Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Cassian]

Cassian stood and went to hang the fresh skin on a branch, glancing down at the one who'd told him to be thankful.. "Oh? Why doesn't that surprise me?.." . the comment amused him, Cassian generally was really not a likeable guy. He worked alone, ate alone, travelled alone and once he'd kicked whatever woman he'd had for the night out of his bed, he slept alone too. But the combination of tremendous pay and a hard nut to crack, he'd have to make do with the company.

The fire whisky was warm in his chest, though one mouthful simply wasn't enough and it would do only to keep his withdrawing body from shivering. He realised how much he depended on alcohol to function, and how much he craved it when he didn't have copious amounts of it at his disposal. It was going to be a tough few days.

He washed his hands in the river, and came to sit next to Lexi, casting a small smirk to Kain as he settled back onto his elbows. He was not easily left short for words, but Lexi's comments about having women in her bed caused a throaty rumble and he laughed "Oh ho ho... Tell me more!" he grinned, staring at her like a smitten teen as he took the flask for another drink, conveniently forgetting to pass it back to Kain.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi shot her youngest man a look and he tried to recover himself. Alec helped by thoroughly thumping him on the back which almost sent the poor lad sprawling. She shook her head ever so slightly. The meat was all prepared and had been spitted nicely so now it hung over the flames. It would take a good few hours for it to be cooked thoroughly. They went and sat down in between Lexi's position and Kain's so they completed the horseshoe of bodies around the fire.

Both of them wore similar expressions to that of Cassian. Kain took the flask and hid his own laughter by sipping the whisky and then passing it on to the two young lads. He had known Lexi since they were young cadets and knew her tastes well.

"Did I ever tell you boys the story of when I literally stole a woman off of Kain's lap here?" Lexi was clearly enjoying this turn of conversation. Being a woman often put her men on edge and they were wary about the type of conversations they could have around her. These types of moments made them feel more relaxed and at ease. Of course, there were women in her unit who would eat their liver for their comments. But that was a lesson for them to learn.

Kain groaned from across the fire.

"It was this beeeeeautiful girl, honestly Kain you were punching, and we had just finished a job. You know what Kain's like with talking to people and she was gone hook, line, sinker. So she's sitting on his lap, swooning. I took a rose from the garden outside and walked straight over to her, bold as brass, and knelt down beside her and recited some poetry and that girl just slipped right off Kain's lap and into my arms. Was some of the best sex I've ever had," a happy sigh.

"The Commander was in absolute stitches. Called me Blue Balls till the day he died," Kain picked up the story. He was solemn but it was clear he found it amusing. "Turns out the bastard had paid her an extra gold coin as a dare to see if she could do it."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian hung on every word of her story, enjoying the opportunity to laugh at Kain's expense. He groaned though and flopped onto his back, lacing his hands together under his head and staring up at the canopy. "Well... Never thought I'd be jealous of a woman, lass." he sighed deeply, creating some exotic images in his mind and thinking he'd need that cold swim again. Still, he was quite clearly disappointed that his chances were apparently much slimmer, unless of course... "If you ever want a man sandwich, I'd be more than happy to oblige.."

"Blue balls... I like it, it suits you." he grinned toward Kain.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Kain shot the man a dark look, though it didn't have the same edge as before. Alec once again choked on the whisky at Cassian's comment, and Peter more than obliged the ritual thumping on the back again before stealing the flask off of him and taking another sip. He had a little colour about his cheeks. This time when the flash was thrown to her, which she caught with one hand she put it away. They were still on a mission and this was strong stuff. For the youngsters at least, they were being cut off. Her eye flicked to Cassian who seemed to have claimed half of her roll mat. Her lip curled a bit.

"If I want a man sandwich I know exactly where to go," she glanced to Peter who threw her a grin. At the same time they both said: "Alrez," with a heavenly sigh.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian propped himself up on one elbow again, a new hope etched in his boyish grin, assuming she had meant him.. "Alrez?.." he gasped and grabbed hold of his chest as though he'd taken an arrow to the heart, and he fell back feigning pain.. "How many times can one woman rip this poor man's heart out?" he groaned a guttural sound and shook his head. "I give up. Think I've got more chance with ol' blue balls there." he snorted, shooting the youngsters a small grin as they'd seemed to enjoy his retorts.

