A Clash of Gold and Bronze

[Shekru]

Slightly hazy in his own way, the brown responded gently, and a bit sleepily. Mine comes.

When the call went out, it did not take long for Fyg to appear. What took her was evident the moment she joined them in the hall, however. Dangling over her shoulder, tied at the feet by a rope, were two rabbit-like creatures. Slain, obviously, though the handler at least attempted to rid her hands of their blood. Knife still being wiped down on a spare cloth she carried, her appearance is, nonetheless, a bit gruesome.

"'Pologies for m'lateness. Found these while I was scoutin' 'round, and I couldn' miss the opportunity." Removing the rope from her shoulder she sets the rabbits down beside the table. Having brought her own vessle for wine-holding - a crude wooden mug of sorts - she joins the two, sitting across from Danae primarily. Without hesitation, the wine skin is nicked and poured, and her mug drank from. Brows lofted in an impressed fashion and she sat back. "N'bad, compliments to the vinter."

Her grin then turned somewhat catlike, brows digging deeply to add to the tone of mischief her eyes conveyed. "Sooooo. What'd I miss?" Fists curled up beneath her chin and she looked between the two in a pointedly curious fashion. "Please don't tell me y'let him make doe eyes atcha." She teased Danae.

[Xennai]

Alder's smile stretched tight, touching at eyes that had suddenly turned innocent. He shrugged, gaze fixating on the ceiling as he reclined back, nonchalant. "I'm sorry if it seems forward. I can't help the way I am. " He shrugged, glancing back at her and taking another careful sip of wine. He couldn't help if he flirted; he couldn't help if he sometimes was overly ambitious. He just had a taste for women that could never be sated. The more beautiful, the better.

Brows rose, lips following in opposite order, curling down in a tiny frown. She wanted him to tell her about himself? "What do you want to know?" he probed, honestly perplexed. His life wasn't interesting. It was a cycle of nocturnal activities, Aldesk and a revolving door of women. Honestly, it wasn't very good but it was life. It was like that.

He was saved, for the moment he was sure, about launching into personal history by the reappearance of Fyg. Eyes widened to total roundnes when he saw her carting around the bloody carcasses of what had once been animals. He sat, unfazed, having seen worse from Aldesk. But this increased what he knew about the brown handler and wasn't it interesting? He thought she was a character, really, and more manly than he would like but...she might know things.

Not that it mattered.

Alder rolled dark green eyes, draining the last of his glass as he did so. He snagged a wineskin and carefully poured himself another glass before glancing at Fyg, smirk lining his lips. "Well, maybe just a bit. But don't get jealous, love. There's plenty to go round." He winked, chuckling. "I like my women all hot and bloody."

[panther]

The gold reported back to her bond, telling her of Fyg’s approach. Dannae turned her attentions back to Alder, “Don’t apologise then. If it is something you can’t help then there is no reason to be sorry Alder, surely.” She posed, satisfied smirk at bringing her teasing back into the equation.

She mused over his next question, what did she want to know?
“All I know of you, is that you are an outrageous womaniser, a bronze handler, who is part of my halls.” She shrugged, “Three facts hardly constitutes a friendship as you put it. You must know more details about you, and your life than that. Perhaps…” She paused for effect, “perhaps you could begin with what you done before you became the bonded of a wher, and as nocturnal as myself.”

She finished her queries as Fyg entered the room, carrying to limp rabbits. She didn’t turn a blind eye to this, she was unconcerned by it, for rabbits were rabbits, and they were food. As Alder had formed his opinions, she had similar, there were far more gory things performed by her own Wher.

“Ah, a present for Fygwesk later? Or perhaps that is to become a dish to alongside the wine?” Danae was jesting knowing these were likely gifts for Fygwesk. “Aye, the wine is moderate for now, whilst Lord Bynor supplies is” She smiled, looking a little pointedly at Alder, knowing what the bronze handler had just learned from her, he should realise then that this was something else where change was imminent, but if he had any sort of perspective, he would realise she would want to improve the wine, not downgrade it.

