Topic: The Sanguine Hunt - Hunts with a Demoness

Mach

Date: 2015-04-13 03:01 EST
April 5, 2015

Mach still found that he moved with a....okay, a fair bit of difficulty after the past few nights, his abused flesh unkindly reminding him of its state under those simple clothes and that rather heavy brown coat he wore but he pushed all that aside as he crept down the narrow alleyway between the two warehouses, that odd looking gun in his hand. He really was having some manic luck as of late with that one phone call he had to make and the whirlwind that his weekend had been which lead him now to this....walking alone in the docks chasing down a hot tip before the trail went cold again. "Damn crazies....can't have waited to wander into my realm until Monday...." Mach sort of grumbled as he eased around in the dark shadows stalking his prey.

Movement could be heard up ahead as he rounded a shadowy corner, a low chuckle and an airy moan rolling into the still of the night. On may have thought it was some rather adventurous couple perhaps having a turn out by the docks, a lady of the night practicing her trade....but Mach could smell that unsavory soar note of curdling copper, the foul smell of death....and a lot of it. A slip of hand into coat would produce a few glass vials, the tops pulled out methodically and each one drank down in turn causing a shutter to run through the man.

Tom Hopel....an academic necromancer and summoner at the Arcane University " Tirynmar House back home....that was his prey. A professor ranked as a mere Class 3 mage who had bleed his entire class four days prior to make an advanced teleportation circle and funny where it had lead the madman. Mach popped his vertebrae, the world beginning to swim in new and unseen colors as a shudder of a breath escaped him and he headed down for that opening.

Creeping up to that gap between warehouses, blue eyes blue cast about. Reasonable suspicion for crimes so as to enact his rules of engagement' He would most certainly call the five nude corpses pale from exsanguination and arranged in the shape of a star on the ground to be pretty damning evidence allowing him full rights to engage. The sixth victim still twitched in the balding man's grasp, a specialty dagger held inserted between the woman's ribs....by the amount of blood spilling out from the hollow handle it was obvious the blade was inserted into the woman's abdominal aorta. She was a corpse that hadn't realized its fate yet. Mach grit his teeth, that gun leveled off.

"Why don't you join me friend....I need a few more volunteers..." Mach bit back a curse as those eyes that saw in colors looked around, the soft glow of preceptor wards noted here and there upon the buildings that surrounded that isolated little opening. Looks like the easy way had just gone out the window.

Stepping out Mach held the caster level at the man. "Tom Hopel....you are ordered to cease and desist in the name of the law."

- - - - -

For Sarai the weekend had been quite pleasant. Her body felt stretched, and well used. It was a feeling she hoped to get used to again. Dressed in what looked to be a comfortable pair of slacks and a sweater with sensible shoes for walking on her feet. There had been an itch to see how some of the more unsavory nightlife of Rhydin was so she found herself wandering the back alleys and darker parts of town.

There were certain sounds; ones that were always enough to perk her interest that drew her down the alley a little further. The scents that crossed her nose not soon after made her cautious, slowed her steps to more of a creep so that she could be a little quieter and see who ever it was before they saw her. It was always unpleasant to get blindsided by some less than lucky creature.

She came across the scene and lingered on the edges. She saw the one over the lady, and the blood that came from the blade. The other corpses were noted as well. If she had to guess she would have put her money on some kind of cultist. Then, she heard two voices. The first she didn't know, the second on the other hand she did know. Mach. Her eyes moved to find him and stayed there, curious to see him in action in some other way than she had all weekend.

- - - - -

Tom looked over at Mach, still dressed in his tweed suit and glasses though there was a very disjointed smile upon the man. "A hunter!....I thought the last one of you died out here....how curious..." The lady in the man's grasp mouthed weakly prompting the man to shush her almost lovingly.

"Yeah, we're like cockroaches" Now lace your fingers together behind your back and get on your knees." This was a different Mach than had been seen before, his presence demanding. There was still that glibness to it, that cocky swagger but it felt self-assured and dangerous rather than flirty and full of himself. "Don't try anything funny or believe me I will end you."

The mage clucked his tongue chastising. "End me" What happened to my Merker Rights" I can sue you you know for neglecting to inform me of such..." The man sounded almost glib in their tone, jarringly calm and collected.

Mach smirked. "I'm a Class A hunter buddy....now drop or I'll drop you." A tap of finger between those blue eyes indicating his exact meaning.

Tom arched a brow, curious now. "A class A....how bothersome." He began to lower that body before a flick of wrist would send some of that vitae lobbing towards Mach. Nothing so serious really but the man's colorful vision saw the bright orange sparkle of magic being willed, being pushed into those droplets. A leap to the side would have him barely avoiding the drops of blood that lanced forth like bullets riddling the wall behind where Mach had just been with holes.

