Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Cassian]

He snorted at Kain's barbarian comment, scalding steel hurt but it was quick and fire was clean. He lifted a hand to protest as he left the room, no doubt to get Lexi and he growled "Kain. Just do it! Fuck!" he groaned, and was trying to get up to do it himself when Lexi came in and he stopped and laid back down with a huff.

"Just a scratch lass, I've had worse.." he murmured with his arm over his eyes. His stomach muscles tensed as he felt her hands on him and he lifted the arm to look down with a grimace as she was pulling off his belt. "Fuck me lass you do pick your ti--" but his words were muffled by the leather now in his mouth and he groaned.

His body tensed as he felt her magic work and he bit down with a muffled growl that sounded like his usual choice of words, his knuckles white as they gripped the bed linens. He blinked heavily as his wounds knitted, he'd have some new scars to add to the growing collection. He spat the belt onto the floor and tried to slow his heart rate, his chest rising and falling quickly. He'd never been healed in such a way, his ways were indeed more barbaric when he didn't have the luxury of a medic nearby, this way was unnatural and he'd refused it in the past.. Lexi hadn't given him much choice in the matter, but he wasn't about to complain about it.

"Mh..Not that fuckin' well, clearly.." he snorted with a tired smirk as she removed his boots, and he pulled himself gingerly to sit up, a hand reaching to grip her chin to look over the wound on her head. "Don' fix me before you've fixed yerself again lass." he frowned at her.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi was in the state of exhaustion she had to keep moving or she would fall asleep so once his boots were off she bent down to pick up his shirt and take it downstairs to ask the bartender if he could have it fixed when he gripped her chin. Her whole body tensed as she raised her gaze to his. People simply did not touch her in that way, her whole attitude made it clear that was way out of the question. Very slowly she put her hand over his and firmly removed it from her person giving him an odd look. It passed after a few moments however and she returned her attention to picking the shirt up.

"My magic doesn't work like that - I can't heal myself. And you look way too out of it to give me some stitches. I'll get the owners wife to patch me up at the same time as your shirt," she held it up. "Get some rest, Cass, the food will be up soon."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's brow knit irritably as she removed his hand and looked at him that way. His intention had been concern, and she'd looked at him as though he'd caused her insult. He clenched his jaw furiously at the woman, and let himself fall back to the bed. "Aye.. Do what you like." he growled and rubbed at his face.

"Just leave me to sleep..wake me when we're getting ready to leave.." he answered her coldly as she mentioned food. He'd spend the two days sleeping if he wasn't disturbed.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi breathed out in a frustrated sigh herself before she let herself out and shut the door behind her. The man was infuriating. She made her way back towards her room, ducking her head in to each of the boys rooms as she went to make sure nobody else had any injuries she needed to tend to, before she finally got back to taking off her armour in her own room. Still seething. So what if she didn't like being touched? She shouldn't be made to feel bad about that. Lexi threw her kit into a pile in the corner then made her way downstairs to get her head seen to.

After a bath she felt a bit more human and a little less angry. Perhaps she had been a bit too harsh. At the knock on her door she got up, running a hand through her damp hair. The food was a welcome sight and she took her plate gladly, noted the others on her tray.

"Here, let me take one, I owe someone an apology," she took the second plate and then closed the door with her foot and padded down the hallway in the white fluffy robe they had provided for her for after the bath. She knocked on the door, counted to three then just barged her way in.

"You need to eat after the magic," she set the plate down on the bed and then sat at the foot with her own plate. "Look," she sighed. "I'm sorry. That was unnecessarily harsh of me."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian had passed out within minutes of her leaving his room, though he stirred and his hand slid to grip his dagger he'd left under his pillow and he glanced up as the door opened. He groaned and let go of the blade, but closed his eyes again and kicked the cat off of his legs..

He listened to her words and let out a harsh sigh. "It's fine.. I'll remember to look at you that way the next time you pour ash in my face and throw me into an alley." he muttered.

