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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Dec 31, 2021 7:08:27 GMT
The story of a claimant actor searching for peace.
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
163 posts
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currently online
Global Moderator
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Post by Dobu on Dec 31, 2021 8:00:49 GMT
The clicking of Calvin Klein shoes against the marble floor caught her attention. Blue eyes gazing up towards the door as a smirk took form on her face. Her left hand swept the hair behind her ear as her right closed the laptop resting on the desk before her. The doors swung open quickly as a male entered dressed in a full white tuxedo along with a pair of black dress shoes. His hands were covered with white gloves and his hair was swept back a combed thoroughly. He stepped forward steadily, eyes cautiously taking note of every single thing in the room.
“You have some nerve showing your face around here after what you did.” His voice was average yet pleasant of tone and as the words escaped his lips he seemed to tense. “You betrayed us all! When everyone needed you most you walked away and left us to the wolves, but now you think you can just waltz back in here and keep your position above us all?”
The woman stood to her feet with a sigh. She wore a deep red dress with a thick black feathered coat around her shoulders. Multiple diamond rings lined her knuckles as well as a single diamond earing handing from her left revealed ear. On her feet a pair of black Jimmy Choo Josefine 100 stilettoes which caused an echo signifying her approach as she stepped closer to the male.
“There’s no need to fuss about it. You survived after all, did you not? Standing right here before me? That just means you’re worth more than I originally thought.”
“It wasn’t just me who survived. Alphonso, Sue, Jimmy, Garret, they all survived as well and none of them will be accepting you as the owner of this group anymore. Not after the way you abandoned us.”
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” she questioned the male as she tapped a finger against her rosy cheek. “Remind me again who started this business, who controls this business and who has the capability to end it all in an instant? This was all possible because of me and none of you needed to be a part of it all in order for me to gain what I have now.”
She spoke in a way demanding of respect. The woman did not yell, did not get emotional and did not for a moment make herself out to be weak. Her voice wasn’t harsh, rather it was more pleasant than expected, almost the complete opposite of the words she chose to use. It was as if her voice were a fine brandy and her words a poison slipped within.
“Do you know what this means Caleb? It means that none of you were ever really needed. I could throw you all away at a moments notice and it wouldn’t have changed anything for me. I, madam Beatrice Amphora, am this business. All of this is impossible without me and where I go the business will follow. I could walk out the door this very moment and with me would go all hope of you ever accomplishing anything again so I would suggest you choose your words wisely from now on.” She stepped over to a cabinet on the far side of the room and from it grabbed a small glass as well as a bottle of whiskey. “I don’t know what it is you have planned, but for now I am certain of one thing.”
“And what might that be?” he questioned the woman who smirked yet again as she poured the light amber liquid into her glass and sipped it casually.
“If you could survive the situation I had laid out before you then perhaps you might all be of further use to me. So then, a choice… you can continue to work for me and reap the benefits that will come with it or you can all go about whatever it is you have all decided on and we will see who comes out on top. Your rowdiness against my resources and manpower. What will it be?”
The male clenched his teeth, the anger on his face unhindered and plain for all to see. As she raised her glass and took another sip from her beverage the male reached into his jacket and from it came a handgun. It was rather small and easy to conceal, a suppressor attached to the barrel and now aimed in her direction. The woman’s eyes took note of this adjustment to their situation yet it did not stop her from enjoying her drink.
“If you think I’m just going to fold over and let you keep doing whatever you want then you’re out of your god damned mind Beatrice! Those were friends, family who you allowed to die out there and I won’t just sit idly by and allow you to get away with something like that! Some of those people had children and you think I’m just going to ignore what you’ve done? No, someone has to pay.”
The woman sighed and placed the glass down on the shelf before eyeing the man intently. Her gaze had gone from focused and technical to agitated and disturbed in a matter of moments.
“Enough! Cut! That is enough for the day”, she spoke as the lights grew brighter and the cameramen and crew scurried about to go about their business. A woman approached him to wipe his brow and yet he shooed her away and grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the shelf. “I hired you because I saw potential in your voice, the way you moved und the way you spoke. That display you just gave me was an embarrassment and I will not tolerate it. If you believe that what you gave me right there was a proper example of what a man would act like when relaying the demise of their comrades und the orphaning of their children then you might as well go home und stop wasting everyone’s time.”
“Ma’am, we have enough time for one more shoot”, on of the producers called out to him as he took a large swig from the bottle in hand.
“Forget it! It is clear to me that nothing is going to get done today. Everyone! Take the rest of the night off! We will continue this tomorrow und hopefully by then someone will manage to pull their head out of their ass!”
As he stepped his way towards the exit passed the actor who had managed to fail horribly in his eyes there was a slight glance. His eyes caught theirs for a moment and in that moment spotted something alluring, something useful. He halted right in front of the male and turned to face him, lowering his head ever so slightly to look right into his eyes. He was close, uncomfortably close, and it wasn’t until his nose practically brushed against their own did he finally back away.
“If you can manage to bring that same level of emotion you’re feeling right now onto the set tomorrow then we may accomplish something. If not don’t even bother showing up.”
He stepped into his dressing room and quickly removed the outfit he had been wearing, hanging it on a rack of other just as expensive and exquisite outfits. However while the rest of the outfit was removed the black feathered coat simply unfolded into a pair of pitch black wings. He replaced the stilettoes with a pair of black converse, slipped on a casual black shirt and some black slacks with. After wrapping his watch around his wrist he folded his wings on his back where he would place a thin coat over them in order to keep them concealed. At least now he was ready to leave.
He looked into the large mirror opposite the door, seeing himself in his normal wear. He could certainly see how the world adored him for simply being who he was. Fair skinned, bright blonde hair, blue eyes, rosy cheeks and the freckles which rested beneath his eyes and crossed over his nose only accentuated the natural beauty that came with his very existence. It was simply normal for him as it certainly was with most claimants, apparently he’d have to thank his parents for the looks he received although looking down at his curves and bosom it only served to remind him of just how much he took after his mother.
He exited the room and began making his way toward the exit until a tap on his shoulder caused his head to turn on a swivel and spot one of the new interns that had been hired. A sweet girl by the name of Stacey although he didn’t know why he chose to remember it. Most of the interns would disappear soon after entering any form of confrontation with him and she would certainly be no different.
“What do you need Schatz? I would like to head home as soon as possible if you don’t mind.”
“I’m sorry for the delay ma’am, I just needed to let you know that you’ve been receiving calls all day from someone who’s been calling herself your ‘aunty’. I just thought I’d let you know before you head out.”
Shit! Of course he’d forgotten that tonight was his night out with Evyette. After he lost his temper one day and kicked another claimant through a wall it became clear that he was prone to stressing himself out and it was on that same day the ancients came to make a deal with him. His continued level of freedom within the human realm, but only if he gave Evyette one day to help him release his pent up stress. Tonight they were meant to go out for drinks.
“Fuck, thank you for that dear. Now if you’ll excuse me I am now in a bit of a hurry”, he spoke as he darted out of the building.
Instead of making his way to the car he would instead find his way to a nearby alleyway, flipping out his phone and typing up a quick message before closing it and waiting for the portal which opened before him. The portal itself was just as hot as always and it was because of this that it felt so familiar. A quick step through and he would find himself standing in front of a bar next to Evyette who stood waiting with a smile.
“Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show.”
“I have a job to do und you know that. Surrounded by incompetence all day I managed to spend an entire day accomplishing nothing more than practicing lines. Lines which should have been done already if these people who are, how do you say, masquerading as actors could manage to do their jobs correctly.”
“You see? That’s exactly why we set these days up for you. You become stressed out far too easily. Now come inside and lets get a drink Gabi. We can talk more with a glass in our hands.”
He nodded and followed behind Evyette who lead him into this establishment they had managed to visit many times. The owner was always an asshole and it made sense considering his family, but how he managed to change the name of his shop so often was disorienting. Last month a sign hung above it which spelled out ‘The Gates Of Hell’ and now it was completely different with the name ‘Blacker Than Blood’. It was odd enough to make him wonder where the names were coming from. Maybe he wrote poems of some sort and these were lines? Or perhaps he was some unhinged lunatic who just couldn’t manage to choose something and stick to it. Either way the names he went by were more than enough to tell he wasn’t like any of the other humans or claimants he knew.
“Well would you look at that, my favorite two ladies in one place.”
“There’s no need for all the flattery Hellfire. We’re just here for a few drinks.” Evyette motioned for Gabi to sit at the bar where the dark skinned male was waiting.
“I would like a negroni, no ice with a splash of lemon und moonshine”, Gabi spoke as he sat down comfortable and rested his head on the counter top. “Please be quick. It would be nice to relax today.”
“Difficult day at work I assume? That’s the life of some big time actor. I’ll whip you two up a couple of ribeye as well, I’m sure you could both use a bite to eat.”
He was always so slick with his word. Casual yet capable and with emotion in every single thing he allowed to slip his tongue. Why he could only be found behind a bar was beyond his understanding and yet Hellfire seemed far too content with the work he did. Mixing drinks, making meals and sometimes what Gabi could only believe was murder behind the scenes. It was difficult to assume which of the three he enjoyed more and yet that didn’t seem to be what mattered.
“Tell me Hellfire. You have the skill und the capabilities, but why have you not gone into the acting industry? You would certainly manage to be more popular than me with your looks, correct?” the question was blunt and yet it only caused a devious smile to take root on the man’s face.
“Well that’s a simple question to answer fraulein. It’s because I enjoy what I do here. I don’t tolerate humans at all and that’s why I certainly wouldn’t work well around them. Don’t get me wrong, they do make for good specimens, but I ain’t gonna waste my time entertaining them when I could be killing them instead. That and I doubt any human would be capable of looking at my body and continuing to have a fun time.”
Even when explaining himself there was a sense of style that none of these amateur fucks seemed to have. It was so clean and worth listening to that he hadn’t even noticed the drink being placed right before him! It was a beautiful deep brown with a lasting orange which made it look more exotic than it truly was. The beverage was simple and yet it was the way he garnished it with orange peels and lemon zest that called forth its beauty. It was nice to know that at least someone could do a decent job today.
“I rather enjoy the company of humans. When around claimants for too long it is easy to forget that a single misstep could cost you everything. The human realm is frail und weak, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some form of danger around every corner. That is why I enjoy this acting I have done. Most claimants who look at my work don’t even realize that most of my films depict powerful people who end up in inescapable positions.” He took a steady sip from his glass and smiled ever so slightly at its taste. “No matter how strong you may be no one is truly invincible.”
There was a slight pause after his words and yet that space was soon filled with the chuckles of their current barkeep. There was a serious look in his eyes yet a playful demeanor about his features. He handed Evyette a drink that was unamend, red in color and almost had the look of velvet. There were cherries and camellia leaves adorning the rim of the glass with crystals of salt and sugar. Floating on the surface of the liquid. Perhaps next time it would be best to ask him for something fancier.
“Gabi you’re a bit too young to be worrying about stuff like that. You should be exploring the world, seeing everything that you can, enjoying yours days and lazing around. Relax and loosen up a bit. You’ve still got a lot of time on this planet and you should enjoy your early years by getting out into the fray.” He turned his gaze towards Evyette and winked with a smirk. “She talks like my parents but she’s only lived a fraction of the time. You should take her to more upbeat places.”
“I’ve tried but the boy doesn’t seem to enjoy those types of places. This atmosphere tends to draw him in more”, the ancient responded as they sipped from their glass with a pleased expression.
“That’s because it is easy to blend in when I am in places like this. The last time we went to an establishment that was more excitable und lively I was bombarded with fans and paparazzi. This is far easier to manage compared.”
Hellfire laughed and stepped over to a large fridge on the wall. Within were held multiple cuts of high quality steak as well as many differing cuts of chicken. He grabbed two ribeye and made his way over to the large grill located against the wall behind the bar. He opened a hatch on the bottom and blew a stream of black flames from his mouth which rested on the logs beneath in a relaxed and soft manner. He took a deep breath and for the slightest moment the red in his eyes flared up, the flames rolling and jolting into a strong dance which caused the logs to burst into flames before he placed the raw beef onto the metal rack.
He seasoned it casually yet generously, as he always did. There were always so many flavors it was an experience of its own. The sauces he prepared were just as delectable as the cuts of meat and together they made a symphony of flavors that could always be enjoyed. His cooking reminded him of his father’s cooking, but without the annoyance of having to be near his father.
“Are you heating the grill back up Hellfire?” a voice called out from the crowd of customers within the bar.
“Sorry my man. This is only for a couple of special guests. Maybe next time”, he responded to which the regular plethora of voices once again filled the air. “Now then let’s talk for a bit dear. How does a sweet girl like you end up getting so stressed out? You’ve got a nice home and some servants to take care of it all as well as yourself. Why not just spend more time at home?”
Gabi lifted the glass to his lips and downed the rest of the drink which was prepared, moving the glass over in Hellfire’s direction to which he took the opportunity to fill the glass again. This time it wasn’t anything so special, just a simple moonshine with a dab of raspberry paste which he thoroughly mixed together before sliding the glass back.
“Thank you, und it is not so simple. First of all I am not kind und I will not act as if I am. I would spend time in my home more often but I have come to hate the place. I prefer to be active. Also every time I am home the place gets surrounded by photographers and journalists and I hate having anything to do with them. Nichts als Schweine (Nothing but swine). There are very few people who enjoy my company since I’m seen as rather mean.”
The barkeep laughed as he flipped the steaks, the smoke going up through the vent above it yet the smell spreading throughout the establishment. Next to that he placed a small metal bowl over the flame and filled it with herbs and spice before dumping in what seemed like a red puree of sorts.
“Kiddo you’re not as mean as you think. I know someone who’s most likely a tad bit more angry than you are.”
“Really? Who might this mystery person be?”
“Don’t worry dear. If we come back next week I’ll introduce you to her.” |
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
163 posts
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currently online
Global Moderator
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Dec 31, 2021 21:36:51 GMT
Post by Dobu on Dec 31, 2021 21:36:51 GMT
Gabi’s eyes fluttered open, the bed was soft and warm yet the cool air balanced out the feeling that flushed his system. It was a relaxing feeling and almost enough to keep him in place for a while longer… that is until he realized this wasn’t his own bed.
He rose up quickly and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before stretching his arms out to which his wings followed suit. He had apparently taken off his coat and placed it off to the side, and judging by the décor of the room this was certainly Hellfire’s own bed. His living space was simple enough to distinguish from others and especially since it was so clean yet dark. The bed was covered in all manners of silk and cotton, the walls decorated with swirling crimsons and blacks while the floor was carpeted with a heavy charcoal shag. A small desk to the side of the bed and a wardrobe on the far side, but what really gave it away was the case off near an empty space, within the glass resting a serrated sword that looked as if it only knew carnage. It was damaged beyond repair yet seemed as if it refused to fall apart or be seen as weak, blood soaked into the metal and yet not a shred of rust in sight. Residual black flames tickling the edges of the custom weapon.
He rose to his feet and yawned, eyes spotting a folded letter on the desk before picking it up and taking note of the words written on the slip of paper.
Gabi, Me and the lady had to head out, something urgent came up and it needed to be taken care of. You fell asleep after a dozen drinks so I put you to bed before we took off. No need to do anything, your shoes are by the door, call on Xainayne and he’ll move you where you need to go. The asshole will be waiting, it was part of a deal. Have a good day and try to relax. I decided on a surprise for you so don’t get too hung up on work today little miss. Jerimyha
Why Hellfire always treated him so well he’ll never know. Maybe it was because of her looks or the way they seemed to get along so well, but it was nice to know tha there was someone he could count on outside of the ancients.
Gabi slipped the shoes back over his feet and folded his wings on his back before placing the coat back over his shoulders. If he’d be capable of using Xainayne as a taxi it would be best to head back home and clean up. At least he could always look forward to a good bath and breakfast. Then again it only served to anger him if the slightest things were in disarray so the morning’s pleasantness was resting on a whim. A sigh escaped his throat before she let the thought cross her mind.
“Xainayne, I’m ready.”
It took a few seconds but the familiar portal leading to the carnival opened up before him and Gabi wasted no time entering and looking about. No one was nearby, save for Xainayne who seemed to be rather pleased with this scenario. Of course he would be.
“How have you been? It has been quite some time since we’ve spoken.”
“Yes it has, und I was hoping to keep it that way. Lass tuns das zu Ende bringen.” (Let’s get this over with.)
“There’s no need to be so rude, Gabi. No one here is your enemy.” The ancient attempted to protest against his attitude and yet the claimant only grew more agitated by the thought.
“Oh really? Well between you und my father I wouldn’t know what exactly you both are at all! I did not come here for idle banter or a heart to heart, I needed a way back home und you were meant to open that path for me. Wenn das alles ist, möchte ich mich auf den Weg machen. Ich würde lieber sehen, wie die Kerne zu Staub zerfallen und weggeblasen werden, bevor ich meine Zeit damit verschwende, mit Ihnen zu sprechen. jetzt schick mich einfach nach Hause, wenn du willst.” (If that is all then I would like to be on my way. I would rather see the cores crumble to dust and blow away before I laze about wasting my time speaking with you. now just send me home, if you would.)
With that the two no longer had any words left to exchange. The ancient simply opened up the path for him to which Gabi quickly stepped through and watched as it closed behind him. He was back in his home, standing in his office which was clean as always. The next moments would be essential as he couldn’t even enter the home without being pissed off by his ancient. He grabbed the vase of flowers resting on the end of his desk and tossed it at the nearest wall, fuming as the ceramic shattered and the water within splashed onto the floor. The flowers were beautiful and yet it would go unnoticed by the darkness claimant.
After a few moments the door gently opened behind him to which his head turned to see one of the servants. Emmy. She seemed to be just as concerned as always and it caused the blonde to place his hands on the desk and take a few deep breaths.
“Welcome home ma’am. Are you alright?” the woman asked as she stepped into the room.
“I am fine Emmy, my dear. Just a bit flustered.”
“I’m assuming you had a talk with Xainayne or your father”, another voice chimed in as a tall woman with strait black hair stepped into the room. Her eyes were a deep purple and she almost seemed as if she could stare directly into your heart. “Those two are just about the only people who can manage to stir you up so early in the morning.”
“You know me well Misty. How is my schedule looking for the day?”
“You’re surprisingly clear, although the studio called earlier today and said you would need to come in slightly early. Something about a person you will need to meet.”
“In die Leere und zurück, what could possibly be going wrong now? It is almost as if I am working all of their jobs at once! What good is a producer und director if every little thing throws them for a loop! I wrote the lines, I did all the planning for the sets, now I need to take care of a single person that no one else can deal with? What could have possibly gone wrong?” (To the void and back)
He walked around his desk and sat in the large, comfortable chair. His eyes closed ever so softly as he began to spin in circles, more deep breaths as Misty cleared her throat.
“Ma’am, I believe this may be important. Something that only you can deal with.”
“Und why would you say that?” he questioned the servant who looked down at a slip of paper.
“I could hear the woman yelling in the background of the call. Something about having her morning ruined and, I quote, ‘being prepared to slit someone motherfucking throat if the person in charge doesn’t show the fuck up’. You may be in for quite a bit of trouble.”
“On Novevu’s name. What?!”
He stopped spinning in the chair and stood to his feet, rushing to the door before turning to face Misty and Emmy once more. They seemed concerned yet clearly relaxed. If they knew anything it was that there weren’t too many problems that their employer could not solve in their own but something told them that this was going to be different. It was almost as if this person were there specifically for Gabi. Perhaps an angry friend of someone who had been fired? No one would truly know until he went to see.
“Tell Freddy to have something ready for me to take to work und have Lizbett prepare the car. I’m going to freshen up und head out as soon as possible. Whatever this nonsense is it will be cleared up even if I have to kill someone.”
It never took Gabi long to clean himself up and makeup was never something he cared to use. His blonde hair was neatly brushing against his shoulders, a new outfit of all black marking his mood for the day. Boots, slacks, a tucked in t-shirt and a long coat to hide his wings away as well as provide some semblance of warmth from the cold weather.
The drive was as comfortable as always, Lizbett being his driver for so long she had become quite accustomed to giving him peaceful paths to work as to not stir his temper before things became busy. Normally they would have spoken and caught up on the way and yet this time he was more than busy eating his breakfast and typing up texts and emails to send out in preparation for his arrival. He had assigned quite a bit of his work to Misty and yet Lizbett could never understand how he was still kept so busy.
Then the phone rang.
“Hurensohn, who could this be now?” he spoke as he laid down the slice of toast coated with a sweet smelling red paste. His father had called it red bean paste when he sent it to him, at least he was good for making food… sometimes. (Son of a bitch)
Looking down at the cellular device a look of worry took form on his face. It was Evyette. That one never chose to call her unless it was time for their nights out, but all that meant was that this was more urgent than normal. He quicky lifted the phone to his ear and answered it.
“Yes? What has happened?”
“Are you in the car? Shit. So you’re on the way to work already. Well Hellfire just told me what he did and I was hoping to catch you before now.”
“What? What exactly is going on here? Do you two know about this situation at my job?”
“Well I didn’t until Hellfire told me a few minutes ago. Don’t worry, it isn’t as bad as it seems. He just requested that someone visit you at your workplace and, while I was hoping to have you two avoid each other, I suppose there isn’t much to be done now. Just try to get along, please.”
“I will not make any promises. We will see once I arrive. I will speak with you later, I’m going to be heading inside now.”
With that the phone hung up and a few more deep breaths escaped his lips. Lizbett couldn’t help but turn around in her seat as she parked and look back at her employer. Of course she would be worried, all of her housekeepers and helpers worried about him This however was different from the normal worry she often had.
“Should I, um, take us back? You don’t have to go in. It, um, sounds like things might be bad and I wouldn’t want you to get hurt ma’am. Or too stressed out.”
“It will be fine dear, just head back home and I will call you when it is time for me to leave this place.”
With those words Gabi stepped out of the vehicle and began her walk to the building, Lizbett watching as he raised his toast to his lips only to have it fall to the ground when it slipped from within its wrapping. This day was not going to be good for him and it was evident from the yelling which could be heard through the car.
“Verdammter Fick! Kann ich keinen einzigen verdammten Tag bekommen, an dem nichts schief geht? Du blöder Scheißkerl! Verdammter Motherfucker, gottverdammter Bullshit, cocksucking fucks!” he turned to the car parked at his side and kicked it, luckily without all of his strength and yet that was still enough to have it almost flip on its side. “Ich gehe in dieses Gebäude und häute jeden, der es geschafft hat, diesen Morgen noch schlimmer zu machen, als er ohnehin schon ist!” (Fucking fuck! Can I not get a single fucking day where nothing goes wrong? You stupid fucking son of a bitch! Fucking motherfucker, god damned bullshitting cocksucking fucks!) (I'm going to walk into this building and skin whoever managed to make this morning worse than it already is alive!)
His steps sped up, the usual agitated look plastered on his face as his hands slammed against the doors which almost swung off the hinges. The sound of the metal door slamming against the walls holding it in place caused a silence to fall over and type of conversation or confrontation that was managing to go on. Just looking at the room in disarray was enough to cause sparks to fire off in his head and the anger which followed was more than enough to tear down whatever sense of subtlety and holding back that might have even been planned before entering the building.
“Incompetence! All around me! Wenn ein Film von einer einzigen verdammten Person gemacht werden könnte, dann würde ich das lieber tun, anstatt mich mit diesem Quatsch zu beschäftigen! Sore wa doko e itte mo hidoi kusosākasu no yōna mono de, shingurumazā no kuso no hi o yasumu koto ni shita to shite mo,-en ni tsutsuma reta tatemono ni modotte mo odorokanaideshou! Wenn dieses Gebäude nicht in den nächsten drei Minuten geräumt wird, schwöre ich bei elysian, der Leere, bei der verdammten Zitadelle selbst watashi wa korera no kabe no naka ni mada sonzai shite iru subete no jinsei o owaraserudeshou! Watashi wa jibun jishin o hakkiri sa semasu ka, soretomo rei ga hitsuyōdesu ka?" (If a movie could be made by a single damn person then I would rather do that instead of deal with this bullshit! It's like a goddamn fucking circus everywhere I go and I wouldn't be surprised if I came back to the building engulfed in flames if I ever decided to take a single mother fucking day off! If this building is not cleared out in the next three minutes I swear to elysian, the void, to the fucking citadel itself that I will end every single life still existing within these walls! Do I make myself fucking clear or will you need an example?)
The threat might have managed to fall on deaf ears if it wasn’t mandatory for all people working alongside the darkness claimant to learn German and Japanese just for moments like this. It was also because of this that everyone swiftly exited the premises. Well, everyone but one person.
“Und wait outside until I come out to get you!” she shouted as the doors shut carefully behind the crowd of staff.
“And people say I have a terrible temper. But hey, at least you gave them a warning. Your accent is cute though. Might be why they all put up with you.”
The voice was almost enough to run her ragged. Not that it was unpleasant, but rather Gabi was expecting to be left alone. No doubt this was the troublemaker who had managed to make this morning more of a hell than he needed it to be, her voice wasn’t familiar in the slightest and just thinking about this confrontation that even Evyette was worried about made him frown. He turned around quickly and his blue eyes locked with her deep browns. This girl… was adorable, a posture filled with attitude that screamed how much she demanded to be taken seriously.
“I don’t know who you are, but we are not holding any auditions. What do you—”
“You… might be the cutest person I’ve ever seen! Well, second cutest.”
“W-what?!”
The shorter woman had managed to close the distance between them so quickly it was evident that he was now face to face with another claimant. She smelled of Jayhe’s distinct claimant scent and yet there was something about her that seemed different. For an order claimant her posture was lacking, almost too casual, and there was a sense of the unknown when standing in her presence.
“You remind me of someone. Blonde hair, cute blue eyes, even your accent is rather familiar. You should smile though! You’d almost look like a sweet little doll if you did.”
This woman was far too excited and yet it was intoxicating. How someone so aggressive could manage to be so… alluring? It was almost just like Hellfire in a way and yet she was clearly only acting this way with her. What she had heard which led her here was nothing like what this conversation was now. Was she like Hellfire? Did she simply dislike humans or what she attempting to play some trick on him?
“Who might you be? I do not believe we are acquainted.”
“Oh yeah, fuck. Hellfire woke me up at like five this morning and told me to come here, said that there was someone I’d probably like to meet, but I wasn’t expecting the guy to be right. My name is Eva by the way.”
“Eva? Evagelyne? Aikekunai of the house of order?” what in the hell was she doing here and why did Hellfire know her? It was no wonder Evyette was concerned, from what he had heard from his father this particular claimant was a fan of violence and confrontation! Then again there was one silver lining here. “I see. My father has told me quite a bit about you. My name is Gabi, nothing too special, just a normal claimant trying to make a simple living.”
“Now I know who you remind me of! Fuck, I’m surprised I didn’t notice it sooner! You’re that actor who’s been in those movies! I loved that one you played as a fallen angel in!”
“You mean Fated Fateless?”
“Yeah! That one! The ending where you’ve gained all the power in the world only to be struck down by your own allies was amazing. What made you think of something like that?”
This was an interesting turn of events. He had not been expecting Eva of all people to be a fan of his movies. How long had it been since someone actually just spoke to him like this? Not picking apart every little thing, not misunderstanding all of the things which took place, not believing that things could have ended better? It wasn’t about all of that it was about realizing that some things were just unavoidable and some people simply were never worth trusting. That was how he viewed the life of a claimant to be.
“I just do not like how everyone believes that life is always leading to some happy ending. It has nothing to do with being an adult und nothing to do with growing up, it is simple fact. Sometimes things do not go the way you plan und whether that leads to an inevitable demise or not is a coin toss away. I understand that things do go well often und that is good, but that does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen and we should be prepared for that.”
“The way you think is much like my aunt. She believes that it is more realistic to look at things expecting them to go wrong with preparation rather than to expect things to always go right and end up somewhere you could have avoided… she told me that my mother would look at things the same way.”
“Your mother sounds like a wise person. I would love to meet her if the opportunity ever arises.”
This had caused Eva to smile, something the girl hadn’t done since his arrival and it almost went unnoticed until that very moment. She had managed to call him cute and yet she seemed to be far cuter than he was in terms of attitude. Then the door opened ever so slightly and one of the building staff peeked their head inside. This caused both of them to turn their attention to the door just as the man began to speak.
“Excuse me, miss Gabi. I have something important to speak with you about if you do not mind.”
“Yes, by the cores, what do you need from me now?”
“We all spoke last night and we were hoping to let you know when you arrived, but we’ve all noticed just how stressed you’ve been with work. Everyone has agreed that you need to take a vacation. You need to relax. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you take a single day off and I’ve been working here for four years. You need this time to yourself ma’am and so we made time for you to have a month to yourself. We will work on lines and set pieces in the meantime, but for now you should clear your head and enjoy yourself.”
This was… unexpected. Not at all what he had been thinking to be met with and yet it wasn’t a terrible thought. Then again just how much could they throw into disarray while he was away? This was the type of thing that caused him to question what would happen, but with his eyes straying to his side and seeing Eva standing their with a content smile as if agreeing with this producer…
“Fuck it, fine. However if anything goes wrong you will contact me immediately. Do you understand?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Good. Everyone can take the rest of the day off and… let them know I apologize for my words earlier. That was unbecoming of me.”
“Yes ma’am, we all understand. Thank you.”
“Thank your fucking self! Now get the hell out of here before I slam your head through that damn door you waste of space!” Eva spoke without a single shred of care.
This was the Eva he had heard of. In that single moment it had all became clear to Gabi that it was by chance alone that he had managed to escape her ire. She was still ever the same as he had been told and just as he was told she would certainly never change, but it was apparently true that she chose the people she treated like actual people at a glance. Watching as the man disappeared from the doorway was more than enough to cause him to smile slightly before bursting into laughter.
“By the void, that was completely uncalled for. I am glad you said it though. It annoys me to no end when they talk more than they have to.”
“Well it pisses me off to see them alive so I can’t tolerate that nonsense he was spouting. You could take a day off whenever you wanted to, they didn’t need to say shit.” She spoke as she walked towards the door. “So then, let’s go to my place and talk. The day is still early and I haven’t had my morning coffee yet. Let’s talk about something other than work and get to know each other for a bit. I don’t know what it is but something is still telling me I’ve met you before.”
“Fine”, he spoke with a smile. “If I am going to be off for a month then this should be a fun start to this vacation. We can go out to eat later, my treat.”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Jan 3, 2022 20:14:15 GMT
The coffee smelled divine. It wasn’t often that Gabi had the opportunity to drink coffee, something about his health, but this was rather pleasant. They had arrived at the girl’s home rather quickly with Evyette’s help. Gabi had believed it would have been easier to ask Jayhe and yet she seemed to be struggling to even keep control over their Aikekunai. It was difficult to pin down, but either Eva specifically didn’t care for her or she just wanted to spite the ancient. Either way it seemed like they got along well enough in their own way to understand each other. Regardless this was good, her home was just as comfortable as he expected.