"I guess it's back to the brothel for me, eh Red?" he smirked as the ginger kitten emerged from the trees and ran to nuzzle at his hand, demanding attention, and so he obliged, scratching at her ears. "I only need one female in my life anyway."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The whole group laughed at Cassian's theatrics, even Kain couldn't help the chuckle. The drink had apparently softened him somewhat. Lexi leaned down on an elbow next to him and also offered the kitten a light scratch. It seemed whisky and feline company was the way to soften this Commander.

"Oh but you don't understand. Altrez is the Forge part of our city and the men there are..." Peter trailed off, searching for the right words. Lexi took a very ladylike sip of her tea and finished it for him.

"Mmm men who can toss me any day," Peter smirked and the other two began to laugh again.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's cheeks always dimpled when his smile was genuine, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been in company having a laugh, it'd been some years, and it softened him slightly. He watched the woman intently, she was close enough for him to smell the smoke and whisky and he huffed as Red was wasted by the extra attention, purring madly and kneading into Cassian's cracked ribs.

"Well, lass. I'd happily toss you around any which way you please.. Seems I like myself a woman who can toss me around too." he laughed, and his grizzly features were that of a mischievous youngster again.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

His comment had the whole group laughing again and she quirked an eyebrow at him as she scratched under the cats chin.

"You do remember her... tossing you yesterday don't you?" Alec asked, having gotten up to check on the meat roasting by the fire. It caused another bubble of laughter around the circle and even Lexi's lips quirked up a little bit at the memory. She kept petting the kitten though and said nothing.

"I think if anyone's being tossed again it's you," Peter said as he wiped away a tear. "Man you should have seen your face."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian winced a little at the pain in his ribs and lifted Red by the scruff and settled her in front of Lexi, deciding he could now trust her with his cat. He sat up and frowned at Alec "Oh I remember lad. Why'd you think I'm here? I'd consider it an honour to be thrown by this fine woman again. It was fuckin' impressive and you know it." he laughed and shook his head, rubbing at the back of his neck sheepishly and grumbling to himself. "I'll launch the fuckin' pair of you into that there river any more of your jibes." he muttered, clearly his ego had been slightly chipped.

He settled back down onto his elbow again, his face level with hers "An' you've yet to explain teh me exactly how it was possible." he pointed out, lifting a brow questioningly.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi was delighted by the gift of a kitten and gently cradled the small thing against her chest and the crook of her neck. The momentary distraction meant she was only half paying attention to the conversation and it meant she missed the look all three of her men gave her when they realised that Lexi hadn't actually told the man what exactly she was. When she glanced up into Cass's eyes she had the feeling she missed the question.

"You haven't told him?" Kain asked, dumbfounded. Slowly she dragged her eyes from his to her men and then sighed with a roll of her eye.

"Fine, only so you don't shit your pants in the mission - you won't like it, it's to do with magic.," Lexi grumbled, focused instead on the kitten as she spoke. "It's how I lost my eye, my actual eye, not the one I have now under here. A few years back I had to bind a very powerful deity to my soul to entrap her. I have her strength and a few of her abilities - like being able to turn people to stone. It's what this is," Lexi shifted her hips a little so he could get a full look at her exposed arm and the deep red tattoo on it.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's grin faded as she explained things. He took in her words with a look of seriousness on his face, his grey stare a little more intense .. "You..." he paused and rubbed at his face, clearly struggling with some aspect of her story. "I've been hitting on a woman for two days straight and she could've turned me to fucking stone!?" ... because that, that was the most important part of that explanation. "Well that confirms it. You love it." he pressed his face a little closer to hers and grinned, stifling a laugh.

