[IC] {ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - Through The Pages - Fairy Tale Roleplay (Private/ Invite Only)

[BlueAjah]

Present Day ~Fairy Tale World, Tortuga

Sprinting through the populated street, Rose’s luscious red cape shot out from behind her in the exceptionally strong wind. She didn’t dare take the moment to look back as a husky, rather agile for his age, old man hurried after her. Damn, she’d been careless. Assuming the pirate had been drunk was simply naive of her but his hefty pouch was more than enough to keep her going. Pickpocketing Pirates had become Rose’s career and the only way for her to get money. Normally, she didn’t get caught but in assuming the man was drunk, she had ignored normal precautions. Biting her tongue from sending a wave of curses, Rose continued down the street. There was no one who knew the streets of Tortuga better than her, she had spent almost all of her life living alone here.

Several sets of glares shot towards her but no one attempted to stop either Rose or the old Pirate. There seemed to be numerous amounts of chases and fights in the streets each day, anyone who played hero would find themselves either dead or too tired to keep up. Although, Rose did try to help whenever she could. Most of this included small things like stealing from Pirates for anything bigger would attract unwanted attention and Rose wasn’t sure she could continue defying the Dark Queen anywhere except Tortuga.

“Oy, Seadog, Keep up!” She called out behind her, letting a smirk cover her face. Seadog was a term referring to old Pirates, a rather insulting choice of words. One had to be careful when using it, although Rose tended to use it more than she probably should. What could she say? Insulting a disgusting Pirate was just far too tempting. Anyone who pledged allegiance to the Dark Queen was an enemy to Rose. She had lost everything and everyone because of her, her family, her friends, her home… Perhaps someday she could create a rebellion that could penetrate the evil touch the Dark Queen. Although Rose had no memory of her previous life, she only knew it was much better than it was now. Sighing, she focused on the task at hand.

Apparently the Seadog was too determined to stop chasing after her, Rose would have to ditch him quickly. She quickened her pace until she came across a basket full of chickens. Laughing on the inside, Rose spilled the basket on the ground and a hoard of chickens was unleashed upon the street. It was enough of a distraction for Rose to sneak down an alleyway and eventually make her way a more darker part of town. She slowed to a nice, easy walk to catch her breath. Not wanting attention, Rose kept her head to the ground and pulled her hood up over her head. While running away from a Pirate was one thing, catching the attention of someone who could probably throw her like a doll, was not on her list for the afternoon.

Rose walked for another ten minutes to make sure no one was following her before she made her way back to the apartment. It was a little small and full of sad memories, but it was all she had. Saidi had owned the place before she passed away… Once Rose and her brother had lived here together too. Anything happy in Rose’s life never seemed to stay long it seemed. Rose had wanted to leave the place at first but there simply was nowhere else to go.

It was a one bedroom apartment, although one could argue the bedroom was the size of a bathroom. Saidi had never cared though, one of her gender and age was content with what she had. Most Pirates didn’t have their own home, instead living in the ships they worked on. The living room was a bit bigger, including a simple kitchen near the one window, which Rose kept closed at all times. She would take no risk in being caught. Spread across the middle of the room sat a medium sized rug with a map leading toward a treasure of some kind decorating it. Two coaches with red fabric were on top of it. Saidi had always loved the rug, giving threats of punishment should they spill anything on it. She never told them why though, although Rose figured it was probably a map from back in her day. Of course, there was no way to be certain. Sighing, Rose took a seat on one of the plump coaches.

Pulling out the heavy bag of coins, Rose decided to finger through her earnings for the day. 260 coins was impressive for one day’s earnings, even for her. No wonder the Seadog had been relentless. He had been a fool for dragging around so much in broad daylight, he was bound be to pick pocketed by someone. As Rose’s fingers touched the bottom of the bag, it wasn’t a golden coin she found but rather was goldish ring with designs indented along the outer side and topped with a dark blue gem.

“Hmm.. This must be the real reason why it was so valuable to him. I wonder how important this ring is? Perhaps I could sell it for a good amount?” She thought to herself, curious at her new discovery. Why would a Pirate being carrying around a ring such as the one she now held in her hand? It was a bit odd, even for her taste. Deciding to go the black market the very next day, Rose slipped the ring over her finger and readied herself for chores. Saidi might not be there to constantly order her to clean, but Rose still wished the house to look relatively nice, if only to honor her guardian.

[Polyurethane]

Kerchak and Kidagakash Nedakh

Atlantis ~ Fairy Tale World

Kerchak was patrolling the outskirts of the city, ensuring that no outsiders found their way into Atlantis. His eyes scoured the surrounding area, checking every detail for trespassers. He saw nothing unusual in this area and decided to move on to high grounds to get a better view. He spied a nearby tree that was quite tall, which he made his way to. Jumping up, he grabbed the lowest branch on the tree. The soft rustling of the leaves, and a few that fell, was the only sound around him. He swung his legs up and grabbed the branch with his feet as well as he could, and brought himself upright on the branch. Then he began scaling the tall tree with ease until he was at the tree top, where he could see far into the distance.

Off in the distance he noticed a few people gathered around the outer wall, where someone climbed up and stayed for a moment. There were two of them, one was being carried. Whatever had happened he needed to find out. He jumped down, branch by branch, until his feet hit the ground. Kicking himself off he ran towards the Queen’s palace to find out what had happened, if anyone would know it was Kida. He ran between people as he came closer to the palace until he came to the doors of the palace, where he slowed down as the doors were opened for him.

“کہاں رانی ہے..?” He asked the men at the door, in his native tongue. They pointed in the direction of the room she went into. He rushed over to the entrance of the room and threw open the curtain. There he saw the Queen in the process of healing her ankle, and an outsider by her side.

“Kidagakash Nedakh!” He said with a raised voice as he pulled his spear from his back and aimed it at the intruder. Like a parent calling a child by their full name, it meant she was going to be in trouble. “What have you done Kida? You have brought an outsider not only into our city, but your palace! And in the process of all this you’ve injured yourself!” Kerchak said never once lowering the tone of his voice.

Closing her eyes a moment as the sound of an angered though familiar voice filled her bedchambers, Kida took a moment to herself, shaking her head lightly from side to side before once more allowing her attention to fall back to what it was that she was doing, the gentle warmth from the crystals magic spreading lightly through her ankle as she worked to heal it, “..enough, Kerchak…”

Pausing a moment as the pain she had been feeling finally subsided, she sat herself back up, her vibrant blue eyes lingering upon her ankle for what felt like a lifetime before finally, she lifted her gaze up to meet with his own, her jaw clenching for only a fraction of a second in a show that she wasn’t in the mood for him to lecture her about her actions, “..کیا تم مجھے احمق سمجھتے ہو..?”

Narrowing her eyes slightly, she lifted the necklace back up before once more replacing it around her neck so that it was resting lightly over her flesh- did he really think that she would do something like this without having a reason..? He had known her all her life, and not once had they had disagreement about how those who wandered close to the city should be handled… so why he was getting angry with her now was not only unacceptable, but also uncalled for.

“You go too far- I would slay him where he stood, however such thing is no longer possible. We are connected as one…” Turning her head down so that she was looking at the man she had brought into the city, she reached out to take a hold of his wrists, her grip firm as she turned both of his hands, trying her best to figure out what it was that he had done to her as she explained, “He is sharman… magic pulsing from his hands now connects his mind with my own- I feel as he does, just as he now thinks as I do…”

Kerchak held his ground for a moment then lowered his weapon. Of course his Queen would not act without reason, unlike his own actions just now. He saw the outsider and his blood boiled, he wanted to protect the people and upkeep Atlantian law, but he also had to make sure the Queen was safe.

“I apologize for my outburst…” Kerchak said bowing his head to Kida.“I didn’t mean to insult your intelligence, I only feared for the safety of our people; and you my Queen. I recommend we learn how you are connected to him, and try reversing the effects. When he awakens of course. In the meantime, can you tell me anything more about the outsider?” Kerchak asked as he knelt down to get a closer look at the stranger. He wondered how this man had found Atlantis, ever since the catalyst, Atlantis was practically impossible to find.

“..he lays claim that he may speak with animals…”

Furrowing her brows together at the mere thought of being able to communicate with the creatures roaming the world around them, Kida took a moment to turn her head in his direction, her bright crystal-blue eyes lifting to meet with his as her soft lips parted from one another- of all the things that had been spoken between her and the outsider, the idea that he could speak with animals was indeed the strangest, even more so than the claim that he knew not how many seasons were in a years cycle, or what a monarch was.

“..he seemed distressed that I could not do same- even going so far as to lay hand on me… I fear he was in search for something he did not find.” Releasing the outsiders wrists, she pulled her hands back into her body, pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts on what had transpired between Tarzan and herself before finally, she shook her head lightly from side to side, a soft sigh falling through her lips as she turned her full attention back up to the man she had known for centuries, “..I could feel it… his disappointment; confusion as to what he could not explain… emotions that were not of my own…”

"This is strange indeed. Even though you can feel his emotions and thoughts, you must not forget yourself. He is not our kind. And as soon as we can figure out how to break the connection you know what must be done." Kerchak said looking into her eyes. There was no way they could let an outsider live after seeing their city, the only reason this one was still alive was because of his connection to the queen. The fact that this stranger laid a hand on their queen outraged him, but he knew he must stay calm so as to not upset Kida, or hurt her through means of the stranger.

"Since his mind is connected to yours we will treat him well... For now. Does this outsider have a name? If his emotions are tied to yours we will want him to be comfortable." Kerchak said, standing up straight and looking down at the man laying in front of him.

Lifting her hand up from where it had been resting within her lap, Kida held it out in his direction, waiting until he had taken a hold of it before eventually, she used his weight and strength to help lift her back up to her feet, the young woman pausing for only a moment to ensure she wouldn’t fall back to the ground before she slowly pulled her hand back, her bright blues meeting with familiar brown orbs as she held his gaze for just that little bit longer before finally, she tore her attention away, her feet carrying her across the room and over to where her a pile of clothes had been lain out over the table for her to put on.

