Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 5, 2020 19:52:44 GMT -5
Sol suppressed a smile. "Take from it what you will. I have —"
A screech from Fury interrupted, making him flinch. A heartbeat later she launched herself from his shoulder and flew off. Sol's eyes followed her until he spotted what her sharper eyes had seen first. Another hawk was flying toward the ship. Fury flew out to meet it, and the two birds circled each other in an aerial dance. It ended when one dropped below the other and came winging toward them. The other followed, but remained at a higher altitude and began soaring in a loose circle high above the ship.
Sol lifted his arm to make a perch for the other hawk. She landed gracefully and seemed to puff up with pride. Sol smiled as he stroked her head. "Good girl." He shifted her so one of her taloned feet rested on the side of his hand, so he could grip her toes and hold her in place. She did not object, though she poked his fingers with her beak a few times before lifting her head again. Sol wasted no time untying the small roll of paper from her leg. The action had her beak coming back down to nip at him, but she didn't draw blood, and Sol didn't flinch. He just ran one finger over her beak, then shifted her again and put her on his shoulder. Any foul mood she had displayed vanished as she suddenly set to preening his hair with affection.
Sol removed the little ribbon holding the paper closed and unrolled it. He read the short message quickly before letting it roll closed again and shoving it in his coat pocket. "Well, the good news is, Jupiter is still in Teirm."
~ • ~ • ~ Seth chuckled. "Of course you don't. So which one of your siblings was the devil child? And how does Aidan compare to him?"
~ • ~ • ~ "Are you sure?" Morgan pressed. "Disguising a Rider's mark is simple magic." He showed her his right palm, his insignia clear. Then, between one blink and the next it was gone. Morgan made a fist. "Genevieve rules a band of spies and thieves as well as assassins. A Rider's mark is too telling to be left on display when undercover."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2020 20:04:29 GMT -5
Even if he hadn't finished that statement, Parker still took it as he was right. Sol wouldn't openly play favorites, but it happened. It's hard not to like certain people over others more. It was just human nature. "Then should I actually let you take the helm so we don't waste anymore time?" he asked. "I'm sure you'll be wanting to reach port as quickly as possible."
~*~*~
Anya had to think for a moment. Being the youngest, she didn't have many memories of her brothers when they were Aidan's age. But she did remember their teenage years. "Ryner," she answered. "He just kind of did whatever he wanted. I don't think he was ever energetic like Aidan, but he was by far the most headstrong and the one to but heads with Papa more than anyone."
~*~*~
Kyra fought back against the urge to send him another glare. Being corrected was something she still struggled with handling well, and, even though she knew he meant well by it, she was still in no mood to deal with it gracefully. She tried her best, though. "Well, apparently I'm not as sure as I was," she muttered. "It makes little difference. Rider or not, I can handle it. I think I've proved that already."
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 6, 2020 2:40:00 GMT -5
Sol eyed the helm, considering. He didn't want to take away Parker's fun, but he also couldn't help being tempted to do just that. Sol always felt better when he was at the helm, steering his ship himself. After a moment he shook his head. "You're fine for a little longer, at least. My taking over won't increase our speed, not enough to make a difference. For that, the wind would need to change direction." It wasn't hindering their speed, but it also wasn't quite right to allow the Comet to reach top speed. Sol paused and shifted his gaze to Parker, a spark of amusement appearing. "Unless your arms are in need of a break now?" he asked mildly.
~ • ~ • ~ ( *reply coming soon. Seth is taking his turn being difficult. 😝 )
~ • ~ • ~ Morgan couldn't argue with that, not unless he wanted to get his head bitten off. It wasn't her skills he was worried about, though. He was just worried about her in general. He couldn't help it. "I know you can," he said. "I'm just... well, I guess I'm not used to you going off on dangerous missions by yourself. In the past whenever you did something risky, Seth and I were there backing you up. Then you left, and of course you didn't sit around, avoiding danger. I wouldn't ever expect you to. But since I wasn't there, it was easy to ignore it. Now? Not so much. I guess it's just habit." He stopped, realizing he was rambling. Or maybe thinking out loud? Either way, he didn't apologize for it, and he felt a little better with that in the open.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 6, 2020 6:28:02 GMT -5
Parker was getting a bit tired to the constant fight against the water's current, but he wasn't going to admit it. "If you're good, then I can manage for a bit longer," he replied.
~•~•~
(Lol, whack the boy's head. Shame on him.)
~•~•~
Kyra sighed slightly. She couldn't be too mad at him for that. He was right after all. All of her stupid and dangerous ideas she had done in the past had been done with the company of the boys. Of course, the woman had grown used to going on missions with other people or on her own, but how many times had she wished it'd been Morgan or Seth with her instead? She missed the days they all were reckless and didn't care what happened.
"I appreciate the concern, Morgan but really, I'll be fine," Kyra assured him, turning to look over at the man. "But if you're still not convinced, then you can go talk to Lawrence about it. If you can get him to okay your going, then I'll be more than happy to have your backup when I head out."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 6, 2020 20:24:23 GMT -5
"Will do!" Parker said. "Not to mention, I want the crew to worry a little bit longer."
~*~*~
(Bring him over here. I'll do it!)
~*~*~
When he stopped walking, Kyra paused briefly to see what was wrong. She raised an eyebrow in question, expecting him to say something. Yet he didn't. Not right way anyway. It was hard to read the expression on his face, which was a rare thing. Morgan was always an open book, so when his emotions weren't distinct, it always made her wonder what was going on in his mind. Would he try to talk his way into going with her? It wouldn't surprise her, nor would it be something she would be against. She really would be happy to have him tag along. Like the old days.