"You don' need to apologise to me lass, I got the message. I din't mean nothin by it.. won't be doin' it again." he told her and pulled in a deep breath and let out a sigh, intent to drift back to sleep. There were reasons he didn't like being approachable, he never did well in company that lasted more than a few hours generally, and he'd made a conscious effort in this regard. He chose not to care about people, he'd learned how quickly they turned on him, it was easier this way, it'd served as a reminder and he'd stay to get the job done and be out of her hair.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi wasn't going anywhere. She propped herself up against the board at the end of the bed and stretched her legs out in front of her. Especially as there was now an adorable kitten curling up on her. She pulled her plate in front of her and began to pick at the roasted meat and bread as she put her ice cold feet against his hip to get his attention.

"You can look at me however you want you still need to eat. You'll feel sick if you don't," she smeared a bit of meat and crackling on a piece of bread and then popped it in her mouth. "Come on don't be a moody bastard all night. Look I'm just not good with people ok? I know you were just trying to be... nice. It's just not what I am used to. I have to be strong for these people and having someone tell me what to do - especially when he expects me to see to myself first... It just... jars."

God that sounded awkward even in her own head. She gave the kitten a piece of her meat and stroked her soft ginger fur to distract herself.

 

[Cassian]

He opened his eyes with a huff as she insisted on settling herself at the bottom of his bed, and another sharp exhale as her icy foot pressed against his hip. He gripped hold of it and moved it aside in the way she’d removed his hand from her chin.

His arms settled under his head to prop him up a little more, and his eyes wandered over her in her fluffy robe. His brow lifted .. more torture.

Cassian stared at the woman as she spoke, stuck for words as she opened up a little, he hadn’t expected it.

“You don’ have to explain yourself to anyone. ‘Specially not me.” He grunted, intending on leaving it at that but he rubbed at his face irritably. “Fuck me lass I don’t know what you want me to say to yeh. This is why I work alone, I don’ do so well with people either. The cat doesn’t seem to mind me . I’ll be out of yer hair in a few days, stop feelin bad cos I got hurt. Weren’t your fault.” he smirked.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The kitten made its way up from her legs to her lap proper and Lexi had to move the plate so the little ragamuffin couldn't steal straight from her plate. It purred as she continued her petting and attempted to eat with just one hand whilst she only half listened to what the man opposite her was saying. Carefully she moved her foot back onto the bed and once again poked him in the side.

"I want you to eat," Lexi motioned to the pile of food she had brought in for him. "Because I know how magic makes you feel when you're not used to it," she gave him a hard look before returning her attention to her own food. The time was over for the emotional bullshit. "You know you did fight well today. With the proper training you could stay on with us. I know you're not interested in magic but we do have a group of normal soldiers who bulk up our muscle when we need it in jobs. Like these ones."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian pulled himself upright with a mutter under his breath and snatched up the plate “What I need is sleep.” he huffed, not bothering to move her foot for a second time since it hadn’t made much difference the first.

“As honoured as I am that you’d have me stay on, I think it’s wiser I go back to workin’ on my own lass... Ent used to carin’ for much more than my own self an’ it suits me fine.” he told her as he tore some bread and meat to eat. He was much more easily wounded in other ways it seemed, and his guard had come up fast.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi pressed her lips into a thin line as she watched him. Fine, she deserved the cold shoulder but he shouldn't let his insulted pride decide his future. She said nothing for a while though, looking back down to her food and eating. Silence never usually bothered her but this one did - probably because she had been the one to cause it to have this hard edge. Once she was finished she went back to petting the cat on her lap.

"Well the offer stands if you change your mind after fighting the next monster. You know, if the whole dealing with the mundane becomes a little too boring."

