Closed [Tent City] Mental Haze and Foggy Days

[Fallon]

Fallon kept on walking as best she could. Toes pressed into the ground, the gentle burn of tendons stretching as she walked further. Eyes caught the glimmer of the glowing in the sky once more, her brow creasing into a line if only for a few ticks. The lacking brightness of the spring sun did help in allowing her eyes to take in the world – but in return the muted hues made everything fall into uncertainty. Distances for one thing became harder to decide upon, and the exact nature of such things. Trees became frightening shapes and creatures of nightmares, and the rolling expanse became the back of some mighty beast.

That is, if Fallon allowed her imagination to run away with her.

Zandelia’s words stung. They still did as she took in those deep breaths and stepped within the tree line. The fresh scent of dew caught in her nostrils, the trembling damp branches creaking in the breeze. Feet placed themselves up the floor, her eyes flickering up into the sky as she took the world in. Gloved fingers twitched and her features relaxed as she felt her fall into her element. So untainted and pure. Eyes blinked, her head tilting as she simply stopped and took the scene in. How long hand it been since she had last surrounded herself in such a scene? How long had it been since she felt the gentle whisper of oaken trees and fresh earth.

The fire burned brightly in her mind, roaring and dark, the deep bellowing smoke pluming out into the autumn sky.

She gave a subtle flinch, her entire form tensing for that brief moment. It felt a bit too real then, the crackling embers and strained lungs flickering in her mind. Fingers flexed around the bow, and then the gloved hand raised to brush the fringe from her eyes. No, she was here to find that inner calm and to relax her mind – not to chase memories that were better left buried. Like a lot of things really.

The mask of Dasoma was much like the hissing voice in the back of her mind. That niggling doubt, that dark energy that looked to smother and seep its way into control. A negative shade that she looked to constantly rebuff and defend against with words - a sparring partner of the tongue instead of blades. So, when her eyes flickered from the nature around them and the shrilling voice Zandelia had put on, her expression once more dipped down into nothing. There was no light, no spark, and no sheen of thought or consideration. It was an empty void.

It made sense in her mind – for this was a battle of words. Disassociation was the key here, she knew that the most. Turning her head forward once more she began her step. Slow and steady, the gentle press of the tips upon the ground, the creak of twigs as she walked. She did not respond at first, her eyes staring ahead and her ears twitching to the key words. Sarcasm did not go unmissed, nor did the over exaggeration of certain tones – eyes flickered down to the body language, the quick replay of words.

And thus the game of wits began.

”But I want to see your archery skills more than anything else,” the voice dropped into a purr, but the face remained neutral. Do not fall into the trap, do not give her an opening in which to allow her to exploit. To give her a place in means she can wriggle her way in deeper – and Fallon was not about to let that happen, ” Really? I hadn't heard that before, but of course, of course, you know all about it.”

Her hand at that point lifted, and came to rest over her brow as she looked on into the distance, ”Oh, I'm really flattered that you think I’m not a fool, but I actually still have a lot to learn and understand of the world.” With a hand placing itself at the top of the bow neck, the mercenary stood almost to attention – still and unmoving. ”A big strong man of the knights? I don’t know, did I?” her thoughts gave a tentative step around, a flicker as she remembered Markus for less than a beat and then promptly buried it once more. Give her no bait, ”Oh I did? Well how kind of you to tell me so.”

She found the beating rhythm of the words, the rise and fall of her pitches and dips into whispers. The rumbling undertones, the changed in pitch as she focused. She was looking for a way in, that flicker of an emotion and insecurity. The air was sucked in, slow and steady, the mind centring itself. The world fell behind nothingness, the scene around her blurred at the edges and disappeared behind swirling hues. It was just her and the voice, the ringing out and seeking words. For what exactly she was still unsure – but she was certain she would find out soon enough.

”Pleased to meet you again,” Fallon responded, ”Oh did you? Good thing I forgot you did. Am I mad? Well, if I am thank you for enlightening me once more as to how I am. My, without you I would be incredibly lost in my feelings.” Take it out, convert it, and pass it back. Keep the mind sharp and the tongue quick, ”I will keep that in mind for the next time I require it so.” Her mind twisted and convulsed, dribbling out words as she danced about the subject of knights once more.

”Alas, I must not have been a real knight then. A fake and a phony,” In her mind’s eye she circled Zandelia, a quick step close and then away. Probing and prodding, searching for what the woman truly wanted of her. A reaction of wrath? Anger? A backlash? Fallon was not about to play that game, just yet. There was another slow suck in of air, the mist seeping down to quell that inner fire. In and out, cool and calm. Self discipline and a steeled mind, ”Then again, I figured you my esteemed genius that you would have know what I did in the order. You are after all; incredibly insightful to whom I am with my inner workings.”

Suspiciously so.

Unwavering she continued her forward stare, barely a twitch of movement as Zandelia took aim at the targeted tree. Perhaps it was unusual that at that particular point the archery lessons begun to swirl around in her head. Of stance, of posture, of the correct method in which to extend the arm out to fire – and to keep the fletchings away from the face. Eyes darted off after the arrow, the distant scattering as it skidded across the ground somewhere in the foliage.

Lifting the bow from the ground she studied it for a few ticks, the fingers brushing away the thin layer of dirt. Respect the weapon, and the weapon will serve you well. The tips of the fingers were gently tracing along the bow string, eyes turning as she took in the proposed target. Eyes blinked, a moment of consideration as she took it in, and then once more was left alone in the dark mind with Dasoma, ”Took what way? To share what? I’m sorry, but I thought you where the one who already knew my inner machinations, so what is there to share?”

