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Post by Malina LaRoche on Jun 9, 2007 10:34:58 GMT
Malina gently swayed her hands back and forth as she dodeged everyone in the busy market place. It was packed. The people of Hirren always came for a good look around the market place, cheap tat, stolen goods, what more could a cold hearted person want in life?
She got to the charm stall, one of her favourites and the old woman behind it gave her a gentle smile. Malina always bought off her, she was probably her best customer. "Looking for something new today, Malina?" She asked, maybe she could help her find what she was looking for.
"Maybe..." Maila simply said, she didn't want the old lady to know what she was looking for, for the item was worth pittence on the charm stall, but it was worth much more in the hands of the user. A powerful tool.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 9, 2007 11:28:34 GMT
The tricorn hat was tipped at an angle as the captain made his way through the market. He was looking for more shot for his flintlock. He had run out on a rather bad run in at sea not so long ago and now he was starting to worry about not having any.
Those he recognised he gave a nod or a wave, stopping to talk to a few before progressing through the ever busy market square. Most people in the town recognised him, those that had anything to do with the community anyway, and he did hear some mumbles about a useless drunken pirate he felt were perhaps directed at him.
But right now, he didn't mind. He was always drunk, and he was a pirate. They were just a little off with the first part, he could forgive them that. His hand rested on the hilt of his sabre as he wandered through the stalls, looking for someone that might provide him with his much needed shot.
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Post by Ixchel Rashaine on Jun 9, 2007 11:30:26 GMT
The marketplace was always abuzz with life - especially after the soils of raids ran through the ever-growing town. The arrival of the ill-gotten goods invigorated the people and lightened their hearts as they were able to thrive on what could be made from trading. They could keep food in their cupboards, they could afford clothing to make or even to buy for themselves and their children. The deed that provided the lifeblood of the townspeople may have been considered an evil one, but to them, it was simply a way of life - a way of keeping the balance between good and bad relative.
And right now, Ixchel pondered, as her feet carried her through the marketplace, the good was outweighing the bad. Thick pools of chocolate brown hovered over the ground, their case weaving in between citizens and travellers who were haggling for a good bargain, their backs facing her as they peered at the goods on display, the ones that had caught their eye and lured them closer and out of the fog of aimlessly wandering souls that shuffled between the stalls.
But in spite of being an authority figure, despite being a member of the very board that ran this town she called home, Ixchel, too, was just a person, and like those that she had observed before her, her attention was also pulled from beneath her feet, clad in low-heeled boots once thought of as footwear solely for men to dress in - the rest of her ensemble seemed to follow the same train of thought, everything loose and tailored to the figure of men. The dress that she feared would become infamous had been stashed away once more, the babbling chains and richly patterned cloth shoved deep into a nooks and crannies that not a even the most knowledgeable shipmen knew of. Artaxerxes would have a hard time embarrassing her with what he couldn't find.
A few more steps told her eyes of the nature of the stall, the glint of silver trinkets flashing in the sunlight. Perhaps her mother would appreciate a small gift, courtesy of her daughter. After all, Ixchel herself was in possession of more jewellery than she would ever need or use - most of which came from her mother. She felt as though it were time to return the favour. The Hirren found herself standing beside another woman, obviously another who was interested in the wares the elderly woman possessed. Her hair, pulled back from her face and secured beneath a sun-faded bandanna turned, and with it she flashed a small smile. The way the woman wore her hair, she thought, was very similar to a certain Hirren leader.
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Post by Malina LaRoche on Jun 9, 2007 11:41:58 GMT
Malina saw the woman's smile. She thought that she had may as well be polite back, afterall, the market place was a great place to meet new people. She flashed a smile back to the woman. "How'd ya do, Miss." She said as her eyes caught a glimpse of what she has been looking for.
The small charm was shaped like that of a turtle. The old market woman rubbed her hands, she was about to make a sale. Malina and the woman debated the price for a second and agreed on Malina's lowered price, she handed her the money and quickly hid the charm away in her pocket.
"Somat special, been looking for it a long time now..." She said to the woman. She rubbed her hand in her tattered dress and held it out to the woman besides her. "Malina." She announced.
In the background she could hear the whisperings, Captain Artaxerxes was around. It nearly made her heart skip a beat.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 9, 2007 11:56:27 GMT
Even as he wandered, still looking for a gunstall, he knew that the likelyhood of him finding one without help, was very low and hsi eyes began to cast about for the nearest stall in seach of someone that might look like they knew.
And his found his eyes focussing on the very familiar, rather annoyingly well clothed figure of Ixchel. A plot formed in the back of his mind, but with her good aim, he decided he would save it for later, and go with the lesser of his two plans.
The quiet steps of the pirate captain approached the stall, rather silently although the rest of the crowd would have drowned out the noise as it was. He hesitated for a moment before moving slightly to the left, positioning himself in a different position from the usual, which often ended in him being rather winded.
