Quick fingers grasped the apple from the vender's bushel basket and tossed the fruit from behind her straight up into the air. Her hand quickly moved to her hair, running fingers through the silky brown layers. A crooked grin tugged to the right as she glanced to the vender.
Marcus was quick to catch the would be thief, even though he was haggling over the price of pears with another customer.
"Five for the whole bushel and not a noble less....." his gaze shifted after the moving culprit as his voice raised after her. "I'll be puttin that on yer tab too, Luv!"
Leun laughed and caught the apple. "Can't fool you can I... I'll be by on Friday to pay up then." In actuality, she could've ripped him off without him knowing, but she loved to keep him on his toes and feeling confident. He'd been a friend to her as she grew up in RhyDin, especially after the death of her parents.
She ate the apple while she strolled through the streets, meandering near the bars. It was not just to the bars she was heading.. it was the Annex that held her interest more, better then drowning her life in booze. It was bad enough she had to get paid to serve others to do that. it was not something she wanted to be for her life.
Leun rarely ever sat around the Red Dragon Inn, or any other bar for that matter. Normally, she would go home and practice her skills, take care of her place and prepare for yet another day.
For weeks now, she had been attending the duels and watching it all closely. Lately she had found an interest in dueling. She never really allowed herself to think too deeply why, it was just an urge to fight spurred on by the rare glimpse of someone who carried a lightsaber. It wasn't the person, it was the weapon and what one had done to her and her parents almost ten years prior. She never thought about it until she'd seen that lightsaber.
Fighting that way was a problem for her, though. She was intrigued, but it was close... closer then she wanted to be to an opponent, especially an enemy. Perhaps she would never do more then observe, having no one to teach her. But for now it was something she was inspired to do.
Her steps took her closer to the Inn and she made her way down the steps for yet another night of observing Fight Night...
((Also posted in RDI Forum Dragon Tales ))
New Paths in an Old Town
Leuni had paid up, as always, seeking her friend right after she had gotten her wages that very next Friday.
Marcus had been watching her the last several weeks and had noticed her change in route.
"Thanks Lass.." He took the money owed and sent her a wink. Normally, that would've been the end of the conversation, but today he had a spare moment with no customers around.
"Out of curiosity, though... I notice ye've been heading that way lately." Marcus inclined his head towards the bars. "I didn't think ye were a drinker on yer off times. Picking up a new habit are we?"
"No... I'm not." She grinned gently as she tucked her money pouch in a safe place.... right down the top of her shirt. "I just... I dunno, Marcus. I've just been...."
There was a long pause before she finished. "....curious."
Marcus got a sobering concerned expression and eyed her as a father would a daughter. His tones were a clear reflection of that. Ever since her parents had died, he'd taken it upon himself to watch over her in their place. "Ye just be careful, Lass. Don't ye be goin an getting yerself into trouble now."
Normally she'd laugh and throw playful punches but her last trip to the famous pub's basement had her pause thoughtfully unsure.
Marcus noticed that pause. "Oi now.... did somethin happen?"
She shook her head. "Not really... just... watching. Someone actually talked to me last time though."
"Oh?" his brow arched. Then he smirked. "Well.. it's only been what... four or five weeks ye've been in there?"
She eyed him suspiciously and realized he'd been following her. In a way she was thankful and so said nothing of it.
"Yeah. A fair sized man, about maybe your age I think. Reminded me of a cross between a druid and religous fighter kind. His magic wasn't as good as Neo's. They duelled twice... both won one each. Neo, of course, won with the magic, but the other won with the fists. That was an interesting display, though I would never have the guts to ... try that."
Marcus was aware of her aversion to the up close and personal she held. He couldn't blame her after what happened to her parents... and her. "Are ye sure ye wanna be doin this, Lass?"
She shrugged slowly, unable to explain the fascination growing in her for the place despite her aversion to participate. "I dunno.... I don't know why I'm there, Marcus. I don't really fit in."
He looked thoughtfully at her, remembering the day she decided to learn how to shoot a gun. There was a spark in her then and he could see it again in her, hiding under the surface. She was her father's daughter in more ways then one. It was something she would have to eventually deal with.
"How'd'ya know, Lass? Perhaps ye should persue it a bit more. Besides, ye need more friends then the an old cus like me." he winked, smacked her arse to send her on her way and left her there to attend an arriving customer.
Leun just yelped from the smack, laughed and left him be to his customer, though walked away with a thoughtful step, thinking carefully about her next direction.....
Marcus had been watching her the last several weeks and had noticed her change in route.
"Thanks Lass.." He took the money owed and sent her a wink. Normally, that would've been the end of the conversation, but today he had a spare moment with no customers around.
"Out of curiosity, though... I notice ye've been heading that way lately." Marcus inclined his head towards the bars. "I didn't think ye were a drinker on yer off times. Picking up a new habit are we?"
"No... I'm not." She grinned gently as she tucked her money pouch in a safe place.... right down the top of her shirt. "I just... I dunno, Marcus. I've just been...."
There was a long pause before she finished. "....curious."
Marcus got a sobering concerned expression and eyed her as a father would a daughter. His tones were a clear reflection of that. Ever since her parents had died, he'd taken it upon himself to watch over her in their place. "Ye just be careful, Lass. Don't ye be goin an getting yerself into trouble now."
Normally she'd laugh and throw playful punches but her last trip to the famous pub's basement had her pause thoughtfully unsure.
Marcus noticed that pause. "Oi now.... did somethin happen?"
She shook her head. "Not really... just... watching. Someone actually talked to me last time though."
"Oh?" his brow arched. Then he smirked. "Well.. it's only been what... four or five weeks ye've been in there?"
She eyed him suspiciously and realized he'd been following her. In a way she was thankful and so said nothing of it.
"Yeah. A fair sized man, about maybe your age I think. Reminded me of a cross between a druid and religous fighter kind. His magic wasn't as good as Neo's. They duelled twice... both won one each. Neo, of course, won with the magic, but the other won with the fists. That was an interesting display, though I would never have the guts to ... try that."
Marcus was aware of her aversion to the up close and personal she held. He couldn't blame her after what happened to her parents... and her. "Are ye sure ye wanna be doin this, Lass?"
She shrugged slowly, unable to explain the fascination growing in her for the place despite her aversion to participate. "I dunno.... I don't know why I'm there, Marcus. I don't really fit in."
He looked thoughtfully at her, remembering the day she decided to learn how to shoot a gun. There was a spark in her then and he could see it again in her, hiding under the surface. She was her father's daughter in more ways then one. It was something she would have to eventually deal with.
"How'd'ya know, Lass? Perhaps ye should persue it a bit more. Besides, ye need more friends then the an old cus like me." he winked, smacked her arse to send her on her way and left her there to attend an arriving customer.
Leun just yelped from the smack, laughed and left him be to his customer, though walked away with a thoughtful step, thinking carefully about her next direction.....
Her steps took her from Market area, heading across the river to a small pub that most didn't even know existed. Haley's was the simple name, a place only open for lunch and dinner - noon to eight every day. The owner liked it that way, small and unobtrusive to the general public. He liked the quiet clientel and the peacefulness the obscurity gave the place, especially considering it was on the edge of the docks area. It was why Leun picked up the gun and the knife as defense.... get them from a distance and then run like hell. She was a pretty fast runner.
Her thoughts continued to linger over the last visit she made to the underground dueling place. It seemed they had a variety of duels, but none she was trained for. They had magic wielding duels and melee combat duels and duels with only the fists in hand to hand. The question as to why they didn't have one with ranged weapons - guns, bows and the like - went round and round in her mind. As it was, she'd never seen that type of weapon used in the matches. She finally came to the conclusion that she would have to learn to use other things if she were to go and participate. But... who would teach her?
Neo? She really didn't know him at all. She only knew his name by listening to others say it and the matches as they were announced. She didn't know anyone and only knew their names by the same method. Neo probably had no interest in teaching her. Besides, he was definitely more the magic weilding type, and she had no talent in that area.
She didn't know anyone and that was the crux of the whole thing. There was life beyond her meager home and the pub she worked in. Perhaps it was time she did something about that one, too....
Her thoughts continued to linger over the last visit she made to the underground dueling place. It seemed they had a variety of duels, but none she was trained for. They had magic wielding duels and melee combat duels and duels with only the fists in hand to hand. The question as to why they didn't have one with ranged weapons - guns, bows and the like - went round and round in her mind. As it was, she'd never seen that type of weapon used in the matches. She finally came to the conclusion that she would have to learn to use other things if she were to go and participate. But... who would teach her?
Neo? She really didn't know him at all. She only knew his name by listening to others say it and the matches as they were announced. She didn't know anyone and only knew their names by the same method. Neo probably had no interest in teaching her. Besides, he was definitely more the magic weilding type, and she had no talent in that area.
She didn't know anyone and that was the crux of the whole thing. There was life beyond her meager home and the pub she worked in. Perhaps it was time she did something about that one, too....
Monday Morning...
