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Post by Grimm on Sept 25, 2019 0:24:29 GMT
It was the anxiety of being touched that cause him to flinch every time the doctor came close to touching his skin. Apprehension instead of the pain. Pain he had learned to push through, although permanently damaged nerve endings also played their role in numbing any sensations he might have felt. Violet let her do her work without so much as a noise from him, his red eyes intent not being there at the moment.
“Thank you, Doc.” A soft grin accompanied sincere gratitude as Ren rubbed the pinch on his arm, while V redressed. It wasn’t long after the Doctor left that V and Ren both exited the cabin, his first mate following him up the stairs until V instructed him to find one of their crew members named Maive. That left V watching Astrin play with one of the children. He wasn’t sure what to think about his new partner in crime, but from what he could see - Astrin was well beloved by his crew. The crew that he was running only respected him out of fear and the gold that jingled in their pockets and at the moment they had neither. Violet gave it a matter of days before his lot might try replacing him.
“Have you always had children on board your vessel?” Violet asked, taking a moment to glance up at the youngest member of his crew who was up in the crows nest.
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Post by Behax on Oct 7, 2019 22:43:00 GMT
At the sound of the unfamiliar voice the other tiger girl went and hid behind one of Astrin’s legs, while the Heresey’s captain himself just paused and held the other against his shoulder. Deciding that swinging her about while trying to have a conversation was probably not a great idea. He looked a little thoughtful before answering.
“Not always…..But I think we’ve had these two for about three years now,” he replied looking momentarily sad. He let the girl he was holding down to the deck. “Why don’t you two go and find Ezo, see if he needs any help.” He gave them both a pat on the head, and ran room skirting around V. Clearly the two girls were wary of him.
He sighed. “I know a pirate ship is no place for two young girls. We rescued them from a slave ship and well…They were so young they couldn’t remember where they had come from, and their mother was already dead. I didn’t just want to dump them somewhere where they’d just end up back in a similar situation or worse…” He explained before V could even attempt to chastise him.
“Islands on the border between Jhoura and Ly’Ren are…..unfortunately often targets of pirates.” He took a deep breath. “So is there something you’d like to talk about? Or were you just missing my company?” Astrin joked.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 12, 2019 19:20:53 GMT
Perhaps there was a crack of a smile when Astrin joked about V missing his company. Astrin’s personality was certainly refreshing when Violet had only cut-throats for company. Aside from a hand few, the rest of the crew Violet felt were expendable and for good reason. He needed them to be that way, violent men with as much as a bone to pick with the Ly’Ren Navy as Violet did.
“After all that time in the hold together, maybe.” Violet retorted gently but quickly moved to his next worry. “My crew is not like yours and they certainly do not belong around little girls…” V warned his tone more serious than before, worried that a few of Astrin’s crew might be easy picking for his own. He had a hard time keeping his crew from cannibalizing each other; keeping them from causing problems with Hersey crew…it was only a matter of time.
“I hope my crew can keep it together, but if they can’t - Malachite is a good kid,” V motioned to the half-elf in the crows nest. “He’d probably be a good fit with you and yours. He doesn’t belong on mine.” Violet had always kept an eye out for a good place for Malachite to go if things turned sour. It wasn’t that he didn’t want the young man around, he just knew the kid deserved better and wanted to keep him out of harms way when things came to a head with Von Lear.
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Post by Behax on Oct 19, 2019 13:13:49 GMT
The corner of Astrin's mouth twitched with amusement as V's reply to his jest. So V had a sense of humour after all. Who would have guessed. Astrin's expression however turned serious when V began to warn him about his crew. Astrin looked down at the deck below them. So far V's crew had been behaving themselves, but for how long? There were plenty on his own crew who he would not advise crossing, but there were also those who were not as hard as the others. He contemplated for a moment.
"Katalina!" He called down.
A tall woman with long rabbit like ears turned to look up at him. Like Astrin she was carrying weapons that were clearly of Jhoura design. Weapons that utilised gunpowder and small metal balls. "Justine and Josephine are to always be accompanied by yourself, Dr Angelus or Enzo when not in the company of myself. The Girls are also to share a bunk each with you and the Dr until further notice. Leave them not unattended in the presence of our...guests."
