Author: Nikolai Romanov, Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 4:15 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

Nikolai smiled widely at Fern. “Net sladkogo.” He cooed sweetly at her as he leant forward to whisper to the girl. “Not you; you are a sveet and genuine you as appear to be. Trust old Nikolai, his nose never lies.” He winked, touching his finger to his nose as he winked.

Rolling his eyes at Furtuna in a way that Fern would see he smiled at the girl and led her away from where they had been left, holding her hand gently but firmly to stop her from tripping at all; docks were forever littered with ropes and sails and boxes and all manner of junk that could easily be fallen over.

Healers? The word suddenly reminded him of exactly why he had had spotted Fern’s capture in the first place - the adrenalin had kicked in and numbed the pain from his own wound but now that they had calmed themselves the pain came back fresh and new and more irritable than ever. “Vhat a happy coinceedence!” He cried jovially, wincing at his side twanged with pain as though to remind him that the wound was still there. “The cliniic vas vhere I vas heading vhen I spotted you. A minor vound but eenough to irritate.” He chuckled, looking at his shirt and the dirty red stain that had grown in size during their adventures. “In Vilpamolan it ees vise to remain ever alert my Lady, but have no fear - here vith me you are safe.” He smiled.

“Eet does not make you lazy, not at all. I have been many tings in my life. Sometimes eet is a matter of trial and erroor.” He chuckled. “Vhat suits one does not alvays suit another.” He shrugged. “There is no right or wrong answer, only vhat makes us happy in the end.”

Author: Fern, Posted: Wed Jan 9, 2019 1:22 PM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

His question caused her cheeks to flush more if they could but she shook her head. “I suppose not. Isn’t it odd to just offer yourself like this though? What if I am not what I appear?” She knew that many things were lies in this world and that made her hesitant on Nikolai but he didn’t appear to be a threat to her which was comforting at the least.

Furtuna huffed at him and shrugged. “Better.” It was the last word they heard from the pirate queen as she abandoned them at the Vilpamolan docks.

Nico stopped her from apologizing and everything else she could have protested died on her lips before she could formulate them. Hadn’t he done enough for her? Shouldn’t she learn to take care of herself? However, right now in the middle of a town like Vilpamolan wasn’t the best place to learn to defend herself. No matter how much she wanted to take care of herself she would have to swallow her pride and accept Nikolai’s help. Especially since the help her mother sent had been utterly useless. It couldn’t be helped that sometimes the goddess placed her trust in the worst people… Everyone wore a mask after all.

“I’m going to the Mother’s Clinic to help out there. We’ve had a shortage of healers since the war with those insects. Many are still spread out across the continent and I thought I could help here…” She rubbed her foot on the ground bashfully and looked away from his eyes. “I didn’t think I would get kidnapped. Honestly, I just had my head in the clouds is all.” She shook her head full of blonde curls and blushed a bit more.

“My family has practiced healing for a long time. I suppose for humans they would say generations. However, my mother is very old so I guess it doesn’t apply when we’re all following in her steps.” Fern walked alongside Nikolai and eyed him on occasion before looking back to the crowds. “I only just recently decided I would help out with all that… I didn’t know what to do before. I guess that makes me lazy doesn’t it?” She looked up at Nikolai for a lazy answer. After all, she thought she was lazy because she was a grown woman and everyone else especially Belle had started to learn young.

Author: Nikolai Romanov, Posted: Tue Jan 8, 2019 3:59 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

Nikolai chuckled; he got the distinct feeling that Furtuna did not like him or at least did not trust him to be around her sister – he couldn’t say he blamed her; he knew his own reputation with women and as a pirate, no respectable family would want him as an in-law. Not that she needed to worry – it wasn’t like he was married to the girl! They’d not even shared a kiss yet he thought wryly. He cast Furtuna a glance as he sat with Fern; no she had no intention of trusting him did she? No matter, it wasn’t her opinion he was bothered about after all.

