Ch. 9~ All Aboard
Ardeth
The ship was bigger than it looked, there was even a cargo area. Which is where he was sent to find Jeweli for dinner. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, she was more focused on the piece of rolled up canvas hanging from the rafters that she was dancing around and hitting. And, she was dressed in the most peculiar outfit. As far as he knew, even in the west, women never bared their skin to any but their lovers. She was wearing a strange half shirt and some very short pants, with no shoes. He cleared his throat, causing her to spin around and nearly clock him across the jaw in the small space. somehow, she only glanced him. Once she realized who it was, she covered her mouth with her wrapped hands.
"Oh, I am so sorry."
"You seem to say that a lot," he laughed, then turned seriour. "Are you alright? You seem troubled." Ardeth put one hand on her cheek, and the other on her elbow. She seemed calmed by the simple touch.
"I'm just worried about Alex." She sighed. "Sparring helps me unwind, even if it's just with a lump of cloth." As if to emphasize her point, she lightly kicked it.
"Would you like someone to spar with?" Jeweli looked around as if to say 'small space.' "Perhaps if we moved some of it."
"Yeah? I'd like that." So, they set to work moving boxes and sacks around until they had enough space. "Alright, rules. First, no weapons. We don't need anyone getting hurt. Second, no dirty fighting. This means no hitting and/or grabbing below the belt...or shoulders in my case. Deal?"
"Deal."
They lowered themselves into fighting stances, circling each other like two panthers (one all in black and the other in light tan), watching to see who would make the first move. This ended up being Jeweli. But she tricked him. She flicked her eyes toward his shoulder, twitching forward and up, then ducked under his arm and hit the back of his knee. When he landed, Ardeth rolled over, and she sat on his saist, trapping his arms at the elbows, and using her feet to hold his thighs down.
"No fair," he breathed.
"All's fair in love and war."
"Is that so? Then, which might this be?" he bucked, throwing her off and rolling over to trap her.
"Good question." Jeweli kicked her feet against the wall, pushing herself between his arms and knocking him down. She got up and watched im steady himself. "Why don't you get back to me when you figure it out?"
"I will."
"Looking forward to it." Ardeth grabbed her and twisted around, causing her to stumble towards the beam. She grabbed it and catapulted herself around, using both feet to kick him in the chest. By the time he focused again, she was nowhere to be seen. He looked around the hold. "Mummies never fight fair...always expect the unexpected!" she dropped from the rafters onto his back. He reached back and grabbed the collar of her shirt, hauling over his head. Then, he took hold of her wrists and pinned her to the wall.
"No dirty fighting?" he was panting.
"I didn't, I fought how I know to stay alive. Anyway, what might this be," she struggled a bit, "If not fighting dirty?"
"It was the only way I could make you stop moving."
Jeweli
She almost laughed, and would have, if not for the serious look on his face. and the movement would have accentuated the face that they were flush against each other. In order to hold hre arms, Ardeth had to lean forward to the point where their chests were touching with each breath, and their faces were mere inches apart. When they had scuffled, they had ended up with their legs tangled, meaning one of his hips was wedged between her thighs. Of course, with him being 6' 1", and her only 5' 6", they were face to face, even with her feet dangling over the ground.
"Y'know, we should, um, probably go get dinner," Jeweli said.
"Yes, probably." He held her wrists in one hand, dragging the other to her cheek. "This would be a bad idea."
"Very bad." They were coming ever so slightly closer, despite their words. "Then again, we O'Connells aren't known for our common sense."
"But we have to stop." He shifted.
Jeweli didn't understand what he meant, until he shifted and ended up pressing himself against her. Her eyes widened, making and 'Oh!' face. Her breathing hitched and she tried to touch the ground, causing Ardeth to groan and lay his head on her shoulder.
"Jeweliandra. Stop. Moving," he mumbled against her skin.
"Sorry," she breathed. "Kinda hard to stay still when my feet are three inches off the floor." She chuckled, but stopped when he tensed even more and gave her a look. Something in his eyes made her freeze. There was a new darkness. It wasn't a bad darkness, more like his body was overpowering his mind, if the bulge against her leg was anything to go by.
They heard someone coming down the stairs. Jeweli snapped out of the trance first, forcably pushing him away, and then grabbing his wrists to use his wieght and lack of balace against him. It worked. Ardeth flipped over her outstretched leg and faceplanted.
"So, this is what all the racket was about," Evie laughed. "Ardeth, I never thought I'd see the day you were bested by a woman, even an O"Connell."
"She does not fight fair," he grunted as Jeweli sat on his back.
"Meh, what fun is fighting fair if you're a girl?"
"She has a point. Well, come on. Dinner's almost ready. Beans and bacon."
Jeweli licked her lips, "Mm, my favorite." she waited until the other woman was all the way up the stairs before getting off of the poor Madji. "You ok?"
Ardeth
He rolled over and grimanced. "At the moment? No."
"Hehe, sorry. It was the only thing I could think of. Yeesh, I forgot how sensative guys can be." She pulled him into a sitting position. "Best thing about being a girl, nothing to acciddently land on."
Ardeth looked at her in disbelief. "I have never heard a woman speak so freely of such things."
"Yeah, I know, it's vulgar. Women shouldn't talk about that kind of stuff. But, if you're gonna fight, might as well know what you're doing."
"I suppose." He tried to stand and winced. Right then, he'd have liked nothing more than to hold his injured groin. "So, What did you mena when you said it was no fun to fight fair?"
"Women are at a natural disadvantage when fighting men. We're smaller, lighter, and physically weaker. That means we have to use any way possible not to get beat to a pulp. Even if that means getting them turned on to make it hurt worse. Not that that was my intention."
"Lovely."
"Yep. Are you alright now? Can you get up?"
"Yes, I'm fine." He managed to stand on his own, muttering under his breath, "As long as they don't notice."
Jeweli snorted and grabbed her robe. As she tied it on, she told him, "Don't worry, you're clothes cover it well enough."
Oh, Allah. What am I going to do wtih this woman? He groaned inwardly as they headed up the stairs.