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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 0:14:29 GMT -5
Neve hadn't expected Atrious to be this mad with her. She thought she was doing a good thing at first since last night had shown both of them had trouble in hand to hand combat. She just wasn't strong enough physically to handle the heavy blows these men could dish out. But an army could, and every few bandits or theives were dumb enough to try and harm Imperial soldiers. None of them wanted the wrath of the Empire down thier throats. She knew that from working with the Guild a few times.
So then why was he so leery of all this? Would she ever agree to something that put her own life at risk? Never in a thousand eons. She was raised by Khajiits after all and they had a 'My skin before yours' mentality.
Her lips tightened as she listened to him, holding back biting comments that were scalding the tip of her tongue at his words. What kept her from snapping at him was a feeling of small guilt in her for not consulting him first...
She did understand that portion of him being mad...but to say that she would just up and abandon him...She didn't do that with anyone. It was a trait she had gained from being left alone herself. She wouldn't have openly admitted it, but Ramma's betrayal had hurt her quiet a bit, to the point she still ached over it.
His next piece of his mind made her eyes narrow a bit. Markus seemed totally okay with the fact he was a mage and what the hell else was she suposed to call him? A swordsman? A blacksmith? An illusionist???
Her hackles raised and for a moment she almost didn't care about hurting his feelings, that was till he told her he was done and that he would go pack his things.
She let him walk past her, her chest rising and falling in breaths with effort to keep her temper contained. She finally let it simmer and went to find Markus to tell him that they accepted.
She collected her things, keeping well away from Atrious at the moment for fear something might slip from her mouth that she didn't really mean. Her goal was not to hurt the man that had saved her on numerous occasions now.
She found Markus sticking awful close, talking to her and a little less than obviously flirting. She kept her own light banter on the minimum side, seeing as she was using him for her own gain at the moment.
The men in this regiment were suckers after all. THey had already given her close to 600 gold pieces already just in their attempts to beat her marksmanship.
They were not all ready to leave until close to mid morning and by then she had already started to feel her anger calming. It now felt like a light sting in her chest that she couldn't and didn't want to understand.
Leaving Dragon Bridge was almost a fond sight, one that even Markus commented on as his horse fell back to where Neve and Atrious were.
"The snow here is amazing this time of the year. However the ice can be tricky if you aren't experienced in handling it. I suppose you two haven't traveled this far before?" He asked and Neve assumed his assumption came from her obvious curiousity at all the snow. However any moron could point out that she was wearing something fit for nice warm weather even out in this frigid cold. "I have not. I always stayed closer to the south...its warmer there." She commented not wanting to speak for Atrious and making him weasle himself out of that one.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 0:25:06 GMT -5
He was silent for the rest of the morning enduring listening to the two flirt- it almost made him sick that she was using that nord and he was oblivious to it, all brawn- no brain. He climbed on his horse with the rest- keeping his horse a bit behind Neve's but not far- however when Markus fell back to talk again he scowled. "I'm used to the snow." He said- his tone flat and emotionless. He felt a slight sting form Neve flirting with the nord- it made him feel bad. There was a slight jealous streak there-he wouldn't admit it but it was there- just below the surface- a trained eye could tell. He looked the nord over then returned his eyes to the path in front of them, looking at the snow and the prints there in it. " Neve- If you get cold- let me know. I got an extra winter cape you can borrow..." He muttered to her as he brought his horse up close enough to actually talk then he took off at a bit of a gallop ahead he saw some ingredients he needed since he was low. Pulling off to the side he left his horse tied to a tree and started picking some snow berries with a smile. He enjoyed harvesting and creating- however many found it arduous and annoying- he found it creative and fun almost relaxing.
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 1:13:04 GMT -5
Neve expected the cold response from Atrious, since he honestly didn't like Markus at all. Neve understood that not all military personel were trust worthy, but she chose to rely on them for at least part of the way. And he would just have to get over that. Markus wasn't trying to harm either of them so he deserved some civility.
She was rather surprised however when he did offer her a cape, a sweet offer that she smiled lightly in acknowledgement of before he trotted away.
She watched curiously as he hopped off his horse to look at barries, her brows raising and her smile twitching into a crooked smile at one corner.
"Don't fall behind." Markus called to Atrious, though his brows furrowed some as he looked to Neve. "Odd little man, he is. Though most Mages I've come across are..." Neve rolled her eyes a bit when he started off on a boastful story about him fighting a group of witches off single handedly which Neve dismissed as a stretch of the truth.
She instead gave Markus a swift wink and went over to check up on what Atrious was doing. She couldn't see it over her shoulder but Markus looked irritated at being cut off and then ignored.
"What's that? Some of the ingredients you needed?" She asked, slipping off her own horse then going to the saddle bag to get the list he wrote her. "Snowberries right?" She asked before she looked around and noticed purple flowers peeking up out of the snow.
"Ah! Purple Mountain Flowers! They are one the list too." She said brightly, skipping over the snow to the flowers there. She plucked one and found more growing around. She followed them diligently till she hit a deep snow back that quit literally she tripped over a rock and sunk in.