Pale blue's glanced to the clock on the wall as the old man unbolted the lock to the door. Those same pale blues shifted the other way, gazing down the street along the docks to the east. Still, there was no sign of her. He started to open the door for business but something nagged in the back of his mind. It finally hit him that Leuni had never once been late to work. She was usually an hour early just to get a good meal in first. Haley always fed her before work.
The old man shut the door and relocks it after hanging a different sign on the door this time.
Gone Fishin!
Neither Haley nor Leun had any kind of electronic communication. They didn't even have magical means. Haley hated magic with a passion and in fact had been one to vote a yes on the recent Proposition. Leun, however, didn't care about it and never bothered to waste her time on the subject. She hated politics, though she had debated the issue with Haley simply out of respect for his enthusiasm tO debate issues.
It was to her that his thoughts went as he was worried for her not showing up. The only way to get in touch with her was to go to her place. He turned off the burners and put the food in the cooler, then locked the back door as he headed down the street.
He took the route he knew she normally took, just in case she was just running late, or that something happened to her along the way. The old man felt the adrenaline rise, fearing the worst. He was old but in pretty good shape for a man pushing well into his sixties. It was only a partial relief not to see any sign of foul play on his way, yet as he came into view of her place, he felt the concern rise.
There on the door was a sign,
Quarantined!
Haley's eyes went wide and he approached her door cautiously. He paused to gather the courage to knock on her door. His knuckles rapping gently three times.
"Leun?"
At first there was no answer. He knocked again and called out louder.
"Leun?! Are ye in there lass?"
Finally, he got answer, faint as it was.
"Go away Haley. I won't be working for a week. I gotta get past the fever free of it for a couple days. Talk to Dr. Langley."
It was obvious he wouldn't be hearing any stories about her day off, which was usually Sunday.
"All right, darlin'.... I'll be by later to leave ye some soup."
"Bless you, Haley.. you're the best." her voice was weak.
Haley left her in peace...
Pale blue's glanced to the clock on the wall as the old man unbolted the lock to the door. Those same pale blues shifted the other way, gazing down the street along the docks to the east. Still, there was no sign of her. He started to open the door for business but something nagged in the back of his mind. It finally hit him that Leuni had never once been late to work. She was usually an hour early just to get a good meal in first. Haley always fed her before work.
The old man shut the door and relocks it after hanging a different sign on the door this time.
Gone Fishin!
Neither Haley nor Leun had any kind of electronic communication. They didn't even have magical means. Haley hated magic with a passion and in fact had been one to vote a yes on the recent Proposition. Leun, however, didn't care about it and never bothered to waste her time on the subject. She hated politics, though she had debated the issue with Haley simply out of respect for his enthusiasm tO debate issues.
It was to her that his thoughts went as he was worried for her not showing up. The only way to get in touch with her was to go to her place. He turned off the burners and put the food in the cooler, then locked the back door as he headed down the street.
He took the route he knew she normally took, just in case she was just running late, or that something happened to her along the way. The old man felt the adrenaline rise, fearing the worst. He was old but in pretty good shape for a man pushing well into his sixties. It was only a partial relief not to see any sign of foul play on his way, yet as he came into view of her place, he felt the concern rise.
There on the door was a sign,
Quarantined!
Haley's eyes went wide and he approached her door cautiously. He paused to gather the courage to knock on her door. His knuckles rapping gently three times.
"Leun?"
At first there was no answer. He knocked again and called out louder.
"Leun?! Are ye in there lass?"
Finally, he got answer, faint as it was.
"Go away Haley. I won't be working for a week. I gotta get past the fever free of it for a couple days. Talk to Dr. Langley."
It was obvious he wouldn't be hearing any stories about her day off, which was usually Sunday.
"All right, darlin'.... I'll be by later to leave ye some soup."
"Bless you, Haley.. you're the best." her voice was weak.
Haley left her in peace...
A week later....
Leun walked into Haley's late that afternoon carrying a big 'ol dress box. She moved inside and set the box on the counter, beaming widely. "Hi, Haley!"
Haley eyed her the whole time and smirked at her. "Sick, huh? Oh yeah, ye look sick. Lemmi guess.... shopping's the cure?"
"No, the lottery... I won, Haley!"
She opened up the box and gingerly pulled out The Dress, pressing it up against her lythe form to show off. The color was a dark forest green, perfect for her skin type. The dress was a strapless taffeta dress with delicate beaded motif on the bust line, with a cute bow, and an extravagant skirt flounced in an airy style. Leun picked up the matching scarf and wrapped it loosely round her neck. The shoes and purse were likewise set out for show and the necklace pulled out from beneath her shirt to show Haley what the Whole Outfit would look like.
"Well?"
Haley nearly dropped his jaw, eyes googling over the match. Letting out a long whistle, he wiggled his brows. "If I were twenty years younger... Yer goin' to that Ball aren't ya."
Leun nodded with excitement.
"All by yerself?"
The excitement started to fade, though not completely. A glimmer of innocent hope remiained in her brown hues. "Well... yeah... but why not? I can't be the only one going without a date."
"It's just... not yer style, Lass. I mean the Ball. What about the dueling thing ye've been up to."
"That? Oh... well.. I dunno. I guess I'll pop by there and watch sometime then too." She actually hadn't thought about that.
"In yer dress?" Haley chuckled at the thought of that.
"It's not like I'll be dueling.... I still gotta find someone who'll teach me first. I'm not thAt stupid."
"In yer dress..." he repeated, amused at the thought of anyone going there with such a lovely dress on... for any reason.
"Now you're making fun of me.." she shot him an annoyed look... a loving one, but an annoyed one.
"NooOOooo! Not me!" he laughed and moved to clean up some dishes off the other end of the counter.
"Yeah, go ahead, make fun of me..." she gingerly put the dress back in the box.
"Lass, I'd never make fun of ye. If they don't notice ye tonight, hun ye should just hang it up with the likes of them. They'd be blinder then a bat. The men anyways... the women, now they'd probably ignore ye even more outta sheer jealousy!" He winked to her.
Leun smirked. "You were always good for my ego Haley. It's not why I bought the dress, though. I just wanted something... pretty. I don't have anything. Something I thought about while I was sick. So when I won the lottery, I bought the dress and realized there was a Ball to go to. And yes, I'll be in tomorrow as usual. I do feel much better."
"Good. Ye should go get yerself ready. Make sure ye strap a blade or hand gun on ye, though.... right on the inside 'o yer thigh...er lower... I mean.. yer calf. Ye never know what might happen." Haley eyed her with that serious father look.
"I will." she assured him as she gathered the box up in her arms again. Then she headed out to get ready for the night...
Leun walked into Haley's late that afternoon carrying a big 'ol dress box. She moved inside and set the box on the counter, beaming widely. "Hi, Haley!"
Haley eyed her the whole time and smirked at her. "Sick, huh? Oh yeah, ye look sick. Lemmi guess.... shopping's the cure?"
"No, the lottery... I won, Haley!"
She opened up the box and gingerly pulled out The Dress, pressing it up against her lythe form to show off. The color was a dark forest green, perfect for her skin type. The dress was a strapless taffeta dress with delicate beaded motif on the bust line, with a cute bow, and an extravagant skirt flounced in an airy style. Leun picked up the matching scarf and wrapped it loosely round her neck. The shoes and purse were likewise set out for show and the necklace pulled out from beneath her shirt to show Haley what the Whole Outfit would look like.
"Well?"
Haley nearly dropped his jaw, eyes googling over the match. Letting out a long whistle, he wiggled his brows. "If I were twenty years younger... Yer goin' to that Ball aren't ya."
Leun nodded with excitement.
"All by yerself?"
The excitement started to fade, though not completely. A glimmer of innocent hope remiained in her brown hues. "Well... yeah... but why not? I can't be the only one going without a date."
"It's just... not yer style, Lass. I mean the Ball. What about the dueling thing ye've been up to."
"That? Oh... well.. I dunno. I guess I'll pop by there and watch sometime then too." She actually hadn't thought about that.
"In yer dress?" Haley chuckled at the thought of that.
"It's not like I'll be dueling.... I still gotta find someone who'll teach me first. I'm not thAt stupid."
"In yer dress..." he repeated, amused at the thought of anyone going there with such a lovely dress on... for any reason.
"Now you're making fun of me.." she shot him an annoyed look... a loving one, but an annoyed one.
"NooOOooo! Not me!" he laughed and moved to clean up some dishes off the other end of the counter.
"Yeah, go ahead, make fun of me..." she gingerly put the dress back in the box.
"Lass, I'd never make fun of ye. If they don't notice ye tonight, hun ye should just hang it up with the likes of them. They'd be blinder then a bat. The men anyways... the women, now they'd probably ignore ye even more outta sheer jealousy!" He winked to her.
Leun smirked. "You were always good for my ego Haley. It's not why I bought the dress, though. I just wanted something... pretty. I don't have anything. Something I thought about while I was sick. So when I won the lottery, I bought the dress and realized there was a Ball to go to. And yes, I'll be in tomorrow as usual. I do feel much better."
"Good. Ye should go get yerself ready. Make sure ye strap a blade or hand gun on ye, though.... right on the inside 'o yer thigh...er lower... I mean.. yer calf. Ye never know what might happen." Haley eyed her with that serious father look.