“..he calls himself Tarzan…”

Turning her head away and off to the side, she lifted her arms up from where they had been hanging before she reached back, her eyes closing lightly as she gathered her long white locks of hair, pulling them across and over her shoulder before she twisted her body ever slightly, her eyes opening once more so that she was able to look back at him where he stood, pausing a moment before she motioned to the ties holding the material around her body with a simple nod of his head, silently calling for his help, “..if you please…”

"Of course" Kerchak said as he stepped over to where Kida was standing and began to untie the ties that bound Kidas clothes. He allowed for them to drop to the floor then turned to face the door to make sure she had he privacy, also keeping an eye out on this Tarzan fellow should he wake up.

"Tarzan? Ok, but he's your responsibility." there was no one better to be responsible for Tarzan than Kida because of her connection with him. He hoped she would see it the same way.

“Gratitude… your confidence in me means much, Kerchak.”

Letting the long locks of hair slip from her grasp, Kida was sure to give him a single nod, a small smile playing over her lips as she began to unwrap the material of her skirt from around her waist, allowing it to fall and join the rest on the floor by her feet before finally, she reached out to pick up what had been lain out for her to wear that evening; her hands lingering a while longer so that she could tie it in place around her lower body, leaving her chest completely exposed before she turned, the tips of her fingers lightly brushing over his flesh as she placed a hand upon his shoulder, a sign to show him that she was done changing.

“..see preparations made; though he is an outsider, we shall welcome him. Oh; as for the councils suggestion… we have much to discuss regarding the future of the city and its people…”

“Of course my Queen. I will make sure the preparations are made…” Kerchak paused for a moment. He knew the council’s suggestion and didn’t much approve. Although the catalyst had changed who he was drastically, Kida and he were childhood friends. She was like a sister to him, which was one of the reasons he felt so protective of her, besides the fact she was the Queen. But doing what was good for the city, was first priority.

“Kida… We have been friends since a young age. You are my closest, and only, friend. But we have to do what is best for the city. You know this as well as I.” Kerchak looked down into the face of his long time friend to wait her response.

The look in his eyes… it was clear he had already made up his mind on the matter. Lifting her hand up from where it had been rested over his shoulder, Kida lightly pressed it against his cheek, holding it there for what felt like a lifetime before finally, she nodded her head softly in understanding of what it was that he was saying to her- the city and its people came first; their feelings toward one another would have to be set aside in order to make the arrangement work.

“..you are like brother to me; it does not feel right… but I understand… the city, the people; they must come first…”

“I feel the same, I would not do it if it weren't for the greater good. I'm glad you understand.” Kerchak said standing still as her hand touched his cheek. It was true, it felt as though they were brother and sister, and going through with this felt wrong. Kerchak sighed, then wrapped his arms around Kida in a loving embrace.

“You are a great Queen, you will do great things in your time” Kerchak said with a smile, and placing a hand on her shoulder.

“..as you will be a great King…”

Tearing her gaze away from his, Kida lowered her head down, letting it press softly against his collarbone as she took a step closer to him, bringing herself closer in the hug that they were sharing with one another; her eyes closing as a soft and almost inaudible sigh fell from her lips- the last thing she wanted to do was be wed to her best friend, but if it was for the good of the city… it seemed there was no other choice…

[Vicier]

Gaston Le' Gume, Alexander Katts and Isabella De' Fortesque

Avonlea, Province ~ Fairy Tale World

Leaning forward ever so slightly she relaxed her dark brown eyes softening and her lips turning up in a slight smile as she reached out her hand pressing gently against the neck of the horse that she had owned as far back as she could remember her nails gently scratching against the thoroughbred's fur her expression dropping instantly as she heard the sound of a familiar yet slightly arrogant voice whining at her from somewhere behind causing her to look back at the man who was trying to get her attention, the French accents there though not very prominent while conversing amongst each other, "Isabella... Can't you slow down..? You wouldn't want to leave your King behind now would you..?"

Rolling her eyes she sat herself back up straight her hand slowly trailing back over Cyrano's mane before once more taking up the reigns her features once again expressionless as she focused on the path ahead of them, "We are making good time, Gaston. If we continue at this pace we shall be back at the castle in a matter of minutes, if we slow it will take us longer... Do you see why it appeals to me that we keep the speed we have?"

Pouting at her answer to his question he flicked the reigns of his own horse urging it forward until he was riding right on her heels the large stag pelts bouncing lightly on the horses rear, "And why would I leave you behind? It would be such a shame if the great hunter got left behind and wasn't able to find his way back home from a hunting trip... Why did you insist on me coming along anyway, there was no need for me to do so. You are more than capable of taking down a stag or two on your own."

"Because..." Scrunching his face up childishly he pouted closing the gap between the two of them causing them to now ride side by side his body leaning away from his horse and closer to her his head tilting and dropping back as he continued to whine though now there seemed to be a hint of lust flitting through his eyes, "Well I had hopes of hunting something that wasn't deer... I can't say it isn't an animal though."

Sitting up straight he steered his horse right up against hers his arm reaching out until he was able to tightly grip hold of her upper thigh showing her what he wanted and knowing full well that she wouldn't resist him when she had orders to escort him on this little trip of his, "I mean, you do get down on all fours and purr like a kitty for me when I touch you in all the right places..."

Narrowing her eyes slightly she kept her steely gaze on the path ahead as the two of them passed through the gates into the castle grounds she brought her hand back taking a tight hold of his before she removed it clicking her tongue twice the signal causing her horse to quicken the pace putting space between the two of them, "Gaston, you get what I choose to give to you and nothing mo-..."

She froze quickly pulling back on the reigns as her eyes fell upon the bloodied corpses that were once the castle guards her actions causing Cyrano to protest slightly the creature turning on the spot showing it's agitation for being stopped so suddenly, "Gaston..."

Gritting his teeth his jaw clenched as he pulled on the reigns of his own horse coming to a stop beside Belle his own eyes surveying the scene before them before he swung his leg over stepping down off the horse, "Isabella! Come, now!"

Sitting up straight as soon as she heard the tone of his voice change she nodded her own body slipping down off the saddle quickly adjusting her bow on her shoulder as she followed after him up the stairs and into the castle leaving the two horses to graze on the grounds, "My men are trained to keep people out, whoever did this is no ordinary person."

Lifting his hand up he gripped hold of his bow tightly pulling it from his shoulder holding it against his side as he wandered through the halls, "Do not worry your pretty little face my dear, once this is dealt with we can retire to my chambers and you can give me one of those massages I enjoy so much."

Reaching up she followed his lead pulling her own bow down from her shoulder a slight laugh escaping her lips as she swung her arms back and forth at her sides the two of them turning the corner heading into the throne room where most unwanted guests tended to gather when they weren't around, "Heh. I'm sorry, I have other plans for the rest of my day, and they don't involve you or your body."

The immense throne room, usually holding an air of hushed veneration and awe now seemed quiet and empty. Scattered on the ground in every couple places were the remains of any guard who tried to stop the Assassin's approach. There was little in the way of injuries to be seen on the corpses: a slice to the throat, a stab wound between the armored plates, a fractured neck. There was precision to these injuries, a certain amount of care involved - experienced hands wielding an experienced blade.

At the back of the room, sitting atop the 'King's' own throne was Katts, a curious look across his usually neutral or grinning features as he twirled a bloodied dagger in his fingers, his movements demonstrating the same precision and dexterity used in the murder of the guards. Though there was blood gleaming off the blade, none could be seen on the Assassin; as though he took great care ensuring a clean kill.

"Maleficent sends her regards..." Katts said formally, his twirling motions of the dagger stopping as he instead held the blade firmly in his hand, an almost threatening position.

"What? No pie? Such a shame, what type of guest are you anyway..." Lifting his arms up slightly he shook his head his expression showing that he was truly hurt at the thought that someone could be so cruel as to not bring their host a gift, "Do you really not know the rules of etiquette, or are you just playing dumb? Cause if you're just playing dumb, then I might have to teach you some lessons..."

Dropping his playful facade Gaston tilted his head slightly showing no signs of emotion as he reached out pulling an arrow from his quiver being sure to notch it properly before he pulled back letting it fly in the direction of their so called guest.

Tilting his head to the side curiously with a half-smile, though no other readable emotion or expression on his features, Katts made no motion to move as Gaston notched and fired an arrow going straight towards him.

"If the Queen really want's to get it on with me, I'll be more than willing to give her a night she'll never forget... But she'll have to come personally. I don't like the idea of having sex via correspondence."

Turning her head slightly her eyes flicked over to Gaston watching him for a moment before she once more returned her gaze back to the man who was sitting on the throne the young woman staying silent... For now...

"You however, can leave. Unless you're hiding my sexy Queen somewhere in one of your coat pockets, you're not welcome here..."

As the arrow soared closer to reaching its mark, Katts' free hand shot straight out with lightning-fast reflexes, catching the arrow by the shaft mid-flight, just over six inches from reaching his head. The Assassin, ignoring Gaston's words for the time being instead chose to examine the arrow fired at him. "Sloppy, inaccurate. Did you mean to kill me with this?" Katts asked, dropping the arrow onto the floor with a small clatter.

"The Queen put you in your position, Gaston... I know you think that thing between your legs gives you some kind of special privilege, but Maleficent can take both your rule... and your manhood away if she so wishes." Katts added, keeping a calm and composed tone, as though he were rebuking a young child as opposed to lecturing a grown man who just tried to kill him.

Quietly watching as Gaston's arrow sloppily flew through the air towards the target that was the man sitting upon his throne she reached back behind her the action taking nothing more than a couple of seconds as she drew her own arrow letting it soar through the air as a warning shot the tip of it nipping against his ear before becoming embedded in the cushion that he rested against, "Your facts... are ill aligned. The Queen indeed put someone into power, however it was his father, Clayton... The man was stupid and got himself killed for all we know, and it is due to that fact that Gaston is now in power. It is his right, not her choice."