“Doe eyes?” She smiled, Fygwesk would make better doe eyes than he.” She smirked and drank a mouthful of wine, listening as Alder flirted with Fyg also. She shook her head, distaste for Alder’s actions no longer present. He was just an outrageous womaniser. No wonder he never became holderfolk. No one would be let get away with those sort of antics without being a Kinsman.

Danae made a general noise of disproval – though her heart was not in it – and she looked to Fyg, “What’s happened, is Alder has flirted consistently, and conversation has progressed about as quickly as a dead runner might make headway.” She tsked dramatically.

“Tell me the Fyg – after your scouting around – How do you find this place? I am interested as to your views, I don’t hear a great number of opinions around here.” Either for the fact that people didn’t talk to her because they feared her seniority, or, she was not awake when they were, she was near enough strictly nocturnal afterall.

[Shekru]

"As if there were anythin' to be jealous of." Fyg snorted, giving Alder a look that suggested her thought pattern leaned toward 'As If'. "I like my men big, mean and hairy. Ooh, guess that means y'ain't my type." A mock pout and the mug was lifted again, drained a good way.

When the question turned to her cargo, Fyg hauled them up by the rope that joined them and shook her head. "Nah, meat's for stew, pelt's for makin' things out of. I do leatherworking." There, a piece of volunteered information. "'Side from what I earn workin' with Fygwesk, I like t'have a bit of leeway when it comes to funds, so, I make m'own."

She leaned back in her chair, arm looping over the wooden upright. Her overall posture was hardly lady-like, though with her rugged personality, it seemed to fit well. Mid-drink, Fyg's yellow eyes look up and over the rim of the mug at Danae as she asks for opinion, and the dark haired woman paused to consider, savoring the wine's flavor for several moments before speaking.

"T'summarize? I like it. S'a fair bit better'n Fygwesk'n I are used to, s'for sure. Gettin' t'know it in daylight helps. Ain' usually awake this time'a day. Fygwesk and I tend t'do our huntin' at night. He sees better, more critters're out, an' he gets t'eat." Brows flicked up as though to say, non-verbally, that that was ~important~. "Rather like th'terrain ou'side. Big fella likes t'romp around on uneven ground when I take 'im out for a ride, so." A small shrug, and the wineskin is retrieved again. One mugfull down.

"What'ya do for fun around here?" She asked, then, looking mainly at Danae, but extending the quesiton to Alder via a sideways glance.

[Xennai]

Alder leaned back, content to listen to the two women for now without talking overly much. It was nice and pleasant, for certain, to hear the two feminime voices conversing with one another, although the conversation not be quite what anyone was used to hearing from two women. That was wher holds for you. They defied tradition and society for certain.

Alder took an idle sip of wine, content to pace himself. He'd start diving in soon. He was halfway through when Danae said Fygwesk could make better doe eyes than he. He choked, swallowed his wine, and choked some more. After a few moments of painful hacking and coughing, his throat was clear, his eyes watering and his thoughts seething.

He scowled, glaring into the depths of his wine. He picked up his glass and tossed back the rest of its contents, slamming his glass down on the table. He inhaled deeply and reminded himself that it was all in good fun and didn't mean anything. He smirked lightly, reaching for the wineskin and pouring himself a new glass. "I'd ask Danae," he murmured. "I'm just as new as you here."

[panther]

She was dying to laugh, mirth creating tears in the corner of her eyes. But she fought it. Fought it vehemently. She pushed the glass away, and clamped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from taking amusement in the mans reaction to what she and Fyg had just said about him. It just wasn’t working. The laughter had matured, into silent laughter, that was making her entire body shudder with the force of it.

“Oh, I’m sorry Alder, I thought you’d be able to take a joke” She said it sincerely, her laughter still coming in short spouts now.

She turned her attentions away from the sulking bronze handler, and onto the brown. “Then I am glad you like it here Fyg, Hopefully you’ll find it a fair bit more comfortable too – if you have anything to ask of myself or of the Hold, just say the word and I’ll try my hardest to provide.” She looked sideways to Alder, “That goes for you, too. I might torment, but I am quite good at what I do.” She smiled in his general direction, feeling a little guilty now about having said what she said.

