Secreted Away

[Angel Parish]

"There certainly was nothing romantic about it." He stated with a laugh. The comment on him being attractive did exactly serve to make him uncomfortable. With a blush he instinctively moved one of his arms to cover his chest and bit shook his head. "I'd rather no one find me attractive if they assume I'm a woman." He stated a bit more seriously. Not that he particularly cared if anyone found him attractive.

"I couldn't leave if I wanted to with you on top of me." As much as Angel may have given Apollo gripe for constantly rolling on top of him in night or holding him too tightly the blonde didn't think he could sleep without it. After sleeping together for warmth for a year while after they ran from home sleeping without Apollo felt wrong.

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo raised an eyebrow. Apparently he had hit more of a nerve than he thought. He sighed. "You know, not everyone bases attraction on looks, Angel." At least, from his personal experience, he found people attractive for a lot of reasons. And then something dawned on him and he narrowed his eyes at his brother. "You knkw he found you attractive? What did he say? Romantic things?" Yes, he had heard what his brother said before about it not being romantic but...he couldn't help it.

"Don't be so comfortable. I can't help it," he said with a grin. He was pretty sure Angel needed the closeness just as much as he did.

"Do...am I clean enough yet? Or did you have something else planned for this evening?" As if it was a date.

[Angel Parish]

"Enough people base their attraction on appearances though and I'm not interested." Angel wasn't entirely sure what he based his attraction off of. Certainly he could appreciate aesthetic beauty in anyone but he'd never experienced real attraction. At least not that he was aware of.

When asked if he knew Bastian found him attractive the blonde blinked in surprised then began to snicker. "So possessive." He teased then shook his head. Thinking back onto what little conversation he had with the man there wasn't any kind of romantic talk that he could think of. "There was something about dirty genitalia and him cleaning but that's about it."

His bottom lip poked out in a pout when asked if he was clean enough. "Can't you just enjoy being in the water with me?"

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo grinned. He was a little possessive. He wouldn't deny that. "Sounds like something you would say. 'Genitalia?' 'Cleaning?' No wonder he didn't stay, your sexy talk is terrible." He giggled further at the word genitalia. Who said that? His chaste brother, apparently. Gods.

"Also, you're allowed to like people besides me. I give yuo permission." Because Angel needed his permission. Not really but of course he would say it.

At his brothers pouting, Apollo swam closer and wrapped his arms around Angel's neck. "I did enjoy swimming with you. But I'm bored now. So..." He bit his lip expectantly.

[Angel Parish]

"What would you know about my sexy talk?" What would Angel himself know about his own sexy talk? That wasn't exactly something he was practiced in. He'd never so much as flirted with anyone before, aside from possibly some playful things here and there. When given "permission" to be attracted to other people the blonde snorted and rolled his eyes. "Oh thank you so much! With your permission, that I've waited the last twenty two years for, I can now go out and just kiss anyone I want to!" He exclaimed dramatically with his hands placed over his heart.

As Apollo wrapped his arm around his neck Angel smiled and shook his head. "Alright then, what exciting activities did you have in mind today?" He teased as he placed his hands on the others chest.

[Apollo Parish]

"I know more than you," he asserted. Which was only barely true. Apollo knew only what he had managed to overhear in various taverns. He'd done his fair share of flirting, most of it on purpose, but the young man had never gone much beyond that. Well, Angel was a bit of an awkward exception. They were quite close for siblings. Some of the things they said to each other would be flirting if directed at someone else.

He brought a hand to his forehead in a gesture akin to tipping a hat. Angel was very welcome for his permission. Cause, of course, that was what was holding him back and that was what he needed. "You are very welcome, bro," he said with a grin.

"You're no fun," he pouted. It had been a leading question intentionally and Angel had turned it back around. Fine, he could also be no fun. He let go of Angel's neck and pushed him away gently, floating himself back to the shore. "Well, then the first one involves drying off and getting dressed. After that..." he trailed off in thought. It was really difficult for him to be grumpy, even fake grumpy. "There's a town nearby and I haven't been to the tavern in a while..." He wasn't interested in drinking so much as pocketing a few items that didn't belong to him. Drunks were pretty loose with their coins.

[Angel Parish]

"I'm sure you do, you little heart breaker." Angel teased as he playfully stuck out his tongue. When his brother stated that he was no fun the blonde couldn't help but snicker as he was pushed back. As Apollo left the water he dunked himself under for a moment before coming up again near the edge of the water. What was it with men and just not letting him have some time to relax and swim?