Having been focused on talking to the 'King', Katts did not take in account the young woman in his company would have better aim than he did. As the arrow whizzed past, grazing his ear before embedding inches beside him, Katts stifled a hiss of pain, the only sign of him having been struck being a split-second wince that disappeared as quickly as it had come followed by Katts lifting his two first fingers up to dab at the blood that was forming around the cut.

Warning shots... an idiot's practice. A warning shot did absolutely nothing but give away one's intention, waste a perfect moment to kill and gave Katts a firsthand view of studying their posture, their method. Even now he was seeing how the young woman's fingers twitched, how her pose was stiff, vigilant, like a serpent ready to strike. Her gaze was fixed, cold, much like his own.

'So she is more than looks... hm... the best ones are.' Katts thought to himself with a slightly raised eyebrow, though no other change in expression followed this thought.

As she began to speak, however, his mouth split into a wide grin, as though he was sincerely amused by them. "You do not understand, Mademoiselle. Every choice is her choice." Katts replied, using the hand that had been dabbing up blood to now cup his chin.

"Mmm, Isabella... Vous êtes tellement chaud quand vous obtenez ennuyé ..." Slipping his bow back over his shoulder he couldn't help the smirk that crossed over his lips his arms folding over his chest as he ignored whatever it was the Queens man was saying to him instead opting to let his eyes roam up and down her body letting them linger on her ass for a few moments before lifting them up to stare at her breasts.

Tensing her jaw she held up one of her hands to him silencing him before he spoke anymore the young woman not wanting to have to deal with his womanizing antics while helping him to keep what he believed was his more prized possession, "Ne commencez pas avec moi pendant que vous êtes menacé crétin, avez-vous rien appris..."

Katts' grin faded once again as he noted the interaction between Gaston and the young woman with him. Though he did not speak fluent French himself, the tones, inflections and facial expressions were telling him all he needed to know. The human body, such a pinnacle of biology could so easily reveal itself through action alone. Words were tedious more likely than not.

Everything was falling right into play, Gaston was ogling the young woman, completely ignoring Katts like the fool he was. 'Pathetic excuse for a hunter, no matter how many beasts he has to show for it...' Katts thought to himself before quickly executing a number of ideas in his head. Maleficent told him to put the Hunter back in his place but not to kill him.

Movelessly aiming the perfect spot to throw, Katts abruptly stood up, the dagger in his hand was held with much more grace as he sent it flying towards the hunter with a single sweeping motion of his arm. The blade whizzed through the air, cutting the strap that held Gaston's quiver to his back, sending the pouch and its arrows to the ground; the dagger skidding to a fine halt on the immaculately polished floor.

Her expression remained cold as she pushed Gaston's voice into the background focusing more on the man who had managed to catch her attention with both his words and actions each calculating and disciplined something she tried to practice with her own movements, moving only a second after he had she shot her arm back gripping hold of three more of her own arrows the woman letting the arrows fly towards him each hitting their mark perfectly and each grazing against his body; the first nipping at his jaw, the second brushing against his rib-cage under the arm he had extended to throw the dagger, and the third brushing against his hip.

Katts made a quick evasive sidestep just as the arrows flew past, the arrows indeed making their mark but all but the one aimed at his jaw being blocked by his armored clothing. The pain was little, but just noticeable to be irritating. Nonetheless, Katts grinned widely, clearly impressed... or amused.

Using the arrows as a distraction she quickly closed the gap between them her hand gripping the bow coming up to quickly do away with her cape letting it fall to the ground as she pulled her own dagger lifting it up and pressing it against his neck as she stood before him her expression showing that she couldn't care less though her tone (put on for the sake of Gaston) held a dangerous note, "Je voudrais regarder votre étape... I do not care what it is you do while you are here... but do not mess with my meal ticket... at least not while I can still get more from him..."

Katts raised an eyebrow as the mysterious woman closed the distance that separated them, dropping her cloak to reveal a rather revealing tight leather outfit.

'Hm... perhaps the Hunter's distraction was somewhat justified...' Katts thought to himself before the cold steel of the woman's dagger was pressed against his throat. Her expression, her eyes were all somewhat bored, though her tone sounded dangerous... to Gaston. To Katts he could pick up the apathy, the disinterest. This woman was most likely amused by Katts' display, if anything, though he did not have any proof of this.

Not intrigued enough, however, to continue on with this display, Katts shot out his hand once again, latching tightly onto her wrist and twisting roughly in hopes of disarming her. In a split second he locked one of his legs with hers, pulling her in a stumble before his other hand pushed against her chest (dangerously close to her breasts) to send her hard to the ground, placing a single boot on her stomach, a twitch of his foot revealing a small knife blade that extended out the tip.

"You misunderstand me... I have no intentions of killing your... brute, yet. Merely show him who's in charge." Katts explained simply, procuring the Hatter's dagger from his coat and holding it aloft, just in case 'King' Gaston tried to play hero.

Gaston clenched his jaw tightly his eye twitching ever so slightly as he kept his gaze fixed on the scene that was playing out in front of him the young King not fussed by the fact that his arrows had been separated from him before clattering down to the ground behind where he stood, balling his hands into fists his arms crossed tighter over his chest his body tensing as he watched his best fighter fall to the ground at the assassins feet the one of many daggers that she had been using clattering to the ground moments before she had joined it but that wasn't what he had been focusing on. No. The fact that he so blatantly believed that it was okay for him to touch her in the first place, the fact that his hand had come into contact with her skin and even her clothes... the fact that he had been so close to touching the breasts that he himself had already claimed to be his and his alone.

"Vous osez toucher ma femme..!" Small snaps and cracks began to sound as his grip on his bow became too much in his anger eventually causing the strong but delicate wood to snap leaving it completely useless to him, "You dare to let your fingers even graze against her skin... Leave but a single mark upon my Isabella, and I promise you that you shall take your last breath standing here in this room."

Mouth twitching visibly at Gaston's words, Katts slowly turned his head towards the Hunter to look at him directly, keeping his boot firmly kept on the woman's stomach to hold her down.

"Your Majesty... I would highly recommend you think before speaking. You may have such luxuries with your normal enemies, but I will inform you, one cannot take back words... and I never forget. I will give you this one, but presume to threaten me again and I will kill you and tell the Queen as such. Your expiration... will mean little in the grand scheme of things." Katts explained, his voice venomous and cold, though he didn't raise his voice, which was the worst part; speaking as though he controlled Gaston like a beaten hound.

"Oh pour l'amour de dieux..." Unable to help the annoyed and frustrated words from escaping her lips as Gaston's angered words floated across the room towards her she gritted her teeth her arms shooting up to hold tightly onto Katts' leg her stomach muscles tensing under the weight of his foot as she got ready for what she had to do, pulling herself up against his leg she scrunched up her face pain shooting through her body as she felt the blade slip into her stomach something that she would need to deal with but that could wait till later, right now she had to get out from under him. Pushing one of her feet into the ground she threw her leg up into the air the other quick to follow the young woman using what flexibility she had as she wrapped them tightly around the leg that he was using to keep her down and against the ground.

Closing her eyes she lowered her back down to the floor trying her best to ignore the pain and blood that was now gracing her body both stemming from the wound she had inflicted upon herself by her own actions moments before, her shoulder blades arching as she pushed her lower body up twisting it around at what looked like an uncomfortable angle before she quickly bent her legs pulling them into her chest, her voice coming out as more of a grunt as she held the position hoping that it would throw him off guard enough so that it would give her some sort of opening to get back up to her feet, "You truly believe that he'll learn to think before he speaks? Heh... you obviously haven't spent enough time down here in Province..."

Stumbling slightly but never losing balance, Katts nevertheless had to step off her, giving her ample time to stand to her feet. His eyes shot down to the bloodied blade sticking out of his boot, knowing she tested her own luck trying to escape.

"Hm... brave. A kind word for stupidity. You injured yourself to escape when you could have potentially reached the same conclusion without wound." Katts stated coolly, eyes glancing down at the bleeding hole in her belly.

"The blade wasn't meant to kill, merely cause injury, distraction. Superficial at best, poisoned at worst." Katts commented, making a cryptic allusion to the possibility he had coated such a blade in poison.

"I suppose the next few hours will determine as such." He added lastly with a small half-smirk.

Twisting her body slightly she lifted herself back up onto her feet her eyebrow raising slightly as she tilted her head looking over at Katts holding her gaze for a few moments before she turned her attention back away from him, lowering her hand she pressed her palm gently against the wound on her stomach for a couple of moments before she lifted it back up her eyes examining the blood that was covering it causing the corner of her lip to twitch slightly, "If I've been poisoned, I can handle it. It doesn't take much to learn what has been used, nor to find what to use to reverse the effects. It will not take me long to do."

"I would expect naught less from one who displays the body language of a huntress. Your stance, the way you carry yourself, the piercing look in your eyes. You are a trained killer... for a different prey, perhaps, but a killer nonetheless." Katts replied before turning his attention over to Gaston, "Despite this pretentious show you intended to play for me, my reasoning and purpose still stand. You will shape up, you will lead a better nation. The consequences of disobeying will be... extremely painful; for you."

"Vous avez endommagé mon Isabella..!" Throwing his broken bow to the side he narrowed his eyes glaring at the Queen's man his anger clear in his words and in his actions though he knew better than to act upon it when his life was on the line, going after him for inflicting pain on Belle (even if it had been her own fault) was going to get him nowhere but into an early grave, something he wasn't planning on until after he had lived a long and comfortable life with her at his side, "I will be sure to keep things running here, and to prove it I will have my girl start on improving production. Now get out of my sight! You have done enough damage here!"

Smirking softly Belle turned to face Katts her bloodied hand reaching out to press against his cheek as she passed him by her fingers sliding down until she gripped hold of his chin between her thumb and forefinger, "I beg to differ... I think you should stick around. I could use some company with intelligence rather than having to put up with the so called 'brute' over there..."

