right was the start to this morning. The sun was still breaking though the tall marvels this city was known for. The break hands of arcitecture reaching for the sky and the great beyond. And the occasional ray of light which broke through or found a crack in the horizon was blocked again by Ferr's frame. His horns shining light off as if they were magical wands casting a spell. An armored skirt and armbands that fashioned red, white, and yellow trimmings. For the sake of politness and not making citizens uncomfortable, Ferr also wore a tabard with the icon of the district.

It was the prime time of day to catch up with several of the rows most known and influential merchants and tenders. The man wore a bright and friendly smile as he strolled through the market place. The way Ferr walked, always down the middle and making his presence known, it was best to do his rounds in the morning before too many people crowded the streets. As the Captain, it was strange when no one saw Ferr carry around any weapons. Not even a baton or shield. Granted the folks who knew him the longest came to understand Ferr disliked the use of weapon ever since his mother passed. Fists were his method of defense now; the proof came in the form of bruises to the knuckles and forearms.

Stopping by the bread vendor, Ferr had a conversation with its owner; William. For a time they talked and smiled. Then Ferr walked down to visit Maria who sold scarves and head wraps. They smiled and laughed for several minutes before the man walked away. He kept this up for almost half an hour before he heard someone call out to him. It was not one of the normal voices he heard. Curious and interested, Ferr turned around with a raised brow. Just in time to see the young woman almost take a fall. "Are you ok, miss?" The man closed the gap with his hands out. "You didn't hurt yourself did you?"

Her frame was not of the average human. It was obvious she too had outward mutations; magic had given her a unique body. And the clothes she wore were not the kind any lower-class girl would wear. Granted this is the thought Ferr always had ever since he moved and took leadership of the Knights here. Her draconic features were the real stand out features. For a moment the Captian looked around in case she had been running from something. But everything seemed normal and safe. However, you can never be too sure.

Ferr placed his hands on the woman's shoulders to help keep her stable. "How can I help you? I hope nothing is wrong." His face became a touch more serious.

eleasing the woman from his grasp, Ferr placed his hands beside himself and offered her a smile. His bright smile a contrast to his darker complexation. Ferr has met children who share more exaggerated reactions to this young noble lady. However, it felt warmer coming from her for some reason. He wanted to calm her down and make it known she was ok for her behavior. Being recognized was not just a perk of the job but what Ferr strives to accomplish. If this is how people react to his presence than perhaps, he should be careful?

Ferr bowed his head with a smile, placing a hand over his heart in honor of her honoring him. "It's alright, miss. I was just on my morning walk; I do this every other day to check on things. Simply converse with the shop and stall owners. Maybe even by myself something for dinner later tonight." Shifting his hand from his heart to stomach, Ferr lightly tapped it and offered a small laugh to break the tension. "It is always an honor to meet someone new. Especially other morning birds."

The question of business came to mind, but only in the context of a conversation, not an interrogation. As the man continued his time with the young woman, a reminder came to the front of his mind. "You called me Aesir." Ferr stated before clarifying. "True that is my name, but I like it when people call me by my first name. Ferr is fine, please. In my heart, I'm not sure if I have earned that title in all it's forms and honors yet. It is just fixture to my name the Council finds necessary for a man brought up from the common class."

Looking over the woman again, he looked again to her horns. The smaller set was slender and elegant. A childish urge to touch them pinged in his head. Which was obviously rude and uncalled for. Especially when they were nothing but strangers.

Hoping to fix that situation, the large man placed his hand out towards the stranger and offer to take hers. "And what is your name, miss? I'd love to know it." Ferr lowered himself slightly to ensure his head was level with her own. When looking down he noticed the claws which replaced normal toes. At this feature, he made no sound but only smiled.

morning to you, Miss Brighid Stoneshire." Ferr claspsed her hand before giving it the sort of gentle and light peck that any knight would offer a lady. He lingered for a moment to feel her soft and warm skin. It was always an amazing thing to the mutant; the skin and smooth feeling a woman had that he could never obtain. The only part of him softer than her flesh might be the fleece which grows from his head, neck, and connect to the top of his torso. This white hair was so bountiful it slipped out the front of his tabard.