But, just like that, he snapped out of whatever trance he was in, and continued on his way. Kyra scowled. "What someone needs to do is knock Callum off whatever high horse he's on," she replied, easily catching up to him.
(I always imagined there would be a few. Whether or not the werecats were actually aiding the Rebels, I feel like a couple of them would find the whole war amusing and a way to pass the time. XD)
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 7, 2020 21:00:06 GMT -5
( Okie dokie! 😁 )
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Sol eventually reclaimed the helm. He made the task look effortless, of course, even with a large hawk playing with his hair the whole time. He left it up to Parker to stay and keep him company or join the rest of the crew on the main deck. Dinner came and went with Sol at the helm. When Sam relieved him, he disappeared into his rooms for the night.
Dawn was barely upon the horizon when Mason gave the call that he had spotted Teirm. Within the hour the ship was brought into the harbor and docked, and thus began another morning of hard work as crew and dock workers alike inspected and cleaned the whole ship. There was less loading and unloading being done here, for they had stocked up their supplies at Narda. A few things were added to the hold, and a few things were removed, but most of the work was focused on the ship itself.
It was lunchtime by the time everything was done. Beckham thanked and paid the dock workers for their help, then he and the rest of the crew waited for Sol to appear so he could set them all free for the night. The captain had been around sporadically all morning, but mostly he had been locked up in the navigation room. That's where he was currently, the door shut. Several minutes passed before it opened.
Apollo darted out first, like a racehorse freed from the gate. He ran an excited circle around the quarterdeck, barking loudly. He only stopped when Sol appeared and gave a whistle. Apollo immediately stopped barking and went to lie flat on his belly in front of Sol. He was still, but his whole body still quivered with repressed energy.
Sol held the dog's gaze for a minute before tilting his head to the left. "Heel." Apollo hopped up and spun into place at Sol's side. Artemis was already sitting calmly on his right.
With Apollo's crazy energy neutralized for the time being, Sol headed for the stairs. "Everything in order, Beckham?"
"Aye, Captain."
Sol's gaze surveyed the deck and the assembled crew as he descended the stairs. "Everything looks perfect, as usual. You're all free to go. Same guidelines as last time."
The crew wasted no time disembarking the ship. The only people who lingered were the rescues who would be disembarking from the ship for good. Sol motioned them closer and spoke quietly with them for a few minutes. Then they too headed off with Beckham. Sol remained where he was, his gaze on the bustling city.
( You can have Parker lingering around on the ship, or say he left with Mason and Quill. Whichever you prefer. ^^ )
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: *narrowly dodges* Whoa. Nice breeze there. *smirks* )
~ • ~ • ~ That made him laugh again, though it faded when he caught sight of the crowd gathered outside one of the tents. The whole camp was pretty crowded, so it was difficult, but not impossible, to notice how this particular group of people were clambering to see inside the large tent. Morgan glanced at Kyra. "Please tell me that's not the mess tent." He had a sinking suspicion it was, and a gut feeling he knew what — or who — was drawing the crowd.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 8, 2020 19:55:59 GMT -5
When the time finally came for command of the ship to return to the one who knew what they were doing, Parker lingered near the helm for a little while longer. He didn't really want to just up and leave, even though he knew there were things he should be doing instead. Still, he stayed. Of course, the majority of that time was more or less just watch Sol as he steered the ship, making it seem like no big effort at all. Truth be told, he could probably have spent the rest of the day watching him. But, he had work to do as well.
The rest of the day passed by with little excitement. Other than the teasing, of course, but he had been was starting to get used to Mason and Quill's picking on him. With the initial embarrassment of the way, he was beginning to be able to handle them like he would handle his brothers. He still wasn't sure how to respond to some comments, but he was getting better. Even when a couple of the other crew members threw playful jabs at him, he found himself laughing along with them more than not. And so the day went until it was time for dinner. A part of him was a little disappointed Sol hadn't joined them, but there was hardly anything he could do about that since he couldn't change the way the shifts worked. He had the brief thought of waiting around for the captain until his shift ended, to have one more chance to talk. That idea was quickly banished from his mind, all for the sake of not wanting to appear too... clingy. So it was off to bed for him as he waited for the next day.
Teirm was reached much sooner than Parker was expecting. Not that he was complaining. Try as he might, the man was both excited and nervous, all for the very same reason. Knowing what he wanted to do, he threw himself into the work needing to be done instead, giving himself no time to wander or be distracted. He dared not to look about for Sol, lest he do something stupid and give clue to what plans Sol had made with him. Of course, that is if the captain even remembered them. There was that fear too battling around in his brain. Surely he would remember. Sol didn't strike him as a man to forget things easily. However, he would be busy. He might not forget, but there could very well be a chance he'd have to reschedule. The thought was one that brought out his anxiety, but he tried to not think about it. If that was the case, than fine. He'd spent fourteen years in a bed by himself, he could spend another couple of nights alone.
When the work was done, Parker hung around with Mason and Quill as they waited for the order that they were free to go. Did he happen to eye the door to Sol's study more than he should have? Possibly. Did he think he was doing it stealthily? Not a chance. So the moment the door opened and released a very energetic Apollo, he noticed it and had to smile. Okay, so maybe he was just as found of the white dog as much as the owner, for completely different reasons. Then they were freed from their duties. "I'll catch up to you two in a minute," he told his two friends before wandering off closer to where Sol was. He waited until he was finished speaking with the people who would be returning home today before making the rest of the way to him.
