Broken Wing(Jay, SG)

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]Lyall ended up pacing: taking a few steps in one direction before stopping and taking another few steps in another. In all honesty, he looked more like a dog wanting to be let outside more than a man. As Nik spoke, red eyes moved to stare at him though Lyall didn't stop pacing. "Yeah, I own a few bars," he muttered mostly in response to Alex's comment that they were workmates. "Business and whatnot..." he continued on though Lyall's mind was far from business at the moment. As Iris spoke, Lyall looked sideways at her and found himself shaking his head. He didn't think Knight was big enough to carry the woman for that long of a distance. Though maybe he was bigger than normal Ponyta, Lyall couldn't quite imagine him being able to keep pace with Cia let alone with someone on his back that wasn't a child. Shaking his head a bit, the blue haired man just mumbled something indiscernible before deciding to speak up. "Twenty-minutes will do..." he stated. It was the best they could do right? Maybe if he knocked the skinny albino - or was he Leucistic? or either for that matter?- around a bit more, they could shorten the time....Even though this thought presented himself, Lyall honestly doubted it would help... outside of possibly relieving some tension in himself.... [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Alex sighed a little at Iris's so-called solution. "Ya know... One of these days, you an' me. We really just need ta... go out and train our Ponyta." It was only slightly less empty a commitment than her promising Lyall earlier that she'd train Moonfire on her own, but.. Eh. The thought was good at any rate.

Nikolai grinned devilishly. "Save a horse..." He assumed- or at least hoped- they'd all know the other half of that saying.

In the event someone didn't, Alex deadpanned before picking it up. "That wouldn't sound any less vomit-inducing even if you could be called a 'cowboy'."

And the circumstantial duke couldn't help himself. "Did I say me~?" ... Fuck. Alex visibly flinched, if only for the slightest fraction of a second; in fact, it had been all she could do not to facepalm, hard. In the meantime, Nik leaned a bit closer, his eyes... hungrier than before. "Subconscious gettin' the best o' ya?"

The Knight didn't even dignify that with a response for several moments, but finally sighed and rolled her eyes lazily. In the most bone dry tone she could muster, she droned, "Haven't we had this conversation?" Apparently, she was fairly accustomed to his advances. Well, considering Nik's behavior so far and how long they'd known each other, that shouldn't seem too strange, eh? Unless someone was surprised Nik was bi, but... heh.. if they even knew... Alex nearly shuddered.

The noble wasn't phased. "You mean before or--"

"Watch it," she spat like venom. Nikolai only seemed more amused.

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris looked at Alex, nodding. "Yeah....we really do. Knight'd probably be happier if he evolved, I think. He's always so protective and noble, yet...so small." At Nik's comment about the horse, Iris really would have gotten up and showed him just how much of a threat she could be, but...right now her leg just wouldn't allow it. So, the woman merely sat in silence as the exchange between he and Alex continued, then she took off her shoe, and promptly threw it at his head, just as if it had been a knife or just another throwing weapon she was so well-versed in. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]Lyall's bottom eyelid twitched rather visibly as he listened to Alex and Nik's conversation. Caught between mild disgust and an inability to accurately express this, the blue haired man ended up looking towards Iris before he made a slight shoulder gesture towards Nik and frowning. However, it seemed that Iris was already on her own plight of revenge which consisted of a shoe being thrown. Though it should have made him laugh or something, Lyall simply sighed. Crossing his arms and uncrossing his arms, Lyall looked towards Nik again. "How exactly did you end up Duke again?" he challenged though his voice lacked the zeal that it would have under different circumstances. What was coming about now was a dry feeling that normally came with the words: you're going to have to wait. He could continue to fidget and walk around, but even that was going to annoy Lyall at some point. He knew that. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Lyall may not have laughed when the shoe hit Nik's head- something he never even saw coming with expectably blluuuuhhhwat!?!??-ish reactions as a result- Alex nearly died, falling over the arm of the couch and quickly tearing up from sheer laughter. Upon realizing she was the only one, though Nik had forced a small 'did I deserve that?' sort of chuckle upon recovering, she did try to quiet down, but couldn't force herself to stop.. Just... a fucking shoe and... his face and it... Heeeeee.

