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 Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:31 pm
The Blair estate sits just outside the borders of a small town on a smaller pond: a one-horse sort of town that houses nothing more than a handful of farmer families, the absolute necessities, a single store, a single tavern, and a handful of shops. There is a single rickety sign on the one road that cuts the place from one end to the other, weather-worn and rough, that reads Woodhaven.
When he was young, Paul hated the place. He hated the quiet, hated the sea of brown dresses and faded shirts and pants, hated the lack of a proper theater. He hated how quiet it was, how dull, how nothing ever happened, and longed for week-long trips into the city. There, people bustled, he could sit at a cafe with his mother and her friends and stare off at women in ridiculous hats, at young couples arm in arm and red-cheeked, or scrappy children in tattered clothing...
Even now, he still hated it, though perhaps there was just the beginnings of blossoming affection. People knew his name, now, when he stepped down that one road, and didn't roll their eyes as he stepped away. Well. Usually didn't. Usually they had the sense to recognize where the sudden influx of gold was coming from, the source of the town's fresh vitality.
He would never love it, though -- which meant he hid within the empty halls of his estate, worked on getting fresh furniture as he could. An hour or two, here and three, visiting with his Guardian, but the rest of the time, Samael wandered.
He wandered tonight, a bit farther off the grounds than usual. Perhaps he was looking for Spokelse, his now-and-then friend who he could barely remember. Too long since they last met up. His footsteps were soft, even on the hard earth -- and as the last lights started to dwindle, he was a dark shade between dark trees...
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:53 pm
Although Rajani had traveled through much of Sunderland, she had never had cause to visit this secluded corner. Not even her curiosity could be stirred by a destitute estate and a moneyless town. However, times seemed to be changing - for the estate as well as herself. It was business that brought her here, as well as pleasure.
Recently, the gypsy had made the acquaintance of one Kit Blackthorn. Needless to say, the meeting had been rather...unusual, to say the least, and it had made her lost more than one good night's sleep. However, the end result was that she was now keeping her eyes and ears open for the man. Nothing scandalous, really. Nothing cloak-and-dagger. She was simply looking for any word of the guardians, any reason for their return. It was something that she had been doing, anyway. Now she was simply sharing the information.
Which brought her back to the reason she had just arrived in this out of the way town: word was, a guardian resided nearby. Perhaps his chosen could shed a little light on matters.
Rajani sighed and rested her hand on Oberon's back. Despite the simple nature of her information hunt, she was still uneasy about having such an association with a noble, especially one as crafty as Blackthorn. Usually, she would be performing at this time of night, but as the village consisted primarily of farmers, she would have to schedule her performances at a time of day more suitable to their routines. So, she was burning off some restless energy by taking a walk in the forest.
Naturally, it was Oberon with his much keener senses who first spotted him. When he stamped a hoof and made a challenging snort, it took the gypsy a moment to spot him - a shadow darker than the forest, and one that was clearly alive.
"Well, hello there," she said quietly, wondering just who they had stumbled upon.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:14 am
Samael was a serious beast: moving in fits and starts, he crept between the tree trunks and let them blend against the dark of his flank, obscuring his antlers in the branches, his flank in the bushes, the green of his eyes in the leaves.
It was only the step too close that gave him away, perhaps -- and as Oberon shifted, Samael froze, staring at the pair of them unblinking, as if trying to decide what to do. A count of ten, it seemed like he might bolt, but finally he coaxed himself forward, shaking his head free of grabbing twigs as he moved. One step closer. Two.
His Chosen was nowhere in sight, but Samael shot a last look back through the woods to the faint, distant light on the hill that marks the Blair estate.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:04 pm
The shadows resolved themselves into a more distinct shape and when he was close enough, Rajani was able to more clearly see the buck. He was a large creature, but his coloring was impossible to make out in this light - some medium shade, perhaps, but she could not guess the hue. Regardless, he looked tall and strong, a fine guardian.
Oberon was predictably suspicious and plastered himself to Rajani's side, making sure he was ahead of her enough that he could intercept the stranger in the event that he was inclined to attack.
The gypsy might appreciate her guardian's sentiments, but she still offered her hand for the stranger's inspection. "What are you doing here all alone?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:17 pm
Samael never attacked a human in his life; not as of this moment, anyway. Maybe, at some point in the future, he'd have cause to -- but as it stood he was more afraid of them than they were of him, usually, skirting curiously around the edges of camps without usually stepping inside their bounds.
It was only Oberon, even jittery as the young Guardian was, that put him at ease, made him ease in a step closer, and settle his nose near to Rajani's hand. Naturally, there was no reply to her question: just a curious snuffle, a but off soft skin against her palm. She could get her answer, though, perhaps, in the fact that his coat [if currently a bit splotched with mud] was generally well-kept, his antlers polished, and his eyes bright. Healthy. Obviously a Guardian, and obviously one someone brushed, at some point...
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:38 pm
Oberon glared at the other male in clear warning, but made no move to stop him. He did not really think that Samael was liable to hurt his chosen, he was simply jealous of any attention she paid to other guardians.
