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| Inertia; { Reserved; Orion de' Lacey } | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 13 2010, 04:19 PM (888 Views) | |
| Raya Clearwood | Aug 13 2010, 04:19 PM Post #1 |
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Eyes inky black, deep and endless like an abyss, watched him from afar. For months the creature had stalked him, keeping an ever mindful distance. Secrecy was key, when stalking prey. A huntress by nature she could sit at lengths and see him crystal clear; a body built for the hunt, she was the epitome of everything a predator was supposed to be. However, the adaption from swift quick kills to lengthy drawn out stalking, was a new trait she had developed two days after being dismissed from her master on the windswept planes of Aeril. She ruffled her white plumage agitatedly, flexing her talons as she watched him leave a building. It was all his fault. Her original master had left her to his mate, and Raya would not abandon the hawk after the years of bonding between them... he had made her against her will...and the hawk hated him for it. Raya wouldn't have left her.... He was too big of prey to take down, but she wasn't watching him all these months for that... she was watching him for the day she came for him. And Raya would come. The hawk didn't know what happened on the plains after the harsh dismissal she had received, but the lack of a blond corpse in the grasses, and the fact she had tracked Orion down alive, was a written promise that the man would find death by her master's hand eventually, she knew Raya... and so she watched. "What do you mean Orion de' Lacey is the Mohgul of Ashoka?" She seethed, dangling the child by his shirt collar. Two brown pools filled with terror stared into her icy gaze. He had given up struggling and now hung limply in horror, as his friends cowered against the wall of the alley they had been playing in. "SPEAK DAMMIT!" she barked viciously, jostling him a bit. The child no more than seven or eight years began sputtering, cowering in her wrath. "We... we... we were jus' playing the Dark Conquest... I-I-I was j-jus playing the Mohgul an-an-and Ty was pa-pa-playing Andromalius an-annn Sarah was playing Sphynx...an" "I don't give a fuck who was playing who, What does Orion de'Lacey have to do with the Mohgul of Ashoka?" "Andromalius gave him rule over Ashoka after Ri killed the other Mohgul stupid woman! Everyone knows that! Now Let him go!" The little girl spat stepping forward in a burst of courage, her fists balling up at her sides. Raya threw the little boy at the girl in her anger, they collapsed on the ground before quickly sputtering to their feet and running off down the alley. "HEY!" She shouted angrily taking off after them, she wasn't done with them yet. They wove through the Madrid market dodging around vendors like the layout was inherent in their minds. It wasn't uncommon for children to be chased in the market, they after all could be very mischievous rascals, so none bothered to pay mind to the scene. Raya might not be as knowledgeable of the town as the children who lived there, but she certainly was giving them a damn time at trying to lose her. "Run run RUN!" They screeched at each other until they came to a square in the market that branched four ways, the eldest seeming boy, Ty, suddenly screamed SCATTER! Each child tore off down a different path and for a moment Raya hesitated, just enough to decided to tear off after the impostor Orion. His legs were much shorter than the others, and he had been the one lagging behind already. There was no chance in hell he would get away from her, she had been searching everywhere and finally had a lead... albeit in the most unfathomed way to have acquired it. Who would run around "playing" that Psychopath... let alone her informant be a child. She had begun gaining on him just in time for him to abruptly turn into a home and slam the door in her face. She pulled back angrily, drawing one of her blades before violently kicking the door open to the small, yet lavish, one room home. The boy had run straight into his mothers arms and now both the woman and child starred frightfully at Raya's sudden entrance. "Who are you and what do you think you..." "SHUT the fuck up!" She said pointing at the woman threateningly with the tip of her blade. "You're going to tell me every goddamn thing you know dealing with Orion de'Lacey- and then I'm going to leave.... you piss me the fuck off anymore than your little shit-spawn already has, and I will dismember him in front of your eyes." The vehement rage welling inside her body, was enough to simply pour out of her in an endless raging stream. He was the fucking Mohgul of Ashoka?!!? That fucking monster ruled a country!?! And he was vying for control of Morrim now?! How the hell could she have not know his part in the Conquest of the Banshee? The Banshee had failed from what she had heard, but she had never paid attention to what was truly happening... she had no home, no ruler, and thus no care for the trivial squabbles over the land. Now- she cared. Having stolen a horse with essentially minor trouble from one of the estates on the edges of Madrid, she now road for Morrim... Kinaldi to be exact. The wench had told her he was supposedly to have left Ashoka to discuss with the old empresses advisers, and the king of Ankgar, who should succeed rule over Morrim. As rumor would have it, he apparently was pulling for it. She road hard and fast, and she would not stop until she got to Kinaldi.... the advisers wouldn't have to make any decisions regarding Orion.... he would be dead by her hand soon enough... And so she road into the setting sun, the sky burning orange while her hate burned fresh. Edited by Raya Clearwood, Aug 18 2010, 10:08 PM.
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| Orion de Lacey | Nov 26 2010, 11:17 PM Post #2 |
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Moghul of Ashoka
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Kinaldi was far better than Eldahar, though he was still rather impartial to the downtrodden Orl'Kabbaran districts where trashy prostitutes lined the streets, enticing young men with long dark eyelashes, painted faces, and so little clothing that had he pulled one of them into a bedroom with him, it wouldn't have taken more than a second or two to rip it all off. Here in Kinaldi, people were more reserved, but the sheer differences between the ruined Eldahar and the thriving Kinaldi were stark. It would be a nice bonus if he managed to persuade the Empress's advisers that he should be allowed to take the throne, though, with the appearance of Sphynx and her entourage, he doubted it would ever happen. Having dealt with Sphynx in the past, he knew that her intentions were similar to his, so it wasn't as if it mattered one way or the other anyway - it just would have been nice if he had been the one in charge. Orion had taken to wandering the upper class areas of the city, near Tunetown, knowing how edgy his presence made some of the other inhabitants. Of course information had travelled quickly across the continent and most, if not everyone, who lived in any one of the major cities in either Soto or Morrim knew that he was responsible for the late Moghul's death. There was an awed sort of respect that was projected towards him as he wandered down the streets, his scythe perched on his back while its detachable head swung at his side, the sharp blade grazing against his shin, the chain it was attached to taut. A normal sovereign in a normal world would probably have had a host of guards surrounding him or her in order to prevent any mishaps from occurring, but Orion wasn't the sort who felt he needed it, nor cared. If someone wanted to jump him, let them - he would have been more than happy to engage them in armed combat, knowing that he was more than capable of defending himself. That was probably why most people shied away when he passed by. It was late evening, the sun working on a slow decent that was growing faster as the days began to grow longer. As he passed by a particularly charming woman, the Moghul paused and turned his head, eyeing her up and down before he moved towards her, the first harlot he'd encountered in all of Kinaldi. He wasted no time in becoming acquainted with her, didn't bother to tell her his name or ask for hers, his lips, instead, brushing against her neck, up along the side, to her ear, before those same lips traced down, back to her collarbone. As he went through the motions he was wary - the hair was prickling on the back of his neck and the wind around his body was severely agitated - feeling as if something wasn't right with this situation. But really, who could blame him? |
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| Raya Clearwood | May 22 2011, 01:02 AM Post #3 |