Becoming mesmerized was easy for Ferr but he managed to pull himself out before the length he held her hand was too much. Standing back up to his full height, the Captian offered a nod to Brighid. His smile growing noticeably. The bull tail which protruded from behind the man waved faintly. "How honored I am. In truth, I was about to ask for your company if possible. I'd love to have you until you must depart."

Ferr motioned his body forward down the row of vendors. Only taking a step when Brighid was prepared to follow. "It is like you asked. I normally shop from the owners I talk to. They offer me discounts since I watch over them. I am a guardian, yes. But I do get paid a fair salary. So I pay the price any man or woman would. I try to be an example after all. To my men, the people, and anyone who thinks they are too good for paying the full price." Ferr said this with conviction and purpose. The voice used though, Ferr though it was too harsh and quickly apologised to his walking compainion. "But I don't mean to sound greater-than-thou. I'm sorry."

Clearing his throat, Ferr strolled with hands behind his back. The occasional vendor would call to him, and he'd wave back of course. "Oh um." He pointed to her basket. "Are you preparing just for the day or the week? Seems a tap small to me for more than a few days. But then again..." Ferr shugged and motioned towards his frame. Of course most things seemed smaller than they were to a man like himself.

Ferr began to think to himself on what else to talk about. He had done this many times when conversing with other citizens. Granted the good standing he had with them was through months and months of small talk and converstaion.

Would it be rude to ask about her occupation? A lady in waiting or perhaps she was help run a business her family was involved in? Yes, Ferr nodded, those were okay questions to ask. Do not talk too much about yourself, and always pay attention to what they say. React to them, make sure to stay engaged. Especially in this situation, the man realized. He wished only to entertain and learn more about this Stoneshire woman.

only recently moved out, the girl said. Ferr nodded at his but then tried to actually guage her age now. In honesty it was much harder than normal. Her size and mutations covered up and gave a warped estimate of Brighid's age. She could not be older than roughly twenty though. The nobles that remained, along with many wealthy families, would manage to marry off the children by twenty the latest. Normally it caused issues for the parents if daughters were not courted by that time. And a bigger issue if the young men couldn't pin down a nice bride.

The thought came to mind; What about those who did not conform to the normal and traditional roles? The men who loved men and women who admired women? Perhaps there was a separate rule set for those people. Ferr gave a mental shrug before returning to the conversation.

Did he actually have anything important to do after this? Ferr might have to do a few rounds at the barracks, go through some investigation reports and what not. It all did not seem urgent, however. He was the Captain of the Knights; who is going to tell him how to do his job? "Captain Commander might," Ferr whispered under his breath subconsciously before a wave of nerves came over him. Yeah, the Commander might force him to do something. "Honestly I don't have any too important going on after this. Just some standard upkeep. Oh."

As Brighid fetched her snack, Ferr just stood there. He didn't have to wait long but while he did, he waved and called out to a few more shop owners. When they called him over, he respectfully declined, stating he would return later in the day. When he turned back to smile at Brighid, the young woman demonstrating a quick takedown of her snack. "Impressive. Though I normally hate them grilled." A chuckle escaped his lips before he carried on. This time Ferr took smaller strides. He had noticed Brighid had some difficulty following his pace. It was not fair to her.

"I don't want to intrude, but you said you recently left your family estate. What kind of work do you do to sustain yourself? Or...um...perhaps married." Ferr played with his fingers on the far side of his body, The question made the man nervous only after the words left his mouth. "It is um...Well I would expect a polite and fair young woman to be snatched up by some wealthy man. But I'm sorry if you don't want to talk about it."

Ferr was quick to feel ashamed for asking his question. Not only did her aura change, but her words of defeat brought down Ferr along with herself. The giant placed a hand behind his neck as he hung his head in shame. Ferr should have kept his mouth shut. He didn't realize that other mutants had it more rough than he did. There were odd fellows and ladies in the city for sure, but I thought they all got along similarly to himself.

