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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 3, 2017 20:29:04 GMT -5
Occ: Open to everyone. Jump in any time with your character, or multiple characters. I am suspending the normal rule of everyone waiting your turn. So if two or three want to post and the fourth person hasn't come back to post, you can go ahead. Please be considerate of others and do not control anyone else's character.
Setting: Town of Redmont in Redmont fief, Three years after the plague hit the northern fiefs. Life is returning to normal and the Baron of Redmont has declared a 4 day holiday to celebrate the summer solstice. The town square and main roads north, south, and east are lined on one side with merchant booths and game booths. Food vendors are everywhere. The practice grounds in the castle has been turned into several arenas where people can test their combat skills against each other. The castle gates are open and though there are guards posted, they are letting most anyone into the common areas of the castle. Certain areas have been marked off limits, locked and have guards posted. The Baron is providing a banquet each night in the castle ballroom followed by dancing. Each night is a different theme. The first night is a Masque - meaning participants are expected to dress up in a costume and wear a mask. The theme is Woodland Sprites and Forest Creatures.)
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 3, 2017 22:11:01 GMT -5
[OOC: This post concerns Finn, Ringulf and Skylar]
Finn's blacksmith fire was up and going, despite the previous downpour that made the sulfur in the coke coals burn off with even more smoke than usual. Her merchant neighbors were shooting her looks of disapproval and some of relief now that the smoke had cleared from the air.
She tossed a piece of steel into the fire to heat it until it was ready to be pounded into a knife blade, ignoring the glare's from the leather merchant in the sprawling tent next to her Skandian gypsy wagon. She needed to work some metal to work out the frustrations of the journey to Redmont. This was only her second trip to this fief, it being much farther west than her normal circuit through the northern fiefs and up into Picta.
Her travel trouble started with trying to cross what is normally a small river, hardly more than a stream usually. Two days ago it was narrow, but so flooded with rain water the current was dangerously fast and the ford was twice as deep. Her wagon started to float and pulled her four black and white draft horses downstream for nearly a mile before the wheels and their hooves touched a sandbar and they were able to pull the wagon on across and up the steep bank. She spent the bulk of that day resting the horses and drying out the inside of the wagon. She'd lost a sizable chunk of her raw materials, some finished stock she was planning to sell and about half her dry good food supply.
The weather looked like it was finally clearing after the scattered showers over the past twenty-four hours. Apparently this was the tail end of the rainy season in Redmont fief. Finn hoped the sun would be here to stay for a while as it peeked out between the dispersing rain clouds.
The Skandian smith pulled out the heated slab of steel with her tongs and placed the end on the anvil and began to pound the metal flat, stretching it out longer and wider until it cooled down and needed to go back into the heat. She took a look around the street as she pulled the handle on the bellows.
'Ringulf should be arriving back here soon after checking in with the local ranger,' she thought. She glanced up the road at the castle, hoping he was able to find Redmont's ranger without a problem. Some kids ran through, heading for the castle chattering about a choosing. Finn sighed, if there was a choosing going on, Ringulf would likely be there to at least watch.
Finn's musing was interrupted by a customer. "Hello, I am looking for a sword," the young man in a blue cadet uniform stated as he looked over the swords hanging on the side of Finn's wagon. "Something ornate."
"Heavy or light sword, My Lord?" asked Finn, taking a fancy rapier down from inside her wagon. She kept her best work out of site at the beginning of her stay in a new town. This young man looked to be from a wealthy family and she figured he wouldn't be interested in the utilitarian blades on display. "Perhaps this one?" she handed him the long, narrow sword with a gold hand guard that twisted around in a spiral pattern and sported the heads of dragons on the ends.
"Very nice. good craftmanship, but not what I want," he shook his head. "I am looking for a blade for a lady, not myself."
"Ah, I see," Finn asked him some questions about the lady and then drew out a shorter saber with a slight curve to the blade. The cross guard was embellished with vines and leaves and the pommel was a carved doe. Down the blade she etched more vinework and had dyed the blade with a green tint. "Perhaps she would take a fancy to this."
The man smiled as he examined the blade, "and perhaps to the man who gives it to her," he finished. "I will take it. How much?"
