my first choice (reserved)

[Beatrice]

		Beatrice'd had just about enough of hoofing it. With our without the permission of her faithful captain-turned-temporary attendant, Beatrice decided to finish the rest of the short journey into Ylisse's borders on her own--almost! She, of course, had the companionship of her lovely gentleman, Arnold. He was just as antsy as she was. He hadn't really had an opportunity to stretch his wings since their trek had begun, at least not as far as he'd like. So when they were relatively close to the border, Beatrice donned her armor, slipped away, and took flight toward Ylisse. She knew that was to rendezvous with some sort of escort near the country's border and she kept an eye out for a small settlement as she flew (and Arnold had instructions to do the same). It was hard to take her eyes off of the horizon, off of the canopy of trees below. Even if it had only been days since her last flight, it may as well have been ages. By the time Beatrice had spotted the people she was trying to find, she was hardly ready to leave the sky for the humdrum monotony of the ground-world. But she sighed and tapped Arnold's neck, instructing him to ascend. She was so comfortable with the maneuver that she didn't take care to do to it in a way that was slow or less jarring. Instead, she and Arnold simply landed the same thrilling way that they would at home. They did a few wide spirals downward, quickly descending, to finally land in a clearing with a loud thud. Near where they'd landed was a young man with orange hair who she only assumed would be able to help her. She left Arnold in place and ambled over to him. "Good day! I am Beatrice of Plegia." She paused to curtsy. "I've been told to expect an escort to the palace in this area. Would you happen to fill such a role? And, if not, might you know where I could find such an escort?"
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Cassius was not looking forward to the twenty-two showers he would be forced to take after coming into a thirty-five mile radius of royalty. The stink of noble-blood was harrowing: a condemnation to the fourth circle of hell. Then again, maybe he would be happy to break free of his mortal coil. Perhaps there were no nobles in the underworld. But, maybe that was a naive thought.

The settlement he had set up was homely. A few tents for the men in his charge, a small campfire—that had been used to cook a few sweet potatoes—and some horses were the markers that revealed their position to the soaring Wyvern Rider above. 

Cassius quickly motioned to his soldiers to start packing and as the last syllable slipped from his lips, the tents were collapsed, the poles stuck parallel and wrapped in the cloth that they had just supported. 

He had expected a dainty entrance: one that was supported with a billowy grace that said "watch me everyone I'm so special and rich and oh so pretty watch me as I alight on your pitiful peasant playground ohohoho~." Except this time, the rate of acceleration multiplied by the number of daredevil spirals came out to around: "MOVE BITCH GET OUT THE WAY."

The three soldiers that had accompanied Cassius made a few noises of shock or awe (or both) as Beatrice landed firmly. Cassius could tell that the Wyvern was well-trained, or at least, he hoped so. He wasn't planning on returning home with a chunk out of his side.

Well, it was business time. Sighing a purely mental sigh that echoed within the noble-hating recesses of his addled mind, he stepped towards her before bowing, "Your Highness." He pulled himself upright, the lively orange-locks on his head bouncing above his eyes, "You do not have to look any further." A hint of struggle laced his rigid niceties as he endured her presence. Not that she was hideous or ghastly—quite the opposite in fact—but the very genes in her blood made it difficult for him to function. 

"I am Cassius, a captain of the Ylissean military." One line of introduction down, a few more to go. "I would like to personally welcome you to the Halidom of Ylisse. We are honored and humbled to be in Your Highness' company." He smiled, his face shining like a cultivated diamond, "We have prepared a safe passage for Your Highness—" His eyes traveled upwards, matching Arnold's gaze before flickering back to the princess-to-be, "And your companion to the palace."

Cassius waved his hand towards his men and in an instant, they began to form themselves into a convoy's position among the path nearby. Attempting a little bit of conversation (as too much would probably kill him), he gestured to her winged-partner.

"Your Highness rides that Wyvern well." He said, "Does it have a name?" Cassius maintained his grin as he gestured to his own ride, "Mine's Russet." And what a fine name it was for a horse. To be named after the honorable potato was a privilege, an honor—even more so than meeting Plegian royalty and as he kept his posture strictly upright and his manner of speech cultured and refined, he wasn't sure how long he could take it.

