Derren Krenshaw

On Winding Roads (Lillian & Derren )

Alexi didn't want to complain. Katherine had done so much to help already, and was guiding them through the trails far better than he ever could. It would be the height of indecency to return all she had done -and indeed, continued to do- with anything other than gratitude.

Yet all this travelling was getting... painful.

He had never realized how uncomfortable riding a horse could be. The rhythmic, once-soothing and jostle of each step became painful, to the point where he dreaded each coming clop and stomp. The sight of a hole, hill or anything other than clear ground brought a cringe to his features. And perhaps it was the adrenaline from before draining away, but he seemed far more tired than he had any right to be.

Though, he was a scribe, used to sitting crouched over a table. A job where endurance was measured by how late one could keep writing, not how far one could travel through the wilderness. Perhaps it was understandable that he was feeling the pain of travel...

That didn't really help what remained of his pride, however.

"It... might be best to have some light when we make camp." He offered something of a pained smile as she looked back. His gaze drifted skywards, staring out at the glimmering lights that made it through the forest canopy. The motion brought a sharp spike of soreness up his back, driving home just how out of his element he truly was. "We'll need to press harder tomorrow no matter what, correct? An early rest might help more than it would hurt."

Selfishness stood over reason in that decision, but wasn't absent entirely. No matter what, he'd likely be sore tomorrow. But sore was different from crippled, and they wouldn't get very far at all if he couldn't ride. There was a chance he could finish his translation entirely this evening, as well, which would be one worry scratched off the ever-growing list.

"Though if we need to go a little further to find a proper place to spend the night... you are the authority there." Alexi took stock of the area, what he saw doing little to help. Trees and brush, land sloping upwards or downwards, it was all just... forest. A clear area was needed, right? Someplace they could make a fire, maybe? The more shelter -the more comfort- the better to his sheltered sensibilities, but such a spot might not exist here.

"Find a good spot and stop there, would that work?" Alexi twisted on his saddle as he spoke, eyes suddenly going wide as a series of sharp cracks sounded off down his spine. "Oh... oh I think I needed that..."

The Last Kings of Orion

Antoine watched the young woman who had collapsed into his room with a mixture of concern and amusement. Falls were deceptively dangerous little things, lading the wrong way could mean anything from a bad bruise to death, even from low heights. As a former combat medic and current medical technician, Antoine couldn't help the concern that followed his initial surprise.

It was obvious she had not expected the door behind her to open, as well. Stammered, backpedaling phrases, nervous twitches and rising color served as a flashing beacon to anyone that she was in an uncomfortable position. That was a concern all of it's own, one he would have to quickly assuage. He had stood out in the meeting and told everyone to speak with him if they had any worries regarding the cryo-beds or techs who watched over them... even if she merely stumbled upon his room, he could hardly leave her with a poor memory of the meeting.

And then... and then... well... the whole sight... the whole scene...

How could he not laugh? Not even chuckle, just a little bit?

He tried to hold it back, raising a hand to cover his lips and maintain as straight and concerned a look as possible. But it was... well... she was playing tag with [/i]Mowzer[/i]! How long had he heard of someone who wasn't a child doing that? When had it ever led to a young woman sprawling backwards into his room- one with such an amusingly endearing stammer to her voice?

It wasn't nice. He needed to stop. But it... there were just some times when... you just had to laugh.

"I think Mowzer's decided you're a fun one to play tricks on." He did, actually, manage to keep his mirth under control. He settled instead for a wide, toothy grin and shake of his head- which actually seemed to fit the whole scenario quite well. He shook his head some more to keep himself from embarrassing her further. "Though he's always does things like that to the ones he likes, so maybe it's a good thing?"

He shook his head again -it seemed fitting- shooting a brief glance towards Mowzer, who was now busy grooming himself from the tail up. Of course he was, that or napping seemed his usual reactions whenever someone started talking about him.

"Sorry to open the door on you, I'm Antoine." He held his hand out again, then paused, finally laughing now as he realized the redundancy of that action.

"Right- I suppose we already did the handshake part, didn't we?"

On Winding Roads (Lillian & Derren )

At the moment moving them through the woods works for me, at least for now? Moving off the main roads into the forest opens up options for being misled, tricked or tormented by denizens of the woods, malicious or otherwise, though at the moment I'm still pondering how best that could be played with. Given they just barely escaped the ambush, maybe a little more wandering and chatting, then we bring something in as they go to set up camp/try to sleep or something around that time?

Masques and Daggers (Derren Krenshaw & Igraine)

Souma made a short, meaningful gesture to Daisuke as Galina entered, his Fist hesitating only briefly before acquiescing to the command. As she moved to kneel opposite Souma, Daisuke moved to a low table nearby, one that contained a smattering of carefully carved plates and chopsticks.