Finn calculated her time and materials and took into account her extra travel time to reach the fair, "400 gold piece," she declared.
"Whew! I don't think I can do that much!" the young man countered. They haggled for a few minutes and finally settled on 360 gold pieces. Finn wrapped up the sword and scabbard and handed it to him and then placed the money in her strongbox inside the wagon and locked it back up.
"Not bad for my first sale. Maybe this fair will be worth all the trouble afterall," she muttered as she locked the wagon door. "Looks like Ringulf and I can go dancing tonight instead of keeping the booth open." she smiled at that thought.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 5, 2017 17:29:18 GMT -5
[OOC: Skylar and Finn]
Skylar was walking up and down the vendor aisle trying to find a decent blacksmith. The first one she tried had laughed at her, she'd had to swallow her temper and walk away. Now she stalked the road a tad angrily. Why was a female warrior so funny she wondered? if they saw her fight she could bet you everything she owned it would wipe those ridiculous smiles off their faces. She also had to admit that it had put a worm of doubt into her mind, what if she was't allowed into any of the combat rings? Would the men behind those tables taking down names turn her away and refuse her? She had come all this way to come and fight and have fun it would be aweful if she never got the chance. She saw a blacksmith only it looked like the shop was out of a wagon. But there was a girl behind there working, maybe she would be less inclined to laugh at her. Straightening her shoulders and standing to her full height of 5 ft 8 inch she walked confidently toward the wagon.
"Um Excuse me but I was wondering if you were open for business?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 5, 2017 22:09:25 GMT -5
[OOC: Skylar and Finn]
"Um Excuse me but I was wondering if you were open for business?"
Finn looked up from the metal on her anvil that now resembled a large saxe knife. She smiled at the woman before her, "I certainly am, Milady. Are you looking for a blade for yourself perhaps?" She could tell from the way the woman moved and the clothes she was wearing that she was no stranger to wielding a sword. She sized up the woman's build and height and surmised she was probably quick on her feet so a really heavy blade was probably not going to work well for her. She might like a longsword with a bit narrow blade, or perhaps a scimitar. "Hold on a moment, I have some blades inside my house that you might like."
Finn put the knife blade she was working into the coals so it could stay warm, but on the side so it wouldn't get too hot and then unlocked the door stepped up into the back of her wagon. The wagon was largely her design, but had the unmistakable thumbprint of Ringulf in many of the detailed features such as the outer false wall that hinged up and out from the right side of her wagon to form a roof over her shopping area. When open, it revealed her display of finished swords, handmade jewelry and Ringulf's carvings. Finn had arranged a few tables under the "roof" that held Skandian furs and a variety of crafts and trinkets from her homeland and from areas in Araluen. She swapped, traded, bought and sold hand-made crafts everywhere she traveled and many items she used to make new items so there was quite a variety of goods on display.
Her forge was set up just out from under the "roof" so the smoke would not get caught and it was positioned so she could somewhat guard the door to the inside of her wagon while she was working. Under the wagon was a false bottom where she could lock up her raw metals and wood for bows and spears. Her husband, Ringulf, made bows, arrows and quivers, as well as leather pouches and a variety of other leather goods.
Inside the wagon was a good sized bed opposite the door at the front of the wagon with storage space under it for their clothes. There was a sitting/dining area in front of that and along the sides were cubby holes for storage.
Finn stepped back out with a handful of swords of various shapes and sizes. She also had a few daggers. "You might like something like these," Finn said as she laid the swords out on a empty table that had two benches,one on each side. "I also take custom orders, if you want something particular. I can work in a specific motife, like this one here with the horses on it." She pointed to a horseman's sword with a slightly curved short blade flared out at the tip into a double edged point. It had a distinct Arridi look to it. The guard had a horse head on each end and the horses body made the bulk of the cross-guard.
"It's so nice to meet a fellow Lady Warrior," commented Finn. "I hope to get away long enough to knock around some of those thick-headed, arrogant young men boasting about how good they are down at the practice field. It should be almost as fun as trying to drink my husband under the table," she laughed. "My name is Glorfindel Theronsdottir, but my friends call me Finn," she held out her hand to shake the woman's hand.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 10, 2017 15:41:34 GMT -5
[OOC: Skylar and Finn]
"I certainly am, Milady. Are you looking for a blade for yourself perhaps?"