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The sound of horse hoofs clacking one after another faded to a soft thud, as she slowed the beast to a walk. The sun was starting its journey to slumber, she had nearly rode the creature into the ground, but she had made it to Kinaldi and that's all she cared about. Swinging her body to the ground, she led the horse to the fringes of the city. Her legs were stiff, but she paid them no mind and she began scanning for a place to trade the animal. It took longer than she nearly had the patience for, but the bartering had gotten her less then the horse was worth and more then she needed. Cramming the bag of silver into her tunic, she started deeper into Kinaldi. It was much more lively here, even with the shops beginning to pack up for the night and the bars and taverns coming alive. She hated to think of what would come of the place if placed under Orion's rule. 'What would have...' she corrected herself. Though it was a lively city, its people were of a reserved kind, so traversing it with two short swords strapped gingerly to her back and a daunting glare -- still drew a few looks and an aversion to cross her path. The truth, was that she was aimlessly walking. Raya had no idea where in the city Orion was, or even where to begin to look. An even deeper truth -- she had no idea what to think now that she was here, and that was the only thing keeping her from asking around. She wanted to kill him, yes, that was true. But there was something irritating stirring around her mind, lingering on the fringes of solid thought as she revisited the day they had met -- the night they had spent together. It was causing her mood to sour at an alarming pace. The sun was much lower now, the last shafts of gold filtering the streets before the night overcame it. Turning down an abandoned side street, Raya stopped a few feet from the next road and leaned, with an annoyed sigh against a building. She was pissed, but it was hard to ignore the exhaustion and ware she had placed on her body the last few days. The ride to Kinaldi was an insane demand she had reaped upon herself after only just reaching Madrid, fueled by adrenaline alone. She could feel the thin layer of dried sweat coating her body, and the strands of hair that had worked themselves free of her braids. It was in this moment she was about to resign her search for the night, when a tinkling laughter came drifting around the corner. But it wasn't just that... She froze, but her body felt as if thousands of small electrical currents were running over and through her skin. She knew. She knew before she even turned the corner. She felt him, before she saw him. Her mind was blank, and all she could hear was the thundering palpitations of her heart. Slowly, she stepped out into view. What she saw hit her unexpectedly -- yet she really should have expected it. It took her a moment to comprehend it all. There he was... after all this time. But she didn't take time to drink him in. His back was to her, his lips... on the neck of a common whore. Rage swept in like a violent desert storm. She locked eyes with the harlot for a moment, before an eerie smile contorted her lips. The next moment a dagger was leaving her hand and vehemently making its way towards the pair. A dagger that would be all too familiar with Orion... Raya wasted no time. She would have loved to see the blade land its mark, but she did not wish to see Orion as she was now. More over, it would be nothing short of a rematch in her current state, if not worse. And worse she could not allow -- not on her end. She took off back down the way she had come, new energy surging through to carry her out of harms reach... and harm was sure to fall if he caught her... much, much harm. Still her eyes could not hide their new gleam. A smile could not stray from her face. She had found him... and now, he knew she was looking for him. He knew she was here.... and she could not wait for his rage. But tonight... tonight was for resting. And a bath. She need only find herself a tavern to hide away for the night.... She went as far as she could run in ten minutes, before looping back in the direction she had come down a different road. She had not looked back once, and took a mere glance before entering into a fairly decent tavern called The White Lotus. Smoothly, but in a hasty fashion chucked three pieces of silver over the counter to an old lady with white hair, retiring immediately upstairs to her room, but not before telling the woman to send water for a bath. She slammed the door shut, locking it and moving quickly away, a hand on one blade as if she were expecting him to come crashing through right behind her. She stayed like that a moment, her breathing heavy, chest rapidly rising and falling. When nothing happened, she chuckled at her ridiculousness- unlatching the belts and slinging them over the bed post. She sat down, running a hand through her disheveled tendrils, and laughing again as she fell back into the blood colored silk bedding. When had she ever started such a game of cat and mouse? And when, had she ever thought she couldn't handle her opponent -- even in exhaustion? And did he ever stop being so damn fucking infuriating?! |
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| Orion de Lacey | May 25 2011, 08:39 PM Post #4 |
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Moghul of Ashoka
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The woman he had in his grip moaned, melting under the soft kisses that he planted against her sweet skin. Nearly collapsed in his arms, she leaned into him expectantly, waiting for that crucial moment in which he told her to come back to wherever he was staying with him so that they could enjoy a solitary evening together. It was never meant to be. He couldn't explain the feeling that overcame him as the prickling at the nape of his neck became so intense that for a moment he lost sight of what he was trying to do at that particular moment. Drawing away from his harlot, Orion's head cocked so he could see over his shoulder and he caught the fleeting form of a figure as it dashed down a corner behind him. Releasing the blonde in front of him, he smiled apologetically at her. "King of Ashoka, and all," he said gruffly, as if his social standing actually made a difference. She pouted at him, her lower lip trembling at the same time that her blue eyes held an inquisitive expression. Orion pulled completely away from her and began to take off after Raya at a jog. With a little help from the wind, he would find her. At each turn Orion only just managed to catch Raya's figure, her braids or a boot as she turned another corner. The wind carried her scent to him whenever she was close enough - there was one moment at which he thought she was within reach - and he breathed it in, revelling in the salty taste. By the time the king finally slowed down to a walk he wasn't far from the White Lotus, the inn that his quarry had decided to hole up in. He paused at the entrance, pondering if he wanted to go through with this. The obvious answer was yes. The king approached the innkeeper's desk. "Your Highness! To what do I owe this honour?" the latter exclaimed. "A woman just came through here, blonde. We got into a bit of a fight... And I'm not sure she'll let me into the room. I need a spare key." "Oh Your Highness, we don't really give keys to patrons who are not together..." "Well, the thing is, we happen to be a couple and I really don't want to have to leave her here in Kinaldi while I return to Eldahar, especially if she is to be my future queen. She's the type of woman to hold a grudge unless you talk to her. You understand, I'm sure?" Orion had deliberately contorted his expression so that he appeared concerned and even a little distraught by the entire ordeal. Taking pity on him - the innkeeper didn't want to be known as the man who had denied Ashoka's king the opportunity to speak with his lady - he found an additional key and handed it across the counter; the inn had two of each key and a skeleton key, of course. It was the former that he handed over to the king. "I will keep your generosity in mind should we cross paths again in the future." Orion smiled. Reading the room number engraved onto the key as he made his way to Raya's room, the fighter didn't really need to look as he walked to know where he was going - it was all so instinctive. Reaching her room, he slipped the key into the door, using the air around his body to absorb the sound as it slid into the lock and he turned it; even the quiet click was muffled. Orion slipped into the room, leaving the key where it was, the door ajar. He saw her form laying on the scarlet bed; apparently she'd asked for the most expensive room she could find. Orion's footfalls were muffled as he crossed the space. The cautious quiet that he had been employing until that point dissolved the split second before he would be within her vicinity. Crossing the last portion of the room, the king launched himself onto the bed, landing on top of her midriff heavily. His scythe head came down, the actual weapon with its secondary head still strapped to his back. Pressing it firmly against her chest with as much pressure as he found desirable (which was quite a bit), he looked down at her, his expression malicious. "Well, well. Remember me, Raya? Or must I carve my name into your pretty little chest? Or maybe I'll carve it a little lower." His smile really couldn't get any more sinister than it already was. |
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| Raya Clearwood | Jun 17 2011, 10:40 PM Post #5 |