 

[Cassian]

The silence suited him well, he was used to it, and he lifted his gaze from his food to Red as she purred madly on Lexi's lap, his head shaking a gently. His jaw clenched at the words that finally broke from her lips and his eyes met hers.. "Killing people for a living is never boring.." he answered dryly, then again, most of his scars were from his time in the guard, fighting armies, he hadn't had a real wound in some time and it'd reminded him of his time amongst comrades. Now his targets were singular and easy, and he hated that she was right in some way. It'd certainly been more of a challenge, and a hard reminder of his mortality..

"I appreciate the offer." he rumbled at her and swallowed a mouthful of bread, noting that she'd ignored his comment but he didn't bother to press the matter. "Alright', I'm eating, see. You can leave me. Or is it now that I don't want you to share my bed you feel like twistin' the knife a bit?.." he laughed under his breath and his head shook, his eyes wandering over her again before his attention to returned to his plate.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

No killing was never boring, but it felt like a pointless thing when there was such evil in this world. What did a man matter? What was the worst he could do? It angered her so much that these armies were made to fight one another over little bits of land so that they might have a bit more space to destroy or cultivate for their own needs whilst there was real evil in this world to deal with that wouldn't discriminate who it killed. She gently scratched under the cats chin.

"The others have each other to check on them and ensure they are eating and resting. You're a stubborn man so that requires the big guns. I'm not going until you've finished. Besides, your cat likes me," Lexi glanced up at him and smirked. "And you mean to tell me if I took off this robe right here and now you would push me out of your bed?" she cocked an eyebrow at him.

 

[Cassian]

The man groaned and rubbed at the back of his neck.. "Now you're twisting the knife, lass. I don't have the energy for your games." he answered and lifted a brow, trying to tear his eyes from her bare legs. To think he'd tried his charms and dimpled smiles and all he'd had to do was almost die and there she was. His respect for the woman had grown tenfold however, and though he jested with her, he knew she wasn't the sort of woman to fall onto her back for a man simply because he had crackin' thighs.

"If you took off that robe I wouldn' let you out of my bed for all the coin in Arethil.." he grumbled at her and ate what was left and set the plate on the side table. "There, I've eaten, now take your gorgeous little self out of my room and let me sleep before you cause me any more sufferin' "

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi's lips quirked up at the corners as she struggled not to smile but failed in doing so. The jesting was more like the Cassian she had come to know after the past few days. As his eyes ran down her bare legs she couldn't help but return the favour in scoping out his bare torso. Wouldn't be a bad dish to eat off of. The kitten had fallen asleep in her lap and she was loathe to move it but she also needed her rest. The magical energy it had taken to fight a ninth level demon on her own had left her wanting for a bed without company for once.

"Alright, alright I'm going now you've done as you're told," she scooted herself back to the edge of the bed and then very gently eased the cat from her own lap and placed her back on Cassian's lap instead. "If you need anything I'm down the hall. Don't be a martyr alright? That position has been filled," Lexi inclined her head and then slipped out the door shutting it softly behind her.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's dimples returned as he noticed her trying not to smile, and he drank her in for a moment. Was she..checking him out? Half of him wanted to take another wound to feel his hands on him again, and he cleared his throat and his mind before he tortured himself any more.

"Aye lass.. I have." he smirked at her and he rubbed at Red's neck as she came to curl up on his chest. He dipped his chin at her words, and after the door had closed he groaned and rested his head back down to stare at the ceiling. "She'll be the death of us." he muttered to the cat, and closed his eyes to sleep until he was wakened.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Everyone in the tiny little team were thankful that Lexi had given them the next day to themselves and most of them used it to sleep, eat and sleep some more. Such a rowdy bunch of lads, the bartender shook his head in amusement and commented to his wife when day when a sleep Peter came down to take his food back to his room. Not that he would ever think anyone under the direct supervision of Lexi Quinzell would ever dare to impugn the honour of the Templar Order by doing anything laddish.

