• Closed • My Keeper's Cousin

[Faith Augustin]

Watching Lord Venora as he was so very comfortable and at home in this environment Faith wondered, and not for the first time, about what it must be like to be raised in a noble family. To be surrounded by those who would cater to your every whim. She thought that it must be very strange, at least to her mind, but she looked at him and as her mind ticked over, albeit slower than usual. She might have believed that being raised in such a way would breed people who were contemptuous and cruel; which would be fine and their right to be, but Lord Venora was not. Nor, to her mind, was Master who had been nothing but kind and gentle to her. Maybe the owners in Athart and Jamal had been so cruel to prepare her for service to another kind of person, she thought, rather than these people.

"A shot?" she asked with a lifted eyebrow. "Dragon's Breath?" she nodded her head and drank it down in one go as she saw others do. And her reaction was more than a little predictable in terms of how she went suddenly wide-eyed, coughed and looked at Lord Venora with tears in her eyes. "I... well. Dragons must have very strong breath. Gosh" she said and then she looked at him with a perplexed expression. "I can feel it going down" her expression was serious and she looked down at her chest with a frown "It's warm. I think I like it." it was warm, though, and she could feel the heat starting to affect her, her pale cheeks pinking slightly.

But then, as though this whole thing wasn't complicated enough, Lord Venora held out his hand and Faith immediately put her hand into his, wondering just what he was doing. Her eyes shot up though, when he called her 'little dove' and she looked at him with a range of emotions dancing over her face. "Little Dove? My owner before Master called me that. How strange. Am I dove-like?" she wondered. "I should do what now? Oh!" she let out an exclamation and then he lifted her arm and twirled her and Faith moved in the way that he wanted her to. Normally she would try to do that, but because of the alcohol which coursed in her, she actually did move with him. "Oh I like this!" she said and then stopped, looked at him and said in a stern voice, although it was somewhat ruined by the slight flush of her cheeks and the amusement in her eyes "I do not think I am supposed to be liking things, you know." but she quite happily moved with him, holding on to him (which she had to do in order to dance at all, else she'd have just stood there not knowing what to do) and letting herself be led as she moved and started to really relax.

And it was all going well until she suddenly Had A Thought and stiffened in his arms "You won't get into trouble for letting me have fun will you?" she asked with a level of earnestness which was highly out of proportion to how much trouble he could get in. But for reasons she couldn't quite verbalise it did seem rather important.

[Andráska Venora]

"My two natures had memory in common."

• 9th of Saun, 716th Arc

• Did she remind him of a dove? Andras smiled, a slow smile that lowered his lashes and gave him an almost sleepy appearance, "Perhaps, a bit. Your skin is white, like dove feathers," he elaborated, with a gentle poke to her cheek, which had become a bit flushed from the liquor. His words were not quite as poetic as he would have liked, whether he was speaking to a slave or not, "Soft, unblemished," Andras' hands took her own and he lead her around the room, moving with the flow of the music, "Except this." His fingertips released her hand momentarily to trail up her arm and stop beneath the fresh brand. "I hope my family treats you right. I like Tris. When you get back to him, send him my regards? I'd like to visit some time."
  
  It had been quite awhile since he had seen his cousin. Having a drink and catching up would be a nice reprise from his adventures these days. He... missed his family, "That way we can all have fun," he added with a playful wink, the alcohol he had consumed brushing his mind, "I want you to have fun, of course. You're supposed to, because you're with me. If you weren't, I wouldn't be doing my job."
  
  Andras thought of her question about him getting in trouble and laughed, "Why aren't we allowed to like things? I like dancing and I like drinking. I like talking to pretty girls," he shrugged and shifted their bodies so that they would not bump into some of the other partiers on the floor, "I'm always in trouble, Faith. That's why no one care what I do. Just... forgotten." The words were said with a flippant tone, but there was a sad truth beneath them that secretly haunted the young Venora.
  
