๖ۣۜƜσɳ∂єяℓαɳ∂「ᶳᵉᵐᶤ⁻ᵃᵈᵛᵃᶰᶜᵉᵈ」 discussion

The Outlands is a mysterious, barren land that lies beyond a mountain chain. Most people avoid it due to it being a terrible, lonely place. It is uninhabitable, a mostly flat, barren desert landscape with some dense woods here and there that are rumored to be full of huge, terrifying creatures. The deserts of the Outlands are free of rocks, brush, or sticks. Free of anything that could be used to take one's life. Here is where banished beings are sent to serve their sentences.

Earnest allowed the offending creature to meet his eyes and he watched as the fierce and rampaging monster became fearful, retreated as it reigned in the growls it had been spewing out before. He ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed. He'd been hoping that the monster would fight with him but apparently not. He sheathed his sword again and pulled on the reigns of his horse, beginning a slow walk.

His Queen had sent him to find someone, and return them to her. So there he was, in the Outlands, in an attempt to win the affections akin to that of the Queen of Hearts. But the Red Queen was quite different from her, and Earnest felt himself thinking the past was better. Not that he pined for it; they were dead now and the period was over. His old mistress had been one thing, but Alice was another, and an intruder from the Overworld was exactly why he was out there anyway. Searching, as though she'd be in the Outlands - it was unlikely. He contemplating shifting into dragon form but decided against it - people could still see him there.

A young woman was walking along, brittle bones from previous exiles cracked beneath her feet as she walked. Her long silvery white hair cascaded down her shoulders in delicate waves. She was quite beautiful, especially for someone of her age, though it was because of her true age that her hair is the color that it is. Her blue eyes held great curiosity and mischief as she walked along.

She paused for a moment twirling her parasol as she heard a growl in the distance. She tilted her head in interest and walked towards it with great confidence. She noticed a boy...no...a man scare off a monster without even drawing a drop of blood. This act sparked her twisted mind and she bounced slightly as she stood there.

She was waiting for him to notice her first, not liking when the female had to make the first move. Though then again, with her reputation down her, she would probably find someone who was looking to kill her just for the bounty or favor of the Red Queen. Though that was her strength, angering the reigning queen of red, that was the strength of Astrid Jewel Card.

Earnest's eyes flashed over to a figure that seemed to be watching him. A woman... Did she have some sort of umbrella. More fool her being out in the Outlands as though she was taking a casual stroll. He looked at her outright and was about to walk away when he remembered that he had seen her before.

His eyes trained in on her, looking over her properly. Silver hair, the colour of her dress. She had such a distinctive appearance only a fool would have thought her any different. He noted, that her hair had gotten lighter over the decades as he cursed magic had failed to still the change in her hair at least. Oh the woes of mortal people and their inability to still death... He found her amusing.

And hateful. He would have to be careful. He doubted, truly, that she would have any idea who he was, but there was the slight risk he could fall under White Spade capture. Not that he'd ever fight for them. Earnest had been about as long as Wonderland itself had, and never had he strayed from the Red Hearts before.

He did not move, waiting to see what she would do, his black eyes remaining on her.

Astrid gazed back at him unflinchingly. Her blue eyes had a curious and speculating look in them. She recognized him quickly and smirked. "Darling are you going to just sit there and stare at me all day?" She asked teasingly, tilting her head to the side. Her hair fell over her shoulder as she did, leaving her silver hair draped over her left shoulder. Her dress was pure white, leaving her almost without a single splash of color, though her lips with a pinkish red and her parasol, that now was rested on her right shoulder, was blood red.

She may look like a White Spade, but in truth she only dressed to help shroud the Red Heart lurking beneath her. Though she was neutral, well as neutral as a fugitive of the Queen could be. For her colours were just that, colours. Whether she wore white or red, it honestly didn't matter in the least.

"Well? I know I may being captiving, but honestly Jabberwocky I would never imagine you to be one to stare. You do realize that's quite rude." She then continued without giving him a chance to even reply. The only reason she even knew whom he was, was because she has lived in this place for over three hundred years.

