Stench

[Giselle Danielle]

Maverick watched the disinterested fox, tail slowly stopping. Was the fox really that upset? Jive surprised him as he jumped toward him, landing on his stomach and then landing on a shelf up high. The wolf rolled over onto his paws and looked up at Jive, who seemed to be happy. Now they were playing a game, and Maverick wasn't sure exactly how to play his move. How could he get up there? The wolf was almost twice the size of the fox. His black lips turned upward in a grin, he had a plan.

He pushed his front paws off the ground and stretched his body out until his front paws were resting on the shelf. He reached forward with his head and went to lock his teeth, gently but firmly, around Jive's paw and attempted to drag the fox off the shelf in a gentle fashion.

She watched his eyes roam over her, yet she pretended not to notice. Quietly she felt satisfied that her fiddling with the shirt and vest had worked. Well, worked enough to earn her a look or two. Nothing major yet. Patience was not found in great amounts in Giselle Danielle.

"Well, I have to say, it was a bit dazzling when you jumped over the side. I've never seen a man do that." She smiled, teasing him a bit with the word 'dazzle'. "And I don't think there's another man who can do that who looks as handsome as you. Except for maybe that man in the corner at the Tavern."

Giselle's eyes roamed over him once more, yet it wasn't because of his looks. Though, it was a happy distraction. She had to occasionally pull her eyes away from his chest or groin area to look for what she needed to know. Did he have weapons? That was what she was looking for. She didn't see any, but didn't relax completely on the subject. There was always a possibility. It would make her job difficult. Though, the thoughts in her head weren't exactly helping either.

Finally she came to the conclusion that she really didn't want to kill him. It would be impossible. She couldn't even imagine herself snap his neck, or harm his beautiful body in any way. Unfortunately, she did not enjoy the truth. She was getting weak. Perhaps it was time to find another job.

Somehow she kept herself from jumping when he grabbed her chin and leaned close. She was certain that if she stuck out her tongue it would land on his lips. Perhaps a bit too close for asking what was wrong. The proximity worked in his favor, it was causing her to melt. How could she stop saying the truth from those beautiful eyes?

"I'm suppose to kill you." she said honestly. "But I can't. I was hired by a woman, she offered me a hundred gold...I simply can't do it. She came after our meeting and threw fifty gold at me, but I didn't take it." She reached up, a finger pushing a lock of hair from his face before running down his cheek. "How the heck can I kill someone as handsome as you?"

So her secret was out.

[Dutch]

Jive snickered to himself as he looked at the massive wolf below him, knowing the larger beast could never jump up there, and settled down to amuse himself watching the wolf’s pondering and possible attempts to reach him.

However, he misjudged the wolf’s size.

Shock widened his beady black eyes at he suddenly found himself staring at a large white muzzle, and a small, rather unmanly squeak of surprise escaped him. He wasn’t in the proper position for a hasty escape, and while he tried to backpedal, he wasn’t fast enough, and the wolf’s jaws closed around his tiny paw. A little jolt of fear ran through him, but the lack of pain told him that Maverick knew to be gentle - but while careful, the toothy cage around the fox’s paw was inescapable.

Another, even less manly squeak issued from the little fox as he found himself scooting toward the edge of the shelf. Thinking quickly, he lunged himself forward, hoping the wolf would let him go out instinctual surprise, and set his back legs to spring him over the large back and out the door. He’d fare better in a chase out in the open, where he could use his agility.


Dutch’s eyes widened in surprise as Giselle admitted, quite easily, that she had been sent to end him. He hadn’t expected her to actually tell him. He’d hoped she would, but really had thought he’d have to physically disarm her or something, but then again, her unpredictability was what had drawn him in the first place. He felt his eyes darken as she ran a delicate hand across his cheek, and the arm her hand had been draped upon wound itself automatically around her waist.

“It’s just as well, because I doubt I could find it in me to deny you,” he said, voice still seductive, though he was no longer acting. He knew he should tell her he’d previously known of her intentions, that he should be as honest with her as she had been with him, but there were other, more pressing things his lips should be doing than talking at the moment.

Leaning his head down, he closed his eyes to kiss her.

[Giselle Danielle]

Maverick had once taken care of a litter of kittens. They had, for some unknown reason, taken a liking to him. Moving each feline was a delicate task, but one where he had to be firm or else the tiny creatures would fall. Jive's paw required a bit more force, but the wolf was very careful to be gentle. The last thing he wanted was to hurt his new friend. When Jive squeaked, Maverick almost let go. He thought he had hurt him, but then realized that the fox was simply alarmed. A rumbling growl escaped his throat, laughing as the fox squeaked again.