Still, he left with water with a soft sigh before raking his fingers through his hair to shake the water out of it. Being in the open air was, not only a bit chillier, but also made him a bit more self conscious. Not particularly around Apollo just in general. It came with thoughts he didn't particularly like to focus on. "You just want to steal from a bunch of drunks." Not that Angel particularly had any issues with that. He didn't drink much himself, mostly because he was a lightweight, but he could always help his brother grab some free coin.

Once he felt dry enough Angel pulled back on his clothes. Though he didn't bother to put his hair back up. Certainly he got some strange looks here and there for having long hair but he liked it. "Well, let's go. I'm starving."

[Apollo Parish]

This was why bathing alone was a better bet. Apollo wasn't all that worried about Angel's need to go swimming considering he went swimming all the time. Bathing. Whatever the verb was.

He stretched and pulled on his own clothes after a moment. Unlike his brother, he wasn't so self concsious. Well, he was a little, bellying his outward persona. But he wasn't about to dwell on it. Especially because doing so felt a little...insensitive with Angel around.

"Mmmmaybe," he said with a charming smile and holding up his hands helplessly. "I'm helping them get home a little less drunk," he pointed out. Apollo drank sometimes but neber while he was working.

Lot's of people, men and women, had long hair. Apollo didn't think about it. He liked his somewhere in the middle. His stimach growled at the suhhestion of food. "Me too! You want to go back to camp first and get some horses or...walk?"

[Angel Parish]

Once everything was gathered up again and they began heading out Angel thought about his question. "Let's just walk, no real reason to bring the horses." Though he did want to stop by camp to put away his bow and grab his coin satchel.

Half way through the walk Angel decided to jump onto his brothers back with a playful grin. "See? We didn't need the horses." He teased with a grin. He wrapped his arms around Apollos neck and rested his chin on the top of his head as they made it into town. The tavern wasn't far off and there were plenty of of patrons already inside.

The soft familiar hum of chatter and clattering glasses and plates made him feel more at home. Angel eyed his brother as he took a seat at a small empty table.

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo shrugged. Walking suited him just fine. Unlike his unprepared brother, however, he was perfectly ready for all manner of events as he was, from swimming to pick-pocketing, to tavern brawls and what have you. He didn't carry very much, but he did keep himself armed with a number of daggers and brass knuckles and a belt with some...utility items. Lock picks, file, pliers, gloves, his fancy stripped cape, plenty of empty pockets...in his experience, it paid to be prepared. And it was also probably telling that he liked to have most of his personal possessions on his person at all times. Not that he had many besides Angel.

He tugged his dark green scarf around his neck, more in thought than anything. He wore one most of the time, cold or not. It doubled as a quick way to get warm and a quick way to hide his identity.

"Angel!" He half shouted his brother's name in surprise, half in laughter. "You're not that light you know!" Especially jumping. Ninety pounds soaking wet or not, it was a lot of weight when he didn't expect it. Contrary to his words, however, he looped his arms under his brothers thighs and heft him up more firmly onto his back. He did like having his brother next to him after all. Didn't need the horses? Ha! He wore the accompanying smirk the entire way to the tavern, even with the looks the siblings got.

Apollo held out his hands innocently at Angels look, grinning. While Angel grabbed a table, he grabbed a barmaid (well, more like touched her shoulder and turned his smile on her) to order them some drinks.

"Cozy in here," he said, sitting down. "See anyone you like?" He meant it both ways. Mostly who they should steal from. But...well, also to be a tease.

[Angel Parish]

Angel never liked keeping much on his person at any one given time. Mostly due to the fact there wasn't much that he found of great value. There was an emerald ring that Alexander had given him before he died, his bow and arrows, a satchel of coin, and his cloak. Having too much on him at one time could also become rather cumbersome.

When Apollo finally sat down with him Angels eyes scanned the room as the tip of his tongue poked out of his mouth in thought. He twirled a strand of his hair around his finger absentmindedly before pausing and turning his attention back to his brother. "There's a man at the far end of the bar." He motioned to the man in question with the finger he was using to play with his hair.

"He's got two coin pouches and some real pretty rings. I don't think he's from this village." If there was anything Angel was good at it was analyzing people. Though he may not have been a very social person he never really had to be. Most people were easy to read. Especially with their inhibitions lowered. "One of the pouches is next to his sword, that would be the easiest one to grab." Though the man was alone he didn't seem too worried about someone bothering him. That could have either been because he was naive or because he was strong.

He leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand. "What about you? See anyone you like?" He teased back with a playful grin.

