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| Ambush Predator; [P] Eliza | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:55 pm (1,303 Views) | |
| Ari | Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:55 pm Post #1 |
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Nalaian docks and markets were almost the same thing. Floating boardwalks stretched northward into the ocean, preserving the biggest island's limited space. Between all the merchant stalls, warehouses, traveler's inns, farmer's markets and other features squished onto the network, it was easily possible for a sailor from the mainland to trade with Nalai and never actually set foot on Nalaian soil. Up on the mountain was where the mercantile bustle gave way to small towns, natural wonders and what the locals would call "the true Nalai." Some natives even refused to travel all the way down to the dock-markets to get groceries. More importantly, the boardwalks were so crowded at all hours that they were some of the safest places on the island to be. In a public place, everyone was watching, after all. Watching just enough to be alerted of danger, but not enough to hear a woman muttering under her breath to no one in particular. She was Nalaian by the looks of it, wearing a traditional robe loosely and sitting with legs crossed over knees. Ari's palm was propped over the handle of the sword that was tucked at her hip, held up by the robe's waist sash. "Agorst." The sword's consciousness stirred. She felt its heartbeat steady under her palm. You are the one hailing me? I can't remember if this has ever happened before. What is it you need? Agorst the Bastard's voice in her mind was a smooth baritone. "My blood is burning." Normally the young woman spoke in a monotone, but this quiet admission carried a detectable hint of genuine distress and surprise. Looking more closely at Ari's posture said a lot about her actual state of mind. Her free hand fidgeted and picked at the wood splinters on the outdoor table where she was sitting, one of the many tables situated in front of a local restaurant. She tapped her feet quickly. Often she would readjust her positioning in her seat. "Can't get the job assignment out of my mind. Reread it a hundred times and I don't know why." Interesting. The swordsman's fingers curled into a fist. "So you're unhelpful in every way, not just in a fight." If it's help you want, my advice is that you should keep your focus on the target. Ari's eyes flicked back to the general area of the girl. Some Striberg noble on the run. Nothing bad was happening; she was just going about her business in the markets nearby. Against her conscious will and rational mind, the young woman's thoughts raced. She'd read the letter so many times that it was practically memorized. Specific words used were etched into her mind. Powerful enemies were going after this Striberg girl. Ari was told to consider Eliza Bibligia like bait that the predators around her found irresistible. The setup for an ambush. Once they were out in the open, it was Ari's job to hunt them down and kill them. It was just a metaphor, and not really the best one ever put to paper. Why was she so distracted and excited about it? She figured she was being manipulated again. First it was her grandparents and uncle Sukarno that lied to her, either outright or by omission. Who was pulling her around now, and why did they want her to trail the Striberger? Bethari. Ari's attention snapped to Eliza. Some Nalaian folks were giving her a hard time. They looked angry and were using strong language; one pulled at her arm. The swordsman rose to her feet and drifted closer to the confrontation. Something about them wanting her to go with them for some reason. Ari stood on guard, watching the situation unfold very intensely without bothering to mask it. |
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| Eliza | Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:45 pm Post #2 |
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The girl walked through the market with her hood down, enjoying the warm gentle ocean breeze wafting across the water and tousling her black hair. With milky white skin and soft blue eyes, she was quite fetching and attracted some interested looks from passersby. Eliza Bibligia usually wore her hood with its obfuscating enchantment in order to hide her appearance in public places, but she figured Nalai was far enough from Striberg that the disguise wasn't wholly necessary. Not even her father's spies could be everywhere at once, and she doubted his agents had infiltrated the market docks. Of course, some of the stares might have been because of the unusual pet perched on left shoulder. The aurora drake's feathers brushed against the side of her neck, a tickling sensation that brought a small smile to the girl's face. She had purchased the small, adorable creature from a location much like this, although that market had been in Balefire. She did not regret the purchase. It was a lonely life, being on the run from a man with as many contacts and minions as Lord Ethan Bibligia. Without the drake she would probably be far more depressed about her circumstances. Eliza stopped at a stall selling tropical fruit, haggling with the vendor for a few minutes before buying a skewer loaded with chunks of mango, pineapple, and other delicacies that were incredibly difficult to acquire in the frozen City of Magic. She gripped the stick and tore off a piece of papaya with her teeth and chewing it with relish, offering