New Beginnings

[Raphael D'Aubert]

TS: Imperos, 22nd Hour of Solaria

Ouch...

Walking through the cobbled streets of Eastern Jaedaxia, Raphael D'Aubert could not help but wince painfully at the numerous wounds he bore on his battered body. Shortly after passing out before the guards of Jaedaxia's Southern Gate (much to their surprise and amusement), the young man had been roughly dragged into the city by the order of a City Guard Captain who took pity on his "down-on-his-luck" figure. Within a matter of minutes, D'Aubert found himself roused from his involuntary slumber by the hard hands of an unknown man slapping him awake.

In a stunning act of kindness not seen by D'Aubert in weeks, the Guard Captain bandaged the younger man's wounds as best as possible, apologizing gently for his lack of medical skill, and helped Raphael back to his feet. After a brief conversation and profuse thanks, D'Aubert once again went on his way through the city, unsure of his next move.

What now?

The question buzzed about his head like an ever annoying mosquito, plaguing the disowned noble's son with it's impossible vastness. Though once the son of the noble and extravagantly wealthy "D'Aubert Family", Raphael (the youngest of five brothers) found himself unexpectedly expelled from the lap of luxury after being caught "red handed" sleeping with his father's favorite mistress.

Nearly slashed to ribbons by his enraged father in a one-sided rapier duel, Raphael barely escaped with his life from the enormous chateau the D'Aubert family possessed, fleeing home with nothing but a stiletto he had inherited from his late mother and a small purse of crowns. To make matters worse, Raphael's father had (in a fit of rage) promised to reward whatever man brought the head of this "whoring bastard" to his clutches in typical aristocrat fashion... Lots and lots of gold..

As the golden disk of light gliding down the western horizon began to herald the end of day, Raphael soon found himself making his way through the door of a seedy tavern guarded by a pair of dubious-looking figures. Catching dirty looks from the pair of thugs, the slender young man hastened his step through the doors of the building, eventually finding himself in a dingy bar setting with an odd assortment of characters.

Pirates, sailors, thugs, and vagabonds all sat about the room in various states of drunkenness; immersed in either the bottle of alcohol positioned before them or an intoxicated arguement with another figure.

Raphael, a light-skinned and slender man of average height, hardly felt at ease within this new environment; his aristocratic features and well kept, shoulder length hair (tied in a ponytail) standing out from the crowd of filthy vagrants in an unwelcomingly obvious manner. Setting down before the grizzled barman in a creaky wooden stool, the young man quickly drew attention to himself from a gang of thugs several meters away.

"I... I... I...." stammered Raphael, struggling to speak amidst his grimy surroundings, "W-wine... Please..."

Scowling, the barman yanked up a bottle from a nearby rack and (without the courtesy of granting the former aristocrat a glass) uncorked the wine bottle with his teeth, slamming the item down before this "queer-looking girly boy" of a man.

"Thanks.."

The barman responded with a scowl, storming off in disgust and leaving Raphael to his own thoughts. Daintily sipping the drink with his lips, Raphael could not help but gag upon tasting the foul liquid within the bottle.

"Wine of questionable quality in a dirty shack of a bar is certainly a far cry from champagne and oysters from home", mused Raphael, forcing the wine down his parched throat.

Criminals and brigands were different "boon companions" too...

Almost immediately, the young man's thoughts began to stay towards his unclear future. With hardly a copper to his name or a friend about his new surroundings, Raphael could not help but worry about the next step he would take.

"It would be wise to learn how to fight", mused the young man, "and maybe a new trade..."

Yes... I'll have my share of adventures before turning home to face my father...

The crash of a bottle snapped him to attention, followed by the drunken roar of a nearby man. Abruptly whirling around to face this potential threat, Raphael found himself face-to-face with the angry form of a bottle-wielding thug..

"What'd ya' say to me, girly boy?" bellowed the pock-marked thug violently, moving dangerously to the rondel strapped to his leather belt, "I'll show you who's a bitch!"

Poor Raphael, worn-out by the drama of his life and his long journey from home, did not better this particular situation with his stammering.. If only, his whimpering apologies fueled the drunk's rage..

Yanking the dagger from his belt, the thug raised it high above his head, prepared to end this "little bastard" once and for all...

[Raphael D'Aubert]

OOC- Open to all...

[Viniece]

OOC: Timestamp? I can't join something if I don't know when it is.

[Raphael D'Aubert]

OOC- Added TS... Hopefully the format is acceptable.

[Rowan]

"Hmmm," Rowan thought out loud. She had gone for a walk to stretch her legs, walking in no particular direction, and now she found herself in a slightly run-down street. Her forehead creased as she realized that she had wandered a bit further then she ever intended to.

Her dark brown hair fluttered slightly around her slightly elven ears in a slow breeze as she looked around at the closed shops and noticed a bar; and upon seeing it, realized that she was parched. She grimaced a bit at the thought of going in alone but it was the closest place she could see to get a drink.

Upon entering she went to the bar and ordered a small glass of cheap ale. Upon getting the drink she moved to the end of the bar and sat on a stool. While sitting there she kept her eyes moving all around and noticed a young looking man enter. He definitely looked like he didn't belong in this particular part of town. Her long gray skirt and white bodice probably stood out a bit, seeing as how it was so much cleaner then most of the other clothes worn in the bar, but she kept to herself, not approaching him.