As he rubbed his head, Nik was about to say something to Iris- certain to earn her other shoe soon if not immediately- when Lyall distracted him instead. "Hm?" He shrugged. "My cousin 'ad some sorta panic attack er somethin'..? I can' even be bothered ta remember the details. But mom didn't wannit an' I'd been studying ta take over fer her so..."

It was a little hard to tell if that breath actually counted as a sigh or not, but he then leaned back, hands locked behind his head. "But ya know, you really shouldn't judge my competence as a political ruler by how I talk an' act on my own time." He wasn't stupid (even if a lot of people would probably argue that); he'd certainly picked up on that. "I really don' give a shit about mosta the lower classes, I'll be honest, but-- unlike my Godamn uncle, apparently--" that bit was spat, "I know zero percent approval is bad. I don' nearly intend ta start redistributing wealth and implementing major political reforms, but I took measures ta follow the East in reviving the old traditional Festivals and I'm working on other stuff.

" 'm pretty sure anyone around here'll agree that bread and circuses-" he did hope these commoners would know that term, and he was fairly certain they were commoners as Alex should have known to inform him if they weren't... though the dude looked like he coulda been an Ackman (Nik shuddered very slightly inside)- "is a helluva lot better than the current shit." He lowered his hands back to the Pokemon in his lap now, who appeared nearly asleep yet beaming with pride. He shrugged again. "An' once people're actually distracted enough to be happy I can start workin' on more effectual shit. Prolly some sorta poverty relief programs fer hardest cases an' such. Create some jobs, reduce unemployment." He really didn't care if the middle class would usually work their whole lives and never be able to retire, but homeless bums on the streets were bad for everyone. (And he wasn't entirely heartless besides, just very self-centered; but this was more a statistic than an act of generosity, and it would look great on him when it happened (andgetacertainsomeoneoffhisback) too~)

By the time he was done, Alex had stopped her fit and now just stared, stunned. Several moments of silence, and then "....the hell did that come from..?" Whether she hadn't heard Lyall's question or it had just been entirely at his shift was anyone's guess, though the latter was certainly at least part of it. She tried to keep a straight face a little longer, but finally snorted and lost it again, though lighter this time. She couldn't really help it. No matter how surprised or glad she was that he actually did sound like he might have a clue what he was doing (all the nobles would be going down anyway, but less messes to clean up afterward was good, right?), it just went so against the lifelong impression of him in her head that she... just.... x'''3 Arceus make it stop her sides hurt now.

.... =__= Bone dry: "Thank you." She didn't hear him.

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris had to smile at Alex's reaction--even though Iris only threw the shoe BECAUSE she didn't have anything else at hand. But comical or not, maybe he got the clue. ....Or not. Lyall's question sparked some kind of rant, though it seemed like Nik almost knew what he was talking about--almost. Oh well, not that it mattered, anyway. Well, it wouldn't when all those so-called nobles were out of the picture, anyway. Eh, at least it got the attention off of her, right? Still, she didn't think this guy was the sharpest knife in the spoon drawer, so to speak. Or the brightest crayon in a box full of black ones. "Well, it's almost like you know what you're doing," Iris commented dryly. "Which...well I guess it means you aren't a total disappointment." [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]The first comment out of Nik made Lyall frown more than he had before. However, as the Duke continued, that frown formed itself into an ambiguous line of sorts across the Knight's face. The rant that spilled forth after that was met with a rather confused expression. He actually... Well.. he talked like... he actually cared about something outside of himself even if that was in the end related to himself. You are one son of a bitch... was all that came to Lyall's mind. As Nik's rant finished, Lyall turned his head to one side, raised an eyebrow, and spoke. "Ok then," was the flat, single statement that formed the reply. He wasn't honestly sure what else he wanted to say to that. Single statement ftw? [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Nik shot Iris a dirty look for a moment, and Jasna actually snapped up with one of her own, but soon enough the noble just smirked, stilling his Mienshao with a gentle hand. "Heh." Let Storm catch ya sayin' that shit.. One thing about it.. The girl was batshit crazy, but having his own personal attack dog (and one who didn't fit in his pocket and therefore wasn't easily so combatted by others with their equivalent(s)) was always nice.

