Alone At Last IX

[Allan A Dale]

Allan smiled weakly as the rest of the gang and Luke disappeared out of the door, leaving him alone. Kate had wandered off into another room, and he was beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable by himself. It wasn't his house, and it wasn't the house of some noble he was trying to steal from - it was the home of the rather pretty young lass currently hiding him from the law.

He'd nodded at Marian, although she was so busy scowling after Robin when she left that he didn't think she'd noticed. Of course he'd stay away from the windows!

It required moving.

He shifted, noting the slightly uncomfortable bump he'd been sitting on for the past half hour had made his arse slightly numb, and wondered if maybe Kate didn't have a pet. He whistled quietly, in the hopes that a dog at least would come to see who it was, but no luck.

Probably too quiet anyway he thought.

He leaned back, slouching against the wall, and in his mind worst case scenarios began forming in his head. He hated it, but accepted them as possibilites and stored possible solutions away in his head, never to share his conclusions with anyone as they would most likely kick him out again. But what did they know? Had they ever lived alone? Had they ever had to look after number one? Djaq may have had to pretend to be a boy, but she'd been surrounded by fellow captives - they would have worked together. Allan had been alone for years, only ever worrying about enough food and shelter for one person, and he hadn't quite adjusted his brain to thinking in the right way for a group.

It was getting there, slowly.

He turned his thoughts to Kate, and her little snuggle session with Luke. He was feeling slightly jealous, yes; really, did all Scarlett boys have to interfere with his love interests? It was like some lousy bard was following him, weaving his spell and making sure Allan's tale would never be finished as it should. He knew that he'd only known her for a few minutes, but dammit, a guy could feel affection for a girl, right? It wasn't that bad, and it was only slight jealousy. He naturally began thinking about Djaq and Will, and the parallels. How Djaq always comforted Will when he was in trouble, or pain, and how she'd touch his face gently, like that day his dad died.

Why had he left? If he had stayed, maybe it wouldn't have happened. Maybe Djaq would have developed her feelings for him, not Will, and Allan felt bad about thinking such things. But then, he'd lost the girl of his dreams to his best friend; he was allowed to mope a little in private, right?

He shook his head. Plenty more ales to sample, it was merely a case of picking yourself up off the floor and calling for the right bartender.

Where has she gone?


(OOC - that was rambly XD Also, off to work! *late* ;; )

[Kate Miller]

Kate leaned back slightly looking around the door, through the gap, and saw the room empty. From where it was she stood she could not see Allan. But she could hear him shifting. She grabbed up a pair of scissors, a few shirts and breeches and stopped.

What was she doing letting Little Luke Scarlett go to him ultimate death?

She knew Robin wouldn’t let him get into any trouble. But where Will was in trouble, Luke was bound to do something stupid. So her confidence in the lad wasn’t great, but she worried about him. He was the younger brother she had never had. It would have been unbearable to lose him.

Her William was already lost it would seem.

All these thoughts of war, fighting, and danger, made Kate feel slightly woozy. It wasn’t good for the mind to think of such things. She was certain of that. Shaking herself out of her reverie, she went to go back into the main room of the house.

She stopped in the door to see Allan shifting comically on the bed. She bit down on her tongue to stop herself from laughing at the sight of it.

After a while he stopped fidgeting, and started staring off into the unknown. She watched the expression on his face change from the cheerful but not overjoyed expression he had had on his face whilst his friends were there. Go to confused, as he fidgeted a bit more. Slowly turning to that of a sombre expression. It didn’t look as if it belonged there.

Allan seemed to Kate, to be one of the lads. The guy who was always smiling. Be it a rare occasion that there is not a smile on his face – and that of heavy upset. She watched him for a few moments more, before speaking.

”You’re friends will be okay, you know?” she muttered softly, pushing off of the doorframe and sitting back down on the edgy of the bed, angled so she was facing Allan. She put the clothing down on her lap and fiddled with her own fingers. They were alone together. This could only spell disaster. Sure, she had had attention from the lads before now, more than her fair share. But she’d seem to hit it off with Allan straight away. And he too seemed to like her, as a friend if nothing else.

”They’ll get him out, and they’ll be alright.”

[Allan A Dale]

Allan suppressed a squeak as Kate spoke, startled out of his rapidly deteriorating thoughts. He'd picked up the habit of zoning out in the castle (and it usually resulted in falling asleep in some of the most random places). He shrugged. Yeah, they'd probably be ok - not perfectly fine, who could be after trying to raid the castle, or being stuck in the dungeoons? - but he wasn't going to think about that now. Kate didn't deserve to sit through his mental griping.

