The Agency

[Merryier12]

Kailey

 

When you had nothing to watch, you noticed everything. When Will scoffed, she heard it. When his anger remained, Kailey could feel it like a slap in the face. Riding always cleared her mind, and she realized now that her own anger had been lost some time ago. Anger was simply a better option than acting like a love struck fool. A small bit of disorientation peaked in his emotions just before he shook the hood from his head. His shaggy blonde hair was ruffled from the hood. Briefly Kailey wondered if he was bothered by the long hair. Did it inconvenience him? Did it annoy him? Did he want to cut it off? Was he very vain about it? None of these questions struck her as true. She smiled quickly, having entirely having given up on being mad at him. Not that she was really going to say that, judging by the annoyance and anger still aimed at her. At least though, he wasn't hiding his emotions from her.

[Songbreeze2012]

Anri

 

Anri rolled his shoulder, judging he'd be in Inlain by nightfall or sometime after. Ask for the bard, he said. Will I really or will I simply find him on my own? It wasn't as though he'd been through such before. It was the simple idea of talking that worried him. He did not have many friends, none to be true, but he did have many enemies. A few were in Inlain. Drunks, mostly, but they would no doubt remember the voice of the man who'd ruined their existence.

 

Shadow snorted, and Anri patted the stallion's neck. So he had one friend. A horse. He wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing that he trusted an untamed stallion more than a human. But he did and he cared little what others thought.

[Kokay]

William Jones

(If Addy had something worthwhile to do, she would... )

 

Will was relentless. He rod the horse hard until he could see the town. They were slowly making their way out of the kingdom, but they were still after them. And, no doubt, the whole kingdom would never stop until they had the two of them. It was unsettling, but Will remembered suddenly that Kailey could read emotions. The hard ride had taken his mind off of her entirely, but now he remembered. As soon as he remembered, his Grace kicked in with a vengeance, covering his feelings better than it had ever done so before. His eyes locked onto the city, despite wishing to talk to Kailey.

 

Inlain was a small town. Not many people remembered it, and that was why he'd chosen it. He had chosen Inlain because he thought that it might be over looked for the time being in the search of the kingdom. If he had been alone, he would have been glad to go there in the first place. It was just small enough to be easy to move around without being seen if that's what he wished, but just big enough to offer him a good pay for his services. Now, mind you, Will wasn't a greedy man. He just knew the importance of it when one wanted to do anything in any of the kingdoms, money was the way to be able to do that thing.

[Merryier12]

Kailey

 

Kailey nearly jumped when she could no longer read Will, for feelings to her were like a constant thrum. They were always there, she could always sense them. So when Will's suddenly vanished, Kailey was disoriented. It was rather like suddenly losing a limb, only by searching to the greatest extent of her abilities was she able to discover that they were there. Not completely gone, just hidden very well. As soon as came to this realization, she felt her anger return full blast.

 

What feelings did he wish to hide from her? Why did he have to be so stubborn? These and other questions buzzed through her mind like a swarm of angry bees. Now that he frustration had returned, she was not able to fully appreciate the quietness of this town. Any other day she would have loved this. Her grace hardly ever permitted her to travel out of Lovissa City. This quiet bustle was nice compared to the crowded streets of Lovissa City. Kailey's next thought was that Lily would enjoy this town, for it was nice and quiet. Somewhere made for hiding.

 

Lily

 

Lily herself was riding like a mad woman, tearing down the road like a wildcat. She had left the True Agency meeting as soon as she noticed Kailey's absence. It hadn't taken long to hear the news. Kailey and Will were on the run from the whole of Lovissa's army. Every soldier had been deployed except for the inner guard. Lily couldn't fathom why Kailey's departure could cause such a massive search, but maybe she didn't want to know.

 

Lily was following their trail, she was only a few hours, maybe a day behind them. Of course as she went along she covered their camp site, took care of any trace evidence... Like oh, say the note clearly written in Kailey's handwriting explaining the situation to Lily. Left at the True Agency meeting for Lily to find. Lily only hoped to find them before the soldiers did, because one or two (or twenty) were bound to find them soon enough. Lily wanted to be there to help stop them.

[Kokay]

William Jones

 

Will slowed Umber's stride and looked around the town. There weren't many people roaming the streets, no doubt holed up for fear of being searched by the soldiers looking for himself and Kailey. As he looked around, he realized he missed towns like this. They reminded him of home, or what a home should be if he were ever to own one. His barrier began to fade as wave after wave of nostalgia assaulted him. It didn't, however, fade enough to show Kailey his deepest feelings. No, those were still hidden. It was a good thing too. Because, at this point, he didn't want her to know those. They were his own and his own alone.

