[center] [h1][color=efd7ad]Éliane & Lizzie[/color][/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/g67QtPn.png[/img] [color=gray] [color=efd7ad]Time:[/color] 9:00 am [color=efd7ad]Location:[/color] Port Vanarosa [color=efd7ad]Interactions:[/color] [@Tae] | Lizzie -- [@Benazaiten] | Éliane (collab) [@Alivefalling] | Barboda [color=efd7ad]Equipment Éliane:[/color] [hider] clothing [s]longsword[/s] (currently used by Lizzie) two daggers her bow + arrows backpack including: one change of clothing some rations (incl. water) a pouch with 550 amas a blanket a washing cloth a location sender hair ties a small one-hand shovel[/hider] [color=CE9B08][b]Equipment Lizzie:[/b][/color] [hider]The clothes on her back[/hider][/color][/center] [hr] [color=gray] As the sharp sword withdrew from her throat and she was released from the tight grip on her, Éliane lifted her hands slightly in defense. Rather a subconscious movement than intentional. She was in shock. But more so, she recognized, she was in awe. [i][color=efd7ad]Only you would get mugged half-naked and find that adventurous.[/color][/i] She would scold herself later. But... something... about this person seemed... off? to her. Using light magic had crossed her mind within a second of capture, of course, it had. She might have been naive and careless enough to be captured by this... red-headed... gorgeous... quick-witted...[color=efd7ad][i] Stranger! A stranger, Éliane ... But then again... a stranger is just a new friend to be made.[/i][/color] She internally shook her head, not letting her inner quarry show on the outside. [i][color=efd7ad]She is mugging you and you want to become friends? That's just like you, isn't it?[/color][/i] Even with her own sword pointed at her chest, Éliane could not feel too threatened. Yes, her heart was beating in her chest, but there was no fear. It was... excitement. Her eyes ran down the woman's body, taking in her features. Something felt off. But god, she looked like trouble, and trouble had always called out to her. [color=efd7ad]"H-Hi..."[/color], she managed to say. She pulled a face that was more confused about her own tone of voice than anything else. [color=efd7ad]"What kind of demi-human are you?"[/color] Had she really called her "love"? Éliane had only ever been addressed this way when alcohol was involved or someone felt the need to get her out of her undergarments. Which, she just noted once more, were still dripping wet and leaving her revealed to this...[color=efd7ad][i] Stranger, Éliane! That hasn't changed.[/i][/color] [color=efd7ad]"I... Why don't you put down my sword and I'll tell you where you can find a ship?"[/color] Her capturer had said she didn't want to hurt her - breath against her skin and whispers into her ear - and Éliane believed her. [color=efd7ad]"Why were the elves after you?"[/color] She must have really pissed them off. Éliane had thought all skilled enough elves would gather in the Sun Elf Kingdom for the summoning of the humans. A moment passed but this person seemed to not indulge her suggestion for lowering that sword. [color=efd7ad]"Alright. As you can see... I have a bow and a quiver. Those are elven ones. If you haven't handled one before, be careful, they're a bit different from those made by demi-humans."[/color] Éliane swallowed. The situation started to sink into her consciousness. She was being mugged. Her personal bow, all of her money... And god, possibly her clothes. Unless she started to defend herself. [color=efd7ad][i]There's no need.[/i][/color] Still... something about that woman made her gut instincts defeat her logical senses. [color=efd7ad]"How would you feel about a deal? I will help you acquire your ship. You can have my rations. I'll point you in any direction you want; you see, I travel a lot, wherever you want to go, I should know how to get there. And in return, you will let me get dressed and keep my sword and bow?"[/color] If this stranger asked where she could get a ship... while standing on the island that was Port Vanarosa... she had no idea where she was. Something inside of Éliane felt like this was the beginning of some grand big story. [/color] [hr] [color=CE9B08][i]Demi-human? Elves? Avalia?[/i][/color] Lizzie’s mind was going a mile a minute as she tried to work out what this woman and those elves were talking about. Avalia sure did sound a lot like Avalon…[color=CE9B08]”Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, I’m in fucking Tir Na nÓg.”[/color] She mumbled to herself with a sigh, but she didn’t take her eyes off of Éliane. If she truly were in the realm of the Fae then she’d have to keep her wits about her. [color=CE9B08]”What kind of demi-human I am is my business as is why those elves were chasing me. I feel far more comfortable with the sword in my hand and at the ready as I don’t know if you’re working with those elves as well, [i]elf[/i]. And I may have not wielded a blade like this before, but it is a sword and I’m quite fond of swords, especially their ability to [i]slash[/i] and [i]impale[/i].”