Topic: A Rhy-Din Welcome

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-01 09:54 EST

Maria entered, black coat billowing behind her as she threw open the door to enter from the dim light of early morning. Her coat was a floor length black leather, her pants also black leather, with a lose fitting blue silk blouse open to almost show off more flesh then is proper. Her hand moves to rest lightly on her sword hilt, she had been hearing about Talomar's fights and too many people associated her with that rotten man, she had to tread carefully now that she was back in Rhy-Din.

Renna came though slowly bring her brown orbs gaze towards Maria... Well well, sight for sore eyes, a smirk passed her lips widely, and like some cheshire cat then grinned out to her, "My - my - my... Look what the Nexus dropped?"

Maria moved to head for the bar, as always noting who was in the inn, and who was a threat to her. She barely nodded to Lucy, her dark gaze is still on the bar and getting a drink.

A gentle raise of an eyebrow at the nod, she crossed her arms as she leant back into the couch to watch Maria... "Welcome back, I suppose."

"For however long it lasts," Maria answered with a nod, knowing her fianc? and lover would be dieing to get her back to where he could tie her up again. She smiled softly, darkly at the thought.

Lord Ayreg's head turned as Renna's did, and a faint narrowing of his eyes took in Maria. It had been some time, and he unconsciously put his hand over his side. The stitches had, by now, dissolved themselves into his flesh, and the goldenrod cream ensured only the thinnest of red lines over his ribs remained as a scar. Still, there wasn't exactly enmity there. It was a duel, after all, and someone is bound to be bitten in that arena

Maria glanced at the new comer as she came down the stairs, then looked back at the bottle in her hand as she poured herself a wine setting the bottle back and sipping the drink. She glanced at Ayreg and smiled softly, remembering her promise to him to face him again at some point. "Old wound bothering you Lord Ayreg?"

His chin raised slightly. Almost imperceptibly, the evidence of it was the falling of a strand of gray hair -- loose, and not pulled back as it normally
is -- down the side of his face over his ear "Not quite, my Lady. Just an itching to exercise again." Then, perhaps, in a showing of his regard for Renna.. his legs stretched out again on the couch, crossing at the ankles over her lap

Maria smirked, "Ahh, I see, I know that feeling too well," she answered, voice almost purring.

"Perhaps we should dance again, sometime, if you are to come about more frequently than you have been." A prying statement, perhaps, but subtle enough to suit the death knight

She grinned, "That my dear would depend on my Lord and how what he will allow, wouldn't want to upset him at all."

Crow's feet narrowed at Maria as she spoke. And narrowed again as Renna moved his quite-comfortable lower body. He straitened his posture on his end of the couch, then, and rose. Boots were abandoned at the couch, but he can always get them later. Moving barefoot across the room with calculated, deliberate strides, he addressed Maria before he got to her "What your Lord allows? Tsk. Such a shame to see you're a mewling little kitten again, woman.
You could very well have been a tiger had you set your mind to it."

Maria grinned "Not at all, I do what I wish, but he has plan I'm not privy to, if he wishes me not to get marked up as of yet then I should of course give him that much for the
freedom he has given me, should I not?"

"Freedom should be yours to take, my Lady. If it is given, then it is not freedom -- it is a velvet cage, and a silken leash. Nothing more. It may fit loosely, but it fits nonetheless." His chin dropped, and he eyed her evenly. A hand rose to lightly stroke her hair once. "And I had such hope for you, after you left Longden's service. Such a waste to think you would so easily bend knee and neck to one just like him, so readily."

Maria scowled at Ayreg for a minute before she smirked and leaned on the bar brushing his hand aside, "You'll find I am still someone to be watched, and still and danger, my freedom is very real, I can up and leave at any point I wish."

"All that means is that your velvet cage has no lock on the door. Which makes you the worse sort." His hand, brushed aside, now waves dismissively "To be so spineless and cowardly as to not desire freedom and self-determination when it's staring you in the face, offering itself to you like a succulent piece of meat upon a plate, and the knife and fork already in your hand." He turned, then, "I had thought better of you, Maria. Clearly.. we are all mistaken, from time to time."

Maria smiled at his words and chuckled, "Perhaps there are things I am privy to that you are not, such as power you are not aware of that I can walk into. Or maybe I'm just down right in love with my better and for once am loved in return," she shrugged and smiled, knowing full well she was very much in love, Merrick was her perfect match if not for his immortality.

Ayreg's glance shot over his shoulder as he walked back toward the couch "Love, if worn improperly, is just another leash."

Maria laughed at that, "Like Talomar Longden, Lord Ayreg, only the morose and lonely could ever see love as a weakness."

As he's putting his boots back on, now, since it would simply *not* do to go walking about outside barefoot. "I did not say it was weakness, my Lady. Mercy is weakness. Love is a harness; a tether to remind you that you are still alive, and that you are still human. The harness can be worn wrong, though, and instead of a tether it turns to a chain, wrapping limbs to body until nothing can be done save only be dragged around by it. In the end, it wraps itself around you throat and stifles any cause of living you may have. No, my Lady, love is not weak. Love is more powerful than one can possibly imagine.. so powerful, in fact, that it can grow to dominate one's life. And love, like hate, once in such a position of domination, makes a terrible husk out of what may have once been a good person of fire, and zeal."

Maria raised a brow at him, "You are a sad scarred man Lord Ayreg. If it bothers you so then I will face you again, just to show you my freedom, name the place and time,
I'll be here."

A firm nod. Satisfaction flared in the death knight.. she would face him without a "by-your-leave" from whatever new lord and master she had, now. The outcome of that duel would be irrelevant to him, now, really -- the satisfaction of making her make such a decision was enough. A shame she'd probably go right back to bending her neck and mewling like a kitten again, though "A week from tomorrow, at this hour. Can you keep to that?" A sickened little twist of his lips, "Or do you have to fall to your knees, and beg permission first?"

