[NPC]

[d=auto]OOC:[/d] by Emma

[d=auto]IC:[/d]

"My stomach hurts." Vincent's footsteps faltered and he shot an irritated glance over his shoulder. "Well, it does."

"Maybe you'll think twice about downing a whole herd of sheep next time, then," he responded shortly, not bothering to pause now that he'd got his stride back.

"I don't think you can have a herd of sheep, Vincent." His knuckles whitened around the reins he was clutching. "And it's only because I'm hung...ry..." Her voice tailed off as she was met with another irate glance.

"Will you please be quiet? At least until we're done, you know, stealing?" He emphasised this with a sweeping gesture at the taroch following him sedately, completely unfazed by the strain in his voice or Zan's whining. "I can't concentrate with you yapping away inside my head."

"Sorry, Vincent." Blessed silence. For all of two seconds, and then: "Do we have anything to eat?"

"No, Zan. You ate it all. Including my share, I might add," he tacked on with another sharp glance in her direction. Except he no longer had her attention. Instead, she was looking around him and her tongue was sweeping slowly over the colourful bristles around her maw. With a put-upon sigh, Vince turned to look but he already had a pretty good idea what he was going to see.

Another sigh, and finally, his shoulders slumped. "Fine. But save me a steak, would you?" he called after her as she darted forward, her lithe body speeding across the field before the cow could know what hit it.

Somehow, he knew he'd still be going hungry again.

[Alexis]

OOC: I'm assuming the thread is in the Daire flat lands. and could you tell me what race Vincent is?

IC:
Alexis lay in the grass on the side of the road, letting the warm late-afternoon sun warm him. Relaxing to the sound of the few birds that occupied the small clumps of trees in the flat grassy land, He breathed in, letting the smell of the tall green grass, as well as the smell of rain from the fluffy clouds scattered across the sky envelope his nose. He enjoyed relaxing in the quiet solitude of the grassy flat lands. Not very many people traveled the few roads that wound their way through the seas of grass and clumps of trees that were characteristic of the area. The few farms and villages were also few and far in between.

Opening his eyes briefly, Alexis gazed at that small clouds dotting the sky, and watched a hawk circle high above the ground in search of it's dinner. The sun was low on the horizon, though it still had a few hours before sunset Its golden light lit up the sky and moist grass and trees, still somewhat damp from the storm yesterday. Prolly won't rain tonight, so I may as well camp here thought Alexis. It would take him at least 3 hours to reach the horizon, and the next village with lodgings would be well past that. Looking around, he did see one rather large farmhouse, but he preferred to sleep in the open rather than the barn they would no doubt offer him.

Alexis gave a small yawn before pushing himself reluctantly to his feet. If he was going to sleep, it may as well be in the cover of trees. He did not like the idea of waking up in a lightning storm. Straightening himself wearily and buttoning up his shirt against the chill of the cool spring night that would soon come, he did not notice the approach of the man, or his strange dragon, nor hear their words. He turned around with a start though as the beast sped off to feed on the cow. He looking first to the man, then to the dragon, he grinned. Being a 'Vari, and having seen dragons before, Alexis wasn't all that surprised at the site of the small dragon, but was still quite bemused by the creatures behavior, never having seen one so close before.

"Looks like someones hungry."

[NPC]

OOC: There's a bit that's rated 16+. I spoilered it out and the rest of the post's okay. Played by Emma.

IC:

Oh, censored!

Vincent about had a heart attack when someone popped up out of the grass. That was all he needed, someone spotting them on the road in the middle of a theft. Even if he didn't recognise the fact that the taroch trailing them was stolen, he might have something to say about Zan's scarfing down an entire herd of cattle.

Not that it was the first time his plans went awry. Although, that was an odd opening if he did have a problem with it.

"Oh, you have no idea," he answered drily, patting his own stomach absently. Giving the guy - a fellow 'Varian and quite young by the look of him - a practised smile of innocence, he reached up to pat the taroch's nose as if they'd been pals forever, then drew in a sharp breath to yell, "Yo, Zan, get your greedy ass back over here this instant!"

Spoiler

Her head jerked up from her latest meal, blood spattering her face and dripping from her beard and a cow leg sticking out of her mouth.

Those gorgeous eyes blinked at him from across the field and she whined telepathically, "But I'm still hungry."

Scowling and giving a put-upon sigh, he rolled his eyes at Alexis and answered, also telepathically, "I don't care, this guy could give us trouble and I'm not armed because someone I know misplaced my bloody sword."

Her mood lightened drastically as the cow leg disappeared and she asked, "Can I eat him?"

Vincent considered the question, eyeing the 'Varian silently for a moment that stretched out as Zan stalked towards them with her head and body low to the ground, her own gaze on her new prey. In the end, Vincent shook his head and told her, "No, I don't want to risk bringing attention to us." Before she could pout, he added, "But you can eat him if he gives us any trouble."

