Fable - Ask Mr. Brightside!

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Bazaar of the Four Winds ||
Aberresai Savannah
Finn
​

Ah, the Bazaar of the Four Winds. Just the name alone paints an image of wonder and awe. For anyone catching their first sight of the cliffside bazaar that ran across a series of steep, jutting seaside cliffs, it was a spectacle to behold. The colors, the banners, the way it would seem to appear out of nowhere from the thick northern mists as they drifted into the savannah. Yet, nothing was as breathtaking as seeing the multitude of kites that would adorn every single wooden platform that would run vertically across the surface of each cliffside. Ingenuity would utilize the strong winds for wind power, allowing the Bazaar to layer upon layer of floating platforms, floating docks suspended by hot air balloons, and what some might call, floating ships.

Situated upon a small craggle of islands between two portal stones, the Bazaar of the Four Winds provided the perfect location for converging merchants to sell their exotic and at times, illegal wares. Trade rare and unique goods often times would make the Bazaar a risky venture, but the rewards often outweigh the risks.

At least, that is what Deagan Hunt had originally planned.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" A man with a tousled mop of dark hair gave a skid as cobalt eyes caught sight of the impending railing up ahead. Boots would scuff along the well worn wooden planks of the platform, his arms gesturing wildly to maintain his balance. A wide grin shot across his swarthy visage as he managed to stay upright, scrambling to dart off to the left. Behind him, two burly half-orcs were chasing him down, their heavy footfalls resonating with each lugging step.

"It was an honest mistake!" Deagan cried out, glancing back with a flash of his grin, attempting his best to deflect the situation. The response was only a loud, guttural roar, making Deagan's expression twist into one of alarm again.

So much for talking things through!

Then again, how was he supposed to know that the job he accepted to acquire would have Orcs of all things guarding it!? He weaved to and fro between cargo crates and vendor stalls, placing some distance between his chasers and himself.

"Gonna have to ask for double the payment," He mused to himself, breathless as his arms pumped at his side and he spread his stride to gain some speed and distance. Up ahead, there was a three-way split off of catwalks towards three different sectors of the Bazaar. Sliding to a stop, he scanned from left to right. . A familiar sight of white wind sails and hot air balloons drew an immediate cock-sure grin to his face.

Perfect! he mused, climbing up the catwalk towards the section where the wind sails would flutter and flap with the strength of the brisk win.

 

[Finn]

Deagan Hunt

Finn thought she'd been the only one. She knew airships were...rare. But a tip from one of the elves on a flying eagle set her to this place. And the young, skinny inventor was practically beaming.

It was amazing.

Almost as amazing as it had been working with and living with the dwarves and learning some of their craft in the Spine. It would've been even more amazing if there were way fewer people. So many less people. The introvert was a bit overwhelmed and managed to find a spot to dock and tie up her ship at the very edge of the bustling platform. Most folk fought for those inner spots - closer to the markets and it made off-loading a heck'o'a'whole'lot easier. Plus they got more foot-traffic and could show off their balloon ship, take jobs, etc.

Finn wanted none of that.

She just wanted to explore the city in peace. Perhaps find a few gadgets to trade for. She mostly wanted to be left alone. Especially considering what happened to folk who had magic when they were around her. Talus had warned her to be careful.

So, she didn't see a man hurriedly rushing toward her as she was ambling back from the market and back toward her ship. Arms were full of scrolls piled nearly above her head. Blonde-wisps of hair bounced in the light breeze. And boots walking carefully on those swaying and creaking platforms.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

Deagan's attention had been cast behind him, watching to see if he'd managed to lose the Orcs. They were a ways behind him now, stuck between an overturn vendor cart and its upset owner. A satisfied grin cut across his face, blue eyes delighting that he was one step ahead. He'd spun on his heels, rushing backward to continue his flight, already anticipating his getaway. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

Alas, the young blonde woman's careful step was to be for naught. Call it fate, call it chance, or perhaps, ill-luck, but the following series of events would result in a chaotic butterfly effect.

Either way, as Deagan turned to face forward and continue his sprint, the grin was replaced by surprise and alarm as what seemed to be some sort of scroll entity guardian, with wisps of blonde hair waving about like arms reaching to get him in his clutches. He suddenly had a flashback of the Tiferi, the great owl librarian of Thiria's archives, out to get him for never returning the scroll on the Age of Wonders.