"Aye Captain!" Her voice and expression was sturn.
"And send Enzo up here when you see him, I have orders to relay."
To this she nodded and went about her business.
Astrin turned back to V and blinked in surprise at the comment about this Malachite. Astrin looked up to the crows nest where the aforementioned boy was still in Yuuki's company. "Well...There are many on my crew who it would be a mistake for yours to cross....But there are others who are not as strong. Also are you asking me to take your protegee onto my crew in the event that we split before we end up confronting this Von Lear person?" He didn't bother hiding his surprise.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 4, 2019 5:21:54 GMT
Violet folded his arms across his chest and gave a small huff when Astrin described Mal as his protege, but in the end he couldn’t argue with the title. “I want him to have a future and that is something he will not have if he continues to sail under my banner.” Violet already came to terms that the continued pursuit of the Navy could and probably would lead to his death; after all, revenge was his only goal in life.
A woman approached the two captains, she wore a hood and the lower half of her face was covered, leaving only the empty blue eyes piercing out from the shadows. Her attire appeared to be bits and pieces of a Ly’ren Navy Uniform, ragged and accessorized and tribal. “You called?” Her voice was as empty as her icicle eyes, sea-foam colored hair escaping the darkness that shrouded her features.
“Go through their log books, see if you can find anything about recent operations. I overheard something about The Victory being pulled off some kind of supply line.” He gave her the task knowing she would be most suited for it, she was after all former Ly’ren Navy.
“Loose lips sink ships.” She cited the slogan used by the military that encouraged them not to talk about missions for fear of flies on the wall. With a nod of her head Maive turned to leave before turning to look at V over her shoulder, “We should kill the prisoners and be done with it.” The lifelessness of her voice could even send a chill down V’s spine, but if it did this time - he didn’t show it.
Instead he tilted his head to the side, his arms still folded over his chest. “We can use them as leverage. We can ransom them off.”
“The Goldcoats don’t care, they won’t pay ransom for their own men.” Maive said it so matter of factly as if from experience.
“Their families then. Point being, they stay alive - for now.” Violet glanced over to Astrin disapprovingly. V agreed with Maive on this, they were running the unnecessary risk of loosing the ship if the prisoners were able to break free.
Maive gave a disapproving ‘tsk’ as she left.
“Don’t say I ever compromised…it would be bad for my reputation.” V warned tongue-in-cheek.
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Post by Behax on Nov 4, 2019 22:03:06 GMT
Astrin was about to open his mouth and joke about what a big heart V secretly had. However he closed his mouth again when the woman approached. Astrin found her hard to get a read on, and didn't know if she was one of the members of V's crew that he needed to be weary of. He regarded her with a serious expression, trying to gauge how dangerous she was. It didn't take him long to decide he didn't like her. Then again, he didn't like most people who didn't have a respect for life. His expression for grim when V turned back to him to make his disapproval known.
"It's not that I don't understand your reasoning, beyond your abject hatred for the Ly-Ren navy. It is dangerous to keep a hold full of prisoners....In fact the fact we are both now standing where we are now is proof of that," he explained sighing a little. " However once you get past the officer classes, you have sailors, most of the people on these ships are not formal military, they are people trying to live, they have families they are trying to feed. Families who do not see them for months or years on end, already worrying about if their loved ones are ever going to come back....I don't like killing people if I don't have to, which is...I guess weird for a pirate to say." He paused and looked a little like he was about to press on against his better judgement. "I once sailed under a man who had no respect for other peoples lives, he committed atrocities with ease." Astirn gripped tightly at the wooden banister he was standing by. "And I don't want to be a man like him, and I'd rather destroy as few families as possible."
There was the sound of someone clearing their throat behind V. Astrin's first mate Enzo was standing at the top of the stairs now. "Capt'in."
A long pause followed before he sighed deeply. "If there are those among them making trouble, then I can't complain if you have to make a few examples I suppose."
