To Slay the Solemn [Fide]

[jack]

Exploring was an important, and dangerous job. It took courage and brilliance, and none but the most excellent were fit to do it. So why this strange girl, pressed tight against the wall with a white flit on her head and a fluffball of a dog peeking through her legs, was indulging in it, was quite the mystery.

"We seem to have stranded ourselves in an alien hallway..." She whispered, eyes narrowing as he worked her jaw absently, the flit giving a soft, inquisitive chirp that was replied with a deep nod that literally rocked her world. With a hiss of warning she dug her claws in and sent an annoyed image, Javyk responding but hurriedly shooshing her. "Quiet, soldier! We have no idea what strange, mutated creatures might be wandering here!" She spared a suspicious glance for the building, "Maybe even big hideous ones that eat tiny white flits for breakfast."

For it was around breakfast time, or rather, just after it. With a full-belly and a nap in the making, Javyk had set out to find a place to snooze, deciding that a new place would be the best option. The attempt to discover an oasis complete with palm trees and sandy beaches, however, had failed rather miserably. Instead she found herself here, in the Candidate Barracks, wandering around an area she'd never before been. Most likely the boys side, logic would dictate, but logic and Javyk had never really gotten along too well, and even here and now the squirmy thing was off being logical with some other woman. What a whore.

As for Javyk, well...she was doing quite well for being separated from Man's most important tool. Not that she'd ever really used it much. Not since she could walk, anyways. So here she was, wandering around with dog and flit, hoping for the best but knowing that--no matter what--she could take out any offender with a loud yell and a screaming flail in the other direction.

[fidelli]

Hat was... Sleeping. Big shock. He was rather liking this new place, for he was not asked to do much work like a Journeyman at the Hall was - most of the candidates, it seemed, were younger than he and much thusly not expected to do as much. Well, he was digging it. Free meals, only a few chores that he could deal with, and usually ended up charming his way out of anyway... This was the life. Of course, the cot's in his old room were more comfortable, and he had to leave half his wardrobe behind, but his mother and brother's kept him well in supply - they were delighted he had been Searched - and were working on new things, so he was content. It was nice, this whole start over thing... Although loosing his contacts that he had painstakingly staked together back at Ista was not his favorite thing. He had new ones here, that had been forewarned about his arrival, and would have to make time to go meet them, but at least he had them.

So, all in all, despite the if's, and's, and but's, he was happy. There were plenty of boy's around, but he had a room as of yet to himself, and was snoozing away... Well into the day. It was hunger that awoke him, a grumbling in his stomach that send him accidentally rolling out his bed and straight onto the floor. Rather disgruntled, he shook his head out and rose, shambling sleepily back to sit on the edge and run his hands through his hair - as a result it was rather tousled. Blue eyes took in the stone building as he yawned, trying to wake up. Oh, right. He wasn't in the Harper Hall anymore, Toto. It didn't take him more than a few moments to change into a pair of breeches and an elegant tunic top, and slipping a short-brimmed hat on his head. It was rather his favorite, despite the oddity of it - he didn't care.

This primping didn't take too long - he was rather hungry, and he let himself out of his room whistling. Hands in his pockets, he had stopped as soon as he hit the hallway, listening more out of practice than out of worry. It was the right after breakfast, and the barrack's - he had found - were usually deserted. Nothing good to steal, either, he had found out rather quickly - most of the boys were poor. He hadn't had the time to explore the girl's room's, where he had the idea that he would find much more interesting shiny necklaces and things, but he would have to begin to get to know them first and his contacts - best not to be caught redhanded. He was glad that he was just starting out - his room wasn't as cluttered as the last one had been, and his roommate would, of course, be a neat freak.

Checking to make sure he wasn't followed - another odd habit he had picked up, he began down the hallway, sure that his nose would lead him to food... Or his brain would lead him to people. He rounded the corner, and it was only the quick reflexives he had honed after years that stopped him from running into her - and even as he stopped he was not quite expecting the attack and managed to pin her against the wall, hands on either side of her head to catch himself. Blue eyes wide, he looked down into the eyes of his surprise victim... A girl, and a flitter. Well, look what falls into his lap!

