Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Cassian]

His breathing had piqued and she'd probably feel his heart thudding under her hand as she pushed him back a little. He looked at her, and suddenly felt unsure about how to answer her. He'd meant it, but perhaps it was a little much.. fuck. Had he really just offered to take the first step in meeting her family?

"Really.. I mean, unless you don't want to but..I'd like to." his gaze narrowed, a little flustered and searching her face for any clues if she wanted to or not.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi made an odd noise in the back of her throat. There were so many emotions vying for attention she wasn't entirely sure how to tell him quite how much she wanted that. How much it meant to her either. There weren't the right words in any of the 12 languages she knew to sum it up in fact, and that included the tongue of celestial beings.

"No... Cassian... There's nothing I would rather... Gods," her hands fisted in his shirt and she pulled him down harshly against her to claim his lips in a kiss of furious joy.

 

[Cassian]

He had no idea what that noise meant and the nausea was quickly coming back to him as he started to panic that he'd overstepped. He was about to lie about how ridiculous the suggestion was when she spoke and pulled him to her lips. Gods was right.

He wrapped his arms around her to hold her against him, a throaty noise in appreciation rumbling into their kiss, steeped in the sort of passion that ignited primal desires. Fuck. He wanted her here and now in the open. Damn her reputation.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The rumble in his throat earned him a nip against his lower lip, a second to take a breath before she deepened the kiss. Her nails raked down his back as she scooted further back on the rail so she was fully sitting on it and then she pressed her knee into the small of his back to push him to her. Clearly, Lexi's thoughts were going in the same direction as his. If he had any doubts they would quickly be settled by when her fingers began tugging against the strings on his breeches.

"Cassian," it was most definitely an order twinged with a beg.

 

[Cassian]

Ho-ly shit she really wanted to go to Oban. The demand in her tone was noted and his breathing pitched to frantic as he tore at her belt. Her wish was his command, and he didn't care who saw, he'd only feel heart sorry for anyone that wished to interrupt them..

They'd been in something of a rush, and despite the cool sea air that lapped at him, he was sticky with sweat and lifted his arm to wipe at his brow before resting his forehead against hers, face strained as he tried to catch his breath and hands firmly on the rails at either side of her.

"Fuck you're addictive..." he laughed under his breath. "So it's a yes then?.." he grinned and found her lips for a soft, breathy kiss.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

He almost looked... bewildered. Like he couldn't quite believe his luck but he hopped to the job pretty sharpish and her feral grin seemed to help matters along.

The rail of the ship was bent inwards from where she had been holding on a little too hard and there were crescent moon fingernail marks in the wood. Her skin was glistening too with sweat, her chest rising and falling still with the exertion. Strands of hair stuck to her forehead as he leaned his against hers and she returned his kiss with a smirk.

"No backsies now, sealed that deal pretty well," her feet hit the ship deck a little wobbly and she tugged up her breeches and buckled her belt. She bent down and picked up the rum, popped the cork then took a long swig before passing it on to him and turned her eyes back to the rail. "Fuck. Mitch is going to kill me."

 

[Cassian]

"I don't intend on takin' it back, lass." he brushed a thumb across her jaw and stepped back to let her up.

Cassian laughed and ran his hands down her shoulders and arms as she stood, trying to keep her steady as she adjusted.. He took the bottle from her and took a long drink from it before assessing the damage to the ship with a slight wince.. "Well... I'd be lying if I said I'm sorry." he mused with a roguish grin and leaned to press a kiss to her cheek.

"Lets go eat..We'll blame Tryst, I'm sure he'll take the rap for his Amazonian."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

His words and touch made her face soften slightly, a well of emotion rising again. For a man who had been intent on no commitment, not even to a unit, it was a big step and she appreciated it immensely. The fact it mattered so much to her though, terrified her. She was grateful for his steadying touch her legs felt a little jelly like and it had nothing to do with her inability to walk on a moving ship nor the rum. She turned again to the rail and attempted to bend it back into shape but it didn't seem to do much.