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It felt like a colossal weight had been placed upon her chest, as she relaxed her sore body into the down-feather stuffed bed. Exhaustion was finally having its way with her, and she pondered if she would even make it to a bath before sleep overcame her. The blood colored silk felt like cool water on her sun beat skin, and she relished in the texture as her lashes drew down slowly, and then together until all was black. Too tired for thought, she was already on the border of sleep and the waking world about to cross completely into the dreamland when a sudden noise pricked her ears, snapping her back. Her eyes shot open just as Orion landed heavily on her, knocking the breath from her lungs as her body tensed at his weight. She had no time to react, she hardly had a warning. She struggled to draw a breath, as her body adjusted to the real weight now upon her chest, her eyes fluttering a few times to register what had just occurred. She starred up at his face, eyes locking with his one vivacious green and one exquisite blue. She drank them in, her mind empty from both her weariness and shock. It had been so long since she had last seen them... heard his violently seductive words. At her name, a sudden smile turned up her slightly dried lips. Her mind, still lazy and slow in her weariness, was finally processing... albeit she could not find the proper emotions for her current predicament. "Forget the Infamous Orion?...never." gentle sarcasm rolled off her tongue. A small, strained chuckle escaped, jostling her chest lightly as her eyes shot up in recollection and her smile danced in her words, "Oh, that's right... I forgot about that." She then strained her head to look down at his scythe head, then to the ajar door-- noting the key in the lock. Laying her head back down with a sigh, she returned her gaze to him, "Well... if this doesn't seem like deja vu..." She really could laugh at how ridiculously, and irritatingly similar this all was turning out to be. "That should almost be considered cheating, your little dissipating sound trick. Tell me... how did you manage to get the key? Is everyone down stairs hacked to gory little pieces... or did you manage to steal it while the keepers back was turned? Though I think we both know stealing isn't really your idea of fun... then again, I suppose it is." She rambled languidly, before cutting her words off in dangerous recollection. She seemed complacent, though in reality his weight was overbearing for her current position. His damn scythe head was becoming just as annoying as he was, and she was growing irate with it already. The reality of the situation was finally creeping in however, and the proper emotions started to stir in her gut, but did not reach her collected composure. She knew he was going to be livid, but she had not planned on taking him on in such a state... or being so effortlessly preyed upon. It was not hard to see there was something grossly different about him now, yet she could not place what-- and that was dangerous for an already dangerous being. This was not good... she did not currently posses the strength to fend him off. She needed to think of something, and fast-- or this would all end much sooner then either could have anticipated. As it were, she was already uncertain with what he planned to do with her... and that was a jarring notion in itself. "So, did my dagger meet it's pretty little mark... or did you actually save the classless whore?" Edited by Raya Clearwood, Jun 17 2011, 10:46 PM.
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| Orion de Lacey | Jun 23 2011, 08:08 PM Post #6 |
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Moghul of Ashoka
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He chuckled softly at her questions, having noticed that her head had lifted just enough to note that the key was still in the door and that the door was still ajar, as if he hadn't really cared to close it. And really, if someone did peek in, they probably wouldn't like what they saw, and would either close the door themselves or warn people to avoid their room at all costs. "I did nothing of the sort," the king replied calmly, looking down at her, smiling. "I simply asked him for the key under the pretense that we were together and he kindly handed it over." He would leave the rest to her imagination, allow her to try to piece together what he'd said to the innkeeper in order to obtain the key, but he was, at least, telling the truth. Not that one could have known otherwise, really. Truth or lie, Orion's face was as smooth as stone, his ability to champion either of those things flawless. "Besides, don't you think that I would have had to hack apart the rest of the people in the inn, so as not to draw attention. I mean, I may be king and all, but I'm not king here, and I'd rather not be part of an exodus from the country - it would ruin my reputation, I'm sure you realize. That wouldn't do, especially not when you're attempting to take control of that country." He knew she was weak - he could see it in her inability to throw him off, to really care to try and struggle beneath the weapon pressing against her chest, in the way she spoke to him, without the fire that she had had that last time, especially after he'd threatened her bird. Did he really want to exploit her, though? It was something he was considering as he looked down at her lovely blonde locks, at that face that he'd watched contort during their amorous little run-in in the plains. The tables were turned now: he didn't have a concussion and wasn't injured from his encounter with a goddess, while she was exhausted. And yet they were perched in the exact same position as they had been before, although now the ground underneath her back wasn't ground at all - it was a soft bed. "No, I don't believe it did," Orion continued, almost with a sigh. "You really are losing your touch, you know. She looked quite alive - albeit frustrated - when I left her to pursue you. And since you've taken away the pleasure that I was supposed to have with her, I suppose you'll just have to be her substitute." The fighter leaned down, turning his body so that he could lean around the pole of his scythen head. Their faces weren't too close, but close enough that he could taste the scent of her skin. |
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| Raya Clearwood | Jun 26 2011, 10:34 PM Post #7 |
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Her eyebrow arched slightly at his response, a look of inquisition briefly following before being swept away by amusement. Who knew what he had actually said, he was, after all, a master of manipulation. There were honestly numerous scenarios she could draw out at length, and, as expected, his face was as smooth as granite-- betraying nothing. She stared at him, holding a soft smile as she looked up at him. She would have never trusted herself to hold his gaze this long, or this frequently in her right state. He was far too good at enticing and then explicitly eliciting emotions she would rather not feel. As it were, she was too worn out to exert the energies to restrain herself, and frankly she simply did not care. There was no point in struggling, the odds were far too apparent. This was checkmate, and there honestly was nothing that could be done on her end to alter that.... or was it? Her ears perked up at the mention of his sovereignty, something that had completely left her mind until that moment. Was he really lecturing her on his reputation? As far as she had heard thus far, his reputation had preceded him damn near across all of Elenlond. She couldn't help finding it funny, and she chuckled out right, struggling with the weight of him and the scythen head, but genuinely laughing at him. It was hard to tell if it was the giddiness that often eclipsed extreme fatigue, or something she truly found amusing. "You're reputation?" It was all she managed to say before laughing again. It took her a moment to sober up, looking up at him with a speculating gaze, before her words broke, much more sincere. "I had forgotten that you are now a "king". Mohgul I believe they called you... those impudent children. They said you allied yourself with a banshee, and served as his little lap dog, reaping the spoils, or should I say table scraps, after cutting off the old Mohgul's head... how very avant garde of you. Do you really think they'll sign you over this country when your own is in shambles, no thanks to you?" Her tone was mocking, but uncharacteristically playful. Almost as if she were teasing him, as opposed to insulting. As he bent down the smile lingered momentarily on her lips, slowly fading as his long brown tendrils hung down, almost touching her face. "Forgive me, maybe next time you should pick a fight when I'm not completely worn out." She mumbled gently. Never mind the fact she had initiated this encounter. Raya evened her breaths, wondering what he was planning. Surly he wouldn't really plan on bedding her after what happened last time, albeit it was very passionate.... would he? Or would he intend to have his way with her and then kill her? Just then a timid knock on the door rang out. Her head whipped in the direction, taking in the form of what she hoped would be her scape goat-- at least for tonight. The inn keeper and one young inn-hand stood with apparent uneasiness just outside the door, large buckets of steaming water in hand. The man fumbled for his words, before straightening up and attempting to look anywhere but Orion's scythen head. "Pardon, the intrusion, your Majesty, but your fiancee had requested water for a bath, we...we brought another basin to wash for you, if you to wash... If you cared to take a bath yourself." He fumbled over his words, and Raya beamed at them, quickly asserting her position to hopefully dispel Orion's hand from killing her. "Oh goodness me, positively sorry gentlemen, I'm sure this looks quite horrid! We were play-fighting, and well, what can I say, I guess I prefer my beloved Ri a bit rough... oh I'm so embarrassed!" She tinkled, washing her face in the most innocent of looks. She turned her face then and smiled complacently at Orion, hoping that this would solidify her life for the night after his speech about reputation. He would have to kill both the inn keeper and inn-hand if he didn't want to get pegged for killing his "fiancee", at least if he truly intended to do it tonight. "No need to apologize your ladyship, we'll be gone immediately." They quickly deposited the water in a larger basin in the far corner of the room, stoking the fire to keep the stone warm it sat on, in what she bet was recording timing, departing silently with the click of the door closing. Turning back to Orion, she stared at him with an absolutely beaming grin. "Funny, I don't recall ever saying yes to this marriage proposal..." |