the next morsel to the drake. The small creature crooned and nibbled on the fruit, making a soft purring noise deep of approval deep in its throat. "Yes, it's quite good," she said with a smile, running one gloved hand over her pet's feathery neck. "Excuse me, Miss?" "No thank you, I'm not interested." She didn't pay the merchant any mind until he grabbed her arm and forcibly spun her around. The kabob of fruit fell forgotten to the ground as she tried to pull away, but his grip on her right bicep was firm. He tried to squeeze the muscle threateningly, but grunted in surprise when her flesh did not yield to his touch. "I'm not looking to sell anything, girl." The man stood a good foot taller than her, with broad shoulders and thick arms. He had the rough, unpolished look she had come to associate with muscle-for-hire during her travels across Imythess. Three more men stood with him, all of them armed, although none of them had drawn their weapons. Yet. "Fits the description. It's her." "Check her hands," one of the others said, fingering the hilt of a dagger and watching her closely. "Gotta be sure. Lots of pretty girls with blue eyes." Eliza's face grew pale as the import of their words cut through her confusion. These men weren't just looking for trouble: they were looking for her. There was no way they could have guessed she'd be here. The young woman had only arrived in Nalai two days ago and did not look like a runaway noble from Striberg. She was wearing a simple dark blue jacket over a close-fitting dark leather shirt and matching gloves. Plain leggings were tucked into a pair of soft leather boots that were scuffed from travel. Eliza looked no different than any other customer in the market, except for perhaps the unseasonable decision to wear gloves. She raised her left hand, wrapping it around his fingers and tugging. His grip did not weaken by even the slightest degree. "I think you have the wrong person." "Well, you'd say that, wouldn't you." He raised his other hand, beefy fingers wrapping around her wrist. He peeled back back the gloomwood leather glove, revealing a thin sliver of the skin underneath. It gleamed in the sunlight like metal, forcing him to squint. "No doubt, it's her-" "Sparkle!" The aurora drake had been make a low whistling noise this entire time, its head snaking back and forth as it watched the man. At Eliza's barked command it drew in a deep breath before opening its mouth wide and exhaling. Multicolored motes of light burst from its maw, sparking and pulsing chaotically. The man that had grabbed her sputtered in shock as the lights streamed around his face, blinding him in an instant. A heartbeat later the girl had backhanded him across the face with her left hand. The impact sounded odd, like a butcher using a meat tenderizer on a tough steak. He released her in shock, raising both hands to his face. Eliza turned and took off down the dock, ignoring the angry shouts from behind her. "Not here, I was supposed to be safe here!" She sounded on the verge of sobbing as she turned a corner onto a perpendicular boardwalk, kicking at one of the legs of a table heavily laden with cantaloupes and watermelons. The wood cracked and broke in half, collapsing the stall and spilling mounds of fruit across the path. Eliza put her head down and ran as fast as she could, her drake leaping from her shoulder and flapping its four wings to stay in the air. |
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| Ari | Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:39 pm Post #3 |
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This was quite the scene. At first people put some distance from the altercation while pretending they had somewhere better to be. No one wanted to get involved with someone else's problems, much less those of a foreigner. Onlookers snuck glances. An open area of the boardwalk cleared out quickly. Ari was the only one walking toward the danger. Eliza broke free and tore past her -- their shoulders almost hit. That left the swordsman free to step between the two parties. Hand on sheathed sword, Bethari carried herself with a casual, quiet confidence. It wasn't her confidence that made the mercenaries pause and fail to give chase, though. The way she sized them all up. What she was saying to her sword. "This isn't the prey I wanted," Ari found herself muttering. She clenched her teeth, making a frustrated sound that bordered on a growl. "They promised." Promised what? Agorst asked. "Promised a challenge." Glowering, she took a half-step forward, mind racing with decisions. Should she kill them? Would that make her feel better? Her blood was boiling with anger and frustration and all these emotions Ari didn't even know she could feel, and why? She had absolutely no stake in this Striberger's problems. She turned around and jogged after Eliza. If the bait stayed alive, maybe her prey would get stronger. Also, what the hell was she even saying? "Prey?" Since when did she care about challenges? And since when did she ever feel anything more complex than a mild distate for everything life had to offer? Are you truly alright, Bethari? She didn't answer because she had no idea. It took Ari half an hour to locate the girl and her little drake from the rooftops. She'd scoured the whole area at high speed. The swordsman dropped down to street level and leaned toward a nearby corner. "I'm an ally and I'm hiding just around the corner. Don't attack me when I show myself." Ari proceeded cautiously into Eliza's view, hands up as a gesture of peace. "Someone hired me to watch over you. I have proof, if you'll let me reach into my robe." |