Lexi rubbed the back of her neck then let him guide her from the wreck.

"Oh," her cheeks coloured and she stopped, hands over her mouth. "I didn't..." she had been too focused on him and the moment to cast the spells she usually did.

 

[Cassian]

He'd kept an arm around her and fought a grin as she seemed to have some trouble walking but he didn't comment. As she stopped his hand fell from her shoulder and he stepped around in front of her, his gaze narrowing as he cheeks flushed and he frowned "Didn't what?.." he shook his head and reached to curl a finger under her chin.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"I didn't-"

They were back nearer to where the rest of the crew were now and before Lexi could finish her sentence there was a series of whoops and whistles. She grimaced and her eyes fell shut briefly.

"I didn't put up the sound spell," she mumbled, her face now entirely red so she leaned her forehead against his chest to hide it. The food had been sent up whilst they had been occupied and they had left a bowl for both her and Cassian. "Well I don't think we're going to be able to blame Tryst at all for the ship now."

 

[Cassian]

His expression loosened at the sounds of celebration and his eyes closed for a moment.. "Fuuuck Lexi." he muttered quietly and rubbed at the scalding hot skin on back of his neck. He pressed a kiss to her head with a groan and patted her back gently. "I guess not.." he grumbled and turned to approach the rest of the group.. "Yeah alrigh' alrigh' , grow up.." he growled and shoved at the boys as he took a bowl and sat himself down.

"What can I say?..." he grinned and laughed quietly to himself as he ate.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Yes the fuck Lexi sentiment is what got us into this trouble," she muttered and pushed him lightly. She followed a little bit behind and sat also with a small huff before accepting her bowl of food. Mitch gave her an affectionate pat on the hand.

"They're just jealous love, teh only otha woman round 'ere is Ellie o'er ere 'n' she would rip their heads off for even lookin' at her," Lexi grimaced and took the rum bottle and downed half of it. Aeleanora looked rather proud of Mitch's description but she flashed Lexi a smirk.

"Lexi has the only man around here worth doing," there was a chorus of feigned heartaches from the other lads.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian kept his head down as he ate, a small smirk on his lips, he still wasn't sorry so there was no point in regrets. He'd just be putting some guys on their arses if they persisted in bothering Lexi about it.

He choked on a swing of rum however at Aeleanora's comment and he thumped a fist against his chest and looked at the woman, feeling his cheeks flush to the same colour as Lexi's and he looked between the two women with a grimace.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Alright, that's enough for me tonight," Lexi had nearly choked on her food at the comment and she had no intentions of dying with the lasting taste of ship stew in her mouth. There was a chorus of no's and begging as she picked her way back out of the circle with her bowl of stew and headed for the cabin. She stopped by the doorway and pointed an accusatory spoon at the crowd.

"You all need to get laid more if you're living vicariously through us," and then she slipped inside, her cheeks still a flaming red.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's eyes followed Lexi as she got up to leave, he kept quiet, and fought the urge to follow her straight away and be subjected to more taunting. He grinned as she pointed her spoon at the group and laughed under his breath at her words, returning his attention to his food.

A moment of silence caught his attention and he looked up to see every single one of them grinning at him. "Oh fuck off."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The next few days followed in a similar fashion though by the second day white ravens would find them carrying letters and scrolls for Lexi's attention. She spent more of her time in the cabin at her desk than she did out on deck with the others. Mitch was keen to get the others helping out, claiming that he hated lazy crew members and he was soon whipping the lot of them into passable sailors. He was a funny fellow and would often come out with this story or that about someone he had once met or had sailed with him. It was a cheery atmosphere.

By their third day they had passed Mothal and were into the Blighted Sea proper. The temperature had dropped as Lexi had promised and it was easy to see ones breath on the air. The sky was dark, almost black and the waves were growing choppier. Lexi was stood on the rail, one hand on a leyline to lean slightly out over the side with a small frown. The harsh wind ripped and tugged at her robes in an attempt to pull her into the waves but she didn't seem to mind the buffeting. She could feel it... close.

