o5-- you can go your own way-- [accidental video//action]

[strangeboy]

[The stream turns on to show the back of a certain young Musketeer holding a biscuit in his hand, looking down, and speaking to someone or something unseen.]

Sit. Yes, good girl! [Let's hope it's not a woman he's speaking to.

He bends down, makes a few kissy noises and straightens up, moving out of the frame. As he disappears, a husky can be seen, sitting patiently. If you're familiar with Philip, you're probably familiar with his dog, Faraday. Except she's D'Artagnan's dog now, and he's trying his best to be good to her. Really. She tilts her head as D'Artagnan swears off screen, whines at him, and stands.

D'Artagnan appears again, offering her another treat. She takes it and he scratches behind her ears. He moves offscreen again, mumbles something the microphone doesn't pick up and Faraday whines at him again, jumps around for a moment and then bolts out the door.]

Hey, hey wait! [D'Artagnan runs to the door, holding a bright tennis ball, and then runs back into the room, grabbing his device.]

Hello, yes, if you see a dog, could you please let me know? She won't hurt you or anything, she's just friendly. Her name's Faraday, but only responds to that sometimes. Thank you.

[And the feed cuts off with a blur-- most likely D'Artagnan running out the door with it. How far has she gotten? D'Artagnan has no way of knowing.]

Comments

[childofthemoon]

[Ruby gives him a wry grin as she takes the ball and.. yeah, she's sniffing it, brows slightly furrowed.

The hot girl is pretty weird, d'Artagnan, sorry.]

Okay. Should be enough. Follow me.

[She moves towards the staircase and... yes, she's apparently sniffing the air now, as if trying to catch a trail.]

[strangeboy]

[He's into it. When she takes it from him and holds it up to her nose, he holds up a finger.]

Ah, that's been in her........mouth. [Hm. Too late, she's already walking, and sniffing the air. Huh. He follows.]

That's remarkable. [What a nice word for it.] Are you-- do you have an enhanced sense of smell?

[Don't ask obvious questions, D'Artagnan.]

I mean, are you some sort of hunter?

[childofthemoon]

[Ruby looks over her shoulder to grin at him.]

Nah, not really. I've just always been really good at finding things. And... I have a pretty good nose, so to speak.

[Literally. d'Artagnan might notice that they seem to be doubling back towards his floor.]

[strangeboy]

[D'Artagnan laughs, still following her, and does in fact notice that they're headed back toward his floor. He wants to say something, but she seems confident in her abilities and he has no reason to doubt her.]

Interesting....

[Such a charmer.]

[childofthemoon]

I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're complimenting me.

[But Ruby laughs in good nature. Hey, she'll take an awkward guy over someone who feels entitled to slap her ass because she serves him coffee any day.

She slows down once they near d'Artagnan's room.]

Should be here, somewhere...

[strangeboy]

Oh, I am.

[Where he comes from, 'interesting' isn't a nicety that people spout when they don't care. He genuinely thinks it's interesting.]

I find it hard to believe anyone would want to insult you, to be honest.

[He frowns and looks around. Hm.]

Faraday? Faraday!

[childofthemoon]

[Oh, he has no idea. Werewolves aren't exactly happily accepted, and if you take that away, well, Ruby's just a peasant girl in the Enchanted Forest, and just a waitress in Storybrooke.

That a happy bark from inside d'Artagnan's room? Sure is.

Ruby refrains from commenting, just arches a brow in question.]

1/2

[strangeboy]

[...]

2/2

[strangeboy]

[D'Artagnan doesn't answer, just walks closer to his room and calls, sweetly:]

Faraday??

[And the dog whines and comes running out, and jumps on him. He can't even look at Ruby.]

She wasn't in there half an hour ago, I promise.

[action]

[childofthemoon]

Mhm. Sure.

[Ruby leans against the wall for a moment, arms loosely crossed and fighting the amused grin on her face very hard.]

Gotta say, I'm impressed. This is a much better pick-up line than 'Come here often?' Very creative, and who can say no to a puppy and his dog?

[But by then she's smiling openly. There's no bite behind her words, just amusement and warmth. Well, maybe just a little mockery, too. But she crouches down to pull Faraday and ruffle her fur, so all's good.]

