Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Cassian]

Cassian was thrown a pretty substantial distance for a man of his size, landing on his back after a few rolls and he huffed, glancing up at his axe that'd landed another few feet away. "Fuck." he coughed, about to reach for it before the man was towering over him, steel glinting in the sun as his axe swung down at him. He rolled just in time for the axe to slam into the ground where he'd been lying and Cassian looked at the weapon, half buried. There was no way he'd intended on pulling that..

A few of the others had decided to turn their attention toward the fight after seeing Cassian quite literally flying through the air. Great.

He grabbed his axe and rolled to his feet, trying to take quick advantage of the half giant's obscured peripheral vision, his own axe swung flat at the side of his head with force in hopes of taking him off of his feet.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Tryst..." Kain stepped forward and his tone was warning. The half giant at times could get out of hand, especially when there was a new person in the ring. He needn't have bothered though apparently. Tryst roared at the blow caught him on the underside of the jaw and threw him into the air and then back on to the ground. The roar became a laugh and he slowly lumbered his way to his feet and wiped some dust from his helmet as if it were actually his face.

"Little man fun," Tryst chortled and then he spun his axe and charged forwards once again, aiming for the mans chest this time.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian heard Kain's tone and ignored it, he was up for this now, and neither of them were going down easy. His brow knit as he watched the giant get up, groaning quietly as he appeared to be laughing. "Little man?.." his brow lifted. Well, he supposed to Tryst, he was little..This must have been similar to how Peter and Alec felt. Cassian spat, shifting his weight as the giant came barreling toward him again. He'd be split open if he allowed that axe to touch him, and the prospect of death was an excellent motivator.

"Come on you big bastard." he growled, waiting for his axe to be lifted before he spun out of it's range and turned with a hard swing at the back of one of his legs. This time he wasn't pulling back either.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Tryst growled as his axe landed in the dirt again, minus the small man, and then was turning to find the quick little bastard when there was a sharp stinging in his knee. The half giant made a noise of anger but also... excitement? as he went down to one knee. But despite his size he was surprisingly quick and he was up and on his feet then throwing the axe at Cassian who had the wall of the arena now to his back. Even as he threw it he was looking for something else to pick up and also throw, his large hand curled around a barrel of water and he lobbed that quickly after his axe with a roar.

"Dance tiny man, dance," another hearty chortle.

 

[Cassian]

He glanced down at his axe, blood dripping from the sharpened edge and he frowned as Tryst was up again so fast.. "Of for fuck sake." Cassian backed into the wall unexpectedly, a glance to everyone who stood watching, the whistle had blown already, but there was no sign of Tryst stopping any time soon. He grunted and moved forward again, just in time to see the axe fly at him and he had to dodge it quickly before it split him in two.

His chest heaved as he stared back at the weapon, fully lodged in the wall and he glared back at the giant furiously "Are you fucking craz--" barrel hit him in the chest and sent him crashing back against the wall, the wood splintering against him and drenching him in water, the air forced out of his lungs and his face a contortion of pain as he tried to pull himself up. He was breaking, his chest felt like it was caving in and he pulled at a sharp piece of wood that stuck out of his shoulder, ripping it free with a roar in pain.. He leaned against the wall for another moment, panting with exhaustion and dripping water, blood and sweat.

"Mh. Get it done Cass.." he groaned and pushed himself from the wall, lifting his axe, and making an excruciating run at the giant man, axe lifting high into the air as he jumped and swung simultaneously, aiming for another hard smash to the head.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Tryst... TRYST," Kain was picking his way through the crowd who had absolutely no intention of getting between the giant and Cassian because why on Arethil would you? The giant turned his head slightly when he saw Kain approaching and a disappointed grumble came from the helmet. He had been having so much fun with the new human, he thought to himself, and he went to turn back towards him and offer an apology when he noticed Cassian wasn't where he had been. The giant slowly looked up just in time to see Cassian coming directly for his head.

The clang rang out across the arena and his whole helmet vibrated with the force of the impact. At first nothing happened. Even Kain stopped in his tracks and simply stared. Then very slowly the giant went toppling backwards as straight as a board and crashed into the earth. The ground shook with the force of it.

Silence.

Aleanora slid over to where Cassian had landed, breezing past Kain and gave him a slap on the back.

"Now that, was fucking impressive."

Others joined her in the congratulations and Kain rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at the giant wondering how the hell they were going to drag him back to his apartments.