"Oh, no, he's only ninety-five percent disappointing," snarked Alex, who had, for the most part, managed to settle down, though if one actually looked at her it was clear she was still snickering silently to herself.

Nikolai, however, couldn't have been more amused by that comment. His tone and volume both lowering, he not-quite-jeered, "Oh, is that how it went..?"

Suddenly nothing was funny anymore. Sighing her exasperation, the young Knight muttered, "Oh fuck off." She couldn't help but look a little uncomfortable despite trying to feign annoyed indifference. Inside, she was dying to pummel him, plead, or bolt, if not all three.

That far-too-pleased grin told her before his words he wasn't going to listen. "Been there...~?" he teased, making her both cringe and flare with rage.

The sound to follow was as much growl as huff as she spat back like venom, "F'r fuck's sake Nik it was ONE. NIGHT.--"

Alex.

Froze.

Her face, which had been turning red, now drained of all color, and her heart nearly stopped beating. With a delay small enough it was almost completely convincing, and almost succeeding at masking her franticness, she hurriedly added, "And I was wasted." Color began returning, but in a rather different way..

Nikolai still appeared unphased. A small sigh escaped him, sounding.. contented? That wasn't quite it... Oh hell that look he was giving her was making it so much worse why did he--- aaagggh.

Every fraction of a second that passed was torment. "Just.. drop.." One could actually see her confidence falling as she shrank away, and her urge to run until she hit the Arroan border rose. What? NO her eyes were not moist at all and she'd punch someone in their fucking face if they dared to say otherwise.

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]The dirty look didn't phase Iris, and the Mienshao may as well have been a baby Vulpix. If there was one thing about Iris, she didn't often show any sort of fear or intimidation. Or maybe she was just crazy. Or both. The exchange between Nik and Alex made Iris's jaw practically drop, and if she weren't so pissed at what this was doing to Alex, she'd have chucked her other shoe at him. Did Iris care for Alex? Not really, no. But Alex was a fellow Knight. And as long as that was true, they were like family. Okay, like distant step-siblings or fourth cousins, but family. And no one screwed with Iris's family like that. Unless they were blood-related; that was fine. The purple haired woman hopped to her feet, fighting back a cringe at the surge of pain that seared through her leg as a result. She limped her way over to Alex, moreso to be standing between the two of them. "Look. I don't care who you are," she hissed, a mixture of anger and pain, but mostly the former. "I appreciate the help, but I have just about had it with your shit. And one leg or two, I'm about a blink of an eyelash from kicking it out of you." Okay, maybe she hadn't thought her little speech there through enough, seeing as how she'd be a one-legged woman in a butt-kicking contest. But that was beside the point. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]Lyall stared. Alex... rolled like that? Well, he'd said he was wasted but.. what? Biting the inside of his mouth, Lyall stood there not saying or doing anything. His features held no exact expression but an ambiguous mixture of varying emotions. And he'd... had sex with the Duke? Really? What... Lyall didn't ....what. Iris, however, seemed to already be on the move and was now threatening Nik. Blinking and shaking his head only to find himself in more of a daze than he had realized, Lyall brought a hand to his temple and massaged it as best he could. What the hell Alex? came to mind again. "Alex...." was all that was mumbled though Lyall didn't even look at the younger knight. In another moment, Lyall refocused. "Iris stop," was the order that escaped Lyall after a moment as he found himself looking up and towards her again. "He's still got our ride coming, and if ya beat him up, we're gonna have to deal with more shit than just words." After a moment, he straightened up a bit more and was now obscurely smiling at Nik. "Just drop it." he said after a moment closing his eyes and setting his hands in his pockets before sighing. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

The way Lyall said her name- or perhaps the fact he 'wouldn't' (at least in her mind) look at her when he said it- cut Alex deeper than anything. "What," she'd tried to snap back, as weak as flat. And that truly threatened tears; still, she held them back. Getting too emotional about this would only give Nikolai that much more sick pleasure, and the others all the more reason to think this wasn't worth forgetting as quickly as possible.