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| Orion de Lacey | Jul 13 2011, 08:50 PM Post #8 |
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He chuckled quietly. He recognized the humour in what she said, knew that his own words were ironic because he was not famous but infamous - a scourge upon the world, a toxin that spread slowly and sought to destroy, saving only a chosen handful. Orion also recognized, of course, that her words weren't intended to offend; they were playful, giddy, as if there was no history between them and they actually enjoyed the other's company, reality utterly obscured. As far as the Moghul was concerned, the only thing that he enjoyed about her existence to date was the fact that she was a viable partner, a woman to be brought to bed who satisfied him. If not for that she certainly would have been dead by now. "I try," he said simply, shrugging his shoulders briefly, nonchalantly. There was certainly truth in what she had said and he was unsurprised by the rapid spread of the news about not only the previous Moghul's death, but the state of Ashoka itself. Of course, with Andromalius out of the picture the rumours would begin to spread tenfold, especially when his militarization plan was put into practice. To do that, however, he first had to devise a plan... "You have no excuse-" Orion was cut off as the knock came and his head glanced sharply back, his mismatched eyes honed on the door at the same time that he placed more pressure on Raya's chest, a silent warning that if she moved he wouldn't hesitate. One dark eyebrow raised at the stammered words of the newcomers, his head cocking for half a second to stare at Raya. With his face hidden from the innkeeper and his hand, a wicked grin split across the fighter's face. "Thank you, gentlemen," he replied easily, twisting the situation so that it remained gripped firmly in both his and Raya's hands. "I do appreciate the thought, and I did forget to ask that you bring water for myself, so this is a pleasant surprise. I should have known that Raya would like a bath - she's been a very busy woman as of late." Once the two of them were gone he glanced sharply at Raya, a little surprised by the ease with which she had lied to them. However, that shock quickly dissipated when he realized that, of course, she had to be an adept liar if she'd hoped to survive as long as she had. He laughed at her subtle query, pleased that she had played along. Of course, he didn't know her exact motives but he had a few guesses. If one of them was intended to allow her to keep her life, he didn't care - psychopaths were known to exist and it wasn't completely out of the ordinary for a husband to murder his wife. But he wouldn't want to do that, naturally - not yet, at least. "You don't need to recall. Of course, we could arrange to have it break off..." He smiled thinly at her. Glancing back towards the bath, Orion slid off of Raya's body, bringing the scythen head with him. She herself had admitted that she was exhausted and could not, in her present state, compete with him and so he did not feel a need to watch her as closely as he had previously thought. He did, however, keep his weapon with him as he moved towards the bath, expertly tugging off pieces of clothing with one hand. First fell the leather jerkin he wore, followed by the sleeveless black shirt with the high neck. It was there that he paused a moment, looking towards her, the sleek musculature of his shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen laid out for her to see once again. And then he had lost his black boots and the pants that went with them, the chain clattering to the floor as he moved, entirely naked, towards the bath. The king climbed easily over the edge of the tub and slipped into the warm water, sighing as he closed his eyes for a brief moment. "Care to join me?" He laughed. |
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| Raya Clearwood | Jul 18 2011, 10:10 PM Post #9 |
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Raya fully understood the implications of the warning Orion was giving via the extra pressure he added to the scythen head. His wicked grin she regarded with an amused light in her eyes, and despite everything, she managed to deliver a flawless and coy persona to the two intruders. Orion wasn't the only one in this room who could manipulate with an impeccable ease, she simply didn't make use of it nearly as frequently as he did. Though, she struggled to keep a smile from turning up her lips as she recalled the last time she had put the art into effect-- as it had been used on him moments before happily carving her true name into his chest. She watched him bring the little game to a stand off, but was unsurprised, naturally. Raya felt her lungs drink their first full breath as he slid casually off her; His words true enough. She remained as she was on the bed a moment, only vaguely surprised as she knew the lack of wanton hate for him at the moment was poor sport in his eyes. She starred up at the ceiling, wondering what was going to happen now. She remembered he had explicitly stated on the plains, so long ago now, that he never forced himself on the unwilling. Unless he had discarded that moral of sorts, she wasn't too concerned. It took the sound of the leather jerkin dropping to the floor for her to push, with some effort, herself up onto her elbows. Before her the sleek curvature of Orion's chest, back, and shoulders caught the fire light and illuminated before her a sight she had not witnessed since the night they passionately shared, and in which she had thoroughly avoided recalling for many reasons. The chain clattered to the floor, along with his pants and boots, and her breathing slowed, eyes transfixed on his form. Even in her tired stupor, she silently cursed every old god for bestowing this intolerable pyscho such damnably handsome features. It was too much effort trying to convince herself she did not secretly indulge in the idea of seeing him again in this manner. She retained a perfect, unmoved countenance however, and was only stirred at the sound of his laugh and his inquiry to join him. She remained, calculating. Part of her felt he expected her too, yet his laughter also presented the idea he assumed she would not. Her eyes tightened a moment at the flicker of irritation that erupted, for all she had wanted was a bath and a bed, and now she would have to share. Even if she waited for him to get out, he had still indulged first and soiled the water, and that irked her thoroughly. She raised an eyebrow quickly with a shrug, her attitude attributing that she cared little for this. Raya pulled herself from the bed however, sitting up and tugging off her own boots. It seemed as if she may just lay back down on the bed again until she stood up, and pulled the ties from the end of her braids, her fingers working to unravel the interlaced hair with practiced grace. Her honey blonde tendrils waved down about her shoulders to mid back, revealing the true length of her hair; the fire picked out the deep tones of natural highlights. Having already removed her belts, she began to remove the black tunic, casually withdrawing a folded piece of worn white cloth from the inner folds and placing it delicately on the chair her swords hung on, along with her coin purse. Removing the synch at her waist, it came off quickly, her leggings soon after. She strode languidly over to the basin, stepping into the warm water swiftly opposite side of Orion. Much more confident about her nakedness with him then one would assume, had they known he had been the first and only to see and experience her in such a way. Something she wasn't sure he actually knew, but was certainly not going to indulge him with at any cost. The tub was spacious, she had after all, bought practically the best, if not the best, room the inn offered. And why not, she had the money and rarely indulged in this sort of luxury. Plus, it was the only way to assure a good bed. She had however, sat