Final Kingdom MUSH - User contributions [en]

The Newcomer

2014-02-16T04:16:31Z

Skalith:

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2014/02/15
|Location=The Grid
|Synopsis=Warden makes new plans and new friends
|Cast of Characters=Warden Thache
}}
A disc arced away from the walls that contained the fight between two programs in a relatively small arena. It arced in towards its target, one that jerked out of the way just in time. Glimmering blue crossed close enough in front of him that he saw the after-image as a gleaming streak across his vision for several seconds.

The crowd roared.

Adrenaline or the electronic equivalent of it tore down electron bone and digital muscle. He recovered in moment, just as his opponent caught his disc. The opposing program settled into a defensive stance, biding his time. Waiting for him as the newcomer to make a mistake. The newcomer to the Games didn’t make mistakes though. At least he hadn’t yet. He was after all still alive.

He leapt forwards, trailing green as he moved forwards at full speed. That green color marked him as something different from the more standard blue. He could tell how his opponent tracked him by the movement of the blank-faced helmet. He angled away from a direct charge, aiming towards once wall. His opponent let fly.

All according to plan.

The incoming disc rebounded from the shields an inch from his head. Not one program in a thousand would be able to grab the thing at just the right angle at just the right moment to avoid losing a limb. He wasn’t quite a program however. He of course, cheated..

There was a collective gasp from the audience as he snagged hold of his opponents disc. A moment of shock and surprise as he used the wall as a springboard to gain the extra distance. There was a flash of green and blue as he blazed by his opponent, and then nothing was left but scattered voxels of a derezzing program.

The crowd went wild.

It had taken him days to get to this point, but he felt confident as he returned to the holding cells for the incarcerated programs. He was gaining a name for himself, and he knew what that went. One thing was a constant in a prison. There was always a pecking order.

He sat with his head laid against the wall of his cell, and he knew what was coming. The sound of heavy footsteps was always the same. The tromping cadence promising imminent violence. He cracked one eye open to find them, a trio of men. All three with the green-gleam of military programs. One older one on the left, the other two younger. All large. Fast. Powerful. He knew the type

“Hey. You. New boy.” One of the younger looking ones barked.

He smiled. Without even a hint of warning he burst into motion, he flew from his position, throwing himself first at the younger one in the lead. A quick knee to the chin knocked him down and he continued on his angle, crashing into the older program. They rolled across the floor as others stood in shock. He ripped his disc free, the gleaming edge punching down and stopping a hair’s breath from the aged military program’s neck.

“Now,” His voice was smooth, full of nothing but confidence and ice. The disc never even moved a breath. “I have your attention.” Green eyes flicked up to check and he could see it was true. All eyes were on him. He smiled again, revealing teeth in a feline expression. “Greetings programs, my name is Warden. I’m here to give you a choice.”

“You’re here to die in the games,” One of the other programs snapped back. His anger palpable.

“Oh I don’t plan on it.” Warden replied before flickering his gaze down once again towards the military program he had at his mercy. “We are all here why? Because CLU or the MCP has said that we are all obsolete, useless, junk code, glitches. We aren't needed in the new system are we? So we are sent here. To fight and die for their pleasure. Well…” Again that feline smile crawled across his features. “...I won’t be doing that anymore. I won’t be giving in to them. I don’t know about any of you, but I’ve had enough.”

“What other choice do we have? If we leave here we are good as derezzed!”

“And if you stay you’re the same,” Warden pointed out with a shrug of one shoulder. “At least you’ll be derezzed doing something other than fighting for their pleasure. I can give you all a choice. A purpose. You give me three days.” That grin, that confidence never faded. “I can give you all, as many of you as take up my offer at least, something new. If I’m lying? You can always derezz me afterwards.”

He stood, pulling the gleaming edge of his weapon away from the throat of the older program. Warden’s hand reached down to help the figure to his feet. There was anger in the older program’s gaze, but there was also curiosity. The air felt charged as Warden waited for an answer.

“Three days,” The old program growled out. “Three days. Then I derezz you myself.”

“Bargained well and done! Three days or death. I can live with that.” Cried Warden as his disc was slipped away and he smirked, eyes raking the gathered programs. “Now...all I need is someone who can pilot a carrier…”

The Newcomer

2014-02-16T04:15:50Z

Skalith: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2014/02/15 |Location=The Grid |Synopsis=Warden makes new plans and new friends }} A disc arced away from the walls that contained the fight be..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2014/02/15
|Location=The Grid
|Synopsis=Warden makes new plans and new friends
}}
A disc arced away from the walls that contained the fight between two programs in a relatively small arena. It arced in towards its target, one that jerked out of the way just in time. Glimmering blue crossed close enough in front of him that he saw the after-image as a gleaming streak across his vision for several seconds.

The crowd roared.

Adrenaline or the electronic equivalent of it tore down electron bone and digital muscle. He recovered in moment, just as his opponent caught his disc. The opposing program settled into a defensive stance, biding his time. Waiting for him as the newcomer to make a mistake. The newcomer to the Games didn’t make mistakes though. At least he hadn’t yet. He was after all still alive.

He leapt forwards, trailing green as he moved forwards at full speed. That green color marked him as something different from the more standard blue. He could tell how his opponent tracked him by the movement of the blank-faced helmet. He angled away from a direct charge, aiming towards once wall. His opponent let fly.

All according to plan.

The incoming disc rebounded from the shields an inch from his head. Not one program in a thousand would be able to grab the thing at just the right angle at just the right moment to avoid losing a limb. He wasn’t quite a program however. He of course, cheated..

There was a collective gasp from the audience as he snagged hold of his opponents disc. A moment of shock and surprise as he used the wall as a springboard to gain the extra distance. There was a flash of green and blue as he blazed by his opponent, and then nothing was left but scattered voxels of a derezzing program.

The crowd went wild.

It had taken him days to get to this point, but he felt confident as he returned to the holding cells for the incarcerated programs. He was gaining a name for himself, and he knew what that went. One thing was a constant in a prison. There was always a pecking order.

He sat with his head laid against the wall of his cell, and he knew what was coming. The sound of heavy footsteps was always the same. The tromping cadence promising imminent violence. He cracked one eye open to find them, a trio of men. All three with the green-gleam of military programs. One older one on the left, the other two younger. All large. Fast. Powerful. He knew the type

“Hey. You. New boy.” One of the younger looking ones barked.

He smiled. Without even a hint of warning he burst into motion, he flew from his position, throwing himself first at the younger one in the lead. A quick knee to the chin knocked him down and he continued on his angle, crashing into the older program. They rolled across the floor as others stood in shock. He ripped his disc free, the gleaming edge punching down and stopping a hair’s breath from the aged military program’s neck.

“Now,” His voice was smooth, full of nothing but confidence and ice. The disc never even moved a breath. “I have your attention.” Green eyes flicked up to check and he could see it was true. All eyes were on him. He smiled again, revealing teeth in a feline expression. “Greetings programs, my name is Warden. I’m here to give you a choice.”

“You’re here to die in the games,” One of the other programs snapped back. His anger palpable.

“Oh I don’t plan on it.” Warden replied before flickering his gaze down once again towards the military program he had at his mercy. “We are all here why? Because CLU or the MCP has said that we are all obsolete, useless, junk code, glitches. We aren't needed in the new system are we? So we are sent here. To fight and die for their pleasure. Well…” Again that feline smile crawled across his features. “...I won’t be doing that anymore. I won’t be giving in to them. I don’t know about any of you, but I’ve had enough.”

“What other choice do we have? If we leave here we are good as derezzed!”

“And if you stay you’re the same,” Warden pointed out with a shrug of one shoulder. “At least you’ll be derezzed doing something other than fighting for their pleasure. I can give you all a choice. A purpose. You give me three days.” That grin, that confidence never faded. “I can give you all, as many of you as take up my offer at least, something new. If I’m lying? You can always derezz me afterwards.”

He stood, pulling the gleaming edge of his weapon away from the throat of the older program. Warden’s hand reached down to help the figure to his feet. There was anger in the older program’s gaze, but there was also curiosity. The air felt charged as Warden waited for an answer.

“Three days,” The old program growled out. “Three days. Then I derezz you myself.”

“Bargained well and done! Three days or death. I can live with that.” Cried Warden as his disc was slipped away and he smirked, eyes raking the gathered programs. “Now...all I need is someone who can pilot a carrier…”

He's trying to help. Really.