It was then that Ferr remembered all the times he had been discriminated against for his slight mutations. It was not fair how magic manifested one way or another. In terms of combat, someone always had the advantage because of how their traits developed. Getting over that curve, and working past your opponents' strengths was one thing he taught the Knights under his command. A message and teaching meant to be coupled to people like Brighid and Ferr. Guess not everyone can utilize that lesson.

Looking back over her, Ferr simply kept his opinion to himself. "I think you are fair." But in regards to her job, he was not exactly sure what she meant. Did that mean she handled money or something like that? Or maybe just organize the families books? Ferr was confused but too embarrassed to ask the girl to clarify.

He was not a very smart man. And this might be the cause of Brighid's question. A sigh escaped his lips before Ferr visibly shrugged. His eyes cast down with almost a child-like pout. He tried his best to remain neutral, but remembering the many rejections was too much. "Well..." He started, hesitating to speak. "I haven't really had a lot of time to go looking since I took the position as Captian. But even before that, I just didn't sum up to what they all wanted. I have been told I was nice, but that I was not the type of guy they wanted to be with." For a moment, the bull-man remained silent and stopped moving.

The pair had reached a stall which sold plump apples. Their fresh, crimson skin was freshly washed and glittered in the sun. A physical representation of the opposite of Ferr's current state of ego. "Good morning, Colt." He would address the stall owner before purchasing a bundle of seven apples. After a short exchange, Ferr offered Brighid one of the apples before crushing another with his teeth, swallowing it whole. "We are similar I guess, Brighid. But I feel you are wrong about yourself. During this whole conversation, you have been very polite. Believe me when I say some noble ladies have worse manners than jerks and the lowest class bums."

Ferr continued with his slow pace down the row, burlap bag of apples swinging by his side. The man's eyes reflected his state of being in that moment; thoughtful. "You know, I actually have not told anyone that part of my life. Not even my own father. I guess I would just expect him to tell me I'm doing something wrong."

it was time for Ferr to think about that. Brighid brought up an important factor that Ferr was passive on up until this point. What was his type anyway? So far he had only felt a viberation, and aura around certain women he found himself attracted to. Perhaps it was this special aura that made him attratced to them?

But what was this aura! It isn't a literal mist or power.

"Good question." Ferr paused and began thinking about the subject in more depth. He stood there like a tall and dark collum in the center of the market place. For the first time today, the Captain stocked the white hair beneath his face. Slow and methodical, almost like he was petting a kitten. "I suppose..." He hummed before turning back to Brighid. "I honestly can't tell. Up until this point, it is been an instinct. The woman I have tried before were all beautiful in my eye. Examples of what the Stars could design and place in the form of a human being. Mutant or not. Poor or wealthy. Oh! They also need to be smart!"

Ferr stated this with a smile before he reached into his bag. He took out another apple and studied it. The beautiful and plump fruit was a delight to eat and view. "I wish them to be pleasant. Beauty and intelligence often make men and woman ugly inside. Her inner light might be as bright as her eyes. That is what I think I am attracted to. Of course, she has to deal with me and the many shortcomings I may have." His ebony and crimson eyes were entranced not to the apple, but the far off vision of a bright light his imagination had crafted.

The man snapped out of this short trance before biting down and swallowing the apple whole. "But I guess that's all? I don't know. I am not good with this deeply emotional stuff. Enough of me. Does that sound weird?" Ferr displayed a fearful frown, worried that he was a strange man and the polite Brighid was uncomfortable now that he had spoken.

It was normal for him when dealing with women, but he was also a little nervous when speaking like this. He had only just met this woman and Ferr exposed his inner thoughts to her. More than anything, Ferr was worried he was taking advantage of her good will and politeness. It was a common issue the mutant had to fix.

If anything, Ferr just didn't want to be allow anymore. His arms were large, strong, and safe. Yet they still filled empty without someone to hold. "I just want someone to hold." He thought. "To hold and to be mine."