Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Edelweiss on 27-03-2015, 23:52:30</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>27-03-2015, 23:52:30</strong>
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				(http://i.imgur.com/ue8u9H3.jpg)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Face character</span><br><br>There were several benefits that came along with being a Lord's only daughter. There was the obvious wealth. There never was a day in Alanna’s childhood where she did not go hungry or cold or alone. The estate she grew in was vast, placed on the outskirts of the village her father governed. It was mostly farming land, well tended and kept. Autumn would turn the fields gold, and in the spring, trees would burst green and lush. The villagers were friendly, hard working and kept good ties with her family. <br><br>Happiness was not in short supply in Alanna’s childhood. Her father was kind and loving. He doted on her and could not resist any request she would ask of him. He saw himself in he,S therefore he humored her wildness and her curiosity. Alanna was educated in history, geography, law and philosophy. Later on, her father gave into her constant appeals for lessons in combat. She learned sword fighting and horseback riding, taking to the former like a fish to water. In three years time, she could take on any man in the village.<br><br>&nbsp;Her mother, though loving and patient, was less enthusiastic about Alanna’s love of adventure. She did best to pass on her knowledge of the ways of a proper lady, but Alanna simply wasn't interested. Her life at the estate, though happy, was not fulfilling. Alanna dreamed of leaving, past her mother's gardens, away from the village and the surrounding fields and orchards and into the world she'd only read of in books. <br><br>So when the time came for Alanna to look for suitors to wed, Alanna simply ran away. A week before her sixteenth birthday, she packed what little she could and rode away on her horse. <br><br>Alanna did not come back for six years. <br><br>Her mother, originally burdened by the scandal it caused, recovered well enough. Her father, however, was heartbroken about her sudden departure. It wasn't until news of Alanna successfully defending a town from raiders, did he return to his original disposition.<br><br>News of her success spread and before long, many sought her help. Alanna, who was of a fierce and kind heart, could never turn down anyone in need.&nbsp; <br><br>When news of a mighty winged creature ravaging the southern borders of the kingdom reached the capital, King Castamir called on the help of a handful of brave warriors, including Alanna, to slay the beast. She was given funding and supplies for her journey as well as a sturdy horse she'd come to love. <br><br>Tonight, Alanna camped under the stars. The day had only been mildly productive as all she could get from the people in the village five miles away was vague sightings of a flying beast a few days ago. A farmer said that he had been missing sheep but confessed that the shepherd boy could have just as easily lost track of it. It could be anywhere by now, she thought as she looked up at the sky. <br><br>She sighed, fixing her dark eyes back into the fire where a rabbit roasted. The light threw her face in shadows, highlighting the cut of her cheeks, the slope of her nose. Alanna was beautiful in a muted sort of way and not many would call her as such. Dark haired and&nbsp; with skin the color of the earth. She was scarred and toned with muscles that spoke of strength and dexterity. Her hair shown short for practicality. If one glanced at her, they would miss the darkness of her lashes, the fullness of her lips and the subtle curves she hid beneath leather armour. They could easily mistake her for a young man. Alanna preferred it that way. She found that people bothered her less if they thought as much.<br><br>Alanna ate her dinner. The sounds of her horse shuffling nearby and the woodland creatures that hid in the darkness in between the trees was comforting as she planned the next day. There was a line of mountains further east. She wondered if the creature she was hunting would be there. It was not unheard of for dragons to prefer the shelter of caves. It would take her four days to get there at most. So much time would be wasted if she would go only to find the mountains empty. <br><br>A noise snapped her out of her musings. It was much different from the sounds of the night, like leaves crushed underfoot. She tensed, every fiber of her being suddenly alert as she lowered her food and took hold of the scabbard that sat by her side. The light of her campfire did not penetrate the darkness that covered the line of trees where she had heard the sound. Her skin prickled as she felt like she was being watched with such intent and focus as she stared back into the dark.<br><br>Show yourself.” She said, standing up and holding the hilt of her sword, prepared to draw it at the first sign of danger. “I know you're there.” 