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| Eliza | Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:53 pm Post #4 |
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She ran without pausing to look behind her, taking a twisting path through the labyrinthine docks and platforms, knocking aside barrels and stalls when she could to block the path behind her. Vendors she passed yelped in protest and called for guards, but if there were any present they didn't attempt to accost her. At first the shouts were so loud that she feared they would catch up to her, but she sent her drake back to harry them with more blasts of strobe-like light. By the time the sounds of pursuit began to diminish she was breathing heavily, her temple and cheeks glistening with sweat. She turned to survey the path of incensed merchants and confused civilians as the aurora drake circled above her head, still whistling shrilly. There was no sign of the men. They had been caught up somewhere in her wake, lost on the docks, but they would not give up. They never did. The reward her father was offering was too great. Eliza shivered and quickly made her way back onto solid ground, pulling up the hood of her cowl as she did. As soon as it settled over her skull its enchantment activated, blurring her features as if they were being viewed through a warped, hazy pane of glass. She took several quick corners just in case someone was tailing her before ducking into a narrow side street. She leaned back against the wall, willing her heart to stop pounding in her chest. At least I didn't have to use magic this time... She raised a gloved hand and wiped at her forehead, mopping off some of the sweat. The drake flew down and landed gently on her shoulder, cooing worriedly. "I'm alright," she said to the creature in a reassuring tone. "I think we're safe." She resolved to stay in the alleyway long enough to catch her breath, but that soon proved to be a mistake when someone hailed her. Eliza immediately started to back away from the intersection with the street, hands half-raised in front of her with her fingers splayed. A strange woman walked around the corner, a sword sheathed at her waist. She claimed to be an ally and had proof to back up that claim. "That's impossible... No one wants to hep me." There was an undercurrent of sadness to the words, but manly she sounded determined and a little scared. She jerked her chin at the woman, still backing away step by step. "Show me." Just a few steps more and she should have enough of a head start to get away... |
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| Ari | Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:52 pm Post #5 |
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That tone, not even the words but the tone, made Ari realize how selfish she'd been this whole time. Following her inexplicable obsession, she never even once stopped and thought about what this girl was going through or why. The intensity in the swordsman's eyes toned down a bit, even though she couldn't suppress her involuntary reactions to the situation like her racing heart. She slowly reached into the folds of her robe and produced a piece of paper neatly creased into the shape of a small triangle. Pinning it between her first two fingers, Ari extended her arm in offering rather than step forward to meet Eliza's backward steps. "For what it's worth, I'm genuinely sorry. No one should have to go through this." The tone sounded more normal coming from Ari -- calm, low -- and it lacked that hunger that colored her earlier words. If Eliza were to take the note and read it, it was a brief letter warning about suspicious activity the writer had noticed on the part of a local "incarnation." Beyond detailing what Ari had to do for the job, it alluded to shady dealings between some Nalaian merchants and a member of the Striberg nobility. Signed, Melati. "I've never met this Melati person, but something about that letter and the job was really attractive to me and I don't know why... like maybe it was bewitched. Either way, someone wants you to be free and they came to me to ensure that." |
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| Eliza | Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:20 pm Post #6 |
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Eliza's eyes went to the piece of paper only for an instant before returning to the swordswoman. She whispered a command to the drake underneath her breath. The creature jumped off of her shoulder, zipping over and hovering just in front of her, all four wings beating wildly. It nipped at the note and shot back to the noble, curling around her neck. She raised one hand so her palm was pointing straight towards the stranger. She took the piece of paper with her other hand, unfolding it as quickly as possible with only one hand. Her gaze went back and forth between the information on the page and the woman, reading it in snippets and bursts. It contained the promised information, including a Striberg noble with business contacts in Nalai that had hired people to locate, capture, and return his daughter to the northern city. She muttered a curse underneath her breath. She had thought herself beyond Ethan's reach, but the longer she tried to avoid him the more obvious it became that his web of contacts stretched further than she had ever imagined. After scanning all of the information she crumpled the parchment, grimacing and tossing it to the ground at the swordswoman's feet. Although she did not lower her upraised hand, neither did she retreat further into the alley. "You could have forged that," she whispered, but there was no certainty behind the words. She continued to watch the woman, chewing on her lower lip. "What does it mean by an "incarnation"?" That was the only piece of the letter she didn't really comprehend, besides why anyone would have a vested interest in keeping her out of her father's clutches. Perhaps one of his business rivals had discovered that his heir was missing and through to take advantage of the situation. However, she thought it more likely that this woman was trying to play her somehow, to eliminate her competitors and claim the offered reward for herself. |