To the 'Varian, he gestured with his head towards the path from where he and Zan had come. "You know, there's a village not far with an inn. Nothing spectacular but they've got a bed, at least. Beats sleeping in the dirt." He'd been enjoying one himself but then Zan took a bite out of the owner's pet dog and they'd had to flee before he'd made it to dinner. Maybe in the next village...

[Alexis]

Alexis laughed. He had heard the stories from others about how some dragons would probably eat the entire world if you let them. He watched the silent exchange with interest, as the dragon finished it's meal and started back toward them. He felt a bit nervous though as the dragon fixed its gaze on him.

"I hope she doesn't think I'm on the menu. I'd hate to end up as a dragon's dinner, no matter how beautiful she is." He grinned first at the 'Vari, then at the dragon, hoping she would enjoy the compliment and chose not to eat him. He had only just arrived here after all, and still wanted to explore the area before he got his head bitten off by a ravenous dragon.

As the Vincent suggested the inn in the village he had just come from, Alexis smiled at him, then shook his head. "I don't mind sleeping out in the open. Besides, I passed through there earlier this morning. I prefer not to backtrack. " He smiled at Vincent, before gesturing over to the trees a little ways up the road. "I was actually probably gonna set up camp here. I'd rather relax than rush trying to reach the next village before dark." He paused, taking in the 'Vari and the dragon again. He looked older than him, and no doubt the dragon, Zan guessed her name was, was bonded to him. He grinned at the odd couple.

"I imagine its nice, having someone to talk to when your traveling?"

[NPC]

OOC: Vince & Zan, sitting in a tree... played by Emma.

"I hope she doesn't think I'm on the menu. I'd hate to end up as a dragon's dinner, no matter how beautiful she is."

Oh, he might not know it, but he was on the menu, especially if he cottoned onto Vincent's thieving. Not that Vince particularly liked the idea of feeding his own kind to Zan, but waste not want not.

"He thinks I'm beautiful!" came the inevitable response from Zan, accompanied by a mental gasp and the eerie sight of a preening dragon licking the leftover blood from her beard as she lifted her head up and tilted it this way and that so the sun glistened and sparkled off her multicoloured hide.

He chuckled sardonically and wished he had his sword. She was beautiful, but now she'd have second thoughts about eating the lad and it wouldn't be like they'd have time to argue if it came to that.

"I don't mind sleeping out in the open." Ugh, a happy camper. "Besides, I passed through there earlier this morning. I prefer not to backtrack. I was actually probably gonna set up camp here. I'd rather relax than rush trying to reach the next village before dark."

"Well, rather you than me," Vincent snarked. Although it was probably a good idea to stay clear of populated areas now Zan had brought attention to them yet again. Maybe the lad would share his fire. And food? Oh Xanth, he hoped the 'Varian had food.

"I imagine its nice, having someone to talk to when your traveling?"

"You'd think so," Vincent replied drolly, shaking his head at Zan who was still preening. Hell's bells, was she actually fluttering her eyelids at the lad? That just looked so wrong on eyelash-less dragons.

In truth, he was glad he had Zan. She was a pain in the ass and foiled most of his schemes without even trying, but they'd been together for years and he loved her to bits. No matter what trouble he got into, or how much she disapproved of his illegal shenanigans, she was always there for him and only ever complained when she was hungry. Or tired. Or when her feet ached from walking and she was too stubborn to teleport. Or... okay, scratch 'never complains' off the list of her attributes.

She was also rather handy in fights, too, and he'd often found a way to kill two birds with one stone by feeding her his foes. "Yeah, it's nice." To Zan, he rolled his eyes and said, "Go wash your face, you look like you just ate a small herd of cows."

"But Vincent, I did just eat a small... Okay, I'm going." She stalled long enough to bat her eyelids at Alexis one more time, though, before disappearing in a poof of multicoloured smoke, no doubt in search of the nearest source of water.

"So kid, how far off are you from getting your own pain in the ass?" This was asked as Vincent started towards the copse of trees Alexis had pointed towards, taking for granted that the 'Varian wouldn't mind sharing his campfire and not about to be turned away even if he did.

[Alexis]

Alexis laughed at the dragon's antics. He had never thought the dragon would be so... amenable to him.

"You'd think so,"He gave Vincent a questioning look. He couldn't really see anything bad about having a dragon bonded to you. Well, maybe he could, but as far as he could see, the good outweighed the bad. He nodded as Vincent gave his thoughts credit. He walked alongside Vincent as he started to the trees. He wouldn't mind some company for once. It had been a while since he had last traveled with someone, and he did enjoy the company of others, especially those of his own race.