He then turned his attention to Enzo. "Our new friend here has enlightened me as to the disposition of his crew. I have already informed Katalina but I want you to relay to those that matter. Justine and Josephine are to always be accompanied by either myself, you, Dr Angelus or Katalina. If V's crew try to cause trouble I am giving my express permission that misbehaviour can be met with retribution, and harm to my crew can and will be met with extreme prejudice. I don't want anyone getting hurt because they think fighting back would cause problems. If you have to put someone down, do it."
Enzo raised his brows in a silent question and his demeanour became more tense.
"And get one or two men down in the hold to keep an eye on the prisoners, if you don't already."
"Yes Capt'in!" He acknowledged before getting about doing what he'd been instructed to do.
"I assume you have no problems with any of that?" Astrin asked V once Enzo had descended the stairs.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 4, 2019 23:06:38 GMT
“No objections from me.” V shrugged his slender shoulders. Many of the words that came out of Astrin’s mouth reminded him of his mentor’s philosophy and he was grateful to Astrin for getting them out of this situation.
He had The Victory and knew it was only a matter of time before Von Lear set sail to chase him. He could just imagine how angry the man would be when he found out he had lost one of his precious ships and it was currently in the hands of the man they had set out to capture.
“So you’ve got a Doctor and Children as part of your crew…anyone that happens to cook?” That was another position that V’s crew lacked. V was looking forward to something to eat, and the prospect that it might actually be a proper meal made his stomach growl rather loudly. He hadn’t had anything to eat for the past several days and he had expended a lot of energy in the last two battles, he was prepared to eat his own arm if someone had sprinkled salt on it.
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Post by Behax on Nov 4, 2019 23:36:13 GMT
Astrin's tense expression lightened and turned into a grin at V's question. "I'm going to assume that your crew lacks a cook? Well then lucky for you the Heresy indeed comes complete with a cook. I wouldn't bother the man just yet however,probably trying to get his new kitchen in order, and that man is deadly with a cleaver." He sure hoped no one on V's crew got on his wrong side, his cook took no shit from anyone.
A few hours passed with fortunately little incident. Yuuki spotted a storm off in the distance and had kept a diligent eye on it for as long as he could before light started to fade. He eventually swapped places with another member of Astrin's crew, one who had better night vision.
Astrin spent much of the time making sure his crew were alright, and everything was in order, though he mostly only spoke to the same few people. His crew was larger than V's and he was friendly to all of them, and clearly respected, but only actually close to a few.
By the time dinner came around, Astrin had got the captain's state room mostly in order, despite this he ate with his crew. This was actually a rare occurrence, but after the ordeal they had all just been through, not to mention the added numbers of V's crew, he wanted to be present.
His cook turned out to be a large feline beastkin, named Kio. He had a stern expression and certainly didn't look like a man you wanted to get on the wrong side of. He gave V the same courtesy he gave his own captain, the better cut of the food, and the lest shit alcohol he could find.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 5, 2019 4:28:15 GMT
Violet had very little visitors other than Ren, that wasn’t to say Malachite didn’t hang around close by after he came down from the Crows Nest. The teenager pulled out a book and sat on in the corner and when Violet moved through the ship to check on things, Mal was always keeping tabs close behind, like a puppy following it’s master.
When it came time to eat, Violet and Astrin had the same habit - except V would roam the ship as his crew untrusting of The Hersey Crew plotted away over plates in small huddles, discussing their concern over the softening of their Captain. Mal had found himself sticking on the edge of the Hersey Crew, finding their company refreshing. At some point V took up a spot next to Malachite and started up a conversation about the book he had seen the teenager reading. There was an exchange of food, V sliding over any pieces of meat and protein on his plate in favor for any uneaten vegetables on the half-elf’s.
Maive suddenly appeared touching V’s shoulder with just the slightest of pressure, but it was enough to make the infamous Captain’s red eyes glow with warning as he snapped his attention to her, anger covering for the fear he had just felt at her uninvited and sudden touch. His sudden motion cause Maive to flinch, but her expression remained ever so bland. She said something into his ear and V took a moment to quickly finish the food on his plate, getting up from his seat and going up onto the deck. There were whispers of a group of his men scheming away.