“You have a wonderful sense of style. Your home lets off a warm feeling I can get used to.”
“That’s because I enjoy my time alone, so if I can enjoy it I expect everyone to enjoy it. Well, not that everyone gets the chance to come in here. Save for Gahbreal who just wanders wherever he fucking likes. The prick.”
A shiver ran up the darkness claimant’s spine as they pressed their teeth together. If anything he had been hoping to not hear that name. Everyone always seemed to act as if he were some sort of plague on the community of claimants, an enigma who stands outside of the norm with a job that goes beyond what most people are capable if accomplishing.
“You know Gahbreal? I have heard that he rarely ever gets the opportunity to speak with others or get along with anyone else.”
“I suppose you’d be correct if I didn’t know him well enough. He was assigned to keep an eye on me when I was in a… less tha optimal state of mind… he acts far more fatherly than anyone who doesn’t know him can give him credit for, and yet the way he carries himself around pisses me off. I understand his position but I don’t understand his attitude.”
That asshole. It seemed in that very moment as if he were capable of treating others with respect and proper understanding. That only meant there was no excuse for when he didn’t do the same for others.
“I have never gotten along with him. He always acts as if something is far more important than what is normally going on behind the scenes und yet that is exactly what he needs to pay attention to. He is, how would you say? A piece of dick?”
Eva laughed slightly, placing a fresh mug of coffee before her guest before sitting down in her personal seat with a cup of her own.
“Well I’d say a piece of shit, but I like what you’ve come up with there. Why do you hate him so much however? You talk as if you know him better than me and yet I’ve ever only seen him treat me, Stasia and Verin like daughters of his own. He attempts to do so with DeVian and yet we all know that won’t work too well.”
Of course that would be expected of him. It was more than popular knowledge that he was known for being highly protective of them. Before now he had believed it was simply due to their roles as Aikekunai, but now that wasn’t so clear. He was capable of treating younger claimants as children? Look after them and watch over them? Perhaps it was true that all wolves have their cubs and yet was he not meant to be feared?
“That is exactly why I hate him so much. His focus is always so far off from what it needs to be. It is disgraceful. Er weiß nicht, wie man sich richtig um jemanden kümmert und das merkt man, wenn man genug Zeit mit ihm verbringt...” (He doesn't know how to care for anyone properly and it shows when you spend enough time with him...)
Eva stood quietly for a moment, thinking to herself before looking directly into the woman’s eyes. Gabi seemed far more agitated than she had expected from the conversation. Most people certainly knew who Gahbreal was and yet she spoke as if she knew him on a more personal level and yet still didn’t like him. What was the cause for this? He certainly had the scent of one of Xainayne’s claimants. Could it be that they had been acquainted in the past? No one ever really spoke on Gahbreal’s relationship with the other claimants of his house.
She poured each of them a cup of coffee, wondering how she could learn more about this person she had come to respect for the topic of his work. An actor who was more so only really known for his works sitting before her with a relaxed yet stern look on his face. He seemed almost familiar in a way and yet it was difficult to understand why this was the case.
“Tell me about yourself, Gabi.” Maybe the simple method would be best. “I think it would be interesting to learn more about you.”
“I do not know about that. I do not very much enjoy speaking about my life, but I suppose I could tell you something…”
He pondered for a moment, watching as Eva placed one of the cups before him. He reached for the warm liquid yet hesitated. A sigh slipped his lips and he leaned back onto the couch. This wasn’t difficult at all, right? It shouldn’t be. Why not just speak casually. There were certain things that couldn’t be said and as such it was paramount to hold those secrets close. Speaking around it however would be fine.
“I was born into the house of Dimea. I am not really someone important or of note, I suppose, und Xainayne does not really give me work to do. In all actuality my life as a claimant is filled with nothing but free time, so I spend all of that time making movies und doing acting jobs. My father is always busy so I rarely ever got the chance to see or speak with him. I was raised mainly by my mother and she chose to raise me in her home country from before she became a claimant. She taught me how to do everything including fighting and training my body. My father on the other hand would spend the little time he had with me watching over my training and overseeing my technique.”
He paused for a moment, grabbing the cup and lifting it to his lips. A deep breath and the aroma filled his senses. It was always a calming scent yet one he did not often get the opportunity to experience. Perhaps forcing the studio to have coffee around would be a good idea.
“My father never really seemed to understand anything outside of combat. He certainly does not understand me. My mother says he must stay focused und in top condition, doing what he can like all other claimants, making things better for us all just as everyone else does. I think it is bullshit. To make things worse, everyone expects me to grow up and follow in his footsteps. Live to do what is best for the rest of these claimants and yet I would rather do my own work. Anything to be the least like him I can possibly be.”
“I can see where you’re coming from, but you shouldn’t take your family for granted”, Eva spoke. She sounded agitated and yet the look on her face seemed calmer than expected. “Some people are just worthless overall. Then again, when it comes to family, you can still be happy they’re alive at the end of the day. Once you lose that it never truly comes back.”
For a moment his eyes refused to stray from hers. This seemed to be the difference between them, Eva’s clear sight forward and her lack of needing to search for answers. For her it seemed as if everything were already in place and alignment. There was no space for second guessing her choices and if she aimed to speak on something it would surely come directly from her own personal feelings. She was not one to hold back and as such she was not one to beat around the bush, prepared to wholeheartedly tell you exactly what she believed to be true and in this case there was no opposing her.
At the end of the day perhaps it would be best to just accept things as they are and simply be pleased with survival. The lives of claimants were not simple, and depending on your role or your family’s role you could be subject to consistent time away from one another. It is commonplace for claimants to simply die or never be seen again and there were far too many stories to tell of people simply dying and being gone for good. Then again it wasn’t so simple for him.
“The problem here would be that I have not gained anything from that man aside from an inconvenience. All he has ever shown me is how to fight. He never showed up for any important day, not once applying himself into my life in a manner that did not involve combat. Disappearing for weeks, months, years only to return und have me exercise, train, spar. He would say I need to be strong because the world is a dangerous place but I did not need him to tell me what I already knew! I needed him to be there! I spent the majority of my life living amongst humans who would make a mockery of me when I was a child, adults who would treat me like garbage, people I would have once seen as equals fighting me und hitting me only for my mother to insist I never fight back! She would say it was not my place to fight und that I must first learn self control yet I should have been able to rely on them to help me as a child!”
He placed the cup down on the table, but upon doing so he intertwined his fingers and they began to shake ever so slightly. The display of anger in his eyes was disturbing and ruthless. So much so that the water which built up just beneath the blue orbs was evident enough to show he was no longer in a good mood. Well, if he ever was to begin with.
“Everything was just some lesson, some trial that I had to overcome. One of my abilities does not go away und I just have to live with it. Everyone treats me like dirt und I just have to turn the other cheek. My parents act as if I am meant to grow into some example of an honorable warrior und yet I do not even like to fight. My mother attempted to do her best to raise me alone und keep me from turning into some rogue claimant, but that only served to fuck my childhood. My father might as well have not ever existed und all he ever did was make me learn to fight and gain more strength. ‘The world will not be forgiving to weakness for claimants. You must be prepared to defend yourself at all costs’ whilst my mother would say ‘you must be attentive und watchful. Remember who you are und keep yourself from going too far’. It was all rubbish. Now I come to find that the opposite of what they told me makes everything easier.”
Eva stood to her feet and stretched before waltzing over to Gabi and sitting by his side. She placed her hands over his own which caused his eyes to flick over to her position. What was she attempting to do? Perhaps maybe he had spoken for too long or had said too much. Then again this was not a situation he had faced before. Speaking with others about these things was not something he had ever done.
“My mother is a very powerful person. More powerful than I believe anyone else in this existing world will ever be. When I think of her I think of what it would be like to have the strength to destroy all things in a magnificent flurry of unimaginable destruction and chaos. Yet even with those thoughts my aunt told me that she was one of the kindest people she’s ever known. My mother was simultaneously feared for her strength and at the same time adored by everyone who had been given no reason to oppose her. I believe your mother desired for you to have one of those things while your father desired for you to have the other. My mother believes in peace at all costs, above all things. I believe that both of your parents simply desire for you to be at peace even if that means you have to fight for it. In the world of claimants we can easily die when faced with an overwhelming force, something we can’t handle. I’m certain that for a parent the thought is enough to drive them to extremes.”
No one had ever told him Eva was so well spoken and perceptive. One moment it was like speaking to a normal person, albeit a bit overbearing, and the next it was like talking to someone who viewed themself as being a status above you. This change was ominous and yet alluring in a way. It was difficult to imagine why others view her so poorly if this was how she spoke to others. Then again it did not seem as if she’d ever speak to many other people like this. It was exactly what he needed.
“Perhaps you are right... maybe I should take another look at things between me und my parents.”
“What do you mean ‘perhaps’? I’m always right so don’t forget it. You may be one of the cutest girls I’ve ever seen but that doesn’t mean anything to me. Remember, I’m always fucking correct in all my ways.”
There it was. The side that everyone talked about again. It was so out of place after what she had said and yet that was exactly why it caused the darkness clamant to smile the way he did. Eva could only watch as Gabi’s cheeks lit up red just beneath his freckles, his smile opening up into a chuckle and quickly upgrading into a laugh with a voice just higher than her own. His happiness in that moment was just genuine enough to make this entire situation worthwhile. Eva could almost swear the smile was nostalgic in a way.
He calmed himself, placing a hand over his chest and taking a few deep breaths. He turned his eyes to meet Eva’s gaze and held onto his smile.
“Ich schätze deine Wrote, but it will take some time to mend anything between me und my father. I cannot blame my mother for being in her situation und trying to do what she could, but my father will garner no such mercy from me. He could have done better than what he did. Sometimes I feel as if it would have been better if he had simply left for good, but then I am certain my mother would implode. Chaos does not bode well for her although it is in her nature.” (I appreciate your words)
What could that have meant?
“Well we should decide on where it is we’re going to eat. I don’t want to go to some place where the servers are going to piss me the fuck off… or better yet I think I have somewhere we can go. It won’t be super fancy, but I know somewhere with good food and pleasant company.”
“Well then I shall place myself in your hands. Lead the way.”
Eva smiled and in a matter of moments the portal leading them to the Prism opened up. They casually made their way inside to which they found Jayhe sitting patiently. She almost looked as if she were prepared to say something to the Aikekunai and yet the moment her eyes caught a glimpse of Gabi she seemed to almost grow pale. Like he was possibly the last thing she had hoped to see.
“Oh my. Well, hello Eva… Gabi…”
“Wait a minute? You know her? Damnit, this is why you piss me off! You knew someone who looks this adorable and you didn’t tell me about them?”
“Well I certainly can’t just send you the information of every single claimant I think you’d like child. Especially since you enjoy harming others at random and I will not help you do that.”
“Well it seems you two get along rather well.”
“Fucking bitch. Just open the portal to where I requested so I can get out of here.”
“You think I’d just do as you say after you speak to me like that? You can’t possibly believe I’m that much of a pushover.”
“I would like to request you just let me get to where I would like to be.” Gabi spoke as his wings shifted beneath his coat. “I am not a huge fan of the Prism und I would like to just get to my destination without having to get agitated beforehand.”
The ancient looked at him for a moment, their eyes locked onto one another and yet his blue eyes gave off a extreme sense of malice and bloodlust. It was almost as if he wanted to fight and yet that was certainly a poor decision to make for more reasons than one. The ancient eventually chose to give in and open the path for them to exit, but not before flashing Gabi a look that screamed ‘do not come back’. He wasn't going to give it a second thought.
As they stepped out of the portal and back into the human realm the air seemed so comforting. He could almost swear this felt familiar. It was warm and yet the wind was cold, the sun setting on the horizon revealing the open landscape around them, fields as far as the eyes could see with farm animals scattered about and crops growing far out into the distance, even the dirt and gravel path stretching out into the distance seemed familiar. Why was this all so familiar? It reminded him of when he was a child and yet that was not a feeling that ever managed to bode well.
“Come on. I’d rather get inside before the insects start to fly all over the fucking place.” Eva’s voice snapped his attention away from the distance.
He turned to follow her and upon doing it came to realize what was happening. The large house which sat before them. It wasn’t anything too special but large enough to be more than what the average person could easily own. Well managed, well maintained, clean and with the average design you’d expect from the average home. Alongside the land around them this entire setup would certainly cost a fortune. Maybe Eva was more perceptive than he had expected or possibly just toying with him all this time, but this couldn’t just be coincidence.
“This house…”
“Hurry up, I’m starving! We can’t stand out here all night!”
“R-right. My apologies. Watashi o fakku.” (Fuck me.)
They approached the building slowly, Gabi lagging behind slightly until Eva knocked on the door. Why she chose not to use the doorbell only the ancients might possibly know, but they could hear the footsteps approaching from within the home. As the sound of the lock being released was heard from within the door Gabi could feel his stomach turn. Then once the door was opened the entire situation began to unfold itself.
“Oh! Eva, it is you! What might you be doing here so late?” Cyva spoke with a bright smile.
“Hello Cyva. We just came by to see if we could join you for dinner. The Void forbid we have to go to some shitty restaurant somewhere.”
“Could you not have gone to visit Jerimyha at his bar? He always makes good food, but I will not miss out on the chance for company.” She was always so cheerful. How she managed it was confusing, but that’s simply how Cyva had always been. “However you said ‘we’? Who have you brought along with—”
The woman turned her gaze to Gabi and in that moment her eyes lit up. Eva raised her brow, seemingly confused as to what had caused her to cut her sentence short. Then as the woman rushed over to Gabi it all made sense. The two, while Gabi was certainly taller, looked almost exactly identical save for Cyva having teal eyes and Gabi having pure blue alongside her freckles.
“Wait a minute. You two?”
“Ah, well, I suppose I owe you an explanation”, Cyva started as she positioned herself at Gabi’s side. “It’s quite the secret, but this is my beautiful daughter Gabi. Just look at her! Doesn’t she look just like me?”
“Well I do have my father’s eye color, as much as I hate it, but that is besides the point.”
“How long has it been since we’ve last spoken? When you began living on your own we just… lost all contact with you.”
“Yes, well I do very much enjoy my time alone. That und I did not want to really speak with either of you for quite some time. I still do not wish to speak with father.”
“I see...”
The two stand silently for a moment, eyes turned towards the ground as Eva still stood in shock and awe. Discovering that the very people Gabi was at odds with were people she knew, but seeing just how poor their relationship was only pressed her to desire after more information. What could she say? What could she ask? At this point was there really any reason to beat around the bush?
“Hold on a fucking second. Are you meaning to tell me that you two are seriously related and no one told me? What kind of bullshit is that?” she questioned the two of them to which Gabi sighed and approached the home.
“I suppose I can explain more over dinner. For now I should properly introduce myself. My name is Gahbriogyva Leigh Dimea, daughter of Cyva und Gahbreal, und I will have to request you keep this a secret. Me und my parents have gone to great lengths to assure no one knows my family ties. It will only be a hassle if the wrong people were to figure it out. There is no real punishment if you decide to tell others, but my father und Xainayne will certainly be unpleased." |
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Jan 6, 2022 0:30:15 GMT
“Gabi has always been quite the handful as a child. It was difficult enough to get her to do as she was told, but with Gahbreal working as much as he does the majority of her upbringing rested on my shoulders.”
Cyva spoke as she chopped up multiple vegetables and placed them to the side. There were carrots, potatoes, celery and a few small tomatoes. The room was filled with the smell of spices and herbs boiling in a pot of water which had been thickened with a mixture of flour and cream. The only thing left to be prepared was the large cut of beef lying on the counter to Cyva’s side. It wasn’t until Gabi came rounding a corner into the kitchen that the meat would even be touched.
“Gahbreal did his best to be a part of it all while also continuing his word, but… I could tell it was weighing on him more and more. Above all else he desired for her safety yet at the same time not many people know how he was raised like I do. He knows, just as I have come to learn in my own way, that the only person who can really protect you is yourself sometimes. It was why he mainly spent what little time he had with her aiming to perfect her combat skills.”
“That’s odd. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything about Gabi fighting. Only her exploits in movies.”
“That is because I like to keep it that way”, he cut in as he sharpened the set of knives he would be using. “My father spent so much time focusing on combat and yet he did not realize that I am not one to fight when it does not please me. If I am going to fight it will always be on my terms.”
His mother laughed, pausing her chopping for a moment in favor of turning to her child. She could tell he was not pleased with her reaction yet could he blame her? She did spend the entirety of his childhood at his side, watching over him, keeping hi out of trouble. She knew that what he said was completely true.
“She is not wrong. I remember one time Gabi’s teacher called me and said she had kicked some boy in the face. Apparently they had told her she was ugly and no one would like her so she kicked him in the chin and dislocated his jaw. I was more concerned about the boy’s health and yet the teachers were more concerned about Gabi. Turns out he had told her that almost a full year before she retaliated and when asked why she would say—”
“I wanted him to understand that all actions have consequences. Even if it takes a hundred years there will always be consequences, und he should be glad I was lenient on my punishment.”
He spoke casually as he began cutting the cut of meat into medium sized cubes. A slight smile formed on his face when reminded of the past himself, causing him to chuckle ever so softly. Cyva smiled as well, pleased to see her daughter enjoying herself if only for a short moment. It was good to have her home again.
“At least it wasn’t as bad as when you would not hide your wings away. We had gotten you so many coats to wear so you would be comfortable while also hiding them and you simply would not do it. Granted you were quite young, but you wouldn’t listen to anyone around that age.”
“Ugh, do not remind me. I believe I was five und I thought it would be easier to just fly wherever I needed to go. It is embarrassing to think about.”
Eva rose to her feet quickly, nearly knocking the chair she was seated upon onto the ground. Both Cyva and Gabi turned to her which revealed a troublingly bright look on her face. For a moment he felt a sense of unease, almost as if something dreadful was going to happen. Then again she seemed to radiate that type of energy so it was only natural to feel that. What could she possibly want?
“Gabi… show me your wings.”
“I beg your pardon?” he responded with a raised eyebrow.
“Show me your wings! I need to see them now!”
“By the Void, what has gotten into you? Fine! Hold on a moment.”
He walked over to the pot of boiling ingredients and carefully placed each cube of meat into the mixture, making certain not to spill anything. Once done he washed the blood from his hands and dried them well before stepping into the more open area of the home where a large couch sat in front of a television. Looking at the couch did not bring him comfort or pleasant memories, but then again nothing inside this house would.
He removed his coat one sleeve at a time and upon it falling from his shoulders a pair of large black wings unfolded. Along with his arms they stretched out, a few rolls of the arms and he almost seemed more comfortable than before. They were completely black and yet the few feathers which fell from them as they opened faded into nothing only to be replaced from where they had once fallen. Once it seemed his stretch was complete they folded back behind him although in a far more casual manner, clearly visible and not pressed against his back.
“Oh thank the cores, I forgot how good it feels to stretch out like this. They stay folded up so much between work and being around everyone else. They start to feel stiff when I don’t move them around often.”
Cyva smiled at the sight, her daughter relaxing and being as comfortable as could be. Eva on the other hand stared in astonishment before standing to her feet and walking over to the taller woman. She grabbed his hands and looked him directly in the eyes.
“You look like an angel.”
“Aren’t angel wings white Eva sweetheart?”
“Cyva, don’t fucking ruin this for me! Besides! The human depiction of an angel is flawed! If the gods they believed in were as powerful as they claim then the wings should be whatever color they desire! That being said it is now settled. You will be my angel from now on.”
“Entschuldigen Sie?” (Excuse me?)
“That’s right! You should be proud! You will watch over me as a loyal guardian for the rest of your days. Then, I can always count on my cute angel to save me from all manners of harm.”
“Eva, dear, you don’t need anyone to watch over you. You are among the most violent of the claimants. If anything many people need protection from you.”
“Cyva I swear to the ancients themselves I will carve your heart out if you ruin this for me! You may not want to belong to me but if I can get your daughter then I’ll have at least one of you!”
“Sorry Eva, I will have to pass on that offer. Not that I do not believe it would be fun to roam about with you, but I would prefer not to do anything combat oriented. The ancients have done quite a bit to ensure I need not enter the field of battle und I will not sully the kindness I have been permitted. I would rather continue my duties with my career.”
“Damnit. Well, if you ever change your mind I will always accept you. As my personal assistant.”
Cyva seemed to enter a rather heated conversation with Eva, something about her only wanting to spite Gahbreal with the offer to which the woman didn’t even bother refusing. At times it seemed as if she really didn’t like certain people and at others it seemed as if she were just a fan of causing a stir. Either way it wasn’t enough to distract Gabi from continuing what he had started.
The meal was beginning to smell wonderful, a stew made with all the basic ingredients they had always used. It was moments like these, sitting in his family home and cooking meals, that he would come to remember the good moments of the past. When he was at his youngest his father would come around far more often. He was about three or four at the time but his father was always prepared to spend as much time with him as possible. The days he would take him out shopping or to interact with other children. When he would have her accompany him to different places for work. The few times he had shown her how to cook and bake. Those were the memories that were so comforting and yet also so saddening.
“Where did all the good times go?” he spoke under his breath before his eyes rose from the pot and turned to look in the direction of the front door.
Was it just me, or did I just hear the wind shift outside?
“Eva, you can’t bother Gabi or distract her form her work. While she does not have any duties given by Xainayne that means she must make a living for herself. Things are difficult enough for her already and she won’t need the extra stress.”
Yes, I certainly heard something. It was clear as day. Like a gust apart from what the rest of the wind was doing around it. Then footsteps.
“Huh?! What do you mean by that?! Since when was I stressful to be around? Besides, it isn’t like I’m going to just interrupt all of her work from now on!”
The steps are heavy. Casual. Almost as if they believe they belong here. Familiar.
“You would show up in places where you weren’t allowed to be just to talk with me Eva. I understand that you have the things you enjoy, but you cannot allow it to disturb others around you. I could barely get any work done without you popping up.”
“I can’t believe you think I’m that overbearing! Normally I wouldn’t forgive you, but since I’ve gotten the chance to meet your cute daughter I suppose I’ll let it slide… Gabi?”
His hands were pressed against the countertop, nails digging into the marble as his teeth pressed together violently. His eyes were now locked onto their meal resting over the fire, and yet the blue orbs were clearly focused on something else. By now both Eva and Cyva had turned their attention to him and yet they did not understand what he understood.
Being trained by Gahbreal was not meant to be taken lightly and it was certainly no small ordeal. Cyva would tell the normal person that he rarely ever agrees to train or even oversee others, taking on student being even more rare. Gabi on the other hand would grow impatient even being asked the question. Being raised from day one within his household, you would come to find him as clearly filled with compassion. Growing older it would soon be apparent that you were destined to be taught about combat by him and once it began nothing was ever easy. Every ounce of your being would be pushed to its limits. Most people would call him a ‘wolf culling lambs’, but Gabi saw things a completely different way.
He is not so great that I would call him a wolf among lambs. That would mean me saying he was all powerful compared to everyone else. There are many capable of fighting him with equal power if they had the skill to do so. No, my father is a wolf amongst countless other wolves. As his child I suppose I was just meant to be the same.
“You have to be fucking kidding me.”
Just as the words fled from his lips the sound of the door handle being used alerted the other two of what was happening. Cyva was the first to understand as she knew her far too well, Eva quickly coming to the conclusion moments later. The door swung open and with a few heavy steps entering the home it would be closed yet again.
Of course she would be sharp enough to hear something like that. For fuck’s sake, is everyone born from his family’s blood some kind of physical monster? It's the same shit with both May and Hellfire.
The steps began ,making their way across the house and as they did he began to speak.
“Hey love, you didn’t have to make dinner. I thought I told you I’d take care of that tonight. I won’t be able to stay for long. Me and Nier have been given another joint assignment. Somethin about a group of assholes tryin to start a war. I should have a few hours to—” he paused as he rounded the corner and saw Eva sitting at the table. “I see we have company. No wonder you decided to… cook.”
He stopped in his tracks, red eyes resting on the head of blonde hair next to his wife’s. He wanted to smile, the twitch at the corner of his lips was enough to give that away to Cyva and Eva, but at the same time he could not bring himself to do it. This wasn’t the type of situation in which he could rightfully smile, was it? He had to do something at least. Say something. But what could he possibly say that wouldn’t be shot down in an instant?
“Ga—”
“Jikan o muda ni shinaide kudasai! Nidoto iimasen... Moshi anata ga hanashi tari nakayoku shitai nonara, zutto mae ni sō shite itadeshou.” (Don't waste your time! I will not say it again... if you wanted to talk and get along you would have done so a long time ago.)
He stood silently for a moment, Eva watching to see what response he might have. This was a good chance to learn more about their relationship and any little detail would be more than enough.
“I suppose you’re right. It was good seeing you again.”
What?!
She watched as the father and daughter parted ways then and there. He didn’t even attempt to speak more, to get in a word. All the times she had opposed him, spoken out of line, outright told him to die in some ditch and he always seemed to be prepared to push back against it. Seeing him fold like this was unnatural. He simply turned and walked away into his and Cyva’s bedroom.
What could have possibly happened between those two?
Cyva did not waste any time going after him. It made sense, the order claimant had never seen anything like it. If he were capable of turning him away so easily the girl might have been a major pawn in having Gahbreal never oppose you. Gabi hated both Gahbreal and Xainayne. If at some point he ever decided he wanted to outright defy them, mobilizing Gahbreal against an enemy that was also his daughter would be an impossible task to ask even for him. It might even cause his own betrayal depending on his state of mind at the time. At first it was a simple means to spend time with a possible friend and now it turned out to be quite the scenario for Eva to gather information.
“So… do you mind telling me what that was all about?” she questioned Gabi who seemed agitated just to hear her speak.
“I would rather not speak about it. Let us simply get this meal over with so I can return home. I knew this was a fucking mistake.”
“You don’t have to be so stressed. It won’t hurt to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, so just talk to—” she was cut off by the sound of steel embedding itself into stone, the crack of shattering marble and snapping wood. A closer look and she would find the knife which was being held in Gabi’s hand planted firmly into the countertop, the wooden handle crushed beneath his grip. Her gaze roamed up to meet his eyes and upon doing so would be met with two red glowing circles where the blue had once been. “Is that madness? Just like Gahbreal’s?”
Gabi twitched, as if being snapped back into his senses. He released the knife to which the splinters of wood fell to the floor and took several deep breaths. With each breath the red slowly faded until there wasn’t a single sign of it.
“I apologize, but I really do not wish to speak about it. Maybe another time. For now I would just like to eat and get out of here.”
Just as he finished speaking Cyva came walking back out of the room where she had gone to meet her husband. She didn’t even stop to notice the damaged which had been caused to the kitchen, instead making her way over to Gabi and turning down the flame beneath all of the food. Then, with a hand placed on her daughter’s shoulder she would speak.
“Come with me. We need to talk for a moment.”
The darkness claimant nodded with a sigh and followed behind his mother who lead them to the front door. They slipped their shoes on before heading out into the open air. They walked for about several minutes, until their home was far off in the distance. It was probably so that the daughter and father could go without hearing one another. Then they stopped in a clearing amongst the surrounding crops where Cyva would begin to speak.
“Is it not possible for the two of you to at least speak? I has been five years since we last saw one another and even longer since you or your father were face to face. You could both at least talk to one another.”
“Es tut mir leid, Mutter. Ich sehe einfach kein Szenario, in dem ich diesen Mann mag. Es spielt keine Rolle, wie sehr er sich entschuldigt. Seine Handlungen sind mehr als genug, um mir zu zeigen, dass sich nichts geändert hat.” (I'm sorry mother. I just don't ever see a scenario in which I will like that man. It doesn't matter how much he apologizes. His actions are more than enough to show me nothing has changed.)
“Gabi, er kann nicht viel tun. Dein Vater hat viel zu tun und seine Arbeit erfordert fast immer, dass er weg ist. Er hat getan, was er konnte, um die Dinge mit dir zu reparieren, die einzige Möglichkeit, die er konnte, während er gleichzeitig die Ordnung aufrechterhielt. Gib ihm einfach eine Chance.” (Gabi, there is not much he could do. Your father has a lot to deal with and his work almost always requires he be away. He did what he could to mend things with you the only way he could do so while also maintaining order. Just give him a chance.)
“Er hat seine Chance verloren! Außerdem hätte er, wenn er wirklich reden wollte, dies in den letzten Jahren jederzeit getan. Er kann Mörder und Mörder finden, die versuchen, sich vor ihm zu verstecken, und doch habe ich mich überhaupt nicht versteckt. Er entschied sich, die ganze Zeit nicht zu sprechen.” (He lost his chance! Besides, if he really wanted to talk he would have done so at any time these past years. He can find murderers and killers attempting to hide from him and yet I haven't been hiding at all. He chose not to speak all this time.)
A sigh escaped Cyva’s lips as she sat on the ground. The woman seemed defeated and yet that was not the feeling she gave off. She looked tired, exhausted, as if she hadn’t slept in years.
“Gahbriogyva. We do not live forever, we are not immortal. Your father has fought countless battles over countless generations and throughout that time he has certainly died multiple times. From what I know each of his past lives were far from the same and that goes for all Aikekunai like him. Claimants like Stasia, DeVian and Eva just to name a few. Their past lives were not the same as their current lives as well and it is because of this that I fear every single day I will receive news of your father going out to fight and never coming back.”
Cyva stood back up to her feet and walked over to her daughter, placing her hands on his shoulders. It was always so easy to see how genuine his mother was. Even now, when she was trying to be strong and demanding of him with her eyes locked directly onto his own it was easy to see how close to tears she was. It was truly a sad sight to see.
“He does not have the choice, it is everything he is and he refuses to share the job with anyone else. He lacks the heart to make anyone else do his duty in his stead and so his entire life as well as his future is all dedicated to his work. That does not mean it comes before you or me, your father has made it clear that he is more than prepared to drop everything for our sakes, but that does not mean he is unwilling to die for the sake of his duty and when he does the same man will not exist. Although he may carry the same name he will not be the same person. I would just like you to know the same Gahbreal I know, if only you’d give him the chance to make up for what he has done.”
Gabi frowned, his features softening as he took another deep breath. Of course his mother was right. That was one of the first things they had made clear to him upon his being capable of understanding the concept. Not even the ancients were safe from death. His father wasn’t doing just anything with all of his time, it was a continuous battle that never ended behind the scenes. A mock peace hidden behind the works of him and his subordinates. His life was always at considerable risk the moment he left his home nine times out of ten.