She felt the gaze press against her, the attempt to sink its very claws in to the flesh. A reaction, stimulation, a look for something petty. And it was something that Fallon was not about to just hand over to her. Words stung because they struck upon something – that feeling of being little more than a waste of time, a nothing and a chore. It was a backlash of her own self insecurities, that worthlessness that pinched at her very core.

The sniggering finally returned her to the reality. Fallon’s hand at that point came round, a gentle pat upon the woman’s head – an action instead of an emotion, there was nothing behind it at all. What was perhaps the disturbing factor was the unchanging, unflinching face that did not match the emotional tone of words. Her eyes locked with Zandelia, a gentle lean in close as she took it in. Lips broke into a curl, the face relaxing slightly as the noses barely brushed. For a moment, even a gentle blush traced its way across her cheeks as she held it. A low voice barely emerged, ”You’re trying too hard.”

In an instant she had snapped away, the fingers lightly pressing against Zandelia’s chest and pushing her back. The moment was left shattered. Pivoting round she simply shook her head, and once more set herself off between the skeletal trees.

[Zandelia]

It was pointless, the other woman was focused entirely upon being a fortress without a crack and her annoyances merely served to solidify her walls further. That was a strange point to her as it was almost as if she were used to arguing with such a personality but in any case the gambit had failed and there was little left to do but sigh, shoulder’s slumping a little in defeat as she silently discarded the persona she thought of as ‘Annoying Dasoma’ she didn’t have the energy to try for a Dasoma more companionable and it seemed that Fallon didn’t care who she was talking to just that she was talking in the blank, emotionless mask. It was a mask, she knew, as much as the other woman may wish it away the memories of seeing behind that mask would last forever. She slipped along in her wake, fingers brushing the bark of the tree trunks as she considered – rough bark reflecting the roughness of her mind.

Far too early in the morning for this shyke…gods. So simple and yet so complex. Just words and yet… she exhaled through her nose sharply as she followed the leader, the peacefulness of the trees a stark juxtaposition to the tension between the pair of them.

For a few seconds as she looked at Fallon’s shoulders she was almost struck with admiration, or she would have been had the predicament not been such an annoyance. She carried herself well and she was strong, on the surface at least. She had even teased in response to her insufferable probing, leaning in altogether too closely before pushing her away and turning smoothly. There had been that almost brush, that blip of closeness and blush that suggested that somewhere within a door was still open. It was almost a game she supposed, of where to find it. She stopped and leant against a tree, arms and ankles crossed in thought as she watched her prowling companion – truly she seemed at home amidst the foliage. Zandelia had little against nature but home would always be murky streets and dark alleys to her. A different kind of forest for a different kind of person.

Oh I can’t be bothered to fight anymore, it’s too tiring and today was supposed to be enjoyable for petch sake. Fine…she can have it her way. A little she grunted to herself almost as she considered how to apologize. She hadn’t ever really had to do it properly before and words were obviously too easily rebuffed these days.

She pushed herself from the tree trunk and hastened forwards in pursuit, it was better to get it out of the way. If she truly was now on the outside of those mental walls then the sooner found out the better as she could at least spend the day doing something more profitable than driving herself into frustration – drinking perhaps, until she dropped. She remembered only one way in which she knew a true apology could be seen and nothing else and it was something personal she had never shown anyone before - it was her mother’s. She finally caught up with the mercenary and stood behind her.

“Fallon. Stop, please” she half-panted and she circled the woman slowly, bracing herself for perhaps the biggest but of the head to be experienced, “look…I didn’t mean it that way. I’m not tired of you I- aha! Got you” she lunged forwards and wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist so that she pinned the forearms in place tightly.

“Now…you…can’t…just storm off…like a girl” she managed to get out as the inevitable struggling was experienced but she was strong and Fallon’s arms had not real leverage to break the grip, her hands were locked at the wrist at the small of Fallon’s back and she pressed them together far too closely to have room at her front to manoeuvre either.

“Now, I am sorry alright. I am sorry for making you feel like I don’t value your company and I am sorry that I annoyed you without meaning to,” she sighed, “now please forgive me or I’ll keep this up all damned day if I have to” she bower her head and looked into the deep pools of Fallon’s eye before slipping her head to the side before she could be assaulted with Fallon’s face.

“Alright, not all day. You’re too strong to hold all day but if I was trying too hard before then I’m not trying now. Just being me. Stop being in such a hissy because I didn’t make things clear. I meant that I was tired of acting around you. I meant that it felt unnatural to do so when it’s just us. I meant that you mean…have helped me too much, for me to feel comfortable acting a lie to you. Now, are we ready to make up?” she asked as she finished her quite words into Fallon’s ear, all of them filled with earnest and truthful emotion.

“Or are you going to force me to keep doing this until you rip my arms off? Or bite me?” she asked, the words were twofold and teasing simply for her own pleasure as she wouldn’t have argued with doing two of the three – if perhaps a bit less vigorously than Fallon would probably end up doing to her.

“I’ll do it you know, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather keep close enough to attack me so it’ll be no trouble. Honestly. Look, watch…” she pressed further as she pulled Fallon off of her feet a little and to the tips of her toes with a grunt of effort.

She had tried annoyance, now she tried for foolishness.

[Fallon]

Zandelia however continued to follow regardless - not that it was too much of an issue to Fallon. The woman was holding herself back, and because of that she allowed herself to be occupied with the surrounding nature.

