Thar Shaddin

Startled Shade's steps staggered for a second as he stared in shock at Talia's glare. He knew she wasn't happy but to see that glower make him cringe. He'd hoped for.... well no teeth for sure. Out of reflex he gave her a sheepish smile as he batted an eye and chuckled roughly at her. She was glaring pretty hard...

"Ah.... A gentleman walks his lady home?" He offered hopefully. A couple of innocent blinks and a drawling smile began to grow on his face. "Or if you'd like, a dog follows the nicest lady he's ever met home. Pretty lady's often attract trouble you know, so undoubtedly you'll have trouble on your way home. Would you not allow me the honor to escort you? I understand your pain of our words, but alas I wish only to make up to you."

He slowly stepped towards her with a gentle wink.

"Besides, I don't want to be within range when Drayel finds those gnomes. Please...? Save my hide?"

"Firstly, I am not you lady. And secondly if you are a gentleman I fear for all woman kind. Thirdly...." She forgot what her third reason was and rubbed her forehead. " bah, I should just leave you to deal with Drayel and the gnomes." She said trying to recover. "I am pretty sure I would get some amusement if stayed and watch. But that would be cruel which is something I'm not."

Talia sighed and continued walking, turning around to beckon Shade along before continuing in the direction if the bakery. She walked in silence for a while before finally speaking up. "Thanks for today....it was a little crazier then my average day....but I suppose its nice to let loose a little." She said as she shot Shade a half grin, her mind still not all there as she wondered about how Drayel was faring against the gnomes. She was feeling rather guilty bringing the, I'm. She should have just left them at the bar or at least in the barn and not the house.

"Don't worry, he'll find them soon enough." Shade said with a kind chuckle, reading her expression with an amused hum. "A bit of revenge for that cruel comment, eh? Honestly though, thank you as well. It feels nice to chat with a lady friend that you aren't trying to flip her skirts for her. Why, soon I'll be a gentleman just for you. Perhaps I should practice...?"

With that he gave Talia a wink then offered her his arm, a flirtatious smile not far behind.

"I agree though, this day has been quite eventful. Too much for my liking." Shade sighed with a roll of his eyes. "Next time we meet, remind me to bring a chaperone to keep us in line. No more drinking parties, wedding raids, and certainly no hag hunts. Any more of those ladies and my face will wrinkle as bad as Drayel's."

Talia groaned, happy she wasn't going to be around when Drayel found the gnomes. She smirked as Shade offered his arm and a flirtatious look. "A gentleman eh? Is that even possible for you to be one without the fear of Dray killing you or stripping you of your manhood?" She teased as she took his arm, perking up a bit as they walked along.

"Don't mention them!" Talia said laughing as she reached her hand up to cover his mouth. "They will sense you speaking about them and then appear!" Her laughing suddenly stopped as she stared at the figures standing at the crossroads ahead of them.

"I was joking...." She whispered as the old ladies waddled over to them and she cringed behind Shade.

"Well, to think I'd come across such lovely ladies!" Shade cooed as he expertly hid Talia behind his larger form. "What do I have to thank for such a pleasurable occasion? On a stroll or visiting somebody perhaps?"

"Kekeke, such a charmer you are." one of the crones grinned mischievously at him before winking. "We saw you and that lovely lady you got hiding behind you. You two seem quite....close. Kekekek."

"Hmm...." He glanced back at the bakerwoman with a pause before a slow smile crawled across his face. "Do you hear that Talia? We're quite close. It would seem we may soon have rumors of us."

Talia groaned and tried not to roll her eyes. If she did those old ladies probably would know, even from her hiding space behind Shade, and decide to punish her in some horrid way for 'disrespecting her elders' or something like that. Tugging on Shade's shirt she stood on her toes and whispered. "Lets not engage them again...they always find a way to add drama to whatever we are doing or saying. Lets try and end this day off right and make a run for it....surely their waddling can't keep up to us running as fast as we can!"

"I agree!" Shade laughed as he turned to grin widely at her before letting out a loud whoop and setting off at a charging run. "We'll run for the bakery! C'mon Talia, let us go as lovers do, towards the setting sun!"

To be honest, he had expected to run a bit then just stop when the bitties were no longer in range. What he didn't expect however was for them to hike their skirts, clutch their handbags or canes, and start running after them. They were almost as fast as the young chickens they were chasing, much to Shade's dismay. Dammit, he even saw their hairy legs and bloomers as they hiked up and began chasing them, moving faster than he'd ever seen old ladies move.

"What in hell?" Shade yelped, horrified as he watched one scurry like a starved dog towards meat. "How are they moving like that?!"

Talia rolled her eyes at Shade's remark but laughed anyways as they took off. She focused on their get away and paid little heed to the women as she expected to easily leave them in the dust. Upon hearing his remark though Talia looked behind them and much to her dismay say the crazy ladies gaining ground on them.

She had had enough. Digging her heels in, she let Shade's hand go and turned around. Her hands resting in fists on either hip and she glared at the ladies until they slowed down in front of her. Talia took two steps towards them, her eyes blazing and her dissatisfaction clearly showing,

"I have had ENOUGH of you.....you ladies!" She declared. "This isn't the first time that you have ruined a day off for me. My love life or lack of it is of no concern to you! I have no family and no need of one and certain do not desire STALKERs which is what you ladies are! Did you mothers never teach you to mind you own business? Or even if a man shows no interest in you whatsoever to eventually give up and move on?! I am sure there are plenty of handsome older men, and even the occasional younger man who would love to become the objects of your affection. Why must you constantly bother me and my boy friends?" She took a breath before continuing, the fury leaving her voice and she no longer was shouting.

"If I find you anywhere near me on my next days off, especially if I am hanging out with any men, I will do everything in my power to call the guards on you and press whatever charges against you. And I am sure I will be able to get a few since I have several witness to all this. Now....BEGONE!" With a wave of her hand Talia shooed them away and twirled around and started walking away, grabbing Shades hand and dragging him along. She was afraid to look behind her and find out if her scolding had any effect.

"...Remind me never to get on your bad side." Shade chuckled as he eyed the bug eyed trio with a malicious grin. "I think you stopped their hearts! Bwaha! We should name you the official old lady scolder."

With that he grinned, tightening his grip on her hand as he walked down the dusty road towards the setting sun. He was content for the moment, his eyes softening as he gave her a gentle nudge in play. He was about to give her a wink as well when suddenly his body tensed up and he took off at a run as a loud threatening boom reached his ears.

From the house Drayel's roar echoed up the road.

"SHADE!"

"Don't ever get on my bad side." Talia smirked back at Shade, she was about to nudge him back and if it hadn't been for his tight hold on her arm she would have fallen over sideways if he had now been dragging her along. Hearing Drayel's voice echoing behind them she grinned and dug in her heels. "Oh look Shade, Drayel is calling you, shall we go back and see what he wants?" She tried not to giggle and failed miserably.

Like the romantic he was, Shade grabbed Talia up in his arms and practically flew as though the Creators themselves burned his rump with hellfire. He heard her laughter and couldn't help but join as he ran rather dramatically into the seemingly setting sun, eyes twinkling as he barked out his snorts over the protests and bellows far behind them.

Oh it was good to be a lady killer.