“Fun?” She returned to Fyg, Taking a long draught out of her glass finding that all this sudden amount of conversation was parching her mouth quite thoroughly. Nothing to do with the fact that alcohol acts to make you thirstier. Not at all! “Well, I guess if you’re a Daylighter you’d probably be able to find things to do in the hold.” She shrugged.

“I really wouldn’t know. I hear some of the inns in the Hold are quite good fun, but to me that’s waking hours, and the last thing I should do, or indeed want to. Its far to early to be drinking at that stage.” She shrugged, “We nocturnal handlers don’t get much entertainment provided for us. Such a shame, daylighters miss the sky at its best.” She mused thoughtfully. Her expression a little dreamy and distant. "They miss out on a lot. But, fun? I think that's something you might have to try and construct for yourselves." She said lips pulling taught to one side, in a mild for of an apology.

[Shekru]

Oho, the wind had been taken out of his sails? Fyg's smirk of triumph was brief, but satisfied. With Alder's cheek silenced for the time being, the brown handler relaxed a fair bit, leaning back and taking a breath. Danae's description of what 'fun' was in the hold brought about a frown.

Tugged forward of her own accord, out of her comfortable posture, Fyg placed her elbows on the table, fingers meshed before her, as if in prayer. "'M not much on daylight m'self. If you two are interested, and c'n scrounge some old ridin' straps from somewhere, or someone, Fygwesk n'I could show y'something interestin' n'new. Ain't taught in wher holds, nor'd someone think t'use Whers for it. S'good for fun, an' good for bondin'. Almost as good as th'first blood pact, leavin' out the bloodloss part."

Another drink from the mug and Fyg glanced over to Alder. A light kick was sent out, an attempt to see if she could nail him in the shin, but without malice. "Cheer up, pouty-face, I bet there's some woman 'round here doesn' like herself 'nuff t'give you th'time of day."

[Xennai]

Alder glared at Danae and Fyg as they found enjoyment in him. That just wasn't right. He wasn't overly upset about it, not really, but he was finding that he was more than a little piqued to see that they would laugh at his expense so easily.

Dark brows fell over even darker eyes, a combination of his anger and his skepticism for what Danae had outlined as the interesting ways of life within the Caspian wher hold. That couldn't be it. He sighed, huffing, and sent Fyg a scorching look. "Thanks, but my life isn't just about women," he muttered. "There's Aldesk too." He smirked, raising his glass in a small toast and draining it.

As he reached for a wineskin, he looked at Fyg, grinning. "Well, that sounds like a good time to me." He winked, filling his own glass and then offering the skin to the two women with a look. "Not exactly my taste but a good time nonetheless."

[panther]

Danae listened to the words given by Fyg – but she almost couldn’t believe her – Riding straps? Whatever would a wher need those for? There was no need for them. Besides they’d need to find straps for the likes of a White if they were to fit on the Whers. “If, you need straps, I’m sure we can get some made, though… I’m rather baffled as to what you could think needs straps. I’m certainly interested if its only going to satiate my curiousity.” She said, eyes still mirroring her perplexed mind.

He smirk returns pouty-face, Fyg didn’t know the line that Danae did, admittedly it was amusing, but perhaps she shouldn’t get on the back of that Runner, she felt it was a ride only to disaster. “Perhaps it might do you good to find some new hobbies Alder, ones that don’t involve the possible tarrying of the new name of Caspian Wher Hold eh? She smiled, offered her glass for him to filll after draining the last of it. Somehow she wasn’t feeling any affects yet. Two glasses of wine in and she felt right as rain! But that – knowing Danae – would change in a flash.

“Aldesk! Well I am glad to hear that he features in your life also. Because this place is about him more than you.” She smiled, shifting in her seat, unwittingly slightly closer to Alder. But not by much.

“Well, then Alder, pray you tell us, what is your idea of a good time, and as Queen handler, I shall see if I can accommodate!” She said boldly – ok. The wine was taking affect. She felt a strange distant feeling from her mind, thoughts becoming strangely hard to grasp. Slowly. Slowly. She took another mouthful of wine, for what could be better right now? She hummed to herself as she did.

[Shekru]

Fyg's grin for Alder, after his statement, was mirthful, if a bit cheeky. Hee, she made him angry. After a moment tallying down a mental score, Fyg leaned back in her chair and poured her mug full again. On her third mug, Fyg showed no signs of relenting, nor losing herself.