"Everyone be on your guard," she called. There was an eerie quiet on the deck compared to the last few days.

 

[Cassian]

He'd had to go back to Lexi now and then for help with his nausea, but otherwise he'd enjoyed the journey and he learned a lot from Mitch and the others, and taught the boys a few new gambling swindles and told them not to tell Lexi or Kain. He gave Lexi her space to work, letting her come to him when she wanted to as he tried not to get in her way of working as promised.. He wasn't deprived of affections.

Cass pulled the fur lined hood of his coat up and Red peeked out from her perch around his neck. He looked to Lexi as she spoke before dropping his gaze back to the inky depths, fingertips dancing on the hilt of his blade as he waited for something to happen. The atmosphere seemed tense, and he breathed out quick plumes of mist into the air, his fingers curling around the railing as he leaned over at the opposite side from the Commander.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The only sound was the soft creak of wood as it rocked on the waves for a moment more. Lexi sighed, brow furrowing, perhaps she had gotten it wrong. She turned as if to jump back down onto the ships deck when suddenly the tail of the beast whipped up and out of the waves. It slammed down onto the side of the boat she had been standing, snapping the rail in two before smashing into her side and sending her into the turbulent waves below.

The serpent rose now. Higher and higher it snaked, ribbons of its scaly hide appearing around the ship as it leered down at the group gathered on the deck. Water rained down on them from the spray running off its scales and then its fins fanned out all about its head as it let out an ear splintering screech and lunged.

"Get that head off," Kain snapped, shoving his wet hair from his face. Tryst leapt forward with a deep holla and threw himself from the ship straight at the beasts long body, squeezing it tight. The beast stopped mid lunge and its attention was directed to the half giant now.

 

[Cassian]

“LEXIII!” Cassian’s heart stopped, and he bolted toward the broken rail and skidded to a halt as the massive beast rose up from the depths, his arm lifting to shield his eyes from the downpour of salt water, and Red quickly scurried out from his hood to take shelter. His heart was thundering with panic, he knew Lexi could swim, but his urge to jump in after her was ripping him in two, Kain’s demands causing his fists and jaw to clench.

She doesn’t need saving he told himself. Right now it seemed the rest of the group were in far greater peril, he only hoped this was the only one and that Lexi’s only problem was keeping her head above water. The ship was damaged as it was, and the water was too cold, if they didn’t save the ship none of them would live.

Get it done.

Cassian looked up at the serpent’s head and ran to climb the rigging. He was today years old when he realised how much he hated heights and he glanced down at the crushing sea below “Fuck.”

He needed this bastard dead so they could find Lexi, there was no debating. As the creature’s head whipped around trying to free itself of Tryst’s grip, Cassian swung at it’s neck.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

It was hard to see which way was up and which was down under the waves. The creatures body churned the waters so thoroughly she could only just about make out the scales in the dark. Her lungs were burning with a combination of inhaled water and lack of air as she kicked her way towards the scaly body. If she could follow that then she would reach air at some point she was certain...

The beast finally managed to throw Tryst clean into the water. The giant seemed to be laughing about it though as he hit the water, relishing in a challenge. With quick strokes he was heading back towards the serpent. The swing from Cassian's axe caught the beast against the throat and it turned sharply towards him, lips curling back to reveal row upon row of nasty sharp teeth. It snorted a stale breath over him and then opened its maw as if to swallow him hole...

Until a bolt of lightning hit the creature. It erupted from the sky and struck it in the back of the neck. It howled, head arching and turned to see Kain on the deck, his hands raised to the sky as he called down the elements. There was a distinct smell of burned fish before it screeched and threw itself back under the waves to cool off its burned scales.

Mitch was hurling Lexi back over the side who knelt coughing up an impressive amount of sea water.

"Gods fucking damn that thing."

 

[Cassian]

Hot blood sprayed across his entire body and he closed his eyes tightly, almost losing grip of the rigging as he frantically wiped at his face. The second he opened his eyes though, the creature's open jaws was coming straight for him and he braced, ready to be swallowed whole when the lightening struck and he settled back against the ropes with a hand on his chest. He was getting too fucking old for this..

