a note for Gren. The bird did not linger for the return missive, but circled and took to the air once the message had been delivered.
Gren -
Pascal has taken ill and I must take him to be seen to immediately. Had I the option, I would wait for you to join me, but I think it best I not delay. I will come to your home as soon as I am able.
With much care,
Izira
Gren watched the raven fly away curiously, then looked down at the note. He read its contents and frowned in concern. Pascal seemed like a nice pet, he hoped the little rabbit would be alright. Then he thought of how the cat and ravens were really former caretakers of the Inn. Was Pascal . . . ? He had no way of knowing yet. He sighed and thought of the last time they saw each other, the tear that rolled down her cheek, and her wet eyelashes. He hoped she wouldn't be gone long. Hefting his staff onto his shoulder, he pocketed the note, then went off on his daily patrol of his sector of the forest.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
No word came again from the lady until she arrived at Gren's home on Tuesday, early in the evening. She wore a simple dress with brown heels and the locket Gren had given her. With her, she carried a basket in one hand. Her other hand lifting up and, after a pause, doing the secret knock... two knocks and a whistle.
Gren was starting to get worried by the time Tuesday rolled around. He had almost made the trek to the Inn that morning, but he had been called to a secret meeting at the Headquarters regarding Phipps and his management, or lack thereof, of the Guild's supplies. Hearing the 'secret knock', he knew immediately who it was, and almost ran down the steps and flung the door open. "Izira! I was worried about what happened to you." Gren can't help but put his arms around her waist and give her a kiss in greeting.
There was little time for a quick explanation before she was in his arms and her lips beneath his. The basket in her hand dropped to the ground, luckily staying upright, as her hands settled against his arms.
After he's satisfied with the kiss, he embraced her, putting his head next to hers as he spoke in her ear. "I missed you. I hope everything went alright." He then pulled back enough to look into her eyes when she answered.
She gave a soft nod before she found her voice following that kiss. She smiled, "Yes... Pascal... he ate something he should not have. And when he was better he did it again." She shook her head, "I do not know what got in to him, it was all very unlike him." Her hand reached up, allowing her finger tips to move through the thick brush of his bread. "I am sorry if I worried you."
"That's alright . . .” Reflexively, his hand went to brush her cheek as she touched his beard, he looked into her amber brown eyes. "I'm just glad you're back and I get to see you again. Come inside! We can sit down for a while."
Another nod, she was stepping to go in before she remembered the basket. Quickly turning to reclaim it, she held it up and lifted the cloth covering the food within. "I brought dinner. I thought, having not seen each other for a while, your stomach would be growling." Stuffed chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, and steamed greens sat in individually wrapped packages. An apple pie crumble was waiting as well. She stepped into Gren's home and moved up to the kitchen to unpack the food.
"It smells great!" He followed her up to the kitchen, keeping his arm around her waist as if afraid she'll get away from him again. Reluctantly, he withdrew it as she began to unpack the food, but he stood close enough to watch. "So what exactly was it that Pascal ate?" He then moved to get some plates and silverware out for them, figuring he can at least set the table after she brought dinner.
"The specialist I took him to thinks he ate a poisonous plant from the woods the first time... the second time he managed to get into the doctor's supplies." She frowned and shook her head.
"Aw, sorry to hear that." He put the plates and silverware on the table, and went back for some glasses and napkins while he talked. "Uhhh . . . Pascal isn't . . . like Jeremiah is he? I mean, a person in animal form?"
She paused in getting the food out, adding portions to the plates Gren put on the table. "I... have not thought so..."
"Oh. He wasn't there with Jeremiah and the ravens, then?" He went to his icebox and pulled out a Broot for himself, and the half-full bottle of Red Merlot that he got for her the last time they had dinner. "Is Merlot alright for you?" He says, holding up the bottle.
"I... found him in the forest one day..." There is an edge of uncertainty in her voice that has little to do with the wine. She quickly nodded. "It is."
He nodded and gave her a curious look, then popped the cork and poured her a glass, leaving the bottle on the table. "What made you decide to bring him home with you?" He went over to his chair and took a seat, trying to keep an eye on her and not the chicken breast.
"His leg was hurt..." She finished setting out the two plates, leaving the pie in the basket for the time. Izira took her seat, still thinking, "But when I returned to the inn with him, it was fine... and he had no interest in returning to the forest."
"Well, that's interesting. Huh." He rolled that over in his mind for a moment, while he took the first bite of the chicken. His face brightened. "That's really good! Is that . . . thyme?"
"You have a very good palate. It is a pity you are not a chef... but, perhaps, I will make one of you yet." She smiled softly, even with her thoughts lingering on the rabbit.
"Hey, I already make a mean Cherry-Pineapple Cobbler, you know." Never mind it was half made up for him. He was still thinking about Pascal as well. "It's not natural for an animal's leg to heal itself like that. For him to not want to return to the forest either. It sounds to me like there might be something special about Pascal."
"If.. there is... it would make sense that he would prefer the inn to the forest... but why would he be so careless in what he eats now?"
Gren was eating a spoonful of the potatoes, and swallowed before speaking. "I don't know . . . purposely eating a poisonous plant, or doctor's medicine . . . " Then he thinks of something. "Has Jeremiah returned yet?"
"It looked as though Silas had been through the inn.. but I had not thought to linger to catch up... I... I had wanted to see you."
He smiled softly. "That good to hear. For my sake, at least. I'm glad Jeremiah is back too." He ate a few green beans while he thought. "If Jeremiah is back, maybe you could ask him what's going on. He would know if Pascal was more than a rabbit, wouldn't he? And how to talk to him if he was?"
"It is a reasonable enough thought." She thought more than ate, a soft sigh. "I know it is unfair of me to think this... perhaps, if what you say, if Pascal is more than a rabbit, Jeremiah had his reasons for not telling me.... but...it slightly feels like another of his games."
Gren frowned a bit, was kind of thinking the same thing, but didn't know how to say it. "Maybe he's trying to protect Pascal. Or maybe he's important to the realm in some way." He took a drink of his Broot to wash down what he'd already eaten.
"Perhaps." Those were more questions that would not be answered that night. Izira finally shook her head and pushed on to other topics, "Tell me what I have missed."
-
Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
"Well . . .” Gren chewed thoughtfully on another bite of chicken. "It's been kind of dull, forest-wise, for me. There are some bad rumors coming out of the north. The goblin tribe, the Tribe of the Dark Moon, that we defeated at Violet Crossing, is supposedly trying to make an alliance with a local orc tribe. People are getting nervous. I've had to do double my patrols for the last few days to keep people calmed down."
Her hand reached across the table to lightly touch Gren's. "I hope it is nothing more than rumors." She well remembered hearing about the arrow he caught in that exchange.
He briefly touched her hand, as if to reassure her. "It should come to nothing. The goblins hate the orcs just as much as they do the humans. There hasn't been an alliance like that in years. I'm hoping it's all just talk and things will die down."
Another nod, she is slow to take her hand away, but it is easier to eat with both. "What of dueling? Have you made any more friends there?" Something in her tone might suggest she was thinking about Janie.
"Dueling." That's a whole 'nother story. "Well, I haven't made any new friends. Actually, I think I lost one." He frowns a bit, looking down at his plate.
"What makes you think that?" She tilted her head and watched him frown down at his plate.
He looked back up at her. "I lost my IFL duel this week. To Sartan, the guy I told you I beat during the last Diamond Quest. That was bad enough, especially because Jake was there and saw the whole thing. He didn't seem angry, though. But I wanted to start off with a good impression, show him I could contribute to the team. Anyway, it's more what happened later that I'm talking about."
"Surely Jake would not take away his friendship due to a loss." Her brow creased.
"No, it's not Jake. We're fine. One of my teammates was there. Her name is Candy. I tried to talk to her after the match was over, but she didn't seem to be in a good mood. She's been in a feud with another of my teammates, guy named Kalamere. She made it sound like she wanted to shoot him. I tried to talk her out of it, but she got mad at me and kicked my stool out from under me. I thought she was going to hit me. Then the owner of the Outback, Matt Simon, came out of his office and saw us, and she backed off. I saw her last night at her IFL duel, but she didn't do anything more than nod at me."
"She does not sound like much of a friend." Izira frowned at the woman's behavior.
Gren kind of smiled. "She does kind of pick on me. But I thought we were . . . until that night. Now it's like she doesn't even know me. I don't like what she did, I don't think it's fair, but it's just . . . weird. I guess I should just stay away from her for a while."
"You have better company to keep.... at least, less violent."
"Yeah." He looked down at his plate, then back at her. "It'll blow over. I can't let it bother me."
"If she is any friend worth having it will, if not..." The first part of her statement covered that. She reached over to pat Gren's hand again.
He gave Izira a big smile, and gently held her hand for a moment after she patted his. "You're right. Besides, I've got the best friend I could ask for right here, having dinner with me."
She smiled, lowering her eyes at his words.
"So let's enjoy ourselves tonight. I haven't seen you in a week! If you have time, why don't I take you to my Guild Headquarters? I can show you around, so you can see where I work. I'm sure Perrigan and the others would like to say "Hi" to you."
"Tonight? It would not be too late?"
"No, they stay open all the time, anyway. The evening is when the most people are around, since the main barracks are there. I'm kind of a special case, since I've been tasked to be on call in this area of the forest."
"I would enjoy a visit then, very much so."
"Alright! We can leave right after dinner. Unless you need to let your food settle for a while."
She softly shook her head, "I will be fine. Though... we could save the pie for when we return?"
"That sounds like a good idea to me. Hopefully we won't return too late that we can't enjoy it. You could always stay here with me tonight if that happens." He tried not to grin. "But I understand if you need to get back to the Inn."
"Do you... have a guest room that I missed?"
"Uhh . . . no. But you could . . . sleep in my bed. I could sleep on the floor." He got a little embarrassed as his little ploy failed.
She shook her head, looking down to her plate and missing his embarrassment. "I would not wish to deprive you of your own bed."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all! Sleeping on my floor isn't as bad as some of the places I've had to bed down for the night. I was out in the wilderness one time and had to use a rock for a pillow and sand for a blanket! Woke up and a scorpion almost bit me for sleeping in his bed."
She nodded with a soft chuckle but did not fully give in. "I will see how I feel about making the journey home after we return."
He smiled slightly, at least she didn't say no. "That seems fair." He went back to eating, finishing off his chicken breast, and scooping up the last of the potatoes.
She was slower with her meal, but finished it a little behind him.
He stood after she finished, taking up their plates, and putting them in the sink. "I can wash these later. I'm just glad you brought something to eat."
"I thought I should, sure as I was that you would not be eating well enough without visiting the inn."
He laughed and nodded. "That's true, I'm definitely not the cook that you are. I miss those pancakes with blueberry syrup. The steak with the mushrooms. The seafood chowder . . . " He looked off into the distance with a dreamy sigh for a moment, then back at her. "I don't think I can go another week like that without your . . . . cooking." He gave her a little wag of his eyebrows, teasing.
She smiled softly, looking away. "I am ready to visit your Guild Headquarters when you are."
Her hand reached across the table to lightly touch Gren's. "I hope it is nothing more than rumors." She well remembered hearing about the arrow he caught in that exchange.
He briefly touched her hand, as if to reassure her. "It should come to nothing. The goblins hate the orcs just as much as they do the humans. There hasn't been an alliance like that in years. I'm hoping it's all just talk and things will die down."
Another nod, she is slow to take her hand away, but it is easier to eat with both. "What of dueling? Have you made any more friends there?" Something in her tone might suggest she was thinking about Janie.
"Dueling." That's a whole 'nother story. "Well, I haven't made any new friends. Actually, I think I lost one." He frowns a bit, looking down at his plate.
"What makes you think that?" She tilted her head and watched him frown down at his plate.
He looked back up at her. "I lost my IFL duel this week. To Sartan, the guy I told you I beat during the last Diamond Quest. That was bad enough, especially because Jake was there and saw the whole thing. He didn't seem angry, though. But I wanted to start off with a good impression, show him I could contribute to the team. Anyway, it's more what happened later that I'm talking about."
"Surely Jake would not take away his friendship due to a loss." Her brow creased.
"No, it's not Jake. We're fine. One of my teammates was there. Her name is Candy. I tried to talk to her after the match was over, but she didn't seem to be in a good mood. She's been in a feud with another of my teammates, guy named Kalamere. She made it sound like she wanted to shoot him. I tried to talk her out of it, but she got mad at me and kicked my stool out from under me. I thought she was going to hit me. Then the owner of the Outback, Matt Simon, came out of his office and saw us, and she backed off. I saw her last night at her IFL duel, but she didn't do anything more than nod at me."
"She does not sound like much of a friend." Izira frowned at the woman's behavior.
Gren kind of smiled. "She does kind of pick on me. But I thought we were . . . until that night. Now it's like she doesn't even know me. I don't like what she did, I don't think it's fair, but it's just . . . weird. I guess I should just stay away from her for a while."
"You have better company to keep.... at least, less violent."
"Yeah." He looked down at his plate, then back at her. "It'll blow over. I can't let it bother me."
"If she is any friend worth having it will, if not..." The first part of her statement covered that. She reached over to pat Gren's hand again.
He gave Izira a big smile, and gently held her hand for a moment after she patted his. "You're right. Besides, I've got the best friend I could ask for right here, having dinner with me."
She smiled, lowering her eyes at his words.
"So let's enjoy ourselves tonight. I haven't seen you in a week! If you have time, why don't I take you to my Guild Headquarters? I can show you around, so you can see where I work. I'm sure Perrigan and the others would like to say "Hi" to you."
"Tonight? It would not be too late?"
"No, they stay open all the time, anyway. The evening is when the most people are around, since the main barracks are there. I'm kind of a special case, since I've been tasked to be on call in this area of the forest."
"I would enjoy a visit then, very much so."
"Alright! We can leave right after dinner. Unless you need to let your food settle for a while."
She softly shook her head, "I will be fine. Though... we could save the pie for when we return?"