Maive followed him, while Malachite stayed with Ren - who was also seated and conversing happily with The Hersey Crew. Violet wasted no time walking up toward the handful of his crew gathered on deck, the usual trouble maker stirring up fever among the scum of Grim’s crew. His name was Slade and he was good at butchering his opponents, although he got his real kicks out of preying upon the weak.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Violet asked Slade, who looked at him with a smug crooked smile. “The boys and I were just discussing the good time we could have with our new friends. They have some pretty fresh looking meat…No offense Maive, but your ugly face don’t exactly get it up.” Slade insulted her but it seemed not to bother her as she retorted that the size of Slade’s penis wasn’t worth the expedition to find it.
That really seemed to piss off Slade and he took a threatening step toward the woman, only for V to redirect his attention to him. Violet was a good head taller than then him and in the darkness of the open sea the glow of his eyes and the gentle flame that engulfed his broken red horns, the way his white hair caught the light making the menacing smile that slid across his lips all that more intimidating to his plotting crew.
“Oh, Please Slade. Say you will,” The cynicism dripped like venom in his voice. “I have been looking for a reason to string your intestine out along the bow. Think of the wonderful strings I’d have to build a violin.” Violet threatened looking down his nose to Slade until he backed down, not yet stupid enough to push further.
“I’m going to tell you this once more. You go against my orders and you make trouble…I will not hesitate to end you….you think your going to take the ship by force..I guarantee I can kill the lot of you before The Hersey can. You keep your hands to yourselves and make it to port, I’ll give you cut of my share…you fail to do that,” Violet stared down the half a dozen men gathered around Slade , “and I’ll have enough string for a whole damn orchestra.” It was a tone and mannerism that he had adopted over the years as a show of dominance over the cutthroat crew. It was this that gave him his terrifying reputation among pirates.
The group quickly dispersed nervous laughter hiding knowledge that V could carry out his threat. Slade was quick to retreat below and V’s homicidal persona vanished as if it had all been an act.
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Post by Behax on Nov 5, 2019 13:07:20 GMT
All 20 odd members of Astrin's crew were loud and sociable, they clear got along with little ill blood between them. Astrin sat at the head of a table with Enzo and the two girls close by. He was caught in animated conversation, however that didn't mean he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, and how V's crew stuck to small groups huddled together. He was already committing faces to memory. He noticed V and Maive get up and leave out of the corner of his eye. He managed to catch the attention of his half-demon helmsman and subtly indicate that they follow.
They gave it a few seconds before stepping away from dinner under the guise of needing a piss. When they reached the stairwell they turned to shadow and disappeared so that V and Maive wouldn't catch on that they had a tag along.
It wasn't until the plotting members of V's crew had left that they let their presence be known. Letting out an amused whistle from where they were now perched in the crows nest, no longer apart of the dark nighttime shadows. The helmsman's eyes were like 2 yellow orbs in the dark, reflecting what little light there was from around the deck.
"So the Grim's Captain's reputation appears to be true. But I have to wonder if V has ever actually followed through on such a threat?" They mused. In the dark their form was slender, androgynous. Their voice giving little away. "At least it seems under control for now." The helmsman leapt over the edge of the crows nest and turned to shadow before they hit the deck. The reappeared again at the edge of the stairs, heading back down.
Once back in the common area where everyone else was finishing their meals, the helmsman found Astrin and whispered in his ear everything they'd just heard and witnessed.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 6, 2019 2:05:29 GMT
V hadn’t become the infamous Captain at his younger age without having some truth to the terrible rumors. While Violet might not have seemed the monster some of the stories made him out to be, he only had Ren to thank him from pulling him from the addictive bloodsport making his enemies suffer. Naga had been a teacher, but reuniting with Ren had been the return of his conscience.
There were a few things that V needed to discuss with Maive and the pair disappeared into the Captain’s Quarters her intent to brief him on what she had found so far and perhaps grow a little closer to V. After all she had been with him for 3 years now and no matter how hard she had tried - V had always kept it professional.