He, however, was not expecting the fox to suddenly lunge forward. Maverick didn't want Jive to hurt himself, knowing that the momentum would hurt his paw and perhaps swing himself into the wall. Immediately his jaws unfastened and allowed Jive his freedom. Freedom he hoped would be very short lived.

Maverick's front legs returned to the ground and he looked to where the fox landed and lunged after him. His main weapon was his large paws, hoping to trap Jive with one to the floor. He didn't want to attack with his teeth, he might hurt him.

It was a strange feeling. Standing there in front of a man after you just told them you were going to kill them. Though, Dutch didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed quite alright with it. Any other man would be shocked or stunned, yet he acted as if he already knew. His eyes had widened, though not as much as another man's. It puzzled her, yet she decided not to dwell on it. Her questions would have to be put on hold, for his arm had wrapped around her waist and all thoughts were turned to him. Instinctively she moved herself closer and felt their bodies touch. If only she could look at herself now, she'd laugh.

His words almost had her pull away. She almost wanted to yell at him, for giving up at the sign of trouble if a woman were to show up with the intentions of killing him. Though, she didn't and simply looked into his eyes. If his tone had been different, rather than seducing, than she would have said something. She could yell at him later.

Her head lifted and her eyes closed as her lips met his in a kiss. It had been so long since her last kiss, so very long. Her arms rested around his neck loosely as she leaned against him gently. Hopefully it would all be like riding a bike and it would all come back to her.

[Dutch]

Baring his teeth in a triumphant grin, Jive leapt over the great wolf, landing lightly on the floor and immediately scampering out the door, streaking for the candlelit table, planning to use the chairs to -

Skidding to a halt, Jive suddenly remembered as he sighted the couple in his peripheral vision that he was supposed to be keeping an eye on his Tandem and making sure no pointy instruments got stabbed into him, not running about like a kit out of his mother’s sight.

A surge of fear shot through him, tensing all his limbs as he saw the short-haired woman, probably the Native assassin, Giselle, bringer of strife and woe, draped around his Tandem, but relaxed in almost the same instant as he recognized the stance the two were in. His relief was short lived, however, when he remembered that Giselle was unaware of Maverick’s whereabouts, and he spun around to try and silently warn the wolf not to chase him, lest he expose himself.


Dutch felt his Tandems blinding fear as it raced through his mind via their mental link, and stiffened instinctively, prepared to flee at a seconds notice. He broke the kiss with Giselle (much sooner than he would’ve liked; he’d have to remedy that later) and cast around for the source of danger, his arm tightening around the woman protectively, intending to shield her. He saw the look in Jive’s eyes, however, and immediately realized he’d misunderstood the situation. He also caught the worried glance he shot behind him, and hoped that Giselle wouldn’t be offended that her Tandem had warned him of her intentions….

“I, too, have a confession to make, I’m afraid,” he said quickly, looking down at her. “I sort of already knew you were coming to kill me.”

[Giselle Danielle]

Despite Maverick's size, the wolf was rather quick on his paws. Though, the fox had him beat at speed. Even at full speed, Jive was getting away from him. Yet he suddenly stopped. Maverick, who was running as fast as he could, could not possibly stop fast enough. His paws skidded on the wooden floor and his balance was immediately lost.

The warning glance the fox gave was the last thing he saw before crashing into the wall. He rolloed onto his paws and stood, shaking out his coat in agitation and embarrassment. He looked at Jive and then to the two on the deck. He saw Giselle in Dutch's arms and quickly began to back away. Dutch said something and Giselle's eyes immediately went to him. He was a dead wolf.

She felt the pirate tense and wasn't surprised when he pulled away. Something had to have scared him, given by the look in his eye. Giselle almost said something as his arm tightened around her. She wanted to say something along the lines of 'I can take care of myself...let me go so I can go find the danger.' But, she knew better not to. Although she hated to admit it, she felt safer in his arms. That information, however, would stay to her head and would never leave her lips.

She listened to Dutch's words and her arms slipped from around his neck. That explained why he wasn't too surprised when she told him of her intentions. But how did he know? She heard a loud bang and she looked over to locate the source. She saw the fox first before her eyes found the all too familiar wolf. As their eyes met, Giselle felt Maverick's fear rush to her. He had bowed his head to the floor, as if ashamed. Instead of getting angry, as was custom for Giselle when her Tandem did something stupid, she simply laughed.