Retrieving one plate and set of utensils, he moved back to the table... stopping when she heard Galina's question.

Souma, likewise remained very, very still. He didn't look at Galina, not directly, but rather past her towards the corner of the room. One hand resting lightly over his chopsticks, the other on his lap, he neither responded to her greeting nor answered her question... nor, indeed, seemed to register that she was actually there to begin with. Nothing, only still silence for moments after moments.

And then, a gesture, small, beckoning Daisuke forwards. His Fist quietly placed a small plate before Galina, the chopsticks across it's surface, then stepped away. After a moment longer, the door behind her closed, leaving them alone inside.

"Ai..." Souma spoke, then, delicately lifting a slice of grilled eel to his plate before pushing the others towards Galina in offer. His eyes moved down, towards his food, still not meeting hers. "...Is leading clan. Rebuilding, so they remain in favor."

He didn't mention Raigo, but did finally raise his head to meet her gaze.

"Is that why you're here? To ask of my family?"

The Last Kings of Orion

A nap seemed harder and harder to come by, these days.

Antoine's task logging the current amounts of medication for the cryo-beds was completed quickly enough. It took only a moment longer to send a repair request for the leaking tank and then he was off on his way, door locking securely behind him. His room was just a short walk around a corner, down a slightly narrower hallway separate from the main offices and storerooms.

Something of a lucky draw on his part, to be so close to the storeroom and cryo-beds he looked after. It meant that there were areas of the ship he wasn't as used to as some, not needing to navigate them each and every day, but that was hardly something to complain about. He knew enough of the main halls for now, and would have ample time during the shift to explore. Maybe he'd follow Mowzer for a day, see where the cat decided to go, and if he could find his way back from wherever he might end up.

The thought brought a wider grin to Antoine's lips as he entered his comfortably-small quarters. That would be a well-spent day, indeed. Perhaps in a few days, when things had settled down some and the boredom was setting in. He could fill in the time wandering about the medical wing, living up to his promise at the meeting to remain available for those who wished to speak with him.

A promise he would start living up to... a little bit later. After he had laid down in his bed for a few hours, certai-

A low, shaking thud resounded from his door, and it was suddenly difficult to focus on sleeping.

He wasn't going to get a chance to nap today, was he?

A quiet, if drawn-out, sigh escaped his lips as Antoine rose once more. It seemed to drain both exhaustion and exasperation from his mind as he did so, so he sighed again, smile beginning to return as he paced towards the door. Quiet, wispy sounds could be faintly heard on the other side, was someone still there? If they had run headlong into his door they might need help... it certainly hadn't sounded like any kind of 'knocking' he knew of.

Sighing again to make it three, Antoine opened the door, eyes searching for the possible perpetra- oh.

"Ah-! Uhhh...." He stumbled back a pace as a figure stumbled in, locks of hair flying in a wild tumble to mimic her own movements. Something flashed on her neck -jewelry?- everything moving too quickly for him to get a really good look at anything, right now.

He did see Mowzer, however, sitting placidly in the doorway, eyeing the fallen woman as if wanting to ask when she'd get back to scritching his ears. Of course he was. Mowzer was always the least surprising sight whenever something unexpected occured.

"...Hello? Madam?" Kneeling slightly, Antoine moved to offer a hand... though he couldn't really help her up from this side, could he? He paused there, unsure of what, exactly to do. "Are you... alright?"

Masques and Daggers (Derren Krenshaw & Igraine)

Daisuke paused, last few mouthfuls of his meal stewing in the bottom of his bowl as he sat there before Souma's room. The dark, threatening glower that dominated his features lightened not a bit in the wake of Demidova's smile, nor from her shimmering words. The list of people the Fist was happy to see was a small one, and the one of people he'd rather never see again growing longer every day.

Galina had the rare distinction of standing near the top of one of those lists. Which one was likely easy to guess.

But where Demidova was concerned, his hands were tied. Her family had been a thorn in his Boss' side up until the night his home had burned. Before then, he doubted she or her kin would have dared skip so gaily up to him. To do so would have been a declaration of war, one which would have ended in death without the chance of compromise.

Before then, that might have been the case. But Souma -and therefore, his Fist- had more pressing concerns now. And so Daisuke met Demidova's cheerful eyes with his own steady gaze, chopsticks lowering to rest on the edge of his bowl.

"Apologies..." Inclining his head slightly in respect to the woman before him, Daisuke proceeded to down the rest of his bowl in a single, drawn-out slurp. Leaving the now-empty bowl on the ground with his chopsticks, he rose to full height. "No more left."

Eyes never leaving Demidova's own, one hand raised itself to quickly rap against the door behind him, before lowering to push it gently open. To dark to see much beyond the simple mats of the floor, but the faint sound of someone eating could be heard if one listened hard enough.