"I will." she assured him as she gathered the box up in her arms again. Then she headed out to get ready for the night...
Last edited by Leuni on Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
The Ball had been a very quiet observance instead of a celebration of anything for Leuni. Nobody talked to her save for the one woman whom Leun had briefly made a comment to about the weather as they came into the place at the same time. She did get a wave out of Neo, or so she thought, but that was the extent of it. She mused how he looked uncomfortable in the place, and really could sympathize. At least he wasn't a Wallflower, having someone to talk to with him.
If anyone had been one... Leuni was THE wallflower of the night.. the one and only from what she could see. Eveyrone else seemed to have someone around that they were talking to. Perhaps she could've initiated some conversation.. if only anyone had really given her a real glance, she probably would've ventured to speak with them. Nobody did.
But that's not what really bothered her that night.
It was the weather.
Strange as it may sound, she had this odd feeling about it, like it wasn't normal, as if it had some purpose... a malevolent shadow hanging within the night sky. It almost felt like it hovered right over the building. Things didn't feel right.
She heard the rain outside grow stronger, the wind more fierce and the lights flickered strangely for a few moments. That's when she got a strange sensation, as if the roof was going to cave in or something. It finally built to a crescendo that she could no longer ignore. Nobody noticed as she stepped out of the party and into the storm.
The umbrella her mother had made kept her from getting wet or the wind from snapping her hair in her face. Beneath it, things were calm. They were calm except for that strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. The wind was definitely still blowing things around as she moved quickly down the streets.
Even as the storm seemed to be passing and the wind was beginning to die down, she still felt that alarming urge within her to press on faster. Remnants of the storm were evident in the debris strewn across the streets, and in some cases the pieces of rooftops dropped all over the place... branches down from the trees.
She started heading for her home, but as she came to the junction where she would go south to work, She got an even greater urge to keep going that way instead of going home. She lifted the skirt of her dress and began to moved even faster, nearly jogging in the almost three inch heeled shoes she was wearing. She ran nearly the whole way from the Great Hall to the Docks area.
Quick dainty steps finally brought her to Haley's, barefoot noless. Somehwere along the way, she'd lost a shoe and paused long enough to take the other off so she could press on without breaking her neck..
What she saw broke her heart in a million pieces. A branch from the tree just outside the building had broken off and launched through the window. Between the flashes of lightning she could see the form impaled by the thick branch... blood was everywhere around it.
They weren't moving, weren't breathing, and she sucked in her breath. The light flashed and showed her the face of Haley... there was no mistake in it.
Her scream echoed for several blocks.
A few minutes later and the RhyDin watch guard, who'd been on duty and walking the streets to help assess the damage, had heard the scream and came to investigate. He found Leuni in her beautiful gown, soaking wet, and trying to get in to the body. The way the branch had fallen in through the window had also blocked the door from being opened. She was tearing off small branches trying to literally claw her way in past the broken glass of the window. Leuni had gotten several scratches in the process.
He finally got her away from there, only after she realized he was there. She had calmed down and became so quiet it was almost eery. Leun was in shock.
If anyone had been one... Leuni was THE wallflower of the night.. the one and only from what she could see. Eveyrone else seemed to have someone around that they were talking to. Perhaps she could've initiated some conversation.. if only anyone had really given her a real glance, she probably would've ventured to speak with them. Nobody did.
But that's not what really bothered her that night.
It was the weather.
Strange as it may sound, she had this odd feeling about it, like it wasn't normal, as if it had some purpose... a malevolent shadow hanging within the night sky. It almost felt like it hovered right over the building. Things didn't feel right.
She heard the rain outside grow stronger, the wind more fierce and the lights flickered strangely for a few moments. That's when she got a strange sensation, as if the roof was going to cave in or something. It finally built to a crescendo that she could no longer ignore. Nobody noticed as she stepped out of the party and into the storm.
The umbrella her mother had made kept her from getting wet or the wind from snapping her hair in her face. Beneath it, things were calm. They were calm except for that strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. The wind was definitely still blowing things around as she moved quickly down the streets.
Even as the storm seemed to be passing and the wind was beginning to die down, she still felt that alarming urge within her to press on faster. Remnants of the storm were evident in the debris strewn across the streets, and in some cases the pieces of rooftops dropped all over the place... branches down from the trees.
She started heading for her home, but as she came to the junction where she would go south to work, She got an even greater urge to keep going that way instead of going home. She lifted the skirt of her dress and began to moved even faster, nearly jogging in the almost three inch heeled shoes she was wearing. She ran nearly the whole way from the Great Hall to the Docks area.
Quick dainty steps finally brought her to Haley's, barefoot noless. Somehwere along the way, she'd lost a shoe and paused long enough to take the other off so she could press on without breaking her neck..
What she saw broke her heart in a million pieces. A branch from the tree just outside the building had broken off and launched through the window. Between the flashes of lightning she could see the form impaled by the thick branch... blood was everywhere around it.
They weren't moving, weren't breathing, and she sucked in her breath. The light flashed and showed her the face of Haley... there was no mistake in it.
Her scream echoed for several blocks.
A few minutes later and the RhyDin watch guard, who'd been on duty and walking the streets to help assess the damage, had heard the scream and came to investigate. He found Leuni in her beautiful gown, soaking wet, and trying to get in to the body. The way the branch had fallen in through the window had also blocked the door from being opened. She was tearing off small branches trying to literally claw her way in past the broken glass of the window. Leuni had gotten several scratches in the process.
He finally got her away from there, only after she realized he was there. She had calmed down and became so quiet it was almost eery. Leun was in shock.
Word on the street spread quickly. Markus was by her side before she knew they'd gotten Harley unlodged from the tree limb. Leun felt herself go numb as voices spoke all around her, whispers in her mind that she questioned was even real. Whispers and rumors of the strange storm that night and Harley's death connected. Rumors went on to a more nefarious nature, something about money owed and paybacks were coming. She began to question the storm as more and more rumors and reports came in.....
Within two days, Harley was burried and the small pub closed down. Leun was without a job. She was still numb with pain, yet deep down something stirred within her, some need for revenge or justice... perhaps both. Her gaze shifted towards the dueling rings once more, this time to the Outback.
Within two days, Harley was burried and the small pub closed down. Leun was without a job. She was still numb with pain, yet deep down something stirred within her, some need for revenge or justice... perhaps both. Her gaze shifted towards the dueling rings once more, this time to the Outback.
"How'd it go last week?" Markus asked as he sat on the other side of the table from Leuni. They’d been talking about the dueling events.
Her thoughts were still numb, from the week's events, but she was starting to cope better without Harley. A small shrug was given as she took a bite of the stew she'd made. "Too spicey."
Markus lifted a brow. "Eh? Oh... the stew. Yeah, I was gonna say somethin when ye dump all that white pepper in. Ne'er had ham 'n beans with thAt much kick b’fore. It's usually bland." He sniffed deeply and took a drink of his milk, blinking his eyes wide to stave off the mist forming in them. The spice was making his nose run and his throat dry and hot.
"Sorry..." she blushed.
"No worries, Lass.... Kinda good actually." He assured her and snatched up another piece of corn bread just to help douse the spice.
She was thankful for his company since Harley's death. Her mind had been off wandering in grief and he'd been there almost every night either bringing their dinners or helping her to cook it. He never let her be alone except for the times when she wandered to the duels. Harley hadn't wanted her to participate, had even encouraged her to forget the lot. Marcus had been the voice of reason, helping her to think about her reasons why.
"It went all right. Sorta talked to someone. Sam I think I heard some call her." she got a wistful grin. "I'm not sure but I think she was propositioning me to join her and this other guy. Or I might've misunderstood. I think, though, she was just teasing him and pulling me in on the fun. At least I know I wasn't invisible."
Markus chuckled. "See? Ye just need 't give it some time, darlin. All that talk on the street is just talk. Just like what they're sayin 'bout his death. It don't really mean anything substatial. Still, Harley was right in givin ye a word of caution. Walk carefully. Use yer instinct and find the right one 't teach ye. Find out why ye want 't learn this thing ye've had an aversion to. Ye’ve even baffled me with yer desire for it. Don't let it be just some perceived revenge or justice for Harley's death. Use it fer good, luv. Use it fer the right things."
She nodded, only half absorbing his words.
"Are ye goin in there tonight?" he asked.
It was fight night, a good time to catch most there. She nodded again and took a drink of her milk.
"Ye should make a sign..." he grinned.
Her eyes lit up. She hadn't thought of that. "If that don't get some attention...."
Her thoughts were still numb, from the week's events, but she was starting to cope better without Harley. A small shrug was given as she took a bite of the stew she'd made. "Too spicey."
Markus lifted a brow. "Eh? Oh... the stew. Yeah, I was gonna say somethin when ye dump all that white pepper in. Ne'er had ham 'n beans with thAt much kick b’fore. It's usually bland." He sniffed deeply and took a drink of his milk, blinking his eyes wide to stave off the mist forming in them. The spice was making his nose run and his throat dry and hot.
"Sorry..." she blushed.
