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A Reluctant Pact (RetroXBlueLurker)

Lover? Did she really look like she'd be Kieran's lover? For a moment she thought to argue this point but remained quiet as the gates opened for them. There was no point in opening her mouth to negate a point that likely helped them to blend in. Not only that but her mind was racing as fast as an exhausted one could. There were girls being abducted? That sounded just awful to her. Hopefully being seen in the presence of two fairly intimidating fellows would make her look less attractive as a target.

Instead she played into the idea of being Kieran's love. Her hand not occupied by carrying her staff was looped around one of his arms and her head came to rest on his shoulder.

Mercutio's eyes had finally adjusted to the light but it did not mean he liked it any. Everything looked drained off all of its color and only prominent facial features stood out. The flashes of the sun's rays against the guard's armor made him recoil. Damn it all! Whenever he had finished his business with the wig maker, he was going to head straight for the nearest tavern. He did not care for what sorts of people there were. Sunny days were no good for his eyes.

"Lets just get the chit into an inn," he grumbled, actually skipping the whole wig maker thing entirely in that moment to rest instead. "I don't think she'll last a trip deep into the city. Pretty thing like her my arse..."
 
Well. To say he didn't enjoy the feeling... he'd be lying. Kieran was trying not to simply just bust out in a big, wide grin at the feeling as she leaned against him.

"Let's find a place, then. Something clean, where we can figure out our next move, and spend the day recuperating. Maybe even get ourselves clean- so some place with a bath. I want to see how you're holding up, and we can think of adjusting our travel speed based on that."

He would pull her closer, and let her brace herself against him as they walked, his hand eventually finding hers and holding it tight.

"You can make it, we'll just have to find a place. I think... well, let's try this one. It looks good."

He'd slowly move forward and into the establishment, with her still braced at his side. It was actually pretty clean, and the woman behind the bar gave a smile as she spotted the three of them.

"Goodness, she looks ready to fall over! I take it you'll be staying until tomorrow, then?"

"Indeed. We'll require two rooms- one with bath, as if it were. Do you have anything?"

Considering Kieran's question, she would turn to a rack of keys at the back and pluck two. The first came from a hook with no other keys next to it, and that one was pushed in Mercutio's direction. The second came from a little further down the board, and had keys surrounding it. That one was placed in front of Kieran and Thea.

"I'm putting your friend a little down the hall from you- he'll be okay there, and he's close by if you need him. You're both upstairs, but he's to the right, and you're to the left. I'll have someone start heating your water- it shouldn't be that long. Mind you, there's only one bed- so I hope you don't mind. Now, then..."

She named off a figure, and though Kieran winced, his hand would proceed to a pouch on his belt and he'd pull it open. He had enough, and paid the innkeeper, who turned and smiled at him.

"I'll let you alone, then. Your water should be ready, shortly. Please, feel free to relax. Though your companion there looks ready to relax into your arms, I think."

As she bustled away, Kieran would take the key in front of him, and turn to Mercutio.

"We'll more then likely be here, if you have business to take care of. If we go out, I'll slip a message under your door as to what and where, and how long we might be. I would hope you do the same for us."

He'd turn and escort Thea, heading for the stairs. As they approached the top, a couple of men were already carrying buckets into a room, and then bringing them back out. The last one out closed the door, and they ended up leaving, heading down the hallway away from them and around the corner. He realized it had been thier room, and old instinct took over, pulling Thea closer to him, and leaning up against the wall.

He'd get the key in the lock, and would twist the handle lightly, hand darting to his belt as he pulled a dagger, before nudging the door open and looking inside... and relaxing.

The inside of the room was big for the area, he assumed- it was indeed a single room, that had been decorated with furnishings that some might call "run of the mill", but comfortable. A fireplace stood in one wall, with a divider the separated one corner of the room- hiding a stone tub that was filled with hot water. A large bed was up against the wall, covered with a couple of blankets and a handful of pillows.

"Well... I admit the bath set me back a little more than I'd hoped... but it was a rule in the Phoenix- you bathed in hot water at least once a week, if you could, or you got what you deserved- and had it treated without any kind of pain relief. Not to mention... I think you deserve a break. Go ahead and take first if you want to wash. I can wait."

