Dean & Amaia | Dean and Kouri
Peer Bonding and Disrespecting Authority
Dean looked out along the pond at the different people gathered there. It seemed Kouri was more than competent at drawing a crowd, with as many different 'unique individuals' as you would find at any seedy bar or tavern. There were your fanatics that seemed all too prepared to accept her as some kind of saviour, there were those who were there, by some coincidence for the thrill of adventure, and of course there were undoubtedly those like him; skeptical of the entire situation but enticed along by whatever reasoning.
Along the edge of the pond he spotted a woman who was sporting a face not unlike the one he had put on, a smile, seemingly attempting to welcome conversation, but he sensed that familiar awkwardness behind it. In truth it relieved him to see someone with the same strategy. He closed in on the woman a bit and extended a hand to shake. "Are you looking for prey or conversation?"
Amaia hesitated a moment before shaking the man's hand, and her false smile edged into one born of true amusement at his question. "I don't see why it can't be both at once, but we'll start with conversation and see how it goes." She paused, looked to see if anyone else was nearby, then shrugged a shoulder. "I'm Amaia. Gave a fake name to the one currently fawning over the supposed princess, but if I'm going to stick around I might as well give the real one. I don't think I caught your name as you were diving into the pond."
Try as he might, Dean wasn't able to completely stifle the chuckle brought out by Amaia. "I feel even I might hesitate giving my real name to that particular brand of fanaticism, glad I got the real one out of you. Also you didn't catch it because I don't usually shout my name as I run into heroics, but my friends call me Dean. Absolute pleasure to meet you."
"A pleasure indeed." Amaia glanced round the pond then back to Dean with a slight smirk. "So, you dove into a pond to rescue one lovely maiden and emerged with three. I can't help but feel a little jealous. Are you always that lucky, or were the gods smiling upon you this day?"
He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, feeling a bit flushed in the face. Dean then reflected on his past few days. Ryker had left him to go Gods know where, a particularly nasty bear had made off with his food leaving him to forage for food in the woods without a short bow or proper hunting supplies, and the hot days had made him grumpy, sweaty and presumably left him smelling none too rosy. "I feel I was just due for a bit of good luck by now." He stated simply, knowing the three women more than balanced any deficit of luck he'd been having. "I suppose you- really I suppose everyone here saw my turn of
heroics at the pond, eh?" He replied, the familiar feeling of blushed cheeks creeping forth at the display he had apparently put forward for everyone. Glancing at Amaia again though, he found he didn't mind so long as she had been even mildly impressed.
Amaia's smirk edged a few notches closer to a grin as she noted his embarrassment. "Almost certainly, and if they didn't see it then the tale is sure to spread by nightfall. It's not every day you see a site straight out of legend, the gallant hero leaping, literally in this case, into danger to save a damsel in distress. It was quite a sight." She paused for a moment, looking over toward Kouri for a moment, then gave a little laugh. "Then again, maybe not considering the competition. Do you think she is what she says she is?"
Dean continued to flush for a second until he took the repercussions into consideration. Surely a legend telling of his heroic deeds could only help him carve a path as a famed adventurer? Amaia would then be able to notice his expression change quite suddenly, brightening into a mirror of her own amusement except his at the prospect of fame and glory. As she continued however his brow would furrow and he'd begin to slowly stroke his chin in reflection. "I'm sure we've both heard the legends. I saw her down there. She was inside a block of ice, just like the stories say she would be. Then again who knows what actually happened a thousand years ago? Bit of a tricky thing to say she's a millenia old, but it'd be quite a scam to pull if she isn't. Convenient there's such a crowd around to witness her return." He paused then to collect his thoughts, looking to the man that had all but fainted at the sight of the Princess he pointed. "But I will say you won't see me throwing myself at her feet to kiss her toes, or kneeling anytime soon..." his gaze once again fell to her, trying to guage her ability in a fight, finally resting his eyes on hers. "Assuming of course you'll be around to witness it, should I eventually kneel."