Skylar Smiled a little relieved. She opened her mouth to speak but the girl held up a hand."Hold on a moment, I have some blades inside my house that you might like." Skylar started to say that, that wasn't necessary but the women was already gone inside. She bit her lip feeling a bit awkward.
Finn stepped back out with a handful of swords of various shapes and sizes. She also had a few daggers. "You might like something like these," Finn said as she laid the swords out on a empty table that had two benches,one on each side. "I also take custom orders, if you want something particular. I can work in a specific motife, like this one here with the horses on it."
Skylar stepped over to the table and looked at the swords the lady had spread out. They all looked like she knew what she was doing. Nice and sturdy, without meaning to she picked one up and swung it a little. They also had great balance. She set the sword back down and placed a hand on the hilt of her own sword she wore at her hip.
"It's so nice to meet a fellow Lady Warrior," commented Finn. "I hope to get away long enough to knock around some of those thick-headed, arrogant young men boasting about how good they are down at the practice field. It should be almost as fun as trying to drink my husband under the table," she laughed. "My name is Glorfindel Theronsdottir, but my friends call me Finn," she held out her hand to shake the woman's hand.
Skylar chuckled and shook the offered hand with the firm grip all warriors seemed to have. "Its a to meet you Finn, my name is Skylar. You do amazing work I am impressed. Actually I was wondering if you could help me with my sword." she paused. "Its a bit... well." she rubbed the back of her neck a little then decided to get it over with. She pulled on the hilt of her sword but instead of a long sword only half a sword came with it. She put it on the table took off her scabbard and tipped it upside down the other half of her sword clattered to the table. "Broken." she sighed and reattached her scabbard. "None of the other blacksmiths would fix it. They just laughed at me. You see, this sword was my fathers he gave it to me and I'm well I'm quite partial to it. I have never used any other sword before, is there anyway to fix it?" She bit her lip. "I understand if you can't I mean I'm not even sure it is fixable. My father is still alive and well so don't think you have to fix it cause its some special heirloom thing. My father would probably laugh hysterically, especially if he heard the story of how it happened." She looked at Finn really hoping she could fix it and at a reasonable price. She had very little money and if things kept going the way they were she probably wouldn't even get to fight anyway.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 30, 2017 12:44:33 GMT -5
[OOC: Ringulf, Djolimar, Katrina, Finn and Simone]
This place is great!Thought Djolimar. The smells and sounds, the flavors from all over, It was like being in the harbor market in Marshport, but all entirely new. New wares, new vendors new people, even new girls he had never seen. Yes he was starting to look too. Ever since Ringulf had taken him as his apprentice, he had been the height, depth, width and breadth of the fife of Marshwood. He had gotten to know the people and the vast differences to be seen in culture and terrain in just one fife. Now here in Redmont, he was seeing a new type of diversity. Geir had told him of the fairs that he had gone to when just a bit older than Djolimar was now, but he had not been a Ranger at that point. In fact Geir was still not a Range. He was a Warden in the service of the Fife of Marshwood. Djolimar had thought that it would be his own destiny to become a warden himself, as he had grown up on the marsh and on the river and had never really spent a day outside of the fife in any of his fifteen years. Oddly enough, it was his knowledge of the marsh and it's treasures that had allowed Ringulf to find the cure for the Norgate plague. or the Worgal fever as most called it. Who would have thought that Duckweed would have been the one thing that would cure the disease that almost wiped out the Northern fifes of Areluen. So many had gotten sick, so many had died and even more left the fifes of Highcliff and Norgate as well as Marshwood. The fact that Marshwood had the largest port of the three meant that it received all the fleeing refugees. That caused the sickness and death toll to soar. "The Marsh is our mother" said his old Pappy Fowler, and it proved true again as thousands of pounds of Duckweed, an almost useless commodity for any but the waterfowl of the fife and the occasional needs of the Marshmen, were gleaned by the wardens and the shifts of refugees from the harbor who were organized into work crews. As they ate and worked the duckweed, these people were either cured of the fever, or were prevented from contracting