He despised magic, but in fairness he'd rather have it on his side, and this woman was clearly capable of some serious shit. "So what, you're some sort of Demi god?" he asked her in a quiet rumble as he looked over the tattoo she'd shown him.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi could only lift the corner of her lips into a small smile as he spoke and the others began to laugh at his admission and the sudden dawning that he truly had been close to death on several occasions during their meetings. When he moved into her personal space she quirked an eyebrow at him as if she had no idea what he meant but the smirk was clear.

"Huh... Demi-Goddess has a nice ring to it," Lexi mused, rubbing her chin as if she were giving it a lot of thought. "What do you think, boys. The Demi Goddess Commander of the White Ravens?" There were a series of chuckles as she shook her head. "No, I am not. I'm just a glorified flesh prison basically. It is just hard to keep everything about such a being entirely locked away. One day it'll probably kill me," a slight shrug. "The spell has never worked for anyone before. It was a theory but it was our only option in the circumstances."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian lifted his shoulder in a shrug and reached to scratch between Red's ears as she nuzzled into Lexi's neck.. "Aye, well. We're all bound to the fate of death by some means.." he frowned, his expression distant for a moment. "If I'm not turned to stone, it'll be somethin' else." .. more likely a drunken bar fight or pickled liver at this stage. He wasn't frightened of death, and now he had nobody to care about dying either and that suited him well enough. "You're certainly glorified." he lifted his eyes with a light grin, and he rolled back onto a cool spot of grass to give the woman her space, grimacing a little as he moved.

"I hope it was worth that eye.." he murmured, and rested his hands under his head.. "S' a damn good eye."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"It was worth it," it was Kain who spoke and she glanced over to him with a grim thinly pressed smile. Out of the group he was the only one who had been with her on that day, had seen the reasons why and how the world might be different had she not. Lexi rubbed at her eye patch as if the eye underneath were itchy with a smirk.

"Fucking hurt though," with a grunt she rolled herself to her feet and went to check on the meat herself, one hand on the kitten to ensure she stayed secure against her neck. After a bit of testing she nodded and began slicing bits off and passing it around the group, occasionally breaking a small bite sized chunk off for the cat.

"Alright, we're leaving at sunrise again tomorrow. Eat and get some rest, I'll take the first watch."

 

[Cassian]

He gave Kain a quiet look and turned his head to watch her as she tended to the meat and he smirked as she spoiled Red with meat once again, she was an excellent wingman.. "Aye I imagine it would hurt quite a bit." he lifted his brow. He'd been stabbed, slashed, shot and burned, and by the scars on his face he'd come close to losing an eye too, but he'd been healed up and left whole at least.

Cassian ate his fill, and settled down, leaving Red to keep the Lexi company since the woman seemed to enjoy her. He wouldn't sleep much, he never did, his dreams were plagued and he could never bear them for long and so he woke after an hour to let Lexi get her own rest.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The rest of the evening and night passed relatively quietly and the team set off once again in the early hours of the morning. If they had thought the day before was gruelling then this was surely hell. The grey clouds finally burst on them a few hours after they left and the ride was a miserable and quiet affair set at an even faster pace. Occasionally she would send one of the little band further head to scout the way ahead before they came back, made their report and fell in to formation once again. The harder pace however did mean that the end of this day warranted an actual warm bed rather than sleeping outside. Through the murk there came lights of a highway tavern which Lexi turned her steed towards, even though it meant a mile walking straight into the harsh wind which was beginning to pick up.

The troop clattered into the courtyard and a few stablehands ran out to meet them and take care of the horses.

Inside was a humble abode but it was warm and there was a hog that had just been taken off the spit. Lexi murmured to the owner and then wondered over to the group to pass out the keys.

"Sorry boys, we're going to be bunking together they only have two rooms unless you can find someone else to take you into their bed. Go get out of your wet things I've paid for a hot meal and ale for you all to enjoy when you get back down. I need to check on the horses, sort out who is where between yous," Lexi nodded slightly to them before exiting back into the rain, pulling her hood up.

 

[Cassian]

The journey wasn’t allowing him to heal and it took its toll, and so he was glad to hear they had a softer bed for the night. He groaned as he dismounted his horse, an arm wrapped around his ribs, and a soaking wet cat grumbling irritably in his hood.