down within, cross legged, keeping as much of herself away from Orion as possible. She may be tired, but she wasn't exactly the most comfortable despite her front with this situation. The ends of her hair floated atop the water, and she folded her arms about her stomach as she leaned against the tub; a look of casual challenge donned her face briefly, as if asking him if there were anything else. The heat of the water however began to relax her, especially since it had been scented with some form of aroma. More high class attributes she wasn't akin to. Truly the water did wonders for her aching body, and she was tempted to stretch her legs out, an impulse she only slightly indulged in by drawing her knees up and slightly out from her chest. She let a sigh escape her, closing her eyes and leaning her head back. This was not how she had envisioned this moment-- and she had thought of it many times. Always ending with her covered in his blood. The placidity exhaustion brought on her, it was almost unnerving to herself. "Those two have likely already spread the fact the king is staying in this establishment... let a lone with his fiancee." She breathed tiredly, not exactly sure what she was exactly intending to ply to him. "By morning it's likely to have traveled through the market and nearly out of the city... It's true, you could break it off, or kill me... though the effect would be adverse to your goal." She stopped there, leaving the question unanswered so he could ask it- How? Edited by Raya Clearwood, Jul 18 2011, 10:16 PM.
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| Orion de Lacey | Jul 28 2011, 06:09 PM Post #10 |
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He watched her through hooded eyes, not at all afraid that she'd try to kill him now, even if she'd wanted to. The fighter could see by the way she had laid there after he'd gotten up, by the way she seemed to struggle even now to pull her body from the bed, that she was too exhausted to even make the endeavour, let alone succeed. As such, he took to draping his arms over the edges of the tub, revelling in the warmth of the water and the scent of - was that lavender? or perhaps sage? he wasn't entirely certain - it, the relaxation creeping into his muscles. The woman he'd had in his arms at the beginning of his little game with Raya was all but forgotten now, especially when the woman who had dared to carve her name into his chest was now inside of the same water that he was, albeit at the opposite end, guarded. "I don't bite, you know. Well... not often." He smiled; his eyes had closed. He allowed the silence to descend, thoughts of her undressing still fresh in his mind as he toyed with them, played those scenes over and over, finding that, while not the most beautiful woman he had ever clasped eyes upon, she was by no means the most hideous, either. In fact, despite her venomous personality and her propensity for dishing out punishments that were wholly unnecessary - he had been especially unappreciative of her efforts after he'd suffered the concussion - he found her quite charming. And she was, he had come to realize in that short stint with the innkeeper and his helper, that she could be just as charming and false as he. Dangerous indeed. Orion's eyes opened as he spoke, watching her face, though he couldn't deny that he would have much rather glanced down, to follow the curvature of her neck to her shoulders to her waist. He blew out a sigh at what she had said - truth be told he didn't actually care what her thoughts were on the matter, but perhaps he ought to humour her just a bit, maybe get something out of this entire scenario that he actually wanted - but, before he'd ask the telltale question that she was no doubt waiting for (and, again, he didn't give two whits about her logic or what it might mean for his reputation, which was, quite possibly, the worst on the entire continent), he had to have his say first. "Of course it will have. Nobody can resist such juicy gossip as a king having found himself a woman who has become his betrothed and who he plans to marry and make queen. If you think that your thoughts on the matter are enough to persuade me that I ought to crown you as Queen of Ashoka, think again. There are ways, besides execution and a simple story about 'breaking it off,' that one can rid himself of both the woman and the lie." He was a master at fabricating fictional stories and he knew it, too. He had spent much of his time lying his way through life and to think that Raya believed that she had found some sort of real, damning proof that his initial ideas were bad ones almost made him laugh. But first. He wanted to know her rationale. "But humour me, dear Raya, How?" |
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| Raya Clearwood | Aug 12 2011, 04:49 PM Post #11 |
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Small coils of steam curled off the film of the water and she drank them in while he spoke. Scented baths, she could find herself getting used to such upper class frivolities. She had remained transfixed in her position, though his jest had triggered her memory and sent her back to that night on the Windswept plains. Her reverie deepened as he let a long silence pass between them. She remembered the stars and the colors burning in the night sky, the caressing of his fingers, and for a moment, she almost thought she could hear the melody of the ever constant wind rustling in her ears. His voice broke the the woman's contemplation, bringing her back to the present. She smiled softly, only returning her gaze to him as he finished; tilting her head she rested it tiredly in the hand of the arm now propped lightly on the side of the basin, pointer finger extended along the contour of her temple. "Queen of Ashoka hmm?" She mused, but it was all she said for long lengths. Her normal frigid glare was lost, instead her eyes were soft, contemplative, like a lover might as they sought to discover their partners deeper truths. She watched the firelight dance across the reflection in his miss-matched pools, and though she pondered his thoughts a moment, her own were the true central focus. He had responded typically, or at least as she had figured he might, but it was what he said that had her stalled. Was that what she was weaving? To be Queen? His Queen? Her brow furrowed lightly, it was hard to keep even your own mind in order when the haze of exhaustion clouded it. This had merely started as a way to postpone his aim to expire her life, but what would the morning bring if she did not play her cards right tonight? She knew how fickle he could be, that at best she could prove to warm his bed for a night but that her use in his eyes was null after that. How much had he changed since last they met? How much had he grown if he had managed to yield a kingdom, ruins or no? Would one night prove enough rest to take him on in the morning? Her countenance shifted again, smoothing out as she shook her head lightly and tucked a few golden strands behind her ear with her free hand. She paused a moment, then in a similar manner as her previous gaze, asked him sincerely, "Do you believe a king can rule his country on fear alone?" Again she paused, this time debating cautiously, before slowly extending her legs out to rest upon his own. She could bear the cramping no longer, and though she was not fool enough to believe he would not harm her, she was willing to take the chance however uncomfortable it made her. "The previous Moghul was known for his cruelty, you may have dispatched him, but in the eyes of your people - are you really any better? You left their homes in ruin, and your reputation... it's akin to a pestilence of the worst kind. Even if you rebuild, what really do you have? Subjects who fear you, at best - no loyalty what so ever- waiting for the day another man comes for your head, if not helping him themselves. Your charm will only get you so far, they've already seen what you are. A country who does not stand loyally behind their king, who do not love him, is easy pickings for other expanding, unified, kingdoms." "You could pay people to fight for you, but there will always be someone who can offer more. Buying loyalty is bartering loyalty. What you need... is to instill hope." For someone so unconcerned with the governing parties, it was strange at her insight. She had, she supposed, once been part of the people, before going rouge and claiming no land as her home, no lord as her sovereign. Despite all this she was still uncertain of what she wanted. All she could truly rely on was her craving for sleep, everything else seemed, distant, as if she were awake in a dream. She continued on however, "The caress of a woman, there is nothing more inviting- more reassuring. You need a Queen to appease the longing of your people. If they love her, they will confide and follow her, and in turn... she can sway them to love and follow their king, as she loves and follows him." Did she want that role? She was too tired to push her mind any further. There was a point where you simply stopped caring. "That is something for you to ponder Orion, I am too tired for this tonight, there is no sense in denying the obvious." She finally sighed resting her face in her hands, "There is only one thing I want tonight." Edited by Raya Clearwood, Aug 12 2011, 04:54 PM.