Chuckling softly she pushed his head away as she dropped her hand back by her side ignoring the blood dripping down her stomach as she moved off to the side of the room heading for a table covered in fruit and jugs so she could get herself some water.

Katts kept a blank expression as her hand ran down his face, leaving a sticky trail of blood in its wake. The woman was an enigma, and even one as perceptive as Katts was unable to pinpoint her true loyalty, her true feelings. The body says many things, as do the eyes and lips... but what lies in a person's heart is the most protected.

"You intrigue me, Huntress. But I will respectfully decline your offer." Katts replied, breaking the small silence as he verbally ignoring Gaston, though he made his way towards the front doors.

Stopping by the same food-laden table as she had, Katts let a single deft hand procure a green apple from the bowl.

Mouth twitching slightly as he could see his bloodied face in the shined silver of the pitcher, Katts quickly procured one of the many neatly folded napkins that were dotted across the table, dipping a single corner into the water pitcher before meticulously running it down the side of his face, leaving only small droplets of water behind.

Letting the napkin fall back onto the table, Katts gave the Huntress one more nod of farewell, though his eyes still held that same sort of piqued curiosity in them. Before he could say or do anything more, however, he turned around, headed towards the front door, being sure to recover the blade he had severed Gaston's quiver with before doing so.

With one more look behind him, Katts exited the castle, the large front door closing with a resounding thud.

[YoshiSkittlez]

Jafar Sholeh, Freya Beauchamp and Captain Hook - Present Day - The Moors Castle

The sudden outburst of Hook's bold entrance had Jafar's head turning, clutching onto his cobra-headed staff with both hands in a defensive stance. His dark eyes fell upon Hook's figure, a snarl curling over his lip as utter detestation for the man began to boil the blood in his veins. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about the Pirate that set his hairs on end; something he just simply didn't like. Every time Maleficent went to go see him, she returned in a foul mood and this day was no different. So perhaps it was sheer protectiveness that kept him hating the man; an overpowering instinct that drove him to always want his Queen in high spirits.

Jafar had every intention to simply stand back and watch with keen eyes - this was between Hook and Maleficent, after all. But the very moment the the Pirate called her a foul witch, he simply lost it.

Stepping between Maleficent and Hook, a powerful torrent of fire emitted from Jafar's staff, spiraling down onto the floor and "sticking," creating a protective wall between himself and the Pirate, drastically changing the temperature of the room but the Sultan didn't seem the least bit bothered. In fact, after the barrier of fire had stabilized, Jafar returned to holding his staff with one hand and walked through the flames, using his staff as a walking aid. He was physically untouched, the fire seeming to part for him as he passed through and faced Hook head-on.

"I'd have chosen cooler words if I were you, Pirate. Now things are really starting to heat up!"

There were few things Hook despised with his black heart more than magic, one of those things being Pan of course. But Hook never wavered as the magician Jafar created a wall of fire only to walk through it and face him. He saw it as bad form, having an unfair advantage in battle among other aspects. But this was no matter to the great captain, he had faced death many a time before and this silly magician didn’t scare him in the slightest. Using his left hand he grabbed his flintlock, and pulled back the cock with his hook as he raised it to aim in the face of Jafar

“I have no quarrel with you sorcerer, though I find it bad form to use magic. Though you are in between me and my hat, and if you do not step aside we will have a quarrel.” Hook said, with his finger laying ever so lightly on the trigger of his flintlock, waiting to pull the trigger.

"Your quarrel with me started when you threatened my Queen." Jafar answered cooly, his eyes unblinking in the sight of staring down the barrel of a gun. "And the only bad form I see here is your slithering incompetence of handling quite a venomous weapon." At first his words were extremely unclear, but as a second or two more passed by, the flintlock in Hook's hand began to change; shifting and twisting until the solid form of a cobra was being held in the pistols place. The head of the snake twisted back to face Hook, it's hood flaring and it's jaw dropping to allow a hiss to come from it. Venom dripped from its fangs as it reared it's head back, ready to strike it's victim.

“..enough…”

Her voice was soft though filled with venom as the word rang clear for all in the room to hear- she wasn’t in the mood for their quarreling; it was all they ever did when they were placed in the same room as one another… it got old, and fast. Feeling a small bout of nausea rush over her person, Freya turned her head away and off to the side, her dark eyes closing for but a moment in an attempt to wait for it to pass though when it felt as if it was there to stay, she turned herself around, her feet carrying her across the room and over to the table where she proceeded to pour herself a goblet of water, being sure to step over all and any motionless bodies that were lain in her path.

“I am sick of it… It is all you two ever do..!” Slamming the base of the jug back down onto the surface of the table and causing the water inside to slosh about, she lifted the goblet to her lips, taking her time to down the contents before she turned back to face them both, the sound of metal clanging over the ground filling the throne room as she threw the goblet she had been using in their general direction, her voice growing more and more angered by the second, causing for her eyes to flash over a bright gold in color under the large hat she still wore almost proudly upon her head.

“For years I have put up with your petty squabbles; I will have none..! No longer..!” Pushing herself away from the table, she took a couple of steps forward, her finger pointing threateningly at each of them in turn before she continued on, her other hand instinctively coming up to press lightly against her stomach, “When this child comes into the world; this war raging between you two will come to an end, or so help me… I will see you both to ruin..!”

That wretched wizard, now Hook had to go get a new flintlock. He brought up his hook as the cobra attempted to strike him, and caught the serpent right in the mouth. Hook held the snake to the side like a fish still dangling from the line. Then before he could retaliate he heard his sister speak up. He turned his attention to her as she expressed her distaste for their constant fighting. Next thing he knew a goblet was flying in their direction. He twisted his body and leaned back to dodge it. Then what his sister said next made his heart skip a beat. He looked into his sister’s eyes, not comprehending what he had just heard. His lips parted ever so lightly as he tried to piece things together in his head. A child, this world… He looked down at her hand placed upon her stomach, and that was when it hit him. She was pregnant.

He did not like the emotions he was feeling right now. He was morose, and slightly angry. He wouldn't feel this way if they were back home on earth. There it would be safe to raise a child, but this land he did not see fit for a child. Not one of his sisters, anyways, not his own blood. After standing there in silence for a long moment he finally spoke softly, just above a whisper

“How long… how far along is the child?”

Pausing in the silence for what felt like a lifetime, Freya let her dark eyes meet with that of her brother’s, the look in them making it clear that he wasn’t happy with the news she had just let slip- the thought of a child being brought into the world was supposed to be a happy one… it was something she believed that he would have celebrated with her; nevertheless it appeared, as always, that she had been mistaken…

“..twelve weeks…”

Then it clicked in his mind. The only person she had been with for years had been Jafar. Hook's blood boiled hot. He met his sister's gaze, then slowly he turned his head to Jafar, with rage in his eyes.

“You defiled my sister with your venomous seed you evil serpent, I'll kill you!” Hook shouted. He grabbed the snake and tossed it aside as he raised his iron hook to strike at the magician, and his forget-me-not blue eyes flashed blood red.

Jafar stood there in stunned silence, watching the two talk over perhaps the most shocking news he had ever received in his life. Freya was pregnant. Freya was pregnant with his child. Freya was pregnant with his child for four months... and hadn't bothered to utter a single word to him before now.

It wasn't the first time he was told he was going to be a father - his late wife Sherrezade had also been pregnant, a whole lifetime ago. But he never got the chance to be a father. The Sultan claimed his wife for his own harem, and shortly after, died in child birth. Those two instances in his life, as heartbreaking as they were, still amounted no nothing in comparison as to how numb he now felt. And that's all he could feel at the moment. Numb.

And if that weren't enough, Hook started going on about his sister. The words hardly registered. No, if Freya had a brother, she would have told him by now. Surely she wouldn't have kept something like that from him all these years. And yet... she hadn't bothered to tell him about his own child...

His eyes were staring off, giving the both of them his profile on each side and bowed his head down. Instinct told him Hook was coming for him, and instinct had his arm raising for use of his magic. Hook was lifted into the air by an invisible hand by the throat, Jafar's hand mimicking the motion as though Hook's throat was in his hand. He raised his arm a bit higher, letting Hook dangle for a small while before, with all the rage he could muster, threw Hook's doll-like body across the room, caring not where he ended up or how hard he had treated their guest - Freya's brother.

"It would be wise for you to leave, Pirate." Jafar said softly, scarily calm for the situation, still refusing to look at either of them.

Hook flew across the room, stopping only when he came into contact with the wall, and fell to the ground. He lay there for a moment to catch his breath, and recompose himself. It had all happened so fast; the news, his outburst, and Jafar. He took a deep breath, then stood up off the ground and brushed himself off ever so lightly, and gave a small tug on his coat. He took a step forward with his right foot when he felt a pain in his ankle. When he fell from the air he had landed on it wrong and sprained it. He simply continued to walk with a limp over to his dear sister and looked down into her dark eyes under the brim of the large hat she had stolen from him. He gently lifted it from her head and placed it back on his own, adjusting it for a moment before speaking.

“My dear sister… You have let this snakes venom cloud your mind.” He said softly. Hook didn't want to believe that Jafar was up to anything good. The entire time they were together, not once did Hook approve of his sisters lover.

“Goodbye, Freya” Hook turned his head and limped to the door he had came through with his head held high. He looked back at his sister once more before opening the doors and leaving the throne room.

Jafar was still... not once looking at Maleficent or Hook as the pirate spoke to her and left. Instead, he kept his dark eyes on the ruby eyes of the cobra headed snake, his hand on the shaft twisting it slowly a bit to the right and then back to the left, though the eyes never left him. Not even when the large doors of the room closed with a loud slam did he even stir. A storm was building up within him, and there was nowhere for it to go but out.

This wasn't at all how she had been planning on telling him about both her pregnancy, or that Hook was indeed her brother... How long had she been trying to work up the courage just to speak either aloud..? Being with him was so easy; it was right- and even though she would never admit it to anyone... it was something she would chose above anything else.... but speaking to him about important matters as this-... well, that was a different matter altogether...