He'd been saving that emergency fund for a good while- not really willing to even admit to himself it was there. But in a situation like this, well... if she paid, it would make them stick out, he believed, and for now, the whole "lovers" act seemed to be working.
 
Mercutio simply grumbled in response as he took the key away. He wasn't going to go anywhere. Not while the sun was still so fiercely bright. If he wanted to sell the hair he would push it towards the two at some later point in the day. At that moment all he wanted to do was rest for the four hours it took his kind to fully regenerate and, perhaps, have a wench sent up to his room so he could blow off some frustration the night's travel had caused him.

Secretly Thea had been relieved when he paid for their room. Now with the three of them together, pulling coin enough for the occasional inn stay didn't seem like such an impossibility. It was amusing, too, to see how everyone that they encountered assumed that Kieran and her were together in a romantic sense. Again she thought that was a brilliant bit of play and decided not to say anything against it. At least not yet. For now it was entertaining and suit their needs.

When he pulled her closely to him, she sucked in a deep breath. His scent wasn't entirely unpleasant. While it wasn't the heady perfumes and colognes she had grown accustomed to, his earthy sent made her feel a little weak in the knees. Quickly she blamed that on exhaustion she felt; a lack of proper rest did many a horrible things to the mind. She had wondered why he had collected her up in such a fashion but did not ask. For the first time in a long, long while she was even too tired to do that. As the door was opened, Kieran brandished his dagger. Good thing they're wasn't anyone waiting inside for them. They might have openly laughed at the display. But it was endearing.

"A bath sounds lovely," she murmured. "Thank you for letting me go first."

She walked towards the room divider and put herself behind it. Though, really, the light that shined in through the window and made it so her silhouette was on clear display in a clear cut black against the cream paper. It didn't matter to her in that moment. She began to take off her clothes as quickly as her tired body allowed her to do so.

"Are you sure you want me to go first?"
 
"Go for it, I don't mind going second. Besides, what with everything over the last few days, well... you deserve a little comfort. And no, I won't make the obvious ploy and ask if there's room for two, because I get the feeling you'd toss me in and shock me, right?"

He'd chuckle, but then sigh with relief as he set the packs on the floor, stretching out his muscles. His eyes, however, were drawn to the screen, watching her outline through it. Would she notice he was looking at it? She'd notice if he took a dagger to it, of course, but he tried not to stare. As more of her figure became visible, well... it was tempting to go knock the divider down and call it an accident- of course, she'd never forgive him, and what was left after her rage might fill a small bucket.

Though a glimpse of that figure might make it worthwhile... then a thought occurred to him.

"Do you have your clean things, or was I carrying them for you? Figure you might want something comfortable to change into... anything specific, or should I keep my hands out and let you decide?"

He would proceed to work the armor off of him, sighing as it revealed a cotton shirt that was patched and mended as much as his old armor was. He'd had the shirt for years, and it was obviously worn from its job. The armor would find its way to the floor, neatly laid out. It'd be followed by his boots- the good leg first, and that one came off fine. The other one was a bit tougher to work around the bandage, and eventually came off with a bit of work- and he muttered something when he noticed a spot of red staining the cloth bound over it.

"Blasted thing still won't heal..." he mutters half to himself, and sets the boots aside, his eyes again drawn to the divider. Maybe she'd teach him a trick or two... of course, if she knew what he was thinking right now... well, the bucket might come into play all over again.
 
She eased herself into the bath. It was nice and hot, just the way she liked it, and a sigh of relief sounded when the water lapped over her. If she was not careful Thea, she could have easily fallen asleep in it. A slow hand came up and moved the water over her arms. Three full days had passed since she had her last bath and this was just heavenly. Even if it didn't have the rose petals to scent her skin, she could not help but think that soaking in that steamy tub was the best thing in the world.

"I think that you have my clothes, actually. I dropped my bag at my door. I didn't think that I would be first to take a bath." She replied. "If you could bring it over to the divider that would be brilliant."

Before she heard his response she slipped into the warm and soaked her hair. A hand went through her curls and she paused in alarm. For a moment she had forgotten that she had been shorn like a sheep. Pulling her head from the water, she heaved a sigh. That really had been quite traumatic for her. Why was Mercutio so rough with it all? Why had he cut off so much? A simple trim would have certainly sufficed. Likely it would be to her ears once everything was cut evenly.