"No worries, Lass.... Kinda good actually." He assured her and snatched up another piece of corn bread just to help douse the spice.
She was thankful for his company since Harley's death. Her mind had been off wandering in grief and he'd been there almost every night either bringing their dinners or helping her to cook it. He never let her be alone except for the times when she wandered to the duels. Harley hadn't wanted her to participate, had even encouraged her to forget the lot. Marcus had been the voice of reason, helping her to think about her reasons why.
"It went all right. Sorta talked to someone. Sam I think I heard some call her." she got a wistful grin. "I'm not sure but I think she was propositioning me to join her and this other guy. Or I might've misunderstood. I think, though, she was just teasing him and pulling me in on the fun. At least I know I wasn't invisible."
Markus chuckled. "See? Ye just need 't give it some time, darlin. All that talk on the street is just talk. Just like what they're sayin 'bout his death. It don't really mean anything substatial. Still, Harley was right in givin ye a word of caution. Walk carefully. Use yer instinct and find the right one 't teach ye. Find out why ye want 't learn this thing ye've had an aversion to. Ye’ve even baffled me with yer desire for it. Don't let it be just some perceived revenge or justice for Harley's death. Use it fer good, luv. Use it fer the right things."
She nodded, only half absorbing his words.
"Are ye goin in there tonight?" he asked.
It was fight night, a good time to catch most there. She nodded again and took a drink of her milk.
"Ye should make a sign..." he grinned.
Her eyes lit up. She hadn't thought of that. "If that don't get some attention...."
Later, in the wee hours of the early morning, Leuni stepped out after attending yet another Fight Night. Wide eyed and awake, yet her gaze seemed distant, not really focusing on what was around her as her steps meandered slowly. She got a half a block down the street when the entire night just hit her consciousness swiftly.
Somehow, she'd just gotten a very capable person to mentor her.
"YeeEEEEESSSS!!!" her voice echoed with the hollar and a victory sign with her arm extended, fist closing, wrist twisting her palm side up as she pulled her hand to her side.
She had expected the worst after sitting in there with a sign for so long and not one person looked at it. After getting so discouraged, she decided to try one more thing.... she was really going to take Harley's advice if it didn't work.
Turning the *Mentor Wanted* sign into a note with the question *Will you - me?* added, she signed the thing and set it by Tass' coat while he was dueling. She waited to see that he'd gotten it and for a moment to talk to him.
The man was popular, it seemed. Just when she thought she had that moment, he was asked to duel by another. Yet he called her name even though she was walking away, content to wait for a better time.. that is until his voice seemed so tangible he could've been putting a hand on her shoulder instead. Her steps faultered and she turned around to face him.
In all the duels she'd seen him fight in, it didn't prepare her for the three of Him that she saw as she turned around. Two were heading to seperate dueling rings and one was leaning against the bar top looking at her with some expectancy. Clearly he was far more qualified then she had expected. Try as she did to keep her thoughts clear, her brain fogged trying to concieve the concept of three Tass', or three of anyone for that matter. She was sure she embarassed herself on several things...
Her mind was weighed down by other thoughts as well, trying to answer the question of why she wanted to learn, a question she'd been struggling with for days now. In the end, it was his answer to that question that settled reassuringly within her. It wasn't the love of fighting, wasn't about revenge or justice, although being prepared for them was a smart thing... it wasn't even a competitive issue of gaining the highest title. It was simply the love of people he displayed.
She had trusted her instinct and now she felt, for the first time in weeks, that she was right where she was supposed to be. A long sigh of relief escaped her followed by a whole new set of uncertainties as she drew in her breath again. Would she be good enough?
She laughed at herself, shook her head and started to meander down the road again...
Somehow, she'd just gotten a very capable person to mentor her.
"YeeEEEEESSSS!!!" her voice echoed with the hollar and a victory sign with her arm extended, fist closing, wrist twisting her palm side up as she pulled her hand to her side.
She had expected the worst after sitting in there with a sign for so long and not one person looked at it. After getting so discouraged, she decided to try one more thing.... she was really going to take Harley's advice if it didn't work.
Turning the *Mentor Wanted* sign into a note with the question *Will you - me?* added, she signed the thing and set it by Tass' coat while he was dueling. She waited to see that he'd gotten it and for a moment to talk to him.
The man was popular, it seemed. Just when she thought she had that moment, he was asked to duel by another. Yet he called her name even though she was walking away, content to wait for a better time.. that is until his voice seemed so tangible he could've been putting a hand on her shoulder instead. Her steps faultered and she turned around to face him.
In all the duels she'd seen him fight in, it didn't prepare her for the three of Him that she saw as she turned around. Two were heading to seperate dueling rings and one was leaning against the bar top looking at her with some expectancy. Clearly he was far more qualified then she had expected. Try as she did to keep her thoughts clear, her brain fogged trying to concieve the concept of three Tass', or three of anyone for that matter. She was sure she embarassed herself on several things...
Her mind was weighed down by other thoughts as well, trying to answer the question of why she wanted to learn, a question she'd been struggling with for days now. In the end, it was his answer to that question that settled reassuringly within her. It wasn't the love of fighting, wasn't about revenge or justice, although being prepared for them was a smart thing... it wasn't even a competitive issue of gaining the highest title. It was simply the love of people he displayed.
She had trusted her instinct and now she felt, for the first time in weeks, that she was right where she was supposed to be. A long sigh of relief escaped her followed by a whole new set of uncertainties as she drew in her breath again. Would she be good enough?
She laughed at herself, shook her head and started to meander down the road again...
"He shoulda dragged ye in." Markus laughed deviously.
"What?! No way!" Leun's eyes were as big as saucers, a blend of fear and humor begrudged.
Markus just laughed as they walked from the market making their way to her house, though his thoughts clearly envisioned the event.
“See if I help you anymore.” She grinned with a devilish twinkle, guiding the horse and cart with the goods Markus would sell most days.
“Aww now, Lass… ye know I’m just playin with ya…” Humorous defiance would describe the look on his face to a tee. He didn’t say it but his thoughts were clearly adding….. even if it is the truth.
She grinned, though even if the humor of it was there, she was still seriously fearful of the fights. Even though she had remained calm the night before while Tass idly hinted a threat to throw or drag her into the frey, she still had to fight off the panic threatening to attack her then. “Truth or not… It’s not funny, Markus. I gotta get over this.”
He sobered a bit, eyeing her carefully. It was clear to him that she had just picked up on his thoughts. He seemed to come to a decision about something. “All right then.. But he was probably trying to do ye a favor, Lass. Sounds like a good teacher to get ye into it right off the bat. Do ye think it was coincidence that the first training he gets ye to is in the one ye fear the most?"
Leun looked thoughtfully confused, mulling the question round in her head. "I don't know."
"What's yer gut tell ye?... yes? or no?"
She thought about this a moment. "Maybe not.. no."
"Why so?"
"I dunno.. it just seemed, ironic, like something fated.. like if I did this, then this is what I'd face first even if I didn't want to face it until last. Know what I mean? Like it was supposed to be this way."
Markus nodded slowly, both in agreement and making a decision.
It was after they arrived and were sitting at the dinner table that he put his decision into motion. “Yer father once asked me to hold something fer ye. He said that if anything ever happened to him that I should give it to ye when I felt the time was right. I’m thinkin the time is now. I think it’ll help ye learn to focus.”
The strange item was taken out of a sack, which he’d brought in and set on the floor beside his chair. He set the cubic item on the table beside her and watched her reaction. It took her only a moment or two of trying to recall why it seemed so familiar and then it dawned on her what it was. Her visage sobered with wonder.
“A Jedi Holocron?”
He nodded. “He said it would teach ye the basics and help ye learn to focus. He said ye don’t need a Master Jedi to learn from…. Ye just need to follow yer heart and do what’s right… He said never stop learning how to use yer talents.”
“You think I’m like my father.” She stated.
“Aye, Lass… Yer not like yer mother, ‘cept maybe yer looks and disposition.” He grinned again. “She was always the calmer of the two. I think you’ll have good control like her, even if ye didn’t get her magical abilities.. I think ye’ll wield the Force like she did Magic.”
“But… how can you be so sure I can use the Force?”
“Let’s just call it instinct. My gut tells me yer like yer father that way. Maybe he knew that and that’s why he made sure there was a way fer ye to get this. Keep it hidden, keep it safe he told me…. Said others, especially Jedi, would be lookin fer it. Here… use the sack to hide it in. It’ll keep it from being divined by others. Then hide it well from sight.” He set the small but simple brown and blue threaded burlap sack on the table.
She picked up the holocron in her hands, holding it almost reverently as she gazed over the marking on the outside. She opened it up and began to look through its contents. Three hours went by before she set the item down, never believing so much time had gone by. So absorbed in the information that she never heard Markus leave.
After realizing he was gone, she put the holocron back into the sack and then placed it in a safe hiding place. She left the house and moved down the street, heading to check out tonight's duels.
"What?! No way!" Leun's eyes were as big as saucers, a blend of fear and humor begrudged.
Markus just laughed as they walked from the market making their way to her house, though his thoughts clearly envisioned the event.