"Inside. Demidova..." Daisuke's voice rose, and, while it would be hard to notice, the sounds of eating paused. The words were as much for Demidova as they were for his Boss inside, who now knew precisely who was about to enter. "Boss is waiting."

And indeed, Souma would be. Behind a low table positioned in the center of an otherwise-sparse room, the bed he had spent so much time resting in before at his back. His meal remained spread out across the table, though he lowered his own chopsticks in anticipation of his guest. Ramen with pork, white rice, grilled eel, and a clay jar of gently-steaming sake were arrayed before him, a wealthy meal standing at odds with the surroundings.

And Souma himself, in a grey robe of simple cotton, kneeling contently behind it all. Unlike his fist, no suspicious glower hung over his features as he waited for Galina to approach. No, merely patient curiosity, to wonder what brought the woman he had nearly killed -who had nearly killed him- openly approaching his hidden enclave.

On Winding Roads (Lillian & Derren )

No words made it out to accompany Alexi's nod as Katherine spoke, but he hoped the appreciation was visible. It was certainly genuine.

The time she took to check over their horses, he took to return his quill and ink securely to their bags, and focus once more on making the journey. They wouldn't be able to travel very quickly on the paths, would they? The main roads were intended for horses and caravans, and couriers often tore down their lengths at frightening speeds when the need arose. The conditions were often... questionable, enough that the tree before them could be mistaken as stormfall. But well-kept or not, these were roads. Intended for swift, sure travel.

The paths and trails that wound about them through the woods, however?

Seven years was a long time, Alexi remembered little from his frenzied wanderings that led him to Avantshire then. Roads, trails, root-knotted ground, he had stumbled over it all, and it had all seemed equally taxing. A poor experience to help him now, indeed, he would never have considered the option had Katherine not brought it up. She, at least, would have some experience in making her way without roads. If their conversation before had reinforced anything, it was that a mercenary knew far more than simply warfare. With a guide, things shouldn't be so bad.

But it would still be slow, wouldn't it?

Urging his horse to follow Katherine's as she at last took off into the woods, slow indeed seemed to be the only pace. The trails she aimed for seemed traveled enough, but rain created small gullies and pools that could prove treacherous to the reckless. Roots cautiously edged in from the great trees around, vines and brush looking to take purchase whenever the tramp of feet or hoof was not around to drive them away. Trails like these were created and lost all the time, weren't they? Starting as mere animal paths, followed by people, then forgotten or neglected for too long, until a new way had to be found.

This trail, at least, seemed well-used enough. The thought wasn't as comforting to Alexi as he might have hoped, given everything that had happened... But it was for the best, wasn't it? He had already claimed being late wouldn't be too bad, but it was always 'how late' that became the question. The closer to the deadline the better, something Katherine seemed to understand completely.

It truly had been a fortunate meeting, hadn't it? Someone else might have done the same, known the same, and a mercenary group might have been able to offer more protection, but those were all unknowns. Katherine, so far, had proven knowledgeable, capable on her own, and understanding. There really wasn't anything more he could ask in an escort.

So he followed her carefully, eyes glued to the packed earth below, ensuring his horse's steps were sure, and as swift as they could be.

The Last Kings of Orion

Ah yes, this is exactly what he had been looking for.

Mowzer darted, meandered, sprinted and more through the various hallways of the Copernicus with boundless energy. It had been a while since he had really gotten a good run in, too much time spent napping near his Human and not enough spent on the move. Not that those had been bad times -not at all- but after a while muscles got restless. It was bad enough he had confused wanting to run with wanting to nap, how silly had he become?

No more. The great Bengal took full advantage of his freedom, making his way wherever he pleased, at the speed he pleased.

It was a great game, actually. So many humans seemed eager to play, wherever he found them. They'd stop when he stopped, carefully move towards him, then start running when he finally bolted. Sometimes they came from every direction at once, moving slowly... so slowly... then running! Sprinting off behind him, until finally they fell behind amidst the winding twists and turns of the paths he knew so well.

Such a great game! Mowzer was thoroughly enjoying himself, as if he was back in the giant caves, or wandering about before the strange things came. It had been a very, very long time since he had done something like this, hadn't it? Some part of his mind told him that, even if it didn't seem that way. The same part that told him the strange things had been dangerous, that his Human and the ones before had been good Humans to have. It was a part of his mind he did not understand well, but had learned to trust. It had never steered him wrong yet, and he doubted it ever would. A good part of his mind, truly.

But right now, the only thing he needed to understand was that he needed this run, and everything that happened during it. Around and around he ran, walked and bolted, taking turns and slipping through shortcuts whenever the fancy struck him. It wasn't long before he found himself in a section he had been quite often before: rows of odd things containing many humans.