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES BREAK DOWN HIS WALLS QT

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		"Wonderful!" Beatrice clapped her hands together, jubilant to meet her guide. If his face showed any signs of discomfort or reluctance, she wasn't astute enough to take note of it. She was more worried about remaining chipper and diplomatic, despite her own insistence in deviating from her and Pantaleon's plan. She'd have to apologize to him later, but she didn't regret her choice. "The pleasure and honor are mine, I'm sure." Beatrice was doing more than being diplomatic. Even though any trained diplomat would have given a similarly appropriate response, it was also convenient that, in Beatrice's case, it was genuine. Despite her homeland, Beatrice never forgot that she had Ylissean blood; and yet this was her first time visiting the homeland of her recent ancestors. It was all very thrilling. "There's no need to stand on ceremony, my lord Cassius. You can call me as you like." She was more used to hearing Maeve referred to with titles such as "Your Highness." The phrase hung strangely in the air around her head, and she realized that she would much rather be called Beatrice, or even the casual Bea. But she also wouldn't be as presumptuous to force him to call her anything. "I truly appreciate your welcome and protection, and I look forward to being in your care." Lord knows that she'd be hopeless, trying to get through the countryside on her own. "Thank you! Though I can't claim any credit." Beatrice vigorously rubbed at the nape of Arnold's neck with both hands and he shuddered with delight, groaning briefly. "His name is Arnold. He's the one with talent, between us." It was a rare show of humility for Beatrice, but she was more eager to compliment her loved ones than she was to play up her own traits. "Russet--that's a lovely name--for a lovely steed, I'm sure." She spoke directly to Russet, rather than to Cassius, as she was used to doing with Arnold. She trusted enough in the intelligence of mounts and other animals to believe that they could understand her when she complimented them. It was more meaningful to her that way. "I must admit, I have little talent in riding a mount while...grounded." Learning of equestrian showmanship and other riding arts was not foreign to most princesses and other young men and women of regal standing. But while she could circle the skies for hours on end, something about horseback never came naturally to her and she was more than out of practice. "Oh!" Just then, something occurred to her, and she reached into a small pouch on her hip. "Would Russet perhaps care for a small treat?" Arnold's head moved toward Beatrice when he smelled the contents of the pouch, but she held him at arm's length with her free hand. "This is home-made." It was some sort of brownish biscuit. She held several in her palm. "Arnold just loves them, but he doesn't mind sharing." His posturing would suggest otherwise, but he wouldn't hurt anyone.
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

The chipper chirping of lady before him did little to persuade his inner-bitterness towards her and her kin. She was the white crowned hummingbird. He was the crestless fireback pheasant. After all, birds of a feather flocked together and they did not share the same plume. While she did exchange the pleasantries of diplomatic courtesy, her excitement and eagerness to venture into the country was tangible. Almost electric. Her surging enthusiasm threatened to bounce to him and while he was not one to reject a contagious energy, he wasn't sure if it would have been seen as appropriate for him to go giddy in front of their esteemed visitor. 

What did she just say? Lord Cassius. That particular title felt so unnatural, so out-of-place that he could feel his veins cringe and squeeze up and down his rigid arms. However the permission to drop courtesies loosened his limbs as he welcomed the notion, arms open. While Cassius may have normally worried about the sudden disruption in protocol despite her insisting, he figured that she was more the easy-going type, the kind that fluttered around making good-will with as many as people as she could. Not that she would with him. No, sir. He was determined to hate her. Determined to keep any trace of noble blood away from his own.

"Then, Beatrice it is." He could feel the hold around his vocal chords loosen. "Beatrice, Beatrice, Beatrice. Pretty name. Rings well." Cassius grinned, his eyes beaming and while his smile was used to accompanying falsities, this time they held the company of a vestige of honesty. "Hopefully you'll keep on thinking that because we scouted the area on our way up here for bandits and the like." He smirked, a small mischievous curve to his lips, "Could be dangerous, still."

Cassius was always curious to see a noble's reaction to the fairly orthodox danger of being mugged. There were nobles who had seen plenty—he understood that quite clearly—but someone as seemingly idealistic and amiable as Beatrice he assumed had a lack of such an experience.

He gestured towards one of the soldiers to quickly scout ahead, "I'm just joking though. Haven't had a bandit incident around here in awhile. Besides, I'm here."