Even so he could not bring himself to forget the past. To outright forgive him for the mistakes of the past? It was not going to happen. Even so, with that look in his mother’s eyes, he didn’t have much of a choice. While Gabi did not care much for his father’s desires he certainly cared for everything his mother desired. While he hated how she always took his side it was impossible to assume she would do anything other than that. The woman was prepared to kill for his sake, fight for his sake and even die for his sake. This was no different after all.
“Alright. I give. If you want me to do something then I will try. Do not blame me however if things do not go well.”
“All I ask is that you try. I’m not going to pretend that you two will ever get along, but I would like you to live without the regret of never speaking with one another.”
“I understand.”
“Good, and thank you sweetheart. I will head back home and continue preparing dinner. You should take the time to relax outside for a moment before you come back. It has been a while since you’ve been here with us. Spread your wings and take it all in. I know you want to.”
Gabi’s eyes lit up, the reminder of where he was flushing through his system. He could remember it so clearly, the childlike voice he once had calling for his mother to watch him. For his father to help him. He could clearly see the little girl flapping his black wings in an attempt to lift himself off of the ground and before he could even stop himself the wingbeats at his mother’s back was more than enough to tell her he was off and in the skies. She only looked back once to see his soaring through the air before she continued on her way back to their home.
Gahbriogyva was incapable of holding back his smile. He hadn’t flown like this since the night he had left this house for good, five years ago. It made his chest feel tight to think about it. He would spend the vast majority of his time as a child gliding gracefully through the air to strengthen his wings and just be alone with his thoughts. The time he had gone through his first breakup he found himself in these skies above his home, when his father would miss his birthdays or his graduations he would be in the sky, when things did not go how he desired…
The cool breeze brushing against his cheeks and through the strands of golden hair atop his head. The feeling of the wind travelling through his cloths and across his frame. It sent a shiver up his spine and through his soul. Before he knew it the tears were already falling down his cheeks.
“Why could he not just stay the way he was at the start? This would not be so hard if he had just stayed the same”, he told himself as he closed his eyes.
Gabi could almost imagine it, see it clearly. The small girl running across the field with the larger male walking behind her with his eyes trained on their surroundings. He was always so cautious back then. He could see him lifting the girl up and watching with a proud smile as her small wings flapped and fluttered in the wind. In that moment it almost seemed like nothing else in the world existed. If only he didn’t remember his childhood so clearly. It might not make how things were now hurt so much.
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Jan 7, 2022 8:21:57 GMT
He stepped into the home, slipping his shoes from his feet as he made his way back into the kitchen. He was certainly calmer. Levelheaded at the least and prepared to continue on with their plans for the night. His mother was smiling as brightly as ever. The two of them rarely ever agreed on anything and yet when they did it was always in her favor. At least both him and his father had that in common. When it came to telling her ‘no’ it was absolutely impossible to do so. At least once he was old enough to understand just how emotions worked.
Gahbreal was out and about, sitting on the couch sharpening and polishing off his axe. Eva seemed to be intent on having a conversation with him and yet the concepts they spoke of didn’t make any sense. It was almost as if they were speaking a different language and yet that might have just been his own mind attempting the cancel out the noise.
Gabi’s eyes traced the edge of his weapon, how he managed to keep it so clean and sharp a mystery of its own. His mother had told him that the weapon experienced consistent use and because of this he had to make certain to work on its upkeep daily. It was one of the few things he could remember seeing him do from the past outside of the usual sparring and time spent together as a child, but looking at it more closely as an adult it was so very ominous. The only truly clean part of the weapon was its edge, sharp enough to cut through the air itself with how much time he spent giving it care. The rest of the weapon was stained with shades of blood that looked as if they’d never wash away. Even tinges of madness seemed to creep along its frame.
“You don’t understand, Eva. This isn’t some kind of game. Sometimes the actions we take can be the difference between peace and conflict. We are held amongst important people and because of this our actions are not just our own.”
His father’s voice finally reached him, tearing through the fabric of his makeshift serenity. They must have been talking about work.
“As if that ever mattered to me. I do as I please and that’s that. If it causes someone an inconvenience then that’d be their own problem. If I worried about all the pansy fucks who complain about every move I make then I’d never be able to get anything done. You can worry about that crap if you want to, but I certainly won’t.”
“You can’t keep acting out of line like that Eva! One of these days you’re going to end up harming or killing someone and it won’t be forgiven. Jayhe has asked me on multiple occasions to cover for you and do what I can to make up for your slip ups, but that can only go so far.”
“Then maybe you should mind your own business! What I do with my time and my power does not equate to what you desire for me to do. If I want someone to die then they die, if I want to start a war then I will start a war and nothing you say or do can stop me! Perhaps you should learn to watch your tone because I’m not some child awaiting guidance from you.”
“I know that, Eva, but you need to understand that you can’t keep acting in such a chaotic manner! For fuck’s sake! How can an order claimant embody the exact opposite of what their title states? You’ve managed to avoid the brunt of most major conflicts of the past so you may not understand, but war amongst the ancients is the last thing anyone needs. Once war starts sides are inevitably formed, factions and allies band together and the moment an ancient calls for us to fight there is no other choice. As lackluster as it is, the peace we have now is far better than what the past held, and I will not risk the chance of my family being at war with one another! This impacts all of us, not just you, and I would hope you understand that.”
“Oh I understand. I just don’t very much care. You will come to realize it eventually, whether you finally listen or it gets forced into your thick skull. When I desire something it very much belongs to me. Whether it be lives, hearts, items of vanity or war itself. It will all belong to me if I want after it. My life is no one person’s to command aside form myself. There is only one person I would allow to order me about and it certainly is not you.”
“Anata wa jibun jishin o mimamoru ka, sukunakutomo tanin no sewa o suru koto o manabubekidesu. Anata wa jibun ga fure rarenai to shinjite iru kamo shiremasenga, sekai wa anata ga nozomu koto o nani demo dekiru hodo shinsetsude wa arimasen.”
“Bié nàme shǎ. Nǐ yīnggāi xiàng qítā rén yīyàng liǎojiě nǐ zài wǒ zhī xià de wèizhì. Wǒ de yuànwàng yě kěyǐ chéngwéi fǎlǜ. Wǒ de chūshēng yǐjí wǒ de zhíwèi dōu zhèngmíngliǎo zhè yīdiǎn.”
As Eva’s words concluded so did her eyes shift to Gabi who stood by his mother’s side watching the conversation unfold. He could see it clearly, the determination, the seriousness, status made plain. Her eyes were like daggers digging into the frame of his skin. It almost felt as if a sharpened blade was being plunged directly into his breast and gave him the desire to choke. Then he remembered who exactly he was and a sigh escaped his lips.
His father looked over as well, noticing his child had come back to the home he rested his axe on the floor and stood to his feet. It would have been optimal in his own mind to avoid having her see him like this, but it was much too late for that. Cyva had all but ignored the entire situation and continued to cook. Seeing that must have meant this was a common occurrence.
“Well, you two are rather on edge? I do not believe I have experienced such a heated argument outside of… well… myself speaking with my coworkers.” He leaned against the edge of the counter top and turned his attention directly to Eva. “Moshi anata ga watashinochichi to no sensō ni owattara, sore wa anata ga gijutsu-teki ni mo watashi to sensō o suru koto o imi suru koto o anata wa shitte imasu ka?” (You do realize that if you end up in some war against my father that means you would technically be at war with me as well?)
That was enough to grab Cyva’s attention. Not so much concerned with Eva yet rather concerned with her daughters statement. The way he chose to speak could have meant many different things. It could have been a declaration of his own opposition towards Eva’s choice of words, it could have been an outright threat if he truly meant it, but Cyva was most concerned with the implications that came along with it. There was no time to be pleased with her daughter siding with his father for once, rather there was more concern to be had with Gabi outwardly stating that he was willing to fight at all. Just looking at Gahbreal’s face she could see he had realized the same.
“Oh? So you’d be willing to fight if I were to go against your father?”
“Do not think so lowly of my reason for fighting. All I will say is that a lot has been done for me to be capable of living the way I currently do und, much to my dismay, I would not be capable of continuing that lifestyle if a war were to begin. While no one knows my origin as you do, they certainly know I am a claimant. All it will take is someone deciding to target me in that time und my ‘lackluster peace’ would end right there.”
They both stood motionless for a moment, gazes locked as it seemed they were in some invisible conflict with one another. Then Eva cracked the slightest smile before bursting into laughter.
“I’m liking you more by the second. Gahbreal couldn’t handle a joke if it were all the world had left, and he certainly takes everything far too seriously. You on the other hand seem to be akin to standing your ground in my favorite type of way.”
“Well I have never been one to back down easily und if you were serious then all that would mean is I was serious as well.”
“Well you have no need to worry”, she spoke as she turned her attention to Gahbreal. “I have no desire for war as of the moment. While I certainly won’t give a damn about Jayhe, or any of the other ancients really, that doesn’t mean I’d start some fruitless fucking war. We all certainly desire peace in our own way. My path toward peace is just much longer than yours.”
Cyva sighed as she went back to working on their dinner. Gahbreal on the other hand leaned back on the couch and relaxed himself. He could almost hear him saying ‘this is too much stress for me’ as he often did when he was a child. Then again it was expected when dealing with the stunts he’d often pull. At one point he had even attempted to fly as high as he possibly could when his wings had grown large enough to allow flight. Neither his father nor mother were capable of flight and he ended up having to throw her up into the air so that his mother could catch him. Then his father had to catch them both which certainly left him injured for almost a week.
That was the first time he had learned just how powerful his father was, and the older he grew the more apparent it became. As a child he would often attempt tossing items the same height as his father had once thrown his mother and yet there didn’t seem like there would be a possible way to ever match it. Around the time he had almost given up on matching his father’s feat of strength was the same day he would approach him out in the field and say something Gabi would never forget.
If you want to be strong then you have to be prepared to work for it. My blood runs through your veins, and as such you will be capable of being strong just as I was taught, but it will not be easy. We must prepare you for the worst. I will always be more than willing to protect you at all costs, but a time may come when I am not there to watch you from the darkness.
He spoke in such a casual manner on that day and yet the implications were dire. He remembered wondering what might cause his father to be out of reach? What could ever stand in his way or prevent his momentum? He had seen his father do so much, move things that no one else could move, even lift things that no one else he knew could ever imagine lifting. With all of that he still felt as if something might manage to keep them apart. Perhaps he knew how their relationship would turn out and was prepared to sacrifice it for his sake, or maybe he believed he might fall in battle… the answer was as vague now as it was then.
“The food is prepared.”
Cyva’s voice caused her child to snap back to the present, breaking from his own thoughts and realizing he had been within his own mind for about a few minutes. Eva quickly made her way to the dinner table and seated herself wherever she saw fit. Cyva went about gathering the plates and glasses to place in their positions on the table. Gabi remained in his position leaning against the marble counter, watching to make sure his mother didn’t require any assistance gathering items.
Cyva paused for a moment on her way to the table, head following her now moving husband as he made his way to the front entrance with axe in hand. She did not do anything out of the ordinary. It wasn’t as if she had expected him to stay much longer. He did mention that he had more time, but she knew better than anyone that when the ancients call he could not truly deny them.
“Are you leaving already? I will make certain that there is something for you to eat upon your return.”
“Thank you, my love. I will be home later tonight.”
“Do you not plan to stay?” Gabi spoke as he walked over to the pot of cooked stew. “It has been a while since we have eaten a meal together.”
Cyva did not stop her movements, rather she simply smiled upon hearing the words. Eva did not pay it any mind, focusing entirely on the meal which she had been waiting for. Gahbreal on the other hand stopped and sighed. A poor sign to say the least. All that meant was the exact same thing it always meant.
“I can’t stay… however, you can come along with me if you’d like.”
For a moment he wanted to believe that it was expected his father would just leave. But then—
“What did you say?”
“You can come with me, if you’d like. You’re more than old enough to be present for whatever this job may be. Why not?”
Cyva looked as if she were prepared to pass out. It wasn’t very often anyone had the opportunity to see the woman when she was truly angry, but now was certainly the time.
“Gahbreal, have you lost your mind? What if something were to happen to her?”
“Nothing’s gonna happen. She’ll be right next to me the entire time.”
“Can you be certain of that? I will not have my little girl come to any harm! Do you hear me?”
“Sich beruhigen. I will be fine mother. It is not like this would be my first time in a combat scenario. It will be perfectly fine.” (Calm down.)
“Sweetheart, this is not going to be the same as what you normally would expect. The average claimant does not have to face the types of situations people such as your father does. There are choice claimants who can live average lives and there are others who were born for battle. Your father comes from a family of that type and as such his duties are aligned with that heritage. If you must fight it will not be a simple scuffle. You will be engaged in battle.”
“As I said mother, I will be fine. A large portion of my life was dedicated to being proficient in combat. Believing that I cannot hold my own at this point would be more of an insult than anything else.”
Cyva was prepared to argue against it further, but this was a good opportunity. If this would allow her husband and daughter to get along for even the slightest bit of time, or have them connect in the tiniest way, it would be worth it. Not only that but seeing the look on her child’s face was enough to tell her that the woman wasn’t going to back down. They were both so difficult to deal with sometimes, but that was what made them father and daughter.
“Fine. I will allow this, however it goes without saying that if Gahbriogyva gets hurt I will—”
“I know, my love. I’m not going to let her get hurt. Watashi wa mo~tsu to hayaku shinudeshou.” (I would sooner die.)
“Korrektur. Du würdest sterben. Now hurry along before someone shows up to complain.” (Correction. You would die.)
With that Gabi waved to his mother as well as Eva before following behind Gahbreal who was already slipping his boots on. It was always odd that he managed to remain so clean when his work was nothing near the word. The daughter reached for his coat but his hand was intercepted by his father’s own. The action was confusing yet he didn’t waste time before explaining himself.
“You won’t need that. It will get in the way of your wings and you’re going to be using them most likely. You’re gonna be doing claimant work, you can fly around as much as you want.”
That caused a slight smile to form on his face and the first one his father had seen in half a decade. The woman fashioned her shoes over her feet and reached under the small table next to the entrance, but what Eva didn’t expect to see as she awaited their departure was for Gabi to pull a custom shotgun from under the piece of furniture. Triple barrel, small enough to fit in cloths and unfathomably dangerous looking. Not because of anything completely drastic, but mainly due to the amount of wear and tear it had seen as well as all the custom decals almost entirely covering its frame.
“Holy shit Gahbreal, you never told me you used a gun!”
“That’s because I don’t…”
“It is mine dear”, Gabi stated as she reached into a large case resting on top of the container. “My glove is at my house and Nammay told me I should always keep it there in case I need it. This gun was made by Uncle Nier who specifically told me to leave it with my father. Something about him bringing it to him for daily maintenance so it will not shatter to pieces.”
“It can’t be helped loved. You said you wanted a gun and Nier agreed to make it. Neither of us knew he was planning to make the damn thing for people of our physical aptitude. The bullets are all custom made by Nier too and they have so much power behind them the weapon can only fire so many shots before it starts falling apart. You couldn’t even use the thing until we worked to increase your physical strength.”
“He meant well and that is all that truly matters. Besides, I can use it now. Perhaps he expected me to get strong enough to use it, which did happen.”
“Wait a second, Nier knows about you too?” Eva questioned Gabi.
Gabi looked at her friend as if expecting she would have assumed that were the case. Then again Nier was a very specific person. Serious about his work yet playful beyond compare. An overall troublemaker at heart with a duty he was more than prepared to perform at any given time. He could go from normal conversation to cutting someone’s head off at an alarming speed, but that only meant he would take it extremely seriously when told not to let anyone know about him.
Eva certainly wouldn’t know unless he told her and he wouldn’t do that at all. Then again this was Eva, and based on what Gabi could glean from a single day of time with her… she most likely just couldn’t believe so many people would keep it secret from her.
“Of course I would know Uncle Nier. If I am remembering correctly he was present on the day of my birth. Right mother?”
“To my dismay, yes. That madman. He showed up on the day of her birth and took note of every detail about her he saw. Then, cut to a month later, he sends us lists of materials he would use to make her a wedding ring! All of the materials based on the experience of her birth and what he called her ‘preferences’.”
“You cannot say he was incorrect however, the ring is my favorite and I have yet to see one I like better.”
“Wait. He made the ring?”
“Yes! He sent us those lists and then actually made the ring as a gift on her tenth birthday! She’s been holding onto it ever since.”
“I have to visit him for maintenance every so often to make certain it stay at the proper size for my finger, but I won’t be growing anymore so it is perfect now.”
Gahbreal opened the door and looked out into the night sky. It was dark, comfortable, beautiful even. The stars littered the night sky and as he stepped out into the open a breeze of cool air brushed against his skin. It was this weather and night sky that made him love being home with his wife rather than out doing whatever tasks the ancients had to offer him. This would be okay however compared to other nights. With his daughter at his side everything would be okay.
“Alright Gabi, let’s get going. We’re gonna be late.”
“Okay. Eva, I will have my father bring me to your home after we have finished up. We have something to discuss.”
With those words he stepped out into the night air with his father. After a brief moment, and a quick check to make certain they had everything they needed, the portal opened. The two stepped inside and a familiar feeling washed over him. How long had it been since he had been in this pocket of the void? Then again it only ever lasted for a short moment before they ended up where they needed to be.
“You finally came. Good. The sooner we get this done the sooner everyone can calm down… by the way, that child at your side. Is this?”
“Yes, Lunia. That is my daughter.”
“It has been so long since I last saw her, and she has grown so much!”
“Hello Lunia. So what are we here to handle?”
“She will be working with you then? That will work. Now, the reason I called you here… it’s Le’eroy. He snuck out again.”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Jan 11, 2022 20:42:37 GMT
Post by Dobu on Jan 11, 2022 20:42:37 GMT
“So this will be another search for Le’eroy? Do you have any idea where he has gone?” Gahbreal questioned the ancient to which they gave a shake of the head.
“This is Little Moon we’re talking about. If he’s good at anything it would be covering his tracks, but he barely leaves any as is. I have a faint idea on the area you may find him in, but that won’t be enough to just find him outright.” Lunia approached Gahbreal and handed him a small slip of paper before whispering something just out of Gabi’s hearing range before speaking bluntly again. “This is of the utmost importance. You know how volatile Le’eroy can be so please make sure you find him before he causes any trouble.”
“Understood. We will leave immediately.”
With that Gahbreal opened the path back to the human realm, Gabi giving Lunia a smile and wave before passing through along with him. This job seemed far more formal than he had initially anticipated it would be. All this time he had assumed his father was a bounty hunter of sorts and yet with a task like this it became clear that would not be the case. His father did quite literally anything that was asked of him from the ancients and it was possible that combat would be involved, however it wasn’t assured. Then again there were more important things to worry about.
Le’eroy. Someone his mother had always referred to as dangerous. Not that he was a terrible person, but rather he was easy to get on the wrong side of. His mother would say he ‘lacked the social qualities of your average person and only understands battle’, while his father would say ‘Le’eroy is one hell of a fighter, someone you don’t want to end up in conflict with unless you know you can win’. Was this really the type of place for him to be? From what his parents had said it could only be gleaned that he would decide if he cared for him in a moment and depending on that answer attack without mercy.
He couldn’t contain the smile which grew on his face. This would certainly be a good opportunity, one which would allow him to fight freely if it came down to that, but hopefully they could avoid conflict. Le’eroy was no Aikekunai so it wasn’t like he lived the same type of life as his father, but Le’eroy was also quite old compared to her and had fought in one of the wars of the past. If things came to blows this would no doubt be somewhat troublesome if
“Are you alright?” his father questioned him which. Gabi had been so focused on his thoughts that he didn’t even realize they were at their destination. “You seem lost in thought.”
“I am fine. There is nothing to worry about. So tell me, where is this place you have brought me?”
It was a large forest and there they stood in the dead of night, upon the forest floor. It was humid, but thankfully it was not raining. The soil beneath their feet was soft yet sturdy enough to not fold under their weight. The trees were all tall and loomed overhead yet most surprising was the wild nature of the place. There were only few places left around the world which were so floral, left out of the hands of those who would tarnish the natural growth of the location.
“This is the Amazon rainforest. Le’eroy has come here in the past to hunt, something about 'offerings of quality meat for Evyette'. He tends to gift the ancients and treasures gifts from his hunts, but he’s only ever come to the amazon for Evyette. He prefers to gift them meats from dangerous creatures. He tried to give Evyette Komodo dragon meat once, but that didn't turn out well.”
“Interesting. So then, where should we start our search?”
Gahbreal looked around the area, it was easy to see the red lingering within his eyes while they were surrounded by this darkness. They were just as observant as always yet still just as hostile as he could remember.
“Don’t get caught off guard by any of the animals in this area. While most creatures tend to avoid us at all costs it is never easy to tell when that might change. I will move along the ground to the east from here. You follow from above and let me know if you see anything. Based on the way Lunia spoke he has been gone for a few days now so he will most likely be well hidden. Keep your eyes open for small details that are out of the ordinary or discrepancies in nature.”
“Alright. Let us get this over with.”
His wings opened up and from them came a gust of wind before he leapt into the air and rose high above the trees. Maybe it was his father’s training or simply just because of the Dimea name, but it was so natural to see at night. Sometimes the light itself was too bright and yet this dimly lit night was perfectly clear. It was easy to see his father moving beneath him.
Gabi flew overhead, watching as Gahbreal quickly moved beneath him. This was a new experience. He had never managed to see what his father did for work and yet there was a sense of danger all around them. It wasn’t instinct or a premonition, rather a foreboding sense of unease all around them. Neither of them knew where their target was or what exactly they were doing, but what they did know is that they were looking for one of Lunia’s claimants while bathed in moonlight. A hunter in the forest. A claimant who could be either hostile or calm and there was no telling which.
There were multiple showers of rain all around them, visible from a distance away yet not close enough to affect them. They all seemed rather normal… excluding one in particular. A look down towards the ground and it would become clear that his father was calling for his attention. Gabi descended quickly to the ground, landing calmly onto the grass and dirt below.
“I haven’t noticed any footprints and although there have been signs of movement and hunting the rain has all but washed away any trails. From here it looks as if he were heading north, although he could have made it seem that way to trick anything attempting to track him.”
“He would go to such lengths to avoid us.”
“Technically the reason is twofold, but of course. Le’eroy likes his freedom, but he has trouble controlling himself at times. He is kept on a rather tight leash to assure he doesn’t do anything crazy, but it’s because of that he always knows he will be pursued if he leaves without permission. That and he is a hunter by nature. He covers his tracks all the time."
“So he knows someone will be after him. That will make this more annoying. By the way, I do not know his abilities, but I saw something strange from above. There were multiple areas around us which were being affected by rain. One of those areas seemed darker than the others, almost as if the rain or air itself were discolored und I could barely see through it. It was to the north as well.”
Gahbreal seemed to be busy thinking about the details he was given, but he didn’t waste time focusing on the thought. Instead he made use of the information as quickly as he could.
“Alright. You lead the way to that area and I will follow behind you, might have spotted one of his abilities. Be careful, and if anything happens then land immediately. We will deal with this together. I’m sure he won’t be happy to just go along with us. Most importantly however we have to make sure we don’t present a challenge. If he decides on fighting then it can’t be helped.”
“Understood.”
Gabi jumped back up into the air, wings catching hold of the wind and carrying him higher. The area was beautiful, a marvel of nature and yet also a massive hellhole. From below it was ominous enough but from above it was difficult to see through all the foliage. Then again that wasn’t important. What mattered was making his way to the area specified. If this was where his father had chosen to go then this rain that seemed difficult to see through would no doubt have something to do with their target.
His focus shifted to combat, wondering what exactly to expect if things shifted to an exchange of blows. If Le’eroy was as intense as his father and mother had described him then an outright fight in the forest would be disadvantageous right from the start, and he would no doubt spot them before they even knew his exact location. If he chose to attack then there would be no room for error. Then again it wasn’t like it would prove to be anything that couldn’t be handled. His eyes strayed down to the forest floor where Gabi spotted his father quickly moving through the trees. With the two of them together this would be child’s play no doubt.
He clutched tightly onto the weapon in his hand, brushing his fingers along the barrel before checking to make certain the shells had been properly loaded. By now they were closing in on the area where the rain seemed discolored and upon closer inspection it was all coming together. From a distance it seemed like the average droplets of water, but upon better examination it could be seen that the rain itself was black. The mist in the air created by the falling water as well as the black coloration of the water itself made for poor conditions. Then again it would be easy enough to see through something like this and if things became too serious then he’d just have to use an ability or two. It would be expected that he fight back with his abilities if attacked, right? What wasn’t expected however was the response to entering the area.
“What in the Void is that?” Gabi uttered under his breath.
A slight gleam of light from within the trees the moment the raindrops began falling on his person. He always hated the rain and how it weighed down his feathers, but as the gleam began approaching at high speeds things quickly changed for the worst.
“Shit!”
With a twist of his wings he twirled off to the side, just barely escaping the massive sword that came spinning through the air in his direction. An attack like that right from the start? They hadn’t even spoken or properly seen one another! That would have killed him if he didn’t move out of the way, but why would he attack like this without proper reason?
A setup? Possibly for a secondary attack? Anticipate! Counter!
His head quickly turned on a swivel, facing his back where there was now a... person? When did they get there? How did they get there? Not only that, but they had also managed to catch the weapon which had been thrown and was preparing to attack again. This had to be him and yet there was no way. Then again he had decided to attack him so didn’t that mean he could attack back? This was no doubt the person they came here for, so perhaps combat was going to be the only way out of this. No one could really blame him for this, right?
A quick glance would reveal he wasn’t flying at all, rather falling from his position. Had he managed to get above him? No, again, he would have spotted something like that. Could he move around freely through means of teleportation? Why had no one described what he was capable of ability wise to him before? Either way there was only one means of him reaching with an attack and that would be with another throw. If this person was strong enough to catch the sword then there was no way he would allow them to appear stronger then him, and once his weapon was taken then that would mean the end of this fight.
Being prepared for the attack made things far more manageable, but that didn’t mean it was easy in the slightest. Le’eroy threw his weapon, as expected, and rather moving out of the way Gabi instead opted to catch the weapon himself. It was just as difficult as he thought it would be, and it did cause him to recoil ever so slightly in the air. However distance wasn’t a problem for him as he raised the shotgun in his left hand.
“You attacked me first. Understand I will not be holding back.”
Gahbreal kept his eyes forward, attention glued to the environment as he proceeded. It was always difficult to track down Le’eroy, but when he used this rain it just made everything nearly impossible. There were certain tells for his position, things like him always being in the center of the downpour, but with the hindered sight and hearing it only made things more of a hassle. That coupled with Le’eroy’s wild sense of hearing he could probably tell they were nearby before they even touched the rain.
A crack followed by a thunderous boom and his attention would quickly turn to the skies. Above him the sight of his daughter as well as Le’eroy? No, of course not. Personally he knew that the male had no way of reaching those heights and yet that only made the situation clearer. He had been shot clearly as the smoking barrel of Gabi’s gun had made that clear, but the girl seemed to have the same thought in mind as he kept his distance from the target. The distance wasn’t far enough however. This was going to turn out poorly if he didn’t act fast. Le’eroy was easy enough to handle on his own, but his daughter would be a different story if things went too far.
“Pup! Get back!” he shouted to the woman who’s eyes confirmed his order.
Too slow, much too slow as the skin on Le’eroy’s body became a translucent shell of water filled with a black smog. The shell erupted seconds later, bursting into a large area of smoke which covered a large portion of the sky. He could not tell what his daughter was thinking, but he knew which action should have been taken next.
“Come to me! Get out of the sky or he’ll keep attacking you!”
The smoke had completely enveloped him, making sight all but useless. His father’s voice had caught his attention and gave him direction, the only proper thing he could think to clearly follow and yet it also seemed too easy. This person who could see at long distances in this pouring rain, who moves so cautiously in this environment and, most importantly, is a member of Lunia’s house of archers… why did he choose to attack with a sword from that distance? That person he had taken down in the sky was a clone, an ability to confuse him alongside the rain which was already hindering his sight. Perhaps landing was the proper choice.
Or maybe it is all a setup? Am I being corralled into a trap?
The thought was quick. Just as quick as the stinging pain which followed his exit from the smoke. He couldn’t even make it down to the tops of the trees before he was attacked! Of course it would be a distraction. No proper hunter would fight without leading their prey into a trap, having them fall into the hunter’s hands. The feeling of taking damage was insatiably dreadful. He grabbed the arrow which was lodged in his wing and pulled it out quickly, tossing it down to the trees below. This situation had only managed to be rather…
“Unacceptable.”
Gahbreal had seen it all, his eyes burning a stark red. There was no denying just how agitated this had made him. His grip only managed to tighten on his weapon and yet he had to remain calm. This was a mission to bring him back, and as much as he wanted to make him pay the proper price that was not an option. Instead he would need to focus even harder than before. As angry as he had managed to become he still hesitated to take his eyes off of his daughter. Le’eroy was certainly always difficult to deal with, but seeing the slight glow in Gabi’s eyes meant the situation had changed for the absolute worst.
Le’eroy was relaxed, more relaxed than anyone could give him credit for. He sat casually on a branch high up in the trees, his legs keeping him steady as he prepared his next arrow to fire. The first shot was successful of course. Even if he had fired the arrow before everything else it would have been a clean hit, but he wanted more than anything to be certain that the arrow would land. He had spotted the wings from quite the distance in the moonlight, and while it did bring worry there was an even greater sense of desire. A sense of wonder as to who or what could be flying through the air!
Possibly something exotic that can be eaten? Some mythical bird maybe? Or from the way it moves a claimant who wants to fight? Heretic? Sinner? Either way it will make for a good hunt now that it will surely be grounded.
He shifted, preparing to lower himself down to the forest floor and yet his eyes instinctively shifted upward. Just out of the corner of his vision he spotted it in the far distance. Those same black wings rising into the air.
“Are they crazy? They’ve already been hit once. Why would they continue to stay in the air, or better yet they’re going even higher up into the air. I don’t trust this.”
He steadied himself after vocalizing his thoughts, raising the bow at the ready and honing his sight onto the target. This didn’t make any sense to him. Normally the average person or creature would hide themselves away to keep from being spotted after taking damage. This person was relying on wings to fly, and one of those wings was now currently damaged slightly. What could they possibly gain from something like this? Were they preparing for an attack? Or maybe they believed they could get high enough to escape his range and spot him from above. Either way it wouldn’t—
“Wait… what?” he muttered as he caught the slightest glimpse of their eyes. "Madness? I have to take them down now before something happens.”