2014-02-05T17:35:44Z

Skalith: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/01/31 |Location=British Forest |Synopsis=Theft can totally be for a good cause. Right? |Cast of Characters=Avira, Warden Thache |pretty=yes ..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/01/31
|Location=British Forest
|Synopsis=Theft can totally be for a good cause. Right?
|Cast of Characters=Avira, Warden Thache
|pretty=yes
}}
:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Mysterys abound tonight it seems. Mysteries such as where Warden got a carrage. Where he got a dress. How he delievered said dress to her. How he /found/ where she /was/ to deliver the dress. The man is full of mysteries, and he likes it that way. It hasn't been a /long/ ride for Avira, after the delivery and the pick up by the magnificet nobles coach. The coachman has been relitively silent, as...suprisingly...has Spooks. He's grinned at her however. The ride stops near the gate to a nobles estate on the edge of the forest. Its a rather large estate, and there are dozens of horses and coaches lined up to one side. The coachman however pulls up next to one that is offest from the others, of similar style to the one Avira herself rides in. "Alright miss!" Spooks chirrups. "Were here! Any questions?" He adds as he beams in though a window.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Thinking about it, such things were NOT mysterious to Avira. Warden likely had a great deal of cash on him ever since he fenced all that stuff he stole from the Castle of Dreams. It actually sickens her just a little to think that the dress she's currently wearing was paid for by the treasure she's trying to retrieve. Admittedly, it is a nice dress. She can't help but be amused at the extensive golden beading and chain decorating it. But without sleeves or straps and the length and size of the lower half, Avira can't help but feel kind of /naked/. There was nowhere on this outfit to adequately hide the Spine. Even fitting small daggers to her thighs was a difficult task since the dress did hug her hips. Though no stranger to jewelry, it has been some time since she's put on earrings, so getting those on was a little bit of a chore. Rather than put her hair up, it's been left down, which actually makes Avira almost look like a completely different person. Spooks gets a nonplussed look when that carriage pulls up. She's half-expecting Warden to be inside but...well, he is not. All very mysterious and extravagant. "Yes. How long is this going to last?" Avira says flatly.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' At her question the door is pulled open and a familiar if somewhat unwelcome voice breaks into the conversation. If it wasn't for the ears and the tail, it would be nigh impossible to reconise the captain himself. His outfit matches hers in color and style. They are tailored to his frame perfectly. The trowsers and shirt. Doublet and boots. He doesn't wear a hat either, and his longish hair is pulled back in a fashionable pony tail that hangs down the nape of his neck. The man looks as transformed as she is. With just as few places to hide weapons. The smile though is still him, and the bright green eyes as well. "Don't worry. This shouldn't take /too/ much longer my dear Lady Wolf." He comments with a murmur as he raises his hand to help her out of the carrage. His eyes fasten on her form and he /does/ smile just slightly more. "I knew that would look good on you." That last comment is...actually truthful. It sounds honest, as in an honest compliment.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Her gut twists at the sound of Warden's voice and Avira has to remind herself that she was the one that won their little duel! Perhaps she should have been more explicit in her terms for victory conditions but if she covered all of the things she wanted to forbid him from doing, she would have been talking for an awfully long time. Upon seeing him, she double-takes. Warden certainly did not look like much of a pirate right now-or almost anything like himself usually. In fact, it looked like he fancied himself as some kind of prince. Avira's eyes roam his waist in search of holsters or sheaths that would hold weapons. She sees none but does not take that as a sign he's unarmed. She herself certainly isn't, after all! "...really now.." she peers at the estate and the other carriges pulled up before, after a bit of reluctance, using his hand to steady herself as she steps down. Darn dress. Making it all HARD TO WALK. Her face colors just slightly at his compliment but it is gone the moment her feet touch the ground. "What is this...event you've brought me to?"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' He waits for her to steady herself in that dress before he chuckles just once lightly towards her. "The noble Duke Archibald DuPont is holding a ball tonight. To celebrate a few new additions to his collection. Tomarrow? He'll move his new pieces out and hide them in his own personal storehouse. Those new pieces? /That/ is what you would be wanting, and what I said I'd help you get." The pirate smiles out of the corner of his eyes towards her. "Infiltrating a noble's party is a bit...overdone I know. However sometimes its the tried and true things that work the best. Thats why they are so tried and true." He pauses for a moment, his booted feet crunching on the cobblestones that make up the walk up to the front of the estate. "I wouldn't have asked you, but...I could only lay hands on one invitation on short notice. So..." A slight shrug of his shoulders. "...tonight. You are Dona Ana Marie Verdugo, and I..." His smile grows just a touch more. "...am your trophy husband." Thats right. And she thought /he/ was the noble. Nope. He's just the eye candy. "I figure we can mingle for half-hour. Hour at most. Then you drag me upstairs. We nip the few little prizes. Then make our way out again and no one is the wiser." A pause before he adds. "And yes. The Duke /did/ know those all were stolen goods. Feel free to ask him for them all back though. If you're feeling perticularly honest."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' In truth, beneath the dress, Avira is in sandals that slope gradually and do not have an enourmous heel. Her wobbliness is all from the dress itself and its restrictive mobility. The more she tries to walk around in it, the worse it seems to get! Patiently, she listens to exactly why they are here-that the stolen paintings have been puchased by a noble and thus they need to steal them back. Not only that, but she had to adopt a different persona for this. "Well that's not too much of a stretch.." she remarks at the given name. She could act haughty and arrogant and... "...trophy husband. In this little charade, you mean, we are /married/? How shameless. Though I am a little surprised you would entertain fantasies of marriage." She gives him the hairy eyeball. "For the sake of retrieving these paintings for the Charming Family, I will play along with this. But try to take it too far and you will feel my /wrath/. Come, Mr. Army Candy, let's..." She makes a face, as if the thought sort of disgusted her. At the same time, she holds her arm out, fully expecting Warden to come hold it like a gentleman. "...mingle with the others."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Trust me, I don't like this any more than you do." Warden replies wryly. "Well the mingling at least. Your company on the other hand is quite welcome. I hope you don't mind the dress I picked out for you." A pause. "And no, I didn't use stolen treasure." His smile comes with a chuckle. "It came with the invitation. I had it retailored for you." The man does take her arm, and its with a gentlemanly grace that might suprise her that he takes her arm as he presents their invitations to the doorman. As they cross over the door and into the party proper, well there /are/ dozens of people there. Brightly colored in their plumeage like noblilty does. Its ostentations, its loud, its...well...a noble party. However there is one thing that everyone else has, that they do not. Masks. Warden smiles as he lets go her arm and pulls out a small teakwood box. "I almost forgot. The last touch." He adds quietly as he bows towards her, lifting the lid to reveal whats inside before they get to mingling properly. What /is/ inside is a pair of masks. Both deep red and black, both made of hand-tooled, crafted, and carved leather. Exquisite in form and function. One half-mask in the shape of a growling wolf. The other the snarling panther. "If you'll allow me?" He murmurs as he raises the wolf-mask out of the box, offering it towards her.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Tch, I find that hard to believe. Why jus t the other day, you were leaning on top of me." Then her clarifies, specifying that the mingling he couldn't stand. She herself being here... The lack of masks is a strange thing. Did Warden not account for this part? It makes her feel self-conscious without one, especially since there might be 'follow up' should they get caught in the act of reclaiming paintings. Ah, but no, Avira is mistaken. Warden planned for that as well. The designs of the masks draw a laugh from Avira. "Oh, how adorable." His offer to help draws a smirk. "Oh, go ahead..." Avira moves her hands so she holds her hair out of the way. "...dear /husband/."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden plans for lots of things! People don't really think that he does but he does!! Warden continues to smile as he nods once before tucking the box under one arm. He reaches up to carefully fit the wolf-mask on Avira. It looks quite fierce. He leans forwards to run the silk ribon under her hair, against the nape of her neck before tightening it so it holds at just the right angle on against her features, disguising them from view. "Perfect." A pause. "Dear wife." His green eyes dance as he nods once towards the milling groups of people. "So. Shall we split up, or hudle together for safty?" He asks as he plucks his own mask up to start to pull his on. Which is hard to tie by himself. He might need help.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Fierce. Extremely fitting in ways Avira could appreciate that she is actually quite reluctant to show. He'd start to tease her over such compliance and she didn't want to acquiesce to him any further than she ALREADY is with this 'mission.' "Oh no no." she interrupts, slipping behind him, "Allow /me/." Unless he already put his on by the time she steps in, she'll go through the motions of securing it herself with a very tight pull to finish the knots she makes. "There." She steps up so he is next to her. "Unfortunately. I think we ought to stick together. Unless you are wandering off to talk with a group of ladies or something, I don't think you ought to wander." As much as she'd enjoy ditching him at the party.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Urk. Maybe he /shouldn't/ have done that. That mask is pretty tight now isn't it? He winces just slightly before glancing over his shoulder towards her. "I deserved that didn't I?" He doesn't need an answer to that either. He already knows the truth of it. He totally deserved it. "Sticking together then, and no. I've be too afriad any of these 'noble ladies' here would stick a knife in my back and pluck my bones clean if I took them to bed." He chuckles quietly, keeping his voice low as he starts to move though the crowd. "I much prefer your matter of attempting to stab me in the /chest/ than the /back/. The back seems to be all that most Nobles know." He has issues with nobility. If no one guessed. "The only difference between what they do and what I do is that the law actually protects them."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Deserved what?" Avira asks innocently. Too tight? He should be glad she did not draw the thread around his throat. She'd show him too tight! A low 'tsk' escapes her when he professes his fear for bedding these ladies. "But you don't fear me, who has more or less already done that to you, minus the bone-picking. Though you have one thing right. I do prefer frontal attacks." Strange to hear his opinion of nobility come out liek that. She files away that thought for later-hey, this night is going to be lucrative after all! "Does it? There are times when they too fall to the law. Rare, but, there are." Even Avira must acknowledge the power of influence that keeps many a noble out of jail. With that in mind, she leads him into the viper's den and mingles with her darling trophy husband on her arm. It's a strange feeling, that, but she seems pretty decent at pretending to be someone else. Curious.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "I /knew/ you had a sense of humor in there somewhere," Warden murmurs as they slip amonst the guests. A greeting here. A polite word there. Introductions abound. The man is actually...adept at this sort of thing. He remembers names. Eels though the nobility without difficulty. Though should the Wolf's sharp eyes catch it, though there is not diffiuclty there /is/ well disguised disgust. "And I don't fear you Lady Wolf, I only fear one thing. Thankfully you have no way to get to it, or get it here. Locked away as it is. So I'm safe. You will ahve to settle for respect over fear. I've always felt that a better thing anyway." It takes over a half-hour for them to work their ways though the crowd. A crowd where Warden fields dozens of boring questions about politics and finances, and Avira fields questions about...well...politics and if her husband is available for rent and/or barrowing. Apparently most of the noble ladies here are human. They havn't seen one of Warden's race before. He's exotic. Regardless of Warden fighting off falling asleep and Avira fighting off near blushes they /do/ manage to make it across the floor and to the stairs leading up. It /would/ be a perfect time for Avira to either drag him away...or ditch him and tell the owner of this party just what really was happening.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Throughout the party, though Avira spends a good deal of that with social fencing and evasion, her attention remains upon Warden and how he's reacting to everything. She's studying him, making notes of his acting and lying skills for later. He's quite good, she hates to admit, and must face that their earlier encounters may have been various bluffs. All the while she does notice the disgust, which she had picked up on earlier, he has for nobility. "I gathered as much, though." She seems unsurprised at his lack of fear of /her/. Why else would he attempt so many moments of touching? Or even nights like these? Altering his opinion would probably involve taking livess, which Avira was not interested in doing. She endures, despising the fact that she must beat these women off with sticks from stealing away her 'trophy husband.' Due to the setup, seh /has/ to care about these attempts. She might mack Warden more about this later. While at the socialization stage, she does make an attempt to find and talk to the owner, just to get a feel of him. But when the time comes, Warden finds himself being dragged away upstairs. "Alright, that's more than enough of these..people." she grumbles in a low voice.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Oh he wasn't lying. He really only fears one thing. Thankfully its sealed away in his own world and no one is going to get that open! Right? RIGHT?! Right. Never happen right. So he's safe. The owner himself is...well. Handsome. Refined. Gentlemanly. Everything that one would expect of a Duke. There is also something viper-like about him. Slimy. The smile he has for Avira is all plastic and no warmth, as if he is simply sizing her up to be used or discarded at his own whim. She can see just why Warden is so fond of nobles. All balled up into this one. She pulls him up the stairs however and he grins widles as they go. "Look more affectionate can you?" He asks with his glittering eyes dancing brightly in the half-dark. Either way however the man goes with her. Not /quite/ draped over her as they escape the crowd. "Into one of the side rooms." He murmurs into her ear as they go. "There is a museam display hall up here. Once we find it, shouldn't take long to get what we need and get out. If all goes well at least." Famous last words.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' In time. Avira is confident she would learn this thing eventually, especially if she continues her track record of encountering this man as she has these past few weeks. Warden will be unwound and she'll do it at a time when she's not trying to actually accomplish something IMPORTANT. Ah that owner, with a smile that does not reach his eyes. It's a smile that Avira has seen before. She holds him at a social arm's length, giving off the airs that she's simply too -good- for him. Their conversation is brief and she takes no steps to inform him what's really going on. "Affectionate?" she drawls quietly, "Au contraire, I think I look affectionate enough for this crowd." He takes him by his fancy, fancy collar and drags once he's at the top of the stairs, ducking down a hallway and into one of the side rooms as he's suggested. "I have a bad feeling about this, though." Again, she is quiet.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Urgk," Whatever he was /going/ to say? Well that gets preeptived by her dragging him by the collar of his fancypants outfit. He recovers as she shuts the door behind them, loosening the collar as he leans his back against the wall next to the door. "Are you /always/ such a bundle of joy at times like this?" His works come with a smile, angling lightly towards her before he shrugs slightly. "There are always possible traps, and always possible discovery. Thats why you have backup plans." He flexes his fingers a moment or two, glancing around the room they find themselves in with the practiced eye of a thief. Suprisingly enough? He's not taking anything. And that mask of his /does/ make him seem exotic. "I'm almost suprised you didn't give us away to the Duke." He adds as he opens the door just slightly to peer out into the hallway and make sure its clear. It suprisingly is clear as he pulls out a small hand-drawn map. Traying to orient himself correctly. Should she look it is a map of the second floor, with a big red X marked in a long room at the end of the hall. Double doors. It defentially looks like a gallery from the drawing at least. "You're enjoying this arn't you?" He asks as he glances up, that grin on his masked features before he jerks his head towards the door. "Come on then, the night is still young and we have a job to do don't we?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Do you expect flirting on a mission? Granted, I /have/ done that, but you aren't one of the few I would do it with." She pauses for a moment to keep him pinned against the wall before letting go of him. "Sometimes I do like to consider myself a professional." Backing away, she too turns to the room, looking it over with a practiced gaze. Much like Warden, Avira's had her share of traps and adventuring. Through practice she's developed her own careful observation of her surroundings. "You are?" Slowly, she looks to him. "Well, Warden, I've yet to see if you were being entirely truthful to me about this particular infiltration. Sure, you said he has the goods, but what if he doesn't? Announcing that I'm here to reclaim them when he didn't have them would have only caused trouble for both of us right away. And if he did have them, he would deny it most likely. Either way, we would have played our hand and complicated things." She turns, the hem of her dress flowing with her motion like liquid gold. Her brown eyes fall upon his hand-drawn map. "...tch." her eyes look amused behind that mask. "...I would enjoy it more if Mercade could see me like this. Let's move."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Expect no," Warden replies as she pins him against the wall like that. His eyes are warm and bright as he looks down at her. His arms are around her waist, and should anyone come upon them. Well. They /are/ for that moment at least, the picture of a pair of rather frisky lovers perhaps a bit into their cups and wrapped up in themselves. "But sometimes I get pleasently suprised. Not this time perhaps, but sometimes." Warden? He is anything /but/ professional. At least at times like this. He laughs, low and soft and warm as she spins away from him. Its a sound that thrums though the dark room. Suprisingly pleasent from a man that is unpleaesnt at times. Not like his former laughs. One that is much more...honest in its tone and timbre. "He should," He finally murmurs. His eyes still bright and amused as hers. "You look nothing short of stunning like that." Again that short moment of honesty before he turns to the door and pulls it open. Reaching for her hand to pull her down the hallway this time. Carefully making sure the coast is entirely clear as he goes towards the door he needs. The door is closed of course, but not locked suprisingly enough.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "No." Avira leans in. While her body may be going through the motions in case someone did happen upon Dona Ana Marie Verdugo and her trophy husband. Such arrangements like hers were expected to be built on lust in these circles, weren't they? But there was only so far she was willing to go with the charade considering that this is WARDEN here. "Certainly not this time." She turns her back to him with her hands on her hips. "I'm not expected to give this outfit back, am I?" Avira could only imagine the expression on his face if she slinked into Mercade's office, looking like one of the dames in the detective stories he tries to emulate. A smile spreads across her face as she imagines, only to disappear when Warden speaks up again with that sincere compliment from earlier. For those few moments, she is speechless, unsure how to really respond. In those moments, Warden takes her hand and pulls her along. Before he can open the door, though, she stops him and carefully leans against it, listening carefully.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Thats alright. Warden will surly ruin that suprise and posible positive faction with some moment of Wardenness later on in the night. Its sort of what he does and all. The door isn't locked, and there are no sounds coming from the other side of the thick wood that she can hear. The muted sounds of the party downstairs are the only company the pair of them have on the upper floor for now. "Parish the thought, its a gift. Though I can't take credit for anything but the mask." He murmurs, sharp green eyes carefully watching his environs for anything just the slightest bit out of place.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Hearing nothing behind the door, Avira puts her hand upon the doorknob and slowly turns it. A bit of surprise registers on her face when she realizes that it is unlocked. The door is still opened very slowly. "Is it now? Though you did have a hand in picking it out, I assume, given how well it matches your own outfit." She can't help but feel a little excited. She WILL be able to surprise Mercade like this! Once this mission has passed, she will have to do just that. But until then... ...Avira slips quietly into the unlocked room.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The room is very long, exactly like drawn on the little scrawl of Warden's. Its an exibit gallery, with dozens of glass cases for display. Armor. Weapons. Gems. Jewelry. All are on proud display. ...and likely not one of them aquired without a bit of theft involved. Warden whistles softly as he glances down the gallery. The man's impressed at least, and his eyes glow with more than a hint of avarice as he notes the value of the good laid out before him. Focus Warden. Focus. He murmurs as he closes the door carefully behind them. His eyes slide down the length of treasures before falling on one a little more than halfway down. "There. Thats what you want." Inside the case is a saber and sheath, all so gemed and jeweled and gilded that the weapon would be entirely useless as...well...a weapon. Its a very impressive paperweight though. Or display piece. "The sword and the other gems in the case. That would be what you want. Just be careful for traps on the way there." A smirk. "And if you can't handle a lock, then allow me." A longer pause. "And /no/ I'm not gonna just shoot it off."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Definitely an /impressive/ private collection. The lord of the estate must have a lot of money to throw around to arrange for the theft of all of these things. Stealing what had already been stolen held no interest to Avira, though, save for the Charming property. The rest of this-well, who knows who it may have been lifted from. She might direct Max to this place a bit later in case he was interested in plundering this target-rich environment. Her brown eyes flick to Warden every now and then and she smirks. She can practically sense him salivating over the various gems and loot present here. Her gaze is directed to the saber-she doesn't recognize it, not having studied the gems before they were stolen. It looked royal enough, though. But if Warden was directing her to steal something that /wasn't/ part of the aforementioned collection, Avira will be very cross. "I am experienced with traps." Avira murmurs before slipping forward. Her eyes are narrowed and her movements are slow. Each step is careful and her ears listen carefully for the triggering of any switches or panels.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' By the time Max gets here, it may be gone. At least that is what the look on Warden's face says. He can't let a haul like this just go away! Espicialy after stealing /something/ from him already! "Of course, Lady Wolf." Warden murmurs quietly as he lets her go first. She has experiance with traps! No reason to not let her go first. ...at least until his own eyes start roaming the room. Her practiced eyes can pick out several panels and even a tripwire or two. She is confident and swift, picking her way down the hall... Until Warden sucks in a breath in shock and. "Not there!" Too late! Avira might feel the perfectly normal looking floor tile slip under the pressure of her weight. She was sure that it was normal. The one next to it was the wrong one, and quite obviously the wrong one. Before she can react a weight cannons into her from behind as Warden tackles her to the ground. They fall and he doesn't stop moving. Pulling her with him as he rolls to the right, then the left, then back finally to the right before fetching up /hard/ against the very case he said they were here for. Above them all hell breaks loose. Daggers fly from the first misstep of Avira's, shot from a wall piece that looked like a fishes mouth. They would have logded in her back if she hadn't have been tackled down. A spear shoots out at an angle from the base of a case, narrowly missing them both. Then a blade scythe's across the middle hall, close enough to nick Warden's ear and nearly take the mask off Avira's face. Top that off with a flash of bright energy as something either technological or magical flashes like a lightning bolt an inch away from the pair of them as they are rolling away. Ending up ontop of the masked Investigator, the pirate just gives her an ironic little look. "Experianced with traps is it now?" There is more than a touch of pain if she looks hard in his masked eyes. Something got him at least, but he isn't one to complain about it.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' She does have experience with traps! What she doesn't mention is that when she experienced those traps in the temples and dungeons she was raiding, she wound up setting most of them off and getting /hit/ by them. But surely that experience would have made her wiser in the end, right? Apparently not. A huff of breath escapes her as Warden smashes into her from behind and knocks her onto the floor, just after she felt the barest of 'clicks' when she stepped down on a particular tile. She attempts to pick herself back up only for Warden to push her down again, then roll across the floor one way, then the other. Cringing from the movement, she seems to curl up against him with a yelp of protest every now and then until she sees a blade pass by her face so closely between them that she can see her own eyes reflected in the side. She lies limply, pressed against the base of the case by the pirate. Beneath the wolf mask, she is blushing heavily with shame. "Well I /am/." she protests defensively. "Every trap works a little bit differently, you know. Her fingers dig into him tightly for a few seconds before releasing as she tries to pull herself up with her back to the case. Very briefly she thinks she sees pain in his green eyes. Did he get hit..? "E-either way..." she mumbles, trying to regain her previous bravado, "Here we are."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "For the record," Warden hisses quietly towards her as the silence resumes after the suddenly loud burst of noise and death. "When a swich is /too/ obvious, its usually too obvious for a reason. Don't they have Dragon Creches where you're from?" He lies there for just a second longer, as if trying to regain his strength after that. When he does sit up there is a faint grimice of pain as he carefully stands. its hard to tell in the poor lighting but there might be a darker spot in the fabric of the back of his coat. "Yes we are here, but I'm sure the'll have a group of guards here in a second to find out what hte noise is. So. Do you want to keep watch and try to out-talk a guard or..." And he pulls a set of lockpicks out of the sleeve of his outfit. "Deal with a lock?" She knows he's right. Any of those traps /could/ have been linked to an alarm. If the noise wasn't enough by itself.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "I don't even know what that is." Avira shoots back at him with a touch of annoyance in her voice. She watches the pirate carefully, again noticing his pain. Without warning, she reaches out to him and places a hand on her shoulder. Her fingers glow a dull white and Warden might feel a faint, slow-acting rush of relief spreading from the point of contact throughout his body. It's a basic regen spell for those familiar with World of Ruin-type magic. If anything, it'll slow the bleeding. There's no doubt in her mind that all those traps likely triggered an alarm as well. "I doubt there will be much chance to out-/talk/ the guards coming to deal with this. But I am prepared with other options. You work on the lock. What is our escape route going to be?" At this point she's already accepted that a hasty retreat from this function is in their future. Calmly, she holds up her arms as if she was making the motions of firing an invisible bow and arrow. Where an arrow would be knocked, a shaft of blue light appears and solidifies into a thin shard of ice. Avira makes the motions of 'releasing' the bowstring and the ice shard shoots forward, impacting against the door they entered through the museum, coating the frame with a thin layer of ice. Opening that door just got a touch more difficult. Any incoming guards would end up making a terribly large amount of noise getting it open.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Well." He pauses a moment. "Thats impressive." Magic does have a bit of use he suposes. He still doesn't /like/ it really, but it does have a bit of use every so often. He can admit that. Maybe he should try to hire a wizard for the crew! Akari and Chere are mercenaries right? That might work. Future concerns aside he sighs to shake his head. "A Dragon's Creche is a type of trap. Well. A room really. Ment to kill anyone that wondered in. Traps. Its really a lost art in your world isn't it? No fancy names or artistry in it left is there?" He would go on, but he is suddenly silenced when she concentrates that small bit of magic into him. for a moment as she touched him it almost seemed like he would simply curl away. He apparently didn't like people dealing with his own wounds, or he thought she might do something to him while weakened. He crouches though, starting to attend to the lock. Not with a gun or a bit of magic, or some technological marvel. No. He is a purist. He is working on it with lockpicks and skill alone. "I don't know, how disheveled you look after our tumble. If you could fake being drunk you might convince them that we were just fooling around and set something off." He suggests towards the woman as he listens, ears pricked for the sound of the tumblers. Its the sound of a knock on the door that is heard next though. No one trying to foce Avira's block. Yet.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Thank you." She breathes out, lowering her arms and turning to face him, watching him as he worked. In all of the skills she had picked up over the years, lockpicking had not been one of them. Sure, she could brave Max's instruction to learn but after what she had endured from him so far, she was gunshy about asking him for more help. "Well...in my original world, no, not really. Traps were not really lethal unless they were meant to guard some mad genius's lair." Xanatos might have had them in his tower. "There are laws against that in Manhattan." It wasn't that much of a secret anymore concerning Avira's true origins. Her real name was still mostly unknown at least. But goodness, that was strange. He almost seemed to be rejecting her healing touch? Not the reaction she thought he'd have to physical contact from her at all. "Well I could try that." The knock on the door interrupts them. Though she knows it cannot be opened yet, she quietly slips over to the door and leans toward it. She raises her voice and attempts to make herself sound slightly intoxicated. "Ye~eesss?"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Er...madam?" The voice sounds from the other side of the door. Its muffled by wood and ice but still can be heard. Professional and serious. A guard of some kind. "Is there trouble? We heard a commontion from this room and now..." Someone tries the latch. "The door seems to be stuck..." Its at least buying them time as Warden works on the lock. One tumbler, then two, then a third fall though the mans skilled fingers. "Just a few more moments..." He murmurs to her. "...just keep them busy for a few more moments. Emergency exit is out a window on the second floor. Back of this room." A pause. "Do you think you can fight in those skirts?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Helloooo~" Avira drawls, the expression on her face certainly not matching the alleged intebraitedness conveyed in her tone. But those on the other side were not aware of that. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, my dear and I were rolling around on the floor and suddenly there was this flash of light! Hee hee hee...we made a little mess...I'm sooooo sorry..." Avira makes faces between this, as if steeling herself. She's largely disgusted at faking the bimbo here but if it stalled them... "Oh! Oh, no, no, don't come in! We are so indencent right now!" Avira gasps scandalously. "Ohh I'm so sorry. Give us a moment to get ourselves together! Plea[[User:Skalith|Skalith]] ([[User talk:Skalith|talk]])asseee~" She steps away from the door and edges back to Warden. "My ability to fight is severely hobbled in this dress. I don't have my usual weapon on me and my mobility is lacking. I could manage some magic, but not much else." She warns him. "If you can conceal that saber on you then perhaps we can slip past the guards outside and forgo the window entirely."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The last tumbler comes free and Warden sighs in relief as he lifts the case and the items right out. At least he starts too, before he stops. Curses. And goes about disarming a few remaining traps on the item itself. "How am I going to stash this thing? Down my pant leg?" He tosses back towards her, though he is at least trying to think of a way. If they can get out without a fight... "Ah well madam..." The guard seems a bit hesitant to just kick open the door with an indecent noblewoman that can have him fired or worse on the other side! He doesn't want to loose his job. Thankfully this hesitation lets Warden finish cutting traplines. Unfortunately...just as he lifts the item out... There is a familiar voice, authoritative and angry that comes from the other side of the door. "What is going on here?!" "Ah Your Grace, we were just...well...there are partiers on the other side of the door." A pause from the guard. "They arn't quite decent...they said they would be coming out shortly..." There is a moment pause that you can almost /hear/ the Duke staring at the guardsman. "You /idiot/." He finally snarls. "Break it down." And now the hammering on the door is starting to come in earnest.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Well, it could work. Putting it down your pants leg. You would limp and make the excuse that your lady love damaged your leg in her throes of passion." Her voice is absolutely deadpan at this suggestion. She clearly doesn't consider it much of an option at all. She hears the guards hesitating and smiles. Ahh, hired help, so cowed by the nobles that own them. It was kind of sad to see how easily she could manipulate a man with the illusion of some kind of status. Her smile fades when she hears the voice of the Duke on the other side. Damn him, he knew. A thief himself, he would know, wouldn't he? Avira backs away from the door, back to Warden. "Well it seems like we'll be escaping out the window. Let's go, I don't know how much longer the ice will hold." Indeed, with the hammering, the ice is already starting to crack.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The ice cracks as Warden stands and he smirks. He looks casual enough as he lets the jeweled item dangle from his fingers. "Oh. You you're a /feisty/ lover are you? I knew it. Its in the blood. Spain always held such passion." He takes one glance at the door though before stepping towards her. "Alright. Lets go. But first, just so you can move better and in case we get into a fight." He reaches towards her, hands gripping the sides of her skirt in a very specific manner before he tugs at one specific stitch. And her skirt just tears easily off, right across the seem. She /did/ wear proper underthings didn't she? "There. Now you can run better." He says, just as deadpan as he hands her her skirt. Just that moment the door, abused now by more guards, bursts open to allow no less than five tumble in and sprawl across the door. To stare at the skirtless lady and her bloody lord. "Well," Says one of the guards at the bottom. "She did warn us that they wern't decent..." "SHUT UP AND /GET/ THEM!" Roars the Duke. ...running might be good.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Actually if we are being accurate, it is Atlantean." Avira points out, assuming that the 'Spanish' conclusion was drawn from her darker skin tone. "But it is close enough. Except for the part where you think I am being a fiesty lover at you." She tosses her hair at him like an impertinent pony. He grips her dress at the hips and she looks upon him with confusion and embarassment, "What are you-" the skirt part slips away, leaving Avira mostly bare from the waist down. She DID wear proper undergarments-of silk and lace no less since she wanted to be fancy tonight. Not only that, but she does have garters on both of her thighs, each equipped with a set of small knives. Seems she did manage to come armed somehow. At this, she shrieks a little and tries to tug what was left down to cover herself. "What have you done-!?" Then the guards burst in. Avira wails and smacks Warden upside the head. "Once we are out of this-!" she's already running for the aforementioned window, "I'm going to KILL you!"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden was curious if she actually wore the whole ensamble. It seems that...yes she did. He has a few moments to examine with a professional eye the garters. The legs. The knives. The lace and silk. Before he even has time to make a comment however her hand connects with the side of his head. "I made it easier for you to make for the window! You're welcome!" A pause. "You can still fix the dress later!" They run, even as the guards push themselve to their feet and give chase. The window is close. Very close. Coming closer by the moment as the pair of them make for it. "Shoot them down!" Calls the Duke, and the thrum of a crossbows being readied and fired can be heard behind them. Warden's back itches as he can almost /feel/ the bolt aiming for him, only to zip by the air between Avira and him and shatter against the wall. "MUST I DO EVERYTHING MYSELF?!" The man roars, true anger coming into his voice and there is a sudden and suprising wall of flame bursting up infront of them. Between them and the window.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Unlike certain celebrities that would become famous in Avira's world in the future, Avira actually wears underwear. Today she is doubly glad she did but if all the people to /see/ it, why these people!? WHY! "I could have just hiked the dress up, you know!" Avira counters as she runs, shivering as she hears the shouting behind them. Goodness that Duke was angry. The cruelty she had read in this man's eyes was the real deal. They're almost there... ...and then fire erupts between them and the window. Avira yelps and recoils at the flames. No stranger to fire due to her best friend being Maira, she's curious how /this/ fire got here so suddenly. Was the Duke actually a mage!? Or maybe this was a magic item of some kind. Whichever the case, Avira's quick to try and douse the flames with a mutter and a dash of ice magic against the floor. "Go! Jump for it! Now! If you jump through fire quickly enough it won't hurt." As much. Maybe. This was magic fire! Though she might be trying to enact revenge against Warden for her now-missing skirt, Avira's going to jump too.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' They don't douce entirely, but they go down at least. They arn't stretching floor to ceiling anymore. Thank whatever gods you like for small favors. He seems perfectly willing to take her advice, but first...either because he gave his word to her that he would help, or because he wanted to get his hands around her legs...he leans down just slightly to scoop her off her feet. Gloved hands sliding against her bare legs. "Don't want to leave you here alone, my love~" He leaps though the flames, and they /do/ hurt. Not quite as bad as being in them for some time, not as bad as if Avira's magic handn't hit them. But they /do/ hurt. His /tail/ is /singed/ dammit. He hisses, but he doesn't stop and they both might crash into the window. Boot first. It shatters. And then suddenly they are in open air, and entirely subject to the laws of gravity. They start to arc down, and just when Avira miiiight worry that this was a BAD PLAN...they slow. They don't stop, but they slow down. Just enough so crashing though the roof of the carrage that Avira arrived in doesn't /mangle/ the pair of them after a two story fall. "Well," Warden's voice coming with a noted lack of air as he has landed sprawled across the back seat of the couch. "That could have gone worse."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' It'll have to do. On this short a notice and with such little time to prepare, there was no way for Avira to pull off a bigger and more thorough ice spell. The threat of crossbow bolts in one's back is not exactly conductive to finely-tuned casting. In the heat of the moment (pun intended), she hadn't considered that this might be a good place for him to take the jeweled saber and abandon her. She'd been intending to follow shortly afterwards too and leap through the window, even braving the flames to do so. The ultimate outcome in which scoops her up, however, was entirely unexpected. Then again maybe he just wanted to feel up her legs. She'll have to kill him twice later. Avira cringes at the flames, which most certainly do hurt regardless of how fast they have jumped through the wall of fire. She can feel her skin start to blister and peel just slightly, a reddish hue left upon her in their wake. Gravity, Avira's old foe. She isn't familiar with the spell float. She /could/ possibly slow them down with air magic given the chance but that was not something she had prepared for. But she does feel them slowing as they plummet and she feels hopeful that they wouldn't crash into something hard and uncomfortable. So to speak. She does land on top of Warden. Groaning, she flops backwards, not really don't much to move /off/ of him. "Drive." she says breathlessly. "Go. We need to get out of here. Before they start shooting out the window."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Both of them sprawled on each other. This might be pleasent for Warden, if he hadn't been set on fire, shot at, stabbed, and just falled two stories. However he kept his hand on the sword, and he kept his word to Avira. Much to her suprise perhaps, but he did. One arms thrown haphazardly around the woman, she might feel something slightly odd. He is warm, more so than he should be. Sweatting in a way that running though fire might not account for. Maybe its just a thing with his species. They could be natures space heaters. However he still moves when she speaks. He moves /faster/ when a bolt embeads itself in the far end of the carrage proper. "GO SPOOKS! GO!" The carriage jolts to a start, the horses moving quickly into a gallop across the bumpy ground to pull them away from the estate and more importantly the crossbows.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' The strange temperature of Warden doesn't go unnoticed though Avira's more likely to attribute it to the fire rather than some kind of biological adaptation. She's actually still not THAT aware that Warden is a space pirate. She hasn't had all that much interaction with alien races before...well, save for Stitch a while ago. The huntress continues to keep her head down and away from the windows of the carriage, this behavior encouraged further when crossbow bolts begin to embed themselves into their ride. Her hands latch onto the carriage firmly to keep herself steady but after a few moments of fleeing, Avira starts to look around. She wants something to wrap around her waist to cover it up. After that, she'll smack Warden again.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Well there /are/ her skirts. A bit singed, but still wrappable at the very least. Apparently a tear-away hem was something Warden felt that Avira needed in her outfit. Just in case. Persuit and the sounds thereof drifts away behind them, Warden looking up out of the hole in the ruined coah to make sure that no one is on their tail. He drops back into the cabin with a gust of breath and a smile on his face. It seems he is happy for a job well done. Of course, should she look at him with intend to smack? He doesn't look too good. His eyes are slightly unfocused behind his mask, and his color is just a touch off. The Duke /is/ just the kind of man to poison his traps isn't he? "Well," He drawls as he tries to keep himself upright in the shifting coach. "...admit it. You enjoyed that."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira will happily pick up the skirts of that /very/ expensive and fancy dress, wrapping them around her waist once more. Right away she feels a little better now that she's not flashing her panties to the world. She'd have to get that fixed properly later. Then again, she could 'fix' it and see if Mercade could later figure the trick out. She slips the wolf mask off her head and sets it on the seat beside her. Silent, she listens for the sound of horses or continued bolts though after a while she hears no signs. Seems that the Duke has given up, for now. "Well it's a good thing we were masked. I have enough theft on my record at the moment." Letting her head fall forward, she fixes a glare upon Warden, ready to smack him for the indecency she had to display back there. Except Warden looks a little odd. Leaning forward, Avira pushes the mask off his face in order to get a good look at him. Within moments she realizes that some kind of poison is at work-an affliction she's seen before. "Damn..." she swears. Avira had antidotes on her for these occasions as a Huntress does often encounter poisonous wildlife. But that gear is safely back at the VALKYRI HQ, the dress offering nowhere to store such things. She could have worn a belt with pouches over the dress but that would have clashed horribly. "...I will conceed some enjoyment." Avira says carefully. "I can tell you certainly enjoyed yourself."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Just back there? I mean really. Its not like he's been all that decent at any specific point in time. His track record is really prety low on decency and morals to be honest. I mean he hasn't killed /many/ people. Today. In her presence. With her knowldge. Alright. Lets not go into that sort of thing. Right now the man is resting against the posh leather seats. "I almost always enjoy myself my dear, Lady Wolf. It is the only way to live. Right now I have to admit that I'm feeling a bit off though." He pauses a moment. "...under the seat your sitting on, should be some potions and antidotes. I try to hope for the best and prepare for the worst." A chuckle. "Like you do. Judging from your daggers. Which were cunning and stylish I must admit." He holds up the sword though between them, balancing it easily on one hand. "...and here. What I owe you. Isn't it?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "You seem to be poisoned." Avira points out, mostly for his benefit in case he didn't know already. But with his next breath, he confirms that he does know. At that point she kind of shuts up about the poison and turns to rummage through the compartment under the seat. As she rummages, Warden will hear Avira sound defensive. "It isn't that unusual to be prepared! I'm super awesome like that." Locating the vial, Avira pulls it out and moves over to Warden so she can carefully pour the contents down his throat. Once she does, seh snatches up the jeweled sword. "This really is /theirs/, right? Not some random thing you wanted to steal?"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Either Warden has little to say while she rummages, or else he just liked staring at her backside while she rummaged. Who knows which really. She can thank her stars however that he /does/ stay silent till she turns toward him. He reaches for the vial, but stops as he realises what she's planning. Offering little resistance after noting just what vial it is, and that it at least seems to be the correct one. He does make a face at the taste. As she questions him though, the man reaches up slightly. That off-tilt smile on his face makes him look just as roguish as ever as he gently touches her face. The smooth leather of the glove gliding against her skin. "My dear Lady Wolf, you have much to learn about me. Don't question my word once I give it. It is all a pirate truly has to his name after all." He lets his hand fall before resting his head back against the cushins. "And thank you. For not poisoning me further, or leaving me wounded." A pause again. "But yes. That /is/ the Charming's little bouble. Take it in good health." 5r