"ACK!" A sudden cry in exclamation burst from his mouth, and he went skidding across the wooden platform, trying his best to avoid crashing into it.

That was the only warning Finn would receive, as gravity took hold in a manner of flailing arms, the scoundrel crashing onto the diminutive woman and her precarious clutch on the scrolls.

 

[Finn]

She was minding her own business. Her bounty clutched within skinny, gangly arms against a nearly flat chest. The air was dry and nice. She heard running behind her but paid it no mind.

After all? What could it possibly have to do with her?

Perhaps when she got back to the ship she'd make some mushroom porridge. Would go nice with a pinch of the herbs she grew in her cabin. Her one and only cabin. Would be nice with some crusty br--,"

WHAM.

Something hit her from behind.

She stumbled and her scrolls went flying. Her lithe body tripped up and almost caught her balance if it wasn't for the warm weight that continued to press her down to that wooden platform. She landed in a tangle of limbs and scrolls, blonde wisps fanning wildly across her face and button nose.

"Oooommmmpphhhhh," she exclaimed as she went down, too stunned to say much more. Wide-blue eyes traveled to the...not the something that was on top of her but the someone.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

It wasn't that Deagan would object at the prospect of being on top of a woman. Really under, to the side, behind... all had their stimulating merits. It's just that he wasn't too keen to be practicing such antics in public; must the less when there were two very well muscled Orcs in pursuit to grab him for pilfering with their contracted quarry.

Sapphire-fire eyes went wide in shock, staring down into large baby blues fixed upon a small, angular face framed by a tangled mop of blonde waves, with what he could tell, the body of some prepubescent kid and gangly limbs. Thankfully, NOT the Owl Librarian. Just a.. kid? What was a kid doing up here in this part of town?

Oh hell, here's to hoping he didn't just hurt a kid.

"Oh!..." Deagan began, "Hi!" in greeting, dark brows arching up in an expression of surprise, before darting his head to look over his shoulder again, the tousled dark locks tickling his brow. Alarm quickly replaced the surprise, and he did his best to try and untangle himself from the situation. Unfortunately, the tangle of arms and legs made it difficult to pry himself out. Plus a bony knee was too close for his comfort on a pair of jewels he wanted to keep intact.

"Whoa, okay, sorry kid, just let me --" he began to excuse himself, trying to lift himself off of her, right palm perching along the right side of her head to push himself up and extract himself from the situation. Scrolls continued to scatter everywhere, a few precariously about to roll off the catwalk to plunge into the sea below.

 

[Finn]

Kid?

"I'm not a...kid," she grumbled in protest. Head tilted to the side, seeing her scrolls. Her scrolls! He was going too slow.

Her knee brushed precariously to those jewels of his. Hands would come up, fingers splayed along his chest as she pushed. Tattoos on her arms bulging just slightly as her little muscles flexed on biceps and forearms.

"My scrolls!" She exclaimed in extreme distress and would roll away from him and lung for the ledge.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

Normally around this time, Deagan would be able to get a sense of emotions coming off another being. The way the blonde kid twisted her features in disgruntled protest would have normally sent over an empathic wave of annoyance. One that was distinctly missing.

Weird.

However, there wasn't any time to dawdle to muses about it. A knee came precariously close to a special place he held in his heart and the scoundrel immediately went, "Whoa whoa, careful the--" barely lifting his hips to roll away and avoid a full slam of a knee. His eyes immediately went wide however, when the blonde whelp made a beeline straight to the ledge.

"Whoa, wait!" he went scrambling on his hands and knees, legs propelling him forward to try and capture the blonde's arm so that she wouldn't go flying over. Kid or no kid, that blasted conscious of him wasn't going to let the girl recklessly take the plunge off the platform.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?!" he cried out, the scroll rolling to a small spin to balance precariously right at the edge. One good gust of wind and it would fly away.

 

[Finn]

Fingers reached out her momentum perfect to just grab it. Then his fingers wrapped around her wrist. Her forward momentum was halted and the fingertips of her other hand that were lunging for the scroll found themselves brushing against the precarious piece of knowledge.

It spun.

Tipped.

Blues widnened.

"Nonononononono," she breathed.