A soft cry escaped her lips and she blubbered into her hands. This was going to be a hard trip if it had started out so terribly. At least she had Kieran to ease some of the difficulty of what they had to do. Mercutio was of no help but Kieran... Kieran was something special.
 
He would look through the bags and bring it over, swinging it around the edge and leaving it behind it. Gods, how he was tempted to take a look... but then he remembered she still had her stave with her, and the idea quickly faded. He would turn back to sit upon the bed, but stopped when he heard something.

"...Thea? Are you all right?"

'No, idiot, if she was all right, she'd be happily enjoying her bath!' He chastised himself as he shook his head. He worked up the courage to speak again, and took a deep breath.

"If it counts for anything... I still think you look good. I don't care what he thinks, or what he did- nothing will change that. Sort of like nothing will change the fact that I'm here, with you, and I'll be here for as long as needed- maybe even longer, if I can raise enough to pay off my tabs back there. I'm not leaving- hey, every good mage needs someone she can trust to wash- er, watch her back, right?" he added, a small smile on his face.

He really shouldn't have been thinking of what she looked like in the bath, he really shouldn't have. But something was bubbling up... something he'd been thinking of for years, and its time had finally come.

"I remember one other thing Petros told me- a few months before he... left. I'd been sitting with him in this old tavern, and it was very late at night. He'd been through his second bottle, and I was keeping him company so he wouldn't have to drink alone. We got to talking about the past, and it turned out the reason he was drinking so much more than usual was... an old memory, one of a woman who used to catch his fancy- no, not what you think. He was telling me of how he won her heart. It went like this..."

He took a deep breath, making sure he had the words right in his mind.

"'There are many battles that are worth fighting for, boy, and one of the most valiant is the one to win a woman's heart. Be there for the one you choose, never waver, and always stand firm in her defense. If she cares enough about you, she'll recognize you as the sword that saves her, the shield that defends her, and the man she can always rely on to be there when she's in trouble. If you find a woman like that, I give you full leave to start your own branch of the Brigade with her- because looking at you, she'll be one hell of a woman, kid.'"

He'd never told that story to another living soul.
 
It did, surprisingly, help when he told her that he found her attractive still. The blubbering from behind the divider was somewhat quelled though loud sniffles and hiccups still managed their way out of her throat. Knowing that he thought she was beautiful made her think that others probably still saw her that way. Her hair was just her pride and joy; the thing that made her feel truly glorious even when in the company of full blooded elves.

"It sounds that he knew what he was talking about," she told Kieran as she stepped from the bath. She let her body drip dry for a few seconds but the cold, which had caused bumps to rise on her skin and her nipples to harden, told her that getting dressed was in her best interest. As she dug through her bag for a chemise, she continued on. "When you find a woman that is worth fighting for, keep a hold of her. Most of us are shallow, rude, and expect to be treated differently because we have breasts."

Finally she pulled out a cream colored chemise and tossed it on over her head. There was no point in dressing any further. Sleeping in a bodice and skirts was uncomfortable and, if they were going to travel with one another, she assumed they would get to see each other in various states of undress. Plus she was too exhausted to be shy.

The water from the remainder of her hair had dripped down and the material from the underdress soaked it up, making it cling to her body.

"The bath is yours if you want it." she told him as she stepped out of it.
 
He would look at her, eyes taking in the way that underdress was just clinging to her. By the gods, she looked amazing. He almost wanted to reach out and pull her to his embrace, and hold her in a kiss for some time. Her state of dress- or rather undress- was having a noticeable effect as he stood up. He would blush as he moved past her, looking back as he went by

"...what if I already have?"

Kieran grinned guiltily and moved behind the divider. The shirt would come off, first, followed by the sound of everything else hitting the floor. He would sigh as he eased into the water, which was still somewhat warm.

"...well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, well... I would like to tell you I find you really, really attractive, Thea, and hope that you don't jam a lightning bolt up my rump and send a fireball down my throat to meet it halfway for saying so. No matter what you think you look like, no matter what anyone else thinks you look like."