"So kid, how far off are you from getting your own pain in the ass?" Alexis laughed at the description of dragons. "I still got a ways. I haven't even chosen a Sept yet. " Alexis nodded to himself thoughtfully. He did have a ways to go before he could bond a dragon. He had never really thought about the idea. What would it be like, having someone, or something, connected to you in such a way. The thought intrigued him, and he walked on in silence for a time, before his thoughts returned back to the presence.

"Well, I'm guessing you'd like to share my fire with me, and food by the sound of your stomach, I'd best introduce myself to you. My names Alexis. " Alexis grinned at Vincent, and held out his hand. It seemed he had found himself another acquaintance, and finally one of his own race. He grinned, glad to finally have someone similar to him after all this time among others in the cities.

[NPC]

OOC: Vincent & Zan, played by Emma

"No censored," Vincent responded drolly, and almost accused him of being Captain Obvious, since it wasn't hard to see he was still Septless, but then Vincent realised he'd asked for it with the dumb-ass question in the first place.

Assuming his narkiness had shut the 'Varian up, Vincent debated with himself. Was small talk even worth the effort? He could have Zan come back and eat him, but she wasn't too delicate so she'd probably ruin whatever food and money he had on him. Truth be told, he was feeling the pinch of loneliness. Not a good bar in sight for days now.

His stomach grumbling, Vincent nodded. "I don't suppose you have some beer on you as well, do you?" he asked hopefully, not a thought towards being polite.

Drawing to a halt under a tree, Vincent looped the taroch's reins over its head and tied it to a branch that felt sturdy enough; they weren't known for their habit of escaping, but better safe than sorry - he didn't want the lad trying to sneak off in the middle of the night with his stolen goods, either, and he'd been on the road long enough to know better than to judge a book by its cover. He'd been a thieving fledgling once upon a time, too.

"So, any preferences? Sept, I mean," he asked shortly as set he about breaking off branches to use for firewood with his bare hands and deciding small talk was worth the effort after all.

[Alexis]

Alex shrugged, not really sure yet of what the different septs were, but from what he had heard, gold, the more empathetic of the septs, would probably be his choice, He had always had a knack to empathize with people. "I'd probably choose gold I guess. I've had a knack for being able to relate to people, and animals, so it seems the natural choice. And sorry, I don;t have any. To much bulk to carry when you don;t have any sorta pack animal. " He gave the last with a grin. Truth be told, he wasn't much of a drinker, but right then a good mug of mead or the like sounded right up his alley.

Alexis continued to gather up dried branches and twigs till he had enough, before starting to arrange them in a tent form. He reached into his pack, and pulled out a lighter he had brought with him, and started to try to light the tinder. Be for long, he had a nice blaze going, and started feeding it the bigger logs they had gathered. While he worked, he asked Vincent "so what sept are you?"

[NPC]

(([d=auto]OOC:[/d] Vincent & Zan by Emma))

As they worked, Vincent listened to the kid, sulking over the lack of beer. He never drank enough to lose his faculties but he could usually drink the locals under the table and then some. Lack of booze never boded well for him and usually led to scuffles that got the police on his tail. Although, come to think on it, they were usually his fault...

Glancing at Alexis suspiciously when pack animals were mentioned, Vincent eyed the fledgling, assessing. Just his luck to have the proceeds of his thievery stolen out from under him. And then go to jail for the theft even if he no longer had the goods.

Leaving Alexis to build their fire, Vincent glanced up as he sensed Zan's return. Well, she wasn't very quiet about it, anyway. At least, physically she was, appearing amid her 'port smoke back where they'd met the 'Vari and snaking through the grass almost silently. But telepathically was a whole other matter: She was rambling on and on about something to do with fish and... No, no, he couldn't interpret her light-speed one-sided "conversation" and was getting a headache from trying, so he cut into her thoughts with a whine in his mental voice: "Go get me some beer, would you?"

Zan paused, her bright eyes gleaming in the evening gloom, as she considered his request. "But Vincent, how...?" She changed tactics before he could respond. "Alcohol is bad for you." Nevertheless, she was gone a moment later and he had the space in his head all to himself again.

"So what sept are you?"

Growling a bit, Vincent's shoulders rolled in a lazy shrug. He hated that question. It was easy enough to take off his sunglasses and show the kid he was warrior kin, but he'd only gone with the reds because the other three appealed to him slightly less and he wasn't all that proud of the colour of his eyes. He'd never fitted in and the 'Vari were all to happy to rub that in. They were far too regimented, their culture too steeped in archaic rituals. And Vincent hadn't exactly had great schooling in either, so frankly it was a miracle he had Zan. Especially since he'd still been trying to persuade someone - anyone - to sponsor him during the ritual right up to the morning of.