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' What Avira doesn't mention is her preparation was in case /Warden/ tried to do something funny. She hadn't expected this evening to consist of a full-out heist to retrieve a Charming family jewel. Once the vial is drained, she tosses it aside onto the carriage seat. It doesn't seem that she noticed him trying to reach for the vial and drink it himself. She had assumed he was too winded and poisoned to handle moving. With the sword in her hand, she moves to sit down once again, rather than risk being jostled around by their hasty escape. As she examines the blade, he reaches out to brush her face and brown eyes flick upwards to watch him. "'Take all, give nothing in return.' is also something you said to me once." Avira replies with a light smirk. She doesn't pull away from his hand but she also doesn't seem very thrilled at its presence. Fortunately, it drops away afterwards. Idily, Avira slides the blade out of the sheath halfway to examine it. "Leave you poisoned or wounded? Please, I am a hunter. I always return with my prey." Her smirk widens just a little and she lets the saber drop back into its sheath with a loud ring of metal against leather.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Using my own words against me are you? Clever," Warden allows as he shifts away from her. "Think for a moment. Just how much of what we take is left in the end? Give nothing back? Because there is nothing left to give." He's either philosophical while he's poisoned, or just feeling chatty after a good heist. Again a chuckle. "Prey?" He cracks one eye as he feels the poison slowly burn its way out of his bloodstream. "Just which were you refering too there Lady Wolf? Me or the sword?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Absolutely. I try to be resourceful." Avira smiles and leans back against the seat. "And honestly, it isn't necessary to take...everything. But far be it from me to argue with a pirate about pirating. I'm just weary about taking the word of people I do not know very well. I've been burned in the past by that." Her smirk widens just a little as he peeks that eye open. She leans forwards at him. "Yes. To both. There /are/ a number of treasures still unaccounted for. Those pictures in particular." She sighs dramatically. "Though I suspect I may have issues capturing you right now given that you probably own the driver of this carriage."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Oh so have I," Warden replies with a smirk angled towards her, his eyes almost lazy as they bumb down the road in the ruined carriage. "But. Once I give my word, it stays given." A bright smile before he adds the qualifier. "As long as the recipiant of said word deserves that courtesy. So the Duke back there? Not deserving it. You?" He shrugs. "You havn't given me a reason to not think you're worth it." The smile grows. "Infact the more I see of you, the more I think you /might/ just be worth it." The way he shifts forwards slightly, well he seems to be recovering quite well. He shifts again, leaning towards her the dancing smile on his roguish features. "Well. You /might/. It is Spooks and one of my men up there. I'm sure you could /try/ to take me in, but...after what we just went though do you want to go and do something like that?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "We will see if you hold to that word. You seem to have so far. I will know for sure when I return this saber to the Kingdom of Charming." Avira pats the weapon at her side. "I just hope that if you steal this saber again you don't sell it back to the same man." Stealing from him a second time might be difficult! Avira's cheeks turnr just a little red. "Well, I suppose I am flattered by this compliment." That antidote is working quickly. Shame it didn't knock him out cold. Warden confirms what she assumed about the driver. She was outnumbered and already tired. Taking Warden in right here would end poorly, she'd assume. The last thing she wanted was for him to walk off with her tonight. "Not especially." Avira says mildly, "But if I left you poisoned or, worse, behind, I wouldn't have the opportunity in the future now, would I?"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden honestly hadn't thought far ahead. He wasn't sure just /what/ he would do should she try to take him in. The pirate is a study in contridictions for the most part. Some things he /does/ plan well. Some things he just makes up as they go along. Her attacking him right here and now would be the latter. He might go with her just to escape later. He might fight her just for fun. Its hard to say one way or another till it happens. "A few more miles and we'll be at my extraction point. Should be fine from there." He /does/ laugh however at the mild reply. "I wouldn't want to deprive you of that pleasure in the future! Or myself the pleasure of giving you the slip. Again, and again, and again." He smirks towards her slowly as he opens his mouth to say more. ...only to be intrupted by the /THOCK/ of a crossbow impacting the outside of the carriage. "...wonderful. They have horses."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Attack, disable, one of the two, if Avira was about to go on the hunt. "Though neither of them are paying much attention right now are they. I could probably overpower you right now if I wanted to." She taunts, filled with bravado. She sits back down again, watching him with amusement as he claims he'll slip away from her again and again, "If our next fight goes as our last did, you won't be slipping away from me for long." Then, without warning, a tiny bit of the wall of the carriage caves in as a crossbow bolt embeds in it. "...horses, huh." Avira grabs her mask and slips it back on her face, "I think I know how to deal with that." Magic starts creeping over her hands again, only to abruptly stop. Sure, coating the ground with ice could make the animals slip but...well, that actually felt like a cruel thing to do to horses. What if they broke their legs? It wasn't their fault they were pursuing after the pair! But then another idea hits her. She scoots to one of the windows and leans out carefully, trying to gauge how many men are after them. Her gaze upon the first horse she sees and she clears her throat. "Halt!" she states clearly in the Beastmaster command voice. Normally, an animal would just be compelled to obey though it depended on how 'strong' and/or magical that animal was.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Oooh. In that outift I think I might /like/ you trying," Warden's voice is low as he replies. That timbre is on the edge of an actual purr. The sound wrapping around the air between them as he is taunted. Green eyes burn as they watch her with that smile still on his face. He wants her to do it. He wants to see what might happen should that come to pass. Rolling around in the cabin of the carriage. It would be /fun/. Well. It would be if they wern't being shot at! Avira seems to have a plan though, and far be it for Warden to /disagree/ with a plan. However he does want to watch. As as the masked woman sticks her head out of the cabin to stare behind them, he moves and...well...does the same thing. Right behind her. Not /quite/ leaning against her, but not in any way respecting personal space. He /might/ even be holding onto her waist. To make sure she doesn't fall out. ...alright. Defintally holding her waist. She gives her command though and the horses? Well. The stop. Dead stop. Shouts of dismay arise from the guards as physics take over and a half-dozen guards go flying over horses heads to crash and skid in the mud. Including the Duke himself. His laugh is both loud and warm in her ears. "Lady Wolf," That voice amused and warm in her ears. "I think I might love you."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' His blatant flirting is met with a 'tsk' on Avira's part as he cheerfully states that, why yes, he would /love/ to have a little scuffle. She doesn't contest this but merely stares him down, now sorely tempted to lunge. But she relents. It was a risk. Avira was half afraid she would get a crossbow bolt to the face (or mask) but it seems the men were not skilled enough to hit such a relatively smaller target as they rode on live horses. Her own hands steady herself, one against the carriage wall the other against the edge of the window on the carriage door. Although she thinks herself to be fairly steady, Warden steps over to 'enhance' her position. The result of the Command Voice is immediate and draws a laugh from Avira as the abrupt stop achieves effects similar to the frozen ground she might have tried. Dislodged guards. AND the Duke! She wasn't aware he was stilll trying! Wardem will find Avira laughing alone, pleased with her own handiwork. Her own laughter continues until his little comment, upon which it abruptly stops. "Well THAT is unfortunate." Avira says sotto vocce, "Because I do not and cannot return the feeling."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Oh there was more than a few bolts headed in her direction, however none that came close at all. The huntress and pirate watch as the gaggle of angry growling and shouting guards recede into the distance. He still holds her carefully though, even when some part of her mind /might/ realise it would be dreadfully easy for him to shove her right out of the carriage and into the mud as well. Taking the sword again. Perhaps the thought goes though his mind as well, and he eases back from her as he watches her. That low voice of hers brings a smile to his face and he shrugs slightly. "Of corse you can't luv, of course you can't. I'm the villain of you're story after all. Not worth such a high and mighty emotion from one as pure as you heroes." Is he serious? Is he joking? Is he teasing? Its hard to tell with the man, however he /does/ at least slip back into the cabin of the carriage without trying to shove her out. A glance though the open top of the carriage and should she cast her eyes up she might just catch the curve of the hull of an airship raising over the next hill. "It seems though that its time for us to part ways, Lady Wolf. I'll leave you the carriage if you like. I think you will have a better time with the horses than I."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Those men on horses probably didn't expect someone to lean themselves out of the carriage window in response to crossbow bolts being fired at them, no less! The wolf-masked lady no doubt gains the reputation of being 'absolutely crazy' until the horses simply cease moving forward. Avira quickly wiggles herself back into the carriage, now no longer under the danger of falling out with her ill(?)-gotten saber quarry. She turns to face him and frowns. "Don't be ridiculous." she says to him defensively. "I'm not that shallow a 'hero'. It is, more importantly, that my heart firmly belongs to another." At the very least, it's put her off guard-it seems she doesn't like being accused of being so superficial! Not that she expects this to stop any flirting or teasing. He's a pirate. They specalize in messing with things that belong to other people. She spies that airship and is largely unsurprised. "It looks to be that way. Very well, I will borrow the horses." Avira gives him one long pointed look, the meaning of which is dreadfully unclear, before she works her way to climb into the driver's seat of the still-moving coach. Before she does so, she slips her shoes off her feet and leaves them in the carriage.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "If that is what you have to tell yourself to sleep at night, luv," Warden replies with a wide and just /slightly/ smile. "Don't let me prove you wrong." The man stands, though with his height he has to crouch least his head stick out of the top. "Wouldn't want to ruin your sleep." A smirk. "Well not /that/ way at least. Other more enjoyable ways I wouldn't mind." Well look! It /doesn't/ stop the flirting or teasing. It just might makes it worse. He raises one arm, sliding the sleeve back to reveal one of his wrist-mounted energy rope makers. He points it up though the roof towards the bottom of his fast approaching ship. "And keep them," He winks once towards her. "I can't remember for the life of me whose they actually are. I think they came with the coach." Who he obviously took from SOMEONE. "Till later however my dear Lady Wolf." He pauses once more. "And I'm glad you liked the mask. I made it myself." Raising one hand he gives her a rather jaunty salute before fireing the rope off towards the ship and starting to raise quickly out of the ruined carrage.

A Traditional Duel

2014-01-27T16:58:26Z

Skalith: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/01/26 |Location=Ship Graveyard |Synopsis=A bit of a duel, a bit of a wager, and a surprise at the end. |Cast of Characters=Avira, Warden Tha..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/01/26
|Location=Ship Graveyard
|Synopsis=A bit of a duel, a bit of a wager, and a surprise at the end.
|Cast of Characters=Avira, Warden Thache
|pretty=yes
}}
:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The Bloody Pearl is a sleek ship. What most in the world of naudical knowldge would call a brig. Well. A Brig-of-War would be the more official classification. Its his airship of course. His star galleon would cause too much noise and not quite be able to fit though gummispace, but the brig? Just perfect. Warden rules the ship with a firm but fair hand, and his crew would follow him into hell and back. They have. Several times. This is one of those times. At the edge of death, the edge of the Ship Graveyard, the Bloody Peral sits at anchor. Its engines stilled, it seems nothing more than another ship from the age-of-sail. Its 48 cannon at port arms. Its sails furrowed. The lookout in the rigging is paying more attention to whatever might be going on in the Graveyard than other places. As is much of the crew. The captain isn't on deck either, presumeabily below or in his cabin. Which makes it an almost /perfect/ time for someone to sneak on the ship. When everyone is off combing hulks for treasure, and not paying much attention to everything else.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' It takes Avira a little detectiving to identify the Bloody Pearl with this particular pirate. She can be pretty relentless when she wants something and even that can overcome her general..unthreatening appearance. Still, word might have gotten out that she was on the prowl for Warden and his crew. That leads her here, in the World of Ruin (perhaps unsurprisingly). She approaches from the shore and not the water since she is on foot and moving about in dark clothing. All shiny objects on her have been masked carefully to not give her away. Anyone that looks upon her might say she even looks a bit...ninja-ish. Avira can move like one too, having trained in silent approaches and smooth parkour. She easily navigates the various pieces of broken ships that dot the water to slip to the side of the Bloody Pearl. In another life, she might have made a good assassin...well, if she had the temperment for ruthless killing. Sliding over the edge, Avira lands soundlessly on the deck of the ship and skirts around the edge of the ship, blending in to the wall. Her target, as she moves quietly, is the captain's cabin where she will find at least one of two things. Warden's loot. Warden himself. Either is good, though she mostly hopes for the former so she can snatch it up and run off right under his nose.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The deck moves gently under her feet. The deck is made of what looks to be at first glance wood but turns out to be some metalic type material. Though it seems to function like wood. The barrel she takes cover behind is defintally wood and smells of brine. Rope. Boxes. Sleeping pirates. They litter the deck like so much debris, but should she be careful. Should she be quiet. Well she /can/ make it all the way to the pirate captain's cabin itself. The door doesn't seem to be locked, and is well oiled enough to to open silently. The cabin is...by necissity...small. Perhaps less opulant or excessive than the ninja-ish detective might have guessed for the flamboyant captain. The richest apointments seem to be the desk and chart, the maniquin that is hug with his baldric and weapons. His coat thrown casually over it at well. The captain himself? He's sitting in the chair of his desk. Feet kicked up. Chair leaned back. His breathing even and slow, it seems that the cat is asleep. Of course, where the loot he might have stolen is? Thats hard to say.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira IS very silent and careful. She doesn't try to rush her movements because that leads to mistakes. Instead, she moves slowly and metholodically, navigating around sleeping pirates, edging the door to the captain's cabin open ever so carefully. Slipping inside without so much brushing the door or doorframe. Once inside, she carefully takes stock of her surroundings, brown eyes settling on the sleeping captain for a few seconds, her mouth quirking into a scowl. Her eyes quickly leave the man and roam over the cabin in search of paintings stacked up in a corner or a chest where jewels might be kept. If they are not in here, well, she had two choices from there... Leave and go search the hold...or wake the captain at swordpoint to interrogate him. If she doesn't find anything in the cabin, she'll opt for the second option, very quietly slipping the Spine from it's sheath. Unless he's already woken up during the course of her search, she will rouse him with a clearing of her throat and the barest pressure of her blade's sharp tip against his chest.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The captain makes no move to stop her. He gives no indication that he's even heard her. He's just a sleeping cat. Ears pricked up. Tail at reast. Breathing nice and even. Nope. He doesn't even know she's there. At least until the cold tip of the Spine presses against his chest. Its then that he smiles, that slow. Satisified smile. The tip of his tail twitches just the barest bit and his ears prick forwards. "Well Lady Wolf," His eyes lazily open, the captain smiling up towards his /captor/. "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to get to the interrigation."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' This would be the second time that Avira has captured Warden. Interesting, that. "Hello there /Captain/." She says, one hand lifting to pull down the covering she had hiding her mouth. She really does look like a ninja right now, complete with head-covering and everything. Only her Spine seems to gleam brightly in the darkness. "Looks like you know exactly why I have come. Good, so we can get straight to the point. Where are you hiding the stolen gems and paintings?" She doesn't move her weapon a smidge, keeping the pressure against him.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden shows his fangs in a wide smile, seemingly unconcerned with the fact that he's being held at swordpoint. "Is that why you came? I'm hurt! Here I thought it was just for my company!" He sighs with the greatest of dramatics, his deep breath digging the point of the Spine into his chest further. A trickle of red runs down his chest, and the man refuses to notice. "I'm afraid I can't do that, and I'm also afraid that these men..." He jerks his head towards the door, where a good half dozen or more pirates have begun to gather, casually leaning in. Spooks sits on the head of the leader. The little tattletail. "...might object to any violence you might do to my person." His green eyes dance as he adds. "I propose a compromise!" He adds after a moments thought. "A duel and a wager. So my men get a bit of sport and you have a chance to win what you wish! No tricks. No traps. No interfearance. The terms though...then terms..." His tail lashes in thought before he nods once. "You win, then not only do you walk out of here alive but I will do my level best and everything in my power to put the artifacts I stole in your hands. If I win? You..." He pauses a moment. "...you...have dinner with me! Yes. I think that would be a fine thing. At a place of my choosing. Also no tricks or traps involved." His head tilts slightly to one side, ears pricked forward. "What say you?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Don't flatter yourself." Avira tsks. "You seem to cross paths with me enough that I'm inclined to think you are /following/ me." Seems she'll gladly counter those dramatics with weak accusations of stalking. Still, he's very confident given his position, which bothers her quite a bit until she hears mvoement behind her. Just as Warden mentions his men, she looks over her shoulder. "...damn it!" she exclaims and moves suddenly to the other side of the desk where Warden is. It seems that she might be trying to grab him to hold him...hostage? To get by the crew? But he makes his wager and offer of a duel. She's silent for a long moment, fuming, "I would like to add something to this wager. If I lose, I walk out of here alive too." Because her win condition did, ominously include that stipulation. As if they wouldn't let her live if she lost-which is actually something she hadn't expected to hear out of this man. Maybe she misread him. "If you accept that, then, I will duel you."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "I'm not the one that followed me out here to the ass end of nowhere," Warden points out casually as he watches her. He doesn't move when she switches potions, just to make sure she doesn't cut anything by accident. He wouldn't want that to happen before the fun started. However at the last he laughs and starts to slide to his feet. "Lady Wolf! I thought that would go without saying! After all it would be difficult to have dinner with me if you were dead now wouldn't it? No no. Not a duel to the death, just...something more traditional." Of course, this doesn't mean that she can't try to kill him. That however is part of the fun. He snags his bandolier and fastens it across his chest as he stalks out of the cabin. "YOU HEAR THAT BOYS!" His voice booms across the deck, and all across the ship men turn to pay attention. It seems that the flippant man really /is/ a captain. "NO MATTER THE OUTCOME! MY DEATH! MY LOSS! MY WIN! LADY WOLF LEAVES HERE ALIVE, AND NO CHASE WILL BE GIVEN!" Many members of the crew look suprised at that. Or dissipointed. Or worried. That /is/ a strange weapon she has. He reaches the middle of the deck, his hands dropping to his sabers. "So." He drawls. "Shall we begin."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' A huffy look overcomes her face. "Well I already gave you my reasons for that." Avira even lifts her nose into the air just slightly and struggles to not let his laughter get to her. "I assumed that you would instead dispose of me after dinner." She points out, "Such is the effects of omitting such a conspicuous thing from your side of the wager, Captain." Little does he know that Avira /wouldn't/ kill him. There was no need for her to share that Avira had never killed a person before. Let him imagine her as some vicious bounty hunter that doesn't hesitate to take out thieves and pirates! Though she is a little surprised that he adds 'no chase will be given.' Avira's gotten chased a LOT before. With her head held high, she stolls onto the deck after Warden, ignoring the stares and leers of the pirate she passes. "Yes." she says as she immediately launches herself at him, leading with a thrust of the Spine, "Let us begin."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Almost imeadeatly her Spine comes for him and the pirate king has to spin in order to face it. The swords fairly fly to his hands as he manipulates the controls of the hilts. The energy blades spring to life, and odd magic rings off of high technology as the battle is joined. There is a cheer from the surrounding pirates as Warden fully parries the blow in a spinning parry before coming in low with the flat of the blade. Intending to knock her up into the air with a slam to her side and into part of the low-hanging rope rigging of the ship. "My dear, I'm not one to dispose of people like you so quickly! Some might call me a fool for it." Maleficent for one. "But you had the fortitude to sneak in here alone. I can't help but respect that. You /might/ be as good an opponent as the Royal Navy!" A pause. "Might. You have a lot to live up too in that respect."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Her attempted blow had been a one-handed one from her right hand. The left seems to be reaching behind her back to procure what looks like a small buckler shield that would easily strap to her arm. This is momentarily interrupted as she's knocked upwards into the rigging. Rather than become entangled, the left hand grasps onto the rope so she can swing up into a much better position. She balances easily. "You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I can be disposed of easily! Many have tried and failed." Without warning, she flings her weapon straight at him. Regardless of whether or not it actually hits him, it'll stick into the ground by its point, wobbling. Avira follows shortly after, leading with a kick at Warden's head as she drops from the rigging.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' He watches the woman catch herself, and once again his laugh rings out. "You wouldn't be any fun if you were easy to be disposed of!" He points out before her thrown weapon comes at him. It catches him across the shoulder, pinning him in place for just long enough for her foot to catch him right in his face. He staggers from the impact, sent realing across the deck to end his slide with his back against a crate there. Now the pirates cheer again, bcecause far be it for them to deny a good kick when they see one. He shakes his head to clear it, the manic smile still there. Now however that smile is mixed with a touch of blood from the corner of his mouth. Without a word he springs forwards once again. Trying to reach her before she can get to her own blade. They close and his eyes fix on the woman. The liquid grace of his movements fixed on the fight. "I thought about not going all out against you in this fight. However..." He uses that grace and speed, spinning as he moves to gain momentum before bringing the swordhilt of his left sword down to knock her down to the deck in a brutal move. "...you deserve better than a man holding back." His foot comes up to aim for her ribs hoping to drive her back up once more before delivering a back-handed slash with the edge of his right blade, the manuver ment less to maim or kill and more to look flashy and restore a bit of morale.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Even then, Avira's a little impressed that worked. Her prior experience fighting him-where she wasn't able to hit him at all, had apparently given her some much needed practice. Once she's kicked him back, she's quick to reclaim her weapon, yanking it right out the wood-looking deck. Whipping around, she faces him with her blade lifted. Just as she does, he's upon her, leaping at her with feline grace. It's almost kind of beautiful for her to look at-but not so much that she's distracted. He is fast but she seems able to match his speed, deflecting his attempt to knock her down with the pelvic bone hilt of the Spine. "Then don't hold back." she taunts, disengaging and sidestepping so his foot does not hit. With a deft movement, she shifts the spine down to catch the slash, holding the blade between two of the serrated vertebrae of the Spine for a few seconds. "I noticed the last time we fought that you were very fast." She suddenly shifts, aiming to bodily slam herself into him and knock him down. She follows up shortly afterwards, to leap atop him and wound one of his upper arms near the shoulder. Such a strike would certainly make it harder to effectively swordfight, should it land.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Again a cheer, the crew seem to be getting into it. Avira might noice that wagers are flying though the members of the crew. Wagers going both ways. They arn't all betting on the Captain. At least not anymore. Sparks fly again as the energy blades meet magic bone. This time its the captain that rebounds and then the captain that crashes to the deck as Avira tears into him. Blood paints his shoulder as she does indeed take him in the shoulder, burring the tip of the spine in the deck as she lies atop him. Does this stop the captain? Not one bit. He smiles though the pain. "Lady Wolf, if you wanted to be on top /that/ much you only had to ask." He murmurs as she pins him down. "I knew you only wanted to get closer to me." He releases the blade in his wounded arm, instead reaching up to wrap that arm around hers. He's still /fast/ and suprisingly strong as he arcs his back enough to get one leg under him and then sits /up/ trying to throw them /both/ against the crate he had been against. Hoping to pin and entangle her while regaining the upper hand. Or maybe he just wants to be on top this time. While pinned he snaps an elbow forwards towards her temple, hoping to leave he dazed and confused for at least a moment or three while he regains a bit of breath.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Now that certainly was interesting to hear. They're betting against the Captain? She had to wonder about that-a while ago Max had told her that a Captain rules either by being the meanest jerk around or by promising to be the most efficient at making the crew a lot of money. Warden might fall into the second group as far as captains went since his crew obviously wasn't fraid of him. While being wounded by the Spine certainly hurts, it definitely isn't fatal. Avira's particular position for a few moments does suggest she might have been able to ram the weapon through his chest but this was clearly not the course of action she took. Either she won't kill him or recognizes that killing him won't necessarily bring her closer to the stolen treasure and paintings. He flirts with her quite openly and she reacts with a scowl. "You know that's not why we-" Her words turn into a gasp of surprise when he reaches up to wrap her wounded arm around hers. In a few moments she is flipped over, back slamming against the crate. She starts to push off only to meet an elbow to the forehead. "Urgh..." This really does give Warden more than a few moments to recover. She looks pretty dazed and will no doubt have a big bruise on her forehead a little later. Once she's recovered enough, Avira's left hand curls into a fist. She gives him no warning as she swings it up at his head with a vicious hook. Maybe he won't notice that she's grown red with embarassment at his comments.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' In his long career as a Pirate Warden has learned one thing beyond a doubt. Ruling though fear with /highly/ effective. Right until someone thought they could get away with offing you and taking over. Fair shares. Fair treatment and freedom was a much longer term way of handling things. Even though the Captain knows that he is being bet against he isn't upset by this fact. He always taught his crew to respect the strength of opponents, even as they thought of ways to get around them. Its how things worked. You respect strength. You respect power. Even as you look for ways around it. At the moment however he's having to get around a swift left hook. Which he can't quite manage. He takes it and staggers once again, his head snapping around with the crack of fist against jaw. For a moment he sees stars. He only manages to catch himself on a barrel as he attempts to regain some sence of direction. His hand falls on a bottle and he snatches it up, ripping the cork off with his teath before cugging most of the contents down and tossing the item to a suprised looking crewmate. It burns all the way down and the man draws a satisified and deep breath. "You can let a pirate dream it is can't you?" He quips with a smirk towards the woman. "Though really, you might just enjoy it! What could it hurt!"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' There's no getting around that hook, it seems! At least for Avira, her current position was actually quite helpful. This close she was definitely able to hit him! Even if it wasn't that hard. Once he's tumbled away, Avira's quick to get back up on her feet again and crack her neck. "Well I certainly can't stop you from thinking that." Avira says, still sounding quite flustered. "And I doubt you've found out yet but I have a boyfriend! NOW PREPARE YOURSELF!" He actually gets a warning this time because a small part of her wanted him to resist and fight back spectacularly. Like last time when she came at him with this speed, he matched her blow for blow. This time, not only the speed is demonstrated but a strange silvery glow clings to the huntress. Her blows rain down quickly, each vicious but never, ever fatal in any way. When she seems to be finished, she's breathing heavily and sweat is trickling down her forehead.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' This time his parries are not true. This time his speed is not enough. Weather the blow to the head, the drop of rum, the wound on his shoulder, or the fact that he wields only a single blade. Its not enough. Some are parried at least, blows that could have ended the fight turned aside with a flick of his wrist and a quick dash of movement. Even so blow after blow lands home. They drive the Captain across the deck, and when they cease to say the man is bloodied and bruised does not do is justice. His white shirt is streaked with dark crimson. Wounds pepper his sides and his arms and ruby droplets drip from his fingers to the deck. His blade hangs limply from one hand as he breathes hard in both pain and exertion. Bloodied inded. However. Not broken. Warden Thache is never broken. "You told me about a boyfriend." His voice ragged, but those green eye bright and fierce as they were when the battle started. "But thats never stopped me before!" With a roar then he leaps forwards, his sword dropped to clatter against the deck. He dives for her, trying to get under the reach of the Spine. To push her back hard against the mast of the Pearl and once there? He hammers his foot into a lever. One arm wrapping tight around her waist, the other gripping a rope. A rope loosed with that kick so it will send them both high into the rigging. Wrapped together like that he'll hold her in the shockingly quick fight, his hat flying from his head at the sudden ascent. He smirks for a moment. "Thats never stopped me for an instant!" He repeats as he lands, high in the crows nest above the swaying deck of the ship. The perfect place to finish a battle like this. As soon as his feet touch the ground he leans her back, trying to pin her against the topsail so she can't PUNCH HIM IN THE HEAD AGAIN. ...cause dammit that hurts.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' From below the chears of the pirates sound like some kind of roudy sport team. They are loving this. Loving this to tears.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' As she regards the number she did on the feline pirate, a small part of her starts to feel a little bad for it while the rest of her starts shouting at that small part. This was a vicious pirate! He was hiding stolen goods form her! She would defeat him and retrieve the Charming treasure! So this man is thoroughly undeterred by a boyfriend. "Very well..!" she says, steeling her resolve before he leaps for her, sweeping in low and smashing her against the mast. This close, Warden can practically hear the air slammed out of her as she is pinned. It stuns her again for a few seconds, enabling him to scoop her in close. In the process, she loses the grip upon the Spine and it clatters to the deck far below. Mildly unhappy to be without her weapon, she squirms against his grip tiredly. It's clear to him that keeping up all that fancy speed and swordplay was exhausing to her. Especially given how fast he was! She tries to bring her legs up to kick at him while he is focused on pinning her hands to the topsail.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Well kicks seem to work! She batters at his knees as the pirate lets go of the woman. All of this is taking its toal on him as well. The pain may not show in his eyes, but in ever movement. Every hesitating step. Every false stagger she can see it. It shoots though him as his wounded arm colides with a part of the topsail and he staggers a moment. His foot comes down on thin air and without even a gasp of suprise he topples over into empty space. That should be the end of him. The end of the fight. The end of the good Captain Thache. She might see a rope snap taunt however. A pained grunt as the man catches a line with his good hand. He kicks a second line with his booted foot and the rope snaps free, using the swinging line for momentum he heaves himself back up towards the woman. He leads with his boots, aiming for her midsection. To try to knock her back down. To keep her off balance. He knows he is reaching the end of his own rope. The limits of what he can do. However...well... He isn't one to give up yet. "Come on Lady Wolf!" His breath ragged but the excitement and enjoying and pain all mingling together. "You havn't won yet!" He throws himself back towards the woman, wrapping strong arms around her to heave her off her feet and tangle her in the now loose rigging.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Freed, Avira carefully steps backwards. She seems to have impressive balance up here, especially for a non-cat landlubber. Warden's grace up here on the rigging is perfectly understandable to Avira. He probably /lives/ up here most of his day. And yet her kicks seem to make him stumble over the edge. With a faint gasp, she runs to the edge to watch, seeing him deftly catch a rope from the rigging. He's swinging back up. Carefully, she ducks down and manages a sideways roll along the mast to avoid his kick. But he does manage to catch up with her and hurl her into the rigging. She doesn't get entangled as he had been hoping though. Instead, she grab ahold of the ropes and seems to adapt his own little trick, swinging around BACK at him to crash into the pirate.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Well that went slightly as planned. Only slightly however. The woman however is tenacious as they come and she's already coming back around for another go at him. He spins, facing her swinging onslaught. Waiting for just the right moment. Waiting...waaaaaaaaiting... NOW!! He leaps forwards to meet her, taking most of the strength out of her strike with a feint as he wraps his arms around her to pull her out of that second of the rigging in a flying tackle that sends them /not/ plummeting to their dooms but to land ontop of the folded sails. Still in the rigging. Just a different venue for the fight. "I hope," His breath hot against her near and neck. "That I'm living up to expectations!" He rolls off her, balancing perfectly on the spar even with his wounds. "You can still surrender you know." He offers with a glimmer in his eyes. He knows she won't, but...its fun to taunt her with.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira swings gracefully through the air...! ...though she doesn't hit all that much in the process. An ungraceful squawk escapes her as Warden leps onto her and yanks her out of the rigging and onto the folded sails. The wind is knocked out of her yet again-in fact, it looks like she took that fall pretty hard. She's still moving, though, in case Warden was afraid she had broken something. Evidenced by the shiver following those words directed into her ear. "I'm still waiting on my expectation of me winning!" she shoots back. Standing for her seems a little awkward now as she navigates the spar. "Surrender? To you? Never!" It was tempting to use a bit of magic now but...well, she had resolved to make this entirely a physical fight, though she was without her weapon at the moment. So instead, she charges at him, trying to sweep in low so she can get beneath his waist and actually hurl him backwards over a shoulder. Once she has, a booted foot lashes out behind her in a back kick.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Over he goes. He missteps just at the last second and the woman takes him with that throw. The kick is the final straw and down goes the pirate. Flat on his back across the spar. Now his faliling legs do go for the back of her knee, though accident or petty design the world my never know. Should she not look out she might find herself tumbling back down ontop of him! Regardless should she do or not, the pirate does not get up. He simply attempts to draw breath though much abused lungs. "Enough," He finally manages to get out. "Enough. I yeild. You win."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' It's likely petty design. She doesn't turn around quite yet and finds her balance knocked off. She flails and falls backwards onto him. She doubts such a thing will actually do much damage given her size and half expects him to grab her up and throw her into the rigging again. But that doesn't happen. She feels him relax and take in breaths of air. "You yield?" she repeats...then grins with a hint of smugness. "Well then! You'll have to return all the stuff you stole from the Charmings!"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' She might feel his arms almost automaticly seem to slide around her from behind. No he doesn't thow her back up into the rigging, what he does is hold her. Carefully. Gently. They /are/ in the rigging of a ship several stories above a metal deck. Falling would be bad. A hint of his own smugness creeps into his tone. "I said I'd do my level best to put the items in your hands. Considering I've already fenced the majority of them? That will take a little bit of time, effort, and a touch of cunnging to get them back." She can almost feel his smile grow. "I will pick you up from...lets see. There is a little village outside the Castle of Dreams. I'll pick you up there. Wear somethin--" He pauses. "...no, I'll send you something to wear. Before you say no? This is the easiest way to get back what you seek. You will have to trust me." Oh he knows exactly how that sounds. And he loves it.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira starts to reach for something to grab onto lest he starts to fling her again. That doesn't happen and she realizes he's...probably just doing this because he CAN. She peers over her shoulder at him and her expression grows gradually more irritated. "You fenced them already?" She frowns, her heart sinking, "It's.." Damn, they were too late?! "The pictures too?!" More frowning, "Pick me up from...what...is this you arranging for a date of some kind?" She bristles. In her heart she knows...yes, that's exactly what he was doing.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "The picutres are a bit hard for me to get my hands on, but easier for you. So I'll give you a hint to what I can't get my hands on, and help you with what I can." The a roll of his eyes. "Of course I fenced them already. Do you really think I'd make deals with portions of treasure that arn't mine? They belong to the crew equally. Do you know nothing of pirates?" He sounds more amused by that. He chuckles though. "A date? Parish the thought!" Thats exactly what he's doing. "Its...well...you'll see. You'll see. You might even enjoy yourself if you arn't careful. I don't want to ruin the suprise." He sits up though, still holding her carefully. And yes this is because he can. "You won fair as fair, Lady Wolf. My word holds. Safe passage, and I'll help in every way possible. " He pauses again. "And...I enjoyed that." His eyes twinkling. "You're quite the oppoent. You sure you won't stay for dinner?" He knows she won't. "...but...regardless of what you may think of me, I think you are quite the Lady. Lady Wolf. I look forward to our next meeting."