He would wash himself in silence, the quiet splashing of water the only noise for about a few minutes, until he spied something on the floor.

"You know, your weapons aren't going to do you any good sitting over here... your stave, too? Hmmm... does that mean I can say or do what I want and you won't be able to zap me? Like say... if I wanted to give you a kiss on the cheek and tell you how good you look in and out of your robes? Or something more?"

He'd give a good hearted chuckle at the end of it as he hoisted himself out of the tub, using the old shirt to give himself a quick drying. It would get tossed over the divider, but end up drifting down to drape over it. Then he spotted a new problem.

"Oh, blazes. Uh... Thea? Can you pass me something to wear? I think they're over there, in the packs... it's kind of cold- maybe we should have started a fire before the bath, huh?"

His silhouette was trying to strip water off his limbs with bare hands, and when he turned, well, something was kind of, well... protruding. The shadow of his head would look down, and then he turned again, to make it less obvious.

"Talk about karma catching up with you... here I am standing with nothing on, and you've got the clothes... must be payment for what I did when we first met. You're not... still holding that against me, are you?"
 
Thea landed on the bed with no noise. Her weight was lighter than a human's so it did not even make the furniture creak as she settled down on to it. Kieran was a flirtatious man, that was for sure, and in her sleepiness his advances made a blush appear on her cheeks. She didn't want to throw a fireball at him in that moment and, even if she felt the urge to, she could not. That required an energy she just did not have. She curled up against the warmth of the blankets and heaved a sight. While this was not the goose feather bed she had grown up with and loved, the straw inside of it was comfortable.

"I do not think you'll try anything," she replied through a yawn. Her eyes fluttered shut and, from the bottom of the bed she crawled beneath the covers. Muffled, she went on to reply. "You have proved yourself a gentleman and I trust you. Besides I don't want to waste was little energy I have left in teaching you a lesson."

When he asked for the clothes, she let out a groan and wrapped the blankets tightly around herself. "You can get them yourself. I promise I won't peek at you. My eyelids are too heavy to stay open anyway."

In reality she just did not want to move from the cocoon or warmth that she had encased herself in. The world of sleep was calling. The goddess of dreams danced a teasing circle just outside of her mind's vision.

"Besides if we're travelling together we'll eventually have to see each other's... parts."
 
"Okay... this has got to be some sort of poetic justice, though..." he would mutter as he peeked around the screen. He would move quickly, seating himself on the bed while pulling a pack to him, causing the bed to slightly move as he dug through a pack, looking for some clothes.

"No... not in there... let's see here..." She'd hear the sound of another pack being dragged over, and he'd open it.

"Well, this one's obviously not mine... I'll scoot it over to your side for now..."

The weight on the bed would leave, and she might hear his steps as he moved the pack to the other side of the floor, so it would be near her if she wished to get anything out of it. Part of him wondered if she was simply playing with him, but his eyes kept looking at her as she lay there. He'd shake his head.

"I would bet your eyes aren't really shut under there. I can see you peeking out of the corner of your eyes." He'd chuckle again, and sit back on the bed again, causing a slight bounce in it again.

Rummaging through his other pack, he'd pull out some cloth shorts, and stand to slip into them. The pack would end up shoved away, and he'd finally get into the bed with her. He yawned, got under the covers, and accidentally ran a cold toe down her leg as he shifted around.

"You know, you'd have a lot more fun if you were not so stubborn about your feelings. But I meant what I said, regardless of what you think- and I can prove it, too."

He would carefully turn in the bed, and look over at her... then lean his head forward and kiss her cheek.

"I hope you felt that. If not, I might just have to do it again when you wake up."
 
Perhaps Thea had been looking out from beneath her covers to get a peek at what he was packing. There was some curiosity there. After all she had never even seen a male organ before. Bits overheard by the saucier maids just added to her confusion. Surely the penis did not flop about and slap against their skin! That was ridiculous? If she had been looking out from beneath her blanket it was only brief. She really had a hard time keeping her eyes open.

As he continued his rummaging through the packs her breathing became deep. No matter how hard she tried to fight the sleep, it was impossible. Before he had even climbed into bed she had fallen into a deep rest. The cold touch of his toes only caused her brow to furrow a slightly.