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| Ari | Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:14 am Post #7 |
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Ari shrugged. "I could've." She could say that she wouldn't have the energy to stage such an elaborate ruse. Or the interest. There was no use arguing against a paranoid person when it came to matters of their paranoia. From what Ari knew about this Eliza girl, she had good reason to be suspicious. The question about incarnations put a puzzled look on the swordsman's face, like she wasn't even entirely sure about it herself. "Uh, from what I can tell, mythology in Nalai isn't just stories. Heroes and monsters get reincarnated every generation and just kind of..." What did they do, anyway? What was their purpose? "Well, that's what we call incarnations. Very powerful and rare. But they can be killed." Her knowledge of Nalaian lore was a bit fuzzy at best. Ari was technically half-Nalaian, and her Nalaian father was an exile, so most of her knowledge about the country's culture was very recently acquired. She'd spent a lot of her childhood infatuated by the aesthetics of Nalai but lacking any meaningful understanding of what certain symbols meant. The swordsman had recently come into possession of a family heirloom artifact called the Painted Armor, but her family lied to her about why it existed and she just generally felt silly wearing it, like it was some vapid attempt to become more "ethnic" than she actually was. "I understand if you want to hide alone. Could you at least give me the benefit of the doubt by not attacking me or running away from me unless I actually threaten you? I won't get in your way, but I'll be able to quickly intercept if someone attacks you. You have a lot to gain from that kind of setup." |
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| Eliza | Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:27 am Post #8 |
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The runaway listened to the swordswoman's explanation of the basic tenets of Nalaian mythology. She hadn't paid very much attention to the island's culture since arriving. It had felt too good to be able to relax to worry about absorbing the culture of the tropical islands. It almost seemed too fantastical to believe, but she couldn't fathom a reason why someone would fabricate such a complicated falsehood just to fool her. "Oh, don't worry. I'm all too familiar with the concept of living monsters." Her mouth twisted sourly as she said this, and for a moment she seemed to be staring straight through the woman. The stranger's offer of protection brought her attention back to the matter at hand. Eliza slowly lowered her hand, fingers clenching into a tight fist. "I won't attack you," she promised softly, "Not unless you force me to, anyways." For several long, tense moments she appeared to be frozen with indecision, simply staring at the woman. Eventually she shook her head and spoke through clenched teeth. "I have to admit I'm not sure of what to do. I had a room in town, but I have no idea how long they've been following me. I would welcome suggestions." It was not quite a request for help, but it was obvious that it was the closest her pride would allow her to come to it. |
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| Ari | Mon Mar 24, 2014 1:18 pm Post #9 |
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The swordsman relaxed. Her eyes turned down to the crumpled paper at her feet; she picked it up and tried to smooth it out while she spoke. "You're lucky those thugs were too eager to follow you back to your room. That being said, you should come with me. I own a house up on the mountain. No one bothers me. Easier to defend, too." Getting Eliza to actually live with her was probably a long shot, but it was the best way to keep her alive. Not only was Ari's house tiny, but it was built directly into the side of the mountain. One of its four walls was solid stone. Her house was also where she stored her armor, which seemed like a good thing to wear against an enemy as powerful as an incarnation. After carefully smoothing out the letter, re-folding it and stowing it, Ari opened her hands as a neutral gesture of greeting -- one that didn't force Eliza to shake her hand or get closer. "I'm Ari, by the way. Nalaian, but born and raised in Balefire. And you're Eliza. I'm not going to lie to you and say that I hope we'll become friends, but I promise I'll get you out of Nalai alive and kill the people going after you. Even if it's some mythological figure." Her face remained blank, lacking both warmth and falsehood. Better to be genuine but underwhelming than put on an act. |