 

He shifted bitterly in the saddle, still sore about what she had said to him. Without much thought, he swung himself off of Umber's back and lightly to the ground. He took the reins of the horse and looked at Kailey, his eyes twinkling slightly. "Know what I miss the most? Snow," He said quietly, breaking the silence. So he was still mad at her, that didn't mean he couldn't try and distract himself from this fact. Talking to her about something else would certainly ease his grief. "Back when I was in the orphanage, every winter there'd be snow. Freezing cold, but so wonderful. Especially at night. That's when the night isn't all that dark, in the winter. And the snow is falling. And then you just lay down in it and watch it fall. Perfect, really."

[Songbreeze2012]

Anri

 

Okay, so being ahead of schedule wasn't all bad. Like, say, when ten soldiers appear out of the trees to intercept him. Steady, Shadow... Anri patted the stallion, watching one man approach with needed caution.

"Sir, are you aware there is a no travel right now." When Anri shook his head, the man said again, "Where are you too?" Anri pointed ahead, toward a completely different town. "Maringale?" Anri nodded, feeling Shadow shuddered beneath him in hardly kept anticipation. "Then get gone, and be lucky we don't detain you."

 

Anri nodded again, Shadow moving forward again. Once around the bend in the stream, Shadow turned and started a dead gallop torward Inlain. Why walk when it wouldn't hurt to get there a few hours early? At this pace, and with Shadow's uncontrolled energy and will, he saw himself in Inlain with the hour.

[Merryier12]

Kailey

 

Kailey frowned, her pride and her feelings had been hurt. Without his feelings to distract her, Kailey was forced to sort through her own. That was not exactly a cheerful task. Her resentment only grew as Will remained silent. The most she was getting from him was a bit of nostalgia. He moved in the saddle, and she moved her arm so that he was free to move. Sure enough he swung himself off the saddle and proceeded to lead the horse by the reigns to wherever he planned to hide. Kailey's first thought was why he did that. She didn't need to be led by him. She was certainly no royalty.

 

Then he had the audacity to look up at her, eyes innocent and twinkling, and confess that he missed snow. Of all things, snow? He then proceeded to describe why he missed snow, painting a wonderful picture in her head. She had never seen snow, but often wondered about it. Finally, she met his eyes, ignoring the picture, ignoring her desire to patch things up. Her hurt cried out to be heard, and though she was usually very careful about her feelings and her temper...

 

Kailey was thoroughly angry now, and with a soft voice that was able to convey the anger, hurt, and frustration she felt she voiced her thoughts. "Maybe you should have stayed there, your friend, the snow, sounds like you sure enjoyed yourself there." She immidiatley regretted the words, wished to take them back, why had she done something so childish when he had tried to fix things? Her pride though was what kept her face clear of emotions, the storm of feelings within her was her own.

Edited November 10, 2011 by Merryier12

[Kokay]

William Jones

 

She had snapped at him. His home? She seemed to think that he had the choice to stay there. The moment the words passed from her lips, Will's face hardened once again. As an orphan, he had been kicked out of the orphanage when he had reached 'adulthood'. He came with nothing, and he left with nothing. Left to the cruel world to decide what to do with his life. His best friend at the time, had been adopted just two years before he had been kicked out. Their last reunion had been a painful one. Will had been the first to cry, but his friend soon after. To his benefit, Will did not make a promise to stay in touch with the girl, but had simply said his good byes. Now, he was here with Kailey though.

 

Stupid, vicious, cruel, terrible, thoughtful, all too right Kailey. It hurt. Every word that slipped from her serpent tongue. She knew where to stab. She knew what would hurt and had no scruples about attacking it. Will did nothing to hide his feelings from her. Once again, he found himself hoping she'd feel his distaste with her. How could they have been so close to becoming friends before but now had become malicious enemies? He shook his head, tearing his eyes away from hers and leading Umber away to the nearest stable. He paid the stable boy and led Umber to the stable where he would be fed and watered. "I suggest you get off of your high horse, m'lady. That is, unless you'd like to take your dinner in here with the animals."

[Merryier12]

Kailey

 

She could feel the distaste, the anger, and just about everything else he was feeling. The sudden barrage of emotions nearly threw her off the horse. Still she forced herself to meet his eyes until he tore them away. When he did, she turned her eyes downward, focusing on Umber's mane with her head hung. She had caused him so much pain, and over what? Wanting to be right, and wanting him to hurt just as much as she had. She had spoken out of hurt and allowed her temper to get away, now look what she'd done. She could feel Will's hurt as strongly as Kailey felt her own regret.

 

As he spoke the voice, that had so often sounded like a warm embrace to her, was filled with mock and spite. Her eyes conveyed the grief she felt at his words, and at her own. She dismounted Umber silently, and stood with straight posture, the only indication that she was still annoyed. Her eyes were a stark contrast, pleading to find Will's in the dark that was quickly closing in. Once again it seemed that her tongue formed words that her head did not. "Will... I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said. It was foolish to let my temper control my tongue, just as we were both foolish to argue over something we will clearly never agree upon. Please I beg that you forgive my lapse." As she talked, her posture had loosened and a coil of tension left her body. For once at least... She regretted nothing.