  The young noble often thought of himself as the pariah of the Venora family. Rebellious to a fault, he was like a dog on a leash, tugging, pulling, biting the hand that fed him. Had Andras not liked King Cassander and didn't have such a strange dedication to protecting Rynmere's deserving citizens, perhaps he would have joined his sister in her escapades. She had always treated him amiably, when others did not. More than once his father had cursed him, his mother wailing about his antics and misbehaviors. Most interactions with Granny Venora were of him making comments about his latests activities to distress her, and Andras getting to count how many times she scowled and muttered under her breath. The old woman was mostly past openly disparaging him, but occasionally she rolled her eyes so far back from his words, Andráska was sure they would get perpetually stuck in her skull.
  
  Despite his handsome appearance and connection to a direct line of a prosperous family, Andráska had never received a marriage proposal. Never been the pride and joy of anyone. The idea of his continual disappointment to others brought his mood down, an unacceptable occurrence tonight, "Hey, find me another drink, won't you, love?" Their footsteps slowed and he released her. His hands tucked themselves in his pockets and he smiled.
  
  He wouldn't think of it if he didn't have to.

[Faith Augustin]

He trailed his fingers up her arm and Faith watched him. She didn't stop him or flinch but she just watched him. "My Master treats me better than anyone ever has, and that is an enormous under exagerration. I have never been so cared for or cared about. He is a very kind man. I will tell him, but I would say that he would much rather hear you send your regards yourself." she smiled at him and shook her head slightly "I don't think it's supposed to work that way with slaves, Lord Venora, but I will do my best" and have fun indeed she did, it had to be said. She laughed in delight as he swung her around and she did her very best to keep up with the dance. But when he said he was forgotten, Faith looked at him with an expression of disbelief on her face. "If you are forgotten, Master would not wish to show off his newest purchase to you would he?" she asked with a slight glint of amusement in her eyes. For all that she was teasing it was also true - Tristan had been very keen to let Lord Venora know that he had a slave.

But, Lord Venora had a request of her and she nodded her head "Of course, Lord Venora. I'll be right back" she said and she turned and went in search of a drink for him. She was successful in so much as she found some, four on a tray in fact, and she was bringing them back, making her way through the crowd when she felt a hand wrap cruelly around her arm. Faith turned in surprise and cursed herself because she had stopped hiding the slave brand that Lord Venora had so carefully hidden. The man who grabbed her was easily twice her size and had ahold of her arm under the brand, but only just.

"What's this? You shouldn't be here. You tryin' to pass for a free woman, are ya?" he snarled and Faith could smell the alcohol on his breath. But his fingers were pinching into her and tried to pull away but simply wasn't strong enough. She looked around and there were two others with him, one of who stepped foward and took ahold of her by the hair, pulling her head and bringing tears to her eyes. This was going to descend quickly, Faith knew and she also remembered Master's instructions that she should not allow herself to get hurt. But there were three of them. So she did the only thing that she thought made sense in that moment and she swung the tray directly at the face of the one holding her arm. The glassess dropped to the floor as she did and there was the noise of the glass hitting the ground as well as the bellow of rage that the man gave. Hopefully, Faith thought, enough to alert Lord Venora because she was outnumbered and in pain already and she didn't want to hurt any of the free men here.

[Andráska Venora]

"My two natures had memory in common."

• 9th of Saun, 716th Arc

• Andras was quickly getting lost in his thoughts, his mind growing cloudy as he watched the people dance. He sighed and leaned back, the dresses of women twirling in circles that captured his attention. All kinds of colors decorated the room around him, most those worn by commoners, but ocassionally a dash of blue or green. It was then he wished to see the happy coloration of Faith's attire - yellow, with a band of corset around her thin waist. Standing, András was relieved to find the alcohol had begun to find itself into his system, slowing his reaction time and giving him the funny sensation of his mind catching up with his body. He stumbled willingly forward, looking over the crowd to try and catch a glimpse of his dark headed companion.
  