His instincts screamed at him, nudged at his spine as he drew the arrow back and loosed it into the air. He could see it all clearly. The approach as the arrow flew through the air, its spiral that carried it straight to its target as well as the clear mistake of his actions upon the moment it reached the woman who was now clearly visible in the light of the moon. He wanted to say it was impossible, claim it was some sort of fluke or trick, but he could clearly see it now. His sword held plainly in this person’s left hand while the arrow was caught in their right. This didn’t make any sense and yet there was no time to think of that either as for the briefest moment their eyes met.
In the midst of the pouring black rain, all sound drowned away by the heavy beats of water on the ground, he could clearly see the two red orbs peering directly at him. He should have moved and yet now it was too late. There wasn’t any time to think about his next actions or plan anything out, he had to reposition himself. He had almost managed to fall back beneath the treetops yet in the literal blink of an eye the direction of the situation had been decided. Gabi’s eyes closed slowly, a moment of respite and thought before a storm of his own design, and upon opening them again a flash of deep red coated everything within his sight. The rain came to an instant halt as the remaining droplets hit the ground before... silence. The sounds of subtle nature outweighed only by the overbearing wingbeats in the sky above, almost as if a means to giving an omen of inevitable victory. No need to run, no need to hide.
Le’eroy landed quietly on the ground, his hair standing up on end as a smile spread across his face. This was certainly an interesting turn of events. It wasn’t very often he had the chance to fight new claimants and yet this one had come right to him! It was only natural that he be excited and yet there was a feeling of panic he couldn’t shake. Almost as if his mind was being unraveled. He looked about for a moment. Deciding on where he should head next to better prepared for an attack; yet time had already more than ran out. The echoing of flapping wings halting for a moment, silence in the air as the chirping of crickets and the songs of cicadas rose to the surface of his senses.
It’s so quiet. Did they finally land to tend to their wound? If so I can’t waste this opportunity. I should move to a position to ambush them and—
“There you are.”
Perhaps it was the darkness of the night or the flash from earlier doing something to blunt his senses, but the female’s voice was all too real. He could only turn his gaze just quickly enough to spot them. Black wings closing overhead alongside a pair of red eyes glowing in the dead of night. They had landed above him, perched in the trees while keeping as quiet as the grave. Clearly they were skilled in a manner of speaking, but it was the eyes which made him feel uneasy. Almost as if fighting were inevitable. Eyes that were glazed over with a hunger for a violent outcome. Perhaps he could use this moment to get answers from this unknown person.
“Who are you? What business do you have with me—”
“You see, I am not the type to fight. In fact I would go as far as to say I hate it. Hurting others, violence, carnage… pain… it all rather disturbs me.” He paused for a moment, Le’eroy’s sword slipping from his fingers and falling to the ground below. “However, there is a beauty to it. Right? The screams? The helplessness? The look of despair in a person’s eyes when they realize there’s no real escape for them? Ah! It’s absolutely mesmerizing! Wouldn’t you agree?”
Le’eroy had no idea what to make of this. On one end of the spectrum he had come to understand that this was the exact type of person he disliked. The very example of the type of people he believed had no right to exist! His very blood, his soul desired to bear down on them with every once of his power and yet it almost felt like some voice was ushering him to turn and run away. It didn’t make the slightest ounce of sense. Something about them made the drums of war sound off in his ears. The aura of danger resonating through the air. Mesmerizing.
“I don’t know who you are child, but I don’t believe I can allow you to live. Your very existence is a plague, a sin which I cannot allow to continue.”
A vile grin spread across his face, from cheek to cheek, his eyes glowing bright enough leave traces of red lingering in the air. Of course things would manage to turn out this way. Of course it was also to be expected. The woman couldn't keep the chuckle from escaping their throat as he stepped down from the trees and fell softly on the ground with a flap of his wings. The closer he managed to get the more Le'eroy seemed to grow irritated. It was a feeling he hadn't truly felt in a long while yet it did not feel completely right. What was really causing this urge to move? to take action regardless of consequence? Perhaps it was the eyes or the earlier flash of red, but he couldn't even rely on his connection to Lunia anymore. It almost felt as if he was cut off from the moon itself.
“Oh? Well I’m glad you’re thinking that way! I assumed that was the case from the start so you don't need to worry yourself. But say, you won’t mind if I kill you right? I mean, it’s only natural that I kill my attackers so don’t get too upset with me! I'm sure Lunia will forgive me if I bring her your spine or maybe a few ribs! Right?! Right?!”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Jan 14, 2022 19:36:22 GMT
Post by Dobu on Jan 14, 2022 19:36:22 GMT
This was odd. What was happening? He hadn’t expected to run into something like this, but what was he supposed to do now? They were so far away yet they closed the gap so quickly. Running was not a proper option and yet something in the back of his mind was ushering him to run. To move in general. It didn’t make an ounce of sense. This was surely a battle he could win even if he was forced to fight physically alone and without the moon on his side. That much was clear. So why was this voice in his head telling him to flee the area? Move away as quickly as possible? His instincts were completely out of their element for reasons he couldn’t understand.
“Might you be… thinking of running away from me?” Gabi’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “You were, weren’t you?! As if I’d allow that to happen! We’ve already gone too far now. The two of us are locked in a passionate fate now und you’re not going to be leaving until I’m completely satisfied.”
“You must really think lowly of me, child. Perhaps I should teach you a lesson in proper respect.”
“Don’t be so ignorant. My respect for you only goes as far as the quality of your bones. Then again that might not make much sense. You surely have powerful bones, but I don’t respect you at all!”
Disrespect was an understatement! The more he spoke with this woman the more it seemed their life needed to end. What was once a solitary desire to see them fall was now a means to calm the nagging feeling of dread they carried along with them. So long as they lived then the members of his house were in considerable danger. He was an enigma, someone who was clearly troublesome yet managed to remain alive for so long.
A low grow escaped his lips as he barred his fangs, eyes widening and zeroing in on the person before him. His fingers flexed under the pressure of his own anger, muscles becoming more defined as he crouched down low to the earth. He could feel the dirt and stone crumbling beneath his toes as he planted himself in place and steadied his position. How long had it been since he’d felt this way? Since the bells of war chimed in the air? Since his purpose was brought back to the forefront and his desire to cleanse the world was all that mattered again, second only to his mother.
“You’re foolish beyond your years if you think you can speak so bluntly of your desires for sin right in my presence. Just as with every other one before you, I will cleanse your disgusting presence from existence. Prepare yourself apostate.”
“Apostate! How utterly crude of you. You could have at least called me a miscreant or a whore, but then again I suppose your words will fit if placed in the proper way. For instance, I renounce your sense of morality as well as the living essence of the soul. Can you blame me? You have to admit, everyone you’ve ever known would look better if they were dead.”
“That’s far more than enough, your life is moments away from ending.”
“Then shut your damn mouth und end it already. How am I going to take your bones if you’re too afraid to attack?”
He stepped forward, more than resolved. There wasn’t a moment to waste and that at least they could both agree on. It was impossible for Le’eroy to keep the smile away as he grabbed his weapon from the ground beneath them and lifted it to his side. He had almost forgotten how much he enjoyed this! The feeling of combat, the rush of battle! Peace was always nice and wonderful, but extinguishing the embers of conflict always made him feel alive!
He could hear it faintly again, that voice in his head telling him to flee and yet now he could only manage to ignore it. The words didn’t matter so long as he could attack. The weight of his weapon swinging down on his opponent was all that mattered! Fighting to the death and bringing the heretics to Novevu as he had always—
His vision blurred. A snap in his ears loud enough to disorient him. What had happened? Was he attacked? He couldn’t even see anything happening! His eyelids fluttered, doing their best to clear the mess of his vision and it was then that he came to a sudden realization. His weapon had been stopped, but not by his opponent. It was Gahbreal. He could feel his own strength pushing the male back, something that didn’t make sense until he noticed the most damning detail. The Aikekunai’s offhand was gripping tightly onto the length of a gun held by the woman he had been fighting, the barrel was just off from being pointed directly at his face.
“What is happening here?”
“Gabi! Lower your weapon! I will not say it again!”
The woman stood motionless, eyes turning away for a moment before he chose to lower the gun. Le’eroy looked as if he couldn’t wrap his head around the situation yet a single glimpse in Gahbreal’s direction told him that it would be wise to lower his own weapon as well. This didn’t make any sense. Nothing was adding up. How did he get here? When did he get here?
“Gahbreal? What is going on?” the question could barely be voiced before the male grabbed him by the neck and lifted him from the ground.
“Why the hell weren’t you listening to me? You could have been fucking killed! When I say to stop you stop!”
“That was you? I couldn’t even tell you were nearby! It all sounded like… almost like it was all in my head. I thought the voices were my thoughts and yet you say they were yours? This is not making sense! And her weapon. I never even saw it. When was it raised to my head? My movements were real, but everything else surrounding them was not? Explain this to me!”
Gahbreal sighed, he could see it rather clearly now. Le’eroy had been steadily succumbing to the effects of madness. Not only that, but Gabi had been toying with his mind as it was happening. He could see it in his eyes glowing brighter than his own.
He released Le’eroy and took a deep breath, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. Normally the lunar claimant would be against this action but seeing his current temperament decided against it. He reached into his pocket and removed a small lighter which he used to light the cigarette before even choosing to speak again. It was already more irritating than it needed to be.
“Lets all just calm down for a moment. Le’eroy, we were sent to bring you back because you cannot, I repeat, you cannot keep running off like this and these most recent events are exactly why! If you were to end up dead here then who knows what would have possibly happened and if you somehow ended up harming Gabi more than you already have then I would have ended you myself. You on the other hand.” He turned to his daughter who stood less than patiently at his side. “You were meant to follow behind me and yet you decided to go off on your own. I know you’re prone to anger, just like I am, but stow it. We cannot function properly if madness and anger are always weighing down on us. Do you understand me?”
Gabi looked him in the eyes for a moment, almost as if wanting to outright reject his request. Then with a deep breath he closed his eyes. Upon opening them they were back to their original blue selves and he was more than displeased with it. Nothing agitated Gabi more than forcing things down like this, but it couldn’t be helped this time around.
“Yes father. I suppose I can listen to this request.”
“Wait a minute. This little girl is your child?”
“Oh fuck. Alright! Le’eroy, you stay fucking put because if I have to hunt you down again I’m taking one of your legs. Gabi, I’ll take you to Eva’s now. I believe you said you were going to meet her after this.”
“If you do not mind.”
“I’ll be waiting right here and I expect answers.”
“Of course you will. C’mon. Let’s go.”
Gahbreal reached his hand out to Gabi who reluctantly took hold of it before they were enveloped in the nostalgic means of travel. Something was off however. Normally it would only take seconds to reach their destination, but this time however they were in the Void for far longer than he had known them to ever be. There was only one real means to how this situation should be handled.
“Why are we still here? What do you want from me?”
“I want you to tell me what the hell that was back there? We’ve talked about your temperament, gone over how you cannot keep doing this, so why did you attack in that manner?”
His teeth pressed together, anger swelling in his heart as he turned away from the Dimea male. Questions like this were why he hated his father so much and yet there was only so little he could do to appease him as well as his own mentality. The answer however was rather clear.
“What? Did you expect me to be attacked und act as if I was not? Maybe you should ask him why he attacked us without warning.”
“I expected you to practice self control! He attacked because he’s Le’eroy! As powerful as he is Little Moon, he is prone to responding to instincts above all else! You are not the same. You have the proper mentality to resist these things so why do you not do so? You should be above everyone else, so why do you not act like it?”
“Because that is not who I am!” hearing his daughter’s raised voice caused him to hesitate to even respond. “You may believe I am some example of stability und control yet that is not what I am! You gave me this strength! You gave me this madness! Is it not right to believe I wouldn’t use them? We barely ever talk due to your work und yet you act as if you know who I am, but you do not know a single fucking thing!”
They stood silently for a moment, almost as if his daughter was awaiting some answer filled with resolve for why things had ended up the way they had. Then again it was never meant to be. He believed his father had failed him while he believed he had truly failed his daughter. Gabi desired a guiding had as a child yet only managed to grow out of that need, Gahbreal wanted after a child he could raise to properly care for themself in an existence as dangerous as their own yet did not manage to give what that child desired. Neither of them could understand one another and it went much deeper than that.
“Gabi, I want you to be safe and happy. I can’t do that if every time I give you a chance to spread your wings you go too far.”
“Too far? How am I going too far? We exist outside of the world of humans und you still act as if we are held to some lowly standard. I am just using my power to do what I can to make myself happy because it is clear that no one else can do that for me... I knew this was a mistake, coming out here with you. You never understand anything beyond your own interests. I’m not the rest of the claimants und I never will be. Now if we are done here I would like to go to my destination. I have wasted enough time already.”
They remained silent for a brief moment, neither of them deciding to look the other in the eyes. The girl’s father wanted to speak, wanted to voice his thoughts, desired after settling things between them so they could truly be a family yet again… but he lacked the heart to do so. He would do anything for the people he claimed as his children, breach the gates to a world unknown if he had to in order to keep them pleased, and yet his own daughter managed to be the most difficult to deal with. In a sense he understood, the curse of his own madness being a part of her just as it was for him, but that did not mean he wanted her to face it on her own.
I don’t know how I can resolve this…
“Alright… let’s go.”
He reached out his hand which his daughter took without hesitation, appearing at Eva’s front door within moments. He watched as his daughter tugged to pull away from his hand and in that very moment a part of himself died as it always had.
He had imagined the days he would spend with his own child. Doing everything in his power to keep them safe regardless of his own wellbeing. DeVian, Stasia, Verin, Eva, Steph, Najya, even Evans were all his precious friends that he felt needed to be watched over as children. While his memories we all vague, the experience and time of his past lives were all real. He was raised and born to be powerful, trained and battered to be unmovable, put through the trails to be a symbol of what an Aikekunai really is. His memories from all of his past lives may have been tampered with, but that did not mean he didn’t know the past. He was made to remember himself after all. He just wanted everyone he had come to know to understand true happiness and peace yet he couldn’t properly find it himself.
He released his daughter's hand as she pulled away, looking at her back the same way he did when she left him and Cyva to live her own life. He remembered teaching her how to fly even when it was a past life who had those wings and not himself. He remembered guiding her forward when she didn’t know how to proceed. He remembered comforting her when there was no one else who could do it. He remembered seeing her for the first time upon her birth and knowing that she would grow into someone he would love forever…
He grasped her hand before it could fully pull away, drawing her into a tight embrace. It was sudden, surprising, too fast for him to push away and yet something was wrong. Why were there tears in his eyes? He didn’t know how to register this, why his father had done something of this manner so suddenly, but something about it felt comforting.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t enough, wolf pup. I tried, but that’s no real excuse… I’m apologize.”
Those words were all he left for his child before the Aikekunai disappeared into the shadows. He stood in the cool air of the night, wind blowing calmly with a cool sting as his hair brushed against his cheeks. He told himself that the words were meaningless. That it didn’t mean anything because there was no point to them and yet, even to the emptiness that surrounded him…
“Don’t go.”
He stuffed the feeling back down, his hand raised ever so slightly and yet he lowered it before the emotion could go too far. Gabi wiped at his eyes to rid them of the salted droplets before making his way to the door. This was a foul mood to say the least. It was always so confusing to be around his father. He wanted to hate him, wanted to resent him, wanted to reject him… but couldn’t!
My dad is too honest. Too easy to understand. What should make me angry doesn’t und that is what makes me the most upset. Does he not see it in me too?
A few knocks on the wooden door and soft footsteps approached from within the building. There were more important things to focus on and yet now his mind was holding onto his father. It only served to make his mind sway and lose focus. He hated this feeling above all else. The door opening however was more than enough to bring him back to the present, to the events that needed to transpire. To the person who was always hidden behind the veil.
The snaps. The clicks. The tearing. It was always so vague yet clear to the senses. Maybe it was because he was the daughter of Gahbreal.
“I was wondering when you would show up. I thought something might have happened.”
Oh Eva. It is easy to see her innocence behind the aggression, und yet that is exactly why I desire after her. At least for the time being.
“That is of no concern. Of course I would not ever face a real challenge from anyone my father could handle.” He paused for a moment, eyes closing as he took a strong whiff from the room. Eva didn’t know what to think of it, and yet he wouldn’t keep her waiting at all. “Now then, as for what I had wanted to speak with you about. We should not have to worry about anyone unsavory listening in on us, correct?”
It was an odd question and certainly one which put Eva on edge. It was true that she lived in a rather normal area although her walls were reinforced to keep her voice to a minimum, if that were at all possible. Even so that would just mean they needed to lower their voices. Why would she ask something like this?
“Of course. Besides, I’ve had my walls personally tended to in order to make sure no one ever gets the fucking chance to spy on my private life.”
“Ah, that is good to know…” The order Aikekunai looked at her with a questioning look.
Why was that good to know exactly? What did Gabi want to talk about that was so secretive? Then again there was a greater call to her attention. Watching as Gabi’s eyes gave no warning before turning a bright red was more than enough of an equally red flag. There wasn’t even time to question what she was about to do before the woman was upon her and his eyes were engaged with her own. Why was he so fast? Better yet, why was there such a strong feeling of dread hovering over her? There weren’t many times Eva had felt this way, but every time she did it was never good.
Gabi’s hands pressed against her cheeks in the softest manner and yet it felt like immediate danger. She could feel the woman’s breath brushing against her nose, subtle yet strong enough to let off the sweet scent of persimmons. His eyes were filled with madness, even deeper than his father’s, but they were so alluring it was distressing. She couldn't even smell the familiar scent of the house of darkness on him. It was only the smell of flowers and fruits.
“H-hey, what are you—”
“Hush dear. Just let me look at you for a moment.”
Eva’s face lit up a bright red, every curve of Gabi’s body pressing against her own in a way that was more passionate than she had anticipated. What was going on?! It wasn’t intimate at all, rather it felt abnormally close to having her all absorbed into the moment. Almost as if he were drawing her in. She had to break this silence and escape his grip! If this went on for too long it felt almost like her mind would unravel.
“You know, just because I like you doesn’t mean you can so casually compare our bodies like this. Are you trying to prove how much more womanly you are than me?”
“Oh don’t be so shy. Besides, I personally don't care for all of that. I couldn’t be bothered to care what everyone calls me. I'm a woman clearly, and far more beautiful than most, but if I desire to be called differently then who will deny me that? I can be whatever I desire.”
This was good. In this moment she could learn as much as she could from this enigma of a claimant. Perhaps there were other questions she could have him answer. For the first time since they had come in contact with one another he was speaking far more freely. The woman's German accent was even becoming distorted, a mix between his father's and mother's now.
“Are you saying that you answer to no one? If you have so much freedom then why would you ever listen to the ancients?”
Gabi smiled, his wings raising into the air and folding over the two of them. It almost seemed as if he had figured out what she was attempting, and yet he still chose to answer the questions. What was he trying to accomplish with this?
“Well I wouldn’t say I listen to them out of my own volition. There's a reason I choose to do so. Just as you do, Aikekunai. Even with the power to turn the tides of the world when used correctly you still choose to do what aligns with your interests. What those interests might be however, that is an entirely different story.”
“Are you saying you have interests that give you reason to follow their rules? Or are you saying that it’s because of those rules that your interests exist?”
That question caused a smile to break Gabi’s previously more normal demeanor. His cheeks now lit up a subtle pink as his breathing deepened in anticipation and excitement.
“Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful! I knew I could count on you to be exactly what I was looking for!”
“Huh? What the hell are you talking about? Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m already taken.”
“Oh no, dear Eva. That’s not what I meant. I believe it’s time we talk seriously about our future together, but first I’ll have to take care of a little rat who thinks they can hide from me.”
Eva raised an eyebrow, wondering whatever he could possibly be talking about. The situation had been so tense it was difficult to focus on anything outside of her company. Then it clicked. The situation more dire than it had previously been. How long had he known? How long was Gabi playing the fool and for that case, how long had he been playing along with everything around them? His level of perception must be insane if his words were to be taken seriously, but then it was no longer a matter of ‘if they could be taken seriously’ and rather ‘how could they solve this problem’. Everything seemed so loosely gathered when he was around, difficult to pinpoint anything specific on his mind and yet his eyes gave away his intentions.
“Koi! Don’t!”
Her brother was unwilling to listen, understanding the situation completely as he leapt into action. When he had been noticed was something he didn’t know, but what he did know for certain was that his sister was currently in what seemed like immediate danger. He did not bother taking his weapon in hand, did not bother doing anything more than moving forward and speaking the words he would need to render Gabi unable to act.
“St—”
“Magnificent.”
His reaction time was unbelievable! Before Koven could even finish the single word he chose Gabi had turned his eyes in his direction entirely and with a red flash enveloping that entire side of the room his order no longer worked. There was a slight moment of panic, and yet that did not stop his momentum as he charged forward. In that short period of time he regretted not drawing his weapon, but his hands would surely be enough to take this person down regardless of who they were.
He reached forward, an attempt at a simple yet effective grapple. The wings would be in the way but if he could manage it then there would be no chance for him to escape, or at least that was what he had hoped before realizing just how outmatched he was. He had missed completely, Gabi somehow slipping right past his grip and awaiting him patiently with open arms. He couldn’t even move aside! He had been in too much of a hurry to protect his sister and was completely off balance. If this person planned to end his life then he was helpless to stop them.
“You’re absolutely precious.” The words were confusing to say the least, but what was even more confusing happened to be the embrace Koven found himself pulled into with his head now resting against their chest. “I had a feeling you’d come out to play if I made things seem as hostile as possible. You shouldn’t try to hide from me, dear.”
“Eva? What’s happening?”
“That’s why I tried to stop you, fucking idiot! She was making it far too obvious that you were her target.”
“How did she even know I was here? I was so well hidden, it doesn’t make any sense!”
Gabi released him to which he quickly stepped back, causing him to receive a saddened look from the woman who could only gift him a simple pout. It might have made him feel slightly bad if he wasn’t also being stared down by a pair of red eyes. It was far too unsettling and the level of discomfort it pressed onto his heart was only growing with time.
“You weren’t with me when we went to Gahbreal’s place, but this is Gahbriogyva. Somehow it slipped past us that he already had a daughter of his own. It's quickly becoming clear as to why however.”
“Indeed. Und as fun as it would be to play ignorant forever I rather enjoy pulling people out into the open. Eva is a perceptive little kitten herself, so I had a feeling she knew you were around. I just wanted to see if I could draw you out into the open und I was not disappointed.”
“You’d do something so haphazard? What if I had killed you? If I had a weapon that you could not fight against?”
The mere mention of it caused the woman to blush violently. He shifted back across the room to Eva who was still sitting casually in her position. This time however he sat himself down at her side and placed his fingers on the tip of her chin. Gabi moved her head ever so slightly to face himself before giving her a smile that displayed just how much pleasure the woman had been receiving from this situation they had been forced into.
“Tell me Eva, do you think he could’ve killed me? Could you imagine it? My very life being extinguished right before your very eyes?! Doesn’t it make you want to see it for yourself?! Ah! If only it could be so! I believe I’d fall for you if you were capable, but as of now I’m only capable of falling for myself.”
“Gabi, tell me something… are you under the effects of madness?”
Eva chose to question him instead of answering his question. By now things were already going in a direction she wouldn’t have liked. She had hoped to influence Gabi in a way to have him join her in accomplishing her goals. Meant to explain things properly so that he would understand and yet now? Now it just seemed as if he had plunged the entire situation into chaos. It was a simple question, one she already knew the answer to, but more than anything she wanted to hear his own answer.
“Madness? I’d like to deny it, but then again I love the thought of it. If I’m tethered so closely to madness then who’s to say this isn’t just who I am? Everyone always acts as if madness is so simple to understand, but then what of the concept that I see? Aren’t we all a little mad? Doesn’t the very thought make you writhe with pleasure? My father und everyone else would have you believe madness is some terrible thing eating away at the soul. I however am Dimea to my core und I would sooner believe that madness itself is the element of my home, darkness secondary.”
This had managed to take quite the turn. What Eva had once thought was a harmless situation was quickly devolving into something that couldn’t be controlled. Madness was an understatement, this girl was crazy at best! Then again it was a crazy she found herself wanting for herself even more. Looking into Gabi’s eyes, this woman who happened to be the secret child of someone she knew, all she could see was something familiar and nostalgic. Something she also found a great love within. The swirling waves of chaos.
This woman, a person that so many people believed they knew, standing right before her fawning over their own ideals of madness. Surely he was a claimant belonging to Xainayne. The only reason Eva could really see the ancient not wanting to put him to proper use was due to the reaction of one wolf who was certainly against the very thought of his daughter fighting in any battle without him by their side. She needed him, wanted him to fight for her and yet that only raised the question as to how she could make it happen? The question swirled in her head as she eyed Gabi, his wings fluttering in a simple, excited motion yet without stirring up any wind. What could possibly be used as a means to please him enough to have him join her side as well as gain an affinity toward one another that he wouldn’t be capable of resisting? Something she could be certain he'd desired.
“You seem as if you have something on your mind. Let me hear it.”
She disliked how Gabi seemed to almost know what she was thinking, but that was only a means to reveal his level of perception. That being said it made things perfect. If she were going to make him truly hers, as with all of her mother’s followers, then she would need to appeal to his desires directly. Not say something he’d expect, rather say something he wouldn’t expect from her. Something no one would expect from her.
“Gabi, how would you like to fight me? Right here, right now. No abilities. Just our physical strength. I'd like to see which one of us is stronger.”
Koven thought it was an absolute mistake to ask such a request, Eva believed it would be fruitless in the end yet saw no other way. Even so Eva was surprised to see the reaction she managed to receive. It was a guess, a hope really, an assumption that Gabi would be the exact opposite of her father and it seemed like a foolish inquiry, but it was her own perception that made it seem like the proper choice. When the red in Gabi's eyes deepened, her smile something you could only expect to see on the face of someone who had completely thrown away their caution entirely, that was more than enough of an answer. In Eva's mind she had discovered something about the woman that would prove to be invaluable. In Gabi's mind? Saying she was at the peak of euphoria wasn't nearly enough to properly describe how she felt.
"I didn't expect you to move so fast!" Gabi spoke as she moved forward, his lips nearly pressing against her own. "If you're okay with it then who am I to resist after you chose to give me your all so suddenly?"
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Jan 17, 2022 9:01:13 GMT
“Could you stop teasing me?! For fuck’s sake, I’m not so easily flustered.”
The brunette blurted out as she pushed her company away. Gabi did not mind, rather found it amusing nonetheless. It would have been too easy if it was going to be so simple to get under her skin or through her guard. The concept of friends did not ever properly register with him, and in that sense everyone managed to only be treated either like a pet or an equal. Of course no one would have a seat above her own position.
“If you insist. However, if you’re serious, then we should do this right away!”
“Not so fast. If we’re going to do this then we do it legitimately. No killing blows, no fatal wounds. We stop right before connecting and whoever get’s the first takedown is declared the victor. It would be far too easy if we were going after each other’s lives.”
That was a lie. While it would be easy enough if she were prepared, no doubt, this was an entirely different situation. She had no clue how Gabi fought, no clue how he reacted to damage and absolutely no proper measure for just how strong he really was, physically or elementally. So far she knew he had the wings resting on his back and his eyes which flashed a red that could disable a person’s abilities, or at least that was what it seemed like. It only served to make her even more pleased with herself that she mentioned the fight would be purely physical. It would have ended up in a disadvantage for her if that weren’t the case.
“So that’s how you want to do this? Fine. While it certainly will be less fun I can’t rightfully say you’re wrong. It’ll certainly give us more time to feel each other out. Shall we do this outside?”
“Wait... outside of my house?”
“Of course! We certainly can’t destroy your home. Besides, we’ll need the space. I’m certain this will be a fun fight!”
Eva stood by, looking as cautious as ever. It brought a smile to Gabi’s face. How things had managed to go this way was doing him a service. He had expected to end up forcing her to fight him, but somehow she brought it up herself! Simply thinking about how forward she was sent a shiver up the woman’s spine. He could feel his body heating up with excitement, something he hadn’t felt in a long time, as his eyes remained locked on his newest sparring partner. How would she respond? How would she react? When she had suggested it he had believed she would desire a fight at a later date and yet now he didn’t know for certain how far she was willing to go. Most other claimants were so uptight, even if they knew who he was they still refused to challenge him or accept a challenge. Eva however proved to be just what he had been searching for.
“I guess that’ll work. It’s not like anyone is going to bother annoying me afterwards anyway. Just in case… Koi!” the calling of his name caught his attention, his face turning from his phone to meet her disapproving gaze. “You will make sure no one interferes. Just keep any bystanders away.”
“Sure. I can do that. You know this is a stupid idea though, right? You should probably think things through a bit more before making decisions like this.”
“Oh there’s no need to be so hard on her. She’s simply following her instincts just as you did not too long ago.”
Was that an insult? He couldn’t even tell! This entire situation was in poor taste and with every passing moment it seemed his sister was digging a deeper hole for herself. He slid his phone into his pocket and allowed a sigh to escape his lips before giving his sister his full attention.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, I gave you an order. Just stand by and make certain no one gets in our way. Do that and keep out of sight. This won’t take too long.”
She spoke as she made her way to the front entrance, swinging the door open as Gabi followed close behind her. He made certain to turn back to Koi with a look that suggested he didn’t need to worry, but that only made things worse for him. There wasn’t a chance in hell that he’d trust this woman and that would persist for all time. Gabi on the other hand didn’t care at all. He didn’t plan to kill Eva or even hurt her at all so this was going in his favor, she just saw her as another girl who he could get along with. Then again it was his turn now to get what he desired from her out of this. Him pausing for a moment as they stepped out onto the empty road. She could feel the cool night’s breeze rushing through his feathers as he crossed his arms and looked to the sky.
“How about we make this interesting. A stipulation of sorts between the two of us with this.”
This is exactly what she had wanted. Eva wasn’t expecting him to come forward with it, but now she could certainly allow him to feel as if it were his idea.
“We could do that. What kind of stipulation do you have in mind?”
This was exactly where he wanted this to be, how he wanted this to go. It wasn’t as if he didn’t understand the risks. Rather he didn’t care for the risks.
“A simple winner gets their desire. If I win then you introduce me to your mother. I feel as if she would be a person I can get along with well.”
“That will work. However, if I win then I will require something of equal weight.” By now things had managed to go exactly where Eva desired for it to go. Now she just had to seal the deal with her own side, “if I win you will belong to me. Your body, your soul, your everything will be mine.”