His Human had spent a lot of time here, looking at the things and making motions Mowzer didn't bother trying to understand. He had simply stayed nearby, napping or walking or shoving his head under his Human's hand. Quieter days, those were, with so few humans moving around, so few to give him food or scritch him behind the ears.

There were few humans here even now, however, a quiet place hiding in his now-loud home. Almost no one at all, it was... boring? Strange, he welcomed the quiet before. Maybe because he still wanted to run? Yes, that might be it. He should get someone here to run with him then, see if- wait- the nice human!

Quite surprised, Mowzer yowled over to the nice human who had provided him shelter from the nasty one before. She was standing near one of the odd things, looking at a human, and he approached slowly. Creeping forwards bit by bit, moving ever closer to the ground, until he was laying down so very close to her. He looked up, calling out again to make sure he had her attention, back legs tensing ever-so-slightly as he convinced her to take just a step closer and then-

He was off! Darting past her like the wind, sprinting away only to pause a little ways down the path. He looked back, called out to her again, then took off once more, making his way with purpose now that he had a game to play.

And this human would play, yes? She was a nice one, so she would follow until he reached his Human's home, yes? He could get scritches from her there, maybe then take a nap. But first... first he needed her to play.

Masques and Daggers (Derren Krenshaw & Igraine)

Well it seemed Shizuka was willing to do business, at least.

Her calm, agreeable words were all that kept Hasekura from testing her boast as she advanced. Her swaying stance and soothing tone all that kept Hasekura from demanding she leave as she stepped behind him. Practiced, dexterous fingers danced along the taught muscle of his shoulders and soft flesh of his neck, ministrations that so few customers ever offered.

Not that he could be swayed by such a play. A happily married man such as he -and in such a business as his, no less- could not afford to fall to pleasure. His devotion remained, as always, to his wife and profession. Not that he would demand Shizuka step back, or stop. No, if she wanted to pit her wiles against his, then so be it. He would stand firm, as a man of his stature should.

So he allowed her to tend to his poor back as she pleased, nodding easily to the reasonable offers now gushing from her lips.

Until...

"Wh- Ha-" A shudder ran it's way from the bottom of his feet to the whispy hairs on the very top of his head, Hasekura jumping from his chair to stumble away from Shizuka. Eyes wide, lips trembling, he ran risk of snapping the tip from his own tongue as he tried to force the words out.

"I-i-if you knew already why did you co- Oh, oh ohhh."

He slumped, hands falling, eyes cast away in defeat. A ploy. She had managed to trick him, Hasekura Shoshitsu, of all people! Embarrassing- mortifying! But what could he do? It was all too late, now. He'd said to much, far, far too much.

Maybe Shizuka and Souma could kill each other, before one of them came back for him?

"Fine, you win..." He waved a hand in pitiful surrender, standing away from the desk he should be lording behind instead. "Souma and his Fist are in hiding- I won't dare say where out loud. I'll get someone to lead you there, and you get me the money- okay? Deal?"

On Winding Roads (Lillian & Derren )

So far as she let on, Katherine didn't have anything more to offer than Alexi in terms of what was going on.

But that was... okay.

Her hand on his shoulder, the gentle pats that he might have considered patronizing some point in the past, were comforting instead. Her rather candid speech and stream of crude language was refreshing... almost humorous. For her frustration to set his ears to burning, he really had been cloistered away for far too long.

That thought helped calm him once more, allowed the scribe to listen to Katherine's words and think them over. They might not make it to Avantshire by his deadline, no matter what they did? Arriving late would injure his professional reputation, probably sacrifice the payment he had been offered, and undo a lot of hard work spent over the past few years. It'd make his dreams of travel that much harder to accomplish as well... but it was better than not succeeding at all. The consequences of that were... harsher.

The consequences of death were harsher still, and while Alexi did have something to fall back on if things really fell through... he... he didn't want to give up.

Selfish, maybe, but noticing the subtle twitch of Katherine's lip as she finished her options helped him notice something of his own. He had set out for a reason, more than simply completing this commission. Even though it was seeming harder and harder to accomplish, he wanted to keep travelling. How long had it been since he had been able to want something -just for himself- and been able to follow that desire?

"I... could be a little late." He spoke finally, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand and hoping the flame in his ears wasn't as visible as it felt. "Complications can be understood, they'll be consequences, but small ones. It's certainly better than failing the commission... or dying."

He didn't manage a chuckle to accompany those words, bravado seemed a bit out of his reach, it seemed.

"But I'd... I'd rather not turn back. We made a contract, and you certainly haven't failed it in any way. If you can lead us through the trails and paths of these woods, let's try that. 'Safer' is sounding better and better by the moment."

He didn't manage a chuckle to accompany that either. It seemed 'quips' needed to sound less like heartfelt confessions before they became amusing.