 

[Cassian]

He readied his axe again as he landed, and waited, but as the giant fell he felt every bit of pain rush back to his head and he dropped his axe, his shoulder aching too much to keep hold of it. Her rolled the shoulder with a quick glance at the blood that now covered his right side, an angry grimace shot at the fallen giant with a few mutterings under his breath. It took all he had not to go for the fucker again now that he was down.

He let his head fall back, allowing as much air as possible into his lungs as he tried to catch his breath, a quiet laugh rattling from his throat as Aleanora spoke, ignoring her praise.. "Does he always train like that?.." he frowned and looked at her, a look of concern, not holding back was one things but he could have been killed three times over if he was any slower..

"Now.. I need a fuckin' drink."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"No," a slow blink and then she put two fingers to the centre of his forehead. A pulse would run through him knitting wounds back together and relieving any pain. Unlike Lexi's spell it would leave him with a renewed sense of energy too. "He was testing you. Lexi saved Tryst's life from poison wyverns a few years back and the guy has developed a bit of a soft spot for her. He was making sure you were good enough," she patted him on the shoulder.

Tryst was beginning to sit upright after a similar spell probably from Kain and he took his helmet off and gave Cassian a look akin to thunder. Then he was on his feet and marching over. He stopped then with one big hand slapped the man on the back and threw his head back and laughed.

"I buy Little Man drink. He fight well. Almost like Giant. Little Giant."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's jaw clenched angrily at the No and had been about to start ranting about the big crazy bastard when the fingertips pressed to his head and he eased with a sigh, the tension in his shoulders and neck brought on by rage loosened and he visibly relaxed. "Well fuck..." ..Magic really wasn't all as bad as he thought.

He listened to her words and huffed "Right..." he answered roughly, stepping back to roll his shoulders and keep an eye on the glaring giant as he got to his feet. He shot a look down at his axe, ready to dive straight back into action if need be, but Tryst was unarmed and so he stood his ground with a look of warning about him as he approached.

The slap on the back almost bowled him over and he grunted, looking up at the laughing man with a bemused smirk at his words.. "Aye. I think you owe me one." he laughed roughly and reached to offer a much smaller hand to slap him with a little more force than was necessary on the back too.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Oh ho ho ho!" boomed the half-giant as he held his stomach and laughed at Cassian's own attempts at a heart slap. He went to raise his hand to show him how to do it properly when the one known as Kain stepped in. The cogs turned slowly and the giant realised how that indeed might end badly. Instead he rubbed the back of his neck. "Tryst forget how strong he is," he reached down and dusted the dirt from Cassian's shirt briskly. "Sorry Little Giant. We drink now. Toast to battle," and he was striding off towards the exit.

Kain was running a hand down his face looking like a stressed hen mother.

"I am sorry, I forget how he gets at times."

"If it's any consolation it looked very impressive when you got hit by the barrel," Aelenora gave him a rare smirk, her usually impassive face creasing at one corner. Louisa laughed at the other woman's comment.

"Yeah, the wet chest look is," she made a hand gesture a chef might when he had created a true work of art.

It was clear the session had come to a natural end and whilst a few of them made excused with the need to go home, the majority began to follow in the wide footprints left by Tryst towards the Mess for a drink. It consisted of Aelenora, Louisa and Kain. The youngsters had scampered off to find their own fun it seemed. When they got to the mess Tryst had found them a table outside, which was the only place he really fit, and the table was less a table more a hulking great slab of wood propped up on some barrels. There were already a series of flagons.

"First round on Tryst!" he boomed as he saw them approach.

 

[Cassian]

He winced a little as Tryst's hand rose, and he let out a breath with a grateful nod to Kain as he intervened. "Yeah big guy, I gathered that.." he nodded up at the giant with a small smirk as he'd taken to calling him little giant and watched him stride off.

"I'm good.." he reached to grip at Kain's shoulder to calm the man a bit. He was lucky that it'd only been a few small fractures and impalements, he doubted very much that they'd have been able to use magic to reattach his head.

Cassian looked between the woman with a quiet huff and shook his head "I'm so happy to have entertained you ladies." he smirked.

He leaned over the last remaining barrel of water and washed himself of blood and dirt before pulling his shirt back on, and joined Kain and the two women for a drink, patting the two boys on the backs as he approached "I'll have one, then I need to go back for Le-- Le commander." he cleared his throat and ruffled his damp hair. She'd been expecting him to return with Red and he would, he just really needed that drink.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Cassian received a round of raised eyebrows: he wasn't fooling anyone. But the group knew to drop the situation anyway and everyone was soon busying themselves with their first drink of the evening.