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| Orion de Lacey | Aug 19 2011, 06:09 PM Post #12 |
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"No." The answer was sincere. He saw the truth in what she said, knew that, despite her wavering loyalties and her propensity for attempting to murder him, that she was very much correct. However, where she had stalled on his subtle accusation with regards to her motives, he stalled on her sudden push for the idea that she be queen; his brow, usually lit by deviousness and murderous thoughts, now frowned. Perplexed. A part of him sincerely doubted that the kingdom would recover that well under her rulership because it did not dispel the fact that he was still in power—he was still Moghul. Traditionally, from what he understood of his country's government, men had ruled and women had been decidedly absent. But what if that changed? What would it do to the social structure? Orion considered it for a moment and just as easily dismissed it—he knew what his country's future would be and, despite knowing that scare tactics were not the best route to take, had more than every intention of turning it into a militarized nation. A totalitarian dictatorship, rather. Her legs were resting on him. To say that Orion's tender side awoke was to be misled by his eyes and his words, to be misled by the lies that he told so often they had become second nature. He felt very little real attachment to others, felt no real kinship even when they were together in bed and he was having the time of his life. It was all a guise, an ugly facade that few, if any, really ever saw through. At least, none of society's dull-witted morons noticed or questioned him. In many ways the people he dealt with on a daily basis were of the same calibre as his own subjects. Stemming the tide of thoughts, one hand lifted from the warm water and began to stroke down the centre of her foot, two fingers pulling from the tips of her toes down to her heels. The warmth of the bath had lulled him into calmness, murderous intentions pushed aside in an effort to enjoy the moment as he did most moments in his life. "Hope... Is a fallacy. And one that is perhaps even better than the ones I have created." He chuckled quietly, his eyes diverting from her face to look around the room. His fingers still moved along the sole of her foot, leaving gentle caresses that may even have tickled if she was prone to such a thing. "And you believe you are the woman for that job, hmmm? You think that you, Raya, the woman who carved her name into my chest will be the one to sway the masses? The woman who wanted to murder me and the woman I was with this afternoon? Do explain that paradox to me. Unless it is only in sleep deprivation that you suggest such an idea." Orion dropped his hand into the water and leaned back. He hardly expected her to answer him now, but if she was serious he could think of a number of other questions he had, like whether or not she'd try to murder him while he was on the throne so that she could usurp him entirely. That was his biggest concern with the idea, not to mention the rest that hadn't even entered his consciousness yet. "And what is that, Raya?" He doubted that what she wanted and what he wanted matched up. |
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| Raya Clearwood | Oct 10 2011, 12:47 PM Post #13 |
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At his initial touch, her toes flinched lightly before they became accustom to the languid and methodical trail his fingers traced along the sole of her foot. Generally, though prone to sporadic jerking when touched, no one ever had the opportunity to learn that random little fact. Even so, at present, her movements were so drawn out and slowed by both sleep deprivation and the warmth of the bath, it looked more like she had flexed them casually with little thought. Her head turned slightly as she indulged in the touch, little as it was, her own hands dropping from her temples. She listened to him, waiting a moment before lifting her gaze to his mismatched hues with a soft smile once he had stopped. She didn't need to be told the ploy hope could weave. How it could draw and appeal to people as a torch draws a moth. That the fallacy could only be seen in the moment before the fire incinerated the foolish. Nor did she need to be told that the coin could be flipped, and it could elicit exactly what it claimed to. It was all up to the puppet master, as long as he was clever, and she did not doubt Orion's cunning. "Ah yes, that.... I almost forgot about that." Her smile still turned the corners of her mouth, but it, like the rest of her character thus far, was without malice or silent taunt. It was, at least for all intensive purposes, true to a point. Where she had obsessed happily over that departure many times prior to this moment, currently it had slipped her mind in light of the more present matters at hand. She did not break his gaze, she knew saying the wrong thing or risking a glance could cost her, gravely. "It's been a long time since someone's called me that. Raya, name by birth yet it sounds so foreign..." she mused. She let another bout of silence pass between them, pointer finger lingering along her bottom lip as she once more rest her arm long the bath's side. She contemplated nothing in particular, but found it strange how easy it was to hold his gaze, still. Sighing she tossed up her hands tiredly, "I don't know Orion, ask me in the morning, I'm done talking tonight..." the tips of her toes grazed his thighs gently as she suddenly pulled herself towards him and pressed herself up against him, hands running along his shoulders and wrapping around leaving less then an inch between them. There was a suspenseful moment as she stared at him, before she whispered to him softly... "I want you to take me to bed." |
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| Orion de Lacey | Oct 24 2011, 06:34 PM Post #14 |
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She didn't give him much in the way of an answer, but he supposed that that was allowed, considering how dead she looked. If she didn't have the energy to hurt him, Orion supposed she probably didn't have the energy to contemplate seriously about what made her deserving of the role of Ashokan Queen. Languishing in the warmth of the water, he found it quite easy to break his gaze away from hers—he knew that she knew that there was no possible way she could overpower him. Not tonight and probably not tomorrow, if he had his way. He was still musing on other things when she was suddenly speaking to him and had brought herself very, very close. Feeling her breasts pressed against his chest as his fingers shifted to run down the length of her arms and sides and he sucked in a breath, Orion's eyes opened again and he looked down at her, searching her face. Now was not a time for words. His lips met hers in an oddly delicate kiss; it lacked the savagery, the fierce lust that often characterized the King's dealings with women. And though it did not make him seem more human, it was at least moderately more tender than was his norm, hinting at the fact that he had perhaps rather enjoyed that one afternoon despite the subsequent mishap referred to only minutes ago. Strong arms pulled Raya to him, twisting her body so that he could lift her with ease. The two of them slid out of the water as he stood and drew back his head. With careful motions because he wasn't keen on slipping across the wet floor, Orion carried her to the bed where he threw her into the pile of furs that were supposed to serve as their towels. He wasn't thinking about that as his lips kissed from the tips of her fingers to the crevice in her neck. "Bath's too crowded," he said gruffly. When the morning came, Orion was slow to awaken, his nude body wrapped in a tangle of fur and sheets that confused even him. Slowly twisting his way out of the mess that they had made of a once-made bed, the King looked briefly at Raya, asleep in the sheets, apparently too tired to awaken even after he had extracted himself from their cozy embrace. The evening had been enjoyable despite her exhaustion and, as he looked towards the bath, he found that the water from the previous evening had been left behind with remnants of small puddles on the floor. Locating at least his trousers and his boots, the King slipped them on, pleased to find as he examined his body that she hadn't left any awkward marks. He, however, had taken sweet pleasure in marring her flesh as best he could, both with fingernails and bites. It would serve her right, he thought with bitter satisfaction, if the wounds festered and she was forced to see a healer. He thought of leaving her as she had left him their first night together but decided against it. Instead, he lingered. For a variety of reasons. "Rise and shine," he said as he moved to stand in front of where her face was positioned, his arms against his chest. "The night has come and gone and you still haven't answered my questions." |