"Is there anything else that needs to be done?" he asked, stopping a couple feet back behind him. As per usual, even while he talked, he extended a hand out in Apollo's direction in hopes of luring him over for pats and scratches.
~*~*~
(*narrows eyes and stomps on his foot* )
~*~*~
(Please tell me Mama Cressieda is in there teaching these people how to actually cook. XD)
The crowd around the mess tent was a surprise. Kyra frowned slightly. "Yes, it is, but normally it's never this packed," she said. "Most of the people work on shifts to try and minimize the chaos here. Not everyone is allowed to eat all at the same time. We just don't have the space for it." Determined to see what's going on, she headed for the crowd. However, instead of asking the people closest to her about the events, she started shoving and elbowing her way through the masses, occasionally throwing an insult if need be.
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 8, 2020 21:04:58 GMT -5
In a rare moment of pure distraction, Sol didn't even notice Parker lingering nearby until the other man spoke. He shifted his gaze from Teirm to Parker, a blink the only sign of his surprise. He didn't respond right away, though his eyes spoke volumes as they trailed Parker from head to toe.
He smirked when he noticed Parker's hand. Apollo still sat beside Sol, but he strained forward as if held back by an invisible leash. It was clear he wanted to go to Parker, but his training wouldn't let him. Sol had told him to heel, and until he was released, he would heel. Luckily, Sol didn't let him suffer long. "At ease," he said quietly.
Apollo hopped forward eagerly. He gave Parker's hand a quick lick, then stood up on his back legs and put his front paws on Parker's shoulders so he could reach the man's face and give him a flurry of doggy kisses.
Normally Sol didn't let his dogs jump up on people, but this particular incident just made him laugh. He said nothing, leaving it up to Parker to accept the kisses gracefully or shove the dog off. Apollo would get off if he was told, but until then... well, he would likely try to drown Parker in slobbery kisses.
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: Ow! *hops away clutching his foot* What was that for? )
~ • ~ • ~ ( Nnnnnno. But that's actually a good idea. I'll keep it in mind for next time. xD
Okay, this is kind of a long post. Sorry-not-sorry. 😅 )
Twenty minutes earlier…
Callum watched Morgan and Kyra disappear into the throng of people, off to see Kyra's boss. A large part of Callum wanted to go with them. He wanted to meet one of the leaders of this rebel organization, and he didn't want to be left out of loop. Especially not where Seth was concerned.
"Come on, Cal!"
Cami's voice pulled his attention away from the departing duo. A scowl immediately fixed itself to his face as he saw the one and only reason he was going to breakfast instead of to a meeting:
Cami was standing way too close to Ian.
Callum couldn't understand where her sudden infatuation with the man came from, but he didn't trust it. It was either real and Callum needed to do everything in his power to dissuade her, or it was fake and she was just seeking his attention. The move was just juvenile enough to appeal to Cami. Either way, whether she wanted it or not, she had his attention.
With one last look in the direction Morgan and Kyra had gone, Callum trailed his sister and their guide to the mess tent. His mother fell in beside him, and without really thinking about it he shifted so he was shielding her from the jostling crowd.
Cresseida, missing nothing, smiled but made no comment. After a moment, her smile faded. "Callum, are you okay?"
He shot her a startled look. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" His mother was the only one he curbed his barbed tongue for, though that didn't stop the snide thoughts: Besides being uprooted from my life, turned into an enemy of the most powerful person on this continent, and — oh yeah. Dying. Yeah, I'm just peachy.
The look she gave back was nothing but concern. "I don't mean physically. Mentally, emotionally…" She sighed. "I just feel like something has changed for you."
Callum made a conscious effort to keep his body from tensing. He hadn't decided yet if he wanted to tell his mother and Cami about what he was. He had been on the fence about it since he died yesterday. It hadn't occured to him that his mother might already know. He realized now that it really should have. Clearly, Callum's father had not been human, though the few memories Cal had of the man gave no sign of him being anything but. Yet Callum was proof that acting human and being human were two different things. If Cresseida knew what Callum's father was, then it stood to reason she knew what he was too.
But if she did, why hadn't she ever told him? Why had he needed to hear it from a near-stranger?
Callum shook his head and let a bit of his snark slip its leash. "Can you really blame me? Look around you! You think I want to be here, wherever here even is? And I'm pissed at Seth for getting us in this mess." He just barely kept swear words out of his confession.
And, boom. Right on cue, Cresseida's concern dimmed, replaced by protectiveness as she told him, "This is not Seth's fault. He is as much a victim in this as we are."
Callum snorted. "Of course, because victims make a habit of killing their tormentors. Oh, wait…"
Cresseida looked appalled. "Callum! That's enough!"
Callum clenched his jaw and looked away. Even knowing the truth about Seth's career choice, Cresseida still held him up on a pedestal. Apparently Seth really could do no wrong as far as Cresseida was concerned. After all these years, that shouldn't have surprised him.
After a moment, Cresseida sighed and reached out to touch his arm. "Callum… you and Seth are both my sons. I love you both, equally, no matter what. That's what a mother does. You don't have to keep competing with Seth for my love."
Callum shot her an incredulous look. "You think that's what this is about? I'm trying to keep you safe!"