As Iris made her way over, Alex was... both suddenly very concerned and.. honestly, very, very touched. This wasn't going to eternally stop her minor heckling or anything but.. yeah she'd definitely be laying off for a while and would probably try to be a little nicer overall. At her threat to kick Nik's bullshit out of him, the Knight both cringed a bit at the unpleasantly literal mental image and let out a small, somewhat pathetic chuckle. "You really should sit down..." she mumbled weakly, eyes trailing to Iris's leg. "Your wound's gonna re-open.."

..Oddly enough, the noble seemed a bit humbled as well. His smile had faded completely at some point during that scolding; in fact, he even looked a bit.. concerned?

Once everything was done, though, there was a small silence, before Nik finally smirked again. This time, though, seemed different than before. "She can do whatever she wants," he shrugged, leaning away from the girls-- excuse him, 'guy and girl'-- and against the back of the couch again. Alex shot him a rather confused and mildly annoyed look. ...No, she really couldn't? She did need to stay off that leg and-- "If she thinks kickin' my ass'll make anything better, 'tsnot gon' ta change me helping ya.." Oh wait he was clearly talking to Lyall now. Huh. Alex couldn't really tell if that smirk had widened or turned more toward a grimace, and the dry tone really didn't help to discern anything. "Though I really would prefer ta stay alive and in-tact, at least." He really didn't think he needed to elaborate on that.

Alex was clearly skeptic. Leering, she hesitantly asked, " 't the hell are you doing.."

: / ... "Nothing? Is it so unbelievable I just realize I got out of line and feel bad for't?"

-_- "Yes."

Nikolai only chuckled.

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]Iris firmly put her foot down--her bad one, eliciting an agonizing wince that mixed in with the look of pure rage and hatred that was directed at Nik. On top of that, she had her high heel on her good foot, so she almost fell. The woman made a point to take this off, holding it as if it were a weapon as she spoke. "I don't care about the wound...I don't care about the ride. I'd rather rot out there than spend anymore time with this jackass..." she hissed, her voice mildly raspy and shaky. "Nobles like him are the reason I--" she caught herself in the nick of time. "Temper, Iris...Temper..." she muttered to herself, obeying Lyall's order--albeit reluctantly, and lying on the couch again--as far from Nik as possible. Honestly, Iris wouldn't have liked Nik any better on a good day, so the fact that today totally blew so far just made it that much worse. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]Stay intact and alive... for now, maybe. Some part of Lyall was already forming the equivalent of a plan against the nobles of the north, but this particular thought was only one of the things swimming in the Knight's mind at the moment. Part of him was still on Alex and the...the... information that--- And in another moment, the percentage from previous hit only causing a domino effect of other thoughts in his mind. Another part was still worrying about Iris and glad that she had finally laid back down on the couch at least and--- boobs... No wait... Still more thoughts poured in, and Lyall began to wonder if the bar was doing alright, and though there were more pressing things to worry about, he was still thinking about it. Then the thought of the timing. That car or whatever better be there soon, damn it. With all this going on his mind, Lyall hadn't realized he was swaying slightly as he stood. Blinking and shaking his head, the Knight brought a hand to his temple and tried to quell the pounding in it. "Iris don't hurt yourself if you hurt him..." Lyall mumbled under his breath before forcing himself to at least somewhat address the others. Crossing his arms in front of himself, Lyall looked towards Nik first. "You'll be alive at least," was all he said a bit harsher than intended, but he wasn't going to take it back. Forcing himself to then look at Alex, Lyall fought off a sigh. "Guess ya had to deal with a lot," he sighed offering a bit of a smile. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

A wave of horror filled Alex as Lyall's gaze fell upon her. Never mind that he was being nice enough about it and possibly even genuinely sympathetic he was still-- it was and she and he she didn't want why was this the subject why was anything even vaguely related to this on his mind ever let alone in words why did this have to happen she--

This was so much worse now than when he wouldn't look at her; how did it get worse!?