There was a crouch and a check on several occasions. Eyes lowered to the ground, fingers gently brushing away the layer of broken leaves and grass. Tips traced the faint marks, a squint upon the earth as she thought carefully about the tracks. For a moment her head inclined itself to one side, her lids blinking upon the loose shape before moving on. Feet pressed once more into the earth, the watchful gaze lifting to take in the world. Nostrils flared to the scent of turned earth, her ears twitching as she prepared herself to make a move once more. Or at least until the voice suddenly intervened.

At first Fallon thought there was something wrong, and that in turn caused her to freeze on the spot. Her hand reached up to the arrow feathers in reflex, reading herself to draw and fire off should the need arise. Head turning back to the source she saw Zandelia make her approach, a pause as she held the look and once more moved on. At least tried to before the woman stood in the way. So, with only a sigh she obeyed the whims for the moment. Cheeks puffed, her brow rising as she began her explanation - only to lead her into a trap.

Of course Fallon squirmed, her feet placing themselves firmly onto the floor as she tried to struggle back. Hands flailed at her sides the fingers slapping against the waistline as she tried to struggle back. Not to much avail.
"I can't storm off like a girl?" Fallon breathed, "Then how else am I supposed to storm off? Like some giant of a man?" There was a huff, the lips parting into a grin as she squirmed. Perhaps it was a bit hard to deny that she was enjoying the moment of struggling, it allowed her think outside the box. Until of course those words finally struck.

Fallon's brow lowered, the grin falling away into a line. Those large eyes blinked, her shoulders taking in the single orb and then promptly averting. She knew she had over reacted, she did not need reminding on it. But it still stung. Shoulders slumped, an exhale as the woman rested her head upon her shoulder almost in avoidance. Whilst her arms may have been mostly trapped however, the mercenary could not help but simply let the moment hover and pass by. Even her trapped arms managed to wriggle out from their previous state of being trapped between the two torsos and find themselves gently resting upon her hips.

There was a sniff, and an exhale. A moment of resistance as her lips gave a twitch. She wanted to say something, anything. But instead her throat simply let out a croak, and her head hung in shame. So instead she simply buried her head into the neck of the woman instead. Fingers tensed her entire form hunching up, and her cheeks slowly turning a shade of pink as she pressed in. It was tempting to refuse to 'make-up', to simply
"But I like this," Fallon finally mumbled into the neck of the woman. There was a slight wanting tone in her voice, the sharp edge of loneliness peaking its way out. Feet shuffled awkwardly on the spot, her hands still pawing at the sides.

When Zandelia begun her lifting however, Fallon once more became animated. That moment of helplessness quickly flooded and passed, the gentle press up onto her toes. Sucking in the air she sent herself rocking forward, leaning directly into the woman, one foot lifting in the process and then sharply pulling back. Perhaps a bit too hard, for as the foot went back the other came quickly out beneath her. There was a wobble, that moment of suspension in the air as tried to flail that foot to find something. Arms once more pressed against her hold, to break them out so she could find balance.

A bit too slow however. There was a declaration of "Petch!" the grey mist of the sky filling her vision and then the clunk of the cold earth beneath her. Arms had splayed everywhere, a moment of blankness smother her features. For a moment she was still, the feeling of damn seeping up into her clothes and sticking a layer of mud into the wool of the tunic. The gentle embrace, the lingering warmth of touch upon her frame - it was far from a bad feeling. Her lips broke into a curl, the entire seriousness of the previous scene crumbling away to nothing only to be replaced.

It came as laughter, a deep rolling sound from the very pit of her sense. Teeth bared as she broke into a cackle, her eyes still staring up into the grey expanse beyond. The tension fell, her eyes brightening as she managed to speak, "Gods above I'm a fool!"

[Zandelia]

The inevitable struggles strained her wrists to their fullest extent, her elbows being pushed outwards a little every so often despite the fact that she was trying her best to push back and keep Fallon’s arms at her sides so she couldn’t fight. It was simple mechanics she knew, it was easier to break a grip like hers than it was to keep one. Fallon was strong, she was a mercenary and had the muscles for it she found as the sounds of the struggle became intermittent, breathing strained and the cracking of leaves and twigs as stances shifted and changed. She growled to herself as she forced her tired arm to keep up their lock upon her limbs. It was strangely fun, the battle of wills and the closeness of their bodies. If they hadn’t been in an argument she might have being enjoying herself.

“I had expected at least a bit of the woman in you! You are old enough and…wise enough…to know…how to…act like one” she huffed as the feet came back to the ground and then were heaved slightly upwards once more but not long enough to keep her off the forest floor for long.

It was inevitable she supposed, with her past and her training Fallon was able to force her hands between them despite Zandelia’s efforts to stop that from occurring. She was defeated she knew, all it took was one simple shove and her hold would be broken and her energy sapped for nothing. A pitiful attempt it had been, had barely lasted a handful of chimes she thought. The head lunged forwards and she closed her eye and winced as the impending butt of the brow…didn’t connect. Her eyelid snapped open as Fallon rested her head into her neck and mumbled something that she must have misheard. There had been enough indications already that there would be no interest there.

Well this went strange very quickly. Angry, then storming, then struggling now…well…I…oh petch it I have no idea she thought to herself as those hands graced her hips and then…the mood was ruined.