She laid the information on the desk, the duo looking over the map and papers - mulling over what the Ly’ren Navy was up to and more importantly; what they thought Von Lear might do when he finds out that his ship is in the hands of pirates. That put Violet into good mood, Maive pushing the alcohol to her Captain to help in her pursuit of her target. Maive did her share of drinking, revealing the scarred lower half of her face was a patchwork of burns.
“Are you happy V?” Maive asked her Captain closing the distance between them. Violet had let his celebration get the better of him was steadying his intoxicated self on the edge of the desk. “Happy? Yes, I suppose. I’m one step closer to bringing that bastard to the ending he deserves…” Violet boasted leaning back as Maive was clearly invading his personal space, yet she was so careful not to touch him.
“For what he did to you…to me…” Maive’s cold voice was soft and frail, her curvy half-elf figure was no longer hidden by the layers of coats and cloaks. She expertly had unbuttoned V’s shirt without his protest until she reached the decorative corset. It almost looked like the pair where actually a couple as Maive continued to try to seduce V in a type of game. Sea-foam green colored hair draped down her shoulders and voluptuous chest in various braids. She went to remove his corset and V cleared his throat. “If you continue Maive…I will hurt you.”
“Let me see…I won’t touch you….just let me see what he did to you…” Maive begged, that dead voice was alive with lustful contention, her face was so close to his. “How badly do you want a broken jaw?” He whispered to her, V’s entire body was stiff- his nails digging into the desk he was desperately holding on to as life support. The pair were frozen in an tense few moments and Maive began her withdrawal, not wanting to tempt fate.
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Post by Behax on Nov 6, 2019 16:59:52 GMT
As people finished their meals Astrin contemplated his next actions based on what he'd just been told. Does he let it go? Ignore it for now and wait until something happens, or does he try to threaten V's crew into behaving themselves. Given his own reputation he wasn't sure it would be as effective as V threatening to make an orchestra from his crews innards. His reputation was less fear and violence and more sexual promiscuity, despite the fact he was quite capable of violence. It often worked to his advantage because it meant crews like The Grim often underestimated him and his crew thinking they were soft, but he wasn't sure if that provided much of an advantage right now.
Instead he stood up and spoke briefly with Enzo telling him to arrange a 4 person watch rotation, 2 above deck, 2 below. Under no circumstances were V's grew to be on watch unsupervised. He then left the galley and headed up to the deck. He looked around seeing that V and his crewman had obviously moved off since is helmsman had spied on them. What he did notice however was his navigator on the upper deck with a periscope, lips mouthing something as he looked at the night sky. Fortunately it was mostly clear, so the young man was able to make out the stars, getting a more accurate reading on where they were by star mapping.
Astrin decided not to bother him while he worked. Instead heading to the Captains state room and the quarters beyond. He paused in the door way, having walked into the awkward scene between V and Maive. He gave a polite cough before speaking.
"If I'm interrupting something I can come back later? But I would rather get some sleep before someone on your crew decides to try and shank me," he said half in jest, but he honestly did expect someone to be stupid enough to try and put a blade to him sooner or later.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 7, 2019 1:22:03 GMT
Maive looked at Astrin with sheer annoyance - it was clear that V’s rejection and Astrin’s interruption had quickly put her in a bad mood and in a huff she gathered her discarded items in the crook of her arm. “After 3 years…I’m starting to think Von Lear took more than just his kidney.” She looked at Astrin with a wicked smile and a wink while she made a snipping gesture with her fingers.
“Fuck you Maive.” V dismissed her insult, it was obvious there was no love between them. The half-demon had been rooting around in a draw relieved when he had found some cigarettes.
“I wish you would.” Maive plucked the cigarette from V’s lips the moment he was able to light it asserting her own dominance. With her stolen cigarette Maive left but not before giving Astrin a drunken lustful once over with her eyes and a warning. “Anyone that has a desire to keep living should disembark this vessel when we make port. It will be one of the most dangerous places to be when the Commander comes to reclaim it…” Her tone wasn’t threatening, but she tilted her head to show off the scars on her face, exhaling a stream of smoke from her nostrils while her fingertips trailed down the scars from her mouth to neck. “Those who stay can expect to find themselves on sale in the Underground,” She swayed a little from side to side and her anger returned at V’s rejection yet again. “..in pieces.” She sneered giving her Captain one last glance and let herself out.
