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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 11, 2010 16:33:10 GMT -5
Rory was surprised as Phoenix suddenly pulled her into a hug, that not realling having been the reaction that she was expecting. She relaxed as he kissed the top of her head, her arms moving around him to hug him back, leaning against him a little. From panicking to hugs in a couple of minutes, that was one of the fastest mood swings she'd ever seen. "I'll try not to." She promsied as he told her not to feel guilty, "Just because they were bad people it doesn't mean that I should do bad things to them. Two wrongs don't make a right. I just lost my temper." She sighed a little, closing her eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair, relaxing as she leant her head against his shoulder. "I just hope that no-one else saw that light." She murmured
"I'm alright, they didn't touch me, didn't even get anywhere near me really." She reassured him, her eyes closing as he leant his head on top of hers, comfortable to just stand there for a while. "They won't be back, not until they can see, and I'm positive that will take a week or two." The light had been bright, too bright, some of them may even lose their vision permanently, or it to be damaged permanently. "They're one less thing that you have to worry about."
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Post by Vyncent Schwarz on Mar 15, 2010 6:24:19 GMT -5
"Fighting fire with fire won't help, but that doesn't mean you should feel bad if something unpleasant happens to someone who's a horrible person." he shrugged to her, as if to say that he wasn't planning on feeling guilty for thinking that the Knights got just what they deserved. Hell, if some of them ended up permanently blind, he wouldn't feel even a tiny bit of guilt. Why should he? They were bastards, through and through. "Good." he nodded as she said they hadn't touched her, Phoenix breathing out a deep sigh of relief. He stepped back from her fully now, rubbing his eyes and stretching. Well, that had certainly managed to wake him up, he'd admit.
"Yeah, one less thing. Thanks again, Rory." he smiled to her lightly, shuffling away to sort out his clothes and pull on his walking boots. "C'mon, let's go show Layla we're awake and stuff, yeah?" he yawned, slipping his hand into hers again and heading towards the door. He smiled faintly as they reached the door, Phoenix reaching forward to open it up. "I'm gonna go through Miles's things today." he murmured softly. "Layla said nobody'd gone through anything since... yeah."
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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 16, 2010 15:51:40 GMT -5
Rory moved to smooth the creases out of her dress as he stepped away from her, moving to her bag to take out her comb and tidy her hair up before she slipped her shoes on. She shouldn't have slept in her clothes, but there was nothing that she could do about that now, the creases should fall out through the day. She had more important things to concentrate on other than her clothes, she would just have to put up with a creased dress for today. "We should go show Layla that we are awake." She agreed with him as she slipped her hand to his, linking their fingers together without even thinking about it as he lead her over towards the door. "We can have her thinking that I let you get lazy while we were away." She teased lightly.
She glanced to him as he said that he was going to go through Miles things today, nodding to him a little. "Sounds like a good idea to me." She murmured, "Someone needs to sort everything out, and I'm sure that he would have wanted it to be you. Would you like me to come with you?" She asked as they headed out of the room and down the corridor to the stairs, "I wouldn't mind helping, as long as you want me to."
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Post by Vyncent Schwarz on Mar 17, 2010 16:34:41 GMT -5
"Heh, yeah." he nodded to her, before smirking a little. "Wait, lazy? I'd smack her if she called me lazy. Spendin' all my time runnin' and hidin' in carts ain't exactly what I'd call lazy work." he laughed softly to himself, checking the almost empty room one last time before he led them out of the room, clicking the door shut behind them. The inn was still quiet. Unusually quiet. Phoenix would never get used to this, he was always used to the inn being lively and bustling. He guessed things really had changed since he'd left and come back again.
He sighed as he walked them off down the corridor, smiling faintly as he realised she'd entwined their fingers. He grew solemn, however, when she mentioned joining him. Not that he wouldn't appreciate company, but he just didn't think finding things that might send him over the edge again in Rory's presence would be very fair on her. "If it's okay with you, Rory, I'd like to do this on my own..." he lifted his gaze to smile at her gently. "It's nothin' personal, it's just... with everythin' there and all, I dunno what might happen. I'm sorry, is that alright? I can do it another day if you don't wanna stay on your own." he murmured with a light shrug.
Phoenix was distracted from his thoughts as he came downstairs, Layla giving him a bright grin and a rather cheerful good morning; it was nice having him back around. Rory too, she found. "Mornin', you two. Decided to actually get up, I see?" she laughed.
