Ravensblood Forest the one minute. the soldier's minute

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She drew nearer, speaking that she desired and his breath caught in his throat, hungry for her touch. It was powerful, it conquered him and rendered him utterly helpless to it. Yet her touch did not come, but her heat and perfume was present, washing over him. Weaving like a spell, memorizing the gangster further. His eyes sought hers, beseeching. She was close enough that all he had to do was extend his muzzle to touch it to her own but he did not. This, Arturo would not take. Admittedly, the Ceannasach was used to getting what he wanted, for he left nothing but an ultimatum in his wake. I want it, or else. Not this time. Not her. He wanted her of her own free will, not because he'd given the ultimatum, or in this case, took the advantage though it was there for him.

There was a drop in the mood, a one eighty swing so sharp that Arturo almost recoiled. It weighed heavily in the air between them as her soft admittance fell from her lips. He wanted to sever the connection, to claim that giving her the information had been a necessary evil of his attempts to recruit her but, by god, that was not the truth. And Arturo knew it. In this, he was compromising of The Family. He'd broken his own law and by all rights he knew what his punishment should be. With their knowledge he would fall to his knees before them and they would pass his judgment. Death. Teaghlaigh would fall before it had the chance to flourish and Chusi would, once more, find herself without a guardian. Perhaps he deserved it, he thought as she told her story. Her true story, evident by her hesitation and her inability to meet his imploring gaze. Yet, his death did not have to come so prematurely and this did not have to compromise The Family.

This was a trade of information, though whereas Arturo spoke to her in confidence he got the feeling that she felt something akin to shame. Yet, when his name fell from her tongue, so smooth and perfect he desired to hear it over and over. Just as he had exposed himself (and Teaghlaigh) to her, she was exposing herself to him. That took courage and because it fell directly from her lips he did not feel betrayed. She showed him courage and it did not lessen her spell on him any. He regarded the truth subjectively, thinking that it was a shame she would not join him. He would let her play her roles for Teaghlaigh, allow her to unleash her talents without shackles. Yet, this was not an unselfish desire and Arturo acknowledged it.

“Well Lotte Ansbjørn,” He murmured, testing her true name out on his tongue, ghosting forward a step, intent to draw his muzzle close to her ear, but withheld his touch. “You mentioned Kitku your assassin. Tell me,” He purled softly, “Do you plan to kill me?” He inquired, desiring to touch and be touched. He did not, at least not yet. Nothing changed. If anything he felt more intrigued by the bard. Her ability to play her roles so convincingly only made him want her more. For himself. For Teahlaigh. Even though he realized that with her admittance he might have very well been played a fool. Was her desire real? Or a fabrication to play her role?

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