As Beatrice spoke about her Wyvern, he gazed into its eyes with his Pan-Am smile. Russet replied to her praises with a snort and a swig of his tail although Cassius wasn't sure if he actually understood anything or if he was simply happy to be getting attention. Regardless, he made note to never say anything humiliating in front his steed lest the horse knew how to confess to grass.

"No shame." Cassius thought there was shame. "It's a bit hard to get used to in the beginning." Cassius had picked it up quite early. "Russet won't mind." He wasn't sure. "Homemade. Did you make them yourself then?" Homemade? More like made by a maid. 

Russet neighed happily as if he was exaggerating his contentment at the expense of the Wyvern nearby. The Captain appreciated the gesture, but before he could succumb to Beatrice's infectious cordiality he crossed his arms and took a step towards his horse. The soldier he had sent earlier returned with good news: the coast was clear.

"All right, ready to move?" 

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES BOP BOP BOP, BOP TO THE TOP

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		"Oh, you." Beatrice waved her hand dismissively, though she did appreciate the compliment. She had always considered her name a little clunky and old-fashioned, which was one of several reasons she was always open to nicknames. "If I may say, Cassius is a name very fitting for a captain, I think. It has presence." She said the word with flourish, in a mock-deep voice, the way she thought a male captain might decide to speak. Of course, even she knew that she sounded a bit ridiculous in doing so. But she really was just goofing around. She wanted there to be time to be somewhat lighthearted before she was reeled into the harsh diplomacy of dealing with royalty. "Well!" Beatrice smirked herself, turning to the side and gesturing to the axe hanging across her back. It may have been light compared to weapons similar, due largely to her inexperience in battle and relative lack of physical strength, but it was certainly still an ax. "I can't boast a great deal of glory in battle, but I've learned enough that I at least won't be a burden, I hope." The axe had a tendency to catch people off-guard. There were certain weapons that were almost appropriate for a princess. An ax was not one of them. But it was something that Beatrice set her heart on, and she was far from fickle.  "Oh, thank goodness." Even for all of her bravado, it was a comfort to learn that she had no reason to really expect a fight. She also did feel a great deal safer knowing that a captain of the Ylissean forces would be at her side throughout their journey. She had no doubt that he was much stronger than she was. "You had me going there!" She chuckled and her weapon somehow felt lighter for it. "It's odd, since I can't remember having any trouble getting used to dear Arnold, here." It had been so long since Beatrice had first met Arnold, barely a hatchling at the time, that she likely wouldn't remember much about their first flights anyway--besides how exhilarating they were, of course. She stepped cautiously toward the horse with the biscuits outstretched in her hand. Arnold languished in the background as if he hadn't eaten his entire life. Since Cassius hadn't said anything to the contrary, Beatrice assumed that he had no qualms with her feeding Russet from the hand. "Yes, I did!" That was one thing she took great pride in. She couldn't exactly cook a meal, but she could whip up one hell of a treat for a trusty steed. "The man that initially trained me on the wyvern taught me how to make them, but I've changed the recipe here and there to suit Arnold's tastes over the years." Beatrice smiled brightly. "I'm ready when you are!" That sort of idiom was rare on regal lips, but what could she say? Something about the foreign wilderness was making her feel, dare she say, uncouth!
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

She was certainly different than the others; the mock-captain's voice she had assumed came out of nowhere and struck him across the face. The bandit raids weren't as unpredictable as her. He had to keep his guard up or else her noble-self might win him over. Already in his little head, reinforcements were being called to the front.

Cassius decided to play along. Huffing his chest out, he filled his voice with a hearty baritone. "Why, thank you. But Beatrice is a much fairer name. Pray tell me, do you dot your i's with crowns?" A goofy grin punctuated his inquiry as he swat his hand in dismissal of his acting. This was kind of embarrassing.

But the attention soon came off of him and onto the axe that hung from her seemingly fragile frame. Arching an eyebrow, his gaze bounced back and forth between the brutal design of war and her cheery figure. The contrast was too much. This was an exercise in paradox. In what kind of world did a princess wield an axe?

"An axe, hm?" Cassius managed to blurt. He paused, a shadow cast over his eyes as he lowered his voice, "Have you ever... killed a man?"

