Re: Chess game

[Keegan Navaro]

-->"Thanks for the offer." Yeah, but she wouldn't take him up on it full Inn or not. She would travel back into town and find a room at the other establishment she was told about if the Inn was to capacity. No offense but she didn't like shacking up with anyone no matter what the reason. She liked having her own personal space, and he might not like having her parade around in her undies. That didn't mean she hoped the Inn wasn't full because it would be so much easier to find him once she opened the tube. Glancing towards the sky as the thunder rumbled before stepping onto the porch, it didn't seem as if the storm was going to let up anytime soon.

-->This opening of the door thing she could get use to. It was nice being treated like a woman and not like the flavor of the week. Smile was flashed and she paused briefly between the open door and the interior of the Inn. Why? So she could tap the end of each boot against the porch in hopes to clear them of water. She was drenched, water logged and now getting a bit chilly but mum's the word. She was just about to go inside completely when she cast a glance back at him. Smile left her face as she noticed the faint outline of the scars. Faint because from her viewpoint she couldn't really see their extent, nor make out why they were there. Ever had your hand just itch to touch something? Keegan did and she wanted to trace the faint scar she seen and had to will herself not to. Scars...a fascination point for her.

-->Slight cough as if to clear her throat before she stepped inside the Inn. Pushing the memory of the scars to the back of her mind as he spoke, which caused her to pause as he closed the door behind them. "Sucks to be them if they do." Never going out of her way to be intentionally rude but she felt that a place such as this would have a cleaning lady, or someone to at least clean up after the guest. A double check to make sure there was no mud on her boots before glancing towards the desk. "Hm..maybe I should wait until morning to check in, doesn't seem to be anyone there."

-->Full body quiver as the chill set into her bones. Damn her for not packing more than just an extra shirt, but in her defense she didn't know she would be go this long. "Maybe they will have the fireplace going so I can at least dry out until then." The wait shouldn't be that long as morning was fast approaching. As if on cue she felt and heard the rumble of her stomach and released a scoff of sorts. Maybe he hadn't heard it, but she still shot him a look anyway. He knew this place better than she did so she was open for suggestions to her many discomforts. Cold, wet clothes and now hunger. Apologetic smile was the only thing she could offer at the moment.

[Mael Feu]

"Technically, it is morning." Might have been a smart ass remark but it was meant in good humor. It was hitting a little after 3 am by now.

Her hesitation at the door was taken oonly as her wanting to knock off her boots, nothing else since he didn't give much thought to the whip scars on his back. Holding the door open wasn't soley for manners, but it let him get a better look at her rain-drenched condition. She was wet, possibly cold - this was a reason he took off his shirt. The wet clothes would feel cold or cause one to get a cold if they continued to stay in them. Being out in the rain, walking, was one thing, but being more or less stagnant was quite another.

Fortunatly for them the Inn was warm. Not hot, or cold, but to him it felt room temperature, eventhough it was still a temperature someone would have to get use to. He saw her shiver as she passed by him and he looked towards the direction of the bar area while making his way to the front desk. She was going to get a good look at his back if she was watching. Only that shoulder area was covered by his wrung out shirt over his shoulder but the rest was clear to see. It wasn't one marking but a series in criss-cross directions between the shoulders to lower back. Marks like that came from actually being whipped and all of them not cared for properly enough to have transistioned into the skin by now as some were more prevelant than others.

To the desk he knocked her knuckles upon it. "As there's nothing blocking the bar someone should be around. If not I'd help myself." So if she was hungry perhaps she would get something to eat. Upon arrival he had been told that this place takes the safety of their patrons into consideration. If no one was about than that fact as a lie. If there was no nighttime watchman or a guard of some sort then anyone could walk into the Inn and do what they wanted because no one would be around. "The bar is self serve." Helping out with that suggestion. He scanned the area off-handedly as he turned back around to face her.

Being here in the open like this wasn't, in his opinion, the best idea for him because the person he had come here seeking could very well be the one who showed up. He would cross that bridge when he came to it.

"As it's summer I doubt there's a fire." Could be wrong, but he didn't smell anything burning. He glanced up the stairs and started in that direction, holding up a finger for a moment before his hand dropped back down to his side. "I'll be back."

He said he would be back and therefore he would. Julian was going to get something from upstairs.

[Keegan Navaro]

-->Now why was it that Keegan found herself smiling more around him than she had in a long time. "Good point." Yes, it was morning technically so along with the smile she gave him a wrinkle of her nose. Playful gesture and all. Bare arms wrapped around upper torso as if to add warmth but that was not in the cards. She felt like a drenched kitten and probably looked worse. Did she care? Not in the least. If she was displeasing to his eyes or any others they could simply not look at her. Room temperature did very little to take the chill but like always she didn't complain. Truth of the matter she was busy watching him, and examining the scars as he moved to the check in desk.