"Eh? Naw, I've arreddy got some. I mean for your Danask and Aldesk. I mean, I could jury rig a couple sets I brought with me until y'can find somethin' y'like." When Danae admits bafflement, Fyg grins and closes her eyes. "If your queen's still awake, I c'd have Fygwesk show her, an' you. Either that, or we c'd save it 'til nightfall an' you'd see it firsthand."

Danae's questions for Alder gave Fyg a moment to pause, and snicker. "Aside from th'ones we arreddy know. Women and Aldesk, that is." One black brow arched high above a golden eye, and Fyg fixed Alder with a rather cat-like look. "C'd make ya useful an' teach y'how t'skin, if y'don' arreddy know."

[Xennai]

Alder grinned, pure and little boy excitement shining in dark green eyes. He looked liable to start hopping up and down in his seat. The thought of what could be done with whers and riding straps was making him almost as excited as he had been when he'd finally kissed his female idol for the first time.

"I'm down for whatever." His grin was bright and happy. "This sounds like great fun to me. Good idea, Fyg! Just lemme know when we can go." He grinned again, taking a larger swallow of wine than he had been doing. He was getting warmed up now.

"Of course Aldesk is important to me." He sounded miffed that anyone else would think otherwise. "He's the most important thing to me. He's been since the bloodpact. Or, when I remembered it." He turned to Danae, smiling softly, eyes gentler and molten. "Find another hobby? Aww, this one's been doing just fine for me for Turns."

His smile spread, lighting at his eyes, as he sidled closer to her. Their thighs nearly brushed as he reached out, thumb rubbing lazily over Danae's cheek. "A good time," he mused. "Consists of good drinks and lots of them and a good girl. But, for now, a good time would consist of having you smile at me, Queen handler, and look like you're enjoying yourself." Eyes crinkled, lips widening before he turned to eye Fyg. "And it would also mean you not offering to have me skin dead 'critters.'" He smiled and pulled away from Danae, removing his hand but not his leg as he turned to finish his wine. He'd lost count of how many he'd had, though it wasn't much.

[panther]

She mused over the idea, then looked at the half empty glass of wine in her hands. “Danask is awake – but … I don’t think this… right now is a good idea. I think my reaction times would be impaired.” She said, her lips pursing and her brow furrowing slightly. “Maybe by nightfall” She yawned, then looked quite surprised that a yawn.

Her attention shifted to Alder as Fyg added more to her posed question, she smiled as he got a little miffed, then he went on, a soft smile on his face as he did, she frowned in return, “Having more than one hobby is good though Alder.” She reminded him, “Afterall, with just Fyg and I here, you might find yourself a little pressed for female company around here.” She dutifully explained.

Her frown lines deepened as he stroked her cheek – she batted away his hand loftily, showing her distaste. Just because she wasn’t disproving of him now, didn’t mean she was approving of him now. “well maybe if you weren’t so handsy, you might get a smile from me Alder.” She said, brows raising questioningly. She looked over at Fyg, slightly embarrassed that there was a witness to this situation. She had almost forgotten that she was there until he had mentioned the skinning again. “Maybe you might get a good time here then, depends doesn’t it. I smile when there’s cause to be happy, by the way.” She informed him, meaning little by it. But as was the effects of drunken ramblings!

[Shekru]

That little intrusion of Alder on Danae's personal space had Fyg's look quickly changing from mirthful to warning. Over the rim of her mug, she began watching the man with intensity. Yellow eyes under a thatch of black hair. What Alder had on him now was not the look of a woman, but the look of a trained hunter.

To emphasis this, even, Fyg withdrew her knife from her side and pulled out the cleaning cloth again, polishing the blade somewhat lazily. "Nightfall, then!" Fyg said in reply to Danae, nodding.

"Since y'obviously ain' used t'women not surrenderin' what ya want quick like, here's a tip. Mind yer manners, don' touch what ain' yours, an' no don' mean yes." While this was said, Fyg's eyes kept trained on the man. Danae's impaired senses were of concern to the brown handler, apparently.