The warmth that greeted the group inside, brightened his mood considerably, and he grinned at Lexi. A bed, a good meal... and ale. “If I had no regard for my wellbeing I’d kiss you lass.” He smiled at her, and turned to waggle a brow at Kain “But what about you Blue Balls. I don’t mind sharing.” He winked at him as he took a key.

Cassian let himself into the room and lit up the fire, and red sprawled and bathed in front of it gratefully. He hung his clothes above it to dry off whilst he dried off a little, and tightened the linen around his ribs after admiring the dark bruising with a grimace. He needed that ale, and a decent nights sleep.

He left Red by the fire and returned to the snug, sitting as close to the hearth as he could, craving warmth. His grey shirt was still a little damp.. he really had to invest in some new clothes. But they were not necessities like ale and women were.

With the round of ale brought to the table he wasted no time at all in consuming the entirety of the tankard in one, wiping at his lips with the back of his wrist as he held the empty tankard up for another to be brought over. “Next round is mine lads.” He grunted, and sighed happily as the thirst quenched.

“How much farther we got?..” he asked, eyeing a particularly pretty wench who’d smiled at him.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Kain merely stared at him then sighed as if he had lived a hard, long suffering life and Cassian were his final test before he would be allowed to retire. The two youngsters snickered until Kain plucked their key from them. "You boys just got guard the new kid duty," both their faces fell but they begrudgingly traipsed after Cassian. Thankfully there were four narrow beds in the room so it didn't matter too much.

The group were changed and back down pretty quickly and the grim mood from the day was replaced once again by the merriment of comradeship. Once the round of ales came out the food was quick to follow. Alec and Peter wolfed theirs down with the impressive speed of young men before making excuses to go and join a game of cards they had spotted in the corner.

"Not much further, we will probably get there tomorrow afternoon as long as the weather stays fine," Lexi sat down a the table Cass and Kain were seated with her own ale and plate of food the man behind the bar had kept aside for her. Like before she had stripped off her Templar gear and sported simple leggings and a soft white woolen jumper. The cold had clearly bothered her throughout the day and she scooted close to the fire with her meal.

"It depends if he is where our last reports have him pinned to. Then you get to experience the fun of fighting the things even your bogeyman is scared of."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's eyes wandered up and down the pretty wench as she brought another round of ale to the table, and he drank, keeping her eyes on her as she moved from table to table, glancing back at him. She'd looked back, and he grinned, pretty much having ignored everything Lexi had said.. "Hm? Right." he nodded anyway and looked between the two and drank down another half tankard of ale before getting up to sit at an empty table in the far corner where he pulled the woman onto his lap. She laughed, and he spoke against her ear. She laughed some more, and he stole a kiss of her cheek before letting her up.

"Well. I have a bed for the night. Sorry to disappoint you both." he smirked between them as he rejoined their table, and finished off the ale before helping himself to his meal. "Less one of you wants to join me... She is a pretty picture is she not?" he lifted a brow and glanced back to the woman before fixing a grin on Lexi..And then to Kain "Sorry Blue Balls, I don't share my women with other men." he pouted.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Kain glanced to the Commander who gave him a small knowing smile before she finished her own meal and listened to what Cassian had to gloat about. Kain stifled a laugh by drinking his own ale whilst his friend leaned back in her chair and turned her attention to the young girl. "Hi Jenny," Lexi smiled to the woman as she slipped of Cassian's lap and the whole girls face changed, lighting up like a summers day.

"Lexi!" the name was a sensual purr and she quickly seemed to forget about the man as she walked around the table and draped herself across the Commander's lap to fill up her ale. She leaned forward and whispered something in her ear and Lexi smiled, her thumb stroking slowly from the girls shoulder up her neck to massage there. Giving Cass one sly look she leaned forward and gently took Jenny's chin in her fingers and gave the girl a long and sensual kiss. The woman's whole body changed, jug left forgotten on the table as her arms wrapped around Lexi's neck and gave a low moan. When they broke apart Jenny sighed blissfully and slipped from her lap to carry on her rounds.