it. Hardly a single Marshman or Warden had succomed to the sickness at all. Right in front of their noses it was, but it wasn't until Ringulf put two and two together and shared it with Finn and Lady Katrina, that the sun came up and shed light on the solution. Those were hard times, but good times followed and Djolimar became loved and respected by the people of the fife. It was just like Ringulf to give the boy all the credit. In later days when the King himself came to the fife to commend the Rangers and Wardens on their work, all Ringulf would do was point to his little friend and say, "There,there He is, the hero of Marshwood is right there!" and all would look at Djolimar, shake his hand and pat him on the back. Why the king himself came and asked what he could give him for his service. He looked at Ringulf with a smile and Ringulf gave him a wink back as he handed the King the one thing Djolimar wanted, but would most likely not be able to procure for himself. A Bronze leaf pin. Since then he and his mentor Ringulf had been nigh inseparable and Djolimar had learned so much. Now here he was in Redwood in his own little camp, with his own little tent, and Duck just outside it on a tether. Duck was, of course his Ranger pony and the blonde sorrel pony was munching happily on his favored salt hay. Djolimar had toted quite a bit of it with him as a treat so he would not go off his feed. "Duck didn't keep no truck with any of that foreign food.' Fowler would often say, and it seemed a good thing to keep his four legged friend very happy.
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 6, 2017 12:22:46 GMT -5
{OOC: Skylar and Finn]
Skylar chuckled and shook the offered hand with the firm grip all warriors seemed to have. "Its a to meet you Finn, my name is Skylar. You do amazing work I am impressed. Actually I was wondering if you could help me with my sword." she paused. "Its a bit... well." she rubbed the back of her neck a little then decided to get it over with. She pulled on the hilt of her sword but instead of a long sword only half a sword came with it. She put it on the table took off her scabbard and tipped it upside down the other half of her sword clattered to the table. "Broken." she sighed and reattached her scabbard. "None of the other blacksmiths would fix it. They just laughed at me. You see, this sword was my fathers he gave it to me and I'm well I'm quite partial to it. I have never used any other sword before, is there anyway to fix it?" She bit her lip. "I understand if you can't I mean I'm not even sure it is fixable. My father is still alive and well so don't think you have to fix it cause its some special heirloom thing. My father would probably laugh hysterically, especially if he heard the story of how it happened." She looked at Finn really hoping she could fix it and at a reasonable price. She had very little money and if things kept going the way they were she probably wouldn't even get to fight anyway.
Finn picked up the pieces of the sword and examined them. It wouldn't be an easy fix, but it was metal, so it could be reforged into one sword again. "Well, there is really two ways to fix it," Finn explained. "The quick way would be to heat the pieces up and add a bit of metal and forge the two pieces together. This leaves it as truly your father's sword, but can weaken the blade because it has to be retempered and in my experience, that usually does not go well in a situation like this."
Finn reached down and pulled out a small chunk of high quality steel shaped in an ingot. "Now, if you want it truly reforged, I can remove the handle and cross guard and melt down the blade, along with this fine steel from Iberia. I melt them together in a crucible and then pour them into this mold," She held up a long rectangle iron mold. "From there I remake it into a fine blade, perfectly balanced and made to your optimum reach." She showed Skylar a similar sword with the Iberian steel. "It has these lines in it because it is folded and worked many times, making it a stronger blade. However, it won't be the exact blade it is now. It will still have this material from your father's sword in it, but it will be stronger and sharper and a better sword than it was before it broke."
Finn estimated her other projects and guessed at some of the other work she may have to do for the fair. "I am afraid it will probably take 3 days, but I could loan you a sword for use here at the fair in the meantime." She wondered at how the blade had broken, it was rather old, but not a bad piece of steel and obviously had been well cared for as there were no chips or dings in the edge and she detected no cracks. It might stand up just fine to the retempering, but one never knew until it was pulled out of the oil bath. Some blades shatter, some warp and some get tiny micro-fractures. And then some of them come out stronger than ever.
