Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sun was so hot that many of the men had discarded their shirts in favor of the subtle sea wind that helped cool them. Once such young man was heaving heavy barrels down the plank of a ship, his well toned muscles shifting under pale skin. Long sloppily cut reddish blond hair was hung over his shoulder, bound by a simple silver clip, and the rest hung limp upon his sweaty brow and broad shoulders. He wore strange adornments of silver and red tassles, with a fancy dagger at his side, simple brown pants, and tall stiff boots. But the most eye-catching adornment upon him was the red dragon tattoo that wound itself around his right side, the outline seeming to shimmer in some lights.

Soft hazel eyes lifted at the commotion and his soft pink lips pursed into a frown. He hefted the barrel he was rolling and stacked it atop another, pacing over to the scene, curious. He sniffed once, and instantly he moved in front of the young 'man', "Stop there, gentlemen!" He bellowed in a deep voice, his jewlery jingling, the skeleton-shaped earring in his right ear getting caught in a few strands of hair from the sudden movement. "Do not be so selfish as to kill a young lad for quenching his thirst, be it illegal or not. The heat is making everyone mad, but murder is not worth the few drops taken. Here." He pulled out a couple of silver coins and tossed them, "Penance for what was drank."

He glanced back at the 'boy', "You have no money, I am assuming, yes?" He hinted at an accent, but it was very light, and his eyes seemed to blaze like the sun for the briefest of moments. An alluring scent drifted from his body to Lybua, and he straightened, "You will aide me, then, lad. To repay me for that drink you took. I have an hour more of work to do before I am paid." he said sternly, his voice daring anyone to argue with him.

The man stood there and looked the 'lad' over, pushing his sweaty bangs away from his face. His lightly bronzed muscles seemed to be etched out of his flesh, and highlighting by the beads of sweat that collected there. "I don't need you getting heat exaustion, wearing all that." He said, leading her to the docks and the ship he was working at. "Appropriate for your crime, you'll run water to the men. That all right with you, boss?" He asked a stern looking woman with brilliant blue eyes and short lavender hair pulled back with a bandana. She was a thick sort of woman, used to work.

Juliart eyed the other with a frown, "Eh like wot yeh did there, sir." She said to Radek, "'E kin work...but if yeh try anythin, you'll be jailed. Got it?" She snapped, motioning the other over to the gangplank and heading up onto the deck of the ship. She was tall for a woman, and seemed to be accepted by the men who toiled around her, "Oi, dun leave rope layin out, yeh know that!" She snapped, "Cap'n 'll 'ave yer hide!" One man hurried over to collect the rope, and she went over to the water barrel. "'Ere is the water. The bucket is 'ere. Try not tah drip too much, an keep up. Dun need yeh getin in the way." She said, glancing at the young man before she went back to work, grabbing the heavy crates that were being unloaded and working alongside the men.

Radek was on deck again, and he seemed to materialize right behind Lyuba, "Don't go anywhere when we are done. I wish to speak with you, lady." He whispered just behind her ear, then he was off, toiling in the hot sun.

Radek drank the water deeply twice without a word to Lyuba beyond a gruff 'Thanks." At the end of the day, he descended from the ship and strode over to the resting woman, pulling on a soft cream colored shirt, "Come. You're probably hungry." He offered with a slight smile, "I know a place that makes wonderful stew. And they should have some nice fresh hot bread coming out of the oven. Come." He repeated, striding down the wooden docks towards town, leaving Lyuba as if he assumed she would follow him.

The man strode through the streets, catching almost as much attention as Lyuba was. Something about him made women turn and look, some men too. He was an adonis of a man, and exuded a musky scent that seemed very pleasant and alurring. "My name is Radek.' He said, "What are you called?" He asked, turning and opening the door to a small tavern, motioning her inside with a cocky grin, whispering, "Ladies first." So quietly that no one else would hear.

Radek smirked, "Shall we?" He motioned towards a table near an open window, "My favorite seat." The tavern maid saw him and smiled, nodding and hurrying to put in an order. He headed over to the table and pulled the chair out for Lyuba, then sat across from her, "So, Luca, what brought you down to the docks?" He asked, moments before Lizzy sat two mugs of cold ale down. "Thank you very much. I will have the usual, and some fresh bread. Ah, what will you have, Luca?" He asked before Lizzy took the order and left.

Radek smiled, "How about your famous mutton stew?" He asked, then Lizzy was off. He looked back and laughed softly, "I just have a sense of things. Besides...no man could have eyes so beautiful." He teased, "Drink up, you look very thirsty." He said, taking a draunt of his own ale.

((guh...got one of two final projects done...))

Radek's smile lingered as he waved for another ale and sipped his own, "Ah no...honestly, I can't stand riding on ships. I get sick. But I love the sea, it smells so clean. So I just get odd jobs. I'm working on saving up towards opening my own shop." He said, sniffing as their food was being brought towards them and sat down on the table, along with another ale. "Hmn, best stew in town. Dig in." He said cheerfully.