Head snapped back to the rude interloper, eyes traveling briefly to his grip around her wrist and up to his face. "Let go," she exclaimed and tugged once more, turning back to the tipping...TIPPING....

FALLING SCROLL.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Thatonehadthedragonwingformulasonthem," she muttered in a hushed whisper. Shock transitioned to defeat to ire. Blues snapped back to the scoundrel.

"Look. What. You. Did." Hand motioned to the empty edge of the platform as if it was obvious.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

It was all there in her expression; each emotion flickering across her features. With every emotional transition, the scoundrel braced himself to feel the lash back of emotions -- in these situations, things would always get a little hot and heavy, and he'd still have to try and calm down the situation.

Yet nothing came, not a crash of the shock nor the sagging weight of defeat. Hell, not even the whip of anger as the blonde practically bit Deagan's head off with her tongue's lash and indignant finger-pointing.

"Whoa, chill there," Deagan attempted to use an outstretched finger to avoid getting poked in the chest. Or stomach. Really, this kid was rather short.

"No scroll is worth your life, kid!" he told her incredulously. Deagan lived by the motto that while the reward outweighed the risk, he was still numero uno when it came to making sure he could survive with his skin still intact.

Speaking of keeping his hide free of new entry wounds... Deagan shot a glance off behind him, searching the area for the Orcs. Yup, there they were. Complete with swords in hand and radiating the sort of anger he'd expect from the pipsqueak beside him.

"Sorry, about your scroll. But, I really have to get going --" he brought his hands up, palms out, quite apologetic.

It was that very instant that a dagger went whistling through the air, striking the wood right between Finn's legs, the blade and hilt resonating with the strength it had been thrown with.

Oh hell.

"Get them!" came a yell, the orcs indicating to them both. Wait, did he just say them?

Oh great, they thought the kid was with him.

He took a glance at her then back at the orcs, and his desire to save his skin struggled with that bloody conscience.

"Fuk," came his curse, then with an apologetic flash of a grin, he said, "Ah, time to move. Like now," Deagan told her, eyes flashing sapphire fire and his jaw flexing in determination. And if the devilish glint in his ocean-blue eyes had any indication, it was one Finn likely was not going to enjoy too much.

 

[Finn]

"Eeeeeeeeep," she squealed, eyes snapping away from the jerko's face to that knife buried in the wood. Confusion colored her features, lips twisting. Orcs...knives...him...running?

"What is happening," she breathed. She just had wanted to go back to her ship. Make that mushroom soup. Read her scrolls. MIND HER OWN BUSINESS.

And those orcs reminded her too much of the street gang she'd escaped from in Elbion. Scrambling on her hands and knees, she began gathering as many of the other scrolls as she could. Another knife sailed through the air and buried itself into a scroll she was going for.

"HEY THAT IS FOR READING NOT FOR...," she felt a sharp tug on her arm as she was dragged from her feet and decidedly away from the orcs who had no class.

Constellations, the man was handsy.

"I can run on my own," small voice huffed a protest next to him as she nearly tripped. One arm loaded with scrolls pointed to the end of the dock. Blonde wisps flew wildly behind her. Feet dragged as she tugged. "My ship is that small one at the end." They needed to go left not right.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

"Oh, just out for a small jog, avoiding getting stabbed, really, the typical sort of thing," Deagan quipped, his fingers tightly encircling the blonde's wrist. His longer legs had a wider stride, and as he was trying to avoid getting additional holes in both of their hides, Deagan wasn't letting up.

"I don't think they are up to having a nice chat, kid," Deagan added with an upturn crook of his lips, blue eyes dancing with visible mirth and devilry. A half twitch of amusement rose at how she was trying to keep all those scrolls in hand.

Was she some sort of archivist's assistant? Could be. However, his attention quickly latched onto the key words of my ship.

A double-take and as he tugged them behind a crate, glancing over to see where the orcs were at. They were getting closer. "Ship?"

Deagan snapped his dark head towards the left. Cobalt eyes immediately went wide in recognition at the small line of airships. The grin on his face broke into a nostalgic smile. It didn't last, instead a new plan formed in his head. Okay, so maybe Lady Luck was on his side after all. In the form of this blonde pipsqueak that would get him out of the Bazaar.

