Less then official work (Mariana)

[torin]

It wasn't often that Torin managed to be in the same place as The Bastard Kiss when it came in to dock, to re-supply and give the crew a chance to regain their land legs. But sure enough Torin managed it this time with a special effort to see his old friend Mariana. Catching her had become even more difficult after she got involved in the moving Mages business. The Templars didn't make the life for such a person easy. But there he was now, board the Bastard Kiss.

Members of the crew had approached the Hold, where the Captain and her guest had retreated with some wine he had brought so that they might catch up, to ask if their beloved Captain and her friend would care to join them in seeking out a fine Tavern to make merry, but by the sounds of knocking wood and the constant groans and moans of approval it was clear the Hold was seeing plenty of merry making of its own.

That had been some hours ago however and it was now well passed the middle of the night. A candle gave decent light, the full moon through the small windows gave perhaps more. Torin was resting upon the large crate they had taken for their use, his body coated in a thin layer of sweat. His back was against the the wall, one arm holding a goblet of wine now mostly empty from his need to quench dire thirst and his other arm wrapped around the shoulders of his dear old friend Mariana. She had an exotic beauty about her that had never faded nor lost its impression upon him since his first meeting of her, she had a free spirit and was deadly in her own right. Her ship gave her good work and her skill at arms helped her keep such work. She was admirable in many ways.

[Mariana]

She'd almost forgotten just how good Torin was, but sod all if she wasn't still quivering. It'd been a while since she'd been with such an artist, and Mariana leaned happily against his side. He was really very comfortable, and she was just starting to drift off when she heard something knocking around on deck.

"I thought I said to piss off..." she muttered, slipping out of Torin's embrace to pull on Torin's shirt. "I'll be back soon, sweet, don't go anywhere."

Trotting up to the deck, she tossed open the hatch and fixed the men with an angry glare. But they weren't her men, and they were armed. Suddenly she didn't feel quite so comfortable wearing nothing but Torin's shirt, the loose fabric hanging down around her thighs and offering no protection whatsoever. Why did she come up here unarmed and practically naked again?

"Now boys, what might you be doing here? Nothing to steal on my ship, the only booty aboard is mine, really. No gold here!" They weren't buying it. And Mariana thought the little wiry one was the man who'd signed her papers - that was why she didn't like to do things legitimately. Well, that and the whole piracy and smuggling bit, but that was entirely beside the point.

They looked startled - that was bad. They also looked mean - which was worse. And every last one of them was armed - there was no getting worse than that. "Torin, get up here and bring our weapons!" She shouted down the hatch.

It would be nice if he hurried, because they had their weapons drawn and were advancing. Well, in this situation there was really only one thing to do - she tied Torin's shirt higher around her hips and climbed the rigging.

[torin]

When she went to investigate he was more then happy to seat back and enjoy the moment. He had wine in hand and even by his own standards he had performed most capably. He took another sip of the wine, the somewhat cold liquid an ever welcome sensation as it washed down through his throat. If there was one thing that could not be said about Torin it was that he was a selfish lover. He had long ago learned that if you put in effort to see your woman curl her toes she will return the favour tenfold.

There he was enjoying the moments bliss when all of a sudden "Torin, get up here and bring your weapons!" it was all the warning he needed. Dropping the goblet of wine without care the Mercenary shot up from the crate and reached for his belt. The sheaths for his two swords were attached to it. He did not take them though, he just pulled free the swords themselves. There was the familiar hum of sustained lightning from his rune enchanted white steel swords.

Quick footwork and skipping several steps at a time brougth the Highever born warrior upon the ships deck. "I think you shall find gentlemen that there is nothing for you here, I've spent the last five hours claiming this ships prize bootie." It announced his presence and earned him there attention. There response was swift.

"What in the name of the Maker! That ones bloody naked! Look! You can see his lad dangling between his legs. I'm not fighting - " He would say no more however because as soon as he turned his head to speak to his peers Torin promptly skewered the man's face with his sword. Lightning Enchantments did not agree with the head. Too much soft tissue that could be incinerated near instantly, like eyeballs and the tongue. Not to mention the sheer damage caused by a sword being rammed into your face.

Others came upon him instantly and others went after his prize bootie. The night had certainly taken a change.

[Mariana]

Mariana paused in her climbing for a moment as Torin came on deck. It should be a crime to offer a view like that when the audience wasn't in a position to appreciate it. It just wasn't bloody fair. But Torin attacked and the men split up, some of the dock officials after him and the other half after her. Cursing under her breath, she hiked Torin's shirt higher around her waist and kept going. She had an easier time climbing the rigging then the men chasing her, not a single one of them being proper sailors, but she wasn't armed. If they got it into her head to cut the rigging, they were all pissed.

