11-02-2022, 05:26 PM
One....Two....Three... Astrid counted three sets of footsteps in the distance and they certainly were not hers or any last minute wanderer in the quiet sleeping outpost. Only those taking up a chair and a tankard would be awake this late, staying warm and toasty in the tavern. So, the question was why were three suddenly leaving such a happy place to follow her in the dead of night instead?
She had quite a few guesses on that matter, hard not to be just one really given her behavior in the tavern tonight. Not quite her usual but then Godric had her thinking and doing a few things she hadn't normally done or said before...ever. And of course he was on her mind not helping the situation, stubborn idiot and all or was that her? No, he had decided not to answer he question honestly and even if romance was out of the picture they could have been friends or drinking pals had he just said why he couldn't be around her like a normal person. She was a big girl and could handle what ever his answer was, be it her rumored heritage, her career, or whatever his mind found reason to need to get away from her.
Men, thick headed, ignorant, and stupid, the lot of them. The only redeeming quality they had to offer was the more primal need for physical intimacy that worked well enough to sooth the similar need in women and even that they often had to cause trouble or a fuss if it wasn't to their liking. Even a prime specimen like Godric while a night with him would certainly satisfy any primal need and forever be a permanent memory in her mind it wasn't exactly possible he was always looking for a way to get away from her. Not that she was looking for such a thing with him, she didn't bed men to satisfy her needs, at least she hadn't found one she wanted to yet. There had been plenty of offers but so far the right one hadn't quite found her and it was possible they never would given she was very likely to spend the rest of her life in the trading post and employed at the first magical school, unless of course she lost her job somehow after tonight.
Astrid took a small detour and turned down a side path that would take her to the center of the trading post, needing to let her thoughts go silent and still so she could focus on the trio behind her. If they had for some reason ill thoughts on their minds after what no doubt they overheard at the tavern she would need to be on alert. Hopefully she could lose them on the side streets but if not she certainly could detour to a dark alley, give them a reason to not try and pin her as an easy target drunk or sober.
She turned a corner at a split in the road, hopeful of this one being the one that she would lose her tail for good. Astrid had only counted one set of footsteps behind her but she knew better than to think the other two had given up. No doubt despite being drunk they were going to try and corner her somewhere and at this point the whole matter was becoming annoying, not in any way helping her already slightly angered state. Why did he have to be so mind consuming, especially at a time like this she just wanted to get back and get some sleep for a full day tomorrow. His charming but annoying face was right there in her mind looking at her with that smile and occasionally winking at her. Ugh why did he have to be so damn confusing yet so alluring! Maybe it would have been better if she hadn't come down at all with her stupid idea, no doubt it was just a jab at his male ego to have his drinks paid for. Men!
Astrid came to a stop after a few steps, in front of her were two men a few away and obviously standing in her way. She turned on her heel to go the other way only to find a third man walking up from behind. Well this was just great, he had once again distracted her enough to let her walk right into what she had been trying not to. Well this night certainly couldn't get any worse she thought as all three approached her.
"Good evening miss healer. Pardon the sudden approach but we couldn't quite help ourselves after what spell you seemed to have bewitched us with. After overhearing your tale of moonlight dancing, well even a heathen like yourself must be a rare sight indeed doing such a thing. So, we've come to see if you wouldn't mind giving us a personal show, give us a chance to see what all the fuss is about with women like you and see if the rumors of your body is really as tempting and satisfying as a tussle with a good whore." one of the men stated as he took an extra step closer, his gaze slowly moving across her body as he offered what was a drunken sloppy smirk.
She did her best to resist glaring at the trio, though her hand tightened on the lute. It would be a shame to lose it but if it meant protecting herself from these idiots then it would be a worthy sacrifice. She could always make another one in her free time, providing her work didn't increase the further the school progressed in its lessons. "Well I wouldn't dare insult just an offer I do have to be going gentlemen. I have work in the morning that I cannot afford to lose sleep because you wish to view a sight that is far unlikely to happen even in your dreams. Best you lot either get on home or back to the tavern as I have no intention of going anywhere with you" Astrid replied unable to stop her tongue from saying one or two things that were sure to not help in her getting away without some sort of altercation.
Sure enough the man grabbed her upper arm tightly, jerking her just a bit as the other two closed in. She tried to pull her arm free but surprisingly even for a drunk his grip was a bit strong, guess she shouldn't hold back as much and at this point he deserved any physical damage he was about to get from her. "It wasn't a request heathen wench, you'll be giving us what we want and just maybe you'll live long enough to return to your tainted bastard family. Certainly more than you or your kind deserve, we may even teach the lot of you your place here" There was a pair of chuckles following the mild slurred words, Astrid had little choice but to shift her mind to fight mode. No one insulted her family, guess there was little to no option in her not fighting. Hopefully they would come to learn to be careful who they messed with as she hand gripped the lute then swung it hard at the man holding her arm. He let go immediately, grasping at the side of his head but the other two were quick to respond and as she took a step back raising the lute in preparation for another swing the two took a step closer. This was not how she had wanted her night to go, not one bit.
