...Gone (Open to one person)

[Niamh Dunlevy]

The pair walked along as per usual, mostly silent as they did so. Around them, the snow fell heavier, and Niamh had a feeling the streets would be covered by the time morning came. It was a genuine White Christmas for jolly old London, and the Pavee smiled, remembering how much she enjoyed playing in the snow with her father. If only she had thought earlier of returning home for the holidays.

"You cold, Niamh?" Nathan suddenly asked, his arm tightening around the Pavee woman. Niamh's eyes widened a little in surprise, but she said nothing, only looking up at the soldier. Her eyebrows raised themselves a centimetre or two, and she snorted amusedly.

"Why t'ank you, Nat'an. Ye besth b'careful, t'ough; yer 'sposed tho make sure t'e lady has 'nough room t'move 'round, noth be suffocathed on - "

Several nasally-sounding accents split the quiet winter air as a few adolescents rounded the corner in front of Niamh and Nathan. A pair seemed near-drunk, and Niamh felt slightly nervous, giving the group a good, long look. The youths noticed this, and snickered deviously.

"Oi, no troubles, ma'am. We'll leave you and your boyfriend alone, don't worry!"

Niamh's faced turned vermillion in an instant, and she pushed herself away from Nathan, hunching her shoulders and half-looking at the ground. The youths brushed past the pair, much to Niamh's chagrin, and laughed and wolf-whistled loudly from somewhere behind the Pavee and her acquaintance. From then on, the woman kept her distance from Nathan.

Boyfriend...feh. Makes me wonder whath t'eir mamas are theachin' 'em...

A few more blocks went by in silence, and they eventually came to the farrier's, which Nathan pointed out for Niamh. She, too, noticed it was closed, but only frowned slightly. The farrier would probably let her stay somewhere in the barn; the Pavee needed to keep an eye on Drummer. After tonight's events, she wouldn't be surprised if someone tried anything funny...

"Do you want to come back in the morning? I'm staying about a block away, if you don't have anywhere to go. I've got a lovely spare room in the flat, and a great coffee peculator. Sound good to you?"

"I appreciathe t'e offer, Nat'an," said the young woman, turning to face her new friend, "buth I'm paranoid 'bouth Drum - m'horse, y'see. I should be able to sleep somewhere 'round here."

[Nathan Whyte]

A small, sharp breeze whipped up briefly chilling the two people stood in what was quickly turning in to a mini snowscape. Nathan gave a small laugh as she commented he was too tight, and let his arm loosen a bit in response.

He felt a tad dissapointed at Niamh stepping away at the calls of the raucous teenagers, and Nathan had half a mind to shout back to them in some obscene language. He kept his cool though and just smiled meekly.

Niamh's response to his offer was even more dissapointing, and he took a step backwards to stand directly infront of her. Trying not to look too pathetic, he gave her a look begging her to come with him. He turned this in to another small smile. "Well....Do you want me to stay with you, then?" He had a feeling she was thinking somebody might try something after the bar scene, and this would be a great chance to stay with her, but he always had a Plan B. "Or maybe we could spend tomorrow together. I'm kinda alone in the city, and I hate spending Christmas on my own. That's if you're up for it, of course?"

He widened his eyes at the honest proposition, trying desperately to subliminaly make her come along with it. It would make the day a lot more fun, for sure, and he felt an urge telling him that he wanted this to happen more than anything else. Inside, he heard his thoughts echoing, "Please, please, please, please" and he half feared she would hear it over the light snow and wind.

[Niamh Dunlevy]

OOC - ROFLMAO. XDDDD Part of me is going, "Awww!" and part of me is laughing its head off.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Niamh raised her eyebrows. What was with this kindly young soldier? He was attempting to cling onto her like an over-enthusiastic child. His look was but a watered-down version of a puppy-dog pout, and his voice had grown slightly high-pitched - a sure sign of desperation.

But he had lost a brother. A family member. Niamh would probably be the same if anything had happened to her mother and father. Right now, she was his shoulder - and he deserved it, what with being a soldier and all.

Thus, the young woman smiled, and gently took one of Nathan's hands in hers. She squeezed it gently, reassuringly, and her tone was gentle as she gave her response.

"T'at sounds lovely. I'd love tho go on a lovely walk for Christhmas Day. 'Twould be like a presenth for me. You're quithe t'e genthleman, Nat'an."

With that, Niamh released his hand. If Nathan needed a friend, she would be there. Throughout her travels, she had met few men that had showed her such kindness as he had tonight. He had helped to reverse her opinion of soldiers - she was now sure that they had a speck of good in them, beneath all the roughness. For that, Niamh Mairi Dunlevy owed him.

"Shall we meeth here, t'en? Somethime in t'e morning?"

[Daniel Brennan]

Mod-Post

CP:
Nathan: 11Cp

Horse Woman Niamh: 11CP


~Dan