Fishing for Information (Banir)

[Alea Davenport]

As Alea crouched in her snow burrow, she heard the most terrible sounds to have ever reached her ears. Loud cracks and thumps punctuated what seemed like a continuous stream of violent emotion emanating from the man's throat. After a few minutes that seemed to last an eternity, the noise calmed down, and Alea heard a last heavy thud uncomfortable close to her hiding place. She kept extra still and barely breathed. After a few tense moments, she heard the crunching of snow as Banir stood up and began walking away.

She waited until she could only barely hear the snow crunches, and then cautiously pushed forward until she broke through the snow. She took a quick peek and saw nothing but her discarded fishing gear and some splinters. Banir was probably headed back toward town, which was behind her. She had a sudden sickening image of him murdering the entire village in his rage, but she dismissed the thought. He was walking, not running in a murderous rage. Hopefully, his murderous rage had cooled and he was back to normal - well, normal for him, anyway.

Alea climbed all the way out of the snow, and was suddenly struck by how chilly it was. She hadn't noticed in her terror, but she realized now that hiding under the snow had actually been relatively warm, especially when compared to windy icy air. She stored that thought for later and scooped up her fishing gear before briskly walking after Banir. She'd provoked him deliberately, trying to get a reaction (though not necessarily realizing how extreme the reaction would be), and she had to make it right...without getting killed...

Since he was walking slowly, it was easy to catch up with him, even being slowed from trying to keep her steps quiet. She followed the sizable holes his feet left in the snow, and had him in sight before long. She stayed a safe distance behind him until they got to town; she wasn't planning on approaching him again until she had some better potential cover than a snow drift.

When they passed the first building, she moved closer, to within about a horse-length, and said in a subdued but conversational tone, "So...I take it this is a serious problem, and not just a cry for attention."

[Banir Ironwood]

Stopping in his tracks as he heard her voice, his rage edged at him again but it had been dulled. Her voice would not call out his wrath; though something about him was eerie as he stood in the snow. The young man would've looked like a statue if it weren't for his wet coat moving in the breeze. Bits of ice had formed on him yet he was not shivering. Banir couldn't speak, not in public, not with so many people. Or maybe it was that he just didn't want to talk, the pain in his chest told him not to speak. The light fear in his mind told him to stay silent.

He turned so that he could glimpse of her through the side of his hood. The breeze moved the fur his red eyes barely visible for her but otherwise his face was still hidden. His breath staining the air in a mist around the white scarf that hid his nose and below. His eyes where almost dead if it weren't for the rage still burning just behind. The color of the deep ruby red slowly shifted like blood mixing into water.

Arms crossed over his chest trying to maintain the warmth of his body. The emotions burning in him told him so many things, as did what he felt. He didn't want to lose himself to them again, so he would end the conversation quickly. letting his voice bite into the world once more.

"It is not your concern. Leave it alone, it does not matter." Turning from her again he began to walk. He had no idea where he would go or what he was thinking. But something told him that solitude would be best. For now at least.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea sighed in exasperation and folded her arms across her chest. "Really? That's what you're going with? I'm trying to help!" Alea did not get any closer to Banir (whatever it might look like, she did not have a death wish), but she didn't want to just let him go. If she lost him now, she didn't know what he might do.

She noticed his icicle-covered coat and said, "Look, you're wet and frozen. Let's at least get inside." She kept her voice gentle, and the concern in her tone was not entirely fabricated.

[Banir Ironwood]

Footstep by footstep he began to walk away from her. His head hung a little lower than normal; he had been shamed and showed it in his body language. He did want to get warm but going with her would mean more talking. Something inside his head started to hurt at the thought of talking. But he knew now that she wouldn't leave him alone until he actually told her to leave. Before he left out of earshot he said one last thing.

"I thank you for your concern and offer to help. I do not deserve, not yet at least." He was done now and didn't want to talk anymore. He walked a little briskly hoping to leave her behind as he weaved through people. His height did little to hide him, he hunched over keeping his head low as he looked for someplace to go. Someplace he could stay for a while and just be left alone.

Seeing a small ally between two areas of business, making a sharp left turn into his temporary haven. He saw a spot in a few crates, resting in between them. He shuffled into himself and closed his eyes, he needed to collect himself and be alone. That wouldn't be possible with Alea's constant questioning.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea followed Banir into the alley, practically dripping with disapproval. "Well, I'm not just going to leave you here to freeze in the cold." The altruistic motive apparently wasn't convincing him; she'd have to try something else. "Then I'd have to walk around all day with the guilt of you freezing to death," she added in a tone that suggested such a thing would be a MAJOR inconvenience.

To be honest, Alea was starting to get fed up with Banir's resistance to any form of help, but she was nothing if not stubborn. She had decided that she would get this man to look after himself properly, and she had established not too long ago that once Alea's mind was set, nothing short of unconsciousness would stop her.

[Banir Ironwood]

Banir looked up at her his eyes dulled but the red rage still churning within his pupils. Despite the fact that the cold was gripping him he didn't wish to talk. And he was tired from his recent emotional explosion. Knowing that if she triggered his rage again she would get hurt, worse now that they where in the city as well. Honestly he didn't care how persistent she was this involved the possibilities of others now. He needed to let her know that they where done at least for today.

"I've fared worse, I will not die. Leave. I'm done. I am of no concern." It was not his whole message and he was frusterated that he didn't get it all out. He needed to say more, be more would mean emotion. And emotion could endanger others. Why couldn't he say it all!? Confounded once again due to his own incompetence! The voice screamed in his head. It was his own voice that screamed it.

More thoughts in his head but sleep kept nagging at him. He was tired and didn't wish to speak nor move. Thoughts still shifted in his head. Why does she care? He was unimportant! Her attitude keeps changing. I don't like this. What does she want from him? I'm getting hungry. These thoughts moved in his mind circulating each other. Some simple some complex.

[Alea Davenport]

Alea frowned. She did not like his chances if she left him out here. Even if he did survive, he wouldn't be particularly comfortable. Or warm. On the other hand, he was almost as stubborn as she was in his refusal to accept her help and company. Almost. Caring about him hadn't worked, pretending not to care about him hadn't worked; what was left?

"Let me get you inside. THEN, and only then, will I leave you alone." She held out a hand intending to help him up. "Deal?"

[Banir Ironwood]

He gave a heavy sigh and slowly stood up on his own not daring to pry his arms from his sides. And perhaps to try and prove he could stand on his own two feet without help.Cold held its icy grip on him as bits of ice fell from his clothing. Looking down at her his eyes dim and tired in the frosty streets. Ice had cluttered around the white scarf where his breath moved out into the world. That gruff voice speaking as it always had.

"Very well." It was all he said and all he felt like saying. He was tired emotionally and didn't feel like arguing further with Alea. Even though the woman seemed to only be persistent in being annoying.

[Cheshire]

Character: Alea Davenport Experience: Fishing +1, Teaching +2, Interrogation +3, Observation +1, Running +1, Stealth +1, Persuasion +1 Character: Banir Ironwood Experience: Fishing +2, Carving +3, Observation +1, Interrogation +1, Running +1, Brawling +1, Persuasion +1 Additional Note: Great thread guys. PM me with concerns.