“See if I help you anymore.” She grinned with a devilish twinkle, guiding the horse and cart with the goods Markus would sell most days.
“Aww now, Lass… ye know I’m just playin with ya…” Humorous defiance would describe the look on his face to a tee. He didn’t say it but his thoughts were clearly adding….. even if it is the truth.
She grinned, though even if the humor of it was there, she was still seriously fearful of the fights. Even though she had remained calm the night before while Tass idly hinted a threat to throw or drag her into the frey, she still had to fight off the panic threatening to attack her then. “Truth or not… It’s not funny, Markus. I gotta get over this.”
He sobered a bit, eyeing her carefully. It was clear to him that she had just picked up on his thoughts. He seemed to come to a decision about something. “All right then.. But he was probably trying to do ye a favor, Lass. Sounds like a good teacher to get ye into it right off the bat. Do ye think it was coincidence that the first training he gets ye to is in the one ye fear the most?"
Leun looked thoughtfully confused, mulling the question round in her head. "I don't know."
"What's yer gut tell ye?... yes? or no?"
She thought about this a moment. "Maybe not.. no."
"Why so?"
"I dunno.. it just seemed, ironic, like something fated.. like if I did this, then this is what I'd face first even if I didn't want to face it until last. Know what I mean? Like it was supposed to be this way."
Markus nodded slowly, both in agreement and making a decision.
It was after they arrived and were sitting at the dinner table that he put his decision into motion. “Yer father once asked me to hold something fer ye. He said that if anything ever happened to him that I should give it to ye when I felt the time was right. I’m thinkin the time is now. I think it’ll help ye learn to focus.”
The strange item was taken out of a sack, which he’d brought in and set on the floor beside his chair. He set the cubic item on the table beside her and watched her reaction. It took her only a moment or two of trying to recall why it seemed so familiar and then it dawned on her what it was. Her visage sobered with wonder.
“A Jedi Holocron?”
He nodded. “He said it would teach ye the basics and help ye learn to focus. He said ye don’t need a Master Jedi to learn from…. Ye just need to follow yer heart and do what’s right… He said never stop learning how to use yer talents.”
“You think I’m like my father.” She stated.
“Aye, Lass… Yer not like yer mother, ‘cept maybe yer looks and disposition.” He grinned again. “She was always the calmer of the two. I think you’ll have good control like her, even if ye didn’t get her magical abilities.. I think ye’ll wield the Force like she did Magic.”
“But… how can you be so sure I can use the Force?”
“Let’s just call it instinct. My gut tells me yer like yer father that way. Maybe he knew that and that’s why he made sure there was a way fer ye to get this. Keep it hidden, keep it safe he told me…. Said others, especially Jedi, would be lookin fer it. Here… use the sack to hide it in. It’ll keep it from being divined by others. Then hide it well from sight.” He set the small but simple brown and blue threaded burlap sack on the table.
She picked up the holocron in her hands, holding it almost reverently as she gazed over the marking on the outside. She opened it up and began to look through its contents. Three hours went by before she set the item down, never believing so much time had gone by. So absorbed in the information that she never heard Markus leave.
After realizing he was gone, she put the holocron back into the sack and then placed it in a safe hiding place. She left the house and moved down the street, heading to check out tonight's duels.
The trip to Twilight Island had been interesting to say the least. She'd never been there and thought it was just a beautiful place. She'd never met a goblin either, but it was nothing like she'd read about except it's looks. It was just so eager to please, something unexpected. And the pies.. they were just so tantalizing! Leuni had two pieces.
"So did ye learn anything?" Markus asked while he packed up his goods, ending yet another day of selling.
Nodding, Leun replied, "I took a few notes. Tass' friend, Rena, was there. Tass wasn't. Still, I learned some things. It was interesting to see the magic fly. I don't know that I'll be able to do that one, except by device."
"Got one yet?"
She shook her head. "No. That might be a while in coming. Do you know how expensive magical bobbles are?"
He laughed as she rolled her eyes. "That I do. So what about last night? I saw ye headin that way again."
"I think I might've found a weapon to use." she remarked.
"Oh? Was yer mentor there to help ye pick it out?" he asked.
"No... well, sorta but he had nothing to do with me picking it out. See, Rena was there again and she told me we're allowed to use the weapons from the displays on the wall. I always thought they were just display, like trophies from old battles or something. So I checked them out and held some of them."
"Whad'ya pick?" he eyed her curiously.
Though the amusement in his gaze didn't go unnoticed. She grinned. "Well, I didn't like the short or long swords. The blade on the short seemed too wide and awkward, as the long was too long. I felt like I was gonna tip over or something. There was another one, I think it's called a scimitar... thin curved blade. It looked interesting but I was afraid the curve in the blade might be something else to get used to. Might be a challenge best left for another time."
While she spoke, she pulled out padd and pen and began to draw a picture. "So I picked up one I don't know what it's called. The weapons weren't labelled. Longer then a short sword but thinner like the longsword and shorter then it ... had straight blade except for the angle of the tip. Like this....."
She held the picture for him to see. He gazed at it very briefly. "Katana. Interesting choice. So did Tass say he would teach ye how to use it?"
"Well...." she seemed concerned. "Not exactly."
"What did he say?"
"He didn't. We didn't exactly talk last night, just pleasant hello's from across the room sort of thing."
Markus frowned. "What was he doing?"
"Sitting with the Caller during the big match last night." Yeah, it bothered her. She felt comfortable enough around Markus to let her guard down a bit.
"Dissapointing, no? Why do ye suppose he did that?"
She nodded. "I dont' know, maybe trying to wait and see what I do?"
"I'd say that's a good bet. Then next time ye should corner 'im fer guidance. Get him to give ye lessons with that thing."
"So did ye learn anything?" Markus asked while he packed up his goods, ending yet another day of selling.
Nodding, Leun replied, "I took a few notes. Tass' friend, Rena, was there. Tass wasn't. Still, I learned some things. It was interesting to see the magic fly. I don't know that I'll be able to do that one, except by device."
"Got one yet?"
She shook her head. "No. That might be a while in coming. Do you know how expensive magical bobbles are?"
He laughed as she rolled her eyes. "That I do. So what about last night? I saw ye headin that way again."
"I think I might've found a weapon to use." she remarked.
"Oh? Was yer mentor there to help ye pick it out?" he asked.
"No... well, sorta but he had nothing to do with me picking it out. See, Rena was there again and she told me we're allowed to use the weapons from the displays on the wall. I always thought they were just display, like trophies from old battles or something. So I checked them out and held some of them."
"Whad'ya pick?" he eyed her curiously.
Though the amusement in his gaze didn't go unnoticed. She grinned. "Well, I didn't like the short or long swords. The blade on the short seemed too wide and awkward, as the long was too long. I felt like I was gonna tip over or something. There was another one, I think it's called a scimitar... thin curved blade. It looked interesting but I was afraid the curve in the blade might be something else to get used to. Might be a challenge best left for another time."
While she spoke, she pulled out padd and pen and began to draw a picture. "So I picked up one I don't know what it's called. The weapons weren't labelled. Longer then a short sword but thinner like the longsword and shorter then it ... had straight blade except for the angle of the tip. Like this....."
She held the picture for him to see. He gazed at it very briefly. "Katana. Interesting choice. So did Tass say he would teach ye how to use it?"
"Well...." she seemed concerned. "Not exactly."
"What did he say?"
"He didn't. We didn't exactly talk last night, just pleasant hello's from across the room sort of thing."
Markus frowned. "What was he doing?"
"Sitting with the Caller during the big match last night." Yeah, it bothered her. She felt comfortable enough around Markus to let her guard down a bit.
"Dissapointing, no? Why do ye suppose he did that?"
She nodded. "I dont' know, maybe trying to wait and see what I do?"
"I'd say that's a good bet. Then next time ye should corner 'im fer guidance. Get him to give ye lessons with that thing."
Sweat dripped down the side of her face, the spin flung it into the air as she stepped into an attempt at a fancy little spin before a circular parry. The move threw her off balance and her foot grazed the ground causing her to trip and roll along the grassy back yard. When her body was done tumbling, she gazed up to the cloudy sky above, listening to the birds cackle seeming at her failed move.
“Well there she is… Ms. Grace!” She heard Markus’ comment followed by his laugh.
Her head turned towards the side of her house as he was coming from there. Though breathless, she managed a dry retort. “Yay…. My cheering crowd has arrived.”
“Of course!” he smiled and offered a hand to help her up as he reached her side. “I hear ye won a match the other night. Someone named Guill?”
She raised a brow and took his hand, standing as he helped her up. Her hand let go and she proceeded to brush off the grass and leaves clinging to her clothes. “Yeah, I did. Where did you hear that?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, ye know.. I hear things in the market. Best ‘t keep the privacy of my customers secure.” His grin held a playful mirth.
“You heard right… I was surprised I did so well, actually. Perhaps just luck.” She nodded to that then bent over to pick up her katana.
“Maybe.....Anyway, thought I’d come by fer a visit since ye haven’t come down ‘t see me. Nice blade.” He commented with a nod towards the weapon..
“It seems to suit me. Tass gave it to me.” She smiled.