"Well, that explains a lot." Her arms slipped from around his neck and her hands rested on his chest. "I should have known, the wolf had been very quiet most of today and he has a soft spot for Natives. There's no harm done." She smiled up at the pirate. "But, just curious, if you knew than what would your defense have been?"

She was curious, for future reference with other people. Just in case Maverick spoke of her intentions to her hit by accident...again. Except, she didn't tihnk this time was by accident.

[Dutch]

Jive winced as he watched the massive comet of white fur smash against the wall, though he admittedly recovered himself well. Had the circumstances been different, the fox probably would have snickered at him and trotted around to good-naturedly tease him, but as it were, there were other matters that required attention.

He turned to look at his Tandem, wondering if he ought to change into his human guise.



Dutch looked worriedly from Giselle to the embarrassed Maverick, hoping she wouldn’t be terribly upset…

His fears seemed groundless, however, when she laughed and assured them there was no foul. Dutch was even happier that she didn’t pull away from him. He was quite fond of having her close to him, and her hands on his chest were rather distracting…

That particular train of thought was derailed as she turned her attention back to him, however, and he swallowed.

She wasn’t supposed to ask that particular question…

He floundered for a moment, and then decided, in a momentary lapse of character, to tell the truth.

“Well, to be perfectly honest, I had planned to spend dinner trying to weasel the information out of you while simultaneously convincing you that it would be a waste to deprive to world of someone as entertaining as me, try to defend myself with this-” he pulled back his shirt cuff, revealing a minuscule blade with an intricate swirl engraving, which in retrospect seemed woefully inadequate, “-if I was unsuccessful and you attacked me, and if I managed to not get killed, I was going to get you naked and show you what else I’m good for,” he said, a teasing grin coloring the last stage of his master plan. He really hoped he hadn’t just dug his own grave, and kept a rather tight grip on his puny little knife.



Jive’s jaw dropped. It appeared that in a moment of hormonally clouded judgment, his astoundingly stupid Tandem had just confessed that he’d planned to trick, fight, and seduce the woman sent to kill him. Dutch never told the truth.

Ever.

What the hell had this woman done to him?! And why did she have to do it now, when his bloody stupid bond-mate’s life was at stake?!

[Giselle Danielle]

Maverick relaxed considerably when her laugh reached his ears. He was safe, he wouldn't be beaten. Not that she would beat him, ever, but the looks she gave him sometimes were enough to make him want to run and hide underneath a bed. He was a wolf, yes, but a cowardly wolf. At least when it came to his Tandem.

She noticed the changing of expression on his face, though it was momentary and lasted only for a minute. For a moment seh thought that the pirate would not tell the truth and cleverly lie. Though as she listened to his words, she thought wrong. She was utterly convinced that he was telling the truth, and the blade he summoned from his cuff was evidence.

"Oh, with that thing?" She asked, examining it with her eyes before looking towards him. She was teasing. "It's so small." She cocked her head to the side, as if attempting to look at it closer. "And I had planned to come at you with this..." Her left leg raised and rested on his hip as she removed a long and thin blade from her boot. She left her leg where it was and held up the knife for his eyes to see. "Luckily I don't have to use it."

She returned the blade to her hip and rested her foot back on the ground. He was charming, even when telling the truth. She was not easily offended, so she didn't care too much.

"Well, the last part of your plan may still be necessary. I don't know if I'm thoroughly convinced."

[Dutch]

His entire body tensed, Jive prepared to launch himself and tear out the eyes of the woman if she showed intentions of harming Dutch, but instead, she went back to seducing him. The fox rolled his eyes and walked over to the wolf, plopping down next to him, facing away from the couple, giving him a bored look.

Humans, he seemed to say.



Dutch’s eyes widened as she teased him about the size of his weapon. He almost laughed. Would this woman ever cease to surprise him?

Apparently not, he thought wryly as her leg scaled his and rested on his hip, the pose simultaneously making her quite irresistibly alluring, and allowing her to pull a rather impressive knife from her boot.

He wasn’t really listening to her as she showed off her blade; his eyes were busy committing the sight of her to memory, every bit of her he could see, and his ears were imagining rather different phrases flowing from her lips.

He caught her last sly little remark, though. Grinning hungrily at her, eyes narrowing with lust, he leaned close.

“Oh, that can be arranged, my dear. And I assure you, the rest of my…equipment, is much larger,” he said, reaching down to pull her leg back up around his waist and press her close.

[Giselle Danielle]

Maverick knew that Giselle would nut hurt the Pirate, he saw the look in her eyes. He had seen it many times in the young girls in their tribe as they followed around the warriors. His eyes looked down to the ground and he turned around. He was very protective of Giselle, so to see her in the arms of another man was difficult.