"I'm afraid Jenny is already spoken for," Lexi lit her pipe. "But Kain here will keep you company in your cold bed tonight."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian’s eyes moved between Lexi and Kain as he drank, he was getting the feeling that he’d missed something... “What?..” he grinned, and had been about to harp on smugly about their jealousy when the woman he’d just been flirting with wound up in Lexi’s lap. He stared, dumbfounded, and his blood warmed as the pair kissed.... “Well fuck me.” he groaned and rubbed sheepishly at the back of his neck. It was a glorious sight to behold, but he’d been done out of a good night with a fine woman and there was little else in the way of beauty for him to look at.

“You smug little shit.” He looked at Lexi as the woman got up without even so much as a glance at him. He growled and shook his head, it was clear now that Lexi enjoyed torturing him and he cast a warning glance at Kain before reaching over and taking his ale. “She stole my woman I stole your drink. C’mere blue balls.” He slapped his thigh and drank. He was getting shit faced.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi merely blew a circle of smoke in his direction at his outburst but she was grinning. The grin turned into laughed when he stole Kain's drink. Kain, however, was less than amused and stared blankly at the space his mug had been before blinking up at Cassian then to Lexi.

"Why is it... whenever you seduce a woman... I always suffer?" a deep sigh as he stood up and went to get another round. Lexi watched him go still chuckling before she took another draw on her pipe and returned her attention to Cassian before kicking her feet up onto his chair.

"Try not to take it to heart, Jenny and I have a long history together. Why do you think I only asked for two rooms?" she quirked a brow then took another sip of her ale.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian necked Kain’s ale and slammed the empty mug back down, winking at the man as he got up to go to the bar. He rather enjoyed irritating the man, though he had a tendency of pushing too far and he risked some form of repayment when the job was over. He was behaving because Lexi had told him to, not because he couldn’t handle himself.

He gripped hold of the table and looked down at where she’d placed her feet, a little close for comfort and he shifted slightly. “Careful lass. You’ve already got him interested, no need to torment me further.”he huffed at the woman and rolled the tension from his neck. His head shook as he turned his attention to watch Jenny float from table to table and he rubbed his face.

“I shoulda asked for more fuckin’ gold..”

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi pointed her toes as if to make a point she had no intention of moving and then finished her drink and motioned for Kain to get her one whilst he was up.

"Think of it as I am just helping you not to spend yours quite so quickly. On the upside once we're done with the job tomorrow we'll actually be stopping over in a town so you can go about whoring all you like. Plus... the boys aren't too bad to sleep with. Only Alec snores and you just need to nudge him a bit to make him stop." Lexi took another long drag then leaned her head back and blew the smoke to the ceiling. But Gods was she tired already. She needed some rest tonight before tomorrow came. As if sensing her mood Jenny sent her a kiss and then disappeared up the stairs.

"Well. See you in the morning lads, bright and early again please. Try not to be too hungover," Lexi directed her last comment at Cass as she pushed back slightly and stood up, making her way to the staircase and after her evenings entertainment. Kain sat down a second later.

"She would eat you alive, I wouldn't pursue it," this time it was a genuine bit of advice, he passed the other man a mug and drank from his own.

 

[Cassian]

Her toes brushed. He tensed. “Easy! Gods woman!” He groaned at her with a scowl and clenched his jaw. This woman was a torment of hell, and she was quite clearly enjoying herself whilst he was quite clearly not.

Cassian snorted at her words “Aye, I’ll be fuckin’ needin’ a good brothel.” he frowned, suddenly regretting the name he’d dubbed Kain with. He felt the man’s pain. As Lexi told him of the snoring and he watched Jenny go on upstairs, he groaned and called the barkeep for some whisky for himself and Kain. He was a particularly light sleeper so opted instead for an alcohol induced coma. He dipped his chin with a sigh at Lexi as she followed Jenny upstairs and ran his hands through his hair, lifting a brow at Kain’s words.

“Aye. Seems she might. Saw her as a bit of a challenge but now I ent sure it’s worth the torture..” he muttered and lifted his cup of whisky with a nod to Kain. “To us blue balls. May we one day get laid without paying.”