[strangeboy]

[He's about to reply indignantly, but then he realizes that she's joking. Flirting? Dieu, it's been so long since anyone's done that that he blinks and then smiles to himself. Still got it.]

When I moved to Paris I had to get creative. The women there are different than in Gascony, more complex, they think.

[He looks at her out of the corner of his eye.]

They're nothing compared to you, of course.

[childofthemoon]

[Hey, there they go. Some nice flirting over a dog? Ruby digs it. This should be fun. Her smile widens.]

Some nice flattery to go along with the whole 'I lost my dog play', smoothing it over. I like it, do continue.

[And she laughs, all bright eyes and white teeth. Because hey, why not? It's fun.]

[strangeboy]

[Why even correct her about the dog? She seems to find it charming, and that works in his favor. He likes things that work in his favor. He grins at her.]

Well, what would you like? More flattery? An expressive show of my swordsmanship to woo you? Anything's possible.

[He scratches Faraday behind the ears, which she likes so much that she rolls over on her back, exposing her belly.]

[childofthemoon]

[French and a swordsman? Damn, this is starting to sound really good. And hey, if anyone can appreciate a good swordsman, it's someone who grew up in a medieval-esque enchanted forest. Ruby nods, eyes shining.]

You could combine it. Because I mean, more flattery is always appreciated, y'know? But damn, do I love me some good swordsmanship. Blades are sexy.

[strangeboy]

Ah. [How is this woman real? How? Did D'Artagnan die again? He may actually be in Heaven now.]

Well, in that case, the only proper course of action is to teach you how to use one. Come on.

[He stands and goes to his closet, opening it and pulling out a rapier that's appeared in there.]

[childofthemoon]

You realize I'm probably gonna stab you, and you will bleed to death? I mean, I'm gonna accidentally skewer you with flair, but I'm still gonna accidentally skewer you.

[She still looks mostly excited, but maybe also a little worried and unsure. Hey, learning about sword fighting? That's pretty cool.

Stabbing someone? Not so much.]

[strangeboy]

[He smiles at her, charming and reassuring all in one, and offers her the sword by the hilt.]

Just don't point the sharp end at me, and we'll be fine. It's much easier than you think.

He goes to retrieve his own sword, and keeps the sharp end pointed down, showing her the hilt.]

This is the hilt. This part here protects your hand. The long part is the blade. You don't point a blade at someone unless you intend to challenge them.

[childofthemoon]

Sounds reasonable enough. Like how you don't point a loaded shotgun just for the kicks.

[Ruby weighs the blade in her hand. Only experience she has is with hunting knives to skin a deer or fend off a creepy guy. Or, in the case of Storybrooke, some mace in her purse. So sue her.]

[strangeboy]

[He grins.][He moves to stand next to her, holding out his sword.]

You hold it like this, with your stance like this as well. Imitate mine. This will keep you balanced, and make it easier for you to move.

[childofthemoon]

[Ruby watches him for a moment, then moves to adapt to his stance. She's hardly an expert, but for a beginner she's not so bad. After all, she's got quite the feel for her own body. Copying the stands comes easily enough.]

Like this?

[strangeboy]

[He tilts his head, examining her stance-- and really, only her stance, he's not a creep-- for a moment before sheathing his own sword and approaching her.]

Give your arm support here-- [He taps her forearm.]-- and here. [And her upper arm.]

You're well-balanced, but it'd be easy enough to knock the blade from your hand. Think of it-- Think of it as an extension to your arm.

[childofthemoon]

[Oh, Ruby knows the difference between a creep and someone assessing a battle stance. D'Artagnan has nothing to worry about in that regard. She adjusts her grip on the blade, the way she holds her arm.]

This is really different from archery. And look at me, casually observing the obvious.

[strangeboy]

[He lofts an interested eyebrow, makes a little 'hm' noise.]

You're an archer? [He never would have guessed, but don't take it personally.]

That's interesting. I can't use a bow and arrow to save my life.

[childofthemoon]

Grew up in a tiny little village in the woods. We hunted our own food.

[Ruby shrugs, sheepish. She's a good tracker, a fairly good shot, but then, life made that kind of necessary.]

[strangeboy]

Ah. I see. Right, let's put the sword down for a moment, and I can teach you some footwork.

[He holds his hands out for her blade.]