-->She wanted to know how they came to mar his flesh, if he wore them like a badge of honor, or tried to avoid the painful memories they brought up. Maybe if and when they knew each other better she would ask. Sometimes being a woman of the non nosy kind wasn't always to her benefit. The marks reminded her of a cat of nine tails whip she had seen the damage they had done to horseflesh, which was the first and last time Keegan was ever struck by a male. She didn't like abuse of any kind to any creature and the man objected to her stepping between his horse and him. No matter, he'd not soon forget their encounter.

-->She had moved closer to where he was and almost blushed when he turned to face her since she was staring hardcore at the scars. He said something about the bar being self serve. She wasn't a drinker but a shot of whiskey might chase the chill away. "Maybe a shot of Jack would ward off the chill." Now, she really wasn't familiar with the place and the bar was foreign to her so let's hope there was a tender because making herself comfortable in a place she didn't know unnerved her. That didn't stop her from moving in that direction, but Julian did. "A fire was wishful thinking on my part." Soft laugh and nod as he told her he would return.

-->Trust...something she rarely did but Julian had earned a tad bit, he didn't seem the type to say one thing and do the polar opposite. He said he would be back, and she knew he would. In the meantime Keegan would find her way to the bar and claim a seat. Unlucky she seemed to be since there was nobody behind it, so putting her feet on the lower rung of the stool she pushed herself in a half lean over the bar, arm outstretched to the familiar black label bottle, fingers curling around the neck barely she might add and it was hoisted before her. Score! And score she did as she found two shot glasses tucked neatly under the counter. She wouldn't take the liberty of pouring him a shot, until he returned but she did herself and downed it quickly. Yes, the familiar burn collected in the pit of her stomach as slowly started spreading.

[Mael Feu]

If anything was ever discovered of the man currently going by the name of Julian it should be that he kept his word. If he said he was going to do something then he would; it may not have been at the very moment or even an hour later but he would do it. The length of time between the saying and the doing all had to do with what it was that he had said.

In this case he was coming back as soon as he got what he needed from upstairs.

Once he started traveling he hooked his thumbs into the waist of his wet jeans and kept his eye forward until he got to his room. When he pulled out his key he also took out his phone and flipped it open and pressed a few choice buttons as he opened up the door. Flipping it shut the phone was tossed on his bed to land wherever it willed and he continued to the dresser. His room wasn't large - it was on the first floor so it only had a single bed, dresser, lamp and an extra chair. Didn't bother him that he had to use the communal bath and the room fit his needs. Nothing extravagant, simply basic and big enough for one person as long as that person didn't have with them a lot of baggage. And he didn't. Only a few extra clothing pieces that he had brought in since his arrival.

He pulled a plain white shirt from his top drawer and shut it and turned to leave the room, stopping by the chair he had to hang his wet shirt over the back. As he opened the door he heard the low buzz of his phone going off and spared it only a glance. He had done his work and whatever else they wanted they could continue to want it. He wasn't going to be bothered at the moment. Out he went and he shut the door behind him.

But he didn't go back down yet, instead he went to the communal bath and got a towel. They were there to use and he found that they were always fresh. Never saw the person who took the old ones and replaced with fresh but that didn't matter. Once that was done he started back downstairs.

Keegan looked cold and the shirt and towel were for her. Done say he was never nice and he was doing it without the want to have anything in return. On the ground level he looked towards the bar and saw she was there and smiled a bit. He didn't know if she was actually going to stay or not but he counted it a good thing that she had.

He didn't make any attempt to hide his approach, he even saw the bottle and the glasses. Taking the shirt and towel in hand he placed them on the bar next to her and in arms reach. "For you." Now whether she took either of them was up to her but it was there for her to take; and he was taking up the shot glass.

"Thanks," was spoken as he lifted it up before set it back down to take up the bottle. "No sense in you freezing." He didn't look as what as he did when he first came in, probably do to walking. He hooked a foot to a stool and sat down keeping his back to the entrance in case anyone came in.

[Keegan Navaro]

-->They had something else in common it would seem. Like Julian, she was a woman of her word. If she said she was going to do something, she did. Life was too short to waste it with lies and bullshit. Keegan from the jump was a straight shooter. Her mouth didn't always come with a filter and sometimes it got her into trouble but that's how she was. She grew up around guys and so they treated her like one. She had the mouth of a sailor at times but she knew how to keep it under control when it was needed.