Ignoring her boy's silent tantrum, Rajani stroked Samael's velvety nose before wiping a dried smear of mud off his cheek. "You're a fine lad," she told him. "I suppose your Chosen cannot be too far away."
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 9:49 am
No, he was not: even now, Paul had realized something was up, was hauling on layers enough to bundle himself up, riding boots to keep his feet dry, combing hair back out of his eyes -- and more. A stop to the kitchen. A quick pack of some bread and apples.
He was expecting Petra again, and was preparing for exactly that eventuality. The girl had refused gifts last time, but perhaps this time...
Well. It would take him another few minutes to wind his way down the path, and while he travelled, Samael settled. He butted his head against Rajani's nose again and circled slowly around her, craning his head toward the younger Guardian in a curious sort of way. Other than Spokelse, he had never met another...
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 7:27 pm
As Samael circled her - and by default Oberon - Rajani kept an eye on her own temperamental guardian. "He's not very social, I'm afraid."
Oberon snorted at that and sized up the older male, reserved but faintly curious at the same time. This was far from the first guardian he had met, but he had been less than impressed with the others so far. He wondered whether this one would prove to be just as high-strung and ridiculous, but he was certainly not going to make the first move.
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:58 am
Samael would put him at ease, hopefully, more stoic and quiet, surprisingly still. He wasn't jittery, other than faint nerves that cropped up at the introduction of new people. Even when he tensed, though, it was a slow bunching of muscles, frozen for a moment before he took off --
Right now, he wasn't even tense, just curious. Oberon's reticence bled through well enough that he didn't pursue. Instead he settled back and stared at the pair of them with his head cocked to the side. In this distance [but getting closer] behind him, there was the crunch and crash of someone inexpertly making his way through the woods, and even that only made the Guardian's ears twitch.
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 4:17 pm
Oberon met the other guardian's stare with his own. After a while of this, however, even his suspicion could not remain in full force and he slowly began to relax. It was difficult to remain tense when the other party was so relaxed. He even sniffed curiously in Samael's direction, but was quickly distracted by the sounds of an approaching human. He stood up straighter, and if he was not as wary as before, he was certainly alert as he kept his eyes trained on the sounds.
Rajani had let the pair of them work out their differences in their own way, keeping to herself until she felt Oberon relax. However, he soon alerted her to the approaching human and she glanced at Samael. "Yours, I assume?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 8:37 am
The c**k of his head at her question was confused -- but then he turned to look back over his shoulder, and some of the tension eased out of his posture. Slowly, he relaxed, and as he did he took several steps closer to them, pivoting as he did, shaking the damp out of his antlers.
When Paul finally emerged from the brush, he wasn't going to look much like the young noble he was: red-faced, puffing, with twigs in his hair, only the expertly tailored clothing would mark him as out of place. In both of his hands, apparently heavy enough to weigh him down some, was a closed wicker basket, a towel draped over the lid.
He took one look at Rajani and frowned. "You're not Petra."
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Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:43 pm
Although she was pleased to finally see some life in the unknown guardian, most of Rajani's attention was taken up by the human who emerged rather loudly from the brush. Even in the dim light, she could tell that he looked a fine mess. Obviously, he was not one who was at home in the wood. Of course, given the eclectic variety of chosen she had met, the was not entirely surprising. What did surprise her was the basket he was dragging along. If she was not mistaken, it looked rather like a picnic basket.
At the rather blunt greeting she received, the gypsy raised an eloquent brow. "Sorry if I intruded on your rendezvous. I was just getting acquainted with this fine buck."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:10 pm
"Rendez..." It came out still breathless and a bit confused, his eyes flashing from Samael to Rajani again as he all but dropped the basket at his feet. It wasn't big, but he acted like it was too heavy to carry so much as a minute longer, shaking out his arms and fixing his gloves in a finicky way.
"Nothing of the sort." Paul snorted as he said it, slowly relaxing into himself, face partially obscured by the plush scarf around his neck. Rajani was certainly bright enough to put two and two together: the fine wool, the fashionable cut of his coat, the rich color. He looked out of place, in the country, city creature that he was.
"A goat girl camps out, sometimes. It's my attempt to bribe her off my property."
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:39 pm
No. Definitely not one accustomed to the out of doors. A soft man used to the comforts of the city, perhaps. Ah, and the ordering about of servants, she should think. Unless she was very much mistaken, Rajani was looking at the young lord on high. She doubted that there was anyone else in this town who could afford such fine attire, recovering economy or not.
"I should think it would encourage her, not send her away," she replied.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:58 pm
"She's insufferably proud, considering it seems she spends most of her days rolling around in goat s**t." The way Paul spoke was careless, thoughtless, and affable: mildly offensive, if taken just the wrong way, but something about his tone tended to make up for it. Well. To some people. Others gritted their teeth and took it. He flicked hair out of his face, today, back up into the crest of his hat and considered her.
"I don't know you, though." He could have been defensive about this, but no -- still that affable, friendly edge. Fearless because he was too flighty for common sense. "Ah. Apologies if you enjoy rolling around in goat s**t."
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