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 Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 7:01 pm
Heras Box alright lets let 'em have at it and make some quiestionable choices. B)  So, that was it.
Talin had been chased out, him and his ‘loyal’ followers (as loyal as a bunch of thieving crooks could be, that is) gone with him. For all their hot air, the combined threat of all of Ouen’s allies had been a bit too much heat for them, apparently. Nobody was sorry to see them go.
Ouen himself was in pretty bad shape after the fight. Talin was a serious rival, and his daggers had left many a wound on the Shifter, so the first couple of days after were reserved to recovery. Ouen rested in his tent, tended to by Kalli mostly (who was, for whatever reason, still around despite the fact that Talin was no longer there to hold her captive) and a couple of the others. Even in his infirm state, Ouen commanded some inexplicable authority -- while reclining on his bedroll he directed the others to patrol the surrounding area, with orders to keep an eye out for Talin and any potential bid to re-take the camp. A few of the bandit’s followers were spotted, but no concentrated effort was made against Ouen’s new faction.
So it came to be that, on the third day after the fight, the camp was in a rather jovial mood. Ouen had regained enough strength to declare that night a celebration, so a big bonfire was lit. Food and drink was called for -- lots of it -- as was music. And by the time the night was dark, and the shifters in the group silvery-blue, the party was in full swing… with Ouen in the center of it, standing by the fire with a clay cup of fruit liquor in his hand, loud and proud if he hadn’t ever taken that beating.
“This here’s the start of somethin’ different. Not just stealin’ from this an’ that trader just ‘cause they done came down the wrong trail, naw. We gonna have a real purpose, y’know. Don’t mean we gonna sit on our hands an’ play pretty, dontcha worry. We’ll find us some real action, an’ all that. Just that we ain’t gotta be petty thieves no more, y’hear? We can make things happen, real dang things, not all that there nonsense!”
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 7:24 pm
Kalliope stood to the side, still looking a bit uncomfortable in the large group of bandits. Though she didn't fear being taken away and sold for profit quite as much as before. For now the Oban girl was giving Ouen a full on stern look since she didn't think he should be up and doing things so soon. But she couldn't deny that he at least kept order while he was down for those few days. After his speech she hoped that he would keep to his word and took a cup for herself. Kalli figured drinking a little wouldn't hurt. She would just need to keep count of how many she had before she drank too much. Mentally she counted this as her first then smiled when the music that was playing started a beat that she couldn't ignore. Almost instantly her hips started to move and she was jingling her anklets. "Well at least they are playing my song." A chuckle left her and she twirled around.
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:23 pm
There were cheers at his speech (Ouen would never call it a ‘speech’ himself -- he was just ‘speakin’ his mind’, as he put it), cups of liquor raised and drums rolling. But Ouen recognized the fact that most folks just wanted to celebrate, so after the cheering quietened down he tilted back his clay cup and took a hit of the sweet, sticky (and considerably alcoholic) beverage. The others followed suit, and the music picked back up around them, giving the whole scene a rather pleasantly festive glow.
He missed Kalli’s stern gaze -- maybe because it was dark, maybe because he had sort of gotten used to it over the last little while. Kalliope was never one to stray away from making her opinions known, even using her eyes and body alone.
Nevertheless, he certainly didn’t miss her once she approached, her own cup of liquor in hand, her hips swaying. And for Serin’s sake, that woman was practically all hips, and when she wove around like that it was as if her whole body as a slender tongue of fire -- if fire moved in syrupy slow-motion, and looked at him with big crimson eyes. He took a step towards her, rolling his eyes up at the star-studded sky.
“They pretty much play just’ta watch yous dance, an’ you know it. But come, Kalli. Will ya take a little walk with me, b’fore this party really gets goin’? I’s got every intent to get as drunk as I can tonight, but I wanna talk with ya while I’m sober ‘nough to make any sense.”
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 7:30 pm
The music claimed most of her attention as she continued to move. Kalli had gotten rather used to the songs that were played around the camp and even enjoyed them. So when Ouen took a step closer and rolled his eyes, she missed it, but when he spoke she brought her attention to him. "Well, I don't mind. I enjoy dancing for an audience." The tiny dancer's shoulders came up slightly before going back down. The shifter's request for her to join him on a walk sparked her intrigue. "Alright..." There was some suspicion in her voice as she thought that Ouen might have the intent to make her stay in the tent tonight. With everyone drinking and throwing caution to the wind it was likely he, or even Zyan, might think she was better off holed up inside. "What did you want to talk about?" Kalliope had to admit she was curious and that won out over her own caution. "If it's about your wounds I'm not a healer.." Might as well remind him of that while he still had a good thought process. Linking her free arm with his she held onto him so they could walk together. It would make it easier to not lose one another in the crowd and it would be easier to hear the other over the cheers and laughter. And while her curvy body pressed against him giving him a physical awareness of how she moved, Kalli seemed oblivious to this.