The mere mention of her stipulations almost made it impossible for Gabi to register his surroundings. Eva, this girl she had just recently met, was everything he desired in an equal. Those words were exactly what he had wanted from her. To hear the bold demands that no one else was nearly capable of uttering in his direction. His breathing sped up, eyes glazing over as her cheeks became almost as red as her irises. With all of the mishaps the day brought, this moment was more than enough to give him the feeling of pleasure he had desired. And as the woman’s breaths sped up he couldn’t resist throwing all caution to the wind.
“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear. That confidence. That audacity! Ah! It makes me want to keep you all to myself… make you all mine, but that wouldn’t be realistic at all… I accept your terms. Now let’s fight before lose this wonderful feeling coursing through my body.”
“You almost talk as if you’re getting off on this, Gabi.”
“And is that wrong? Don’t you feel the rush as well? The possibility of losing something so important to you? Doesn’t it make your body heat up?”
“If you mean the feeling of anticipation then I suppose I can understand. Then again I’m only pleased when the world is in the palm of my hand, and I wouldn’t dare settle for anything less. That is what it means to be royalty after all.”
Koven watched as the two of them conversed, their own interests clashing in a way that was mesmerizing yet also difficult to fathom. Both of them seemed to be the type of person who would manipulate and move others into doing what they desired. Both seemed to enjoy the thought of conflict although Gabi clearly wasn’t ashamed to hide the pleasure it caused them. Eva had managed to change attitude rather quickly, acting in a way befitting of her royal status. Gabi seemed to be fawning over the thought of having their all taken away from them. From an outside perspective they were both giants in the world of perception, but even more so they were terribly alike in terms of violent auras.
Perhaps it would be best if he phoned in someone who would prove to do a better job of handling things if it went too far. Then again he didn’t believe his sister would allow it. How long had it been since he’d seen her so adamant about something? Acting as she saw fit in a manner that put her in line with her destiny? She rarely ever chose new subordinates and instead used the ones her mother left behind for her, but something about Gabi had managed to draw her in. It seemed the same could be said about the woman herself.
“Alright you two, the area is clear. The rules are simply as you set them to be. This is a simple spar and a takedown will result in a victory. Stopping before your fatal blows is the most important rule here. Grapples, kicks and punches are all allowed. I will step in if I must. It also goes without saying that weapons are allowed. Do you both understand?”
“Let’s get this started already. The sooner we begin the sooner we can finish this up.”
“I’m ready at any time. Whenever you say the word, dear.”
He watched as Eva opened her palm upward before her face, an intricately crafted boot knife forming from what seemed like the dust in the air. It was a weapon that Koven had almost never seen her use, but that just meant she would be taking this a little seriously. It was silver with an edge of well sharpened bronze, the grip composed of pearl and jade. The guard was the most detailed part of the weapon and made in the shape of a blooming lotus. It was the weapon given to her by Nammay and one she truly cared for, even if it wasn’t her real personal weapon. Gabi on the other hand… equipped nothing?
“Are you prepared, Gabi?” Koven asked to which the woman merely smiled in his direction.
“There’s no need to worry. It’s better if I don’t use my weapon. It’s a little dangerous so my hands will be far more than enough.”
The words were simple and yet they had managed to make Eva more upset than she had anticipated.
“Are you trying to make a fool out of me? I am not so weak that I would need any claimant to handicap themselves for me, nor am I willing to hold back against someone who forgoes their own weapon. If you don’t plan to fight me with your all then you shouldn’t have agreed to fight at all.”
It was a simple display. A means to have him draw whatever weapon he would decide on. She really just wanted to see what weapon he would equip for the most part, but it was also a legitimate moment of anger. Did Gabi really believe she would not be capable of defending herself against him if he had a weapon? If so then that was a clear insult she could not stand for. Gabi on the other hand did not seem pleased. The woman looked rather agitated which was not the goal, but her eyes gave off a slight glint of submission as her right hand was extended off to the side.
“Fine… but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I don’t know how you could have allowed this to happen.”
“I didn’t allow anything. Gabi has been avoiding me for years, I couldn’t have guessed someone would introduce her to Evagelyne of all people. That might have possibly been the worst person she could have ever met.”
Xainayne laughed at Gahbreal’s clear distress, an act that did not make him happy int the slightest. It had taken longer than he had anticipated to explain things to Le’eroy and even longer to explain why he had to make sure he told no one of her existence. If Eva already had the chance to meet her he’d have to do more to insure she didn’t run into anyone else that might pose a problem. One of those others mainly DeVian. She specifically was well behaved, but it was her willfulness that made her a dangerous friend for Gabi. A desire.
“You know you won’t be capable of controlling her forever Gahbreal. Gahbriogyva is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
“I know that, but that is exactly why I am worried. Gabi isn’t like everyone thinks she is. I know my daughter well, and none of this is going to do her any good.”
“It’s that attitude that makes her dislike you so much. She’s never going to desire being closer to you if every time you two are together it’s a matter of you attempting to control her. If you rob her of the freedom she craves then she’ll never come to like you.”
“That’s not the problem here!” he stopped himself. Lowering his voice as he leaned back in his seat. “I’m certain that my daughter has kept things as vague as possible, that’s just the type of person she is when wanting to keep things to herself. However I would do anything for Gahbriogyva, and I mean literally anything. That being said there are some things I cannot condone and she is not so easy to read.”
He stood to his feet and moved to pour the ancient a glass of wine, taking the rest of the bottle for himself before he chose to elaborate. It was always difficult to describe his daughter’s temperament, that was exactly why he hadn’t chosen to explain it to anyone other than his wife, but putting it into reasonable words was a task of extreme caution. If he said the wrong things then she might be seen as a threat that was too dangerous. If he didn’t say things with a level of sensitivity then it would make other believe he viewed her as some sort of problem. Either way it was unavoidable now.
“My mother and father held power in high regard. Not strength, but power. While you raised me in your own way they raised me to be powerful. My mother would often say, ‘Tsuyo-sa wa dare demo eru koto ga dekiru monodesu. Chikara ga areba, yama o ugokashi tari, sora o hikisai tari suru koto mo dekimasuga,-ryoku wa arimasu ka? Chikara wa tsuyoi mono to fumetsu no mono o wakeru monodesu. Tsuyo-sa no aru seikyū-sha kara no 1-kai no dageki wa tatakai no nagare o kaeru koto ga dekimasuga, kenryoku no aru seikyū-sha kara no onaji dageki wa sekai o kaeru koto ga dekimasu.’ It always stuck with me, even after they no longer associated themselves with me. Their loyalty to you and Phita has always been unparalleled, but they made certain that I understood strength did not equate to power. It’s a concept that many people don’t really understand and I always believed it would be my duty to teach the same to my own children, but Gabi already knew.” (Strength is something that anyone can obtain. With strength you can move a mountain or tear the sky apart even, but power? Power is what separates the strong from the immortal. A single blow from a claimant with strength can turn the tide of a battle, but the same from a claimant with power can change the world.)
“What do you mean by that? Wouldn’t that be a good thing if she were intelligent enough to understand the lesson before receiving it?”
“Normally yes, but this was when I had first started beginning her training. I asked her if she wanted to learn how to fight like me and her response was something I’d never forget. ‘I don’t need to learn how to fight. I just need to gain more power. I’ll get stronger on my own, but can you teach me how to be as powerful as Xainayne?’ I couldn’t understand where the words had come from.”
“Well at least she has good taste. If she were searching for a good measure of power to compare herself to then why not an ancient?”
“She was five at the time, dad. Up until that point she had been only going to school within the human realm and being taught basic things about the duties of claimants by Cyva. The way she said it was almost like someone had put the ideas of it into her mind. More frighteningly she made true on her words. I rarely ever got the time to train her normally because she often trained herself. Cyva would often help her with things that couldn’t be done alone but physically she worked on her own strength and agility. All I taught her was my family’s style of combat with the longsword and the hand to hand techniques you taught me. Then she started acting out.”
He took a long drink from the bottle, a sigh escaping his lips once he finished and placed the empty bottle down on a small side table. He lifted his right hand and a glove made from darkness formed over his hand. It clung close to his skin and with its appearance his eyes steadily began to glow brighter. The red was solemn and calm, without any malice or anger behind them.
“Madness for most is seen as a form of curse. Even for me I find it unpredictable and capable of causing great damage. Too much of it can drive a person to the very depths of insanity and if it goes too far it will easily drive a person to death. The body cannot easily handle it however it functions differently for me and it is the same for her. We can resist it rather well and it is due to it being a part of us. We can tolerate so much it is rather vague just how much it would take to be our end. Because of this we have to manage it properly to assure it doesn’t overtake us. For me that management comes from my wife and my axe which steadily absorbs darkness and madness from my so long as it is within close proximity. Gabi on the other hand just has full control of the madness itself, easily just turning it off and turning it back on.”
“I don’t understand you Gahbreal. All of these things you’ve been listing sound like positives. The girl is clearly quick to understand and catch on to what’s important, a fast learner as well as efficient with her training, even going as far as to being capable of omitting the dangers of your greatest weakness. With the amount of stress madness has caused your past lives I would believe you’d be nothing be proud to find she has the ability to resist something you cannot—”
“Just listen Xainayne, I’m trying to explain this properly and it is difficult in few words… Gabi chooses madness over being sane! She has full control over just how much madness effects her and because of this she can hide it indefinitely, but she chooses to remain filled with it! At all times it is a constant! Eventually we had to begin keeping a close eye on her because we would send her off to school and she would return home with human bones. She would raise her levels of madness on purpose just to feel it and it was clear to see just how much she enjoyed the feeling. When she became old enough I had her choose a weapon and had Nammay give it the same function as mine yet far more effective. She realized its purpose and pushed the thing to its limits, filling it with so much madness it’s almost capable of being described as a cursed item. The only person I know who can even touch the thing without being hastily encompassed in madness is Gabi herself. Then one day she requested we spar with our real weapons to which I refused.”
Xainayne laughed, as serious as the situation was for his claimant. Just the thought of his own daughter, or anyone for that matter requesting that the two of them fight sounded completely ridiculous. Of course he would never do it. Even if he ordered the two of them to fight himself that might have just ended with Gahbreal’s instant betrayal. It was clear to all of the ancients that anything which would cause the Aikekunai to battle with his daughter would only end with his rebellion and he had made certain to make it known.
“Of course you wouldn’t fight her! As if she’d receive a decent challenge anyway. You’d go so easy on her it would hardly be anything that anyone could classify as a real match.”
“Well she attacked me anyway. When I refused she grew impatient and went on the assault, holding nothing back at all. It was horrible yet a good situation which revealed two important things. One being just how dangerous Gabi’s hands had become. I don’t know what training she forced herself through, but she was more than capable of deflecting and stopping my axe with her bare hands.”
“You fought her with your real weapon? What were you thinking?”
“There was no time to think before I was forced to be on the defensive. The plan was to take her down quickly to stop the fight, but then it became clear that it wasn’t something I could do because Gabi was stronger than me at the time. That was when she was around thirteen years old I believe. She would disappear for days to train herself and I still don’t know what she was doing during that time, but whatever it was had to be beyond straining on the body because she matched me in speed and overwhelmed me in strength. Not to mention that she was better at fighting. It was almost as if she knew what I was going to be doing before I did it. I haven’t sparred with her since, but I’m certain she’s only gotten stronger with time. I should have known something was wrong when she chose the name of her weapon and told it to us, but I was just happy she was happy at the time.”
“Didn’t she name the weapon Knochensammler?”
“Yeah. Bone Collector. I should have be able to tell from there, but I believed she just thought it sounded cool or some shit. Then she actually started collecting bones with the thing. It started with animal bones, then upgraded to human bones. Cyva believes she’ll eventually grow out of her habits… I think it’s only going to keep getting worse.”
Her breaths were steady, slow, filled with a sense of regret. Perhaps it was a poor choice to make the request, but Eva wasn’t prepared to pass up on the opportunity to see this all through. Then again it was plain to see just how dangerous the situation had become in mere seconds. She wanted to see Gabi’s weapon for herself as she had recalled hearing about it back at Gahbreal’s home. Seeing it up close however? It looked as if the thing had no purpose outside of tearing its opposition apart.
A plume of darkness had appeared over his hand and all that was left behind was a gauntlet that reached up to his elbow. It was made from the same material as her father’s axe although its color was slightly bluish in comparison. It looked to be designed in a manner of layered plate, leaving no compromising positions in its makeup. Compared to the average gauntlet however each finger ended with a sharpened claw, reminiscent of what seemed to be the claws of some mythical beast. Serrated, curved ever so slightly and sharpened enough to reflect the moonlight if hit at the right angle. It almost seemed as if the very air around it was heavy, weighed down by some unseen thing and nearly the entire thing was stained in the crimson of human blood even though it looked to be in perfect condition due to constant maintenance.
“I’m ready when you are, dear. Try not to disappoint me. I’m counting on you to fill me with excitement, and keep in mind that if you win this I’ll belong to you.”
“I haven’t forgotten. Now that you’re serious we can get this settled. I won’t be going easy on you just because you’re Gahbreal’s daughter.”
“That’s good. I was hoping it would actually make you want to fight me even harder.”
Eva prepared herself, put up her guard while keeping her eyes glued to the woman before her. Gabi looked as relaxed as ever with that same smile on his face which only grew in intensity as the anticipation built up in his chest. He could feel the heat in his bosom as the time for combat came ever closer and there was no possible way he could hide the desire for it all. How long had it been since he had the chance to fight another claimant? Possibly a few years since anyone actually chose to fight instead of give up or run? This situation was absolutely perfect, and against an Aikekunai no less! The stance he chose to take was familiar in Eva’s eyes, the same as Gahbreal’s yet far more wild in comparison.
Koven could see just how much of a mistake this was, watching them both closely as he stepped back to a good distance to assure he remained out of the way. He’d certainly need to make an arrangement in order to insure things remained in good taste, but he would need to do so in a manner which would not attract his sister’s ire. How could she always manage to be such a pain in times like this.
“Alright you two, complete your preparations. Try not to push yourselves too hard… begin!”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Jan 19, 2022 2:16:11 GMT
Koven could feel it. The tension in the air was thick. So much so that anyone incapable of grasping the situation might find it difficult to even move. The fight had been declared and preparations were set, but the two woman still stood motionless with their eyes pinned on one another. You could hear the wind howling, so quiet the dropping of a needle could be heard. As much as he wanted to move position and gain some distance he didn’t want to miss a single moment. All of the buildup to this simple match and yet they had put so much weight on it. Certainly he couldn’t just move haphazardly. A single misstep could be the distraction that causes one to fall.
Eva could see it clearly, the hunger in Gabi’s eyes. It was almost as if they wanted nothing more than to pounce forward and yet decided upon holding back. Perhaps waiting to give her the first move? Or relying on counters perhaps? No, that was not the case. If she had learned to fight from Gahbreal then her stance may have been off, but the core concept was the same. The moment the opportunity arose she would bombard her with attacks one after the other. Powerful and difficult to manage. What Gabi didn’t know however was that she had gotten the chance to fight at Gahbreal’s side on multiple occasions and knew his fighting style well. This wouldn’t be a first time experience seeing it up close and that would be the downfall of allowing her to attack first, but she also wasn’t so haphazard.
Taking note of how Gabi was in fact no Aikekunai she did not expect too much of them. She trained against and fought alongside warriors of the highest class and claimants of great standing. In truth her brother was the real Aikekunai between the two of them and yet she was capable of overpowering him regardless of that fact. She was raised to be capable of that at the very least after all. That was why for the slightest moment she chose to hold back on her approach.
Running through her mind was the thought of how very few times she’d taken things seriously in a fight, but that had to be done. Going all out would only manage to out her true potential as well as the web she had spun around herself over all these years. She was Eva, the Aikekunai of order, and yet at the same time she was not. She did not prefer the dancelike movements in combat that Gahbreal used or anyone else for that matter. Battles were meant to be won with raw power, a power that cannot be stopped or combatted. The same type of power her mother held onto and the same type of power she was destined to inherit. The power that was meant to follow the name of Yvaxiphoria Vall!
…and it was for that reason she chose instead not to hold back at all.
She pushed forward quickly, watching the change of expression on Gahbriogyva’s face. It was almost as if they hadn’t expected her to be as fast as she was, but that would only prove to be her own mistake. However it did not last long before the ominous smile grasped her expression again. Even in this situation she found the means to enjoy herself and it was frightening. Eva raised her dagger on approach, moving to strike from her right with the item yet, right before impact, the weapon was thrown through the air. An elaborate feint, one which aimed to make it seem the attack would connect when in fact it was a pass to the opposing hand to attack from the opposite side. Effective in most combat scenarios and with Gabi’s lack of reaction it seemed this bout would be over quickly.
The echoing of metal striking metal screeched through the air and for a moment Eva was clearly confused. She could see the gauntlet raised to intercept the strike, but for the life of her could not recall ever seeing their hand being raised. Was it some trick? Or was Gahbriogyva simply that fast? She didn’t allow it to slow her down, twisting her body for a kick to continue applying pressure. This at least caused them to step back in order to avoid the strike. That being said it wasn’t a good thing. The backstep was nothing more than a means to give leverage to their quick charge forward. They were fast, too fast for his title.
They first chose to strike at her with his bare left fist, something that Eva could easily move aside, and yet the amount of force needed to do so was far more than expected. It would make sense that their attacks would be quick since Gahbriogyva fought with fists and feet, but the amount of strength behind their strikes was something she hadn’t felt before. It almost reminded her of a scenario she had seen play out in the past but there wasn’t any time to focus. Thinking had to be kept to a minimum now as she was caught exactly where she did not want to be. Directly in the path of a flurry of attacks. She knew it would be difficult to deal with Gahbreal’s fighting style just from watching him fight time and time again, his entire goal to bear down on his targets with a series of never ending strikes, but it was far more troublesome than she had imagined.
Koven watched with a great sense of anticipation. He could remember it faintly from his past lives, or at least the combat experience, but this seemed like a scale of combat that wasn’t meant to be currently happening, It explained why Eva seemed to want them so badly, but perhaps his sister hadn’t managed to see the scale of this person’s power. Seeing her get pushed back was troubling to say the least.
Eva continued stepping back and to the sides, avoiding attacks by hairs and brushes as Gahbriogyva continued stepping forward with strikes from all directions. Eva was in the midst of combat so it was possible she didn’t realize it, but Koven had seen the girl’s father fighting alongside his sister on multiple occasions. Comparing the two side by side with his sight alone it was clear that while Gahbriogyva’s stance was wilder her attacks were far more balanced and steady. In a way it seemed as if they were a better outright fighter than Gahbreal with the same style.
It was difficult to tell who would win, Eva avoiding the attacks expertly while Gabi refused to let up. Neither of them had managed to land any blows but that could be summed up to the two of them still sizing one another up. Then a change. Gahbriogyva’s left foot stomped forward with great force, the ground cracking beneath its weight as the palm of her left hand slammed against Eva’s stomach. The attack didn’t seem like much at all and yet it had managed to send the girl reeling back. This was the first time he had ever seen his sister struggle so much, the first time he had actually seen anyone land a blow on her, the first time he had ever seen her spit out a ball of multicolored blood onto the ground. Even so she still managed to smile.
This was exactly why she wanted to fight her, the exact reason Gabi could look her in the eyes and see someone who was an equal. It wasn’t very often she could find someone who enjoyed conflict as much as her, but it was easy to tell the moment she saw her. The look in her eyes, the way she spoke. No matter how much she wanted to hide it the truth was plain as the moon I the sky above. As clear as the separation between darkness and light, chaos and order!
“Don’t back down now! Let’s get as serious as we possibly can, und fight until we’re both satisfied!”
“As if I would ever back away from a fight. On my name and title by birth, the princess of the claimants will never waver.”
They both charged forward, the battle itself taking a step past what it once was. Gahbriogyva had begun moving in a manner that boasted a mix between standard martial arts, dance and something reminiscent of almost tribal conduct. Yvaxiphoria moved quickly, accurately, her movements fast yet her strikes even faster. Where Gahbriogyva would throw a punch or kick, Yvaxiphoria would dodge and strike back. Sparks flew through the air every time their weapons clashed, the wind roaring around them as they tide of the world shifted and swirled about them.
Nothing else mattered outside of the fight at this point and that was clear to Koven. His sister’s stance had completely changed to that of one she would use with a sword. Gabi stepped forward and was quickly met with a horizontal strike so fast she couldn’t even duck beneath it or step aside. The only option available was to step back to which the feeling of the blade grazing her cheek made the woman pause for a moment. Her tongue slipped from her mouth and with a taste of the nearly black liquid seeping from the wound her eyes spelled the pleasure she had received from this damage.
“This is exactly what I had wanted. I can’t count on anyone else, it has to be you. Someone with a soul as jet black as my own.” As she spoke her eyes lit up more and more, the red growing into something past Gahbreal’s, past Hellfire’s. It was deadly of its own accord. “Ah! I love it… I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”
She took up her stance, the pressure she applied onto herself so strong her feet shattered and sunk into the concrete. Yvaxiphoria watched as for the first time this night the woman flexed her muscles and spread her wings. She recalled her earlier statement in which she referred to her as an angel, but seeing just how serious she had become and how unhinged her personality had managed to get… perhaps it would have been best to name her fallen instead.
Gahbriogyva pushed onward, bringing the fight even further into the madness she craved. Her approach was fast, faster than before, her strike even faster. Yvaxiphoria had barely managed to get out of the way and even still it felt as if the very air surrounding her fists were dealing damage. There was no longer any margin remaining for error. Her dagger slicing through the air as if trying to sever the woman’s soul as she attempted to dodge these strikes that looked as if they meant to shatter her entire existence to ash.
Her feet moved forward with power, strikes with force behind each of them. Dodging was becoming more and more difficult as time went on and at some point she noted Yvaxiphoria choosing to instead switch her entire guard. She had referred to herself as a princess and seeing the way she chose to wield her weapon made it all the more believable. She fought more like a knight than someone who should be wielding a dagger. She would strike out with her fists and instead of moving away she held her ground, using the flat of the dagger to deflect her strikes. How she could even manage it with such a small weapon was beautiful in Gahbriogyva’s eyes, but that did not mean she had made a terrible mistake. The distance was what made this battle favorable for her and now she had chosen to willingly stay within close proximity.
Sweat rolled down Koven’s cheeks as he continued to watch the battle like a hawk, refusing to miss the slightest movement. His sister had chosen to refuse backing away and instead meant to close the distance between the two. She would have been at better odds if she had a longsword instead, but her opponent was not going to allow a move like that to throw them off clearly.
The fight had become something the likes of which he could only describe as a dance of physical beauty. The way their steps intertwined with one another, them choosing to step back or approach in sync as they would switch between attack and defense. Yvaxiphoria fought as if her life was truly on the line and it was clear to see just how serious she had gotten. Gahbriogyva returned those feelings in kind, her fists speeding up with the shortened distance and her expression more serious than ever. Even still they both shared the same smile that could only be made by two people who were deep in the clutches of euphoria.
Yvaxiphoria lashed out with her weapon, thrusts missing by unrecognizably short distances or slicing the top layer of the woman’s skin. Her kicks would connect every so often or hit her guard, causing them to shift ever so slightly to the side. Gahbriogyva smiled horridly as her punches flew out one after the other, some being deflected and countered while other hit their mark and caused her opponent to step about and readjust to compensate. Her knees and feet were weapons of a different caliber, if not blocked making for an effective means to push the swordswoman back. Yet with the damage they had both taken neither of them chose to stop smiling.
The next step was something Koven had not expected to see. Watching as his sister took a large step back, pivoting on her left foot and pressing the pommel of her dagger to her left breast. It was something he knew all too well as it was something he was forced to face many times as a kid. She was planning to throw away all other forms of attack and focus entirely on her weapon. While it would be foolish to do so with a dagger, that just went to show how far she was willing to go as he left hand positioned itself behind her back. Gahbriogyva however responded in kind. It was almost as if she could feel her intentions to fight with everything and strengthened her stance even further. Just looking at her made it seem as if the madness within her person was teeming through the air, her stance completely different from before, right foot back and left foot forward, right hand held at waist height as her left extended forward and lowered just above her knees.
They stood motionless once again, but this time it was different. Yvaxiphoria’s eyes were like sharpened blades prepared to pierce the heart of her opponent, Gahbriogyva’s like that of a demon’s who lusted after the life of the same. There was no nee for a que as they both charged toward one another. The difference in speed from the first time compared to now was staggering, Koven shuttered at the thought of having to fight either of them for a moment as they exchanged blows. This was how they both fought without using abilities? He had faced Yvaxiphoria multiple times in the past through sparring and yet it was never anything like this. It was intoxicating to watch, enough to draw in the faint of heart who could not resist the allure of combat.
Yvaxiphoria’s strikes were faster than anything Gahbriogyva had managed to see up until that point, even faster than her father’s albeit with less strength behind them. It was impossible to dodge of block it all! Instead she chose to simply avoid what she could and take the rest in kind while dishing out her own strikes in the process. Yvaxiphoria on the other hand found the fight to be staggering equal. They weren’t going for the kill, rather they were attempting to create the opening needed for a deciding blow. The damage they had both managed to receive was gradually growing more and more extreme yet neither of them could stop now.
In Yvaxiphoria’s mind the words were as clear as day. If I am going to end this I cannot fight as if I am trying to ‘win’. I have to fight as if my life depends on it, as if I am fighting to kill this woman.
In Gahbriogyva’s mind the words were just as clear. This fight will be decided by a finishing blow. An attack strong enough to shatter the earth and tear out bodies apart. With an attack aiming to steal a life.
Just as those thoughts crossed their minds did their smiles fade away. The dagger sliced through the air as if severing the threads of life, tearing apart her opponent whilst attempting to get closer and closer to the finishing blow. However the child of Vall could see it clearly. The seriousness on Gahbriogyva’s face as her eyes sharpened, and for the slightest moment within that fight she could see so clearly the embodiment of madness that was hiding behind the angel.
There was no chance to react, no time to renew her chosen actions as she watched the blonde step forward with her shoulder. The felling of her body colliding with her own was unimaginably strong, staggering her entirely and leaving her wide open. Gahbriogyva didn’t waste any time at all stepping into that opening. Three direct punches to the body, one to the stomach, ribs and mid chest. They were strong, so strong it knocked the very air from her lungs and mad it difficult to even stay conscious. Then, before there was time to recover, the woman ducked down low and with her right leg swept her legs from beneath her.
Yvaxiphoria found herself fallen down, laying on the ground let still unprepared to give up. She could barely breath and yet she was calm, the song of war still playing in her ears as she looked up and there she spotted a sight that was both terrifying sad at the same time.
As Gahbriogyva’s right foot returned to its original position it quickly slid forward. This weapon she had rarely ever had the chance to use for takedowns compared to her hands, lifting high above her head where her left hand would press against the side of her ankle above her head of blonde hair. Her wings instinctively rose as well, blocking out the light of the moon as if saying that all she wanted to exist in that moment were the two of them. Her eyes however spelled a completely different feeling from what her body displayed. The horror of seeing an attack that certainly had the power to kill her outright yet right next to it rested a set of glowing red eyes filled with madness. Even so, behind that madness rested a single request.
Please don’t die on me. You have to survive this…
As the foot fell, Yva could only feel adoration in twofold. She had been trained by some of the most powerful people for the sole purpose of never facing defeat, and yet this woman she had just met had managed to surpass her at some point in pure physical capability. Secondly for her brother, who had managed to intercept the attack which was meant for her so quickly it made her remember why he was named her protector. He blocked the attack perfectly and even still the power was enough to pivot his feet into the earth and cause the surrounding buildings to shake from the impact. However she didn’t even have to see his face to know just how angry he was.
“I could have sworn that one of the rules for this match was not to kill one another, Gahbriogyva.”
“So then you’re standing in my way? I would not advise that if I were you. I applaud you for blocking my attack, but I won’t be letting you get away with interrupting my fight so easily.”
Yva watched with a look of distaste, her brother was strong but he was certainly a fool. Aikekunai or not he was not prepared for this fight. Unlike her he was meant to be an assassin and his capabilities in straightforward combat would not be enough to stand against Gabi. Perhaps if she had her sword it would have been more even, but then that would have just made it a battle of stamina and endurance which she most likely would have still lost. Looking at Gabi now she still hadn’t even broken a sweat. Just what kind of training did Gahbreal put her through? Then again she didn’t have much time to think about it as the slight sniff from Gahbriogyva’s nose made it clear that something was going to happen which she would need to stop herself.
“By my order! Halt immediately!”
The words came out just as quickly as Gabi’s head swung around along with her fist, the way her body twisted yet remained balanced something that looked as if it could not easily be replicated yet both her and her assailant stopped in their tracks per Yva’s request. The blade which was nearly piercing Gabi’s chest the exact same distance away from its mark as the gauntlet was from this new arrival’s face.
“Put your weapons away, you two are a fucking embarrassment to duels throughout all the realms… I suppose it was expected of Koven to interfere, but I expected better from you aunt May.”
The woman sighed as she slid her kodachi into it’s scabbard. It was almost as if the order itself removed all hostility from her person, but that did not mean her presence alone wasn’t enough to keep Gabi on edge. He hadn’t even noticed them until she was directly behind her. She slapped Koven in the back of the head, an action which caused him to drop his defense as well as Gabi’s foot before moving to the side. She then knelt down at Yva’s side and offered her a hand to which the woman grabbed it and was helped to her feet.
“I apologize, Gabi. It seems my brother and second mother just couldn’t contain themselves.”
The darkness claimant still looked as hostile as ever, yet with a blink of the eyes her original blue orbs were once again visible for the group to see accompanied with a smile.
“I cannot blame them. It is only natural to want to protect those dear to you. It seems you are well loved, although I would love to know who this new face might be.”
"No. You really don't."
“That does not change the facts however, this was my loss. That is exceedingly clear as my family had to step in the way they did… I will abide by your terms as we agreed.”
“About that.” Her words caused Yva to raise her eyebrows. Gabi could understand her concern, but it would only manage to go unwarranted for now. “I have come to the conclusion that I much rather prefer your stipulations more than my own. So then, as long as you make certain to remember to introduce me to that mother of yours I will gladly work alongside you. Although I suppose this would be a partnership und I do not belong to you.”
“What are you getting at? What are you trying to gain from this?” Koven questioned her to which he received a bright smile.
“Nothing at all. Even you can see that I would gain nothing from this. It just seems like it would be a lot of fun.”
She could tell that her words had caused the group to be rather confused. Well, all but Yva who was more than pleased to hear the outcome. Her response was all that Gabi needed, and as she reached her hand forward towards her then that was more than enough. A simple handshake they chose to share as a means to seal this deal they had made and with it she would gain even more pleasure from this like no doubt.
