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 Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 9:06 pm
 Fenris grunted as he landed in a meadow, near the area he and the rest of Marian's gang lived at. He had caught a thief snooping around the vixen's armor she wasn't wearing.
The white-haired Modiphim smirked to himself as he tugged off a bloody clawed gauntlet with his teeth. The fool had never seen him coming from above, and now he was in pieces for carrion birds to pick clean. Fenris had little patience for thieves and other such pond scum, especially around friends of his.
Friends.
What an odd sentiment. Fenris remembered nothing of 'friends', and had never had any since Danarius found him. Socializing was uncomfortable, and most importantly, unwanted. He had little desire to see others.
But somehow, Marian and a select few of her associates were...well, friends, he thought. Grunting to himself, Fenris shook off the thoughts. Thinking about these things had given him a headache before, and the former slave wasn't going there again. He lived in enough pain already.
Scowling at the reminder of his seared-in claim of possession from his former master, Fenris started using his paw to buff the blood off one gauntlet, then pulled off the other and worked on it too. Soon they were showing his reflection, and the male looked away, uninterested in seeing his scarred face.
Exhaling in frustration through his nose, he peered out of his white hair at his surroundings as he sat down. Unsurprisingly, none of the others were out here yet; the rowdy partiers came here after sunset in an hour or so. Isabela and Varric would undoubtedly be there then.
But that didn't change the fact that he was looking more for Marian than any of them.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 9:25 pm
 Marian blinked quickly in repetition, hoping to clear her eyes from the fog that had settled in while she sat and ceased to think while around the others, but she could not say that she had grown bored of the antics that her brother and their other companions and traveling partners played on each other - they were usually too inane for her tastes and more often than not centered around women if Varric had his say and/or Sebastian was around to make him as awkward as could be. It was thus that she left earlier than the rest, just as the sun was beginning its ticking decent. She didn't even realise that she was holding her breath deep within her chest, nor that she was walking to prolong her suspense; it made it all the more delicious, though she wasn't even aware of that, for the Deities' sake. She huffed softly as she walked, her brain occupied with the simplest of thoughts, like what they would eat or if they needed to move camp soon (it seemed that other foxes were beginning to find their respite from all others more and more frequently, something that upset the self-proclaimed [and almost certainly in fact, aside from her brother, Garrett being a prime contender for that spot] leader of the troupe of misfits and renegades), prefering that to the thought that was nagging so gently, so slightly, at the edge of her mind that she could hardly feel it unless she paid attention to it.
But it certainly didn't pass her attention the next time when she smiled as she saw the familiar white-haired, lyrium-marked ... friend. "Ho, Fenris!" She called, alerting him - if he hadn't already heard her; the stealthy rogue was being about as inconspicuous as a trapped pig - to her coming up so as not to startle him. "What seems to the matter, here?"
He was scowling, yes, but she could hardly consider her his friend if she didn't notice that he was a lot more of a pique than usual. She shook her head and approached, going back to her lithe movements, more catlike than fox, her wings folding back. "Y'look as though an ant bit you where it shouldn't be crawling. Normally it's only like an ant bit your tail." She snorted softly.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 9:48 pm
Fenris had heard Marian from quite a distance away, having learned to recognize the unique sounds all of his companions made. He appreciated the warning of her presence anyway, however; he was edgy enough without others trying to sneak up on him.
"I have been bitten by no ants," he rumbled, not even bothering to look over at Marian. He kept his bright green eyes focused on the land in front of them, listening attentively for any...unwelcome company.
Namely Merrill. Her naivety always made his blood boil, especially because she tried to hide the fact that she was a danger to all of them behind her innocence. With any luck, she had taken the hint and was staying away from all of them.
"What brings you out here, Marian? Surely Varric and Garrett's antics are more amusing than watching a slave stare at the dirt around him." Fenris' trademark scowl stayed in place as he bent down, deftly using his teeth to slip his gauntlets back on. He flexed his toes experimentally, pleased as the razor sharp weapons responded in kind. Fox or not, he was a trained fighter, a vicious killer with years of blood to his name, and he liked to make sure his equipments worked.
Pushing his left paw tighter into its gauntlet, Fenris was reminded he needed to tell Marian about the new blood on his paws. "There are too many coming near the camp now, and not enough of us actually paying attention. A thief tried to steal your armor while Varric and Isabela were gambling." He flexed his toes once more pointedly, turning to fix Marian with a self-satisfied smile. "Needless to say, he will never darken the door of our camp again."
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 12:21 am
"I see no slave here, Fenris." It was soft but firm and no nonsense; she didn't see Fenris as a slave because Denarius wasn't here and would never be here again - she and he had made quite, quite sure of that. "I see a fox, same as I." The corners of her mouth quirked upward as her tail flicked. "And no. Even infants find Varric and Garrett's antics too low-brow for them, much less one as ... refined, and cultured, as I." She flicked her hair, playing, and then grew serious.
"A thief in my armor? I'm afraid it doesn't fit much other than me." She shook her head softly, but knew it was the sentiment and not the actual occurrence - someone was in their home, taking their things, pawing through them as though they owned them. "Good. Thank you, Fenris."
