Going to see Willow...

~he raised an eyebrow. why was she talking so loud.~

"And why or what cause the mishap with the door. Was she after something of value or what?"

~he stood not far from the counter. he set his tools down on the floor.~

((Just realised I hadn't mentioned it, but he would have picked up the pendant when he got dressed!))

Hmm. That didn't sound like guards. He guessed it must be this Leon character Willow had spoken about. he opened the door all the way and walked out, down the stairs.

Everything seems to be in order upstairs, Ms. Cyin, but if you have any more problems with local thugs, let the...

He trailed off as he saw the man, old memories flickered in his mind.
He was a young boy, living with the Farstriders. He, and the twins were playing in the street outside, along with their neighbour who was the same age as him. Lenny.
Another memory, many years later. Artimus was guard in Cape Salarain, investigating a robbery. All the evidence pointed towards a dock hand, and Artimus knew who had light fingers. He had arrested and questioned his old friend for hours, but the man refused to confess anything. Artimus had been ordered to drop it, let the man go, and he did - reluctantly. he KNEW Lenny had done it, he just lacked that one piece of vital evidence...
It was the one case he had never fully solved.

This was the man who was helping Willow? Who knew Indis?

He glared at him.

Hello Lenny. Fancy you being in town... he said through gritted teeth.

"What the hell are you doing back? Still didn't find that missing piece of the puzzle did you. " ~he stood up and crossed his arms.~

"I heard the Queen chased you out of town." ~he smirked~

"Or was that you left your dutchess alone cause you had to run off with that mage. I got to know her very very well in the cape during the rebuild."

~she watched as Art came down the stairs. then moved to her counter as she was looking between art and leon....she was alittle surprised on how leon started going off on art. whoa this will be interesting.. she kept an eye on them.~

~she was reading the journal as she closed it and walked over to the door and cracked it open. she listened closely. She then went ghosty and invisible. and made her way down the stairs not make a noise. she wanted to see what was going to happen... then she saw him...if she had breath it would have been caught there. The only person besides art she had let get so close...She had been so hurting after he had left and she buried herself in work when she returned she didn't want to think about him. Leon was just kept trying to get her to smile and laugh and no matter how much she had faught against it. He had got to her... Then she had gone to the ball and then the attack on draco...which she didn't survive...oh god this isn't going to go over well...she had poured her heart out to leon all her anger at art.~

Artimus folded his arms across his chest as he stared at Lenny, his mind working out all he said, combined with things Willow (or maybe Indis) had said earlier. Just how "well" did he know indis?

He ignored the jibe about the missing evidence.

I wasn't chased, I quit. And as for the Duchess, she always takes pity on poor, defenseless creatures.... He gave a small laugh, with no trace of humour behind it.
Besides, I can't imagine you ever getting to know a woman very well, Lenny.

~he walked over and picked up the glass, holding it out as a toast.~

"To your father." ~he knocked it back, then looked at her.~
"In all seriousness, are you sure you want to watch? He's a good fighter, I have no doubt there will be blood. You sure you can bear to watch the two of us not holding back?"

~he chuckled~

"Oh. You think so. Well am the one that picked up the pieces that you shattered of that lady. She was kind and caring. She loved you so much and you left her! Not a single word just left her. She had poured herself into the work so much so she didn't have to feel. I know I was there. She confided in me. She actually broke down in my arms one night not able to hold herself together. She was crying and screaming and she was shattered in tiny pieces. I helped her. I took all those tiny pieces and helped put them back together. I held her at night when she would cry herself to sleep. Then one night it happened. It was amazing. I couldn't believe you left that behind you are a crazy messed up guy who toys with women. You never deserved her!

~during this whole thing he was moving and now was just about in arts face hands at his side in fists. Then at the never deserved her he popped him in the face.(aka punched him quickly in the face)~

~she looked up at him took his face in her hands and looked into his eyes.~

"Yes I want to be there. For both of you. For you..."~she leaned up and kissed him.~

~she kissed her way down his chest kissing and nibbling her way across. as her hands busied with his belt.~

~(indy is invisible at the moment) she could believe it...she had to sit down on the ground even tho she didn't have to breathe she was just breathing heavy... am i having a panic attack...she brought her knees up and was hugging them rocking alittle. oh god. she winced as he hit art. Oh art had come back she had forgiven him... now this...she looked down at her ring...maybe I don't deserved this..She slid the ring off her and held it in her hand...I don't deserve this... she set the ring on the floor. You could see the ring move from nothing as it sit on the floor. Art would know that Indy was in that area. but couldn't see her.~

