Rosa Joanna Harvey audition

Rosa’s soft, melodic laughter came as soon as her husband told her that their child would want to escape one of her talks to it. Twisting slightly so that she could still feel his reassuring hand on the small of her back, and see him clearly, Rosa lifted her brow and poked him lightly in the chest, as if to ask what was up. “I should give you a good talking to for saying that, I suppose. Good thing I don’t feel like it.” She wasn’t actually serious about any annoyance over what he said, and only felt amusement over it, but she couldn’t help but give him a hard time if the opportunity presented itself. Besides, he should know her well enough by now to realize if she laughed about something, she wasn’t offended. It did feel good to have him relax and let his guard down for a moment, but she watched as it came right back up, his gaze once more making a clean sweep around them. Rosa didn’t comment on that, however, and simply let him be watchful of their surroundings. She herself appreciated his vigilance of her safety, as well as the baby’s, and though sometimes she did worry that he was going to prematurely age from how nervous he was about keeping her safe, she knew she wasn’t going to change him, and didn’t think she would want to anyway.

In response to his comment about the monsters, her lips tilted into somewhat of a crooked smile – usually one accompanied by a facetious tongue or a mischievous moment. “I thought it was rather exciting with all the monsters roaming around.”, she commented. “It reminded me of home.” A moment later, though, Rosa tried once more to get his thoughts off of every shadow and possible bad situation and on a lighter subject, and was rewarded with seeing his show of amusement, however light it might seem to anyone else. It was in glee that she once more felt a bit of laughter escape her lips. “That’s not what you used to tell me.”, she said with a tilt of her finely arched brow. Leaning closer to him, she acted as if she had a secret to tell him and even lowered her voice. “I much rather your thinking I should come along to leaving me behind in a castle all the time.”

Finally though, they had gotten to their destination. Leading him while walking backwards, Rosa smiled at his light touch and confirmation that he would indeed take her for a meal. That same smile only widened further at his hearty laugh and lips pressed to her fingers. When he let it drop, she moved closer in that same glee she had felt moments before, wrapping her arms around his neck and rising on the tips of her toes to kiss him on the cheek in a moment of affection and appreciation. All the while doing that, she was still attempting to walk backwards, and quickly unclasped her arms from his neck to concentrate on settling herself back by his side, a light spring in her step. "Thank you, Cecil.”

Her excitement continued to build while he pointed out the way and led them over to where they were supposed to be going. Despite having rearranged the castle nearly daily – or overseeing it anyway – Rosa had missed having a place to call their own, in which she could rearrange and decorate as she pleased. And though she had yet to see their new – or temporary anyway – home, she felt nearly giddy with her desire to make it like a real home. Perhaps it was her maternal instinct kicking in that made her want to have a nesting spot, or perhaps it was her natural inclination as a woman. Whatever it was, the spring in her step got lighter and lighter while they made the last few steps to their new house. Rosa refused to let go of his arm in her excitement, even as he produced the key to her door, though she did loosen her grip until it was mostly her fingers methodically to brush up and down his arm.

The deep voice booming from the side nearly caused Rosa to jump, though she stilled that desire and turned in the same moment her husband did. Instantly she judged that this man was no pleasant character, the set in her jaw and eyes simply mirroring her thoughts. Though she had rarely stepped down from a fight, and had no lack of confidence in her own abilities, Rosa was still glad for her husband stepping slightly in front of her. The further these men were away from her and the babe, the better. With a hand on her husband’s back to show him she was still there slightly behind him, Rosa instantly bristled when the three other men appeared out from behind the house, as well as the words of the first man. Unable to find any restraint, Rosa took a challenging step forward, until she was standing at Cecil’s side, her chin lifted to show her defiance. “I do not know who you are, sir, but I find your show of impudent behavior appalling. It has been a long day, we’re hungry, and I would very much like to make our way into our new home without a large oaf getting in the way and pretending he and his uncouth friends own the place.” Having placed both hands on her hips, Rosa was now shooting him a glare that would back any smart person down in their tracks.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t smart. Sensing that he wasn’t taking anything she said personally, Rosa deepened her glare. “We would greatly appreciate if you turned and left...while you were still able.”, she added threateningly. With a chuckle that obviously showed he wasn’t taking her seriously, the man cracked his knuckles with his second hand and advanced toward them until he was uncomfortably close. “I’d learn to keep a leash on your bitc-“ Unable to contain herself, Rosa sharply stomped down on the foot of the man with her heel before he could finish what he had been going to say, earning a yelp. "Watch your mouth!" Drawing back sharply, she put herself out of striking distance, even as the man charged forward and took a wild swing at her husband.

Sharply drawing back still more – never having been a close range fighter, Rosa lifted her hand and felt it glowing green even as two of the thugs headed toward her. Even without her staff, she was by no means defenseless, and sent her magic quickly toward them as they ran toward her, hitting them with magic that would slow their movements and impair them. With her hands still glowing, Rosa ducked under a dulled attack and with a quick, easy movement slipped her bow from where she had settled it against her back, held there by the string across her chest. It had been with her when she had been teleported to this place, and thankfully so now. Just as fluidly notching an arrow, Rosa was just in time to turn toward her attacker – arguably still dulled with his movements, though the effects were starting to wear off. Pulling her string back, Rosa put her arrow through the meaty part of his leg, hearing the satisfying yelp. As soon as the first arrow had left her bow, another was notched, quickly sent directly into the backside of the man hopping and trying to dislodge the arrow from his leg. In the meantime, the man that she had dodged the first attack (and who had fallen in his clumsy movements) was now up and looking as if he wanted to rip her head off.

"AAAH ROSA" < Cecil's words.

2/2.