“I’ll be more than happy to accept your terms, Gahbriogyva.”
“This is good. I look forward to having more fun with you, princess.”
With that she took a few steps back before jumping up into the air, wings opening and carrying her higher before the feathered appendages wrapped around her entire frame and vanished into darkness. It was always calming to be like this, but it never lasted long. The wings opening to reveal her standing inside of her own home. She had managed to put up quite the front, but even she had to admit that she had been far too reckless this time around; the proof being the multitude of black droplets falling to the floor around her.
She stumbled over to a display in the room she had appeared in. The display was all the room held and yet it sat empty, a simple stone pillar with a small extension which something could be held on. The walls were adorned with multiple depictions of warriors and combatants from the past, multiple backgrounds and ethnicities as if reminding her of those who would be called masters. The floor was covered in clear marble and within that marble could be seen a multitude of human and animal bones. She staggered over to the case, her steps slowing down ever so slightly with each movement as she removed the gauntlet from her hand. She did not fall, refused to fall until the weapon was placed back where it belonged. Then, her legs finally gave out.
The thud from her body hitting the floor did not sound off however as she felt the familiar hands which supported her. He was tall, taller than her father, and looked to be less distressed than could be expected from the others. All she could offer him was a smile as she attempted to force herself to her feet.
“There’s no need to strain yourself lady Schreiber. Allow me to take care of you for now.”
His voice was as loud and commanding as always, but it fit him for who he was. A nature claimant who could speak with both creatures and flora alike. While he could do so that was all he was capable of and whether they chose to listen to his words really depended on the creature or plant itself, meaning he would need to form a literal bond with them. That being said he was quite the gardener and made for a perfect medical expert. He lifted her up into his arms, making certain to not cause her wings any discomfort as he walked her down the halls of the large building.
“Thank you, Lespin. It seems I was a bit careless today.”
“Do not bother yourself with that lady Schreiber. It is my duty to aid you as best I can, and I knew what to expect when I found your gauntlet to be missing. At least allow me to care for you every once in a while.”
Dependable as always. Gabi could see the two human servants she had take care of the basic tasks standing by near her bedroom, both of which went into immediate panic the moment they saw her condition. Lespin however was the first to speak.
“Lars, go and retrieve my supplied immediately and bring them to the young master’s room. Emmy, have Freddy cook a warm meal with some of the special ingredients we have prepared as well as telling the Mist Daughter to run a warm bath. Tell her to use the salts from my garden produced by the violet mushrooms. Sharoleen!” he called out to which an air claimant in a maid’s dress came floating by. “Go and fetch something that will help the young master relax. Be quick about it.”
"Yes sir."
"Yes sir."
“Why are you wearing that thing, Sharoleen?” Gabi questioned her to which the woman twirled in the air and smiled.
“I thought you might think it was cute.”
“It… it is very cute my dear.”
With the order, and the compliment, everyone went about their business. Sharoleen specifically now sporting a bright smile. Lespin however brough her into the bedroom and laid her down on the large bed. Her breathing was normal and her heartrate was fine, albeit a bit slow. If Xainayne or her father had ever found out about this they would rip them limb from limb, not to mention her mother. Even so he couldn’t manage to be angry with the girl. Aside from her condition she wasn’t yelling or angry in the slightest. Instead smiling brightly and looking as if she had been satisfied in a manner that he couldn’t understand.
“Please rest now, lady Schreiber. It will take some time for me to properly treat your wounds and I will wake you when your bath and dinner is prepared.”
“Thank you, Lespin. I will trust you to take care of everything.”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Jan 22, 2022 17:05:59 GMT
Post by Dobu on Jan 22, 2022 17:05:59 GMT
She slouched deeper into the warm waters, making certain that her wings submerged beneath the gentle surface. As much as she hated having her feathers soaked she did not mind the sting of the medicated waters Mist Daughter had prepared by Lespin’s orders. The woman was so mysterious that even her name was a secret, or better yet she told everyone that her actual name was simply Mist Daughter, stating that her family was not capable of living up to the normality of the world as everyone else had come to know. All Gabi knew was that she was well organized and rarely spoke to anyone other than herself and Lespin.
The stinging which accompanied the soak was more than pleasurable, her cheeks lighting up a stark red with each reminder of the fight she had just had. For a moment she would smile, squirming about as her wings ruffled beneath the water, but that moment of peace would not last for long. A sniff from her nose held just above the water’s surface and her smile would grow ever so slightly. Her senses had always been sharp and only grew sharper with time. That was how it had managed to become so easy to discover when she had company. Even if they tried to mask their scent or the sound of their approach.
“I was not expecting any company today. To what do I owe this special visit?”
“I heard you got yourself into a bit of a fight today.”
“Oh? I would not have expected my new friends to go about telling everyone about our arrangement.”
“No one let any words slip, it would have been far too dangerous to allow something like that. Just know that nothing is ever kept from the shadows. Yami ni wa mimi ga ari, ōkami no koinu.” (The darkness has ears, wolf pup.)
“As expected of you. Always first to discover what I’ve been up to. It was so… delectable. That girl, her malice is to die for. Ah! How I want it for myself! Perhaps it would have been best to make her one of my servants, but this has turned out to be even better than I had hoped.”
The visitor approached, resting their weapons against the side of the bathtub before sitting on the edge of the ceramic. Upon doing so she removed the bamboo hat from her head to reveal a head of strait black hair pulled into a ponytail, bangs nearly covering her eyes which shared the exact same blue Gabi’s had. She looked to the girl with a gaze that looked to demand something and the blonde rose from the bathwaters ever so slightly that the woman might plant a kiss on her forehead.
“You're as greedy as ever. While I would like for my only granddaughter to be more careful, I am more than aware that you wouldn’t listen. You worry me far too much.”
“I am sorry, grandmother.”
“Gomen'nasai to iu koto wa hitotsu no kotodesuga, moshi anata ga hontōni sore o imi surunara, anata wa kōdō de shazai surudeshou. I am happy that you won your bout, but try to avoid any harm in the future. I trained you the way I did so you might avoid damage like this.”
(Saying you're sorry is one thing, but if you really mean it then you will apologize with action.)
“I know, but I just can’t help myself.”
The woman sighed as she brushed her fingers against the surface of the water as if testing the quality of its contents. After doing so she reached into her coat and pulled out what seemed to be a small leather pouch, dumping a portion of its contents into the water and swirling it about with her fingertips.
“You’re very much like how your father used to be with his first. He was so pure, so innocent, knew very little outside of the ways of combat and in that sense I loved him more than anything else. Then he began to change more and more with his growing number of lives. You must promise me that you will be careful Gahbriogyva. I wish to keep the you that you are now alive.”
The girl seemed hesitant at first, slinking back into the waters with a frustrated look on her face but nodding nonetheless in agreeance. She hated how her grandmother was so keen to speak the way she did. She could refuse her request even less than she could refuse her mother’s.
“I will be more cautious in the future... I promise.”
“Good. Now hurry up and get dressed. We have work to do. You were specifically requested this time around.”
“I would love to, but as you can see my body is not in the best conditi—”
Upon looking down at her once damaged form she came to discover her wounds had been completely healed. She sprung up from the water and looked about herself. Not a scratch in sight. Upon looking to her grandmother for an explanation she would only be met with a casual smile as the woman placed her weapons on her side and waved for her to follow.
“How did you do that?”
“I have my secrets, as well as my suppliers. Now come. We must get going quickly. I’ll be waiting in your room.”
With that the woman left the room and Gabi stepped from out of the bath, her wings dripping with water onto the marble floor as she approached a small console on the wall with a button and a microphone.
“Lars, come to the bath immediately”, she spoke to which the male servant would show up mere moments later. Upon seeing the nude woman the human male’s face was as red as a tomato. Something which confused the darkness claimant before she had managed to realize her mistake. “I do often call upon Emmy for this. No matter, I need you to dry off my wings dear.”
This did not keep him from turning away and facing the opposite direction.
“Yes ma’am!”
“There is no need to yell sweetheart. I am right here.”
“Yes ma’am! However this is my first time seeing you like this… or touching your wings for that matter... I’ve been ordered to never do it, so I…”
This entire situation was a beautiful reminder as to why she had chosen to hire both Emmy and Lars together. The initial plan was to hire a single human to aid with the duties of the others, but when she had spotted Lars he was just so cute she couldn’t help herself. She spent nearly the entire time teasing him during his interview and upon realizing he was a fan of her works it only made her desire to tease the boy grow. They were nearly the same age, although he was younger, but he was so easily embarrassed there was rarely a need to ever contain herself around him.
“My love, there is no need to be so tense.” The pattering of her footsteps growing closer only made his already tense stance tense up even more. He only managed to find himself in a state of panic when the black feathers encircled him and the feeling of her body pressing against his back caused a sense of hysteria. “You see? It is not so bad. Lespin can be very strict, but I will not punish you for following an order. Are they not soft? Do they not relax you?”
It was far too enjoyable to watch him squirm. How someone could grow to be so timid and frightful of these situations was wonderful in her mind, yet he certainly did not feel the same way. It might have gone on forever if someone else hadn’t entered the room seconds later.
“Lady Schreiber, I have come to… what are you doing?”
“Oh! Damien! Is he not just adorable when he is embarrassed?”
“Lady Schreiber, I must ask that you do not make his duties any more difficult. You know how he gets and he already looks to be out of commission this time around.”
The woman looked down at the boy who, by every sense of the word, was nearly on the verge of passing out. She patted his head to garner his attention and once he looked her in the face she smiled and released him from her grasp. Damien motioned for the boy to leave and as soon as he did he put his focus entirely on Gabi who had already stretched her wings out as far as she possibly could. With the door closed and no sign of interruptions a strong gust of wind would blow through her feathers, making certain to leave them as dry as possible.
“Thank you Damien. Although you do not need to be so strict or abandon your post.”
“I know that, but if he has time to be embarrassed then he has time to do his job. I still believe it was a mistake hiring him. Also I noticed your grandmother stalking the halls and assumed you would be in a hurry.”
“If you would believe that a choice I made for my own pleasure is a mistake then that would cause an entirely different problem. You may take your leave now. You are correct however, I have arrangements that I must attend to tonight. I will have mist give everyone their orders later.”
With a few strong flaps of her wings the remaining water was removed from her person and she wasted no time folding them behind her back and exiting the washroom. Her steps were casual and calm as she mad her way down the halls, stopping only when reaching her bedroom and opening the door to find her grandmother sitting on the bed with Lespin speaking to her in a less than pleased tone. This was expected, but today it seemed as if the woman was quickly losing her patience.
“She should not be leaving the home in her condition. The girl requires rest and you know this.”
“My granddaughter will be completely fine, I saw to that myself. If you were all more capable of doing your jobs correctly then I would not have to. However I cannot say I expected any better.”
“We do all that we can here for her as that is our duty. Our duty! Perhaps you should stick to doing your own.”
“Should I? Well as a mother and a grandmother my duty is to make certain that my family remains at peace and safe, but most importantly it includes erasing all things that would prove to be inefficient at keeping my family safe! You are one of the few people who knows Gahbriogyva’s background and as such I expect far better from you all, and yet you keep managing to waste those expectations! So keep in mind, when you tell me to stick to doing my job that will include none of you waking up to see the next day. Kodomodachi. All of you. Don’t make me snuff you out.”
“Hopefully there will be no need for that. I rather enjoy the company of my employees.”
Upon hearing her granddaughter’s voice the woman turned to see her already fully dressed and prepared for work. She wore things along the lines of what she could always expect, something that fit her aesthetic all too well. A white, off shoulder, low hem lace dress with a black faux fur coat. On her feet were a pair of black fuzzy bowknot platform high heels and over her eyes would be found a pair of dark shaded glasses. With a quick glare in Lespin’s direction he exited the room before Mist Daughter soon came into the room.
“Do you need me ma’am?”
“Yes Mist. Would you please fix my hair as normal? We will be going out for now so I will expect you to make certain that everything is kept in order around here until I return, as always. I leave everything in your hands.”
“Of course. I see you will be out on business. Hello madam Kikana.”
“Hello dear. I see you are doing well as always. How has your family been?”
“Still in the arctic living as our ancestors did. I would prefer they come and live in the cities, but my father insists on keeping the traditions of our people. You know how he can be. Now if you would excuse me.”
As the water claimant moved to begin toiling over the head of short blonde hair Gabi looked to be rather lost in thought. Kikana had summed it up to being bored of all this. The girl herself was more so attempting to guess what they might be doing. Of course her grandmother wouldn’t tell her anything until they were certain no one could hear them. Then again it wouldn’t take them too long as Mist had finished her hair quickly and made certain it was just as she always desired to have it.
“Thank you. Now then grandmother, let us be on our way.”
They both stepped out of the car casually, the wolf pup waving a farewell to Lizbett who quickly pulled off with the car. Gabi looked as if she were going to an extravagant dinner while Kikana looked almost as if she had stepped through some rift in time. She was dressed closer to that of some wandering samurai and yet her clothes were kept in rather perfect condition. She didn’t expect her to dress for the occasion, but at least she did choose to leave her weapons in the car. Then again Gabi kept her personal firearm tucked under her coat and beneath her wings. Upon entering the restaurant it was almost guaranteed that they would draw the attention of every single person inside. The first person they would come to see was her grandmother who only managed to have them think some random foreigner had roamed into the shop.
“Excuse me miss, but a reservation is required before entering this establishment. I’m afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave. Besides, there is a strict dress code required for entering this restaurant.”
“We do have a reservation, and I was told that I could wear whatever I desired upon arrival.”
“I apologize miss, but that is not how our establishment works. However I am willing to see if there is in fact a reservation for you. However you will have to return with a more... formal set of clothing. Please state your name.”
“I am Kikana and this is my granddaughter Gab—”
“Gabi Leigh Schreiber! Und I am more than livid hearing that you are not willing to allow my grandmother entry into this subpar excuse for a restaurant!”
Her voice was more than enough to carry over everything around her. All attention that had been on her grandmother was now directly on the celebrity towering over the woman. Clearly she had grown tired of standing by and watching this clear display of disrespect towards her family and more specifically someone as important as her teacher and mentor. That was more than apparent when she stepped forward and her hand slammed down on the desk in between herself and the male who was once speaking so poorly to Kikana.
“I… I apologize miss Schreiber! If I had known she were here along with you then we would have—”
“You would have what? Given her the proper respect she deserves from trash like yourself? Or better yet does this imply that my not being here would have meant you would have continued with your clear display and lack of self respect? I have the eyes of every single person in this establishment locked onto me because you could not accomplish the simple task of taking me and my grandmother to our reserved section und I will not spend another moment standing here talking about it! Do I make myself clear?”
“Y-yes ma’am.”
“Good… the reservation number is 13-26-75-82-49, names Kikana and Gabi. Get it done und do not come back until things are prepared for us.”
The man quickly shuffled off into the back rooms of the building, leaving the two woman standing at the front desk. The blonde had managed to get so flustered she hadn’t even managed to realize her own hand causing the wood to crack, splinter and break beneath the pressure of her own hand. She removed her hand and stepped back, foot tapping quickly on the floor as multiple people pulled out their phones to take photos and videos of her. Kikana on the other hand smiled nervously as she shifted over to her side.
“You didn’t have to go so far wolf pup. You know it was an honest mistake, and you could have handled it in a calmer manner. You’ve been seeming more stressed as time goes on. Perhaps you should drain your system of the madness you’ve built up and take some time to relax your nerves.”
“It is fine. I am fine. He should have been able to do his damned job correctly instead of making lofty assumptions. I will not allow anyone to insult you in such a manner. The nerve.”
“I understand how you feel, but you must practice self control. You know this to be true.”
“I know. That was just such a nuisance—”
“Excuse me?”
The voice had caused both of the woman to turn and find a rather small child standing to their side. She was well dressed, dolled up like a collectors item and yet she looked quite familiar. Of course she would. The girl had blue eyes and blonde hair just like she did. She must have been no more than ten years old and yet she seemed rather nervous just being around them. Her mere presence caused Gabi to raise an eyebrow, but Kikana fell down on one of her knees and gave the child a pleasant smile.
“Yes dear? What is it that you need?”
“Uhm, I was just wondering if I could get a picture with miss Gabi? This is the first time I’ve ever seen her in person! So I was just… wondering if it would be alright.”
Kikana looked to her granddaughter who let a sigh escape her lips. She reached out a hand to the child, a sight which made the assassin feel a sense of DeJa’Vu. It looked so much like the way Harvel would reach out to their children when they were all young, the way Gahbreal would reach out to anyone he meant to help. It was almost like a thing that had managed to be passed down without their realizing it. No matter how upset you were, no matter how much things didn’t go your way, it should never be capable of stopping you from reaching out a hand to the people you care for. What surprised her most was that she would offer such a thing to some human child.
“Come. I will not bite.”
The girl reached her hand forward and upon placing her hand in Gabi’s larger palm felt the strong pull which followed. The ease at which she found herself lifted up from the ground was surprising to say the very least. She hadn’t expected her to be so strong! Then again she wouldn’t complain, finding herself being held up like a much smaller child in this woman’s arm. When she requested her phone she could only hand it over willingly and watch as she snapped a picture of the two of them together before handing it back. Then watching with a large smile as she reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out her won phone, taking another picture before placing her down onto the ground again.
“There. One for you und one for me. That one you keep for yourself. This one will be for the world to see.”
“Thank you! I will, I promise!”
Gabi smiled as she watched the girl rush back over to her parents who gave a silent thank you from across the room. She offered them a simple wave before she tapped her phone screen a few times and placed the phone into her pocket, listening as a flurry of notifications went off in the building. Social media was such an interesting concept and yet all she knew was that posting anything herself in a crowded place would always result in a flood of notifications from the surrounding devices. It was a cute concept, but not as cute as the fans who found it upon themselves to get the same hairstyle as her. In her eyes it would only mean more people looked like little versions of her mother.
“You’re surprisingly nice when it comes to children. I would have thought you’d want nothing to do with them, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you smile in such a sweet manner.”
“I suppose I had to inherit something from my father besides his physical might und senses. Do not think about it too much. I just find it admirable, the lives of humans. They are so fragile und yet they strive to be so many things. Even if those things are completely out of their reach they continue to unknowingly grasp at something beyond their own world. Then again, anything is possible.”
“Miss Schreiber?”
The man’s voice caused her to turn on a dime, eyes more calm and softened compared to their first encounter. He seemed on edge and yet with a clear visual of her it looked as if he were put at slight ease.
“Your reservation has been confirmed. You will be visiting one of the backrooms. Your company is waiting there for you as we speak.”
“It is about time. Let us go, grandmother.”
"Follow me please."
They made their way down the halls and through a few doors before finding themselves being led through a large wooden door covered with ornate engraving. Upon being led inside they came to see a male sitting at a single table with a suitcase at his side. He wore a black tailored suit with a while shirt, a tie of green and orange designs. Tacky. Gabi almost burst into laughter just seeing it, but chose to contain herself. As soon as the door was closed behind them the male stood to his feet and offered the two a bow.
“There’s no need for that. We have been working with the program for quite some time now so the formalities can be tossed aside.”
“She is correct. Although you are a new face there is no need to be so formal. Just tell us what you need to tell us.”
He raised his head and motioned for the two of them to sit before pulling a phone from his pocket and placing it on the table. Someone had already been called and was on speaker. No name. No number. Typical. This person was just a means to allow this conversation to take place. The person behind the voice always out of reach. Whether it was a means to show that they could never truly know who it was or just a flex of standing a capability, it only proved to be annoying to the wolf pup. If they couldn’t be bothered to show their face then they should have never called them to begin with.
“Hello Kikana, Gabi. I thank you both for meeting with us on such short notice. Now then, let’s begin this discussion.”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
163 posts
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Jan 29, 2022 10:53:28 GMT
Post by Dobu on Jan 29, 2022 10:53:28 GMT
-A Mother's Recollection-
“Are you going to at least let me hold her for a little bit?” The male questioned the woman as she shifted the child away from him to show her disapproval. “You should be relaxing, shadow lily. You just went through labor not long ago.”
“I am not so frail. It has been days since she was born. Besides, this one is clearly more accustomed to the dark. Can you not see it in her eyes?”
The woman turned to the small child, a head of curly black hair which she pressed her nose into. The male couldn’t help himself and soon found himself smiling at how much his wife changed from the person she had once been. Her identity was power and skill, her occupation murder and secrecy. That same woman watching over their child as if nothing else currently mattered in the world. Then again nothing did matter in the world. A daughter with affinity for the dark was exactly what she had desired.
“I know you’re not frail, dear. I just don’t want you to overexert yourself. This is a new experience for you and while you’re clearly capable it won’t stop me from worrying.”
“You cannot treat me like a someone who isn’t capable of caring for themself, Harvel. What will she think when she grows older? Our children will be born and raised into power, and it is that power we must have them learn to control and put into proper use. We cannot hold their hands forever and that is why I will do so now. When they grow older they will surely be put to use, and we must ensure that they can serve their ancients with expertise.”
“I understand, but that does not mean you can’t relax. Look at her.”
Kikana turned her attention to the child, eyes closed with a relaxed expression. Her breathing was as soft as ever and her demeanor spelled calm and serenity. How she was capable of sleeping so casually while they held a conversation right there was impressive. But she chalked it up to her understanding that the two people present were going to protect her to their last. The only person more quiet than her would be the infant’s own mother who didn’t even make a sound whilst taking breaths.
“She’s relying on your relaxation and calm to keep her in the same position. If you will watch over her then at least allow me to watch over the both of you. I’m not going anywhere, so relax. Sleep. Rest with her. When you are back to full strength then do as you please, but for now you both must rest. You care for her and I will focus on your protection. Alright?”
She looked at the male, still finding it odd to see him in such casual wear. He wore a simple set of linen, tunic and breeches, along with hard leather boots. He looked as if he were any average peasant and yet she was not one to talk. She had abandoned her own clothing during the birthing process and once it had been complete he almost had to force her to put something on, her complaining that it all felt too constricting and wouldn’t settle until he gave her one of his own pieces of clothing. A rather large cotton tunic she had always been fond of.
“Alright. I get it. I will calm down for you, my sunshine. For my little shadow.”
“Good… have you thought up a name for the little one yet?”
“I’ve never been good with these types of things. What would you name her?”
“Me? Well… what about Mary? I’d like to name her something that starts with a ‘g’ like Gabriela, but she looks more like a Mary to me.”
“That’s too generic dear. I wouldn’t like my child to share a name with anyone else. However you are correct, she does look like a Mary… or maybe. May... Mayray. Mayray Dimea.”
He placed one of his hands on her head of long black hair and the other over his daughter’s head. She gave him a look which suggested he not say anything unsavory about her choice, and yet he was more than pleased. He pressed his lips onto the woman’s forehead before placing his own forehead against her own.
“Perfect. She will surely grow to be strong and just as beautiful as her mother.”
“I don’t need your flattery, Harvel. Although it is quite welcome.”
“Hopefully she doesn’t grow to be as difficult as you with these things or we’ll never have any grandchildren.”
“Says the man who had the child with me… do you believe she will grow to hate us?”
They both went silent. For a moment the question had left them both speechless. It had popped into her head so suddenly that Kikana spoke it into existence without really thinking about it, but Harvel was rather caught off guard. It was something he had thought of quite often and yet he knew it wasn’t the type of thing his lover would dwell on as he did. They had planned to raise their children to be nothing more than above others. To survive indefinitely they would need to be claimants who could utilize their everything in order to stand above the rest, even themselves. They both also knew that in order to accomplish that task they would need to push their children further than anyone else would ever be capable of doing.
They would have to teach them, raise them to be strong from the start. Their lives starting from the moment they can lift a sword would be tailor made for combat, strategy, capability, all of the things they would need to survive. It would be a grueling task, a terrible task, but something that only they could do for them. She looked down at their daughter and for a moment faltered in her decision to raise her the way she had planned. Her lip quivering slightly as she pressed her hand against the top of Harvel’s hand which was still resting atop her head. For the male this was odd, seeing her so flustered with a choice she had personally made herself. Then again he had seen the look before. On the same day they had gotten married, and he did the exact same thing then which he did now.
“Even if she grows to hate us both, that won’t be what matters. What matters most is that, even if she does grow to resent us, she is capable of caring for herself. The world we live in is not a safe one and danger lurks around every corner. There is always a chance of war and those wars will make safety impossible for these children. We just have to make certain that they will be capable of being safe.”
“But what if it isn’t enough? What if they still aren’t prepared? What if we go through with this and they still cannot be counted amongst the strongest?”
“Then we watch over them just like we’re doing now.”
“And if they reject us?”
“Then we continue to watch over them anyway. You as the one who watches from the shadows and I in the light of day. There will never be a scenario in which their safety cannot be assured.”
“How can you be so sure of that? What makes you certain?”
“Well that’s simple. Because I would sooner die myself before I allow harm to fall upon my children. Of course we won’t be capable of being there at all times, but we just have to be there when it counts. Look at your daughter and believe in her strength. We will be the ones to nurture her and raise her inn the proper way to prepare her for the road ahead. No matter how treacherous that road may be.”
She took another moment to gaze upon their child. For the slightest moment she could see her eyes open, the hazel that looked back for a brief moment enough to stir her heart. At no moment before then had she felt a stronger desire to keep her safe. Even so she felt a deep betrayal within her heart. She remembered how she was once raised and how it shaped her and molded her into the warrior she was now. Everyone grew differently and everyone had to face their own trials in order to unlock their true capabilities. Physical strength was one thing, but their children would need power, and every ounce of power they could receive. That was what she desired for them after all.
“Okay. I trust your words Harvel, my love. However… if the life of this child or the next or even after that are to come to an end I will never forgive you.”
“I would not expect any less. I would not be capable of forgiving myself after all. All you have to do is watch, your hands are not permitted for anything outside of the ancients orders. I will be the one to intervein if the time comes.”
Her eyes bolted open, the sound of a car door rousing her from the slumber she had found herself in. Had she always been this careless? Or perhaps she wasn’t feeling well? What kind of excuse was that? As a claimant there was no merit to a thought like that. She was simply tired. Sometimes she wanted to question how things had managed to turn out this way, and yet the answers were things she knew all too well. She held too tightly onto them.
Kikana had expected that by now she would be spending her days visiting her children, seeing them progress and raise families together. Fighting alongside them and watching as they perfected their techniques… she had never seen the future as something like this. Her eldest, the daughter she loved more than life itself, hating her more than she could have possibly imagined. So much so that she refused to even see her or speak with her. Her second born son not even the person she once remembered, having died and come back so many times he wasn’t even the same person she remembered holding in her arms. The third so damaged and tortured that he was more interested in murder and satisfying his own pleasures, no matter what those may be, more than anything else.
“Perhaps I made the wrong choice.”
“What?”
The male called out as he turned to see the assassin standing right behind him. He reached for his weapon and yet could not feel it, could not feel his entire arm in fact. Looking down he would find the limb lying on the ground at his feet and yet before he could scream his head was sent flying off its shoulders. It was always so easy to kill humans compared to claimants… who was she kidding? It was all the same to her. Everyone died once their heads were severed from their shoulders. Life and death were always so vaguely close in her eyes and yet the rest of existence would treat them as complete opposites.
She would continue her way forward through the area, severing the head of every person she came across. As time had continued to move forward it seemed no one cared to pay attention to the work of assassins. The layouts of buildings had only proven to make her work easier, corridors and rooms so separate and easy to access. This mansion she had found herself within was no different. Xainayne had told her to kill and that was all she needed. No reasoning, no need to question who had requested it be done. Not a single person would be left alive. That was why, when she entered the last room in which the owner of the estate sat calmly, did she sheath her sword. The sound had caught the male’s attention to which he turned and looked at her with a smile. Was he not frightened?
“Ah. I can see by your confused look that you’re holding onto a question. Go ahead. I’ll gladly answer it.”
“Do you not fear death?”
“Of course I fear it, that is how we humans function although you may not understand. I’ve just grown far too old to act as if I’ll live forever and I’ve done far to much to expect myself to be safe forever.”
“You know I am not human?”
“Of course I do. When you live long enough you start to understand that there is more to this life than just yourself, and you seem far more capable than any normal human could ever be.”
“I see. Then in honor of your courage and capability to stare death in the face I will offer you a painless passing to the void. As the mind slips from reality it always first goes to what it finds peace in.”
“I appreciate that.”
As the words slipped from his lips he was met with red eyes and a torrent of shadows. Then, darkness. From that darkness came a light and from that light the man would find himself standing in a field of flowers. The wind blew with a subtle scent carried on its current, the smell causing him to turn and look over his shoulder. The slight he caught himself standing before more than enough to cause a bright smile to spread across his face as he spoke his final words.
“Thank you, very much.”
She placed the man’s head down onto the floor with his body, wiping her weapon of the blood before taking her leave. With this job finished she was more than ready to leave and go home, but something in the back of her mind was keeping her from doing so. Seeing that human’s face, he smiled as if he were pleased with the outcome he had been made to face and yet his eyes held nothing but regret. She thought about how she had gone about things, desired to change it. Was she in the same scenario? Regretting her choices and pretending to be fine? Perhaps she would do best to attempt mending all of this. She had to do something.
She raised her hand, yet paused. Her fingers stopping just short of the door. How often had she hesitated like this? Her eyes focused on her fingers which shook slightly as if afraid to make take the next action. What was wrong with her? She lowered he hand and walked away, footsteps as silent as ever. There was a large tree positioned outside of the home and with a quiet leap she landed amongst the branches where she would sit and look at the building. This felt utterly horrible. Why was she so afraid to take this single step? Her life had once felt so occupied with differing things and yet now it was only work and this same scenario. On days when she found herself without work she would even just sleep all day as if wanting to avoid the sunlight, not wanting to be seen by anyone.
“Are you okay? You seem to be rather sad.”
“They have a story, these humans, about a creature called vampires… I’m not a vampire, but I certainly feel like one. The people I love I can only look at from the shadows. My family has separated itself from me, and there’s no one I can blame but myself. My darling Mayray, my strong Gahbreal, my sweet little Jerimyha. All of them hate me.”
“Is that why you are here? Are you feeling sad?”
“I suppose you’re correct. I feel as if I’m going insane, all the way to the depths of my bones. When did I become so cold? My own family, I managed to push them all away and for what? My heart is with those three and yet they are all so far away. I keep finding myself here as if I have no self control, but if my hope is where my heart is then I’ve lost all hope just as I’ve lost all my family.”