One simple miss-step, that’s what often brought most beasts down whether they be animal, sentient of even a building. One weakness, one wrong moment or one moment of imbalance it turned out as their weight shifted, pulling Fallon back into the air a little and the woman struck. Legs tangled, limbs shifting and trying vainly to stop the plummet. Her grip was broken but that didn’t stop the other woman from following her down to the moss covered floor of the undergrowth. She landed between her shoulder blades and the breath was driven from her chest just enough so that when Fallon slammed into her from above she was certain there was nothing left inside her lungs. At least the other woman rebounded slightly so that she wasn’t leaning on her – which was just as well considering she all but curled into a ball and kicked her legs back and forth in agony.

Stupidstupidstupid! Twice in one bloody day I’ve had something fall on me. Damned bloody city and it’s petching little…is she…laughing? Laughing!? she uncurled and managed to finally breathe deeply with an accompanying hiss as her ribcage and sternum complained at her.

“You’re the fool? You were the one who just put my flat on my back. Something, I might add, that not many have managed to do,” she felt the cold damp starting to soak her all over, clothes sticking to her in annoying protest at their mistreatment, and rolled onto her side to see that rarest of smiles, “I don’t think you are a fool. I think you’re a crafty damned damsel” she sighed before grunting as she slowly began to move.

She levered herself up until she was sitting upon her crossed ankles and looking down at the other woman, she seemed lost in the sky. Or perhaps her own thoughts. It was always difficult to tell at the best of times and a laughing Fallon wasn’t something she had yet experienced enough to know how to read. She was just thankful they were no longer arguing. She brushed the hair from Fallon’s forehead and grinned in reciprocation, she couldn’t help but chuckle also – it was infectious. It was short-lived however as she coughed and pressed her hand to her side with a grimace.

“Twice in one day, I give you this you are never boring. Still, I am sorry and hope that I am forgiven. If not then this will really annoy you,” she leant forwards and kissed that strong brow before pushing herself back up and patting the woman on the stomach gently, “tired of fighting? Because I know we came to hunt but I’m not sure we haven’t just scared everything away within fifty yards or more. Not even sure where my bow is…wait…found it. Over there, gods you’re a powerful trip”

“Please don’t make me do that again Fallon, I’m not sure that my chest could survive another one. Come on,” she managed to force herself to one knee, “want a hand up? Or do you want to lay there all day? Either way you’re not getting rid of me so easily. I sailed across the damned ocean after all and I know Sunberth better. Think you can hide from me forever?” she asked – the question was two-fold and Fallon was wise enough to see that.

At least she isn’t able to smash me into the floor from here she reasoned as she awaited the responses.

[Fallon]

Fallon was still laughing. Her eyes wide with amusement, her limbs tangled up upon the damp ground, the twisting of forms among the grass and moss. With her back fixed to the floor, her sides splitting as she sucked in the air. It rolled like thunder, loud and cracking into the sky. An whilst she gasped at the air to continue, did her head glance to the curled up form of Zandelia who had taken a tumble with her. Using her elbows to barely prop herself up, her form picking up a layer of dirt as she rose she surveyed the scene before her.

There was a grin back to the woman, her gloved hand rubbing against her side and leaving a smear of mud against her cheek. For a moment she held it there, eyes bright with mischief and amusement, her chest heaving as she found some level of composure and managed to breathe. Cheeks flushed she took in the words and then released a chirp, "Not many people have you on your back? Let me guess, you're the ontop sort of woman then?"

Tongue flashing out, her composure shattered behind a fit of giggles and once more the mercenary was flat on her back. She cared not for the subtle aches, or the discomfort of the cold creeping down her spine. Her heart was racing along side the song of fun, her eyes blinking away the moisture that had accumilated from her hard laughter. Lips were wetted, a sucking in of the air, "Only a bit of woman? A shame, I guess I'm not enough of one for you then?" She tapped Zandelia with the toe at that point, her hand barely rising back to grace her forehead in an overly dramatic fashion, "Oh greatest woe, I have become a cunning fox and a damsel who is not in distress."

Eyes flickered up to the woman as she leaned over, a suck in of the air as she beamed up. She was quite content lying upon the ground, if anything it meant she had no further to fall. Enough content that even as Zandelia brushed her hair to one side. There was a brief following, a moment of calm as she met the single orb the once bared teeth simmering down to that of a simple curl. It was hard to say she did not feel at peace, the gentle touch turning out to be quite relaxing - despite the niggling to once more raise those walls. But she was having fun, even in this moment of childishness.

Or at least until those lips touched. There was a blush, a brief shirk away followed by a blush. Always so forward that woman, not afraid to do what she wanted regardless of the consequences. She was taken back for a moment, a freezing of the form as if she was expecting something else to happen. But nothing did. There was only the pat of the stomach, and the gentle posing of a question down to her. Blinking away the feeling she gave a snort, her head turning away almost in disappointment. Which she was, to a degree. It meant she would have to get up from her position on the floor, something she was rather reluctant to do.

"Well, glad I entertain I guess," her eyes looked down to the extended hand the offer to pull her up. Her lip gave a twitch, a moment of contemplation as to whether or not she should take it. A difficult choice indeed. Or at least until the cogs begun to turn in her mind. Reaching out she took the hand and released a puff, "Alright, alright... I won't loose you." And then she begun to play.