He was glad to see the relief bubble from her toes at the reassurance that there wouldn't be a bandit attack. Cassius was never a fan of such skirmishes. They were too chaotic, too vulgar and too unnecessary. The bandits would have to be brash idiots if they had attempted an attack on their route. He hoped at least Arnold's overwhelming presence was enough to keep any tempted simpletons a fair distance away.

"Maybe you two are kindred spirits. Or reincarnated lovers." Cassius froze, "Sorry, I'm just rambling." He did not just insinuate a transcendental bestiality, did he? He quickly moved the conversation along, "Maybe you should teach me the recipe. Russet's probably sick and tired of eating the same thing all the time." As if on cue, his horse neighed.

"All right!" Cassius motioned for the soldier in front to carry on and as they advanced towards the palace, he made sure to stick close to the princess despite his unwillingness too. 

As they pressed on, they curved into a winding route into the forest. Things were peaceful. At times a shrill call of a bird would strike across the canopy of leaves before being muffled by a cool glade wind. Something flickering caught his eye. He leaned over his horse, squinting to capture a better look.

Shit.

"Don't move!"

It was too late. A soldier had gotten his tent poles stuck and as he tugged and tugged, the flickering became even more prominent.

"Damn it." He muttered, "Beatrice, I have a question for you." Cassius said, "Do you like bugs? Rhetorical question. You do like bugs. You have to like bugs. Or maybe you should hate them. Yea, hate them a lot because we're about to see a whole ton of them."

As the wind blew, countless strings of webbing glimmered and shook across and around their path. Bael webs. 

The soldier who had his tent poles stuck frowned, "They must have set-up while we were waiting." 

They say that if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. Cassius wished someone had told him that it was literal because when he stared into the darkness of the wood, all he could see were rows of blinking, rotating spider-eyes staring right back.

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES into mirkwood~~~

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		Beatrice laughed and clapped her hands in delight. "Bravo!" He really did look exactly the part. She could be considered pompous herself, but she'd certainly met other people (especially high-ranking military officers) that fit the bill much more. Cassius's impression was as close to spot-on as she could imagine, especially the way that he'd puffed himself up. Beatrice was caught off-guard by his question. Her spirit suddenly dropped, along with her expression. It was an unexpectedly grave thing to ask amidst such merrymaking, she couldn't help but feel. But it was something she could have expected. Among soldiers, she considered, talk of death and killing was probably rather commonplace. It was a livelihood of theirs, after all. This could be something like her first foray into the real world of battle, even if only vicariously. "No, I feel fortunate in saying that I've not had to take another's life yet." Her country was no stranger to war, and she was a warrior--at least, she aimed to be, or to have some martial skill. That meant that, when war rose again, she'd be eligible to protect her country and her people. She wasn't eager for that day, but she didn't deny it, either. If Cassius's question was a downer, his musings on the relationship between Beatrice and Arnold made for a good pick-me-up. "I've been with Arnold since he was a hatchling. I'm closer to no one else in the world, save my own family." Of course, by all merits, Arnold was a part of her family, in his own right. Even as she said it, she felt strange separating the two. "I would love to! Before this trip is over, I'll certainly teach it to you." It wasn't a secret, and she certainly wasn't going to try and profit off of it. She was more glad to imagine other mounts, pets, and loved ones enjoying her recipe. She stiffened up at Cassius's command and tried to remain as alert as she could. With all of their jokes and impressions, she'd neglected to keep in mind that she had an escort for a reason: traveling wasn't safe. His questions and instructions left her a bit confused, but she nodded dumbly and tried to brace herself. "Arnold!" Her  voice was hushed but urgent. She reached for the ax on her back and made to jump for Arnold's back in one motion, as she'd been trained to do. It was a bit clunkier than she was used to--blame it on nerves--but she successfully mounted her steed and held her ax aloft. "I'll depend on your orders, my lord Cassius." She tried to hide the apprehension in her tone. She wanted to be useful more than she wanted to be protected.
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Cassius might have blushed a little at the praise. He wasn't sure. He had forgotten the feeling. It had been awhile since he'd been complimented, considering his exchanges with Matthias were ninety-nine percent insults and one percent grammatical particles. Instead, swallowed dryly and nodded, looking away as if that could dissuade the red from filling his cheeks. 