[/color] Despite all of this, she did let the sword drop a tiny bit as she looked the woman over. Lizzie wasn’t secretive in the least as her eyes trailed down the woman’s body and then back up, giving her a playful smirk. If Lizzie could also use charm to get what she wanted she absolutely would. She pondered the deal for a moment, having already decided to take her up on it, though there were a few other conditions she needed to add. [color=CE9B08]”Alright you have a deal, however I keep the sword for now until I can acquire a new one. You can keep the bow and I [i]suppose[/i] you can get dressed. Thank you for gracing me with such a beautiful sight.”[/color] Winking at Éliane, Lizzie finally dropped the sword from her chest yet kept it unsheathed just in case. [color=CE9B08]”I suppose introductions are in order, the name is Lizzie Murphy.”[/color] [hr] [color=gray] Éliane's eyes darted to the sword as the woman in front of her announced her fondness for the weapon and its painful usage. Nervousness began to creep up her throat. If the woman decided to impale her after all, she'd be mighty disappointed in her own judgment. Now the fear she hadn't been feeling began to occur after all. No fear of the impales of the sword, oh no. She saw the way the woman held the weapon. Her stance. She was skilled, she knew what she was doing and Éliane was aware that she was attentive and quick. But Éliane was also sure that she was quicker. And she had the advantage. The woman was clearly not from around here. Perhaps she had been living - as they say - under a rock. Not knowing where to get a ship at freaking [i]Port Vanarosa[/i]. Not securing the hands of a freaking [i]light elf[/i]. She either thought Éliane incapable of magic or... and this was something Éliane couldn't quite grasp... she wasn't aware that Éliane possed powers at the tips of her fingers. She would not give up that advantage. Should the red-headed beast - and what a wonderful beast it was - consider her at her mercy. The way the woman called her [i]elf[/i] sent a spike into her heart that she quickly swallowed and ignored. Éliane watched her closely as the lady mirrored her and looked her up and down. A little scoff left her nostrils and a soft smile played around her lips. [color=efd7ad][i]I see what you're doing.[/i][/color] Éliane felt triumphant as the strange lady agreed to her peace offering but the small half-smile was wiped off her face when she raised the game with an outright flirtation. Were the tips of her ears burning from the sun suddenly? Éliane caught herself. Her attention all too much on the fact that her undergarments were still damp. [color=efd7ad]"Lizzie..."[/color], she tested the name on her tongue. Then she extended her hand, palm facing up. [color=efd7ad]"Would you mind giving me my clothes from atop my backpack then?"[/color] Her eyes, for the first time, truly interlocked with Lizzie's and for a second Éliane forgot to breathe. There was something about that red-headed woman that tripped her. [color=efd7ad]"Éliane"[/color], she finally introduced herself.[/color] [hr] Lizzie glanced sideways at the backpack and the clothes atop it before grabbing them and tossing them to her. [color=CE9B08]”Pleasure to meet you, Éliane.”[/color] So she truly was in a different world. That was going to take some time to wrap her head around. [color=CE9B08]”Apologies for having to threaten you, but as a pirate I simply can’t risk going back to prison. I do hope you understand.”[/color] She wasn’t entirely sure, but charm seemed to be working and so she’d keep it up. She took a brief moment to glance behind her, all too aware it was possible for someone to sneak up on her. She also began to think of what those elves said to her after they summoned her. She had great powers? Lizzie wouldn’t deny that she was quite skilled in many different things, but that didn’t seem to be what they were talking about. What great powers did she have? She glanced at Éliane as she thought about it, wondering if she should ask the woman. Perhaps now wasn’t the best time, besides she needed to keep what she was a secret for as long as she could. If two people thought she was greatly powerful then there were surely others that would think that too and try to exploit her. [hr] [color=gray] Éliane caught the bundle of clothes and began to slide them onto her body despite her damp undergarments. As she felt the soft fabric linger on her skin and the comfortable tightness of her leather top she allowed herself a moment to run her hands over the skirt of her dress. [color=efd7ad]"A pirate?"