"They'll get him out, and they'll be alright."

"They'd better! I need to give Will a right slap up the head. What was he thinking, going off like that? Bloody nutter, if you ask me," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. He didn't want Kate to think about the worst case scenario. It wasn't her place. Her faith was still untested and ought to stay that way.

Noticing she was fidgeting almost as much as he had been, he shifted back to the edge of the bed and reached out to feel the fabric she was clutching. It was quite soft, and he wondered if the family made it themselves or bought it from clothworkers.

"Now this," he tried again, changing the subject. "This is a nice piece of work. Couldn't steal something better from Vaysey. Did you make it?"

[Kate Miller]

Kate laughed as he suggested hitting his friend around the head for his stupidity. It was better seeing him like that, he looked better with a smile on his face. He should keep it that way. Sadness just didn’t seem to suit him.

”He always was a bit of a quiet stranger. Bit loopy, but lovely all the same.” she smiled at the memory of the things they had gotten up to as children. Her brother, Will and herself. Luke tagging along.

She panicked slightly at the feel of his hands so close to hers as he reached out for the cloth. Her stomach wouldn’t settle. This is so stupid. she thought as she let go of the cloth for him to look at.

”My mother gets the material from Market. I’ve just been messing. M’lady said you needed clothing, I thought I could do it now seeing as you’re here. It’s a lot easy to do when I have the person to, uh, taper to.” It would involve her having to be closer to him, which if she was being honest she was dreading it. She was worried that she would get him with the needle. Or her hands would shake so much she would mess up the sewing. It needed to be done she supposed, but maybe it wasn’t the best of ideas.

”I thought you’d like t choose what you had, instead of be making the decision for you.” she went silent again. Clearing her throat and looking down at the clothing in her lap.

[Allan A Dale]

YES! Triumph! Allan mentally crowed. She was smiling! She was happier! Always a sure sign to getting into- Stopping that thought there, he mentally kicked himself. All good things in time. Besides, you're supposed to be a gentleman...

He snorted at the thought, and hoped it was covered up as a laugh at her comment.

"Don't put yourself down," he replied, lifting it up and admiring the craftmanship. He would have said it anyway, but she honestly did have a knack for her work. The stitching was finer than he'd seen before, on clothes he'd... procured... along his way. Unfortunately, just as he'd gotten her to be happier, she'd gone quiet again. Was he making her uncomfortable? But he was praising her! Didn't girls like to be praised anymore? "It's really good. An' I've had some nice clothes, sometimes... Though you can't tell from the state of me."

He paused, then nodded. Yes, this was a good idea. "Why don't you pick for me? I've never been good with clothes - just sort of chuck it on, keeps me warm, isn't too baggy for... my business, you know? Where do you want me?"

He was definitely up for this. Any chance to show off his chest to a young woman was fine by him, especially if he got the clothes he'd been after anyway.

Funny how a few garments can cause so much trouble.

"Just promise not to prick me anywhere sensitive, yeah?" he winked. "I had enough of needles last time Djaq stitched me up. Painful, that was, but I bore it well," he added in a mock courageous tone.

[Kate Miller]

Kate looked up at him as he praised her work, smiling at him slightly. Going pink in the cheeks. She didn’t really know what she was doing. She was an amateur compared to her mother. It took Kate days to create something from scratch; doing something with an original was easy.

”Though you can’t tell from the state of me…”[/b]. at that she looked him up and down taking in his attire. It was nice. The embroidery of the jacket was interesting to say the least. The fabric looked of a high quality. But she daren’t touch it to see.

”Gisborne’s man. Gets the best.” she mumbled looking back at the pile of cloth on her lap. Greens and browns. That’s what he would need - to blend in - in the forest. She pulled at an undershirt, grey-tan in colour. She looked up from her pile and ran silently to the cupboard in the corner – the pile in her lap falling to the floor - grabbing out a green sleeveless over-shirt. She made her way back to the bed.

”Here. If you wanna go into the other room, you can change.” she said offering out her arm to assist him into the room.

(OOC - Oorrr - *glompsnog* Whichever xD)

[Allan A Dale]

She's cute with a blush.

Allan blanched a little; he hadn't wanted her to think about that. Actually, he was kind of hoping she hadn't known about that. It was wishful thinking, sure; after all, he'd been to Knighton as Gisborne's man, and hadn't been particulalry pleasant at the time. But he could dream.