The plummeting of Beatrice's countenance gave him the incorrect inclination that she actually had, that she had the pleasure of releasing someone from their mortal chains. But her answer pleasantly surprised him. She had no red on her hands and despite the red that had filled his cheeks moments before, the stain that remained on his palms glowered as if they marked him for hell. 

"You're lucky." Cassius spoke, "And I'm glad you say so. That you're fortunate. You should see the boys who sign-up for the military, eager to kill, eager to slaughter. They're no better than bandits."

The mention of family made his stomach churn, but the love she showed for her Wyvern comforted him. He gleamed, thanking her for her offer and while he wasn't sure if he would really have the time to learn the recipe, the sentiment remained warm. For a moment, he wondered if it was safe for human consumption. And just as fast as he thought of it, he did away with the ridiculous notion.

As the spiders swarmed in on their little party, Cassius quickly counted. One, two, three... four. They outnumbered their arachnid friends by one soldier, but their hefty abdomens and hairy legs combined with their ever-moving pedipalps proved daunting as one of their own cowered by Cassius' horse. 

"My orders?" 

Ordering a princess around seemed preposterous: an impossible circumstance for a man of his blood. But he obliged. Quite willingly. With a aggressive bark, he scolded the cowardly soldier, ordering him and another to deal with the one that had swayed in from the left side. The remaining soldier had been more seasoned and bearing that in mind, Cassius left him to fend for another.

The remaining two spiders cascaded down from their webs, their mouths oozing some sort of substance, he wasn't sure what. "Stick close to me and if they come close, whack at it with your axe. Simple as that." His eyes narrowed at the one closest to him, but to have a staring contest with a spiders' eight eyes was akin to bringing a sword to a gun fight. 

"Let them make the first move." He said and just as he did, one of them launched themselves towards Beatrice.

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER WALKED UP THE WATER SPOUT WUT

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		Beatrice quickly realized that it had been naive to depend on the orders of her superior. She thought that she was doing him a favor in showing that, at least for this, she could be subordinate. But Cassius didn't have the time to be looking out for himself and for her in the middle of a fight. She was doing him a better favor by acting independently and ensuring that there was no need for him to worry about her. "Yes, sir." There was little she could do to hide the apprehension, the anxiety, that was there in her voice. "Arnold." As soon as she saw the bael approaching, called to her mount. Her voice was hushed but urgent. With a small kick to each side, he hopped into the air moments before the beast would have been atop them. Then, he startlingly crashed back down upon the bael. They may have had fluidity and finesse in flying practice, but that was not combat. Beatrice didn't waste any time in springing forward. Standing upright in her stirrups, she lifted her axe and swung down repeatedly with all of the grace of a lame hippo. She landed blow after blow until, finally, one stuck deep in the screeching, sputtering thing. She finally hopped off of her mount, quickly instructing Arnold to stay in place. She placed one foot on the ground and braced the other against its torso, then pulled as hard as she could. With great effort, she released the blade from the bael's tough exoskeleton. But she lost her balance in the momentum and fell on her backside. It took her a moment to really absorb what had happened. Her clothing, weapon, and hands were soaked with the gruesome blood of the bael. It lay hissing weakly, barely scraping through its last moments of life. Other soldiers were still working on fighting the other creatures, nowhere near her. Still sitting dumbfounded on the ground, she exclaimed, "...My goodness! Aha!" She smiled and made a sound that was something between a laugh and a sigh of relief. Her hands were still shaking and there was no less anxiousness than there had been before; but it was mingled with an exhilarating sense of adrenaline and accomplishment. It was her first battle, and she'd come out swinging.
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

The anxiety in her voice was expected; no one, not even the most seasoned veteran was void of a little nervousness and if they said otherwise, they were lying. Cassius donned a sympathetic smile albeit very briefly before Arnold swooped in with his impressive frame. There was a grace in his movement however. Or, so he believed. As soon as the wyvern collapsed upon the gargantuan arachnid, all thoughts regarding the grace of the dragon were axed away. 

Cassius took a step closer, wondering if he could be of any assistance but the princess advanced forward as if she had the army of an entire empire behind her.