"Wrong fucking move buddy!" Mach growled as he hit the ground, a roll bringing him up to snap off a shot from that gun which sank sickly into the corpse the man held up as a shield. A wicked grin crossed the mage.

"I think not..." And with another flick and another the mage would send hails of blood bullets like shotgun blasts after Mach who simply dodged and rolled around, not even given a chance to return fire....though perhaps that wasn't quite it as those blue eyes blue stared hard, watching for something unseen.

- - - - -

Sarai watched for a long while, and slowly built up a list of questions that she intended to ask him some day. Just not any time soon. The man was a mage of some kind, that much she had gathered as she watched. She watched a little longer as the mage seemed to give Mach nothing but an onslaught of magic attacks. And as it progressed, it seemed like he wasn't going to be getting anything else. And after a little bit of thought, and figuring since she was a little more durable than most, she could be a good distraction. So, with a deep breath, and faith in Mach that he'd take advantage of a distraction like her, she stepped out of her hiding place. "Looks like Someone made~a mee~esss." It was said in almost a child-like sing songy voice.

- - - - -

Mach continued to dodge attacks, running himself around that opening and yet despite that, despite the fatigue he had to have felt from that marathon sort of session he didn't look winded in the least, the effect no doubt of one of those potions he had drank which now made his breath steam with each exhale. And all the while those blue eyes blue continued to watch the man, watch the area around....and it may have been of note that his right eye started to glow unnaturally. A little more and....Mach's vision snapped at the sound of the new voice, one that was....very familiar to him.

The mage cast a thick rimmed look to Sarai, his expression almost bored though there was a certain malicious undercurrent to his expression. "You! You are delightful! Would you like to join my creation...?" A grin curled on the man as his other hand turned and swirled a glyph in the air, that grin growing broad. "Zyrintos!" Tentacles of blood rose from the large puddle that oozed along the ground, swerving like vipers luring their victim before they lanced for the girl.

If there was a distracted party it may well have been Mach as the look on his face belayed some of his surprise. "Sar...bear" Shit!" A sudden alteration of her name, obviously the man's mouth working faster than his mind as that gun was pointed at her. The heady atmosphere of electric energy, of arcane power suddenly shifting as he pulled the trigger. There was a pop, a fizz, the sudden smell of ozone....and what sprang forth from that gun wasn't some mere bullet but a gulch of flames that seared away the attacking tendrils.

Another roll, the battlefield becoming that much more complicated and yet despite that bit of surprise Mach still looked cool, and cocky. "Sarbear....what are you doing here!" Get out of here, run left!" It was a subtle tone he took though the context had to have spoken louder....had Mach wanted her to escape he'd simply have told her to hightail it down the alley she came. Did Mach have a plan' That was generally the hope!

- - - - -

There was something about the way that the mage spoke to her that made her skin crawl. "I'd probably corrupt it worse. You don't want my blood in that, dearie." Her voice was still sing songy. The sudden attack that started surging her way had her scrambling to get out away from them.

The nickname that came from Mach had her attention darting his way. She stared for a moment, a deer caught in the headlights, unsure of what to do now that she had been spotted. Run. That word caught her attention, shook her from her deer in the headlights syndrome. Run where" Left' That was right....Right' She hoped she heard him right. Because she ducked her head, and bolted to the left, and put all her hoping for the best into it.

- - - - -

Oh....she was staring. Not good. Another shift of magic in the air, another pop and fizz which preceded the smell of ozone just before anther gulch of flame lanced from that caster in Mach's hand burning away those writhing blood spears that lanced at the woman once more.

Tom simply grinned as he continued his assault on Sarai with those tentacles while he continued to lob blasts of blood at Mach. "Corrupt blood would be good for it....creature that merely pretends to be that of man..."

The mages grin took on a wicked curl as he kept up that assault, Sarai apparently joining Mach in a game of dodge death but it would soon become obvious what the man had in mind as Tom seemed to only be able to cast spells against targets in his view and now he had to turn to attack each in turn as Mach was dead opposite of Sarai. Perhaps she could see that Mach was changing out the cartridge of his gun now when Tom focused on the demon girl. Sorry Sarai, Mach'll make it up to her later for using her as bait!

- - - - -

She blinked at the attack that was lobbed her way, and quickly intercepted by Mach. Then he continued with the tentacles. She moved rather efficiently in her ways of avoiding his attacks with ease. When he mentioned her pretending to be of man, she grinned. "Nah. Not the case. People just seem to be a bit more friendly when I don't have the talons, horns and wings. I don't hide it."