”Does there need to be a reason for me to vish to serve a beauteeful lady?” He asked delicately, his words soft and silken as they rolled off his silver tongue. He caught the flush in her cheeks as she looked at him and he smiled; he’d met naïve and innocent women before but there was something about Fern that was different to them… he wasn’t looking to charm her into bed (well he might have been but not quite in the same fashion…) and leave her behind; he genuinely wanted to protect her from harm… not that he could quite figure out why…

Standing up as the ship came to land he offered a hand to Fern to help her to her feet just as a crossbow found itself lodged inconveniently between his eyes. Raising an eyebrow he put a fingertip to the tip of the arrow, his eyes fixed upon Furtuna’s as he moved it slightly out of the way with his finger. ”I vill protect her vith my life.” He said seriously, his gaze never wavering.

Stumbling from the ship as they got booted off he turned his gaze upwards as he watched the ship ascend. He held up a hand as Fern began to apologise. ”Vas eet not my choice to chase after you and those vagrants?” He asked. ”Now, vhere are you meant to be precious lady, I shall make sure that you get there safely, ve cannot have you getting snatched avay again.”

Author: Fern, Posted: Mon Jan 7, 2019 9:52 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

He twisted to cover her as they fell to the deck. The noise the ballista made flying past them almost hurt her delicate ears. She was supposed to be repaying him for saving her but it appeared he was dead set on helping her. Fern offered a smile to Nico as he helped her up. “I would like it if no one was eaten by sharks today,” the shy Rosenite admitted to both her protector and sister.

“Smart girl,” Furtuna whistled almost amused. The man was ballsy and she would give him that but she knew a pirate when she saw one. There was an eep as Nikolai quite literally swept Fern off of her feet. A blush but she accepted it without hesitation. “Literally,” her word left her lips almost breathless. “So I saw… Crazy ambition without any thought to the consequences.”

“That about sums up pirates quite well Little Sister. Please remember that well.”

Fern was situated onto the bench and took a big sigh of relief. For as brave as she had appeared it was merely out of survival. It had been a lesson taught early on to those that could not defend themselves. She played her role effortlessly like a good daughter. Speaking of abrupt, Nico’s words made her blush and she shied away from him. “You don’t need to go that far I assure you. I’ve done nothing to have you say these things.”

She had never met a man like Nikolai before. It showed when she had her blue eyes meet his and immediately her face flushed up again. She didn’t know what to do and no one was here to help her. Furtuna took the airship over to the docks once everything was settled and lowered the bridge. “Now get off my ship… oh and Nikolai.” Furtuna had a crossbow with the arrow between his eyebrows. Her eyes spoke of dead seriousness. “Do not let anything happen to my sister while she is in Vilpamolan… Understood?”

“Sister! I assure you that’s not needed… Nikolai isn’t responsible for me!”

“Well, he is now.” Furtuna booted them from the ship and took off without hesitation. Fern dusted her skirts a bit and looked up at Nikolai shyly once more. “I am sorry you got dragged into everything.”

Author: Nikolai Romanov, Posted: Mon Jan 7, 2019 3:50 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

Nikolai grinned at Fern with that charming, lopsided smirk of his. “Always Kotik. As if I vould not spot such a preetty lady being taken by these foul insects.” He continued. Grinning at the girl he watched the men carefully, wondering if they were going to be stupid enough to dare to fight back against him. Two against one? Hardly. These two together barely made up one person worth Niko’s time let alone his concern – his only concern was keeping his new charge safe and sound.

As the ship appeared Nikolai looked up, keeping a firmer grip of the girl as he watched it’s approach. He knew of the ship; of course he did, what self-respecting Pirate didn’t know of the woman who ran a fleet of ships and essentially owned half the Pirate populous. Suddenly the girl was yelling at him and pulling him out of the way; instinctively he twisted his body so that he lay atop her – if anyone was going to get shot then it would be him!

