Mina had just opened the front doors of the inn, mainly to let in the air, as she moved on to the shutters on the windows and the half doors that would make it possible to keep a slight breeze moving through the home and cool down where the kitchens had made it unbearably hot for her. She needed to scrub down table tops and the floors -- a fight had broken out last night, and if she left the blood sit on the wood for too long it'd sink in and stain. She had been up before dawn and down in the below checking barrels and getting root vegetables to make stewed meat once again. It was easy to get fixed and on the kitchen fires early in the morning and leave her able to go about doing everything else she needed to get done.
She really was going to have to talk to the old man about getting another woman in, or man, at least one that could cook. As she got older, she was starting to feel the cold mornings seep into her bones, especially if she had been strung across beds the night before. Little sleep, insane amounts of cardiac activity, she was in great shape, but it still didn't stop the winter cold from making it hard on her bones. She hated it. Hated that she was there alone, no Colt, no Ruth to keep her company, to hold her through the night so that she could sleep feeling safe, and not jump beds from one drunk to another to make sure that she lived through the night.
The old man was just.. too old now. They needed another person at the Back Water, or, she needed to invest in some very large dogs. Especially since the old man wasn't ever up before mid-morning anymore, and not without some effort to get moving, he would need dogs too. The added benefit would be that the dogs would be amazing to sleep with, large smart dogs that would keep her warm? Absolute best idea. Large dogs that would keep the old man safe, maybe sit beside him when she'd tell him to go sit by the fire and let her handle it. All that to say, was that she had been lost in her own thoughts deeply, on her knees, scrubbing a bloodstain off the wooden floor, sand and a brush scouring the spot over and over before she'd even try and bring soap out to work it -- lost enough that she didn't hear anyone come in out of the cold, nor did she remember that she was due for a visit from someone who liked any and all snippets she gleaned from loose lips.
And of course, she knew nothing interesting in the winter months. No one really traveled through except people on their way down to Kirkwall, or maybe the Wardens place near by -- nothing that would be worth selling, at least in her mind, but that didn't stop the man from coming and asking for anything that may have caught her ear. It was an easy arrangement, and it allowed her to put away a little more gold towards what had once been a dream of leaving the Back Water, and now, more of buying her home from the old man, to keep it open and running, and him able to stop having to navigate all the stairs. Someone could easily slip in and have ambushed her, all the more her thoughts where occupied by worry.
02-11-2024, 01:00 PM
Bastien Frost
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Bastien had a restless night’s sleep, so far the searching for Siora had come up empty. He still had search parties out, all over, not just for Siora but also for her sister and his man that her sister had run away with, which had caused him to lose his leverage over Siora. When he finally gave up on sleep he decided he would get in some early morning hunting to clear his head.
As he ventured into the frigid morning, the crunch of frozen ground beneath his boots echoed in the still air. His breath formed misty clouds as he trudged through the snow, his mind focused on the hunt, but his thoughts never straying far from Siora and the whole situation. The tranquility of the forest did little to ease his troubled mind, but the physical exertion of the hunt provided a welcome distraction, at least for a while.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at tracking game, he decided to head towards the Back Water Inn, hoping for a warm meal and perhaps a bit of useful information. The inn was notorious for its loose-lipped patrons, and Bastien had often found valuable insights amidst the drunken tales and hushed whispers. He’d also become a bit enamoured with the people that owned the Back Water, he figured it would prove an interesting distraction even if he wasn’t able to learn anything about the whereabouts of Siora, her sister or her sister’s lover.
Bastien opened the door carefully, not wanting to enter with a big fluster letting anyone in the Inn knowing he’d entered. He walked in and then leaned up against a wall as his eyes fell upon Mina, an eerie smile crept upon his face. There was something about Mina, she wasn’t Siora, but she definitely peaked his interest and he figured perhaps she could prove to be the distraction he needed from his searching.
With Coop down in Kirkwall for the day, picking up food stuffs, and some new fabric for her new obsession -- clothes that actually covered her body -- she was busy, worried about Coop, worried that it would be too cold for him along the trails down to the city. Too long a trek alone. They really, really needed to hire someone else, but there wasn't a body that came and went enough that Coop, or Colt would be happy with the person. After all, here lately things had been strange. She had stopped seeing as many clients, and had started doing dates with Colt more often.
Things were going well, and come summer time, Colt had promised to take her down to the sea, the beach even, something she had never saw before. So when the morning found her on her knees, scrubbing blood and laying down new sawdust and sand, she hadn't expected when she rose up with the bucket of sand mix in her arms, to see someone in the bar. So little had she expected someone there, that she didn't even see Bastian when she turned to grab the scrub brush, going back down onto her knees to work at the blood stain a little more, a handful of sand lifted from the bucket and dashed down on the stain. Out, out, damn spot. She murmured to herself as she worked a few more good minutes before she stood back up again, her silken tresses sticking to her forehead from the sweat she had rolling down her, mostly from the manual labor and the heat of the fires. But, she couldn't put them out, it would take so long to warm the inn back up once people started to arrive mid-afternoon. And in the early spring, the fire went all day and night to keep the chill away. They were another two or three weeks out before they'd be able to just keep it going at night.