"P'raps, Danae, y'd like t'catch a nap in yer quarters. It'd make wakin' up for night a lot easier. Think all of us c'd use a rest. Sounds like most of us ain' daylight-fans."

[Xennai]

Hands rose and Alder grinned, enjoying all of this intensely. "Who's handsy here? I'm not touching anybody." But he remembered the feeling of silky skin against his thumb and he wanted to touch her again, to make her smile when he did, to make her do many things in reaction to what he did to her. Not all of them were dirty either, that was the surprising thing. "There is cause to be happy, Danae," he reminded her. "We've already been over this, haven't we? Well, I'll do a brief synopsis: wine, friends, company. There. See? Plenty of reason to be happy."

Gaze skittered to Fyg, brows rising. He smirked, the movement much different when aimed at the brown handler versus the gold. This was darker, more secretive, a little bit more dangerous than charming, though there was that too. Alder was beginning to sense that Fyg wasn't going to be biting though, and that gave him all the more reason for him to poke and tease her. It was just all in good fun.

"Hey now there, mistress hunter. I'm a womanizer and I fully admit it, but I'm a gentleman when it comes down to it. I know when no means no, but I also know when no could possibly mean yes. The gentlemanly and honorable thing is knowing the difference." He nodded as if he were a great sage, smile all sugar but his eyes held the woman's levelly.

"Mmm, I dunno there, Fyg. I'm not quite done drinking Danae under the table." He winked, taking a sip of wine to clear out his mouth. He was feeling the affects of the alcohol in a pleasant way, making his body feel soft and fuzzy. He felt warm and that was rather delightful as well. "You done proving your dominant ways?" Brows rose and it was evident his words would not have been his first choice.

[panther]

Danae glanced between the pair of them. The tension there was rising, and even through a nice snuggly coat of wine she could feel it. She knew already enough of Fyg to know that Fyg wouldn’t take what Alder said very well. Not very well at all.

“Alder.” Her determination was up again, and that was more of a reprimand than a general call of his name. “Fyg – ignore him, and thank you.” She informed the brown rider, “You’ll still your tongue Alder.” She warned him, eyes stern now as she looked at him. “She’s caring, is all she’s doing, not trying to prove any sort of dominance.” She intoned sternly, continuing more on a note to herself, “Shard it, its like mediating with a child." She grumbled and took another good mouthful of good wine. Pouring her next glass quite deep, and running the skin dry. She frowned, looked at it thoughtfully.

“Aye, aye Fyg. We’ll go to bed soon enough” She paused, though on what she had just said, but refrained from rephrasing it, that would just make things more obvious, “We ain’t Daylighters at all, but a few more wont kill now” She shrugged, small amounts of Azvon slang trickling into her own words. Rather unlike her. “But I will leave soon enough, I’ve been awake for a while, and well if we’re going on this Escapade you suggested Fyg, then I’ll need to be rested.” Besides, alcohol was making her sleepy at this stage. She stifled a yawn, then looked guiltily at Fyg, “Perhaps maybe it would be a good idea to turn in soon.” She looked a little disheartened at the implication. But what was necessary, was just that. Necessary.

[Shekru]

"Behave like a hound and you will be treated as omega by someone more suited to being alpha than yourself." Fyg replied smoothly, the jaunty drawl momentarily missing from her speech and tone. What replaced it was almost snake-like. Cold, dangerous.

Danae's halt to the topic was heeded, and Fyg looked over to the woman and nodded once, continuing to polish the long knife she held in her hands. The slip in the other woman's verbage later on made her look up, sharply, and blink a few times. Instead of call attention to it, however, Fyg merely returned her knife to its proper place and rose from her seat. Draining the remaining liquid in her mug, she dried it out with another cloth and set it in a pouch at her side. "Fygwesk's callin', I'ma go see what he needs. Holler if y'need anythin'." This offer was made directly to Danae. With that, the brown handler began moving away from the table, making to exit the hall.

[Xennai]

Alder growled low in his throat at Fyg's prodding. Was she implying he should not be a bronze handler? Was she seriously implying that? He glared at the brown handler, feeling anger rise and spike. He'd hit her. He would. She wasn't a normal female, not when she was more muscled than he. She'd deserve it too. Alder wouldn't feel bad about it. He didn't take kindly to being insulted in such a fashion.

