A Day For The Future - Open -

[Sebastian Mannering]

Daine's grip on his collar as he washed her wound was weak, barely more than a fleeting tug, and that alone was enough to drive the fear for her life to new heights. With the fear came anger, a burning rage deep within his gut that cleared away all nausea at tending her cut. "He's a dead man indeed." Sebastian ground out, murder in his eyes and on his mind. It was a concious effort to clear the expression from his face as he looked at her, whispering assurances that he would not be touching her wound again.

His words were little more than a murmur, they did more to comfort with their soft, even tone than through any meaning they conveyed. He knew he was offering promises he could not possibly keep either. The cut would need to be wrapped before she lost and more blood and when Cumberland and the physician arrived there was no telling what other painful procedures would need to be carried out. Sebastian looked away from her face, over the crowd, for once in his life unable to keep the façade in place as he lied to her.

Thankfully the crowd seemed to be too busy merrymaking and stuffing themselves with as much food and ale as possible to pay too much attention to the happenings at the noble's stage. At least that had come in handy. "'e was and outlaw, milord." The peasant supplied and Sebastian turned his sharp gaze upon the boy. Perhaps he would have his uses after all. Gently he removed Daine's grasp from his clothing, offering soothing noises as he broke the contact between them. He needed his full attention on this lad.

"With Hood's gang?" He asked, voice barely even as he tried to hide his disgust about Robin Hood's brand of particularly annoying outlaws. Daine was barely lucid, but he could not risk her catch a glimpse of the conversation and realising he was less than friendly to them. He turned and caught the front of the boy's shirt in his fists, a mirror to what Daine had been doing to him only moments before. His grip was much tighter though, twisting the material in his grasp and hopefully making the collar uncomfortably tight around the peasant's neck.

"Answer me." He growled, giving a little shake, his voice low and dangerous. All thought that it was less than a good idea to assault a peasant at his introduction to the people of Knighton had gone from his mind. He wanted answers, he wanted revenge and right now this boy was the nearest person on which he could vent his frustrations. "What do you know? And mark my words if this lady dies-" He broke off, face twisting into an ugly scowl as his stomach churned at the thought. "If she dies I will hold you and your friend personally accountable." The threat was unreasonable, but Sebastian didn't care. He wanted to drive some fear into this lad, so that he wouldn't hold back any information that might help in the catching of this so called 'dead man'.

[Daine Merton]

Daine didn't really know what to make about his confirmation that the stabber was a dead man, it sounded dangerous. But her head was swimming and nothing sounded right. The crowds sounded like they were miles away, when the little piece of sense, still trying to hold for dear life, told her that this wasn't the case. They were but a few feet away, so why weren't they taking an interest. Daine thought peasants lived for their gossip - they did in Merton anyway.

She supposed it was for the better though, that they were keeping their distance. That was the last thing she wanted, peasants snooping about asking what was wrong, poking their head in. And it didn't stop with peasants either. She'd hate it just as much if any nobles came and poked in. Possibly with the exception of her brother, she needed to know that he was still human.

Sebastian's sweet nothings were comforting, though part of her knew that the lacking of wound poking would only last so long. Once whoever Sebastian sent for arrived, there'd be more poking. And she knew that was why he turned his head, or that seemed the most reasonable explanation. Though what she knew of reason at this moment in time was anyone's guess. She put a hand to Sebastian's face, but the effort made her head swim again.

"'e was an outlaw, milord." Daine felt Sebastian untangle her fingers from his shirt and she was greatful to be lying back down. She closed her eyes, trying to think of anything but the pain. She focused on Sebastian's words though he was speaking a little too quietly. She could just about make out him hissing Hood and that little coherant bit of her mind - still fighting - guessed he was talking about what sort of outlaw he'd been.

Thinking back, to court events and her own little event, Daine was fair certain he wasn't one of Hood's outlaws. Though whether she'd be able to speak loud enough was another question. "It wasn't Hood's." She croaked, squirming with the effort. She rolled her head to look the way Sebastian was. He obviously hadn;t because he was now threatening her rescuers' lives.

"It wasn't Hood's!" She yelled as loud as she could, though it was still fairly quiet. She felt sick, and she could feel unconsciousness tugging at her once more. But she felt the need to stay with it long enough to justify her words, for at this moment in time she sounded like she knew the outlaws. "I've seen them." She gasped for breath, the pain twinging in her leg. "Hood's men. When they've been at court. I've never seen him before." She srunched her face up in pain, crying a little. Tears slid down her face again as she grasped for the wound on her leg. For some reason she felt better when it was beneath her hand.