Nik, meanwhile was just sitting there... chilling, more or less, and giving Iris a rather ambiguous look. Lying back down after he'd directly given her the go-ahead to hurt him without (serious, anyway) retribution kind of made him think she was more bark than bite in general. Then again, she had nailed him with a heel, and she'd apparently been into something serious to get in this rough of shape.. or so he'd assume, anyway. She might've done something really dumb like fallen on some rocks, but judging from the others's concern that seemed less likely.

Aside from weighing his options on whether or not he could or should try to mess with anyone else-- and trying to decide whether or not it would even be fun at this point or if he was just gonna give it a rest for now-- another thought had been playing a little in his mind. 'Nobles like him are the reason'...? After a little mulling this off and on, it finally seemed to click. "Ahhhh.. Yeah tha's right. So I guess y'r all rebels then," he mumbled, surprisingly nonchalantly with all things considered, and even as much to himself as anyone in particular. He certainly wasn't fond of that fact by any means, but the majority of rebels were such a hopeless cause in his mind he wasn't too terribly phased, especially not with Alex involved. ...Of course, it didn't hurt either that no one had ever accused him of being humble; he could see the headlines now: "Duke Assassinated in Pokemon Center. Joy Interrogated." Yes that sounded exactly like some big scheme to fear.

Speaking of fear, Alex was still struggling to find words-- any words; even a syllable would have been nice. But there was nothing. She couldn't--.. How did she even--...?

Finally, the young Knight more or less flung herself to her feet, and with a forced and hurried, "I'm 'unna watch f'r our ride," she walked briskly toward the door. It was all she could do to keep it to that much rather than an outright bolt.

"SHIT. Al'x--" Nik had actually been pretty quick to his feet in turn (much to the disdain of Jasna, who had promptly fallen on the floor and flailed for several moments before regaining her composure), but stopped just as quickly, huffing a sigh before plopping back down. "Godammit. Will one o' you go get'rm?" (He didn't barely slightly slip at all. At least the correction was seamless.)

A hand moved to cover his forehead as he looked up. He drew a long, deep breath, then let out a smaller sigh. Again more to himself (though with the others still in mind), he muttered, "He's so much different than when we were kids.." Ironically, she acted more like a girl now in many ways. Of course, it wasn't as if he could really talk about being different. "I know I shouldn't..." Another sigh, more exasperated. More directly to them-- or whichever was still there, he wasn't really looking-- he asked, "You got siblings?" He.. really hoped that would help explain both why it was hard not to be such a dick to Alex and also that it didn't mean he didn't care about him/her/it/what-the-fuck-ever she was supposed to be now... ................ Suddenly he deadpanned as he realized a probable response to that...

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]"Actually I was gunna say nobles like you are the reason I left this place," she covered. And really, it was the truth; the woman didn't become a rebel til later down the line. "I was engaged to a douchebag like you once. Moreso forced into it because my family was friends with his family. He was a whiny little brat. Wanted a trophy wife. I told him where to stick his trophy. Then I come back to make amends with my family after all these years and get attacked by my former's bodyguard--guess she's just flipped or something." Okay, the last part was a bold-faced lie. "Don't assume. It makes an even bigger ass out of you," she muttered before sitting up, completely ignoring the siblings question. That she wouldn't get into. Especially not to someone like that. Besides, she'd already told him too much about herself. Sighing, she got up, limping out to where Alex went, and leaned up against the wall, careful of her leg this time. "Why is it the Northern ones I have the most trouble with?" she casually joked, attempting to lighten the mood a bit. As long as Nik wasn't around, Iris didn't care. Besides...though the woman would NEVER admit this out loud....even though they didn't get along half the time, Alex was more of a brother to her than Cyrus, her biological brother... [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]"Alex-!" Lyall started, yet when Iris already moved after, he hesitated for a moment. Iris shouldn't have been on her feet. Alex had just rushed out. This entire situation was just... Sighing, Lyall shook his head and looked back at Nik as he asked about siblings. "Yeah..." he answered back regaining his stance but continuing to look towards the door. Even if Carly was technically adopted, she was family just as much as Alexis was, and he loved them both - just not like that of course. He helped them out when they needed it, and defended them even when they didn't need it - stupid assholes comin' on to them... That was what a big brother was for wasn't it? Yes it was. Sighing a moment, Lyall shook his head. "But I don't sleep with mine," was the flat statement that escaped after that. Whatever was said after that was ignored as Lyall finally started towards the front heading towards Iris and Alex. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Nik flinched pretty hard at Lyall, his eye twitching. (Interestingly, he seemed.. a little intrigued, but otherwise unphased by Iris's previous rant.) "Y'know, I called that response..." So. Very. Hard. He gave a rather long sigh, and then upon noticing Jasna was still just sitting up beside him, pulled her back into his lap with a little, "C'mere you." The Mienshao in question gave a little squeak in surprise but then happily snuggled up again.

