Out For A Stroll (Alaya/open)

[Titus Cortez]

Titus trotted after her, not willing to let her go so soon. He would escort her.

"You're very different from most girls I've met." he told her after a while. Maybe the first thing that wasn't a direct compliment all night. Most girls swooned at the sight of him. But not Alaya. She was different. Very different. And he even wondered how she might take to hearing that. If he was right, probably differently than most girls would.

"Where are you going, on your ship tonight?" he asked. "Where is my mysterious maiden journeying to?" Titus inquired, making sure to add in the 'my'. He would play with her for now. Try to get her to talk as best he could. See what reactions he might get from her.

[Alaya Seawitch]

Alaya snickered at his comment about her being different. "You just realized that? You're blinder than I thought" She was toying around but the seriousness of her tone didn't show that. She wasn't sure how to answer his question about where the ship was going. They were going to be looting and he hated pirates so that was out. "Well it all depends on where the captain decides to go" It wasn't a total lie or the complete truth.

[Titus Cortez]

"Well, it's hard to see through all of your secretiveness. Maybe it's not entirely my fault I am blinded." He said, rather casually, though he looked at her as if expecting some kind of remark. He was changing his tactics with her. Where before he might have claimed to have been blinded by her beauty, now he would be almost sarcastic. It seemed his compliments would only be brushed aside.

"You're trusting your life with a man who doesn't even know where he's going before a voyage? My, that doesn't seem good. Unless, I am to believe he is your lover and that's why you trust him?" he asked, looking away from her a bit. His way of asking if she had a boyfriend.

[Alaya Seawitch]

Her Lover!! That had nothing to do with it. The captain had no idea she was a girl in the first place. She couldn't be overly angry at Titus for saying such a thing since he didn't understand her situation. "No the captain knows where we are headed just he doesn't let the crew know since some have a habit of getting drunk before we cast off. And no he is not my lover no anyone on that ship" She stated not wanting him to think anything. What else could she say without coming forth with she was a Sea Hound and none of the crew but one knew she was a girl.

[Titus Cortez]

Silently, he did a little victory 'yes', punching the air, though she couldn't see. "And, what about off of the ship?" he asked. "Anyone catch your fancy?" Titus was looking straight at her now, wondering. But he tried to make it a little less uncomfortable, "Everyone has someone, right?" Taking the spot light a little bit off of her.

Titus moved branches out of the way for her as they walked, just like he did before. But the woods hadn't claimed back as much of this path as they had the other, and most of it was left open and airy with plenty of room to walk.

[Alaya Seawitch]

Alaya did not really know how to answer his question. To tell the truth she didn't care for anyone really. She had been around men all the time that they really didn't spark her interest. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she could tell none of them her secret. She didn't want anyone to know but at the same time she did. "No, not at the moment" She said not really caring how he interpreted her answer.

[Titus Cortez]

Another silent victory 'yes'. But he hid it. "That's too bad." he said. "Me neither." Titus wouldn't outright say it. At least not now. He would keep it cool. But he was suggesting. She didn't have anyone. He didn't have anyone. Maybe she could be his someone.

"So, what's it like, being a woman at sea?" he asked her. "The men give you any trouble?" He was searching for a way to see her again. Maybe come to set a few lads straight. Or maybe he'd come with meat to sell half price to her crew, depending on how friendly they were. Anything to 'coincidentally' cross paths again.

[Alaya Seawitch]

Alaya was stumped for a moment. How could she answer a question like that? She was a Sea Hound, and she had to tell him some time or another. Or maybe just threaten him. They were near the port now and she needed to lose him or else the ship would go off without her. Alaya hoped that what she was about to say would work. "Listen land dweller, if you value your life you would stay away. The people I work with are not the type to...lets just say that there would be a large fight. Just turn around now and forget today. I know I will" Her voice was harsh but it was the only thing she could think of. She walked towards the lights of the ports making sure to throw the flower he gave her down at his feet.

[Titus Cortez]

He stopped cold, shocked and greatly offended. Bewildered, as if she had just slapped him across the face with her words. He stooped and slowly picked up the flower, smoothing out the petals with his fingers. "I won't forget today." he said softly before she started her stride away.