~she was watching this closely. This was better then a book! she made a face as art got hit. and made her way to the backroom. now where did that tea go..she grabbed a cold glass of water and a couple of tea bags and walked back out to watch what was going to happen.~

Artimus was stunned hearing what Lenny was saying. His eyes widened as he spoke so casually about bedding the woman he loved. No, not him. Of all the people for Indy to be unfaithful with him to....
He failed to spot the fist until it was too late. He tried to dodge, but it connected with hsi cheek, sending Artimus into a sprawl on the floor. His hand fumbled for his rapier, drawing it as he stood up.

You want a fight Lenny? Is that it? Come on then...
His voice was little more than a growl, his eyes narrowed now, a deep frown on his brow and his mouth small. His eyes flicked once from his prey, onto the surroundings, then quickly to Willow and back to Lenny.

Outside. Now.
His voice was one of authority.
I don't want to smash anything inside here.

~He smiled as her mouth made it's way down his body, tensing his muscles under her touch to accenuate just how well built he was.~

"Just promise me you won't get in the way."

~he looked at him and walked outside.~

"So willing to fight a man with out a sword."

"I always knew you faught dirty."

~he watched art.~

He stared as lenny walked out, stalking after him, rapier in his right hand. He could not believe the insolence of the man! Herehe was, facing one of (in Artimus' opinion) islands greatest swordsmen, and he was laughing in his face. Did he not realize how close to death he was?

He heard the man's words, and realized he could do this without the rapier.
He replaced it back in it's scabbard, holding hsi hands in fists.

What's up Lenny, scared I was going to cut you up without giving you a chance? Give you a chance to run me down with the "But I was unarmed" line again? I won't give you the satisfaction of that.

He said the "But I was unarmed" line in a mocking voice, the rest of his voice cold and hard.

You had the first shot. Is it my turn now?

He darted forward on light feet, swinging upwards with his right fist, his left arm held across his body in a guarding movement.

~she stopped and stood looking at him smiling softly~

"I promise." ~she took a step back from tib...looking alittle confused..~


"Oh this can't be good..." ~she hands went to fists.~

"Tib...do you know how to block the...feelings... from unwanted...mindlinks.." ~she moved back alittle more.~

~he dodged most of the hit still took it but not the full force of it.~

"Your just mad cause maybe just maybe Indy cared about someone other then you. And she hadn't just being sitting around the whole time. But I guess you will never know."

~he countered with a left swing to the ribs.~

~she phased into solid form inside the shop and looked at willow.~

"Sorry about all this...I didn't know..." ~she then turned to the door and walked up to it not letting them see. she held the ring in her hand. Some of the missing pieces of Leon falling into place..what he was saying was all true...should I stop the fight...but if I do that I will have to show myself to him. Then what will happen.. I can't let this go on...she stood in the doorway in solid form. Dressed like her old self..Her brown hair blowing in the air. Leather pants and boots. Blue poets shirt on. Her pale blue eyes. aside from the light tint of blue to her skin she was as close as she was going to get.~

~willow nodded~

"Its been a strange day all around. not what I expected today when I awoke." ~she walked over to the window to see both men as she watched~

Artimus ignored what he was saying. He knew the truth (in his own mind) that Indis was faithful to him. He saw the fist coming and spun away from the blow, moving to Lenny's right and giving a left-right jab comb at his ribs.

~He frowned, watching her. What the hell? He frowned~

"I often get that from my brother, and I never found a way of blocking them. Artimus just used to make sure we were always on duty at the same time to avoid picking up drunkness from one another."

~He realised he was talking about her father with fond memories~

"Who are you getting it from?"

~she ran out from the store and grabbed art pulling him off Leon~

"Stop this!"

~she struggled to hold on to art.~

~He took the jabs as he was distracted by the lady running out...wait... indis?.... He staggers back~

~looking at art and then Indis~

"What kind of trick is this?"

~she looked at tib~

"That would be...my...father..." ~she was gritting her teeth.~

~her fists were shaking~

Art smiled inwardly as the punches landed home, feeling the touch of cloth and flesh on his knuckles. It had been too long since he'd been in a good fight.
He felt more - than saw - Indis at his side and felt her pull his arm.

Leave it, Indy. I need to teach Lenny here not to tell lies.

He lashed out with his right leg, his mind not focusing totally on his target.