A bright grin slipped onto his face - and he made no move to shift his hands. "Hello! I'm terribly sorry, you caught me at such a disadvantage, completely by surprise." It was only then that he moved his hands away, and backed up a step, grinning down at her and realizing she had more than one creature on her. "My apologies, little miss. I didn't mean to almost run over you and your beautiful creatures here." He offered a hand, forever the elegant gentleman even if he did have tousled hair and an odd hat. "Can you ever forgive me my foolishness? I am Hatoter - Hat, for such a pretty lady such as yourself."

[jack]

Just as Javyk was beginning to pick up speed--confident she was remembering these hallways and getting further out, when in reality she was just digging herself in deeper--something, of course, would come up and destroy her plans. But while the brunette had been beginning to expect an assault of some sort, she had been picturing a horrible sand-dwelling monster with horns and teeth and a skull for a head with one eye that rolled around like a marble...or maybe a particularly ugly boy, the creature that attacked and pinned her to a wall was...surprising. To say the least.

Eyes wide with surprise and canine barking his head off between her legs--partially barking out of 'oh Faranth that's not my owner but he's touching my owner it must be an enemy so I'll bark and bark and then eat it', but also because he was now squished against the wall--she literally found herself completely without a comment, staring with absolute disbelief at the handsome face so close to hers. Okay. Now, this didn't make a lick of sense. Wandering girl finds herself lost and alone in hallway only to suffer a terrifying attack that turns out to be a prince charming in shining knight-armor?! ...too much like a fairytale. Or a really warped journal.

The attacking-invading-prince-knight backed off, saying something or another that Javyk wasn't paying any attention to, and Moonii took this moment to give an angry squeal of a sound, flying off the brunette's shoulder and betweening. An image of the underside of the bed--where the silly creature went to hide--flashed for a moment in Javyk's mind and she blinked, giving a soft huff before shushing Bodie. "I don't think you were the one caught at a disadvantage." She grumped after a moment, showing she was actually listening when even she hadn't thought she was as she pushed off of the wall, only to lean against it in a different position. "You're bigger than me, aren't ya? That makes the blame fall on you."

Despite the rather annoyed tone that slunk into her tone--being pressed against a wall for no reason did that to a person--she looked more intrigued than actually angry, and gave the man a good looking over, reaching down to tussel Bodie's ears before taking his hand. She shook it, her grip firm in a 'I can be bigger than you...yah!' way before letting go rather abruptly, inspecting her hand as though she expected to find a leech on it. "Name's Javyk." She announced after a minute or so had passed, a smirk on her lips as she looked Hat in the eye, "Bodie's the hound, and Moonii was the flit. As for forgiving, I'm thinkin' not big guy. You did, after all, squish me against a wall. That's a pretty bad thing! I think you owe me." Completely serious she lifted her brows, but grinned again, chuckling at the compliment, "Well I don't know about pretty, but Hat I can work with. Hatter it is! The Hatter, My Hatter, You Hatter, Its a HATTER. Works for a big bad monster like yourself, wouldn't you say?"

[fidelli]

Hat would, had he realized he was destroying her plans, argued. It was his belief that plans were meant to be broken, if they were changed with sometime better, and as Javyk’s plans were to be attacked by an ugly boy or an evil monster, he believed himself – a pretty, not monstrous boy, was a much better plan. She would understand in due time, of course, that things like this were better, surprises were more fun, and attacks made against your life sometimes led to the most fun adventures. Besides, if every time he rounded a corner and got to pin a pretty girl against the wall, he would be doing more roaming.

Of course, he was even more delighted with the canine – although he didn’t like barking. Barking meant that positions had been compromised, missions were under threats, and burglaries were harder to complete with a canine you had five seconds to convince you were friend before you had to abort the whole mission. Thankfully, he wasn’t on a planned thieving expedition, and the only thing he wanted to steal from her was a kiss or two – plus, she could make the whole deal a much more exciting and the dog wasn’t a threat!

Plus, in an all around good move, it wasn’t often Hat got the chance to shock a lady into silence, a pretty woman. If he had even known her by sight he probably would have used the reason to “accidentally” steal one from her, but he didn’t – hey, even he had morals!