It was as she was taking her last sip of Ale that she heard the ruckus start up. She set the cup down quickly and put her tab total on the bar. As she was standing up she noticed that it was the dressed up man in the fight, which had gathered some attention from other patrons. She started to move towards the exit, wanting to get out of there quickly, but stopped when she saw the strangers dagger get pulled out. 'At this rate he's going to get himself killed,' she thought to herself. 'He already looks worn out as it is.'

With that last thought, Rowan quickly turned around to come up to the stranger from the side and whispered fiercly towards him, "He's not worth the trouble you'll get yourself into. If you leave now and quickly you'll get away because that big oaf is blundering drunk and it doesn't look like his pals are keenly interested...YET."

With that she turned and rushed out of the bar, pausing once outside to see if he followed.

[Raphael D'Aubert]

Raphael, who immediately took the young woman’s words to heart by sprinting as fast as his slender frame could allow away from the dingy bar, welcomed the advice at once. While considered a "cowardly" act by many fellow adventurers of both past and present, the choice of running away from a potentially dangerous confrontation was a choice highly regarded by the young ex-noble and had often saved him from death scores of times before.


The drunk, at this time completely intoxicated by the power of liquor, nonetheless lunged clumsily at Raphael's fleeing frame only to be rewarded with the taste of filthy wood upon crashing face-first into a moldy barstool. Almost immediately, the room of vagrants erupted into an explosion of guffaws and belly laughs at this particular cretin’s foul luck. In the eyes of a usual customer to this particular bar, the sight of a limp-wristed “fop” bettering one of the brawnier regulars was indeed a comical one to behold.

Raphael took no notice of this hilarious situation, instead keen on following the pretty, young female figure sprinting before him, and increased his running pace to keep up with the fair maiden. As a young man who had spent many a brightening training for the footraces of his former city, he managed to keep a decent pace through the winding city streets. After what seemed like an eternity, the young woman ceased her long stride, slowing to a walk and allowing Raphael to catch her.

Upon closer examination of the girl’s facial features, Raphael could not help but be immediately stricken by her bright green eyes, two glowing emerald orbs softly reflecting the glow of some of Jaedaxia’s many streetlights. Bereft of any sort of kind glance for weeks, Raphael was at lost for words before these curiously inquiring, yet nonetheless warm balls of light and had to turn slightly away to mask his reddening face.

“T-Thanks….” Stuttered the young man awkwardly, cursing himself silently for his sudden lack of nerve, “I… Well… Erm…”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone…….. look out for me…”

The young woman’s lips seemed to twitch playfully at the corners, immediately causing Raphael to look away in embarrassment. After a brief moment of silence, the youth tried vainly to straighten himself into a more noble stance before finally giving up; opting instead to bow politely before his new acquaintance.

“My name is Raphael Sorel D’Aubert, Mademoiselle…” quipped Raphael softly, finally composing himself after much difficulty.

“It is indeed a pleasure to meet your noble person…”

[Rowan]

(OOC: So so sorry for the wait)

As soon as Rowan saw the man leave the bar she turned and ran with him closing the gap between them. Soon the stopped under a lamp posted at the side of the road. Rowans breathing was a little heave, but not to much for concern.

She turned to look at him, taking him all in with her eyes. He definitely looked like he had money. His clothes were a little worn but it was obvious they were made from fine fabric.

She noticed him staring at her eyes intently and started to blush a little but he turned his face a way a bit. "You're very welcome." When he mentioned about not being looked after before she smiled a bit. "Well to be honest I almost left without saying anything. I tend to try and avoid fights." She bit her lip guiltily and gave him an apologetic look. Then she perked up a bit, "But I changed my mind because you seem interesting. You peaked my curiosity," she said with a small smile. "Also when you first came into the bar, It looked like you've had a long day and I"m sure being taken away to be locked up for a night or something isn't what you would like."

"Raphael, is it? Is it okay if I call you that?" She asked inquiringly. "I'm Rowan. Whats brought you here to this part of town?"

[Raphael D'Aubert]

"Bonn.." muttered Raphael approvingly, stooping low to kiss Rowan's offered hand lightly with his lips, "A long story, mademoiselle... One which would take too many candlemarks left in this darkening to tell..."

Spotting the disappointment in Rowan's face, Raphael quickly continued on his conversational tone.

"O-Of course, it's not to say that I'm unwilling to tell you my story..." quipped the young man, grinning politely, "I just do not feel, mademoiselle, that this particular location... A dingy city street in a dubious part of town... Is befitting of such a young woman's presence..."

"If you would be willing... I would be most honored to buy my savior and rescuer a glass of wine at more reputable location.." offered Raphael, "Granted, my knowledge of Jaedaxia's geography is less than of master level.. but there are yet a few candlemarks left in this darkening.. and I see no better way of spending the rest of this night in your presence..."

[Rowan]

A small blush lit up Rowans cheek from the kiss. She was more use to shaking hands instead of such a formal greeting. She smiled happily. That smile fell for a moment when she thought that he wouldn't tell his story but after being reassured, her smile lit her face again, "That sounds wonderful," she replied softly.

She turned to continue walking, "I know a place we can go if you don't mind walking just a bit," she answered; another small blush brushing her cheeks.