"That sounds like a good idea to me. Hopefully we won't return too late that we can't enjoy it. You could always stay here with me tonight if that happens." He tried not to grin. "But I understand if you need to get back to the Inn."
"Do you... have a guest room that I missed?"
"Uhh . . . no. But you could . . . sleep in my bed. I could sleep on the floor." He got a little embarrassed as his little ploy failed.
She shook her head, looking down to her plate and missing his embarrassment. "I would not wish to deprive you of your own bed."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all! Sleeping on my floor isn't as bad as some of the places I've had to bed down for the night. I was out in the wilderness one time and had to use a rock for a pillow and sand for a blanket! Woke up and a scorpion almost bit me for sleeping in his bed."
She nodded with a soft chuckle but did not fully give in. "I will see how I feel about making the journey home after we return."
He smiled slightly, at least she didn't say no. "That seems fair." He went back to eating, finishing off his chicken breast, and scooping up the last of the potatoes.
She was slower with her meal, but finished it a little behind him.
He stood after she finished, taking up their plates, and putting them in the sink. "I can wash these later. I'm just glad you brought something to eat."
"I thought I should, sure as I was that you would not be eating well enough without visiting the inn."
He laughed and nodded. "That's true, I'm definitely not the cook that you are. I miss those pancakes with blueberry syrup. The steak with the mushrooms. The seafood chowder . . . " He looked off into the distance with a dreamy sigh for a moment, then back at her. "I don't think I can go another week like that without your . . . . cooking." He gave her a little wag of his eyebrows, teasing.
She smiled softly, looking away. "I am ready to visit your Guild Headquarters when you are."
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
"Certainly, let's go then!" He put his arm around her waist and led her downstairs. "Hold on a second, I feel incomplete without my grey cloak on." He took his cloak from off a peg by the door and pulled it over his head. "There we go." He then opened the door for her, escorting her out before locking it behind him. "It's a little ways to the northeast. Shouldn't be too long of a walk."
She followed his lead, staying close. "I am not worried about the distance."
"That's good. I haven't gotten to hold hands with you for a while." He slipped his hand in hers as they walked. The area of the forest they were hiking through looked old. Huge oak trees surrounded the well worn forest path, and the leaves had turned a variety of colors due to the autumn season. Red, orange, yellow, and brown leaves could be seen painting the trees of the forest, as well as lying on the path they tread. "This is one of my favorite places in the forest. One of the safest too. I go this way almost every day."
"It is very lovely, I can see why you would enjoy it." Her amber-brown eyes took in the various shades of the foliage around them as they walked hand in hand. Her mind wandered.
He smiled gently at her, before looking back over the forest, although partly to keep his eyes open. Soon he saw a furry face peeking at him from around a tree. He squinted a bit, but it seemed the face recognized who he was and revealed itself. It was a hedgehog that looked almost two feet tall, standing on its hind legs, carrying a basket in one hand. It waved with the other paw towards Gren.
"Yoohoo! Gren! Good evening to you!"
Gren smiled big. "Hello, Missus Brownhill, how are you this evening?" Gren then looked at Izira, a bit sheepishly. "Some of the animals in this part of the woods . . . they, uh . . . talk." Missus Brownhill ambled her way over to Gren with a smile on her furry face.
The voice brings Izira out of her day dream. The hedgehog might save Izira's light blush from being seen before it faded as her attention turned toward Missus Brownhill. Izira turned her head and lowered her voice to speak softly into Gren's ear, "I can see that." Her smile then turned to the approaching hedgehog.
He gave Izira a slight, helpless shrug, before Missus Brownhill stood before him.
"I'm doing well, Gren. I just wanted to thank you for shooing that nasty cougar away from our home. My poor children almost became that brute's dinner! How can such a thing happen in this part of the forest? Oh! Who is this lovely young woman you've brought with you?"
"Oh, uh, this is Izira Nyte. She's the Keeper of the Forgotten Layers Inn."
"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Izira!" The hedgehog lifts up on its hind feet and extends its paw up to shake Izira's hand.
Izira leaned down, accepting the hand and giving it a little shake. "It is a pleasure."
"Oh, that's a good, strong grip you have there. I see you two are holding hands. Hoo hoo hoo! Oh, Gren, I'm so glad. A man your age ought to have two or three little ones running about by now!"
Gren turned a bit red and looked heavenward.
"Well, I don't want to interrupt your romantic walk. It is so lovely this time of year. I have to be getting home and bring these mushrooms to my hungry children. Goodbye Gren and Goodbye Izira! Hoo hoo hoo!" Missus Brownhill gave Gren a knowing smile and a little wave before moving back into the forest.
Izira's cheeks colored slightly as well. She looked back to Gren as Missus Brownhill made her way off.
Gren had a look halfway between embarrassment and bewilderment. "She's . . . just looking out for me, I guess. Heh." He then gulped and led her up the path again. "I have to pay special attention around here. There are a lot of animals like Missus Brownhill that need protection."
"A lot of animals that think you should have two or three little ones running around by now?" She teased.
"Well . . . I . . . " He cleared his throat. "I have had plenty of duties that have kept me busy over the years." He answered evasively. "The Hedgehogs just like to gossip, is all."
"Are they as bad as Franco?" Her eyes drifted back toward where the hedgehog has wandered off to.
"Even worse. Although they don't have a newspaper column. Hey, you remembered Marc Franco! He's still around I think. On a hiatus, though. He takes breaks now and then. He didn't write anything about you, did he?" Changing the subject there, Gren gave Izira a sidelong glance and a grin.
"A time or two. I fear Franco missed much of the true story of things... but that was the point."
"Really?" He kind of didn't expect that. "I know what you mean. It's more for entertainment purposes. I don't think he ever wrote anything about me. Then again, I never gave him anything to write about, I suppose." The forest began to descend down towards a river, and the oaks tapered off until its mostly younger poplar trees.
"It was a long time ago."
"Yes, it was." He let it go at that. They descended the path toward the river, which had a deep blue color. There was a wooden bridge there, which looked well built and sturdy enough to hold heavy foot traffic. "I . . . uh . . . hope Haddon didn't make too much of a mess the last time I was over." He remembered the incident with some embarrassment.
"The threat of him bedding me?" She glanced back to Gren as they moved across the bridge. "He is not my type." There was amusement in her voice.
His face fell when she said the words "bedding me", but she followed it with him not being her type, which elicited an explosive breath of relief. "That's good to know. No, I meant more the mud he tracked everywhere, and his . . . colorful stories."
"Mud can be cleaned. I do not think his mind can..." She softly chuckled.
"Yeah, you've got a point. He means well, he just doesn't understand some people don't care for his . . . brand of humor." The trees seem to have thinned out, and consist of more fruit trees and brush. In the distance, there was a large wall made of tall logs that had been cut to a point at the top. The path led up to a wooden gate, with a guardhouse at the top.
She followed his lead, staying close. "I am not worried about the distance."
"That's good. I haven't gotten to hold hands with you for a while." He slipped his hand in hers as they walked. The area of the forest they were hiking through looked old. Huge oak trees surrounded the well worn forest path, and the leaves had turned a variety of colors due to the autumn season. Red, orange, yellow, and brown leaves could be seen painting the trees of the forest, as well as lying on the path they tread. "This is one of my favorite places in the forest. One of the safest too. I go this way almost every day."
"It is very lovely, I can see why you would enjoy it." Her amber-brown eyes took in the various shades of the foliage around them as they walked hand in hand. Her mind wandered.
He smiled gently at her, before looking back over the forest, although partly to keep his eyes open. Soon he saw a furry face peeking at him from around a tree. He squinted a bit, but it seemed the face recognized who he was and revealed itself. It was a hedgehog that looked almost two feet tall, standing on its hind legs, carrying a basket in one hand. It waved with the other paw towards Gren.
"Yoohoo! Gren! Good evening to you!"
Gren smiled big. "Hello, Missus Brownhill, how are you this evening?" Gren then looked at Izira, a bit sheepishly. "Some of the animals in this part of the woods . . . they, uh . . . talk." Missus Brownhill ambled her way over to Gren with a smile on her furry face.
The voice brings Izira out of her day dream. The hedgehog might save Izira's light blush from being seen before it faded as her attention turned toward Missus Brownhill. Izira turned her head and lowered her voice to speak softly into Gren's ear, "I can see that." Her smile then turned to the approaching hedgehog.
He gave Izira a slight, helpless shrug, before Missus Brownhill stood before him.
"I'm doing well, Gren. I just wanted to thank you for shooing that nasty cougar away from our home. My poor children almost became that brute's dinner! How can such a thing happen in this part of the forest? Oh! Who is this lovely young woman you've brought with you?"
"Oh, uh, this is Izira Nyte. She's the Keeper of the Forgotten Layers Inn."
"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Izira!" The hedgehog lifts up on its hind feet and extends its paw up to shake Izira's hand.
Izira leaned down, accepting the hand and giving it a little shake. "It is a pleasure."
"Oh, that's a good, strong grip you have there. I see you two are holding hands. Hoo hoo hoo! Oh, Gren, I'm so glad. A man your age ought to have two or three little ones running about by now!"
Gren turned a bit red and looked heavenward.
"Well, I don't want to interrupt your romantic walk. It is so lovely this time of year. I have to be getting home and bring these mushrooms to my hungry children. Goodbye Gren and Goodbye Izira! Hoo hoo hoo!" Missus Brownhill gave Gren a knowing smile and a little wave before moving back into the forest.
Izira's cheeks colored slightly as well. She looked back to Gren as Missus Brownhill made her way off.
Gren had a look halfway between embarrassment and bewilderment. "She's . . . just looking out for me, I guess. Heh." He then gulped and led her up the path again. "I have to pay special attention around here. There are a lot of animals like Missus Brownhill that need protection."
"A lot of animals that think you should have two or three little ones running around by now?" She teased.
"Well . . . I . . . " He cleared his throat. "I have had plenty of duties that have kept me busy over the years." He answered evasively. "The Hedgehogs just like to gossip, is all."
"Are they as bad as Franco?" Her eyes drifted back toward where the hedgehog has wandered off to.
"Even worse. Although they don't have a newspaper column. Hey, you remembered Marc Franco! He's still around I think. On a hiatus, though. He takes breaks now and then. He didn't write anything about you, did he?" Changing the subject there, Gren gave Izira a sidelong glance and a grin.
"A time or two. I fear Franco missed much of the true story of things... but that was the point."
"Really?" He kind of didn't expect that. "I know what you mean. It's more for entertainment purposes. I don't think he ever wrote anything about me. Then again, I never gave him anything to write about, I suppose." The forest began to descend down towards a river, and the oaks tapered off until its mostly younger poplar trees.
"It was a long time ago."
"Yes, it was." He let it go at that. They descended the path toward the river, which had a deep blue color. There was a wooden bridge there, which looked well built and sturdy enough to hold heavy foot traffic. "I . . . uh . . . hope Haddon didn't make too much of a mess the last time I was over." He remembered the incident with some embarrassment.
"The threat of him bedding me?" She glanced back to Gren as they moved across the bridge. "He is not my type." There was amusement in her voice.
His face fell when she said the words "bedding me", but she followed it with him not being her type, which elicited an explosive breath of relief. "That's good to know. No, I meant more the mud he tracked everywhere, and his . . . colorful stories."
"Mud can be cleaned. I do not think his mind can..." She softly chuckled.
"Yeah, you've got a point. He means well, he just doesn't understand some people don't care for his . . . brand of humor." The trees seem to have thinned out, and consist of more fruit trees and brush. In the distance, there was a large wall made of tall logs that had been cut to a point at the top. The path led up to a wooden gate, with a guardhouse at the top.
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
Izira took in the approaching wooden gate. "I... do not mind it that much." She looked back to Gren with a soft smile, "It is more that there is little else...." She softly squeezed Gren's hand. "I would say he goes on at length... and it is good he is not here to hear me say that." Lightly chuckling, she tilted her head thoughtfully.
He squeezed her hand back. "Naw, he's got a thick skin. After a while, he'll knock it off. It's just how he gets around people he's just met. He thinks he's being funny and that people will like him better. He just doesn't realize how abrasive he can be." As they approached the wall, they could see a cluster of wooden buildings, and several pillars of smoke coming from behind it. A few grey cloaked Rangers were patrolling the battlements. When they reached the door, Gren released Izira's hand, and bumped on the door a few times with his fist. "Hey Grace! It's me, open up!" There was dead silence for a few moments. "Grace! *Open up*!"
After a few more awkward moments, a pale white face belonging to an elvish woman, with pale hair and sky blue eyes peeked out the guardhouse window. She was wearing a leather helmet. The woman looked very much like Yolene, from the buffet. "Who goes there? Advance and give the password!"
Izira smiled softly at Gren's response, kissing his cheek before he departed to the gate. Just behind him, she watched the exchange, noting the similarities of the woman and Yolene.
Gren gave Grace a flat look. "Grace. It's me. Please open the door."
"And by "me", you mean . . . . ?"
Gren got more perturbed. "Grace. It's Gren. You know me. Open the door!"
"How do I know it's you? You could be an evil sorcerer wearing Gren's skin and trying to trick me!"
"Grace, come on! Don't start! Just let me in!"
"I cannot allow strangers within this vitally important compound without a proper password."
"Oh, alright fine! What's today? Tuesday? Alright, it's *Birch*! Now let me in!"
Grace gave Gren a blank look. "Birch *what*?"
"Birch BEER! What do mean *what*? Birch TREE! Birch TREE! Now open up!"
There was another long, awkward pause. "Is it the Yellow Birch, or the Silver Birch?"
Gren sighed, and hung his head, his shoulders slumped.
Izira covered her mouth as she softly chuckled at the exchange.
He then lifted his head, his eyes rapidly darting from side to side, as if trying to decide between two options. "Silver Birch?" After a few seconds, the doors began to swing open. Gren threw his hands in the air. "Finally!" He gave Izira an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. Grace gets carried away with her duties sometimes." He took Izira's hand again and led her into the compound. He glared up at Grace who was still peering at him, albeit from the other side of the guardhouse, curiously. "Why'd you have to make me go through all that for?"