"I would ask what your story is but I think the whole compound has heard it by this point after your display outside the library earlier," Louise raised an eyebrow then cut Kain a dark smirk who was rubbing at his jaw and looking suitable sheepish. "But is there anything you wanna know about us? Life here?"

Tryst was gawfing down his own large flaggon which he then slammed on the table, shaking it a little and let out a belch. Then he wiped his lips and called for another. Aelenora had been sitting beside him and she leaned slightly away as he shouted, rubbing her ears from the volume.

"Big guy, what did we say about outdoor voices?"

"Like indoor voice."

"And our indoor voice is...?"

"Whisper," he grumbled.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's eyes met Louise's over his ale and he squinted a little, rubbing the back of his neck as he put the flagon down on the table and cleared his throat again.. "Right.." he nodded and pressed his lips together, looking around the table a little awkwardly..

"Uh.." he picked his ale up as some of it sloshed onto the table at Tryst's slamming.. "Just let me know whether anyone else migh' be intent upon killin' me so I have a little warnin' next time lass, that's basically all I need to know.." he grinned and shrugged. How many more had taken a shine to Lexi and were now after his blood thanks to her public displays of affection?....Damn, that kiss though. He looked distant, happily so.

He wasn't really well practiced in conversation, particularly when he was sober, which was rarely. He downed more of his ale and grimaced at the half giant's booming voice. "Where are you all from?.." there, that was a good question, right? He could do this 'talking' thing.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Oh. Loads, probably. She has a habit of making people love or hate her and she uhh painting you a pretty target. Tryst only used his tiny axe at least," Louise grinned. Tryst answered the grin with a gap toothed one of his own then chortled. "I'm from Oban," her lips twitched up at the corners.

"Annuakat," Aelenora sipped at her drink.

"Bl-" he caught the look the tiny girl next to him gave and lowered his voice. "Blightlands," to a normal human pitch. "Where Little Giant from?"

 

[Cassian]

He rested his elbows on the table and rubbed at his face with a nod at Louise's words "Thought that.." he answered with a light grin and shrugged. It was fucking worth it, and he couldn't help but feel a little smug..it showed.

As they each told him where they had come from he nodded "I made it to Oban one time, crackin' wine." he commented, it'd been about all he remembered about the place other than the griffin knights whom he'd managed to get himself into a drunken fight with. It hadn't ended well.

"Afraid I've never been to Annuakat, the blue city, right?.." his brow arched, sure he'd heard something about slavery in the city but he decided that he wouldn't ask.

"Of course you are." he smirked at Tryst and laughed quietly "I'm from Vel Anir.." he answered, and lifted his drink promptly to finish it off... Perhaps one more.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Aelenora nodded to his comment. "It is an interesting place, my father was a scholar so we travelled a lot. He wanted to read some of the texts here and we never left," she took another sip. Louise was done with her own flaggon of ale and motioned for another round from the woman who was sweeping up and down the rows of tables picking up empty mugs.

"Aye the wine is good but it is not a great place to be a woman," Louise grimaces a little. "I was more than happy when Lexi's crew killed the thing that killed my husband and asked if I wanted to join."

"Little Giant join White Ravens or just contract for while?"

 

[Cassian]

Cassian nodded at Aelenora but as she mentioned reading texts he slammed his hands onto the table "Fuck! Reading.." he rubbed at his face. He'd forgotten about his reading 'homework' and groaned quietly, he'd have to try and cram it in before his next session with Rose.

"Aye...seems a bit tense for my tastes...No offence.." he dipped his chin. "Sorry 'bout your husband, lass."

He looked up at Tryst at the question, words seemed to stick in his throat for a moment and he glanced across the other faces at the table. It was a fuck load to commit to, but he smirked and raised his second flagon of ale. "I suppose you're stuck with me.." he dipped his chin and drank.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

There was a chorus of laughing when Cassian exclaimed about the reading.

"Oof I know that look."

"Someone got the Codex today."

"The worst thing is Rose is never cross, she's just-"

"Disappointed," everyone said at once and then fell about laughing. Once the laughter died down Kain smiled and then put a hand on his shoulder.

"You're a welcome addition."

"Let's hope Little Giant survive. Give six weeks," Tryst grinned.