Violet had found another cigarette, his hands trembled as he took a drag from it. Something about her mannerisms reminded him of the monster until it was hard for him to distinguish between the two. The last time she had pushed him, Violet had broken her hand defending himself; he couldn’t fathom why she still pursued him as a sexual conquest.
Violet let out a sigh. “I apologize ahead of time for any stupid ideas my crew gets up to, I’ve warned them,” V polished off what alcohol was in his glass. “..so execute on sight…I certainly would…did…” The edges of his words rounded into the next. He set down his glass and took another drag from it unwinding from what he felt had been a very tense situation.
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Post by Behax on Nov 14, 2019 21:36:22 GMT
The look Maive gave Astrin was met with a non-apologetic smirk. He made no remark on Maive's comment about that Von Lear took from her captain, however the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. The drunken once over she gave him though got no reaction. He was used to people look at him in such a way, he had a reputation for being a bit of a whore after all, and he knew how good he looked. "You make it sound as though some of us haven't experienced that already," Astrin retorted with an almost threatening edge to his voice despite his tone being almost sickeningly sweet. He didn't like it when other people put someone else's history out in the open without their permission. When she left Astrin closed the door, and then dead bolted it. He had a feeling they might be safer that way for tonight at least.
"Well how well any of their 'stupid ideas' go, wholly depends on who they try it on. I wont deny certain members of my crew will be easy pickings....Others...well. I gave my crew permission to retaliate indiscriminately....Not sure your crew realises just how indiscriminate mine can be." Their crews had almost opposite reputations, but that didn't mean that Astrin's wasn't capable of great violence. In fact they would hardly still be in business if they weren't, but the fact that hardly anyone talked about them that way might have been a worrying sign to some.
Astrin made no remarks about what Maive had said, he seemed to at least have the tact to not poke at things like that. It was V's business as far as he was concerned, and he wasn't about to go poking in it uninvited. He walked through the Captains state room, through to the attached quarters. He let out a small whistle. There was a lot of fancy and expensive looking trinkets in there, as well as more than a few trophies. There was of coure only one bed, but it was more than large enough for 2. The covers looked expensive. A ridiculous amount of opulence when u considered they were at sea.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 16, 2019 1:54:04 GMT
“Mine are replaceable for a reason.” V muttered to himself taking another long inhale of the cigarette brushing off the nerves he felt. Maive wasn’t however…while she was decent with a sword her real weapon was spying and magic. Ren and Mal were keepers…but the rest could take a walk off a short plank. Naga would chew him out for running crews the way he did, but it was easier this way - easier to hate everyone. His brooding was interrupted by Astrin’s whistle. He was so use to isolating himself that in his intoxication had forgotten he was there.
Afraid he was going to miss something V went to the door way, turning an upper lip at the lavish looking decor, that was Von Lear’s style. He was hesitant to go in - this was one of Von Lear’s ships and he had probably been in this room sometime within the last year…gods he tried not to think about it.
Another drag to calm his nerves and taking a bold step past the doorway. Von Lear wasn’t here now and it wasn’t like he was suddenly going to appear out of thin air. The ship was his now. He inspected the trinkets, taking off a glove that covered his free hand. Scared fingers brushed against the different textures available as if he was relishing in their different surfaces, lingering on softer items. The slave brand burned into the back of his hand was visible without his glove, there was other burn scars, obvious by the pale pigment that laid against a honey darkened skin. He was inspecting a soft item when he looked up an saw Astrin and that utterly soft hair of his. He wanted to touch it with his hands…and those soft looking ears.
“How do we decide who gets the bed?” Violet mentally patted himself on the back for choosing that instead of the overwhelming desire to beg to touch older man’s ears. In such a short time Astrin had gone from Violet’s rival to a man he was garnishing respect for.
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