She ducked under an attack, and let loose a short burst of laughter. Sarai was smart. And even though she didn't look it she had lots of battlefield experience. So after a moment of watching Mach, she figured out what he was doing and that she was bait. So she'd do her best to play the part. "I could have fun with you." The words were purred. Then she moved to take a step towards him, making sure that his attention stayed on her, and didn't stray towards Mach. "Do you know how much screaming comes with skinning someone alive" I could show you." She paused, looked Tom up and down. "Specially if you keep trying to ruin my sweater, as I do rather like it."

Tom smiled that crooked smile of his....a smile not really made by people who were all there or all sane. "Fun....yes....it would be fun to skin you....never got a chance to back at that gilded cage that was the 'academy'..." He licked his lips as he picked up one of the corpses, a kiss planted to cold, dead lips before he released its sagging flesh yet the body still stood as some grotesque puppet. "Wouldn't allow me to summon one as you....what are you? A lust demon' A rage demon' A berserker" A mind flayer?" A point of finger would have that grotesque puppet corpse lunging at Sarai, moving unnaturally and without breath as it would attempt to rip her throat out.

- - - - -

Mach was totally going to owe Sarai for her distraction of the mage as he charged the man with castor raised. The mad mage turned back to the hunter as Mach snapped off a bullet which went far aerie hitting the ground before Tom as Mach dodged a tentacle.

"Oh' Not of man' Certainly tastes of such....and marks the same way!" Mach snapped his teeth as he spoke. Was that really so distractive to the mage or was it something he just wanted to say' Either way he charged with a few sticks and a straw now held in his free hand, their purposes becoming evident as he lifted the straw, blowing into it which caused the blood spear that shot towards him to freeze. That fling of blood from his fingers" They would simply splatter upon Mach's coat as the hunter had snapped one of those sticks in half sending forth a jolt of electricity which arced along the droplets to shock the man's fingers breaking the concentration of the spell.

Surging forward until he reached the mad mage, that free hand would snag a circlet from his coat which was slammed onto the others head as he struggled. And now to juice it" but a turn and snap of fingers from the mage would put an abrupt end to that thought as it activated a nasty trap of the blood that had splattered the man's coat during the ensuing chaos. It caused the gore to explode" violently.

The mage laughed merrily as Mach was propelled smoking away from the blast. He sailed and tumbled past Sarai slamming into the side of a warehouse with a sickening thud, his form splatting on the ground though there still seemed to be a tension about the man as he laid face down ass up on the ground.

- - - - -

"Mmh. I was going to say the same for you. Peeling your skin away and keeping you alive for days after would be quite fun. The longest has been ten days. I bet you would last fifteen." Her nose crinkled in distaste when he kissed the corpse. "I am nothing special. No lust demon, no rage. Just demon. Simple, pure and whole. I'm a mess of sadistic fun, and a dash of crazy all rolled into one. All with a pretty face." She waited as he sent the corpse puppet her way. She went down low, and let her connect. "Sorry this happened to ya love." It was said softly before she shoved her back and brought her leg up and let it connect with her chest in a kick. It was when she was finished that she looked up just in time to watch the blood explode, and Mach go flying. "Mach?" She stepped toward him, then stopped, her eyes darting towards the mage. Then another glance was tossed his direction. Something about his posture made her believe he wasn't dead. So she trusted in her gut instinct, and instead of checking on him and offering the crazy mage a chance to attack her, she let out a rather savage sound, and flung herself at him, hands out and talons at the ready aiming for his throat.

As for the corpse it would buckle, the rib cage sinking in as that kick wrecked its torso. But it was not driven by the forces of, limited by the preservation of life. It swung, ruined as it was to try and attack or cling onto the woman again though her savage charge would have taken her out of the puppets grasp.

For Tom's part the man simply cackled as Mach slammed into the warehouse. "Another broken soldier finding their end, how pathetic!" And now the man sneered wickedly as Sarai lunged at him with taloned arm outstretched. That woman that he had been bleeding would rise up, once more a meat shield except now against Sarai's attack though perhaps more it was a feint to distract the woman from those bloody tentacles that writhed up from the ground seeking to wrap and engulf her arms and legs to try and bind her, a few even hardening to simply try and beat her to weaken her fight.

And when Sarai connected with yet another woman puppet, there was a quiet growl given, before she moved to shove her out of her way. Then she started backpedaling, just as one of the tendrils the second puppet had distracted her from noticing wrapped around her ankle and threw off her step. She almost fell, righted herself, and swung wildly with her hands. One ended up entangled in the tentacles as well. She snarled, and yanked against the one wrapped around her arm. Yet another and another would rise trying to fully bind her remaining limbs, the pool of blood gathering more and more beneath her sending more tendrils to hold her.

