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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 1, 2009 23:32:07 GMT 10
The boat, if you could call it a boat, was rocking terribly. Waves buffeted the sides of her small vessel and threatened to throw what was left of her rations overboard. Not that it would really matter; there wasn't much left of what had been started with. The journey had been expected to be shorter, so the only supplies were a case or two left of vegetables, kept chilled by the icy winds, and a pouch of dried beef, though she found the salted meat and the rocking of the sea didn't comfort her stomach.
The crack of thunder echoed across the surface of the sea. As the waves continued to bufet the side of the boat, the rain added to the foul weather. A scowl crossed Rosaline's features. Already she was soaked to the skin from the sea's salty spray; so she didn't particularly enjoy the onslaught of rain wetting her further. Even her spare clothes were being soaked through the bag she had them in. It was a fine bag, too, given to her by the merchant that had sold her the boat. Along side the clothes she had a pouch of coins to trade with, and a small book, sealed in yet another bag to ensure it would remain dry. The book was left for her by her mother. In it, Rosaline had found various herbal recipies for all sorts of ailments, spells, and other concoctions of their ancestors. It was only a shame she didn't have her mother as a teacher.
Rosaline was pulled from the thoughts of her past by the sight of land only fifty or so feet from where she rested on the sea. The mist lay heavy around her, making it impossible to have seen it earlier. The girl lifted one of the hand carved oars from the bottom of her personal vessel. The wood dipped in to the water, and she steared with a practiced easy towards the dock that made itself visable to her. With an old length of rope she tied the boat to the docks and unloaded her few belongings, tucking her supplies into the bag and pulling the cover from her quivver to rest beside the other supplies.
The hair on the back of Rosaline's neck stood on end, and she dropped her figure again slowly to the dock. Her head turned to take in the unfamiliar territory, eyes scanning for what she could not see. With a speed she'd mastered in case of need, Rosaline had an arrow nocked on the string of her bow. Though she looked as if she possessed only a small amount of strength, the girl pulled the line taut with ease, ready to fire if the need arised.
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 2, 2009 0:53:54 GMT 10
“Look Daddy! Boat!” Brooklyn squealed in delight. The tiny girl was still quite noticeable even in the gloom that was created from the storm. She wore a bright pink rain coat and matching boots, securely attached to her young fathers hip even though her arms and legs were flailing excitedly. Brooke loved water and anything that went inside of it. Christian figured that he could risk coming out into this storm if it meant that he could see that wonderful smile on her face.
There were many boats in the water today, some far bigger than most. His dark eyes were focused on the smallest one. Though still quite some distance away, Christian could tell that the person inside was probably the most beautiful person he had ever seen, even if she was drenched to the bone. His lips parted in a silent gasp. This beautiful creature was heading right for them.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 2, 2009 4:20:58 GMT 10
A voice flittered from somewhere within the fog to reach her ears. The source of that voice became visible not long after. It was a child, a little girl, wearing such a bright pink it was impossible to miss her. She was with her father, or her older brother perhaps, her much older brother. He didn't look nearly old enough to have a child of his own. Then again, neither did she, and she'd almost had one herself. At first she had refused, her family being of old tradition and the marriage settled at a young age. They were a family skilled in things she did not fully understand at the time didn't understand, still didn't fully understand. And she'd been married off, and he'd gotten her pregnant. While she hated that man, that man that was no longer her husband, she longed for the child that she'd lost to a miscarriage.
Rosaline tore herself from her thoughts with a small shake of her head, the blond curls doing a little dance with the movement. The girl stood, her fingers remaining in place on her weaponry, the string still taut and ready to fire. But she pointed the tip of the arrow downward, so if it was released it would hit only an old board in the dock and not the two coming towards her. If they proved to be enemies she would raise her bow again and take aim. For now it was a waiting game.
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 2, 2009 6:42:39 GMT 10
Although Christian was nearly completely blinded by the beauty that was making her way towards them, he was still very well aware of the weapon she had pointing in their direction. He took a few small steps backwards, clutching Brooklyn tighter to his chest. He tore his eyes away from the blond to gaze into his daughter’s brown orbs, kissing away the pout that had formed on her lips at being taken away from the waters edge. “You like that boat, don’t you? Maybe once it’s a bit dryer Daddy will take you for a ride in one.” He promised.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 2, 2009 23:53:41 GMT 10
The way they backed away from her weapon assured her they were not going to harm her. That was a wise choice on there part. Though she was born in the states, the blood of her ancestors ran wild and true through her veins. Women were as formidable as men when it came to weapons, as Celtic tradition went, bow and arrow being her best. Those in front of her wouldn't know that, of course. But they'd understood enough to back away, and that was enough for her. She needed to make an ally on this island if she were to survive and she couldn't do that with an arrow pointed at them.