"I still don't believe you're Gren. I mean, you're standing here with a pretty lady. Does that sound like Gren Blockman to you?"
Gren narrowed his eyes and glared at Grace. "That wasn't nice."
Grace shrugged, then popped back inside the guardhouse.
She continued to try to hide her chuckle of amusement, squeezing Gren's hand again. "Do not let it worry you."
"I'll be alright . . . in time." He was still glaring a bit, but then he gave Izira a joking grin. "Alright, first let me take you to the main office. I hope Perrigan is in." He led her down the main, dirt covered path. There were log cabins on either side, one floor and rectangular, the barracks for the Rangers. Occasionally a grey cloaked form could be seen walking between the buildings. At the center of the compound there was a large wooden cabin, two stories high with a balcony. Large circular windows are set into the wall, and there was a porch with benches out front. Gren led her to this building, opening the oak door for her. "This is the main building. It's where Perrigan's office is. He lives on the second floor."
Amber-brown eyes took in the barracks and the rangers that moved here and there. "He has a good view." She moved through the door Gren held open for her and stepped to the side.
They had entered the foyer of the building. There were more benches, along with mirrors and pictures of wildlife that adorned the walls. Gren led her up to the far side, where there was another door. He knocked rapidly and waited. "Come in." It was the voice of Perrigan. Gren smiled at Izira, opened the door and led her in. Perrigan was sitting behind a huge desk made of oak that held several piles of well-stacked papers. He was casually scanning a document in his hand. There were tall bookshelves on both sides, and windows behind him that gave a broad view of the north side of the compound, as well as of the forest beyond.
Perrigan looked up and smiled. "Gren. I see you've brought Miss Izira." He laid the paper down and rose from his chair, extending his hand across the desk. "So good of you to visit us, Miss Izira."
"So many of your rangers visited my inn, I thought it would be nice to see where they spend their time." She smiled, taking Perrigan's hand in both of hers. "I must extend my thanks to you for the gift, Perrigan. It was beyond kind of you."
"The pleasure was all mine. I hope you enjoy yourselves, as I know my men and I did. So Gren is giving you a tour of our Guild Headquarters?"
"He is." She looked back to Gren, "I do not think he would trust me to the care of another." There was a light tease in her tone, and she smiled warmly to Gren.
Gren might have gotten flustered if it wasn't so close to the truth. He smiled warmly back.
Perrigan chuckled. "Well, I'm glad to see you've taken such an interest in us. As well as Gren. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you."
Now Gren got a little flustered, he cleared his throat slightly. "Thanks, Headmaster. We'd better get going, then."
"Perhaps there is one thing..." She fluttered of her lashes as she looked back to Gren, "I do not know if Gren has told you, but I have been away for a week. It would be... nice if someone else could take up his patrol for a day, tomorrow, so that we might have more time to catch up?" She paused a moment before going on, "I do believe... Grace... from the gate would be dedicated to such a task. Though, surely you would know better than I." Her amber-browns moved back to Perrigan.
Gren looked slightly confused at first, until it dawned on him what Izira is up to. He then smiled and shrugged at Perrigan. "It would be nice to have a day with Izira. Grace never turns down a patrol, you know."
Perrigan shifted his gaze between Izira and Gren, his wizened face broke into a smile of understanding. "Very well. You may have tomorrow off. I will let Grace know to take over your patrol route. Enjoy your time off, Gren."
"Thank you, Headmaster!" Gren replied.
"Thank you Perrigan." With a thankful smile to the man, Izira stepped toward the door with Gren.
He squeezed her hand back. "Naw, he's got a thick skin. After a while, he'll knock it off. It's just how he gets around people he's just met. He thinks he's being funny and that people will like him better. He just doesn't realize how abrasive he can be." As they approached the wall, they could see a cluster of wooden buildings, and several pillars of smoke coming from behind it. A few grey cloaked Rangers were patrolling the battlements. When they reached the door, Gren released Izira's hand, and bumped on the door a few times with his fist. "Hey Grace! It's me, open up!" There was dead silence for a few moments. "Grace! *Open up*!"
After a few more awkward moments, a pale white face belonging to an elvish woman, with pale hair and sky blue eyes peeked out the guardhouse window. She was wearing a leather helmet. The woman looked very much like Yolene, from the buffet. "Who goes there? Advance and give the password!"
Izira smiled softly at Gren's response, kissing his cheek before he departed to the gate. Just behind him, she watched the exchange, noting the similarities of the woman and Yolene.
Gren gave Grace a flat look. "Grace. It's me. Please open the door."
"And by "me", you mean . . . . ?"
Gren got more perturbed. "Grace. It's Gren. You know me. Open the door!"
"How do I know it's you? You could be an evil sorcerer wearing Gren's skin and trying to trick me!"
"Grace, come on! Don't start! Just let me in!"
"I cannot allow strangers within this vitally important compound without a proper password."
"Oh, alright fine! What's today? Tuesday? Alright, it's *Birch*! Now let me in!"
Grace gave Gren a blank look. "Birch *what*?"
"Birch BEER! What do mean *what*? Birch TREE! Birch TREE! Now open up!"
There was another long, awkward pause. "Is it the Yellow Birch, or the Silver Birch?"
Gren sighed, and hung his head, his shoulders slumped.
Izira covered her mouth as she softly chuckled at the exchange.
He then lifted his head, his eyes rapidly darting from side to side, as if trying to decide between two options. "Silver Birch?" After a few seconds, the doors began to swing open. Gren threw his hands in the air. "Finally!" He gave Izira an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. Grace gets carried away with her duties sometimes." He took Izira's hand again and led her into the compound. He glared up at Grace who was still peering at him, albeit from the other side of the guardhouse, curiously. "Why'd you have to make me go through all that for?"
"I still don't believe you're Gren. I mean, you're standing here with a pretty lady. Does that sound like Gren Blockman to you?"
Gren narrowed his eyes and glared at Grace. "That wasn't nice."
Grace shrugged, then popped back inside the guardhouse.
She continued to try to hide her chuckle of amusement, squeezing Gren's hand again. "Do not let it worry you."
"I'll be alright . . . in time." He was still glaring a bit, but then he gave Izira a joking grin. "Alright, first let me take you to the main office. I hope Perrigan is in." He led her down the main, dirt covered path. There were log cabins on either side, one floor and rectangular, the barracks for the Rangers. Occasionally a grey cloaked form could be seen walking between the buildings. At the center of the compound there was a large wooden cabin, two stories high with a balcony. Large circular windows are set into the wall, and there was a porch with benches out front. Gren led her to this building, opening the oak door for her. "This is the main building. It's where Perrigan's office is. He lives on the second floor."
Amber-brown eyes took in the barracks and the rangers that moved here and there. "He has a good view." She moved through the door Gren held open for her and stepped to the side.
They had entered the foyer of the building. There were more benches, along with mirrors and pictures of wildlife that adorned the walls. Gren led her up to the far side, where there was another door. He knocked rapidly and waited. "Come in." It was the voice of Perrigan. Gren smiled at Izira, opened the door and led her in. Perrigan was sitting behind a huge desk made of oak that held several piles of well-stacked papers. He was casually scanning a document in his hand. There were tall bookshelves on both sides, and windows behind him that gave a broad view of the north side of the compound, as well as of the forest beyond.
Perrigan looked up and smiled. "Gren. I see you've brought Miss Izira." He laid the paper down and rose from his chair, extending his hand across the desk. "So good of you to visit us, Miss Izira."
"So many of your rangers visited my inn, I thought it would be nice to see where they spend their time." She smiled, taking Perrigan's hand in both of hers. "I must extend my thanks to you for the gift, Perrigan. It was beyond kind of you."
"The pleasure was all mine. I hope you enjoy yourselves, as I know my men and I did. So Gren is giving you a tour of our Guild Headquarters?"
"He is." She looked back to Gren, "I do not think he would trust me to the care of another." There was a light tease in her tone, and she smiled warmly to Gren.
Gren might have gotten flustered if it wasn't so close to the truth. He smiled warmly back.
Perrigan chuckled. "Well, I'm glad to see you've taken such an interest in us. As well as Gren. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you."
Now Gren got a little flustered, he cleared his throat slightly. "Thanks, Headmaster. We'd better get going, then."
"Perhaps there is one thing..." She fluttered of her lashes as she looked back to Gren, "I do not know if Gren has told you, but I have been away for a week. It would be... nice if someone else could take up his patrol for a day, tomorrow, so that we might have more time to catch up?" She paused a moment before going on, "I do believe... Grace... from the gate would be dedicated to such a task. Though, surely you would know better than I." Her amber-browns moved back to Perrigan.
Gren looked slightly confused at first, until it dawned on him what Izira is up to. He then smiled and shrugged at Perrigan. "It would be nice to have a day with Izira. Grace never turns down a patrol, you know."
Perrigan shifted his gaze between Izira and Gren, his wizened face broke into a smile of understanding. "Very well. You may have tomorrow off. I will let Grace know to take over your patrol route. Enjoy your time off, Gren."
"Thank you, Headmaster!" Gren replied.
"Thank you Perrigan." With a thankful smile to the man, Izira stepped toward the door with Gren.
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
Gren escorted Izira out, his hand resting on the small of her back, and shut the door behind him. "That was rather . . . devious of you. I kind of like it." He kissed her forehead as they walked to the door leading outside.
"Whatever do you mean?" Smiling innocently, she pulled it off.
He gave her an exaggerated wink. "Mean? Why nothing at all. Your secret is safe with me." He held the door open for her as they stepped back outside. As they did, a large man, clad in studded leather battle armor almost slammed into Gren. He had long, grey hair, and a scowl on his face.
"Grr, whu . . . Gren? What are you doing here?" He gave Izira a cursory look, then went back to glaring at Gren.
"General! Sir. I was . . . uhh . . . just showing Izira around the Headquarters." It was Westerguard. He glared at Gren for a moment as if trying to find something wrong with that. "And Perrigan approves?"
"Uh . . . yes, Sir." Westerguard scowled harder. "If he says so. I need you to do something for me. While you're . . . touring the Headquarters, deliver this message to Malcolm. The little twerp. Sooner rather than later, if you catch my drift."
"Certainly, General, uh . . . let me introduce you to . . .” Before Gren can finish the statement, he had stomped through the door, slamming it behind him. Gren gave the vanishing Westerguard a baffled look, then glanced to Izira again. "Sorry. He's the grumpy type."
"Truly? I would have never thought that with his sunny disposition." She glanced to the message, "Shall we deliver the message then? I would not want to further the general's sour mood."
"Yeah, let's get it out of the way." Gren glanced down at the scroll in his hand. "It's over here. He has his own barracks where he keeps all the magical items we find on our missions." He ushered Izira back across to the eastern side of the main building. There was a little red shack with a trail of smoke coming from a chimney. There were various piles of books, boxes, and junk cluttered by the door. Gren grimaced at the mess, but knocked on the door. "Malcolm! Malcolm, it's Gren!" No answer. "Malcolm! Wake up, I have a message from Westerguard!" No answer still. Gren grunted and opened the door, motioning Izira to follow him. The opened door revealed one big room. Malcolm, the blonde, lanky half-elf, was sitting in a chair by a desk, leaned all the way back, snoring, with his arms folded across his chest. The desk had a messy stack of papers all over it, and there was a rumpled, unmade bed in the corner. Staves, potions, and magical books were piled to the roof, in no discernible order. Gren glanced to Izira, then to Malcolm, and he cleared his throat loudly.
Malcolm started, and almost fell backwards in his chair. "Whu . . . ?" He looked bleary-eyed at Gren. "Gren. Dude. What the hell, man. You know." Malcolm rubbed his eyes and coughed weakly.
Quietly Izira followed Gren into Malcolm's quarters. She glanced around more at the mess than the sleeping half-elf. As Malcolm awakened, she offered him a little wave in greeting.
Malcolm peered at Izira through bloodshot eyes. "Oh yeah. You. Yeah. Chick at the buffet. Whoa. Alright." He barely had the energy to lift his hand in the briefest of waves. "Okay. We said Hi. Now I have some important . . . research to do. Okay?"
Gren gave Malcolm a stern look. "I have a message from Westerguard." He handed over the scroll emphatically.
Malcolm slowly took the scroll and looked at it like he'd never seen one before. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever. Alright. Thanks for stopping by. And stuff." He gave Izira another vacant look. "Dug the food. Really."
"I suggest reading the scroll, Malcolm. I would hate for Gren to suffer Westerguard's displeasure should we leave and you fall to sleep without doing so." Her words were gently suggestive, but she allowed the aura of her own magic, the strong, natural magic of fire and ice, to be visible by the other magic user, leaving Gren unaware.
"What the . . . " Malcolm raised up in his chair slightly, recognizing the aura. He peered at Izira as if trying to figure something out, then finally gave up. "Huh. No way. Okay then." Lazily, he unfurled the scroll, his eyelids almost slam shut several times, but he made it through and grunted a bit. "Man, that dude is waaaaay too harsh. He needs to lighten up. Take it easy. Go with the flow. You know." Malcolm looked at Gren and managed a thin line of a smile. "Alright. I read it. Can I go back to . . . my research now?"
Gren gave Malcolm a disapproving look. "Geez, Malcolm."
"Don't lecture me, dude."
The magic slipped away. Izira took in the collection as the man attempted to read. Once he was finished, Izira slipped her hand into Gren's, stepping toward the door. "We have done as asked. Malcolm's collection is interesting, but I would like to see something more. Nice to see you again, Malcolm. Enjoy your... research."
"Yeah. Have a good one”, Malcolm replied.