Interesting woman; interesting family or so it seemed. Not only was the girl the daughter of a Goddess but the little sister of Furtuna? My my what a day Nikolai was having! And for once luck seemed to be on his side… wasn’t often but every now and again he could claim things went his way – today was clearly going to be one of them. Winking at Fern he helped her upright and followed after the woman, technically she could have been the woman of his dreams given she had that spitfire attitude he had always liked in a woman – but she reminded him too much of his wife and no one could take Lana’s place in that respect. ”Admeetedly I rather like my skeen vhere it ees. Though sharks do not vorry me much.” He chuckled, following onto the ship quite willingly.

Nikolai felt Fern falter and easily caught her, holding her against himself as he cradled her legs, winked and carried her aboard. ”Vell thees is vone vay to sveep a voman off her feet no?” He chuckled. Nodding he did as he was instructed and placed her gently onto one of the benches on the deck. ”Hardly your fault; Pirates are terreeble opportuneests.” He snorted, sitting down beside her and turning his blue eyed gaze to her sister.

He smiled. ”She is fine; she is hardly the first voman to be so abrupt around me.” He snorted. ”My name is Nikolai and I am forever your servant.” He grinned.

Author: Fern, Posted: Fri Jan 4, 2019 9:11 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

Fern was one of the very lucky Rosenites who wasn’t affected by being out on the water. Over the years the air and sea sickness had seemed to disappear from the newer generations and right at that moment, Fern was very glad for that fact. Blue eyes stared with annoyance at her captors. A few things ran through her mind but being afraid wasn’t one of them. She was a proud member of the Rose family and she knew that either someone from her mother’s temple or one of her siblings would be along the way to save her. She just had to make sure nothing bad happened between those two points. If she minded herself and kept her tongue in check, aside from her minor outburst earlier, then she should be alright. Them? Not so much.

Which begged the question of which sibling Angela would send for Fern. It was a terrifying thought since not many could cross the sea without a vessel and those that could fly were… Oh no. She immediately knew who would take up arms on the Vilpamolan coast especially if the pirate was in a bad mood that day. There was a low groan that escaped her lips and the men seemed to take notice.

“You thinking about how bad yer situation is there little princess?”

“Thinking about how bad yours is actually… You have heard of Furtuna… Haven’t you?”

Their faces went white as clean linen and Fern knew she had them for the moment. “What about that bitch?”

“Oh… You know, family secret. If I had my guess I would imagine she is on her way here right now… Do you really think you have the balls to stand up to a fleet of airships?” Whoever was coming to rescue her had better come quick now that she had them in a panic. One of them got up to shut her up and the other was more in fear of what she said.

Her blue eyes and good hearing were good for spotting things that most people missed. For example, a very good looking man who really didn’t belong where he was up top. Her eyes only moved for a mere second but her lips spoke to hide the fact she had spotted him. “The skies are awfully cloudy… Good cover for an airship I reckon.” The one man moved once more against her even though his partner was pissing himself.

“Shuddup girly.” He smacked her but it only got a smirk out of her as Nikolai made his introduction. She didn’t know whether or not he was affiliated with her mother but she was damn glad that someone was here to get her.

Fern watched his display with interest as the brute who hit her was drawn away and knocked down. Eyes went to his dagger but she was more than grateful when he cut her loose. “I’m just glad someone was at least paying attention.” Some help that clergy member had been… She winced at the thought of what would happen to him when her mother came back home. “Roughed me up a little but we’re hardy folk I promise.” The wink got a giggle out of her and a smile.

“Speaking… of problems though.” Fern took notice of it before anyone else. “I knew it was gonna be here Ma would send.” There was a grimace as a large abalone shell like airship appeared in the sky. It was more like a sky fortress. There were what looked like pods on the bottom of it with oddly shaped round structures sticking out of them. That was when one detached. It was a war airship. “GET DOWN,” Fern grabbed Nikolai and got down to the ship floorboards as large ballista shot and got one of the men who had been hunting her. It went straight through the deck of the ship.