She flashed a smirk at that point, her brow rising and then a tone of simple quick wittedness, "Sorry hero, but this damsel does not need helping up." Her hand at that point tightened around Zandelia's wrist, refusing almost to let. Something beneath the wide gaze of fun turned and twisted, the bubbling level of excitement nudging against her core. Primal almost in its nature. Teeth flashed, her arm pulling firmly back into her whilst the other darted forward. Grabbing the woman firmly by the shoulder she pulled - and then a moment later pushed - her across. From there both arms simply wrapped around, even a leg came squirming out to hold the struggling woman in place.

Leaning back once more, her shoulders returned to the earth and the manick grin as she held on tightly. Laughter once more errupted, a shout of glee echoing out, "Hah! I caught a wild Zandelia!" There was a sniff at that point, a glance down from the corner of her vision, "Okay, I think I'm done hunting now."

[Zandelia]

This was a different Fallon entirely to that which she had seen before, one without a care in the world and completely living in just the sensation of the moment. It crossed her mind that, somehow and some way, she had managed to achieve exactly what she had promised to achieve – the relaxation of the woman to the point where the walls were all but non-existent and enjoyment reigned supreme. She hadn’t even recoiled that much to the brush of lips to her brow, had merely blushed a little and turned rigid momentarily. After that there was nothing but the play acting and the wordsmith she had grown to find affection for. The giggles couldn’t help but make her smile in return. The words spoke, however, caused her to tilt her head and look away into the middle-distance.

Unexpected as always, and too close to home. A jest? Or she wants to know? she chuckled at the silliness of it, the wracking of the form beneath her as it descended once more back into laughter.

“You have a sharp mind Fallon dear, graced with the ability for deduction. Use it and I’m sure you’ll know exactly what kind I am. Figure it out for yourself. As to yourself, well you have enough I think, though perhaps we could get you some cosmetics one day. You’d be more a damsel then, and you seem to be having such fun as one” she grinned as she looked down once more.

She was so playful, so…childish perhaps. It was strange and yet endearing. She wasn’t sure what she had expected to see one day when the walls finally eroded unleashed joviality in its purest form but she was certain she would never have guessed this scenario would come about. She wished that she could figure out how it had been done, whether it had been just consistent pressure upon the other woman or just a strange switch she had somehow triggered. There were clues of course, she was not a fool and some of the signals she had read but it was difficult to put them into context. One, however, was stark and that was the uttered words – she liked it. She was beginning to entertain the possibility that she reacted the way that she did purely because she was Zandelia.

“Oh I should be thanking you, when you aren’t doing anything I can just watch and it’s riveting. Loose me? Oh Fallon you couldn’t tell me what to do even if you tried. I follow because I want to. Just you try and order me around, I dare you to do so. This woman has no collar, though it is interesting you’d like me to have one” she poked her own tongue out at that, finally her hand being gripped.

She should have known better, of course, the playfulness and the general desire to have the last word and win in every exchange. She should have known better but she was too at ease, too distracted by her thinking that she missed the warning signs. The grip had been too firm, possessive and controlling rather than as a view to assistance. Her eye widened at the words and she knew that she was doomed to whatever scheme was resent within Fallon’s mind. Dragged forwards she fell, off balance and only stopping herself from slamming into Fallon bodily as her free hand slapped into the damp, rough earth beside Fallon’s head. From there she was completely open and she was not surprised when she was flipped onto her back, arms around her in a grip she doubted she could break before being rolled back atop the other woman once more – all the while she was almost cackling. Arms, legs, both locked around Zandelia with a strength that belied her form. Soaked to the skin now and struggling in vain she settled for defeat and simply let herself rest upon Fallon as she breathed in the air in deeply. Her ear got a sound beating from the shout of glee though and she growled as she struggled.

Crafty little minx. I should red her arse for this. Wait…no…something much better. This…this is new. It’s almost f- her mind managed to catch up with the incident and a wicked smile crept across her lips.

“Yes, yes you caught me. You know what that means though, it means that your arms can’t defend you now, they’re too busy…elsewhere. And just because you’re done hunting doesn’t mean that I am. But…how to hunt?” she spoke, almost a purr into the other woman’s ear and she didn’t need to look to know that those eyes of hers were probably widening at that moment.

She didn’t truly want to leave at that moment, it was almost a golden opportunity. Not in a cheap and sordid way but in the way that the dew glistened at dawn to light up the floor of the world for but a Bell before evaporating. A beautiful moment that passed too quickly not to experience to its fullest. She already knew that she found Fallon attractive, she wasn’t sure if it was physical or mental or both but that simple fact always hummed between them like a cord. She shifted her bodyweight so that they were face to face and couldn’t help the grin across her lips.

“Oh I think I know how to get you to let go you know, even as rambunctious as you are at the moment. I watch and learn. Now you…fox…watch and learn why you shouldn’t trap a snake” she slipped her head to the side and kissed Fallon’s right temple, then half-way to her cheek, then on the cheek. Oh how she desired more but she doubted it would take further until the arms ripped away and the woman scurried sideways – she had left the space just in case, leaning to the left slightly so escape was easy – she wouldn’t trap her again.

“Oh Fallon, you are a treasure you know” she spoke, trying not to let her face slip into a fit of giggles, “you know how I hunt and yet you…what was it? Dance? No matter, seeing as there is no chance of interest then I suppose I could continue…” she let the words trail off, pausing for the inevitable retreat.

[Fallon]

"You think so? Wow, you must be part cat then," came the teasing poke, "Obey none and stray from person to person..." She made a bad attempt at meowing at that point, and instead broke down into giggles upon the floor. The beating pulse existed within, the rapid blinks as she took in the world. It was still calm, if not alive by the maddening chuckles that were escaping, "I may have to decline on the cosmetics though... makes my skin itch."