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 05:11:43</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/620048-bigthumbnail.jpg)</div><br>Reoalthazorin had remained dormant for nearly three millennium buried deep within the snow capped mountains undisturbed. Depression and anger had settled deep in his scaled chest as his kind were hunted to extinction, up to the point where the numbers dwindled into the dingle digits. His brood had scattered to the four corners, most he had never had contact with again. He had claimed the mountains he lay dormant within, and a large portion of the continent that they touched as his own, and his siblings knew that the venture within would likely result their own deaths. So, the dragons themselves faded into memory, only kept alive by the occasional story or tale woven into the lives of the lands new dominant occupants.<br><br>Large metallic claws scarred the earth though as he had awakened nearly three weeks prior after the earth shuddered naturally, but hard enough to drop quite a bit of deris onto his sleeping form irritatingly enough. It was always amazing to him how hard hunger hit after being immobile for so long. Joints had creaked in protest, and the mineral deposits that had covered his body shattered like glass as he finally stood and stretched. Tail to nose, he was easily three hundred feet or so, and wingtip to wingtip fairly close to the same if a bit shorter. A deep rumble had filled his chest as he cleared dist and debris from his lungs and began to tunnel outwards from the base of the mountain he'd taken up as his home only to emerge in the center of a lake. <br><br>Standing on the shore was a group of fisherman that were left slack-jawed as he upended their boat with the massive surge of air produced by stiff wings pushing hard against the ground to launch his massive body airborn. Aided by magics native to his kind, he helped lift himself with forces unseen to get into the air, and quickly faded into the clouds. This was the first sighting of his return to the lands of man, which had become greedy and far too important for their own good as far as he was concerned. Still, at least they had taken to keeping herd animals penned up into a nice condensed group that made them an easy target. To his credit though, he never completely cleaned one group of people out, and preferred to spread his kills out over distance. <br><br>Once his hungers had been sated, he'd changed form into that of one of their kind, albeit the model was a bit dated from the current bone structure that was most common. The tattoo's some seemed to find unnerving though, as black and silver lines criss-crossed his upper body from wrist to waist. Still, nothing a hood couldn't cover. Out of curiosities inborn to their kind, he traveled among these people every now and again both to judge and be entertained. However, there had been irritating rumors floating about that one of the local monarchs had taken it upon himself to put a bounty on his scaled hide. There were legends and stories of how pieces and parts of his body would grant special powers, but none of them ever held true. Reo had watched from the gates of this stone-encircled city as several riders, armed to the teeth with preferred weaponry rode out to bring back his head. <br><br>One of them however, had caught his attention. A female, which seemed to be uncommon in the current times. Curious to see what might be gained by her from his death, he had followed. Clad in thick silken robes made of blacks and the darkest blues, he'd kept up with her silently. The ease in which she was tracked surprised him, but then again, what predator expected to be stalked by their prey? She rode with a certain grace that struck something deep within, and the whispers of femininity that he could smell and see under all of the metal stirred an entirely different hunger. Night fell, and he had crept closer. For the longest time, he used the trees themselves as transport as he skipped from branch to branch overhead through the darkness, aided by a staff nearly as thick as his wrist and capped on either end with a metal that had the look of mercury if one were to remove the soot that he had blackened it with to hide any light reflection.<br><br>Time to one of his kind was something measured in eons, rather than hours. He had been stone-still just outside the firelight for enough time that even the horse now ignored his presence. He watched her for quite some time, until curiosity once again got the better of him. Lifting the butt of the staff half an inch, he ground it onto a nearby leaf, snapping a twig in the process. Reo wanted to see just how acute she was when it came to knowing her surroundings. A small smirk curled across his face as the woman behaved defensively. Her guess as to where he was was spot on, and the first thing to be seen within the light was the end of the staff as he pushed through the brush with nary a sound. "Calm, woman."<br><br>Reo stopped to clear his throat, his voice filled with gravel as he got used to using their inflections. His next wording was much smoother as his voice evened out, and soon carried a rather light, but deep undertone that spoke of his being foreign to the lands he tred upon. "I am indeed. I was passing through, and spotted the fire. The night promises to be bitter, and possibly wet if I read the clouds correctly." Carefully, now that he had entered the light fully, he raised his arms a bit and turned to show that he was unarmed, aside from the thick staff. Not that entirely needed a blade to defend himself. <br><br>"If I intended harm, I would have acted upon it already. Please, be seated and continue your meal." Woven into his voice, was the barest amount of his internal magics as he hoped to soothe her if only slightly. The game was afoot, and there was no fun if she tried to stab him in the neck in the first few moments.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 06:52:19</strong>