“Attention Vilpamolan Deviants, Scoundrels, and Kidnappers alike… You’ve gone and fucked up this time.” It was a female’s voice that echoed from the skies and it didn’t take long to pinpoint it coming from a blue-skinned woman standing on the edge of the warship that had come down. It descended close enough that a bridge was dropped onto the ship making it rock in the unsteady ocean. The pirate captain came strolling down the bridge after hopping off the edge there was a whistle as her men rushed past her and took out everyone. “By the way you are groping that man… I assume he is with you? Very well then. He can live.”

“BUT! If people find out that Mother let you kil–”

“Damn what people think. This is my crew, my ships, and you are my baby sister. If I want them dead… That’s what they are gonna be. Throw them into the ballista and launch them at Vilpamolan… Make a nice statement for me.” Her crew saluted and Furtuna went to turn on her heel. “Also don’t mention to Vincent that I had you launch people out of my ballista. He might chastise me for ruining the mana lines of the ship with filth.” There was an eye roll and a hand to her hip. “Fern and Fern’s Gropee come with me. I’m blowing this ship up. So… You can come aboard Jadis Lyre or you can be shark food. Now, I don’t know about you pretty boy but I would rather not have shark teeth in my damn skin.”

Fern nodded and looked a little weak in the knees now that everything was done. When she got up the adrenaline that had been keeping her alive and thinking was just about shot which she theorized was faster than others. Maybe it was because she knew she could rest now with Furtuna there. However, her savior caught her with ease and she gave him a worn out smile. She motioned for him to followed Furtuna and was grateful for the help that he offered.

The deck of Furtuna’s Jadis Lyre seemed to be made out of mahogany and had a few benches here or there. “Can you set me down on one of those? I feel awful that you even had to come get me.” Fern almost plopped herself down on the bench and Furtuna only stared at her for a little bit.

“Why Vilpamolan? You know its dangerous. It’s no place for a girl like you with no combat ability to be.”

“I… Um…” Fern blushed a bit and looked away shyly. “Belle did her studying here too.”

“Ah, so you finally decided what you wanted to do?” Furtuna wasn’t always around but she kept up with her sisters and brothers. “Healer then?” Fern nodded. “It’s in yer blood you’ll be good at it. Just like Ma. Keep practicing.” Furtuna’s eyes went to Nikolai but considering she had an airship to pilot, people to shoot out of a ballista, and a ship to blow up… Well, she was busy. The air genasi stalked away to the upper deck where her wheel was. “Get ready for ascending. Prepare the ballista and load our new friends. Xeria you aim the ballista at Vilpamolan’s coast and Cesil you aim the cannons loaded with as much magic force as you can get those slimy mages to put in at that ship.” Her voice boomed and it made Fern jump a little.

“She’s a little nicer when you get to know her…” Fern tried to calm her own nerves down now as she looked towards Nikolai. “You saved me and I don’t even know who you are,” she chuckled out her statement before looking away shyly. “I’m Fern like Furtuna said.”

Author: Nikolai Romanov, Posted: Fri Jan 4, 2019 8:18 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

Hurrying along the rooftops, keen blue eyes remained fixed upon the two men and their precious cargo. Luckily for him they were too stupid to realise that he was there and too busy watching over their shoulder to look above them to anyone that might have been following - it gave Nikolai the advantage of stealth at least, not that he was worried on that score; you didn’t become a world-class assassin by getting noticed by your quarry for goodness sake. And this quarry was none too bright in his most honest of opinions. Stealing pretty young women in the middle of a street by a clinic of all places when he needed their healing hands upon his own person! Utterly outrageous.

A voice roared and the buildings shook so much that a few tiles shifted beneath his feet; once again Nikolai praised his upbringing as he stumbled sideways only to catch his footing immediately - years of walking the tightrope had its uses! So it appeared that the girl belonged to one of the Goddesses did she? A Deities’ daughter was she? Now two things occurred to Nikolai at this realisation; firstly that getting in with a Goddess was always a wise thing to do and secondly that these two morons were extremely lucky that it was he pursuing them and not the beautiful young woman’s rather angry mama.