Her head at that point looked down to the woman, only the grin that was starting to hurt her jaw filling her face. Her eyes continued to look down upon the squirming form, her grip loosening slightly and then withdrawing. With the elder resting upon her, Fallon simply released a content sigh that she had achieved some form of victory - small though it was. With her arms resting upon the ground she simply once more turned her eyes up to the breaking sky. Somewhere the fog was beginning to thin, and with that the true colours would begin to reveal themselves. For the moment however she would simply relax and enjoy the moment.

Or at least until that devilish look smothered the face of the woman above her. There was a sniff, an cocking of the head as she took her in. Fallon was still largely unphased by the cold mud beneath her, even the faint clumps that begun to knot into her hair - though somewhere in the back of her mind it did say that she would probably have to fall into the bath in the very near future. Other than that, her only thought was the grinning cat before her.

"You're a cougar. You hunt poor defenceless women. You fiend," Fallon rolled her eyes and turned her head away. Of course, she did glance back to listen, the subtle purr doing way too much for her imagination. Cheeks took to a blush, a bite of the lip as she steeled herself. The woman was teasing of course, she had to be. More so after what had happened previously. Legs relaxed from their wrapping, her toes wriggling to allow circulation. Gods, the woman was heavier than she expected. Fallon forced her gaze to meet once more.

"Have you not learned anything Zandelia?" Fallon cocked an eyebrow to the woman. Her face grew serious, her lip only breaking into a curl, "I don't need my arms and legs to defend myself. Surely you must have worked that one out by now." Not that the woman seemed to be listening too much. There was a shudder, a moment of tensing before she let out an exhale, "You hunt... you prowl, you stalk, you... wait for the opportunity to strike?"

Was that the game? The entire idea of the woman? Her fingers gave a twitch, the shifting of weight so they were indeed face to face. Eyes gave a blink, the blush still hovering there in perfect sight. Scar aside, Zandelia was indeed something pleasant to look at Fallon concluded after a few ticks. And she certainly had a lot more personality than others she knew. Lips gave a twitch, parting slightly in response. It burned brighter than the sun in her eyes, the quick wit and sharp tongue that was more than happy to put her in line. Something she appreciated a lot more than the physical.

There was a slight wince, the blush thickening as she tried to bring in some focus. Those lips traced their way down, a warmth upon the cool skin, a tremble as she had a lot of impulses press against her mind. The air was sucked in, the feeling of hot breath clinging upon the air and that wretched tearing sensation within.

Fallon propped herself up onto her elbows. Her eyes that were once looking to the sky were now focused solely upon Zandelia. Deep, searching but absorbing of the single world before her in this very instant. The gaze met, the lip breaking into a single curl. The childish energy had been reduced, fading behind another flood of emotions. They gave a twist, and a turn. Knotted and convoluted, smothered in the heat of the moment. She seemed to be thinking, her gloved hand rising up and lifting to rest beneath Zandelia's chin.

"Now snake, learn why you should never trap a Wilding," came the purred response. Drunk of emotions, the mercenary gave a lean in, a finger pressing and leading the woman towards her. She gave a tut, her other hand sliding out from beneath to hold onto something of the other woman - anything - whilst the gaze came to soften. Even she surprised herself, somewhere in the back of her mind the voice gave a faint muffled shout; raise the walls, don't let them in, keep them out, protect yourself and so on. But that did not really seem to matter at present. She simply smothered it more, and continued to make her way forward.

And then she hesitated. It was quite obvious by the length of pause and the way she tensed. Even her brow and half closed lids seemed to crease with it. The heart gave a race, her lips pursing into a line as nerves took over. That chill of insecurity, uncertainty and fear of the unknown pressed forward. Fallon breathed, hands growing weak and limp, before sliding away and withdrawing. Even her head pulled away and returned to rest upon the floor. The moment was gone.

With an arm raising up to shield her eyes, she released a sigh, "We should think about getting warm and this mud off shouldn't we?"

[Zandelia]

There was the pulling in with the free hand, firm and passionate. The tips of the other fingers all but leading her chin forwards as the tables turned and the world changed beyond what she considered to be normal parameters. The flushed check, the glistening pools of green-blue and the inviting lips all coming closer, this was unknown territory. It was pressure and pleasure, a frisson of possibility that was all too wanted and yet at the same time feared. It was a head intoxicant at the best of times but now, with heart rates elevated and the playfulness of the previous moments, it was a pure narcotic and she couldn’t help herself. Led along she was, the back of her mind screaming that it shouldn’t be so and was once again proven…absolutely right. Fallon hesitated, paused and then leaned backwards once more with limp arms crossing her eyes. One deep breath and it was all over – it had surely been an act. Zandelia pursed her lips and breathed in bubbled air.

“You tease,” she spoke through tight lips, “but yes…a bath. I believe one was agreed since yesterday. You’ll certainly need it after this. Consider it payback of the more crude form” she pulled her hands up from the earth and threw two handfuls upon the other woman as she pushed herself upwards and to her feet.

It was a childish but gratifying display and probably easily seen through. There was a satisfied smirk downwards before she looked away and into the trees, watching their leaves rustle in the small breeze that was picking up and would likely shift the fogs within the Bell. It was strong enough to cause a shiver of cold as it whipped at the cold clothing stuck to her body. The inner fire of emotion kept her largely oblivious to the chill for now though, passion battling with frustration in their never-ending internal strife. She had been seemingly spurned and whether it had been real or not as a situation it still cut slightly, the feeling of being unwanted. It was even more of an annoyance after the build-up had been so tempting. She frowned at the middle distance and shook her head slowly at her foolishness – she had only herself to blame she knew.