"I know you are," she replied calmly. "But Seth isn't someone you need to protect us from. He is just as dedicated to mine and Cami's safety as you are. Why can't you see that?"
He snorted. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because his brand of protection comes in the form of killing others?"
Cresseida flinched slightly at that, surprising him. Maybe she wasn't as okay with Seth's choices as she seemed. She met his gaze levelly. "Are you saying you wouldn't have made the same choice had your roles been reversed?"
Cue more surprise. "Are you saying killing is okay so long as you're doing it in defense of others?"
"Of course not!" They were at the mess tent now, and after making sure Cami was still with Ian, getting food, she took Callum's arm and pulled him aside, out of the way of traffic. "Killing should only ever be a last resort," she continued in a low voice. Low enough that he would have been straining to hear her twenty-four hours ago. "And even then, I could never endorse it. But your brother is carrying enough guilt over what he's had to do without you constantly piling on more. Your brother is not a bad man, Callum. The things we do do not define us. You have no right to judge him until you've walked a mile in his shoes."
Callum didn't argue with her. He just nodded and said he'd try. As he watched her join Cami in the food line, he wasn't sure if it was a lie. She made some good points, but Callum was still convinced what Seth had done was unforgivable.
He stayed in his out of the way corner until he saw Cami waving at him from a table. She was grinning, which was a nice sight, but she was also still too close to Ian for comfort. With a sigh, he started making his way toward her.
He barely made it halfway.
"You!" a voice hissed. Callum was inclinded to ignore it, until he noticed several people shoot him surprised looks. He stopped walking and slowly turned around.
He found himself facing a young boy. At least, he appeared young. Callum got the sense he was actually much older. He was standing on his chair, putting him at eye level with Callum despite his being much shorter. His shaggy hair was brown, his eyes a fierce green as they glared. His clothes were clean but looked ill-fitting, or perhaps he just liked loose clothing. Callum didn't spare it much thought, too busy trying to figure out what it was about this boy that — for lack of a better phrase — had his hackles rising.
Callum subtly shifted his stance. "Me," he said. "How do you know me?"
The boy bared his teeth. "I do not know you. I know your scent. Wrong and forbidden as it is."
Callum went still, but he forced his voice to be light as he said, "Wrong? That's harsh. I showered just this morning."
The boy hissed. "No amount of soap will wash away the stench that clings to you, boy."
Callum arched his brows. "Boy?" he repeated, with a pointed look at the other's youthfulness.
He scoffed. "Appearances are deceiving. You should know that better than most."
Callum did know that, but it didn't explain how the boy knew what he was. Unless…
Callum narrowed his eyes. "You're not human, are you?"
A look of astonished outrage answered him. "I most certainly am no—!" He stopped, looking at Callum with sudden realization. "You have no idea what you are, do you? You're little more than a cub."
Callum scowled. He wasn't sure which he disliked more: being called a boy, or being called a cub.
The boy tsked. "Shameful. Your sire should have known better."
Callum was losing his patience. "Who the hell are you?"
In answer, the boy pounced.
Callum was astonished by the boy's speed. One second he was on the chair. Then next he was flying through the air right toward Callum's chest. Callum jerked backward, but that only aided the boy in knocking him to the ground. He landed hard, the boy on his chest. Callum took one look at his smug expression and all pain and surprise vanished.
He threw the boy off and jerked upward into a crouch. He was just in time to see the boy land on his feet with the grace of a cat a few feet away. The sight pissed Callum off, but the arrogant smirk on the boy's face pissed him off more. His hands clenched into fists against the ground as he started listing all the reasons not to pummel the brat into an early grave.
As if sensing his thoughts, the boy grinned at him and made the universal "come at me" motion with one hand.
All thoughts of restraint vanished. With a snarl, he launched himself at the boy.
/ / /
Morgan sighed. "Great," he muttered, that bad feeling increasing. He hurried after Kyra, being sure to stick right behind her so she could be the mean one clearing the path. A gentleman probably would have done that for her, but that same gentleman may have gotten his ass kicked for it. Safest just to let her be. It had the bonus of being highly amusing.
When they made it inside the tent, they found that the crowd had gathered and formed a circle around something still unseen. People were talking frantically all around. Morgan only heard snippets of conversations: "...crazy kid." "...he realize who that is?" "...werecat..." That last one made his uneasy feeling worse.
Morgan and Kyra finally made it to the front of the circle. He was drawn up short by the spectacle unfolding before them.
Callum was crouched on one side of the circle, his fingers like claws as they dug into the earth. On the other side was a boy. He looked no older than nine or ten, but a swift double take told Morgan he was no child. The boy wasn't human, and he was no doubt much older and more powerful than he looked. Callum likely didn't stand a chance against him.
And yet… in that moment, Callum didn't look human either. There was something animalistic in the way he crouched, and it was pure predator that glared out of his eyes. Eyes, Morgan realized with a jolt, that were the green-gold of a cat, not the vivid blue he normally had.
Before Morgan could shake off his shock and shove forward to intervene, the boy-not-boy moved. He lifted one hand, palm up, and curled his fingers inward. Everyone knew what that gesture meant. From the looks on everyone's faces, only an idiot would answer the challenge laid out by this boy.
Callum was that idiot. With a sound that wasn't quite human, he lunged at the boy. The distance between them wasn't far, but it was still farther than anyone could cross in one jump. Anyone human, that is. Callum closed the gap with ease. Morgan half expected him to attack with claws or fangs, but it was a simple punch Callum threw. Or perhaps not so simple. The boy dodged, leaving the ground to take the blow. And what a blow it was. Dirt sprayed, leaving behind a fist-sized crater in the earth. Shocked whispers broke out everywhere.