As the pair came to the docks Nikolai slowed his pace. crouching as they came to the open water; his blue eyes fixed upon them as he placed his fingertips to the edge of the roof and assessed his way down to them. Let the morons get on their ship - they wouldn’t see him coming until he wanted them to. While they were busy getting her on board Nikolai scaled the building and hurried across the docks onto a neighbouring ship being loaded with provisions - the joy of Vilpamolan was that there were so many pirates that one more aboard a ship was barely noticed! Shimmying up their mast he walked along the sails with a grin - this was just like his youth! Before they could get anywhere he launched himself gracefully to their sails hurrying along to their crow’s nest and ducking down so he could watch in safety.

Utter fools. The young lady was right that her Mother should have murdered these two for such a disrespectful show. Using his dagger to cut loose on of the ropes Nikolai positioned himself, ready to rescue the poor damsel in distress below. Wrapping the rope loosely around his arm to coordinate his swing he ran along the sail arm and launched himself into a dive, pulling on the rope so that he would swing around the mast - slowing his descent as he circled round the mast, the rope getting shorter so he didn’t hit the ground with a dull (and rather painful if not fatal) thud. ”Privet!” Nikolai greeted the pair with a smirk, his eyes dancing with mischief as he grabbed hold of the rope during his swing, pulling his feet up to kick one then the other out of the way. Letting go of the rope he dropped and rolled gracefully, hurrying to his feet with his dagger in hand - ready for a fight should there be one.

While the two men recovered (or rethought their actions, whatever came first he supposed) from his assault, Nikolai cut the ropes that bound the young woman, slipping a muscled arm about her waist and pulling her close against his body. ”Apologies moya ledi for the delay.” He said in his heavy Russian accent, winking at her. ”These otvratitel'nyye krysy have not harmed you?”

Author: Fern, Posted: Fri Jan 4, 2019 1:40 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

“That pretty little thing at the clinic is one of Angela Rose’s children… We could kidnap her yeah?” Crazed eyes looked to his partner.

“Would be certain death if we got caught… but I don’t see the nosey Mother here right now.” The other man replied.

If it had been any other daughter they wouldn’t have gotten as far. Fern was a relative novice to the magic world. She hadn’t known what she wanted to do with her life until recently and she was still a greenhorn. Angela had approved of this trip to Vilpamolan only if a clergy member went with her but the guy was drunk off his ass and slumped in a corner.

Only Fern didn’t know that and she was busy patching some clients up the best she could. The Rosenite was dressed in a well-made gown that was just fancy enough but not overly so. It didn’t get in the way of her being busy and if it got ruined she wouldn’t really complain about it. After all, she had worn it during a time when she was working and there was always the chance it could get ruined. It would be her own damned fault. Long blonde tresses were halfway pulled back and braided up onto her crown while the rest of the curls fell to the mid of her back.

She escorted the patients out of the clinic and gracefully bowed to them. “Please come back if you need anything else. We’re always willing to help.” That was a line that she had watched her mother give for as long as she had remembered. The healer’s way, Angela had called it.

Never turn down a person in need.

Prioritize those closer to death.

Always tell them they have a place to return.

Treat them like you would your family.

These were but a few of the things that Angela had always taught her daughters who became healers. Fern was struggling that much was true but she understood the principles that Angela taught. Healers could turn the tide of battle or even save whole cities if they were skilled enough. It made her determined. Her gentle blue eyes with silver rings scanned the crowd with hesitation. Vilpamolan made her nervous… Apparently for good reason.

Before she knew it she had a hand over mouth and she was being hoisted up. She bit the man which earned her a smack but it gave her enough time to yell, “ALAN HELP ME.” The voice of the healer carried enough that the drunken slump startled away and ran outside.

“FERN,” the clergy member yelled and he attempted a step but found his legs jelly from all the drinks.