"So it sounds like there is a story here about how it broke," Finn commented. "Maybe we could get out one evening during this fair and swap some stories over some good rum or honey mead."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Aug 14, 2017 20:28:20 GMT -5
{OOC Skylar and Finn}
"The quick way would be to heat the pieces up and add a bit of metal and forge the two pieces together. This leaves it as truly your father's sword, but can weaken the blade because it has to be retempered and in my experience, that usually does not go well in a situation like this."
Skylar bit her lip and wondered what the second option was.
"Now, if you want it truly reforged, I can remove the handle and cross guard and melt down the blade, along with this fine steel from Iberia. I melt them together in a crucible and then pour them into this mold," She held up a long rectangle iron mold. "From there I remake it into a fine blade, perfectly balanced and made to your optimum reach." She showed Skylar a similar sword with the Iberian steel. "It has these lines in it because it is folded and worked many times, making it a stronger blade. However, it won't be the exact blade it is now. It will still have this material from your father's sword in it, but it will be stronger and sharper and a better sword than it was before it broke."
Skylar had a feeling that the second option was out of her price range. She sighed a little.
"I am afraid it will probably take 3 days, but I could loan you a sword for use here at the fair in the meantime."
"Well to be honest I don't think I could pay you for a three day job. I have about five silver pieces and some coppers. Life as a girl warrior doesn't exactly pay well." she laughed a little ruefully. "How much would you charge to do the first option?"
"So it sounds like there is a story here about how it broke," Finn commented. "Maybe we could get out one evening during this fair and swap some stories over some good rum or honey mead."
Skylar grinned a little. "That would be nice. I would like that."
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 14, 2017 20:54:56 GMT -5
(OOC: Skylar and Finn)
"Well to be honest I don't think I could pay you for a three day job. I have about five silver pieces and some coppers. Life as a girl warrior doesn't exactly pay well." she laughed a little ruefully. "How much would you charge to do the first option?"
"So it sounds like there is a story here about how it broke," Finn commented. "Maybe we could get out one evening during this fair and swap some stories over some good rum or honey mead."
Skylar grinned a little. "That would be nice. I would like that."
Finn thought about it for a moment. She would probably just break even on her time and materials for option 1 at one silver piece. Normally she would charge at least 2, but she could afford to give a fellow lady warrior a break. "Well, I think one silver would be a fair price, but I wouldn't feel to good leaving you with a sword that will fail at some point- probably when you need it most." She thought for a moment, then suggested, "What about a trade in services for the second option?"
Finn wasn't familiar with Redmont fief, but knew any fair attracted a criminal element. It was hard to concentrate on forging when she had to keep an eye out for thieves.
"What say you help me guard my wares for a few hours each day during the fair. That would free me up to work on forging and I could take on more orders that way. In the end I could bring in nearly twice as much as when I am here alone. Ringulf will probably be here to help a good bit of the time, but his ranger duties are going to take him away from the wagon a fair amount too. You could work around your schedule at the fair - you know, tournaments and such you want to enter." Finn did some quick calculations. "So with that one silver piece to pay for this Iberian steel, and lets say about 4 hours a day for the five days of the fair, at the going rate of sword for hire, and calculating in my ability to increase my sales while you are here,I think that would work pretty well. What do you think?"
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Aug 14, 2017 21:33:23 GMT -5
{OOC: Skylar and Finn} ______________
{OOC: Olivia, Marcus, Emily}
"What say you help me guard my wares for a few hours each day during the fair. That would free me up to work on forging and I could take on more orders that way. In the end I could bring in nearly twice as much as when I am here alone. Ringulf will probably be here to help a good bit of the time, but his ranger duties are going to take him away from the wagon a fair amount too. You could work around your schedule at the fair - you know, tournaments and such you want to enter." Finn did some quick calculations. "So with that one silver piece to pay for this Iberian steel, and lets say about 4 hours a day for the five days of the fair, at the going rate of sword for hire, and calculating in my ability to increase my sales while you are here,I think that would work pretty well. What do you think?"
Skylar felt her jaw drop and she stared at Finn in utter disbelief. She finally managed to close her mouth and stammer out. "Uh, oh, uh that seems fair, that is extremely kind of you and a really appreciate that." she didn't know what else to say. A simple thank you just didn't seem all that adequate. She stuck out a hand. "You certainly have a deal. And my gratitude." She was very happy that she had stopped at Finns place. "When do you want me to start?"