She popped back out of the snow, shaking it out of her hair and face though flakes still clung to hair and brows. She laughed instead of getting frustrated, since she loved playing in the snow even in her adult hood. However hoof beats by her alerted her that Markus had rode over to her and he helped her up out of snow. She thanked him however she raised the flowers to show they were still intact to Atrious.
Markus raised a brow and caught that hand. "You shouldn't worry about the weeds of the mountain. They aren't important." He said and she gave him a slight frown. "Perhaps, but to Atrious they are important." She was trying to in some way, without even her own knowledge, worm her way back into good graces with him. She didn't like having him mad with her and well she found that he was becoming about the only ally she had out here. She didn't want to be alone and hardly did she want Atrious to feel bad.
Neve may have been a bitch, she'd admit to that fully, but it didn't mean she was heartless.
Markus didn't seem to like the comment all too much and changed the subject to something about the mountain they were on, distracting Neve a bit longer and at least getting her back on her horse again.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 7:53:37 GMT -5
"Ah thank you. " He was a bit surprised she she brought up collecting more ingredients with him, it almost made him smile. Her head popped out of the snow and he laughed at her, she looked so cute it was hard not to. When Markus warned her and tried to scold her he smiled at her fondly when she turned it so that it was a worth while fall. He took the flowers she had collected form her and the snow berries and made a small check on the list then caught up quickly- handing her back the list. "Thanks Neve. I appreciate it- I was so focused on the berries- I missed those. Maybe I can mix up another potion go give you flaming arrows again...oh... or storm arrows.." He said more to himself trying to think about what cool things he could make her in thanks now, he was in a much better mood. He rode by her again- not behind or ahead but by- he was on okay terms now- that little stunt of hers had indeed worked on getting back into his good graces. He however didn't like the look he had received from Markus- he was going to have to talk to the nord tonight. He wasn't sure what he took him for- a nord or an elf but hew as more than just a mage and a pretty boy- he was a Dragon's Priests' son and he was not to be triphled with over petty things.
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 10:05:18 GMT -5
Neve heard Atrious catch up to them. He actually came up next to her to ride, something she took as a mild acceptance. He thanked her for the flowers and She gave him a quick nod, a smile on her face when he mentioned the unique arrow conjurations.
"Sweet! I wanna try the storm ones next time!" She said like a kid in a candy shop. however she called her glee when.She realized she hadn' t said anything about him thanking her.
"It' s no trouble about the ingredients. You need them so I'll help out." She did give him a playful grin though. "Also it will keep you from over shopping." She said, just teasing him lightly about what he said about.him in apothecary shops.
"Also do you mind if I bborrow that cape now?" She asked. Though in actuality she didn't need it. She felt perfectly content in the cold and could survive it for many hours perhaps naked out in the snow, but that still was only a durability that dwindled in strength the colder it got.
((I'm just going to skip a bit ahead to night when they all make camp))
The days ride was long but it gave Neve a chance to learn more about Markus. It seems he was promoted rather quickly to his rank due to his valor in fighting the Storm Cloaks. He was the youngest captain the Imperials had. She also learned he had a temper as shown when a he caught his men sharing a drink of mead and let loose a fury on them that had Neve taken aback.
It seemed after the ordeal was done however, he was calm again, the same strong leader that spoke so kindly to her.
it was dark all to quickly when they hit the marshes and they needed to stop and make camp.
Neve helped with the set up of tents and things since she was used to it with her Khajiit enough.
when everything was done and complete, Markus had to.go.and attend to some correspondence in his tent, so Neve took to the fire side with the men. A few gave her cat calls but she brushed them off with dismissive looks and took her seat on a log beside the fire. They all tAlked of travel and a few other things, some joking and laughs being passed around like the mead another man snuck in his pack. Neve stayed off the bottle considering she was a bit of a feisty drunk. She did however look around to try and find Atrious.in the small crowd. She ended up getting to her feet and looked around a few of the tents for him. "Atrious?" She called, wondering where the man would have ran off to.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 13:35:37 GMT -5
He didn't want to get associated with drunken louts with song and talking of wenches so he preferred to drink alone. He had a light on in his tent, the map he borrowed from Neve and a mostly empty bottle of Mead.He was almost red in the face drunk- but he could concentrate well still. When he heard his name he smirked, knowing Neve's voice."In my tent Miss Neve." He called back a slight slur in the miss. He sighed more to himself thinking that he was going to sleep like a rock tonight being this drunk.
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 19:17:13 GMT -5
Neve heard Atrious, her ears picking up the sound of his voice from a nearby tent. However, his voice sounded a bit off, like his S had a lull to it. She went into the tent, coming up behind him and peeking over his shoulder. Her hair fell over his shoulder , some of the long white tendrils lying on the map. "Looking over our routes I see." She asked, pulling away when she saw the bottle of mead. She moved to the bottle,sitting on palett since he had the chair with the map. "Drinking alone? A shame, mead is a social thing. Why didn't you come outsid with the others?" She said before taking a swing of what remained.