Maria's smile never disappeared, "I'll be here," she answered.

Ayreg gave a faint nod, and he turned sharply on his heel. Calculated steps carried him toward the front door, and he moved out into the cool chill of the morning air. Moving down the cobbled street in the direction of WestEnd, he disappeared into the rows of buildings. He had an appointment to keep.

Maria watched him go before dropping her gaze to her drink, her smile fading, now how to tell her lover of this new turn of events without upsetting him or the business he was conducting with S.E.C.T.O.R. She threw back what remained of her drink and turned to head out the door quickly.

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-01 09:54 EST

Maria left the inn heading back for their room at best inn in Rhy-Din, it was as far as Maria was going to be able to stay from Talomar as was possible, though she still worried he would invite the two of them to dinner, what a horrible thought that was.But right now her thoughts were else where. She was shaken, Ayreg had struck a nerve, he had pointed out her own fears to her, voicing her own weakness to her, her fear of freedom. It was a fear that no longer bothered her, or so she had thought, apparently she had been mistaken, sorely mistaken. She loved Merrick and never wanted to leave him, but was she so weak as to fear freedom, or was it simply that she was happy being protected by her lover?

She liked to believe it was the love of his protection, she had nothing to fear while she was with him, except for when he decided it was time to teach her how to handle such pleasure and pain as she had never felt before. Those times when he simply grabbed her arm and all but dragged her to his dungeon always left her trebling in fear and eventually begging him to stop, he rarely did, not until she was on the verge of passing out, he ignored her protests and the tears, he simply forced her to feel more and more pleasure and yet still she wondered where on his scale she rated with his slaves he had sold.

She was learning herself as he forced her body to take more and more, she was learning her body could take more and more pleasure and the more it took the less control she had. She was learning just how many times she could be forced to climax, how she could be on the verge of passing out simply from lack of oxygen from her own cries of pleasure. Maria found herself lost in those thoughts for a moment as she closed the door to their rooms and leaned against it, closing her eyes and licking her lips, her body flush with need as she finally moved and headed for their bedroom hoping he would be at the desk in the room so she could convince him to take her to bed.

"Merrick?" She called his name even before she reached the door, poking her head into the room and when there was no answer, the room empty. She frowned and looked behind her, "Merrick?" She listened intently but she could not feel him close or hear him, he was distant, very distant. Sighing she headed into the bedroom and picked up her journal dropping onto the bed and laying out on her stomach she started to write;

"I ran into Lord Ayreg, he hasn't changed, he still has great honor and yet is truly a dirty fighter. He seems to know just what to say or do to rise my anger. To accuse me of not wanting freedom, of being afraid of it... its almost like he was reading my mind, surely he could not know me so well, I don't even know myself in such away, but I did fear freedom at one point, I needed to prove him wrong.

I can't believe I agreed to fight him, he tricked me into this, but I can't step down now, else I will lose the honor I have fought so hard to maintain, I need to follow through on this. But how do I tell Merrick, am I defending my own honor or am I defending his, he's not a slaver, and I am not his slave, I am his lover and to say otherwise is wrong in any sense of the words. I should have walked away, but how could I?

I can only hope Merrick will not be too upset with me, that he will forgive my slip and allow me to go through with this fight, I can only hope I come out of it alright. My last fight with Ayreg almost cost me my shoulder and could have cost me my life if not for the fact that I had some how avoided cracking my head off the brick wall he had thrown me against. I haven't really been keeping myself in top shape with Merrick, he's been letting me relax and get use to the freedom of his home, I'm not sure I am as strong as I use to be, of course then again with the amount of fighting Merrick's restraints... I can only hope all will go well.

Now all I need to do is think of how to tell Merrick, I love him so much the last thing I want to do is upset him, and I promised to keep no secrets from him during that first torture season. I can only hope he will understand as an honorable man. If he does tell me he disapproves, I will just have to swallow my pride and tell Ayreg the fight is off. I love him so much I hope he understands, he has to understand, I hope he does, he needs to."

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-09 12:10 EST

The dawning sun and the chill to the spring air that still lingered had Maria's hands in her pockets as she entered the inn, shaking off the cold and tugging her jacket closer to her as she headed straight for the bar of the empty inn. She moved to put water on to boil and collected a mug and and tea setting them on the back bar waiting for the water to boil.

Mostly empty. Almost entirely empty. 98% empty, in fact, but not totally. Jodiah Ayreg sat at one end of that great bar, a not-touched tankard of ale sitting in front of him, staring at the frothy head peeking over the rim of the large mug. He was frowning, and didn't really care to look up at her entrance, nor to follow her as she moved across the room, nor to even glance as she began to pick and poke about the area of the back bar. Right hand twirled and released a length of purple ribbon knotted about his left bicep. Twirl and release. Twirl and release

She glances sidelong at Ayreg and leaned back against the back bar, "Problem my Lord?" She questioned, glancing out the window before looking at Ayreg once more.

"No.." Distant, and flat. Brooding. Byronic. His voice was barely a strained grunt, and nearly inaudible at that. Fortunately, there wasn't a great deal of noise cluttering up the air of the common room in the small hours of the morning "...no problem."

Maria raises a brow at him but doesn't ask as she plays with the mug as she waits for the water before she moves to pour herself a mug of tea once the water finally starts to boil, wondering if the old man remembers their arrangement for a duel.

"We had an appointment, my Lady. I.." hard eyes staring at the head of froth on his ale. Twirl and release. Twirl and release "..I will be unable to keep it."

She looked at Ayreg in shock, "Your forfeiting already?" She snorts at him in disbelief, "I thought you a more honorable man then that."