"Perfect, let's go." He told her, glancing down at her. They needed to move fast. " I'd keep those scrolls close." it was the only warning Deagan gave her, intending to bend down and grab her into his arms to carry her off towards the direction she indicated.

 

[Finn]

Oh no.

She did not like that look that glinted in those sapphire eyes of his. The way the grin quirked up like she'd just made a deal with the devil. That cocky sway of his hips.

Keep them close?

She looked down at her precious bundle which gave him enough time to loop her into his arms like she was nothing more than a sack of hay.

"H-hey!" Finn protested and took one of her scrolls and whacked him on the head.

"Put. Me. Down," another whack.

whackwhackwhack

The orcs rounded the corner they'd just left, murder in the eyes. Finn bounced against him as his footsteps stomped down the wooden gangway. Twisting her neck, she saw her ship.

HER SHIP.

"Did you try picking them up too? Knock their hard-earned scrolls off the gangway too? Is that why they're so mad at you?"

She doubted he did anything like that to the orcs.

They were almost there now. A few more feet and he'd carry her across the threshold and onto her small ship. Bees-knees, she hoped she could get the fire started before those orcs caught up to them.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

Okay, so maybe the kid wasn't some sort apprentice archivist. Not with the way that she kept watching him on the head with that scroll in her hand. Make it more a butcher's apprentice - she seemed to have some good arm strength that belied those gangly arms of hers.

"Would you quit that!" Deagan called out, trying his best to avoid the hits while keeping an eye on where he was going. His boots fell heavy on the platform, and he gave a small jump up, jostling the blonde in his arms and her scrolls as he took a small shortcut to cut across towards the ship she'd indicated was hers.

"Do you want us to fall? Cause that's what's gonna happen if you keep it up, kid!" Not really, but while he could multitask, he needed all the brainpower to focus on the task in hand.

Staying alive and getting the hell out of dodge.

Decided it would be best to try and calm her down, he attempted to use his abilities on her to get her to at least see a little reason.

However, it didn't work. No matter how hard he scrunched his brows and stared at her.

"OH COME ON!" he cried out in exasperation. First the Orcs and now this! Did they have some sort of anti-magic lanterns around the place? Was it the questionable bread wrap he had at that streetside vendor that smelled so good but he knew very well he shouldn't ask where the meat came from?

 

[Finn]

Blues the color of an overcast sky narrowed on him. Those stressed brows. His scrunched face.

"Why're you looking at me like that?"

Was he constipated? Ate something bad? Backed up? A small yelp escaped her throat and her arms wrapped around him tightly as he landed from another jump.

This was...NOT how she liked to travel.

Eyes squeezed closed and he'd be glad at the sudden reprieve from being whacked on the head with knowledge. One eye peeked open, then another. A hand pressed on his shoulder.

"There," she breathed as he leaped across one final platform and solidly onto the deck of her ship.

HER. Ship.

With a twist and a wiggle, she slipped free from the scoundrel's arms, scrolls falling safely to the deck. The orcs were physically pushing others aside as they tried to catch up. Finn looked at the ropes keeping them docked and pointed.

"Get the rigging! And you never answered my question. What the eff did you do?!" She scrambled to the center, where the wheel and fire-source were. With a flick and click-click of metal, a spark and then another caught as she turned up the pilot flame that was already there.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

Finn

The pipsqueak had wiggled out of his arms with the skill those grimy little street pickpocketing kids could only learn on the streets. Either way, he was happy that she'd stopped the whacking of his head.

Even before she'd gone off to yelp out commands, Deagan was already rushing to the rigging. The desire to quickly get out of the place fueling the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Back home, when the gypsy tribe was sailing from place to place, he'd done the very same thing.

You can take the man out of the sky gypsy caravan, but not the sky gypsy out of the man.

"Already working on it kid!" he cried out with a shout, casting worried anxious glances over his shoulder over towards where the pair of Orcs were weaving and shoving their way through. All of thirty meters if that.

Oh crap!

"Oh, just a little disagreement that's all." he sang, not quite a lie but not quite a truth, painting a picture of simply being a mere man caught on a bad situation.

The ropes were untied, and with a flourish, the great white sails unfurled. He took a firm grip on the rope, twisted his leg and foot around it, then went swinging with all the debonair charm that the scoundrel could radiate. He landed on the stern, quickly tying the rigging to secure the ropes.