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				The rough voice that cut through the darkness sent chill down her spine. There was a distinct quality to it, as if unused for a prolonged period of time, but there was also something else--something that kept the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. The words did not have any effect on her. Instead, Alanna bristled more as something parted the shrubbery. Her hand tightened around her sword. The surrounding area was fairly peaceful, but it bandits travelling the countryside was not unheard of. <br><br>It wasn’t until the source of the disturbance emerged from hiding did she relax slightly. She listened to him while cautiously taking in every detail. As far as Alanna could tell in the poor lighting, the man did not have any concealed weapons beneath his robes. His eyes were of the brightest blue. It was if a light was shining behind them. They gave Alanna a feeling of insignificance, like she had finally found a challenge that was too great for her.<br><br>She glanced at the sky as he commented about the weather. The stars were still in view and not a cloud was in sight. It only served to intensify her suspicions. Alanna wondered if there were others hidden from her, waiting to jump the moment she let down her guard.. Her instincts said otherwise, however her skin still crawled when he spoke. <br><br>Despite of this, a feeling of faint relief washed over her, causing her shoulders to relax and the hold on her weapon to weaken. “That is a strange greeting for someone who is seeking shelter from the cold.” Alanna said distrustfully. “What is your name?” 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 07:14:25</strong>
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				"Mmph," came the quiet reply as the man stood before Alanna. "It is not such a strange reply, considering all things seen and unseen." The more Reo spoke, the smoother his voice became. One would expect honey to drip from his tongue once he settled in, leaning almost lazily against the staff that stood a good foot above his six foot frame. There was a disregard that he showed towards the fact that the object of his curiosity was ready to draw a blade on him. Unless she caught him asleep, there was really no way that he would allow her close enough if she became intent on harming him. <br><br>For the time being, he ignored the question about his name. The true name of the ancient creatures and races held power. To freely give that out was reckless, and something he did not intend on doing. It was tradition that a dragon's name grew with him. Every century, another syllable added to reflect power and growth. His had gotten long enough that he had to regularly shorten it as it was hard for the mortal races he used to interact with to remember. If she relaxed, she might get the first three letters from him. If not, she wouldn't live long enough to pronounce them anyway. <br><br>Pulling the arm of his robe up, his forarm and the strange designs etched across his skin shone in the firelight. Reo's eyes seemed to brighten momentarily. His palm opened, and a small ball of fire danced from fingertip to fingertip before settling in the center of his hand a good three inches above the skin. "The cold is not the reason that I've made myself known; and be aware that you would not have known I were present had I not wanted you to. I simply seek to be in the company of another for the evening, as I have been isolated from other beings for far, far longer than I reasonably meant to be. Whether you were male or female really had no bearing on my curiosity." Lie. <br><br>The ball extinguished all at once, and the brightness in his eyes seemed to dim back down to a normal hue. Without asking, he nudged a rock that easily weighed half as much as she did with his foot into the clearing and sat down upon it, crossing his legs underneath him, and laying the thick staff across his lap. "So tell me, why are you out here all alone? I hear tell that there is a beast roaming the skies plucking up sheep and maidens abound."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 08:00:00</strong>
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				The moment the fire sprang from his hand, dancing above his palm, did Alanna realize that the prickling across her skin was the cause of magic. She berated herself silently for not realizing earlier, but the truth was that people with the gift had become fewer and fewer as the years had gone by. Less people seem to be born with it, and there were even less people left alive to teach it. It was a dangerous blessing, powers often became unstable without proper mentoring. The general population did not take kindly to it because of it's destructive potential. <br><br>Alanna knew that she was dealing with a dangerous man, no matter how pompous she thought he might be. The tattoos that flashed from his wrist to forearm looked as though it continued to the rest of his body, and most importantly, they looked magical. Despite her better judgement, she gave him the benefit of the doubt and relaxed further, sitting down once again though her sword remained by her side. It wouldn't do to cross someone with the gift, but it would also be folly to let one's self be completely unguarded. <br><br>She ran her hand through her hair. Her fingers messed with the short locks and made them go in wild directions. "I was sent by King Castamir to hunt down the said beast." She picked up the remains of her dinner, holding it out to her uninvited guest as a temporary peace offering. "Though he eludes me, I doubt that he is kidnapping maidens. If you have been travelling you may have seen a trace of him. It would help me in my journey if you did."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 08:25:18</strong>