She sighed, shifting in her robes as her eyes caught on her own armor and found the sight soothing; at least it was still there. "I'm afraid I'd rather dislike running around naked. I tend to reserve that as a reward for people when they're acting well and it'd take away all the effect if I always were so." She snorted softly, finding herself tipping back into the realm of kidding even when she didn't mean to be.
There was a pause in which she reassembled her composure and looked at him, bright teal eyes flashing. "I ask you because I trust you and I trust your opinion; you know more about the land, perhaps sheerly by observation, which would be a fault of my own, than I do. Should we move? It seems to me that there have been more and more foxes arriving here when they shouldn't be and though they do provide a rather nice target practice, I'm getting sick of it, I'll tell you."
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 2:05 pm
Fenris chose to brush over her first words. She could say what she wanted, but he had no identity beyond the word 'slave'. It was all he had ever known, and even Danarius' death couldn't quickly force him into a new one. This was an old argument between them, and one he didn't feel like having today.
"You know, most foxes spend their lives wearing no clothing. I do not think going 'naked', as you say, would have any of the effect you're looking for." He chuckled lowly and shook his head; admittedly, he too found the idea of not wearing his armor unsettling. Had he worn clothes like the humans before Danarius?
Marian was speaking again. He once more turned his gaze towards her, considering after she spoke. "Yes, you are right that we seem to have more...company." He spat the word out; they had been surrounded by low lifes, the type Isabela would gladly take a roll in the hay with.
Although sometimes, Isabela used her charms in such a way that Fenris wished he was the one in the hay with her...
He shook the thought off, Isabela wasn't important right now. "We can move if that is what you and Garrett prefer, but we are likely to find nowhere better. The tribes--"he sneered at the word"--have taken the majority of the lands, and pushed any vagrants off them. So the scum always wander in their little bands now, and we are likely to find them no matter where we go." He rolled his eyes at that, no more pleased than she. "Unfortunately, we attract them anyways. I am sure a flying group of armored, battle-ready foxes has gained attention enough on its own to earn us new arrivals, but one also has to consider Isabela and Varric. They would have to find such low company wherever we go, or they would be terribly bored."
He had said too much. Annoyed at himself, Fenris quickly cut to the point. "Moving could be a waste of our time."
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 3:21 pm
Marian, also not in the mood to verbally wrestle with the companion she was closest to - save her brother, of course, which was a matter of him being all the blood she had left in the world more than similarities of opinion or anything similar - after she'd escaped Varric and Isabela with only a few seconds to spare before they noticed her slinking out, chose to allow him to avoid it.
"Ah," She shook her head, lightly amused. "Most foxes might not wear clothes, but we all do." She paused, then added - perhaps kidding, perhaps serious, though the disgust was evident in her tone - "Except Isabela, but those are times I don't wish to think or speak about. Ever."
She grimaced, her teeth showing for a moment. "Nn. Right. The tribes." Marian shook her head lightly, then sighed. "Why can't there be a tribe for these idiots? Too much to hope for, I suppose."
Taking a step away from him, she looked around. "I guess I'll just have to cancel some of the trips so we can be here. We teach enough of them a violent enough lesson, even the slowest of them will learn the lesson and stay away." She walked to her armor fluidly and pulled her gloves on with her teeth and flexed them, as Fenris had before her arrival. "I can't say the prospect upsets me much."
It was harsh but Marian, along with all the others, tested by fire more times than they could count, most likely, felt no sympathy for the common thieves and pickpockets who tried to take from her. In fact, her irritation at these common thieves was second only to those who tried to hurt her companions - Fenris perhaps more than most, but that was an issue she tried her hardest not to think about.
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:00 pm
"What Isabela wears on a day to day basis could hardly be considered clothing either," Fenris drawled, voice dripping with his usual bitter sarcasm. The thief's penchant for wearing the same thing as human whores could be tiresome; she was a flirt enough without dressing like a prostitute.
Fenris tracked his companion movements with bright green eyes, used to the ease with which she armed herself. They had all been born into this; armor was as easy to put on as it was to breathe now. "Yes, a lesson or two might do them well," he mused, pulling his eyes away from Marian to look around once more. "Hopefully we will not attract those that wish to challenge us."
He smiled to himself--a feral, half-snarl looking expression that exposed sharp fangs. The idea of anyone who could challenge them was laughable. They had taken out Danarius, the Coterie, slaver bands and more. No one else stood a chance, and he would gladly make sure they knew that as he ripped out their organs. What was a little more blood when you were already a hardened killer?
Fenris had to remind himself to drop the expression and reserved his thoughts on the matter. He did not enjoy taking life, but it was the means to an end; and end where there were no blood mages--or any mages at all, if he had his way--and no roaming bands to bother he or his companions. But his...passion for removing such kinds had earned him wary glances before, and Fenris found himself not wanting to scare Marian off.
Although really, it was unlikely that he could. She and her twin brother-and all of the others really, save Vael--had nerves to rival his own.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 10:35 pm
"No, it couldn't." She laughed softly, then flicked her tail. Even to her, another female, Isabella's clothes were... Awkward, at best. She found herself spending as little time as possible around her - to say nothing of looking at her.