"Honor." A mirthless chuckle, and a twitch of his lips that never comes anywhere close to touching his eyes. Those cold, hard green eyes look at her, though, staring with an almost unrestrained righteous fury "What know you of honor? I cannot because I do not trust myself now. I'd possibly kill you." another emotionless laugh "...Or myself. The temptation would be too great. I dare not, my lady."

"I thought the chance of the killing was the point?" Maria answered, "I mean, why else draw sword but to draw blood, hmm?"

He... stared. Maria Copperfield was a diversion at the best of times. And the worst. The death knight's face looked to be carved from a thunderhead as he twirled his finger around the purple ribbon knotted around his arm, and then released it. Twirl and release. Twirl and release "If it is what you truly want, Maria, then I will oblige you. We can dance a bloody little soiree."

Her dark eyes almost laughed, "At least your heart will be in my Lord," she pointed out with a grin before taking a drink of her tea. "Or are you too busy brooding, if I didn't know any better I would think someone finally got to you."

His hands slam down onto the bar top with a loud.. thwap? Thwack? What sort of sound would it make if not a thud? Either way, he rose sharply to his feet and stared like an inquisitor looking at a witch for several seconds before turning wordlessly on his heel, moving around the length of the bar, and toward the stairs leading to the rented rooms "I will prepare myself. It will happen soon."

She almost jumped, almost, before she took another drink of her tea, the last time she went outside to wait for him he attacked her from above, she'd wait for him this time. Maria tugged free her sword from it sheath with a satisfying sound of steel on leather and checked the length as she had that morning, making sure there were no imperfections that would cause the blade to fail against Ayreg and finishing off the tea she set the cup side, swinging the blade slowly to look it over completely. She resheathes the weapon.

Back down the steps he comes. Cumbersome long sword missing, though, having chosen instead of swept-hilt rapier far more suitable to quick attacks, and defenses. He held the sword by the blade, near the hand guard, and backward as if his fist itself was the sheath. Ayreg was still frowning, and seemed to display none of the amusement or excitement he had the last time they had a little spar

Maria watched him return and raised a brow at him once more, very curious as to what has caused this mood in the dark thin man as she moved to slip out from behind the bar, drawing her weapon once more and headed for the door to the alley.

He rounds the edge of the bar, falling in behind Maria as they moved toward the alley. It was only polite to take such things outside, regardless of the fact that the common room itself was mostly empty.

She quickly moves out the door and fast to the right spinning to face him to stop from being stabbed in the back. She takes a quick glance around, spring and the alley has been relatively cleaned, no bodies to trip over no ice or water to slip in, this should be a fairly fair fight.

It was an unneeded gesture. Jodiah Ayreg moves down the two steps leading to the cobbled streets, taking up position on the left. He turned to face her, grim as he was inside, and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the rapier while releasing it from his other hand. Flashy blade, but no flashy movements yet. He lifted it in salute. "I make no promises that I will provide much in the way of sport for you, Maria."

She watches him, "Do you long for death this morning, what has taken the fight out of you?" She asked as she brought her own blade up in salute as well.

The weather had been considerably warmer than when they last faced here. That, coupled with Leotah and Sid's doctoring has made his knee not quite so rigid; not quite so painful. Only a minor limp remains, and it is hardly the staggered gait he had the last time. He shook his head at her question, dropping one foot back to a dueling posture. This he had been practicing quite often, with Alysia. "I am no easy meat, Maria. I do not long for death. I am... I am just disturbed."

She nodded, "Good, because I do not long for a slaughter, not from you anyway," she answered as she brought her weapon in front of her in a two handed grip parallel to the ground as she too adjusted her stance, "I did not think it was possible to disturb one such as yourself."

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-09 12:11 EST

"I am only human."

She nodded, "As am I. Are you ready?"

A faint nod, and the rapier was swept side-to-side. Thin blade made a faint whistling noise as it cut the air. "Have at me, Maria. We'll see if I simply choose to let you sheath your sword, or if there's still enough desire to live inside me to turn it aside."

Maria smirked, "I don't think that would be much sport," she pointed out just before taking three quick steps towards him, sweeping her sword up from pointing slightly at his left hip up towards his right shoulder, meaning to slice him wide.

It was a... simple thing. Compared to the fast-paced duels he had been having with Alysia Skye, this was almost child's play for her to begin so lightly. Rapier turned inward into a nearly gentle parry of her sword -- just enough to sap away its momentum, then turned, spinning around her blade to the outside. A sweep of his far-stronger arm sent her sword slashing wildly off to the left, and he took a step in to slam his shoulder roughly against hers. Regardless of whether it knocked her to her bottom or not, he took several steps back and away, still frowning. Amusement gone. No excitement. It was a clinical thing, this, and it seemed to show.

She stumbled back as he hit her with his shoulder but didn't give him the time to think about it much before she was closing the distance once more, her blade coming at his face like she was wielding a spear at the last minute turned away in a sweeping arc to disembowel him.

He was already moving backward. Simple steps turned into a full-on leaping back peddle, and he danced away from the wide slash of her sword. He dropped to one knee as his foot slid across something slick -- no ice, but the grime that was always on the cobbles back here sometimes provided less footing than it should. Sometimes. Most of the time it didn't seem to bother one in the least, 'cept when they fell in it. Then it made them filthy. He rose back to his feet. "So vicious. You really are trying to kill me, aren't you?" Mirthless chuckle led to another simple sweep of his rapier, and then he sprang forward. It was his turn to be on the attack. Thin blade flickered; here, there, a simple thrust and a simple thrust. It was not a weapon designed to kill, generally, save perhaps only for a full-on thrust through the heart.

Maria danced back a step as she switched to a one handed grip and brought her own sword, tip pointed at the earth to push his attack aside and under her arm, the other hand grabbing his shirt to help his momentum carry him passed her, glad she had her hair pulled back this time as she side stepped and turned to keep her eyes on him, "If that's what it takes to inspire you to fight," she answered simply. "Surely there's a reward out there for you somewhere."