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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 17, 2010 16:45:42 GMT -5
The Princess had to admit that she was relieved when Phoenix told her that he'd rather that she didn't go with him, but they had different reasons. She didn't want to go pawing through Mile's things, she hadn't known him well enough for that, it would be an invasion. Phoenix had a point though, he should probably be left along to do this so that he could do it in his own time and not have to worry about anyone else. "No, it's fine, I understand." She smiled to him reassuringly and nodded, "Don't worry about me, I will be fine here. I have Layla for company, and I'm sure that she can find me something to keep be occupied. You go do what you need to do."
Rory blushed faintly as Layla mentioned them getting up, still embarrassed about being caught sleeping in the same bad as the theif. Of course, back at Chris's house they had slept together pretty regularly, and she was sure that both the housekeeper and Chris knew, but this was different. Oh dear, she hoped that Layla wouldn't think badly of her. "Good morning." She smiled to her in greeting, running her fingers through her hair. "We thought that it was about time we showed our faces."
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Post by Vyncent Schwarz on Mar 17, 2010 17:00:14 GMT -5
"Mm, I was starting to think that you were both gonna leave me on my own all day." she smirked, sitting down with Phoenix as he led them to one of the low tables, sinking into a chair so he could talk with her.
"Well, I'll be leavin' you." he winked to her, smiling faintly and stretching. "But Rory will be able to keep you company, I reckon. I'm gonna be goin' through Miles's things today." he murmured, his voice a little quieter than it had been before. Layla gave him a reassuring smile. That room had been waiting almost a full season to be cleared out. Layla wouldn't let anyone or anything go in there, not until she'd seen Phoenix.
"That's a good idea." she put in softly, nodding. "It needs sortin' out. But I'm afraid you might be there all day. Guy was a pack-rat like you, you'll have a million and one things to sift through." she shrugged, Phoenix smiling back at her and unconsciously squeezing Rory's hand under the table. This would be difficult. But it would be worth it. "Either way," Layla continued, "I'm sure me and Rory can keep ourselves busy. Business might not be boomin', but there's always stuff to do." she winked.
The thief smirked a little and nodded, slipping his hand out of Rory's, heaving a deep sigh, and rising to his feet. "In that case," he told them, "I think I'd better make an early start. Hope you're not too bored down here, guys." he smiled, touching his hand to Rory's shoulder and blowing them both a kiss, before turning to head back up the stairs, hiding the light frown on his face.
Layla watched him go with a sigh. "I hope he'll be alright." she commented softly.
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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 17, 2010 17:27:41 GMT -5
Rory sat down by Phoenix without even thinking about it, staying quiet as he told Layla what he had planned for today. She gace him an encouraging smile as he squeezed her hand, reaching over to hold his hand between both of hers. He would be able to do this, it would be difficult, but she had no doubt that he would be able to do this. It may take more than a day for him to do, she wasn't sure that he would get through all of Miles things in a day, especially not if he had been a collector like Phoenix was. At least they didn't have to worry about the Knights for a little while so he didn't have to hurry.
"See you later, Phoenix." She murmured as he got up to leave, watching him go before turning to look at Layla. "He will be alright." She nodded, sounding sure of that. "I think he's over the worst now, being back here seems to be helping. I've not seen him like this since we got the news." She smiled weakly before glancing around the room. The inn was so quiet, she was used to it being lively and full of people, but it looked like whatever the Knights had done had scared away all of Layla's customers. She was glad that it was still here though, Phoenix wouldn't have coped so well without this place, and it was the closest place to home that she had.
"So, what would you like me to do?" She asked as she looked back to Layla.
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Post by Vyncent Schwarz on Mar 17, 2010 17:38:46 GMT -5
"Really?" Layla glanced at Phoenix's departing figure as he wandered off up the stairs, the girl smiling faintly at Rory and sighing. "I guess he must have been pretty bad before. I'm sorry I couldn't put more in the letter. I wanted to, but I had no money, and I had to pay for the spell to find him and the rest of it... I would have if I could've." she shrugged. "But I'm glad being back seems to be doin' him some good. I wasn't expectin' him to come back at all. I didn't know if he'd gotten the letter, I didn't even know where he was." she murmured, drumming her fingers against the worn table and leaning back in her seat, falling into a thoughtful silence for a few moments. That was, until Rory spoke again.