So he grunted in lieu of actually answering, and left his sunglasses perched on his nose even though it was getting darker by the minute. He could take them off when it was full dark, and in the meantime, the kid's fire should be enough. It wasn't like he was going anywhere now the thing was lit. "Handy with a lighter, huh?" And the first thing that came to mind was, "Knew a guy once, total pyro. He used to carry one of those around with him, too. Never cared for them myself." Of course, Zan being a water dragon, he could probably do with one instead of trying to light a bunch of twigs with more twigs, but that was neither here nor there.

[Alexis]

ooc: sorry for the delay.

Alexis grinned. He wasn't that handy with it, but he had noticed, not to many people here used them. "I guess, compared to most people here I'm handy with it. Not exactly a pyro though." He ignored Vincent's refusal to answer the question about septs. He wasn't gonna push for an answer if the vari wasn't willing to give one. He was curious about the dragon's disappearance. As he pulled some bread out of his pack and tossed Vincent a rather large piece of it, he asked, "Where did Zan go then?"

He took a bite out of the piece of bread he had gotten for himself and leaned back against the ground. He wasn't that hungry, but the bread still felt good going down after the day of walking he had spent today. He could use drink at the moment, but contented himself at staring into the fire. He glanced over at vincent, taking in the strange vari again. He'd certainly found himself in strange company since he had arrived. He looked back at the people he'd met since he came here and smiled. It was definently a strange place if he though Vince was one of the most normal people he had met since he'd arrived.

[NPC]

[d=auto]((OOC:[/d] Vincent and Zan, played by Emma[d=auto]))[/d]

Surprised by the 'Varian's unquestioning charity, Vincent fumbled the catch and cursed as the bread landed in the grass. Refusing to concede yet another meal, he bobbed down to retrieve it, grabbing the empty sheath where his short sword should have been so it wouldn't trip him as he crouched. As he straightened, he brushed the bread off with his fingers and tore a chunk off with his teeth, speaking with his mouth full and spitting crumbs everywhere as he answered the question. "Hopefully, robbing the local pub." Realising what he'd said, he gulped the bread down - wishing more than ever that he had something to wash it down with - and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand in the hopes that his lack of manners had drowned out the illegality or that Alexis would pass it off as a joke.

Clearing his throat, he waved the bread vaguely. "But knowing her, she's just stirring up trouble." She'd be back after she judged enough time had passed to get away with returning empty-clawed, probably sneaking up on them when they were fast asleep and scaring the bejeesus out of them. Actually, that was how he'd lost his sword to begin with...

Holding the bread up to gesture at it, Vincent nodded his thanks and picked out what looked like a comfy enough spot to kip. Biting into the bread again as he tried to convince his stomach that, yes, it was being fed and, no, his throat hadn't been cut, he let himself collapse to the ground with his back against the tree, hoping it wasn't too far from the fire to feel the heat.

Apparently thinking the bread was its treat, the taroch snuffled at his shoulder. Vincent froze, jerking the hand that clutched his meal away from the stupid creature before it could steal it, and jammed the rest of it into his mouth with a mutinous "Hah!" that spit breadcrumbs across the landstrider's nose. Unperturbed, the taroch blinked, then merely turned away to munch on the grass, and Vincent was forced to cover his mouth with a hand so his meal couldn't escape. Almost choking on it, he finally managed to swallow it, his face turning bright red with the effort.

But at least his stomach wasn't empty anymore.

Coughing slightly, he turned his gaze on Alexis, trying to pretend like nothing untoward had happened. "So." A cough. "How long - " Another cough. "- have you been on the road?"

[NPC]

((OOC: Vincent and Zan, played by Emma))

Vincent was still coughing a little, brushing crumbs off his shirt and from around his mouth, when Zan's voice erupted in his skull again. He jerked forward, almost biting his tongue, and gave a wild but somewhat muffled yell of surprise.

It was impossible to understand what the silly dragoness was saying, however. She was talking so quickly and half of it was in draconic, a language she reverted to whenever she was upset or otherwise emotional (more than usual, that was). That alone was enough to tell Vincent the censored had hit the fan.

He didn't say a word to Alexis as he shot to his feet and unravelled the landstrider's reins from the tree branch hurriedly. His actions were actually smooth compared to how clumsy he'd been with the bread, but he was used to being up censored creek without a paddle. He should be by now, anyway; he'd been there enough times to have his own freaking boat.

Zan came dashing out of a 'port, coming straight at him hell for leather, no trace of her usual zig-zagging movements. Vincent yelped but managed to get out of the way, wincing as her telepathic chatter kicked up a notch. Figures they didn't even have time to pause for explanations, but he'd find out what was going on later.

"Thanks for the meal, man!" Vince called back to Alexis as he hopped up into the 'strider's saddle and kicked the beast into a mad dash that joggled him bodily in the saddle.

Still a shame about the beer.

((OOC: Vincent and Zan have left the thread.))