Oh, yes, we remembered how one's loose hair was taken full advantage of, last time. He went on past her, struggling to keep his balance and stay on his feet for a time. Once stopped, though, it was easier. He corrected his posture and rolled his shoulders back to the soft crackling of bones in his spine, then turned back to face her. "Surely. Perhaps. I haven't kept up on such things, truth be told. Mayhap you should ask Brian? I understand that is his preview -- sell-sword that he is." He lifted his sword, weighing the balance in his hand. If that's what it takes to inspire you to fight. He rolled the idea about in his head, unsure really of what he wanted. Not to die. No. That would be a waste. He looked up suddenly to Maria, and moved forward her again. Cautiously, this time. A slow pace, sword outstretched toward her.

Maria shrugged, "Maybe I'll just turn you hide over to Talomar Longden, surely he will pay well for your blood," she pointed out, "slowly circling as he moved, staying just a step out of reach of his sword, her eyes on both him and the weapon.

"Perhaps he would, but does not your lord and master keep you free from want, Maria? What need have you of any reward?" The circle continued for a rotation, then Ayreg stepped in and made a quick, high-marked cut toward her shoulder line.

Maria moved to move her sword to catch his, feeling his blade cut through the shoulder of her jacket and blouse to leave a welling cut on her shoulder, not deep, but deep enough to bring blood up to stain her shirt as she danced back a couple of steps, pausing to check the wound by pulling the jacket edge back from the wound then returned her gaze to him, "I have no need of reward from Talomar Longden except for him to stay out of my life and let me live with the pleasure I have," she answered raising her weapon once more and then stepped quickly towards him, slashing at his side as she kicked out at that 'bad' knee of his.

Decisions, decisions. Catch the sword, or stop the kick? Unable to do both, Jodiah Ayreg went for the path of less loss -- the sword was parried lightly, easily, but the kick sent him spiraling down to the ground, his knee landing roughly on those hard cobbles with a loud crack. He grimaced. Leotah's injections and Obsidian's pills, not to mention those padded wraps, had helped considerably but it was still bothering him something terrible. Now, it'd probably bother him a bit worse. Ayreg did the only evasion he could -- he fell backward onto the floor, and then rolled to the side, and rising again. Not as smooth as the first time he went down due to the slick cobbles, though. He rubbed at his knee, frowning. "Talomar Longden will do so, I suspect. Most seem to scarcely remember you being alive at all, Maria."

She smirked, "I'm really not surprised," she answered nodding, she knew that would happen, after all she was just Talomar's Valet, that's all she had ever been. She waited patiently for him to get himself up, letting the point of her sword touch the cobble stone, leaning on it slightly, her should hurt, but not enough to be bothered with quiet yet.

"I have not forgotten you, though..." he groaned, softly, kicking his leg to work the knee out as much as he could. "..which does beg the question. Why do you submit yourself to any man?"

She smiled softly, "I think you came close to hitting the nail on the head last week, when one spends so much time serving one gets use to it. Besides, where is there more pleasure then in surrendering yourself to one you trust, where there is now concern of doing something wrong, just the need to do as your told, no consequences of your actions?" She straightened lifting her sword once more.

"And no responsibility or desire to grow. Where in that lies the freedom of choice? Where in that lies freedom at all? To surrender consequences -- to surrender responsibility -- is the way of the weak, and the cowardly, and those too frightened to face what the world may throw at them. You are a strong woman, Maria..." Rapier lifted again. Stance of the Hawk, held high overhead, and with two hands. Attack and defense were made with the same motions, and gravity provided the advantage of momentum in either case. "...you should not live under such a yoke."

Her eyes grew dark in anger, how dare he accuse her of such weakness, "I am no ones slave Ayreg," she growled as she brought her weapon around in front of her ready to protect herself from his attack, "and no one will force me from my own choices," she added before stepping into his attack swinging at his stomach, but aware of his stance.

Momentum achieved in a downward slash, only it was no attack -- it was a deliberate block of her own motion. Sword touched sword with an ear-splitting clang, and the wide arc his made, coupled with his own strength, was more than ample enough to send her blade back the way it had come. He had an option then of attacking her flank, or perhaps even her back. He didn't take it. He could have actually done a great many things from that position, but he only swatted her backside with the flat of his rapier, and chuckled softly. "Your fury does you no good, Maria. Where is the dance you so eloquently performed last time? I am old, and not so spry as you, little Minx. You're fighting on my terms, and not your own. Take your stand."

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-09 12:11 EST

She gasped as he swatted her, dancing away a couple of steps, no one hit her except Merrick. She turned back to him and grit her teeth before planting her feet once more bringing her sword up into an unguarded position, a slight smile touching her lips, her eyes dark as she waited for him to move, "You have a tendency of bring it out in me from time to time," she pointed out.

"I have that effect on quite a few people." He circled her again, rapier once more held with only a single hand and kept in the middle-guard position. He knew her well enough by now not to assume that her standing casually meant she was not prepared to lash out at him. Especially given her huge advantage in agility she had on him. "But that is good. Anger is emotion, and one that will submit to no harness, or tether. You deny it, yet not two breaths before you confessed to the very act.. ...so which is it, Maria? Are you a strong, fire-filled woman? ....Or are you a simpering girl-child who needs to be bandied about on leading strings?"

She grinned remembering an analogy use for her once before, "Or perhaps an unbroken filly, wild at times and yet bridled at others?" She moved her sword just enough to tap the underside of his sword.

It was a simple-enough analogy. "You are either stabled, or you are not. Only one wears the saddle when the mare is kept in the stable, no matter how often they're put out to graze." Hard eyes twinkled. A spark of emotion, at last. His sword was tapped, and he answered with a single swing. It came nowhere near close enough to even threaten her, but it did make that whistling noise as it cut the air, and reset back to its defensive posture.