Warden Thache

2014-01-27T07:28:07Z

Skalith:

{{Character Infobox
|firstname=Warden
|middlename=????????
|lastname=Thache
|age=Looks around twentyish
|species=Feline Alien
|sex=Male
|height=7' 4"
|weight=200 lbs
|series=Treasure Planet
|styles=Pirate
|hometown=A planet unknown
|alignment=Forces of Ruin
|group=Shadow Lords
|occupation=Pirates
|themesong=Sheep in the Boots - The Tossers
|quote="I'll risk it!"
|footer=A relative newcomer on the playing field, Warden has set out to make a name for himself. From sacking a castle to attempted kidnapping to annoying as many people as possible while starting a treasure hunt, its sure the pirate captain has no reason to slow down.

Besides. The look on Avira's face when she gets mad is /amazing/.

That is never gonna get old.
}}
= Logs =
{{Character Logs}}
= Cutscenes =
{{Character Logs|Cutscenes}}

Warden Thache

2014-01-25T07:35:36Z

Skalith:

{{Character Infobox
|firstname=Warden
|middlename=????????
|lastname=Thache
|age=Looks around twentyish
|species=Feline Alien
|sex=Male
|height=7' 4"
|weight=200 lbs
|series=Treasure Planet
|styles=Pirate
|hometown=A planet unknown
|alignment=Forces of Ruin
|group=Shadow Lords
|occupation=Pirates
|themesong=Sheep in the Boots - The Tossers
|quote="I'll risk it!"
|footer=A relative newcomer on the playing field, Warden has set out to make a name for himself. From sacking a castle to attempted kidnapping to annoying as many people as possible while starting a treasure hunt, its sure the pirate captain has no reason to slow down.

Besides. The look on Avira's face when she gets gets is /amazing/.

That is never gonna get old.
}}
= Logs =
{{Character Logs}}
= Cutscenes =
{{Character Logs|Cutscenes}}

Everything Starts Small

2014-01-25T07:34:08Z

Skalith:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/01/23
|Location=Rowdy Bar
|Synopsis=Confronted by a host of hunters, Warden does the only thing possible for a man in his position.

He tries to buy them all off.

It doesn't work well, but dropping the tavern does!
|Cast of Characters=Tifa Lockhart, Avira, Deelel, Maira, Vespa, Lumeria, Aeschere Childs, Jenna, Warden Thache
|pretty=yes
}}

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' A pirate never willingly leaves a heist without a haul, and so it was at the Castle of Dreams. Looted and plundered while battle struck its walls. Gems. Jewels. Gold and silver. All taken by greedy hands. The pirates might not have known exactly what a specific little bobble was worth however that didnt stop them from taking any of them. If they were hidden away? Well that just meant they were more valuable. In more ways than one. Now if the Charmings /had/ honor they would have just responded to the blackmail in the traditional Noble way of rolling over and dying. However no, no they had to go and put a /bounty/ on the return of such a little thing as a painting. Which always leads to hunters. Hunters with various reasons to be after the prize, and various means of tracking it down. To be perfectly honest the pirates themselves had not been particularly stealthy in living. A few inquiries about new faces and strange sights. A bit of traditional nose-to-the-grindstone-investigation leads to a specific little location. OR YOU COULD JUST CHEAT AND USE MAGIC(Looking at you Maira!! Witch.) Ahem. That specific little spot was a small port town, and of course the rough area of said already rough town. Having run out of the space the ramshackle buildings are built on piers over the water. The specific house of ill repute is a tavern by the name of the Patched Mermaid, the swinging sign over the door showing the much faded image of a mermaid with an eyepatch. So they arent very creative around these parts. Inside the tavern is about what one would expect. Poor lighting, rough hewn tables and chairs. A bit of sawdust on the floor. The smell of beer(which actually isnt /that/ bad) and bodies(which is much worse) strikes like a physical force once one walks in. Various faded knickknacks adorn the walls, all having something to do with...of course...sailing. The clientele here are as rough as the building and very few of them what one would call human. There are humanoid squid and lobster. Sea slugs and crabs. Someone that looks made completely out of stone. Its an odd assortment. Sitting at the biggest table, his booted feet propped up on the wood is one Captain Warden Thache. The cat captain has the manner of a king holding court, laughing at some story a tablemate is saying. A massive mug of beer in one hand, and draped on his lap a fetching dark haired barmaid who is at the moment playing with one of his ears. Conversation stops as the mismatched hunters stroll in, and the Captain quirks an eyebrow up with a grin that reveals a single pointed pointed fang. "Well." His drawl unhurried as he takes a pull of his drink. "Seems we have visitors. Shame I didnt even get the place cleaned up yet." The bartender just sighs as he hunkers down behind the long length of his bar. "If you break it!" He warns the general pouplation. "You bought it."

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Walking into the bar is Jenna Al Bhed, who seems to be carrying a pair of unusual pistols in holsters along with a smattering of mechanical toys on a belt and wearing a reticle over one of her eyes. "So." she says, cracking her knuckles in a laced-together fashion. "Can we PLEASE keep this simple or are we going to have to turn this into some kind of completely massive issue?" as she looks around at the various patrons. "Now, we doing this easily or what? I'm pretty sure the bartender doesn't want some of my toys going off in here."

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' But there's at least one person here that knows how to handle bars. The barmaid with steeltoed boots of course. But she's not here to serve drinks today. She's there to take up on the treasure hunting of course. Yes, she's still working to gather every piece of gil she can. Not Srooge McDuck style, she's not going to make a vault and swim in it, but she likes having a good account rolling... who knows when she will need it again for AVALANCHE after all. But its not like she's that greedy either, she often acts simply on kindness. But if she can get a pay out of it, its good too. She leans against the wall near the door, just waiting on things to unfold in front of her. She's not sure who she's here to meet either, but she's sure that will become obvious soon enough.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Just the sort of place to find a bounty hunter. Only, maybe not this bounty hunter. Actually, this is probably a pretty bad call, but Aeschere's life is nothing but a series of bad calls, isn't it? Without arms, and lightly armored, she surveys the scene, and is pleased to note that she's not two paces from the door; this looks like it could get exciting. It's obviously not her party, nor one that she ought to stick her nose into, so she carefully circumnavigates the Captain and his crew, and asks the barkeep for something which he attempts to refuse to serve her. He recalls what sort of place he's running, and eventually shrugs and draws her a mug. Holding it carefully, she listens in on the deal. Could be some cash in it, you never know.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Speaking of a series of bad calls... ...nonsense, this is not a bad call at all. Avira is here because she has a score to settle and possibly wants to get her shot at tossing Warden out a window. Thanks to a little run-in a few days ago, she and Maira did have a means of cheating their way to this location and skipping the lengthy information-gathering that no doubt would have lead them here eventually. Maira and Avira aren't alone of course. She might have told a few other people about this-bring some VALKYRI backup, that sort of thing. Except some of these people, like the Al-Bhed, she was not too familiar with. The overt threatening the moment Jenna gets in the bar makes Avira rub her face. Despite her stance, Avira is on alert. This would not be the first time she's rolled up into a bar filled with pirates. In fact, the last time she did, she had to end up fleeing one admist a big bad bar fight. "Warden Thache." Avira says thinly, a hand resting upon the hilt of the Spine. "We meet again."

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' When there's money and treasure involved it's hard not to get Lumeria's attention. Though this place was certainly a dive, she's not sure why anyone would want to hang out here. She just wants to get hands on some loot and get out of her. It seems like she's not the only person who heard about what was going on. This could make things easier for her or more difficult.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' A maid sits at a table by herself in a corner of the room. Yes a maid. She entered some time after Avira walked in, she didn't want it to look like they came togeher and arouse suspition, and Vesaps standout due to her tastes in clothing. A few of the patrons doing double takes as she walked in, One made a pass at her,he now has a dislocated shoulder. She has a beer half empty now she looks over the room glancing over at where Avira is once and a while.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' It was NOT cheating! She had to be clever to track Warden, /and/ call in a favor! Magic takes skill! Hmph! Right, so, Maira walks in behind Avira, dressed in the very same chain-style dress she'd worn last time she'd fought Warden because a. it helps prevent multiple stab wounds, and b. it is fire proof. Hopefully, she will be able to avoid slinging fire around. It is just a bit difficult avoiding collateral damage with her magic. Hopefully this will not be a problem considering Avira /really/ wants to throw him out of a window anyway. "Hello!" she greets cheerily, then shakes her head. "No that was wrong," she mumbles under her breath. "Prepare to die!" she says instead, then rethinks that as well. "No too dramatic...

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' You can /see/ the exclamation point pop up over Chera's head. This is definitely lucra- It's an unexpected opportu-- She didn't expect-- What is she going to do, her mark just strolled in. She has to do /something/ with this, but there's no way to get 'round the pirate negotiations. She hides her face behind a long draw of whatever in hell she has a cup of, and tries really inadequately to be inconspicuous.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Well. This is quite a few more people than Warden bargined for. The cat-eared pirate is certinly not one to back down from such an occasion. In fact his grin only grows as he notes the people that stand out like sore thumbs among the piratical clintele. He sets his beer down easily on the table before patting the lady in his lap on the back. "Pardon me my dear," His accent exactly what one would think of a pirate. "I believe I'm going to have to deal with this..." The woman gets up and as she sashays away the Captain pays much more attention to her than all the varried glares and threats that are flying in his direction. As she dissipears behind the bar the Captain gives a sigh and a smile. "I love it when they walk." Then he turns towards the little knots of figures. "Now...where were we! Oh yes. Threats and posturing. An important part of things." "Well!" He says cheerily to Jenna, still not getting out of his chair. "You are least are right to the point. I supose things /can/ be simple and all!" He adds with a flash of a grin. "It depends on if you're here to pay me a bounty to return the items, or if you're here for the items themselves to take them by force of arms. Or! I have one secret counter-offer for anyone intrested." His gaze sweeps the group. "...and Lady Wolf! Somehow I knew you would sniff me out." He tosses towards Avira. "I'd bow but..." He lifts his mug again. Taking a long pull. "...I'm a touch busy as you see." Drink is obviously more important. "As for you Maira, you're doing it all wrong! You can't go /right/ for the 'prepare to die'. You have to build up for that!"

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' "Well I don't actually want to /kill/ you," she replies. "I just couldn't think of anything better to say?

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Maira we really need to work on your one-liners." Avira asides. "Don't worry, I've got just the thing for that." 80s movies.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart looks bewteen Avira and Maira "Let's make it a old movies viewing night at the CLoud Nine, I bet that'd be popular." She's thinking business again.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira looks to Tifa, smiling brightly. "Oh, that's a /great/ idea!" she exclaims. Yep, this is what you are up against Warden. QUAKE WITH FEAR!

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel has been hanging out with VALKYRI a lot lately, it's not she was unhappy with the Shard Seekers, it is just many of them were so busy with other things? She'd just get in the way. Deelel is folloing up with Avira, Maira and the rest and she gives Jenna a look over as she wonders about them. She has to wonder she seems to be a variant of human but there's something strange about Jenna, as she eyes the one exposed eye for a moment. That's strange, that's very strange. "I'm not about to start antything if you don't Warden." She doesn't go for the disc on her back, and sighs a bit, the strange strange digital warble to her voice making it sound quite odd. "Movie hummm, mind on business already Tifa?"

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa just groans ligthly and facepalms and who the coversation has turned to moives somehow.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart turns to Deelel, nods "Why not? If that makes people happy and gets me money, its not bad, no?

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden just looks mildly amused, and continues to nurse his beer as talk turns to movies. Maybe he can get most of the mug done before they realise he's still here.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Actually it might come to no surprise that you and your associates have a bounty on your head, by way of Kingdom of Charming." Avira gestures grandly, unafraid to raise her voice amongst the bar. There's actually a high chance that some of the other pirates might try to take up on that bounty. Pirates have all kinds of rivalries between them, right? On the other hand they might not be inclined to work for THE MAN and against a fellow pirate. It's a gamble! Avira is okay with taking gambles. "Now normally we don't take /bounties/ like this. But since this bounty involves YOU, well, I'm willing to make an exception for VALKYRI orders of business." All the while as she talks, her eyes remain upon Warden, most other non-threatening-looking pirates going unnoticed for now. Additionally, she continues to stalk forward until she is within feet of the captain. "Humor me, though, what is this super secret counter offer of yours?"

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' "Well, I'm willing to make a deal but it better be worth my trouble." Lumeria figures it's better than getting in a fight and it's hard to carry loot with broken limbs. "Movie night? That lacks the elegance of a live peformance." Part of the fun was getting dressed up for a show after all.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Hopefully Aeschere won't finish the mug before they realize she's here. Nobody's looking her way, at least. She'll have to follow them out, that's the only way she's getting anything done. That's if they don't come to blows right here in the bar. They probably will. It's that kind of b-- She said bounty, didn't she? And she said counter-offer, too. Chera perks up despite herself; maybe she /can/ strike a deal, here. She moves a few stools up the bar, closer to Warden's table, and closer to at least two people who can recognize her. Her judgement is famously poor, or at least it ought to be famous.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira stays close to Avira, watching her back while she speaks with Warden, wondering idly if Spooks is around. How sad, Warden had obviously taught him such bad habits! When someone moves closer, Maira looks. She's wary of any of Warden's associates. After all, pirates have to have crews, right? Her eyes widen in recognition as she sees just who it is. "Oh, hello..." she says to Aeschere, poking Avira lightly in the back as she mumbles into her radio.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa keeps drinking her beer she will let Avira do the talking Vespa would just charge in her with here clonk a few people on the head and threaten everyone till she got what she wanted. If Avira want to solve this peacefull then that fine with her. Thought she has no problem getting into a bar brawl.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' "Pay you?" Jenna says, "Right, like this is a business deal." then snorts. "Buddy, I have two goals in mind... Your loot returned to the castle, and your capture in turn. Though this third option is interesting, maybe it'll accomplish what I want." then sits down. "What is it then?" she asks.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Whispers start around the tavern after Avira's little announcement. However they arn't quite what she might think. "A bounty? We've been in this world less than a week!" "Thats the Cap'n fer ya! Tol' ya he would make a name fer himself!" "Yup, gonna double it 'afore long!" Thats right Avira. The pirates here are Warden's crew. And they are /proud/ of that bounty. Warden's eyes flicker around to the various people there, and he still hasn't gotten up. Infact he's finishing his drink. He slowly lowers it back down on the table. "Counter offer then! Since you all are throwing the word bounty around. Lets put a bit of an unofficial one down." He gestures, rolling his hand like a stage magician and seemingly from thin air pulls a ruby the size of his thumbnail. The exquisite cut catches the light in the most intresting of ways. "My counteroffer." His grin grows. "Would be a handfull of these to whoever wants to help me throw these two..." And he gestures towards Avira and Maira. "...into the river!" A pause. "Not your traditional bounty, but I think you might find it at least equal to whoever the Charming's might be able to give out. If you ever get it from the nobles at least. They arn't the most trustworthy." He smiles as he sets the ruby on the table then sends it spinning across with a flick of his finger in Aeschere's direction. With the same movement he draws the energy pistol from the bandolier across his chest and places it casually on the table. "Yes my dear," He adds towards Jenna. "Blackmail usually works like that. You pay me. I give you the item." A flash of a grin. "But it seems you all are more likely to go with the force of arms option." A slight shrug. "I can do either. I'm flexible."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Deadpan he adds. "This includes you of course Lady Wolf, Lady Flame. If you go throw yourselves in the lake? You'll get the payout as well!" Warden /is/ a man of his word! Ish.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' You know, this is how she always gets into trouble. She just doesn't have the sense to turn down an offer like this. It dovetails nicely with her plans, after all; it's not often you get to collect twice on one mark. She catches the ruby, sort of automatically, and loses herself in contemplation of the odds. He did say 'help', didn't he? He what. His further explanation brings her up short, but only for a moment. Seems fair, after all. And, again, it dovetails nicely with her minimum-force plan. She lets the gem catch the gleam of the lamp for a moment, shrugs, and nods to the cat-master. Setting her mug aside, she steps up to pat Maira on the back. The quarters are too close here for a proper explosion, aren't they? So the fireball is the obvious best choice.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria throw someone in a lake? Do you really think a skinny elfin could pick someone up let alone drag them that far? "And how I'm suppose to do that?" She looks at Avira and Maira. "Wait, Charming's the one who wants the goods?" Maybe she could get a kiss out of the deal if she manages to return them. Still, the odds didn't look very much in her favor. "Give me half and I'll let you walk."

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Covertly drawing something from her belt and passing it under the table, Jenna slaps it to the underside of the table and tilts her head. Seems like she's trying to get his attention, "My counter-offer." she says, "Blackmail being what it is." attempting to feign an exasperated look.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart crosses her arms, frowning "As much as I like getting my hand on some well earned gil, I don't consider throwing friends into any sort of body of water as a good source of it. I'll pass." She looks to Avira and Maira, not looking too pleased by these odds here.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa Vespa curses slightly to herself, finishe her drink and get sup walking over to where Avira and Maira are. :ooks like things are going to get serious here soon.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Actually given that...those people must be from Warden's crew, she kind of understands that reaction. It's a pretty big pirate achievement! Avira might actually be proud of her own. Still, Avira palms her face. "/Pirates/." Then the counteroffer, complete with this jerk flashing around a nice big ruby. Tempting, but not the objective they came here for. "You can take that counteroffer and shove it up your <GOOSEHONK>." Avira says in a very patient voice. Casually, Avira draws the Spine. True to its name, it is a blade that is shaped exactly like a spinal column, though with a sharp point on the end. The pelvic bone forms the hilt guard. "Prince Charming." she confirms for Lumeria. "This scoundrel stole a good deal of jewels and paintings from the man." She pauses, "...Maira did the Al-Bhed just place something explosive?" she looks over to her best friend, then to Aschere lurking behind her. Avira's eyes narrow. "I'm afraid now the only outcome is going to be violence."

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Well, she hasn't really had a violence in a while, since Akari left. It's a terrible idea, of course, but Aeschere could be persuaded, we suppose. "I want just gold, not blood," she replies, but her stance suggests that she's prepared to accept either.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira blinks, looking back toward Warden as he makes his counter offer. Many of those here she /knows/ will not fall to that kind of greed. But there are likely some that will, Aeschere in particular. Throw them in the lake? Maira looks a little worried about this. She still doesn't know how to swim! Maira turns as she's patted on the back by Aeschere, frowning. "You're really going to take him up on this? I thought you had more sense," she sighs. Maira isn't going to attack first, though she's beginning to think she wont feel /too/ bad about burning this place to cinders. At Avira's question, Maira blinks. "Uuuuuh...." she says, looking to...uh.... "What's an Al-Bhed?" she asks, but just goes ahead and makes a guess she's referring to Jenna. "Time to take it outside I think!" she says, and makes for the window, away from Aeschere, casting a protective spell on herself, Avira and Vespa as she does so!