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| Eliza | Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:51 pm Post #10 |
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The woman quickly shared a plan to leave the city and take refuge at her home, which was built on the slope of one of the nearby mountains. It would be a far better place to hide than anywhere in the city... but it would also be a wonderful place to set up an ambush. Eliza tried to keep the concern off of her face as she turned to her drake. "Fly high, and only return if I'm attacked," she ordered. The enchantment on her cowl would do her no good if her pet was recognized. The feathery drake cooed and nuzzled her cheek before shooting up into the sky. Soon it was no more than a black shape against the blue sky, too distant to easily tell that it had four wings instead of two. The stranger introduced herself as Ari and immediately made it redundant for Eliza to return the favor. "Greetings, Ari. I would say that it's a pleasure, but given the circumstances, I hope you can understand skipping such niceties." She gestured toward the entrance of the side street that led back to the main boulevard. "Lead the way." She waited for Ari to depart first before following. Once on the wider avenue she walked side-by-side with the woman, but kept just far away to be out of immediate reach. As much as she hated to, Eliza knew she would have to take extra precautions to avoid getting caught. With a mental command she activated the internal system that allowed her to scan the environment. H.A.T.O.N. surged to life as she fed it a trickle of mana. A tiny ping sounded, too high-pitched for human ears to discern. A moment later a mental image of her surroundings popped into her mind, the symbiote's interpretation of how the echoes had bounced off of solid objects. Movement was difficult to track using the system, but it should give her some advance warning if a threat approached. |
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| Ari | Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:19 pm Post #11 |
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Eliza sure spoke like a noble. Made Ari feel even more out of place than usual. Technically her uncle was the hill-lord of a small town called Setubanda on one of the neighboring islands, but in practice Ari grew up just barely clawing for the low middle class in Balefire. Lesser nobility by blood, but with a pauper's sensibilities. A recipe for awkwardness on any occasion. She led the way without saying anything else, keeping a comfortable distance between herself and the girl. Rather than looking suspicious by constantly scanning their surroundings, Ari kept a casual bearing with eyes forward. It was her senses she kept peeled, especially sounds coming from the now-distant docks behind. She locked eyes with anyone who passed them. Her expression was a bit cagey, but the friendly nod Ari used to greet each passerby satisfied them. "They don't seem to care about you." Looking at the girl, there was something about her now that seemed very ordinary. Ari thought she remembered seeing a trait that was really distinct about her, but it escaped her memory at the moment. She wasn't even sure if she'd be able to pick the girl's face out of a crowd if she had to. A little dangerous, but maybe a fact that Ari could utilize in the future. It was currently the dry season in Nalai. The rivers running alongside the paved road were etched so deeply into the forested slope that tree roots were exposed and lopsided trunks were bent toward the sky. These troughs probably filled to the brim during the monsoons, but for now they cascaded downslope as thin, elegant streams and waterfalls with vines dipping into them. Agricultural land near the foothills yielded to a forest canopy that was thick and high over their heads. Giant ferns and wide trees were draped with fuzzy, scaly and sometimes barbed vines. At one point they passed a blood-red flower with a style as long as a human arm. The humid air thrummed loudly with the calls of insects and birds -- but no monkeys, since Nalai virtually lacked mammals. Ari motioned across the front of Eliza, bidding they turn to the right. "Hungry?" She didn't bring much with her, just a few snacks, having expected to buy lunch down at the docks. The reason for the detour became apparent within a few moments. They emerged from the edge of the forest onto a breathtaking view of the mountain ridge. Nothing but trees stretching for miles, and they were a lot higher up than their forested hike had indicated. The coast and markets were out of sight. A tall waterfall was visible across the valley, peeking out from the dense forest cover. There were villages dotted along these mountainside roadways but the trees made them difficult to spot. Ari took a seat on the ground and produced some flatbread to share with Eliza. She didn't say anything. |
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| Eliza | Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:34 pm Post #12 |