She grins, "Only one man is allowed to 'saddle' me," she answered, "and only when I allow it," she added still moving with him before she suddenly hit the underside of his sword again, this time pushing the weapon up and out of the way and she spun into towards him, her body spinning so her back is against his stomach as she aims to swing the sword towards his side as the spin continues.

Behind her, there was a clatter of metal. Either it was knocked completely out of his grip, or he let it go, but either way his rapier bounced a few times against the cobbled alley behind the Red Dragon. She felt his body a step before she was expecting to -- he had moved into her action, and her sword-arm was stopped quite bluntly in its tracks by an open-palm against her elbow. It was a jarring stop to her motion, but she was braced (as it were) by a hand snaking around her midsection, up underneath her arm, and clutching her between her breasts. He turned and jerked, yanking her off of her feet and around almost ninety degrees before planting her back down with a harsh, near-whisper-like voice. "Allow it? Or mewl for it like a tame little kitten?"

She growled as he caught her up and actually showed teeth in a sneer, "Allow it," she snarled, lifting her foot with the intention of putting her boot heel into the knee again, too aware of the fact that his arm was blocking her from getting to her dagger.

And she was promptly dropped, then, to the tune of a pained yelp from the death knight. He fell to the ground, once more in a kneel, and clutched at his leg. "Damnations, woman, will you stop that? You trying to see me crippled?"

She danced away gathering herself once more as she turned to look down at him and smirked, "I told you I wasn't broke, only one man touches me, and that's not you," she once more went to leaning on her sword and again checked the slash would on her shoulder as she waited for him to recover.

"If that one man allows you to surrender entirely unto his whims, then he is not a man. He is a guardian, and nothing more. Like a parent to a child, though usually far more nefarious and pleasurable pursuits made." He rose to his feet, limping toward his dropped weapon. "A man treats his woman as an equal; never as a servant. Is that what you have with him?"

She grinned, "I am his equal," she answered and watched him move, "very much his equal, and from time to time I am also his," she purred happily, picking her sword up again and swinging it a couple times through the air, letting it whistle through the air.

"And is he yours?"

"Anyone who tries to take him will feel more then the bite of my sword," she answered with a threatening growl before she brought the sword parallel to the ground, "Come on Ayreg, you complain about me not being myself," she motioned him to come at her.

Jodiah Ayreg lifted his rapier from the ground, dusting off the hilt idly. He took a lazy grip of it, and brought it up to another defensive pose, facing her now and making slow, deliberate steps to resume their engagement. "Answer the question. You are his equal. From time to time you are his. Is he ever yours?"

She thought about it then shrugged, "I've never asked him to be," she answered, watching him move, "I'm sure he would be if I requested him to be," she added.

"Then do it next time you are together. See what his reaction is. If it is favorable.." a simple shrug, mimicking hers. "..then I will bother you no more of freedom, or choice, or the like."

She smirked and chuckled, "Alright," she nodded, "if that's what it will take to get you out of my personal sexual affairs," she purred playfully.

"What can I say? I have taken to you." His chin drops slightly, and the rapier is lowered to ground into the cobble. "Though not as your lord has, I assure you." Jodiah Ayreg, for all of his rough exterior, is a man of many layers. He has a certain fondness; a certain affection for women of strength -- especially those who can dance the blades. He felt for this female like a father might a daughter. Green eyes rake across her body briefly, lingering on her shoulder. "Perhaps we should bandage that. Vampires and demons and gods do not care much for injury, but we few truly human bleed red."

She glanced at the cut in her jacket once more and finally nodded, "Alright," she nodded and moved to sheath her sword, the weapon disappearing almost behind the black floor length jacket before she tugged the jacket off, laying it over her arm and looking at her blood stained blouse before looking up at him once more deep brown eyes meeting his green, still seeming to be laughing, she was in a pretty good mood still. "So what did happen to dampen the fight in you?"

"Someone died." His voice was soft, and reeked of... anguish? Green eyes seemed almost misty before he turned on his heel and moved toward the door leading back into the Red Dragon's common room. "There's a box with medical supplies behind the bar. Jewell told me of it. Come along, I will fix you up properly."

She followed him back inside, glancing around as soon as they entered, taking in all those around as always, still worried about enemies of Talomar.

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-09 12:12 EST

Not that Jodiah Ayreg would allow her to come to any harm when she's in his immediate presence. An attack against her would be the same as an attack against him -- or just as dangerous, given the proximity. That was the only reason why Nightstalker got his enmity: he couldn't leave the poor little dragon Icer alone, even when they were speaking. Ayreg deposits his swept-hilt rapier up onto the bar top, and moves around the end into the area of the back bar, digging around in search of that first aid kid Jewell told him about.

Maria moved to drop onto the couch by the fire tugging open her shirt top and slipping it off her shoulder to get a better look at the wound as she waited for Ayreg. The inn was still basically empty.

Ah, there it was. He opened it briefly to ensure it had the required items -- foreign though they seemed to him -- and then closed it again. Tucking it beneath his arm, he stalked -- limped, really, more so than he normally does and grimacing a bit in each step -- over toward the couch by the hearth. The warmth from the flames welcomed him; stark contrast to the spring chill and the mist in the air outside. "Alright. Let's have a look."

She looked up at Ayreg and smiled slightly at the limp, almost laughing, "Knee hurt again?" She teased and moved to let him look at her shoulder, the wound wasn't too deep, enough to bleed fairly well and enough to hurt, it was about five millimeters deep and two inches long from the tip of his sword.