  There!
  
  Amidst the people was a pale face carrying a tray, the combined sight pulling a grin from the rugged noble. He began to push himself through the crowd, taking his time until the clattering of a tray hit the floor and smashing glass sounded. He froze, pushing harder, but the people were already beginning to part while tension built in the room. The music had halted and he could hear the voices of angry men, closing in around his friend.
  
  Righteous indignation burned in him, fueled hotter by the liquor boiling in his belly. One had his hand curled in Faith's long hair, yanking her around, the other two closing in like wolves for a kill. And all because she a slave? Not one to usually jump to anger, immediately his wrath took over him at the sight of such mistreatment and he charged like a bull from the darkest parts of Emea. He had made a promise, one he was being forced to break, nevertheless men touching property that didn't belong to them.
  
  Just as one of the instigators was about to snatch at Faith, Andras shot from the huddle of people around the scene like a flash of lightning. His large frame enveloped his victim and the two large men slammed into the ground, Andras' fists flying in a furry towards anything beneath him that remotely looked human. His knuckles collided with both flesh and wood, drunkenly brawling in desperation to protect what was his.
  
  Faith belonged to Venora.
  
  The body beneath him bucked, and the man under him slammed a fist into the side of his face. It all happened so fast, the noble barely processed it all, knowing his hands were bloody and red, whether from his own scrapped knuckles or his victims face, he didn't care. He continued to throw sloppy hits, inexperience and inebriation not quite demonstrating the art of violence properly. His own body numbing from the shots, Andras knew he was causing pain and that was all that mattered.
  
  Behind him, hands yanked him backward and he knew he was about to get pummeled, "Bjorn!" he yelled as loud as he could, feeling something being slammed into his ribs. Andráska grunted, trying to twist away from the pain and block his face from an assault. Pain radiated up his side, and he tightened his stomach to lessen the blows. He thought he saw a glimpse of red hair enter the brawl, but it was hard to see before a boot collided with his skull, sending white to flash behind his green eyes. Andras struggled to stay conscious, head lulling backwards and body going limp as he tried to push past the fog of alcohol, both fueled and hindered by it, "Help Faith!"
  
  A metallic taste filled his mouth as he was hit again, his lip cut open. Glass dug into his shoulders and elbow as he tried to sit up off the floor, kicking blindly at his attacker. Foot colliding with the man's knee, and the sickening 'pop' that sounded from his blow bought him some time, praise Ilaren. He grinned wickedly at the other male, spitting blood beside him, "Now you fucked up."
  
  Despite the threat, Andras couldn't deny the heaviness of his body, grunting in pain each time he moved. He couldn't stop. Not yet. He had to. keep.... fighting. Black tendrils started to snake on the edges of his vision, tempting him to close his eyes and lean back.

[Faith Augustin]

Chaos

It descended into chaos so quickly and the fight spilled out and spread like the tray hitting the man had been a pebble flung into a pond, the ripples like shockwaves. She saw Lord Venora running towards her even as the man who had her hair pulled and twisted cruelly. She cried out and decided that enough was enough and she was going to have to sort this out and take control. She was going to do her best to avoid hurting them, but she might have to.

Unfortunately, Faith was not taking into account the simple fact that she had never drunk alcohol before and so, as she dropped the tray with the intention of hitting the man with a fist, the pull on her hair caused her to stumble and she cried out in pain. Tears were running down her cheeks from the pain of the hair pulling and the man who she had hit with the tray snarled. There were arms holding her arms and she didn't really know whose they were, but as she struggled she realised that the man or men who was holding her by the arms were stronger than her and that, coupled with the hand twisted in her hair meant that she was trapped. But this was exactly what Master had ordered her not to get into and so she kicked and struggled and tried not to give in to the panic that she was feeling.