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 1:03 pm
“What wounds?” Ouen rolled his eyes. For all she claimed not to be a healer, she certainly was hanging over his shoulder about that. Why, it was just a few cuts and scrapes. Nothing to lose sleep over, and certainly no excuse to miss out on a good party.
He let her hook her arm around his, and together they ventured out through the crowd, away from the glow of the fire and into the surrounding darkness. Ouen’s eyes adjusted quickly, used as he was to the jungle and it’s ethereal glow, and with relative ease he was able to put them on a faint path that was often used by the bandits on patrol. They both held their clay cups with them, and Ouen took a few sips as he tried to figure out how to say what he wanted to say. He almost considered backing out, but it was too late now. He’d asked her to talk, and they were walking alone, and there were no excuses.
“Naw, anyway. ‘S nothin’ to do with my wounds… I mean, not directly, or anythin’ like that. I just… wanted to ask yous why you’re still hangin’ ‘round. And, uh, not that I want you to go or I’m tryin’ to tell you to split or nothin’ like that. Just -- well, you know I only had to keep ya ‘ere to keep Talin an’ his daggers away.”
The day he had brought Kalliope back from that raid, Talin had been furious. The only thing Ouen could think of at the time was to tell the then-leader that he was claiming Kalli as his share of the loot. It bothered him, to say that, because there was nothing he hated more than folks who thought they could claim anyone in any way. He’d told Kalli that much, in the nights since then, promised her that all this was only until he could figure out a way to free her and keep her safe. But now Talin was gone, and… Kalli was still here.
“Y’can go, y’know. If you want. I’ll take ya back to Oba ‘f you don’t wanna travel on your own. Just figured you’d be sick of all this ‘ere by now.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:19 am
"O-oh.." So he more or less wanted to know why she was still hanging around. Kalli let go of Ouen's arm, wrapping her own around her waist instead to keep it from simply dangling. In truth she wasn't all that sure that she wanted to go back to Oba just yet. Besides, in her eyes she still owed the shifter for saving her and keeping her safe. Not that he seemed to see it that way. Lifting her drink to her lips she drained the cup quickly then looked at Ouen. "I told you I would pay you back for the loss of gold that you and yours took in keeping me." Kalliope saw one of the more drunken members of the group stumbling by and switched her empty cup for their full one. No point in letting them waste the beverage by spilling it everywhere. Besides, she needed more to drink. While she knew it was stupid she felt hurt by Ouen wanting her gone. "Though I suppose me staying in your tent is keeping you from reaping the rewards of being the leader." By that she meant that he couldn't have any intimate visitors while she was there. "I'll stay with Zyan until I can pay you back and you can have your tent to yourself and whoever it is you wish to sleep with." A shrug came about but she was trying to smile. After that she started to gulp down the contents of the cup she'd taken, only to realize this drink was stronger than the last. Kalli coughed and turned away from the leader of the group. Not wanting to seem as though she couldn't handle the burn of alcohol she lifted the cup and finished it's contents, trying her best not to cough again. "Ahem, I'll.. I'll find Zyan and let him know." First, she needed another drink to wash down the burn of this last one.
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 7:17 pm
If Kalli seemed at all upset by this subject, Ouen didn’t (initially) notice it. The finer points of emotional interaction were often lost on the shifter, who tended to be frank and even about his words, and expected the same blunt clarify from others. Subtleties, hints and suggestions weren’t his forte… unless they were the sort that hinted and suggested in the direction of a bed.
“Awh, the money thing? I done figured you an’ I made that up to keep Talin off ours backs. Y’know I don’t give a hoot ‘bout no gold, one way or another. Wasn’t in it for the money when I was runnin’ with Talin, an’ I sure as hell ain’t now… and neither are any of these folks back at camp. They’s all know there ain’t gonna be as much loot now, an’ they still stickin’ ‘round. So I doubt they’d begrudge you the loss of any money, ‘specially not with all the lookin’-after you do in the camp an’ all that.”