"Of course it does. You kicked it twice." He peered at her shoulder, pulling a rag from the kit and wiping the loose blood from its surface. The touch was enough to cause it to bleed fresh (as it ripped away what little coagulation had already taken place) but that was a trifle compared to it being caked in dried blood. Rag set aside, he lifted out a wrapped package, about two inches squared, and tore it open. The faint smell of alcohol wafted to her nose as he opened the package and withdrew what seemed to be a sheet of gauze. "This is going to sting..."

She curled her nose at the smell of the alcohol and rolled her eyes, "Just do it," she answered, she had no aversion to pain in any way.

Gauze pressed into the injury, then, he wiped it clean once more. And, oh yes, did it sting. A kind of burning sensation as the alcohol soaks out of the pad and into the wound, cleaning it and disinfecting it every bit as the pain it causes.

She eyes closed just slightly at the pain, hooded in a shiver of pleasure before she looked away from what he was doing to those in the room again, wishing so much that Merrick was there. "Could have been worse," she pointed out softly, more to herself then to Ayreg.

"Could have been much worse. Could be better, but could have been worse. Quite right." Putting the gauze aside, he peered at the wound once more. A faint nod, and he glanced down to her face. "It's deep enough, but not terribly deep. Want me to sew it up, or just leave it as it is and wrap it in bandage?"

"Just leave it," Maria answered, better to leave it to Merrick then have the stitching leave a scar, "I'm sure it will be tended to soon enough," she pointed out.

"Perhaps, but if you get it healed by some magical means.. it won't leave a scar."

Not that he was reading her mind or anything. Jodiah just puts great stock into that. "Or are you one of those who seek to be a porcelain doll, perfect in every way, and do not wish to have your body marked so with the glories of your victories, or the lessons of your defeat?"

"No not at all, immortals heal better, and besides, he'd rather look after it, I know he would," se answered with a smile.

He frowned, slightly, but nodded anyway. Bandages were removed from the kit, next, and he pressed on onto her shoulder above the cut itself, and then wrapped it around. "Lift your arm."

She did so and smiled, "You disagree with having him heal me?" She asked.

"Only in that you doubt my capabilities. I've been stitching wounds my whole life. This would be a small scar, perhaps, but a good one. And you don't' want it." Around and around the bandage went, making the knotted purple ribbon around his left bicep bounce hither and thither. "The concept is foreign to me. Hold this here." One finger was pressed onto the bandage, and he reached back for the kit.

She moved to hold it in place and nodded, "Forgive me but I really don't like scars, I keep as few as possible," she answered, "not due to vanity, but simply because I prefer not to have people know where there is a place to hit that has been hit pryor."

Jodiah himself was covered in scars. Two on the face, and a myriad of them over his arms, and torso. His legs were far more sparse of them, but the only place truly untouched were, perhaps, his feet. With her holding it in place, he collects up some holding pins and attaches them to the bandage. A faint was made, tugging against it lightly as he tested it. "That should do. Until you can be healed.." Oh, yes, Jodiah Ayreg certainly had no use of magical healing.

She grinned at his tone and moved to cover back up, tugging her shirt back into place and starting to do up the buttons, "Thank you my Lord. You shouldn't be so insulted, I could have refused any kind of help and walked out," she pointed out with a teasing grin.

"True enough. Until next time, Maria." A faint click of his heels, and a quick nod. His face was still a thunderhead, but at least his eyes had softened a bit from when she first entered.

She smiled and moved to stand and tug on her jacket, "My lord," she all but bowed in respect and headed for the inn door herself, knowing she should head back to find her very busy lover. He moved away, though not toward the door after her. He was heading upstairs; back to his room. She stepped out to gather her horse and head back for the inn.

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-09 14:20 EST

Maria pushed into their hotel room again and sighed, she didn't even bother to call out, she knew he wasn't there, she had hardly seen him sense they had arrived in Rhy-Din, so the fact that he wasn't there this time was no surprise. Maria tugged off her jacket, turning it to run her fingers over the cut in the leather poking her fingers through the hole Ayreg had made, had he been closer to her he would have cut muscle and she probably would have had to give up the fight right then. As it was her shoulder as throbbing from the injury that she had all but ignored in the fight.

She tossed the jacket aside, she'd have to take it to be mended, she was sure she had seen a little leather shop on the way over, she was okay and mending clothing, but not at all skilled in tending to leather, except of course in the form of oiling those whips she loved so much. Maria pushed the door to the bedroom open and slipped inside, undoing the buttons to her blouse and tugging the silk garment from her body, bunching it up to toss in the corner, blood stained and torn it was no good anymore, she would have to find her way to getting another one. She dug through their things until she found a fresh blouse and a leather skirt before she stood and headed for the bathroom.

She tugged off her pants as she entered the room, pausing to examine her backside in the floor length mirror, seeing the nasty red mark his sword had left and sighed, she was going to have a lot of explaining to do when she saw Merrick next. She moved to tug on the skirt zipping it up to let it fall around her hips before pulling on the blouse and carefully settling it too into place, tucked neatly into her skirt before she ran her hands down the front of her blouse and over her hips and down her rear, as she examined herself in the mirror, moaning softly as the welt protested at the touch of her hand, how she longed for Merrick to take the sting of her need out of her, anytime he was gone for long she found herself wanting like a cat in heat.

She smiled softly at the analogy, well, people wanted to refer to her as a kitten and other such cat analogies, why not stick with it? She headed back into the main room and looked around, sure it was spring and warm quickly, but it wasn't warm enough to go out in just the silk blouse and skirt. She opened Merrick's bag without a thought of reprimand, he was the one who always insisted on no secrets between the two, so the idea of him being mad at her for searching for something warm to wear over her blouse was laughable.

She tugged free one of his sweaters, tugging it on over her head and letting it fall into place over her shoulders. It was big but gave her a kind of disarmingly cute appearance, making her look smaller and frailer then she was. Once she had reclosed his bag she moved to grab her weapon strapping it back into place then grabbed her jacket and headed back out the door pausing to look back, her lip twisting in the slightest twinge of anger before she sighed and turned and left without another sound.