Gren glared at Malcolm a little more, but followed Izira as she tugged him out the door. A little thump can be heard, as the scroll fell out of Malcolm's hand, and he went back to sleeping before the door even shuts behind them. "Geez, I can't believe he can sleep all day like that. Westerguard's going to have a fit if he catches him. Alright, let me see . . . " Just as Gren had stopped and was looking up the road to decide where to go next, two people came walking up the road towards the main building. One was a handsome blonde man with a dimpled chin, wearing a maroon shirt and brown pants. The other was an attractive half-elf woman, with auburn hair that fell in curls around her shoulders. She was wearing a tight leather vest, and had a bow slung over one shoulder. The pair were arguing with each other.
"I told you a million times, I never touched that woman. She was just some broad I bumped into at the Tavern that night”, the blonde man argued.
"That's not what Haddon said", the woman replied angrily.
"Haddon talks a lot of $#!&, and you know it."
They both see Gren standing there with Izira, and identical looks of shock crossed their faces. The man's expression melted away into a look of contempt, while the woman continued to look apprehensive. Gren swallowed hard, glanced at Izira, and then led her over to the couple, who were standing just a few feet away. "Izira, this is Rhett Taylor, and Janna Silverstar." Gren pointed to the man and the woman. "This is Izira Nyte, Keeper of Forgotten Layers Inn."
Rhett crossed his arms and glared at Gren. Janna gulped a bit, then extended her hand, managing a smile for Izira. "It's nice to finally meet you. Gren talks about you all the time."
Izira can easily tell who the two are, giving all Gren had told her. She watched the couple curiously in their argument. A kind smile was offered as Gren introduced them. "It is nice to put some faces to your names as well." Izira took Janna's offered hand, giving a delicate but firm grip. "It was a pity the two of you could not join us for the dinner held at the inn." Amber-brown eyes glanced between the couple, but keep mainly on Janna.
Janna smiled kindly at Izira, her mouth moved as if to make an excuse, then she failed. "Perhaps another time." Rhett stopped glaring at Gren long enough to give Izira a suggestive up and down leer, taking his time. "Well, 'Dreamboat', I see you've done well for yourself."
"Rhett, please . . . " Janna gave him a pleading look. Rhett shot a glare back at Janna, before extending his hand to Izira. "It certainly is a pleasure to meet *you*."
The hesitation to take the offered hand is hardly long enough to be noticed by anyone before she accepted his extended one in her own. Izira smiled warmly to Rhett, but it does not truly reach her eyes.
Rhett let his hand linger in Izira's a few moments longer than he should, slowly letting his fingers slide from her grasp as if reluctant to do so.
Gren gave Rhett a hard glare. "I was just showing her around. I think we should be going now." Gren took Izira's hand in his for emphasis. "Nice to see you. Rhett." His tone said otherwise. It softened a bit into a more friendlier tone for Janna. "Janna."
"Goodbye, Gren. I'm happy for you." She briefly laid her hand on Gren's shoulder. Rhett's face boiled with rage, he grabbed Janna's arm and roughly pulled her away and down the street. "Come on."
"Whatever do you mean?" Smiling innocently, she pulled it off.
He gave her an exaggerated wink. "Mean? Why nothing at all. Your secret is safe with me." He held the door open for her as they stepped back outside. As they did, a large man, clad in studded leather battle armor almost slammed into Gren. He had long, grey hair, and a scowl on his face.
"Grr, whu . . . Gren? What are you doing here?" He gave Izira a cursory look, then went back to glaring at Gren.
"General! Sir. I was . . . uhh . . . just showing Izira around the Headquarters." It was Westerguard. He glared at Gren for a moment as if trying to find something wrong with that. "And Perrigan approves?"
"Uh . . . yes, Sir." Westerguard scowled harder. "If he says so. I need you to do something for me. While you're . . . touring the Headquarters, deliver this message to Malcolm. The little twerp. Sooner rather than later, if you catch my drift."
"Certainly, General, uh . . . let me introduce you to . . .” Before Gren can finish the statement, he had stomped through the door, slamming it behind him. Gren gave the vanishing Westerguard a baffled look, then glanced to Izira again. "Sorry. He's the grumpy type."
"Truly? I would have never thought that with his sunny disposition." She glanced to the message, "Shall we deliver the message then? I would not want to further the general's sour mood."
"Yeah, let's get it out of the way." Gren glanced down at the scroll in his hand. "It's over here. He has his own barracks where he keeps all the magical items we find on our missions." He ushered Izira back across to the eastern side of the main building. There was a little red shack with a trail of smoke coming from a chimney. There were various piles of books, boxes, and junk cluttered by the door. Gren grimaced at the mess, but knocked on the door. "Malcolm! Malcolm, it's Gren!" No answer. "Malcolm! Wake up, I have a message from Westerguard!" No answer still. Gren grunted and opened the door, motioning Izira to follow him. The opened door revealed one big room. Malcolm, the blonde, lanky half-elf, was sitting in a chair by a desk, leaned all the way back, snoring, with his arms folded across his chest. The desk had a messy stack of papers all over it, and there was a rumpled, unmade bed in the corner. Staves, potions, and magical books were piled to the roof, in no discernible order. Gren glanced to Izira, then to Malcolm, and he cleared his throat loudly.
Malcolm started, and almost fell backwards in his chair. "Whu . . . ?" He looked bleary-eyed at Gren. "Gren. Dude. What the hell, man. You know." Malcolm rubbed his eyes and coughed weakly.
Quietly Izira followed Gren into Malcolm's quarters. She glanced around more at the mess than the sleeping half-elf. As Malcolm awakened, she offered him a little wave in greeting.
Malcolm peered at Izira through bloodshot eyes. "Oh yeah. You. Yeah. Chick at the buffet. Whoa. Alright." He barely had the energy to lift his hand in the briefest of waves. "Okay. We said Hi. Now I have some important . . . research to do. Okay?"
Gren gave Malcolm a stern look. "I have a message from Westerguard." He handed over the scroll emphatically.
Malcolm slowly took the scroll and looked at it like he'd never seen one before. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever. Alright. Thanks for stopping by. And stuff." He gave Izira another vacant look. "Dug the food. Really."
"I suggest reading the scroll, Malcolm. I would hate for Gren to suffer Westerguard's displeasure should we leave and you fall to sleep without doing so." Her words were gently suggestive, but she allowed the aura of her own magic, the strong, natural magic of fire and ice, to be visible by the other magic user, leaving Gren unaware.
"What the . . . " Malcolm raised up in his chair slightly, recognizing the aura. He peered at Izira as if trying to figure something out, then finally gave up. "Huh. No way. Okay then." Lazily, he unfurled the scroll, his eyelids almost slam shut several times, but he made it through and grunted a bit. "Man, that dude is waaaaay too harsh. He needs to lighten up. Take it easy. Go with the flow. You know." Malcolm looked at Gren and managed a thin line of a smile. "Alright. I read it. Can I go back to . . . my research now?"
Gren gave Malcolm a disapproving look. "Geez, Malcolm."
"Don't lecture me, dude."
The magic slipped away. Izira took in the collection as the man attempted to read. Once he was finished, Izira slipped her hand into Gren's, stepping toward the door. "We have done as asked. Malcolm's collection is interesting, but I would like to see something more. Nice to see you again, Malcolm. Enjoy your... research."
"Yeah. Have a good one”, Malcolm replied.
Gren glared at Malcolm a little more, but followed Izira as she tugged him out the door. A little thump can be heard, as the scroll fell out of Malcolm's hand, and he went back to sleeping before the door even shuts behind them. "Geez, I can't believe he can sleep all day like that. Westerguard's going to have a fit if he catches him. Alright, let me see . . . " Just as Gren had stopped and was looking up the road to decide where to go next, two people came walking up the road towards the main building. One was a handsome blonde man with a dimpled chin, wearing a maroon shirt and brown pants. The other was an attractive half-elf woman, with auburn hair that fell in curls around her shoulders. She was wearing a tight leather vest, and had a bow slung over one shoulder. The pair were arguing with each other.
"I told you a million times, I never touched that woman. She was just some broad I bumped into at the Tavern that night”, the blonde man argued.
"That's not what Haddon said", the woman replied angrily.
"Haddon talks a lot of $#!&, and you know it."
They both see Gren standing there with Izira, and identical looks of shock crossed their faces. The man's expression melted away into a look of contempt, while the woman continued to look apprehensive. Gren swallowed hard, glanced at Izira, and then led her over to the couple, who were standing just a few feet away. "Izira, this is Rhett Taylor, and Janna Silverstar." Gren pointed to the man and the woman. "This is Izira Nyte, Keeper of Forgotten Layers Inn."
Rhett crossed his arms and glared at Gren. Janna gulped a bit, then extended her hand, managing a smile for Izira. "It's nice to finally meet you. Gren talks about you all the time."
Izira can easily tell who the two are, giving all Gren had told her. She watched the couple curiously in their argument. A kind smile was offered as Gren introduced them. "It is nice to put some faces to your names as well." Izira took Janna's offered hand, giving a delicate but firm grip. "It was a pity the two of you could not join us for the dinner held at the inn." Amber-brown eyes glanced between the couple, but keep mainly on Janna.
Janna smiled kindly at Izira, her mouth moved as if to make an excuse, then she failed. "Perhaps another time." Rhett stopped glaring at Gren long enough to give Izira a suggestive up and down leer, taking his time. "Well, 'Dreamboat', I see you've done well for yourself."
"Rhett, please . . . " Janna gave him a pleading look. Rhett shot a glare back at Janna, before extending his hand to Izira. "It certainly is a pleasure to meet *you*."
The hesitation to take the offered hand is hardly long enough to be noticed by anyone before she accepted his extended one in her own. Izira smiled warmly to Rhett, but it does not truly reach her eyes.
Rhett let his hand linger in Izira's a few moments longer than he should, slowly letting his fingers slide from her grasp as if reluctant to do so.
Gren gave Rhett a hard glare. "I was just showing her around. I think we should be going now." Gren took Izira's hand in his for emphasis. "Nice to see you. Rhett." His tone said otherwise. It softened a bit into a more friendlier tone for Janna. "Janna."
"Goodbye, Gren. I'm happy for you." She briefly laid her hand on Gren's shoulder. Rhett's face boiled with rage, he grabbed Janna's arm and roughly pulled her away and down the street. "Come on."
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
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- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
By all outward appearances, Izira remained quiet and kind. She nodded to the pair as Gren took her hand. She watched the man roughly pull Janna away and frowned. Once they are at a distance, "I do not know what good you can see that man to want to call him friend." Her amber-browns moved back to Gren.
Janna glanced back at Gren and Izira with an apologetic look, then went back to bickering with Rhett as they moved up the street and away.
Gren looked back, his anger turning to sympathy and weariness. "I know. I'm sorry, Izira. He used to be . . . different. I guess I just wish things could go back to the way they were. We were the two best recruits the Rangers had at one point. Watched each other's back and saved each other's lives a few times. Things just went horribly wrong. Maybe I blamed myself too much for that." He glanced briefly back at Rhett and Janna, then back at Izira. "He cheats on her. A lot. I think he only stays with her to spite me. And I think she stays with him because she feels guilty."
"I dare say he might quickly learn that his continuing on with Janna holds little sway with you..." The words started as a statement, turned more to a question as she looked to Gren's eyes and wondered. She did well to repress a shudder in thinking about Janna with Rhett. In truth, the man turned her stomach as few had before.
'It doesn't. I got over Janna a long time ago." He glanced back at her, his ice blue eyes looked deep into hers, to show her the truth in his heart. "I moved on. Truly. Rhett doesn't understand that. It's like a competition to him. She's like . . . his trophy. One more way to show he's better than me."
"He is not." Her hand touched lightly to Gren's cheek with those words, she drew him into a kiss, one that lingered without care of who might see them.
He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers, he wrapped his free arm around her waist, holding her for a long pause, both to show his love for her, and almost as an apology for what just transpired.
The kiss continued a while before Izira slowly drew her lips away. Her eyes opened to look to his, "There is more you wish to show me?" She paused, then she added, "Of the Headquarters?"
He opened his eyes slowly, as if waking from a pleasant dream. He opened his mouth slightly when she says the words "show me", then it morphed into a little grin when she said "Headquarters". "There's a lot I'd like to show you, but not of the Headquarters." He kept her in his embrace for a moment. "We can go back, if you want. Maybe you've had enough for today."
Izira voice was lost to her for a moment. She smiled and slipped from Gren's embrace, but kept his hand in her own. "We are here. You might as well give me the full tour."
His hand tightened around hers, as if he didn't want to let her go. He nodded, and looked around again. "We can see if Haddon and Moriana are here. Their barracks are right around the corner."
"Some... friendlier faces." She nodded and let Gren take the lead.
"Yeah." He showed her down the path, and around a bend to one of the low, rectangular cabins. Loud, brash laughter can be heard through the windows, as Gren lifted his hand to knock at the door. "Come on in! It's open!" Gren opened the door and ushered Izira inside.
(Nov 5 tbc . . . )
Janna glanced back at Gren and Izira with an apologetic look, then went back to bickering with Rhett as they moved up the street and away.
Gren looked back, his anger turning to sympathy and weariness. "I know. I'm sorry, Izira. He used to be . . . different. I guess I just wish things could go back to the way they were. We were the two best recruits the Rangers had at one point. Watched each other's back and saved each other's lives a few times. Things just went horribly wrong. Maybe I blamed myself too much for that." He glanced briefly back at Rhett and Janna, then back at Izira. "He cheats on her. A lot. I think he only stays with her to spite me. And I think she stays with him because she feels guilty."
"I dare say he might quickly learn that his continuing on with Janna holds little sway with you..." The words started as a statement, turned more to a question as she looked to Gren's eyes and wondered. She did well to repress a shudder in thinking about Janna with Rhett. In truth, the man turned her stomach as few had before.
'It doesn't. I got over Janna a long time ago." He glanced back at her, his ice blue eyes looked deep into hers, to show her the truth in his heart. "I moved on. Truly. Rhett doesn't understand that. It's like a competition to him. She's like . . . his trophy. One more way to show he's better than me."