Callum paid them no heed. With astonishing speed, he whirled after the retreating boy and grabbed a firstful of his shirt. He yanked the boy right off his feet, spun, and threw him across the room. People had to move frantically to get out of the way. The boy landed on his back, but immediately rolled into a backwards somersault and came out on his feet.
He looked up just in time to dodge Callum's next strike. He evaded the one after that, and that's when he struck back. Moving almost faster than the eye could track, he delivered a powerful palm heel strike to Callum's sternum. The force of it sent him reeling back, and the boy wasted no time going on the offensive.
Callum recovered surprisingly quickly, and the two exchanged a flurry of blows. The boy more often proved faster, his reflexes sharper, but Callum was the better fighter. He had training, and it became clear with every passing moment that it was more extensive than Morgan had thought. They were pretty well matched in strength, surprisingly, which enabled the fight to go on for longer than it might have if one was significantly stronger than the other.
Th fight ended when the boy used his smaller size and greater dexterity in such a way that even Callum's superior training couldn't counter. The result was Callum on the ground, the boy crouched on his chest with one hand — tipped suddenly with razor sharp claws — around Callum's neck. The scent of blood stained the air for anyone with senses sharp enough to detect it.
"Show me your beast, little cub," the boy mocked, barely out of breath. "Show everyone why your kind was driven from these lands."
Morgan didn't understand everything going on, but he did see the look in Callum's eyes. He would be more than happy to oblige the boy, even if it got one or both of them killed.
Without wasting another second, Morgan grabbed onto the first plant he found and used the energy it gave him to shove the boy off Callum telekinetically. Then he lunged forward to grab Callum before he could get up and attack again — which he was in the middle of doing. Morgan slammed into him and forced him back to the ground.
Of course, Callum didn't take that lying down. He fought to throw Morgan off, and Morgan had to pull on more plant life to match his strength to Callum's, and then more still to surpass him. Only then could he confidently keep the other man pinned.
"Callum! Snap out of it, you jackass!" At first, Morgan's words seemed to have no effect. But then, finally, Callum's struggles slowed, then stopped. With a few blinks, his eyes went from raging green-gold back to their normal blue. At first he seemed confused. Then he looked pissed. Thankfully, it was a normal mad this time, not murderous.
He shoved Morgan off with a sudden burst of additional strength. "Get the hell off me," he growled.
Morgan got off, but he stayed close, and stayed poised to pin him again if need be. "Calm down. You were the one picking fights on your first day. What gives, man?"
Callum blinked, then shot a glare toward the boy. He had been standing off to one side, unbothered and enjoying the show. "Ask him. And I didn't start anything. I just finished it."
"Uh, technically I finished it," Morgan corrected, earning a glare from both of them. He held up his hands. "Hey, just sayin'."
"Whatever." Callum got to his feet and brushed the dirt off his clothes. Then he crossed his arms and glared. "Now what?"
"Good question," Morgan muttered, looking around at all their spectators. He sought out one in particular and gave Kyra a "help me" look.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 9, 2020 8:52:53 GMT -5
The sudden attack was unexpected, but not entirely unwelcomed. Laughing, Parker took a step back to keep from crashing to the deck and reached up to scratch Apollo's face and head. The kisses were unavoidable, even if he turned his face away to spare himself some of the slobber. He was due for a bath anyway, so he figured it wouldn't hurt too much. "Well, I missed you too, you big lug," he commented, half-heartedly trying to defend himself and pet the dog at the same time."
~*~*~
(Lesson number one: don't mock me. Lesson number two: Expect the unexpected! XD)
~*~*~
(That's okay. I love a long post. XD)
Upon reaching the front of the crowd, Kyra stopped and surveyed the scene. Of course, she should have guessed Callum would be making a scene, but she wasn't entirely sure why he had picked a fight with the boy. She knew this "kid." Nearly everyone in camp knew him or knew of him. She herself had had several conversations with him and found him interesting. She also knew that his boyish form meant nothing when it came to his knowledge and fighting abilities. Because of that, she did nothing to intervene. Instead, she merely watched the spectacle with an amused smirk on her face. Although, she would admit the fight lasted longer than she would have thought the boy would allow it to. In the end, however, it was clear who the winner was. OR would have been had Morgan not stepped in.
With the boy flung off and Morgan pinning Callum to the floor, Kyra walked over to stare down at the man. Her smirk only grew. "Well, I knew you were stupid, but I didn't think you were this stupid," she said. "Can't say you didn't deserve it. It's just a shame I didn't get a chance to see (enter boy's name) here put you in your place proper. Should've known not to get on a werecat's bad side."
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 9, 2020 12:50:16 GMT -5
After a minute or two of slobbery affection, Sol stepped forward with a chuckle. "Alright, you. Get off." He wrapped one arm around Apollo's chest and pulled him back from Parker before letting his paws touch the deck, to make sure his claws didn't accidentally do damage. Sol kept both dogs' nails well maintained (to avoid unnecessary scaring to the ship) but they could still hurt.
He gave Apollo's head a brief pat, then shifted his attention to Parker. He took one look at the dog slobber all over his face and smirked. With a flick of his wrist he produced a silk handkerchief, which he offered silently. If he said anything, he would probably start laughing.