He stared at Beatrice's ruthless frenzy. Cassius could hear the sharp dissonance of a violin chord being played with each swing of her bloodying axe. A spot of gooey bael blood splattered onto his cheek as he looked on in absolute horror if not admiration. The definitive crunch of an exoskeleton being cracked apart and the resulting exclamation of a particularly giddy princess was certainly an odd contrast, but he didn't mind. She was capable and he, in some odd way, was proud of her. The bael blood having splattered on his face was a no-go, though. He took note that if he were to ever fight alongside her again, that he would make sure to avoid the fireworks of her axe-show.

You have got to be shitting me. He thought.

"Are... are you sure, you've never done something like this before because-" Cassius ducked, leaning forward to avoid a lunge of a bael's furry mouthparts before thrusting his lance backwards, "Because you seem-" The lance pierced the spider's softer underbelly, another grotesque crunch resonating, "Quite able-" He grunted as he twisted the lance and pushed backwards, the peak of his weapon digging in deeper. "To deal with these things on your own!" Cassius cried out as he pushed the monster back.

He expected his hands to stay on the lance's handle, but the spider's exoskeleton, even on the underbelly was too hard for his weapon to effectively function. It was no axe, that's for sure. The spider screamed and awkwardly stumbled around, the lance sticking out of it like the toothpicks on a fruit platter.

Cassius rubbed the back of his head, "Didn't plan that, no!"

He ran after the spider which now had clumsily balanced himself on its back. With a cry, he grabbed a hold of his lance and pushed it down further, pinning it onto the ground like an insect on a pin board. The bael shrieked again and in response, grabbed the man with its many legs. 

"I do not liiiiiike this." Cassius sang, "Hey, Bea!" The nickname came out naturally, "Wanna finish this guy off!?" He laughed before his voice warbled. The spider's legs were pressing against him tighter, the bristles lining the tickling and scratching his skin. 

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES "Lame hippo" lmfao edward woW 

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		It was while Cassius was speaking to her, his speech broken up by maneuvers much more delicate and efficient than her own, when Beatrice finally pushed herself up from the ground. She marveled at his ability to do what she'd done, only in a much more fluid and relaxed way. It was the same way she'd gazed upon the most brilliant ballroom dancers or sterling actresses and diplomats before she'd learned any of those skills for herself. She was also only suddenly aware of all of the sopping goop that she had on her, and she made a disgusted grimace at the thought of how she was going to clean herself off. "Quite sure!" She was fairly certain she had a clean towel of some sort in one of Arnold's saddlebags. She figured it should have been obvious that she hadn't fought before based on how poorly she went about the whole thing. "I've trained and all of course, but that was the first time I've swung my axe on...flesh, I suppose." It was more tough exoskeleton than flesh, but the muck tarring her clothing proved that there was, in fact, some flesh tattered. "I wouldn't say I was on my own, of course." Beatrice placed a hand tenderly on Arnold's snout and he snorted knowingly. Bea. She liked that. "Yes, sir!" Beatrice stopped letting her mind be absorbed by thoughts of clean close and shining her axe and sprung into action once more. She held a hand to Arnold, instructing him silently to stay back in this case. The bael was already basically done for anyway and to ride such a short distance on Arnold for a kill so easy would only complicate things. Only once she'd reached the two of them and raised her axe above her head did she become anxious again. She couldn't just hack away as haphazardly as she had before. She could hurt Cassius; and so despite his clear and present danger, she hesitated for just a moment, but then finally, with a great grunt and heave, brought the axe heavily down upon the beast's head, unceremoniously splashing more blood this way and that. "Phew!" Phew, indeed. She worked to help move the now limp legs from around Cassius's body and finally offered a hand to help him to his feet, should he need it.
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

"I'm not about to call a princess a liar so," Cassius grinned, "I'll believe you." He recalled that her usual vibrant melodies of speech had hushed and lulled into a timid exigency: a diminuendo he was well acquainted with. The Captain nodded towards Arnold; although, it was debatable whether animals could understand human feelings, he could tell that the Wyvern had a personality of its own.

The "yes, sir" she had returned to his plea, he thought the tone was maybe a little too happy than it should be; if it had been chipper, in the first place. It was probably his imagination if that was the case.