Nikolai searched for the right explanation, faltering far too much for his liking. Still, he.. He had to try to repair any damage he might've done, assuming these people meant as much to Alex as he was now thinking they did. "I 'ave real sisters.. But then there's Alex and- his brother.." Dammit, he just al-most slipped again. He caught it before this time, though.

"And I--........" He gave a small little cough, possibly clearing his throat or possibly more legitimate? It was hard to say, really. But his next few words were very mumbled. "wellI.. Icareabouth'm.. both of them... s'much as my family but.... they're not family an it's..." He sighed and snapped a bit. "It's confusing, all right?" He was lying. "...Anyway.. we really had both been drinking.." That was.. technically sort of true. "An' it was mostly my fault." Also technically sort of true.

"So don't..." He sighed. "Jus' don' think less of th'kid, all right?" Never mind that Nik was a year younger; he could call Alex a kid if he wanted. "Come ta think'f it, if'yr who I think you are--" he was pretty bad with names when he didn't care about something and only half listened anyway, but he'd picked up bits and pieces-- "I'm pretty sure 'e like... pretty much worships you'r something." ............ Blink. "Y'know maybe I coulda left that part out.." Damn. He really needed more practice trying to be a decent friend.

---------------

Meanwhile, outside, Alex cringed and tried to... she didn't even know. She couldn't really pretend she didn't notice Iris, since the cringe gave that away a bit and she was bound to speak. It wasn't really possible to just become invisible or melt into the wall or anything, but... dammit in her mind she might have been trying slightly.

The question actually got to her a bit, considering she'd heard some of Iris's story as she'd been leaving. She missed the end, but she could assume at least as far as things didn't happen. Letting out a very small, pathetic attempt at a laugh, Alex muttered, "Strange 'nough... I was actually supposed ta be engaged t'a noble up here once.." Cracking a bit of a grim grin back at the purple-haired woman, she added, "Turns out they weren't really lookin' for a knight t'join the family, though, an' my brother the scholar..." She gave a private chuckle, in that she knew Iris had no way of even vaguely guessing why. "He didn't really fit the bill either." Which is to say, he was male. Hehe. Not that that'd really discourage Nik, and knowing Irisviel (the difference in pronunciation gave her not a moment's pause to consider spelling, though the writer has recently realized "LOL Iris, Irisviel, olololol") she probably could have been talked into it if Nikki begged and agreed to keep things quiet, but he still needed an heir-maker. The mere thought of herself in that role just almost made her laugh out loud again.

Of course, that thought directed her to how very, very, extremely lucky she counted herself to have managed to avoid getting pregnant at any point thus far, especially-- And she cringed again, her mood returning to its state of misery. Whether as an afterthought or belatedly agreeing, she mumbled, "Yeah.... Northern nobles are the worst..."