But, as thick as he was, he began at some point to sense some bitterness from her. Something about… his tent? And reaping rewards? Ouen let out a loud guffaw, and stopped to take a drink before speaking again.
“Aw, jeez, Kalli. Dont’cha act like that. You’s know if I had some prollem with you kickin’ ‘round, I’d go an’ tell yous. An ‘f I wanted the tent to myself a night, I’d deal with yous fair an’ square. Whatcha take me for, some whimperin’ Oban prettyboy who can’t speak his mind? I’d told you. I ain’t sayin’ I want you to go. I’m just sayin’... you don’t owe me nothin’. What Talin wanted to do to ya, that wasn’t right. I wasn’t doin’ you no favours by keepin’ him away from you, I was just doin’ the most decent I could, y’know. And now that he’s gone, you can go. Or… yous can stay. But, uh, if you’re stayin’... I guess I’d like to know why.”
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Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 7:38 pm
Before she could really get more than a few feet away from Ouen she heard him speak. Kalliope paused as she listened but with his last question, or rather a statement of wanting, she turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. The Oban girl had learned quite a bit from the time she'd spent with this shifter and his crew. One of those things being that he was a deep sleeper, which made her give a faint smirk, and that he was kinda dense sometimes. Not that it was a bad thing. After giving it some thought Kalli finally turned and took the few steps she needed to be right back in front of him. However, now she was even closer than before. Her arms came up to gently loop around his neck as she lifted her small frame onto her tip toes and leaned in closer to Ouen. At first she had thought to simply kiss him, but even with the alcohol in her system she wasn't so sure she had the courage to do that just yet. So instead she made use of those well liked hips of hers with a slight sway that would give way to a whole series of thoughts in the not so innocent department. While Kalli was testing her courage under the influence she did manage to kiss the sexy shifter's neck. "I would still like to pay you back for saving me." Where would she be if he started to think Oban's didn't keep their word? "And if I stay.. it is because of you." As well as a few other selfish reasons that she wasn't quite sure would be a good idea to discuss while she felt tipsy.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 4:26 pm
His explanation seemed to have been enough for Kalli -- at least for now, he noted in relief. She turned back towards him and approached with that swing in her hips.
The two of them were, by this point, habitually used to close-ness. It had been a necessity at first; Kalli hanging on to him at night in case Talin might think to yank her away in the night. But after that, it became habit. They slept close at night, and in the day they often ate together. In the evenings, they danced. Kalli was the expert on that matter, of course, but Ouen didn’t have any reservations about joining her.
So in Ouen’s eyes, there was nothing abrupt or strange about the way she moved now, her arms around his waist, her hips against his, her body stretched out so she might land a kiss on his neck. It was all, like everything Kalli ever did, part of the same smooth and graceful movement that was her existance. Ouen didn’t really question it. Even if he’d had any reason to… she was drunk, and her lips were warm on his skin, and it only made sense to hook his arm around her waist (the drinking-cup still hanging from his fingers).
“Why, d’you really think I’m all that much’a chatch? I ain’t good for much spoilin’, if you ain’t noticed it yet. ‘S all hard work an’ tree-fruit from ‘ere, no gold an’ no riches.”
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 4:54 pm
Her head shook slowly. "If I want gold then I'll dance for it." After all, that was her job. One that she wanted to continue doing. Though Kalliope did smile a little bit more as she kissed his neck again. "Did I catch you, Ouen?" Mostly she was amused by the statement. Her kisses continued up his neck and then she leaned back. "You got a new tattoo I want to see." The tiny dancer moved one hand down to trace over Ouen's hip where the newest design was placed. "I saw it the other night but you were clothed so I couldn't see all of it." With a slight giggle Kalli gave her attention back to his neck. With him being taller than her it was all that she could reach without him leaning closer.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:43 pm
A lot of this should have been problematic -- to a sober Ouen, that is. It was clear enough for anyone to see where this little exchange was going; had been going for a while now, with the two of them always in close contact, sleeping and eating and spending hours talking together (or sometimes not talking at all, sometimes just watching the stars or the fire or the rain). But Ouen wasn’t exactly prime material for romance. He was still very much a wild boy, prone to running off and living wild, unlikely to spend time on making smart decisions, however crucial they were.
But that was the crux of it, wasn’t it? He was no good at making good decisions. But he was plenty good at having himself a good time.