So he backed off, frowning in disappointment and apology as he chased the precious white flit away. And what was worse is she didn’t look like she was even listening to him as she made the dog start barking, which made him even more upset… But then she was talking back, and his smile brightly lit up. ’I don't think you were the one caught at a disadvantage.’ And his smile grew. Oh, one with spirit! He did love ones that were interesting; girls that were fluffy bits often annoyed him. Ever the gentleman, he dealt with them, but he much preferred these types. ‘You're bigger than me, aren't ya? That makes the blame fall on you.’

He wasn’t at all dismayed or swayed by her tone – rather, he was more interested in the body language, by the look she gave – more intrigued than her grumpy tone portrayed. As he stayed upright, letting his hat tip over one eye and hands tucked in his pockets, he let her look over him – quietly making his own judgments. Under baggy clothing, he could see thin arms that slipped from beneath big sleeves, and perhaps more curves under the clothing than would first give you an idea for. Her face was strong, but pretty… And he was interested.

That she took the offered hand was a point in his direction, and yet he was surprised when she shook it. He returned the grip purely out of reflex, surprised by the strength behind it, but as she dropped it quirked the eyebrow under the hat, waiting her out, waiting out the introduction. ‘Name's Javyk.’ He did enjoy a lady who would meet him eye to eye instead of demurely looking at the floor, and stayed silent as she kept going. ‘Bodie's the hound, and Moonii was the flit. As for forgiving, I'm thinkin' not big guy. You did, after all, squish me against a wall. That's a pretty bad thing! I think you owe me.’

As quickly as that, he froze, a wicked grin slipping onto his face. She was fun! And he did enjoy someone who could match him blade for blade. You could almost see him settle into a fencing stance, running the blade delicately up her’s, as if to test the strength behind it, and the control she had over it. It was not found lacking – yet. ‘Well I don't know about pretty, but Hat I can work with. Hatter it is! The Hatter, My Hatter, You Hatter, Its a HATTER. Works for a big bad monster like yourself, wouldn't you say?’ Interesting inflection on his name – usually Hat just worked, but she seemed fit to give him more of a nickname than he already had. With another debonair smile, he dropped into an elegant bow, rolling the hat into his hand as he made his leg. It was all footwork first - getting into position. "Javyk..." He rolled her name around his tongue, tasting it, enjoying it.

“Well, my elegant lady, I have only a few arguments to make against your statements. Firstly” – he swept her hand up in an graceful gesture and kissed the top of it, releasing it as quickly as he had snatched it. “A flower such as yourself should be greeted as such, not in the barbaric manner of men grappling hands. Women are much stronger than men – you don’t need to prove that to me. Secondly, it is a pleasure to hear your name, and I apologize for scaring your little White away as well. Thirdly, I would hope you could consider forgiving me, as I was not the only one not paying attention. It is perhaps a little more fault mine than yours, but only a little. Still, however, a debt is a debt, and I am in your service.” Only his head was bowed that time, eyes twinkling at her in good humor – he was liking this Weyr more and more!

“Odd infliction, oh pearl of beauty – there is an ‘o’ in my name, you see. Hatoter… But if the lady insists, I concede to her fair wisdom.” It was an interesting – he had never been called Hatter before. And she seemed to like it, dashing off with very pronouns – he rather liked the ‘my Hatter’ she used. He took the hat he had been holding and placed it back on his head, looking down at her once again. “But, my exquisite lily, I do have to argue… I’m not the big bad monster. Why ever would you think I would be the big bad monster? I prefer to sweep the ladies off their feet…”

He grinned wickedly, enjoying the bantering – the real swordplay would come soon, he could feel it in his fingertips.

[jack]

Looking quite smug, with Bodie sitting with veiled obedience--it was still rather clear he was eying Hatoter with the intent-to-chew stare--Javyk did nothing but lift a brow as her hand was lifted, a flash flickering in her eyes as lips were pressed against her knuckles. Patiently, with her opinion on the man masked easily behind a subtle frown, she let him talk, observing him keenly as he spoke, while only listening to about half of what came out of his mouth.

"Perhaps I prefer hands to touch hands." She announced the moment he was finished, making it obvious she would strike each of his opinions down one by one, "Perhaps..." The teen reached forwards, grabbing both of his hands and intertwining her fingers with his, pulling him forwards sternly until both of their hands were pressed against the wall, the other forced to lean over her as she leaned up, pressing her lips against his in a momentary kiss, breaking away and pushing him away with one lazy hand, "...I prefer lips to touch lips, and not knuckles."

