[Kallile]

Locksley let a real smile fall over his face and found it a little hard to hide his pleasure at her willingness to play along. It wasn't like they'd had rehearsal time or even a free moment to collect themselves for a plan of capture before the two brains of the job had sent them out here to deliver. He drew himself up to better display his height to the watching public before bringing his gaze down to his opponent. "Aw, sweetheart. Don't short change me before you give me a try." He crooned in his already deep voice.

Though truth be told, he'd been hoping she's keep the gun. Hand to hand combat, while he knew this show would have to come to that, was something that made him nervous with a person he was not actually aiming to hurt. Well...hurt badly. With a heaved sigh he went to draw his axe only to find that Tennessee was already having at him for show, blade bouncing off agaisnt armor. He chuckled.

"Gotta prepare for your line of work." He snarled just before he felt the cold steel penetrate into his arm. Clenching his jaws together he remained perfectly still as he rose his other hand to grab the axe on his back. "Oh, now you've gone and hurt my good arm. Now I'll just have to break yours." He snarled out before raising the axe and swinging it downwards. He didn't fear for her--the dialouge and fact he was now using his weaker arm should offer her ample time to dance out of the way.

The blade swung into the ground with a heavy, dead sound as it planted several inches into the soft earth. He lifted it back out with surprising ease just before swinging it level with the ground--blade held vertical as just to try and knock Tennessee on her ass. Which he would take great delight in, he had to add.

--

"Yes, orphans. Or the downtrodden in general. But I find those too young to fend for themselves most gut wrenching." He said softly, leaning his head so he could better assess just how far into things the pair was. By the sounds of it, they were not very.

"we'd best head out now--use the crowd's fascination to our advantage to go and ge Insima to prepare things. From there we can better stake out a vantage point and escape route while Locksley and Tennessee have at each other and gain the reward." He slid backa  few inches and stood up leisurely as possible--even adding a stretch just for effect. "It's best we make sure all the little ducklings are lined in a row and ready to run at a moment's notice."

[MillietheWarrior]

Tennessee gritted her teeth and hissed, just loud enough for Locksley to hear; “Don’ call me ‘sweetheart’ or I’ll do more ’n knick yer arm; I’ll cut that empty head o’ yers right offa yer neck!” She leapt out of the way as his axe came careening towards her, the loud ‘thump’ of the weapon hitting the dirt echoing behind her. She had just enough time to turn around and crow; “Ha! Ya missed!” Before the flat side of the axe hit her square in the chest and sent her careening backwards. The air was forced out of her lungs, and with a loud cough, she landed on her backside, clutching her chest with her free hand and gasping for air. Damn idiot had really hit her!

Wheezing heavily, she hauled herself to her feet, a permanent scowl etching itself onto her face. So he wanted to play like that, did he? Fine. As she stood, she gathered a small handful of dirt, clenching her hand around her projectile and her other around the handle of her knife. “Stupid idjit, ya coulda broke muh ribs with that!” she snarled, lunging towards him. John was right when he said Tennessee fought dirty. She’d had to learn all kinds of tricks to make up for her small size and lacking strength.

So she’d picked up a myriad of little habits over the years to make sure she didn’t get gutted in some bar fight or out in the streets. As she lunged towards Locksley, she flung her arm out in front of her, the dirt and fine grit flying from her fingers and towards his face. She reared her other arm back, titling the knife until it was in the optimum position to slash; if he was lucky, he’d block it. If he wasn’t…well, she’d add a nice little scar to that pretty little cheek of his.

---

“Reckon yer right,” John remarked quietly, glancing wearily at his glass on the counter. He debated having one more shot, but decided against it; he needed to have his wits about him if he was gonna help make this work. John hooked his thumbs in his belt, his posture slouched and casual as he motioned for Fletcher to follow him. “Reckon it’s ‘bout time ta hit the hay,” he said loud enough for the bartender to overhear him. “I’m plumb tuckered out. I ain’t left that saddle all day; sure will be nice to finally sleep in a bed, ‘stead of on the ground.” The random strangers in the bar seemed fairly content with John’s explanation for his leaving, not that many of them cared.

But a few were still suspicious of the red eyed stranger and his little partner, but they seemed eased a bit by the idea that he was going to be out of their hair. As long as he didn’t bother them, they were fine. Once outside, John spared only the briefest glances at the battling pair in the streets, before he motioned to Fletcher to the tied horses; they’d need to get them out of the open and stashed away for a quick getaway. Untying his horse, John motioned for Fletcher to do the same with the dark horse beside him, and whistled casually as he strolled towards the barn; hiding the horses near there would be less suspicious for the time being, and he was sure that was where they’d find Insima.

As he neared the barn, he glanced around, looking for the fairly crazy woman and hopping he was right in assuming she was here. “Ma’am?” he called lightly into the barn. “We’re lookin’ fer a place to board the horses fer the night.” No sense letting anyone overhear and ruining the plan. Best wait until they got inside, away from prying ears and eyes.

[MillietheWarrior]

-

[Kallile]

((Sorry it took me so long. x_x ))

As Tennessee went flying back like a little ragdoll again the large weapon, Locksley couldn’t help but give a low rumbling chuckle. Her smaller stature and red-hot temper combined to make her very amusing in his eyes. But he tried not to look too amused; this was a capture of a dangerous villain after all. And there was a good bit of cash on the line for everyone—had to keep it looking real.

“Oh darlin’ I can do much worse than break your ribs with this little baby.” He rumbled after her as she tried to catch her breath. She was going to make this look too easy…But instead Locksley found dirt flying into his eyes. He gave out an angry grunt as he threw up his arms and took a step back to try and give himself an extra second to gather his sight back in his favor. He rubbed at his eyes but all it succeeded in doing was rubbing more stinging debris into his eyes. He could feel his eyes watering in harsh protest at the irritants in their midst. He felt the knife go swiping across his arm and gave a growl.

He hated dirty fighters.

Sight or no, the hulking man pulled his arms down and stared out into the blurry crowd for a moment before catching the glint of metal and otherwise tiny figure in the late evening sun. Picking up the head of his axce he swung the flat side at her again. He figured she would be ready for it, and while she was more focused on the broadside of the axe Locksley himself was in motion to try and tackle her to the ground.

---

Nodding in silent agreement, Fletcher slapped down a few dollars to cover his bill from earlier before giving the bartender a nod and walking out after John. The folks around them were half looking, but most had gone back to their own business. It got Fletcher every time how these Southerners could be so contented by simply not being bothered—it was remarkable really. He offered no additional chatter however—too much talk would only raise suspicions again rather than quell them. After a hasty exit into the streets, Fletcher did his best not to seem impressed by their brawl. Though Locksley was perhaps getting a bit too enveloped in the battle.  But his concerns would have to wait. Shifting his bow across his back the man untied the darker equine and followed quickly after John up to the barn insima had pointed out.

And, as suspected, the crazy woman was in fact there and ready. As John called out she bounded into view from around the corner with a crazed grin on her face. “Ah fig’ured ya’ll’ed make it up here! Come on in and lets us find your horses some stalls fer the night!” She lead them into the barn when Fletcher spoke up.

“Now, this is of utmost importance. Insima, we need to get all the horses and any other workers here to leave early. Turn the out to an open pasture for the night or whatever you feel needs done. They will certainly feel more comfortable in the open air once night falls.”

The woman nodded her head enthusiastically. “Oh Ah can’t believe Ah’m in league with outlaws! This is so excitin’.~”