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| Raya Clearwood | Oct 26 2011, 11:57 AM Post #15 |
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Tired as she was, she still had the smallest energy to expend on toying with him, just a little. If he took her to the bed, well that saved her the walk, and prolonging access to her body might just keep her alive that much longer. However, she was expecting the cocky and almost condescending side of the man to surface, not the one who was planting a soft, and rather uncharacteristically gentle, kiss on her lips. And maybe, just a little, she had drastically underestimated how the action was going to awaken the unexplainable and intense attraction to him she generally took all measures to hide in the deep crevices of her mind. When morning came, Raya opened her eyes slowly to look up at the half dressed Ashokan king. "Always demanding... and you didn't even bring me breakfast..." her sarcasm resurfacing with the new day. She was still tired, but the nights sleep, even with the unexpected mess of fur and sheets, had left her rejuvenated enough to function at least mostly normal. It was funny, she wasn't holding the bitter resentment she normally did in the morning, and she affronted that with the fact she had been too tired to dream, or at least remember them. She drew the sheets around her as she slowly sat up, wincing slightly as the inflictions he had dotted so kindly on her throbbed in a variety of places. There had been a certain openness in her actions the previous night, something that only could be attributed to her arousal surfacing out of complete exhaustion. Her walls had been down, and instead of the feral side, she had been rather affectionate with him despite everything, leaving him completely unmarked. Rubbing her eyes tiredly she looked up again at him, they still lacked their steely reserve but it was likely to return as the day worn on. "And you still haven't gotten me breakfast." She said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms to mimic him a moment, before moving around him and swinging her feet to the lightly chilled floor. All things considered she was still, despite her jests, being extremely civil towards him. Raya wasn't delusional enough to think she was out of the woods yet, but the fact he hadn't already killed her and left was a good sign. The fact he was interested enough in her responses was even better. She stood, taking the sheet with her and crossed to the far corner of the room where a small mirror, table, and chair sat next to the window. Tossing her long blonde tendrils over one shoulder as she sat down. Turning slightly, she let the sheet fall down her back a little more as she took in the damage he had done. "Well, I suppose it's better than a name..." She prodded, a brow lifting as a smirk drew up the corner of her mouth. She turned back to him, looking rather soft in the filtering sunlight, that was of course had he not known better. Raya had her moments, as he had and was witnessing, but they were usually short lived and normally few and far between, she trusted too little. "I'm serious Orion, I'm starving, if you want your questions answered then get me food... please." She added sincerely, which made the request slightly, eerie. She continued to star at him, taking in the way he looked at that particular moment. Even without his demanding, his dark pants and his rippling abdomen, the way the light hit his dark hair, made him him look every bit the part of a king. Still, there was a sudden lust that swept across her face for the man, not the king, and she, now more aware of her thoughts, broke her gaze and turned back to the mirror. "I'd like to dress in the meantime, we can discuss possible business when you return." Edited by Raya Clearwood, Oct 26 2011, 12:08 PM.
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| Orion de Lacey | Oct 29 2011, 12:32 PM Post #16 |
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Orion watched her move across the room to the small vanity, the sheet slipping slightly from her shoulders as she looked to examine the damage he had done to her body. It was comparatively tame to what she had done to him in the plains, but he'd also left more of them, most of which would bruise by the end of the day and linger for several weeks. And, of course, there was that nasty business of his teeth marks in some places, which would take time to disappear as well, though perhaps they wouldn't take as long as the bruises. Her demands were met with irritation but his desire to know what her answer would be was enough that, with an almost bitter smile, he bowed to her and said, just before he left the room, "Of course, your Highness." The king left his shirt and his jerkin in the room, moving through the chilly inn half-naked, down the stairs to where the innkeeper was. The man looked as if he might want to ask how the evening went with Orion's "fiancee," but the Moghul cut him off before he could. "I need something for breakfast for the woman. Whatever you have is fine. The faster it's made, the better." "O-of course Moghul. I will inform the cook." He hurried away; Orion leaned against the counter with one elbow, his mismatched eyes surveying the room. Although the innkeeper returned shortly after he had left, it was still some time before the meal was delivered and the two of them spent that period of time in awkward silence. Of course, only the finest food had been put on the tray for the Moghul's "fiancee" when it did arrive and he accepted it wordlessly, returning to his rooms as quickly as possible. If he didn't have to interact with any of these people, he didn't want to. The innkeeper had looked as if he had wanted to say something else when the meal had been delivered but, once again, Orion hadn't given him the opportunity. He returned with the tray in tow, closing the door quietly behind. With very little sympathy towards Raya, the king nearly dropped the tray in front of her, moving back to fold his arms over his chest once he had "delivered" it, his patience now thoroughly drained. It had been irritating enough that she'd made him wait until the morning for that answer, but now that she was demanding things of him... Well, he might just change his mind on letting her live, forget allowing her even the opportunity of becoming a Queen—and even then, he wasn't sure he wanted to walk that route. He quite liked that he was sole ruler at the moment without anybody to answer to, though his plans would require someone to fill a particular role in the coming future. He wasn't sure if he really wanted a woman standing behind him and pretending to like him just so that she could have some semblance of power. "Answer my question, Raya. You're beginning to overstay your welcome and my patience for you has grown thin. If you know what's good for you you'll say what you have to say sooner rather than later. There's nothing stopping me from murdering you now." And, truthfully, there wasn't. He could say that someone had broken in while he was waiting downstairs and had murdered his defenceless fiancee. Nobody would be the wiser and he could wash his hands of her. The idea, as it flickered through his head, made him smile. |
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| Raya Clearwood | Oct 29 2011, 09:15 PM Post #17 |