"Not really," he muttered, rubbing at his arm, a little nervous now he'd been sent off kilter. "Nicked it off one of the jailers, stank like no one's business. Had to try and get it clean but... well it didn't really work. You want 'em for scraps? I reckon you could put them to better use."

Allan recieved the clothes, smiling at Kate best he could now that they were back in a bit of an awkward position. He also accepted the arm, grateful. Walking was going to be difficult. He pulled himself up and limped with her to the next room, looking at the clothes she pulled out.

"Y'know, I think this looks a bit like what I used to wear," he said, amused. He wondered idly if anyone back at camp had a spare scarf, just to finish it off... Grinning, he added "You sure you weren't spying on us? It's a bit fishy..."

[Kate Miller]

Kate laughed at his failed attempted at walking as she took him into the ‘changing room’. There was a chair in the corner of the room, which she lay the clothing on helping him in that final bit. ”That surprises me. I heard Gisborne favoured you a lot.” she smirked slightly. ”When you’re changed you can just leave your stuff somewhere and I can see what I can do with it.” she mentioned as she left him propped up aided.

Walking out of the room at his last comment she looked over her shoulder and smiled, ”So what if I did?” she snickered pulling across the curtain. ”Call me if you need anything,” she prompted before sitting down on the edge of the bed.

She flopped back and let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. Today had been one of those days. It wasn’t even like the Sheriff had come calling, but it had been stressful all the same. At least some good came of it. She’d made another friend. Urgh!

[Allan A Dale]

Allan shrugged. Guy wasn't that bad; just a little bit screwed over the years. It didn't help that he was stuck with a sadist like Vaysey. If he had a kinder master, was given a little time and some luck... Who knew? If Allan A Dale could better himself, so could Guy of Gisborne.

"He never did give me that leather he promised me," Allan replied. "Hoarding it to himself, I think. The bloke sweatsleather."

Allan laughed heartily at both Kate's comment and the grin she wore as she pulled the curtain across. He really liked her. "I feel violated!" he called back through the curtain. "How am I supposed to know when it's safe to do anything now? Eh?"

Still chuckling, he turned to the clothes at hand. They were lovely and soft, and he could tell they were going to be fantastic for the winter months coming up ahead. He quickly stripped out of his old uniform, discarding it in the corner as quickly as possible, and, standing utterly starkers, breathed a sigh of relief. He felt a bit better already...

If not a bit cold.

Shuddering slightly, he grabbed the breeches and pulled them on, finding it difficult to balance with his ankle swollen so, and found he was hopping about a bit to try and get them on. He ended up stumbling about when he put his foot back down on the floor. Tugging his trousers up to cover himself, his ankle twisted again slightly and he let out a cry of pain, falling over and hitting the floor with an audible thump. He lay there for a moment, stunned, before he burst out laughing.

REALLY not my day.

Still in slight hysterics, he called out for assistance. He knew he wouldn't be getting back up by himself. "Uh, Kate? Help?"

[Kate Miller]

She closed her eyes as she heard him mumble something about leather. Leather! He really didn’t spare anything for his boy did he? she chuckled to herself and sighed again and closed her eyes.

Opening her eyes from where she lay, she raised an eyebrow at the sudden thumping, and the sound of falling.

”Uh, Kate? Help?” she heard the feeble cry through his laughter as she pushed up off of the bed, and stood up. She brushed herself down, pulling a piece of straw from the back of her hair which she had picked up from the bunk. And pulled across the curtain.

What she saw was definitely a sight for sore eyes. She raised both of her brows are the sight of the man sprawled laughing on her floor. ”What are you doing down there?” she laughed, a red tinge to her cheeks. He’d managed to get his new breeches on, top, not so much. He lay shirtless on her floor, and he was powerless against her.

”You know, if you wanted to sit there instead, you could have just said,” she laughed as she made her way across the room. Standing her small height, but still looming over his hopeless form. ”Say please.”

[Allan A Dale]

"I just thought I'd have a lay down!" Allan grinned, patting the floor beside him. "Wanna join me? It's nice and cold, just what you need on a day like this!"

He carried on laughing, softer, as Kate came over, chuckling herself. It was nice. He hadn't properly laughed in a good while, and he found it with a complete stranger.

Who was now trying to gain some leverage? He might be injured, but he'd show her who was boss! Or... thinking about it, probably not. He would need her help getting back up. Eventually.

"Please?" he asked, as innocently as he could, which wasn't very innocent. In fact, he suspected the wounded puppy look had lost it's touch many years ago, but he did it anyway. When Kate rolled her eyes and put out her hand to assist him, he took his chance.

He pulled.