“It will all be okay.” The words caught Kikana off guard. They were so simple and yet she did not expect to hear them. In fact, she hadn’t even realized she was speaking with someone the entire time. “My dad says that hope is like a sharpened blade. It can cut through anything that gets in its way, but you must swing it to make it work and have the power to use it effectively. You smell just like him and you know his name. If you want, we can be friends! I like talking to you, and you seem really strong! Although, dad has me staying home for the time being. He says I need to practice controlling the ‘growing madness’, but I do not know what he means by that.”
Kikana almost couldn’t bring herself to do it. To turn and see who she spoke with. It was odd to find herself so oblivious to her surroundings and yet there wasn’t anything she could do about it now. By the sound of their voice this was surely a child, and by the way she spoke and the words she used there was only one person this could be. The location itself was enough to give it all away.
She turned to be met with the bright blue eyes of a little girl. They flickered so timidly between a glowing red and familiar blue that went well with her head of long blonde hair. She was barefoot, wearing nothing but a pair of pajamas that were clearly tailormade for her as the back contained sections where a pair of small black wings could fit through and fold themselves on her back. She seemed rather small for the way she spoke, and yet that only gave meaning to whatever form of education she was being put through. She was childish yet learned enough to do as she desired and say as she desired. Most importantly those eyes, those familiar eyes along with that familiar face. Eyes which her own husband and sons had, a face with features from Gahbreal’s wife, but even more like her very own.
The woman couldn’t bother being reserved or holding back. She reached out and wrapped her arms around the child’s body, giving her a tight hug which she hesitated before reciprocating. The girl seemed nervous. Almost as if she did not know how to feel about the situation. Yet as Kikana held onto her she could feel her tenseness slowly dissolve as her small hands gripped onto her cloths. Instinct perhaps? She could not see it as anything other than that.
“Who might you be, wolf pup?”
“My name is Gahbriogyva, but everyone calls me Gabi. Does this mean we are friends?”
The woman chuckled playfully at her words. She would have to explain in more detail later, but for now she would make it simple. It was more than clear now by her name.
“Of course we’re friends, little one... You’ll have to keep it a secret from your parents, but my name is Kikana. I am your grandmother.” |
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Feb 1, 2022 23:37:49 GMT
She awoke not in a panic, but rather with drowsy eyes and a head of messy hair. Her husband still lay next to her snoring as he always did yet that was not what roused her from her slumber. She rose from their bed and took the time to care for herself and deal with daily hygiene; all to the sound of the continuing drum of wood and metal beating and echoing through the air. She could hear the familiar pattern of which she had heard multiple times in the past and also hear the differences from what her children had done with their time at the small home. With her hair straightened and tied up in a simple bun she threw on a set of training garb, a basic Tai Chi uniform of pure black and made her way outside.
The source of the echoing was quickly discovered, although she had known what it was from the start, her granddaughter striking against the Mù Rén Zhuāng with incredible force. It looked dangerous to even approach her at times when she was completely focused, and she was certainly focused. She wore loose black shorts along with a black sports bra, complete with sections sewed open for her wings to fit through. The beads of sweat covering her body a means to display just how long she had been hard at work, how tirelessly she had been focusing on her training. With each strike she could almost see it, the image of her son moving in tandem with his child. They were so similar in so many different ways, but that was the son from a long time past.
The snap of one of the arms drew her attention fully back to reality however, the sound of the wood clacking upon the ground followed only by the sound of her granddaughter’s voice as she leaned over taking deep breaths.
“Damnit.”
“It seems you have begun to grow more accustomed to Wing Chun. Although, it would please me if you were capable of holding back just a tad bit more.”
“I am sorry grandmother. These things are just so fragile, I must use all of my strength if I am ever to grow any stronger.”
“You have plenty of physical might, wolf pup. However that does not equate to power. As strong as you become it will not equate to having true power. You must temper yourself before you can claim true power.”
“I understand that, but it will mean nothing if I am incapable of producing the raw strength to move mountains. What will all of this be for if I still am incapable of holding my own with pure strength when that time comes? I must be able to overpower as well as excel in skill. If I cannot do these things then it will all be for nothing.”
Kikana stood silently for a moment. What could this girl be thinking? Gahbriogyva had only grown to the age of sixteen and yet she was more than strong enough to match almost anyone in feats of raw strength. In fact, the assassin would almost say the only things that would really put her at a disadvantage would be a persons abilities by their house. In fact, she would almost say she was too powerful.
She had happened upon the child when she was seven years old, but she spoke as if she held onto some deep ambition that no one could really understand. They spoke often as she grew and eventually she requested that the woman train her personally. Although Kikana had been hesitant to accept her request, she eventually took the opportunity to grow closer to the only family that accepted her even after what she and Harvel had done to the rest of their children, and Gahbriogyva was naturally gifted. She caught on quickly, learned quickly, adapted quickly, in almost all aspects she was capable of pushing herself to her limits in record time. If anything she only lacked patience and the ability to control her temper. However she never really spoke of her reasoning for such a quick need for growth.
“Gabi?”
“Yes grandmother?”
“Tell me, child. Why do you desire to be so powerful? How much power do you want for yourself?”
The girl had already managed to catch her breath, wings flapping slightly to create a slight breeze around herself. As they calmed along with the wind she looked to her grandmother with a smile. That was never really a good sign. She only smiled like that when she had an agenda that met her desires. The problem was that her desires were almost always in opposition with everyone else.
“This is odd. You almost never ask me things like this. What has brought this on?”
“No beating around the question, Gahbriogyva. Tell me. What has made you desire after so much power? Your father is powerful enough to get you the things you desire, your ancient more than willing to help you if you’d just ask. Why do you want to be as strong as you hope to become? As powerful as you’ve set out to grow?”
“Because they can’t get me what I want.”
This was a first. When she had first met the child she was struggling with control over the amount of madness she managed to produce and because of that her eyes would consistently flicker between blue and red. Since then she had resolved that occurrence she also had never once needed to worry about it. Almost like it would never happen again. Yet now, right before her, this child’s eyes were as red as blood. They were beautiful. A pure madness, something their family had come to understand the impact of and fight to keep at bay, now before her in a way she had never expected to see before.
“And what is it that you want, wolf pup?”
“… I will take my father’s position. It will be mine. Then, when everyone knows that I outrank him I’ll outrank any and everyone around me. I will have every claimant know that I am the one who stands above the rest. Aikekunai, Champions, they will pale in comparison.”
“A valiant goal indeed—”
No. There was more. The woman’s eyes widened as another smile stretched across the girl’s face. A smile filled with malice, with a sense of dread and disaster. It was a smile that could topple empires all of its own accord. One that could not be replicated, one that no one could hope to really understand unless she allowed them.
“I’ll outrank them all, every last one. Then, when they think I’ve reached my peak, I will push even further than that! I will trample over the rank of treasure as well! Crush them beneath the soles of my feet and use them as stepping stones to rise above the limits these lesser claimants have grown content with! Then! When everyone has their eyes on me and me alone! When everyone can see that I am the most powerful! Only then will I claim the title of ancient for myself! A new ancient! One of violence and destruction! One who can bring apocalypse to all things if I so will it! I will ascend above all things and become neither king nor queen, not claimant nor treasure, nor will I be an ancient any longer… I will become the one true god of all things.”
Madness. This could only be described as absolute madness. She didn’t even seem to understand what she was really saying yet she said it with so much confidence! Declaring herself the enemy of every single person right there in front of her! Not just the enemy of humanity, but of all the realms. She sought no balance, no peace, only a thirst for power that moved with the means to transcend all things. Kikana found herself shaking at the very thought of it. On one hand he grand daughter would become someone capable of living with the ability to forever be safe from others, just as she had hoped for her own children. On the other hand there was the possibility that one day she as well as everyone else would have to fight her. Gahbriogyva. This monster standing before her, foaming at the mouth with the thought of absolute power.
That’s her goal… absolute power.
“You do understand that what you’re saying is, by the views of many, heretical. Correct? If anyone found out about this then you might be put to death, or most likely locked away in order to keep Gahbreal from rampaging at the very least?”
“I understand completely. That is why I only chose to tell you, and grandfather of course.”
The woman spun around quickly, turning to see that her husband had positioned himself directly behind her. She had been so distracted with what she had been hearing, she hadn’t even noticed him approaching her from behind. He seemed rather unphased by the words, but then again he had yet to really train with her. He did not understand the gravity of this situation. It was a mistake to allow him to speak.
“You’re foolish if you think something like that will work out in your favor.” The speed at which her smile faded away was astonishingly terrifying. “What makes you think that anyone will allow you to do something like that? As many claimants are standing by to die for their ancients, yet you believe you can just—”
“Kill every last one of them? If I have to, yes. What is power without risk? Then again you seem like the type of person who would cower away at the sight of real power. It’s no wonder you’ve remained so weak after all this time you’ve lived.”
“Oh? You’ve gotten rather cocky. Cockier than Jerimyha even! Then why not show me what you mean?”
“Harvel, that is enough. There is no reason to fight like this. Besides—”
“It will be fine. Just a short match.”
“Oh, it will certainly be short.”
How quickly things had managed to go south. This child was more beautiful than she had ever imagined, outshining all of her own children in terms of ambition and desire. It was terrifying, yet so beautiful. She would have no choice but to help her grow. Harvel did not understand. The situation, that is. He was preparing to face someone who wouldn’t hold back, wouldn’t give a second thought to tearing him apart like a wild animal. Her father is called the wolf, yet she was more like the creature than he himself. The woman could only sigh, glad that he at least put on his armor. No doubt he was preparing to leave for the forge, but now he would certainly need to change plans.
“Try not to go too far. Please.”
“Of course. As if I’d pummel my own granddaughter.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, sunshine. Don’t leave him too damaged. If you can muster it.”
“Of course grandmother. He’s no Aikekunai, but I’m sure he’ll at least be able to walk after this.”
She could tell her husband was not left happy with their exchange of words. He readied himself, as if prepared to not hold back, and yet Gabi would not be pleased with anything less than that. She shifted her feet, taking on a stance which suggested no mercy. It was apparent that the girl had managed to be more pissed than she let off by his words. Then again, this was her first time wording her desires, her dreams, and he mocked it so carelessly. Of course she wouldn’t let him get away with a few scrapes.
He took the first step, charging forward with his normal style of fighting. He relied heavily on his defense and his body was well cared for so that he might rely on it when his armor failed him. The only time he had really managed to be damaged past the armor was when fighting Oda seriously for the first time, but that was Oda and he had put forth quite the amount of energy. As she watched him grow closer to the child she could only whisper the words in her mind. Words that her father had taught her and she held close to her heart.
Claimants are claimants. Power is power. Title only means as much as a person wants it to mean, but power does not follow the same rule. The weakest title, the most feeble blade, those who have been granted the rank of dirt by society… what does all of that matter when they belong to the most powerful?
The moment he came within her reach the male couldn’t even throw a punch before her entire fist tore straight through his armor, the impact of her blow on his abdomen rattling his body to the core. He recoiled back, catching himself as to keep from falling over. His eyes locked onto the girl who was content with continuing her assault. That was the last he could remember before everything went black.
He awoke quickly, lifting himself from the ground before grasping at his body in pain. Everything hurt all over and upon examining his person he took notice of his armor having been removed and his body now wrapped in bandages. Or at least he would have liked to say his armor had been removed, but examining the area and spotting pieces of the metal scattered about the ground it was easy to tell what had happened. Kikana knelt by his side with a look that practically spelled ‘I told you so’ in her eyes. Gabi on the other hand stood by her side with a look of disappointment, or rather agitation and anger.
“I’m sure you have something to say. Don’t you Harvel?”
“Fucking hell. I knew you were strong, but that’s something entirely different. It still feels like I’m being hit.”
“Well, you deserve it.”
“I know… I’m sorry little one. I wanted to see if you had the power to back up your words, but I suppose I was in over my head.”
“Of course you were. I told you to spend a day off with us so you could observe her training because of this. The girl has limited access to other claimants and as such can only really get in basic training. She surpassed us in strength a long time ago and I’ve only been capable of helping her learn to temper and control it. However she is running out of things to use in order to grow. She breaks all of her equipment, we can’t be useful, I can barely hold my own against her with skill alone. Blocking and deflecting her strikes has begun to deal far too much damage to me.”
“Yeah, I can see why. I didn’t think she’d go right through my armor like that. I wasn’t prepared at all.”
“We need to find a means to have her fight others and grow without revealing her identity. If she does then she will certainly be watched over far more closely. Gahbreal cannot be trusted to let her grow. He will want her strong, but if she becomes too strong he will worry for her. If she continues at this rate I’m sure a year will be enough for her to surpass him and once he realizes that he will only become more cautious of her growth. Luckily her body doesn’t change much in terms of muscle definition so he can’t tell at a glance.”
“It will be fine. I can figure out all of that. Besides, I have a plan in mind to solve the problem of my freedom. All I need you to both do for me is help me grow. I do not want to grow to be weak like my father intends. He does not want me to grow strong like him, just strong enough to be capable beneath him. I desire for more than that. I will handle the secondary things. I must ask of you both that you aid me with the rest. Please.”
They both did not know what to think. This was what they had wanted from all of their children and yet it was so jarring to hear. Gahbreal was the closest to becoming this person they see here, Mayray being too calm as a child and Jerimyha being too peaceful when he was younger. But Gahbriogyva? This child desired after the power they desired for their children to have. In fact they could say she desired after it more than they did. Her goals went beyond what the average claimant could claim to have. Her dedication leagues ahead of anyone else they had come to know. She had spent the majority of her childhood doing all she could to grow stronger and smarter, more skilled and knowledgeable of combat. Up until that point her entire life seemed to revolve around nothing more than growth. Nothing more than power.
I found this girl by chance… but she was already looking for me from the start.
“Of course, wolf pup. I promise you that I will do every single thing in my power to help you reach your goals. I promise you.”
I may have failed to be the mother my children wanted me to be, but I will not fail this girl. Even if I must die in the process. I will be everything she desires of me. I’m certain Harvel feels the same.
-A Return To The Present-
Kikana’s eyes refused to leave the sight of her granddaughter. She had managed to grow so much over the past years and yet here, in the back of her personal transportation, she was the same child as always. Her hand combed through the woman’s blonde hair as she slept peacefully. Gabi’s head resting on her lap, soft breaths as a means to show she hadn’t slacked on her training at all. Then again she was the one who had requested Kikana teach her things about assassination, and controlled breathing in order to remain concealed was one of the first lessons. She looked far too innocent yet acted in a completely opposite way for anyone who could take notice of the signs. However her words couldn’t be taken with very much weight… she would always believe her granddaughter was innocent even if she slayed the ancients one by one.
“Lizbett, dear.”
“Yes madam Kikana?”
“Take your time, if you would. I would like for her to rest a little longer.”
“Of course madam. It would be my pleasure.”
The driver spoke as their speed was reduced gradually. The window which stood between them closed slowly until the two of them were given their privacy and for a moment she had found herself melting away in the moment. It wouldn’t last for long, but even a single second would be enough. This time with her family.
She never understood how the girl could be driven around in a vehicle like this. It was your average limo except slightly smaller, only allowing for possibly three to fit in the back while the front held the regular two seats. The back held no special commodities other than the seats and a laptop, but everything was made from either black furs or crimson leather. Crimson was her favorite color as far as she knew and she enjoyed all things soft and fluffy regardless of how much she seemed to display the opposite, but there was nothing that pleased her more than using her wings. Sure she was always trying to conceal her identity yet she could do that as well as float about. What was keeping her from doing so? Possibly a greater sense of caution?
Kikana looked down to the frame of her back, Gabi’s wings lazily draped over her body down to the floor of the vehicle. She placed a hand against the feathers and watched as she shifted slightly. Clearly she was annoyed, even in her sleep, but it was swept away by a calm not soon after. As her fingers sifted through the thick feathers she could feel her muscles relax, the tenseness of her body draining away. She had heard from her workers that she disliked having her wings touched and in the past she had chosen to go against doing so. The curiosity of feeling them more than enough to force it, but the desire to not upset her with the action being more than enough to keep her away. Looking at her now however it seemed she enjoyed it more than anyone had given her credit. The moment did not last long however. As soon as her home came into view did Kikana’s eyes sharpened and focus on the building with caution. As the vehicle pulled into the driveway the woman nearly bolted out of the vehicle before a hand placed itself on her hand and calmed her.
“Do not worry, I know. I smelled it the moment we came into range. If someone wants to intrude on my home then I suppose it would be my duty to kick them out.”
“Are you certain that’s wise? We don’t know who this is.”
“It will be fine. It would be more disastrous if this person realized the connection between the two of us. This person has intruded on my home. Besides, I think I deserve to deal with this on my own. I am rather pissed you see, that someone would think I am such a pushover. You head home. I will deal with this.”
“Okay dear. I will leave this to you. Be safe, and don’t go too far. I love you as akways.”
With those words the woman faded into the shadows of the seat. Disappearing in form before disappearing entirely. She would certainly have to have her grandmother teach her that trick at some point, but for now there was something more important for her to deal with. She sat up and placed her coat back over her shoulders, concealing her wings before stretching her arms out with a yawn. Only as Lizbett opened the door for her and looked to see that their guest was gone did she finally step out of the vehicle and speak in a hushed voice.
“Do not be alarmed, my dear Lizbett. Do not respond, do not seem concerned. Just close the door, get back into the car, and drive away as normally as you always have. Have a good night my dear and tell the others that they can take tomorrow off. I will be fine on my own.”
The woman was concerned, but feared allowing it to show in the slightest after being given the orders from her master. Technically she was just her boss, but at some point it seemed odd to refer to her as anything less than a master. She lowered her head in a polite manner before giving Gabi a wave and closing the door behind her. She watched as the woman made her way to the building before getting in the car and driving off in a calm manner. She could worry if she so desired, but it would be simpler to just focus on her day off and leave things to her master.
Gabi listened as the sound of the vehicle faded into the distance. A sigh escaped her lips knowing that there would be very little to worry about as she pulled the key from the pocket of her coat and opened the main entrance. She sniffed the air casually, stepping inside and slipping off her heels so she could feel the hard wood floors beneath her feet. It was cool, comforting, something she enjoyed and yet she could not enjoy it for long. Something more enjoyable was awaiting her wonderful attention after all.
“So then. Do you plan on coming out and greeting me? Or will I have to come to you myself?”
Bluffing. She had to be bluffing. She hadn’t done a single thing to reveal herself and not a single thing was left out of place. Sure claimants all had their own distinct scents, but she had masked her scent well and was continuing to do so. From what she knew about this woman she was certainly stronger than she made herself out to be. But even with all that strength there was little to be known of her. A single fight was all she had experienced from this enigma of a claimant, yet that was more than enough to know she wasn’t to be played around with.
“Oh? I will assume that your silence means you want to play hide and seek. I do love a good game, although I am afraid you will not make for good entertainment. I can smell the weakness on you. You are no Aikekunai and you are no champion. You have a potential for power, but not nearly enough to please me. For that, I will give you at least five seconds to run. After that… we will see just what you are doing in my home. Surely your master did not send you here, so I presume she will not care when I snuff you out.”
What was that suppose to mean? Did she already identify me?
“Five…”
No. She couldn’t have! Her senses are clearly well trained, but no one could be capable of differentiating the difference between two darkness claimants even if they could smell it.
“Four…”
Then again she called out my status. She knew I wasn’t of higher title amongst the claimants without even seeing me. It could have been a simple guess, and yet—
“Three…”
What am I panicking for? This isn’t any different from the normal situations I have gotten into in the past. This has to be some sort of bluff.
“Two…”
I came here for a purpose. Some aimless threats won’t run me off so easily and I will not be intimidated by all of this. For my master’s sake.
“One…”
My master… she did not call out an ancient, rather my master? She knew of them? Even knew they are a woman? Don’t tell me, she didn’t identify me by house. She identified me by my personal scent?
“You’re not going to last very long if you plan on standing around like this, dear friend. Eva would be ashamed.”
Mayray jumped out of the way quickly, moving to the side in order to avoid the hand which was quickly honing in on her person. It wasn’t a strike, rather it was an attempt to grab her and hold her in place. This girl was certainly a monster, but she did not expect it to be this bad. She could sense her approach, hear her wings moving upon her approach and yet her time to react was still almost too slow! She drew her weapon from it’s scabbard, holding it at the ready. Her body was covered in a full veil of shadows excluding her eyes which remained locked onto Gabi who looked at her hand with a wild smile.
“I assume you thought it would be easy to just catch me like that, but I’m not at easy to deal with as anyone else you’ve faced.”
“I knew it.”
Gabi’s eyes turned to face the woman before her entire head followed suit. The glow of her eyes grew brighter before a blink followed by a red flash coated the entire hallway they had found themselves in. As quickly as the flash came so to did the shadows covering Mayray’s slip away and fade into the floor. She did not seem confused, rather she knew about this ability and knew that stopping it would not be possible in this situation. She had wanted to personally feel it for herself, see what it felt like to have your abilities stripped away and it turned out to be worse than she had initially expected. Not like her abilities were entirely stripped away. More like some thick, black cloud was washing over her, hiding her from Xainayne entirely. As if her connection to the ancients had be clouded by darkness and madness.
“Well this feels disgusting.”
“Ah! You are an interesting one, love. I almost want to take you in and devour you whole, but I’m sure my lovely Eva would not be pleased with that.”
“Don’t talk about the princess as if she belongs to you.”
“Oh my, but don’t you know? Everything belongs to someone like me. Now are we going to fight or did you come here to talk and have tea?”
“I certainly came here to fight. So then, there’s no need to hold back like you did with my charge. I’m no where near as merciful and if you do you will surely die.”
A comment capable of causing the woman’s smile to go out of control, her cheeks lighting up a bright red as the desire in her eyes blossomed into a burning crimson. Her wings shivered ever so slightly as she took her stance and steadied her feet. Prepared to do just as she suggested… fight to the death.
“I could see it in your eyes, so very close to mine. I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Now let’s dance until we shower these halls in blood! Let me see just how beautiful you can become.”
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Feb 3, 2022 19:50:50 GMT
She could hear it so clearly, the sound of the symphony playing out in her ears with every swing of her opponent’s sword, every step they took as they danced the ballet of death, every breath they allowed to escape their lips as they traced the thin lines that stood between themselves and death. She loved it, craved it, lusted over it and yet… it was all hollow. All a lie.
How she despised this feeling, this lack of excitement and her need to fake it. She was not strong, no where near where she desired and yet her sources of growth were so few and far between. She could tear apart the very earth with her bare hands, carve holes into the sides of mountains if she pushed herself to the very limits of her strength and yet what did it all mean when her power was too great for those who would be called her equals? She needed more. More! MORE! More violence! More people who were willing to grow! More who would challenge her strength if she were ever going to gain more power!
She could feel herself growing too eager and pulled her punches ever so slightly. This person, this assassin who worked under Eva was certainly strong, stronger than Eva herself in fact, although the girl was far more suited to strategy and most likely someone who would accel with her abilities in play. This person was physically more suited to combat and yet she was lacking in her abilities as well. The way she fought showed just how each attack was aimed for her life, but none of them would reach. The more she noticed it the more it seemed she was holding back as well. Dancing in step with her, as if mocking her choice to take in easy on the woman. The nerve.
They did not chare words, did not speak their minds, rather they let their fists do all the talking. There were very few people capable of standing up to those expectations, her grandmother being one of them. This woman however was clearly not her and certainly fighting with instinct alone. Perhaps it was time to put her to a proper test.
Gahbriogyva stepped back, creating space between the two of them before taking a strong and balanced stance. Her fists tightened, legs tensing as she stepped forward with heightened momentum. Her fists let loose heavy strikes, faster and carrying more power than before. What she had not expected however was the woman to respond in kind. This had been meant to teach her a lesson in toying with someone like her and yet it proved to reveal her thoughts to be true. She was holding back as well! Did she aim to test her? Discover something from her by fighting her? Either way it didn’t make much difference and the smile which grew on her face gave away that much.
If that’s how this is going to be then I suppose I can have a bit of fun. Let’s see just how far she can go.
She began to increase her pace slowly, steps revving up as her fists flew with more force and accuracy. Mayray attempted to keep up the pace, quickening her counters and utilizing all of the openings she could find until it eventually became too much. In a matter of minutes what was once an even fight had become marginally one sided and the gap was only continuing to increase. What were once counters became blocks, what were once blocks became deflects, what were once deflects became dodges and from their she was simply escaping death by a hair.
The pressure she applied was something out of legend, as if fighting against a wild animal in the skin of a claimant. How someone could go so far without being an Aikekunai or Champion was beyond her, but the girl was still pushing further! The fight had already gone way past going too far. Her strikes were like forces of nature, the pressure of the wind around her fists and feet alone causing reverberations to move through the building and stir the halls. At some point getting hit began to feel less like a threat and more like instant death, as if her survival was based solely on pure instinct and nothing else! A single slip up being capable of costing her everything and yet this woman didn’t seem like she was finished yet. Pushing herself further and further as if wanting to reach her very limits.
The monster.
In that moment, as the thought slipped her mind, a fist came forward with such speed and precision that she chose to instead raise her sword and block it with the flat. O how she could feel it. The shock shooting through her arms, through her entire body as her feet left the ground and the world moved around her. It was hard to even register what had happened until her back collided with the window at the end of the hall and the sound of shattering glass accompanied by the feeling of the cool night air heightened her senses.
How long had they been fighting? No matter, she reached out instinctively, shadows forming over her hand like a glove and from it shooting off a tether of darkness which impaled the side of the building. At least she could use the darkness to her advantage again, but how long would that last? She pulled herself upward and launched her body up through the air, landing softly on the roof before allowing the shadows to spread over her body. With it she formed a second blade from pitch black much like her personal weapon before standing at the ready, preparing for the sure to come attack from her opponent who certainly would not be through with her. This had managed to be more troublesome than she had anticipated.
When she had asked Eva what fighting her was like she had described it quite clearly. She could not manage to get the words out of her head. "It was as if I were fighting an uphill battle right from the start against someone more skilled, stronger and faster than I am. An opponent who seemed infinitely more powerful than I am and yet the longer the battle went on the more it became clear there was no chance of victory. It really put into perspective how weak I really am compared to what I should be, and I refuse to lose again." They were words that made the woman desire to see for herself, experience it for herself. This however was merciless. If Eva had to fight against something like this without a proper weapon the woman felt she might not have been capable of surviving the experience. Eva is certainly a strong girl, but against something like this? It would be far too much.
'Come on, where is she coming from?'
Her eyes shifted back and forth, scanning the area with strict intent. She couldn’t allow a single action to escape her gaze. If she approached at a speed that was too great from an angle that was too obscure then there would be too little time to counter. She had to fight back. There had to be a chance at defeating her. There had to be some way to fight her properly. The first thing she had to do was discover the secret behind her strength.
A slight rumble. A shift in the building. Mayray had almost missed it and yet she stepped to the side just in time to avoid the woman who tore through the roof of the building beneath her. It was a well timed dodge, but not fast enough to keep her ankle from being snagged by Gabi’s hand. She attempted to use her free leg to kick her in the head, possibly cause her to loosen her grip in the slightest, but of course she moved out of the way. Mere seconds after she found herself being spun by her leg, the woman twirling about at a crazed rate before being released. She could feel the wind rushing past her as she struggled to open her eyes.
For a moment, as her eyes slowly opened, she found herself at a loss for words. Her body desiring to struggle for survival while her mind only managed to focus on the word ‘impossible’. She steadied herself and looked down, the ground so far beneath that it made her question what exactly she had managed to get herself into yet again. This was going far past what she had anticipated. This person, this claimant, this monster amongst monsters, her strength was on a completely different scale. It wasn’t like fighting anyone she had ever faced before. She had mentioned her status being below Aikekunai and Champion at the start of this encounter, but did that mean she was accustomed to fighting on their level of power? It couldn’t be. Imagining someone being more powerful than her brother wasn’t an easy task. Explaining to herself that someone other than an Aikekunai carried more physical strength than the others had displayed was impossible! Then again, it wasn’t just strength. It was speed, skill, experience, senses, perception, power in general. She was simply more powerful than her.
She readied her weapons. The fall would not mean much to her so that did not matter, her focus now was actually making it to the ground alive. She could see it clearly approaching, the woman on black wings approaching at great speeds with the same malicious look in her eyes. So long as she was not prepared to stop then this fight would surely never cease. Conflict until one of them was incapable of fighting any longer, possibly until either of them was no longer alive.
Gabi hastily closed the gap between the two of them, her foot arcing outward for a wide kick only to find the woman had twisted her body around so she might use the girl’s leg as a platform to place her feet. She swung her sword quickly as she used her leg to spring away, the attack nearly finding its mark which only caused the wolf pup to grow even more excited. How long had it been since she found someone capable of fighting her at this level of strength? Her father was always so strict and even when she forced him to fight her she could feel him holding back, but this woman? This fight to the death? This was what she desired!
Her eyes watched the woman as she created space between them and in that moment she could feel her body twitch and stir. Her breaths grew heavier as her cheeks began to burn a blazing pink in contrast to her normally fair skin. In that moment her eyes did not glow, they did not shutter, rather they rested themselves on a beautiful crimson that took the place of her normal blue. It was as if blood had been poured into her irises and yet it looked even more normal than the blue she was born with. Her bosom heaved as the pleasure from combat rose within her soul and soon she found herself engulfed in the clutches of madness once again. In that solemn moment, she felt like a child again, the feeling of her power truly growing through experience. So she chose to declare it to the world.
'Ah! Beautiful! Absolutely and utterly beautiful! Even as you fall through the sky with no hope of winning you’d choose to grow in power rather than be felled and not fight back? You’re exactly like me. O how deliciously seductive you are, like a ripened fruit ready to be plucked from the vine. In honor of your ruthless intent to grow and ongoing will to live, I will fight you with everything I have.'
Mayray could not understand what it was this girl spoke of, she was simply trying to survive. But it became ever clear what the meaning behind her words was meant to be as she approached so quickly there was hardly time to react. She raised her sword to swing it, but by the time it was lifted to strike it had already been clutched in the woman’s hand. She was no longer falling, simply holding onto her weapon which was being held by her opponent. She refused to look away from her eyes as the assassin’s foot swung upward, an attempt to strike her in her chin yet she moved her head back just in time. A desperate attempt in Gabi’s eyes and yet it was not until a blade of pure black protruded itself from Mayray’s foot did she release her weapon in order to move off to the side.
As the woman continued to fall did it only make itself more obvious that she deserved to lose against everything she had. Watching as daggers and knives carved from the shadows came flying in her direction, Gabi maneuvered herself out of the way as she reached her right had out to the side. As her weapon of choice formed itself around her arm did her free hand grab the now tattered dress, which was still on her person, and rip it clean from her body. Underneath was nothing more than a tight fitting sports bra and shorts of the same skin tight cloth material. As her wings opened up and her decent slowly began did Mayray see what was happening. This was serious. More serious than it had been before. Her eyes were filled with something completely different from before.