He would have said something nasty indeed to her but head turned in reflex at the way his name was said. He turned, glare focused on Danae before he realized who it was. His face relaxed after a few moments, though eyes still stayed dark and turbulent, the anger that flashed across them like heat lightning turning green irises even darker. Still his tongue? What of Fyg? Teeth gritted but he inhaled, clearing the red from his head.

Lips turned down when Danae mentioned waiting until nightfall for their venture. He wanted to do it now, but the Queen handler needed her rest, he could see that by the way she spoke and the way her eyelids drooped. She was intoxicated. Waiting until evening would be best. But...according to her words...

Lips turned up when Fyg left, if even just a bit, and he watched the brown handler leave, turning slightly to Danae. "Well, my Queen, shall we continue drinking for a bit more?" Brows rose, smile turning wicked as he grabbed for a wineskin, sloshing it around. "There's quite a bit of this good stuff left."

[panther]

Danae nodded to Fyg, “Aye Fyg. See you later my dear.” She smiled warmly at the brown handler lass as she departed.

“Hm?” She tunred to Alder, then her smile spread, “I don’t see why not, but, you can have that, I’ve got this” She said in a chirpy way, holding her glass uncannily steady for someone who was as tipsy as herself. “Aye, carry on, I don’t ant much more though, honestly.” She smiled gratefully to him His wicked smile left her a little perplexed, her brow furrowing. “Why are you mean to Fyg?” She asked, “It’s not like you can blame her for not being attracted to you.” She shrugged, “You have your charms, but Fyg’s immune, you two would be like asking a wherry to court a tunnelsnake.” She paused, “Though I will not state which one is which, not that being one is much better than being the other, but the implications are… slightly mean, so I shall remain impartial” Blathering a little because of the drink, and perhaps being a little too truthful. But Danae was intoxicated! And life was good! What harm could be done, telling her new friend what she thought now?

She giggled to herself. Flicking her hair out of her eyes casually as she took a slightly smaller mouth full. She felt slightly outdone… rather, underdone, she was greatly more tipsy than those around her. Well. Alder. She pouted, “You need to drink.” She said pushing his glass closer to him trying to encourage him, mainly so she didn’t feel so bad. She was meant to be the responsible one.

But then, she hadn't had company in a while.

[Shekru]

Out of sight, out of mind. The brown handler, having departed the hall directly, remained close, still. Out one window and beneath another near their table, Fyg stayed within range.

Into Danask's thoughts, a gentle message was delivered; Mine stays close. She will not abandon Yours. If Yours needs, Mine is there. A yell will bring Mine back.

The amount of foliage outside the window was handy. With practiced ease and careful motions, a tree became Fyg's new perch. Her hiding place somewhat primative, her chances of being detected were quite slim. It paid to dress like dirt.

[Xennai]

Alder laughed quietly, smothering his laughter by ducking his head. Shards, the woman was almost completely gone. He nodded, pulling the wineskin his way and filling his glass back up. "It's a shame. Really, it is. It's wonderful vintage this." He smiled, appearing relaxed and innocent. He wasn't thinking about her, honestly he wasn't. Well, for clarification's sake, he wasn't thinking about her naked. But he was thinking about her, quite a bit about her, and storing all of the information away to be looked over later if it was needed.

Thoughts of Danae stopped when the woman herself spoke of the female that had just left their company. "Hmm? Fyg?" He grimaced about the bit about his charms not working on the brown handler. He'd hardly even been trying! Irritation faded as Danae rambled on, a grin quickly returning to his handsome face as he listened to her.

"Fine, fine, I need a drink." He took his glass and drained a third of it, setting it down and leaning toward her, almost as if he were sharing a secret. "I don't not like Fyg, my Queen. And it's not about her not being attracted to me, which is a pity really and a story for another time. It's the fact that she is a woman not attracted to me. D'you see?" He nodded, reaching for his glass and taking a draught.

"So I can tease her and not be too worried, except for my person. And I don't think she'll knife me. I hope not anyhow. But, I can tease her and she tease me and none of us left unsatisfied. I got angry because she insulted me." He smiled, grinning, reaching for the skin and filling her glass back up.