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Olivia was walking briskly though the crowded streets, most people got out of her way, out of respect for a Courier. She was in her white couriers dress, her blue cloak swished around her ankles and her gold pin gleamed in the sun. She also had a look of sheer determination on her face as well, she was a girl on a mission, a mission to see her betrothed. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she felt that familiar pink blush of excitement enter her cheeks as well. They had picked a spot to meet some weeks earlier. It was close to the entrance to the fair, by the sign up tables for the tournaments that would be held. She had checked and checked but still there was no sign of him as yet. She hoped he go here soon she desperately wanted to see him, after being separated for a whole month it was getting unbearable.
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Post by Jordyn on Sept 18, 2017 8:55:50 GMT -5
{OOC: Olivia and Emily}
Olivia was walking briskly through the crowded streets, most people got out of her way, out of respect for a Courier. She was in her white couriers dress, her blue cloak swished around her ankles and her gold pin gleamed in the sun. She also had a look of sheer determination on her face as well, she was a girl on a mission, a mission to see her betrothed. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she felt that familiar pink blush of excitement enter her cheeks as well. They had picked a spot to meet some weeks earlier. It was close to the entrance to the fair, by the sign-up tables for the tournaments that would be held. She had checked and checked but still there was no sign of him as yet. She hoped he go here soon she desperately wanted to see him, after being separated for a whole month it was getting unbearable.
Emily was exploring the fair, looking around for her knight friend, and not finding him anywhere.
It had taken weeks of persistent asking and begging for her to be able to go to this fair, and she had gotten an allowance from Crowley. She had spent the night at Halt's cabin and was now excitedly looking around at the wares.
She saw Olivia and nearly ran up to her, her cloak flowing around her as she came to a stop by her friend. "Hey, Olivia!" She said, smiling. "It's been too long, friend!"
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Sept 20, 2017 18:32:43 GMT -5
{OOC: Olivia and Emily}
"Hey, Olivia!" She said, smiling. "It's been too long, friend!"
Olivia jumped and put a hand to her chest, she had been so focused on getting to Marcus she hadn't seem Emily approach her. She'd only known she was there when she had spoken.
"Emily, you scared me!" she paused in her walking and turned to face Emily. "A little more warning next time, yes it has been to long, how have you been?"
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Post by Jordyn on Sept 22, 2017 8:49:29 GMT -5
{OOC: Olivia and Emily}
Olivia jumped and put a hand to her chest, she had been so focused on getting to Marcus she hadn't seem Emily approach her. She'd only known she was there when she had spoken.
"Emily, you scared me!" she paused in her walking and turned to face Emily. "A little more warning next time, yes it has been too long, how have you been?"
Emily smiled wider, a light of mischief in her eyes. "I'm a Ranger," she said. "It's part of my job to scare people. Besides, you made it too easy, all lost in thought!"
"I've been alright. Buried in paperwork with Crowley, but he let me sneak out to come to the fair." Emily said. "How have you been? I heard a rumour about you and Marcus....is it true?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Sept 22, 2017 21:17:26 GMT -5
{OOC: Olivia, Emily and Marcus}
"I've been alright. Buried in paperwork with Crowley, but he let me sneak out to come to the fair." Emily said. "How have you been? I heard a rumour about you and Marcus....is it true?"
"It most certainly is," said a pleasant baritone voice from behind Olivia. Marcus materialized seemingly from nowhere and spun Olivia around. He tilted her head up and kissed her soundly before she could protest the impropriety of it. He drew back slightly, staring into her eyes and said softly, "I have missed you, Liv." He smiled his mischievous boyish smile.
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Post by Jordyn on Sept 23, 2017 20:52:34 GMT -5
{OOC: Olivia, Marcus, Emily and Tom}
Emily looked away from them, politely, smiling.
"Emily! I've been looking everywhere for you!" A male's voice said. A blush rose on the Ranger's cheek, and she quickly hid it under her hood.
"Tom..." She muttered.
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