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				A small smile played over Reo's features. "To hunt him down you say? I am curious as to what a soldier, so small in comparison to such a large beast, could possibly do?" The clearing darkened slightly as a band of clouds covered the moon, dark and angry as they descended from over the mountains in the distance. Already, the smell of ozone was in the air hinting at the coming rains. Looking up, Reo breathed deeply. The smell of coming rains were something he had missed dearly while in his hole. Fresh air was tainted by those around it, polluted by the stench of towns. The smell of coming rain though, it always seemed to overpower that smell. <br><br>"As for your beast and my having seen him. You could say I have, and you could say I haven't. He and I are connected, of a sorts. Hence my need to travel for the moment." Holding a hand up, he waved off the rabbit. Cooked meat never really had sat well with him while not in his natural state. "Thank you, but I've eaten for the evening. I wouldn't dream of eating something I had not killed myself. That aside," the smirk turned into an outright smile, and playful at that, "I'm not sure I trust a woman who soldiers with seasoning as well. None I've met are good at both."<br><br>The fire between them hissed audibly as the first drop of rain hit, and was quickly followed by many more as the edge of the raincloud floated above. "Tell me, dear soldier, do you enjoy being wet?" The mirth in Reo's eyes was quite clear as a few droplets ran down his cheeks. Strangely enough, the water beaded against the silk, and simply fell off as if it had been coated in wax. "This promises to be a rather good storm, if I'm not mistaken, and if you wish, I could possibly offer aid in finding your terrifying beast. What say you?"<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 08:52:28</strong>
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				The over abundance of the man's self confidence grated at her nerves. Alanna never did particularly like men who believed she was better than her. Most of her life consisted of men belittling her and her abilities as if men had the monopoly in all things perilous. Her mother always swore her pride would be the reason she would never fetch a proper husband, as if her need for adventure wasn't already one. That being said, Alanna was not inexperienced. She'd had encounters of the sexual nature with both men and women in the past and she enjoyed herself thoroughly. The man's double entendre was not lost to her as it began to drizzle, just as the stranger in front of her predicted. It was also not lost to her that he still had not given her a name to call him by. <br><br>She stared into his eyes as she mulled over his proposition, trying to access his sincerity. Alanna knew that he was dangerous and hiding something. Sinister or not, she did not know yet. However, his gift would prove to be an immense help and she would greatly appreciate the company. It had been weeks since she had a conversation with another person that did not involve the beast. Her horse could only offer so much in terms of communication.<br><br>Alanna threw the rest of her dinner into the dying fire. The rain came more steadily now. "I suppose we should seek shelter then if we intend to stay warm." She slung her pack over one shoulder. "I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me in my quest." <br><br>She held out her free hand, eyeing him down somberly, still trying to make sense of his motives. <br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 09:32:02</strong>
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				Reo tried to quell his delight in her acceptance of his help. He was going to enjoy himself thoroughly, that much was for sure. He was almost lazy in the way he climbed off of the rock he'd moved, and planted the butt of the staff firmly into the ground as he stood and stretched. "That we should. Might I suggest getting that armor and padding off once we get inside? The smell of it wet will likely be... less than pleasant for the both of us." There was a subtle irritated look that crossed fleetingly across his face. Reo abhorred uncleanliness. Rain, bugs, and anything else he could really care less about. Dirt, mud, and smells though, he wouldn't stand for. It was a pet-peeve of his, and had been for thousands of years. His siblings used to delight in irritating him by throwing mud into his nests when they could.