Hesitating a moment upon the spot in which she stood, Freya kept her dark gaze upon the man she had loved for as long as she could now remember, her heart fluttering and her mind seeming to protest her actions as she took a couple of steps forward and towards him, her hand reaching out so that the tips of her fingers lightly touched against the side of his arm.

"..Jafar, I-..."

"No!" Jafar jerked his arm away from Maleficent quickly, her touch, above all things, something he simply could not handle right then. The flames in the room intensified nearly double at the single word, as though they were connected, but then died down again when the echo of his voice finally settled. His head turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing and changing color - blood red where the whites of his eyes were, and the pupils black, thin and dilated; a careful mix of the ruby eyes of his staff and of a cobra itself. Each and every muscle on his body was tight, coiled as it were, ready to spring at any sudden provocation.

Despite the news of having a second chance at being a father, his mind instead rested upon the one solid fact that had him second guessing just about everything. She had lied to him. Thirteen years her servant - ten years her lover, and not once did she bring up to him the fact that the pirate he had spent years loathing in her favor was her own blood. How many times had they laid together, talking into the late hours of the night over the most personal of things? He had learned long ago where she came from; where she truly came from. Earth. He still didn't fully understand it... but he was able to understand that she was not Maleficent, but the heir of, taking on her name in a matter of respect and tribute. He understood she grew up in a land without magic. He understood that her mother had tried to end her life, bringing her to live in this realm. He even understood she had a brief life in Camelot as she was trying to find herself. So why, in Allah's name, hadn't she the courage to tell him of her brother? Of their child?

Jafar's nostrils flared, and his jaw tightened as did his grip on his staff. He raised his free arm, the back of his hand poised and stiff and his eyes growing more wild as he readied himself to strike her. But then, just as the movement in his arm started, something changed his mind. The motion continued in his hand though swung around to his opposite side where he gripped the staff just underneath his opposite hand. His body was forced to turn in the motion, his shoulders hunching and then, suddenly, the sorcerer was sliding down the shaft of the staff until his knees hit the floor. His head hung and his eyes closed tightly.

"بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. الحمد لله رب العالمين . بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم . مالك يوم الدين. اليك وحده أعبد و اليك وحده أطلب المساعدة. تدلني على الطريق المستقيم . الطريق من أولئك الذين عندك فضل . لا طريق أولئك الذين يكسبون غضبك ولا من الضالين."

It sounded like mumbling, quiet and reserved, but to a native of Agrabah, it was a prayer. Jafar wasn't necessarily a strong religious man. He prayed occasionally, and honored Allah's name, but this was different. This was unlike him, completely.

"Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear." His eyes looked up, retaining their normal, dark brown color, to meet with Maleficent's, though he could only hold the gaze for short of a few seconds before he looked away, tears glistening in his eyes. "...I'm sorry..." A small cyclone of spinning fire encased the sorcerer, seeming to swallow him up until it slowly faded into the air, and Jafar was gone.

[Vicier]

Nicholas Chopper and Elphaba Chopper

The Tahoe Lodge ~ Earth, Lake Tahoe

"..we've spoken about this before, Nick- you can't just force them to come back with us..! It's not right; and somewhere inside, you know it... I know you do..."

The normally peaceful atmosphere of the car was broken by the desperate, and almost pleading sound of her voice as she once more tried to get through to her husband- just how many times did they need to have this argument before it finally got through..? This wasn't a decisions that he could make on everyone's behalf; not when it was going to effect their whole life, and everything that they had ever known to be real... The children needed to make this choice on their own... and he didn't even want to give them that chance...

"..we're talking about children here... and not just about uprooting their lives, but also turning them upside down- they are going to question everything they've ever known, and we have no idea how they're going to react to anything we tell them..." Twisting her body around in the passenger seat of the car, Elphaba reached her hand out to rest lightly over his own, her soft lips parted slightly as she looked up at him with a saddened look on her features, her fingers curling as she lightly brushed her thumb back and forth over the back of his hand in a comforting manner, "..please Nick... you can't make them do something they don't want to do; you have to let them decide for themselves..."

Nick, or Mark, as he was called here on Earth, narrowed his eyes a bit in concentration as he watched the pavement in front of him, his hands tightening on the steering wheel in front of him as he drove himself and his wife to the Lodge where everything was just about to come full circle. She was right, they had argued this point before - numerous times - ever since they got here. But his mind remained firm on the subject. The children shouldn't be allowed a choice.

"They don't belong here, Zelena." Mark told her firmly, refraining from rolling his eyes. How many times was she going to bring this up? "They will learn our world just the same. A hatchling won't learn to fly unless the mother pushes them out of the nest." He kept from looking over at his wife.

"A hatchling..? Nick- they aren't birds; they're children..!" Clenching her jaw slightly at the blatant use of her pseudo name, Elphaba pulled her hand back towards her, bringing it once more to settle in her lap though she was sure to keep her gaze upon the man she had loved for the better part of her life, unable to help the way that her eyes betrayed her as hurt flashed across their surface.

"..and that is not my name..."

"It is while we're here." Mark shot back quickly, a bit of a snap in his voice. He was silent for a few moments, then spoke up once more in a softer, though still firm tone. "We were sent here to do a job. We were given instruction to change our names. This is who we are here. And until we return with the children, it is who we will remain to be."

Slowing the speed of the car, Mark quietly pulled into the parking lot of the Lake Tahoe lodge and began to search out a parking space.

"Our job now is to find Pinocchio. He and the other guardians need to be informed with what has been happening in our world. The Sorcerer told me that he will be a hard one to communicate with and may not want to return with us. So we need to change that before we speak with the children."

"No..!"

The smallest flicker of a green ember seemed to light up behind her eyes as she raised her voice in answer- he was doing it again... making decisions for people who had to make the choice for themselves, and she was over it...

Closing her eyes, Elphaba turned her head off to the side, taking a few moments to clear her mind of the sudden flash of anger that crossed her path before slowly, she let her dark eyes open once more, her voice softer... more controlled as she spoke out, her attention then turning back over to where he sat in the drivers seat, "..I understand that Pinocchio is our priority right now; but he too was nothing more than a child when we were sent to this place..."

Pausing for a moment, she lifted her hand up from where it had been rested in her lap, her fingers lightly brushing over the amulet she wore around her neck- one of four that had been gifted to the guardians upon being appointed, "..our job is to keep the children safe; and if they believe themselves safer here in this world, then let them stay- let them decide their own fate... and Pinocchio should be given that very same liberty as well."

"Our job..." Nick said, though this time through slightly gritted teeth. "..is to ensure the children's safety. We can't do that after we return to our world. We won't be looking out for them. They must come with us. All of them. Pinocchio agreed to the job before all of this. He knew what he had to do." He was quiet for another moment as he found a parking spot and pulled the car into it. "We should have never been sent here. It... it isn't right. We are interfering in things that shouldn't be interfered with. So we need to make it right by having everyone come back and let things play out the way it was supposed to be."

"Damn it Nick..!"

Not bothering to give him a chance to respond her outburst, she turned back around in her seat, her hand reaching out and fumbling with the handle for a few brief moments before she pushed it open, stepping out and being sure that she was well clear of it before she turned and slammed it shut behind her, causing the two small animals in the backseat to whimper and jump at the sudden loud noise.

"Do you think I wanted to be here..? Do you think I want to leave the children here in this world..? Without our protection and guidance... Is that really what you believe..?" Staring at him from over the top of the car as he stepped out of the drivers side, she shook her head lightly from side to side, her brows furrowing together and her eyes showing nothing but pain and sadness as she continued to watch him for that little bit longer before opening the back door so that she could grab her emerald green overnight bag, handbag and the small orange kitten as it tried to attack her fingers; the woman quickly though carefully closing the door afterword to make sure her husbands dog didn't have the chance to escape before he had the chance to grab it.

Mark remained silent during his wife's outburst, taking his time to shut off the car, unbuckle, and exit. Shutting the driver side door, he then went to the back seat, letting the small Cairn Terrier puppy out which immediately trotted off to go sniff at things, though never ventured too far from his side.

"It is our job to bring them back home, where they belong." he reaffirmed, clutching the strap of his duffel bag and swung it over his shoulder. He winced, somehow forgetting about the shooting pain he often-times got through his arm and shoulder - a reminder of his past life that had managed to follow him to this world. Ignoring it for the time being, however, Mark tried to connect his eyes with Elphaba's to hammer in his words with a steely gaze.

"I don't care if our job is to join a goddamn circus, and run around as clowns for the rest of our lives- we're talking about their basic rights here, Nick." Tightening the grip she had over the handle of her overnight case, Elphaba turned away from the car, her own cold and rather uncharacteristically hard gaze holding that of her husband for a few moments longer as she led the way towards the entrance of the lodge.

"..and I'm not going to allow you to take that away from them."

"You're being impractical." Mark said, shaking his head as he followed after. Though after realizing the puppy had become distracted with a bug on the asphalt, he cleared his throat and whistled. "Toto, come." The puppy sprung to attention and bounded after him, sticking close to his leg.

"It's pointless to further argue the point, Zelena. The children didn't have a choice in coming here. The children don't have a choice in returning. End of discussion."

"..and you're being a tyrant."

Stopping dead in the middle of the pathway and causing some of the others moving about to have to go around her, Elphaba turned back around to face him, her dark eyes narrowing as she once more met with his gaze, "But you're right... the children had no choice when they were sent here; neither did we, and that's why we're going to let them choose their fate... let them make their own path, and allow them to follow it. Don't argue with me Nick, because that's how it's going to be..."

Holding his gaze a few moments longer, she slowly turned herself back around, her long and wavy chocolate brown locks bouncing lightly over her shoulders as she once more began to lead the way inside, though this time making it past the doors and into the lobby, "Oh; and end of discussion, Mark."

Standing rigid, almost statuesque, Mark only moved when Zelena headed inside the hotel, stooping down to scoop up the small dog to hold him under the belly with a single hand and at his side to ensure it's safety. Toto squirmed around a bit, but it wasn't anything Mark couldn't handle.