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: *mutters* Dually noted. 🤣🤣🤣 )
~ • ~ • ~ ( Good, cause that ended up being even longer than I thought. xD )
At her mention of werecat, Callum went perfectly still while Morgan muttered curses, shooting the boy-not-boy a brief glance. "Way to go, Callum," he uttered under his breath.
Callum's only response was a snort.
The werecat, Isaoy, shot them all a dazzling smile. It was clearly only genuine when directed at Kyra. "Hello, lovely. Long time no see."
Morgan looked at Kyra, startled. "You're chummy with a werecat?" He was equal parts astonished and impressed.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 9, 2020 17:53:08 GMT -5
Parker, feigning disgust at his dampened state, took the handkerchief. However, he started chuckling as he cleaned his face off. "Is he likes this to everyone, or m I just special?" He asked, not meaning to be taken seriously. Apollo was the friendlier sibling. He was often found wondering around the crew whenever Sol didn't have him by his side, so he guessed he was like this to everyone.
~•~•~
(And don't forget it. 😆😆
Anya: *highly amused* You were kind of asking for it.)
~•~•~
(But it was well worth the read. XD)
Kyra shrugged and grinned. "Dragons, werecats, I try to stay on the good sides of any creatures highly feared and respected," she replied before looking over to Isayo. "Sorry, Lawerance keeps me busy. Otherwise I would have been around sooner. So what did he do to get you fired up?"she nodded to Callim though it was not really needed. "You know, other than breathing."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 9, 2020 20:06:45 GMT -5
Parker had a brief moment where he wondered how serious Sol was being, but the smirk let him know the answer to that. "I don't see why I'm the only one. I mean, other than being drenched, who say no to a face like his?" he asked.
~*~*~
(Anya: Yeah, you were.")
~*~*~
As much as Kyra wanted to agree with him about that, she knew this had more to do than Callum's overall personality. More than likely, it had to do with his cat abilities and what not. If so, than this was neither the time or the place to discuss the issue. "Well, I can't say I disagree, but I do think that the mess tent is not the best place. If you were to tear the place apart in the process, you're going to have a lot of people mad at you for it. It's the only place to eat after all. Perhaps we should move outside?"
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 9, 2020 21:20:07 GMT -5
"Because he's heavy," Sol replied, absently scratching the dog in question under the chin. "And for some, it's because they've seen what he can do with his teeth. No one in my crew is afraid of Apollo, exactly, but those who were wary of dogs before meeting him can't just turn that part of themselves off, you know? So." He shrugged. "They avoid his mouth in general. And a fair few of them just follow my lead where the dogs are concerned."
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: *crosses arms stubbornly* No, I wasn't. )
~ • ~ • ~ Isaoy shook his head. "Maybe next time. There's still time for the cub to reveal his inner beast to all."
Callum growled. "Listen, you little —"
"Callum!" A call from the crowd cut him off. With great reluctance, he turned away from the werecat just in time to see Cami and Cresseida shove forward into the front of the onlookers. "Cal!" Cami exclaimed. "What did you do? Are you okay?" She darted forward, a worried Cresseida on her heels.
Callum looked back and forth between them, not understanding. "What are you talking about? I'm —"
"Your neck!" Cami lifted one tentative hand, but it stalled before touching him. "You're bleeding."
Ah, yes. Callum had nearly forgotten. The wounds were shallow, but close enough to important veins that they bled a lot before clotting. They were already healing, but even his enhanced healing abilities didn't return lost blood to the body. "I'm fine," he said. "It looks worse than it is."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 9, 2020 21:43:27 GMT -5
What he said was understandable. Dogs, even the friendliest of ones, could turn dangerous if provoked. Apollo was also the type of breed known for their fierceness when attacking. That's not to say they were aggressive by nature, but rather they were the ones people took extra care not to make mad. "Yeah, okay, so maybe I am special," he said, laughing slightly. "I've never really been scared much by animals, and when you've dealt with a dragon, everything else kind of pales in comparison. That, and I trust he won't attack me unless given orders to, or I mess up big time. Since I have no plans on doing that if I can help it, I'm not too worried about his teeth."
~*~*~
(Anya: *raises an eyebrow and just stares at him*)
~*~*~
"A shame," Kyra said, watching as Cami and Cressieda rushed forward. Whatever information that was there to be told would have to wait for a later date. "I am curious now though. I'll drop by sometime tomorrow if you're around. We can talk there. If we don't disperse the crowd, one of the higher-ups might come to see what's going on. I'd rather avoid the need for explanations. I don't have the patience for it."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 9, 2020 22:47:12 GMT -5
"So very kind of you," Parker commented, but the conversation came to a close faster than he had wanted. Hearing the thud from Sol's room, he was reminded that the captain still had plenty of things he needed to do. "I should let you go handle that," he muttered. "I know you're ready to get her off the ship. I just wanted to know if you needed any help, and if you'd be joining the crew later on when you're done."
~•~•~
(Anya: And why should I be happy about you asking to have your feet stomped?)
~•~•~
"Works for me," Kyra agreed. There was no need to call a farewell; there never was. In fact, the whole time she new him, she didn't think she had ever said goodbye or gave my formal words of parting to the werecat. She looked to Morgan s he spoke. "He's been here longer than I have, but I didn't know about him until six months after I got to the camp. He approached me, and we proved not to get on each other's nerves. So we hang out, if you'd call it that, from time to time. And all werecats are short like that, but I assure you that 10 year old is older than either of us."