He reached out to her, though his fingers met only with the emptiness of the air. "When will I see you again?" he called. Titus was stunned. He could only trot a few paces after her before his feet turned against his will. He wanted to run after her. They wanted to obey her. Stay. Don't follow. No. Run after her, dammit! No. Stay. "Alaya!" he shouted, surprising himself with how loudly his voice had trumpeted.

[Alaya Seawitch]

Alaya turned her head slightly. She looked at Titus wondering why he was fighting with himself. She realized that he was trying to come after her but her feet wouldn't move. She didn't recall using her voice in that way. "What?" She asked still sternly. She didn't have a whole lot of time since she needed to change. She could have just walked off again and not bother with him.

[Titus Cortez]

He cringed at her voice. But it was just what he needed to bring his feet back to his own control. He followed her again. "What have I done to you?" He asked. One moment they were fine and he was doing swell, the next she was barking at him like a war general. He held out his hand, trying to give the rose back to her. How bold he had been and how bold he still wanted to be. But the lash of her words had humbled him. He had stood proud and strong, and now he stepped tentatively, with caution, not sure to follow or stay. He had never felt this way around a girl before. Had never been afraid of a girl before. "You certainly aren't like other girls." Titus tried to give her the rose again, nudging her fingers with the petals softly.

[Alaya Seawitch]

"No I', not. Some even say not human either" She stated to his comment again. The last part was a hint of the truth though she never had anyone say that to her. She needed him to just go away. She never met a guy that was this hard to get rid of. Then again it did seem that he was under her control. "Go home Titus" She snapped.

[Titus Cortez]

"No, you're not." he said, gazing at her. He sighed, with his last compliment, "'Tis surely an Angel that stands before me now." he quoted himself from earlier in the afternoon. His body jerked when she threw the command at him. Go home, Titus. Go home. Lash after lash, he was sure she was aware of it. And soon, if she kept at it that way, she would lash him into the ground. He could fight battles. He could kill and he could triumph. When it came to women, he had always been a winner. Fighting with them was never a skill he learned. And it shone out, now.

"When will I see you again?" he asked, trying again to put the rose in her hand. Go home, Titus. You filthy land dweller, go home. No. Not yet. Yes, now. He backed up and walked toward her, backed up and walked toward her, fighting with himself again. "Damn it all." he grumbled under his breath.

[Alaya Seawitch]

Alaya didn't want to hurt him but he had been around her to long and she had no real feelings for him. It was her voice that made him fight himself. He was human after all. "You are only human Titus so don't try and fight" She whispered. She stepped further away knowing her time was running short. Seeker came to her shoulder then flew off again to the ship so at least someone would know she was coming. "Never" Her answer was sharp and strong. Her voice rang like bells. She knew humans had no real power and if he could continue to fight she would be impressed.

[Titus Cortez]

"Oh, don't say that." He said, fiddling with the rose. He had given up trying to give it to her. "I'll find you again." It was more of a promise to himself than it was to her. And that spark of himself came back again. "I like a challenge." he tried, smiling. But when her face didn't ease he sulked back to the humbleness that she had whipped into him. He didn't like it. That was what made him fight himself. A behavior so foreign that he simply didn't know what to do. "I am only a human." he repeated her words, almost as if in echo. He looked up at her. "You say it like it's a bad thing. I am proud to be human, thank you. And I am even prouder to be alive." Now, Titus, don't you start anything. He looked down at his feet again. Chin up, idiot, chin up! Not so weak! He looked up. Not so bold! He looked down. Not so- "Damn!" he grumbled in frustration.

He looked ahead to the ship that was beginning to board. Probably hers. Sailors carried heavy crates up the ramp and then down into the hull. The watchman took his place in the nest, and some of the men were beginning to hoist the sails. "Is that your ship?" he asked her sadly, gazing at it, then back to her. He wouldn't go home. "Come on," he said kindly, and he put a hand around her waist. "I'll take you to your beloved ship." Titus scowled and looked away from her. What had he ever done to her? He gave her flowers and took her to the bay and fed her compliments like chicken soup. And she hated him for it. Way to go, Titus.