[Flashback] A lady and a farmer (Keating)

[Callisto]

Callisto turned to stare at Keating. Nearly pupil-less eyes, unblinking, with a look that almost appeared as if the Ethaefal was nonchalant about the whole matter. And perhaps she was. She didn’t seem him as anything more than a trifling mortal man who had a rather presumptuous look in his eyes. The fire blazed but Callisto remained silent for a moment, smoothing out the shirt that clung to all the right curves, and left much to be desired. “Your assumptions are getting a bit out of hand, Sir Keating.” She said curtly, “But I don’t think you will be more bold. You’ve already shown me what you’re capable of by your reaction alone. I think that would suffice.” She watched almost wearily as he fanned the flames that licked the damp air, bringing down flecks of hot ash that landed almost forlornly around her legs. When he sat down beside her, her eyes lingered on his chest, crawled up his arms and settled on his lips as he spoke. How clever was he, to skillfully evade her questioning and go off on such an abrupt tangent! Could he be hiding something? Or did the mention of Rose hurt him in such a way that was beyond the Ethaefal’s comprehension? “You could be more blunt and tell me to stop speaking of her, if you wish,” She said, then eyed the hand that was so graciously extended for her. Callisto paused, almost hesitant, a flicker of something beyond placidness on her features, but she held out her throbbing hand, still slightly red, but very much intact. “You’d be wise not to underestimate me.” She murmured, a barely audible statement. Her lips curled into a smile. “What if I had been someone else? Let’s say… not a woman? Would you have smacked me with that board? I’m sure that wouldn’t have been very kind. It seems the wild is an excuse to lose ones manners.” Now it was her who seemed to be going off on her own tangent, and she spoke, with her hand in his, and her eyes lingering on his fingers and wrist, as rough and strong as they appeared.

[Keating Ash]

“And you have shown that you are more than capable of handling my reactions,” he said with a laugh, as he took her delicate hand within his own. Placing his other hand beneath hers, he lifted it and turned it to see it better in the firelight. Callisto’s skin was soft and delicate against his own. And he traced away the redness with his fingers and a soothing touch. All the while he made tut-tutting sounds as if to calm a startled foal. Keating inclined his head, as if acknowledging a worthy opponent. He appeared relaxed, not intimidated by her considerable personal power. The woman had spirit, and she had fight and he found himself rising to her challenge. “It would be a disservice to underestimate you, my dear. I see too much in you to do that,” the man told her as he looked over her curves and the exposed legs with appreciation. “Someone else?” he asked. “Not a woman?” Keating actually gave thought to the question. “It would have depended upon the answers they had given me… but after that you are wrong,” he accused. “In the wild, we have not lost our manners. It is just here, we are too busy scratching for survival to worry about niceties. Here the reaction you get from another is real; not forced, or false, or of high ideals. There is no time for less than bluntness.” And again, Keating ignored the questions about Rose. “I will be blunt with you now… but for different reasons,” he said, as he pulled her hand firmly to his chest, bringing the intriguing Ethaefal closer. Leaning in and down Keating kissed her deeply, and moved one strong hand softly to the back of her neck to draw her in further.

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Callisto   Skills Skill Gain Info. Observation 1 -- Interrogation 2 -- Philosophy 1 -- Seduction 1 -- Unarmed Combat 1 Rock-Hard Slap   Lore Keating Ash: The Damned Love Keating   Skills Skill Gain Info. Observation 1 -- Intimidation 1 -- Rhetoric 1 -- Storytelling 2 -- Seduction 2 --   Lore Longing of the Ethaefal (Basic)

Additional CommentsI must say, this was a very cool thread. I wish it went on. Anyway, as always, if you have questions, comments, or concerns feel free to PM me and we'll fix it.