Rosaline took the arrow from the bow and replaced it in the quiver at her back. The bow she held firmly still in her hand, though she'd taken on more of a relaxed pose than before. Ducking down to pick up her belongings once more, she slung them over her free shoulder and made her way to the end of the dock. "Perhaps you would take mine. It is a sturdy vessel, despite its size. Easily manned by a single person. Rocks a bit, but what boat with a small child aboard wouldn't."
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 3, 2009 1:01:47 GMT 10
Christian was able to relax a bit once the blond lowered her weapon. He couldn't quite fathom why anyone would point an arrow or any sort of weapon towards a man holding a small child. What harm could he possibly bring to her? He set Brooklyn down on her feet but held her small hand firmly in his own to keep her from the stranger and the water that was luring her in.
Ah, the angel speaks. He would have melted right then and there if that were possible. A shy smile crept its way across his face even though he was anything but shy and he nodded his head in thanks for the offer. "That would be wonderful, thank you.." He replied quietly.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 4, 2009 4:15:26 GMT 10
Rosaline dropped her things off at the end of the dock. She didn’t wish to frighten the two any more than she’d probably had already. That wasn’t how she normally was, but the lack of knowledge of the new land had made her wary. “I apologize. This land is unfamiliar to me, and I was not sure who it was that came from the forest,” she told the boy. As she walked, she studied the boy in front of her, the child forgotten for a moment. The clothes he wore to his brown eyes, eyes that seemed shrouded with some sort of personal mystery, and that cute, shy smile. Rosaline couldn’t understand the odd, fluttering sensation that took hold in her chest at that smile.
A small smile of her own stretched her lips and for and for an instant Rosaline felt soft and vulnerable. She couldn’t explain the feeling, having never experienced anything like it before, but she found it both annoying and welcomed at the same time. “You’re welcome,” she responded, her voice taking on a softness that matched his own. What was it about him that made her go so weak now that she was so close to him?
Searching for a distraction, any distraction, she turned to the manners she’d been raised with, despite her insistence of ‘acting in a way no lady should’, or so her foster mother would say. Rosaline picked up the folds of the skirt she wore and fell into a curtsy. On one hand, it could very well be described as graceful, but to her, it was awkward. She’d never cared much for studying manners, finding her interests lay more with her cousin who worked as a healer for their little town. “My name is Rosaline,” the young girl introduced herself. Rosaline stood up straight and clasped her hands together in front of her to keep from fidgeting. “But Rosa is fine.”
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 5, 2009 23:33:18 GMT 10
With a wave of his hand and a shrug of his shoulders, Christian dismissed her apology. "Don't worry about it, I fully understand why anyone would be cautious about coming to this place. At least no one got hurt." He replied. His smile grew in despite of himself, it was like the more he looked at her the more it grew. He must have looked like a grinning fool by now. No one woman had ever caused this reaction from him before.
He bowed when she curtsied, taking her small hand in his larger one to press a soft kiss to her knuckles. "It is a pleasure to meet you Rosa.." He purred. "I'm Christian and this little one is Brooklyn..my daughter.."
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 7, 2009 5:04:49 GMT 10
A small nod was the only response Christian got from her. His smile grew, and she found her own had widened a little on her, turning from that shy quirk to her natural smile. "If I may be so bold, what are you even doing out here in this weather?" Rosaline asked, her caution returning to her as he said the word. "A small child like this should be indoors with toys and hot cocoa for her pleasure, not bustling by the sea in a rain."
A slender brow raised when Christian took her hand and his lips touched the soft flesh on the back of her knuckles. It was so rare nowadays that one found a gentleman like that. This was a wonderful break from the usual men she'd seen, including the kind man who'd sold her the boat that had taken her to the island. "Pleasure is all mine," she responded. A touch of the smile she wore reached her eyes, at their introduction, and she couldn't help the immediate attraction towards the two, father and daughter.
Rosaline bent and smiled at the little girl. "Hello Brooklyn. What do you say we go for a ride on the boat when the rain stops?" She'd missed her chance to be a mother herself, but that didn't mean she couldn't show that motherly affection towards this child.
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 7, 2009 7:47:51 GMT 10
Christian’s smile faded only slightly when she asked him what he was doing out with a small child in this horrid weather. He didn’t want to seem like a horrible parent who didn’t know what he was doing. He tightened his grip around Brooklyn’s small hand. “Umm..I promised Brooke that I would show her the water today. I always keep the promises that I make to her. I can’t help what the weather is like..” He replied with a small shrug of his shoulders.