The kiss, however, seemed to calm the sleeping half elf considerably and her features softened.

The day passed without anything considerable happening. Like a human Thea needed the standard eight hours of rest and she slept quite peacefully until the fifth hour in. Mercutio had risen from his meditation and wanted to get the hair sold. He banged loudly on the door.

"Wake up, you two!" he barked. "This isn't going to sell itself you know!"
 
"Mmmm..." he muttered, shrugging closer to the center of the bed, half-asleep. He'd been having a particularly grand dream, one that involved a branch of the Rising Phoenix that ran so well, the two who had founded the branch didn't have to do much but fall into and out of bed five days a week.

He felt something warm, and pulled himself closer to it, sighing as he did so. He was content to slam the pillow over his head and simply let the knocking go away, muttering something incomprehensible in his sleep.

His body, however, was brushing up against Thea's, unknowingly nudging her with something in the back or the front, depending on which way she was facing him. He would take a deep breath, the pounding on the door apparently somewhat incompatible with sleep, but would try to fake it for as long as possible. Perhaps he'd just go along on his way, or perhaps he'd simply shrug. But at the same time, they did need the money... or did they? Perhaps all he wanted to do was have them there just so he could needle Thea while making her watch her precious hair end up sold.

Or then again, he could just stay here, with her, until he got the hint that they didn't wish to be disturbed. He could make as many different comments as he wished, but unless she said something, he wasn't moving from this very spot.

It turned out to be a losing battle. His eyes opened, and he would mutter something that was physically impossible for Mercutio without the assistance of several large ogres and a troll to help him do.

It was somewhat later, and his sleep-fuddled brain would take a few minutes to return to consciousness... he'd shrug closer to the warmth and just doze for a while.
 
The continued hard knocking that came from outside of the door was enough to wake her up. Her ears were hypersensitive and the noise sounded loud to her. Too loud. A groan escaped her lips and she slowly sat up, hating the fact that she had to wake up so early. Breaking her sleep cycle just left her irritable. Something that the two men in her party were going to learn the hard way.

"Can you stop slamming against the door!" she exclaimed in a shrill tone. "You can go and sell the hair yourself!"

There was a soft chuckle that made Thea's blood boil. Oh! He was going to pay for it.

"I can't go out into the sun quite yet. The sun is at its highest point. My eyes would fry." He explained in his smooth, non agitated tones that made her prickle all over in annoyance.

"Maybe you should be blinded. It would serve you right!"

"Anyway, it would be best to head out now to do it. It will give you two time to get lost and find yourselves before the wig maker's shop closes."

The blonde groaned and buried her face back into the blankets. Damn it all! No matter how much she hated to admit it, he was right. The bit of extra coin gotten from the transaction would help considerably later on. Not only that but a town between the next city wasn't guaranteed. If they didn't sell it the day they were in the city, then their chances to sell it dwindled considerably.

"Fine!" she replied just as shrilly. "Just fine!"
 
He would wince, getting up. 'Well, even the prettiest apple's bound to have a few soft spots...' Kieran thought as he slowly extricated himself from the covers.

"Remind me to drop a few rocks in his boots when we leave..." he would mutter as he stretched, and looked around. He'd dig around for a clean undershirt and pull that out, and then begin dressing himself back in his armor, looking around. The chance to glimpse Thea in her underdress again, well... that was worth it. But a comment upon how she looked, at this time?

"Boy, he really has a perfect sense of timing... of course, note that it's us doing the work, and he's going to more than likely go drink and find a little action. This place should still be good, though... but we're going to have to put on our little 'act' again..." he finished as he stepped over to the tub and retrieved her weapons, walking over and placing them upon the bed beside her.

"...hopefully it'll still be warm by the time we get back... unless you simply want to tell him to go out and do it himself?"

That might be fun, Kieran realized, but it would also give him the perfect opportunity to pocket the money and claim he'd lost it. They were going to have to go, no matter what- because there would always be an excuse, and they could use a little extra in the emergency pouch. He dreaded asking her to go in with him, but at the same time, he didn't want to leave her alone, either... the thought weighed upon his mind. She was obviously in an irritated state of mind... and making her watch her hair being sold might finally push her enough to snap, he thought.