He shared Jive's expression and stood. He nudged the fox gently with his nose and began to slowly walk to Jive's cabin. His tail was held low and his eyes no longer held the excitement of before. She was his sister...he was suppose to protect her. And he knew she would just get hurt, though she'd never admit she had feelings for the man.

She smiled as he brought her leg back up around his waist and she allowed it. She shifted so she was closer and brought her arms up to hang about his neck loosely. She tilted her head to one side, a smile on her face as she watched him. She brought her face forward, lips a couple centimeters from his own.

"Oh?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well then, this sounds promising."

She grinned and kissed him.

[Dutch]

Jive watched the wolf as he stood and tried to hint perhaps they should leave the two alone, a morose look in his eyes, and stood as well, but not to leave the two alone. He understood perfectly well Maverick’s reluctance to leave Giselle in the care of his heartbreaking Tandem - Dutch didn’t exactly have a good track record with women.

Turning and glaring at the blonde pirate, the fox let his disapproval flow through their link. Since manners seem to have eluded you, I’m taking the wolf out for a while. God’s know I don’t want to be around here for the rest of the night. Maybe we‘ll try and find out who wants you dead. Or at least who‘s willing to pay for it. He turned and went to intercept unhappy wolf, throwing Dutch a glare. And so help me, Dutch, if you break that girl’s heart, you will regret it. He told him venomously, and he meant it. He liked Maverick, and he knew it would be the end of a friendship if his Tandem used the wolf’s and left her.



Dutch decided the smile now on Giselle’s face was his new favorite expression. She was so pretty when she smiled… he decided he’d have to make her smile more often.

Later, though. Her lips were a little busy right now.

Snaking his hand up her leg to her hip, he pulled her as tightly to him as he could, his other arm reinforcing the action around her back. A quiet, pleased rumble rose in his throat, and he nipped her lip gently, wondering vaguely how many steps it was to his cabin and whether he could get her there without breaking the kiss, but Jive’s displeased voice rang through his mind and brought reality crashing back down around him. Easing back slightly, he cast a glance at the fox as he warned him against hurting her. Was he serious? Dutch didn’t want to hurt the woman any more than he did. I know I would. And it would have nothing to do with your threats, he replied, turning back to her.

Now get lost. I’m kind of in the middle of something here. He said teasingly, smiling down at the woman.

“It seems I may have upset my Tandem’s sensitive stomach. Perhaps we should implement the rest of my plan in privacy?” he said, tilting his head back behind him to his quarters.

[Giselle Danielle]

((So, my internet went out when I hit 'send' and I lost my post...and now I'm writing this in textedit to transfer it over as soon as I can.))

All Maverick truly wanted was for Giselle to be happy. She had smiled more times in the past couple of hours than the entire couple of months. He knew she liked Dutch, and even with her slowly beginning to block the link between them he could feel it. Why did she have to choose him, why a pirate who felt almost no love for any particular woman be her choice?

The wolf hung his head as he walked through the door into Jive's cabin and laid down with a small huff. He would still be friends with Jive, no matter the costs. He enjoyed the fox's company and there was nothing, he felt, that could end their friendship. He felt this way even though the two had only known each other for an hour. Maybe two, it was so easy to loose track of time.


Giselle enjoyed his touch, surprisingly. She would have thought that it would be a simple procedure that would leave the two feeling decent. She didn't really expect him to do much more. Yet, the way his hands and lips moved, she had a feeling she would enjoy the night very well and had plans to make sure that Dutch would too. She had many tricks up her sleeve and was willing to show Dutch all of them. Not just a couple, like the last man she had bedded, but all of them.

An uncontrollable sigh escaped her lips as he broke the kiss. Her eyes opened and she followed his glance towards the fox and noticed that maverick was no longer there. The poor wolf...watching his sister melt in the arms of a pirate. She refocused on Dutch as he spoke and nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps it would be best." She said, kissing him briefly before lowering her leg from his waist. "There aren't any sea monsters hiding in there, are there?"

She was teasing, and she made it obvious by smiling up at him.

[Dutch]

Looking down at the woman smiling up at him, still able to taste her on his lips, Dutch decided it was possible he was in trouble.

If the slow fire creeping into his veins was any indication, quite a lot of trouble.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d really been infatuated with any woman. He just didn’t do long-term. His flighty nature prevented him from holding any lover but his first love - the sea. He was a serial one-night-stand, and that’s how he liked it. But with his blood already burning after just kissing the sparky little assassin, a knot of dread twisted in his stomach at the thought of his departure the next morning.