He couldn’t help but notice how Brooklyn already seemed quite taken with the woman that they had just met but she was this way with almost anyone who gave her the least bit of attention. ”Boat! Mine!” She giggled, jumping up and down excitedly as her free hand reached for the stranger.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 7, 2009 9:48:55 GMT 10
Rosaline only nodded. She knew what it was like to make a promise, and she, like he did, never broke a promise. A small laugh escaped her, her nose wrinkling as it always did, at Brooklyn's words. Her hand took the little girl's when it was reached for. Maybe she'd take her out sooner than she'd thought. Already it looked like the storm was beginning to blow over. "We have to wait for the rain to stop first," she repeated.
((sorry... that wasn't my best))
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 7, 2009 11:02:54 GMT 10
"No now!" Brooklyn ordered. Being daddy's little girl she had been spoiled almost completely rotten, getting whatever she wanted when she wanted it. Christian merely blamed it on being in the terrible two's stage but he was at fault here. She dropped her father's hand, much to his displeasure, to go to this woman. Looking up at her with those big brown eyes that were terribly difficult to resist. She had her father's eyes.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 7, 2009 11:18:54 GMT 10
Rosaline shook her head. The little girl was insistent, but she would find Rosa was, too. "We can sit in the boat now," she decided, making a compromise. "And we'll go out when the rain stops. That sound fair?" Brooklyn's hand was so small in hers. It nearly brought tears to her eyes. This could have been her child's hand she was holding, her son insisting on taking the boat out, her son she could hear and touch and hold.
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 7, 2009 11:26:00 GMT 10
Brooklyn grinned, dropping Rosaline's hand to take off running down the dock for the boat. Christian was after her in a heartbeat, catching the little one by the back of her bright pink coat and heaving her up to rest securely on his slim hip. He should have known better than to let go of her hand. "I am sorry about her." He apologized with a small grimace. "You don't have to do this for us. I am sure you want to get to where ever you are going and out of the rain. She can wait just this once.."
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 7, 2009 11:33:04 GMT 10
Rosaline shook her head, assuring Christian it was quite alright. She lifted her things and slung them over her shoulder, not trusting the land enough to leave them where they were. The girl looped her arm with Christian's free arm and began to lead them towards the boat. "It's quite alright. I want to do this. I like children," she said that with a small catch in her throat and tried to swallow it before continuing. "I almost had a child myself once. I still remember the feel of life inside me. I like being able to play with your daughter. It makes the ache easier to bare."
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 7, 2009 18:58:00 GMT 10
Christian's lips parted in a silent gasp as this beautiful angel took his arm. Or maybe she was a siren luring him out to sea? Either way she had his stomach fluttering like crazy. He handed Brooklyn to Rosaline so that he could step first into the boat, taking them both into his arms to help them down into the small rocking vessel. This was dangerous loading a child into a small boat in this storm but Christian was completely blinded by the woman in front of him to realize this. "I am sorry about your loss, Ma'am." He murmured, not knowing what else to say.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 8, 2009 0:27:30 GMT 10
Rosaline lifted Brooklyn into her arms as her father handed her off. She watched as he climbed into the boat, the vessel rocking less now as the winds and rain were dying down. She handed Brooke off to Christian, climbing in herself. She could feel Christian's hands helping her down, though she hardly needed him to. She was used to being on the boat by now.
Rosaline set her things on a small seat of the boat in the back. "We aren't going to head out just yet," she said. Her voice had taken on a sterner tone now that there was work to be done, though this couldn't really be classified as work. She ignored Christian's words of sympathy. Long ago she'd learned to cope, and she could continue to. "The rain is already letting up. We should be able to head out in an hour or so, I'd say."
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 8, 2009 1:21:54 GMT 10
Christian arched an eyebrow suspiciously as her voice took on the stern tone of a mother. They had just met and she was already taking control. A chuckle escaped his lips, he sort of liked that. "What ever you say ma'am.." He nodded, settling down on the bench in the back of the boat. He allowed Brooklyn to lean over the side just slightly to splash her hands in the water, keeping a firm grip around the small childs middle so that she wouldn't fall overboard.
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Post by Rosaline Levarette on Jul 8, 2009 5:55:12 GMT 10
Rosaline took her usual seat in the middle of the boat. It was an easy place to stear from and it gave her a good view of the rest of her boat. She twisted around in her seat to face the father and daughter. A small, shy smile lifted the corners of her lips. If only she could capture that moment for them. They were like a picture in that moment, the two of them. "Enough with this ma'am calling," she said, the command firm but broken with the laughing twinkle in her eye. "I have a name so use it."
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Post by Christian Tait on Jul 8, 2009 6:10:32 GMT 10
"Rosa.." Christian corrected himself, his eyelashes fluttering as he purred her name. He liked the way it rolled off of his tongue. He would say it all day if he knew that it wouldn't annoy the people around him. Chris had always been an attention whore but with the way she was staring at the two of them had the heat rising into his cheeks and he lowered his head, seeking any type of a distraction. "May I ask what you are doing here?"
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