“Oh he did, now, did he?” Mirth sparked even more. “Been given ye lessons, too?”
“Well… more like advice. He threw me into the ring, though.”
“No! Threw ye? Literally?” Markus almost looked upset at the prospect.
“No..” she laughed. “Used his magic to pick me up and set me into the ring, though. I’m sure his wife would’ve loved to throw me in herself… All shish-kah-bobbed and flung from her claws…” She smirked.
“What do ye mean by that one, Lass?” Markus frowned.
“I dunno… I just kinda got the feeling from her, like some unspoken threat… “ She wasn’t sure how to articulate the feeling. “I don’t know why….”
“Were ye flirtin with the ‘ol man?” he grinned devilishly.
That got her to laugh. “No! Not that he’s not attractive, for an old guy… just… One, he’s married, and two…” she had to pause to think about that, struggling for a moment with the answer to finish with. “…that’s just not on my list of things to do in my life, no matter who we’re talking about … at least not right now.”
“Oh?” Curiosity ruled his visage.
“Yeah… I’ve been studying that holocron you gave me. Some of the philosophies are interesting and I think I understand some of the points they make about not having family, or loves. At least, I think I can understand avoiding them at first.”
She started to move slowly as she spoke, walking back to the house.
“The more I learn from it, the more I realize what a powerful thing the Force is. Honestly, I think it’s accelerating my learning, certainly helping me understand the moves. I think I might’ve even surprised Tass with my moves, lucky as they were or not. He said I won and with style. Somehow I don’t think he was being sarcastic, and I’m sure he wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t think so.”
Markus nodded slowly as he walked beside her. “So what was his advice…. On the sword play that is..”
“Oh, that… yeah, he said I need to be careful of using the Slash move, said it could leave a person wide open.” nod.
“So why did ye use it?” He asked as they got to the house and he opened the door for her.
“It just seemed to be a move to fit.” She stepped inside and moved out of the way for him to come in, setting her sword standing up against the counter as she moved to the sink to get a drink. It never occured to her to think how he seemed to know she used it. She just shrugged it off to being an assumption.
“It was like I could tell which way he was moving just by the sway and shift of his hips. That is.. after I focused. Kitty, Tass’ wife, said I should focus.. or someone else would for me. That was her advice to me. And Rena reminded me I should keep changing my moves, so I did. That slash just seemed to be the one to take him off guard and won the match.”
“Then I’m glad I gave ye that thing. I had a feelin it would suit ye all beneficial like.” He winked.
“There’s one thing that got me puzzled about the whole dueling thing, though…” she said as she opened the cupboard and took out a glass. The water was turned on and she let it run for several seconds before starting to fill her glass.
“What’s that?” He moved to the kitchen table and sat down.
“These duels for various things like…I don’t remember, but stuff like the docks.. or some tower or another… or whatever barony thing. I get the feeling it’s land? Or Property? I dunno… it’s confusing. I have enough trouble trying to understand the ranks they duel for, let alone anything else.” The glass was full, she lifted it to her lips, drinking thirstily.
“I couldn’t even begin to tell ye, Lass.” Markus chuckled with a slight tinge of a not so innocent tone. He chuckled. “I just push a fruit n veggie cart in the market.”
Brown hues shifted to lock her gaze on his as she finished drinking the entire contents of her glass. Markus held that gaze for a moment, but then looked away as if trying to find something to change the subject. And that’s what he did.
“So… now that yer unemployed… are ye gonna spend some time repainting the place?” he was looking at the stained, faded and, in some places, cracked paint in the kitchen.
“Well there she is… Ms. Grace!” She heard Markus’ comment followed by his laugh.
Her head turned towards the side of her house as he was coming from there. Though breathless, she managed a dry retort. “Yay…. My cheering crowd has arrived.”
“Of course!” he smiled and offered a hand to help her up as he reached her side. “I hear ye won a match the other night. Someone named Guill?”
She raised a brow and took his hand, standing as he helped her up. Her hand let go and she proceeded to brush off the grass and leaves clinging to her clothes. “Yeah, I did. Where did you hear that?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, ye know.. I hear things in the market. Best ‘t keep the privacy of my customers secure.” His grin held a playful mirth.
“You heard right… I was surprised I did so well, actually. Perhaps just luck.” She nodded to that then bent over to pick up her katana.
“Maybe.....Anyway, thought I’d come by fer a visit since ye haven’t come down ‘t see me. Nice blade.” He commented with a nod towards the weapon..
“It seems to suit me. Tass gave it to me.” She smiled.
“Oh he did, now, did he?” Mirth sparked even more. “Been given ye lessons, too?”
“Well… more like advice. He threw me into the ring, though.”
“No! Threw ye? Literally?” Markus almost looked upset at the prospect.
“No..” she laughed. “Used his magic to pick me up and set me into the ring, though. I’m sure his wife would’ve loved to throw me in herself… All shish-kah-bobbed and flung from her claws…” She smirked.
“What do ye mean by that one, Lass?” Markus frowned.
“I dunno… I just kinda got the feeling from her, like some unspoken threat… “ She wasn’t sure how to articulate the feeling. “I don’t know why….”
“Were ye flirtin with the ‘ol man?” he grinned devilishly.
That got her to laugh. “No! Not that he’s not attractive, for an old guy… just… One, he’s married, and two…” she had to pause to think about that, struggling for a moment with the answer to finish with. “…that’s just not on my list of things to do in my life, no matter who we’re talking about … at least not right now.”
“Oh?” Curiosity ruled his visage.
“Yeah… I’ve been studying that holocron you gave me. Some of the philosophies are interesting and I think I understand some of the points they make about not having family, or loves. At least, I think I can understand avoiding them at first.”
She started to move slowly as she spoke, walking back to the house.
“The more I learn from it, the more I realize what a powerful thing the Force is. Honestly, I think it’s accelerating my learning, certainly helping me understand the moves. I think I might’ve even surprised Tass with my moves, lucky as they were or not. He said I won and with style. Somehow I don’t think he was being sarcastic, and I’m sure he wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t think so.”
Markus nodded slowly as he walked beside her. “So what was his advice…. On the sword play that is..”
“Oh, that… yeah, he said I need to be careful of using the Slash move, said it could leave a person wide open.” nod.
“So why did ye use it?” He asked as they got to the house and he opened the door for her.
“It just seemed to be a move to fit.” She stepped inside and moved out of the way for him to come in, setting her sword standing up against the counter as she moved to the sink to get a drink. It never occured to her to think how he seemed to know she used it. She just shrugged it off to being an assumption.
“It was like I could tell which way he was moving just by the sway and shift of his hips. That is.. after I focused. Kitty, Tass’ wife, said I should focus.. or someone else would for me. That was her advice to me. And Rena reminded me I should keep changing my moves, so I did. That slash just seemed to be the one to take him off guard and won the match.”
“Then I’m glad I gave ye that thing. I had a feelin it would suit ye all beneficial like.” He winked.
“There’s one thing that got me puzzled about the whole dueling thing, though…” she said as she opened the cupboard and took out a glass. The water was turned on and she let it run for several seconds before starting to fill her glass.
“What’s that?” He moved to the kitchen table and sat down.
“These duels for various things like…I don’t remember, but stuff like the docks.. or some tower or another… or whatever barony thing. I get the feeling it’s land? Or Property? I dunno… it’s confusing. I have enough trouble trying to understand the ranks they duel for, let alone anything else.” The glass was full, she lifted it to her lips, drinking thirstily.
“I couldn’t even begin to tell ye, Lass.” Markus chuckled with a slight tinge of a not so innocent tone. He chuckled. “I just push a fruit n veggie cart in the market.”
Brown hues shifted to lock her gaze on his as she finished drinking the entire contents of her glass. Markus held that gaze for a moment, but then looked away as if trying to find something to change the subject. And that’s what he did.
“So… now that yer unemployed… are ye gonna spend some time repainting the place?” he was looking at the stained, faded and, in some places, cracked paint in the kitchen.
Soft green speckled her slight tan skin like a splay of freckles. Squatting there in the middle of the room, she screwed the lid onto the paint compartment and stood, lifting the sprayer up again. The prep work had been long, moving everything out of the living room, taping off the windows and anything else that she didn't want to get paint on. Last, tacking down the cover across the carpeting. She held the sprayer like a gun, took aim and just as the curtian covering the door flipped open ....
"Whoa!" Markus appeared where the curtain had been and just as quickly ducked away when he saw the sprayer aimed his direction.
Leun just laughed. "Whimp! What's a little paint? I think you'd look awesome with some green in your hair."
"Yeah, we could be wonder twins, eh?" He was grinning as he came back round to the opening. "Me with green hair an ye wit yer green freckles.... an matching hair too." He pointed out the spray of green in brown strands. His grin deepened. "It really shows up."
Brown hues sparkled with mirth.. and something more.... a dreamy looked which was usually brought on by a fair amount of spirits. A pinkness tainted once clear whites and her pupils were fairly dialated. "I liked your suggestion, can you tell?"