She instantly puckered her lips, her face souring. "Son of Akotosh! That is strong." She coughed looking to him with a raise of her brow that he actually drank this.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 19:31:00 GMT -5
He took in her sent when she leaned over his shoulder however smirked when she commented on it being a social thing. "Well, They don't like me so why sully their fun with my presents plus if I'm doing to be a drunken ass I might as well do it alone- unless you care to join me?" He gave her a cute smile. "yes- if we can get threw to the college in good time- with them...then things can go in good time- so we can get into the first location before the snow gets too bad..." He knew what he was talking about so it wasn't too bad when he tried to explain it Neve.
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 20:36:00 GMT -5
Neve noticed his smile and gave a smirk. He really was attractive even if he had a drinkers blush. "I'm not drinking if that's all you brought. But I will take up your time." She said relaxing as she looked over the map from where she sat. "It's a straight shot to Saarthal then." She sat pointing at the one red mark there with the name written beneath it.
Things were quiet and she wasn't sure what to say really. But perhaps she could find him in a more honest mood at this point what with his inhibited mind...
"Atrious...I-I didn't mean to upset you with talking to Markus. He offered and I...I just thought I was doing something right. Ramma always did say I thought with my feet..." She said, the last bit a small joke, though her attempt at an apology was truthful.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 21:14:40 GMT -5
Atrious frowned," I don't like how he is all over you... Your not even his type...I'm much better of a match then he is." His speech was slurred however at the ending comment he looked a but surprised he even said it. He ducked his head and looked at the map pretending he hadn't said it. It was more than obvious now he was jealous of who got her attention. He didn't know why but he hated drinking- he was too honest and he didn't have a filter to tell him not to.
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 21:51:16 GMT -5
Neve blinked from where she sat, before a rather mischievous smile crept on to her face. She giggled getting to her feet putting a hand on the map and leaning in to get a look at his face. "So you aren't mad at me per se..." She said with a raise of her brow. "You seem pretty confident about that. Please tell me then Atrious, what is my type? Why are you better than Mr. Toned Captian..." She gave him a light little smile that was kinda of a cat tempting the canary smile, beguiling in its own right and perfectly humored.
She was mostly teasing him, but she did feel a bit of an odd feeling at hearing his concern. It was...intruiging.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 22:00:03 GMT -5
He frowned for a second then figured he might as well play along, sitting back, almost relaxing. She wasn't going to let his little slip up drop so why not just blame what he said later on being drunk- he did it before anyhow. "I would actually accept that you can protect your self, listen to you instead of trying to get in your bed all the time-and actually take the time to help you with what ever you need at the moment- solders can 't just drop what they do for something. And I'm pretty sure...He isn't an elf..." He said his tone confident however it was slurred. He kept the smile there however his eyes didn't seem drunk- they were watchful of her- taking in her smirk- she was playing with him and he knew it. "That and I'm sure you would catch some thing you would rather avoid from him." He was blunt about it but the man scratched himself too much- he had to have had a disease or fleas or lice. Either was disgusting- and he didn't care to around him.
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 22:58:04 GMT -5
Neve noticed the frown and got a bit of satisfaction from sensing he wanted to drop the topic after being caughtin his jealousy. However his words made her coy behavior fade and her look turn neautral, with a hint of surprise in her eyes. Though his words were slurred...She found his eyes were intent on her. It made her straighten from her lean and blink at him with a bit of shock.
His words were honest but....why was it she felt weird hearing this from him.
She actually averted her eyes and plopped back down on his palet, her lips in a tight frown. She then gave a noise of "Tssh." Before continuing. "As if I'd ever let a Nord that far...At least give me ther benefit of the doubt Atrious..." She said at least filling him in that she had no intention of bedding the Nord, she just wanted to exhaust his uses militaristicly.
"And another thing, Atrious. Not happening..." She added before deciding to move on since she felt the control on him flitting into territory she wanted to leave well enough alone. Besides, she wasn't positive but he could just be playing with her as well.
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Post by vamperious on Dec 27, 2012 23:06:17 GMT -5
He smirked at her last comment," Yeah I know. Your too strong headed for me...You would rob me blind and call me a womanizer...and I never said you would sleep with him- I was giving you easy answers to how I was much more certified for the job." He didn't let his grin fad but he had a feeling he could probably try again later since she did have a joking tone. What he had said was true but some how he just didn't mind being robbed blind by her- she was one hell of a thing to look at. He set his bottle down with a sigh,"Yes, Saarthal."
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Post by kimcora on Dec 27, 2012 23:58:27 GMT -5
Neve shook her head, a chuckle escaping her lips as he spoke. His confidence was startling for such a quiet man...but also charming if she chose to think of him that way... "You are one cocky elf...Good." She half laughed though it was unsure exactly what she meant by it. She crossed her legs in an attempt to get comfortable as the topic transitioned to Saarthal rather awkwardly. "It's so close to the college. Did you ever go in it?" She asked wanting to know at least a little about the ruins.
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