Just as he managed to secure the other side, one of the Orcs gave a savage shout, only to go charging down the catwalk straight to the ship with the ferocity of a berserker.

"Oh fuk," Cobalt eyes went wide in alarm, and calling out, "Hurry up there kid, we are going to have company soon!" he shouted, jumping off towards the quarterdeck. It was a small sail ship, but sturdy. Looked like it had some odd updates, but the basics of what he knew about was there.

"Hey, can we talk this out? This is just a big misunderstanding!" Deagan potshot out towards the Orcs, attempting one last time to see if he could get them to calm down. It just required more focus and attention than presently.

 

[Finn]

The fire roared to life with a sudden heat that made her skin warm.

"I don't think they'd be chasing you if it was only a small disagreement," Finn quipped, fingers jerking the wheel starboard as they began to rise higher and higher. A part of her really hoped the orcs got him as he swung out. Then they wouldn't be her problem as well. The interloper would be gone. AND she'd be able to enjoy her mushroom soup in peace.

"My name is Finn, not kid," pale blues were focused on the flight path as they began lifting further from the docks.

One of the orcs made a jump for a loose rope and began climbing up.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

"Look! I'm just an ordinary guy trying to make ends meet here, kid!" Deagan cried out in mock insult, climbing up alongside the railing towards the railing, hands curling around it as he peered down at the Orcs. He didn't have to feel her emotions to figure that she would still take offense to the 'kid' commentary, so he added as an afterthought, "Finn!"

Turning back towards the Orcs, he brought back that wide-toothed smile, holding his hands up as if he were but a harmless man, aware of his misdeeds.

"So about talking it--"

An axe went whipping through the air straight at Deagan's head, causing his eyes to grow wide and the man to immediately drop down to use the railing as cover. The axe tore through the fabric of one of the sails, causing a rip and a hole that would cause the air tension for lift to lesson, the axe striking the deck.

"Oh crap!" Deagan cried out, it wouldn't be such a large hole to hinder the overall flight, but it wasn't good either.

 

[Finn]

"MY ship!" She yelped and cast the interloper a very firm glare. Arms tensed and worked the wheel, straightening to compensate for the sudden tear in the sails.

The small vessel shuttered.

"C'mon baby hold together," the inventor murmured. The orc was climbing over the banister now. Finn heaved the vessel starboard causing the orc to trip up and roll onto the deck with a grunt. Stretching out a slender arm, she went to grab one of the ropes, hoping to tie down the steering so she could fix her ship.

Her poor baby.

"A little help on deck GUY trying to make ENDS MEET."

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

"Trying!" Deagan sang, trying to avoid getting clobbered by the Orc attempted to steady himself, his large, well-muscled body flexing with each movement.

"My, what thick thighs you have!" Deagan called out, trying his best to lighten the situation with a glib remark. It didn't work. No, the Orc came stomping over Deagan's direction, moving to pull the lodged ax from the deck. Every intention lay there to bring it upon his head.

Deagan held out his hands, palm out, again, trying to diffuse the situation. Drawing up some energy, he pasted a wide jovial smile and again attempted to quell the bubbling anger from the Orc.

"Look this was all a misunderstanding," he would say, cobalt eyes glancing from left to right for a weapon of opportunity. He only had his dagger and to be frank, her rather not be courting close combat with an Orc whose arms were as thick as tree trunks.

The Orc gave a grunt in response, Deagan rapidly attempting to soothe over the anger. If he could focus well enough, he should be able to manage one Orc. Within the next couple of seconds, there was a sort of persuasive quality to Deagan's voice, one that the Orc's ears would pick up but that would completely sail over Finn's.

"I think we can be friends. Talk this out..."

The sensation of slight confusion would fill the Orc, and a voice in the back of his mind would reason that it wasn't such a bad situation. Should he really be this angry? Look how nice and good looking this human seems!

 

[Finn]

Sky blues looked over at the orc. The heck was this man doing?! The orc looked slightly...doopey. Finn blinked.

Magic maybe?

A frown tugged at her lips but her gaze snapped to the rope as her fingers closed around it. She tied the wheel off then took off for the rigging, grabbing her repair kit. Muscles strained as she climbed higher and higher, tugging on a safety rope about halfway up the mast.