<br><br>Crossing the small clearing in two strides, he took her hand, and in what almost seemed a practiced motion, brushed his lips across the back of the offered hand. Likely not the intended purpose, but habits thousands of years old were a hard thing to break. "Reol, or Reo if you prefer, is what you may address me by." He released her hand, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. <br><br>Making his way past her, he easily undid the knotting of the bridle that kept her horse tethered to its tree, and un-hobbled the beast so that it was able to walk properly. "There's a way station about half an hour up the road. Not much more than four cramped walls and a tin roof, but I'm sure it's dry. If not, I can make it that way." Already, the temperature had dropped enough so that his breath frosted slightly in the air when he spoke, and steam seemed to visibly roll off of him as he pulled the cloak off that was cleverly tied into the silken garb he had on. <br><br>As a gesture of goodwill, he offered the woman the lightweight material. "Wrap that around you before you rust, dear soldier. It should keep you mostly dry until we arrive. How will you sneak up on that great beast if you creak like an old hinge?" His free hand lightly stroked the muzzle of her mount, which had already seemingly taken to the man like they'd been friends for years. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>28-03-2015, 23:27:57</strong>
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				The comeback on her tongue died when he kissed her hand. She was not expecting a kiss, she had extended her hand to shake his, hopefully to get a better idea of his ulterior motives. However, it had been years since someone had showed her courtesy as a lady and it was a surprise. Alanna almost jerked her hand back, rubbing the patch of skin the man--Reo--touched. It tingled slightly, as if it was laced with magic. Alanna would never be certain when magic was concerned. It eluded her and the theories never made sense to her the way physics did. Her mother's grandmother had the gift, but never passed it on.<br><br>She wondered if he was a noble or a thief. The silken robe would fetch a pretty coin or two. Alanna took it from him and tied it around her shoulders. It was warm from Reo's body heat and it shut out the bitter cold of the wind, but she still bristled at his words. "I don't appreciate your teasing, sir." Her voice was curt and cold as she arranged her pack on her horse. Alanna pulled herself up on it with years of practiced grace, while she let Reo climb up by himself. "I suggest that you hold on to me if you don't want to fall off."<br><br>The wind had picked up, whipping the cloak about her. The clouds have obscured the stars in the sky and it looked like the storm would stay until morning. She held tight to the reins and urged her horse to a gallop, heading to the way station Reo mentioned. The rain started to come down in sheets, drenching whatever wasn't covered by the cloak. Her nose stung from the cold, cheeks flushed red. When they had reached their destination, Alanna could see that the station was small. After she had taken care of her horse, she walked inside and found that the shack only had room for a hearth, which was placed on one side and a pile of old hay to serve as a bed in the other. The place was covered in a light coating of dust and while the tin roof kept the rain out, the sound of the rain hitting it was loud. It clearly had seen better days.<br><br>She shed the cloak Reo lent to her. "I suggest you start us a fire. Just so that we could get some light in here." Alanna turned away from him, shedding her leather armor and the fine chainmail she wore beneath. She stood in her green tunic, sleeves from the rain. She looked slighter now without the bulk of her protective clothing. More feminine. <br><br>"What is your connection to the creature?" Alanna asked casually, pushing her wet hair from her forehead. "Have you studied him perhaps?"<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>29-03-2015, 06:26:38</strong>
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				For the most part, her curt response was ignored. Reo found it funny, at least. The woman was decidedly high-strung, which made it all the more vexing to try and get a read on her. When she mounted, he simply looked up at her. Befriending an animal was one thing... but Reo had a certain discomfort when it came to riding them. He hadn't honestly thought far enough ahead and the idea of riding with her caused him to hesitate. It was the comment about his falling of, however, that caused him to shoot her an irritated look and hop up behind her without the use of the stirrups. Reducing his weight for the beast as he did when he was in flight lessened the impact of his bottom landing on the saddle behind her own. <br><br>It took a bit of maneuvering, but soon enough, Reo had his hips pressed up against the soldier's ass with one arm so that the staff was across her lap. His other hand slipped under the leather to&nbsp; press into the chain links underneath for better purchase. A word, unintelligible, was whispered against her ear and his body began to radiate just enough warmth to be noticeable through the layers of leather and metal. Something he hadn't quite anticipated though, was that damnable cloak snapping and whipping to either side of them. Several times the corners managed to snap at his face, one even managing to leave a small welt that he would later curse about.