[theowood]

Okay, this was NOT going as planned. Theo wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but he was terrified when Sebastian stalked up to him and grabbed his shirt, making it just a little bit harder to breathe. And Theodore liked breathing, thanks very much. He held back a cough, thinking it unwise to cough on an already irate lord, and tried to keep as calm as possible. He wasn't so good at that and knew he was shaking a little, but that really was to be expected. After all, this guy could have him killed in a minute.

The woman (Daine?) called out that he wasn't one of Hood's men, and Theo was slightly relieved. He didn't want to say anything like that, he was scared of being called a collaborator and hung or something. He idly found himself wondering where his damned twin was and how come he wasn't in this terrible situation with him.

"Wouldn't'a been one of Hood's lot, m'lord," Theo replied, trying to be appeasing in tone and wondering if it would work. He'd much rather be on the man's good side. "They don't go round stabbing people, leastways not Ladies, m'lord. They ain't that way inclined."

Clearly Sebastian wanted someone to blame, and Theodore didn't want to be the one on the recieving end of his anger any further. He was threatening him! Why was he doing that?! He'd helped stop her from being stabbed more (okay, he'd held on to the woman, but still), so why was he under fire?!

"M'lord, please!" he protested, forgetting all attempts to be calm. He didn't want to die! "I don't know every outlaw's face, m'lord, we avoid the forest 'cause we ain't got much and we need it. But there's this story of this group of outlaws who're sorta like Hood's lot, like a gang, but they're proper criminals. The sort what would stab a Lady of standing." He gulped and fidgeted in a bit, then stopped, realising he might annoy Sebastian by doing so. "Come from over Underwood way, most of 'em - call 'em Greensleeves sometimes 'cause they cover themselves and hide on the forest floor when they ambush ya, sometimes, I hear. At least one of 'em woulda been here, m'lord, they're always abroad!"

Gesturing to the blade that still lay on the floor, he added, "An' Robin and his lot probably wouldn't keep a fancy blade like that, m'lord. They give their loot away, 'n that would feed a family for at least a month, by the look of it, don't ya think?" He hadn't wanted to tell Sebastian about the blade, because he'd wanted to pocket it and sell it himself, but hopefully it would distract Sebastian for a moment or two so he could make an escape... Or something like that. At least get some more air into his lungs, at any rate.

[Sebastian Mannering]

The peasant looked suitably terrified and it was only the satisfaction that he could still garner respect in that way that stopped him from giving the boy a blow to the ear to further make his point. Daine's thin wavering voice floated to his ears but Sebastian could not hear what she was saying. A flutter of worry passed across his face, breaking the cruel stare he had fixed upon the peasant. Briefly he wondered when he had allowed Daine to make him so impulsive. He prided himself on having self-control no matter the situation and here he was allowing some unimportant peasant to see that he was concerned. She just had to go and do something as stupid as getting herself stabbed.

Worry melted into exasperation as he heard Daine trying to move, shifting about where she lay and no doubt aggravating the wound. Sebastian frowned and released the front of the boy's shirt, but he kept one hand clamped down on his shoulder so he could not run away. "Daine," He said, not really listening to what she was saying as he was more interested in her well being. "Please, my dear, don't exert yourself. Lie still until Cumberland gets here." He ordered.

He was half aware that her words had been to protect the boy. She had hurt herself in the process and it only gave him more reason to let his anger burn brighter towards this lad. It was so... altruistic. Honestly, how anybody got anything done in Nottingham with such a strong sense of morality Sebastian would never know. And now the peasant was talking again. He was torn between staying at Daine's side, making sure she remained quiet and passive until help arrived (for her own good and of course for the good of his frayed nerves) and listening to what this boy had to say.

"The act is out of character for one of Locksley's lot." Sebastian conceded quietly, his voice low, but no less dangerous. It was only internally that he added Robin Hood was far more keen on bleeding the nobility dry in a monetary sense, the fund collected for Prince John in his attempt to take over the throne was being steadily drained by the likes of Hood. He had only censored these thoughts in an attempt to prevent Daine from hearing the words and no doubt trying to say something else that would only make her condition worse. Plus of course it would pretty much seal his alliance to the prince if he was caught defending the man's collection.