"Captivating once perhaps," muttered Earnest, "Now you look old. Even if you try to hide it..." Not many had the power to prolong their lives for so long, and those that did met the Jabberwocky at some point or other. He wasn't too concerned with people in general, but he made it his business to keep tabs on those of peculiar power. The assassins and soldiers didn't bother him so much, it was the others who caused the most alarm.

He was looking for someone. He'd been told exactly what she needed to return to the Overworld, and that thing could only be given by him. Or perhaps the Red Nobles, but even then he doubted she could persuade them, unless she was as charming as the rumours. She hasn't sounded like Alice at all, and he was more concerned for the powerful companion she had with her. He looked back at the old acquaintance and scowled. "Take your White Spade behind and get out of here," he warned, "I have no time for your kind." And he didn't. She was clearly a Spade, he'd always thought so, and their patience and pacifism didn't sit well with him. Pacifism had not been how Alice had defeated him in the past, and never would it in the future.

"Old....hmm I suppose I do need to update that spell. What a nuisance." Astrid replied and twirled her silver hair around her finger. She honestly didn't look as old as he made her to be early twenties at least. Her hair had simply been the side affect not mention before, though she didn't really mind, she had began dying it, making it seem not as natural as it once was. "As for the looking old part, I'm over three hundred and darling I look pretty dang good for my age." She said indignantly.

Astrid was twirling her parasol and watched as the metal pegs gleamed brightly. It was so beautiful and it captivated her gaze. Though after awhile she got bored with it and sighed closing it. She had then started twirling a small strand of air when he called her a White Spade. She froze and released her hair, brushing it out of her face before giving him a look that was colder than ice. "What?" She asked her voice filled with her colder personality. The curious teaser was gone now what was left was the real Astrid.

"That umbrella you twirl is a mockery," accused Earnest simply, "Oh you can say what you like, but when my head was removed from my shoulders by Alice, you were in no hurry to defend the Red Kingdom, happy to let it fall. Of course, that would never have happened but still the fact remains." He glared at her. "You may be 'neutral' but everyone has their favoured side. So leave; my mercy should not be tested."

He brushed his black curls from his face as he looked up at the sun. Earnest was very pretty in his human form, which was a welcome change from his frightful True form, and it was a face he liked to keep on the majority of the time. In this day and age, most found his humanoid appearance more soothing. The Queen of Hearts had been the only one who ever preferred him as him. But after she'd disappeared, the human Jabberwocky had become Earnest. The face was now a part of him.

"Perhaps if I find the Cheshire..." he mumbled ambiguously, now ignoring the fairy-like woman in the wilderness with him.

"Darling I'm in no hurry to help anyone, as for my favored side it would most definitely not be the White Spades. Unlike some people, I am fully neutral. And as for my umbrella there's a reason it's red." She cooed with a devilish smile across her lips. "As for your mercy, I do believe I'd love to test it." Astrid then replied as she gazed at him.

She mental noted his appearance. It was different from how she remembered him, but then again that had been a long time ago. He was actually really sexy, Astrid smirked and chuckled at her thought. She then gazed at his horse. "She's a beautiful Clydesdale, when'd you get her?" Astrid then asked knowing exactly what type of horse, the black Clydesdale was.

Astrid hadn't heard what he had said about Cheshire though as she gazed back up at him, she noticed him in thought and gazed curiously. Unconsciously she took a step closer to him and the horse.

"Not that long ago," he said, "She was a gift." His onyx eyes fell on her and he arched a brow as she began to move towards him and Mary, whether she was conscious of it or not. "And red is for those loyal to the Throne, not those who like to appear interesting by carrying it. You offend me, and still draw closer." His eyes narrowed. "I was not joking about my mercy."

She infuriated him, not that he was difficult to infuriate, and her fearlessness reminded him so heavily of the Queen of Hearts that he wanted to flee. But he had loved the Queen, unrequitedly of course. The Queen of Hearts was mad as the Hatter himself. No one else was so foolish as to approach him in such a way. "Is there a reason you're here or can I go now?" he demanded, "I have very important things to be doing."