<br><br>Reo waited outside for Alanna to tie her horse and get it set up with feed before following in behind her. The place hadn't looked nearly as small from the road when he'd flown over, but then again perspectives were subject to change when you drastically changed your anatomy on a regular basis. Once inside, he pulled the thick robing over his head, leaving his upper half bare. The metallic tattooing glinted in the barest light that was streaming through the small window. "Fire it is, dear soldier." Not bothering with the theatrics this time, he conjured up a small font of flame under the few dry logs within, and simply held it there until the flame took to fuel. <br><br>Taking both the cloak and all the silken material he'd worn on his upper half, he unfurled it with a snap before laying it across the old hay. The old <em>dirty</em> hay. The more he moved the material into place, the more of it there seemed to be. Once there was a veritable bed of the stuff, supplemented only minimally by the hay underneath did he leave it be. Almost lazily he undid the lacings that kept that dark silk wrapped about his waist until it revealed bare hips, but settled just above anything that might make her uncomfortable. Reo honestly did not know why the male species had to have things... dangling about. Having it tucked under scales was just so much neater, and quite a bit more refined. <br><br>Flopping down in the hay, Reo quietly watched Alanna as she got comfortable, and traced the new lines of her with his eyes. He definitely found her more pleasing without the metal and leather. Deciding to take a chance now that things had become slightly more comfortable, he let his eyes revert back to the slitted pupils so that he was better able to see. It would likely give her a start, but he doubted she'd skewer him because his eyes were shaped differently. "Studied? Something like that. As I said, he and I are connected by things that are unseen. Our lives are intertwined. I can feel him, just as he can me, though neither threatens the other. I draw my power from the same realms that he does, though his is exponentially moreso than mine." Everything he'd said was truthful. Veiled, and a little twisted, but the truth. His power was greatly dampened in this smaller form, but still there. <br><br>"Come, sit with me, dear soldier. The night is cold, and the storm comforting." He addressed her as such, due to the fact that she had yet to give him her own name. It was a rude thing to request of someone he had just met, and preferred it to be something that was given freely.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>30-03-2015, 03:32:41</strong>
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				Alanna listened to Reo's explanation as she meticulously laid out her gear near the hearth to dry. She didn't like the way he answered her questions in what seemed like riddles. She knew he was hiding something. She turned to him to question him further only to be surprised. Reo was lounging on the makeshift bed with such ease. If Alanna didn't know better, she would've thought that it was stuffed with goose down. She also had never met someone who was so comfortable to be in such a state of undress in front of a complete stranger. <br><br>As Alanna thought, the tattoos that wrapped around Reo's wrist twisted their way to his torso. It glinted metallic in the light. She couldn't help but trace them with her eyes, following them right down to his hips. His body was pleasing to the eye and now that Alanna thought about it, despite the eeriness of his gaze, his eyes were a beautiful shade of blue. Her thoughts wandered to the last time she pleasured herself and found that she could not remember. She had been on her journey for the creature for a few weeks now. Before her departure from the capital, she was a guest of the king in his palace. While there was no shortage of partners, Alanna did not feel comfortable enough to actually share a bed with any of them. She found most of them to be arrogant and overbearing. Also, she did not have the patience for small talk that courtiers were prone to do.<br><br>She wiped her hands on her pants, straighting up. "You can call me Anna." Carefully, she sat down beside him, sinking down into the bed of hay. "So this creature can use magic too? And he is more powerful than you." <br><br>If this beast wielded magic, Alanna knew that her quest was more perilous than she originally thought. She turned back towards the fire, mulling over her options, which were limited. "The king should know about this immediately. The other men looking for the creature will be in great danger if they ever find him."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>30-03-2015, 21:49:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Anna it is then." Reo scooted to the side a bit to allow the woman enough room to sit down. The wooden wall was still chilly, and the instant it touched his hip it caused a quick shiver to pull through his upper torso. "Yes, he can, and yes, he is." <br><br>Leaning over, he pressed a hand to the woman's sternum. His form was practically buzzing at that point with the magic he was using to attempt to heat up the small shack a little faster. "His, comes from here. From inside. Being a creature practically made of the stuff, he has the advantage there." Pulling his hand away from her, Reo tucked his arms beneath his head. Already, the little makeshift bed was warmer than the surrounding walls, and it was hard not to burrow down into it. "Mine comes from everything else. I have to pull from the energies and beings around me. It's a bit of a handicap for sure, but I think I manage quite well. I've been at it a few thousand years as it is."