Complete satisfaction.
With a single wingbeat her approach was beyond stoppable, the woman choosing to raise the flat of her sword up to her face in order to defend and yet the feeling of the weapon as well as the gauntlet slamming against the bridge of her nose was almost enough to knock her unconscious on the spot. She could feel herself being weighed down on and the sound of rushing wind all around them gave way to her intentions. They were plummeting to the ground at speeds so quick that looking up all she could see was Gabi’s blurred image as the moon grew further and further away.
Fighting this girl was a mistake. She’s not someone you can just approach and do what you desire with. I don’t know what she’s been doing this entire time, but it isn’t something anyone else has be known to do. She's no ancient or treasure, but she's simply too much! I’m going to die here. I can see it in her eyes.
As the walls of the building came back into view, the hole Gabi had previously emerged from through the roof growing more distant, did the sound of a single strong wingbeat cause her body to tremble. She could hear the sound of the building shake around them as she was placed softly upon the ground. At first she was confused and yet as the woman’s gauntlet released her face did she realize the situation was different from what she had predicted. She had been allowed to live.
'Why?'
'What do you mean, "why"?'
'Why did you let me live? It was clear there was no possible way I could have beaten you. You even let me use my abilities again and I was still no match. So why?'
'Isn’t that obvious? It’s because you fight in a way that most claimants have abandoned. You fight as if you can never be allowed to die, as if your death carries more weight than the entire world itself. You fight with purpose outside of the ancients, and that is clear as the dark itself. Also Eva certainly would not be pleased with me if I killed you.'
'You’re a very odd person… who exactly are you? I originally came her to learn exactly that, but there was nothing. No records, no information, nothing outside of your work.'
'Eva and the other one didn’t tell you? Well I suppose someone like her doesn’t have to tell you anything. I am Gahbriogyva Leigh Dimea, the daughter and only real child of Cyva and Gahbreal, although the latter would love to claim more.'
Mayray was left without proper words as the girl blinked and the red had simply vanished from her eyes. How had she not seen it sooner? Rather, how had she not discovered this sooner? Looking at her more closely she was the spitting image of not him or Cyva, rather every feature the girl had gave off the similarities of a taller version of her mother! She had been so busy and Gahbreal had grown so much that she hadn’t checked up on his in decades, but she had not expected him to have a child of his own in that time. She lifted herself from the ground, the pain quickly setting in from the pressure of all the attacks she had attempted to guard against or gotten struck by.
'You… that doesn’t make any sense', she winced as stood to her feet and looked her directly in the face, 'Xainayne must know you exist.'
'Of course. Why does that matter?'
'Why would he hide this information from me?!'
The woman’s sudden outburst caused Gabi to raise an eyebrow. Why did this matter so much to her? Before meeting Evagelyne she didn’t even know this woman existed, and yet she found meaning in being upset that Xainayne didn’t reveal her existence to her? Of course he wouldn’t! Her life was a secret amongst secrets! If that ancient had gone about flapping his gums to every one of his claimants that came around then it wouldn’t be much of a secret. Someone who fancied themself to be an assassin as this woman no doubt was would be capable of knowing that at least. Unless there was something else she had yet to understand at play.
'It is only natural that he would not tell you. It is a well kept secret after all. Only the ancients and a handful of people even know I am a claimant so it is natural that you would not be told.'
'I see. And what of Hellfire? Does he know of your existence?'
'Hellfire? Unfortunately. In order for me to live on my own it was made a rule that I must manage my anger. As such Evyette often checks up on me and takes me to his bar for drinks and meals. He figured out who I was on his own, since we have the same natural eye color and I look almost exactly like my grandmother. In his words "if you were a brunette then I might have thought you were my younger sister". I suppose I cannot blame him. Apparently he hates my father, but for some reason that does not extend to me.'
'Well that would be because he was put into a position he’d never know about. It was foolish of our parents to set Gahbreal up like that, but then again they’ve never been known to be the best people. So hungry for power they’d have their own children be at odds with one another if only to give them reason to grow more powerful. Even if that reason is only to kill one another.'
What was she talking about? Had she heard her correctly? The way she spoke it almost seemed as if she were related, but neither her father nor Hellfire had ever chosen to speak of her. Did she do something to separate herself from the rest of them? Of course she was strong, but she lacked the brute force of her father or uncle. Her skills on the other hand were much sharper and if pushed to her limits she would certainly put the other two into dire straights. Then again that could not be. Her grandfather had never spoke of her and her grandmother also never mentioned anything about—
"The people I love I can only look at from the shadows. My family has separated itself from me, and there’s no one I can blame but myself. My darling Mayray, my strong Gahbreal, my sweet little Jerimyha. All of them hate me."
How had she managed to forget that? That was one of the first things she and her grandmother had ever spoken about? She felt disgusted with herself to have forgotten something so important. Her grandmother had poured her heart out to her and she had managed to let the memory fall to the wayside. Her eyes faltered, flickered between red and blue and for the first time since she was s a child did she wonder if she was looking at things correctly. Power was certainly important, more important than anything. Everything even. But was it more important than her family? Had she allowed it to grow more important than the people she loved?
'How foolish of me. To question myself', she spoke as her eyes settled on the vibrant blue, 'I suppose I am partially to blame for this failure in realization. I even knew your name and yet I wasn’t even paying proper attention. To think I could memorize your scent but not remember that you have my own aunt’s name. To think that a new friend of mine calls you ‘Aunt May’ and I did not even realize the connection until now.'
They both stood awkwardly face to face, neither of them knowing the proper action to take next. Mayray sighed and fell back onto the ground, the numbness starting to finally set in on her legs as the shadows which were tracing along her body slipped away. Her clothes were more than torn apart. One of the legs of her pants had been torn off when she was thrown into the air, her jacket was in tatters from when she was propelled through the window, how she had managed to get out of the situation with only a few small cuts and scrapes was a miracle of its own.
'How my brother’s kid managed to grow into such a wild child, I’ll never understand. You don’t hold back any of your punches.'
'I was holding back… at the start at least.'
'If you call that holding back then you not trying at all must kill people who take your words seriously.'
'Well that would be their own fault. If they were so weak to die at the start of a fight then they should not have ever challenged me to begin with.'
'You speak as if from experience.'
'Maybe it is experience, maybe it is not.' The two of them stood quietly for a moment before their chuckles echoed through the halls. It made sense now, why this woman was so skilled for her level of power. It would only make sense that someone she was related to could hold their own better than the average fodder. Her father refused to fight her seriously, yet she could tell by the way he maneuvered around her attacks that he was powerful in his own right. The only person she had yet to challenge in their family now would be Hellfire but even Evyette had warned against getting on his bad side. Apparently he was not the type to be toyed with and yet that made her desire after it even more. Gabi only really got along with people who held onto a proper hunger for power. Mayray had certainly proven to be one of those people. Then again she needed to learn more, see more, experience more of the claimant world. The only reliable gauge of power she had was her own family and it was because of that it had managed to be so unreliable. Sure her father was strong and his parents had raised him to be that way before Xainayne put him through the motions, but this fight was more than enough to remind her that some power could be hidden from her sight.
She needed to find more people to temper her edge. Hopefully this new she had made with her grandmother's employers would give her that experience she desired.
'This is odd. I would have never expected to be weaker than my own niece. Perhaps I’ve been slacking for too long... then again I’ve had more important things to tend to for quite some time now.'
'It is only natural. My life revolves around power after all. So how about we get cleaned up and talk more over dinner? I planned on eating on my own tonight, but I suppose I could use some company. That is, if you are willing to spend the time with me?'
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Dobu
Ilnonta's Husband
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Post by Dobu on Feb 6, 2022 3:58:16 GMT
Kikana walked side by side with her granddaughter, the night air brushing against her skin and sending the slightest shiver across her body. It had been three years since the girl had began to work alongside her and although it was kept secret she was more than effective at accomplishing her duties. Gabi had come to her about a means to gain strength and requested she tell her all the avenues that would lead her to direct combat with others. Of course Kikana would not hold any information back from the girl, and as such she told her of her job as an assassin although she knew that would not please the woman. Instead she chose to later reveal to her the group she worked with behind the scenes, the one that would no doubt catch her attention albeit at the cost of utmost secrecy. Then again, Gabi was well accustomed to keeping her secrets.
‘How have you been enjoying your work so far? It has been a few years now and you've been doing well to keep yourself separate from all avenues. Has this been pleasing you?’
‘Indeed, it has. I have to thank you again. Although I do not get work as quickly as my father does this is more than enough. The Program has proven to provide me with just the right amount of bodies to keep pushing myself further.’
‘Are you certain that these people are capable of even giving you the challenge you need, dear?’
‘Of course! A person fighting for their life will always fight harder than ever before, after all.’
She had agreed to introduce her to the Program under three conditions. The first and most important being she never allow Stasia or Verin to touch her. While Verin was not nearly as much of a problem as the former, neither of them could be too certain. If they ever got a hold of her whereabouts then disaster would surely strike in the form of a fight to the death, although it might be more dangerous for Either of the two to touch her in general. Secondly she had to make sure her schedule was always free. She needed to be capable of working at all times without drawing suspicion and that was the easiest part for her. She owned her place of business and her coworkers all believed she worked too hard. As such they were pleased to find her taking more time for herself. The third… to change an important feature. She needed to look different from the way she once had and while she was against it at first, Gabi had chosen quite quickly what she would change. It did however worsen her mood for the following months.
Kikana’s eyes observed the woman’s equipment, as light as ever. She wore a pair of black leggings which looked to be made from some form of custom Kevlar as well as a small pouch strapped to her upper thigh. Her upper body covered by a long sleeved turtleneck made form the same material with openings in the back where her wings could easily fit through. Her right hand was covered with her gauntlet while her left was left uncovered, her feet the same. How she walked around barefoot everywhere she went was still confusing to the assassin and yet it had been the same when she was younger. If it didn’t have to do with work or public appearance then it did not require her shoes. Her eyes were the same beautiful blue they had always been and yet her hair was much longer than before. Where it was once a tangle of blonde strands tickling her shoulders it was now pulled back into a deep black pony tail that waved back and forth between her folded wings. AS it turned out, changing the color of her hair was easier than anything else, although she’ll never forget what the girl had told her afterward.
“My mother would not stop crying for days. I would have liked to avoid making her sad.”
Perhaps she did have a heart, albeit only for those she held close. Or maybe it was only for her mother. No one really knew, but there was little time to sit and rest on the past. She looked to her granddaughter who’s eyes turned to her before giving her a nod.
‘Looks like we’ve been found out.’
‘It was to be expected. They have been hiding out here for a long time. They seem cautious however, as if they were expecting my father. I am sure they do not know what to think of this.’
‘It doesn’t matter what they think. We do this as we always have. Tāgetto o kyapucha shimasu. Nani mo iki nokosanaide kudasai.’ (Capture the target. Leave none alive.)
‘You don’t have to tell me twice’, Gahbriogyva spoke as her eyes turned from blue to crimson, ‘I’ll leave the target to you. You leave the cleanup to me. I can smell them all so none of them will be able to run away.’
‘Bakkin. Sassoku ima.’ (Fine. Quickly now.)
As quickly as she spoke the words Kikana had disappeared into the shadows, leaving Gahbriogyva to her own devices with the others. She caught their scent lingering on the air. Eight, nine, a few attempting to hide, twelve. No mercy for those either. She stepped forward as confidently as ever and when a bullet came flying from the trees and collided with her shoulder she could only smile.
‘What was that supposed to be? If you’re going to shoot someone you should do it with gusto, as if wanting to erase their very essence. Observe.’
She reached her left hand behind her back, reaching beneath one of her wings and retrieving her custom shotgun. This one was different from the one she kept at her family home which was covered in stickers and tags. This one was adorned with bones which looked to be forcibly lodged into its overall design. She raised it quickly in the direction from which the bullet had come from and pulled the trigger without hesitation, the sound of the gunshot alone howling through the night and disorienting everyone in the surrounding area. The shock was so strong that some of them had fallen from their positions to the ground, however upon looking to check up on their friend they would find nothing more than a mangled form dangling from the top of the large spruce.
‘He couldn’t survive a single shot? Or well, technically I fired all three at once. You should all invest in better guns if you plan to use them.’
Her taunts were working just as she had hoped they would, although they did not know how she planned to toy with them. A blink and a flash, the area was dyed in red for a brief moment and with it came her lack of care for which house they claimed to be a part of. Their panicked screams and attempts to regroup meant nothing. It was time for the hunt.
She moved forward quickly, getting into the fray with those who looked to be the weakest first so she might save the best for last. Her fists were like flashes in the darkness. They were all skilled in their own right, but it meant nothing. Their teamwork was commendable and it was clear that they had been working together for years, and yet as she broke through their lines and culled them one by one things had begun to look more dire for the group.
‘One… two… three…’ she spoke as her fists and her feet struck down her opponents with force beyond force. It was always easy to tell who was the weakest, seeing their head from its shoulders with a single kick or their body give way and her hand finding itself lodge within their chest form a single punch. ‘Four… five… six…’ the group had begun to panic and yet it was this panic she had been hoping for. What as they now began to fight for their lives. Procedures be damned, what truly mattered was the desire for survival, the need for power, the lust for their own lives which would spell the lust after her own death. It was in these moments that she found the claimants to be in their most baser forms, fighting like animals backed into a corner. ‘Seven… eight… nine…’
She paused for a moment, stopping dead in her tracks as her eyes surveyed the area. One of the defenders struggling to his feet and staring her down intently. He looked angry and yet his body gave off a different feeling entirely.
‘You. I won’t let you get away with this.’
‘You can’t be serious…’
‘What?’
He looked on as she spoke to… no one? Herself? She seemed more frustrated than anything, but for some reason she wasn’t even paying any attention to him although he was till alive. Was she making a mockery if him? He gritted his teeth as the thought crossed his mind and stood at the ready. Looking on as this woman, this fallen angel, this devil stood before him.
‘What a shame. I got so absorbed in the fight I didn’t allow them the chance to grow. What a waste. I suppose I’ll just have to see if the last three are worth anything.’
The male’s eyes grew wide, hearing the words she spoke causing a sense of rage and anger as he raised his weapon and rushed forward. In his mind he wanted to cry out, declare that she go no further, cut her down on the spot and yet… all he could do was watch as his weapon came to an instant halt. She wasn’t making a mockery of him at all and it was clear to see as she chose to stop his weapon with her bare hand, her fingers in fact, choosing to use her left uncovered one rather than the gauntlet. She wasn’t edging him on or insulting him, she just knew the difference in power and now he knew it as well. As her eyes turned in his direction and his gaze would meet hers did she sigh, and with a twist of her fingers the weapon pulled itself from his hands and landed on the ground a few feet away.
‘Did you think you could fight me and be victorious like that? You managed to survive a single strike from me, although I was holding back quite a bit, so don’t you think you should have a little less fear on your face? Go pick up that sword and try again. This will be your last chance. Make the most of it.’
He looked over to see his sword lying on the ground, her words stinging at his mind and chest. He clenched his fists and once again his teeth grinded together. What was he doing? Was he going to just sit here and let this woman insult him? He looked back in her direction and once again she wasn’t even paying any attention to him! The audacity! After killing so many people she would still find it within herself to treat him like nothing? If she would treat him like this then did she view the others as less than nothing? These proud claimants who would stake their lives on the line for what they believed in? Their ancients? Their dreams? That was absolutely unforgivable for the male who raised his fist and stepped forward, an action which caused Gabi to turn her attention back in his direction yet only find herself to be met with a fist to the face.
‘I won’t be looked down on so easily! I don’t care who you are or how strong you are, I will not allow you to look down on all of us!’
‘Ah! Yes… What a magnificent display’, the male looked on in disgust as the woman turned her face against his fist until they were once again face to face. ‘Don’t you have any more? I want to have that same desire, that same aggression, I want to be pelted with it, showered by it until I’m completely drowning in the stuff! You’re right! Why use weapons? We should use what we were given from birth, the tools of our bodies to fight! Now then, give it to me. Give it all to me!’
As he looked at the woman, cheeks burning red with an unidentified lust, he found himself realizing just how crazy his opponent was. She looked almost as if she were prepared to take him to bed and yet the madness and bloodlust in the air was intoxicating. He could feel the warmth of her breath, see the condensation as she pressured him, pushing closer and closer until their bodies were pressed together. Why could he not push her back? It barely felt like she was doing anything and yet he couldn’t even properly struggle against her! What could he have possibly awakened? This couldn’t possibly be just any claimant, or was it even a claimant at all?
I have to move away, I have to break away from her, make distance! If I don’t it feels like she’ll draw me in and absorb me whole!
‘Hey’, her words caused him to snap back to the situation at hand. He stepped back slowly, normally, only a single step as he watched this girl who carried a gentle smile and a face filled with infatuation, ‘won’t you live through this attack for me? It would make me happy if you would.’
She lifted her hand straight up into the air, the speed of her breathing increasing in pace as the time of her attack grew closer and closer. The male seeing just how dire the situation had become and standing at the ready, raising his arms to defend. There was panic, but also the desire to live above all else. For Gahbriogyva however, there was nothing more than lust and desire. She could feel herself growing stronger just from the few extra attacks it would take to finish him off.
The door creaked open and as it did a male rushed her with a small blade in hand. She stepped to the side just as he was going to strike, her foot colliding with his stomach and sending him flying up into the roof of the small shack. Multiple items fell to the ground from the shelves that lines the walls and as he came falling back down did she swing her hand quickly through air, the claws piercing through his flesh and ripping out whatever it would take to end him there. Of course he would struggle to cling to life, but it meant nothing as she left him on the ground to savor his last breaths. Her attention was instead on the woman and child who cowered in the corner. It disgusted her that they would hide themselves away and allow their friends to perish as they did so, but that was just how the weak survived. At least until she decided they no longer deserved to live.
‘Sorry about this. No hard feelings, but you’re going to have to all die for me. Don’t try to struggle, it wont do you any… good…’
Gabi watched as the child stood up, innocence incarnate as they all were and put himself between herself and the woman. It only proved to ring true that her beliefs were the real deal. Children always had the heart to do what most adults could not. Whether it be their incapability to understand the gravity of their situations or the simple desire to protect or fight. It was no doubt beautiful. But most importantly it was sad.
She reached behind her back once again and retrieved her fire arm. The woman and child watched as she cracked the weapon open and the three empty shells fell to the ground in a pile of dust before she reached into the pouch on her side and retrieved three more shells. She took her time placing each one into the proper barrels before the crack could be heard again and she raised the weapon up directly to the child. The woman raised her hand, a look in her eyes which spelled an attempt at resistance, but Gahbriogyva was not prepared to allow her to intervein in this child’s display of courage. It was easily squashed with a flash of red and silence, until she spoke again.
‘What’s your name?’
No response…
‘I see… then tell me child. Are you afraid?’
No response… although he nodded ever so slightly. She smiled. Without shedding a single tear he was prepared to throw himself directly in the way of the things he feared. She did not want to put him to waste.
‘Then tell me this. Would you be willing to become mine? You’ll survive this situation if you do so. What’s your answer?’
Again, no response. Although the look in his eyes gave away his answer. She smiled, although she did not want to. Her blue eyes focused on the woman behind him for a brief moment before going back to the boy. She repositioned her finger on the trigger of her weapon and gave him a look of care and respect.
‘You are a brave child. You remind me of my mother, although she surely would have cried in this situation… Erishian e no anzen'na ryokō.’
Kikana turned her attention from the corpse that lay upon the ground, head split open down to the middle of their chest, to see her granddaughter descending from the sky. Her clothes and hands covered in blood as to be expected. What was unexpected however was the look on her face, filled with a solemn sorrow, as well as the item in her hand which the claws of her gauntlet scraped and carved at. As she stepped forward it became clear that her new trophy was a skull which she had meticulously been scrapping away all the clinging pieces of flesh from its shape. It was almost completely cleaned by now, aside from the blood, it seemed she was getting even better at cleaning these trophies than she had been in the past.
‘Are you prepared to go wolf pup?’
‘Where is the target? Were they already retrieved?’
‘Yes. As you know, this one was going to be picked up by someone else so we can leave this place. Someone else will come by for cleanup.’
‘I see. This is good. Let us return home. I have a special place for this brave little one.’
She paused, reaching into the pouch on her side and pulling out her phone. A quick glance followed by a sigh and it was a clear to her grandmother what was happening. She reached her hand forward to which the woman seemed to be reluctant, but quickly handed her the skull before taking a few steps back and spreading her wings.
‘Please see that this goes to my study. In the same place as normal. I have business to handle so I will contact you later tonight. Xainayne preserve you.’
With those words the woman ascended into the air with a few flaps of her wings. Leaving her new precious item in the care of Kikana. It seemed she would be rather busy tonight.
-Later That Night-
She shook her wings, watching as the water trickled from the feathers onto the grass. It would have been in poor taste to show up covered in blood, although it wouldn’t have been anything out of the ordinary. She looked at the message once again as the water dripped from her body ,“we need to talk. Come to my place and I will meet you there”. Why Eva needed to talk wasn’t what worried her. There were multiple reasons that could be taking place, but none that would really call for her particular attention. As time had gone on her friend had grown rather close to her, but that was mainly due to how close she was to her mother. At times it felt more like they were sisters and yet what stood out more was her growth.
Eva had not been idle in the slightest. One of the first things she had gone about revealing to her was that she was not, in fact, an Aikekunai. Explaining that rather her being the person she thought she was it was truly her brother who carried the title behind the scenes. It made her even more curious when she had been told of his capabilities, much more exceptional than what Jayhe was made to believe Eva’s own was. The same concept, although far more effective. She explained that her mother was the queen of all claimants, a title that Gabi had not known really existed but was soon told that it was a title that went unacknowledged by the ancients. Her multitude of followers had simply come to call her that and she herself took up the mantle to lead them as such. She also explained that her mother was locked away in the Prism as well as her own identity being kept secret.
‘Yvaxiphoria, daughter of Audomattadjia Vall… Yva… Eva… I always thought that “e” was pronounced as an “a” but I can see why she would have everyone pronounce it this way… then again I suppose that is one way to have people use your real name without knowing it.’
With a flap of her wings she took off into the air, gliding gracefully through the sky. As she took the short flight to her destination she took not of how the woman had improved. She had certainly grown more powerful, although she did not choose to fight her again. She assumed it was because she simply did not enjoy the combat itself, but Koven had told her it was because “she would not grant you the luxury of holding back”. Was that not a good thing?
Her decent was quick and upon reaching the ground she would approach her front door, reaching into a small compartment near the entrance where a black coat could be found. She folded her wings behind her back and threw the coat over her shoulders before ringing the doorbell, the sound of soft footsteps approaching before the lock was released and she was met with none other than Koven’s face. She almost gave her normal greeting, but was taken aback when she spotted who was waiting inside of the home. Not only was Eva waiting inside, but her aunt May as well as… someone she knew nothing about? She stepped into the building, clearly intrigued by this new face. He did not look like much with a rather frail looking composition. His weight was average and his muscle mass looked to be at the same, but his posture and composure cried out with power.
‘So. What is it that you have called me for? And who might this be?’
‘Welcome Gabi, this is an old friend of my mother’s who has come to speak with me due to rather… sudden events.’
‘Hello child… you may call me Inma. Audomattadjia and my mother once shared a battlefield on multiple occasions… I chose to search her out when none of the ancients would answer my questions involving her fate, but at the end of that road I crossed paths with Mayray. She told me of Audomattadjia’s fate and as she was a close friend of my mother… learning that her mother had named her daughter with the same name as my mother, Eva, I decided that the least I could do was help her achieve her goal.’
‘Well I suppose the pleasure is mine.’
‘Inma this is Gabi, she will be working alongside us in this endeavor. She is a close friend of mine so I would prefer you treat her with respect.’
‘Of course little one. That will be fine… she looks to be someone who is rather respectable, indeed.’
‘So then. What is it that you have called me for, dear?’
She pointed to the television off to the side to which Gabi looked with a shocked expression which quickly turned to pleasure. This was good, this was magnificent! This would no doubt cause a stir between ancients, treasures and claimants alike! This couldn’t get any better! Echowix had made an appearance. She did not even need to know why. Seeing that she had made a move was more than enough.
‘Gabi, this is important. I called you here because the time has come for use to act. My plans have been all building up to this one point. You might not be capable of living in comfort anymore, no doubt you may be put to work by Xainayne. But regardless of what happens we will get what we want. The moment things go my way there will no doubt be conflict. I expected something to happen eventually of this caliber, but this was earlier than I had expected so we move now.’
‘Then what is your plan? If now is the time to put your plan into action then I suppose it is time you reveal it to me.’
‘That’s exactly why you are here. There will no doubt be chaos surrounding this ordeal. Sweet and beautiful chaos circulating through every orifice of this world. What we will do is make the preparations for her return.’
‘Her return… you mean your mother?’
‘That’s exactly who she’s speaking of.’
Koven spoke as he walked over to his sister’s side and leaned against the seat she occupied. It wasn’t until now that he noticed just how serious the two of them were. This was a first time seeing Koven so marred with distaste, breaking his normal composure. Koven was technically adopted by Audomattadjia, making him one of the Vall children as well and the prince of the claimants much like his sister was the princess. She on the other hand was a completely different beast. Yvaxiphoria was far better than her brother at hiding her true feelings and it wasn’t very often she broke her character. Seeing her face twisted with need for her mother.. it only served to deepen Gabi’s craving for the girl’s progress.
‘Our mother is beyond these lowly creatures, yet she finds it within herself to be amongst them. A queen who cares more for her subjects than her own wellbeing, and it was due to this that she found herself in this current situation. Lied to, tricked, manipulated by these rulers who use their titles as a means to do as they please. I heard my mother was a kind soul who would never hurt a fly unless she had no other choice, yet I also heard that in her final moments she fought with everything she had just to exist as she pleased. In peace. How callous.’
Her brother placed his hand on her shoulder, attempting to calm her as her nails dug into the palms of her hands. From beneath the fabric of her skin poured an array of colors which stained the floor between her feet.
‘Calm yourself sister. I will explain the rest.’
‘There is no need. She knows what I called her here for already, I’m sure. I just have to explain the premise of it all… there will come a time when we must fight and I would like to have your support. There will be chaos, whether the ancients want it or not, and we will leap on even the slightest opening to break the barriers that hold her in captivity. I don’t care for what gets caught in the crossfire, nothing will stand in my way. Me and my brother will handle the gathering of information. Mayray will deal with the stealing of secrets and lives that will serve to be a problem. She is meant to be prohibited from leaving her homeland, but now she will be doing as I order. Inma will be gathering his forces and preparing to step in when and if needed.’
‘And what of me? I assume you have something for me to do while all of this is going on?’
‘I need you to take a step forward’, it was confusing to say the least, but then the woman stood from her seat and walked towards her. ‘For you, Gahbriogyva, I need for you to go and put yourself into the fray. I would rather you goo to Xainayne and request he send you to investigate this situation with Echowix, but we both know that Gahbreal will most likely be against that. If that is the case it would do me well to have you simply cause a commotion. Destroy lives, bring ruin to the claimants overall to draw the attention of the ancients. Anything to keep them unfocused from what is really happening behind the scenes.’
Gabi smiled, her eyes resting on a deep crimson as she leaned forward over Yva. The long black strands of hair fall over the sides of the shorter female’s face as she looked up to the woman who was now completely absorbed in her desires. This was exactly what she had hoped to garner from this partnership. She could feel it, see it coming in the future. Yva, ever since she had first laid eyes on her, gave off the feeling of someone who had a grudge and a desire for something more. She wasn’t so strong that it stood out, but she was certainly skilled by the way she moved. All she had to do was stick by her side and she knew that eventually things would go her way. Now the fruits of her labors had come to this. She inched closer and closer until her lips nearly brushed against Yva’s own and as their eyes remained locked without a chance of straying away…
‘You speak as if our deal has already ended. Did I not make myself clear when our partnership was struck?’ She shifted her head to the side slightly, her eyes remaining on the woman’s as her lips brushed against the edge of Yva’s ear. ‘I told you. I do not belong to you, but I will gladly do as you ask for now and that has not changed. So please, give me an order. Do not ask me, order me, make me do it.’
‘I see you’re still a lustful whore for power and won't budge without me giving you an order, but that’s exactly why we get along so well after all. We know what it means to have strong desires and what it takes to achieve them… Gahbriogyva. From this point forward you will be working directly under my rule. Go, and make certain that my desires are met. Your princess has spoken.’
The woman backed away as her eyes faded from crimson to blue. Her enjoyment melting behind a more reserved and normal look. With her fingers she moved her hair back over her shoulder and licked her lips with satisfaction. It seemed that things would be going in the direction she desired more quickly than she had anticipated. She had been preparing for this moment for years, even joining her grandmother with helping the program was all a part of it. Taking the time to practice hiding her accent and doing what she could to make her origins and identity even more obscure. The fruits of this tree of bones were finally starting to ripen.
‘Of course. If that is what my close friend desires then it is only natural that I do what I can to support her. I will do what I must und I will contact you with the details. Don’t die on me now. This will all go to waste if you fall to something simple, my dear.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of disappointing you Gabi. Now then, be swift. Strike your enemies down and show no mercy. I plan to bring about a new age and you will be there to experience it.’
With that last exchange of words and their own personal farewell Gabi exited the building. Koven looked as if he wanted to stop her and explain more, but Yvaxiphoria chose to stop him. It was unnecessary. Everything the two of them had done leading up to this point was for this very moment and very few words really needed to be passed between the two. Gabi the vanguard on the frontlines, Yva the puppet master in the shadows manipulating her followers around her. Things would be normal, seem normal, until the very last moment.
As Gahbriogyva stepped out onto the sidewalk she turned her head to the sky, shrouded in darkness and moonlight and madness alike. As much as she wanted to keep her composure the smile which spread across her face held something that went beyond the normal madness. Her fingers pressed against her neck and the bottom of her chin as her smile grew and her face seemed almost like that of something else. Inhuman, almost like something you’d see on a demon. She locked her red eyes onto the moon as if wishing to challenge Lunia herself, but now was not the time for something like that. She needed to contain herself, at least until she was truly ready to become what she desired to become. Until she was truly ready to take up the mantle of god. Until then she would leave them all with a solemn vow:
‘You can all run if you want to, you can all hide if you need, but I’m going to cut you down. Prayers be damned, I will make a realm from your blood to rule over. You can run. You can hide. You can pray. But I’m going to cut you down.’
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