He was about to mount his horse when an arrow shot beside his head. He looked at it with disinterest. "The Spades are hunting me," he sighed, "It isn't safe here - you should leave before more turn up." The White Spades had wanted him since the beginning of time, had even tried destroying him as a last resort, but it was all in vain. Fate wanted him with the Hearts, and so did he.

Astrid gazed at the horse, not even paying attention to him. Though she stopped about two feet from them. "Well she's simply gorgeous, I haven't seen a Clydesdale in some time." She replied and she tilted her head. "So sorry if I'm defending you, if you'd prefer I could always got to a midnight blue." She replied not paying any mind to his threat.

Astrid noticed agitation cross his face and just smiled. She then tilted her the other way as he asked her his questions. "The Jabberwocky asking me if he can leave. My darling nothing's keeping you here. In fact you are welcome to leave whenever you like." She then cooed after some thought.

She saw the arrow and narrowed her eyes. Stupid White Spades, don't they have better things to do rather than simply aggravating Jabberwocky. She thought with a giggle. The opened up her parasol, blocking the arrows that flew in her direction.

He pulled himself up onto his horse, weary of the arrows that could hit her. Of course he could leave... He was just so used to following orders he'd almost forgotten, in fact, he was there on an order in the first place. The horse made a slight noise of distress at the flying arrows - warfare had never been one of the Spades' strongpoints. Clad in complete black, his clothes proved for brilliant camouflage when sat on Mary. He'd have to come back at a different time to look for the Human girl. He supposed some things simply had to wait.

He arched a brow at the girl's successful defence against the arrows, and rolled his eyes. "Get on, I will take you to the nearest Red village - they will kill you if they find you now." He clicked his tongue. "You should know not to talk to the Jabberwocky."

He pointed his hand lazily in the direction of the arrows and a large explosion erupted. A leg flying through the air was proof of his success. "More will come."

Astrid simply twisted her parasol as if nothing was happening. The fabric that made her parasol was much stronger than it looked and stayed quite light. As arrows bounced off, Astrid saw one arrow about to hit Mary. She took a quick step and moved her parasol blocking the horse. "Well that wasn't very nice." She said.

Astrid then gazed at him and arched an eyebrow herself. "Get on, you mean the horse? Jabberwocky you are quite a wonder. One minute you're threatening me and the next you're offering to help me." She teased forgetting the predicament they were in.

She walked over to the side of the horse, she gazed up realizing how big Mary really was. She knew that she wouldn't be able to get without his help and she bit her lip, not even noticing the explosion.

"I don't have all day," he complained, "if my horse dies on your head be it." He reached down and pulled her up into Mary. Admittedly, the horse was huge. He knew there was an Outlands hamlet over by the Red side, and kicked his horse into action. "And I don't care how fickle you seem to think I am. Your opinion is invalid to me."

They rode for a while before he began to see the little village. She would look horrendously out of place there but he really couldn't care less.

As he pulled her up, she threw her leg over Mary's back so she was sitting down. When he kicked the horse and she started to go, Astrid gasped and wrapped her arms around his waist, so she wouldn't fall off. She hadn't even realized that she had dropped her parasol, though she was more worried about not falling in that moment.

Astrid had never ridden a horse before so this was a bit freaky for her. Especially since they were going breaking neck speed. Her tight grip around him didn't loosen even once throughout the entire ride. She say where they were heading and realized that her parasol was missing. Just great, thank God I still got my necklace on. She thought and rested her forehead against his back, not thinking about what she was doing.

As he came to the village he slowed into a trot, the wild mane of Mary settling down, he wasn't too bothered that the woman had unconsciously snuggled into his back. He had no reason to suspect anything, she would have little reason to try and subdue the Jabberwocky. The wind was moving gently through his thick black locks and some children playing at the edge of it looked up in awe and the man in black and the woman in white rode into their village. He stilled the horse and got down, holding his arms up to help her get down, his dark eyes impatient.

"Come on," he muttered, "let's get rid of you already-where's that ridiculous umbrella of yours?"

Astrid sighed as they slowed and her grip loosened as they continued. She sat straight up as they continued to ride her white hair was ruffled from the wind ripping through it. She sighed and gazed at the village with curiosity , she knew she had never visited before so her interest only grew. She let go off him as he got down and gazed down at him as he held his arms up. She set her hands on his shoulders as she slipped off of the horse.