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel is still somewhat amused as she looks at Warden a little bit longer." Sht tlts her head again looking at the Al Bejhd for a moment anf seems rather frowinging. "A race from Spira." Deelel notes and she nods in agrement as they should be going out side. Deelel follows up as Maira starts buffing the others and gets ready her self running a few commands to prepare herself for things going down. "Hope you got game, I'd be rather sad if you were all talk."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The man makes little comments to the gaggle of different responces his counteroffer gets. They were honestly just about what he expected to get. However at least one person seems slightly intrested. He'll take it. Genna gets a grin before he draws a deep breath as he replaces his empty mug. "Oh Lady Wolf," He murmurs. "I love it when you're right." Snaking out from under tables come dozens of glowing golden...well...ropes. They slither, shoot towards the various hunters that have come to the bar. The ropes aiming to wrap around limbs and yank up into the air and off their feet. At the same time the agile captain puts one boot on the table in front of him and /shoves/ the piece of furniture towards the gathered heroes, propelling himself backwards and into the air at the same time. "For those of you who don't know," he adds, his voice raising as pirates begin to stand in the various corners of the air. "My name is Warden Thache, my father was Edward Thache." His grin grows more vicious as he draws the pair of energy cutlass that ride on his hip. Not even reaching for the gun. "It is a /pleasure/ to meet all of you, but...I'm afraid I live by a pirate code. I give nothing back. You'll have to take it." All except Aeschere, who apparently is willing to take his gold. He can live with that.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Explosive? Lumeria certainly doesn't like the sound of that. "It sounds like we're not going to be talk our way this one? Then why did you try to make a deal about throwing them in the river?" Looks like she better do something to keep them from geting blow to bits. She quickly casts a spell to protect Deelel, Tifa and herself since Maira already got the others.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart's eyes widen when the ropes fly out, trying to latch for her. "Hey! I know we're in a bar, but bondage is not my idea of a first date either." She sticks an arm down to intercept the rope before it ties her legs out, giving herself enough wiggle room to pull herself free before she gets pulled up. "If you want to play rough, you'll get rough." Grabbing the end of the rope, she pulls hard on it, hoping to tug the Warden toward her... so she can intercept his face with her fist >_<

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Flung into the air, Jenna spins momentarily as she flips backwards and lightly touches on the ceiling, pushing off as she quickly draws her pistols and fires a rapid salvo at Thache on the way down before landing with a bit of a skid. "I don't really care." she says, "This job pays and it's got a snake of a target for a bounty."

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' That looks like her cue. First order of business is to get some breathing room. "Seleman anaereinanira," she incants, and a blue-black flash clears her immediate vicinity of chairs, a table, and several mugs, and makes a spirited attempt to clear it of Maira and Avira. Regardless of the result, because you can't wait for things to happen in a fight, she draws her long knife and retreats a pace.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' "EEEP!" Maira exclaims as the ropes shoot out. She tries to dive behind a table but the golden rope grabs her by the ankle. Maira curses. "Here I go again!" she says just before she's yanked up into the air, tucking her arms up over her head to try to protect the most import thing as she's swung around willy nilly. When she thinks she has an opening, she lashes out with her magic, a blade of fire conjured to try to slice through the rope that holds her. Oh yes, this place is going to /burn/. Suddenly there is a flash, something smacking into her, but its difficult to discern while she's either being flung around, or if her cut worked, falling back toward the floor. "ARGH! Stop trying to tie me up and fling me around!" she exclaims to Warden. She's pretty sure he's just trying to look up her dress! Her...battle dress. SHUT UP! Maira locats Warden and the flames begin to fly.

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel says "I heard it was more of a guide line." Where the heck has Zeke been? She has to wonder she goes for her disc now and says. "I see, well then I guess we can save the Parlay for later humm?" The disc humms to livfe in her hand and she's not harmed by the weapon at all. She makes readies her weapon launching into a counter attack. It does no good as she's sliced by the weapon but there's no blood. just a scrange glowing wounded in Deelel's side. It's a blue glow and one can see scrange cube like portions at the wounds entrance and within if you take a look. "All right then." She launches the disc again before flipping into the air trying to get over Warden.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' So it's come to a fight. Vespa isn't surpised by this turn of events. The space is too small for her to use her massive axe. She will just let her fists do the talking, and whatever else she can use as a weapon. "Eat table!", she shouts picking up a table and tosses it at Warden!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira's pretty happy she won't be getting thrown into a lake. Yeah people would get paid for it but that's not going to recover the stolen paintings and gems. Well, the exception being Aschere but Avira figures this person has other reasons for stepping in to this. Avira eyes the teenager. "...where's your partner? You're even more outnumbered than before." she says quietly, as if trying to dissuade her. Because it sure would suck if Warden and his crew caught wind of that issue. As it stood things were already getting messy! At the corner of her eyes she sees the flash of gold at her feet. She tries to pull back but her legs are yanked out from underneath her. Before the energy ropes can toss her into the air, she swings a suddenly ice-imbued spine at her feet to disrupt them. "Thache? Wait a second, that's Blackbeard's family name." Avira looks at Warden suspiciously. She knew that the Blackbeard of her world was a man and not a cat...creature whatever species that Warden was. Just as she picks herself up, she goes flying across the room and breaks through another table that had been a poker game moments before. "Alright, come one, come all, but I'm not going to be holding back!" Climbing back to her feet, she tears the Spine through the air horizontally, the motion summoning up several sharp gales of wind at both of her attackers.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Is she /mad/? Is she madder than Chera, anyways? Does Maira normally burn places to the ground at the drop of hats? She'd discarded the possibility of a fire field out of hand, and that was a bad move for her. The firestorm sweeps over her, and she rolls forward, shielding her face. You can't really dodge a wall of flame, though; the best you can hope is to get through it quicker. The fringes of her skirt and sleeves smoulder as she stands, and closes with the arsonist for a bit of firefighting. We're not holding back, right? Avira said as much, and Maira quite plainly used lethal force just now. Chera opens with a thrust at shoulder height, and anticipates the evasion with an attempt at a pommel strike to the temple, before pulling back. Something black and shining pierces its way into existence in her off hand, and she thrusts for Maira's center of mass.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden bows once towards Avira's words. "Ah, you know him. Guilty as charged then." He adds with a twinkle in his bright eyes as he hovers on nothing, standing in midair. At least before he gets yanked down. Tifa's fist meets his shoulder as he twists, using the momentum of the strike to roll away from the woman. Jenna's gunfire lands among a dozen pirates as she scatters them. Maira's fire does much the same, sending some rushing for the door and other rushing to try to put it out. Warden just laughs. He's enjoying himself. "No deaths my boys! We loose the game if that happens!" He adds, right before Vespa's table and Deelel' disc slam into him. He's just off balance enough for Avira's spines to almost nail him to the ground. He shakes his head as he comes to his feet. One cutlass points towards Avira and he grins too wide. "That one though is mine." He slams his foot down on the ground and a wave of selected anti-gravity rips though the tavern. Tables. Chairs. People. All knocked up into the air as Warden himself takes the high road, throwing one cutlass in the for a moment so he can rip a pistol out of its holder and fire a fulsade of shots before holstering the weapon and flinging himself across the bar towards Avira. Those golden ropes turn black as he goes, and more and more pirates pile in. Obviously lumbering to try to knock down and knock out the 'heroes' of the hour. "I name Lady Lancer there protected!" He adds, gesturing towards Aeschere. "Treat her as one of the crew or I'll have your hides!" He remembers his allies.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' "Nngh!" Jenna says, before she floats backwards and fires on the mine she placed earlier as an explosion of gravitic energy appears crushing some of the local area. The reticle over her eye then energizes as she snaps her fingers and sparkling motes of light swirl around her, her wounds starting to close slowly but surely.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Fire has two sides. It is the spark of life. Without it, life is not possible. People would die of the cold, plants would not grow after depleting all the nitrogen from the soil...and there are many mythologies that believe fire was an essential ingredient in the making of humanity. Of course, it is also capable of great destruction. Sadly, at times like this, its practically the only way she has of defending herself. Luckily though, Maira has practiced long and hard to be able to control the fire, and even as things begins to burn inside the bar, she closes her eyes and inhales, drawing the heat from the flame back inside herself, snuffing them out before they can do significant damage to the establishment. Maira hits the floor, wincing as she tries to get to her feet. She never does quite make it to standing however, as Aeschere comes in with pommel strike to the temple, and possibly (oh, good!) more stab wounds. Quite simply, Maira crumples, sick, from the blow to the head. She is conscious, but only barely. Vulnerable as she is, various protections are all she can cast. A green flame draws a circle around her, flickering but not burning, merely providing something of a protective barrier.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria finds herself getting knocked into the air, it doesn't take much effort to do so to the lightweight girl. Still it's not enough force to keep her from casting spells, it might be best to do something about the pirates to keep them from getting swarmed. The area near them is suddenly flooded by purifying light and they'll find themselves starting to shrink in size. If that's not bad enough, bright spheres also begin to bounce around before shattering to pieces.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart gets more ropes, apparently! She quickly moves in, attempting to throw the aim off with a counter attack, a high kick of her own. It doesn't quite work, but she keeps on the offensive at least. She won't let it get the best of her when it comes to close quarter combat. "You don't get the hint, do you? No more ropes!" She flips over the nearest table, aiming a sweeping kick while airborne... and then using the momentum to flip herself over, her hands aim for Warden's neck, attempting to twist him around, and crash him into the ground head first, her own patented piledriver hurts (when it hits. Sadly not often enough.)

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Everything in the bar starts to float into the air. Vespa punches a hole into the floor holding herself in place so she doesn't float up with everything else, though a few things fall on her. Ow. Ow.. "Mind if I cut in?", she say grinning to one of the pirates and starts swining him around using him as a makeshift club hoping to hit a few of the other pirates coming in then tossing him into a wall!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "So I do." Avira shoots back flippantly at Warden. Sure, she could explain that she does know a thing or two about pirates since she did consider taking up air piracy at one point. But she won't give this guy the satisfaction! Warden seems to be enjoying himself enough already. His posturing draws a small growl from 'Lady Wolf.' "I'll enjoy putting you through the window." Shot into the air again, Avira actually makes the effort to alter her own spin through careful application of air magic, small blasts of wind switching up her trajectory so she can strike her feet against one of the rafters and launch herself back down. Her spin is momentarily interrupted by one of the gunshots which, while it doesn't actually penetrate through her breastplate, does dent it in hard enough that it digs into her skin and muscle. Touching back down on the ground after flipping again, she lands in a crouch, then launches herself forward. Her weapon drags alongside her, sparking and glowing with blue light. This is the only warning that Warden gets before a gale of ice is launched at the pirate. The blast, in the air, weaves and shapes itself into a massive, snarling wolf-like animal.

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel she catches his comment about no deaths, that was odd, she can return his minions and Warden the same favour, She still is going to thrasht hem though as Warden counter attacks come her way, her disc returns and she catches it. She then make use of the weapon to parry the incoming attack she smirks a little bit before she launches her disc again trying to bounce it off the ground and then catch Warden, and it may bounce off and catch his minions afterwards.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' An effective strike. Good. Chera's actual target is thoroughly engaged with pirates; there's little point and less chance of breaking into that melee, so she'll concentrate on the fire support detachment. Besides, it's only Avira she has to deliver alive. With a grim smile, she continues her work. She probes the fire circle experimentally with he black lance, and receives some burns on her finger for trying. Foo. Planting it instead in the floorboards, where it ceases to exist as soon as she stops paying attention to it, she reaches, instead, straight through the flames, gritting her teeth through the heat, and grasps Maira by a handful of shirt. Pale and smiling madly, she raises her eyes to the fray, and a sickening black wave sweeps out from her, across the barroom, bringing an aching chill with it.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira shivers and groans as Aeschere grabs her, the sickening wave of dark and cold flowing over her. Her heart has its own response, the ghost of a light flashing briefly and lashing out at Aeschere before Maira can get a hold of herself. She's woozy and a bit nautious, but her magic is rejuvinating her by the moment even as Aeschere's tries to bring her down. "Why...are you doing this? For money!? It can't be worth it," she says. Air this time is used, a burst of it lashing outward from her being to try to knock Aeschere away from her, buying her time and hopefully inconveniencing the bounty hunter--inconveniencing her right through a window, maybe, if he aim is any good.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The tavern is a mess by this point. The pirates and the hunters have turned it into just that. A light disk arcs in only to be parried by an energy blade. Warden sees the punchy barmaid coming for him and jerks out of the way at the last secound, her combo /very/ impressive. But done to a hapless pirate instead of the captain himself. The poor man isn't getting up again, but at least he was a bit drunk and was manhandled by a pretty woman. He laughs however as he adds towards Tifa. "Why don't you ask Lady Wolf about our first date! I got the rope idea from her!" He teases as he twists out of the way of yet more fire. He is in his element, and suddenly the pirate captain is possibily a much more worring figure as more and more pirates seem to pile into the growing brawl. "I'll enjoy watching you try." He shoots back towards Avira as he sees the sparks coming from her weapon. And suddenly the man isn't there anymore. A flash step. Movement so quick the eye can hardly follow. The heel of his foot drops, crashing down on the edge of a bar table. It flips up to catch the wolf-blast dead center. The table exploding with the force. "You break it," The captain murmurs as he watches the woman. "You bought it." He is entirely unscathed by the attack, and with that same speed leaps forward again. First on one side of the bar, then the other, he barrels towards Avira. The cutlass blades dissipear, leaving the heavy metal hilts as he throws his entire force behind first one blow then the next. Meaning to send her into, and possibily right /though/ the wall. Vespa does indeed grab one of the pirates. He makes an excellent club in fact. However she is pounding on a different crewman. One that is...well...a crab. He doesn't look like its doing much. "Miss. Uh. Miss. Can you stop that. I really don't want to hurt a maid and all..." Other pirates are stumbling blindly and wondering about from Lumeria's blast. Blind and sick and burning. One manages to trip over her. Other ones leap for Jenna to try for a tackle! They don't want any more explosives. So dogpiling the Al-Bhed seems like a good idea. He's letting Aeschere deal with Lady Flame. After all she does have to earn those gems.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria suddenly feels a bit ill as she's hit by the black wave hits her. Of course she's not quite sure if it's that from the attack itself or the lack of gravity she seems to be caught in. Still, she better do something before she throws up, that would be rather embarassing. Green sparkles surround and begin to mind her wounds.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Jenna's form starts to blur as she tries to dance out of the way of the dogpiling pirates, but is summarily slammed left and right as she's back against a wall. Staring at Thache she then says, "You asked for this." and holds up both of her pistols as a pair of orbs expand outwards from them and fling towards Thache, tearing up the floor as they travel by sheer proximity to something with that kind of force, merging into one -large- bullet of magical power.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' "Too bad for you cause I want to hurt pirates!", Vespa says grimming madly. "I could go for a crab dinner..", she grabs a beer bottle and hit him over the head with it then getting some butter from.. somehwere, and rubbing it in his face.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart ... doesn't really have something smart to answer to that. Except about not really being interested in what would happen if you mix up a pirate, rope and a wolf lady. No no no, don't go there brain. Instead, she spins around, managing to plant her boots down securely, as she blocks out the incomming attack with her gloved hands... Which gives her a perfect opening for a counter attack. "Keep your fantasies for yourself, freak! I'll never let myself get tied up like that!" ~_~ Slipping into that opening, she flipkicks right under his chin, a kick that leaves a flash of light. The moment she touches ground again, she slams into his chest with arms crossed in front of her, throwing herself like a bullet at him. And before he can fly out of range of her, a glowing fist seems to appear out of nowhere, releasing the explosive energy wave from it, furthering the blast backward.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Yup, totally wrecked. Avira sort of saw this one coming and doesn't look forward to evading the eventual damage repair demands. Tables aren't too bad to replace...but if that alcohol shatters, that would be expeeeensive. "You shut your face!!" Avira barks as she continues to charge after Warden, barreling through so she's suddenly right in his face after the ice spell of hers goes off. But once the snow and ice has cleared and frozen to the surroundings instead of the pirate. "Damn!" She whirls, trying to track Warden's speedy approach, but only managing to catch glimpses before he slams himself into her. Comparatively speaking, Warden's a good deal larger than Avira-at least, Avira as a human. "WAUGH!" she howls as she's smashed clear through the wall and slides along the ground outside. An unhappy noise escapes her as she wiggles her way out from underneath him, pressing a hand to her stomach. Low-level healing magic surges through her palm, leaving behind a faint green glow around Avira. "Doesn't count." Avira mutters, "That wasn't even a window."

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' That's Maira more or less wrapped up, isn't it? At any rate, she's down hard enough that Aeschere can afford to take a look at the general melee again. It doesn't look good for her bankroll. She doesn't get paid if the captain gets offed, or if Avira slips away. She might, too, if they throw her through the right wall. Right, it's time to get some attention. Chera steps back from Maira, cocks her arm back, and flings a gleamingly black javelin into the midst of the battle. A twisting tendril of darkness joins it still to her hand. She pales, and she pales, and it swells, and it swells, until the lance bursts forth with a rent-metal screech, drowning the barrom briefly in a searing midnight darkness. As it fades, she collapses against the bar, fighting to avoid joining Maira on the floorboards.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' She shouldn't have counted the fire-witch out so quickly; Maira's lashing flame-tongue catches the little lancer flat-footed and unable to evade. Looks like she'll be meeting the floor after all. She collapses like a ragdoll, backwards into a pile of barstools, smouldering gently, and it'll be some time before she stirs again.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "AHHHHH NOT THE BUTTER! IT BURNS!! WHY GOD! WHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!" Crabguy should not have underestimated the maid as he staggers back, his claws flailing about wildly as he staggers around. Hated contiments burning his poor eyestalks. He will never be the same again. He might be a one eyed crab after this!! He will never trust maids again. Pirates leap out of the way of Jenna's attack and its almost with a terrifing casualness that as the massive shell rips out of the bar and towards Warden that the man raises a single pistol. Even as his concentration is on Avira, the single round impacts the center of Jenna's round and dissapates the energy around both him and Avira. He smirks slightly. "You have the most intresting friends," He murmurs towards Avira before leaning down towards the healing woman with a smirk. "And you're right...that didn't count. However I enjoyed i--" Before he can do anything more than lean down and taunt a blurring Tifa blindsides him. He is flung away from the downed Avira by the masterful combo, slamming against a pier support. Ow. One eye opens to smirk slightly towards the pair of them. "You. Are starting to be annoying. I was trying to have a moment with Lady Wolf there and you're intrupting..." He steps away from the pier. "...learn some MANNERS!" The man slams his foot down, again the gravic wave ripples out from him before he follows it up. Using the hilts of his weapons like brass knuckles he swings for Tifa's face to knock her back /into/ the tavern. Energy ropes apear again to grab Avira and fling her back inside as well. Inside? More pirates try to dogpile on Jenna with cries of GET HER GUN. and THROW HER INTO THE WATER! Others turn their attention towards Deelel and various types of funriture come her way.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Where is Avira? What is Warden doing to her!? And now Aeschere is done with her and going after Avira as well!? Oh, no you do not. Maira stands, wooziness subsiding by the wonderful powers of pure adrenaline. One word is uttered. "Holy." Light explodes from Maira like laser beams of brilliant, sparkling retribution, one shooting for Chere, the other to Warden. It ought to be familiar to him.

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel is keeping an eye on Jenna, and wonders about the strange woman even if there might be trouble with her. She's quite curious about her as her comrades stike she smirks a little bit as she's preparing for her counter strike. When Childs makes her move against them. She twists with her disc in hand and deflects the shot as she notes. "Not bad but not good enough. I'll deal with you later, gltich" Avira might be the only one in the room whod' get Deelel's actually searing at the moment. She's not a happy little program but Warden comes first, she's got no plans to kill anyone here but she's clearly going to be using force here as she laucnehs hrr self at Warden the strikes are hard but she's clearly trying to not kill him, just make sure he's no longer able to fight. "So... clever move having your backup do that I'll give you that!"

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Blurring once more, Jenna this time weaves expertly between the piratse and even climbs one of the pirates, jumping off his head as she sprays a complete and utter bullet hell of icy shards towards Thache and Aeschere. "Whooooooo~!" she calls out, apparently having a great deal of fun.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' "You should have bargained with me, annoying a powerful mage such as myself is never a good idea." Lumeria's really starting to get sick of this. Her attention then turns Aschere, "I have no idea why you sided with him when you're heavily outnumbered but you're going to regret it too." Suddenly a hole in reality rips inside of the tavern, filling the entire entire with light that's been in trapped through out the universe, along with several fragments of energy as well.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Looks like crab pirate is going to be scarred for life.. Vespa doesn't feel guity at all about it. His fault for undermeating her. Of course the rest of the pirates toss furiture at her and other asortied items. "This is starting to get annoying!", she grabs a table(again) and runs into the pirates trying to knock them over or outside!

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart is getting attacked by two fronts! But she can't do much for either. Although she tries to protect herself, she gets pushed in one direction, and then the other one in turns. Beaten and bruised now, she seems pretty tired after expanding her final heaven. She's not done kicking though, just... not as strong now "LIke I care about your time with her, she sure doesn't seem interested either!"

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Oh, sure, kick her when she's down. That's actually a very good idea, and if it weren't happening to her Chera would approve of it, tactically. As it is, though, all her evils are returned to her, threefold. You have to assume there was suitable effect; she didn't move for the duration, except as she was tossed around by the ice storm. Fetched up in the corner, finally she stirs, and lifts herself to sitting, and then to a knee, and then to-- Nope! Not to standing yet. She gathers herself, and the blood on her armor seeps away into nothing, while she regains a little color.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira herself finds her attention divided-but hey, at least she isn't being thrown into the water! She breathes hard, upping the intensity on her healing, though not really getting anywhere since she's not really trained in healing magic. She'll still try. On a lark, she glances back into the bar and sees the buildup of energy and the very faint outline of Aschere within. Her eyes widen. Well, the kid was serious, Avira would give her that. She only gets a few seconds to roll out of the way as the darkness blasts out from where the pair of them had flown through the hole in the wall. "T..that was a close one.." she mutters, shifting her stance, blinking as he's flung away from her by Tifa. Grinning, she gives her a thumbs up. "Hey, thanks-waugh!" Energy ropes ensnare her and fling her back into the bar, crashing in to the broken remains of the table she shattered with ice earlier. With a groan, she picks herself up. "I don't like how I've been on my face most of this fight..." she grumbles and waits until Warden returns. When she does... ...she's right there in his face, no magic, but with a combo. First it's a horizontal slash, followed by a diagonal one, then comboed into an opposite swipe from the backswing. If Warden looked carefully, he'll notice that Avira easily adjusts the grip on her blade to maximize the strength of her slashes.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The whole building looks wrecked. Fire and holy have blown chucks out of the building. Warden and Vespa have knocked holes in the damn thing. Furniture is sticking out of walls at odd angles. Disks have torn though support beams. Its a mess. And its not quite over yet. Tifa's kicks come in and hammer into him as he staggers. Deelel and Jenna scatter his crew. Men go tumbling out windows and holes in the floor or walls. Several of them bolt out the door. This might just be a loosing proposition. However.... "MISTER SHALE!" The man roars as he spits a gob of blood from his mouth to splatter against the floor. "I think its time to be going. Lady Lancer? Thank you for your help! You earned this!" And he whistles. Out from the other side of the shattered bar clambers an extremely adorable little racoon. With wings. He drops a pouch next to the charging lady. "Thanks beautiful!" He churrips before taking wing and aiming to go out the window. Warden /would/ aim to go out the window as well, but suddenly an Avira is in his face and he can't resist an Avira. Well more to the point he can't turn his back on that freeking weapon of hers. His blades snap up and he meets the woman blow for blow, his own suprisingly strong. Strong enough to drive her back across the floor towards the far end of the remains of the tavern. "Now Cap'n?" The huge stone from of Mister Shale rumbles as he stands by a support beam. "NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME MISTER SHALE YES!!" THe stone man shrugs and he kicks the beam, shattering it. The entire Tavern starts to tilt, obviously sliding into the water. Everyone hold on to something? Well everyone but Avira. She has Warden to hold onto. More specificly he's holding onto her as he reaches up to grab her brestplate. "Best hold your breath. Wolves /can/ swim right?" And then he flings himself and her up into the air, and spins once. And just to add insult to injury? Gives her the lightest of pecks on her cheek. His pistol comes out and the fire from the weapon is so fast is seems to be one continous stream as he shoots a hole in the floor and then attempts to crashthough. Along with Avira. Its not a window either. But the water /is/ down there. So technicly he is throwing her into the lake. Everyone else? Well they shall have to deal with a collapsing building. At least Aeschere got her bounty!

