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Post by luther on Mar 26, 2009 14:26:12 GMT 1
Luther tentatively raised an unfocused hand to absently rub the ill formed scruff at the base of his jaw as his eyes narrowed into the distance. Nottingham looked utterly spectacular in the early morning haze, dim light throwing magnificent shadows across the expanse of the city. From his vantage point tucked neatly between two stone pillars, head falling away against the chilled surface as his eyes carefully scanned the dormant form of the sleeping city. Despite the few decades he had dwelled within the cities walls the splendour never ceased to pull his breath away.
His pale eyes roamed across the expanse of woodland stretched ominously out before him; rolling emerald glens sheathed with new formed crystalline dew. Training was hardly worth the effort of prying his prone form from his pallet; watching his superior prat around with a pointy stick and skewering straw filled dummies. Although Luther did understand that in a highly charged battle situation it would blatantly be of such use because all opponents stand perfectly still and hold zero defence. He snorted, smirk furling onto his face at his own induced humour.
He still had until noon to keep guard over a sleeping castle, what on earth was the point? Robin Hood and his merry band of sodding idiots seem to never attack save for the most bravado shrouded schemes. Luther’s groan broadened fleetingly as a contented sigh wormed through his lips and his broad body fell back against the wall once more. He really was in a pessimistic mood this morning; as soon as he got off shift he’d make sure to grab a tankard of mead and a beautiful women then he’d be fine.
His eyes fluttered shut absently, chill seeping into his bones under the compressed chainmail that shrouded his body. The winter chill that had pooled into spring had broken the city it seemed; looting and stealing was on the increase and each guard had to be extra vigilant. His shifts were increased partly out of need to guard such a fragile city and mostly out of the need to feel the weight of gold in his purse. Edolie seemed to be working longer as well in an attempt to quell little Harry and Beth’s hunger. It was times such as these that he fervently wished for those incompetent outlaws to crawl from the dens and actually do a damn thing instead of prattling around with Gisbourne.
His fingers absently flirted with the hilt of his sword, digits winding around the cool metal in reassurance as his heavy lids futilely attempted to stay open as dawn cracked and he fell into an absent slumber.
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Post by Noah Green on Mar 26, 2009 15:01:59 GMT 1
He woke up at the break of dawn like every other day, but today his nose was stuffy and his eyes were red and puffy. When he spoke he felt like he had swallowed a cup of a thousand sharp razors. He did not feel great at all. Today he had the duty of training all the new guards and placing them in the job that suited them best. Many of the old ones had lost their jobs due to failure to catch Robin Hood. Although was feeling under the weather he was no way going to pass up the opportunity to be horrible to all the new and vulnerable guards.
Noah walked through to where his sink was and splashed some water onto his delicate face. He made his hair look presentable and went back to his wardrobe and picked out some clothes. He picked a black pair of heavy leather trousers and the dark grey tunic that he wore most days. He was nearly ready to set off towards the courtyard where the new guards waited for him. He grabbed his sword from the table where it lay and pushed it through his belt. He had not yet prepared what he was going to do with them. He though that maybe shouting at them would get through to them better than anything else, so he would start with shouting then figure out what to do next. He rushed out his room forgetting to lock his door on the way out.
He was a little early having rushed so quickly, so he decided to take the long route to the courtyard which took him right round the outside of Nottingham and past the night guard. The sun was beginning to shine brightly into his eyes making them water. He took small and weak steps until he reached the guard whose eyes looked much similar to Noah's tired eyes. He was going to get Luther to join him in training thought he should tease him first.
"Morning Luther, It has been a rather long night has it not? I know what you need, a nice long sleep! "
Noah gave Luther a nice friendly smile, his smile soon straightened out as his next words were spoken.
"Well i need your help today, In half an hour or so there are some young trainee guards coming in and and you are going to help me, and before you say you need to work, I have already arranged for somebody else to replace you this morning."