Lexi herself seemed to be the only one who didn't stay to her rooms despite the dark circles under her eyes. She spent the daylight hours getting more supplies for the next stage of their journey, talking to refugees from the town and disappearing every now and then to god knows where. When they were due to leave the day after she was the last one out into the courtyard, yawning as she swung herself up onto her saddle once again dressed in her armour.

"Alright boys only a half a days ride to the next target. This time tomorrow we'll be heading home," there was a small murmuring of praises as she turned her mount and led them out of the town and onwards.

 

[Cassian]

Kain had had to physically shake Cassian from sleep as he’d failed to respond to the hammering on his room door. There was very nearly an incident with his dagger but he’d realised quickly enough who it was and eased. He had slept an entire day, and the aching in his body had gone. He ate, dressed and gathered his things, and Red followed him out to meet the others. He settled the cat into a saddle bag pulled himself onto his horse with much more agility than he’d felt in a while.. he couldn’t fault Lexi’s magic, he’d recovered well.

He gave the woman a quiet nod and pulled his horse around to fall behind her. Their next target wasn’t going to be easy, all he had to do was not die and he’d have enough coin to see him right for a long time, if he didn’t squander it.

“Sing us a song Blue Balls...” and he was back.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi quirked an eyebrow at the request, half turning in her saddle to give Cassian a bemused look, before facing straight again. Kain, however, for once didn't give the other man a dirty look. He pulled his horse in beside Cassian's instead and cleared his throat theatrically. Now, the Second of the White Raven's had many skills on the field. People within the Order probably thought more about his ability with complicated spells than they did anything else in fact. So it often surprised them to find out Kain had talents that laid in the realm of normality.

Mainly his ability to sing.

As they left the town Kain began singing.

It made the trip a lot more pleasant as they rode. Kain sung quite a few songs, but Peter and Alec both chimed in with their own ones every now and then too - though they were definitely more along the drinking by a fireside with a nice woman in your lap than suited to marching off to battle. It made Lexi relax. It was just nice to hear them being... soldiers. Just normal soldiers.

Then Alec began to beg Lexi for one. Peter joined in and even Kain eventually pipped up and said it was only fair as the others had. She sighed theatrically.

"Fine, I only know one though," she cleared her throat.

"I'm lonesome since I crossed the hill,
And o'er the moor and valley,
Such grievous thoughts my heart do fill,
Since parting with my Sally.
I seek no more the fine or gay,
For each does but remind me,
How swift the hours did pass away,
With the girl I left behind me.

Oh, ne'er shall I forget the night
The stars were bright above me,
And gently lent their silvery light,
When first she vowed to love me.
But now I'm bound to Bhathairk
Kind heaven, then, pray guide me,
And send me safely back again
To the girl I left behind me."

 

[Cassian]

He laughed in pleasant surprise as Kain obliged in singing, he'd expected some cheeky retort from the man, but he enjoyed the songs and chimed in with the ones he knew, all that was missing was ale. Gods he missed ale. It was a pleasant atmosphere considering where they were heading, but he soaked it in and let himself enjoy it.

He joined in with the pestering of the commander along with the boys, and was once again surprised when she agreed to sing too. They silenced though, and Cassian's smile was irremovable as he watched her.. His hand pressed to his chest as she finished the song, feigning sadness "That was...fuckin' lovely." he laughed and they cheered at her.. "Was it about Kain's girl or mine?.." he smirked.

"A woman of many talents you are, Alexandria." he dipped his chin, once again impressed.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Neither," Lexi cast a glance over her shoulder with a small smile before looking forward and nudging her horse into a gallop. The others were obliged to follow the sudden increase in pace but when she finally let them slow it was Alec who reigned up next to Cass and murmured in a low tone.

"Lexi used to date one of our librarians, but she was away so much they ended up breaking things off. She's married now but we all think she still misses her," Peter reigned up on the other side to join in on the gossiping.