-->While Julian was gone she looked around the place. It was nice and from what she could tell it was private to boot. However, it didn't seem to offer anything as far as entertainment went. Keegan enjoyed dancing and just having a great time. Admit it chick. She was having a good time hanging out with Julian. There was no music involved, no over zealous flirting, hell she was pretty sure that Julian didn't even view her as such. It was cool. Nice change of pace from the norm. When she heard the steady fall of his footsteps she turned to face the door, offering a smile.

-->Looking at the shirt and towel she then poured his whiskey. "For you." If Keegan was a teacher, Julian would be her favorite pupil with a ton of gold stars beside his name. She wasn't but he did earn brownie points galore. "Thanks." Considerate he was, and she was thankful for that. Turning away from the counter she grabbed the towel with one hand while the other was working free her pony tail, sliding off her stool she shook her head slightly and patted it with the towel. Wet dog shake if you will. After she was satisfied her hair was dry enough and with her back still towards him her wet shirt was pulled off and his own was now in place.

-->She felt better already, and if she wasn't in public for the most part sh would have put her hair in that Hindu towel wrap so it could dry. No worries, she continued to scrunch it dry with the towel, as she reclaimed her seat. "I'll return your shirt as soon as I can get another one." The whiskey was now forgotten since it's warmth along with the shirt took away the chill. Her attention now focused on the tube she had placed on the counter, then a glance at him. " Any helpful tips?" Ha, not like she expected any but one never knew. Plus if she kept him talking, he would stick around.

-->While he was gone Keegan had already decided to check into the Inn. Her bike was safe, and it didn't hurt that Julian was here as well. She enjoyed making friends, and Julian seemed the type that she would enjoy hanging out with. Julian could be her own private little enigma. It would be interesting to discover exactly who he was, but Keegan had a feeling that it wouldn't be an easy task. Light chuckle to herself as the movie Shrek came to mind. Julian was her onion! She really did think of the silliest things at the wrong times.

[Mael Feu]

"No problem," was said in response to her thanks for the shirt and towel. Besides, she had poured his drink for him. More of a social drinker than anything but when it came to he was able to hold his own and not succumb to the effects of alcohol easily. 

Julian here didn't know her enough to label her as 'one of the guys' and she didn't make herself a harlot to be thought of as only a piece of ass so therefore, the female he was currently sharing a drink with, was only Keegan. Attractive, yes, but he wasn't known for blatant flirts. He was smiling here and there while in her company, even spared a laugh or two, and that was more than some ever got. 

Under the pretense of drinking his whiskey - which he did do - he watched her pat dry her hair. When she took off her shirt he did the same as in the stables: she had her back to him so what was there to look away from. He did, however, let his gaze follow the path of his shot glass when he put it back on the counter. She had asked for tips and truthfully he couldn't tell her how to open that particular cylinder as each was always slightly different. Knuckles of his left hand gave a double-knock to counter before his shoulders rolled back in a shrug. "Be logical about it," was his first suggested tip on how to open the object. 

He nodded towards it as he offered more, "And keep a cool head, let it talk to you." Might not be the best advice but then again it could be if it was understood. People who picked locks and even those who put things to put things together often had an ear for what they were doing. Listening or feeling for clicks and signs that they were on the road to success. Perhaps she knew this. 

There was a shadow of a smile was on his face as he looked at her. 

[Keegan Navaro]

--> Julian would probably come to realize over time spent with Keegan that keep a cool head was something she as great at. She never gave into panic, fear or any other emotion that in her book was unnecessary. It wouldn't pay to panic while hauling ass down the road on her motorcycle and have some jackass pull out in front of you or some sort of wildlife dart from the side of the road. Nope, calm, cool and collected was her demeanor ninety percent of the time.

-->"I can do that." Meaning be logical and let it talk to her. It didn't hurt any that she was mechanically inclined so that was a bonus as far as she was concerned. She offered him a ghost of a smile as her mind was already mulling over various combination that could open the tube. Thumb and index finger of right hand came to pinch at the bridge of her nose as dark eyes blinked the fuzziness from their vision. Hell she had been up for almost three days straight now and fatigue was catching up with her.

-->"If you don't mind Julian, I think I'm going to check in and catch some sleep before tackling the tube." She was exhausted and though she didn't want to leave good company, she wasn't going to be useful to anyone if she was dead on her feet. Slipping from her seat and grabbing the tube arms lifted over her head as she stretched the best she could. Now, here is where things got tricky, did she offer a handshake in parting, a kiss to the cheek or what? She was never good at this sort of thing. She decided to fore go all of the above. "Thanks for the adventure and I will be seeing you soon." Free hand gave a pat to his shoulder as she made her way towards the front desk to check in. A nice hot bubble bath and soft bed were just what she needed.

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