How in the four seas was he supposed to leave her behind?

Taking her hands in his and walking backwards toward his room, Dutch developed a plan.

“Perhaps a couple little ones, but they’re kind of skittish,” he admitted, and gave her a hungry grin, his eyes alight with the flame consuming him. “So we’ll just have to make enough noise to scare them off,” he told her, and drew her close as he reached behind his back and opened his door, never breaking eye contact with her.

Dutch planned to give her a night she’d never forget, and once he was an indispensable part of her memory, he’d ask her to come with him, wherever he was going next.



Jive rolled his eyes as he perceived his Tandem’s intentions, having been perhaps prying just a little. He wanted to know what he felt for the girl, and what he planned to do after their inevitable tryst.

He hadn’t realized Dutch was such an insecure, needy little prat.

Honestly, planning to screw the woman’s brains out in order to guarantee a positive response? How juvenile. Of course the pirate would never admit that he was actually he was too scared to just ask her now. The fool was absolutely petrified she’d reject him, and was so arrogant that he actually thought that after a night with him, she’d be unable to say no.

Cocky idiot.

Following the poor wolf into his cabin, Jive trotted around in front of him and looked at him, disliking the defeated expression his furry muzzle wore. The fox forced his lips into the unnatural position of a frown, and then twisted his head nearly upside down, so that both the wolf and the fox appeared to be smiling. Sort of.

Flipping back right side up, he gestured with his head towards the door, flicking his tail restlessly, and took a few half-steps towards the door in a clear ‘Come on, let’s get out of here,’ message.

From what he had gleaned of Dutch’s plans, he didn’t really want to be anywhere near him for the next several hours, at least. And he was fairly certain the wolf wouldn’t want to be, either.

[Giselle Danielle]

Giselle was the type that tried to ignore anything that would present discomfort. The thought of falling for someone was quite uncomfortable. She pushed it to the back of her mind, not necessarily wanting to think about it at the moment. It was easier not to love anyone. Except Maverick, he was the exception. He ended up being a pain in the ass most of the time, however.

As he took her hands, she wondered if he had done the same thing with many other women. She wondered if he ever thought about them, but she doubted it. He didn't look like the type who would think about anyone but himself, and maybe Jive.

"Oh?" She asked, a toying smile on her face as she followed his steps. "Well, I think that can be arranged."

As he reached behind his back and opened the door, she was almost certain that he had done it before. She was determined, however, for this to be a quite unique experience for him. She didn't want to be forgotten.


It was perhaps best that Maverick was unaware of Dutch's intentions. He, personally, would love to stay on the ship and enjoy a life of fishing and chase with Jive. He enjoyed the Fox's company. Gave him something to do. But, for Giselle to fall in love with a man...no, she'd get hurt. Especially that man.

His sullen eyes looked up at the fox, silently amused by the fox's position. With a sigh he slowly stood up and followed the fox to the door. Jive seemed anxious, and he wasn't one to keep people waiting.

((Ack, would ahve posted more for Mavz but running out of time.))

[Dutch]

Jive breathed a sigh of relief as the melancholy wolf lumbered out with him, and the little fox passed the doorway just as he heard his libidinous Tandem’s cabin door click shut, and he hastened his footsteps.

As he reached the gangplank, he slid into his lanky, red-headed human body, not only because he wished to avoid complications with speaking to the wolf, but also because a humans hearing was drastically inferior to a foxes.

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t take it kindly when someone puts out a hit on my Tandem. I was wondering if you’d help me get to the bottom of this mess and sort it out,” Jive asked the wolf, not mentioning that he was also trying to spare him the awkwardness and regret of knowing (and more than likely hearing) his bond mate entertain the foxes.

((Yay fade to black, lol))

[Giselle Danielle]

((Huzzah! haha.))

Maverick watched as Jive turned into a human and reluctantly he followed suit. He ran a hand through his white hair, trying to hide the emotions on his face. He was upset, and it was obvious. It was not because he didn't want Giselle to have a good time it was just that he knew that she would be hurt. A pirate never settled down for a girl...a pirate had the sea. Maverick understood that, and he also knew that Giselle would not leave her horse behind. The Motrean tribe had their own love, horses.

He would live a life by sea while she lived a life by land.

He looked up at the fox and absently nodded. He would help the fox, to the best of his abilities. He could understand. He would kill whoever had put a hit on Giselle, and if it happened he would like to have help killing the person.

"I wouldn't either. I'll help you." He nodded, forcing a small smile. "Will be a nice distraction."