She nodded slowly, mulling over Dean's answer. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be around for a while to witness all sorts of things, kneeling and otherwise. Legendary princess or not, she should at the very least be amusing to follow to see what she gets up to. I'll join you amongst the standing folks though. Kneeling never has suited me, and I doubt she'll change that." One side of her mouth twitched upward, giving her smile a mischievous twist. "Perhaps we could make a game out of it, see how long it takes her to get irritated at us lowly peons showing her little respect and no deference. You interested?"
Dean bit his lower lip in quiet contemplation. Aggravating the woman did seem tempting. "I feel it might tarnish my budding reputation as a hero of legend if I went around disrespecting possible royalty..." he sighed, giving up the notion of actively seeking to annoy the Princess "No, I shouldn't, Ryker would have my head if he ever caught wind. Counter offer, I bet you that you can't bring her to her breaking point, and that even as a possible impostor, her 'nobility' won't let her cuss you out."
"I'll take that bet. You've no idea how much of a nuisance I can be when I'm determined." Amaia's grin slowly faded into a perplexed expression as she ran what he'd said through her mind again. "Wait, Ryker? The monster hunter? Why would he want anything to do with your head? No offense, but the man's a legend in his own right, and you're, well, not."
"Then it's a deal" he chuckled, once again putting his hand out to shake on, but then Dean noticed the look on her face, and withdrew somewhat nervously. As she spoke, it became clear that she was familiar with his master, and at least mildly interested in their connection. When she asked her question he tried to straighten out his posture, to appear as mature as possible. "He's teaching me the business. I'm his apprentice. He says everyone has to start somewhere, and the worst I can do is die." Calmly he rested his on his belt and shrugged slightly. "I must be an alright student as I'm still alive, right?"
Amaia stared at Dean blankly for a few seconds, then a laugh bubbled forth, a quick expression of pure amusement. As it died down, she shook her head slowly, a pleasant smile on her face once more. "Wise words, and I suppose you're right. I guess what they say about books and covers is true. I had you pegged as one of those fellows who wanted to be a knight and rescue damsels from dragons, not a monster hunter. Bit of a dirtier job, that. I'm a monster hunter myself, as it so happens, so I should know." She looked Dean over with an appraising eye and nodded once in approval. "You've certainly got the build for wrestling with monsters. If Ryker is even a quarter of what the stories make of him, then I've no doubt he'll make a fine slayer out of you. Why are you here playing the hero out here rather than being his attentive student anyway? Do you know how many people would kill for a chance to learn from that man?"
The truth of the matter was that Dean was all too aware of how many would love the opportunity to learn from Ryker, and he was one of them. Certainly in their travels he had picked up on a few things, but ultimately he wasn't sure he could describe what they had as a true apprenticeship. It might have been due to his young age, or an unwillingness to throw himself at danger, but Dean had primarily been relegated to simple tasks like sword mending and setting up camp than he had been in participating in slaying monsters. Still it was nice to hear someone hold even a small amount of faith in him. "At the end of the day Knights answer to their King or Queen, Slayers answer only to themselves. I like that free, and thank you, I suppose I'll try not to let either of you down now." The second part of her question left him somewhat less sure how to answer. There was little glory or valor in admitting Ryker ditched him (and not for the first time) and he wouldn't want her thinking poorly of him after he had just announced himself as Ryker's apprentice. A slight panic struck through him, but thankfully his mind and lips acted on their own. "We were outside of a nearby town tracking a local werewolf when we were ambushed by a group of Ryker's rivals, in the initial conflict we were separated and when I tried to head them off I found two sets of tracks, they led me on this path and I've been hoping I chose the right one since." Dean stood slightly stunned of himself, somewhat impressed by his own lie.
"Rivals attacked him, eh? Envy can make people do stupid things, that's for sure." Amaia noted something a bit odd with Dean's manner, but she brushed it off as simple embarrassment at getting separated. "For what it's worth, I hope you picked the right trail too, and not just because I'd like to meet Ryker myself. If nothing else, I'm sure he'll be able to track you down after dealing with whatever fools decided to pick a fight with him. Are you going to come along and see this test the tiefling was babbling about? Should make for some entertainment, or at the very least something to do until you meet up with Ryker again. Oh, and you've got a bet to lose, of course."
