Pirateverse: Prothos' Return?

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Porthos blinked as he lead Brenda up and away from the bar, towards the door. His time with her alone lately was so fleeting, so precious. His heart ached to just lay on their bed and hold her forever, something they'd never yet had time to do.

He sighed. She was always busy, always training. He knew she had to do it, but he still struggled at times to remember himself.

He glanced at her as headed towards the door. She was so beautiful, so lethal. If they were back in his world, at sea, he'd never loose sight of her for long. They'd have grand adventures, meaningful expeditions, and they'd be together during the peace afterwards. Not just for a simple after-patrol drink. For days at a time.

He didn't notice they'd already gone through the cafe doors until he'd stepped out onto a salty wooden deck, the sea wind whistling its sweet tune.

"Porthos has returned...." a startled voice cried. Then a moment's silence before.... "PORTHOS HAS RETURNED, LADS, GET YER REARS UP HERE!"

Comments

[random_xtras]

Brenda blinked behind her Robin mask, then understood where they were and what had happened and turned to give her husband a half-exasperated look as she braced her feet against the roll of the deck. "You could have just suggested we take some time off."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"I.. uh..." he mumbled, completely taken aback, and imediatly putting an arm around her as the thundering of footsteps stirred below.

He turned a slightly pale face towards her. "I didn't mean to, luv... I was just thinkin' of here... stupid cafe must have thought..." His head hung.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. Then he winced slightly as the hatch was thrown open. "Brace yourself," he mumured, holding onto her protectively as they were suddenly swamped by less-than-hygenic pirates, all cheering and then stopping and staring at Brenda in shock.

[random_xtras]

"No. You're the blind one." She rested her forehead against his, then turned her head watchfully to see what the crew was up to.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"I'll be more hurt if you think yourself less than a goddess and ultimate keeper of my heart," he said.

[random_xtras]

She sat up with a chuckle, setting the hammock to rocking gently as she pushed her cape back and pulled off her gloves. "You've got a very charming wedgie dance going there."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Lesse yours, then," he grinned, starting at her playfully.

[random_xtras]

She hid her face against his tunic. "You are my soul."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He smiled and kissed her cheek. "You alright bein' here?"

[random_xtras]

She glanced at them, but then reached into the trunk and pulled out a lace trimmed dress shirt that he'd never worn because the drunken seamstress had made it too large even for his sizable frame and given it sleeves that were ridiculously short.

Examining it thoughtfully, she unfastened her cape and let it slip to the floor, then pulled the shirt over her head and bound it with a bright silken scarf so that it hung dress-like to below her knees. She studied the result for a moment, then looked to Porthos for his opinion.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"You look like a foriegner. A very, very strange foriegner," he chuckled, arching an eyebrow at the look, even as he grabbed his own clothes. "But still a raveshing beauty."

[random_xtras]

Brenda gave the complainer an absent Bat glare, then bowed her head and prayed fluently in French, thanking God for the meal and asking His blessing on it and the ship and crew, and His guidance throughout their stay here and their travel on the morrow and ensuing days.

Then she looked up and calmly helped herself to the crispy tail.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Porthos grinned.

"Know what you want, eh?" he said, taking a deep swig of beer.

[random_xtras]

She closed her eyes, aware of stirrings below them and on the deck outside- even footsteps over the roof of the cabin- as well as the gentle sway and creak of the ship that moved the hammock softly. Voices spoke, and someone called out in the town.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Sleep, sweetheart, we ride far tomorrow," her husband murmured sleepily.

[random_xtras]

"You know my track record for sleeping in." She flipped out of the hammock without even making it sway, then walked over to the water bucket and wet a clean handkerchief to use as a cloth to wipe her face before starting her morning calisthenics, never thinking that Porthos might have something to say about her exercising in her teddy.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Hmm," he said, rolling to his belly and watching her for a while. "We will, my love. I give you my word."

[random_xtras]

She gave a cool eyeroll, then reached into her utility belt and threw him a toothbrush before putting paste on her own and tossing him that as well.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He smirked, then did as silently told, further cleaning himself.

"You like horses, I take it, my sweet?"

[random_xtras]

She blinked at the force of the hit, then opened the door and hunkered next to him, ignoring the startled utter silence in the mess hall across the way.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Yoiu know.... you frighten me at times," he muttered, looking at her with eyes brimming with love and a smile grinning up.

[random_xtras]

"So's styrofoam." Brenda glared too, unamused by a stranger mocking her husband.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

The member ducked out, looking confused, and Porthos blinked.

"You'll have to not mention those things, love, they're not in existance yet," he chuckled.