[Apollo Parish]

Ever the ungrateful passenger. Apollo huffed when Angel made no further comment about his ride. Well, fine then, next time he would drop him. Serve him right after all, he thought playfully.

He didn't look at Angel's mark and instead took a long drink of his ale and relaxed back into his chair. Two coin pouches? all the way out here in the middle of nowhere in Teronna? The guy was either an idiot or very confident in his safety. Even armed with a sword, that wasn't much. So either he had friends or he had magic if he was confident. Not that everyone had magic out here, but when in Teronna, one had to be suspicious. It wasn't like anyone advertised their magic, after all.

Even as Angel asked the question, his gaze was following one of the barmaids. She was exceedingly cute. He'd seen her around a few times. Enough to know her name was Ely and that she was adorably clumsy and remarkably chatty. She wasn't his type but...damn she was pretty. "What?" He shifted his attention back to his brother and then words registered. "Oh, always. Or do you mean besides you?" he teased and cast a casual glance around the side of the room in front of him.

There were a lot of regulars, a couple shay types, and most people didn't look to be made of money. Locals. Even were those locals rich, since the Chargers were camped here, Apollo would rather avoid them. Something about not biting the hand that feeds you or some shit. "There's a cute soldier by the window. Armor's used but clean, looks mostly standard, like he's official." Normally, going after warriors was pretty risky and not a major pay day. But... "He looks like he's taking a nap." Official, but green, maybe? Or just exhausted from travel and drinking.

"I kinda like yours better," he mused and lifted an eyebrow at Angel. 'Mr. two coin pouches' would likely need a distraction to help him forget. The soldier...they would just need some cover on their way out as long as he didn't move.

[Angel Parish]

Following Apollos gaze Angel felt a small pang of jealousy. He didn't know why he always felt strange when he caught his brother looking at someone else but it was never enough for him to really pay attention to. The barmaid was very pretty after all, aesthetically speaking. Though he'd never personally talked to her he'd heard her talking to others enough to know a bit about her. Before he could say anything about her though his brother spoke. The comment made him roll his eyes playfully. "You're funny."

As he talked about the other man Angel thought for a moment. There was a way to get both of them, if they went about it the right way. Though it would be a bit more tricky. "We could get them both." He purred quietly with a small smile. Normally speaking he wouldn't be one to simply go around pinching coin off of people. With Apollo though there was something fun about it. It became something almost like a game.

"I could start some trouble, snatch the two pouches, you wake up the soldier, snatch his as he goes to handle things, and we sneak out while everyone else is still settling down."

[Apollo Parish]

Apollo was a bit too oblivious to catch the look from his brother at the moment, but he wouldn't have understood it if he had. Of course his brother belonged to him and he belonged to his brother. Always. They had come this far together and the young mercenary wouldn't even be here without Angel.

"Funny?" He asked, voice with a bit of a teasing tilt to it. "Oh, the word you are searching for is 'charming,' darling." He grinned, only half joking. He didn't see anything wrong with his teasing.

He smiled. "Both...both is good," he allowed. Angel always had had eyes bigger than his stomach. Not that Apollo didn't either, of course. He shook his head however. "You and I both know I am the better lift. And besides, that innocent face o' yours gets strapping men like that to help every time." He paused, pretending to consider the barmaid again while he thought about their marks. He agreed they should start with the nobleman. More money, more chances, and the soldier likely needed his pouch more than the other guy, but Apollo was an equal opportunity thief. Morals...only sort of entered the playing field sometimes.

"You think she would sleep with me?" he asked, pointing at the girl off hand. Okay, so maybe he had noticed some of that look from his brother...

[Angel Parish]

Angel was all for stealing from the wealthy and giving to the needy. There had been more than enough bad runins with guardsmen and soldiers from Teronna that he more often than not didn't feel bad about stealing from them. Though he still preferred to keep his eye on larger targets.

The comment about his innocent face made him playfully scowl at his brother. "I do not have an innocent face!" In fact he did. At least if the word of the other Chargers meant anything. Something about his soft, sweet, doe eyes and pouty lips. Or something along those lines. "Even if I did your face would be just as innocent looking." He teased. Though it seemed his brother was only more distracted by the barmaid again. This time he couldn't help the way his playful expression dropped a bit.

There was nothing wrong with her personally. Angel was sure she was a perfectly lovely woman. So why did he care if Apollo stared? "I think if she did you'd be short one bed partner." The idea of him smelling like someone else made the twin want to drag him back to the waterfall already. "Now are you more interested in coin or tits?"