Sebastian gave the boy's shoulder a squeeze, long fingers digging into the flesh above his collarbone, to let him know he wasn't even in the clear yet. The peasant began to talk in earnest, fear for his life loosening his tongue. Sebastian ignored the way he said "proper criminals" as though Hood's brand of outlaws were not really breaking the law or doing anything wrong. He would have to talk to Vaysey about this, it was troubling to think that the few stray outlaws in Sherwood may be organising themselves into another group. With their resources pooled a band of bloodthirsty peasants were a lot stronger than when they acted alone. Hood himself was proof of that.

He turned his gaze to where the peasant pointed, noticing for the first time the shine of a blade half hidden by dirt and mud. A shark like grin slipped onto his face. Now that was more helpful than anything either of the two of them had said. A valuable knife like that was bound to draw it's owner out looking for it. It was only a matter of time before Sebastian came across them and then he would get his revenge. "There now," He said to the lad, releasing his shoulder to slap him on the back in a way that was slightly too sharp to be a friendly pat. "That wasn't so hard was it." It only took him a moment to stoop and retrieve the dagger from the ground, fingers brushing carefully across the flat of the blade to remove any excess mud.

[Daine Merton]

Daine mustered all her energies to scowl at Sebastian. How dare he dismiss her when she was trying to be helpful! She could have been pathetic and spent the entire time wailing and bawling her eyes out. But no, she was being good and quiet and not drawing attention to the fact that she'd been stabbed. Had she been able to walk, she would have gone up to him and slapped him again. For both not listening to her and calling her 'dear'.

She hated pet names, especially when they implied that their relationship was more than friendly flirting. Which she supposed it was. But it still wouldn't do any good to have rumours passed through the whole of Knighton before the news got to the nobles. Who knew how out of shape the truth would be then?! And what was there to tell? They'd shared a few flirtacious moments and a kiss, technically two, but that was it! So she got this funny knot in her chest when she saw him, it meant nothing - didn't it?

All this thinking hurt her head and her stomach to funny little flip things. Resting her head back down - albiet with a little more force than necessary - Daine considered crying her eyes out. Maybe then Sebastian would pay her some attention rather than bullying someone who was partly responsible of her rescue. "Leave him alone." She whimpered, hoping that making herself all pathetic would tug at his heartstrings or something. But they seemed more intrigued by the blade that had sliced her leg open.

Daine really hated the mistreatment of peasants. She wasn't an outlaw supporter for the tricks they played on Vaysey, but for the good they did for the people. Treating the villagers well seemed like common sense to Daine, well treated villagers meant happier villagers, which meant everything was better all round. Though, there was no telling anyone that. Not even her brother, he was still for doing it the Sheriff's way.

Thankfully Sebastian did put down the young man, though she doubted it was anything to do with her from the obvious reluctance he showed. She closed her eyes again, to stop anymore tears falling out. Her leg was beginning to feel numb, like it wasn't there anymore. A sudden panic filled moment took over Daine as she had the horrific thought that her leg had actually been cut off. This notion dissapated when se wiggled her toes. Relief washed over her until it dawned upon her that she may lose her leg. It wasn't a serious as that was it?

"Sebastian..." She croaked, wanting him to come over. She had to ask him what he thought on the situation. Opening her eyes she looked at the pair and found she was seeing double again. Her view on the world was all still a little hazy, but she could also make out another shape that certainly didn't look like Sebastian's double. Although he was tall, he was a fair bit rounder than Sebastian and nowhere near as flamboyant. Was this that Cumberland person he kept mentioning?

(ooc - Alsa, there may potentially be a Nate post here. We shall discuss when we are all online. Though, Ann is going to the pub and I have work tonight... And I'm down south this Saturday... >.>)

[theowood]

Actually, it was so hard. There was something different about Sebastian, compared to most men - there was venom behind his demeanour, he was a sneaky git, clearly. Theodore hadn't found many people he was scared of - but then he was usually with his brother, and he found it difficult to be afraid when his twin was around.

Which he wasn't right now.

"N-no m'lord," he stuttered, fairly sure that he was going to have a few bruises from this encounter. He bruised so easily... It was ridiculous. He hadn't noticed the lady ask Sebastian to leave him alone, and was frankly starting to rethink his entire stance on nobles, full stop. They all seemed to be money grabbing, vindictive gits, and Theodore Wood wasn't going to stop around and be a punching bag. He was going to collect his twin, and they were going to hide in the crowd. Preferably with lots of alcohol.