Maria moved back out into the yard where one of the stable boy's still held her horse waiting for her. She had left her stallion home this time, instead she had had her mare lashed to the back of the carriage on the way here, and now she was glad she had, Merrick always had the carriage, so having her mare allowed her the freedom of movement she sought. Throwing her jacket over the little arab's shoulders she mounted the horse and turned her from the stable boy heading into town once more. It was approaching early afternoon by the time she reached the leather worker's shop and dropped off the jacket with strict instructions that it was to be fixed by supper time that night.

The leather worker wasn't happy with the time constraint, but the money to fix it was enough to keep his complaints to himself, Maria missed the fear people use to hold for her in this place, it use to be when she told someone to jump they would immediately do so while asking how high? Now Rhy-Din barely even remembered her, she was lucky if someone even remembered to get out of her path, let alone pay her the respect she once held here. That was Talomar's fault, and half the reason she looked forward to going back home, though she would miss being able to stop in at that Inn from time to time to speak with those who still did hold a healthy respect for her.

She continued her journey into town, not sure where she was heading but sure that she needed something to distract her from her own boredom. She wondered silently what would happen if she showed up at S.E.C.T.O.R. in search of her lover. She had been there a couple times with Talomar, but never more then that and only on the few occasions he felt like taking her because they had been apart because of business for too long. She use to love just sitting quietly near Tal's chair listening to him doing business while she pretended to read. Back then she had been a content pet, happy to curl at her masters feet and remain unobtrusive. Now she was a Baron's fianc?, she wanted to be with Merrick, but not the way she had been with Tal, she wanted to be an equal, to help him with his work, to help keep papers straight and determine what needed ordering and what needed selling. She wanted to be apart of this side of his life, despite it being illegal in places, it would keep her with him, and she loved to be with him.

Movement ahead drew her attention and Maria's thoughts shifted back to the here and now as she continued down the busy street.

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-10 19:16 EST

Maria didn't care much for the crowds of the afternoon market place, so she allowed the little mare to skirt the outside of the busy streets, avoiding most of the people, the rest seemed to naturally part to get out of the mare's path. Maria was glad for it, she didn't care for having to guide the mare through moving obstacles at that point in time as she headed for the rougher part of the city. As S.E.C.T.O.R. grew closer she could feel her lover growing closer, but it wasn't Merrick she was going to see, if he was doing business surely he would not appreciate her getting in the way of it.

She guided the white horse passed the last of the market booths on the far outside of the square and turned the horse down the main street that would lead into WestEnd. There were only three places in WestEnd that she knew of that held some sway on her path, one was the before mentioned S.E.C.T.O.R., the other Marcus Crows blood wine shop and the final was the ancient, the old vampire she had procured most of her blood wine from for Talomar before she had been sent on. It was here that she took herself once more, she didn't trust Marcus in the least, at least this old vampire seemed to respect her alignment with Talomar when she had been here last. She could only hope he would again now.

Maria halted the swift little mare just outside the stone building, slipping out of the saddle as the horse danced nervously, ears pinned, chewing hard on the bit. She spoke softly to the horse as she tethered her to the hitching post and headed into the yard immediately feeling the power of the house ahead. Before her were many vampires, more then she could count by feel alone, but she could feel the strongest and even as she was reaching the door it was already opening before her without a single touch.

She tried not to shiver, or to appear nervous in anyway as she stepped slowly into the house, suddenly feeling like a child walking into a house of adults who knew something she didn't. And they did, just like Merrick did, they all knew of power she would never know and that did make her a child in their presence.

"Not a child," the voice whispered from just behind her, breath so soft on her ear, his presence so close, she hadn't even heard the door shut or him approach, but she knew both had occurred as his hand brushed the high collar of Merrick's shirt from her neck looking down on her, so very close. Maria fought the urge to tremble under his aged touch as he looked her over, inhaling her scent deeply before he spoke. "What is it you seek little doll?" He asked softly, "Have you given yourself to anyone who wishes to partake, or are you someone else's, hmm?" He didn't need to ask and she knew it but she had to answer, she felt compelled to, and to tell the truth.

"I am someone else's," she answered softly her voice on the verge of trembling, "I come in seek of something for him, something beyond what I already have," she answered and felt him suddenly gone from her side and he was before her, ashen skin seeming to hang off too frail bones, eyes sunken yet seeing all, their yellow age seeming to burn through her before he nodded and motioned her forward.

"I will give you what you seek," he moved to lead her through the house, once more she saw vampires watching her, men and women, blood dolls amongst them, some being fed off of in the throws of passion while two or more vamps brought them such pleasure that Maria found herself more then longing for Merrick, she was feeling her whole body warming to the need.

He lead her back through the house to the same room he had brought her to before stepping in to run his fingers over aged bottles of blood wine, "You will need to come to me to allow me to make your master a most special blood wine from you," he stated softly as he chose a single bottle offering it out to her. "One of my oldest wines made of the blood of the great Creaser himself, the second Creaser," he added as she took the bottle to look over its darkened sides before curtsying low.

"Thank you, what do I owe you?" She asked softly and heard him make a noise of disagreement.

"I have no need of money little one, I'm sure if it comes to it, you will repay your debt when I request it, but never more then you can give," he added. Maria nodded, looking at the bottle again before looking up to see he was gone already. She peered around and with a soft, 'thank you,' she turned quickly making her way back through the house and out the main door. She quickly crossed to her horse slipping the wine into her saddle bag and untying the horse she mounted the little mare turning for S.E.C.T.O.R.