“M hard ‘nough to catch.” He drawled. “But you got me for the evenin’, if you want me. But are you’s any good at climbin’ trees? ‘Cause I got a mind that you an’ I don’t wanna go back to camp for all this show’n tell. Noisy there, anyhow. Much better if we’s find ourselves a comfy perch up ‘ere somewhere. Moon’s bright. You should see plenty by that -- my tattoo, an’ then some.”
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 7:31 pm
She had him for the evening? Kalli thought about that. An evening was good. So her head nodded then. His question about climbing trees made her look at him oddly but as he explained she looked up at the night sky. He was right. Even through the trees she could see the bright glow. "I can though you might have to lift me up to the nearest branch first." The small trees in Oba were easy enough to climb but the taller trees of Jauhar certainly made her feel short. Her fingers still toyed with the area that his new ink was until she managed to innocently get them into the waist of his pants. Kalliope didn't do anything more than simply have them there and keep touching his hip. There was a part of her that wanted to give a tug and pull Ouen away so that they could have privacy, but again she wasn't sure she had the bravery to do such a thing. "You are mine for the night Ouen and I am yours.." She gave a laughing smile and stood on her tip toes again, this time pushing down on his waistband to give her that extra boost, and playfully nipped at his lips. "Just for tonight.. no regrets." That meant that she would need to get her courage up and be a little wild. She had the alcohol in her system so she might as well use it. So Kalli gave another teasing move of her body then pulled the shifter closer to her and farther away from the camp, if she had to then she would take the lead.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:18 pm
Her lips tasted like the strong drink they’d been sipping, sweet and deep. He wanted to lean in deeper, but… there was that matter with climbing trees.
“I’s never regretted nothin’. Well… maybe a thing or two, here an’ there. But you’s not the sort of thing a man regrets. C’mon.” He pulled away and reached for her hand, tipping back the last of his cup and tossing the empty vessel onto the ground. Then he lead her lightly towards where the trees were thicker, his gaze aimed upwards to find a good spot for the night. It had been some time now since he had slept in the trees, but he knew all their secrets still.
Shortly he found a spot to his liking. There were, however, no low branches in sight -- only a gnarled trunk as wide as a house, with many vines and knots for foot-holds. Good enough for him, but likely not his Oban dancer.
“Good thing you’s little.” He winked, kneeling down infront of her and patting his shoulder to indicate that she hold on. “I’ll getcha up no problem. Then you’s will see what Jauhar really looks like, to a fella who knows the right way of lookin’.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:32 pm
Her shifter sure knew how to smooth talk a lady. Ouen didn't have to pull on her hand too much because she was willing enough to stay close to him. When he called her little she could only giggle. Kalli was little. She had curves and all that but she was small and didn't weigh all that much. Even soaking wet. As he knelt and patted his shoulder she moved to lean over him. She was unable to resist giving his ear a kiss or moving in just the right way that her legs going around him was more sexual than innocent. "Up you go." The implications of her words could be taking in multiple ways. Though if Ouen thought he would be able to climb without being toyed with he was sorely mistaken. Kalli had perfect access to his neck this way.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 2:14 pm
Kalli’s body was like warm silk against his back, grasping everywhere in just the right away. Her hands were light but teasing, fingers locked around his shoulders. Her thighs pressed in against his hips as she climbed onto him. Slight as she was, she hid a deceptive amount of muscle on her from all the dancing, and Ouen could feel it all tense and flicker as she got comfortable.
“Mhh. Keep your teasing to yourself, if you don’t want a tumble.”
Despite this warning, Ouen didn’t seem to protest much when he felt her lips on his neck. He simply leapt up onto the first set of foot-holds and started picking his way up the thick trunk, having no problem choosing his handholds and lifting both their weights up towards the night-time sky.
After ascending the initial trunk, he swung left to follow one of the reaching branches. Before long, he reached just the sort of spot he was looking -- a fork between two thinning branches that formed a perfect cradle. With Kalli still on his back, he pulled some vines towards this nest, hanging them from the knots and twists of the branches so that they filled in the remainder of the space. Then he gestured for Kalli to get off and sit on one of the branches while he hopped down and went to retrieve some grassy fronds from a different type of tree. When he returned he laid these down to make a mattress of sorts, and lowered himself into this arboreal bed.
He met Kalli’s gaze and gestured for her to join him with a suggestive wiggle of his fingers.
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