You know what they say about Mothers though… They always know. “Alan Arrowroot if you don’t get my daughter back before they get her in that ship I will smite you all the way from Parvpora,” Angela roared and the buildings shook. “You were supposed to be watching her!” The Mother’s wraith even from this distance was… terrifying. Angela was known as the kindest of the Conclave members. “GO.”

Alan was shaking a bit. “My Lady, please! I turned my back for just a moment and my leg–”

Angela was quick to cut him off as a spike shot from the ground. “Lying to me does no good. You better hope for your sake someone isn’t as big of a mess up as you are.” There was a growl but the threat was still there as the goddess’s presence disappeared. She would have to work fast to find out which of her children who were capable happened to be near the pirate city.

Meanwhile, Fern was struggling against the man but she just wasn’t strong enough even with her Rosenite blood. They managed to get to the docks and onto a ship before Angela could find an answer from where she was. Tying Fern up to the mast pole of their ship they sat down with fear in their eyes. “She could have killed us.”

“AND SHE BLOODY SHOULD HAVE,” Fern yelled at them but they mildly ignored her. They were dead if they went on land now but they had a hostage and a rather valuable one at that. “Let me go these ropes are cutting into me.” Oh, she if had marks on her there would be even more hell to pay than before.

Author: Nikolai Romanov, Posted: Wed Jan 2, 2019 6:06 AM, Post Subject: Swept Off Your Feet (P/R)

The wound was, for all intents and purposes, mostly superficial in nature… but of course Nikolai had played up with it, causing a fuss and a show until finally Captain Jones had had enough of his First Mate and banished him from the ship until he had been to one of the clinics to get it looked at - anything other than having to listen to his ridiculous Lycanthrope howling as though a limb had been cut off. 

Grinning to himself the handsome Pirate strode through the bustling city; winking at the various Tavern wenches leaning through windows and doors trying to attract customers to venture into the dark and dingy interior to drink copious amounts of questionable ales, wines and other varieties of alcoholic beverages from unknown (and to be frank it was better that way) sources served in dirty tankards and chipped glasses all of which had seen better days and cost far more than it was worth. Sadly Nikolai had frequented these places more than he cared to admit - the drinks and food (the Gods help you if you dared partake of that particular slop) were not to his tastes but the girls tended to be and they were more than willing to lend themselves to his 'amusements' whenever he had called upon them… after all who wouldn't fall for the handsome man with the cheeky smile, glittering blue eyes and the honey coated Russian drawl that was Nikolai Romanov? The man had a silver tongue and talented hands - years of being an acrobat as well as a thief and assassin had left him quite useful where his hands were concerned… it was one of the many reasons the women liked him - or so the rumours said anyway. 

Rounding the corner towards the clinic his sharp blue eyes fell upon a woman who did not belong in this flea ridden place; these may well have been his people but even Nikolai couldn't stand Pirates half the time so the woman stuck out like a sore thumb in front of the clinic surrounded by dirty men and women with questionable tastes in friends and lifestyle. It was probably a good thing for her that she DID stick out as had she not attracted Nikolai's attention she might not have had a witness to the events that unfolded around her in that moment. As the crowd swarmed around her two men crept close, one slamming his hand over her mouth and round her arms while the other swiftly shoved a sack over her head just as the crowd dispersed and left only them and the young woman there - Nikolai now hidden within a doorway, eyes fixed upon them with a dark look that essentially spelled their doom. 

He watched as they began to hurry away and he gave a dark smile - sweeping pretty ladies off their feet was his job, he wouldn't let these two thugs steal his moment. Grasping the door frame above him with a hand he winced slightly as the dagger wound on his side twinged - it wasn't bad enough to slow him down, he would just have to grit his teeth through the pain that was all. Pulling hard he swung himself upwards with the use of the door frame, feet planting on the wall to push him forwards and up to the window of the building opposite, he would follow them via the rooftops, let them get out of the way of the crowds before he ambushed them and retrieved his beautiful prize.