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira looks over as Aechere goes down, frowning deeply. She begins to approach the woman, pulling a health potion from her pouch and tossing it to her. "Hurry, get out of here!" she says, then turns, ready to finish this thing-- But suddenly, the tavern is going into the lake! Ooh no! She is not going down with it! She retaliates with a quick burst of fire after Warden, likely only burning him fleeing behind a bit if anything, scrambling over toward Avira to make sure she gets out. If she's been fighting Warden, she'll be hurting! "Out we go!" she says, quickly casting a heal on Avira to try to speed up her retreat before they all go under!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Halfway through her swings, Avira switches from a one-handed grip to a two handed one. It seems to give her a little bit more power and with each blocked blow. Sparks fly between their weapons and Avira even leans in to glare at Warden in the face for a few seconds when their blades lock. She slides backwards, leather boots squeaking against the wooden floorboards. "Damn it..!" She feels the floor beneath her feet start to tilt. Pushing off, she prepares to disengage so she doesn't fall into the water...except Warden grabs her! Glaring, she inverts her blade and prepares to stab him. "Unhand me!" Her fury only grows when he has the audacity to kiss her on the cheek. One of her hands leaves her weapon to form up into a fist. To hit him with. They break through the floor and for a few seconds, Avira's head spins from the impact. Maira's magic washes over her and the concussion-to-be fades, leaving her...underwater. With Warden. Avira can indeed swim, fortunately, and she shoves off Warden to try to do that.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Collapising building. Great. Vespa get slammed onto the floor. She going to be feeling that in the morning. She lets out a light curse as she does her best to support the falling debree so it doesn't crush anyone else.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria's exhausted at this point from all the fighting, but she does manage to get off one more spell before the bar ends up in the lake. She really hopes the loot wasn't in here at this point, it would be a surprise if there was anything left intact. Still it's not going to do her much good if she's dead so she makes her way nearest hole before the bar completely sinks.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart is a good swimmer, fortunately. Although a leather dress isn't the best for that either. She eeps as the inn tilts over. Well, so much for what was left of it after that fight anyway. One less thing to worry about in the immediate at least. She swims over to try to make sure everyone is alright, ready to support or save them if need is. "Everyone okay?" She calls out. Where are the bad guys? Hopefully nowhere near right now >_< She can still kick in the water.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' A couple of pouches bounce off of Aeschere before she's ready to react. By the time she does, the floor is caving in, and there's a lake under her; time to go, yes. She snatches up the cash pouch and the... potion? and begins edging her way around to the outside wall. Once she's found firm footing, she uncorks the potion and makes a futile attempt to determine if it's poison. Well, whatever if it is, she'll be just as dead if she goes down with this ship. Happily, it turns out to be a restorative. Maira's place in Chera's mind is firmly cemented as 'confused', but she supposes that honor makes as much sense as anything. More escaping, less looking at gift horses' teeth. There's a door, or a window, or a hole of some other sort within reach, and Chera hauls her carcass through it, and up the boardwalk, in case the bar takes the strip with it. Not so much as a 'thanks, captain', but she suspects he understands.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Splooshing into the water, Jenna frowns as she looks around and says, "Oh, come on!" and sighs. "Great, -this- bill is going to be massive beyond all belief." as she dives under to try to follow Warden Thache

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Well, Maira can't swim, so she is actually getting the heck out of there, otherwise she'd have dived right in after Avira. She will make for the shore and heal others wounds if they need it immediately, anxiously watching the water for Avira. And I /guess/ Warden.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Over goes the tavern. In to the water goes a mess of debris and pirates. Thankfully? Most of them are ocean creatures anyway. They shoot away on various means of propultion. Except crab-guy. He sort of flails slowly in the direction of the anchored ships. Avira heads for the surface, /after/ decking Warden for being Warden. She could see the grin on his face even as they both dissipeared under the water. He was having /fun/. She comes up for air first, Maira can see that. However a second later Warden bursts from the water behind her and slides his arms around her from behind. The pointed end of his chin rests against her shoulder as he whispers something to her before one clever hand just slides something down the front of her brestplate. Yup. He's a bad person. Then he's pushing away, as his hand flings a dagger towards the ruins of the inn. A dagger with something attached to it. A flippant wave, and then the pirate captain dives under the waves again. Heading towards the docked ships himself. ...and does anyone here /really/ want to take on the broadside of a full pirate ship? The message stuck to the side of the ruined Inn? A treasure map. The item stuck down Avira's armor? The same.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa can swim thankfully thought her current outfit make it a bit challening she does make it to the shore. "ugh I feel like a drowned rat.", She says starting to ring the water out of her clothing..

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira watches as Warden /sticks his hand down her breastplate/. Maira's face: :O!!!!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Well, she did say she would hit Warden in the face a second time. At least Avira can walk away from this incident with that on her mind, even if she seems to have failed to hit Warden every other time! Maira will see, if she's looking in the water, Avira break the surface and gasp for air. She starts treading water shortly afterwards and looks around for her quarry. Not seeing him right away, she makes to swim out so she doesn't wind up trapped beneath a collapsing bar. Warden grabs her from behind and Avira yelps with sudden alarm. She almost doesn't catch the whispering and it takes her a moment to realize what happened. Once she does, Avira's immediately going to deck him AGAIN. Frustrated, she starts swimming after him, right up until the point when she sees his ship. That...well, she'll have to not storm that ship today. Muttering, she heads for one of the still-standing pylons and pulls herself up. "Well that certainly didn't go well." She'll...address the item down her breastplate later.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira rushes over to hug Avira, relieved she's alright. Fondled, but alright. "Oh goodness...lets all get out of here!" she suggests. "Anyone needs healing, I'll take care of it."

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel has been hurt pretty bad by Warden's earlier attack and her injuries are more clear as there's several more noticeably glowing wounds she's clutching at them as this point. She sees Aechere goes down, but it looks like everything is going to hell She makes sure to start dragging those who can't get out even Warden's own goon squad, she's not forgot his orders for no fatalities consider her returning the favour she's hurt but that can wait for now. "This...is a heck of a mess. I also... could use some help here, they got me pretty badly..."

Everything Starts Small

2014-01-25T07:32:38Z

Skalith: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/01/23 |Location=Rowdy Bar |Synopsis=Confronted by a host of hunters, Warden does the only thing possible for a man in his position. He tri..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/01/23
|Location=Rowdy Bar
|Synopsis=Confronted by a host of hunters, Warden does the only thing possible for a man in his position.

He tries to buy them all off.

It doesn't work well, but dropping the tavern does!
|Cast of Characters=Tifa Lockhart, Avira, Deelel, Maira, Vespa, Lumeria, Aeschere Childs, Jenna, Warden Thache
|pretty=yes
}}
prize, and various means of tracking it down. To be perfectly honest the pirates themselves had not been particularly stealthy in living. A few inquiries about new faces and strange sights. A bit of traditional nose-to-the-grindstone-investigation leads to a specific little location. OR YOU COULD JUST CHEAT AND USE MAGIC(Looking at you Maira!! Witch.) Ahem. That specific little spot was a small port town, and of course the rough area of said already rough town. Having run out of the space the ramshackle buildings are built on piers over the water. The specific house of ill repute is a tavern by the name of the Patched Mermaid, the swinging sign over the door showing the much faded image of a mermaid with an eyepatch. So they arent very creative around these parts. Inside the tavern is about what one would expect. Poor lighting, rough hewn tables and chairs. A bit of sawdust on the floor. The smell of beer(which actually isnt /that/ bad) and bodies(which is much worse) strikes like a physical force once one walks in. Various faded knickknacks adorn the walls, all having something to do with...of course...sailing. The clientele here are as rough as the building and very few of them what one would call human. There are humanoid squid and lobster. Sea slugs and crabs. Someone that looks made completely out of stone. Its an odd assortment. Sitting at the biggest table, his booted feet propped up on the wood is one Captain Warden Thache. The cat captain has the manner of a king holding court, laughing at some story a tablemate is saying. A massive mug of beer in one hand, and draped on his lap a fetching dark haired barmaid who is at the moment playing with one of his ears. Conversation stops as the mismatched hunters stroll in, and the Captain quirks an eyebrow up with a grin that reveals a single pointed pointed fang. "Well." His drawl unhurried as he takes a pull of his drink. "Seems we have visitors. Shame I didnt even get the place cleaned up yet." The bartender just sighs as he hunkers down behind the long length of his bar. "If you break it!" He warns the general pouplation. "You bought it."

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Walking into the bar is Jenna Al Bhed, who seems to be carrying a pair of unusual pistols in holsters along with a smattering of mechanical toys on a belt and wearing a reticle over one of her eyes. "So." she says, cracking her knuckles in a laced-together fashion. "Can we PLEASE keep this simple or are we going to have to turn this into some kind of completely massive issue?" as she looks around at the various patrons. "Now, we doing this easily or what? I'm pretty sure the bartender doesn't want some of my toys going off in here."

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' But there's at least one person here that knows how to handle bars. The barmaid with steeltoed boots of course. But she's not here to serve drinks today. She's there to take up on the treasure hunting of course. Yes, she's still working to gather every piece of gil she can. Not Srooge McDuck style, she's not going to make a vault and swim in it, but she likes having a good account rolling... who knows when she will need it again for AVALANCHE after all. But its not like she's that greedy either, she often acts simply on kindness. But if she can get a pay out of it, its good too. She leans against the wall near the door, just waiting on things to unfold in front of her. She's not sure who she's here to meet either, but she's sure that will become obvious soon enough.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Just the sort of place to find a bounty hunter. Only, maybe not this bounty hunter. Actually, this is probably a pretty bad call, but Aeschere's life is nothing but a series of bad calls, isn't it? Without arms, and lightly armored, she surveys the scene, and is pleased to note that she's not two paces from the door; this looks like it could get exciting. It's obviously not her party, nor one that she ought to stick her nose into, so she carefully circumnavigates the Captain and his crew, and asks the barkeep for something which he attempts to refuse to serve her. He recalls what sort of place he's running, and eventually shrugs and draws her a mug. Holding it carefully, she listens in on the deal. Could be some cash in it, you never know.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Speaking of a series of bad calls... ...nonsense, this is not a bad call at all. Avira is here because she has a score to settle and possibly wants to get her shot at tossing Warden out a window. Thanks to a little run-in a few days ago, she and Maira did have a means of cheating their way to this location and skipping the lengthy information-gathering that no doubt would have lead them here eventually. Maira and Avira aren't alone of course. She might have told a few other people about this-bring some VALKYRI backup, that sort of thing. Except some of these people, like the Al-Bhed, she was not too familiar with. The overt threatening the moment Jenna gets in the bar makes Avira rub her face. Despite her stance, Avira is on alert. This would not be the first time she's rolled up into a bar filled with pirates. In fact, the last time she did, she had to end up fleeing one admist a big bad bar fight. "Warden Thache." Avira says thinly, a hand resting upon the hilt of the Spine. "We meet again."

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' When there's money and treasure involved it's hard not to get Lumeria's attention. Though this place was certainly a dive, she's not sure why anyone would want to hang out here. She just wants to get hands on some loot and get out of her. It seems like she's not the only person who heard about what was going on. This could make things easier for her or more difficult.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' A maid sits at a table by herself in a corner of the room. Yes a maid. She entered some time after Avira walked in, she didn't want it to look like they came togeher and arouse suspition, and Vesaps standout due to her tastes in clothing. A few of the patrons doing double takes as she walked in, One made a pass at her,he now has a dislocated shoulder. She has a beer half empty now she looks over the room glancing over at where Avira is once and a while.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' It was NOT cheating! She had to be clever to track Warden, /and/ call in a favor! Magic takes skill! Hmph! Right, so, Maira walks in behind Avira, dressed in the very same chain-style dress she'd worn last time she'd fought Warden because a. it helps prevent multiple stab wounds, and b. it is fire proof. Hopefully, she will be able to avoid slinging fire around. It is just a bit difficult avoiding collateral damage with her magic. Hopefully this will not be a problem considering Avira /really/ wants to throw him out of a window anyway. "Hello!" she greets cheerily, then shakes her head. "No that was wrong," she mumbles under her breath. "Prepare to die!" she says instead, then rethinks that as well. "No too dramatic...

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' You can /see/ the exclamation point pop up over Chera's head. This is definitely lucra- It's an unexpected opportu-- She didn't expect-- What is she going to do, her mark just strolled in. She has to do /something/ with this, but there's no way to get 'round the pirate negotiations. She hides her face behind a long draw of whatever in hell she has a cup of, and tries really inadequately to be inconspicuous.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Well. This is quite a few more people than Warden bargined for. The cat-eared pirate is certinly not one to back down from such an occasion. In fact his grin only grows as he notes the people that stand out like sore thumbs among the piratical clintele. He sets his beer down easily on the table before patting the lady in his lap on the back. "Pardon me my dear," His accent exactly what one would think of a pirate. "I believe I'm going to have to deal with this..." The woman gets up and as she sashays away the Captain pays much more attention to her than all the varried glares and threats that are flying in his direction. As she dissipears behind the bar the Captain gives a sigh and a smile. "I love it when they walk." Then he turns towards the little knots of figures. "Now...where were we! Oh yes. Threats and posturing. An important part of things." "Well!" He says cheerily to Jenna, still not getting out of his chair. "You are least are right to the point. I supose things /can/ be simple and all!" He adds with a flash of a grin. "It depends on if you're here to pay me a bounty to return the items, or if you're here for the items themselves to take them by force of arms. Or! I have one secret counter-offer for anyone intrested." His gaze sweeps the group. "...and Lady Wolf! Somehow I knew you would sniff me out." He tosses towards Avira. "I'd bow but..." He lifts his mug again. Taking a long pull. "...I'm a touch busy as you see." Drink is obviously more important. "As for you Maira, you're doing it all wrong! You can't go /right/ for the 'prepare to die'. You have to build up for that!"

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' "Well I don't actually want to /kill/ you," she replies. "I just couldn't think of anything better to say?

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Maira we really need to work on your one-liners." Avira asides. "Don't worry, I've got just the thing for that." 80s movies.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart looks bewteen Avira and Maira "Let's make it a old movies viewing night at the CLoud Nine, I bet that'd be popular." She's thinking business again.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira looks to Tifa, smiling brightly. "Oh, that's a /great/ idea!" she exclaims. Yep, this is what you are up against Warden. QUAKE WITH FEAR!

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel has been hanging out with VALKYRI a lot lately, it's not she was unhappy with the Shard Seekers, it is just many of them were so busy with other things? She'd just get in the way. Deelel is folloing up with Avira, Maira and the rest and she gives Jenna a look over as she wonders about them. She has to wonder she seems to be a variant of human but there's something strange about Jenna, as she eyes the one exposed eye for a moment. That's strange, that's very strange. "I'm not about to start antything if you don't Warden." She doesn't go for the disc on her back, and sighs a bit, the strange strange digital warble to her voice making it sound quite odd. "Movie hummm, mind on business already Tifa?"

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa just groans ligthly and facepalms and who the coversation has turned to moives somehow.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart turns to Deelel, nods "Why not? If that makes people happy and gets me money, its not bad, no?

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden just looks mildly amused, and continues to nurse his beer as talk turns to movies. Maybe he can get most of the mug done before they realise he's still here.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Actually it might come to no surprise that you and your associates have a bounty on your head, by way of Kingdom of Charming." Avira gestures grandly, unafraid to raise her voice amongst the bar. There's actually a high chance that some of the other pirates might try to take up on that bounty. Pirates have all kinds of rivalries between them, right? On the other hand they might not be inclined to work for THE MAN and against a fellow pirate. It's a gamble! Avira is okay with taking gambles. "Now normally we don't take /bounties/ like this. But since this bounty involves YOU, well, I'm willing to make an exception for VALKYRI orders of business." All the while as she talks, her eyes remain upon Warden, most other non-threatening-looking pirates going unnoticed for now. Additionally, she continues to stalk forward until she is within feet of the captain. "Humor me, though, what is this super secret counter offer of yours?"

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' "Well, I'm willing to make a deal but it better be worth my trouble." Lumeria figures it's better than getting in a fight and it's hard to carry loot with broken limbs. "Movie night? That lacks the elegance of a live peformance." Part of the fun was getting dressed up for a show after all.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Hopefully Aeschere won't finish the mug before they realize she's here. Nobody's looking her way, at least. She'll have to follow them out, that's the only way she's getting anything done. That's if they don't come to blows right here in the bar. They probably will. It's that kind of b-- She said bounty, didn't she? And she said counter-offer, too. Chera perks up despite herself; maybe she /can/ strike a deal, here. She moves a few stools up the bar, closer to Warden's table, and closer to at least two people who can recognize her. Her judgement is famously poor, or at least it ought to be famous.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira stays close to Avira, watching her back while she speaks with Warden, wondering idly if Spooks is around. How sad, Warden had obviously taught him such bad habits! When someone moves closer, Maira looks. She's wary of any of Warden's associates. After all, pirates have to have crews, right? Her eyes widen in recognition as she sees just who it is. "Oh, hello..." she says to Aeschere, poking Avira lightly in the back as she mumbles into her radio.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa keeps drinking her beer she will let Avira do the talking Vespa would just charge in her with here clonk a few people on the head and threaten everyone till she got what she wanted. If Avira want to solve this peacefull then that fine with her. Thought she has no problem getting into a bar brawl.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' "Pay you?" Jenna says, "Right, like this is a business deal." then snorts. "Buddy, I have two goals in mind... Your loot returned to the castle, and your capture in turn. Though this third option is interesting, maybe it'll accomplish what I want." then sits down. "What is it then?" she asks.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Whispers start around the tavern after Avira's little announcement. However they arn't quite what she might think. "A bounty? We've been in this world less than a week!" "Thats the Cap'n fer ya! Tol' ya he would make a name fer himself!" "Yup, gonna double it 'afore long!" Thats right Avira. The pirates here are Warden's crew. And they are /proud/ of that bounty. Warden's eyes flicker around to the various people there, and he still hasn't gotten up. Infact he's finishing his drink. He slowly lowers it back down on the table. "Counter offer then! Since you all are throwing the word bounty around. Lets put a bit of an unofficial one down." He gestures, rolling his hand like a stage magician and seemingly from thin air pulls a ruby the size of his thumbnail. The exquisite cut catches the light in the most intresting of ways. "My counteroffer." His grin grows. "Would be a handfull of these to whoever wants to help me throw these two..." And he gestures towards Avira and Maira. "...into the river!" A pause. "Not your traditional bounty, but I think you might find it at least equal to whoever the Charming's might be able to give out. If you ever get it from the nobles at least. They arn't the most trustworthy." He smiles as he sets the ruby on the table then sends it spinning across with a flick of his finger in Aeschere's direction. With the same movement he draws the energy pistol from the bandolier across his chest and places it casually on the table. "Yes my dear," He adds towards Jenna. "Blackmail usually works like that. You pay me. I give you the item." A flash of a grin. "But it seems you all are more likely to go with the force of arms option." A slight shrug. "I can do either. I'm flexible."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Deadpan he adds. "This includes you of course Lady Wolf, Lady Flame. If you go throw yourselves in the lake? You'll get the payout as well!" Warden /is/ a man of his word! Ish.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' You know, this is how she always gets into trouble. She just doesn't have the sense to turn down an offer like this. It dovetails nicely with her plans, after all; it's not often you get to collect twice on one mark. She catches the ruby, sort of automatically, and loses herself in contemplation of the odds. He did say 'help', didn't he? He what. His further explanation brings her up short, but only for a moment. Seems fair, after all. And, again, it dovetails nicely with her minimum-force plan. She lets the gem catch the gleam of the lamp for a moment, shrugs, and nods to the cat-master. Setting her mug aside, she steps up to pat Maira on the back. The quarters are too close here for a proper explosion, aren't they? So the fireball is the obvious best choice.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria throw someone in a lake? Do you really think a skinny elfin could pick someone up let alone drag them that far? "And how I'm suppose to do that?" She looks at Avira and Maira. "Wait, Charming's the one who wants the goods?" Maybe she could get a kiss out of the deal if she manages to return them. Still, the odds didn't look very much in her favor. "Give me half and I'll let you walk."

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Covertly drawing something from her belt and passing it under the table, Jenna slaps it to the underside of the table and tilts her head. Seems like she's trying to get his attention, "My counter-offer." she says, "Blackmail being what it is." attempting to feign an exasperated look.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart crosses her arms, frowning "As much as I like getting my hand on some well earned gil, I don't consider throwing friends into any sort of body of water as a good source of it. I'll pass." She looks to Avira and Maira, not looking too pleased by these odds here.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa Vespa curses slightly to herself, finishe her drink and get sup walking over to where Avira and Maira are. :ooks like things are going to get serious here soon.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Actually given that...those people must be from Warden's crew, she kind of understands that reaction. It's a pretty big pirate achievement! Avira might actually be proud of her own. Still, Avira palms her face. "/Pirates/." Then the counteroffer, complete with this jerk flashing around a nice big ruby. Tempting, but not the objective they came here for. "You can take that counteroffer and shove it up your <GOOSEHONK>." Avira says in a very patient voice. Casually, Avira draws the Spine. True to its name, it is a blade that is shaped exactly like a spinal column, though with a sharp point on the end. The pelvic bone forms the hilt guard. "Prince Charming." she confirms for Lumeria. "This scoundrel stole a good deal of jewels and paintings from the man." She pauses, "...Maira did the Al-Bhed just place something explosive?" she looks over to her best friend, then to Aschere lurking behind her. Avira's eyes narrow. "I'm afraid now the only outcome is going to be violence."

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Well, she hasn't really had a violence in a while, since Akari left. It's a terrible idea, of course, but Aeschere could be persuaded, we suppose. "I want just gold, not blood," she replies, but her stance suggests that she's prepared to accept either.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira blinks, looking back toward Warden as he makes his counter offer. Many of those here she /knows/ will not fall to that kind of greed. But there are likely some that will, Aeschere in particular. Throw them in the lake? Maira looks a little worried about this. She still doesn't know how to swim! Maira turns as she's patted on the back by Aeschere, frowning. "You're really going to take him up on this? I thought you had more sense," she sighs. Maira isn't going to attack first, though she's beginning to think she wont feel /too/ bad about burning this place to cinders. At Avira's question, Maira blinks. "Uuuuuh...." she says, looking to...uh.... "What's an Al-Bhed?" she asks, but just goes ahead and makes a guess she's referring to Jenna. "Time to take it outside I think!" she says, and makes for the window, away from Aeschere, casting a protective spell on herself, Avira and Vespa as she does so!

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel is still somewhat amused as she looks at Warden a little bit longer." Sht tlts her head again looking at the Al Bejhd for a moment anf seems rather frowinging. "A race from Spira." Deelel notes and she nods in agrement as they should be going out side. Deelel follows up as Maira starts buffing the others and gets ready her self running a few commands to prepare herself for things going down. "Hope you got game, I'd be rather sad if you were all talk."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The man makes little comments to the gaggle of different responces his counteroffer gets. They were honestly just about what he expected to get. However at least one person seems slightly intrested. He'll take it. Genna gets a grin before he draws a deep breath as he replaces his empty mug. "Oh Lady Wolf," He murmurs. "I love it when you're right." Snaking out from under tables come dozens of glowing golden...well...ropes. They slither, shoot towards the various hunters that have come to the bar. The ropes aiming to wrap around limbs and yank up into the air and off their feet. At the same time the agile captain puts one boot on the table in front of him and /shoves/ the piece of furniture towards the gathered heroes, propelling himself backwards and into the air at the same time. "For those of you who don't know," he adds, his voice raising as pirates begin to stand in the various corners of the air. "My name is Warden Thache, my father was Edward Thache." His grin grows more vicious as he draws the pair of energy cutlass that ride on his hip. Not even reaching for the gun. "It is a /pleasure/ to meet all of you, but...I'm afraid I live by a pirate code. I give nothing back. You'll have to take it." All except Aeschere, who apparently is willing to take his gold. He can live with that.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Explosive? Lumeria certainly doesn't like the sound of that. "It sounds like we're not going to be talk our way this one? Then why did you try to make a deal about throwing them in the river?" Looks like she better do something to keep them from geting blow to bits. She quickly casts a spell to protect Deelel, Tifa and herself since Maira already got the others.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart's eyes widen when the ropes fly out, trying to latch for her. "Hey! I know we're in a bar, but bondage is not my idea of a first date either." She sticks an arm down to intercept the rope before it ties her legs out, giving herself enough wiggle room to pull herself free before she gets pulled up. "If you want to play rough, you'll get rough." Grabbing the end of the rope, she pulls hard on it, hoping to tug the Warden toward her... so she can intercept his face with her fist >_<

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Flung into the air, Jenna spins momentarily as she flips backwards and lightly touches on the ceiling, pushing off as she quickly draws her pistols and fires a rapid salvo at Thache on the way down before landing with a bit of a skid. "I don't really care." she says, "This job pays and it's got a snake of a target for a bounty."

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' That looks like her cue. First order of business is to get some breathing room. "Seleman anaereinanira," she incants, and a blue-black flash clears her immediate vicinity of chairs, a table, and several mugs, and makes a spirited attempt to clear it of Maira and Avira. Regardless of the result, because you can't wait for things to happen in a fight, she draws her long knife and retreats a pace.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' "EEEP!" Maira exclaims as the ropes shoot out. She tries to dive behind a table but the golden rope grabs her by the ankle. Maira curses. "Here I go again!" she says just before she's yanked up into the air, tucking her arms up over her head to try to protect the most import thing as she's swung around willy nilly. When she thinks she has an opening, she lashes out with her magic, a blade of fire conjured to try to slice through the rope that holds her. Oh yes, this place is going to /burn/. Suddenly there is a flash, something smacking into her, but its difficult to discern while she's either being flung around, or if her cut worked, falling back toward the floor. "ARGH! Stop trying to tie me up and fling me around!" she exclaims to Warden. She's pretty sure he's just trying to look up her dress! Her...battle dress. SHUT UP! Maira locats Warden and the flames begin to fly.