"You good down there?" She called.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

"Oh, we are good!" Deagan sang out, flashing those pearly whites in a wide, charming smile.

Trying to work here, kid! No distractions! He mentally quipped at her, still focusing on the Orc, a slight sapphire glow seemingly terminating from the man's eyes.

"Aren't we good, my friend, eh?" okay, so it was working! The Orc gave a frown, his hand flexing along with the handle of his ax. He was working through why he had been so angry? It was more of a fog as if the implanted suggestion that Deagan was actually a pretty charming fellow was clouding his mind.

"No," the Orc gave a shake of his head as if trying to clear the fog. Deagan began to sweat. Damn Orcs were nothing but brute lugs! Why can't things go his way today?

"You give back!" apparently the sense of responsibility from the Orc seemed to be ingrained deeply. Mentally Deagan cursed.

"Look, you put down your ax and we can discuss this further, pal!" he began, trying to implant the suggestion of calm and reasonableness.

Then again, this was an Orc.

 

[Finn]

She scurried across the sail. Grimacing against the movement of the ship and fancy pants down below, she grabbed the two shredded parts and took up her kit. Fingers fumbled with the needle and thread and she began sewing the rip closed.

She had to work quickly. They were in danger of getting too low and drifting too much to the side. And other airships were coming in for a landing.

Tying off the last knot there was a shudder as the sails took up a sudden gust of wind. Her boot slipped and she began falling, the safety rope tightening around her waist as she swung - inadvertently - toward the orc's back. A yelp left her throat as her arms came up to protect her head.

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

What the heck was this kid thinking??!

Deagan's concentration was effectively broken when the blonde young women went swinging like a pendulum down the rigging and went smacking straight into the Orc. Needless to say, small girl viruses an Orcs back might result in the cracking of bones and the like. Whatever the end result would be for Finn, at the very least she managed to strike at the larger Orc in a way that sent him tumbling forward.

"Oh gods!" Deagan cried out in alarm, moving out of the way as the Orc lost his balance and went stumbling forward. Seeing his arms flail, the scoundrel took this as an advantage and as the Orc came at him, he sidestepped, and well, gravity did the rest.

The Orc went flying off the railing, ax, and all, heading straight down towards the sea below. Finn's deft sewing allowed them to gather enough air for the sail ship to rise higher.

A bark of jubilation came from Deagan, his closed fist-pumping in success. He brought his right hand up, giving a mock salute at the other Orc back at the catwalk who had not been able to make it in time.

"Sorry, bud, maybe next time!" his face split in two in a wide grin, before jerking in alarm again, cursing, "Oh blast!" and turning towards the swinging blonde woman.

"Hey you okay, kid?" He strode across the deck over to her, attempting to catch her in his broad arms.

 

[Finn]

She swung wildly through the air. Her shoulder and side ached from where she'd slammed into the orc's back. Her front smacked into his chest, arms looping around his neck tightly for fear of swinging endlessly like a pendulum.

She grimaced at the feeling of the growing bruises.

And DEAGAN would be surprised to find that there were some soft, feminine curves pressing up against him beneath those clothes she wore. CERTAINLY NOT A CHILD'S. But she was, at the same time, by no means busty.

A groan left her mouth.

"I think...I will be. Can you help me get this rope off my waist?" The knot had tightened painfully against her as it caught her from falling onto the decking. "It's very...hard to breath right now."

 

[Deagan Hunt]

|| Finn ||

Okay, there was no way Deagan was going to miss getting two soft if dainty, cushions smushed against his chest. Oh.

Oh. OH!

So, not a kid. He filed that away in the back of his mind as more pressing matters - not Finn's chest, but her well being - came to the forefront.

"Right! Breathing is important," Deagan shot back with a quip, doing his best to hold her aloft to give the rope some slack. He gave a small grunt as he reshuffled her in his arms, lifting her up so that his left arm managed to snake around and hold her in place just under her rump. Not that he was trying anything, but more that he wanted to make sure that his right hand could try and fiddle with the knot at her waist.

Granted, maybe Finn wouldn't think so. Either way, so began his attempt at untangling her, saying, "You know, there are better riggings for this than a rope, " unable to help from mansplaining more secure safety riggings.