[/color] She nodded and shouldered her belongings - minus the sword in Lizzie's hand. [color=efd7ad]"Pray tell, [i]Lizzie[/i], do you have any idea where you are?"[/color] Éliane still couldn't believe she got out of this situation with all her belongings still on her person - sword to follow - and without a fight. That Lizzie woman sure did not seem from around here. One hell of a pirate, letting her go just like that. [color=efd7ad]"Well..."[/color], Éliane began. [color=efd7ad]"I promised I would show you where to find a ship and so I'll do that. Then I shall be on my merry way. Wouldn't want to bore you with my presence now that I can't [i]grace[/i] you with my [i]beautiul sight[/i] any longer."[/color] She considered the woman before her for a moment. It was almost a shame they would part so soon. Éliane, in thought, bit her lip. [color=efd7ad]"You were in prison? Humor me?"[/color] [/color] [hr] [color=CE9B08][i]Well shit.[/i][/color] Lizzie thought to herself as Éliane asked if she knew where she was. She thought hard, trying to remember if the elves from earlier gave any indication on where she was. Maybe Avalia was actually the area she was in? [color=CE9B08]”I’m in Avalia.”[/color] She said with a false confidence, fully aware this could go wrong. She was willing to take the risk, however, and if she was found out then she’d deal with the consequences. Éliane seemed suspicious of her anyways. The woman’s next words had her smirking. [color=CE9B08][i]How cheeky…[/i][/color] She thought to herself, chuckling internally. [color=CE9B08]”Pity, and I was just beginning to consider allowing you to gaze upon my beautiful sight.”[/color] Lizzie watched for a reaction for merely a brief moment, before continuing on to the question of prison and giving little time for reaction to the flirtation. [color=CE9B08]”My [i]captain[/i] chose the wrong ship to target. It ended up being a trap and when we were celebrating the victory we were attacked. Everyone was drunk and couldn’t fight besides myself and one other. We put up a good fight, killed quite a few, but were subdued in the end.”[/color] She explained as Maria flashed in her mind briefly. She felt a small twinge of pain, but quickly pushed it aside. Maria was gone and there was nothing Lizzie could do about that. [hr] [color=gray] Éliane felt that confident half-smile return to her lips. [i][color=efd7ad]Avalia, eh? You are clueless, pretty pirate.[/color][/i] If the lady had no idea where she was, she had a greater story to tell Éliane than she let on. She was hiding something. Before Élaine could muster up a plan to proceed with, Lizzie upped the game once more. As little as Éliane was prepared for this outright flirtation, the cheeky offer immediately set images into her mind. [i][color=efd7ad]Damn my wonderful imagination.[/color][/i] She opened her mouth, took a second too long to answer, and: [color=efd7ad]"I -"[/color] She barely got the first word out as Lizzie moved on. [color=efd7ad]"I see"[/color], Éliane replied to Lizzie's imprisonment story. [color=efd7ad]"However..."[/color] If Lizzie could up the game, Éliane wouldn't mind circling back to it. [color=efd7ad]"I do believe an ... [i]attempt[/i]... could be made to persuade me to forget the kidnapping part and to stop me from further asking questions about your current location. Which you of course are [i]very well[/i] aware of."[/color] Her last words dripped with heavy sarcasm but they held no tone of threat in them. She let her eyes run down Lizzie once more, slower this time. The tip of her tongue played with her own lower lip subconsciously. [color=efd7ad]"To set the odds even."[/color] [/color] [hr] [color=CE9B08][i]Yup, Avalia definitely wasn’t the correct answer.[/i][/color] Lizzie thought to herself, but she didn’t kick herself too hard. Flirting, however, did seem like the right choice as the elf began flirting back. Lovely. Lizzie enjoyed flirting for multiple reasons. One, it was just a fun game to play. Two, it helped you in acquiring things and getting out of sticky situations. And three, it helped you get [i]other[/i] things. It was one skill the red-haired woman often liked to use to her advantage. [color=CE9B08]”Oh? Is that so?”[/color] Lizzie kept the sword tightly in her grasp, however it remained at her side as she moved in closer to Éliane. She left very little space between them and with her free hand she touched the hem of Éliane’s top, playing with it for a brief moment before glancing up at the taller woman through her lashes. [color=CE9B08]”Perhaps that can be arranged.”[/color] Then, just as quickly as it all happened, Lizzie took a step back. [color=CE9B08]”But first we need a ship.”