[Thunder Bay] Commiserating Hunters (Azira)

[Kovac]

That was it. They had been cooped up all day in the tiny shed with the impossible woman. Kovac had tried, in his own way, to lighten things up, though his choice of methods proved a poor one. Azira was rude, self-centered (even more so than he) and abrasive. The huntress claimed she didn't trust him, but Kovac wasn't so sure the crazy woman wouldn't stab him in the middle of the night just to make sure he didn't touch her. Kovac pulled his katinu away, vaulted to his feet and grabbed one of the chairs, slamming it down near the small work table.

"Fine, there, no one is going to touch your precious body, petching freeze to death for all I care. You and your cold knife can keep each other warm." With a plop, Kovac landed in the chair, propped his feet on the table and threw his katinu over himself. He was being a bit of a pouty brat now, but dammit, the woman was driving him mad. Already, he was shivering, but was not sure if it was from the cold or anger. He shifted, trying to get comfortable, which was nigh impossible on the hard wooden chair. With a glance to Azira, he stood again, returned long enough to grab his knife and belt and returned to his chair. He slung the belt over the back of the chair before settling back down with his katinu.

[Azira]

The huntress jumped in shock when Kovac suddenly got to his feet. Turning and propping herself up on her elbow, she watched as he grabbed a chair and shoved it hard against the wall, spitting insults at her as he moved. The teen stared at him, her mouth hanging slightly open. The man was a few years her senior, she didn't know his exact age but she'd say that he was in his mid to late 20s so he was maybe 10 years older than her and having a tantrum. She didn't know whether to laugh or apologise or something. She settled for sniggering.

"Oh real mature, Kovac. Go ahead have a tantrum like a child. Well I'm so sorry for having self-respect. Do you prefer your women to throw themselves at you, is that it?" the young woman sneered at him as he huddled himself against the wall in his katinu. He was the one being an idiot so she wasn't going to feel sorry for him if that was what he wanted. Instead the teen shifted the makeshift bed around until she was wrapped up in something like a cocoon. She'd be able to keep herself warm, he'd see and he'd be the one freezing his arse off.

The girl shifted about until she was comfortable, the makeshift blanket began to warm up with her body heat, the chill kept at bay. She was tempted to make some other remark in his direction but nothing good came to mind so the girl stayed silent, just trying to relax and go to sleep.

x

[Kovac]

Yes, Kovac lost his cool. The half-breed usually kept his temper well, finding other means to vent frustration. Sarcasm, humiliation, or simply sulking off were a few of his preferred methods. But Azira proved to be a force to be reckoned with, a bastion of stubbornness and aggravation that tested the mongrel's patience until it snapped.

Huddled up upon himself, already shivering, Kovac looked at the fiery redhead as she rolled herself up by the fire. "You are impossible, just...impossible," was all he could sputter. More venomous words lingered on his lips, ready to be shot forth in retribution, mean and nasty words aimed at destroying the woman's feelings. but that volley was stayed. Azira was maddening, and being cooped up with her may drive him mad. But, as angry as the huntress made Kovac, and obviously he her, Kovac didn't hate her.

Beneath the attractive skin, behind the defenses of coldness and apparent spite, Kovac had heard matters of Azira's heart. The self-doubt derived from defeat at the hands of a Yasi, the horrifying thought that she may no longer hunt, to do her job, and the consequences of such. Kovac could relate to that. If he thought he lost his ability to hunt, to shoot, well, he would probably crawl back into the wine bottle it had taken four years to crawl out of.

The half-vanthan sighed heavily, the vapor of his breath taking on the orange of the small fire before dissipating. Then his voice lifted, fatigued and lacking anger. "Azira, I don't want anything from you. I am cold, tired, and weary of arguing with you. Another place, another time, I would probably, but not here, and not tonight. I just want us to live through the night." With that, and a lingering glance, Kovac tugged his hood over his head, shifted in the chair to put more of his back to Azira, and stared at the dark wall in front of him.

[Azira]

OOCCan you move it along to the next day in your post? I don't want to assume to know what Kovac will do.