"...so how are we going to do this?" he would wonder out loud, wriggling his boot back on.
 
Morbid fascination drove her on at that point. While still agitated, she did have an interest in selling her hair. If it went to a wig maker, the man had better been a good one. Her curls would go for no less than a bag of gold and the person she wanted to sell her lustrous locks had to be clean. Selling to someone dirty did not appeal to her genteel senses and her vanity. The hair may have no longer been attached to her but that did not matter.

Thea pulled herself out of bed and dressed as quickly as she could. In her exhausted she did not lace up the bodice tightly and, instead, let everything rest comfortably. She didn't take any other weapons with her, only a knife. In town she did not see the need of lugging around that beautiful staff. She assumed that being attacked was not likely but, still, to quell any fear he had she was going to take something.

"You're probably better at navigation," she said in clipped tones. "You can lead the way. I'll follow."
 
"Then let's go before he starts in with the jibes."

He takes one knife in each boot, and his two swords. Irregardless, he wants to be loaded in case something does happen- and if money was involved, there might be trouble. He would double-check his buckles, and turned around.

"Are you ready? We'll just go out and do this, and come right back here- unless you have anything you need to buy. I'll go with you, no worries. Besides, about earlier..."

He smiles a bit, remembering the kiss he'd planted on her cheek. With his luck, she didn't feel it, or didn't want to discuss it at all. But her scent and the softness of her skin stayed with him, as did the memory of her standing there in a wet underdress... idiot, why didn't he make a move then?

'Kieran, you really have to talk to her. When you get back, even if she doesn't want to.'

With a deep breath, he walked to and opened the door, face going neutral.

"Okay, where is it, and let me guess- you're going back to sleep or to drink something, right?" he asks dryly, wiping his eyes with one hand.

"Just give us the hair and we'll be on our way."
 
After Mercutio had given them the hair to sell he simply snickered and walked back to his room. Of course he was going to spend the day with a buxom wench. He was a virile man that needed to release pent up frustrations. Sexual release was a good way to do that; he did enjoy watching a poor girl squirm beneath him. As of the answer to the question Kieran asked... there was none. Mercution knew of the city's location but had not delved much into its streets. He muttered something while his back was turned and waved his hand dismissively.

"I suppose we'll have to ask one of the barmaids," Thea replied through a yawn. Her pupilless eyes darted to the bag of hair and she tensed. It was almost as if she was looking at the remains of a loved one. Her guts twisted and she swallowed hard.

Pushing past him, the half-breed made her way down the stairs. The quicker this happened, the quicker she could get over it. All of the morbid fascination was gone. All she wanted was to get the coin, have a nice dinner, and go back to bed for some rest. When she made it to the landing of the stairs, eyes lifted towards her.

There were several rather large men in the tavern part of the inn. They wore furs about their necks and each had a fur cape or cloak to combat the chill. Her eyes widened. There choice of dress was odd for that area of the continent. At least since they were close to the East, she assumed it was.
 
He would follow her down, yawning, but would then stop next to her.

"Honey, why are you stopping? We have to go get that dress fitted, remember?" he would say, trying to keep his voice normal. He'd grab her about the wrist, and pull her close, planting a kiss on her cheek, and then walking her out through the front door, muttering something under his breath.

"Are you TRYING to get yourself caught?" he would hiss at her, looking back as they went down the street, trying to make sure the men hadn't followed them. He'd pull her into an alley and push her up against the wall, eyes blazing.

"Those men were from up north- hopefully their good sense outweighs the coins in their eyes, because if they start getting ideas, I may not be able to handle all of them. Do you want to get yourself sold into slavery, Thea? Does the idea of that guy and his friends passing you around, laughing as you beg them not to take you over and over again excite you? It sure doesn't sound fun to me. You are not back at your castle. You are a woman, and to them, women are things to be broken, to be trained. I will not see the woman I love end up decorating some lord's bedroom like a pretty bauble, for his personal use- I would bet Firk would pay handsomely to have you bolted to a bedpost whenever he wanted to force himself upon you."

He would look away from her, trying to keep his breathing under control.