The well ringed hands slowly approached the sides of Ixchel before he finally grabebd her rather quickly in an attempt at giving her a fright.
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Post by Ixchel Rashaine on Jun 9, 2007 12:28:05 GMT
The smile grew a little wider, pleasantly surprised at the reply.
She was unable to make a reply, as the distinct sound of bartering took over the air. Ixchel, her attention swaying about the stall and all it held, found the time to glance at the small charm whose chain dangled from palm of the woman's hand, the sight a little obscured, but enough could be seen for her to tell that it was in the shape of a sea turtle. The thought brought a smile to her face - she remembered observing a pair of them during one of the raids from the safety of the ship. They were quite far off, shuffling over the golden sand that formed an island, but although the detail could not be seen, their shape was the same as that of the charm. She remember that quite clearly.
The hand that was was offered was just as much of a surprise, but again it was not one that was unpleasant. Without a thought, the dark-haired woman raised her own to meet it, a couple of rings wrapped about her fingers - not too valuable, and not too fragile to buckle under the weight of work upon the ship. "Ixchel." She answered, a smile lighting up her face. Her eyes swung blindly to the left and to the right, the hushed words all too familiar in her ears. "I wonder what he's gotten himself int--"
A sudden grip about her waist sent a jolt of surprise up her spine, and with it came a small yelp of shock. Her hand flew out of the handshake three times as quickly as it had been put there, and a small gasp sharply filled the lungs of the young woman as her hands clamped themselves about the arms that had encircled her sides. The elderly stall owner - who had observed the sly act as the pirate captain moved into motion, grinned cheekily to herself with a slightly toothless smile. She had wondered just where the people were whispering about. Now she knew why.
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Post by Malina LaRoche on Jun 9, 2007 12:44:14 GMT
Malina smiled with the name of the woman, Ixchel. She exhalled a breath then her attention was changed to the Captain who was besides her with Ixchel. Malina had always had a soft spot for Art, he was a drunk, a cheat a theif, and she loved everything piratey about him.
Her Uncle had warned her many a times to stay clear of him, he was good to the community of Hirren, but he always told Malina not to mess with his sort. He was high on the hierachy of scum, he said.
Both the Captain's and Malin'a hair was alike, dark and dredlocked. Her Unlce and aunt thought many a times that she had models her hair piece of Art, but this was not true, she had always admired the exotic look of the dredlocks, even to when she was a small child.
Malina looked back to the old market staller, she winked at Malina through old eyes and nodded towards Art, she knew Malina had a thing for him, that dreamy eyed looked on Malin'a dark skin. It was obvious. But she simply shook her head at the old crook and pondered at the charms once more.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 9, 2007 12:57:55 GMT
The pirate captain laughed loudly with pleasure at the fact he had caused the normally cool and collected Ixchel to yelp with such fright. He released her a little his arm resting on her shoulder as he leaned on her gently, standing on her left hand side now.
"Not as aware as you used to be Ixchel." He grinned at her, pleased with himself at catching her off guard. "Aww, yo've changed your outfit too. The other was a much better look for you." She knew for a fact that he would tease her for a long time on that front. If only he could find it. He would have to look around the ship later. It had to be there somewhere...
He raised his eyes only just in time to catch the woman with dreadlocks shaking ehr head at a grinning stall keeper, wondering what they had been discussing. "So, Ixchel. Are you going to introduce me to this fine lady?" He asked her curiouslly, he had noticed they were talking before he had surprised her, he wondered if she knew this woman.
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Post by Ixchel Rashaine on Jun 9, 2007 13:43:12 GMT
She watched with a firm scowl fixed upon her clearly foreign face as the weight of the man's arm slumped upon her shoulder. Her breath was already coming back to her, as was her composure, but the gathering of her wits was quickly halted by just a few words from the mouth of the pirate. Thin dark brows wrenched upward and dark eyes burned with a flare of womanly temper. He had a nerve to mention that in public, where people could overhear in such a crowded space.
"I think you meant better for you." She retorted, her elbow rising up beneath his arm to surge backward, lightly striking him between the eyes upon the bridge of his sun burned nose. He never seemed to learn his lessons, but it was always entertaining to use it as a valid reason for re-teaching him. Preferably if it involved leaving bruises on the man's face.
Even so, it much have been a sight a little bizarre - even for the marketplace of Hirren. Settling both hands upon her hips, her revenge dealt for now, Ixchel smiled once more at the woman, raising one of the same hands to gesture towards her, the rings shimmering dully within the harsh sunlight that bathed the town. "Captain, this is Malina." She announced, the tone of address from from what was expected with such an honorific. "I can tell you now, her face is as new to me as it is to you. I can't say more than that." Her dark head rolled to the side, her face a picture of mockery "Which must be a shame for you."