He did not give Luther a choice in the matter and stood with a very large grin on his face staring at him waiting for the disappointed reaction he expected. Noah was really not looking forward to today, he usually would be happy to train new guards as it is a chance to shout at many people at once, but he knew he did not look or feel veyr powerful today.
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Post by luther on Mar 26, 2009 15:52:29 GMT 1
‘Morning Luther, It has been a rather long night has it not? I know what you need, a nice long sleep!’
His eyes flew open in a fit of astonishment as panic rippled through his chest and his fingers absently wound against the cool metal of his hilt. His face contorted in horror as his bleary eyes fell upon Noah, his captain, his superior. He winced and absently squared his shoulders as he warily reciprocated the man’s grin. It was oddly uncharacteristic for the man to be so utterly upbeat and jovial so early in the morn, actually scrap that, it was a rarity for Noah to be in a good mood ever. Luther himself had managed to keep himself on the sir’s good side the majority of his career and for that he was grateful although now it seemed that all his hard earned grovelling would be shattered by his inadvertent nap. Damn.
The man before him was fabled for his sour moods and Luther’s heavily accented voice was tentative as he replied. ‘Exceedingly long night Sir but not one disturbance, I wouldn’t mind a kip Sir but got a few good hours yet. ‘ His grin broadened and relaxed, perhaps the man had been blessed with favourability by some nymph in the night and he was now inclined to be good to all mankind and such. A stifled smirk tugged at his lips at the thought and he stifled his amusement with a falsified cough, perhaps he could go?
‘... I have already arranged for somebody else to replace you this morning.’
His stomach dropped and he felt a barely concealed groan worm its way through his lips as disappointment smarted his features. Great, fan-bloody-tastic; He know had to spend the majority of his hard earned day spent teaching pre pubescent adolescents to hold a wooden sword and headbutt outlaws, great; that was utterly brilliant. His day and coincidentally his mood were utterly sullied; his already fractured patience was being overtly strained and broken as time spent with this man wore on. The day had only just broken and yet it would forever be tainted with his now fragmented mood.
His eyes narrowed and tightened lightly as his smile dropped in the wake of Noah’s own. ‘Sir that is very generous but I hardly have a wealth of experience; I’m a soldier, aren’t I? Not a guard by trade, I only took this job to please the missus and that was what, four years ago at the most?’ He grinned and inclined his head carefully, praying he hadn’t offended the man’s bloated ego; that would spell disaster. ‘Many a man ‘sides me would, I’m sure, be more valuable.’
In truth he had only taken this job under Edolie’s insistence, after all why would a sane man take up a position as standing outside a dormant castle over the glory and fire of battle? Any man that readily chose this occupation was a blind sighted fool and yet at least it afforded him more money than the common legionnaire. After all it’s more like bribery to face being spat on by your own peers and kicked in the face by a lousy outlaw. He raised a weary hand to absently rub over pale eyes before clearing his throat and dropping his gaze back to his boots. Standing in the cold, no matter how inane, was most defiantly preferable to teaching half wits which end of a sword was the sharp end.
Despite his adamant decline of Noah’s offer, Luther had a fervent feeling that the older man wouldn’t let it go without a fight; literal or metaphorical. Damn.
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Post by Noah Green on Mar 26, 2009 20:28:04 GMT 1
Noah could tell by the look on Luther's face that he was frightened of him. Still with a massive grin on his face he turned round to face the opposite direction and began speaking to him ignoring that fact that Luther had said he could not attend. He ran his fingers through his scruffy hair and turned back around. He wanted to make Luther feel bad if he didn't go, but if he insisted on not going it would not be pretty.
"So, when you arrive i want you to be wearing proper guard uniform which i shall leave for you in the armoury. I do hope you are not that tired as we have lots of work to do. We will most likely be on our feet all day. I will give you 3 silver coins for your worries. I am glad you decided to cooperate as i don't know what i would do if you didn't, i would be very upset."
The sun was getting brighter every minute and Noah was late in arriving at the courtyard. Just the way he liked it. The trainees were probably sitting scared out of their wits having heard about Noah not knowing what fate they awaited.