"He is not." Her hand touched lightly to Gren's cheek with those words, she drew him into a kiss, one that lingered without care of who might see them.
He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers, he wrapped his free arm around her waist, holding her for a long pause, both to show his love for her, and almost as an apology for what just transpired.
The kiss continued a while before Izira slowly drew her lips away. Her eyes opened to look to his, "There is more you wish to show me?" She paused, then she added, "Of the Headquarters?"
He opened his eyes slowly, as if waking from a pleasant dream. He opened his mouth slightly when she says the words "show me", then it morphed into a little grin when she said "Headquarters". "There's a lot I'd like to show you, but not of the Headquarters." He kept her in his embrace for a moment. "We can go back, if you want. Maybe you've had enough for today."
Izira voice was lost to her for a moment. She smiled and slipped from Gren's embrace, but kept his hand in her own. "We are here. You might as well give me the full tour."
His hand tightened around hers, as if he didn't want to let her go. He nodded, and looked around again. "We can see if Haddon and Moriana are here. Their barracks are right around the corner."
"Some... friendlier faces." She nodded and let Gren take the lead.
"Yeah." He showed her down the path, and around a bend to one of the low, rectangular cabins. Loud, brash laughter can be heard through the windows, as Gren lifted his hand to knock at the door. "Come on in! It's open!" Gren opened the door and ushered Izira inside.
(Nov 5 tbc . . . )
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
Haddon was sitting in a chair at a table, a massive mug of ale in one hand. He was smiling and talking to Moriana, who was sipping a mug of coffee, and giving him a sideways glare. "So . . . AW HAW HAW . . . so Ferguson says to the guy . . . "I bet under all that horse$#!& you call a brain, you thought you had a pony, now didn't ya?" HAW HAW HAW!" Haddon was laughing so hard the ale came flying out of his mug. Moriana continued her glare of annoyance. Haddon saw Gren and Izira and grinned broadly. "My buddy Gren! And the Little Missy! Well well well! Come on over and have a seat!"
"Telling tales again, why am I not surprised?" Izira smiled and moved to the table, taking a seat as offered. She smiled and dipped her head in greeting to Moriana. "Do they pay you extra for having to listen to him?"
Gren chuckled and sat next to Izira. Moriana gave Izira a sour look, pointed at Haddon, made a fist, and punched her left hand with it suggestively. Haddon delivered another brash laugh. "Oh, don't listen to Moriana, she's just grouchy today. So what brings you two out here? Did Gren wise up and take my advice? Haw! You can thank me later, big guy." Haddon gave Gren a little poke in the ribs.
There is a knowing smile for Moriana. Izira glossed over Haddon's comment on Gren taking his advice. "Gren is giving me a tour."
"Ooooh, a tour. Heh heh. He'll have to bring you around to the "Kissing Tree". That's where me and Moriana had our first little date with destiny." Haddon made an exaggerated kissy face and leaned towards Moriana purposefully. Moriana planted her hand on his mouth and shoved him back roughly, almost causing him to fall backwards in his chair. "AW HAW HAW! It was just a joke! Come on, Moriana, be nice in front of our guests!" Moriana glared warningly, turned to Izira, made a slight kissy face, then shook her head in the negative emphatically, as if to say they never kissed.
Izira nodded her understanding to Moriana, then curiously added, "Anyone?" Moriana didn't exactly strike her as the affectionate type, but that did not put it beyond the realm of possibility. She glanced to the men, "Gren had not mentioned a kissing tree."
Moriana gave Izira a secret smile, lifted a solitary ivory eyebrow, then picked up her mug and began to sip her coffee again. Haddon gave Gren a big slap on the shoulder. "Gren, my boy, I just gave you a one way ticket to a make out session. You oughta thank me!"
Gren looked slightly uncomfortable. "That story is just an old wives tale. You guys just keep telling it to put the moves on poor, unsuspecting girls."
"AW HAW! That's the way the game is played, Gren! You gotta use every weapon in the arsenal in the battlefield of love! HAW!"
Gren sighed and looked heavenward, then glanced back at Izira. "There's a weeping willow over by the north wall.’Some' people say . . . “, he looks pointedly at Haddon, " . . . that an elf girl and a human boy fell in love, but they couldn't see each other because their towns had gone to war. The boy sent a message to the girl to meet him at midnight under that weeping willow, to prove she truly loved him. She escaped her town and made it to the appointment, and kissed him under the tree. It is said that their ghosts haunt the tree, and whoever kisses under it will find true love."
"Ain't that just romantic? HAW!" Haddon adds for emphasis.
Izira grinned at Moriana's smooth manner and secrecy. She listened to the tale of the kissing tree. "You do not think the story is true?" There was mild surprise in her voice, as Gren was much the romantic and that sounded like a rather romantic tale. She glanced to Haddon. Of course, it could be how some people had used the story that soured Gren on it. "I think it is a romantic story."
Gren looked back at Izira. "Oh, it's a very romantic story. I just wish I could believe it. Knowing where it came from." He gave Haddon another pointed look.
"Do you think I'd lie about something like that, Gren? I'm hurt. Really. You shouldn't be so cynical. It's not your style!"
"Yeah, well, maybe we'll take a look at the Tree, later."
"That's my boy! Show some initiative!" He punctuated his reply with another shoulder slap for Gren. Then Haddon turned on Moriana. "Mori! You hurt me too! I thought you were saving yourself for *me*? You know I like the strong, silent type!" Moriana slowly turned her head to give Haddon a flat look of non-amusement. "I'm gonna get you under that tree. Then you won't be able to resist. It's fate, baby, you know it." Moriana mimicked Gren's heavenward gaze, looked at Izira, made a gun of her index finger, put it to her temple, and dropped the metaphorical hammer that was her thumb.
She chuckled and shook her head, looking to Haddon, "I do not think you would be able to walk long enough to get her close to this tree... but I am sure there will be other lasses for you."
"Oh, there *have* been, Little Missy, there *have* been. HAW! Doesn't seem that true love thing has worked out yet, though, none of 'em stay around long enough! That's alright, I think I know where my true love lies." Haddon gave a sideways look at Moriana, and a comical wink. Moriana aimed the index finger of her fake gun at Haddon's head now. Haddon raised his hands defensively. Gren chuckled at the two.
Izira chuckled as well, looking to Gren with amusement. The company of Haddon and Moriana was making up for the brush with Rhett.
"Telling tales again, why am I not surprised?" Izira smiled and moved to the table, taking a seat as offered. She smiled and dipped her head in greeting to Moriana. "Do they pay you extra for having to listen to him?"
Gren chuckled and sat next to Izira. Moriana gave Izira a sour look, pointed at Haddon, made a fist, and punched her left hand with it suggestively. Haddon delivered another brash laugh. "Oh, don't listen to Moriana, she's just grouchy today. So what brings you two out here? Did Gren wise up and take my advice? Haw! You can thank me later, big guy." Haddon gave Gren a little poke in the ribs.
There is a knowing smile for Moriana. Izira glossed over Haddon's comment on Gren taking his advice. "Gren is giving me a tour."
"Ooooh, a tour. Heh heh. He'll have to bring you around to the "Kissing Tree". That's where me and Moriana had our first little date with destiny." Haddon made an exaggerated kissy face and leaned towards Moriana purposefully. Moriana planted her hand on his mouth and shoved him back roughly, almost causing him to fall backwards in his chair. "AW HAW HAW! It was just a joke! Come on, Moriana, be nice in front of our guests!" Moriana glared warningly, turned to Izira, made a slight kissy face, then shook her head in the negative emphatically, as if to say they never kissed.
Izira nodded her understanding to Moriana, then curiously added, "Anyone?" Moriana didn't exactly strike her as the affectionate type, but that did not put it beyond the realm of possibility. She glanced to the men, "Gren had not mentioned a kissing tree."
Moriana gave Izira a secret smile, lifted a solitary ivory eyebrow, then picked up her mug and began to sip her coffee again. Haddon gave Gren a big slap on the shoulder. "Gren, my boy, I just gave you a one way ticket to a make out session. You oughta thank me!"
Gren looked slightly uncomfortable. "That story is just an old wives tale. You guys just keep telling it to put the moves on poor, unsuspecting girls."
"AW HAW! That's the way the game is played, Gren! You gotta use every weapon in the arsenal in the battlefield of love! HAW!"
Gren sighed and looked heavenward, then glanced back at Izira. "There's a weeping willow over by the north wall.’Some' people say . . . “, he looks pointedly at Haddon, " . . . that an elf girl and a human boy fell in love, but they couldn't see each other because their towns had gone to war. The boy sent a message to the girl to meet him at midnight under that weeping willow, to prove she truly loved him. She escaped her town and made it to the appointment, and kissed him under the tree. It is said that their ghosts haunt the tree, and whoever kisses under it will find true love."
"Ain't that just romantic? HAW!" Haddon adds for emphasis.
Izira grinned at Moriana's smooth manner and secrecy. She listened to the tale of the kissing tree. "You do not think the story is true?" There was mild surprise in her voice, as Gren was much the romantic and that sounded like a rather romantic tale. She glanced to Haddon. Of course, it could be how some people had used the story that soured Gren on it. "I think it is a romantic story."
Gren looked back at Izira. "Oh, it's a very romantic story. I just wish I could believe it. Knowing where it came from." He gave Haddon another pointed look.
"Do you think I'd lie about something like that, Gren? I'm hurt. Really. You shouldn't be so cynical. It's not your style!"
"Yeah, well, maybe we'll take a look at the Tree, later."
"That's my boy! Show some initiative!" He punctuated his reply with another shoulder slap for Gren. Then Haddon turned on Moriana. "Mori! You hurt me too! I thought you were saving yourself for *me*? You know I like the strong, silent type!" Moriana slowly turned her head to give Haddon a flat look of non-amusement. "I'm gonna get you under that tree. Then you won't be able to resist. It's fate, baby, you know it." Moriana mimicked Gren's heavenward gaze, looked at Izira, made a gun of her index finger, put it to her temple, and dropped the metaphorical hammer that was her thumb.
She chuckled and shook her head, looking to Haddon, "I do not think you would be able to walk long enough to get her close to this tree... but I am sure there will be other lasses for you."
"Oh, there *have* been, Little Missy, there *have* been. HAW! Doesn't seem that true love thing has worked out yet, though, none of 'em stay around long enough! That's alright, I think I know where my true love lies." Haddon gave a sideways look at Moriana, and a comical wink. Moriana aimed the index finger of her fake gun at Haddon's head now. Haddon raised his hands defensively. Gren chuckled at the two.
Izira chuckled as well, looking to Gren with amusement. The company of Haddon and Moriana was making up for the brush with Rhett.
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
Gren glanced back at Izira, his ice blue eyes dancing with merriment. "You two do make a cute couple", he said.
"Oh, HO! Listen to Mister Matchmaker here. Gren finally gets himself a girlfriend and suddenly he’s an expert”, Haddon teased.
"I just call it like I see it. I think Moriana is capable of keeping you in line."
Moriana nodded emphatically at Gren, then realized what she'd done and frantically shook her head no at the idea of being a couple with Haddon, glaring down Gren with a scowl.
Haddon laughed. "AW HAW HAW! You pulled a fast one on her! There's hope for you yet, Gren, my boy!"
"My bet would be it will take a lot to keep him in line. A stick?" She glanced over to Haddon, "Perhaps the whole tree."
"I am a handful, Little Missy. It would take a lot to hold *me* down. You never know. The right woman could come along and BOOM, I'd be the world's biggest Teddy Bear. Haw. Cupid's Arrow could shoot me right in the @$$. Bet that would make Moriana jealous, now wouldn't it?" Haddon gave Moriana a nod and a wink. Moriana wiped her brow as if to say it would be a relief.
"It will be the smallest slip of a girl that does it, I wager." There was amusement in her smile. "Time will tell."
Moriana tapped her wrist as if she was wearing a watch, then shrugged as if to say "When?".
"All good things come to those who wait, Missy. Don't you worry about me. What *I* want to know is how are *you* two coming along? It's been a whole week! Come on, Gren, please tell me you made some progress here!"
Gren turned slightly red. "Izira's been busy! We haven't got to see each other until today!"
"WHAAAT? You've gotta be kidding me! She can't be *that* busy! I'd be campin' out at her doorstep until she agreed to see me! Get it in gear, Gren! You're gonna miss out on the finer things in life if you keep this up!"
"Gren is not misleading you, Haddon. I had an urgent matter to attend to that took me to another realm. I just returned home today." She glanced there toward Gren and smiled. "I do not think Gren is at risk to miss anything."
"Well, that's a relief. Sometimes with Gren you gotta put the proverbial cattle prod in his @$$ to get any action from him!"
Gren objected, "Hey, Haddon, take it easy!"
"It's just a figure of speech, Gren my boy! Besides, you just got some verification on where you stand, didn't you? Heh heh."
Gren looked at Haddon a bit mortified. "I trust Izira. Everything is moving along just fine, thank you."
Haddon prodded him more. "I'm just giving you a friendly shove, Gren! Sometimes you just need a little kick to get things started."
"A kick would be far too subtle from you, Haddon." Her smile was good natured, matching her words. She placed a hand to Gren's shoulder as she looked to Moriana. "I fear we will have to leave you in his company again, but I will make it up to you on your next visit to the inn with another bag of coffee."
Moriana looked exasperatedly at Haddon, then gave Izira a gentle nod in appreciation.
"Aw, leavin' so soon? Nice to see you again Little Missy! Gren! You take my advice and swing by that Tree now, you hear? Heh heh heh." Haddon gave Gren a pointed leer.
Gren gulped and looked heavenward, before standing from his chair. "Uhhh . . . Yeah, we'd better be going. It was nice to see you two again." He took Izira's hand, ready to lead her to the door.
"There is much left to be seen." Smiling at Haddon, she dipped a nod to both. Izira lifted from her seat and moved to the door with Gren, stepping outside.