And it was that panic which, coupled with the effects of the alcohol, meant that her fighting was a sight less effective than it should be. As the man who had seen her first and who she had hit with a tray stepped forward and slapped her across the face, Faith saw exploding lights behind her eyes and she thought for a moment that he had maybe explained the phrase "hit you into next week" because she felt rather detached from herself. Maybe he had hit "her" into outside of her, she thought, wildly. She felt him grab at her dress and rip it, heard him snarling at her "Can't be wearing no free woman's clothes can you" and she struggled as hard as she could. He got just a little too close as she felt the material tearing and she leant forward and bit him, hard, on the top of his cheek. He cried out in surprise as she tasted blood in her mouth.

But then, she saw a fist approaching her quite slowly and she wondered just why he, and everyone around them, was moving so slowly. She could get out of the way of it she was quite sure and she struggled harder. But then, a pain exploded in her stomach as said fist connected and the world first went white, then blackness started to creep in. As the floor moved to meet her she felt hands dragging her back up to standing and another blow landing in much the same place as the first, but thankfully she realised that they didn't hurt. But then, the dark spots which were dancing on the outside of her vision grew closer and closer together and, just before she passed out she saw a large man grabbing at the man who was beating her. He seemed to be some kind of barkeep or guard or something, she thought, but she said nothing as the floor jumped up to meet her and she fell happily to meet it.

[Andráska Venora]

"My two natures had memory in common."

• 9th of Saun, 716th Arc

• Time slowed down, leaving Andras to feel every beating of sharp knuckles against his ribs. All the progress his body had been making to heal these last few trials seemed far away, his muscles throbbing in pain. He tried to pull away, the darkness of his vision fading in and out as his ears rang. He could hear Faith screaming, a clattering... The hands hitting him stopped, and he tried to move. Some shouting.
  
  Smears of blood stained the floor before him, and in his delirious state, he wasn't quite sure who it belonged to. The noble struggled to sit up, the massive figure that had greeted them to the establishment jumping in. Bjorn's red beard was one of the last things he saw before his eyes closed and his head lulled back, smacking against the hardwood. The alcohol in his system made his skin buzz and a feeling of spinning in the darkness, a voice fading, "He's a lord, you cunts!" A sudden wave of nausea, and then nothing.
  
  Andras dreamt of Ilaren.
  

  ***

  Andras woke up to the crackling of a fire and the smell of cooking meat. A low moan faded from his lips and when he tried to roll over, he had to stifle another. His whole body felt like it had been ran over by a horse, and his head still felt groggy from the haze of liquor. His eyes fluttered to reveal an unfamiliar room, footsteps walking around the space. His stomach growled and he ached for a drink of water.
  
  "You alive?" Bjorn's face came into view, and the large man was balancing a plate, piled high with potatoes, ham, and eggs. A hearty meal, and it captured his attention momentarily.
  
  "Where's Faith?" he asked, gritting his teeth as he sat up. Dried blood on his lip showed that it had been busted open, and when he pulled the blanket back, a row of bruises darkened his skin to a sickening color. His arms had a number of purple and green splotches, stained by the attack. Wait... How long had he been asleep? His green eyes searched the room, finding sunlight filtering through the windows.
  
  "She's right next to ya," Bjorn answered, shoving a steaming piece of potato in his mouth, and fixing another plate, "She's tougher than she looks."
  
  Andras looked over to the space of mattress beside him, but nobody was to be found. Brow furrowing, he leaned over the side of the bed and realized she had been placed on the floor. On a nicely made pallet, but the floor nonetheless, "Why isn't she on the cot?"
  
  Bjorn paused in what he was doing, and gave a disapproving look at the man, mixed with confusion, "You want a slave in your bed?" Truthfully, this wasn't Andras' house, and it wasn't his bed. Andras could have argued it, but frowned. Bjorn did what he thought was right, and socially... he supposed it was. But she had been hurt. It wasn't right to make her take the hard ground when it was his reason she had been injured in the first place.
  