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel says "I heard it was more of a guide line." Where the heck has Zeke been? She has to wonder she goes for her disc now and says. "I see, well then I guess we can save the Parlay for later humm?" The disc humms to livfe in her hand and she's not harmed by the weapon at all. She makes readies her weapon launching into a counter attack. It does no good as she's sliced by the weapon but there's no blood. just a scrange glowing wounded in Deelel's side. It's a blue glow and one can see scrange cube like portions at the wounds entrance and within if you take a look. "All right then." She launches the disc again before flipping into the air trying to get over Warden.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' So it's come to a fight. Vespa isn't surpised by this turn of events. The space is too small for her to use her massive axe. She will just let her fists do the talking, and whatever else she can use as a weapon. "Eat table!", she shouts picking up a table and tosses it at Warden!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira's pretty happy she won't be getting thrown into a lake. Yeah people would get paid for it but that's not going to recover the stolen paintings and gems. Well, the exception being Aschere but Avira figures this person has other reasons for stepping in to this. Avira eyes the teenager. "...where's your partner? You're even more outnumbered than before." she says quietly, as if trying to dissuade her. Because it sure would suck if Warden and his crew caught wind of that issue. As it stood things were already getting messy! At the corner of her eyes she sees the flash of gold at her feet. She tries to pull back but her legs are yanked out from underneath her. Before the energy ropes can toss her into the air, she swings a suddenly ice-imbued spine at her feet to disrupt them. "Thache? Wait a second, that's Blackbeard's family name." Avira looks at Warden suspiciously. She knew that the Blackbeard of her world was a man and not a cat...creature whatever species that Warden was. Just as she picks herself up, she goes flying across the room and breaks through another table that had been a poker game moments before. "Alright, come one, come all, but I'm not going to be holding back!" Climbing back to her feet, she tears the Spine through the air horizontally, the motion summoning up several sharp gales of wind at both of her attackers.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Is she /mad/? Is she madder than Chera, anyways? Does Maira normally burn places to the ground at the drop of hats? She'd discarded the possibility of a fire field out of hand, and that was a bad move for her. The firestorm sweeps over her, and she rolls forward, shielding her face. You can't really dodge a wall of flame, though; the best you can hope is to get through it quicker. The fringes of her skirt and sleeves smoulder as she stands, and closes with the arsonist for a bit of firefighting. We're not holding back, right? Avira said as much, and Maira quite plainly used lethal force just now. Chera opens with a thrust at shoulder height, and anticipates the evasion with an attempt at a pommel strike to the temple, before pulling back. Something black and shining pierces its way into existence in her off hand, and she thrusts for Maira's center of mass.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden bows once towards Avira's words. "Ah, you know him. Guilty as charged then." He adds with a twinkle in his bright eyes as he hovers on nothing, standing in midair. At least before he gets yanked down. Tifa's fist meets his shoulder as he twists, using the momentum of the strike to roll away from the woman. Jenna's gunfire lands among a dozen pirates as she scatters them. Maira's fire does much the same, sending some rushing for the door and other rushing to try to put it out. Warden just laughs. He's enjoying himself. "No deaths my boys! We loose the game if that happens!" He adds, right before Vespa's table and Deelel' disc slam into him. He's just off balance enough for Avira's spines to almost nail him to the ground. He shakes his head as he comes to his feet. One cutlass points towards Avira and he grins too wide. "That one though is mine." He slams his foot down on the ground and a wave of selected anti-gravity rips though the tavern. Tables. Chairs. People. All knocked up into the air as Warden himself takes the high road, throwing one cutlass in the for a moment so he can rip a pistol out of its holder and fire a fulsade of shots before holstering the weapon and flinging himself across the bar towards Avira. Those golden ropes turn black as he goes, and more and more pirates pile in. Obviously lumbering to try to knock down and knock out the 'heroes' of the hour. "I name Lady Lancer there protected!" He adds, gesturing towards Aeschere. "Treat her as one of the crew or I'll have your hides!" He remembers his allies.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' "Nngh!" Jenna says, before she floats backwards and fires on the mine she placed earlier as an explosion of gravitic energy appears crushing some of the local area. The reticle over her eye then energizes as she snaps her fingers and sparkling motes of light swirl around her, her wounds starting to close slowly but surely.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Fire has two sides. It is the spark of life. Without it, life is not possible. People would die of the cold, plants would not grow after depleting all the nitrogen from the soil...and there are many mythologies that believe fire was an essential ingredient in the making of humanity. Of course, it is also capable of great destruction. Sadly, at times like this, its practically the only way she has of defending herself. Luckily though, Maira has practiced long and hard to be able to control the fire, and even as things begins to burn inside the bar, she closes her eyes and inhales, drawing the heat from the flame back inside herself, snuffing them out before they can do significant damage to the establishment. Maira hits the floor, wincing as she tries to get to her feet. She never does quite make it to standing however, as Aeschere comes in with pommel strike to the temple, and possibly (oh, good!) more stab wounds. Quite simply, Maira crumples, sick, from the blow to the head. She is conscious, but only barely. Vulnerable as she is, various protections are all she can cast. A green flame draws a circle around her, flickering but not burning, merely providing something of a protective barrier.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria finds herself getting knocked into the air, it doesn't take much effort to do so to the lightweight girl. Still it's not enough force to keep her from casting spells, it might be best to do something about the pirates to keep them from getting swarmed. The area near them is suddenly flooded by purifying light and they'll find themselves starting to shrink in size. If that's not bad enough, bright spheres also begin to bounce around before shattering to pieces.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart gets more ropes, apparently! She quickly moves in, attempting to throw the aim off with a counter attack, a high kick of her own. It doesn't quite work, but she keeps on the offensive at least. She won't let it get the best of her when it comes to close quarter combat. "You don't get the hint, do you? No more ropes!" She flips over the nearest table, aiming a sweeping kick while airborne... and then using the momentum to flip herself over, her hands aim for Warden's neck, attempting to twist him around, and crash him into the ground head first, her own patented piledriver hurts (when it hits. Sadly not often enough.)

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Everything in the bar starts to float into the air. Vespa punches a hole into the floor holding herself in place so she doesn't float up with everything else, though a few things fall on her. Ow. Ow.. "Mind if I cut in?", she say grinning to one of the pirates and starts swining him around using him as a makeshift club hoping to hit a few of the other pirates coming in then tossing him into a wall!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "So I do." Avira shoots back flippantly at Warden. Sure, she could explain that she does know a thing or two about pirates since she did consider taking up air piracy at one point. But she won't give this guy the satisfaction! Warden seems to be enjoying himself enough already. His posturing draws a small growl from 'Lady Wolf.' "I'll enjoy putting you through the window." Shot into the air again, Avira actually makes the effort to alter her own spin through careful application of air magic, small blasts of wind switching up her trajectory so she can strike her feet against one of the rafters and launch herself back down. Her spin is momentarily interrupted by one of the gunshots which, while it doesn't actually penetrate through her breastplate, does dent it in hard enough that it digs into her skin and muscle. Touching back down on the ground after flipping again, she lands in a crouch, then launches herself forward. Her weapon drags alongside her, sparking and glowing with blue light. This is the only warning that Warden gets before a gale of ice is launched at the pirate. The blast, in the air, weaves and shapes itself into a massive, snarling wolf-like animal.

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel she catches his comment about no deaths, that was odd, she can return his minions and Warden the same favour, She still is going to thrasht hem though as Warden counter attacks come her way, her disc returns and she catches it. She then make use of the weapon to parry the incoming attack she smirks a little bit before she launches her disc again trying to bounce it off the ground and then catch Warden, and it may bounce off and catch his minions afterwards.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' An effective strike. Good. Chera's actual target is thoroughly engaged with pirates; there's little point and less chance of breaking into that melee, so she'll concentrate on the fire support detachment. Besides, it's only Avira she has to deliver alive. With a grim smile, she continues her work. She probes the fire circle experimentally with he black lance, and receives some burns on her finger for trying. Foo. Planting it instead in the floorboards, where it ceases to exist as soon as she stops paying attention to it, she reaches, instead, straight through the flames, gritting her teeth through the heat, and grasps Maira by a handful of shirt. Pale and smiling madly, she raises her eyes to the fray, and a sickening black wave sweeps out from her, across the barroom, bringing an aching chill with it.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira shivers and groans as Aeschere grabs her, the sickening wave of dark and cold flowing over her. Her heart has its own response, the ghost of a light flashing briefly and lashing out at Aeschere before Maira can get a hold of herself. She's woozy and a bit nautious, but her magic is rejuvinating her by the moment even as Aeschere's tries to bring her down. "Why...are you doing this? For money!? It can't be worth it," she says. Air this time is used, a burst of it lashing outward from her being to try to knock Aeschere away from her, buying her time and hopefully inconveniencing the bounty hunter--inconveniencing her right through a window, maybe, if he aim is any good.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The tavern is a mess by this point. The pirates and the hunters have turned it into just that. A light disk arcs in only to be parried by an energy blade. Warden sees the punchy barmaid coming for him and jerks out of the way at the last secound, her combo /very/ impressive. But done to a hapless pirate instead of the captain himself. The poor man isn't getting up again, but at least he was a bit drunk and was manhandled by a pretty woman. He laughs however as he adds towards Tifa. "Why don't you ask Lady Wolf about our first date! I got the rope idea from her!" He teases as he twists out of the way of yet more fire. He is in his element, and suddenly the pirate captain is possibily a much more worring figure as more and more pirates seem to pile into the growing brawl. "I'll enjoy watching you try." He shoots back towards Avira as he sees the sparks coming from her weapon. And suddenly the man isn't there anymore. A flash step. Movement so quick the eye can hardly follow. The heel of his foot drops, crashing down on the edge of a bar table. It flips up to catch the wolf-blast dead center. The table exploding with the force. "You break it," The captain murmurs as he watches the woman. "You bought it." He is entirely unscathed by the attack, and with that same speed leaps forward again. First on one side of the bar, then the other, he barrels towards Avira. The cutlass blades dissipear, leaving the heavy metal hilts as he throws his entire force behind first one blow then the next. Meaning to send her into, and possibily right /though/ the wall. Vespa does indeed grab one of the pirates. He makes an excellent club in fact. However she is pounding on a different crewman. One that is...well...a crab. He doesn't look like its doing much. "Miss. Uh. Miss. Can you stop that. I really don't want to hurt a maid and all..." Other pirates are stumbling blindly and wondering about from Lumeria's blast. Blind and sick and burning. One manages to trip over her. Other ones leap for Jenna to try for a tackle! They don't want any more explosives. So dogpiling the Al-Bhed seems like a good idea. He's letting Aeschere deal with Lady Flame. After all she does have to earn those gems.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria suddenly feels a bit ill as she's hit by the black wave hits her. Of course she's not quite sure if it's that from the attack itself or the lack of gravity she seems to be caught in. Still, she better do something before she throws up, that would be rather embarassing. Green sparkles surround and begin to mind her wounds.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Jenna's form starts to blur as she tries to dance out of the way of the dogpiling pirates, but is summarily slammed left and right as she's back against a wall. Staring at Thache she then says, "You asked for this." and holds up both of her pistols as a pair of orbs expand outwards from them and fling towards Thache, tearing up the floor as they travel by sheer proximity to something with that kind of force, merging into one -large- bullet of magical power.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' "Too bad for you cause I want to hurt pirates!", Vespa says grimming madly. "I could go for a crab dinner..", she grabs a beer bottle and hit him over the head with it then getting some butter from.. somehwere, and rubbing it in his face.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart ... doesn't really have something smart to answer to that. Except about not really being interested in what would happen if you mix up a pirate, rope and a wolf lady. No no no, don't go there brain. Instead, she spins around, managing to plant her boots down securely, as she blocks out the incomming attack with her gloved hands... Which gives her a perfect opening for a counter attack. "Keep your fantasies for yourself, freak! I'll never let myself get tied up like that!" ~_~ Slipping into that opening, she flipkicks right under his chin, a kick that leaves a flash of light. The moment she touches ground again, she slams into his chest with arms crossed in front of her, throwing herself like a bullet at him. And before he can fly out of range of her, a glowing fist seems to appear out of nowhere, releasing the explosive energy wave from it, furthering the blast backward.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Yup, totally wrecked. Avira sort of saw this one coming and doesn't look forward to evading the eventual damage repair demands. Tables aren't too bad to replace...but if that alcohol shatters, that would be expeeeensive. "You shut your face!!" Avira barks as she continues to charge after Warden, barreling through so she's suddenly right in his face after the ice spell of hers goes off. But once the snow and ice has cleared and frozen to the surroundings instead of the pirate. "Damn!" She whirls, trying to track Warden's speedy approach, but only managing to catch glimpses before he slams himself into her. Comparatively speaking, Warden's a good deal larger than Avira-at least, Avira as a human. "WAUGH!" she howls as she's smashed clear through the wall and slides along the ground outside. An unhappy noise escapes her as she wiggles her way out from underneath him, pressing a hand to her stomach. Low-level healing magic surges through her palm, leaving behind a faint green glow around Avira. "Doesn't count." Avira mutters, "That wasn't even a window."

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' That's Maira more or less wrapped up, isn't it? At any rate, she's down hard enough that Aeschere can afford to take a look at the general melee again. It doesn't look good for her bankroll. She doesn't get paid if the captain gets offed, or if Avira slips away. She might, too, if they throw her through the right wall. Right, it's time to get some attention. Chera steps back from Maira, cocks her arm back, and flings a gleamingly black javelin into the midst of the battle. A twisting tendril of darkness joins it still to her hand. She pales, and she pales, and it swells, and it swells, until the lance bursts forth with a rent-metal screech, drowning the barrom briefly in a searing midnight darkness. As it fades, she collapses against the bar, fighting to avoid joining Maira on the floorboards.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' She shouldn't have counted the fire-witch out so quickly; Maira's lashing flame-tongue catches the little lancer flat-footed and unable to evade. Looks like she'll be meeting the floor after all. She collapses like a ragdoll, backwards into a pile of barstools, smouldering gently, and it'll be some time before she stirs again.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "AHHHHH NOT THE BUTTER! IT BURNS!! WHY GOD! WHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!" Crabguy should not have underestimated the maid as he staggers back, his claws flailing about wildly as he staggers around. Hated contiments burning his poor eyestalks. He will never be the same again. He might be a one eyed crab after this!! He will never trust maids again. Pirates leap out of the way of Jenna's attack and its almost with a terrifing casualness that as the massive shell rips out of the bar and towards Warden that the man raises a single pistol. Even as his concentration is on Avira, the single round impacts the center of Jenna's round and dissapates the energy around both him and Avira. He smirks slightly. "You have the most intresting friends," He murmurs towards Avira before leaning down towards the healing woman with a smirk. "And you're right...that didn't count. However I enjoyed i--" Before he can do anything more than lean down and taunt a blurring Tifa blindsides him. He is flung away from the downed Avira by the masterful combo, slamming against a pier support. Ow. One eye opens to smirk slightly towards the pair of them. "You. Are starting to be annoying. I was trying to have a moment with Lady Wolf there and you're intrupting..." He steps away from the pier. "...learn some MANNERS!" The man slams his foot down, again the gravic wave ripples out from him before he follows it up. Using the hilts of his weapons like brass knuckles he swings for Tifa's face to knock her back /into/ the tavern. Energy ropes apear again to grab Avira and fling her back inside as well. Inside? More pirates try to dogpile on Jenna with cries of GET HER GUN. and THROW HER INTO THE WATER! Others turn their attention towards Deelel and various types of funriture come her way.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Where is Avira? What is Warden doing to her!? And now Aeschere is done with her and going after Avira as well!? Oh, no you do not. Maira stands, wooziness subsiding by the wonderful powers of pure adrenaline. One word is uttered. "Holy." Light explodes from Maira like laser beams of brilliant, sparkling retribution, one shooting for Chere, the other to Warden. It ought to be familiar to him.

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel is keeping an eye on Jenna, and wonders about the strange woman even if there might be trouble with her. She's quite curious about her as her comrades stike she smirks a little bit as she's preparing for her counter strike. When Childs makes her move against them. She twists with her disc in hand and deflects the shot as she notes. "Not bad but not good enough. I'll deal with you later, gltich" Avira might be the only one in the room whod' get Deelel's actually searing at the moment. She's not a happy little program but Warden comes first, she's got no plans to kill anyone here but she's clearly going to be using force here as she laucnehs hrr self at Warden the strikes are hard but she's clearly trying to not kill him, just make sure he's no longer able to fight. "So... clever move having your backup do that I'll give you that!"

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Blurring once more, Jenna this time weaves expertly between the piratse and even climbs one of the pirates, jumping off his head as she sprays a complete and utter bullet hell of icy shards towards Thache and Aeschere. "Whooooooo~!" she calls out, apparently having a great deal of fun.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' "You should have bargained with me, annoying a powerful mage such as myself is never a good idea." Lumeria's really starting to get sick of this. Her attention then turns Aschere, "I have no idea why you sided with him when you're heavily outnumbered but you're going to regret it too." Suddenly a hole in reality rips inside of the tavern, filling the entire entire with light that's been in trapped through out the universe, along with several fragments of energy as well.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Looks like crab pirate is going to be scarred for life.. Vespa doesn't feel guity at all about it. His fault for undermeating her. Of course the rest of the pirates toss furiture at her and other asortied items. "This is starting to get annoying!", she grabs a table(again) and runs into the pirates trying to knock them over or outside!

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart is getting attacked by two fronts! But she can't do much for either. Although she tries to protect herself, she gets pushed in one direction, and then the other one in turns. Beaten and bruised now, she seems pretty tired after expanding her final heaven. She's not done kicking though, just... not as strong now "LIke I care about your time with her, she sure doesn't seem interested either!"

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' Oh, sure, kick her when she's down. That's actually a very good idea, and if it weren't happening to her Chera would approve of it, tactically. As it is, though, all her evils are returned to her, threefold. You have to assume there was suitable effect; she didn't move for the duration, except as she was tossed around by the ice storm. Fetched up in the corner, finally she stirs, and lifts herself to sitting, and then to a knee, and then to-- Nope! Not to standing yet. She gathers herself, and the blood on her armor seeps away into nothing, while she regains a little color.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira herself finds her attention divided-but hey, at least she isn't being thrown into the water! She breathes hard, upping the intensity on her healing, though not really getting anywhere since she's not really trained in healing magic. She'll still try. On a lark, she glances back into the bar and sees the buildup of energy and the very faint outline of Aschere within. Her eyes widen. Well, the kid was serious, Avira would give her that. She only gets a few seconds to roll out of the way as the darkness blasts out from where the pair of them had flown through the hole in the wall. "T..that was a close one.." she mutters, shifting her stance, blinking as he's flung away from her by Tifa. Grinning, she gives her a thumbs up. "Hey, thanks-waugh!" Energy ropes ensnare her and fling her back into the bar, crashing in to the broken remains of the table she shattered with ice earlier. With a groan, she picks herself up. "I don't like how I've been on my face most of this fight..." she grumbles and waits until Warden returns. When she does... ...she's right there in his face, no magic, but with a combo. First it's a horizontal slash, followed by a diagonal one, then comboed into an opposite swipe from the backswing. If Warden looked carefully, he'll notice that Avira easily adjusts the grip on her blade to maximize the strength of her slashes.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The whole building looks wrecked. Fire and holy have blown chucks out of the building. Warden and Vespa have knocked holes in the damn thing. Furniture is sticking out of walls at odd angles. Disks have torn though support beams. Its a mess. And its not quite over yet. Tifa's kicks come in and hammer into him as he staggers. Deelel and Jenna scatter his crew. Men go tumbling out windows and holes in the floor or walls. Several of them bolt out the door. This might just be a loosing proposition. However.... "MISTER SHALE!" The man roars as he spits a gob of blood from his mouth to splatter against the floor. "I think its time to be going. Lady Lancer? Thank you for your help! You earned this!" And he whistles. Out from the other side of the shattered bar clambers an extremely adorable little racoon. With wings. He drops a pouch next to the charging lady. "Thanks beautiful!" He churrips before taking wing and aiming to go out the window. Warden /would/ aim to go out the window as well, but suddenly an Avira is in his face and he can't resist an Avira. Well more to the point he can't turn his back on that freeking weapon of hers. His blades snap up and he meets the woman blow for blow, his own suprisingly strong. Strong enough to drive her back across the floor towards the far end of the remains of the tavern. "Now Cap'n?" The huge stone from of Mister Shale rumbles as he stands by a support beam. "NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME MISTER SHALE YES!!" THe stone man shrugs and he kicks the beam, shattering it. The entire Tavern starts to tilt, obviously sliding into the water. Everyone hold on to something? Well everyone but Avira. She has Warden to hold onto. More specificly he's holding onto her as he reaches up to grab her brestplate. "Best hold your breath. Wolves /can/ swim right?" And then he flings himself and her up into the air, and spins once. And just to add insult to injury? Gives her the lightest of pecks on her cheek. His pistol comes out and the fire from the weapon is so fast is seems to be one continous stream as he shoots a hole in the floor and then attempts to crashthough. Along with Avira. Its not a window either. But the water /is/ down there. So technicly he is throwing her into the lake. Everyone else? Well they shall have to deal with a collapsing building. At least Aeschere got her bounty!

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira looks over as Aechere goes down, frowning deeply. She begins to approach the woman, pulling a health potion from her pouch and tossing it to her. "Hurry, get out of here!" she says, then turns, ready to finish this thing-- But suddenly, the tavern is going into the lake! Ooh no! She is not going down with it! She retaliates with a quick burst of fire after Warden, likely only burning him fleeing behind a bit if anything, scrambling over toward Avira to make sure she gets out. If she's been fighting Warden, she'll be hurting! "Out we go!" she says, quickly casting a heal on Avira to try to speed up her retreat before they all go under!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Halfway through her swings, Avira switches from a one-handed grip to a two handed one. It seems to give her a little bit more power and with each blocked blow. Sparks fly between their weapons and Avira even leans in to glare at Warden in the face for a few seconds when their blades lock. She slides backwards, leather boots squeaking against the wooden floorboards. "Damn it..!" She feels the floor beneath her feet start to tilt. Pushing off, she prepares to disengage so she doesn't fall into the water...except Warden grabs her! Glaring, she inverts her blade and prepares to stab him. "Unhand me!" Her fury only grows when he has the audacity to kiss her on the cheek. One of her hands leaves her weapon to form up into a fist. To hit him with. They break through the floor and for a few seconds, Avira's head spins from the impact. Maira's magic washes over her and the concussion-to-be fades, leaving her...underwater. With Warden. Avira can indeed swim, fortunately, and she shoves off Warden to try to do that.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Collapising building. Great. Vespa get slammed onto the floor. She going to be feeling that in the morning. She lets out a light curse as she does her best to support the falling debree so it doesn't crush anyone else.

:'''[[Lumeria]] has posed:''' Lumeria's exhausted at this point from all the fighting, but she does manage to get off one more spell before the bar ends up in the lake. She really hopes the loot wasn't in here at this point, it would be a surprise if there was anything left intact. Still it's not going to do her much good if she's dead so she makes her way nearest hole before the bar completely sinks.

:'''[[Tifa Lockhart]] has posed:''' Tifa Lockhart is a good swimmer, fortunately. Although a leather dress isn't the best for that either. She eeps as the inn tilts over. Well, so much for what was left of it after that fight anyway. One less thing to worry about in the immediate at least. She swims over to try to make sure everyone is alright, ready to support or save them if need is. "Everyone okay?" She calls out. Where are the bad guys? Hopefully nowhere near right now >_< She can still kick in the water.

:'''[[Aeschere Childs]] has posed:''' A couple of pouches bounce off of Aeschere before she's ready to react. By the time she does, the floor is caving in, and there's a lake under her; time to go, yes. She snatches up the cash pouch and the... potion? and begins edging her way around to the outside wall. Once she's found firm footing, she uncorks the potion and makes a futile attempt to determine if it's poison. Well, whatever if it is, she'll be just as dead if she goes down with this ship. Happily, it turns out to be a restorative. Maira's place in Chera's mind is firmly cemented as 'confused', but she supposes that honor makes as much sense as anything. More escaping, less looking at gift horses' teeth. There's a door, or a window, or a hole of some other sort within reach, and Chera hauls her carcass through it, and up the boardwalk, in case the bar takes the strip with it. Not so much as a 'thanks, captain', but she suspects he understands.

:'''[[Jenna]] has posed:''' Splooshing into the water, Jenna frowns as she looks around and says, "Oh, come on!" and sighs. "Great, -this- bill is going to be massive beyond all belief." as she dives under to try to follow Warden Thache

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Well, Maira can't swim, so she is actually getting the heck out of there, otherwise she'd have dived right in after Avira. She will make for the shore and heal others wounds if they need it immediately, anxiously watching the water for Avira. And I /guess/ Warden.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Over goes the tavern. In to the water goes a mess of debris and pirates. Thankfully? Most of them are ocean creatures anyway. They shoot away on various means of propultion. Except crab-guy. He sort of flails slowly in the direction of the anchored ships. Avira heads for the surface, /after/ decking Warden for being Warden. She could see the grin on his face even as they both dissipeared under the water. He was having /fun/. She comes up for air first, Maira can see that. However a second later Warden bursts from the water behind her and slides his arms around her from behind. The pointed end of his chin rests against her shoulder as he whispers something to her before one clever hand just slides something down the front of her brestplate. Yup. He's a bad person. Then he's pushing away, as his hand flings a dagger towards the ruins of the inn. A dagger with something attached to it. A flippant wave, and then the pirate captain dives under the waves again. Heading towards the docked ships himself. ...and does anyone here /really/ want to take on the broadside of a full pirate ship? The message stuck to the side of the ruined Inn? A treasure map. The item stuck down Avira's armor? The same.