"No need to be rude Jabberwocky, as for my parasol I dropped it." She huffed and let go of him and crossed her arms over her chest. "That one took almost two months, now I'm gonna have to remake it completely. It's gonna take forever." She explained with a cross look though it wasn't directed at him or anyone else for that matter.

"It was just an umbrella," he told her, "I could have just left you there. You should lay low for a while." He grabbed Mary's reins and began to lead her into the village. He'd spent the past 30 minutes running flat out, and his horse was absolutely shattered. He'd have to wait until tomorrow. Perhaps there was room in the inn, not that he needed one - he was a Jabberwocky after all.

He looked back at her. "The people here are xenophobic, so unless you want to be stoned, keep up. I'm not being paid to babysit you." He wasn't being paid at all. He was Red Heart property.

"Just an umbrella? Darling you do know what I specialize in correct?" Astrid asked and raised an eyebrow though she sighed and began following him, keeping up easily. She gazed at Mary, who's breathing was coming out ragged and in short gasps. She felt bad for the horse and her eyes were gently as she gazed at the creature.

"I should've been laying low for quite sometime, though no one seems interested enough in the bounty placed on my head." Astrid replied with a shrug. She continued to follow him, surprised he didn't just ditch her.

"I don't make it my business to know people's business," he said, "I kill people, destroy things. That is it."

He didn't glance back but he was intrigued nonetheless. "A bounty? May I pry into the story of that little happening? I daresay I find it odd how a little lady like you could end up wanted." He noticed a family glaring at him and so he sent a threatening look toward their children. Fools. He saw the inn up ahead, he would be able to rest his horse at least. Inside he was told they could house his horse but only had one room left. "Give it to the girl," he said. He was a wild animal; he could sleep anywhere.

Astrid chuckled as he asked her about it, though then again it seemed that after awhile it would disappear before coming back around. "It seems when you piss off the queens as much as I have, you lose their favor altogether. Though the red queen so much more drastic, she wanted off with my head." She said humorously. Astrid never took her bounty seriously, but that was usually because she would kill anyone who tried to carry it out.

As they arrived at the inn she followed him closely. As he said that she could have the room, she pursed her lips and gazed at the man. He looked nervous almost under pressure. Astrid didn't like it. She crossed her arms over her chest and was nervous about being alone here, not that she showed it of course. She ran her hand through her white hair sighed before nodding.

Earnest made a mental note to keep tabs on her. If his Queen wanted her dead, he would bring her Astrid's head, though not until he completed his primary mission of finding the human. He'd always worked in order of priorities even if that did mean missed opportunities.

Off with your head.

Those words haunted him. The Queen of Hearts had used them, and Alice too. They held great power over him. He left the woman in the inn without a word and took Mary to the stables, making sure the stable boy knew to feed and water her and make sure she was comfortable. That done he commanded the stable boy leave, and clearly terrified by Earnest's aura, he did so. Earnest pulled out a water trough and heated up water, making it into a bath, and climbed in it. The sun was beginning to set.

Astrid watched him leave and grimaced at the man as he tried to offer her many things before she simply threatened him and asked for the keys to her room. She then went up to her room and walked in. It wasn't half bad, though it did have two beds and realized that Jabberwocky could've stayed here if he pleased, but also knew she wasn't going to go chase him.

"Did I seriously just tell him that his queen wanted my head? Wow real smart there." She muttered and sat down in a chair in the corner of the room. After awhile she decided to take a bath herself and got it ready for herself before slipping in.

((Yes - sorry, I lost it))

The stable boy hurried into the stables. "Sir, I don't mean to disturb you but a band of Red soldiers are here... May I put their horses in?"

Earnest nodded. "What are they here for?"

"Something about bounty hunting," said the boy, "But they've stopped to rest."

Earnest left the bath immediately, dressing and going back to the inn. He was not about to let a bunch of drunken Heart soldiers steal his glory. All Hearts were psychopathic. He opened the door and made his way upstairs before any of them could see him and burst into Astrid's room. Her current state did not phase him and he closed the door.