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Eliza followed the path the swordswoman chose, focusing on keeping her posture natural and relaxed. It was more difficult than one might expect; since she had been old enough to walk she had been schooled in the proper etiquette for a Striberg noble, which meant a straight back and proper carriage. She didn't know if her pursuers were sharp enough to notice such a minute detail, but it was best not to take any chances. She suspected she simply looked hunched over and grouchy instead of truly relaxed, but it was the best she could manage. Before too long they had made their way out of the city and into the surrounding forest. Eliza watched the surroundings with wide eyes. In Striberg, plants of any sort were rare. Since leaving the City of Magic she had mainly stayed on main roads and in cities, which meant that she had never really immersed herself in nature. The sights and sounds were completely foreign to her. Strange animals chattered and chirped in every direction, although she never spotted what specifically was responsible for the alien sounds. The plants were humongous and more varied than any she had seen on the homeland, with vibrant colors that almost didn't seem natural. Although it was not humid, it was by no means cool, and by the time Ari called for a break she had worked up another sweat. Eliza gratefully collapsed on the ground next to the woman, pulling off the hood of her cowl for the first time since meeting her. Her features snapped into sharp focus once more, her cheeks flushed from exertion. Even though they had to be stifling, she made no move to roll up her long sleeves or remove the skintight gloves from her hands. "Thank you." She took the flatbread, taking a large bite out of the food. Her aurora drake zoomed down at the sight of the meal, landing on the ground in front of the noble and perching on its hind legs. Eliza smiled at the creature and tore off a small morsel, tossing it towards the drake. It snatched it out of the air and settled down to enjoy the morsel, making soft burbling noises of contentment. "It's... quite beautiful here." She looked out over the verdant valley, sounding almost surprised that she could notice anything so unimportant and mundane as a pretty landscape. "I think I could have enjoyed it here, if not for..." She trailed off into silence, taking another bite of the bread and purposefully not looking towards her companion. Don't be an idiot. You can't trust her. |
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| Ari | Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:41 pm Post #13 |
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Ari made an affirming noise, filling the silence after Eliza's trailing comment. It took her several seconds to add to the conversation, and only because of something strange she'd noticed. "If it's modesty you're worried about, don't be. No one around here bats an eyelash at exposed skin." Her old monotone had returned. Her normal personality. Good to know Agorst wouldn't ask her any more pointed questions for a while. She had finally gotten over her... problem. That being said, Ari was pretty warm, too. It didn't take her long to get her robe off. Underneath it was a sleeveless shirt and some pants, both nice and breathable in the heat. The barest hint of a breeze here at the edge of the mountain was pretty refreshing. Too bad the girl was pretty adamant about not enjoying one of life's little comforts. The slope beyond their stopping point increased, and the road became a few sets of switchbacks. Only once they were at the top was it apparent that they had climbed a heavily eroded caldera. Ari crouched on the top of a mossy boulder, squinting at the view. She grabbed Eliza's attention and pointed to a city down on the shores of the crater lake. The whole caldera was agricultural or otherwise settled. "That's Sangdan. Let me know if you need anything and we'll head down to their business quarter. And that--" she pointed to the silhouette of a tower-filled town on the rim a far distance off, "is Mandira, the city of temples. Beautiful but very, er, uptight. We probably won't visit." Her tone sounded like there was a story behind it. Ari's house was about a five-minute walk from the main road leading down toward Sangdan. It really was built into the rock itself -- a partial construction around a natural indent in the stone. Looked sturdy, even if the building materials weren't what a Striberger would find normal. Thatch roofing, tightly interlaced to repel water, with a complex braided wooden material for the walls. One would have to be looking for the house in order to find it, since it was both off the beaten path and hidden behind a curtain of vines. There was one problem. The front door was ajar. She stopped in her tracks, tensing up. Her hand hovered over Agorst the Bastard. If Eliza were to open her mouth, Ari would shush her with a firm gesture. The swordsman gripped Agorst and, while creeping one foot in front of the other, very quietly removed the black katana from its sheathe. Pain shot up her arm due to the gesture, but she was far more focused on something else right now. |
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| Eliza | Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:48 am Post #14 |