Markus snickered and put an arm over her shoulder. He gave a quick glance around to see how much she'd done. Most of it was already finished, she just had half of the wall with the doorway to do. "Yep. Damage done. Just that one spot 't do?"
She nodded.
"Come on with ye. Get 'er done! I brought Pizza...." He quickly darted out of the room, shutting the curtain to block the spray from getting into the kitchen. The fumes were another matter all together. He opened the windows a bit and set the door the same to let the air push the fumes out.
The tease of pizza spurred her on and she aimed true, finishing the task. Ten minutes later and she was sitting in the kitchen eating pizza with Markus. Paint sprayer was soaking in the sink.
"I found another job." she said, taking a bite of pizza.
"Oh?" he was her twin merely a second or two behind her in the pizza biting.
She nodded and chewed a few times until she could speak again. "Yep. Bullet Catcher." Grin.
He looked like he was going to either choke on or spit out the pizza in his mouth. "What?!"
"Well, I figure if I can shoot 'em, why not catch 'em to?" dainty eyebrows wiggled humorously. She took a sip of iced tea she'd made earlier.
"Good luck wi'that. Lemmi know how it goes fer ye, okay?" He just shook his head, set his pizza down, picked up a tape measurer and began to measure her body.
"It won't be so bad. I figure it won't take me as long to save up for that .... What aRe you doing?"
"Measuring ye fer a casket, Lass...." he grinned.
She swatted his arm and he darted back to his seat, picking up his pizza again. Leun just laughed and continued. "Anyway.... I'll get the funds for the sword faster that way. Tass suggested I get with a guy named Artemus Kurgen, of Kurgen Keep, to get a better sword. I'm sure it won't be cheep."
"I know of 'im. He's got..er, had a school with his brother I think. Sylus. I'm nae sure if it still functions, but it's down the road a speck." he offered.
"I know. I've seen it before. Just been putting it off for now though. Money and all."
Markus nodded. "I'm trying 't help ye out, Lass."
"And you have been! I don't know what I'd do without you, really. You've been awesome to me." Her tones softened. She realized he was about the only real friend she had in the world... the only one she could call family. She reallized in that moment what a recluse she had been living as. Soft browns glanced down to the floor.
"When ye goin?"
His voice broke her reverie.
"Huh? Oh... I don't know. I suppose I could at least talk to him, maybe go there later after I get cleaned up."
"Are ye going to fight?"
"Huh? Oh! I thought you meant to Kurgen Keep ... never mind. Yeah, I guess I could go for the duels. It's fiststicuffs, though... Duel of Fists. I dont' know if I can do that."
"Isn't that part of the training in the Holocron?"
She nodded. "It's not the same without a partner though."
"You'll be fine. I'm sure you'll find a partner there."
"Maybe Neo will be there. He's got this wierd thing he does whenever he fights. I don't know if it helps him, but he thinks it does."
"What's he do?"
"I don't know what he calls it. I'd call it blinders.. all the way around." she chuckled.
Markus raised a brow but grinned all the same. "Why you say that?"
"Cause... he just... I dunno.. he just totally focuses so much on what he's doing that he's completely oblivious to everyone else. Sometimes that includes his opponent. I think I made him mad at me last time I was there. I told him what I thought of his technique."
"I wouldn't worry about it. Ye might've done 'im a favor."
"I was trying to. But.. you know... I'm just the newbie. What do I know?" she shrugged.
"Sometimes.. it's the newbie who sees the real problem with no bias 't taint their opinions. If they're smart, they'll be listening."
"I think that works both ways." she nodded.
So did he. "So are ye goin?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. I should. Maybe Artemus will show up there. Or maybe I'll just go crawl into bed and go visit him tomorrow at his place. "
"Totally up to ye, Lass. Do what you think is best."
"Whoa!" Markus appeared where the curtain had been and just as quickly ducked away when he saw the sprayer aimed his direction.
Leun just laughed. "Whimp! What's a little paint? I think you'd look awesome with some green in your hair."
"Yeah, we could be wonder twins, eh?" He was grinning as he came back round to the opening. "Me with green hair an ye wit yer green freckles.... an matching hair too." He pointed out the spray of green in brown strands. His grin deepened. "It really shows up."
Brown hues sparkled with mirth.. and something more.... a dreamy looked which was usually brought on by a fair amount of spirits. A pinkness tainted once clear whites and her pupils were fairly dialated. "I liked your suggestion, can you tell?"
Markus snickered and put an arm over her shoulder. He gave a quick glance around to see how much she'd done. Most of it was already finished, she just had half of the wall with the doorway to do. "Yep. Damage done. Just that one spot 't do?"
She nodded.
"Come on with ye. Get 'er done! I brought Pizza...." He quickly darted out of the room, shutting the curtain to block the spray from getting into the kitchen. The fumes were another matter all together. He opened the windows a bit and set the door the same to let the air push the fumes out.
The tease of pizza spurred her on and she aimed true, finishing the task. Ten minutes later and she was sitting in the kitchen eating pizza with Markus. Paint sprayer was soaking in the sink.
"I found another job." she said, taking a bite of pizza.
"Oh?" he was her twin merely a second or two behind her in the pizza biting.
She nodded and chewed a few times until she could speak again. "Yep. Bullet Catcher." Grin.
He looked like he was going to either choke on or spit out the pizza in his mouth. "What?!"
"Well, I figure if I can shoot 'em, why not catch 'em to?" dainty eyebrows wiggled humorously. She took a sip of iced tea she'd made earlier.
"Good luck wi'that. Lemmi know how it goes fer ye, okay?" He just shook his head, set his pizza down, picked up a tape measurer and began to measure her body.
"It won't be so bad. I figure it won't take me as long to save up for that .... What aRe you doing?"
"Measuring ye fer a casket, Lass...." he grinned.
She swatted his arm and he darted back to his seat, picking up his pizza again. Leun just laughed and continued. "Anyway.... I'll get the funds for the sword faster that way. Tass suggested I get with a guy named Artemus Kurgen, of Kurgen Keep, to get a better sword. I'm sure it won't be cheep."
"I know of 'im. He's got..er, had a school with his brother I think. Sylus. I'm nae sure if it still functions, but it's down the road a speck." he offered.
"I know. I've seen it before. Just been putting it off for now though. Money and all."
Markus nodded. "I'm trying 't help ye out, Lass."
"And you have been! I don't know what I'd do without you, really. You've been awesome to me." Her tones softened. She realized he was about the only real friend she had in the world... the only one she could call family. She reallized in that moment what a recluse she had been living as. Soft browns glanced down to the floor.
"When ye goin?"
His voice broke her reverie.
"Huh? Oh... I don't know. I suppose I could at least talk to him, maybe go there later after I get cleaned up."
"Are ye going to fight?"
"Huh? Oh! I thought you meant to Kurgen Keep ... never mind. Yeah, I guess I could go for the duels. It's fiststicuffs, though... Duel of Fists. I dont' know if I can do that."
"Isn't that part of the training in the Holocron?"
She nodded. "It's not the same without a partner though."
"You'll be fine. I'm sure you'll find a partner there."
"Maybe Neo will be there. He's got this wierd thing he does whenever he fights. I don't know if it helps him, but he thinks it does."
"What's he do?"
"I don't know what he calls it. I'd call it blinders.. all the way around." she chuckled.
Markus raised a brow but grinned all the same. "Why you say that?"
"Cause... he just... I dunno.. he just totally focuses so much on what he's doing that he's completely oblivious to everyone else. Sometimes that includes his opponent. I think I made him mad at me last time I was there. I told him what I thought of his technique."
"I wouldn't worry about it. Ye might've done 'im a favor."
"I was trying to. But.. you know... I'm just the newbie. What do I know?" she shrugged.
"Sometimes.. it's the newbie who sees the real problem with no bias 't taint their opinions. If they're smart, they'll be listening."
"I think that works both ways." she nodded.
So did he. "So are ye goin?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. I should. Maybe Artemus will show up there. Or maybe I'll just go crawl into bed and go visit him tomorrow at his place. "
"Totally up to ye, Lass. Do what you think is best."
"So what were ye afraid of?" Markus asked the next day as he handed her a pear. They both leaned up against the cart of goods in the Market area. It was mid afternoon.
Leun just shrugged and took the fruit. "I dunno.."
She knew. She just didn't want to say it. It would only serve in bringing up the ghosts of the past. Any time something pressed against her back, she was reminded.
"Maybe it was just Tass. He's such a people lover that it flows from him. Ya know? kinda like you. You're both comfortable to be around because you both just .. really love people. I just couldn't believe it when he kissed me, though." she blushed.
He grinned at first. "He did, now, did he? Dirty 'ol man...", Then he feigned anger. "Maybe I should come in and teach 'im a lesson."
She laughed, seeing right through the angry guise. "It wasn't like that! It was just.. well I think it was just a fighting tactic is all. You know, get 'em off guard and a kiss will certainly do that. It worked. He kept sweeping me off my feet, too. I knocked him head over heals though. He still won the match."
A soft shrug and a fond grin showed as she remembered the fight. "I'm glad I went and did it."
"See there? That a girl! Face yer fears, hun. I'm proud of ye. Yer parents would be proud, too." Markus gave a firm nod. "So, did ye see Artemus?"