"I am manning the door," he said simply.

((It's fine, just asking))

Astrid sighed as the warmth wrapped around her. She didn't get relax like this often, so she enjoyed it very much when she did get the chance. She gazed at Earnest when he came in abruptly. "May I ask why you are manning the door?" She asked not bothering to get out. She was enjoying the bath and wasn't planning on letting him or anyone else ruin that for her.

She then heard the group of soldiers downstairs and realized why he was there. Though something was telling her that it wasn't to actually protect her rather than his chance of staying in the favor of his queen. She sighed, but surprisingly enough didn't seem too worried. She listened into the conversation that could be heard though only got fragments.

"Don't worry," he assured her, "They don't know you're here. They're just here to drink wine and rape the locals. So you just keep quiet and there won't be any problems." He leaned against the door with his eyes closed as though in deep thought. He was silent, introverted, he wouldn't disturb her and he rather hoped that she would stay silent. If he had to kill Red Hearts the Queen would be... Disappointed.

He thought about his mission. He'd heard whispers across the land. There were two of them, the blonde and the brunette. The latter a strong fighter, a Seer, and the former a manipulative and charming Lady. Not that it mattered. They would both loose their heads.

"I wasn't about to worry." Astrid replied before staying quiet. After awhile she got out of the bath and dried herself off. She then pulled on her clothing though was struggling with her corset. Her silver hair was over her shoulder as she tried to tighten it. She bit her lip and didn't even bother asking for help, mainly because she figured he would say no, plus she usually could do it on her own.

Astrid huffed in annoyance and continued to struggle with her corset. Come on just a bit tighter. Geez why is this being so difficult. She thought, though was surprisingly quiet.

Earnest rolled his eyes and walked over, pulling the strings tightly as he had done a thousand times. He personally didn't see the point in corsets but a lot of women seemed to find them completely necessary. One of his friends, an assassin, didn't bother with such attire. She didn't really bother with attire at all, but that was another story.

"I don't think these are really necessary," he complained, "An old queen of mine used to make me pull hers until she lost all her colouring." And he had served many Red Queens.

When he took the strings, Astrid stool there, shocked. She was even more shocked as he laced her expertly. "Thank you." She said as he finished. "As for whether it's necessary or not, it's not necessary, but my wardrobe is quite small. You know trying to avoid dying tends to conflict with my ability to go shopping." She then added.

Astrid then thought of whom he was speaking of and remembered after a moment. "I'm not that bad, just need it so it won't fall off." She then added, she then slipped the rest of her white dress on. She tied her dress with ease, she then glanced her around for her necklace.

"I suppose if you don't need to do anything remotely practical, or breathe in general, they aren't much of a problem," he said, "And shopping? You struck me as someone with a tailor."

He released her and moved over to the dresser, that she had laid her possessions across. She didn't have too many, but certainly more than he did. He was too single-minded to have anything more than his clothes and his weapons. Killing was his only interest, his only hobby.

Earnest held up the necklace between delicate fingers. "Looking for this?" he asked, "It looks expensive... Is it magic? Or is it an object of sentimentality, I'm told you people like to have such ridiculous things."

Astrid snorted. "Tailor? Nope, they would rat me out to one side or the other." She replied not to worried about the breathing part, once you got use to it, your body adjusted. She stopped looking for her necklace knowing it would turn up somewhere.

She pulled her hair over her shoulder and began to braid it expertly. She took a white ribbon from her dress and used it to tie her hair. She sighed as she look in her reflection, pure white, but she was anything but that. Astrid shook her head of those thoughts and instead glanced around the room.

"Yes in fact I am." She replied and took the necklace from him and clipped it on, though the blade that was concealed with it, fell with a metallic clang on the floor. "No it's practical." She then replied and crouched down to pick it up. As her fingers brushed against the cool metal of the blade, she felt comfort. She picked it up and secured it in its place once again. She then gazed at him and was about to say something, but simply closed her jaws and decided against it. She knew they weren't allies, or even good acquaintances for that matter.

