Adelaide/Bradshaw meet some vampires

Bradshaw
A picture perfect evening amid the comforts of a campfire far beyond the grasp of the Empire. Surrounded by the dilapidated ruins of an old fort or perhaps it was a castle. Often Bradshaw in his youthful exuberance of sneaking out of the grasp of his caretaker, would visit these very ruins and enjoy an evening unfettered by the world around him, he could often hear the whispers of past lives ruminating through the stone walls that were once in his mind massive echoing halls like those in the Castle. Yet that they were old, and open to the night sky seemed so perfect to him that he couldn't ignore spending those long hours staring off into space. But what perfect evening could exist without the tragic ruination of an outside source turning it from blissful silence into complete and utter crap? Bradshaw Black, and Alice Caderyn had been selected for a very important task. Given to them by his highness Cael Caderyn himself! Of course it was bitchwork. Head North, and seekout ingredients for one of the Archmages many experiments, or maybe it was for more. Eitherway, the idea of wasting time romping in the forest for mushrooms, would normally have excited him if Cael had not demanded he take Alice along in order to 'achieve' a better rapport with her. They'd Rapport alright! A tension that snapped and bit like a whip when left uncontrolled, and where his bitterness in having been forced to drag her along with him on a simple errand existed, there was a hint of pleasure in it. Alice, was for lack of a better word a royal bitch, and she annoyed him to no ends with the constant nagging. But the sound of her voice was dulcet and beautiful. The scent of her perfume was heaven to his wolf influenced supernatural senses, and she was brilliantly radiant in her existence. She was the aurora on a full moon, a reason to write sonnets, and sing poetry. Yet for all those beautiful thoughts and desires Bradshaw could only prickle and peck at her. Like a child on the playground. The Evening had brought forth an unnatural chill to the world, and Bradshaw had despite Adelaide's protests chose to hunker down for the evening, Which had inadvertently led him to take her to one of his favorite places. A spot that harbored the remnants of catacombs that come morning light she could hide within and remain safe, and sound from the suns cruelty. Bradshaw thusly decided that traveling with a vampire and no carriage was entirely inconvenient, and that if they would be forced to do such errands he would request a carriage. " It is another three days to Sovereign City " he spoke, cutting the thick silence that had developed between them with pointless facts. " If we travel the main roads, there should be plenty of Inn's for you to take refuge in " He absently brought a strip of dried meat from his satchel and tossed it into boiling pot of water collected from a nearby stream. " Or you can stay here, and I'll return from you by the evening with Cael's Parcel "

Adelaide
:Ѻ:Using a pair of dextrous hands, the ophidian femme pulled her hair to one side of her cheek, curling the ends around a slender digit as she skirted the outside of the campfire, well out of the reach of stray embers and popping knots. It was tied in a high ponytail, drawn back off of her face to keep clear of her sight (and focus, but apparently, that wasn't working.) She inspected the freshly washed tresses' ends as if she had nothing better to do. You know, other than consider the way Bradshaw held himself while out prowling around old stomping grounds. Granted, it was like a small boy with a wooden sword. Or a cub daring big bad wolves to come out. But still, his cander and tenor had shifted while on the task. Power and courage played at the lines of his shoulders, pushed back to expose a heft of toned muscle. His wide stance, while borderline cocky, was one of dominance and strength. He knew where they were, so presumably she didn't have to. Which would have gone a long way-- if she trusted him. Cael did, though, so that would have to do. He wasn't a complete idiot, she could admit. He'd chosen a fair spot to rest for the evening (though far too early, by her standards.) The catacombs would be light-tight, which would come in handy at day-break. Along the way, the pair had bickered to a point that had her downright irate. Did he really need to tell her every fucking time there was a rut in their path? She wasn't blind. It was insulting. The vespertine was thankful to have fed prior to leaving the Estate-- she'd need it if she was going to put up with his constant pestering. Her rational, completely acceptable response to his pygalgia? Be an absolute, raging bitch. Okay, maybe that was exaggerated. But like a meal which the spice builds until your tolerance yeilds and cries out for relief, so was her method. Of course, it was all to get a rise out of him. (Not that she was self aware to realize that's what she was doing.) Because he was even more endearing when he was red in the face with the Sisyphean effort of quelling her bitch craft. At present, he seemed entirely content with the setting. Cue: Alice. "Oh, excellent. You just go take care of everything and I'll hang out here with the rest of the corpses." she retorted, "I'm sure that's -exactly- what Cael had in mind." Her tone dripped in acerbic sarcasm, pesky right brow piquing over lambent hues to punctuate her tenor. She hovered behind him, as he provided a decent cover from the heat of the flames, which were god damn luciferous. But his profile was nice, cast in silhoutte against the orange backdrop. Whoops, better be an unrelenting viper. "If you go alone, I seriously doubt it'll be done right, anyway." she added, dropping the ends of her ponytail with the light flick of her toe to kick a pebble at the back of his neck. :Ѻ:

Bradshaw
" And what do you think you can provide to the situation? " He lifted his brow curiously toward the woman near cowering from the flames at his back " It's fairly simple, go to said place at said time and pick up said parcel and return it to Immortalis " He shifted some letting the light of the flames illuminate her features, and briefly he admired them before turning his admiration to what resembled a feigned disgust " I'm sure Cael expected you to be of some use to which point you've NOT been since we left Immortalis " He absently lifted his shoulders " So if you'd be so kind as to shut up for a few moments, maybe I can at the very least enjoy the sounds of the forest for a bit " He lifted his hand and absently waved her off. But truthfully, he didn't mind the tenor of her voice which to his ears was a wonderful near diaphanous silk that caressed his ears and brought forth feelings of comfort and contentment. " And I'd agree with your statement but you're too loud to be a corpse. " He snorted some " Damned Banshee " He turned to toss more wood into the fire adding absently " Besides, I've made this trip before, we'll need to travel as much as we're able tomorrow to even reach the midway point in Neith " Then with a stick he stirred the meat in the pot and added a few bits of potato and the likes to ensure it turned into a proper strew. " Have you been to Neith? " He glanced over his shoulder briefly before glancing back to the flames " The Dutchess is the owner of a shop in Immortalis called the Mithril Sterling " he absently tossed a wrapped parcel over his shoulder. " This is for your dress " he said absently " It wouldn't do my honor to replace something I ruined with familial connections. So I hope this will tide you over until my father has the time to do your measurements " With that he stood, to give the strew time to finish cooking and moved away from the flames, pulling his cloak over his form and giving a slight shiver. allowing himself to distance from the woman, and the vexing emotions she pulled from within him to look into the woods from what used to be a window. ~ Amid the woods, within the shadows did something turn its attentions towards the illuminated halls of a dilapidated castle. Within, there was a scent that was more inviting then the warmth of the flames, or the stew cooking over the fire. It was a sirens call, that reached out with claws to ensnare ignorant masses half starved and desiring of something tangible to sink their fangs into. Like a swarm of insects they began to gather in the wood. Guided by the allure of the undead curse. They skittered slowly toward this place of refuge and rest.

Adelaide
:Ѻ: "Finesse." she said, eyes flitting from her hand to his features, brow still piqued as she smirked over her knuckles as the light dawned on her face. "Ugh, why? Fuck." and just as quickly as he turned to gaze upon those effulgent eyes, her mouth and brow contorted, eyes closing as she launched into a colorful verbal assault. "As if staring into the fire alone wasn't torture enough, don't make that face at me." she added onerously. He meant to add insult to injury by counting her as useless, but it humored her to let him think she was just some vacuous fawning parasite obsessed with dresses and hair. Her appointment to the Lunar Chevalier title was, she was sure, some kind of mystery to Shaw. One which she indulgently allowed him to think was placed simply for familial preference. She curtsied with overtly feminine mannerism, emphasizing her copacetic thoughts on the matter of her usefulness. "I'm just here to keep you company." she added lightly, "Or maybe I'm here to keep track of your progress." she continued, tenor shifting masterfully into practiced farce. She was lying, of course, but the thought would get under his skin. Drop like a tiny bomb in his head, and wait hours before exploding into manly, competitve rage. She had no experience in the field at all, as far as Bradshaw was concerned. And was entirely inept, to boot. "-One- of us has to be socially charmed, after all. We can't have your gauche self dropping into a fine establishment and making a mess out of the place." she concluded, holding her hands up as he waved dismissively, lips tugging into an impish grin. She waited for a long time before responding to his question about Neith until he looked back at her for a response. "Oh, sorry, I was practicing being more quiet so I can fit in with my brethren later." she nodded off toward the catacombs with a humored smirk. "No, I've never been to Neith." she answered, finally. When he looked back at the flames and spoke, he did so while tossing something over his shoulder. "Ah, uh--" she caught it with ease in the limited light, features briefly surprised. "Oh." she replied, less acid, and a bit more soft. Her fingers plucked at the parcel to reveal the necklace hiding within. He removed himself from the fire and she tilted the parcel toward the light to survey it, absently smiling to herself as it glinted in the light. "Your taste isn't so bad." she said, clearing her thoughts as she held out the box toward him. "Give me a hand?" she asked, free hand pulling her hair to one side of her neck. But he was distracted, and soon, so was she. "Shit." she hissed, knowing the scent and sounds of her kind when she heard them. "Bradshaw, we have company." Her voice had lost its charm, no longer playful or toying with him. The vespertine's composure shifted defensively, shoulders hunching as her lips parted to expose those tiny fangs of hers. They were outnumbered, as far as she could tell. And their company was hungry. The smell of decay rolled off of them, but it carried a putrid, spoiled scent that she'd never encountered. Suffice to say, they weren't vegeterians.:Ѻ:

Bradshaw