Haddon gave a friendly wave, as they walk out the door, and back up the path. "Woo . . . once Haddon gets going, it’s hard to stop him. He's nice enough though, when he wants to be." Gren glanced up the street, trying to decide where to go next.
"I do not think I can recall him being intentionally cruel." She had an example of that, but it need not be said. Amber-browns looked to Gren and around, "What will you show me next?"
"Well, I think the cafeteria is closed this time of night. And the war room would be off limits unless there was an important meeting going on. I could show you Yolene's House of Healing. It's right up the road here. Everything else is pretty much just barracks."
"You do not want to show me the tree?" She tilted her head to him, smiling with amusement.
"If you really wanted me to. I mean, I wouldn't want you to think I was being too forward." He glanced off to the side, trying to hide a grin.
"Show me the tree. It sounds more interesting than Yolene's House of Healing."
"Oh, HO! Listen to Mister Matchmaker here. Gren finally gets himself a girlfriend and suddenly he’s an expert”, Haddon teased.
"I just call it like I see it. I think Moriana is capable of keeping you in line."
Moriana nodded emphatically at Gren, then realized what she'd done and frantically shook her head no at the idea of being a couple with Haddon, glaring down Gren with a scowl.
Haddon laughed. "AW HAW HAW! You pulled a fast one on her! There's hope for you yet, Gren, my boy!"
"My bet would be it will take a lot to keep him in line. A stick?" She glanced over to Haddon, "Perhaps the whole tree."
"I am a handful, Little Missy. It would take a lot to hold *me* down. You never know. The right woman could come along and BOOM, I'd be the world's biggest Teddy Bear. Haw. Cupid's Arrow could shoot me right in the @$$. Bet that would make Moriana jealous, now wouldn't it?" Haddon gave Moriana a nod and a wink. Moriana wiped her brow as if to say it would be a relief.
"It will be the smallest slip of a girl that does it, I wager." There was amusement in her smile. "Time will tell."
Moriana tapped her wrist as if she was wearing a watch, then shrugged as if to say "When?".
"All good things come to those who wait, Missy. Don't you worry about me. What *I* want to know is how are *you* two coming along? It's been a whole week! Come on, Gren, please tell me you made some progress here!"
Gren turned slightly red. "Izira's been busy! We haven't got to see each other until today!"
"WHAAAT? You've gotta be kidding me! She can't be *that* busy! I'd be campin' out at her doorstep until she agreed to see me! Get it in gear, Gren! You're gonna miss out on the finer things in life if you keep this up!"
"Gren is not misleading you, Haddon. I had an urgent matter to attend to that took me to another realm. I just returned home today." She glanced there toward Gren and smiled. "I do not think Gren is at risk to miss anything."
"Well, that's a relief. Sometimes with Gren you gotta put the proverbial cattle prod in his @$$ to get any action from him!"
Gren objected, "Hey, Haddon, take it easy!"
"It's just a figure of speech, Gren my boy! Besides, you just got some verification on where you stand, didn't you? Heh heh."
Gren looked at Haddon a bit mortified. "I trust Izira. Everything is moving along just fine, thank you."
Haddon prodded him more. "I'm just giving you a friendly shove, Gren! Sometimes you just need a little kick to get things started."
"A kick would be far too subtle from you, Haddon." Her smile was good natured, matching her words. She placed a hand to Gren's shoulder as she looked to Moriana. "I fear we will have to leave you in his company again, but I will make it up to you on your next visit to the inn with another bag of coffee."
Moriana looked exasperatedly at Haddon, then gave Izira a gentle nod in appreciation.
"Aw, leavin' so soon? Nice to see you again Little Missy! Gren! You take my advice and swing by that Tree now, you hear? Heh heh heh." Haddon gave Gren a pointed leer.
Gren gulped and looked heavenward, before standing from his chair. "Uhhh . . . Yeah, we'd better be going. It was nice to see you two again." He took Izira's hand, ready to lead her to the door.
"There is much left to be seen." Smiling at Haddon, she dipped a nod to both. Izira lifted from her seat and moved to the door with Gren, stepping outside.
Haddon gave a friendly wave, as they walk out the door, and back up the path. "Woo . . . once Haddon gets going, it’s hard to stop him. He's nice enough though, when he wants to be." Gren glanced up the street, trying to decide where to go next.
"I do not think I can recall him being intentionally cruel." She had an example of that, but it need not be said. Amber-browns looked to Gren and around, "What will you show me next?"
"Well, I think the cafeteria is closed this time of night. And the war room would be off limits unless there was an important meeting going on. I could show you Yolene's House of Healing. It's right up the road here. Everything else is pretty much just barracks."
"You do not want to show me the tree?" She tilted her head to him, smiling with amusement.
"If you really wanted me to. I mean, I wouldn't want you to think I was being too forward." He glanced off to the side, trying to hide a grin.
"Show me the tree. It sounds more interesting than Yolene's House of Healing."
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
"Well, who am I to say no to that? Alright then." He guided her down another dirt path, past several more log barracks, until they get to an open area near the northern wall. A large, weeping willow stood in a little garden of wildflowers. No one seems to be around. He escorted her up to the tree and let go of her hand, but just so he can slip his arm around her waist again. "There you are. The Kissing Tree. I would think people would be more worried about the ghosts, if they believed that story."
"It is... very tree-like." She looked over the willow with a smile before looking back to Gren. "Are you worried about ghosts?"
"Me? Not really. I just meant if people really believed that story, would they want to kiss here if they thought the ghosts were floating around? I *would* be scared. If I believed that story.' He put his other arm around her waist and pulled her close again. "I might need someone to hold me close until I didn't feel scared anymore." He glanced upwards and tried to feign innocence.
"Haddon looks to have strong arms, should I go fetch him for you?" She looked up, the tease alive in her smile.
"I would . . . but Moriana might get jealous. You wouldn't want her to give me a black eye, would you?"
"I hear black eyes can add a lot of character."
"I can think of other ways to build character. Ways a lot less painful. Like . . . well, we could give that whole "True Love by the Kissing Tree" theory a test, couldn't we?"
"We could. If only you would stop talking and start kissing me."
"Uhh . . . okay." He leaned forward suddenly and does just that, pressing his lips against hers. His arm snaked up her back, until he's holding the back of her head in his hand.
She didn't much know about the power of a kissing tree, though the story was romantic as she said. The only power Izira sought was that which lingered in the exchange of the kiss that took her breath away. Her hands rested against his chest, leaving the barest of space between them.
He ran his fingers through her brown hair, and slowly took her bottom lip between his. His nose rubbed against hers as he breathed in her scent, and blocked out everything else but her from his mind.
Izira's fingers moved, torn between pulling Gren closer and reclaiming that space between them. She felt at a loss for air, the smell of him surrounding her almost intoxicating. The kiss went on and her heart raced, her mind wandered again to the thoughts from the woods. Finally she parted from the kiss, her features flushed and breath shaky. Izira licked her lower lip, still feeling the press from his. Looking down and away, she laughed softly and almost nervously.
He took in a deep breath, watching her curiously. "What's so funny?" He let his hands slide down to the small of her back.
"That I keep torturing myself in this way." Her smile was soft and she did not turn her face toward him. "I know what you are waiting to hear from me... and...” She shook her head and looked to him, "I do not want to you think that I do not care for you... nor that I... do not desire you. But... my body is much ahead of my heart at this moment..."
Gren gazed at her with love in his eyes. He lifted a hand to gently cup her cheek in his fingers. "Well, you know, we are in a public place. Maybe we should wait until we have a little more privacy." He tried to joke a bit to ease her discomfort.
Leaning to his hand, "It would matter little to me where we were, only that it was you I was with." It was as much as she could give him for the time. She smiled, moving her hands to bring Gren’s that cupped her cheek to her lips to kiss his palm before stepping back and regaining a little space. "Still... waiting is a good idea." Time and not just for privacy.
He barely heard her words, he felt the softness of her skin in his fingers, the warmth of her body against him, he watched her lips move, more interested in kissing her again than her explanation. "Then we wait. I'm glad to hear that though. That it's me you want to be with." He sighed a bit, then nodded. "Are you ready to go back?"
"I am." She stepped back and took his hand again.
"Alright." He took her hand and led her down through the rows of barracks, and out the front gate, back into the forest. This time there is no one to interrupt them as they make their way along the path to his treehouse.
As they arrived back at the treehouse Izira is left to make the next decision, looking up at Gren's home and unsure if she should stay or not. Likely her look betrayed that inner thought.
Gren stood with her, the unspoken question hung in the air between them. He squeezed her hand gently, then slowly turned his head to look at her. "You could stay here tonight. I want you to stay. I'll sleep on the floor. I promise I won't do anything you don't want."
"And if I did want it against my own better judgment?" She smiled, shaking her head and placing a slender finger to his lips to halt any retort. "We could get the pie to take back to the inn. You would have a bed there." A whole room to himself.
He was going to retort, but the finger stopped him. Any kind of touch would have, really. "We could do that. I want to be close to you tonight. Even if being under the same roof is as close as I can get." He gently led her to the door and fished the key out of his pocket, opening it.
She smiled, following inside the house, giving a light touch to his arm in passing. "I will get the pie ready and you can pack anything you might need. Remember, you have the day off tomorrow."
"It is... very tree-like." She looked over the willow with a smile before looking back to Gren. "Are you worried about ghosts?"
"Me? Not really. I just meant if people really believed that story, would they want to kiss here if they thought the ghosts were floating around? I *would* be scared. If I believed that story.' He put his other arm around her waist and pulled her close again. "I might need someone to hold me close until I didn't feel scared anymore." He glanced upwards and tried to feign innocence.
"Haddon looks to have strong arms, should I go fetch him for you?" She looked up, the tease alive in her smile.
"I would . . . but Moriana might get jealous. You wouldn't want her to give me a black eye, would you?"
"I hear black eyes can add a lot of character."
"I can think of other ways to build character. Ways a lot less painful. Like . . . well, we could give that whole "True Love by the Kissing Tree" theory a test, couldn't we?"
"We could. If only you would stop talking and start kissing me."
"Uhh . . . okay." He leaned forward suddenly and does just that, pressing his lips against hers. His arm snaked up her back, until he's holding the back of her head in his hand.
She didn't much know about the power of a kissing tree, though the story was romantic as she said. The only power Izira sought was that which lingered in the exchange of the kiss that took her breath away. Her hands rested against his chest, leaving the barest of space between them.
He ran his fingers through her brown hair, and slowly took her bottom lip between his. His nose rubbed against hers as he breathed in her scent, and blocked out everything else but her from his mind.
Izira's fingers moved, torn between pulling Gren closer and reclaiming that space between them. She felt at a loss for air, the smell of him surrounding her almost intoxicating. The kiss went on and her heart raced, her mind wandered again to the thoughts from the woods. Finally she parted from the kiss, her features flushed and breath shaky. Izira licked her lower lip, still feeling the press from his. Looking down and away, she laughed softly and almost nervously.
He took in a deep breath, watching her curiously. "What's so funny?" He let his hands slide down to the small of her back.
"That I keep torturing myself in this way." Her smile was soft and she did not turn her face toward him. "I know what you are waiting to hear from me... and...” She shook her head and looked to him, "I do not want to you think that I do not care for you... nor that I... do not desire you. But... my body is much ahead of my heart at this moment..."
Gren gazed at her with love in his eyes. He lifted a hand to gently cup her cheek in his fingers. "Well, you know, we are in a public place. Maybe we should wait until we have a little more privacy." He tried to joke a bit to ease her discomfort.
Leaning to his hand, "It would matter little to me where we were, only that it was you I was with." It was as much as she could give him for the time. She smiled, moving her hands to bring Gren’s that cupped her cheek to her lips to kiss his palm before stepping back and regaining a little space. "Still... waiting is a good idea." Time and not just for privacy.
He barely heard her words, he felt the softness of her skin in his fingers, the warmth of her body against him, he watched her lips move, more interested in kissing her again than her explanation. "Then we wait. I'm glad to hear that though. That it's me you want to be with." He sighed a bit, then nodded. "Are you ready to go back?"
"I am." She stepped back and took his hand again.
"Alright." He took her hand and led her down through the rows of barracks, and out the front gate, back into the forest. This time there is no one to interrupt them as they make their way along the path to his treehouse.
As they arrived back at the treehouse Izira is left to make the next decision, looking up at Gren's home and unsure if she should stay or not. Likely her look betrayed that inner thought.
Gren stood with her, the unspoken question hung in the air between them. He squeezed her hand gently, then slowly turned his head to look at her. "You could stay here tonight. I want you to stay. I'll sleep on the floor. I promise I won't do anything you don't want."
"And if I did want it against my own better judgment?" She smiled, shaking her head and placing a slender finger to his lips to halt any retort. "We could get the pie to take back to the inn. You would have a bed there." A whole room to himself.
He was going to retort, but the finger stopped him. Any kind of touch would have, really. "We could do that. I want to be close to you tonight. Even if being under the same roof is as close as I can get." He gently led her to the door and fished the key out of his pocket, opening it.
She smiled, following inside the house, giving a light touch to his arm in passing. "I will get the pie ready and you can pack anything you might need. Remember, you have the day off tomorrow."
Last edited by Gren Blockman on Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
"I do, don't I? Thanks to your quick thinking." He gave her a little wink as he continued to move up the steps, past the kitchen, while she got the pie. He grabbed a backpack from under his bed, and threw an extra pair of clothes inside. Then he went to the bathroom and got his toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb. That should be enough. Slinging the pack over his shoulder, he went back to the kitchen and peeked in to see if she's got the pie. "All packed and ready to go."
"That makes two of us." Picking up the basket, she moved to the doorway of the kitchen. A quick kiss before she makes her way down the stairs.
His hand found her waist again, as they move down the steps and towards the front door, which he closed and locked behind them. "I can't believe I haven't been to the Inn in a week."