[Kokay]

William Jones

 

His green and hazel eyes looked at Kailey for a moment. He found it strange that he had gotten so used to a Graced person's presence, that his eyes no longer danced back and forth between the two different colored eyes. His steady gaze normally fell on her violet eye though. Now he pursed his lips and looked away from her. She had apologized, and he appreciated that she did. But, the words had cut deep and it still hurt. And yet, he felt obliged to urge her to believe that it was okay. That he was all better now. That he was no longer mad at her. But that would be a lie.

 

"Listen, Kailey. You and I both know it would be a lie if I pretended that I was okay with it all now. I'm not going to lie to you. It disgusted me, and still does, that you said that. So, just let me sort through my anger. I'll be better soon." He muttered before turning from her and exiting the stable. It was true, what he'd said. His anger came and went with the wind. He was angry, very angry, for a little while, but soon he was able to get over it. It didn't take much time for him to be back to normal. And he hoped she knew that.

[Merryier12]

Kailey

 

It disgusted him, what she had said? Perhaps he needed a reminder, his words still stuck in her head. That threat to leave, it had hurt in more ways than one. How had they gone from being friends, to being so infuriated with each other that Kailey lost her temper. Kailey took pride in tempering her feelings, keeping them under lock and key. Then along came Will, who seemed to cause her moods to flare more than usual. With Will nothing was halfway, everything was explosive, combustible. He was like a spark and she was a bomb, neither was good for the other, but neither was smart enough to stay away. Kailey was a fool, she was a fool...

 

Kailey watched him exit the stable, quietly patting Umber's side. It was scary to her she realized, the feelings she was keeping hidden. Umber snorted, and the stable boy stepped forward, "Miss, I need to take care of this here horse... So if you wouldn't mind following your husband there," Kailey started in surprise, realizing the boy had made a mistake, he seemed to backtrack. "Er- I apologize Miss, it's just.. The way you watched him walk away, I assumed-" Kailey's face flushed uneasily.

 

"Of.. Of course. I'll just be on my way then." She rushed from the stable, cheeks burning. Did they seem like they were married? What had suggested that? She hadn't known she looked at Will a certain way. Maybe it was subconscious thoroughly confused now, Kailey scampered after Will, hoping that she could leave the whole episode behind her.

[Sylverfinger]

Ruya

 

She felt a small buzz in her mind as the woman next to her leaned back on the wall, then it stopped as abruptly as it had come. She saw her slightly, ever so slightly, stiffen, and detected a smell of surprise before it was overcome by the other scents in the tavern. The lone girl server came over hesitantly, carrying a tray of mugs full of dark beer, lighter coloured wine, and a small cup of water to tone down the alcohol. She set a cup of wine down on the wooden table, poured an amount of water into it, and pushed it gingerly towards Ruya as if afraid she would fry her to crisp if she took it. Sighing almost inaudibly, she accepted it, put a few coins on the table, and took a sip. The stuff was a bit murky, but acceptable. Not bad for such a place. But she wasn't here solely to drink, she had something else that was actually relatively important. Leaning onto the wall so she was copying the woman's pose, she glanced half her way, then refocused her eyes to sweep over the tavern once more.

 

Senka

 

Ruya, as she had found the name of the newcomer, did not have any interesting things in her mind to reveal to Senka, but for a small 'errand' to sniff out the Graced, and, most important, the Agents, in Inlain. She withdrew after learning that Ruya was an Agent of Lady Lovissa, and cast her mind out once more. Suddenly, she detected three new faint presences, two together and one fainter than the others. The two were with a third, a stable boy, but the one was alone. She recognized it as Anri and one of the two as Will, but who was the third? And was he or she Graced? And most importantly, why were they here? Focusing on the third, she immediately got barraged by the strong emotions emitting from Will's thoughts. Will... Was it possible that it was that Agent Kailey with him? Yes, it was. And why was Will letting his feelings get so out of hand? Mystery after mystery...

 

Getting up, she swept unobtrusively out the tavern, heading towards where she knew Anri would arrive.

[Kokay]

William Jones

 

William was waiting outside. He had taken the time that he was away from Kailey, to get his rampant emotions under wraps. It was a slow, painful process, but he soon had everything under control. Taking deep breaths, he turned his face to the sky. He had never lost it like that before. Well, not quite. He certainly had had a terrible time keeping himself in line when he was younger, but he wasn't including those times in his line of thought. It had been a long time since he had let someone goad him into reacting so poorly. And, to be honest, now he was utterly embarrassed. However, he kept that emotion as hidden as possible from Kailey. She didn't need to know that about him.