She had quite a few guesses on that matter, hard not to be just one really given her behavior in the tavern tonight. Not quite her usual but then Godric had her thinking and doing a few things she hadn't normally done or said before...ever. And of course he was on her mind not helping the situation, stubborn idiot and all or was that her? No, he had decided not to answer he question honestly and even if romance was out of the picture they could have been friends or drinking pals had he just said why he couldn't be around her like a normal person. She was a big girl and could handle what ever his answer was, be it her rumored heritage, her career, or whatever his mind found reason to need to get away from her.
Men, thick headed, ignorant, and stupid, the lot of them. The only redeeming quality they had to offer was the more primal need for physical intimacy that worked well enough to sooth the similar need in women and even that they often had to cause trouble or a fuss if it wasn't to their liking. Even a prime specimen like Godric while a night with him would certainly satisfy any primal need and forever be a permanent memory in her mind it wasn't exactly possible he was always looking for a way to get away from her. Not that she was looking for such a thing with him, she didn't bed men to satisfy her needs, at least she hadn't found one she wanted to yet. There had been plenty of offers but so far the right one hadn't quite found her and it was possible they never would given she was very likely to spend the rest of her life in the trading post and employed at the first magical school, unless of course she lost her job somehow after tonight.
Astrid took a small detour and turned down a side path that would take her to the center of the trading post, needing to let her thoughts go silent and still so she could focus on the trio behind her. If they had for some reason ill thoughts on their minds after what no doubt they overheard at the tavern she would need to be on alert. Hopefully she could lose them on the side streets but if not she certainly could detour to a dark alley, give them a reason to not try and pin her as an easy target drunk or sober.
She turned a corner at a split in the road, hopeful of this one being the one that she would lose her tail for good. Astrid had only counted one set of footsteps behind her but she knew better than to think the other two had given up. No doubt despite being drunk they were going to try and corner her somewhere and at this point the whole matter was becoming annoying, not in any way helping her already slightly angered state. Why did he have to be so mind consuming, especially at a time like this she just wanted to get back and get some sleep for a full day tomorrow. His charming but annoying face was right there in her mind looking at her with that smile and occasionally winking at her. Ugh why did he have to be so damn confusing yet so alluring! Maybe it would have been better if she hadn't come down at all with her stupid idea, no doubt it was just a jab at his male ego to have his drinks paid for. Men!
Astrid came to a stop after a few steps, in front of her were two men a few away and obviously standing in her way. She turned on her heel to go the other way only to find a third man walking up from behind. Well this was just great, he had once again distracted her enough to let her walk right into what she had been trying not to. Well this night certainly couldn't get any worse she thought as all three approached her.
"Good evening miss healer. Pardon the sudden approach but we couldn't quite help ourselves after what spell you seemed to have bewitched us with. After overhearing your tale of moonlight dancing, well even a heathen like yourself must be a rare sight indeed doing such a thing. So, we've come to see if you wouldn't mind giving us a personal show, give us a chance to see what all the fuss is about with women like you and see if the rumors of your body is really as tempting and satisfying as a tussle with a good whore." one of the men stated as he took an extra step closer, his gaze slowly moving across her body as he offered what was a drunken sloppy smirk.
She did her best to resist glaring at the trio, though her hand tightened on the lute. It would be a shame to lose it but if it meant protecting herself from these idiots then it would be a worthy sacrifice. She could always make another one in her free time, providing her work didn't increase the further the school progressed in its lessons. "Well I wouldn't dare insult just an offer I do have to be going gentlemen. I have work in the morning that I cannot afford to lose sleep because you wish to view a sight that is far unlikely to happen even in your dreams. Best you lot either get on home or back to the tavern as I have no intention of going anywhere with you" Astrid replied unable to stop her tongue from saying one or two things that were sure to not help in her getting away without some sort of altercation.
Sure enough the man grabbed her upper arm tightly, jerking her just a bit as the other two closed in. She tried to pull her arm free but surprisingly even for a drunk his grip was a bit strong, guess she shouldn't hold back as much and at this point he deserved any physical damage he was about to get from her. "It wasn't a request heathen wench, you'll be giving us what we want and just maybe you'll live long enough to return to your tainted bastard family. Certainly more than you or your kind deserve, we may even teach the lot of you your place here" There was a pair of chuckles following the mild slurred words, Astrid had little choice but to shift her mind to fight mode. No one insulted her family, guess there was little to no option in her not fighting. Hopefully they would come to learn to be careful who they messed with as she hand gripped the lute then swung it hard at the man holding her arm. He let go immediately, grasping at the side of his head but the other two were quick to respond and as she took a step back raising the lute in preparation for another swing the two took a step closer. This was not how she had wanted her night to go, not one bit.