<br><br>At the mention of telling the king, Reo snorted. "The fools are likely already dead. Probably the only reason you're not, is because I followed you. The beast has a hard time seeing things around me, and that includes you. Generally, where I am, he stays away from. Personally, I think he finds me a little irritating. Imagine that." <br><br>The fact of the matter was that all but one of the male hunters that had been set upon him were dead. The fight they had put up had been laughable. The only combatant that had proved to even be close to a nuisance was one of them who had attempted some sort of blinding spell. The little shit had chipped one of his scales, and it would take years to replace the blemish. He'd paid for it dearly though. His remains had been left to the animals. People were such a terrible tasting meal. They left an aftertaste that Reo found unappealing.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>31-03-2015, 00:08:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The way Reo said her name was pleasant to hear, despite that she didn't trust him with her real name. She often used Anna in her childhood when she would escape the estate to roam among the common folk in the village market. From time to time, she found herself using it during her adventures, particularly when she found herself in questionable company. It was easier to blend in as Anna. Alanna was often used by nobles, naming their daughters after the first great Queen who live centuries ago.<br><br>Alanna jumped at the press of his hand. The warmth of it seeped past her tunic and into her skin. Her heart beat double time as she had never met a man so bold . She wondered if he had never been thought manners or ever interacted with a woman before. She worried if he could feel the pace of her heart quicken. As he explained, she stared at where he touched her and when he pulled her hand back, the heat of his touch lingered on her skin. It was worrying. Alanna found herself attracted to him, that was clear to her now. She laid down next to him, careful to not press her side along his.<br><br>The bed was surprisingly soft and the fabric of Reo's clothes were pleasing to the touch. She found that everything was growing warmer faster than she expected. "All the more reason I&nbsp; should inform the king." <br><br>Alanna turned her head to look at him as she thought about his age. "How old are you?" She wasn't sure why, but Alanna wasn't alarmed by this. There were stories of beings as old as time roaming the land. She always thought of them as just stories, however if he commanded as much magic as he claimed, it made more sense that he wasn't a man at all. "Who are you?" She added, looking into his eyes, noticing that his pupils were black slits, like that of a cat. Frowning she wondered if his eyes were always like that and she merely didn't notice. Impulsively, she laid her hand against his cheek, looking closer at them. The stubble of his jaw scratched at the palm of her cheek as she stared at his eyes intently. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>31-03-2015, 02:26:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Anna lay beside him, Reo scooted over just a bit further to allow her room to get comfortable. She still seemed distrustful, so he deemed it wise to give her her space and let her broach that invisible barrier if she so chose. Once she settled, he turned over onto his side to better look at her. Having to adjust only once as a stray piece of hay stabbed at his hip, he soon settled in comfortably with his head propped up on one arm. The mention of the king earned her another small sound of amusement. Why she was loyal to a man too lazy and cowardly to come for him himself he couldn't fathom. <br><br>"I am roughly six hundred years or so his junior, in age. I honestly have lost count of the exact number, but well over three millennium is likely a decent guess at this point." It had taken Reo almost six hundred years to perfect the art of changing shape into whatever he wished, and another two hundred to get the physical attributes he desired perfect. The fact that he beat his brothers and sisters by nearly a century was something he prided himself on. Not that he could very well gloat to his current company though.<br><br>"<em>Who</em> I am, I have told you already. <em>What</em>, however, is a different story entirely. I am actually a piece of the beast itself, given form through internal magics and made independent with time. Each of the great wyrms is able to change themselves into a single form. I was his attempt at a change. However, he failed, and instead of changing, gave up a piece of himself. I simply evaded his attempts to return me to himself until I was strong enough in mind and arcana to resist such attempts. So as for the what, I am unique, and alone. A reminder of his failure, and likely the reason he keeps his distance from me. Not that I mind. I have gained much, in the way of wealth. Though no one knows of me publicly, and I rather like it that way."<br><br>Raising his free hand and turning his head, he carefully held her hand with his own, and left a trail of slow, tingling kisses up her wrist. "I have learned so, so much more than I have gained though. In many things." The barely veiled meaning was there in the open, and he simply let it hang there as he guided her hand to his chest and withdrew his own. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>31-03-2015, 03:05:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Alanna traced the silver markings on his chest with her finger. Her nail scraped gently over them as she mulled the words he'd spoken. The skin that he kissed prickled softly. She was playing with something ancient and powerful then. A thrill shot up her spine despite herself. She could never resist the call of danger. This is why she accepted King Castamir's requested of course. Still, she could not help but feel that Reo was misleading her. <br><br>"He is a good king." She responded. "He cares about his people. Otherwise he wouldn't have sent so many after the creature." King Castamir have led the kingdom out of war and into peace. He has helped her family personally. There was a time when a drought hit her father's lands. If it wasn't for the help of the king, many more would've died that winter. She owed much to the king and Alanna will not have anyone disrespect him in her presence. <br><br>Her hand lowered, caressing his stomach. Alanna found it hard to trust him. She knew almost nothing about the creature and she had no way to find out if any of what Reo was saying was even possible. She moved closer to him, turning her entire body to face him. The only point of contact between them was her hand, but she could feel the heat emanating from his body. Eyes narrowed, she cataloged his minute expressions, she tried to decipher them as best as she could. "Are you lying to me?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Adonis</strong> on <strong>31-03-2015, 04:01:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Good, perhaps. However, sending soldiers out to be slaughtered by something ancient that he has no understanding is unwise. Surely he did not expect the uninformed to be successful." As the hand lowered, Reo's focus faltered, and the hearth flared momentarily. Such a simple touch shouldn't have garnered such a reaction. At her question, Reo raised an eyebrow, but not much more. It was about as close to showing irritation that he would get anytime soon.<br><br>"I show up, and willingly offer you my aid. I warm your bones when you likely wouldn't have gotten more than embers from that petty fire behind you. I offer you a bed of more than old molded straw. I could have let the beast kill you, as he has all the others. I could have watched from a distance, and simply decided to observe as he circled your little fire silently just beneath the cloudcover. I could have killed you <em>myself</em> Yet, I haven't. And you have the audacity to question my integrity.&nbsp; If you wish to be alone, cold, and face him armed with nothing more than what would be a knife with respect to his size and no idea what you're doing, you have but to say so, and I will remove myself to the night and simply observe once more."<br><br>Reo's eyes had taken on a deep glow, but aside from that, his voice was even and reflected no anger. If anything, it was more indifferent by that point. By deflecting her question with guilt, Reo hoped to avoid answering the question altogether. Suspicion was dangerous, and something he didn't have the patience for. Almost as an afterthought, he reached down and pulled her hand from her stomach to gently set it on her hip. If need be, he could leave the clothing. The staff would degrade fairly quickly once he pulled the magicks from it, and he'd take to the skies to simply go elsewhere and continue feeding.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Riding Wild (Edelweiss and Adonis)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Edelweiss</strong> on <strong>31-03-2015, 04:49:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Alanna bristled at his words. As Reo's face stayed still and blank, her face betrayed her anger plainly. She could never hide her emotion. Her mother saw it as undesirable trait but Alanna was always prone to feeling things strongly and showing it, both with actions and words. She clenched her hand, sitting up abruptly. "I am grateful for all that you've done, believe me. It's not lost to me that you've given me shelter and kept me warm thus far."<br><br>"But please forgive me if I am distrustful of a man I've just met, who has openly admitted to following me, who has belittled my skills throughout the night. Not to mention the fact that you have no passed an opportunity to remind me that you could kill me anytime you wished. I am not a fool. I would not have survived as long as I have if I was." She could feel herself faintly trembling in anger and her voice had only become louder. Her face was beautiful even in rage. "You may think yourself a saint for agreeing to help me but you're far from that.<br><br>Alanna stood up, collecting her gear from the hearth. They were only half dry but she did not care. If she rode now she may be able to reach the capital in a few days time and warn the king of what was to come. Hopefully, that would be enough time to get the others back as well and regroup. They needed more information and as much as she hated it. Reo was right. They were no match for the creature. They had to regroup, to charge in head first would have dire consequences.<br><br>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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