"Yeah." He said letting a quiet, nervous laugh slip out "Envy is a heck of a thing like that... But I'm sure I've got the right trail, and I'll be sure to introduce you when we eventually find him! As for me, the damsel I saved has asked for my services in protecting her." He said as he puffed out his chest, proud and boastful. "So I'll be coming along for the test at least, collecting my winnings from this bet will only make it all the sweeter." A smile broad across his face he once again put his hand out to shake and finally seal the deal.
"Moonlighting as a hero first and now a bodyguard? You get around." Amaia laughed again and took his hand, shaking it firmly. "We'll just have to see about that bet. I intend to win no matter the cost."
"I heard something once about variety being the spice of life. Why limit myself to just slaying monsters when chances for glory and riches lie in every avenue?" She seemed very sure of herself, and Dean almost doubted the faith h had placed in Kouri, but it was no time for second guesses "...Like making easy to win bets with overconfident colleagues." He said with a wink.
[●●●]
The mixture of tall grass and quiet made Dean uneasy. What were surely minutes seemed like hours to the young man as his imagination filled the field around them with unknown terrors. As luck would have it, he was partially right, and the field was in fact filled with potential danger. As figures began popping up from the grass cloaked in mottled greens he reached instinctively for his sword, not thrilled with the developing situation. He looked to those in the group, hoping they'd be an asset in the fight, but it seemed unnecessary as at least any initial hostility was put to rest, and what now appeared to be the King's Rangers Marcus had mentioned rushed them inside their hideout. It smelled somewhat musty in Dean opinion. The kind of smell you'd expect of an rarely used attic or basement, except this was clearly anything but. There were the Ranger's themselves and evenServants rushing about making everything as clean as they could. As the two men ahead of them introduced themselves, Dean could feel the situation quiet down. Suddenly there was no more current stress. He felt tempted to approach the Princess then, approaching from behind he cleared his throat as he neared and put on a friendly face. "So..." he said simply "Everything you hoped for?"
Kouri turns back, looking at Dean. She kept a fairly neutral expression, though her eyes seemed a whirlwind of emotions. Most strongly, uncertainty. "I had hoped for less paranoia, certainly."
He stood quiet for a second, arms crossed in front of his chest, unsure what to say. "It's to be expected of people when confronted with a legend to project a bit of paranoia though isn't it? There's a lot of gray area to uncover if you're to be believed."
She pauses for a moment, and nods in agreement. "Yes, though, these are not the King's Rangers I once knew. They're far more... Cold. Do they not protect the villages here?"
"Can't say they ever stood up on my behalf. For every legend there is about who you may or may not be, there's another for a time when the King's Rangers should have been there but weren't. In fact when we first saw them I recognized them by their colors as a group of vigilantes, but not as the Rangers themselves. Occasionally you might hear a story of the Rangers making a stand, but those are few and far between." He stood shaking his head there for a moment, looking at the men around him, and just feeling as if despite their best efforts, this organization didn't have the resources to help anyone. He looked back to her then, unsure where her focus lied, but he didn't think she seemed overly concerned about her own fate. "You don't seem nervous. Do you actually believe you're Kouri?"
"Do I believe who I say I am? Yes." Kouri replies plainly. She then takes a deep breath and sighs, releasing a little tension she was trying to hide. She seemed to avoid speaking further ill of the current King's Rangers, being that she was surrounded by them. "I am who I am. Whether this test succeeds or fails, I will still be who I am. If their test is even remotely accurate, I will succeed with ease." She rubs her left wrist, a little fear finally showing through. She was repressing far more than that, however, Dean couldn't discern what. "I cannot feign a lack of fear, though. I would rather not perish being accused of a falsehood... At least none of you will pay the same price, though. At least I managed that."