 

He now looked at Kailey as she exited the stable. She was beautiful. That was the problem. Will had never been so close to untamed beauty and he didn't know how to react to it. A young woman who had complete control over herself, and anyone else she wanted to control. Kailey scared him, and yet intrigued him. Will was like the cat who was far too interested in the fire. The fire that would end up burning him. Though he knew all of this, he also knew that he wanted Kailey. No matter the pain or suffering she brought on, he wanted to be with her. And that was what scared him most of all. The fact that he wasn't scared with her.

 

Smiling, Will walked towards Kailey. He offered his hands, palms up, to her. "I think I'm all better now. To be honest, I don't think I've ever been so flustered in my life. Congratulations? I'm not quite sure what to say, but you got me. First person in a long time to send me in a fit like that," He changed his stance and instead offered up the crook of his elbow. "M'lady, may I escort you into this establishment of high... honor?" He paused, certainly not admiring the establishment's poor structure and even poorer amount of people. Immediately after looking at the building, he wished that he had chosen a larger city. So that they could go to a tavern or inn that would be worthy of the presence of a former Agent.

[Merryier12]

Kailey

 

She tensed as Will came over, worried about a number of things. The thing that worried her the most was that he might have decided to leave her. It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself she was excellent at being alone. Now though, she didn't want to be. Her eyes danced along where the light from the stable touched his jaw. It cast one of his eyes into shadow, and Kailey could only just make it out. He was so natural, it seemed that he could be part of nature himself.

 

Just as she studied him, he studied her. She had no way to know his thoughts, and though she wished to... She would not steal his feelings right now. She pushed them away and for the first time in her life, she ignored the emotions around her. It soon gave her a headache, and the feelings hoarded like water behind a dam searching for a way out. It was a wonder though, not feeling anything but her own emotions. Kailey had never been alone like that unless she was in solitude.

 

It lasted for the while before he approached, but as soon as he came closer the dam burst and for a moment she could feel nothing but the emotions. Kailey was startled by the fact that she could even hold back the emotions of other. It had felt nice, normal. At first Kailey thought to reveal this to Will, but who's to say she could do it again? It had been a spur of the moment type of thing. If she found she could do it again, she would work for it, but not now.

 

As Will commented on the rank and stature of the building, she couldn't help but smile. Sure it wasn't Lovissa Palace, and that's what she liked about it. It was refreshing coming from the city to a place so small and quiet. Kailey was savoring every moment. His elbow was offered, and she had to keep from laughing as she realized that he was worried about bringing her here. Regretful maybe at not choosing a more "suitable" place. She looped her arm through his, "Well of course Sir, I thought you'd never ask."

[Songbreeze2012]

Anri

 

Anri pulled his stallion to a stop just at the edge of the trees, watching the shadows as they cast about around him. His instinct said to go around, completely avoid this place and forget Will and Kailey. But his mind said he couldn't. Even when his grace said it was dangerous here, he refused to leave. He urged Shadow forward, sticking behind the buildings and the dark back alleys. As far from people as he could manage. His chest felt tight, his old scars seeming to retrace themselves across him as he continued toward the tavern. This always happened when he went against his grace; it always knew when a place wasn't safe for him and liked to remind him of the times he hadn't listened. But of course he wasn't about to change his mind now.

[Merryier12]

((bump))

[Merryier12]

((bump))

[Sylverfinger]

Senka went on foot; it was a lot easier to not attract attention in the back alleyways that formed shortcuts on foot than on horseback, because a fine, good horse with her coat shining and looking well cared for did not belong in such places. Passing various beggars and a man holding up another with a maniac gleam in his eye and disheveled hair against a wall, a small knife pressed to his throat, she moved quickly to where she saw unmistakable Anri mounted on his large black horse. People were making way fearfully, more than a few staring at him hungrily. To them he would mean a wealth of things to steal; to the ones making way he meant danger and trouble. But Senka stuck to the shadows.

[Merryier12]

((Should I have this closed? v.v))

[Sylverfinger]

((leave it another couple of days. Or post something for your character(s) to bring it back up briefly; who knows, the other people might just be really busy lately.))

[Kokay]

((I will post. Eventually. I have to wonder when but I plan for one at least this week. Busy with life blah blah blah... ))

[Merryier12]

((bump))

[Sylverfinger]

((Kokay, you said something about posting?...))

[Merryier12]

((Alright... Since no one has actually posted here, I don't know what to do or say... So perhaps it really is time to close up shop?))

[gistofeverything]

((Earlier, I believe that I have PM'd you about taking over Noname's characters. and I have also made another one, Maxime and Roxanne.))

 

Lady Mariee

 

Mariee had been up all of last night, worrying about Roxanne. She had sent her daughter to get her some flowers from Lovissa, but she hasn't returned... She bit her nails, and sat back on her throne. What might she do if something happened to her? She wouldn't entertain the thought.