Earnest shrugged and wandered over to the window, moving the curtains apart to peer outside. "We'll have to leave early," he muttered, "Before the drunkards awaken." Earnest personally didn't see the appeal in wine. If he wanted intoxication, blood would suffice.

Retaking his position by the door he grabbed a wooden chair and sunk into it. He would sit there until morning - he had gone longer without sleeping. He didn't need it as frequently as most, understandable of course. His energy stores didn't need to be replenished as often. She was being cautious with her words - clever decision - and it was just as well. For he was doing the same, refraining from asking her what she did to earn herself a bounty in the first place.

She nodded at his comment and after he went to "guard" the door she walked over to the window and sat on the windowsill. She gazed out the window and watched the drunken Reds flounce around from one woman to another. She chuckled to herself as one of the women punched the Red knocking him onto his butt.

She watched as a huge commotion broke out and chuckled again. She sighed before leaning against the wall. She rubbed her arms as goosebumps crept up and down her arms. She listened to screams and shouts and continued to simply watch. She actually forgot that Earnest was even there, at least until she gazed around and her gaze settled on him.

The shrieks of helpless women were like white noise to Earnest. It only excited him if he was the one administering the agony. Not that it made any sense to him. Sex was sex whether it was consensual or not. Even if you didn't want it, it couldn't feel any different than if you did.

At least that's what he though. He'd never had any dealings in rape though he was sure an order would be made eventually.

He looked over as Astrid gazed out the window with a indeterminable expression on her face. She didn't seem traumatised as the men threw sobbing women to each other, and perhaps she was desensitised to it. Though from the sounds of it, at least two of the women were showing signs of successful resistant. But that was Red women for you - they lacked the cowardice and simpleness of their White Spade counterparts. "Come back from the window. They'll see you."

Astrid ignored him and continued to watch the entire scene. "They're too busy to notice me." She replied, though karma seemed not to be in her favor. Two Red's began pointing up at her, though they weren't screaming or shouting as she had expected. Instead the drunkards simply gazed up at her and squinted as if trying to decide if it was her or not. Astrid smirked at them and simply got up and walked away from the window before the commotion of the woman in white being here.

"Oops, looks like my cover was blown." She cooed without worry in her voice. Though it wasn't because he was here that she wasn't worried. It was more because she knew that they wouldn't cause any trouble for her. Though that didn't mean she wouldn't cause trouble for them. She actually had a happy light in her eyes and tilted her head towards him. "So am I gonna do damsel in distress or and I allowed to use blade?" She asked sarcastically.

Earnest glared at her. Was she incapable of doing as she was told? That meant they'd have to leave earlier... Or failing that he could always kill them. But as he'd stated before, that outcome was not ideal. They were Red Hearts. So long as they didn't touch his bounty, they could rape all the women they wanted, he could care less.

"If they come up I'll kill them," said Earnest, "Now... Go to bed or something and stop sabotaging my process." He looked pointedly at one of the beds. He figured he should probably sleep too. He was practically awake when he slept anyway. He walked over to his bed and pulled his waistcoat and shirt off, climbing under the covers. "I hear every step you take so don't try and run, girl."

Astrid gazed at him and raised and eyebrow, she wasn't about to listen or make anything easy for him. She smirked at his order and nodded. "Of course I'll go do something." She purred and left the room. She clasped her hands behind her back and walked down the hallway.

She was inwardly laughing her head off, wondering if he'd chase her or not. If he did she was already prepared for some snarky remark to tease him. It wasn't that she was trying to run away just simply found it humorous. Of course with her bad luck she ended up running right into one of the drunken Reds. He grabbed her though obviously didn't recognize her as he simply gazed at her lustfully.

"Oh and what's a White Spade doing all the way out here?" He slurred and Astrid scrunched her nose and pulled away, but got pinned against a wall. Great, this is just perfect. Why does this always happen, well at least he's too drunk to even realize who I am. She thought and cringed as his hands felt up and down her body, though her arms were pinned and left her without any real protection against him, besides squirming and thrashing against him. The drunk chuckled at her struggle, but didn't release her.

Earnest got out of bed and began to leisurely walk down the hallway. The Heart didn't notice him as he neared them, arching his eyebrow as the fool attempted to ravish the woman.