"I am sure you will show up, don't you and your wife need the money?"
Noah knew that Luther did not depend on these coins but would still take up the offer if not for the coins but with sheer fear of Noah. The thought of Giving money up made him even weaker than he already was but it was only 3 silver coins. He could easily get them back.
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Post by luther on Mar 26, 2009 21:22:37 GMT 1
‘...I will give you 3 silver coins for your worries. I am glad you decided to cooperate as I don't know what I would do if you didn't, I would be very upset.’
Luther felt his face contort in a wince as he sheepishly looked up though darkened eyelashes. He didn’t need the money and yet it would mean Edolie wouldn’t have to wok near half the hours she did and Harry and Beth could spend more time at home. Besides that, what with a winter chill flooding the city the family could use all the supplies that their meagre money could buy. He slowly let a smile furl onto his angelic face, inclining his head as he absently tugged at his restricting tunic; his chainmail was taking a bloody eternity with that incompetent blacksmith.
‘Tha’s most generous Sir and I would so very hate to see your good self upset in any way.’ He smirked and raised his eyebrows poignantly, sarcasm smarting his words as his eyes narrowed and tightened in response to the man before him.
Luther hadn’t much firsthand experience against Noah Green’s wrath although it was plenty gossiped about. According to the idle chats that flooded Nottingham town, Noah would happily maim a hundred children if not to better his own standing. Sure he’d seen the way his own peers cowered and fell away against his glare but he’d never fully appreciated how manipulative, how cold and demeaning the man could readily be, although he was fervently sure that by the end of the next training session he would be fully informed.
‘I am sure you will show up, don't you and your wife need the money?’
His eyes narrowed and tightened a fraction; a purely natural response, after all a man such Noah Green seemed only to invoke panic and the subtle threat laced viciously into the undertones of the erstwhile innocent sentence, irked him. Edolie was not a name mentioned within the workplace, any threat of insinuation, no matter how cleverly masked was utterly deprived. He absently furrowed his brow, eyes still trained on the man’s porcelain face, he was almost certain that Noah hadn’t meant it in the way Luther had interpreted them, he wasn’t threatening anybody, least of all his wife. You’re being a fool! Stop being paranoid!’ It was odd that the mere mention of his wife worked his temper into such a riled frenzy, he was going to have to work on that.
‘That we do my Lord; my wife is working double to get enough clothes for our two children. After all what with this unfathomable chill it’s hard to come by easy money or food for that matter.’ Not that you’d know, limey git.’ He smirked at that yet his innocent words from earlier still thrummed within his sleep deprived mind. He had spoken with such authority, such an increasing air of superiority as if the fact that they were poor and starving was incomprehensible.
‘Anything else I can help you with Sir?’
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Post by Noah Green on Apr 4, 2009 16:22:09 GMT 1
Noah was pleased with himself. Once again he had managed to make somebody do exactly as he wanted. He stood up straighter than he already was and straightened his clothing, making him look more orderly. He was a very fidgety man but had recently been trying to stop it as it gave the impression that he was nervous, and he was far from it. He was kicking a small pile of dirt that was in front of his feet moving about, now his boots were covered in dirt.
“Yes, it is very rare that I become angered enough to be upset, but I feel in this case It would cause me great sorrow.”
He had been standing talking for longer than he had expected and was going to be late but he didn’t think he was finished with Luther just yet, he had hardly begun. There was something more he had to do, but Noah didn’t know what. He had to make Luther crack. He was wearing a ring on the middle finger of his left hand. It was not worth much but Noah was going to try anything to make Luther feel inferior.
“I do feel sorry for you. I myself have never had the experience of low wealth, but I can imagine that it must be truly awful and heartbreaking. I know what would make you feel happy. This ring, it may pay for a few loaves of bread, a nice treat for the kids.”
Noah considered himself to be extremely generous now. That was now 3 silver and a ring he had offered Luther. This was probably the most giving he had been to anybody ever. He had of course paid guards more, but he had never willingly passed out money to just anybody. He slipped the ring off his finger and held out his very masculine hand with the ring. He shook his hand as Luther did not immediately take it as he had expected.