“Forgive me if I don’t help you up this time, last time was enough of a warning. Besides…I am a cougar and thus can do as I please no? I will, however, retrieve our bows whilst you tidy yourself up. It would be unseemly to arrive cover in dirt…oh my. I am sorry…wildling” she tutted at her own poor behaviour far too theatrically as she turned and made her way to the first bow – her own she saw.

As she took to the menial task of retrieval she had her back to the other woman, she was deep in thought. The day had not gone as planned at all, had deviated quite remarkably in too many ways to count anymore. It was strange, although every day with Fallon seemed to be strange. Nothing ever worked on the woman, not fully. Nothing ever seemed to be clear cut or easily understood. They read each other and yet didn’t read she was beginning to think. They enjoyed the company but were always so careful to not venture too deeply into things. The past day or so had been different, filled with periods of change and something more…something beginning. She didn’t know what it was, or even where it would lead. It was a mystery. Normally she would be spending every Bell trying to figure it out and yet…

It seems so fragile, I think. A thin strand or two that could so easily be snapped. As proven this morning. Push back, get pushed, share the weight – that’s fine. But jerk too far and too quickly and it snaps. Strange. To know someone so short a time and yet know them so quickly. If I were suspicious I’d think she was…placing…hints she thought to herself as she walked towards Fallon’s bow and squatted down to check it for dirt and moisture.

As she studied it, blowing upon the string to free it of solid detritus and wiping it dry slowly, she wondered whether it were the case. Were those walls merely there to test how willing someone was to press against them? Are all those blushes and askance glances just acted out? Perhaps some were and some weren’t. She would remember this morning and how they had almost shared that most precious of things – themselves. She was sure it wasn’t all an act and yet…with Fallon she never could decide where acting and reality ended or merged. She snorted at her foolishness and stood up once more, walking back and handing the bow to the other woman without looking at her directly, gaze skirting around her and her cheeks crimson. She had been played and lost, how deliciously ironic.

“In answer to your question, I have learnt to not take your hand when you’re laughing as I’m liable to get soaked and smeared with mud. Or that you are a better actress than I am. Or that I need to wear a fame tail and grow my nails out,” she smiled a little sheepishly at that, “or all of them. Or more. You’re smart. You’ll figure out what I’ve learnt”

“Now, shall we? You’re too polite to tell me that I smell so Ill do it for you and admit that I need a wash”

[Fallon]

Zandelia sounded angry in honesty. Not that Fallon looked to confirm it. She was too busy smothering her mind in the inky darkness and calming the irrational trail of thought. Reality came crashing in, the flicks of colours blinding and controlling her process of communication. Even the heart continued to race and crave that emotional tie - whatever it was. Her lips fell into a line, and then a grimace. This was confusing anyway for her mind, and such things only served to complicate what already rested in a state of potential chaos. There was only a turn away of the head when the earth was thrown at her.

Lips spat away the dirt, her arm finally peeling away as the woman gave a snort down at her. With a blink, Fallon simply stared up at her with disappointment before throwing herself up so she was seated. From there the mercenary followed the woman around with her eyes, whilst working to brush the clumps of dirt from her form. Not that much of it seemed to budge - the cold damp feeling stuck some parts together. Elsewhere the mud had begun to seep in to the weave of the tunic. The smear caught onto her gloves, the hands patting away the surface to leave an annoying powder upon the dark. Brushing back the messed hair she gave a sigh and looked out after the woman as she prowled.

Although there was the temptation to speak, it was hard to. No words wished to form, no utterances or phrases of the scholar side emerged. There was a few occasions her lips broke, that moment of hesitation as she tried to form it into something of use. Her voice croaked, her eyes widening slightly as she tried to force sound. Hesitation once more stopped her however, and it was left only with the slumping shoulders of defeat.

It was for the best this way, less pain for the both of them. Much like her mind had previously screamed at her throughout those few precious ticks. Eyes looked up to Zandelia, tracing the way the clothes and mud clung to her frame in certain places, before averting back down to her hands. Thumbs twiddled, a chew of uncertainty upon her lip as she thought. Was it normal to be this irrational? To bat from one extreme to another in an instant? There was a shudder of thought.

It was just a game to the woman, an act. Nothing more or less. Just another attempt to exploit, use and gather information. To step into her world and lead her into a false sense of security. The feeling gnawed at her innards, the tightening pince and bitterness across the chest lasting. Shoulders gave a hunch in, a wince as the winds whistled past. Now upon the floor and unmoving, it certainly became obvious a chill hung upon the air. And it was that fact that forced her into movement. To escape the nip, the grey sky and the distinct smell of damp accumulating with it - the sort that often travelled with the presence of rain.

Bring herself up into a crouch the mercenary rocked upon her toes, the tips of her fingers pressing upon the ground as she stopped to listen. There was a crinkling of leaves, the hum of wood as it vibrated in the breeze and the distant pattering of life somewhere out of sight. Somewhere the hair tie had come loose, the mane of hair catching the wind whilst her fingers snagged around the cord. There was an up glance to Zandelia as she made her return, her brow lifting only slightly to the blush and the eyes that refused to meet. Had she done something wrong? Offended her somehow? Or perhaps something much worse. Her hand gingerly reached out and took the bow.