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Post by Malina LaRoche on Jun 9, 2007 14:00:54 GMT
Malina slowly turned to greet the Captain. "Malina LaRoche." She corrected. "It is a pleasure to finially get to meet you, sir." She said politley. The thought of what her uncle said to her came to her mind, 'stay away from his sort... he is trouble...' She shook of the thoughts as if they were cobwebs in an empty barn.
She held out her hand to him. She had dreamed of the moment she would meet Art face to face. It was one of the things she had hoped for in a long time.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 9, 2007 14:44:04 GMT
"I don't think I am the only one to feel that way Ixchel. or I won't be..." He gave her a grin that could only mean he was going to find that outfit, or die trying. "You never know. You might be pleased of it... later." He had dreamed up with a scheme of waiting until they were out at sea and stealing her clothes... that should work.
His turned to the other woman as Ixchel began to explain. The captain took her hand and smiled, lowering his head to greet her. "Pleased to meet you Miss LaRoche." he raised his head an a small smile flittered over his face. "I see you have already heard of me. I don't know whether to be pleased or worried."
He returned his gaze to the mocking Ixchel for a moment, noticing her expression. "You always think the worst of me my dear."
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Post by Ixchel Rashaine on Jun 9, 2007 15:10:41 GMT
A small wave of realization flooded over her darkened face, though it wasn't seen too clearly by the pirate captain. She head snapped to the side until she stared him straight in the eyes, embers in the chocolate depths stoked until they flared with life once more. He wouldn't dare. Her fine brow quirked upward, and her fingertips gripped a little tighter at the thick jacket that sat about her hips at the mere thought of what his plan could entail. He would not dare - Otherwise he would find himself with very few of those little earrings he was so proud of left in their original place.
Regaining her commonplace composure, Ixchel shoved away all worries with what seemed like a carefree chuckle. A slightly ringed hand found its way onto his shoulder from across his back, and with it came a small shift in weight as she leaned mockingly against him - as though he were nothing more than a passer by in the marketplace.
"That would be because that's all you seem to show." She retorted, lifting a long finger away from his shoulder to wag it in a fashion that seemed almost disapproving.
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Post by Malina LaRoche on Jun 9, 2007 15:25:33 GMT
She gave him a smile and nodded. Maybe he didn't know her, but she sure knew him, she knew all about him. She felt like his groupee.
"I would hope you'd be pleased..." She said hopefully. "I think everyone knows you, you are a figure head of the community, Captain." She said politley.
Her Uncle had told her how good the Captain was for Hirren, but always told her to stay away from him, he was trouble. But he seemed like the perfect gentleman. Her black skin tingled as she retracted her hand from his. She almost wanted to fling her arms around him, he was her hero. But she didn't know why. Maybe it was his eyes, dark and mysterious. They told alot about him.
Beneath the school girl look for that moment she was a skilled strategist. Able to calculate anyones next move. She always helped her uncle win at chess, it made her uncle a lot of money.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 9, 2007 15:53:12 GMT
He saw the look Ixchel gave him, perhaps a little concerned and he gave her a bright, and seemingly innocent smile. But his smiles never looked innocent. "Aw, Ixchel, you don't need to be so harsh." He allowed her to lean on him as he turned to face the woman that had introduced herself so politely.
"Well in this case, I am pleased." He gave her a charming smile. "But I think a lot of people would disagree with you there." A small laugh left him. "I'm better known for being able to drink any man under the table." That might have been a skill, although his verbal and motory skills decreased with every drink, after a certainly point, he didn't often fall unconcious, simply became totally incoherant. But most people thought he was like that all the time anyway.
Still it was nice that someone thought he had his uses, despite what most people thought they knew, he did do a lot aroud the place. When he wasn't drunk. And he made a lot of the descisions, not he Circle, although he was not afraid to trust their opinions.
His heavily ringed hand pushed a few dreadlocks from his face, the musical clinking of silver rings sounded as they clashed together at the back.
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Post by Ixchel Rashaine on Jun 9, 2007 16:35:49 GMT
"Well, someone's got to do it." She replied, the same hand patting his shoulder with an airy, relaxed thud. The rings occasionally clattered together, he rubbing of metal singing through the air. "Or else all those words would go to your head - and we can't be having that..."
Ixchel prided herself on her ability to keep anybody she met firmly grounded in her presence. From figures of authority to even bandits, no one was treated as though they had been put on a pedestal by others - they were treated like they walked across the ground. They were treated like people, and pirate captain or not, Artexerxes was was one them. He was punched almost daily - his face pinched, his hair yanked and sometimes, his ear was sharply tugged when a bit of blackmail was involved to sway him. Ixchel - to put it simply - could get away with murder.
Her eyes rolled away, but her weight remained on the taller man's shoulder. They looked like they could have been the best of friends. "...Provided you ever sober up enough to know the meaning of them..."
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