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 Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:57 pm
*Luke holds out the sword, offering Mel the other fish. When she makes a face, Luke shrugs and takes care of it. When he's finished, he wipes the flat side of the blade against his pants and hands the sword back to her.*
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:00 pm
*Melliandra washes it further in the water, then examines it briefly* She'd have been justly appalled, I think, to see me use a blade such as this for catching and roasting fish. *With an amused little noise, she resheathes the katana and straps it on her back again*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:46 am
*And there it is. Luke had been waiting for her to make some comment involving Hajime. He clenches his jaw, but doesn't say anything.*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:58 am
*Mell, not bothering to look for Luke's reaction, just proceeds to grab one more drink of water before pulling her boots and gloves back on. She starts whistling as she crosses back over to her horse*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:09 am
*But as Luke's standing there thinking, he wonders... about the way Melliandra said it. Maybe she was just making a comment that reminded her of Hajime. They were sparring partners, and though Melliandra told him they weren't close friends ... She must have meant something to her.*
*Maybe she was pissed off. Maybe that's part of why she was doing this. After all, she knew getting this for him would get the Seraphim's attention. She must have wanted him to come after her. Luke sighs a little. Which was ********' stupid, but ... he could understand why she'd want the chance.*
*Luke's thinking all this, as he puts on his boots and fills up the empty wine pouch with water from the stream in case they need it.*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:12 am
*Melli has already saddled up and started out of the clearing. Luke's horse shifts restlessly, but doesn't yet follow after her*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:24 am
*Though tired, Luke bounds up and gets on the horse. Once he's on, the horse follows in a trot after Melliandra - as if he'd just been awaiting Luke's a** in the saddle.*
*Luke thinks of a few things to say, but keeps them to himself. He shifts in the saddle, doesn't find a comfortable position, and just decides to muscle through.*
*It was late afternoon now, and he'd made it this far. He'd be damned if he was gonna p***y out now.*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:29 am
*They ride on in silence through the remainder of the day. Toward nightfall, the area becomes gradually more and more populated. Mell's morphed back into her Cosimo guise, as they travel first by villages, then larger towns.*
*Soon, they come upon a large river. As they cross the bridge over it, 'Cosimo' slows his horse and directs Luke's attention to the south. A large expanse of city lights can be seen flickering in the distance* There, just as I left it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:07 am
*Luke's exhaustion only grew in intensity during their ride, but he had made it a point to take in the cities and towns that surrounded them. This was 16th century Italy, and -- unless something (else) went terribly wrong -- he didn't anticipate coming back.*
*When they reached the river, Luke held back demanding where they were, and it appears to have paid off.*
*Luke takes in the scene of the city lights glowing against the darkening countryside.* That's Florence?
*When Mel confirmed that yes it was, Luke's body relaxes as he sees their destination in plain sight.*
*Luke smiles an exhausted smile. He takes a moment to appreciate the view, the idea that there was an end in sight, and the fact that he might get what he came for - before he says.* Okay.
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:09 am
*'Cosimo' eyes him with a faint smile* Not up for a night on the town, I take it?
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:10 am
*huffs a breath and sends back* Not if it's gonna be like our last one.
I'd like to leave the country without reaching the top of Italy's most wanted list.
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:32 am
As you will, *The young man replies dryly, turning his horse to head northwest of the city, instead of directly toward it*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:42 am
*Luke's feeling invigorated despite his fatigue. When 'Cosimo' leads 'his' horse away from the city, Luke's first instinct is to protest, but then he remembers. Melliandra told him her estate was outside of Florence. For all Luke knew, they could be even closer than he thought.*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:04 pm
*They ride around the edge of Florence for a brief distance before turning further away from it, into hillier territory. A little less than an hour later, they reach a gate atop an incline. Cosimo reaches out to tap it, and it opens to permit them entry*
*Further ahead lies Melliandra's estate - a huge, sprawling home, architecturally similar to many of the buildings they'd just looked out on in Florence. The land, the house, the gardens - all of them are beautifully kept.*
*There are lanterns lit toward the front of the main building, but overall things are dark and quiet. Melli maintains her disguse as she leads them up along the carriageway*
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:23 pm
*Luke's seen mansions before, but never like this. Melliandra's estate is a huge Italian manor. The intricate architecture alone is enough for Luke to appreciate, but upon seeing the gardens and the landscaping surrounding the mansion, he's looks on in amazement. The entire estate is breathtaking.*
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