Following her inside, he approached the front counter and made the necessary arrangements for their room. Just two nights - if all went according to The Sorcerer's plan.

"Holding steadfast to why we are here, we still need to find Pinocchio." Mark told Zelena, keeping his voice down so as not to be overheard by the other guests, acting as though their squabble moments before had never happened.

..by Oz, he could be frustrating at times... but she'd be damned if she didn't love him...

Pursing her lips, and quirking her eyebrows ever so slightly as he did what he could to brush the conversation aside as though it had never happened, Elphaba turned her attention back down to the small kitten she held in her arms, her fingers lightly running over Oliver's fur in a soothing manner causing the feline in question to begin to purr soundly as it rested itself up against her chest.

"..fine- but we still have time to find him. We can't make any moves until the opening of Snow-fest tomorrow night anyway; and then, we can't leave until the following day- and only with the kids who actually want to go." Pausing her actions as she spoke, she let her dark gaze flick up to meet with her husbands for only a moment before she once more relaxed, her hand slipping down into her pocket before she found what it was she was looking for, and pulled her mobile out so that she could look at the screen, checking for any messages before she slipped it away, her hand then reaching out expectantly for one of the two key cards to their room.

"..and I haven't heard from Frost in a couple of hours... last he said, he was on his way, and that he would meet up with me when we were all here..."

"The sooner we find him, the sooner we can debrief him on what's been going on - and then he can start to at least act like a Guardian." There was a bitter edge to Mark's tone as he spoke about Pinocchio. He didn't know much, only that he had fallen far, far from the tree. He tried reasoning with The Sorcerer that it would just be best to leave him out of it, to let the adults do the job, but The Sorcerer was unyielding.

Setting down the duffel bag, Mark retrieved one of the key cards and handed it over to her. Then, opening up the duffel bag, he found a small, red leash sitting on the top and clipped it onto Toto's collar, finally able to set him down and then handed the other end of the leash to Zelena.

"So I'm off to do just that. We'll meet up for dinner later." He reached his head forward to press a quick, almost only for show kiss to her cheek and then retrieved his duffel bag, zipping it back up so that he could sling it back over his shoulder.

Of course that was how things were going to be- business first, business last. There was no in between when it came to Nick... not since his heart had been ripped from his chest by that witch back in Oz anyway...

Transferring the leash into the hand of the arm she was using to hold her kitten, she couldn't help but frown, pain flashing across the surface of her eyes as she turned her head lightly to the side, her soft pink lips parting ever so slightly as she felt him press a kiss upon her cheek- everything was for show... it was who he was... and it had been like that since long before they had been sent to Earth...

"..okay... I'll make us a reservation..." Shifting her bags in her arms so that she had more room, she held out her now free hand, waiting for him to give her his duffel before she slung it over her own shoulder, her hand then reaching back to take the handle of her overnight bag once more- if he was on a mission to hunt out Pinocchio, then he wouldn't be heading to the room any time soon...

"..I'll see you later..." Sighing dejectedly at the thought that she wasn't going to be spending any down time with her husband on this trip, Elphaba let out a soft and short whistle, gaining Toto's attention before she glanced down at the room number on the key card, her feet already carrying her, and all the luggage they had down the hall and towards the elevator...

It was going to be a long three days...

[Vicier]

Yen Sid

Thousand Mile Beach ~ Fairy Tale World

^{Flashback Collab ~ Camelot ~ Ft. Freya Beauchamp}

Morning had long ago begun to morph into day; the sun rising higher into the vast blue sky above, basking all and any in this world in its refulgent warmth. It was during this particular time that the forest surrounding the beach really seemed to become most alive- squirrels, birds, insects, and other woodland creatures went scurried about, going on with their daily routines as if nothing in the world was wrong...

Not too far from the forests edge- a quarter mile at the most- was a long and rather pristine beach, stretching on for as far as the eye could see... Dotted with rocks that were large enough to perch on; it was one of the many places of which the inhabitants of this world could come should they ever wish a reprieve from the stresses of everyday life... at least, that was until the dark Queen had taken over...

It was upon one of these aforementioned rocks in which he sat- his boots planted only about a foot away from the waters edge, and his rather stormy-blue eyes focused upon the ocean lain out in front of him; watching on as the waves caused the sea to reach out, trying futilely to lap at his feet, only to then recede back and to have to start all over again.

Having folded his gloved hands neatly within his lap long ago, the man simply known as 'the Sorcerer' simply continued to look out until his gaze was past the waters edge; the seemingly endless sea reflecting with such glorious light, and what very little remained of the dark from the night previous painted the sky's edge with a brilliant purplish-blue husk, ever retreating from the vigil of the day to come.

It was during these moments that he felt he could think the clearest... reflect while surrounded by the serenity and peace, and untouched by the Lady Morgana's foul touch... Thinking of the Queen sent a sharp pang of guilt through his heart, paining his chest- there had been a time... many years ago... when she had been younger; different... little more than a child of who had been forced to grow up far before she was due...

She had always been so friendly... so curious; so full of life-... and had always been willing to speak to him when he went under the guise of Merlin... so where had he gone so wrong..?

---

Around Sixteen Years Prior...

His mind wandering back to long before, he found himself once more back in the lands of Camelot, in the large castle under the rule of the good King Uther- a stern, though well-meaning man whom had brought him in and kept him in his service as the royal physician, and tutor for both his son and ward: the young Prince Arthur, and the Lady Morgana.

Currently hidden away within the tower that functioned as his home- his bedroom, his study, and classroom all in one- Merlin hunched over the rather aged wooden table, scrawling on a blank piece of parchment, though the words her wrote were far from English, instead some ancient language in which he was most likely the only one of whom would be able to translate.

Catching the feeling of the gentle breeze blowing in through the small window, Merlin couldn't help but pause, closing his smoky-blues and leaning back in his chair which then creaked from the sudden shift of weight as he relaxed his body, breathing in the sweet and welcomed breath of nature, until the soft rapping against his chamber door caught his ear, leading to him turning his head so that he could get a look at who had disturbed the peace.

"..Lady Morgana..?"

Sitting up a little straighter within his seat, and causing it to once more groan under the weight of his body, he continued to watch on as she hesitated in the doorway, her soft dark gaze flicking everything in the room before he was once more able to hold it with his own.

"..please; forgive me the intrusion... you said I was to come to you should it ever happen again..."

Turning in his seat so that he was better able to look upon the young woman, he carefully returned his quill once more back to its ink-pot before rising from his chair, taking his time to brush the dust from his robes before he took a step closer, his hands coming together behind his back- it was clear from her stance... the way she hung in the door frame... the girl was quite perturbed...

"..the-... the nightmares..."

Furrowing his brows together ever so slightly, he kept his gaze on the girl, watching on with worry as she brought her hands together in front of her stomach, nervously playing with the front of her gown as she continued to explain why she had come to see him in the first place.

"..t-they have come back- I could not sleep at all last night..."

All he could do was nod his head in understanding, the light streaming in from the window just managing to catch but the smallest glimpse of the face hidden beneath the hood; the square jaw blanketed by a thin and neatly trimmed beard of brown and grey that didn't even reach down past his chin.

"..yes, I see... that is troubling..." Offering the young girl a kind smile, Merlin motioned for her to move further inside, waiting until she was completely out the way before he closed the door behind her, his attention then turning to the elevated teapot that was held hovering over the still-crackling fire in the hearth, "Come; have a seat. I shall prepare you some tea."

Daring another look at her as he took a couple of teacups and sewn tea bags down from the shelf, he watched her hesitating in front of the door for a moment longer before finally she took her seat, her hands sliding down over the back of her legs to hold her gown against her body as she did so- she was quiet... the nightmare must have been worse than he had first thought.

Placing the cups down upon the surface of the small table, Merlin slipped the tea bags into them before made his way back over to the stove top, taking hold of the kettle and once more returned back to her side, pouring the water the water as he allowed his mind to wander in thought.

"..if you don't mind me asking, my dear..." Placing the kettle down on the wooden surface of the table, he slid himself down into the seat opposite before sliding one of the cups closer, a small though comforting smile playing over his lips, "What was last night's dream about..?"

It was clear that whatever it was that plagued her slumber; it had her hurting fairly deeply, the saddened look that flickered over her delicate features as she stared down into the tea she held within her hands was proof enough of that...

"..m-my mother..."

Her mother..? The answer had him taken aback slightly- there had been the rare few times previous where she had confided in him the relationship she had shared with the woman, but each time it was clear how much if effected the child... she was shaking; her lip quivering in terror as she lifted her hand up, pressing it against her neck as though she were trying to rid herself of something that seemed to be irritating her.

"T-The water... it-... it rushed into my lungs... it burned so much... I-I could not do anything, I-..."

Merlin listened patiently and in silence, his gaze steady as he watched her behavior, his brows furrowing the tiniest amount as he watched her place her untouched cup back down onto he table before her hands dropped below the surface to rest upon her lap.

"..I-I was so scared that I was going to die..."

Allowing himself a few moments to think of what to speak, Merlin allowed a small sigh to fall through his lips before he began to speak, his voice calm and sympathetic as he once more nodded his head in understanding, "Trauma... it is a terrible thing; it can plague people for the rest of their lives, but here is what I wish for you to do. The next time you have this night terror; the very next time you feel the memory crawling into your mind... I wish for you to play it out- the entire scene..."

Though he continued to wear his hood, what little of his face that could be seen wore a small smile, helping to emphasize his kind words, "..accept what has happened to you- do not fear what might have been. You survived; and here you sit... a beautiful, intelligent girl who, I believe has an incredibly bright future a head of her."

She was shaking her head... rejecting his words; though the look upon her face showed him just why it was she was doing so. She was scared- scared to open up and let herself face the horrors of her past that seemed ever intent on creeping up on her.

"I-I do not believe that is something in which I can do... I just-... I just wish to forget it all- please... I grow weary; and I cannot keep going with such things haunting me..."