Crkknnnghsplooosh. 

Cassius winced as the blood splattered all over his lower-half. It felt warm, or was it cold? Regardless of what he was feeling, he was craving for a hot, warm bath. 

Beatrice extended her hand, but despite the kindness of the gesture, he had to think about it. In the ensuing peace—the soldiers had taken care of their own spider problems—he returned to his cold and stubborn ways. While he had accepted her help with the last bael, this was more personal. He stared at her fingers and no matter how splattered they were with blood, they seemed to be much more clean, more polished in comparison to his hands: the hands of a farmer.

"I'm," Cassius swallowed, "Fine. Thank you." He stepped onto the ground and brushed some of the bristles that had fallen off from the spider's legs. "My apologies! We thought the bael nest was some place else, but it seems as if they've moved a bit." He scratched his head before staring down at his mucky clothes, "Disgusting."

"You're a real terror." Cassius quickly followed this, "And I mean this in the best way possible. Are Plegian princesses all warriors, as well?" If they were, he was scared.

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES SORRY FOR SLOWNESS YO

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		Beatrice, even covered in the slimy goop of two baels, couldn't help but smile. Cassius must have thought something of her abilities if he'd expected her to say that she'd had real-life combat experience before. She had to give credit to Arnold, of course, and to her axe. It was the sort of weapon that made things easy. "Whenever I was training, I was always told, 'When worse comes to worst, hack, hack, hack!' " That had sort of stayed with her. Maybe there was more elegance in a sword or lance, but there was something so satisfying about the axe. It lacked presumption. She didn't take any offense at the refusal of her proposal. She only assumed that he was completely capable of and more comfortable with letting himself up, which was fine by her. "No harm done! All's well that ends well, no?" If the baels were dead and they were safe to continue, then it didn't really matter what mistakes they'd made. The future! That was for more important than the misgivings of the past, and so long as all went well, Beatrice's future would involve rallying the favor of the ruler of Ylisse to the Plegian struggle. "Hm...not 'warriors,' per se, perhaps." While she hugely appreciated and admired the abilities of her siblings, Beatrice was the only one involved in melee combat. " My younger sister Inessa is an incredibly talented archer, and Maeve--my elder sister, our queen--can wield magic tomes." She sighed contentedly, as if praising her own grandchildren. "They're both so talented." "And--" She was about to go on, to mention the fighting prowess of her brother, but she caught herself. She often forgot that it often wasn't best to mention him in mixed company. "Well...Plegia's a bit...tumultuous at the moment. We all thought it best to learn a thing or two." Maybe it had been the adrenaline that had been keeping her going, despite the frightful act she'd just been involved in. Maybe she didn't quite fully grasp the weight of being covered in another creature's blood until the thrill of battle went away. Whatever the reason, something gripped Beatrice, and she suddenly found herself with a bit less bravado than usual. "Excuse me..." She tried to keep her voice high and cheery as usual, but it was a bit shaky. "but if it's not too much trouble, and if we...quite have the time, might we seek out some...body of water? I would not be opposed to a thorough washing, you see."
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE

[cassius]

“ GIMMIE THE BOOTY I WANT THE BOOTY ”

Sometimes he wished Russet had the kind of fighting-chops Arnold seemed to possess. Though, his horse did have his moments; he had a horrible habit of bucking when he was a vigorous foal which translated nicely into the battlefield. And while the two may not have the level of intimacy Arnold and Beatrice shared as if they were one, Cassius felt occasionally, by way of second-hand satisfaction, Russet's unbridled enjoyment derived from the firm connection of a blunt back-kick to an unsuspecting face.

Cassius was relieved that Beatrice had taken no offense, but at the same time, he was disappointed. To ruffle the feathers of a noble brought him immense joy—not that he engaged in such an activity that often. He had games to play and pieces to move and while he may not have the fondest of feelings for the rich and elite, he knew that he needed them to stay successful in this world.

"Seems like your family would have some... interesting dinner times." Cassius mused. After all, one of her sisters was the Queen. He crafted another smile, dipping himself slowly into her enthusiasm, "Don't count yourself out though. You are plenty talented yourself, if not braver. If you're holding an axe, you're up-close-and-personal most of the time."