"Do you ever do as you're told?" he asked. Smoothly and swiftly, Earnest reached forward and pulled out the offender's windpipe. Blood shot everywhere, soaking Astrid and the body slumped to the floor. "Just adding a splash of colour," said Earnest curtly, turning around. "We'll have to leave now. Nice job, genius." He glared at her. "Come."

Astrid saw the black figure behind the red, whom she had stopped paying attention to. She gazed over his shoulder and saw Earnest and rolled her eyes. As the pulled hit her, she frowned and pouted at him. "No I don't, cause that wouldn't be any fun." She then replied and didn't even bother at whipping the blood from her face.

She then heard him order her again and this time she simply smirked. "Darling you didn't have to kill him, in fact if I wanted this could work very well in my favor. These men are too drunk to recognize me, so I would just be a helpless White Spade who witnessed the man in black kill whoever that was." She raised an eyebrow at him and tilted her head. "So may I ask how this is going to play out? In my favor or in yours?" For watching him just kill someone, she was being quite reckless.

Earnest arched his eyebrow, unamused. "I fail to see how you can hold anything over me, girl." He grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the room, marching her over to the window were she could still see the men outside. With a click of his fingers, the remaining 3 soldiers shot up in flames and the women scattered away from them. "I could destroy this entire village and the best I would get is a slap on the wrist." A low, feral growl escaped his throat and he released her, wandering over to gather their things. "Do not threaten me."

He ran a hand through his black locks and hissed as a fang pierced his lip. She had gone and irked him and now he was bleeding. He licked it up, careful that the venom stayed with him. His venom was unfathomably precious.

Astrid smirked as she watched the men burst into flames. "What are you trying to prove to me Jabberwocky? That you can burn people alive. For some reason I'm not to worried about that." The woman replied. She wasn't known for her sensibility, that is if she had any.

When he released her, she walked over to the bathroom and once again completely ignored him. She was getting bored with this bickering and so she simply wanted to get clean again before she went to go find something decent for herself to wear. She didn't care if she was pissing him off, she just wanted to be rid of him or at least his controlling side.

"No," he replied curtly, "Me killing you is the least of your worries." He was about to demand she hurry up when he heard crying outside his door. Opening it, he saw a girl leaned against the wall sobbing in fear, her straw-coloured hair a pulled mess.

"Miss?"

"The soldiers," she wept, "They raped us! A-and then they set of f-fire!"

She threw herself at him in distress and he caught her skilfully. "We need to tell someone!"

"No," he replied, "You're safe now... Go to bed, sweetheart. You'll be fine in the morning."

His soft words worked their magic and she visibly calmed down, looking up at him with wide eyes. She nodded her head and walked away. He closed the door. They needed to leave before someone was notified. He couldn't be bothered with all the fuss.

Astrid listened as was quite surprised by how gentle his voice sounded, it was refreshing from his usually harsh tone which he was using with her. Astrid slipped out of her dress once again before slipping into the bath. The water wasn't as warm as it was before, but it did its job. She rubbed the now drying blood from her pale skin, causing the water to become tinted pink.

She sighed as her skin was completely white again. She glanced back at Earnest and smirked. "Didn't realize you could get your voice to sound so gentle or soothing." She teased him. She sighed then thought of what she was going to wear seeing as he had so kindly covered it blood.

"I can get my voice to do whatever I want," he said blankly, "Besides, I am, by nature, a very placid creature." Or so he liked to think. He had spent a rather large proportion of his existence locked in a tower, ridden in chains. Chains that were still there, metaphorically, and he welcomed them too.

He pulled a necklace out of his bag, the stone a vivid purple, as it was filled with his venom, and put it around his neck for safe keeping, hiding it beneath his shirt. Remembering that Astrid was in the bath, he wandered out the room and knocked on a random door. Thankfully, a woman answered it and he flashed her a charming smile.

"You wouldn't happen to have a dress would you?"

"O-Only the one I'm wearing."

"That will do."

He pulled the string and it fell off her. She didn't protest as he closed the door and wandered back to their room. He threw the dress into Astrid. "Wear this."