"It has not changed." She smiled to Gren as they started on the way back to the inn. She thought about the visit to the Guild Headquarters. The exchange with Rhett still turned her stomach. Izira's amber-brown eyes looked to Gren, wondering about him trying to see the best in people. She wondered if Rhett had ever been the friend Gren thinks he was. "What would you like to do tomorrow?"
"As long as you're there, it doesn't matter to me." He smiled, absently staring into the woods as they walk, then realized that may not have been the specific answer she was looking for. "I . . . uh . . . just meant I didn't have anything planned. I didn't expect to get the day off. We could do whatever you'd like."
"We will play it by ear." A pause and she thought, "What would you do on a day off before you met me?"
"I would take long walks in the forest. Not to patrol, just to look around, feel like I was part of nature . . . part of something. I would try to remember my past. Never did, though. Sometimes I would go to a Tavern. I never drank much ale, but I would get a Root Beer or something, and just watch people. Listen to them talk about their day, listen to their complaints. I guess I could have made more friends than I did, but I always felt like I was apart from everyone. Like no matter how friendly I was, when I walked out the door, I didn't exist anymore."
His words quieted her for a moment. "Is... the place that they found you very far?"
"No, it's not far from here. It's a little magical academy to the south, closer to the City. That's the reason they brought me to Perrigan, because his Guild was the closest to them."
"You could take me there... to walk... if you wanted."
Gren quieted for a long moment. It wasn't that her request offended him, as much as he hadn't been there in quite a while. "Uhh . . yeah. Sure, we could go. I haven't seen Arillon and Shann in years. We could say Hi, see if they found out anything." He didn't sound too hopeful with that last sentence.
"If it has been a while, perhaps they have." Hopeful, but she understood the tone in his voice.
"Maybe they did." He squeezed her to him until they touch shoulders. "I always wondered . . . my memory. Was it a physical thing, or an emotional? I mean, did I lose a part of my brain? Or do I . . . just not want to remember?"
"It is a lot of time to lose...." Not mentioning the way in which he appeared, covered in blood. Izira had to wonder about it herself, though there were times in her own past. "There are days I cannot remember from my madness..." A comforting hand offered along with the smile. "I can understand some of the feeling of not knowing."
"I don't know if it’s the time that bothers me . . . as much as it is losing who I am. Who was I? What made me what I am?" He trails off after the rhetorical question. He gave Izira an understanding smile back, remembering what she told him of her own memory loss.
A pause in the walk to kiss him, but she made sure not to linger. "I know you have a key for a room, but would you enjoy a larger room? The suites have a private fireplace."
"Normally, I'd say my little room is just fine, but I'd like to have a fireplace. That would be nice."
"It is why I made the offer."
"Then by all means, I accept. I don't think I've ever stayed in a room that had its own fireplace. I feel like I'm moving up in the world." He gave her a little, playful grin.
She softly chuckled, smiling secretly. She would have to wait to see his reaction at the suite. "How is it that Malcolm remains employed?"
He gave a joyless chuckle. "Because he's the only one that knows Black Magic. Yolene, and a few of the elves can do White Magic. But no one belonging to the guild knows it but Malcolm. His father was a Black Mage, and used to do the job Malcolm does. He died of cancer several years ago, and the task fell to Malcolm. He doesn't care about magic, but he doesn't care about much of anything, anyway. So Malcolm is stuck with us, and we're stuck with him."
"I would think Noira could be a better fit, given the right price. At the least, she is awake whenever I happen to see her."
"Oh, I'm sure she would do a good job. But she belongs to the Legion, doesn't she? I doubt she'd want to give that up to be a Ranger."
"The rangers cannot... hire out?"
"Well, they don't really like to. They want to keep everything "in the family", so to speak. It helps with security. There are a lot of magical items and weapons we come across, and they want to be sure someone that is a part of our Guild is the one handling everything. I know I trusted Noira with the staff, but I'm not the one who makes those decisions."
"Malcolm would have to be awake to be able to cause any trouble." Which would leave any magical items safe in his hands. She smiled at the little joke.
He laughed. "That's true. Although he causes enough trouble by sleeping all the time. When Westerguard catches him, he hollers at him and makes him run laps around the compound, or do push-ups until his arms go numb. "I'm gonna give you a reason to sleep, you little twerp!" " Gren pitched his voice an octave lower, making it a bit gravelly, to mimic Westerguard's angry tone.
"That could be amusing to watch, so long as I am not the source of Westerguard's ire."
"Heh. I don't think he was mad at us, yesterday. He's all upset over this orc/goblin alliance rumor. He's afraid we don't have the manpower or the leadership skills necessary to protect the forest like we did. You've seen some of the members of the Guild. Grace? Malcolm? Crawford? They might have good hearts, but they don't instill much confidence in Westerguard."
"... and Rhett?"
"That makes two of us." Picking up the basket, she moved to the doorway of the kitchen. A quick kiss before she makes her way down the stairs.
His hand found her waist again, as they move down the steps and towards the front door, which he closed and locked behind them. "I can't believe I haven't been to the Inn in a week."
"It has not changed." She smiled to Gren as they started on the way back to the inn. She thought about the visit to the Guild Headquarters. The exchange with Rhett still turned her stomach. Izira's amber-brown eyes looked to Gren, wondering about him trying to see the best in people. She wondered if Rhett had ever been the friend Gren thinks he was. "What would you like to do tomorrow?"
"As long as you're there, it doesn't matter to me." He smiled, absently staring into the woods as they walk, then realized that may not have been the specific answer she was looking for. "I . . . uh . . . just meant I didn't have anything planned. I didn't expect to get the day off. We could do whatever you'd like."
"We will play it by ear." A pause and she thought, "What would you do on a day off before you met me?"
"I would take long walks in the forest. Not to patrol, just to look around, feel like I was part of nature . . . part of something. I would try to remember my past. Never did, though. Sometimes I would go to a Tavern. I never drank much ale, but I would get a Root Beer or something, and just watch people. Listen to them talk about their day, listen to their complaints. I guess I could have made more friends than I did, but I always felt like I was apart from everyone. Like no matter how friendly I was, when I walked out the door, I didn't exist anymore."
His words quieted her for a moment. "Is... the place that they found you very far?"
"No, it's not far from here. It's a little magical academy to the south, closer to the City. That's the reason they brought me to Perrigan, because his Guild was the closest to them."
"You could take me there... to walk... if you wanted."
Gren quieted for a long moment. It wasn't that her request offended him, as much as he hadn't been there in quite a while. "Uhh . . yeah. Sure, we could go. I haven't seen Arillon and Shann in years. We could say Hi, see if they found out anything." He didn't sound too hopeful with that last sentence.
"If it has been a while, perhaps they have." Hopeful, but she understood the tone in his voice.
"Maybe they did." He squeezed her to him until they touch shoulders. "I always wondered . . . my memory. Was it a physical thing, or an emotional? I mean, did I lose a part of my brain? Or do I . . . just not want to remember?"
"It is a lot of time to lose...." Not mentioning the way in which he appeared, covered in blood. Izira had to wonder about it herself, though there were times in her own past. "There are days I cannot remember from my madness..." A comforting hand offered along with the smile. "I can understand some of the feeling of not knowing."
"I don't know if it’s the time that bothers me . . . as much as it is losing who I am. Who was I? What made me what I am?" He trails off after the rhetorical question. He gave Izira an understanding smile back, remembering what she told him of her own memory loss.
A pause in the walk to kiss him, but she made sure not to linger. "I know you have a key for a room, but would you enjoy a larger room? The suites have a private fireplace."
"Normally, I'd say my little room is just fine, but I'd like to have a fireplace. That would be nice."
"It is why I made the offer."
"Then by all means, I accept. I don't think I've ever stayed in a room that had its own fireplace. I feel like I'm moving up in the world." He gave her a little, playful grin.
She softly chuckled, smiling secretly. She would have to wait to see his reaction at the suite. "How is it that Malcolm remains employed?"
He gave a joyless chuckle. "Because he's the only one that knows Black Magic. Yolene, and a few of the elves can do White Magic. But no one belonging to the guild knows it but Malcolm. His father was a Black Mage, and used to do the job Malcolm does. He died of cancer several years ago, and the task fell to Malcolm. He doesn't care about magic, but he doesn't care about much of anything, anyway. So Malcolm is stuck with us, and we're stuck with him."
"I would think Noira could be a better fit, given the right price. At the least, she is awake whenever I happen to see her."
"Oh, I'm sure she would do a good job. But she belongs to the Legion, doesn't she? I doubt she'd want to give that up to be a Ranger."
"The rangers cannot... hire out?"
"Well, they don't really like to. They want to keep everything "in the family", so to speak. It helps with security. There are a lot of magical items and weapons we come across, and they want to be sure someone that is a part of our Guild is the one handling everything. I know I trusted Noira with the staff, but I'm not the one who makes those decisions."
"Malcolm would have to be awake to be able to cause any trouble." Which would leave any magical items safe in his hands. She smiled at the little joke.
He laughed. "That's true. Although he causes enough trouble by sleeping all the time. When Westerguard catches him, he hollers at him and makes him run laps around the compound, or do push-ups until his arms go numb. "I'm gonna give you a reason to sleep, you little twerp!" " Gren pitched his voice an octave lower, making it a bit gravelly, to mimic Westerguard's angry tone.
"That could be amusing to watch, so long as I am not the source of Westerguard's ire."
"Heh. I don't think he was mad at us, yesterday. He's all upset over this orc/goblin alliance rumor. He's afraid we don't have the manpower or the leadership skills necessary to protect the forest like we did. You've seen some of the members of the Guild. Grace? Malcolm? Crawford? They might have good hearts, but they don't instill much confidence in Westerguard."
"... and Rhett?"
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
He sighed. "As much of a handful as Rhett is, he has the best skills of any of the Rangers. Even Haddon. Most people don't like his attitude, but they follow him because of his natural talents. They put a lot of trust in Rhett. That's why they gave him Recon "A". I guess they're hoping one day he'll get his attitude in check."
"Or it will get the better of him." No weigh-in on which way Izira was likely to bet on it happening. "Dreamboat." The word said far kinder than Rhett's delivery. "It is no wonder you are so popular with the ladies."
He glanced sharply at Izira when she called him 'Dreamboat', then he can't help but smile and roll his eyes heavenward. "Rhett's called me 'Dreamboat' ever since we were new recruits. We both had a crush on Janna, but when Janna picked me over him, he was kind of stunned. He said, "You must be one helluva Dreamboat, Gren." He's called me that ever since, although now it's more mocking, since he took . . . since he's with Janna now." He tried not to show any emotion, although what he does show is discomfort, not heartbreak.
"I do not disagree with that, you being a dreamboat. Janna was foolish to let you go, I cannot see how she could not regret the choice she made now." Recalling how Rhett had pulled the woman away. ".. I know... you have some hope of Rhett turning his attitude around, but should I never see him again it will be too soon."
Gren set his jaw, thinking of Rhett leering at Izira, fondling her hand, and roughly grabbing Janna. "I hope you don't have to see him again, either. I'm afraid he's going to do something to you just to get to me. I don't want to put you in an awkward spot. I'm glad he didn't come to the buffet, especially after what he did. Janna does regret her choice. I wish she would just leave him, but I think she stays with him to try to justify what she did. I don't know what else it could be, really, because it doesn't look like love to me."
"It does not." She agreed softly. Her hand lightly touched her neck as she swallowed.
"Let's not think about them. It's water far gone under the bridge. I'm glad we have what they don't." He turns a bit red. "I mean . . . we don't treat each other like they do. And we're together . . . for different reasons."
"Different reasons entirely." Smiling and leaning against Gren as they walked.
He smiled back, and lifted his arm to cup around her shoulder as she leaned against him. "I saw Rena a few nights ago. She asked how you were doing. I told her you were doing well. I said you liked the candles she gave you. She said she can give you more whenever you want them."
"I should get out to visit her again."
"Hey, you know, Noira tends the Stars End Bar on Thursday nights. Maybe we can swing by. Rena might be there. Or I could ask her to stop by, if I see her between now and then."
"That would be nice... I have never been to Stars End Bar."
"It's kind of . . . uh . . . strange. Futuristic. I've dueled there a few times when they've hosted Fists that night."
"I think I recall you mentioning the place before, you were there to duel... before you came to the inn. People had been picking on you..."
"Aw, geez." He rubbed his eyes with his hand. "Yeah. The night Kal stuck me with a needle and paralyzed me. God, I can't believe I'm teammates with him now."
"That... is the one your other teammate doesn't get along with?" Izira's face likely gave away her confusion toward the type of people Gren is hanging around.
"Yes, Candy. And saying she doesn't get along with him is an understatement. It's almost a year now since their feud started." He thought back to Rakeesh and his Overlord reign. "I think she . . . wants to kill him. That's what it sounded like to me, anyway."
"Did he paralyze her too?" She was trying to understand it all.
"Let me see if I remember correctly. Candy was the Overlord, that is the top fighter, of the Duel of Swords. A liontaur named Rakeesh challenged her for the title. He had upset a great deal of people at the time, because he was Baron of one of the districts of the city, and had proposed legislature that would force magic users to register with the government. This caused an uproar and a lot of people were offended by his actions. Some people got killed in anti-magic riots. Anyhow, part of the challenge process is that the Overlord can demand a Test of Worthiness, meaning the challenger has to face a Champion before they face the Overlord. The challenger can have a Champion step in for him during this Test. Kalamere stepped in for Rakeesh, and defeated Candy's Champion. Then Rakeesh defeated Candy. That's what started everything."
"Sounds like a very sore loser." Izira frowned, "Not that I am much of a fan of this Kalamere, from what you have told me of him."
"Kalamere is kind of the roguish type. He's a known ladies man. Another thing that got Candy upset with him was a version of her from another dimension came here to RhyDin, and they . . . " He cleared his throat. "They were kind of having . . . you know . . . relations. Her already being upset with him, that kind of pushed her over the edge, I think."
"That is..." Izira blinked and could find no words for it. It seemed RhyDin could still find something to surprise someone with. She shook her head. "Relations." A brow quirked at the way Gren said it. "Relations." She repeated the word to him again.