Cassius could feel the cold clamminess hug his neck and arms. He too wanted a washing and he knew just the place. "I was just about to suggest the idea." He pointed over to some ambiguous location ahead, "There should be a small lake of some sort, or... what do you call it, a pool." Cassius scratched his head, "We can stop there. I need a wash down myself." He said.


After twenty minutes or so, they happened upon a secluded pool. A canopy of trees loomed over the pool's still waters and an assortment of boulders bordered around it. The pool was fairly large and the water, although it housed several floating leaves, seemed clean. This place had been used before by other travelers, it seemed.

Cassius began to undress, peeling off the pieces of armor that adorned his sweaty body, leaving his tight shirt to breathe a little bit easier. The other soldiers had to wait out of respect for the hierarchy and were chatting some distance away with the horses and caravan. 

He bit his lip, fingers fumbling through air as he drummed them against his leg. "... I can wash myself after you. Take your time." Cassius almost stuttered.

TAGGED Beatrice
NOTES >////<

MADE BY ★MEULK FOR SHIV <3

[Beatrice]

		"Oh, you." Displaying an uncharacteristic bashfulness, Beatrice dismissed Cassius's praise of her fighting abilities with a small wave of her hand. If it had been a compliment about her ballroom dancing, her hair, or her calligraphy, or any of those other princessly practices that she'd been training since birth, she would have accepted the compliment and agreed without hesitation. Matters of battle, however, were a bit trickier than that. "I've merely been smacking away at dummies for years. It's men like you--and the men and women that make up Plegia's army and royal guard--you're the truly brave ones." Even if she could be a bit full of herself, Beatrice at least made up for it to some extent by showering people with genuine praise constantly. "Oh, thank goodness." To hear that there would be some place to bathe, that they wouldn't have to continue the trek by foot while soaked in the sweat and blood of battle with strange beasts, was almost a miracle. If she had to bathe openly in the middle of the wilds of a strange nation, she couldn't have imagined a nicer place if she'd tried. "Wow!" Who would have thought that there would be a clear, lovely pool of fresh water surrounded by foliage and natural features in such a way to create privacy. If she didn't know any better, Beatrice would have supposed that the whole thing were put together by an arborist. But an interesting dilemma crossed her mind as soon as Cassius began to ready himself for a bath and for some relaxation: would they be bathing together? Would she stand as a lone lily pad in a lake of male soldiers? The idea was somewhat unfathomable, even if she liked to think herself especially hardy. But Cassius's instruction to bathe first came as such a relief that it visibly shocked her from her strange thoughts. "Oh! Um, yes! Okay! Thank you!" She turned to Arnold, wiped as much of the bael blood off of her hands and onto the cleanest spots of her outfit as she could, and began to rifle nervously through one of his saddlebags. She finally produced a very simple shirt, some hardy trousers, and a small washcloth. "I'll try not to take too much of your time." Though she spoke to Cassius, she spared a look for the rest of his men as well, hoping not to be more burdensome than she alreadyhad. Once she was comfortably secluded, Beatrice quickly stripped off her outer layers of light leather armor, setting them gently to the side so that they could be wiped clean later. The clothes she was wearing underneath, on the other hand, received treatment much less kind. Even if she scrubbed them thoroughly clean, she wasn't too eager to wear them--ever again. She'd collect them later so that she wouldn't litter, but she wasn't worried about their wellness. Dipping herself in the water felt heaven-sent. She didn't want to dawdle, but it did feel quite good. The blood, somehow more viscous than other creatures, slid off of her skin and hair more easily than she'd expected. It only took a few dips under the water and some light rubbing to clean herself entirely. In what she thought was only a matter of moments, she was out of the water, drying herself lightly with the washcloth and donning her new, clean clothing. She picked up her armor and, again, held it carefully and far away from her body. Her hair still hung in wet curtains around her shoulders. "I've finished! Thank you for being so considerate," she said as she approached Cassius and the other men. "I can wipe my armor clean over here in plain sight, so please feel free to bathe."
TAGGED:	cassius
YOU WENT STRAIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND I PREPARED TO DIE YOUR BLADE IT SHINES LOOK ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE YOU TURNED THE GAS ON HIGH HELD THE FLAME ALIGHT YOU WONDER WHY I'M SCARED OF FIRE