(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

Captain: *nods and stands* Come with me Harlequin.

Quin: */stiffens/, NERVOUS again suddenly* Y-yes, sir... *follows, head up and shoulders back, putting on a brave front...but he's clearly scared*

*When they step into the waiting area Quin will see a noblewoman.  She's cool and collected.  She turns to face Ius and Quin as they step in, gaze locking on Quin...*

Officer: Captain, this is Lady Vashti Alvierda.  The amin boy belonged to her.

Captain: My lady.

Vashti: Is this the man who killed Rai?

Captain: *breath hitches as he is cut off before he can say more...* Yes, my lady.  It was a complete accident.

Quin: ............. *drops to a knee before her, head bowed low* M-my lady, forgive me. I've never meant harm to anyone. I have no arguments with anyone, regardless of race or social standing.

Vashti: ...Look at me. *studying him, seeming to decide if she believes him or not. ...finally she nods* What are the options, Captain?

Ius: *will tell her more or less what he’d told Quin.*

Vashti: .....*nods* I have a few things to finish, Captain.  I will come back with my decision in an hours, if that is acceptable?

Ius: *nods* Of course, my lady.

 

((Character List:
Terris
Ziomi
Wes
Mitham
Naijah
Khepri
Zera
Talim
Jerrica
Jimn
Nyri
Jendayi
Ilmari
Raizen
Daithi
Patch
Quin
Tam
Rihn
Optimus
Horses: Rory and Toby
Fox – Squeak
Goat – Crackers
 
Family Acquaintances - Lyria, Darien, Soren, and Dycus
Lunnaei, Kalan, Darden, Aren, Mairi, Klatu, and a few unnamed others...))

Comments

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *softly as Quin steps up behind her.* You will see them again.

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: ……………. *bows* Milady… *not sure he dares let himself believe that, this is too difficult already, without that possibly false hope…*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *leads him to an inn she was staying at. There they meet up with a cheetah amin and a j'har man.* Is everything ready to go?
Amin: Yes, Mistress.
Vashti: *nods* Harlequin, this is Tyli and Warrik. This is Harlequin. He will be joining us for the next half year.
*they both give him a nod.*

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: …………. *”joining”…as if he’s a guest…never meets their eyes, head bowed, as he steps up and bows, obviously consciously trying to keep from folding his arms or hugging himself, arms stiffly at his sides* Pleased to meet you both.

[socrowdedinhere]

Tyli: *gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze.* Chin up, you'll be okay. *if he looks at her he'll find she's got a smile for him.*

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: *he…he doesn’t, /flinching/ from her touch – he’s still expecting to be beaten – and keeping his head down*

[socrowdedinhere]

Tyli: You know how to ride, Harlequin?

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: A horse? No, miss. I’m just a vagabond. *intellectually, he…knows…that the rules from back home regarding riding privilege don’t apply here, but he grew up with them…and had them /beaten/ into him too viciously to ever want to do that again*

[socrowdedinhere]

Tyli: You're going to learn today. We've got a ways to travel to get home. Warrik will show you how, go with him.
Warrik: This way, please. *will head around to where the stable boy had brought the horses.
Vashti: *has already gotten on her horse, her skirts divided to allow her to sit comfortably without having her dress around her knees.*

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: Ah… *has gone /pale/ at the thought of getting up /on/ a horse . . . not resisting but clearly REALLY REALLY REALLY NOT wanting to do this…*

[socrowdedinhere]

Warrik: Don't stress too much. Misty is a really, really calm horse. If you have to learn quickly, she's the best to learn with. *will motion Quin over beside the horse.* Start with petting her, let her know you're here and are friendly.

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: ………….. *steps up and easily pets the horse, but keeps glancing at Lady Vashti, ready to /jump/ back if she so much as looks at him – clearly it’s not the horse he’s scared of…*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *she /is/ watching him, just patiently waiting for him to get on the horse so they can go.*

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: */damn/ - in that case, he’s /not/ looking at her at all, just…w-will quickly…g-get on the horse, she WANTS him on the horse, he’s /not/ going to get himself into even more trouble by getting on the damned horse so just DO it…*

[socrowdedinhere]

Warrik: *a little startled when Quin just gets on...and little smile.* You sure you don't know what you're doing?

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: *mouth pressed to a thin line, still /pale/ and starting to sweat…and /visibly/ braced from whichever direction Vashti is from him, head tucked and WON’T look at her . . . he /looks/ like he expects her to lash out at him*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *guides her horse up beside him, studying him as she slowly comes up beside him* What are you afraid of, Harlequin?

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: */GASPS/ at her approach and practically /throws/ himself back off the horse away from her, stumbling back and away before dropping to a knee, bowed low* I-I’m sorry! Forgive me, my lady! I-I /know/ my place is not on a horse like a noble. I’m but a common-born vagabond, I know! Please forgive me.

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *has to take a moment to calm her horse after Quin jumped like that* Peace, Harlequin. If I did not want you on the horse, I would not have allowed you on it to begin with. Now mount the horse, we have a long ride home, and I do not wish to camp outside tonight because I must wait for you to walk.

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: *shaking but…n-nods* Y-yes, milady. I…I’m sorry… *gets unsteadily to his feet – it’s been a long day, the exertion of performing followed by everything from that poor amin boy’s death till now, he’s running on adrenaline alone at this point, scared and still expecting the worst . . . climbs back onto the horse – it takes more effort this time – and while he can mount and sit, he’s not actually overly familiar with /guiding/ a horse . . . and he still hasn’t raised his eyes to anyone*

[socrowdedinhere]

Vashti: *nods and waits for him to mount.*
Warrik: *will... well, instead of mounting the last horse he'll mount behind Quin.* *softly* Hope you don't mind, you don't look too confident up here.

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: *gasps softly, flinching forward from Warrik before turning to glance over his shoulder . . . relaxes – whispers back* Ah…n-no, not particularly. Thank you, sir.

[socrowdedinhere]

Warrik: *soft chuckle* Sir? That's kind of you. Just Warrik, please. *will help guide Misty.*
Tyli: *will lead the last horse a d jog along.*
Vashti: *will finally really set out.*

[dragondancer5150]

Quin: *bit of a flinch* Ah… *right…the man’s a j’har…guy probably thinks he was mocking him, so he just…shuts his mouth and goes along with things in silence, winding up lost in thought*

[socrowdedinhere]

Warrik: *after a while...* May I... ask what happened this morning?