Leun shook her head and took a bite of the pear, savoring the ripe sweetness for a moment before she spoke. "I had hoped but.. well, I'm glad I waited. It came to me last night as I thought about it... just what I want him to make."
"Oh? What's that?" Markus raised a curious brow.
"I think you know." Her brown hues held his gaze.
Markus thought about it and seemed to know. He gave a soft nodd.
"Ye are yer father's daughter, Lass."
Leun just shrugged and took the fruit. "I dunno.."
She knew. She just didn't want to say it. It would only serve in bringing up the ghosts of the past. Any time something pressed against her back, she was reminded.
"Maybe it was just Tass. He's such a people lover that it flows from him. Ya know? kinda like you. You're both comfortable to be around because you both just .. really love people. I just couldn't believe it when he kissed me, though." she blushed.
He grinned at first. "He did, now, did he? Dirty 'ol man...", Then he feigned anger. "Maybe I should come in and teach 'im a lesson."
She laughed, seeing right through the angry guise. "It wasn't like that! It was just.. well I think it was just a fighting tactic is all. You know, get 'em off guard and a kiss will certainly do that. It worked. He kept sweeping me off my feet, too. I knocked him head over heals though. He still won the match."
A soft shrug and a fond grin showed as she remembered the fight. "I'm glad I went and did it."
"See there? That a girl! Face yer fears, hun. I'm proud of ye. Yer parents would be proud, too." Markus gave a firm nod. "So, did ye see Artemus?"
Leun shook her head and took a bite of the pear, savoring the ripe sweetness for a moment before she spoke. "I had hoped but.. well, I'm glad I waited. It came to me last night as I thought about it... just what I want him to make."
"Oh? What's that?" Markus raised a curious brow.
"I think you know." Her brown hues held his gaze.
Markus thought about it and seemed to know. He gave a soft nodd.
"Ye are yer father's daughter, Lass."
"Dogs..." Leuni's quiet tones fell from her lips as she was leaving the Outback. The door closed gently behind her as she guided it to do so.
The air was crisp leaving her breath in soft wisps of fog trailing along behind her as she began to walk away. She had a few bruises from tonight's duel with Matt, but the air felt good on them. It had been a fair night for her. Now she could say she held hands with the Governor and whipped his hide real good in the match. It had actually been a fairly close match. She still wondered how she had actually won.
It was after the match that she was reminded again of how lonely her life was at times. Matt and Koy... Tass and Kitty... the twins.. others... she had paused and pondered the scene, caught up in some reverie. It reminded her that her parents were gone and her house was, when Markus wasn't there, quite lonely.
As she had left the building, her thoughts pondered the possibility of getting herself a dog, or two.... Someone she could come home to, something of protection as well.
She took a few steps down the path along the pond and stopped in her tracks. In the lamplight, she could make out the figure of some kind of medium sized dog next to a slightly larger one. Dogs sometimes ran freely, but usually not at night. It wasn't often, but not unheard of, that packs from the dumps would wander the streets for garbage, sometimes attacking other animals or people in rare cases. Two dogs together were a sign that there could be more.
Her gaze keenly looked around, ears straining to hear and she tried to use the Force to sense her surroundings more keenly. They were nearly on the other side of the pond, though if they ran it wouldn't be too long before they could catch up to her.
As it was, she sensed their curiosity, saw their ears perk up and bodies stiffen as they were extending their senses to, no doubt, check her out. Leun could've kicked herself for not wearing her weapons. It had been Duel of Fists that night and she hadn't thought to need them. And now, she was becoming painfully aware that her back was hurting more.
Leun tried to move normally, though keeping senses tuned on the two dogs. She started to walk away from them, heading for the street. No sooner then she got halfway past the building and she heard the clatter of canine nails on the boarwalk around the pond.. running fast. She broke into a run.
The pain in her back increased and she tried her best to ignore it. The dogs were chasing her and the last thing she wanted to become was food for dogs. She dodged through the streets and down back alleys, jumped over fences and ran through people's yards. Though they didn't go into the yards, the dogs did continue to follow.
Desperate measures for desperate times.
Left turn swiftly into an apartment buildind. She shut the door behind her and raced up the stairs until she was on the roof. Getting a running start, she raced across the roof, jumping over the narrow alleyway and landing on the next roof, dropping to a roll as she landed. She did this three more times, changing the direction on the last jump. Then she came down the outside stairs of that building and back to the streets. So much for the effort. She saw them coming down the street a couple of blocks away.
Dashing toward the wall to the west, she manuevered to it and began to rock climb the wall. It took her a few minutes to get to the top, thankfully she didn't fall. The dogs were there at the bottom of the wall, barking up at her in a pitch that was strangely not tainted by hunger, or anger, or anything but the impression of a *Hey You! Come play with me!* tone. She stood on the top of the wall and gave them a strange grin.
"Find something interesting?" came a voice from behind her.
She nearly jumped as he startled her. It was the nightwatchman walking the wall. He could've gotten her for it, but when she explained what she was doing, running from the dogs, he let her go. His first reaction was preparing to shoot the dogs, but Leun wouldn't let him. Relenting, he offered to distract the pair with some extra meat in his pack so she could get a clean break from them and escape down the other side. Thankful, she made her way down the other side of the wall and quickly went home.
The next morning, her back was in worse shape. To top it off, she heard wimpering outside her back door. Then a bark.
"No way..."
She looked out the back window to see the larger dog barking for attention while the smaller dog layed on the ground wimpering. It's front paw had blood on it. She got dressed and grabbed her gun. Then she went outside to check out the dogs.
The air was crisp leaving her breath in soft wisps of fog trailing along behind her as she began to walk away. She had a few bruises from tonight's duel with Matt, but the air felt good on them. It had been a fair night for her. Now she could say she held hands with the Governor and whipped his hide real good in the match. It had actually been a fairly close match. She still wondered how she had actually won.
It was after the match that she was reminded again of how lonely her life was at times. Matt and Koy... Tass and Kitty... the twins.. others... she had paused and pondered the scene, caught up in some reverie. It reminded her that her parents were gone and her house was, when Markus wasn't there, quite lonely.
As she had left the building, her thoughts pondered the possibility of getting herself a dog, or two.... Someone she could come home to, something of protection as well.
She took a few steps down the path along the pond and stopped in her tracks. In the lamplight, she could make out the figure of some kind of medium sized dog next to a slightly larger one. Dogs sometimes ran freely, but usually not at night. It wasn't often, but not unheard of, that packs from the dumps would wander the streets for garbage, sometimes attacking other animals or people in rare cases. Two dogs together were a sign that there could be more.
Her gaze keenly looked around, ears straining to hear and she tried to use the Force to sense her surroundings more keenly. They were nearly on the other side of the pond, though if they ran it wouldn't be too long before they could catch up to her.
As it was, she sensed their curiosity, saw their ears perk up and bodies stiffen as they were extending their senses to, no doubt, check her out. Leun could've kicked herself for not wearing her weapons. It had been Duel of Fists that night and she hadn't thought to need them. And now, she was becoming painfully aware that her back was hurting more.
Leun tried to move normally, though keeping senses tuned on the two dogs. She started to walk away from them, heading for the street. No sooner then she got halfway past the building and she heard the clatter of canine nails on the boarwalk around the pond.. running fast. She broke into a run.
The pain in her back increased and she tried her best to ignore it. The dogs were chasing her and the last thing she wanted to become was food for dogs. She dodged through the streets and down back alleys, jumped over fences and ran through people's yards. Though they didn't go into the yards, the dogs did continue to follow.
Desperate measures for desperate times.
Left turn swiftly into an apartment buildind. She shut the door behind her and raced up the stairs until she was on the roof. Getting a running start, she raced across the roof, jumping over the narrow alleyway and landing on the next roof, dropping to a roll as she landed. She did this three more times, changing the direction on the last jump. Then she came down the outside stairs of that building and back to the streets. So much for the effort. She saw them coming down the street a couple of blocks away.
Dashing toward the wall to the west, she manuevered to it and began to rock climb the wall. It took her a few minutes to get to the top, thankfully she didn't fall. The dogs were there at the bottom of the wall, barking up at her in a pitch that was strangely not tainted by hunger, or anger, or anything but the impression of a *Hey You! Come play with me!* tone. She stood on the top of the wall and gave them a strange grin.
"Find something interesting?" came a voice from behind her.
She nearly jumped as he startled her. It was the nightwatchman walking the wall. He could've gotten her for it, but when she explained what she was doing, running from the dogs, he let her go. His first reaction was preparing to shoot the dogs, but Leun wouldn't let him. Relenting, he offered to distract the pair with some extra meat in his pack so she could get a clean break from them and escape down the other side. Thankful, she made her way down the other side of the wall and quickly went home.
The next morning, her back was in worse shape. To top it off, she heard wimpering outside her back door. Then a bark.
"No way..."
She looked out the back window to see the larger dog barking for attention while the smaller dog layed on the ground wimpering. It's front paw had blood on it. She got dressed and grabbed her gun. Then she went outside to check out the dogs.
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