Indelible Ink (Jaeden)

[Kashik]

Kashik returned the kiss, though she sighed a little when he broke it off. It wasn't really a draw. She'd scored on him, and he'd scored on her, but it certainly didn't feel as if anything had been accomplished. The battle and annoyance that beat in her blood didn't transmute to passion as it might have if she'd at least had some satisfaction in the battle. It wasn't that he was doing anything wrong, per se, just that she felt no burning emotion within him, no bone-deep desire or fire-bright passion. She remained unconvinced, used to the overwhelming joy that the Drykas men wore on their very skin, their hearts out for all to see. She still had no idea who he was, what he wanted, how he loved - and for a woman used to the fierce men of the Sea of Grass, his emotionless fighting and roaming hands just left her a little bewildered. When he rolled her over on top of him, she settled across his hips and just folded her arms over his chest, peering down into his face with all evidence of curiosity. "Are you even enjoying this?" she asked, her head tilting. "Well, I mean, obviously you're enjoying it," she said, pressing herself against him a moment to indicate what she meant by that. "Speaking of which, oh my petching gods, are you half-horse?" she asked, shimmying once more as she giggled to herself. "Seriously, you sure you don't have a pair of socks in there, or a ferret or something? Man. Anyway, yeah. Why are you even doing this? You didn't seem to be enjoying the fight," she said with another tilt of her head. "It's like you're just going through the motions of whatever you think I want. Wait, you're not gonna expect payment for this, are you?" she asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

[Jaeden Kincade]

Jaeden laid there for a moment, his pupil’s shifting back and forth as he looked into her eyes. His hands laced behind his head for a moment as he she asked him a plethora of questions. Finally, after she had finished, he gave a slow sigh. “Fine,” Jaeden simply said, “I’ll fully give in.” His hand then shot up, grasping Kashik’s shoulder, pulling her forward as his leg kicked out, flipping her off of him. Both legs shot up as his right hand snatched out to grab his stick once again. Kicking out with his legs caused his body to lift slightly off the ground as a slight push off with his arms along the ground sent his upper body jolting upwards as Jaeden was suddenly on his feet. His back still faced to Kashik, his left hand slipping around the side of his armor as he slowly unfastened the clasps. The leather armor was slipped off over his head then tossed to the side. Then, as the fabric of his shirt slowly slid up along the skin of his broad back, his mark was slowly revealed. A single link of chain entwined by a thorn stemmed rose, resting along the right side of his upper back, glowing red just slightly at first, but growing in intensity as he slowly turned around. Jaeden then looked to Kashik, kicking the practice spear to her once again as a slow smile of pleasure spread across his lips. “You want me to enjoy the fight? Very well,” Jaeden said as he began to slowly pace around Kashik, a look of excitement and lick of his lips given, displaying almost a different persona than before. “I’ll enjoy it as much as you will now. Round two.”

[Kashik]

She tumbled off him with a grunt of surprise, coming up in a crouch and ready to defend herself, suspicion clear in her eyes. She relaxed a little as he began undressing, unsure what exactly was going on - and then she saw the scrawling Gnosis mark, the very hand of a god imprinted on his flesh, and her mouth dropped open even as he kicked the spear back to her. "You... you're Marked?" she asked, eyes lighting with fascination as she picked the spear up and straightened. "What is it? I mean... which god?" she asked, spinning the spear once before angling it behind her in one of the more advanced defense stances. Curious as she was, she caught his excitement, the change in his persona, and her blood thrilled to battle again.

[Jaeden Kincade]

“Heh,” Jaeden let out slightly as he began inching forward. “One thing at a time.” Then Jaeden rushed forward, this time letting loose with all his skill, his eyes growing wide and a subtle laugh escaping his lips. His hear beat, almost synchronizing with her own, his blood burning as he struck not once, but twice, fighting fiercely as each strike rang down along Kashik’s defense with greater force than he had delivered yet. Not only that, but his body rose and fell with strikes, his movements becoming unpredictable, almost as if they mimicked animals, or taken something from their movements. Jaeden, point in fact, didn’t like fighting. Ranuri’s mark, however, allowed him to move past that as he began to fully absorb Kashik’s thrill over the competition of skills. His form lacked a little, and he still had openings, but his movements were still smooth and hinting at one who recently just rose to the next level in the ways of the sword. “Come on then, show me what a sultry little vixen like you can do.” Jaeden said, still unrelenting in his attacks as he constantly switched between offense and defensive postures quickly.

[Kashik]

She gave a whoop as he came at her, spinning and twisting the spear from behind her to bring it up for block and attack. As he brought his wooden sword to bear, his blows now at full-strength, a feral grin twisted her face, eyes blazing with joy, and her own reactions sped up in response. He was better at sword than she was at spear, though she took advantage of what openings he gave her. She managed to keep him at bay for a few minutes, but eventually he closed and got past her guard, and so they went to bashing at each other. Finally he caught her with a backhanded chop and her spear went flying from stinging fingers - but she just laughed, and balled those fingers into a fist, punched him as hard as she could, tangling her right hand in his shirt so he couldn't get any space between them to use his sword. There was no way she could win in a brawl with him; he was bigger, stronger, and she'd no idea if he even knew how to fight with his fists. But she was still grinning, laughing as she wailed on him, never giving in. Battle sang in her blood and joy in her laughter. She would have to be defeated, wouldn't stop now that he'd given her his all.