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Eliza's cheeks burned, and she was sure that she was blushing even worse now. "Ah, no, it's not that," she managed, still avoiding eye contact. "It's... necessary, unfortunately." She took another bite of food as an excuse to stop talking, chewing slowly to draw out the excuse for as long as possible. There was little conversation after that, and soon afterwards they were climbing the slope once more. The cool breeze wafting over them from across the valley provided only minimal relief given the layers she was wearing. Eventually, she asked Ari to stop for a minute and pulled off the jacket, leaving her wearing the dark long-sleeved shirt and gloves. Despite her ruddy features, she stalwartly refused to even roll up the sleeves as they continued up the mountain. Ari pointed out the nearby cities once they became visible, although she seemed to have some sort of prejudice against the city of temples. Eliza considered prying, but didn't. Once she probably couldn't have helped herself from asking more questions, but during her travels she had learned to appreciate it when strangers didn't meddle in her own affairs. She could afford Ari the same level of respect, especially if the swordswoman was genuine about helping her. It wasn't long after when they reached Ari's house. The runaway froze as soon as the small dwelling came within range, tilting her head to one side. Enclosed structures made it more difficult for her echolocation to pick up anything, but the door of the house was slightly open, and she could feel that someone was inside. She gasped and looked sharply at her companion, but it seemed like Ari already knew something was amiss. She raised a hand and sharply swept it at Eliza to cut her off before she could deliver a warning. The noble's frown deepened, but she stayed quiet. She raised both hands to her mouth, sticking her thumbs between her teeth and biting down. She yanked the gloves off in one quick movement, grabbing them and thrusting them in her pocket. The reason she had worn them was immediately obvious. Instead of normal flesh, her hands appeared to be made of pure metal. Eliza stared at them for a second, her expression dark. She could remember when they had been bulky and oversize, overlapping sheets of metal that looked more like armor than her own body. Since then she had fed the symbiote responsible, both with mana and her own flesh and blood. It changed constantly, fitting her form more closely, melding more thoroughly to her. Now her hands looked slim and feminine besides the material they were made out of. There were still grooves where the plates connected, but they almost looked like stylistic tattoos as opposed to chinks in her armor. The joints of her fingers and wrist had no gaps, but rather smaller and smaller segments of armor that allowed them to bend without compromising their integrity. The She clenched and extended her fingers slowly, as if her fingers had fallen asleep inside the gloves. There was a soft grinding noise that accompanied the movement, although the gloomwood shirt she wore still dampened some of the sound. The inside palm of either hand was taken up with a node that glowed softly, pulsing in time with her heartbeat. It took her several long seconds to realize that she was standing there, staring at her own hands, completely ignoring whatever threat was waiting inside the house ahead. Eliza shook her head, silently chastising herself for the lapse. She glanced at Ari, raising one eyebrow in an unspoken query as to what they should do next. |
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| Ari | Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:07 pm Post #15 |
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Ari couldn't hear anything but the sound of her own heartbeat and, of all things, the buzzing insects in the background. She eased the door open with her forearm so it was just wide enough to enter. Slipped in without a sound. Eyes narrowed on the prey whose back was facing her. Crept closer. Each step swayed her body forward and backward. Subtle but looked unnatural. The home invader began to turn and Ari struck. It all happened so quickly that observing the aftermath was easier than trying to piece together the sequence of events. Agorst the Bastard had a wicked sharp edge and was embedded completely in a food cabinet and the wall behind. The burglar had a gash down the side of their arm but had somehow managed to deftly twist out of the way of the killing stab. From outside, the confrontation would have been very loud but only lasted a moment. "Don't attack!" Ari slammed her sandaled foot against the cabinet and used her leg as leverage to rip Agorst out of the piece of furniture. Her body turned with her blade to meet the invader. The inside of Ari's house was dim, allowing only natural light through, but she could see that the person was a short and slight Nalaian woman. Her arms were raised. Blood dripped off one of her elbows. "I'm unarmed! Don't hurt me!" Taking the black katana in both hands, Ari stepped toward the stranger. "Talk." "Melati! I'm Melati. T-the open door was a sign of invitation! I was going to meet with you about the letter, but you weren't around, so I thought I would help myself to lunch." Ari took another step, forcing Melati's back against the wall. Agorst's honed edge hovered a hair's length from her throat. Melati exclaimed a curse in the Shokanalai language. "What did you do to me?!" Ari blurted out. "What are you talking about?" "That letter. My blood is boiling. I can't think about anything but the hu-- the job. I couldn't stop rereading it. I picked it up and kept it even when it was crumpled and thrown at my feet. What sorcery did you cast on that letter to force me to work for you?!" Melati sputtered for several seconds, trying and failing to form sentences. "Could you please stop being terrifying?! I can help you, but I just need to-- I need to calm down. Please." She sighed with relief once Ari lowered Agorst. "You brought the girl with you? Good. M-maybe we should sit down. I need to at least." |
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7:32 PM Jul 11