  Guilt gripped Andras' heart and he climbed out of bed to sit beside the dark haired woman. She slept so soundly, but knew she would ache when she woke up. Bjorn walked over and handed him a plate and a glass of water, and left it beside the lord. Andras lifted the thin blanket that was laid over her and saw the rip in her dress. He frowned, feeling terrible.
  
  When he spoke, his words felt choked, "Get me some needle and thread, yeah?"
  
  Bjorn ate another bite, and rummaged through a drawer, bringing the supplies. Andras had very little experience sewing anything, but he felt he had to do something to remedy his terrible mistake, and carefully began to thread the needle, scared of what Faith would say when she woke up. His tone was somber, "The men at the party..." he struggled to find the words, "What happened?"
  
  The other man nodded, serious, "I handled 'em," he swallowed, "They know better than to touch a lord's property, double for hitting him," he motioned towards the girl, "You want to punish them anymore? I can find them."
  
  "She's not mine, she's Tristan's," Andras wondered if his cousin would want more justice, or if he would just refuse to ever let him see Faith again, "I'll have to tell him." While Andras wanted to strike back, his concern was on the woman he had dragged into a fight. He just wanted to apologize.

[Rei]

Name: Faith

Knowledge:
Andráska: Master’s Cousin
Tristan: Keeps you well dressed and groomed
Tristan: Not cruel
Tristan: Different than previous Master
Jamal: Liked you in rags
Jamal: Was cruel
Tristan: Family is important
Tristan: Cares what people think
Andráska: Dirty house
Location: Andráska’s House
Andráska: Wicked
Bjorn: Lounge doorman
Meditation: Relaxation techniques
Alcohol: Changes your behavior
Sabassaint Sunrise: Strong drink
Andráska: Doesn’t like House of Roses
Shot Girl: Carries drinks
Dragon’s Breath: Tastes like cinnamon
Alcohol: Burns going down
Andráska: Likes drinking
Andráska: Likes dancing
Andráska: Like talking to pretty girls
Alcohol: Makes it hard to fight
Unarmed Combat: Improvising a weapon
Unarmed Combat: Bite

Loot: Ripped dress that has been patched up
Injuries: Bruised cheek that will fade in 5 trials
Bruised stomach that will fade in 7 trials
Fame: N/A

Story: 5
Collaboration: 5
Structure: 5

Name: Andráska

Knowledge:
Faith: Tristan’s slave
Faith: Formal
Faith: Nervous
Faith: Takes her status seriously
Faith: Old brand on her arm
Faith: Venora brand on her neck
Faith: Instructed to use titles
Faith: Never been to a gathering
Faith: Only allowed out during last arc
Bjorn: Lounge doorman
Faith: Has never drunk alcohol
House of Roses: Brothel?
Faith: Young and innocent
Faith: Follows orders
Faith: Might have feelings for Tristan
Faith: Can’t dance
Tristan: Lent you Faith
Tristan: Treats Faith well
Unarmed combat: Drunken brawling
Unarmed combat: Bone breaking kick

Loot: N/A
Injuries: Scraped knuckles that will heal in 3 trials
Bruised cheek that will fade in 5 trials
Cut lip that will heal in 5 trials
Bump on the head that will fade in 4 trials
Shoulder cuts that will heal in 7 trials
Bruised arms that will fade in 5 trials
Fame: +1 for defending Faith

Story: 5
Collaboration: 5
Structure: 5

Comment: Very fun thread to review! These two have such an interesting reaction with Andraska’s hesistance to treat Faith as a slave and thinking she deserves better and Faith being the dutiful slave she is.

Faith, your structure was great, I only caught a few things here and there like missing words but not often for sure. Your writing flows so well and is an easy read. The story was great I loved seeing Faith let loose a little.

Andraska, your structure was great, too. Only a few things like ‘a’ instead of ‘and’ and small things like that you might have missed. You also have a great flow to your writing and it made reading it very easy. I enjoyed seeing how Andraska is and how he rebels against all the noble norms.