With a yelp, Kate tumbled down to the floor, skirt and hair trailing behind her, and she landed on Allan's chest, hurting him a little but he bore it well. He grinned when she finally looked up, winded.

"Fancy meeting you round here. Come often?"

(OOC - omg that was so awful XD)

[Kate Miller]

She rolled her eyes at him as he offered her the space next to him. He seemed completely un-phased by the fact that he was half naked in front of a girl he hardly knew. She looked down at him and offered her hand as he said ”Please?”[/b].

Next thing she knew she found herself face to chest.

” Fancy meeting you round here. Come often?" Kate laughed slightly. Why could he just wing the situation, whilst she just reddened and flailed in her mind. What could see say? She was currently resided on the bare chest of a guy she not only barely knew but had found herself attracted to. This was not her day.

”Oddly no,” she managed, swallowing on that last bit of nerves before continuing, ”Dank floors, and dark corners I find it attracts the wrong sort of attention,” she said with a half smile.

She found herself slightly distracted, looking from his cheeky grinning face to the toned body that was beneath her. bugger. she hastily pushed herself up slightly resting her arm on the floor next to him, caged him down still, but away from his chest now, it was slightly less embarrassing.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan was quite aware of his bare chest, and knew it to be one of his best assests. And he was completely prepared to use it to as much advantadge as possible. He stretched a little when Kate had moved, eventually coming to rest his head on one hand and lay his other arm down the length of his body, tapping his hip in an irregular rhythm. He felt her shift as he moved, his arm laying across one of hers, and grinned wider.

He just liked winding people up.

"There is no kind of attention that isn't good for you," Allan spouted, continuing his tapping. He liked to be notorious, and dank dark corners weren't that bad, so long as you knew them well. "They can be good company, if you know the right places."

He tilted his head in what he thought was an endearing way. There, that was better. Hopefully she would't notice, but he was getting a rather nice view from this particular position. A slight shift and he fought a gulp.

He really hoped she didn't notice. He struggled to keep his eyes on her face.

Making sure his voice was steady, as usual, he carried on.

"I could teach you, you know. A whole lot. The best places to hide, the secret places that no one but thieves of the night know. Might be useful to you, Miss Outlaw Collaborator."

[Kate Miller]

Her heart jolted at the contact. This is so pathetic she thought to herself as she looked down at him. She grinned at him, looking him in the face. He was smiling up at her, wide and happy. He was such a player. He knew how to get what he wanted.

”There is no kind of attention that isn’t good for you,” he said, she just rolled her eyes. He was a shameless flirt, but she could help but smile at him. ”They can be good company if you know the right places,”[/i] she snorted a laugh at that. He would know. ”Barmaids, and sluts, yeah. Great company.” she mumbled her reply, hardly audible to the human ear.

He tilted his head, and instead of looking her in the face like he had been, his gaze flickered lower. It was then she realised she wasn’t exactly wearing the most modest of dresses. She bit down hard on her lip, Crap. she screamed at herself. But couldn’t bring herself to move.

”Outlaw collaborator,” she raised her eyebrows and considered it, she quickly decided it was worth it. ”Go on then. Allan A Dale, teach me.” she smirked.

[Allan A Dale]

"Hey!" he batted her with his hand gently in protest. He'd heard her - he was close enough, and even if he hadn't he could have read her lips. It was a useful, if rarely used, talent. "Some of them are lovely lasses, thank you, and I wasn't talking about that anyway." Well, he was, but he didn't have to admit it. At least, not yet.

"Go on then. Allan A Dale, teach me."

He almost, almost raised an eyebrow at that. What happened to that nice innocent little girl he was playing with? It would be so easy to kiss her right now, but he had the vauge suspiscion (see: definite knowledge) that Luke, and perhaps Will, would be after his guts if he did. Maybe later, if he'd gotten Luke's trust (and convinced Will that he wasn't playing her). That common part of his brain, sounding like Tom, was yelling at him to kiss her, kiss her! And then some, while another part that was increasingly sounding like Much of all people was telling him to stop and leave. Now.

So he sat up, Kate rolling off of him and onto the floor. He grinned at her; she was extremely adorable when flustered.

"What, you don't expect me to teach you sitting down, do you?" he asked. "Not the sort of thing you can learn without doing it!"

He hoped this wasn't a mistake. He'd like to kiss her, someday. A proper kiss, not those pansy ones he suspected Will would give. Honestly, the boy acted more like a girl than he had before he'd left. Although...

He leant over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek, soft and slow, before leaning back and grinning like a madman again. "Give me a hand up?"