The back of her hand swept across her brow, moving hair out of the way, before she saw Bastien, the shock that she never heard him come in making her jump and let out a small sound. He was one of the one's Coop never wanted her alone with, she was certain of that, just from the look in his eyes.
Predatory.
S-s-sorry, didn't see you there, ha, we're not really open yet.
She was acutely aware she was a whore, in an empty tavern, with a predatory male within grabbing range, and it made the small hairs on her body stand on end. Every instinct telling her to bolt from the place now. Let him take what he wanted and get bored and leave. Every instinct that she tried to fight in those few seconds.
Bastien watched her for a moment, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he observed her futile attempts to clean the bloodstains. The flicker of fear in her eyes as she noticed him was delicious, and he relished it. He leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms, and let the silence stretch just a bit longer before speaking.
Apologies for startling you, he said, his tone smooth but laced with amusement. Didn't mean to interrupt your... cleaning. He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving her. But then again, I never could resist the allure of a hard-working woman.
Bastien's eyes scanned the room, taking in the empty tavern and the remnants of the morning's labor. Coop not here? That’s a shame. He nodded slowly, as if mulling over his thoughts. I hope he won’t be gone terribly long? He asked.
He stepped closer still, invading her personal space, his predatory gaze boring into her. You know, Coop really ought to hire someone to do the cleaning, free you up to do the important work, he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper, Though it is hard to find good help these days. Trustworthy people are a rare commodity. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face with a surprising gentleness that belied the danger in his eyes.
But enough about that, Bastien said, straightening up and letting his hand fall away. Let's talk about you. Working so hard, keeping this place running. Quite the effort for someone in your... profession. His smile widened, showing just a hint of teeth. Tell me, what do you do for fun when you're not scrubbing blood out of the floorboards or fucking your way through your clients?
He took another step back, giving her a moment to breathe, to compose herself. And don't worry, he added, his voice dripping with false reassurance, I won't take up much of your time. Just passing through, really. But perhaps you can entertain me for a while. After all, it's not often I find myself in such charming company.
Bastien's gaze held hers, a silent challenge, daring her to defy him, to show any hint of strength or resistance. He lived for these moments, the thrill of power and control, and he was eager to see how she would respond.
The moment he touched her she pulled the dagger she carried at all times from it's scabbard on her thigh, her grip sure and the tip of the blade pointed at Bastien as she took a step back, putting more space between the two of them. He kept talking but she was still trying to recover her ability to talk in the moment. That touch had poured even more terror into her than the night ever had -- more than anything else in her entire life. But as soon as she could talk, and had enough space between them, Get. The. Fuck. Out.
And then she held her ground, knowing that he could overpower her, knowing that there was no one coming to save her, she was running on pure instinct in that moment, and instinct had chosen to fight, since there was no way she could flee at this point. And she sure as fuck wasn't a fawn that was going to freeze up again and wait for this predator to do something. Now.
Bastien's smile widened at the sight of the dagger, the glint of the blade reflecting the dim light of the tavern. He took a slow step back, raising his hands in mock surrender, though the amusement never left his eyes. Feisty, aren't we? he murmured, his tone dripping with sarcasm. I like that.
He let his gaze linger on the dagger for a moment longer before shifting his attention back to Mina. You think that little knife is going to save you? he asked, his voice low and dangerous. It's cute, really. But let's not pretend you're a match for me.
Despite his words, he took another step back, giving her a bit more space. But I suppose I should respect a woman with some spirit, he continued, his tone lightening just a touch. After all, it makes things more interesting.
He glanced around the empty tavern again, then back at Mina. But I can see you're busy, he said, his voice almost casual now. So I'll take my leave. For now.
He turned towards the door, pausing just before he reached it. But don't think this is over, he added, glancing back at her with a cold smile. "I'll be back. And next time, I won't be alone." He walked over to the bar, not taking his eyes off of Mina, he pulled out his coin purse and left some coins on the bar. Consider it a down payment for future services.
With that, he turned and walked away and opened the door and stepped out into the cold morning, leaving Mina alone in the empty tavern, the echo of his threat hanging in the air.
Mina's hands shook as the man took his leave, the room that had felt so small while he had been there suddenly as vast and open as it always had been in the past. It had been that small when she had realized he was close enough to grab her and .. well do what ever he had wanted to her, but instead he had retreated. Heart thundering in her ears, Mina wasn't sure if she was relieved or terrified. His parting words had been a threat, and one she knew he would most likely return to enact. She needed to be ready, she needed to make sure Coop was ready too -- the man promised violence, and while she wasn't one to seek it out, Mina was ready to answer it in kind, if needs be.
So it just left the nagging feeling that the next time she saw him, it would either be her, or his last time.