She heeled the mare hard, she needed to see Merrick, badly, her backsides stinging and what she had seen making her long for his touch, she needed him, and waiting was not an option as she forced the mare into a collected gallop down the cobble stone street. She was in such desperate need of his touch she was willing to face upsetting him by showing up there, she hoped he would understand as she felt him growing nearer the closer she got to the building that belonged to Talomar Longden, she prayed he would't be there, she still didn't want to face Talomar, not yet anyway.

Maria Copperfield · Date: 2006-05-30 08:28 EST

Maria guided the little white mare down the back streets of WestEnd, her gaze continuing the scan the roads, she knew this part of Rhy-Din wasn't the safest in the city, remembering Marcus lived near here and she was heading for Talomar's place of business. She could feel her heart racing as she reined in the little mare outside the old brownstone. She had been here many times before with Talomar, but still she hesitated as she slowly dismounted, feeling her lover so very close, but still weary that Talomar may be close as she tethered the little horse near her lovers carriage and headed for the door, tugging his sweater up a little more against her throat. She would need to pick up her jacket on the way back to the hotel as she reached for the door handle feeling her shoulder protest at the movement as she pushed into the main entrance pausing to look around her and reached for the buzzer to the brownstone's inner door.

The female voice came over the intercom: "Who is it, and do you have an appointment?"

Maria blinked at the voice, she didn't remember Talomar having a woman working for him, "Maria Copperfield," she answered using the old last name automatically from being in the city once more, "and no," she answered, looking back over her shoulder for a minute considering turning back but held her ground as she turned back to the door.

"Ms. Copperfield. You may enter." There was a buzz and the door latch clicked and the door slid open. Inside was the opulent reception area of S.E.C.T.O.R. A woman of extraordinary beauty was sitting behind the reception desk.

Maria stepped into the room, her arms crossing over her chest hands disappearing in Merrick's thick warm sweater as she looked around her as she entered then glanced at Tal's new receptionist, wondering where Merrick was and waited for some sort of instruction.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Copperfield, and welcome to S.E.C.T.O.R. I've heard so much about you. I'm Christine Nishiyama. How may I help you?"

Maria smiled just slightly, "Actually I'm looking for Merrick, if he's not terribly busy," she answered softly.

"Lord Merrick?" The woman looked surprised. "Please have a seat, Ms. Copperfield. I'll see if he's available." Nishiyama's voice was low and muffled as she placed several calls and spoke in soft, secretive tones. Finally she smiled and said, "He'll be right with you, Ms. Copperfield."

Maria moved to one of the empty chairs sitting down quietly, rubbing at her shoulder through the sweater and her blouse, before sitting back and folding her hands in her lap and waiting patiently, She longed to see him, business had kept them apart too long this trip.

Merrick suddenly appeared in the reception area and saw Maria sitting there. "Maria! What a wonderful surprise! What are you doing here? Is anything wrong?"

Maria looked up at her lover and smiled softly shaking her head, but she had the feeling he would be able to smell her blood, "Nothings wrong," she answered as she stood, "I just had to see you," she answered softly, her bright dark eyes meeting his blue, "forgive me for interrupting you."

"My love, you are never an interruption. I'm glad you came. In fact, I have thought of bringing you here before but I hesitate out of fear of boring you and also because of...well, you know who. Come, I want to show you something." He led her to an elevator. The door quickly hummed open. He pressed a button that was not labeled. In fact, none of the buttons on the elevator consol had a label.

Maria fallowed him at his side, her fingers moving to curl into his as they stepped into the elevator, "I could never be bored when I am with you my love," she answered softly.

As soon as the doors closed and then began to descend he pulled her into him and kissed her deeply, his tongue hungry for her mouth. "I've missed you so much, Maria," he said and then kissed her again.

She quickly returned the kiss, sinking into his arms, her hands sliding around him, resting on his shoulder blades as her tongue invaded his mouth before she slowly broke the kiss, "I have missed you too my love," she whispered softly, nuzzling against his neck, trailing her lips over his skin.

The door opened all too quickly to a sub-basement level. It looked dark and dirty. Large cooling and heating pipes were everywhere. Steam was coming out in different places. Electrical conduit was running overhead in massive cables. The floor was cement. "Come with me," he whispered.

Maria glanced out at the room he had brought her to, a bit of a nervous edge entering the back of her mind but she trusted Merrick with all her heart as she nodded and let him take the lead once more as she again let her hand slip into his.

He took her hand and brought her to a staging area deep underground. Inside a rather large hall were crates stacked up high. They walked through aisles of crates and he stopped. "From here on until the end of the row are ours. I don't deal in slaves or drugs anymore." He pulled a crate down and set it on the floor. With beyond mortal strength he pulled the top off. Inside was a large stainless steel cylinder with various attachments and lights, and things Rhydin has never seen before. "It's a plasma cannon, Maria. A weapon that could destroy an entire neighborhood with one blast."

Maria blinked, looking at the weapon, shocked that anything existed that could cause that much destruction. "It looks harmless," she answered softly her eyes scanning the weapon, weary to get any closer to it if it was that dangerous.

He grinned as he admired it and ran a hand over the sleek four-foot long cylinder. "I purchased eighty of these babies. I'm in the midst of sending them to an army on another planet. I'll quadruple my investment." He put the crate top back on and lifted the 300 pound crate to the top of the stack. "We're wealthy, Maria. This shipment is scheduled to leave in three nights."

She blinked at his words and looked up at him, still getting use to the idea of becoming his wife and sharing in his fortunes. She slowly smiled and nodded, "Its going to be hard to get use to the idea of having money at all," she muttered softly.

He walked her back a few steps until she had her back the crates. "We will have all the money we'll ever need," he said as he slid his hands down her sides to her waist. "I've missed you," he whispered.

Maria smiled softly as she leaned back against those crates and smiled up at him, "I've missed you too," she answered softly, shifting under his touch before moving to kiss him softly before looking up at him once more, "I love you," she muttered softly.