As Fenris' face transformed, Marian felt not fear, nor angry -- she wasn't scared of him at all. She merely wanted to help him, though she had no idea how to identify with him - she had enough problems understanding normal foxes, much less one who was as ... interesting... as Fenris was, and she was worried she'd offend him trying too hard. "I hope as well that they don't choose to follow us.." She murmured as she flicked her tail.
"I think that we should sit here on guard duty together, hm? It's something to pass the time at least." She laughed quietly. "And it's better than nothing. The others likely won't be back for awhile and I have no intention of rejoining them."
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 10:44 pm
Fenris tilted his head as he considered Marian for a moment, his expression the same flat stare he usually wore. She was willingly choosing to just sit here with him? The paranoid part of him warned that this was some ploy--she must want something out of him.
Still, the less cautious, more subjective part of his brain was tired of being alone. He had been alone all of his life, even when surrounded by human magisters. Conversation was foreign to him, and this was definitely going to be them talking until the others rescued them, but...well, why not.
"Guard duty it is," he affirmed, sitting up straighter. "Perhaps we can find some brash young foxes to scare back to their mothers."
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 10:50 pm
Marian smiled when he agreed to guard duty, ignoring the pause in which he considered her for a moment, even though his expression didn't flicker - hers stayed solid as well. If she'd known his thoughts she would've soothed them easily -- especially because it was simply that she wanted to be near him for awhile, to help soothe him, even if indirectly.
"Good!" She laughed softly as he agreed, and sat facing away from him, also sitting up straight. "Mmm, yes. Terrifying little ones is always what I aim to do." It was dry, but not sarcastic or insulting in tone.
"How's life been treating you," She asked, tilting her head to the side until her neck felt looser, "Other than ants where they shouldn't be?" Perhaps she shouldn't tease him so, but it was fun.. She couldn't help it, really.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:06 pm
"I certainly don't aim to do it, but it's better than dancing through the mansion," Fenris chuckled lowly, referring to his joke with Varric about what he did all day. "If the 'little ones' are so foolish as to approach clearly armed foxes, then they deserve a good lesson."
Fenris stayed quiet for a long moment, making sure the shape in the sky above him was a bird and not a Modiphim or Modidaeva high up above them. Whatever it was passed eventually, and he levelled his gaze to the treeline once more.
"The same as always, I suppose," he rumbled. "And you?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:16 pm
"Don't lie!" She smiled faintly as he claimed it was better than dancing. "Nothing is better than dancing through the mansion, Fenris; we both know it." She snorted quietly, too amused with her own joke after his. "Ah, I suppose you are right. Better us than someone else teaching them the same thing, I suppose," she muttered.
She waited as he did, a soft hum escaping her throat for only a moment. "The same as you, I suppose.. No one's been bothering me overly much, which is an improvement from before, I suppose." She snorted, thinking on how every member of the team was so damn good at pushing her every button.
"What've you been up to whilst the rest of us gallivant foolishly around?" Small banter for now, but it was better than nothing.
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:03 am
Fenris laughed softly in spite of himself. "Ah yes, I just find such solace in choreographing my routines. I think I might retire my armor for human ballet soon." He shook his head at the image; Varric shirtless was less disturbing.
"Not even Isabela? I'm shocked." The rogue loved to find Marian's buttonsand press them repeatedly, because Marian usually broke and showed her furstration. The others were either too clueless to get it, or had too good of poker faces to be much fun. Fenris was her other favorite victim, but he had begun to learn how to ignore the vixen's crude sexual humor.
"Keeping an eye on things," he replied to her last question. "Danarius is dead, but...I suppose the wariness never fully goes away."
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:12 am
She smiled as he said he'd hang up his armor. "Good!" She laughed, her tail flicking. "Make sure you get me into each and every one of your performances, or I'll be quite an angry woman, one still in armor." She was easy going and playful, though she frowned when Fenris brought up Isabela and shook her head to clear it, quite grateful that he couldn't see her face and possibly identify the flash of emotion that flickered across her face before disappearing. "Yes, even her.. Or perhaps I'm simply growing a thicker skin? That wouldn't be something I'd be upset about either."
She rolled her shoulders lightly. "Ah.. Yes. I can't blame you at all. I think you're handling it better than I ever could." Levity was gone from her tone as she sighed slightly. "Thank you for staying here, with us, even now." She murmured, feeling awkward with this.
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:48 am
"Every performance?" Fenris asked amusedly. "Will you not to be busy gutting street gangs with Garrett and the others?" Even though she couldn't see him, Fenris made a face--not at the idea of her being violent, but of him not being violent. Fighting was all he had known since he had escaped Danarius.
"I find it impossible to grow a thicker skin with Isabela. You just learn how to stop using your ears when she speaks." The rogue's voice grated endlessly on his already short nerves, and it was easier to just ignore that she had opened her mouth at all.
The former slave shrugged his shoulders, not focusing enough on the conversation to feel awkward. "You helped me when no one else would. The least I can do is stay."
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