He watched as the serpent sunk back below the waves and his gaze fell to Lexi as she was pulled back onto deck, he gave a sigh of relief. It would be back, he was certain, and if it hadn't been pissed off already it would be now. He stared down at the water, catching sight of the current of water left in the creature's wake as it sped back toward the ship.

"Starboard side!!" he yelled down from above, and readied his weapon for the next attack.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Lexi snapped as she stood up then pressed a hand briefly to what was left of the rail and took her first proper breath of real air after waving Alec's worried hands off. "Give me that fucking harpoon," the ship rocked violently as the creature burst from the water again and she skidded the rest of the way to the large catapult harpoon that stood on the deck.

Aelenora had scurried up the rigging as well now and joined Cassian on his perch. She had her trident once more and she offered him a wink as the serpent rose once more. Its head barely cleared the ships deck before she threw her weapon. It whistled through the air and buried itself deep in the creatures eye. It howled in agony once more and flung its head attempting to dislodge the offending weapon, its tail slammed into the side of the ship. It should have ripped it apart but Alec and Peter were busy casting their own spells of protection. The wood in the ship lit up with a thousand different silvery runes making it able to take the stronger weight of the beast.

Tryst had managed to get himself over to where the serpent was rising and wrapped his arms around it, squeezing it hard so it shuddered under the pressure.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian couldn't help but grin at Lexi's barked orders below, he was sort of glad he hadn't gone jumping in after her or he'd have been at the wrong end of her temper too. He was a garish sight, soaked in blood from head to toe, at least he knew the creature was bleeding badly already, it'd hopefully weaken it somewhat.

He watched as Aeleanora's trident struck the beast in the eye. The beast's head shook but it was too far away for him to get a decent strike, and he wasn't giving up his weapon to the creature. He looked down at the water below and clenched his jaw, his pommel of his sword twisting in his palm as he considered. "Don' let the fucker eat me." he muttered to the woman next to him, and when the creature's head swung around he took the opportunity to leap from the rigging, sword raised, to bring the blade down into it's neck. The serpent was too slippery for him to hold on to, and he kept both hands firmly gripped around his sword as his feet skidded over scales trying to stop himself from falling.

"Fuuuuck!!" ...regrets.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

It would have taken four strong sailors to move the harpoon into position, maybe more given how violently the ship was rocking now but Lexi picked it up and set it on her shoulder like a normal crossbow. She only paused when she noticed Cassian leap on to the creature, her eyes tracking his movement. Something in her tensed; if she didn't get the shot right she could hurt him given how close he was to the creatures neck. Pushing the thoughts to the side she knelt, eyed the mark she wanted to make then took a breath and muttered the spell. The Harpoon hurtled through the air and as it did barbs sprang out. It hit true, going through the creatures throat where Cassian and the others had already made quite the dent.

Blood sprayed across the ship deck soaking most of them as if they had been out in a red rain as the creature began to thrash about in agony. The noise was ear splintering now and Kain, Alec and Peter all stopped to cover their ears with a cry.

Tryst had been climbing up the creatures neck before it began to scream when he lept, hooked Cassian round the waist and landed them both back in the rigs of the ship. It tilted madly under the giants sudden weight but in the moment Lexi thought it was going to completely tip over by a fluke of luck the serpents tail collided with the other side and set them right.

The serpent was slowly sinking back beneath the water but its head was still attached. Lexi drew her blade and in a mad dash dived back under the waves after the beast.

 

[Cassian]

Tryst knocked the air straight out of him as he grabbed hold of him, the giant's arm crushing around his waist as he swung him back onto the rigging. He held on for dear life and gasped for air as the ship rocked, his eyes on the scene below.

He'd thought it'd been over when Lexi made her run for it, but his eyes widened as she disappeared below the waves, and he made the most ridiculous decision he'd made all day and threw himself from the rigging in after her.