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/Lyallposttable1.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 blue none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:48px;margin-left:260px;)]Lyall froze in mid step having been ready to push the door open. Stopping, sighing, and turning around, he looked back at Nik. As the Duke kept talking, Lyall kept his face flat. Yes, ok, right. He knew Alex had said his family worked for the Baron-Duke whatever, and it hadn't been hard to guess they'd grown up together. However, as Nik continued, Lyall blinked. Family but not family and.... Raising his eyebrow, Lyall tried to understand. Lyall sighed as Nik told him not to think any less of Alex. Well, damn it, it was hard. Really, what the hell... It just wasn't right and... Sighing even more and threatening to deflate, Lyall stepped sideways and leaned on the wall. As Nik continued, Lyall blinked. Worships.......? Hah...hahah... wait really? He knew they -him and Alex- were on good terms, but the term worships was just, heh-yeah-whatever. ...... Was.... ... Was...Alex straight up gay? He'd slept with.... that, so..... This realization caused Lyall's eyelid to twitch, and he quite literally face/palmed. No that er...uh..... well...uh.......... [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/irisposttable.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(200),w(269),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:8px;margin-left:208px;color:#de86e2;)]"Small world, eh?" she said with a dry laugh. "Very few people know that about me. I was born to a line of fancy-pants rich folk. I was given all these lessons on being a lady, while...Daddy" she hissed the last word as if it were a poison on her lips. "let me take lessons I wanted. Naturally I took up fencing and fighting." she chuckled. "I was betrothed to one Tray Malone. Whiny little punk is all he was. Wanted me to do nothing but cook and clean and be his little arm decoration. Eighteenth birthday, I left his butt at the altar, and left the North for good. Long story short, I got written out of the will, and juggled several odd jobs ranging from assassin to bartender." She paused, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "Ya know..." she sighed. "I was....supposed to still be out west, today. Gathering information. I had gathered quite a bit, but...I got this lame-brained idea." Her voice was quiet, but why was she telling Alex this? Oh right, because she was going to have to tell Ly eventually, and she was NOT looking forward to his reaction. "I decided to head North and assassinate a certain noble. Take care of personal business AND help the Knights along a bit, neh? But I hadn't factored on the bodyguard. We'd damn near killed each other out there. And for what? A personal agenda and a couple brownie points..." She lowered her head. "And look at me. I can't even walk on my own..." [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

Nik waited for a reaction..... and waited... and...... He gave an exasperated sigh. "Fuck my life this isn't helping at all is it." Since the couch was now free in Alex's absence, he went ahead and flopped over, then rolling on his back and repositioning Jasna to lay on his stomach. One arm rested under his head while the other continued petting her. "At least.. fuckin'... talk to him b'fore you assume anything? I'm not good with this shit apparently."

Yes. 'Apparently,' thought Jasna with a small smirk.

<Shut up.> Nik silently replied. He hadn't gotten exactly what she'd said, but he could feel her being a smartass. The Mienshao just gave him a sheepish little grin in turn.

---

Outside, Alex was.... stunned.

She... Really, she didn't know what to say. She and Iris had so. much. in common, and she was dying to reach out and tell her as much- to exchange stories and offer each other comfort...

But Alex couldn't do that.

Because what kind of male was expected to cook and clean and be educated and proper, or was thought odd for preferring swords to sewing or finding martial affairs more interesting than marital ones? No, she-- or rather, 'he'-- couldn't offer the thoughts and feelings she was dying to share, because that would make no sense for him.

Instead, she just held her awed and mildly pained silence until the end.. at which point she laughed. "Ya managed to get out here, didn'ja?" With probably a kinder smile than she'd ever offered Iris, she sighed, "And speaking of, you should probably be back inside.." Moving around the older woman, Alex reached behind Iris and placed a light hand on her shoulder. "Lean on me...?" Yeah.. Invoking that terrible cliche really did make her feel a bit better... and worse... hehe. Ah well.

Still her desire to reach out ate away at her, though. She felt like she needed to do something. Say anything. Even if she couldn't really get it out, just to... anything. It wouldn't leave her mind, and so she wondered... what would a real guy do? ...And that was entirely too varied, as five guys popped into her head and all of them as different as could be. ..All right, new question. What would she personally want a guy to do?

And as an answer came, Alex's face flushed terribly; if asked, she'd swear it was just the cold. She definitely didn't really want to do that but the thought wouldn't leave her head now. Very quickly and lightly, she leaned over and just-barely kissed Iris's temple. "I understand..." she mumbled, looking away. "It's way too long a story but I... understand..." ...Come to think of it... Maybe Iris would assume that referred more to the vengeance failure thing or something. ...Actually, yeah. :'3; If asked she was totally going with that. Hooray for shitty afterthoughts.