Azira resurfaced to gaze at Kovac with one eyebrow raised. "I'm impossible? Really, why? Because I voiced my views? You're the one that ran away to sulk in the corner because I didn't act the way you wanted, or maybe the way you expected," she told him coolly, watching his face. He looked as if he was ready to say something more than what he'd already spluttered out. Whatever it was, he obviously going to say it. The huntress suspected that he'd been about to say something nasty and she was glad that he hadn't or she would have answered in kind and that wouldn't have ended well in such close quarters.

His resigned sigh surprised her. It was as if all the fire and anger that had been in him only moments before had dissipated. She almost felt bad. Well, that was a lie, she did. She'd been extremely nasty to someone trying to be nice. Again. He'd only wanted to help her shelter from the storm, to know what was eating her and had even offered to help her. And she'd had to act horribly towards him and let paranoia get the better of her. Real smart that.

He'd hidden himself under his hood now in attempt to stay warm so he probably couldn't see the indecision in her expression. She bit her lip, staring at the form which was breathing out little clouds of chilled breath. He was going to freeze and it was going to be her fault.

"Kovac...? her voice was uncertain and soft as she called his name. Her gaze dropped to the fire, her face twisting as she spoke. "If you want to then you can sleep over here. I won't stab you unless you give me reason to which I assume you won't," she told him. She settled back onto the makeshift bed, turning her back to him then. He'd either stay where he was or come back over but she wasn't going to watch him. She listened anxiously for a few moments before she calmed her body down, slowing her breathing until she fell asleep. She'd wake after her comrade.

x

[Kovac]

Kovac lay in his incredibly uncomfortable posture, the hard words of his reluctant companion fading into the crisp air. He sat/lay there for a moment, trying to think his way out of his predicament. If he could have, the half-breed would have stormed out of the shack altogether, leaving Azira to fend for herself. But he couldn't. The storm still went on outside. The corner was as far as he could get, but instead of offering the indignant self-righteousness of a dramatic exit, it only made him look like a spoiled child hunkered in the corner. So, he either had to swallow his pride and plead for space by the fire, or take his chances with the dropping temperature.

Azira's soft voice saved Kovac from himself. He peeked out from under his hood as the redheaded huntress made her offer. Without a word, Kovac quietly stood from the chair and laid down next to the woman. He did not touch her, but turned his back to her, settled in, and fell into a restless sleep.

-----------------------------------------

The cloudy light of day appeared through the frosted window, diffuse and gray. It compelled Kovac to open his eyes. Awareness crept through his body, feeling the cold that had given his face a bluish cast. He was cool but fairly warm. During the night, he had turned towards Azira and spooned her. Though his body was pressed against her back, his hands were securely tucked between his thighs. He had kept his word.

The hunter rose slowly, careful not to wake the sleeping huntress. He paused to peer down at her, curled into a ball to keep warm. The light skin of her features was pale, a stark contrast with her fiery hair. She seemed different. Leaning closer, Kovac peered at her young face. Gone was the scowl, the lines around her mouth formed by her frown smoothed out. She seemed at peace and beautiful. Kovac stepped carefully. He preferred not to wake Azira and ruin her angelic countenance.

The brazier had all but died out, but burning embers remained, and Kovac scrounged what scraps he could find left of wood, rope or textile to use as fuel. Crouching down, he blew on the hot coals, coaxing them to flames. Soon, a small fire lived again in the shallow iron dish.

Stepping back to the window, he used his katinu sleeve to wipe away enough frost to see outside. It seemed every inch of ground, tree and building was coated with ice. Some precipitation still fell, though not as hard as the day before, but just as frigid. He looked back down at the sleeping Azira. They would have to move if the storm continued. They were about out of things to burn, and food was low.

[Memento]

GRADES
Azira

Skill	XP
Interrogation	1
Intimidation	2
Leadership	1
Observation	4
Socialization	5

Lore:

• Kovac: Hunter
• Kovac: Bossy
• Kovac: Half Inarta
• Kovac: Not one for formalities
• Shooting targets is not the same as hunting
• Kovac: Musician

Kovac

Skill	XP
Flirting	1
Persuasion	2
Observation	5
Rhetoric	3
Socialization	5

Lore:

• Thunder Bay: Preparations for a storm
• Azira: Huntress
• Azira: Temperamental
• Azira: Lost to a Yasi

Notes: Nice thread, guys. Azira is being Azira, like always, and Kovac certainly seems to have a lot of patience with her. I'm curious to see the second part.


If you have any questions about your grade, or think I've missed something, please PM me.