Lowering his teacup back to the surface of the table, he twisted in his seat, his stormy-gray eyes watching on as she stood from her seat, her arms wrapping almost desperately around herself and in an attempt to keep herself together, her feet moving her across the room until she was stood before the window, her gaze fixated out at Camelot as it spanned out before their very eyes.

"..I-... I fear I cannot do what is needed of me should I not rid myself of this nightmare..."

"..my Lady..." Lifting himself up from his own seat as the words fell softly from his lips, Merlin took a moment to approach the girl, his hand lifting up to gently rest upon her shoulder in a caring manner, "..memories are what define us; they are, after all, what make us unique- answer me this, my dear... can you truly cherish the good memories, were there no bad..?"

"..well, no... But-..." His hand slipped from his shoulders as she turned around in front of him, her gaze lifting to meet with his, "But this is no ordinary bad memory. I do not believe it would affect those that are good should it be gone- taken from my mind... please Merlin; that must be something in which you can do..."

He couldn't help the way his body seemed to stiffen at the request- she wanted him to take away her memory... to make her forget... By all means, it was well within the bounds of his power, yes; however... such a power... and used ever so freely...

"No... no, I cannot..." His tone was heavy, filled with absolute though his eyes betrayed him, holding a sadness to them as he met with her gaze once more, pausing a few moments before he placed his hand upon the small of her back, her free hand gesturing back to the table they had been sat at moments beforehand, "..I am sorry my dear, though please believe me when I say I have my reasons for such an answer..."

Falling once more into silence, he waited, watching her as she turned her attention back to the table before finally, she made her way back towards it, once more taking her place, though her eyes never once left the surface, her hands folding neatly within her lap.

Waiting a few moments longer, Merlin once again took his seat opposite her, the frown upon his lips growing with worry as he once more took a hold of his teacup, his thumb brushing over the side of it for a few moments before he let out a gentle sigh, doing what he could to explain to her just why such a thing wasn't possible.

"..your life, my dear, is a collection of both good and bad memories... times of grand celebration; and times of mourning... of love and hate... of birth and death... life and loss- one cannot live unless they have experienced both hardship, and peace..." He paused for a moment, his brows furrowing together ever slightly as he did what he could to gauge her reaction to what he was saying, "You are strong, Lady Morgana... and you will get through this... I simply wish to ask you: where would you be were you without the bad memories..?"

"..I-... I do not know... However; I can say for certain that I would not be here before you had such events not come to pass..."

Contemplation... finally, it seemed, she was taking his words to heart as she shifted lightly within her seat, her fingers thumbing at the material of her dress as she nodded her head softly as though she were somewhere deep in thought.

"..I understand now why you wish me to keep such memories- how you with not to tamper with the past my mind holds dear, however... is there nothing you can do..?" Her head lifted forcing him to once more meet her rather pleading gaze from under his hood, "Nothing at all that shall grant me peace throughout the night..? I should very much hate to disappoint through lack of sleep... and my duties, of course, are of great importance..."

"Yes... yes, I believe I have just the thing..." Smiling softly, Merlin nodded his head lightly up and down in answer to her question, taking another moment of pause to think of what he had done with it before he stood himself up once again, attending to one of the long shelves that had been nailed into the stone walls; the shelf itself groaning slightly under the weight of numerous potions, salves, poultices and alchemical ingredients, some of which were identifiable, though few looking as though they were completely and utterly unnatural.

"..ah... here we are." Mumbling softly to himself as he caught sight of what he had been looking for, Merlin reached up, procuring a small bottle filled with a bright purple liquid from the stores of potions lining the shelf, returning to the table, he crouched down at her side, meeting with her gaze from under the hood as he placed the vial gently down in front of her.

"..here... this is a mixed extract, containing the petals of a very rare flower known to only bloom during the light of a full moon... Pour this extract in a cup of tea, or water before you retire each night; it should help to calm you down and give you a restful nights sleep." He couldn't help the small smile that played across his lips as he continued to explain, the young girl- so curious; so thirsty for knowledge- seeming to hang on his every word, "Do not drink it straight from the bottle, nor are you to use anymore than a few drops at a time... I do hope, my Lady, that this helps you with your plight."

His heart swelled lightly as he watched her reach out and take the vial, her head nodding lightly in understanding as she rose from her chair, causing for him to follow suit and to stand up tall once more.

"..do not drink from the bottle, nor use more than but a few drops... take with either water, or a cup of tea before I retire for the night... I understand..."

"Good... and should you have anymore nightmares, Lady Morgana..." Lifting his hand up from his side, he once more placed it softly upon her shoulder, "..know that there is always time should you wish to speak- my door is, as it always has been, open for you, sweet child."

His hand slid from her shoulder as she turned her back to him, forcing him to watch on as she crossed over the room, her hand hesitating upon the hand a moment before she turned her gaze back over her shoulder so that she was able to look at him once more.

"..thank you... Emrys..."

And then, as quickly as she had come, she was gone. Watching her as she left the room, Merlin shifted his gaze back to the window as he heard the gentle sound of her footsteps echoing through the corridor, the corner of his mouth twitching just slightly causing the door she had left open to close itself almost magically, the Sorcerer's fingers then twitching as he made sure to lock it for good measure.

Returning once more to his desk, he couldn't help but allow his mind to wander; pondering upon her last words... She had used his name... one of his true names... The only way in which she could have known such a thing was if one of the druid people had somehow happened to enter Camelot; and should that be the case, he knew he would have to figure out a quick solution before King Uther's wrath had time to fall upon him.

No longer able to focus upon writing his manuscripts, Merlin once more rose to his feet and crossed over to the window, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he looked out, his gaze unfocused as he seemed to take in what was the sprawling city lain out below him.

---

Present Day...

Returning himself once more back to reality, and the present situation he was in, the Sorcerer couldn't help but to remember the meeting between both himself and Morgana as though it had happened only a mere five minutes prior, rather than the many years it had actually been... How close, truly, had she been to her fall then..? Her descent into the darkness that seemed to consume her..?

Before he could contemplate any further upon the thought however, another, more slightly terrifying one struck him in his core... She had used his name... his true name... The name in which only the druids, and a select few others knew him by. Emrys.

Back then, all he could think about were the druids wandering about Camelot, running the danger of being killed due to their birthright; but never before had he stopped and pondered just how she had known his name specifically...

It could, truly, only mean one thing... she had known who he was from the very start...

Suddenly exceedingly uncomfortable, and especially perturbed by the sudden revelation he had come by, he couldn't help but shift awkwardly upon the rock in which he sat, his stormy-gray eyes flicking out over the crashing waves in paranoia; the fear that he was now suddenly being watched washing over him, forcing him to once more get to his feet, his head turning back and forth as he looked around his person for signs that he wasn't alone... that something- someone- was watching him... stalking him...

Slowly though surely relaxing as he managed to once again tether his mind back to what was real, he turned on his heel, making his way back to his cave. He needed to see how things were transpiring upon Earth... and he needed to make special arrangements...

[Vicier]

Odette Swan and Scar Lionhart

The Pride Lands ~ Fairy Tale World

The sands were hot beneath her feet- of course he was going to be out here… Having taken only a moment of pause in the open doorway, Odette had already made her way across the eatery and out into the open space of the private training grounds, only stopping once she had come but a few feet away from the man who gave her allowance and freedom to call the Pride Lands her home. He had done much for her since their chance meeting at Swan Lake- gave her a home, cleaned her up, put clothes upon her back, taught her just what it meant to be a royal… to be a Princess…

“..how could you..? Speak your mind; tell me what it is that I have done to anger you so that you would see fit to have my studies doubled..!”

No longer fearing the wrath of the blade as much as she had upon her first arrival; she moved herself round the other side of the training dummy which he was using for practice, her bright light blue eyes flicking over to it so that she could watch for a few moments as small chunks of wood splintered away at the force before she once more let her gaze flick back up to meet his, the gentle breeze causing her long though delicately curled locks of blonde hair, along with the beautiful material of her dress to flutter lightly around her.

“You knew… You knew that I had plan to meet with Shenzi and Ed in the marketplace..! They were going to take me shopping before accompanying me to the races..!” Dropping her hands down to the front of her dress, she took a gentle hold of the material, balling her hands up into fists and holding it up ever so slightly as she took a couple more steps closer to him, her expression showing him that she was truly unhappy with how things had gone down, “I had to send word with the guard that I would be unable to meet with them..! ..they are my only friends… and I broke my word thanks to your actions…”

Grunting, with one final, powerful swing, the edge of the sword became embedded into the wood, the tang of the blade wobbling with the force it had taken to do so. Taking a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow, Scar took a moment to look at the tiny blonde who had mustered up the courage to speak to him in such a way. He couldn't help it... he smiled. Two months ago, she was barely able to meet his eye when he had brought her back with him from Swan Lake. The Pride Lands had been so overwhelming, the poor girl wanted to do nothing but study so she didn't have to worry about socializing with others.

Shaking his head though still holding his smile, Scar grabbed the hilt of the sword and with a powerful jerk, wrenched it free from its entrapment, only to return it to the sheath attached to his hip on the batters.

"Anger has not driven me to action today, I assure you." Scar chuckled, turning once more to face her keeping his hand on the sheath of his sword by sheer habit and placing his free hand on top of it to rest.

"And your involvement with the Hyenas held no place in my decision, either." he assured her. "The shopping can wait - they have had... larger upsets with me before... its not something they can't handle now..." Clearing his throat, pushing aside a few series of specific thoughts that had then entered his mind, he returned his attention to Odette.

"Your studies have been doubled this day because tomorrow, there will be none."

It was an outright lie. His reasons behind extending her classes had nothing to do with tomorrow. But after he had finished with his late brother's wife and was able to take to the sands to work off an bit of extra testosterone, it gave him time to think of what exactly he was going to tell her.

"Your sixteenth birth year approaches. I will have plans made and seen to, by your instruction. I've the rest of this day and all of tomorrow to see desires met."