[/color] [hr] [color=gray] How in the world Éliane could still stand was beyond her as the pirate moved closer to her. That sword still in Lizzie's hand, a looming warning. As she stood in front of her, so very close, Élaine was certain she could feel the other woman's breath on her skin, tickling and tingling. Her heart fluttered. Her breath got stuck in her throat on its way out and her lips parted in shock. Her eyes dropped down from her locked stare into those blue eyes to her lips that spoke such melodic words. A shockwave ran through her, originating somewhere in her chest, flowing down to her belly and spreading out into her limbs. A wave of passion and [i]excitement[/i]. Lizzie's hand rose and began to play with the hem of Éliane's top. Éliane's gaze locked back into the deep blue eyes. [color=efd7ad][i]Oh glorious heaven, will you have mercy on me? I might never express the excitement of my heart at this very moment. How strange a turn my adventurous tale is taking.[/i][/color] A second wave of longing rushed through her heated flesh. Out of her control, the elf's body leaned forward, towards her, ever so slightly, just [i]closer[/i]. In the same blink of an eye, Lizzie stepped back from her. The sudden distance only left Élaine with more longing. [i][color=efd7ad]You play your devil's game. Oh, how insolent your eyes meet with mine.[/color][/i] Élaine's eyes were fixated on the woman. [color=efd7ad]"Y-your sh..shhip"[/color], her voice betrayed her in a tone barely even a whisper. She heard the click and bolt, her body tensed, her hands were already halfway to her bow and arrows as the [i]whisk[/i] noise of the projectile pierced her consciousness. Her heart stopped dead for a moment but her body moved on its own. As she stood with her weapon in her hands, arrow ready, weapon raised, aiming at the slit in the helmet of the person before her, two bodies dropped to the ground. Dead. She could take the shot and she would not miss it. But the breath stuck to her throat once more. A ball formed within it, bigger and broader until she felt like she could barely breathe. [color=efd7ad][i]No...[/i][/color] Subconsciously, she had somehow pushed Lizzie behind herself and stood before her. Her eyes glistened with determination and hatred. The aim of her arrow was clear. He could move. She would still get him. Éliane felt the tears in her gut. But her face was blank. She looked so much more dangerous like this. Gone was the naive, innocent woman. This right here, this was a warrior who had never served an army and yet knew how to take a life within a fracture of a second, should she choose to. The tip of her arrow glowed with light magic and her features, her hair, her skin seemed to offer a new unusual kind of glow. Above her head hovered a ring of light like a halo above an angel. [color=efd7ad]"Stand and answer for your crime"[/color], Élaine's strict voice demanded. Pictures of slit throats, a river of blood returned to her. Her heart sunk heavily as she forbade herself the sorrow at this moment. Two more bodies added to the count. Two more light elves. Dead. Her [i]people[/i]. The light above her head began to vibrate. [/color] [hr] Lizzie was suddenly pushed behind Éliane as the sound of a crossbow went off twice. [color=CE9B08][i]Why do people always believe I need protecting? Is it because I'm short?[/i][/color] She groaned inwardly as she raised the sword, prepared for a fight. However, she spotted a man standing over the two elves that had been after her. So they had still been after her, why was she so special? She still didn’t understand it. Her attention was then grabbed by the glowing arrow and the...halo? What in the world was going on? She only stared for a moment before realizing she had a limited time to react. This man was offering a ship and she’d be damned if she was going to miss this opportunity. [color=CE9B08]”Okay that’s enough!”[/color] Her voice held immense command as she stepped around Éliane and directly in front of her. Oddly enough a barrel of water that was near her splashed out everywhere. How strange. She looked at Éliane and spoke. [color=CE9B08]”Alright time for truth, those two were after me because they wanted to use me for some great power and threatened to kill me if I didn’t comply. At the time I had no weapon to defend myself so I ran and I used you as leverage. They clearly were waiting for me to drop my guard and you to leave. Who knows what they had planned for me.”[/color] Okay it wasn’t COMPLETELY the truth, but it was true enough. [color=CE9B08]”Also he’s offering a ship and I’m not about to pass that up.”[/color] She now stood fully in the way of the arrow, daring Éliane to shoot her. [color=CE9B08]”As for needing a captain that won’t be necessary as I am a captain. We just need a good crew. Is there a tavern around here?”[/color] She asked in response to Barboda.