"Let's get this stuff sold. Hopefully they'll leave by the time we get back, or we may have to find ourselves somewhere new to stay. They know we're there, so it might make good sense to try and leave without arousing suspicion..."
 
She gasped in shock and horror as he grabbed her and practically slammed her against the wall. Cheeks blotted red as he berated her, the things he mentioned caused her stomach to churn and flip; feeling as if it were tying itself into a knot. This was no better than Mercutio taking her by her hair and hacking it off. Did he honestly think she wanted any of that?! She glared openly at him until he let her free from the wall.

"You do not have to treat me like that!" she hissed at him. "You are very, very lucky I am still exhausted. I imagine that a lightning bolt up the rear makes it difficult to sit!"

Thea was in no mood to be pushed around. Especially by the person who was supposed to be on her side! Just because he had helped her did not give him the right to be a complete ass to her! At least, that is how she viewed it. She did not see how terrified he was that he could have lost her. Nor did she notice the hint of concern in his brutal tone.

"You're just like Mercutio after all," she added. A delicate hand began to brush the dust and dirt from the skirts that being against the wall caused.
 
That last sentence struck straight through his heart. Just like him? Just like the one that took perverse pleasure in making their waking lives harder than it had to be? He would look down at his hands and turn away from her, falling quiet. He would adjust some of his gear, trying to think of the words.

"How many people would remember you if you suddenly vanished, Thea?"

He would turn slightly, scuffing a boot on the ground.

"How many people would mourn for you- would remember you beyond just another face on the street? How many people would actually give a damn that you existed- or would try to save you if they knew where you'd disappeared to?"

He would turn fully and lock his eyes to hers.

"I doubt Mercutio would ever really care- I wouldn't put it past him to set something like that up. The difference between us is that I would care. I would see your face in my dreams every single night, until I went after you, no matter the odds. And gods willing, I'd haul you home and tell you how worried I was, that I was afraid all I would find would be some body parts. That even under all that dust and dirt and grime, that you were still one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen in this world."

He would turn away, making to move out of the alleyway, one glove trying to make a quick pass over his face without her noticing.

"L-let's get going. If you still want to cram a lightning bolt up my rear when we return, well... I guess that's your option. But I hope I can prove to you I'm trying to keep you alive, despite what you may think of me."
 
Seeing the look on his face made her regret her words almost instantly. The choice of words she used were very rash. Too hasty, in fact. Squaring her shoulders, she prepared herself for the words that tumbled out of his mouth. They were more shattering than what she had expected. What she thought would happen was a tirade of mammoth proportions and she wasn't going to blame him for that. However instead he went on how he was going to miss her; search high and low until he found her once more. Guilt crashed against her. All she wanted to do was run away just so she didn't see his face for awhile. Thank goodness he turned away in that moment or she might have run.

"Y-you just didn't have to be so rough with me," she told him as steadily as she could manage. "A lady doesn't deserve to be treated in such a manner."

Her cheeks were still blotted with her anger and shame. Slowly she followed him to the mouth of the alleyway. This was going to be a very quiet hunt for the wig maker. Hopefully he was not still angry at her for her words. Silence never suited her and, with verbal misstep she just had, even the buzz of a lively city around them would not drown out her own thoughts.

"Which way to you think we should head?" she asked as she looked to the streets. They were bustling with many people but not an overwhelming amount. It was almost as if not many people lived there but, rather, the whole town prospered because of its position at the mouth of the forest. "Lead the way."
 
"I-I shouldn't have, you're right. I overreacted. I tend to do that when I get nervous- and I apologize. Sometimes I look at you and forget that it's your first time on the road... you certainly have the look of an adventurer. Though maybe I could clean up the edges when we get back... make it even, at least, if you'd allow me."

They would step out, him looking both directions before sweeping out of the alley and along the street. He knew that it would be worth a lot, but first, they had to get directions.

He'd duck into a shop with her and make a show of looking at the products before talking to whoever was running it- getting directions, and a general feeling for the town. Depending on how much they would get, he might see fit to secret a bit back into his emergency fund.

Eventually, the trek led them to a small, clean shop that they'd been pointed to by an overly helpful fruit merchant. It was obvious that it was the place, but at the same time, he took Thea's hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it, then looked into her eyes.