[random_xtras]

She perched her butt at the base of the railing and looked out to see rather than at the town as she thought and prayed.

Then she looked up at him. "Do you think we're here so that you can tie up loose ends?"

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," he said, looking back to the town himself, sighing. "Yes. I shall need give the crew the new Captain, and say farewell to my brothers... if they are still alive."

"Which I do no doubt, by a longshot. Those rogues are always in trouble, but with God and thier own thick heads to aid them they've always come through."

[random_xtras]

She glanced at it, then picked out a sizable hunk of the bread and cheese, and an apple, for herself, leaving the rest of the food, including all the pork, for Porthos. "Will you ask the Blessing, love?"

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Er, yeah," he said, taking her hand and closing his eyes, reciting the blessing and asking for the safety of his bothers, crew members, and wife, then finished it and gently pushed some of the pork towards her.

"Have some protien," he smiled.

Re: Time Pass

[random_xtras]

Brenda stood up on the ship rail, her skirt stirring around her ankles in the soft sea breeze and her cape flapping slightly against her back. One eye watched the men, while the other watched what was going on on the shore. Because she was touched by the scene aboard the ship her face and eyes were expressionless and cold, and her body language was still, giving absolutely nothing away.

Re: Time Pass

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Porthos patted the young Captain on the back, then called for beer and food, then went to Brenda.

"We leave soon. Cabin boy's gone for the horses, cook's packed the rations," he said, an arm going around her.

[random_xtras]

She smiled as well, once more reassured.

"Do you know anything about the horses?" A hand reached up to touch his bearded cheek.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"The best within a days ride," he said. "Other than that, nothing."

[random_xtras]

"Hmmm?" She glanced at him, her eyes a little unfocused as she pondered over the points of a case that they were working on back in Gotham.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Ah. Ever the Robin," he said, sighing slightly. "My love, were we to work out the case here it would do us no good. Why not stay in the present?"

[random_xtras]

"Caterpillars?" she snorted. "I could show you a stew recipe for those."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Not catepillars, bitin' pesks. But they stay in the tree, so we should do good under it. It'll keep others off us, too," he said, directing the horse over towards it.

[random_xtras]

"Bay leaves?" She came out of the gathering dusk behind him, then offered him a second bird as well as the handful of leaves.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Thanks, beauty," he took them and lead her to under the tree, where he started making a small pit for the fire.

[random_xtras]

Her grin widened as she wriggled free and hunkered by the fire to coat the birds with the thick clay, patting it around them carefully and then darting a hand toward her husband's face to see if she could get some on his nose.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He dodged easily, then smirked, and looked at her. "You know you have to treat me with respect when we meet with Athos and Aramis, right?" he said.

[random_xtras]

"Pru doesn't count." She lay her head on his shoulder again with a sigh, his closeness and the crackling of the fire causing her to relax despite her uniform and being in a strange place.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He smiled, arms holding her to him, then kissed her neck.

[random_xtras]

Brenda frowned and opened one eye, then shivered and tried to shrug the blankets higher on her back before snuggling closer to Porthos with a grumble and a sigh.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

He smiled in his sleep, holding her closer and nuzzling her gently, urging her nonverbally to join him again in the dream world.

[random_xtras]

"Huh?" Brenda blinked, then stretched as hugely as being practically strapped to her husband would let her before tipping her head back and giving the horse the Glare.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

The horse snorted, then gave Porthos a firm headbutt, making the man cringe and glare as he released his wife.

"#$%@# beast," he swore, rubbing his head.

[random_xtras]

She looked at the mare thoughtfully, her conscience twinging as she said quietly, "She's a beautiful animal. But I've never handled being around meek obedient servants very well."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Porthos smiled.

"Trust me, I think she'll like the farm, and the farmer will have a proper horse for his child. And you'll get your fiesty mare," he chuckled.

[random_xtras]

Brenda took in the scene at a glance: child thrashing in the water, being dragged down by her heavy skirts, and her father, up to his neck and still unable to reach her.

She arrowed into a dive, hitting the water at a slant that barely made a splash and then surfacing on her back with the child pressed to her chest as she struck out strongly for the bank. The father had lost his footing in his surprise and was now thrashing himself.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Launched from his horse Porthos made a bigger splash, but nevertheless managed to dive, tackling the father by the middle and then launching himself towards the shore, then easily dragging the sputtering, coughing man up to the bank as the horse trotted over to help.

[random_xtras]

Brenda stopped Glaring at the dun mare and let the animal straighten her neck out, then reined her around without fuss to stand next to the grey. "Ready when you are, dear."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Well let's get on then," he said, waggling his eyebrows at her and turning the horse. "Does she ride well?"