"I was going to ask about that." He replied, equally plainly. Not trying to frighten her, but aware that he'd be doing so either way. "Let's say I do believe you, I don't have any tangible reason not to afterall. After a thousand years, you think their test will be accurate?" Looking around him he was left to wonder what the point of it was. "If you're set on your course either way, and know who you are, what can these men offer but what they have here?" Which wasn't much, but he assumed likely correctly, that anything was more than Kouri had already.
Kouri remained silent about the test. She had little to offer on that than she had likely already considered herself. Nonetheless, the implication that the test was not accurate did not sit well with her judging by the frown on her face. She kept a steady tone as she replied. "Resources. Manpower. Intelligence. Information about the world I am in now. Specialists to help me get from place to place. If these King's Rangers are anything like the ones I grew up with, they will have other bases for me to use on my journey too. Our journey, perhaps, if I'm not being too presumptuous."
Kouri's silence was enough for Dean to determine her feelings regarding the test "A carnival illusionist, a military commander and a nobleman? Seems the whole caste of humanity is covered from top to bottom. Must be some resources to speak of I suppose." He thought for a moment. "I'm following the spritely one, she's paying me... something? Eventually? So you can call it our journey as long as it's her journey. That said I'll side with you before letting these 'Rangers' get to you."
"Thank you." Kouri nods with approval to Dean, as the Commander rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. "Your first follower is a peasant. Congratulations on achieving less than mediocrity." The Princess glances back at the King's Ranger, and smiles politely. "I will do more in one year than you will in one lifetime, and it will start with this."
Dean starts to smile at Kouri's thanks, until the Commander cut in. Ryker's words flashed through his mind like white heat
Don't let others belittle where you come from. You may smell of shit and handle it daily, but damn if you'll let them mock you for it. he turned to face the Commander face to face, looking much less polite than Kouri did "Excuse me? Peasant? This 'peasant' probably has more experience than half your damn Rangers. Bunch of skulkers." He spat at his feet to emphasize his distaste of the Commander.
Hanus chuckles in the background, and though the Commander glared at him, the dark skinned elf seemed not to be intimidated in the least. "Nu, vy sovershenno glupo. (Well, you're quite stupid.)" Hanus remarks in his mother tongue, though it sounded like complete gibberish to Dean. "What did you say?" The Commander asks in a rather irate fashion. "Just by the way he holds himself, you would find yourself far more challenged than you think... Men who have nothing to lose don't hold anything back, Commander." The King's Ranger looks back at Dean, and shakes his head. "True. You have my apologies, I am simply used to most peasants being rather... Inept, in the ways of war."
Dean raised a quizzical eyebrow towards the elf as he spoke, but couldn't make sense of what was said. As the Commander spoke however, he gave a silent reply in the form of a finger in his general direction. Looking back to Kouri, an apologetic look on his face. "He started it."
Kouri simply looks up at the ceiling for a moment, hands crossed behind her back as she feigns being blissfully unaware. "Oh, I'm sure, I'm sure... Oh, you're done? Marvelous." Her tone was teasing towards Dean. It seemed that the entire episode had more amused her than upset her.
With a smirk plain on his face he raises his hands in mock defeat at Kouri. "We're done, I swear it mi'lady unless of course our dear Commander has a taste for more hostility."
The Commander doesn't seem to grace Dean with a response, instead focusing his attention elsewhere--intentionally, at that. "I wonder if his soul is as scarred as his face." Kouri remarks quietly, and sympathetically.
"Leadership is a hefty burden to bear." He said, alluding to both the current state of the Commander and the future Kouri was asking for herself. "As scarred as he may be externally I'm sure any Ranger lost weighs more than I have any right to say."
Kouri doesn't reply. She simply listens and considers Dean's words, as she looks at him and manages a small, uncertain smile, though the corners of her lips seemed to waver momentarily.
"Just an opinion though. You'd have to get to know him to be sure. Not personally interested in that."
"We'll see." She says, echoing the Commander's words from earlier.
"It seems plenty of things should come to light in time. Color me excited." He replied honestly.