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 10, 2020 13:12:50 GMT -5
(Should Parker stay with him until Jupiter gets there? That way, when they go to the palace for Winter Solstice or Sol's siblings' birthday (whichever one we decided on them attending), Jupiter can recognize him and start talking down to him and loudly asking why he's there? And in turn trying to mock Sol for being with someone of such a low status, since I feel like Jupiter is one all for quality bloodlines and what not. XD Or should Parker go catch up with Mason and Quill?)
Parker nodded, still a little amused. "Glad I'm not in your shoes," he said. "I don't imagine I would handle the royals well myself. Which is more reasons why I should let you have at it, unless, of course, you do need me to do something to help?"
~*~*~
(Anya: And who are the only two laughing? *points to us*)
~*~*~
"Plenty of times," Kyra said. "Him and Thafi both, although Thafi usually stays near the commanders of the camp. She isn't has social as Isaoy. We keep each other informed on the gossip of the camp whenever the other is away." She smirked and shrugged. "Once you see them a couple of times, the novelty of them wear off. However, don't be offended if he doesn't take an interest in you. They're finicky creatures, more cat in behavior. One moment they might find you interesting, the next, not so much. And good luck trying to get them to do anything they don't want to."
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 10, 2020 15:29:54 GMT -5
( Oh, he should definitely stay and meet Jupiter. ;D Jupiter won't talk down to Parker because he's "not good enough" for Sol, though. As far as Jupiter is concerned, Sol isn't a real prince; he married into royalty. But Jupiter will probably try to make Parker doubt the relationship anyway, maybe by telling him he's ruining all Sol's hard work in getting accepted by the elite crowd. Or something. Whatever he does, he'll be an ass about it. xD )
Sol hesitated. Parker wasn't wrong, and Sol didn't really feel it was fair to subject him to Prince Jupiter. Yet at the same time, with Sol's temper being what it was, it might be smart to have Parker's calming presence nearby, to keep him from doing anything rash. Like hit the crown prince.
Movement behind Parker caught his eye, making him tense. And making his decision for him. "Yes," he said at last, gaze locked on something beyond him. "I need you to make sure I don't throw anyone overboard."
Three men were making their way across the docks toward the Comet. All three were finely dressed, though the one in the middle was clearly of higher rank. The other two, while still well-dressed, were his not-so subtle bodyguards. They didn't look like soldiers, however they each sported swords. They knew how to use them, too, though that didn't concern Sol. Their presence alone did that.
Just before they reached the ship's plank, Sol turned to Parker. "But if you don't want to be here, I won't force you. You can leave now and not look back." He shot a glare toward the approaching men. "I won't blame for it." He would leave too, if he could.
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: Hey, you laughed too. Or you wanted to, at least. )
~ • ~ • ~ Her words made Morgan stare at her with recognition and sudden realization. "Holy shit," he said after a minute. He laughed. "You just described Callum, as much as your werecat buddies. Oh, that's funny. Do you think Cal turns into a cat too?" He almost turned around and shouted that question at Callum, but thought better of it when he remembered Cami and Cresseida.
Not to mention the crowd of people. They had dispersed some, now that the action was over, but Morgan noticed that some had lingered and were watching Callum with a mixture of interest, fear, and mistrust. Morgan couldn't really blame them. Werecats were strange and mysterious and borderline feared/respected, but at least they were more or less a known entity. People knew what they were, and what they were capable of. Callum? Not so much. Morgan would bet money few people, if any, had ever even heard of a cait sith, let alone seen one in action. Morgan certainly hadn't heard of them before Cal told him about them, and he still didn't know what all Callum was capable of. Worse, Callum didn't seem to know either. Was Isaoy right? Did Callum have a beast hidden under his skin? And if so, just what might he be capable of if it ever came out?
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 10, 2020 15:53:39 GMT -5
(Oh, I didn't think he'd talk down because he's not good enough for Sol. I can already tell Jupiter don't give a crap about who Sol dates. He just seems like the kind of guy who doesn't want peasants at an important gathering. XD Really, he doesn't even have to say anything about their relationship. Him just bad mouthing him and his social status would e enough to either make Parker start a fight or feel more unwelcomed and out of place at the party than he already does. XD)
(*snorts* Parker? Calm? XD You haven't seen him mad. You want calm, you get Anya. XD)
Parker noticed the shift in his gaze, and his statement caused him to turn and see what had stolen his attention. It wasn't hard to spot the three strangers walking towards the boat, nor was it hard to guess who they might be. The cloths alone were dead giveaway. He weighed the options. Really, this was business he had no part in. This was a job the prince had hired Sol to do, and if anyone should have been here with Sol, it should have been Beckham. But the first mate wasn't there, and the captain had actually asked him to stay. "I think I can spare a few minutes," he replied. "Besides, this might be the only chance I see a prince in person." He added that last comment more as a joke, even though it was true. Really, he didn't care for meeting the prince, but he figured it'd be an interesting thing to tell his family when he got home.
~*~*~
(Anya: *hides a smile* That can neither be confirmed or denied.)
~*~*~
"Hm, I still think I like the werecats better than him," Kyra said with a smirk. "Now, you should probably help them get him to a table before someone else finds offense with him. I'll go grab us something to eat."