"Well... I guess this is it... I can't leave you out here, but... I know it'll be hard for you. I'm asking you to be strong for as long as it takes- if you want to break down when we get back, then you can use my shoulder as long as you want to. I can take it, remember?"

He would give her a smile, one that pretty much proved that he'd gotten over the alley.

"Besides, I love the fact you aren't afraid to take charge. Maybe we should dye your hair red to match the fire in your heart, huh?"

He would grin and laugh, indicating it was a joke, before taking a deep breath and opening the door.

"Be strong, Thea- for me?"
 
Red? Hopefully he was not referring to the blanched ginger color freckled youth and unfortunate women ran around with. That shade would do her no favors. It hardly did anyone favors. Any sort of red did not sit well with her. Dark hair was for the common and she was certainly not common. A sigh escaped her lips. That line of thought was going to have to stop. She knew that she was no longer a noblewoman and would not be until she could get Lord Firk out of her home and freed her mother.

"You don't need to coddle me," she told him in a whisper. Her expression strained. It was going to be difficult to watch, sure, but the worst of it was already over. Her crowning glory had been practically torn out. While this only salted that wound some, she was going to live through it. "I'll be alright."

She took in the face of the shop. A smile crossed her lips. At least it looked like a reputable sort of place. In the small window was displayed a fine looking wig of black with gentle curls. Whoever owned that hair previously was either elven or a very blessed human and it made a beautiful piece. She nodded her head and entered the establishment.

The store front was nice. Simply decorated, it highlighted the elegance of whatever was inside. A painting hung on the wall right above the wooden front desk. It was of a woman who looked a remarkable amount like Learthea did except her eyes were a brilliant green and the woman in the painting looked younger. She was dressed in a fine white gown and looking over her shoulder.

"Mother," she breathed softly.

As she studied the painting, the two were approached by a rather slender man in tight fitting and dark blue died leathers. Despite his age he looked young and virile; the only indicator of how many years he spent on the planet being the fine silver hair pulled back at the nape of his neck.

"May I help you two with anything today?" he asked.
 
"Actually, yes. I have some... material for you."

He would place the bag with the hair on the desk, trying to be as delicate as possible.

"Considering the source, it should be very good for your uses. It's clean, strong, and a very nice color."

Kieran would leave the bag on the counter and look around, watching Thea stare at the portrait on the wall above the desk. The woman was attractive, there was no doubt about it, but there was something about her that reminded him of Thea- maybe a little more gallant, a little more refined, but at the same time... he wouldn't trade her off for anything.

"Are you all right, love? You look like you're ready to break down..." His hand would find hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he waited for the shopkeeper to decide on what he might offer them. He hoped it was over quickly- considering the source, it was good hair, and with any luck, he'd give them a fair price for it. Maybe he'd even give them a bit of a trade as well...

"Love, did I tell you how I always imagined you with black hair? You never wanted to dye yours, so maybe you'd humor me and pick up that black wig we saw in the window, perhaps?"

It was a shot in the dark- if they were searching for a blonde, they'd ignore a black-haired woman. He only hoped that the price would still give them enough to live on, just in case. He also hoped that Thea would get the hint- if she didn't like dying her hair, well, this could be a work-around that could save what was left of her hair and give her an even better disguise.

Though he much preferred the blonde look, of course. It seemed that there were nothing but dark-haired girls everywhere, and a blonde was a rare treat to see.
 
Thea was pulled away from looking at the picture and turned towards Kieran. A wig? That was likely going to be pricey. Especially if he meant the bluish black one in the window. How would Mercutio react if they came home with nothing but a vanity piece?

The man studied the hair as the two spoke. Although the two did not see it, his eyes widened at the sight of the golden tresses. Recognition spread across his face for a moment, eyes darting to the painting of the woman. A small smile crossed his lips and he turned to the 'couple'.

"I can easily make a trade for this hair for the wig in the window." he said with in hushed tones. "I could even throw in a bag full of gold coins. It really is exquisite."

Violet eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together. That sounded like a fair trade to her. Mostly because they would be making out in the end. There was also the fact that the man had a good eye. Of course her curls were exquisite.

"I think that sounds good, right sweetie?" she asked.
 
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