"You placid? That is the funniest thing I've heard all day." Astrid replied as she laughed. Her silvery white hair still had the remnants of blood in it as she tried to rid herself of it. "Such a hassle." She mumbled to herself. Astrid hadn't noticed him come back into the room as she got out of the bath. She dried herself off and turned to gaze at her now ruined dress, when another red dress was thrown at her. She raised an eyebrow as to where he got it, but didn't ask questions.

Astrid slipped into her undergarments that were untouched by the spray of blood. Once again she tied her corset with more ease this time 'round. She the. Slipped into the ill fitting red dress, her petite figure not working well with the dress. Taking the dress off, she made some altercations to it and instead crafted a flowing skirt that started at her hips and fell down to the floor. She slipped on her black boots that her hidden beneath the dress. Her hair began to naturally crow curly so she pinned it back before clasping her dagger necklace around her neck.

"How does this look?" Astrid asked as she walked out. Her white corset had been altered by the bodice of the red dress given to her to wear. It was now red and gave her a shapely figure. The altered dress was now strapless and the skirt of it looked much prettier than before. Despite her pale complexion and silvery white hair, the dress suited her well. "It didn't fit so I had to make some altercations." She then explained.

Earnest raised an eyebrow as she came out, surprised at how she'd completely transformed the dress he'd found to be perfectly reasonable in the first place. "Of course it didn't fit. The woman I took it from was unfathomably voluptuous." He rose from his perch on the bed. "Are you ready to go or shall we have another arts and crafts session?" He rolled his eyes for a moment before crossing over to her and pulling out her pins from he hair. "We're trying to travel inconspicuously - only highborn women pin their hair back. Leave it like this."

He took out a hefty leather purse and got from it a single silver coin. "Go downstairs and give this to the innkeeper. I'll go and get Mary ready to go. She's had long enough rest I would say."

"Oi don't make fun of me. If you had found me a dress that had fit I wouldn't have needed to alter it." Astrid retorted indignantly. When he pulled the pins out of her hair, causing it to fall into her face, she huffed blew the loose strands of hair. "Inconspicuous? If you haven't noticed my hair is white, what in bloody hell is more inconspicuous than that?" She asked and raised an eyebrow.

Astrid gazed at the silver coin as it was handed to her and nodded. "Fine, shall I meet you at the stables or is this where you ditch me?" She asked and despite her tone sounding teasing, she was acting her question seriously.

"Don't be smart with me," said Earnest, "I am infinitely more intelligent." He was about to lead the way when he question caused him to smirk in amusement. He took her hands in his, pressing her wrists together. A thin but indestructible metal chain appeared around them. "Leave you here? My queen longs for your presence. I hear the bounty is quite high, that means the importance is too. She'll thank me more if I deliver you to her fresh-faced and beautiful."

He gave the end of the chain a little tug. "Come on, we've been here four hours later than I wanted to be. God, you span the time out."

Astrid snorted when he said that he was much smarter. She rolled her eyes and waited for him to lead the way. However, when he grabbed her hands, she immediately jerked away, but his hold was much stronger and before she knew it her hands were bound together. Instead of panicking she simply listened. "So you find me beautiful Jabberwocky?" She asked him her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity as she gazed at him.

Though when he tugged on the chain, she tugged back holding her position. If he wanted to bring her to his queen there were better ways of doing so. Heck, if he had simply asked her, she would've probably gone with him. Though dragging her with her hands bound together was not the route to take. She instead fought against him and caused the chain to dig into her wrists and blood welled up. She ignored the sharp pain she felt in her wrists and knew that all he had to do was pick her up and he would win that fight.

"For the love of the Caterpillar," complained Earnest, grabbing her arms to stop her pulling. "As pretty as your blood is I'd rather you didn't." He glowered at her, his eyes flashing red. "You have two options, come quietly or I'll throw you over my shoulder and let you bear the humiliation of everyone thinking you're my whore."

"And I even gave you a red dress so people wouldn't stone you when we got deeper into red territory," he pointed, "How inconsiderate of you to try and cut your hands off. You're going. This isn't up for discussion, little kitten."