"Oh yeah, she was vile to be around for months when she came back from a mission and found out Rose had got married. We drew lots whenever there was a mission with her nobody wanted to go," a slight shake of his head.

"If you're all done gossiping about my love life," Lexi called over her shoulder and brought the horse to a stop on the rest of the hill. Below them was a path of destruction. Pieces of the town were on fire and large bits crumbled. A roar could be heard from deeper in the valley. "Looks like we found our next target."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian listened to the gossip with a slight smirk though he lifted his eyes to Lexi and didn’t comment. That was a dangerous path to trudge down, and he had his own similar stories he’d rather weren’t so publicly aired either.

He winced and glanced at the boys as Lexi called back to them, his head shaking as he whistled “Now who’s in trouble.“ he grinned and pulled up next to the commander to look across the valley and he huffed. “He sounds a pleasant chap.”

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Alec and Peter promptly shut their mouths and shot Cass a look at his teasing. Neither of the young lads wanted to be in trouble with Lexi. They were both thankful for the distraction.

Lexi took a small telescope out of a pocket on the inside of her cloak and then flicked it open, standing in her saddle to try and take a better look of the town. The Ganushi was currently stampeding through the town demolishing buildings as it went. It's cry echoed over the city again as it threw its head back in anguish. Lexi frowned a little and passed the telescope along so the others could see.

"It's like it's looking for something," Alec murmured with a frown. Lexi glanced to the boy and made an agreeing noise. It was what she had thought too watching its behaviour.

"Well it was taken, they hold grudges, maybe it's looking for the idiot who drugged it and put it in a zoo?" Lexi grimaced at the idea.

"Yeah well I would like a word with that idiot too," she muttered darkly then turned her horse to lead them down the hill and into the valley with the beast. "You'll be happy to know there's no demons this time Cassian. Just hope you're wearing your fire resistant clothing," there was a light chuckle from the others.

 

[Cassian]

He’d never used a telescope before and he studied the thing with vague curiosity for a moment before bringing it to his eye and flinching slightly as everything was so close.. but wasn’t.. he took it away again just to make sure, and peered through the glass for a second time, following the trail of destruction with a groan.

He frowned at the group and glared at Lexi with a look of distaste at her joke .. “A singer and a fuckin’ comedian.” he huffed and shook his head as he kicked his heels and started down the trail, muttering to himself under his breath.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"I'm a woman of many talents," Lexi parroted back to him in the quip of a reply and there was a murmur of laughter. The jokey atmosphere soon gave way to grim determination again as they entered the town. Lexi ordered the group to dismount and leave their horses to graze on the edge of the settlement. Then she drew her sword and led them in.

It was quite easy to follow the path of destruction and the growing sounds of anger towards the monster. As they went to round one corner Lexi put her hand up and called for a halt before peering around the edge of the building. She quickly pulled herself back round as part of a church bell came sailing past and smashed into the line of housing opposite them. Then came the rain of fire.

"Kain and I will deal with the fire, the rest of you try and cut the damn things head off - ok?" there was a nodding from around the group. Lexi glanced to Kain and on some silent acknowledgement they both rose and dove out into the street. The fire hit them almost immediately but it rippled off them. A small soft glow would appear around the other three after a moment.

"Go!" Peter shouted.

 

[Cassian]

He left Red in the saddle bag and scratched her ears as she poked her head out to yawn. “If I’m cremated Lexi will feed you.” he muttered at her and she purred. He smirked, and followed behind Lexi on foot.

Cassian’s face fell as the church bell went hurtling by, turning houses to rubble and he rubbed at his face. “Mh..” he rolled his shoulders and drew his weapons, giving a nod at her instruction. “Aye.. easy.”

He was fast on his feet, separating from the others to flank and surround the beast. The thing was huge , far bigger than he’d expected it to be. “Bring it down!” He called to the others and dared to get close enough to the thing to draw his blade across the back of its knees whilst his attention was on burning Lexi and Kain to a crisp.