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A genuine smile broke across her countenance as he exited the room. The image of Orion bowing to her, even in sarcastic-jest, mixed with the actual compliance of her request would burn a satisfied memory in her mind for days. She very much doubted he had done such a thing in quite sometime, if at all. The smile faded as her thoughts grew serious, however, for she only had till he returned to sift through her ramblings from the previous night and decide on a course of action. In truth, she wasn't too sure she wanted such a task herself. Assuming the role of Queen would be trying on her character enough, dealing with Orion at length was another matter entirely. Furthermore, it was true after all, what he said, for just the day prior she had burned with the vehement desire to kill him. Her whole intent of the last many months was to hunt him down to do just that. She had obsessed over it at length for many hours a day, and then... her whole plan went to shit the moment she was alone with him. Her brow furrowed as she starred at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She deliberately steered her thoughts away from the obvious question at hand, which was in fact, why that had been. 'Ridiculous' she breathed, before pushing away from the mirror, letting the sheet drape forgotten over the chair as her naked form began to search the room for her clothing. When Orion returned Raya had one foot planted on the same chair she had been sitting in when he left, folding the cuff to her boot as he dropped the plate of food in front of her. She waited until he had finished speaking before looking up at him. True to form she could tell before he had actually confirmed such that he was not in the mood for games. Still, she thrived off his unpredictability, and couldn't help but flirt with fire. "If I recall correctly, I do believe this is actually my room you are in." She stood then, facing him head on, eyes searching his mismatched ones. The frigidness in her gaze had already begun to return in his absence, but she seemed to be coming to terms with something as she gazed up at him. Whatever it was she masked it as she squared her shoulders, inclined her head, and put some distance between them, crossing to the window and leaning idly against the wall as she looked out into the town below. "The role of Queen isn't particularly in my interest... However, it's a needed role in the plot. It's true you could get someone else to fill it, but there is a very obvious understanding between us, when I say that the art of manipulation and charm comes as second nature. Finding someone you know with those same... qualities... would take an extended period of time, especially to play your real game. Finding an actual 'compassionate' Queen for the job would pose a number of flaws, not to mention no lord or sovereign in their right mind would wed off a daughter to the likes of you. I've never been to Ashoka, my reputation would not be known there, it wouldn't be hard to facilitate a story of where I come from...some distant kingdom." She paused, tucking a lose strand of hair behind her ear before crossing her arms. Unlike the plains, she had retained her hair in the characteristic braids in his absence, they made her feel more, herself somehow, as if they replaced the cold and hardened woman who had seemed to slip off in the night. "So yes, I do think I am the one for the job in that sense of the matter. However, there is of course the whole matter of wanting to kill you..." She said nonchalantly, pausing suddenly. Her eyes tightened and a small purse of her lips flashed across her features as she lingered on that, rolling over what she was about to do, and making damn sure she wasn't going crazy. Once the deed was done there was no undoing it if he accepted. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, stalling even further, then drew herself from the wall and looked him dead in the eyes. "The pleasure of killing you is something I will allow no one to even attempt, I want that right exclusively. However, currently I find no, want to do so..." She paused again, as if the truth of that statement made her oddly uncomfortable, because it was in fact, true. "I will not attempt such without forewarning you should that change, but to protect your assets and solidify that I will not try to usurp you from your throne... let me be your Champion." She had to have lost her mind to offer him such a thing. "As your Queen I can sway the people to love you vicariously through me. As your Champion, it proves how much I value you to them, that I would give my life to protect you, and drives that ideal further- to make them love you on their own along with fear you. Under the code of such a title, no people would follow a Queen who vowed such a sacred tradition and then broke it. Having the title as your Queen besides, also keeps you from doing away with me, at least out right. There's not much from you doing away with me either, in truth. I'm not interested in ruling a kingdom myself, Orion. A Champion-Queen would have many benefits to you exclusively. Ashoka is a dessert, a hard country, my fighting skills would be appreciated as much as my 'compassion' there. You know I can fight..." "So... let me fight for you, with you." Inside her there were a florid of emotions stirring, but she kept her reserve, never breaking gaze so he could read that this was not a game of hers. |
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| Orion de Lacey | Oct 29 2011, 09:50 PM Post #18 |
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"It became my room when I entered it, Raya. As the King of Ashoka, I'm entitled to whatever the hell I want, and I've decided this room is what I want at the moment." He lifted one knee so that he could place his foot flat against the wall behind him, his arms folded across his chest as he eyed her carefully; the playfulness that had existed in his mood had completely evaporated. He did, however, listen to her as she spoke at length, a slight smile crossing his features as he thought of her trying to kill him. He supposed that her reasons were valid, her arguments relatively sound, considering what they were. How long had she been thinking on this? Had the news travelled quickly after he'd been promoted from Governor to King? Or had she managed to devise this scheme within a matter of hours, between this morning and yesterday, between sleep and awake? "Let me understand this, Raya. You wish to act as both Champion and Queen, acting as my protector—" like he even needed one "—and as the second face of the country? And your reasoning behind this is so that I can't 'do away with you'? Truthfully, I don't give two shits about you being around, and if I decide that my Queen isn't worth my time or effort, I have no qualms killing her in front of the people. In case you missed the memo, I hacked the previous king to pieces and threw him to a crowd of Eldaharian onlookers. That's how little I prize human life, regardless of the situation tied to it." Orion blew out a sigh, shaking his head as he averted his gaze for a long moment, a frown deepening his brows. Oh how kind of you, he thought, that you would tell me when you think you ought to kill me. As if I need a safeguard. Chances were, there were lots of people who wanted to kill him and he had no doubt in his mind that that number would only grow in the coming years. "And may I remind you that though people would not want to marry their daughters off to the 'likes of me,' you were certainly more than willing to give yourself to me, that most sacred of possessions a girl can have. Twice. And apparently are a glutton for it. Regardless of what I am, I present opportunities. You're nothing more than a common girl at the moment." The Moghul didn't sound so much offended by the comment as he wanted to clarify that what she'd said wasn't entirely accurate. Pushing away from the wall, he moved to retrieve his shirt and his jerkin, slipping the former on and lacing up the latter, before he grabbed his scythen, wound the chain around his hips, and turned to look at her. "If you're so certain you want to become Ashoka's Champion, come to Ashoka. After we've settled our differences in Morrim, I'll be returning there. I expect to see you there sometime in the future—that is, if you think you're strong enough to brave the desert." He turned from her then with a smirk on his face and opened the door. It slammed behind him, the sound reverberating loudly off the walls, masking the sound of his footsteps as he proceeded to leave the inn. |
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