Smirking like a man who knew his hand was too great to bluff, she sashayed after where she'd shoved him, biting her lower lip lazily as she snatched at his hand again, intertwining their fingers once more. "Moonii's spooky. She doesn't like others." She interjected, seeming to be bored with the subject as she glanced at her dog, whose docked little tail was squirming wildly, "But as for forgiving, I suppose I could do such a thing." Quick as a whip she reached up, plucking the hat from his head and sliding it over her own, sashaying away as quickly as she had come, but pulling him along with her until she broke away to lean against a wall. "But you've a long way to go before that will happen." She grinned, a manic, wicked expression, "After all, I don't know about what you see, but I happen to be standing quite solidly on my two feet."

[fidelli]

Hat was not ignoring the dog - in most other companies he would have been trying to make friends - but as he was, the dog's master was far more interesting. Plus, it looked to be a one woman dog, as the sparing glance Hat offered Bodie was returned with the idea of Hatoter being a chew toy. Lovely.

And even as the flowery young man spoke, he watched her. He watched her, judged her, tried to understand her from her words and her actions. She was, indeed, pretty, underneath it all. She was very pretty. And even more, besides the prettiness, she could banter. He could feel her own blade testing his, feel her get ready for the first strike. It came, a gentle testing blow. 'Perhaps I prefer hands to touch hands.' He was watching her face now, eyes narrowed in a wickedly delightful challenge, waiting. 'Perhaps...' He let her do as she would, entwining his fingers around hers and letting her pull him forward. He liked his Javyk, very much indeed, and as he leaned over her, she reached up and kissed him.

Oh, he liked this girl indeed. And she tasted of challenges and sweets, even as he was pushed away, taking a step backwards before realizing that he had just been touched with her naked blade, once. '...I prefer lips to touch lips, and not knuckles.' He didn't mind the spot of blood that erupted on his shoulder - all was fair in love and war. Be ignored the strike and took up his guard, watching her with his tongue still tracing his lips. Delightful.

He didn't watch her hips - he could trace them in the air if he wanted to. Her face was much more interesting, her mouth, her nose, the ways her eye's shifted as she moved entangle his hand with hers. And still his eyes didn't move from her face as she bit into her lower lip. Fencing you watched the torso - but his sword was words, and with that type of blade everything came from the face, the expressions the movement that gave the next move away.

'Moonii's spooky. She doesn't like others.' He barely remembered who Moonii was - right, the little White flit she had on her shoulder that he had scared off. He lazily twisted his thumb to stroke along her finger, mouth smiling a wicked grin. 'But as for forgiving, I suppose I could do such a thing.' His mouth puckered, lips slipping into the shape of an "o," as the vowel slipped from his tongue - but he was distracted, hands gliding out too slow to snatch his hat back. He ran a hand through his hair, making the mess stand on end and giving it a tousled look, but he didn't care. That was his hat!

...But she did look very fine in it. Unsure whether to argue or to leave it for now, he let himself be towed, eyes narrowed as her next score almost touched. He wouldn't let it bother him - the hat was where he could see it, and he didn't mind her wearing it... It looked damn good on her. Of course, it would look better if it was the only thing she wore, but that wasn't an option. At the moment. And even as she tugged him along, he lifted her hand up to touch his lips to it once more, grinning. "I still prefer to touch lips to hand."

Her hand was removed from his as she turned back to him, leaning against the wall in his hat and looking as though she was queen of the world. 'But you've a long way to go before that will happen. After all, I don't know about what you see, but I happen to be standing quite solidly on my two feet.' And then it was his turn to be on offense, his turn to attack, in his fluid, flowery way.

It started slow, his first words, as he took a few steps closer to her, smiling in his own way. It was a crazed smile, a smile of a hatter. "I'm sure, given time, oh perfect diamond, I can convince you to forgive me. But, I do have one thing I can convince you of now." And he slipped closer yet, still grinning his half smile. "As much as I hate to contradict a beautiful lady such as yourself, I don't think you are." And quick as a flash, he had scooped up the smaller girl, bridal style and held her, blue eyes flashing down. He leaned down that time, pressing his lips against her's in another kiss, pulling away just as fast as she did with a fierce grin. "And that's my hat."

His grip was loose enough she could slip down, but tight enough he had no problem holding on to her.