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 10, 2020 17:04:48 GMT -5
( Oh yeah. Good point. Yeah, he'll probably do that too. xD )
( Hey, everyone's different. Just because Parker isn't technically calm doesn't mean he can't calm Sol down. Or, at the very least, give Sol a reason to stay calm. xD )
Sol shot Parker a mildly amused look. He wondered what Parker would say when he learned Sol's other title. His amusement died quickly, unfortunately, as Prince Jupiter and his cronies boarded the ship. All emotion left his face as he stepped forward to meet them. "Jupiter," he said with false levity. "Long time no see."
Prince Jupiter marched right up to him, his own expression furious. "You're late. What happened to you taking only two weeks? It's been way more than two weeks, Solaris!"
Sol shrugged one shoulder. "I had to take a detour... or three. Don't worry; I rescued your princess first."
Jupiter clenched his jaw. "Where is she?"
Sol gestured vaguely toward his rooms. "In there. She refuses to come out. Has the whole voyage."
Jupiter's eyes blazed. "You put my fiancee in your room?"
Sol rolled his eyes. "Not by choice. She refused to go below decks to any of the spare rooms. She also demanded the best room on the ship, and that's mine. Trust me, nothing nefarious happened."
Jupiter narrowed his eyes but didn't argue. He glanced at the door, and that's when caught sight of Parker. He looked the other man over from head to toe, as if determining his worth with a glance. Apparently he decided Parker wasn't worth his time. He looked back at Sol. "Stay here," he ordered. He smirked. "Spend some time catching up with your old buddies." He nodded to his companions, then stalked past Sol to the captain's quarters.
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: *waves hand at her face* You just proved it with that look. )
~ • ~ • ~ Morgan blinked, then nodded. "Right. Meet you at the table." He headed over to the Veras. "Alright, lovelies, lets continue this conversation at a table, shall we?"
Callum glared at him, but Cami and Cresseida agreed, so they all headed to a table. Morgan followed, resisting the urge to herd them along like a parent with a pack of kids.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 10, 2020 17:53:06 GMT -5
(Lol, you're right, but if Jupiter says something extremely stupid, Parker will encourage violence. 🤣 )
As the men boarded the ship, Parker stood close enough so he wouldn't appear to be a stranger eavesdropping, but enough away to not seem like he was putting himself in whatever exchange was going to happen. He watched, silent, as the Prince and Sol talked, eyes wandering over the three new comers. If he noted the familiar way they addressed each other, but hadn't Sol said they meet during their days in the army? So of course they wouldn't need the use for titles, even if they weren't on friendly terms. When the prince looked his way, he wasn't surprised at all he wasn't acknowledged, and was kind of glad when he left to fo find his fiancee.
"Well, he was pleasant," Parker murmured lightly, breaking the silence around them. It was only after he did so that he guessed he shouldn't have spoken to begin with.
~•~•~
(Anya: what look? *blinks innocently*)
~•~•~
Kyra threaded her way through tables and people alike in order to reach the line for food. Luckily, with the chaos that had went on, there were only a few people who had reclaimed their spot in line. She slipped in behind the last person, and in just a couple short minutes placed their plates on the table the Veras and Ian had claimed.
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Oct 10, 2020 20:19:03 GMT -5
( So will I. xD )
No, indeed. Parker's words summoned the attention of Jupiter's companions. One just scowled, but the other stepped forward, fists clenched. "Watch your tongue, boy. That's your prince."
"Is he?" Sol drawled. "Gosh, we had no idea. He didn't act very princely."
The man switched his glare from Parker to Sol. "Look who's talking, Captain Wannabe. Still sullying your father's name?"
Sol's eyes flared a furious silver. "Careful, Grant. The last person who spoke about my father took a swim with the fishes."
Grant snorted. "You don't scare me, Solaris. You're all talk and no —"
Sol snapped his fingers. Instantly, his dogs surged to their feet and started barking. Loud, vicious barks that showed teeth. They didn't move from their position on either side of him, but that didn't stop them from looking terrifying. Both men jumped back with curses, and one even went for his sword. Another snap of Sol's fingers had both dogs going silent.
Sol smirked. "No bite, huh? Guess it's a good thing I have these two to do it for me."
Devon hissed. "You're a coward, Solaris, hiding behind your mutts and your crew. Why don't you come over here and face me like a man?"
"That would be a waste of my time," Sol replied dismissively. "Being Captain has a lot of responsibilities. Not that you would know anything about responsibly. Aren't you still mooching off your sister's fortune?"
Devon lunged forward, but froze when his friend threw his arm out to block him. "Enough, Devon," he said wearily. "You asked for that and you know it."
~ • ~ • ~ ( Seth: *leans closer* You're fooling no one, sweetheart. *gives quick kiss and grins* You look adorable, though. )
~ • ~ • ~ ( Shall we skip? I'm not sure what else can happen here. Unless you have any ideas? :3 )
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 10, 2020 20:31:23 GMT -5
As the man stepped forward towards him, Parker braced himself for whatever fight he had just started on accident. However, it never happened as Sol took control of the situation. Truth be told, he was more concerned of the dogs when they started barking than he was about the two clearly trained soldiers before him. "I didn't know we were a testy group here," he commented, seeing how quickly everything had escalated, all over a small commented on his part that wasn't even that offensive. He glanced at Sol. "Are all the people who work with the royal family this way?" He asked him this mainly because the captain had trained in the army and knew the Prince, so he already had more insight of the royal family than he would ever know.
~*~*~
(Anya: I have no idea what you mean, but I'll take the complement.)
~*~*~
(Yep! To the evening when they're at the bar?)
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