Well, she wouldn't have the bastards hurting her ship. Without another thought, she dropped lightly to the deck and made a beeline for the cabin. She had a few spare daggers there, and once she had them she spun around to face her attackers. "Get off my bloody ship!" Torin's shirt was piss to fight in, but she'd done worse. Really the problem came from her teats bouncing as she moved and the draft between her legs - there were some places wind just shouldn't go.

No matter. She'd fought with other things between her legs, the wind was, well, wind. Wind was a pirate's friend even it it was chilly. She invited most of her friends between her legs anyway, and she found being pants-less was really helping her quite a bit. Ah, men were so easily distracted....

Mariana wasn't a woman to shun an opportunity, so when her assailants' eyes started to wander she took full advantage of the distraction. Her blades flashed as her bits bounced beneath Torin's shirt and her other bits waved about in the open air. She couldn't help cringing a bit when the men's blood splashed her as she opened their throats and stomachs as the opportunities presented themselves. This was the place to hope none of them had anything nasty...

"Oi, Torin! You done yet? I'm all finished with mine!" she called as the last man dropped with a gurgle.

[torin]

The three dock officials that remained to try gut Torin so they could pilfer the ship and be on there way were armed, but they were not warriors. With a sword in each hand he held them at bay, they were predictable and slow. With careful footwork he positioned himself for advantage, his bare foot smashed one in the face and sent him sprawling. It was precisely the break Torin needed. With just two now he could manage more easily. The first of the remaining two came at him, he must have been twice Torin's age and half his weight. With a desperate thrust the official came at him, the mercenary of Highever easily twirled to avoid but as his body moved around he brought up an elbow and struck the man in the back of the head as he fell forward under the weight of his own attack.

The next came at him, he was of a more dangerous sort. Had seen less winters and had more size to him. He was still an amateur at best. His sword went up high and came down to chop, clearly hoping to slice the dashing naked mercenary in twain. It did not happen however, Torin's blade came up and crossed over each other, catching the attacker's blade. It was an easy thing then for Torin to redirect the sword, bringing it down one side before breaking loose and moving again. His blades let his attackers free but only so he could press the attack, his arm stretched out and he closed the distance between himself and his attacker, strong arm striking his throat. The one he had kicked in the face gathered himself and pushed to attack, but Torin dropped low to avoid his head being sliced off from his flank. His opponent was slow to right himself after swinging and the mercenary took full advantage, his lightning enchanted blade being sent straight through his opponents leg. He left out a terrible cry. Torin silenced it with a strike, Torin lashed out with a fist and struck so hard he knocked loose some teeth and split open his lip.

With him down again the other two were upon him. They were more careful now, waiting for each other so they could attack together. Torin was not as fond of the cold wind as Mariana was. A quick glance in her direction she had armed herself and pushed advantage as her assailants admired exposed & exotic womanly charm. Regardless of treats on display Torin had a fight to finish. They came upon him together and he brought up his blades to defend, taking steps backwards as they pushed offense, expert eyes kept track of all four blades at work so he could parry, ducking and weaving between the two when their shoulders betrayed next attack. As he passed between he left small cut upon side of each, the moment they took to wince from wound was all he needed to cut the legs out from one. Suffice to say he fell to the ground, screaming and bleeding as he found himself forever more a man that started at the knees.

The other dock official he had been fighting wavered, shocked by the maiming he had just witnessed. But to take time in a fight against Torin was a lethal mistake. No sooner had he attempted to bring wits to bear and Torin was atop him, lightning blade opening him from shoulder to hip of opposite side. With one mighty kick the mercenary of Highever sent the man and his spilling entrails overboard to die alone in cold water. The aging man who was now without legs and screaming away was silenced by sword to chest. Impaled at the heart. The final attacker attempted to flee the scene, for he was the last to remain but Torin had no such mercy about him. Hurling his sword, which was not a blade meant to be thrown he caught the man at his backbone, or perhaps just off it. It was a lethal stab regardless, he body shook and convulsed for a moment but would be dead in moments. Torin's ankle struck upon back of head to quicken end.

"I am. They are dead to be sure, one and all. We should throw the bodies overboard." He gave a sigh of relief, the pounding of his heart in his ear like a natural war drum slowly subsided and he walked towards Mariana, after retrieving his weapons and placing them in the sheaths that rested upon the only thing he was wearing. His belt. "Of course....being a mercenary is my trade so I'll need pay for this." there was the smile of a joke upon his face. "I'd take the shirt off your back but its already mine. We'll need to negotiate something different I think."