“Please, take it. You need it. There is nothing else you need be worried about at this moment, except turning up on time. Oh wait you are already late.”
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Post by luther on Apr 4, 2009 19:18:42 GMT 1
‘I do feel sorry for you. I myself have never had the experience of low wealth...This ring, it may pay for a few loaves of bread, a nice treat for the kids.’
Luther’s eyes widened in surprise as his peer absently twisted the ring from his finger, dropping it into his palm and holding it out for Luther to take. Anger and indignation swelled in his blood; did Noah think him a fool? Not only would the man no doubt retract the ring at any attempt to take it but it was a matter of pride, something Noah either failed to grasp or he was poignantly ignoring. Luther could do this on his own, Edolie would never forgive him if he begged for help, he would work as many shifts as needs be to secure his families prosperity.
‘Please, take it. You need it. There is nothing else you need be worried about at this moment, except turning up on time. Oh wait you are already late.’
Luther groaned, rolling his eyes as he slumped against the pillar, eyes flitting shut against the breeze that wrapped around the pair. It seemed Noah had decided to play him for a fool and a cough echoed from his lips and he straightened up to his full height, imposing himself over Noah as his eyes gleamed with unbridled indignation and anger. ‘Then I do so apologise my lord. I cannot, nor will not accept your ring.’ Luther felt a smirk worm onto his features as he inclined his head casually heaving himself away from the wall and edging forward.
‘I shall see you in the field no doubt but as you said, I must go and retrieve my correct uniform, as it was your express command was it not my Lord?’ Luther grinned, his welsh accent thick against the relative quiet of the morning. He inclined his head, still unsure of what to do. He could leave and dress for training or else remain here and defy the captain and erstwhile Gisbourne; a not particularly pleasing prospect. But still, the look upon Noah’s face would be an exceedingly pleasing prospect.
Settling a hand upon on the hilt of his sword he carefully smiled, an easy and gentile smile that in any other situation would be considered friendly. ‘on second thoughts my lord I am to wait here am I not? At least until my replacement arrives.’ Luther grinned and inclined his head replacing his hands upon his hips. He was a goddamned fool, and yet a wave of pleasure at seeing his face, washed through his chest. He was no doubt going to pay for this.
OOC: I'm so sorry! My muse is dead!
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Post by Noah Green on Apr 5, 2009 17:04:57 GMT 1
Noah was overly happy with how he had spoken to Luther. He had a large grin on his face, only to try and provoke Luther more than he already had. There was something strange about this grin though. It was different than his usual teasing grin. It was more as if he felt remorseful, but that would be very unlike him, very unlike him indeed. Possibly offering the ring had gone a bit too far, after all he respected Luther. He was a kind man, as far as Noah knew, and he had never bothered Noah before, maybe it should end now. Noah thought about it for a few moments then realized that it wouldn't make a difference if one more person hated him. He already had most of Nottingham trying to get rid of him.
"EXCUSE ME !?"
Noah could not believe what he just heard. His eyes widened in complete and utter shock. Was this his imagination playing tricks on him? Surely Luther would not speak back to Noah like that. Noah was furious. This was not right. Could Luther possibly thought of Noah as somebody else ? Noah was completely confused. He kept asking himself many questions. Okay. He must have been refusing the ring just anger Noah.
"You will accept the ring Luther. If you know what is good for you! "
Noah began to walk away for Luther but jolted back round as he began to again speak to him as if he was inferior to him. He grasped his dagger handle in his hand and pulled it swiftly out of his belt and held it towards Luther's neck.
"I will see you at the courtyard! Do not bring your attitude with you"
Noah took back his dagger and shoved it back into his belt. He stared with great hatred into his eyes and scowled. He still held the ring tightly in his hand but as began to step back he threw it at Luther's feet. After the ring was rejected he did not want to take it back. So he though he might as well make a scene out of it.
"Just do your job."
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