 

[Cassian]

He looked down but his brows rose as he looked around them in a squint and a sage nod "Aye.. that's what I'm afraid of.." he laughed under his breath and shook his head. The hand on his shoulder prompted a genuine smile at the man in thanks, he was still getting used to working with people and, well being around people again in general, but it wasn't as bad as he'd made himself believe it would be. He pushed his fear on the matter to the back of his mind and quelled it with another drink, which he nearly choked on as he laughed at Tryst's comment. "With trainin' like that big guy, I'd give me three, tops." he mused and finished the drink and stepped back.

"I should get goin'.. Few more drinks later perhaps. have a few rounds." he grinned, flipping Kain a gold coin as he walked away from the group, and turned to take off at a bit of a run.

He found his room first time thanks to Red scratching at the door, and she instantly leapt up into his arms and he lifted her to let her nuzzle at his face as he headed toward Lexi's apartment. Word spread quickly around the city it seemed. His eyes anxiously scanning the throngs of people who stared at him, some men scowled, some women smiled...some men winked. He frowned and picked up his pace, and knocked at her door before going inside and letting the cat down. "Might've fuckin' warned me about Tryst!"

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Farah, a very slim and small woman with large round glasses who gave the impression of an owl blinked at Cassian as he walked in swearing. She was not the only one in the room with a few older looking soldiers standing to attention in front of Lexi's desk. There was a slight beat of silence in the room before Lexi gathered the papers in front of them and shuffled them all together. She had clearly managed to drag herself into some clothes at some point though her hair was still dishevelled and she hadn't bothered to put her eye patch on.

"That'll be all for tonight gentlemen, get some rest," there were a series of nods and murmurs of goodnight before they slipped from the room giving Cass a few curious glances. They were all covered in mud from the looks of it they had only just returned from a mission. Farah took the large stack of finished papers and hurried out after them. Once the door was shut she began to laugh at his earlier comment and rubbed her eyes.

"Oh I didn't realise he was in town, I am sorry Cassian," a grimance. "Truly."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian’s neck quickly changed colour and he rubbed at it with a sheepish smile and nodded in greeting to those that left, his head falling back with a huff as the door closed “Fuck. Sorry lass.” he frowned at her “Glad I didn’t strip off at the door, did consider it though..” he muttered with a roguish smirk and reached to spin her around and pull her back against his chest and bury his face into the crook of her neck and just breathe.

“S’alright. Big bastard tried to kill me to make sure I was worthy of you.” He laughed against her, his body relaxing.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"I think," Lexi laughed as she was spun, shaking her head a little at his good mood. "Farah would have fainted if you did - my assistant," she clarified after a moment realising the two had not actually been introduced as of yet. Her hands rest over his arms that held her about the waist and she ran her fingers along the taunt muscle with a smile. Feeling him relax she turned her head slightly to press a kiss to his jaw.

"I am sorry. Him, I would have warned you about," but even as she spoke the laughter bubbled out of her. "It is a fight I am actually upset I missed, Tryst is one of my favourites," the man just had no regard for finesse but by Gods he got the job done well. "Who else did you beat up whilst I was stuck in paper work?" she glanced to her desk. Despite having got through the mountain she had had there was a fresh, albeit smaller, pile there.

 

[Cassian]

His laugh muffled against her skin and he let out a throaty rumble as she kissed, returning one of his own just under her ear. Red had been impatiently head butting his legs and climbed up onto his shoulder to nuzzle at Lexi’s face from the other side.

“Little Giant smash Big Giant into the dirt. Big Giant buy Little Giant a drink.” He laughed. “It had been pretty civilised until I realised he fully intended on splittin’ me in half. Aelanora patched me up. She has some serious skills with that trident. And Louise and the lads. Alec put me on my arse, actually.” He huffed and pressed another kiss to her neck.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi twisted in his arms so she could turn and face him - and more importantly so she could give Red the due attention she deserved after being left alone in the barracks all day. Despite laughing at Cassian's story she planted a soft kiss on the kittens head too then scratched under her chin before lifting her gaze to his with a raise of a brow. The rest made sense, but Alec getting one up on Cassian? The boy was a good up and coming fighter but he hadn't yet hit his 18th year and should have had nothing on the older soldier.

A line formed between her brows.

"And why, was one of my youngest men, able to floor a seasoned soldier?"

 

[Cassian]

His hands rand down her spine to settle on the small of her back as she turned, smirking as Red purred loudly in his ear at the attention. His smirk fell a little at her question and he shrugged it off. “Went too easy on him, got myself distracted.” he frowned, and tried to pick his smirk back up again as he looked down at her to change the subject. “How bout that swim?”