"Or it will get the better of him." No weigh-in on which way Izira was likely to bet on it happening. "Dreamboat." The word said far kinder than Rhett's delivery. "It is no wonder you are so popular with the ladies."
He glanced sharply at Izira when she called him 'Dreamboat', then he can't help but smile and roll his eyes heavenward. "Rhett's called me 'Dreamboat' ever since we were new recruits. We both had a crush on Janna, but when Janna picked me over him, he was kind of stunned. He said, "You must be one helluva Dreamboat, Gren." He's called me that ever since, although now it's more mocking, since he took . . . since he's with Janna now." He tried not to show any emotion, although what he does show is discomfort, not heartbreak.
"I do not disagree with that, you being a dreamboat. Janna was foolish to let you go, I cannot see how she could not regret the choice she made now." Recalling how Rhett had pulled the woman away. ".. I know... you have some hope of Rhett turning his attitude around, but should I never see him again it will be too soon."
Gren set his jaw, thinking of Rhett leering at Izira, fondling her hand, and roughly grabbing Janna. "I hope you don't have to see him again, either. I'm afraid he's going to do something to you just to get to me. I don't want to put you in an awkward spot. I'm glad he didn't come to the buffet, especially after what he did. Janna does regret her choice. I wish she would just leave him, but I think she stays with him to try to justify what she did. I don't know what else it could be, really, because it doesn't look like love to me."
"It does not." She agreed softly. Her hand lightly touched her neck as she swallowed.
"Let's not think about them. It's water far gone under the bridge. I'm glad we have what they don't." He turns a bit red. "I mean . . . we don't treat each other like they do. And we're together . . . for different reasons."
"Different reasons entirely." Smiling and leaning against Gren as they walked.
He smiled back, and lifted his arm to cup around her shoulder as she leaned against him. "I saw Rena a few nights ago. She asked how you were doing. I told her you were doing well. I said you liked the candles she gave you. She said she can give you more whenever you want them."
"I should get out to visit her again."
"Hey, you know, Noira tends the Stars End Bar on Thursday nights. Maybe we can swing by. Rena might be there. Or I could ask her to stop by, if I see her between now and then."
"That would be nice... I have never been to Stars End Bar."
"It's kind of . . . uh . . . strange. Futuristic. I've dueled there a few times when they've hosted Fists that night."
"I think I recall you mentioning the place before, you were there to duel... before you came to the inn. People had been picking on you..."
"Aw, geez." He rubbed his eyes with his hand. "Yeah. The night Kal stuck me with a needle and paralyzed me. God, I can't believe I'm teammates with him now."
"That... is the one your other teammate doesn't get along with?" Izira's face likely gave away her confusion toward the type of people Gren is hanging around.
"Yes, Candy. And saying she doesn't get along with him is an understatement. It's almost a year now since their feud started." He thought back to Rakeesh and his Overlord reign. "I think she . . . wants to kill him. That's what it sounded like to me, anyway."
"Did he paralyze her too?" She was trying to understand it all.
"Let me see if I remember correctly. Candy was the Overlord, that is the top fighter, of the Duel of Swords. A liontaur named Rakeesh challenged her for the title. He had upset a great deal of people at the time, because he was Baron of one of the districts of the city, and had proposed legislature that would force magic users to register with the government. This caused an uproar and a lot of people were offended by his actions. Some people got killed in anti-magic riots. Anyhow, part of the challenge process is that the Overlord can demand a Test of Worthiness, meaning the challenger has to face a Champion before they face the Overlord. The challenger can have a Champion step in for him during this Test. Kalamere stepped in for Rakeesh, and defeated Candy's Champion. Then Rakeesh defeated Candy. That's what started everything."
"Sounds like a very sore loser." Izira frowned, "Not that I am much of a fan of this Kalamere, from what you have told me of him."
"Kalamere is kind of the roguish type. He's a known ladies man. Another thing that got Candy upset with him was a version of her from another dimension came here to RhyDin, and they . . . " He cleared his throat. "They were kind of having . . . you know . . . relations. Her already being upset with him, that kind of pushed her over the edge, I think."
"That is..." Izira blinked and could find no words for it. It seemed RhyDin could still find something to surprise someone with. She shook her head. "Relations." A brow quirked at the way Gren said it. "Relations." She repeated the word to him again.
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Gren Blockman
- Expert Adventurer
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:00 pm
- Location: The forest, the woods, the trees
"Well . . . ", he stammered, getting flustered, " . . . I didn't want to just come right out and say . . . *sex*." He almost said it in a hushed whisper, as if someone could be listening.
"And you were surprised when I thought you were a virgin. How do you expect anyone to believe you have had sex when you can hardly say the word without blushing?"
"It's a private matter! It's something that should be shared between a man and a woman." At the time, he was thinking about Kalamere and 'Candy'. Or perhaps himself and Izira. "I'm just trying to be . . . delicate, is all. A gentleman should be discreet about such things."
"Or a woman and a woman, or a man and a man, or a woman and two men...." The smile she is trying to suppress is simply devilish.
He slowly turned redder, getting more agitated. "I was talking about you and meh . . . .” He stopped in mid-sentence, his eyes kind of wide.
She stopped, speaking with the same smile. "Me and Meh-alcolm? I do not think he could stay awake long enough to perform the task..." Her lashes fluttered with innocence.
Gren looked mortified and rolled his eyes heavenward. "Well thank goodness for that. That's one guy I don't have to worry about. I just meant . . . it's a matter . . . that needs to be dealt with maturely. Between two consenting adults. Not necessarily me and you. Although it *could* be me and you. Not that I'm insinuating anything. Or trying to show lack of interest." He gave a long pause. "Or too much interest."
"Is it a very long list of guys you are worried about?" She started moving again, pondering his other words. "How much interest is too much?" She tilted her head curiously.
"Well, we've already mentioned Rhett. Yes, I'm worried. Plus, there's a whole city of red blooded men that would love to get a hold of a lovely and friendly woman like you." Gren gulped slightly. "Too much? Uhhh . . . . You had said before you needed time! So I don't want to pressure you. I mean . . . I want to show *interest* . . . but respect your personal wishes as well. I don't want you to feel rushed either. We'll . . . I mean, you'll know when the time is right."
"Perhaps it will be when you can say 'sex' in public without turning red or whispering." She was grinning again. She put aside thoughts of Rhett or other red-blooded men.
"You're putting me in a bad spot then." He grinned slightly, albeit sheepishly.
"But you would be in a better spot after, would you not?" She chuckled.
"You may have a point. All this time, if I would have only known. Your problem wasn't your past, or your fragile heart, it was *Grammar*. If I only knew . . . " He sighed and looked off into the distance, as if lamenting his wasted efforts.
She slipped her hand low to goose him for his lamenting and stepped quickly out of reach of a return. "If only."
He jumped a bit, then starts chuckling. "Tell you what. In the future, when I say the "S" word, I promise not to turn red, but a moderate shade of pink. Also, rather than a forced whisper, I'll raise my voice to a dull murmur. How's that?"
"Baby steps."
"That's right. Let me build my confidence. In no time, I'll get that dull murmur up to a solid mutter."
"If you are muttering about sex I do believe people will start thinking something entirely different about you." She grinned with a silent chuckle.
"Now you know why I was being so discreet! You finally understand! Well, *that's* a load off! I'm glad we had this discussion." He put his arm around her shoulder again and pulled her to him as if the matter had been settled and they are moving on.
Leaning against him again, she enjoyed the walk a while before she whispered softly, "Relations." Basket in hand she took off with a laugh, heading for the inn.
"Hey! I thought we said 'Baby Steps'!" He chased after her, but not hard enough to catch up, just enough to keep the game going, as they moved towards the portal. He stared at the way her shapely legs moved as she ran, how her hips swung back and forth, her brown hair flowing behind her. Gren couldn't help but be enamored.
Through the portal she vanished ahead of him, nothing showing as she moved through. She would stop and wait several feet beyond the portal for Gren, pulling a strand of hair away from her face.
The sparkle of blue lights shone around him as he stepped through the portal, though at the time he isn't thinking about that, more keeping Izira in his line of sight. He was smiling and breathing a bit heavier as he saw she'd stopped.
"Did you get a workout ranger?" Izira hardly seemed winded.
"You tricked me! I'm carrying this backpack too, and I was laughing the whole way. Plus you've gotten me all worked up with this talk of "Relations". It's all your fault, really."
"Is it?"
"It is. I think you should make it up to me." He stepped closer, grinning in an infatuated way.
"How do you suggest I go about doing that?" She tilted her head up to him as he approaches.
"I can think of a few things I could mutter. . . but I wouldn't want people to start thinking something entirely different about me." He dropped his backpack, and put his hands on her cheeks. He tilted his head in the opposite direction she has before leaning down to kiss her, closing his eyes. The softness of her skin and lips caused him to forget about any discomfort concerning their previous conversation.
"We wouldn--" was as far as she got in her response. Giving in beneath the kiss, she managed to keep a hold of the basket containing the pie. When the kiss ended, she barely parted. Her voice soft and distant, ".. want that."
"No. We wouldn't." His head was still close to hers, their noses practically touching. He wanted to feel her lips against his again so badly, but he breathed out with a little smile.
"And you were surprised when I thought you were a virgin. How do you expect anyone to believe you have had sex when you can hardly say the word without blushing?"
"It's a private matter! It's something that should be shared between a man and a woman." At the time, he was thinking about Kalamere and 'Candy'. Or perhaps himself and Izira. "I'm just trying to be . . . delicate, is all. A gentleman should be discreet about such things."
"Or a woman and a woman, or a man and a man, or a woman and two men...." The smile she is trying to suppress is simply devilish.
He slowly turned redder, getting more agitated. "I was talking about you and meh . . . .” He stopped in mid-sentence, his eyes kind of wide.
She stopped, speaking with the same smile. "Me and Meh-alcolm? I do not think he could stay awake long enough to perform the task..." Her lashes fluttered with innocence.
Gren looked mortified and rolled his eyes heavenward. "Well thank goodness for that. That's one guy I don't have to worry about. I just meant . . . it's a matter . . . that needs to be dealt with maturely. Between two consenting adults. Not necessarily me and you. Although it *could* be me and you. Not that I'm insinuating anything. Or trying to show lack of interest." He gave a long pause. "Or too much interest."
"Is it a very long list of guys you are worried about?" She started moving again, pondering his other words. "How much interest is too much?" She tilted her head curiously.
"Well, we've already mentioned Rhett. Yes, I'm worried. Plus, there's a whole city of red blooded men that would love to get a hold of a lovely and friendly woman like you." Gren gulped slightly. "Too much? Uhhh . . . . You had said before you needed time! So I don't want to pressure you. I mean . . . I want to show *interest* . . . but respect your personal wishes as well. I don't want you to feel rushed either. We'll . . . I mean, you'll know when the time is right."
"Perhaps it will be when you can say 'sex' in public without turning red or whispering." She was grinning again. She put aside thoughts of Rhett or other red-blooded men.
"You're putting me in a bad spot then." He grinned slightly, albeit sheepishly.
"But you would be in a better spot after, would you not?" She chuckled.
"You may have a point. All this time, if I would have only known. Your problem wasn't your past, or your fragile heart, it was *Grammar*. If I only knew . . . " He sighed and looked off into the distance, as if lamenting his wasted efforts.
She slipped her hand low to goose him for his lamenting and stepped quickly out of reach of a return. "If only."
He jumped a bit, then starts chuckling. "Tell you what. In the future, when I say the "S" word, I promise not to turn red, but a moderate shade of pink. Also, rather than a forced whisper, I'll raise my voice to a dull murmur. How's that?"
"Baby steps."
"That's right. Let me build my confidence. In no time, I'll get that dull murmur up to a solid mutter."
"If you are muttering about sex I do believe people will start thinking something entirely different about you." She grinned with a silent chuckle.
"Now you know why I was being so discreet! You finally understand! Well, *that's* a load off! I'm glad we had this discussion." He put his arm around her shoulder again and pulled her to him as if the matter had been settled and they are moving on.
Leaning against him again, she enjoyed the walk a while before she whispered softly, "Relations." Basket in hand she took off with a laugh, heading for the inn.
"Hey! I thought we said 'Baby Steps'!" He chased after her, but not hard enough to catch up, just enough to keep the game going, as they moved towards the portal. He stared at the way her shapely legs moved as she ran, how her hips swung back and forth, her brown hair flowing behind her. Gren couldn't help but be enamored.
Through the portal she vanished ahead of him, nothing showing as she moved through. She would stop and wait several feet beyond the portal for Gren, pulling a strand of hair away from her face.
The sparkle of blue lights shone around him as he stepped through the portal, though at the time he isn't thinking about that, more keeping Izira in his line of sight. He was smiling and breathing a bit heavier as he saw she'd stopped.
"Did you get a workout ranger?" Izira hardly seemed winded.
"You tricked me! I'm carrying this backpack too, and I was laughing the whole way. Plus you've gotten me all worked up with this talk of "Relations". It's all your fault, really."
"Is it?"
"It is. I think you should make it up to me." He stepped closer, grinning in an infatuated way.
"How do you suggest I go about doing that?" She tilted her head up to him as he approaches.
"I can think of a few things I could mutter. . . but I wouldn't want people to start thinking something entirely different about me." He dropped his backpack, and put his hands on her cheeks. He tilted his head in the opposite direction she has before leaning down to kiss her, closing his eyes. The softness of her skin and lips caused him to forget about any discomfort concerning their previous conversation.
"We wouldn--" was as far as she got in her response. Giving in beneath the kiss, she managed to keep a hold of the basket containing the pie. When the kiss ended, she barely parted. Her voice soft and distant, ".. want that."
"No. We wouldn't." His head was still close to hers, their noses practically touching. He wanted to feel her lips against his again so badly, but he breathed out with a little smile.
Last edited by Gren Blockman on Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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