"I don't act..." she finally managed to speak. Though it came as little more than a stiff mumble. She gave a shudder, her eyes looking away to the floor as she gathered her thoughts. Bringing herself up, she straightened and stood up to her full height. For a moment she stared down only to the crusted edge of her sleeves, and then forced her gaze up to Zandelia, "I just... I guess I just get scared of some things more easily than others. You know, like most humans do. And when that happens, well, I just try to protect myself. Can't really help it really."

Holding it she gave a squirm, her eyes holding as she continued to stare with only a swallow. With a sheepish smile in return, her cheeks gave a blush, "Guess it's kind of like asking not to breath, or for me to be a reader of people. Or for you not to be a watcher and waiter. Or for tea to not reflect its maker." There was a pause, a sucking in of the air and the creeping dark of the memories of the previous night, "Or for you to do what must be done." Her hand reached out at that point and gave a pat on the shoulder, before Fallon finally admitted, "And yeah. You stink. Sorry."

The hand held there for a moment, an internal wrestling rising up once more as the emotions bubbled away. How easy it would be to take it, to let the base primal nature take over and consume. There was rock, the pursing of lips into a line, the flickering of a troubled expression and pinching lids. It would have been easy, too easy. Fingers tensed, the swirling orbs locking onto the singular - searching for a hint as to what exactly to do next. She forced a curl, a gentle nod and then pulled away, "Come on. I think it's going to start pissing it down. Has that... smell."

[Zandelia]

Another period of thick tension, the chords humming in the air and pulsating with life she imagined. She had learnt more of the other woman in the last day than she had in all the days previously and in some respects it was a pleasure. In others it was horrifying and repulsive. The terror and the past, the present and the schemes. It seemed that every meeting was another like plank in the bridge and so she tilted her head as she thought about the words – truly thought about them. Simple words and yet filled with more of importance than initially gleaned upon the surface. It almost seemed as if there was an appeal hidden within, something desired and yet feared. It was the tone, the body language. She had assumed an act but…apparently not. Yet again she found herself wondering what had occurred that had caused such walls from the world.

“I know,” she sighed, fiddling with her bow’s string as she looked at the woman, “at least I think that I do. I am often wrong. But...I understand. We are all different. It's what makes life interesting” she shrugged then and reached out to tap the shoulder of the woman gently. She wondered if she could ease the other woman somewhat, she always forget that she was older than Fallon. It never seemed relevant, except when these kinds of situations crept up on her unnoticed.

“I don’t mind telling you that I’m terrified. Always. Terrified of dying, of failing, of losing things. I could die any day in this shykehole and there would be few enough to miss me. Many people have told me that paranoia is my bedfellow. I do not begrudge them that because it is true, after a fashion. I don’t know. Perhaps it’s too late to change for me but you...” she said softly. She was a hypocrite of course but then everyone was about something, somewhere. She looked away and pinched the bridge of her nose before wiping the back of her hadna cross her eye socket.

“Ah, don’t listen to this old woman. Youth never does what it should, it wouldn’t be youth if it did. You are a people reader and I am a watcher. A disgustingly smelly watcher as you so kindly agreed. Come on, there are some warm waters around these parts” she spoke as she held the gaze for a few moments longer and slipped past the woman – she knew the way well enough.

Fallon was right, of course, the air was beginning to hold that muggy quality that preceded rainfall. It wasn’t too close yet she thought but soon enough the waters would pour down and she didn’t want to be caught in a damned forest when they did. It was getting thicker though, tangier to the point that she thought she could almost taste the wetness upon the cool breeze that was now beginning to cut its way into her properly - bringing the clouds gathering in its wake. As she walked she contemplated the words that had been spoken, the stolen glances and the red cheeks. She shook her head and as much as she tried it only began to obtain the semblance of sense. One phrase, however, hung in the air and drover her mad with thought. She paused in the walking and turned her head back a little towards the woman.

“What did you mean when you said ‘what must be done?’” she asked as she turned the words around, they didn’t make sense – they seemed out of place compared to the others and it bothered her. She liked to lay words out neatly so that she could assess them to her heart’s content and these refused to submit and reveal themselves.

They had reached the crest of the hill now, their vision gazing down upon the plains that surrounded the majority of Sunberthian territory. The buildings huddled meekly to their left and the springs to their right and ahead. She frowned, it had always bothered her that the city had never had a wall or gates. It practically begged for bandits to attack it from their scattered camps here and there. Although, bandits were outmatched by most citizens in the vicious bastard ranking. She pursed her lips and wondered if building a wall would actually gain anything. They had come to Sunberth not only to change it but to improve it after all – or at least those were the suggestions she had gleaned from subtle hints wrapped in conversation.

Ironic considering the previous exchange of words. Still, different things for different things she sighed internally as she waited for Fallon to catch up and enjoy the view too.

“Beautiful, in its own bleak way. Sunberth, the city of scum. Can I ask you…why would you want to change it? I mean, you aren’t from around here so why bother?” the question had been niggling at the back of her mind for some time.

Of course if she was the Fallon she thought she was then she possibly was from around Sunberth but that didn’t matter as much when she considered it was both unlikely and the woman had never hinted at it being the case. At any rate the past didn’t matter so much as the present and the future. If they were to be one in their actions then the question had to be asked. Even if the answer was fleeting and evasive. She would learn something small at least.

And it’s a better topic for discussion and pleasant company than…others she noted to herself with pure truth or thought.

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