[Jaeden Kincade]

Jaeden exhaled as Kashik’s first strike forced the wind out him. A quick, deep intake of breath then gave way to a wide smile and laughter before his head was rocked back by another strike that came swinging up to his chin. Jaeden laughed loudly as Kashik kept him close, leaving any distance to use his sword obsolete in the long run of things. So, as she drew back her left fist for another swing, Jaeden suddenly dropped his wooden stick, moving his right hand into the path of her first as it smacked into his palm, sending a reverberating sting that inched it’s way down his forearm. Jaeden’s left hand quickly shot over Kashik’s shoulder, grabbing the fabric of her own shirt along the mid of her back. With one quick motion, Jaeden bowed forward, drawing back his own frame as his shirt began slipping off his upper body, while at the same time pulling Kashik’s own shirt over her head. Both of the shirts soon tangled together over Kashik’s head before Jaeden released his grip along Kashik’s shirt and fist, slipping free entirely from his own. His hand the drew back before a step forward brought Jaeden’s palm slamming into Kashik’s stomach, her suddenly exposed breasts not posing the distraction they once would have had Jaeden been his normal self. Instead, he reveled in the battle, and the bitter sting of the strikes he had taken thus far. “Watch your footing!” Jaeden suddenly yelled with a mixture of laughter as he continued the forward motion of his strike, shoving Kashik back with all the strength his planted feet and right arm could muster.

[Kashik]

She laughed along with him, reveling in the fight. When he pulled her shirt over her head, though, she gave a muffled shriek and nearly strangled herself trying to get away. His blow to her stomach drove the breath out of her, and she gasped and tried to twist away from him. She couldn't see him anymore, vision obscured by the tunic, but luckily for her he yelled out a warning. Instead of bracing herself, though, she relaxed, and when he shoved her she moved with it and flew backwards, twisting in an almost cat-like move and tucking herself into a roll. She came to a stop on her hands and knees, struggling her shirt back on and flinging his away with a growl. But as her face came back into view the smile was still there, as bright as ever. "Tricky, tricky," she laughed, eyes roving over his form. Now, in movement and joy, she could see the beauty in his lines. The visceral pleasure he echoed from her made him beautiful, the passion made him glorious, and she laughed again and launched herself at him, fists balled and ready for another round.

[Jaeden Kincade]

“Ha!” Jaeden yelled as he met Kashik’s charge with one of his own. His defense when it came to hand to hand was wide open, and as Kashik swung her fist up, it found not trouble finding Jaeden’s chin as he grunted out. His charge, however, didn’t stop as Jaeden’s frame ducked down, his shoulder slamming into Kashik’s mid section. His weight and strength drove her back before she found herself being hoisted into the air above Jaeden’s head. One hand gripping the front of her shirt tightly, while the other rested along her pelvis, his fingers bending in a lingering manner between her legs. “What comes up…” Jaeden said, looking up at Kashik with a smirk, only to have it met by one of her elbows to his cheek. “Fine, doen’t let me finish a catch phrase!” Jaeden then hurled Kashik from his grab as she went flying through the air before eventually tumbling along the ground. When Kashik slowly got back to her feet, she saw Jaeden staring at her from across the field, his left hand wiping away a trickle of blood that ran down the corner of his mouth. “Are we having fun yet?” Jaeden said with a smile before spitting out a little blood. He then held up a large layer of fabric in his right hand. “Seems I owe you a new tunic.” As Kashik looked down, she would then notice the front of her tunic torn completely open. Looking back to Jaeden, there was a smile of both pleasure and leering that mixed together as he slowly tossed the ripped fabric into the wind. His smile still remained as he began rushing towards her once again.

[Kashik]

She looked down at herself, and surprise forced a blink of long lashes. "My mother embroidered that for me," she said, her tone affronted but her smile still firmly in place. Then she looked up, and caught his smile - blood-tinged and feral, and it sent a shock of heat across her flesh. When he started towards her, she moved as well. It was not a fist he met, though. She lept at him, still, but only to grab one of his shoulders and loop her legs around his waist, ankles locking behind him as she tangled her fingers in his hair and kissed him - kissed him like a woman in love, for it was the only way she knew how to kiss, with the whole of her spirit and every inch of her body.

[Jaeden Kincade]

Jaeden caught Kashik in his arms, his hand’s wrapping around the mid of her back as he stumbled back slightly. He returned the kiss, giving her the force and deepness that she desired in return, his hands slowly slipping down to her rear, cupping it fully with both hands as he slowly turned, carrying her over towards the tent. One hand supported her weight then as the other slowly slid up her back, grasping the back of her shirt. When her arms slid down for a moment, he quickly slid it off her upper frame, tossing it aside into the grass. He slowly lowered his head, lowering Kashik down in a dip as his hands slid behind her back for support. His lips began to slowly explore the intricate design of her tattoo, being careful to not agitate the sensitivity of the fresh marks, as he stepped into the tent. He laid Keshik down along the bedroll, kneeling strait up as his hands slowly slid down the front of her body. His thumbs and fingers hooking along the edge of her pants for a moment. Strong, quick tugs jerked her body around as Jaeden pulled her pants free of her form, her footwear being pulled free as well in the process. A strong throw sent them bouncing off the hemp fabric wall of the tent as Jaeden knelt in front of her, gazing over her form as deep breaths lingered from the battle they had just finished.