"Mm? Oh! Yeah, of course." she shook her head, "Silly me, I'm all scatterbrained lately." she rose to her feet, moving into the kitchen behind the bar to get something, before returning with a small purse. She tipped the scarce few coins onto the table, sorting through them. "I have to sort out a few things here; a spring clean kinda thing, if you will." she smiled. "But we're desperate for a couple of things. I made a list." she tapped the side of her head and laughed, falling quiet again to think hard.
"Okay, as far as I can remember, we need three bronze worth of cheese..." she separated the coins, "Some thread and fabric," she reeled off a measurement and a type of cloth, "Aaaaand... Oh! Rum." she nodded, "We're all out of that. Here." she smiled, sliding the majority of the coins over to her. "If you could get that for me, it'd be a huge help. That is, if you don't mind goin' out alone. I could call someone to go with you if you want." she suggested.
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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 17, 2010 18:34:04 GMT -5
"It's okay, I think you said enough." She assured her. Not knowing have given Phoenix something to reach for, a reason to get out of bed in the morning and keep going. She wasn't sure that he would have got all the way back here without that. "I'm just glad that you managed to get word to him. I'm grateful, I don't know when we would have come back to Cressa, he would feel even worse if he hadn't known for all that time." It didn't bear thinking about. She couldn't imagine Phoenix getting any worse than he had, but she didn't want to think about any of that anymore.
She listened carefully as Layla listed what they needed and counted out a few coins, thinking for a moment before drawing a small purse from a pocket in her dress, opening it up to count out the coins. "I have enough to cover this. Don't worry about it." She nodded to her, rising to her feet. "Don't say no, I want to help. You fed us this morning so I will go out and get the things that you need." She reasoned before Layla could refuse her offer, turning to head towards the door, tucking her money pouch away. It was Chris's money anyway, and without him here she would rather it go to good use. She felt bad spending his money after what had happened at the gat, so she might as well make sure that it went towards something good.
She felt surprisingly comfortable outside alone, especially now that she had something to do. Contrary to her first trip out shopping alone, she found this easy, actually, she found it all pretty enjoyable. Rory wasn't used to feeling this independant, or this useful. She had everything that Layla had listed, all of it packed into a bag of brown paper bag that she was carrying in her arms.
Unfortunatly for Rory, her shopping trip wasn't destined to end well. She was wearing her cloak with the hood up to hide her face, but someone had seen her leave the inn. News of the Princess' return had spread further than the White Knights, much further. In fact, the palace probably knew of her return before the Knights had. She should have known better than to think that Chris was just going to let her disappear with Phoenix, especailly after the display at the gate. One whisper to the guards was all it took and he was swept off to the palace without delay, in the hour spies had been sent out to the slums. They wouldn't let her slip through their fingers this time.
Rory was oblivious to the fact that she was being followed as she headed back in the direction of the inn, ignoring the guards as she dodged through the crowds of people, unaware that they were moving to follow her. It was in the alley that lead to the inn that the guards moved, before she even knew what was happening someone had moved up behind her swiftly, Rory just having time to notice the shadow fall over her before she was grabbed, a hand moving over her mouth to stop her from screaming, another wrapping around her tightly to stop her from escaping. She dropped the bag, contents spilling out over the floor, trampled as the other guards appeared, whisking the Princess off without much trouble; no matter how much she struggled she was no match for the guards.
A carriage was waiting in the main street, Rory bundled into it, catching one last glance of the inn before it rumbled away with her safely locked inside.
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Post by Vyncent Schwarz on Mar 17, 2010 18:58:21 GMT -5
"But you don't really have to... no, it's all right... but... oh, fine." Layla gave in eventually, seeming to realise that none of her excuses were going to make a blind bit of difference to Rory. That girl could be as headstrong and stubborn as Layla was when she wanted to be, couldn't she? The girl rose to her feet to linger by the door to the inn to see her off, checking that her hood was up properly and everything and waving to her cheerfully as she left. She didn't notice that someone had seen Rory's departure either. Well, not someone note-worthy anyway. How wrong she was.
Layla's day had been spent productively; so productively in fact that she hadn't even realised how much time had elapsed, and before she knew it she was emerging from behind the now spotlessly clean bar and the sun was going down. The skies were stained a deep pink, and she could hear movement from far above in the inn, guessing that Phoenix was about to come shuffling down the stairs.
