socrowdedinhere | (no subject)

Tia: *will peek back once she thinks enough time has passed for him to dress... and she's right, he's dressed. She turns to him.* ....Those slavers probably still have your things, hm? *she looks like she's considering if they can sneak in tonight to get his stuff back...*

Darnell: ................. *nods, grim* My horse, my satchel . . . my badge.

Tia: ...Worth the risk of trying to steal back from them tonight?

Darnell: *startles . . . eyes her* What are you thinking?

Tia: *shugs* That I have little to nothing but the cloths on my back and a small knife, and that's /all/ you have right now, and we could really use the supplies...

Darnell: ............. *grins* Yup, I had full travel supplies. Plus money to buy whatever else I might need. *pulls a breath* Tonight's hours away yet. I'm a decent cook. Maybe the local inn will let me help out in the kitchen in trade for a meal for two? And then we get to know each other a little until tonight?

Tia: .....*nods* All right, let's go then...

Darnell: *nods and will follow her*

Tia: *it will soon become...very clear she knows nothing about what she's doing. She doesn't seem to know for sure how to identify an inn, and when she does (or Darnell points one out), she seems completely lost once they step in...really, Darnell maybe should just take the lead to get what they need...*

Darnell: *quickly will, quietly inserting himself to speak for his mistress and just getting things done*

*They'll have to go to three different inns before they'll find one willing to put Darnell to some work in exchange for a couple of meals. Darnell will be put to work cleaning the kitchen actually, and then he can fetch food for himself and his mistress once he's done the job to the innkeeper's satisfaction.*

Tia: *sitting at a table when he's done and sent out with food. She's looking all around, looking kind of... lost and out of place, and yet rather fascinated and taken with her surroundings. She'll blush softly when she notices Darnell approaching.*

Darnell: *will give her a small bow as he sets down her plate* Milady. *will settle with his own*

Tia: ...Thank you. *gives him a smile and...omg it’s so obvious she’s /starving/ and /trying/ to be polite and not just scarf the food down*

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Darnell: *slips a light but protective arm around her shoulders* Let's go take a peek at the slavers. It took them a while to set up, so if they're not already packing, we have a bit of time. *if she doesn't protest, he'll steer her that way - he's not planning to approach or even let their presence known, he just wants to see what their status is*

Tia: *tucks to him...and the mention of he slavers reminds her of seeing him nude, and that though makes her blush. She won’t look at him, and hopes he doesn’t notice, but she doesn’t protest or pull away, easily moving with him.*
*The caravan seems to still be settled. They’ve a little time yet.*

Darnell: *if he notices, he doesn't react - he'll spend some time studying the slavers and their movements . . . how many, pecking order, which wagon likely has his satchel, where's Blossom (if she still has his saddle and tack on, that will be easy...bonus if she still has his packs too, though that's unlikely at this point) - he learned some things from the inside last night, he's hoping to learn more from the outside today*

*He’ll note the leader’s wagon, where his satchel likely is, and seems no one has bothered to remove the saddle or packs from Blossom yet, they’ve just not had time to worry about what travel supplies he may have had with him.*

Darnell: *points out Blossom to Tia* I’d really like to get my satchel back, but our priority is going to be her. She has all my travel supplies – bedding and such – plus we’ll travel faster. *he’ll have to repack things a bit to allow room for a second rider, but part of his mind is already working on that puzzle to one side . . . that done, he’ll slip them off somewhere where they can talk freely*

Tia: *nods and will move off to find a private place to settle for now.* I wonder how long we’ll need to wait...

Darnell: *shrugs* No idea, but I’ll go peek at them now and then to see where things are. I’d guess they’ll get back underway by this afternoon. *grimaces* So they can be on the road between towns and maybe pick up their next poor victim to sell tomorrow. *huffs and lets it go* Anyway . . . *”so I guess we sit and get to know each other, since seems like we’ll be together for a while”…but that might just get her to shut down again, so he tries a different tactic, speaking conversationally* I really do want to get my satchel back, though. If they’ve not dug into it too deeply, they won’t have found my badge. Although I suppose even if they have, they’d just keep it in the satchel. It’s gold and silver, so it’s worth a /lot/. But more than that, the king himself gave it to me. *he’s hoping she’ll take the bait…*

Tia: *hook, line, and sinker.* The king himself? *really?* You mean your detective’s badge, right?

Edited 2018-01-12 19:31 (UTC)

Darnell: *nods, hiding his relief* I’m King Sidon’s Master Detective. His Majesty is good friends with a noble family by the name of Dukein. Apparently, the lord’s daughter, Lady Khela, has disappeared. King Sidon sent me to investigate her apparent kidnapping. I was on my way there when those monsters waylaid me. *tilts his head in the direction of the slavers - pulls a breath* Once I get you home, I intend to get back on that case, but I’ll need my badge to prove my claim to Lord Dukein that I am who I say I am.

Tia: *her face is...too unresponsive as she just stares at him...and then tears slip down her cheeks.* L-Life Light. *she finally huffs and buries her face in her hands.* I-I’m K-Khela Dukein.

Darnell: *hand on her shoulder* I thought so, but I didn't want to assume. *will pull her into a hug if she'll let him* I'd like to say 'you're going to be okay now', but we're not out of the woods yet. *a beat, then wry* Literally... *glancing at the trees around them - rubs her back (or squeezes her shoulder if he's not hugging her)* You're not alone anymore, Lady Khela. I'll do everything in my power to see you home safely. You have my word.

Khela: *leans into his hug, and huffs a soft laugh at his terrible pun.* Thank you. I-I’m glad I saw you this morning. I-I’ve so lost and helpless the last few days, I just wanted to find someone who might know what they’re doing out here.

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