Speaking of the devil, Theo noticed Nate coming up from Knighton Manor and sighed in relief. He assumed the man following was Cumberland, but he didn't care about a sausage right now. Before he could advance, Theo bounded over to his twin and latched on to his arm, gripping it tightly to try and convey his discomfort without words. Turning to the lord, he nodded his head.

"Er, will you need us anymore, mi'lord?"

He wanted out of there, sharpish. And if they could avoid coming to Knighton when Sebastian was around, well... All the better.

[nathanielwood]

Finding Cumberland was more of a challenge than Nathaniel had expected. He had no idea what the man looked like, or where he would be, and everybody he asked was too busy having a good time to point him in the right direction. Eventually he caught up with a maid who was scurrying from the kitchens of Knighton Hall laden with a tray of freshly baked pies that smelled delicious. In exchange for a hand carrying the load she pointed him back in the direction of the Hall saying that Cumberland was overseeing the food.

In the kitchens he was almost chased away by a giant round woman in a grease-stained apron who Nate assumed was the head cook. He resented that she thought he would stoop low enough to steal food from the kitchen when there was free food outside and anyway if he was trying to nick something there was no way he'd get caught. Also it really bloody hurt the way she flapped at him with a cloth and kept catching at him with the corner of it. Eventually Cumberland must have heard what he was saying and stepped in, or he grew bored of watching Nathaniel being chased around the kitchen.

Lord Mannering's manservant was a tall man, a little round about the middle and well dressed although not nearly as extravagant as Sebastian himself. He didn't say much as they hurried back over to the stage, only listened to the story Nate had to tell and carried himself with a confidence that eased some of the worry Nate had about the lady's leg. All thought that Theo'd had it easy being left here with Sebastian and Daine left his mind when he saw the grim expression on his twin's face.

Theo grabbed his arm so tightly that his fingers dug into Nate's flesh and made him wince. He knew something was up, there was no need to be so... grabby! Nate elbowed Theo in the ribs and gave him a small grin, honestly what had got his twin so worked up? Sebastian dismissed them with a wave of his hand, but before Nate could leave he had to return Daine's necklace. She'd been stabbed for it so it had to be bloody important. Good thing he'd slipped the purse into a different pocket or Sebastian would probably have wanted that back too.

"My Lord?" He asked with a little more caution than he would have used had Theo not been freaking out. "The Lady wanted this. She was quite determined that the thief didn't get his hands on it." He fished the necklace from his pocket and pressed it into Lord Mannering's hand. With that done he grabbed Theo's arm and the retreated into the crowd. They could get the story straight over a pint or two, make themselves sound all the more heroic in the process, and then maybe find some pretty girls to impress.

[Sebastian Mannering]

The way the peasant stuttered out his agreement with Sebastian only fixed his shark-like grin into place. It was so much fun scaring the peasant folk and it had been terribly frustrating quenching all desire to put them in their place as he established himself as the kind and caring Lord Mannering of Knighton. It was made all the harder by the people's apparent mistrust of him as he was the replacement for Marian and her father. He'd had to push boundaries, though thankfully right now Vaysey seemed to be willing to let him do what he wanted, as long as he continued to have an ulterior motive for his apparent kindness.

Before he could say anything else to the boy, push him for more information, Daine called his name. Each time she spoke she sounded more frail and while it worried him it also drove his determination to catch who had done this to her to new heights. Right now though she was in pain and probably scared half to death. What kind of man would he be if he didn't reassure her. Besides he would have to try and put this anger aside, it would not be easy to catch the thief and he would not be able to maintain both the burning rage he felt now and the carefully constructed character he had in place.

"Daine," He said, turning his back on the lad completely. "Don't worry, Cumberland will be here soon. We'll get you inside and he'll treat the wound. You have nothing to worry about." Sebastian gripped her hand in his own, hating the way hers felt cold and shivery even as he could see the blush of the beginnings of a fever on her cheeks. At some point Daine had slipped into unconsciousness, her eyelids fluttering closed, Sebastian could easily have let go of her hand but he kept hold of it anyway. He heard the peasant asking to be dismissed and waved him off, not turning away from Daine.

It took him a moment to realise that the boy who approached and handed him a necklace was not the same one who had been there all along. It was the twin, or sibling, or whatever relation he was. He glanced quickly at the pendant in his hand and recognised it as the one that was often around Daine's neck. She had gotten herself stabbed over jewellery, he could buy her a million trinkets, she was so stupid! Then he realised it must mean that Cumberland must be here. He looked to his manservant and a silent exchange passed between them, Cumberland knew what to do, he could relax. Daine was in safe hands now.