The thief was feeling pretty low again by now, as was to be expected. He'd only managed to get through about half of Miles's things. Not because there was so much of it, no (granted that yes, there had been a lot, but that wouldn't have been a problem for Phoenix) but more because, quite simply, there were so many memories attached to each trinket, each piece of stolen treasure. Miles just seeped from every one of them, and it had been a long, tedious, incredibly draining day.
When Layla saw him as he shuffled down the stairs she instantly poured him a drink and gave him a hug, the thief smiling gratefully and sinking down into a chair. "Where's Rory?" he asked automatically, brushing his bangs out of his face.
Layla's face paled. She looked outside again. Definitely almost dark. Rory should have been back hours ago. "She went out to get a few things this morning..." she murmured, her voice full of concern which Phoenix picked up on instantly. "She hasn't come back yet."
The thief froze. "This morning... she's not back..." he mumbled. Then he rose to his feet quickly, without a word, knocking his drink to the ground and not even noticing. "Shit." he rubbed his eyes, raking his fingers through his hair and striding towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Layla asked, "Cressa is huge. you have no ide--"
"I'm goin'," he interrupted, "We've got too many enemies here Layla. Between the Knights, the palace, the guards, and fuckin' Chris, Rory's a walking target. A God-damned walking target you hear? I have to find her." he shook his head, not waiting for a reply before walking out into the growing darkness. He didn't know where to begin looking. He didn't know where she'd been going, or where she'd be, or who could have taken her. But he knew. He just knew. Someone had snatched Rory away.
First Miles. And now her.
"Rory!" he called as he swept through the streets, uncaring of who heard him. "RORY! Where are you!?"
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Post by Angel ♥ on Mar 17, 2010 19:59:12 GMT -5
The day past in a blur, by the time the carriage was rumbling up towards the palace Rory's panic had been numbed by acceptance. No-one had seen her get taken, Phoenix would be busy in Miles room all day, Layla would be working too hard to notice that she had never come back, and by the time her absence was noted it would be too late. It was already too late. They had taken her, it didn't matter how careful she had been, they had found her. She had only been in the city a day, had she been that careless when she was out? She should never have gone out on her own, she should have waited around at the inn, she should have helped Layla to clean, even though she wouldn't have been much good. Not that any of this made any difference. They had caught her, they had taken her away and Phoenix didn't know.
Phoenix, it had been a name that she had been avoiding thinking about for the past few hours. She had been bundled into the palace through one of the servants doors, whisked up to her room without anyone being allowed to see her, it seemed that her father wasn't planning on throwing any parties to welcome her home. She had been locked in her room ever since, a maid had come in a few hours ago to tell her to wash and change, taking away the dress that she had been wearing.
Her tears had stopped now, the Princess falling into a numbed silence, sat curled up in the middle of her bed, refusing to change, instead simply dressed in a nightdress. If she changed it would mean that she was staying, and she was trying not to think like that. It wasn't going to happen, Phoenix was going to come striding in from her balcony and steal her back again, of course he was. She just had to wait, wait for him to work out what had happened and come to find her. He had saved her from the palace before, it wasn't totally out of the question to believe that. She had to believe that he was coming, otherwise she was really stuck here and...no. No. She wasn't even going to think about that.
Her gaze didn't move away from the balcony door as the main door to her room clicked open, her eyes closing, a seed of panic taking root in her mind again. "Aurora, it is so good to see that you are well, I was worried about you. We were all worried about you." Her father's voice lacked the sincerity that would have made his words sound plausible. Her lack of a response must have annoyed him because his tone became much sharper as he spoke again. "You have caused us more trouble than you realise, you and this thief." He shook his head, breathing out a heavy sigh. "You won't be staying here, not where he can find you. Your things are packed, you are laeving tonight. I am sending you somewhere to keep you out of trouble while I decide just what to do with you." He explained, Rory frowning as he spoke, refusing to listen to his words. This wasn't happening, it just wasn't happening. She was obviously having a nightmare.
"Don't worry." He added, the sound of another set of footsteps entering her room. "You will have company. Thank you again, Chris, for helping me find my daughter." Chris cringed at the mention of that, Rory finally turning around, the sting of the betrayal showing in her eyes. Chris? Chris had told them where she was? Where to find her...and she hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye to Phoenix.
An hour later and she was in another carriage, fully dressed now, sat with her back to Chris, refusing to look at him nevermind talk to him. It was going to be a long journey.
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