:'''[[Vespa]] has posed:''' Vespa can swim thankfully thought her current outfit make it a bit challening she does make it to the shore. "ugh I feel like a drowned rat.", She says starting to ring the water out of her clothing..

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira watches as Warden /sticks his hand down her breastplate/. Maira's face: :O!!!!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Well, she did say she would hit Warden in the face a second time. At least Avira can walk away from this incident with that on her mind, even if she seems to have failed to hit Warden every other time! Maira will see, if she's looking in the water, Avira break the surface and gasp for air. She starts treading water shortly afterwards and looks around for her quarry. Not seeing him right away, she makes to swim out so she doesn't wind up trapped beneath a collapsing bar. Warden grabs her from behind and Avira yelps with sudden alarm. She almost doesn't catch the whispering and it takes her a moment to realize what happened. Once she does, Avira's immediately going to deck him AGAIN. Frustrated, she starts swimming after him, right up until the point when she sees his ship. That...well, she'll have to not storm that ship today. Muttering, she heads for one of the still-standing pylons and pulls herself up. "Well that certainly didn't go well." She'll...address the item down her breastplate later.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira rushes over to hug Avira, relieved she's alright. Fondled, but alright. "Oh goodness...lets all get out of here!" she suggests. "Anyone needs healing, I'll take care of it."

:'''[[Deelel]] has posed:''' Deelel has been hurt pretty bad by Warden's earlier attack and her injuries are more clear as there's several more noticeably glowing wounds she's clutching at them as this point. She sees Aechere goes down, but it looks like everything is going to hell She makes sure to start dragging those who can't get out even Warden's own goon squad, she's not forgot his orders for no fatalities consider her returning the favour she's hurt but that can wait for now. "This...is a heck of a mess. I also... could use some help here, they got me pretty badly..."

...would you believe I'm having them cleaned?

2014-01-25T07:29:02Z

Skalith: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/01/21 |Location=Castle of Dreams |Synopsis=Warden breaks back into the Castle of Dreams to leave a fun presents for the people there. However ..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/01/21
|Location=Castle of Dreams
|Synopsis=Warden breaks back into the Castle of Dreams to leave a fun presents for the people there. However he is intrupted by a pair of no good do gooders. Will our not-so-heroic pirate survive?!

Of course he will.
|Cast of Characters=Avira, Maira, Warden Thache
|pretty=yes
}}
:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Two days after the assault on the Castle of Dreams, and the detris of battle has not yet been entirely cleared. Heartless and programs are easy to get rid of. They go poof once gone, the marks they make on walls and the landscape itself are a touch more perminant. However though good fortune and hard work, the goodly people have managed to do much in short a time. Though still there are of course patrols and the like making sure no one is going to mess with the damaged defences. The pair of Investigators might even be part of one of these patrols, they might be checking on one, they might even be just out for a midnight stroll around the castle grounds. Most of the guards they have passed have smiled and waved at least. They are tired of course, but happy they defended the castle. As they get to...oh...around the second floor of the castle. At the entrence to a long portrait gallery they find one that dosen't wave. He doesn't smile. He doesn't even react to their prescene. If the investigators...er...investigate? They would find this is because he's asleep. Propped up in a corner. From a distance he just looks napping. But even shaking the poor man doesn't quite wake him up. He just mutters something about butterflies and snores all the louder. ...there also is the matter of hushed voices coming from further down the gallery hall, and an open window with its curtins fluttering lightly in the breeze.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira hasn't left the castle as of yet, though she intends to once she's at least healed up enough to make the journey. Magical healing and potions can do a lot, but most injuries also just need rest. Thus, Maira had slept /a lot/. Maira had also enjoyed palace food. What a treat! Apparently though, while she and Avira at least were still here, they'd been roped into some investigating. If it means more delicious pastries, Maira is on board. Hopefully, it will not end in being stabbed. Maira is pretty much over being stabbed. After trying to wake the (no doubt drugged) guard quietly, she listens to the hushed voices that carry down the hallway, frowning lightly. Has someone broken in? A glance down the hall shows an open window. For likely the thousandth time, she curses not having Uist. He's been so good at stealth. What with being a ghost and invisible to almost everyone. Maira looks to Avira, shrugs her shoulders, then moves slowly and quietly down the hallway toward the voices.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' AVIRA, ACE INVESTIGATOR! She's technically, kind of sort of a detective. So investigating the castle was a fantastic thing to do, especially if snacks were involved. Avira remains close to Maira as they walk through the castle, knowing full well that her fire-mage friend is not at a hundred percent yet. Their investigation reveals happy guards, happy guards, sleepy guard...sleepy guard? Avira actually tries to rouse him a little and, after failing, looks to Maira. Alongside her friend, she quietly follows after the mysterious voices.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' As the pair of them creep towards the voices they might notice a few details. One is a man's, and passingly familiar. The other one is quieter, the owner of the voice seemingly smaller than the first. The deeper voice sounds delighted, the other more exasperated. The other thing that might become evident in the flickering light of the moon and the stars is that the paintings? They have been. Tampered with. At first glance they look there. Every frame at the right angle. Every picture uncut and still hanging in its noble pose. ...at first glance.... ...on closer inspection? Any picture with a male member of the Charming family that they pass is...different. The pictures are in the same pose? But the subject isn't a noble. The subject is a slightly familiar looking pirate. Over a half-dozen pictures that they pass have been swiched so far and as they close on the voices a pair of figures resolve themselves to be lifting yet another picture off the wall. One looks quite like a pirate, down to the hat, the coat, the boots. The other? A winged racoon. He's the one that seems exasperated. "Look Spooks, you let me spend my part of our haul how I want and I don't tell you what to do with yours." Warden's voice sounds amused as anything as he glances at the nice painting there. His ears flick with amusement, tell swishing back and forth with enjoyment. He's having a bit of fun. Who says Shadow Lords can't have fun. "Look boss," The racoon squeaks out. "You're going to get your tail caught!" He hisses out towards the distracted captain. "And I'm not going to..." The racoon twitches slightly as he hears something, head cranning around to peer towards the oncoming investigators. One little paw starts to tug at Warden's ear. "Yes...what? WHAT?!" He swings his head about and green cats eyes fall on Avira and Maira. Pause. "...would you believe I'm taking them out to be cleaned?"

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira isn't officially a detective like Avira, but she's hung around with detectives and that counts for something, right? Maira looks toward the paintings, blinking after the third one. She stops, looks the over again, then slowly facepalms. THAT GUY! Is he just totally mad!? ...It's actually pretty funny though. A little. Maira looks up when Warden notices them, placing a hand on her hip. "Not even for a second. I can't believe you came /back/ in here, to do /this/ she says," gesturing to the paintings, flabbergasted but also trying not to giggle. Remember, this guy is seriously bad news!

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Creeping along, Avira pays rapt attention to her surroundings. Just like she was taught by a certain werewolf ages ago. It was imperative that neither of them are snuck up upon! As they move along, she does notice the paintings. Something seems...off. She pauses to inspect them a bit closer. Something seemed off indeed-there was a man that was certainly not a Charming. No, in fact, it was someone who was NOT CHARMING AT ALL! Avira grinds her teeth as she recognizes Warden in the picture. She sneaks on up with her friend, spying Warden in intense conversation with his adorable winged raccoon. When Warden turns, he'll find the scarred woman standing there, eyebrow twitching. "Youuuuuu!" She made a promise. She will fulfill it! Avira suddenly surges forward and tries to smack Warden across the face.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' To his credit, the pirate does take it like a man. Cat. Catman. The smack echos down the corridor as the pirate staggers backwards. His head snaps to one side at the impact, Maira has seen how fast the man was. Did he /let/ Avira hit him? Who will ever know. As he catches himself his eyes can be seen to almost glow with some kind of bright inner fire and the reflection of the moon. He brings one hand to his lip to wipe of just a bare trickle of blood. "And good evening to you too Lady Wolf," The man still seems amused by this whole thing. Not worried that he's just been caught. He seems relaxed, enjoying the moment. He even seeps into a bow, removing his hat. The movement is so liquid and elegant it almost seems to be making a mockery of the nobility that usually use such gestures. "I'm happy that you remember my not-so-humble self. Warden Thache, at your service." He adds as he replaces his hat. "I'm sure you remember Spooks here." "I WAS NOT PARTY TO THIS PLAN!" The racoon squeaks. "Traitor." The pirate turns his attention to the other woman there before chuckling. "Or perhaps I just came back here to see you two, and the pictures were just a whim of the moment." A pause. "I get those, quite a bit."

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira watches Avira move forward, wondering if she should call the guards at this point. The only reason she hasn't already is that she's sort of worried for /them/. Warden did a number on her and Angantyr, no mean feat. Maira sighs heavily. "Did you come back to finish me off? Or finish your kidnapping attempt?" she asks, her eyes holding a smoldering light all their own. Warden ought to know where that leads. Still, introductions are introductions. "Is that your name? I'm Maira," not that it matters, he's probably not going to use her name anyway. Didn't really seem his 'thing'. Then Maira looks to Spooks, and her expression changes, getting that adoring look people sometimes get when they are faced with an adorable fuzzy thing. "Oooh, Spooks is it? That's an adorable name! Do you want something to eat Spooks?" she asks, distracted now by /the adorables/. She pulls a pastry out of her pocket and kneels down to offer it to the racoon, seeing if she'll approach her.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Put the real paintings back." Avira's quick to interrupt right after the greeting. She's a little put off at Warden's reaction to being smacked across the face. She's...never really smacked a guy like that so she'd been expecting a more dismayed reaction. She at least expected Warden to be dismayed at being caught! "Don't worry, Maira, I'm not going to let this /scoundrel/ do either!" She shifts so she's standing protectively in front of Maira, one hand perched upon the hilt of her unusual weapon. There is no introduction from Avira, she knows he knows her name and will instead call her by the 'Lady Wolf' moniker. She won't admit that she kind of likes that name. It's heartwarming to see Maira interacting with Spooks though. Spooks is adorable. But it will not sway Avira from her purpose of protecting Maira! "Ahem, like I was saying, put the paintings back."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' There are very few things that dismay Warden. Kinks in his tail? Those are dismaying things. Being slapped across the face? Oh no. Thats not dismaying. Thats /intriguing/. Or at least kind of adorable. She had to look up at him to do that. He /was/ very tall after all. "Scoundrel? Lady Wolf I am /hurt/." He doesn't look hurt. Not the way he's grinning like that. "Shocked. Appaled that you think of me so." The grin only grows more, his fangs appearing as it does so. "I would think I'd at least rate a 'rapscallian' or 'bastard'. You though put me in my place with mere 'scoundrel'." A pause. "I prefer puckish rogue, if you are wondering." His eyes turn towards Maira before he blows out a sigh. "Lord Idiot is rubbing off on you my dear, I think you need to find better company. I /wasn't/ trying to kill you, else you would be dead. A curtesy that you 'heroes'." He snorts at that. "Didn't feel like extending to me. Ever seen what a sixty gun broadside of energy cannon does to a castle like this? Not very pretty." here is something there that is telling. His manner isn't one full of bravado and fire, just one person helpfully informing another. He would say more, but Spooks takes this moment to fling himself off Warden's shoulder and swoop towards Maira, landing next to her to snatch at the sweet-roll and being nomming on this. "See boss!" He pipes up. "She likes /me/. Good taste this one." He shakes his head again, the pirate clearly amused before crossing his arms. "Get back over here before they decide to hold you hostage." He calls towards the little fellow as he turns back to Avira. "The paintings?" A pause. "Oh yes. Those. A bit late for that. Those are already long gone. Including a few /quite/ intresting ones. Charming has quite the sinister ancestry, don't you know." A pause. "No, you wouldn't know. I supose thats why they kept them locked up. Ah well! What matters is that they arn't here anymore." A wide grin. "So sorry."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' He neither confirms or denies a second attempted kidnapping either.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira looks to Avira, nodding, hoping Avira would remember her warning. Warden was very dangerous, which was easy to forget when he was disarming you with his banter and egotistical blathering. Or his adorable talking racoon. Maira's eyes light up with delight as the racoon talks. "Oh goodness you talk! That's just wonderful! May I pet you?" she asks, extending a hand tentatively. Maira does look up again, her expression souring. "Don't call him that. He's not an idiot. He's cautious and has good reason. Sure he can be brutal but...well, things have really had a way of coming back to bite him," she explains. "Besides, you still want to kidnap the princess, which means you must be allied with some Shadow Lord. I'm not new to all this you know, I know there is nothing good in store for those taken by the Shadow Lords," she says, as if she has some experience with this.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Avira does remember Maira's warning about Warden. Unfortunately, Avira's also very cross right now, helpfully displayed to the tall feline pirate as she glowers at him. It's hard for Avira to really be intimidating when she's so short, but she tries! "With how you are carrying on, you sound like you /enjoy/ being called these names! Well I think I'll stick with scoundrel until I feel like calling you something stronger." Which shouldn't take long since this guy did hurt Maira and seems to be calling Angantyr 'Lord Idiot'. She edges closer to the pirate. Glare. GLARE. "What do you MEAN they are gone?! What did you do with them! What do you mean 'interesting?!'" She takes in a breath and jabs a finger up at Warden's chest, "You better start answering questions, pronto!"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Lady Flame, he /knocked holes/ in the wall trying to kill me. I think that goes a bit far and beyond being brutal." His voice drops to a stage whisper. "I think he might have some anger issues. Just saying. He pauses again though, rocking slightly back on his heels as he peers towards her. "Oh? Must I be allied with the Shadow Lords. I could /be/ a Shadow Lord!" A flash of a grin. "Or I could just hate nobility and think a princess would be a hell of a rich bounty! I mean governers pay /quite/ a bit to get their family back. I can only imagine what a /king/ would pay." There is a glitter in his eyes for a moment before he shrugs slightly. "But I'm new to this world, and don't know neaaar as much about all this as you all seem to." That smile remains on his face, who knows just what is truth and what is lies there. Spooks just bumps into Maira's hand. "I am perticularly fond of behind-the-ear scritches." He informs her quietly. Warden rolls his eyes as his incorragaeable pet even as he other two seem intent on reading him the riot act. "Oh ho? Is that a challenge? Do I have to up the ante to actually get a better responce out of you?" Then she edges closer. She pokes him in the chest. And the man simply moves. Fast as smoke, one hand comes up to take her fist. He bends too-gracefully from the waist and instead of directly poking him in the chest she might find her hand taken and then feel just the ghost of his lips against the back of her knuckles. "You only get one free hit, Lady Wolf. You have to earn the rest." His breath gusts warm across her hand, burning green eyes fixed on hers. That fanged smile fixed on his face as he stand again and takes a sharp half-step back. "I took them of course. Part of my haul. They are safe, at least till I find a collector that might want them. As for intresting, well if you can find them before I sell them you can find out."

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira reaches over and picks up Spook, cradling him easily in her arms and against her chest to provide behind the ear scritchings. Most animals were particularly fond of that. Men don't seem to mind either. "Why do you hang around with this guy?" she asks Spooks quietly. Maira listens to Warden, frowning gently as she watches him and Avira. She sort of just looks shifty eyed when he claims Angan has anger issues. She can't really deny that, but everyone has problems! And so often, that anger was in defense of her and the others he cared about. Maira shakes her head. Is he a Shadow Lord himself? She'd believe it. "Are you then? A Shadow Lord?" she just asks, because why not? "I wish I could believe you only meant to ransom her, walk away richer," Maira could understand wanting riches. She'd grown up about as poor as one could get. But what was his story? If there was anything Mateus taught her, it was that they were all people once. They had stories, reasons... It didn't make it right, but it was something. "But you'd have to earn that belief, and we didn't really start off very well, did we?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' Spooks really is going to be held hostage at this rate. Or at least stolen away onto a grand adventure of pettings and scritches. Avira would have gone about the business of jabbing her finger at him multiple times, especially as he goes on about bounties and selling paintings. Personally, Avira has a hard time pegging this man as a Shadow Lord. He really did sound more like an opportunist of a pirate. But the poking backfires. There is no poking and instead she feels his lips brushing against the back of her fist, much like a mockery of a gentleman's gesture. Why he was even bowing! It's enough to make Avira redden slightly at the gesture. She glares at him and yanks her hand away. "There will be a second slap shortly at this rate." Avira informs him, listening as he waxes poetic about where the paintings might have gone. "Alright, then where on earth are you keeping them?"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' The racoon just shrugs slightly as Maira picks him up. Now what she might /not/ notice is how he is seeing if she's wearing a money belt. Seeing if he can pluck a gem of shiny from a pouch. "He's just lucky I supose." Is the Racoons repsonce to the question as he leans into the scritches. "If I were to tell you one way or the other just what profit would I get out of it?" Warden asks of the pair of them as he stands mockingly relaxed infront of them. "Believe what you want and what you will my dear ladies. I don't require that you believe me." He's watching Avira as she blushes slightly, however he makes no comment on it. She continues to stand up to him. They all do. Curious people they have in this world. Strong ones. He at least can respect and approve of that. "You are welcome to try again, but remember. Only the first one is free." He does look qute suprised at the question however. Infact he lets free a deep laugh. He has a suprisingly warm laugh for a scoundrel. "Oh my dear Lady Wolf, if I told you that would take all the fun out of things. No no no. I've been told you're an investigator. So you shall have to investigate. What kind of pirate would I be if I just let you have my take?"

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira doesn't have any money. The only thing in her pouch is a couple of health potions and some pastries. "I'm totally luckier! You should see me at the slot machines...I mean, when I'm not being kidnapped or something," she says to the racoon. Stupid Pete! "And hey there, if you want another pastry just ask," she says, pulling one out and giving it to the cute creature. Maira looks back up at Warden, shaking her head. "He's definitely not going to tell us. Its a game. I at least prefer games to getting stabbed," she replies with a small shrug. "We could always call the guards. I know they are still nearby," she offers. "Anyway, Warden, I don't have anything to offer you. I suppose wether or not you are a Shadow Lord doesn't really matter. All that darkness in your heart..." Maira would let Spooks down now. She's not going to hold onto him against his will. "It was nice to meet you Spooks," she says, standing. "I'm tired, so...are we going to fight or not?" she asks.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "Well, the currency I am willing to deal with is one called 'negative reinforcement.' It's where I don't do something, like punch you in the nose, if you do something for me." Avira tries her best to sound intimidating about this! "Though more importantly, I don't plan on forking over cash to retrieve what you /stole/ from this castle." Stubbornly, she folds her arms across her chest. She'd take a go at Warden right here and right now...but not with Maira here, actually. At least, not with Maira in the condition she was currently in at the moment. She could get hurt easily again and Avira didn't want that. "No, I don't think there's any need for us to cause a commotion in this castle. I am partial to your suggestion of calling guards over to arrest this thief. We, however, are investigators and therefore, we need to get..." Avira narrows her eyes at Warden, "...investigating."

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "Lady Wolf, you don't know cats very well do you?" Warden asks with a bright grin on his feline features. "Negative reinforcement doesn't quite work all that well. Though I am /sure/ you do love giving it out." He paces away from her, stalking slowly back and forth between the pair of them. The little racoon chuckles quietly. "Oh miss, you smell nice and you might be luckier, but ain' no one with more luck than Captain Thache. His father gave him the luck." The little guy seems sure of that as he trundles away from Maira before flapping a few times to lauch herself from the floor to land on Warden's shoulder. ...and passes Warden a pair of healing potions. "Not much there boss," The racoon replies as he drapes over the man shoulder. Warden just laughs before spinning to a stop and facing the pair of them. His head cants slightly to one side as he contemplates. "No. No fight. You're not in the best of shape, and I'm not really feeling like a battle at the moment. I'm not bloodthirsty as you heros are." He waves a hand as he starts moving again. Pacing. Pacing. However Avira might notice closer and closer he gets with every turn to the open window. "I'll get the value out of the paintings one way or the other. Blackmail, selling, or just wating you all flail around for them." He adds lightly. "And please. No guards. I nearly got by Lord Idiot and Lady Flame last time, without even trying too hard. Do you /want/ to see just what I would do to a bunch of palace guards?"

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira sighs quietly. She's pretty relieved that there isn't going to be a fight right now. "Hey, I am not blood thirsty!" she responds, frowning deeply. "Passionate, yes, and I've had to do a lot of fighting since everything changed, but I am not blood thirsty," she continues. She watches Spook pass over the healing potions and checks her bag, frown intensifying. "That wasn't very nice. I want those back, or you can pay for them," she says, starting to approach the pair.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' "I'm not really a cat person. I'm more of a dog person." Avira confesses, not that such a thing wasn't already obvious to some degree to begin with. In truth, Avira was an animal person though she didn't want to say that and flatter this pirate bastard even further. A frown passes over her face when she realizes that the adorable animal companion has pickpocketed Maira. Then again, maybe it's a good thing that Maira went to scoop up the little devil-Avira actually has money on her in one of her many pouches. Avira rolls her eyes, though, "Bloodthirsty? Bloodthirsty, says the /pirate/. Tsk. Being a hypocrite isn't going to make me doubt myself, /Warden/." Very carefully, she watches him pace, noticing that he's slowly moving towards the open window. Perhaps to escape? Perhaps to distract? It's obvious this man doesn't have the paintings ON him right now so if he does escape, he won't be taking them with him. Unless he already moved them to a waiting cart outside that he'll be boarding? She stalks around, matching his pacing, giving him the distinct feeling that she's trying to corner him.

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' "No! Really? I would /never/ have guessed," Warden's voice is mocking as Avira gives her preference of pets. His smile never ceasing as he pockets the potions that Spooks just handed him. He sighs though before he shakes his head. "Thats the problem with you 'noble heroes'. Never willing to be honest with yourselves." His tone still conversational, almost amusement. Defintally mockings. "Never willing to admit to the same vices that you would ascribe to those less noble than yerselves." He continues his pace, if he notices how Avira starts to move he gives little sign. However, its sure that he /does/ notice. He just won't give her the satisfaction of knowing that. "Darkness in my heart?" He laughs at that as he turns to Maira. "Everyone has darkness my dear lady. Everyone. I'm just more honest about it than either of you are. Honest and unashamed." His grin grows however as she demands payment for those boubles. "Pirate Creed my dear. Take what you can..." Spooks grins as well as he finishes. "...and give nothing back." With that he makes for the window. Leaving his collection of Warden paintings for the both of thim, should they not feel like stopping him.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:''' Maira shakes her head, then smiles. "Oh, I know. I'm not afraid of the dark," she replies. She seems pretty unsurprised when Warden refuses to give back her potions or pay for them, instead making a dive for the window to escape. Maira sighs, then reaches out toward Avira. "Let him go," she suggests, facing her best friend, smiling....slyly!? "He may have taken the paintings, and my potions, but I took something from him as well," she says with a grin, reaching up to pluck a few racoon hairs from her clothing from when she was snuggling Spooks. She holds the hairs up for Avira to see, eyes sparkling. "...and /we/ know a wizard."

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:''' That mocking smile! It made Avira want to hit Warden again. "I am very honest with myself. I am certainly not /bloodthirsty/. I have seen bloodthirsty, Mr. Pirate." Stalk stalk. Warden does indeed seem to be going for the window. If Avira timed it right, maybe she could cut him off and take him down. A quick scuffle on the ground and- Maria speaks and puts a hand to her arm. "Oh...Oh! Nice work, Maira~" Avira turns to smirk at Warden. "...but can I still defenstrate him? Please?"

:'''[[Warden Thache]] has posed:''' Warden is fairly sure that /everything/ will make Avira want to hit him again. Its sort of cute really. The man however is indeed already out the window as Maira speaks, and before Avira can make that last tackle towards him. However...well...Avira /does/ know that he has /very/ good ears. "There will be other times my dear!" His voice floats back though the window. "I look forwards to it! I hope to see you both soon!" Should Avira look /out/ the window. Well the man seems to just be calmly floating down from a great height. Into the hovering form of a small single-man airship. He lands on his feet. Of course. He even gives them a jaunty little bow as he kicks the throttle on the airship and pulls away, waving his hat towards them like a gentleman leaving port. The many Warden's on the walls just seem to smirk towards the investigators. He hopes they enjoy them.

Warden Thache

2014-01-25T07:09:33Z

Skalith: Created page with "{{Character Infobox |firstname=Warden |middlename=???????? |lastname=Thache |age=Looks around twentyish |species=Feline Alien |sex=Male |height=7' 4" |weight=200 lbs |series=T..."

{{Character Infobox
|firstname=Warden
|middlename=????????
|lastname=Thache
|age=Looks around twentyish
|species=Feline Alien
|sex=Male
|height=7' 4"
|weight=200 lbs
|series=Treasure Planet
|styles=Pirate
|hometown=A planet unknown
|alignment=Forces of Ruin
|group=Shadow Lord
|occupation=Pirates
|themesong=Sheep in the Boots - The Tossers
|quote="I'll risk it!"
|footer=A relative newcomer on the playing field, Warden has set out to make a name for himself. From sacking a castle to attempted kidnapping to annoying as many people as possible while starting a treasure hunt, its sure the pirate captain has no reason to slow down.

Besides. The look on Avira's face when she gets gets is /amazing/.

That is never gonna get old.
}}
= Logs =
{{Character Logs}}
= Cutscenes =
{{Character Logs|Cutscenes}}