She couldn’t help but pause at his words; confusion written all over her soft features as she continued to stare up at him where he stood- her sixteenth birth year..? They had spoken about her birth a couple of times since she had first been brought to the Pride Lands… never before had she celebrated the fact that she had been born, it wasn’t exactly something that Rothbart had ever really taken seriously; and it was because of such a fact that she had been unable to answer Scar when he had first asked her the date she had been born.

“..see desires met..?” Relaxing the grip she had upon the front of her dress, she let her gaze wander for only a moment before eventually, she brought it back up to meet with his own, her body still holding firm in its place before him, “..I would not know where it is to begin… never before has such celebrations been held in my honor; nor have I ever dreamed that they would be... is such a thing truly of importance to celebrate..?”

Scar's smile faded somewhat, and his gaze turned to that of sympathy. Slowly, he dropped his gaze and shook his head, opening up his arm to her as he then approached her and put it around her small frame.

"Walk with me." It was a command, but it came out soft. He started the pace, slow and casual, as he guided her across the sands he had been training on and back into the castle.

"Do you not think your life worth celebrating?" he asked, taking on the tone of a scholar, pushing for questions that they already knew the answers to. "Becoming a woman in The Pride Lands is a day of celebrating, unmatchable to any other. Birth years are celebrated annually, recognizing achievements and growth made in year past. But when a woman first passes blood, there is so much more to celebrate. A girl becomes a woman, and a woman can become a mother, and mothers produce heirs - future Princes and Kings to lead this Kingdom into prosperity." He stopped walking, pulling his arm back from around her shoulders and instead turned to face her, resting then both his hands on either shoulder and made direct eye contact.

"There is much worth celebrating. And what's more... you will be announced to my Kingdom as Odette, Princess of The Pride Lands. You will, by bond and blood, truly become one of us."

He wished to celebrate her becoming a woman..? Unable to tear her gaze away from his, she bit down softly upon her lower lip, chewing on it nervously for a few moments as she let her mind wander over what it was he had been explaining to her- she was to become a woman when first she began to bleed... it was something that had happened a few years prior when she had emerged from the waters of the lake to find part of her dress stained crimson with her own blood. It had been something that had terrified her enough to call upon her captor for help…

“..I have bled for a few yearly cycles past... though explained to me that it now meant I was a woman; I knew not of its importance… only that such a thing frightened me…”

Scar nodded on understanding. He had figured as much. She was nearly sixteen, such a milestone in her life was sure to have already happened. But that didn't make her any less of a woman, and the thought had him smiling once more back at her.

"Then we've years of neglected celebration to catch up on."

[Vicier]

Avonlea, Province ~ Fairy Tale World

The cheerful and rowdy atmosphere of the tavern filled the air around them, drowning out the sound of her now empty mug as it once more hit the table in front of them, her body twisting slightly as she lifted both her legs up from the ground, her cheeks blushing a light shade of pink from the alcohol, and the playful spark usually lost now back within her darkened eyes as she leant her body back into his own, her head dropping until it was rested lightly against his chest- the pirate had always been good company to keep… one able to lift her into high spirits after days living her life in the shade; and over the many years since he had found her living in Province, his company by her side each month was of much comfort.

Lifting her hand up from where it had been resting over his knee, she let her finger lightly trail the strong line of his jaw before she brought it across, letting it brush teasingly over his lips before she once more brought it back to her lap, her head tilting down so that she could watch herself play with the hem of her top, “..you’ve been gone some time… feels longer than a month- and on top of it all, you didn’t send word to me that you were coming… After your close call with Belle and her Knights during your last visit; I wasn’t sure you’d be coming back at all to be honest…”

Jones had been nursing his own tankard when Audrey began to give him physical attention. And though it was clear with his raised eyebrow and wandering eyes that her advances didn't go unnoticed, nor unappreciated, he finished his drink before doing or saying anything. With one arm draped around Audrey's shoulder, the other that held possession over his tankard lowered the mug onto the table next to her empty one. How many had she had now? Four? Five? He had lost count, as his own tolerance was beginning to waver and the blurred vision and buzzing face slowly began.

He inclined his head back, resting it against the wall behind the padding of their booth and took a moment to let his eyes drink in the beauty he had come to know over the many years.

"Though I've been keepin' busy, there be very little in this world tha' could keep me from comin' back ta ye, lass." His eyes drifted from hers, down to her lips, and then back up again. "It's actually a bit of a surprise to meself I'm here as well. A jobs opened up in The Bayou - couldn't pass it up. I told meself I'd write ye when I got there, plan my time 'ere, but then... ye were just on the way..."

“..and I’m sure that I’m on the way back too…”

Unable to help the gentle chuckle that fell through her lips at that simple fact, she lifted her head back up so that she was able to once more meet with his gaze, her dark eyes soft and playful as she pressed herself further back into his body, making herself comfortable as she slowly lowered her hand to rest lightly upon his knee, her fingers adding pressure as she began to massage his thigh; the motion only lasting a few moments before she brought it to a stop, her eyes coming to a close as she tilted her head, her soft lips brushing lightly over the silk collar of his shirt.

“I’ve never been to the Bayou… but I’ve heard Gaston speak of the Shadow man before. According to him the guy is completamente loco… totally out of his mind; and with mood swings worse than Cookie in the galley…” Pausing for only a moment as she thought about the last conversation she had overheard about the voodoo man of the Bayou, Audrey once again pulled herself out of her thoughts and back to the present, her gaze once more focusing on the man lounging in the tavern with her, rather than on rumors circulating the streets, “Ser cauteloso… the man is very unpredictable; worse than others we’ve come across… just be sure you don’t do anything stupid, and that you come back, okay..?”

A smirk played over Jones' lips as he picked up his head to look down at her, curled up so intimately to him - fitting like a jigsaw piece. Slowly, he moved his hand that had been resting on her shoulder to lightly run his fingers through her hair, keeping his eyes on her all the while.

"Careful, lass. Those almost be words of care, and concern." He jested. He knew Audrey cared for him - if anything, a good friend. Sure they had gone to bed with each other a great many number of times, though on both ends it seemed the notion wasn't anything more than physical desire. But their friendship was one not to be tested. After all, it had been he who had helped Audrey to pick up the pieces after she was forced to leave her fiance's side.

"I have met with The Shadow Man before. We are upon mutual ground an' what I have ta offer will surely put me within his good graces." He bent his head down to lightly brush his lips against her forehead; not quite a kiss, but not without affection. "I'll always come back to ye, Kiara."

Though in years past she would have done nothing more than scoff at his playful banter; the sweet gesture of his lips upon her forehead, and gentle words of comfort had her heart relaxing with her chest- over the years she had lost a great many deal of people from her life; the thought of losing him as well… she didn’t even want to think on the matter, “..you know it’s not just me you leave behind when you sail away from port...”

Tearing her gaze away from his, she allowed it to linger upon the satchel of gold that sat on the table against the wall beside them before she once again met his eyes, her body shifting against his slightly as she worked to sit up just that little bit more, her legs pulling in closer against her body and head now level with his neck rather than his chest as she slid her hand further up his leg, letting it continue to rest upon his thigh as she shook her head lightly from side to side, stray strands of her long dark locks falling down and over her face by the action, “..she hasn’t seen you in months, Jones- she keeps asking me when you’re gunna come visit, and I don’t know what to tell her anymore… She misses you being around… I miss you being around…”

Jones took a few moments to watch her hand traveling up his thigh, just enjoying the soft, gentle touches as he thought up an answer for her that would keep him in her good graces.

"The little lass can see me tomorrow. Soon as the sun rises. I'll surprise her as I did ye." He nodded, as if to confirm that, that was what was going to happen, no matter what. He then looked back down at her, taking his fingers he had been running through her hair to once more hold underneath her chin, turning her neck so she was looking back up at him, their lips only a short breath away.

"But the sun remains sunken for the evenin'. It would be careless to squander such precious time..."

“Your word is your bond, Jones… and it’s for that reason, I know you would not let me down.” A soft and knowing smile played over her lips as she once again began to lightly rub at his thigh, letting him know that she was on the same pattern of thought as he was in that moment, her lips teasingly hovering just in front of his own for the time being, “I’ve spent many nights with just myself as company; to know we can share a bed tonight, well, I don’t plan on wasting any more time…”

The moment the words passed through to the air, Audrey leant herself forward, her lips pressing softly… almost delicately against his own before eventually, she added more pressure into the action, her hand lifting up from his thigh to instead touch against his chest for the duration of the moment shared before finally, she tore herself back from him; the playful glint once more flashing within her eyes as she slowly stood herself up, taking firm hold of the satchel and placing it back over her shoulder as she turned, her boots making soft thuds over the ground as she made her way across the room and over to the door, stopping long enough for her to look back over her shoulder, and to motion for him to follow before disappearing out the door to wait his return to her side.

Jones wasted no time in following after her. After ensuring a good amount of gold was left on the table to cover their drinks and then something a little extra for their server, he was right behind her, escaping into the night air.

His hand back once more to her back, walking with her and guiding her through the streets of Avonlea and through a few more secluded areas until he stopped. Pausing for a moment, Jones looked about the area before rapping his knuckles against a particular side panel, it's hollow sound slipping up into the night air.

Then... the sound of chains...

An anchor was being lowered over their heads, slowly so as Jones could ensure their safety as it hit the ground before them. With a rather pleased smile on his face, he waited until the anchor started to lift again, stopping when just the bottom was sitting on the floor.

He urged Audrey to walk with him, stepping his boots onto the base of the anchor and used one hand to take hold of the chain above it, using his opposite hand to help Audrey join him. With her chest to his, a protective arm around her middle, he waited until she had firm footing and placement of her hands before he shook the chain, and the anchor slowly started to ascend into the dark night sky.

Jones made the most of their small ride together by pressing his lips to hers, hard and in wanting like what he wanted to do back in the tavern. They both knew what was coming, and that thought alone had his cock growing hard against her thigh as he continued to kiss her, long and hard.