Tom simply cackled as she was held, form stooping to snag that hollowed dagger from the fresh meat shield. "Oh....I am a lucky Tom indeed. A lucky Tom....you look like a fine specimen....I will enjoy dissecting you and adding your blood to my pet....Sanguine Thorn.....isn't she lovely.....such a lovely gift from my lady?" The mad man grinned ear to ear as he closed with that blade.

Of course, simply bleeding her wouldn't kill her. Neither would anything else he had planned for her. She may have told him this had the rest of her limbs not been tangled up by his tentacles. She snapped her teeth at him as he drew near. "I promise to take pleasure in listening to you scream once all this is over." She pulled more against her restraints, aiming to stress them as much as she could. She was strong for someone so tiny. It was at that moment, she remembered Mach, and sent a wild glance around for the man.

And as her limbs were bound the tendrils would start to engulf her body, the mass of blood a creature in its own right. Tom smile pleased as she struggled. "Your blood will make a fine addition to Sanguine Thorn....yes, a fine addition indeed. It is strong blood filled with such corruption." The man licked his lips, a playful snap of his own teeth in time with hers. "Maybe if your vessel is equally as strong, as resilient as it seems then I can use you to transport her hmm....dissect you and scoop out your mind, detach your spirit and leave you a puppet for my Thorn....mmm, yes..." That dagger was raised for her face. "So were shall we begin?"

Oh hell. The tentacles were trying to swallow her whole now! Her eyes darted around for Mach again. Where was he" He wasn't going to let Tom do what he was babbling about right' Because that sounded unpleasant. She pulled back as best she could as he waved the dagger in front of her.

- - - - -

And behind during all this" Mach was a lump, though his hands still moved slowly, trying weakly to push himself up through the alarms of pain that told him he'd just been blown up and would likely be dead if not for that magical coat that just soaked kinetic energy. Reckless. Mach had been reckless but like so many times before it hadn't quiet caught up to him yet!

He coughed up a little blood from those internal injuries that were already sealing, blue eyes blue watching the scene unfold. Mages were a predictable lot, or as predictable as any crazy was. Mach would bid his time, that caster in hand hidden from view as it cycled keeping revved up, his cell phone pulled and a message sent off without looking. A little further" a little further"! And finally the time came, that opportunity he'd been waiting for.

Lifting that caster finally behind Sarai he'd fully pull the trigger activating that spell he'd been cooking. There was a pop, a fizz, a whir as the other spoke, the air becoming uncomfortable as the energy just sort of...shifted. That whir would grow, speeding up as Mach braced himself before there was a strange sort of vloorping pop. That blade was held to the woman's face, and the crazed Tom behind it....and as if from thin air there was Mach now as he materialized where that bullet that was shot at the mages feet earlier.

"How about less mad soliloquies yeah' " Machs tone was cold as he pointed that gun right at the man that stared wildly, a will of blood but none was where the hunter stood as it had all gathered beneath the struggling Sarai. A pull of the trigger and there was a quick pop, a crackle, this spell processing fast and efficient as the band placed around the man's head earlier, enchanted to be below perception usually, activated. Tom seized, falling to the ground as his body was wracked in convulsions, the band temporarily scrambling his mind like eggs in a skillet. The blood that held Sarai would release her, turning to sludge and then dust as the magic that fueled that monster, kept it alive was lost as the mage shuddered and shook on the ground.

Mach looked up and gave Sarai an assessing look, his expression that cool confidence before finally a crooked grin curled on him "Mages...love the sounds of their own voices...."

Sarai watched the crazed Tom dropped to the ground and convulsed. And her hands were freed from the grasp he had on her. She stumbled, righted herself and flashed Mach a great big grin. "Yeah. They do. " She eyed him now. "I was serious about keeping him alive for days. Painfully. Can I" "

Mach looked at the man and back to Sarai. As Tom's eyes started to focus once again Mach would pull the trigger on that castor once more, a pop and crackle sending the man into a fit of convulsions once more. "That's for even thinking of hurting my friend...." Mach's tone was cold, vehement....nothing like the man that he so seemed usually. Tucking away that gun he was already dabbing at a trickle of blood which tried to escape his nose before he leaned down to wrench the mage around so he could put an interesting pair of handcuffs on the man securing him in hogtied position

And finally once this was done he would stand and step over to Sarai, arms wrapping around the woman as he drew her into a hug. He would hold her for a long moment in silence before he simply smirked. "Sorry love, this one's going back for trial, analysis, and rehabilitation. " Spoken simply as he held her. At some point he'd called in the patty wagon as in the distance could be heard the approach of sirens.

Her eyes watched with amusement when Mach sent another wave of brain scrambling to the mage when his head started to clear, and declared the reason as to why. She couldn't help but smile, even more so when he cuffed the mage. And once it was all said and done, and she was wrapped up in his arms, she gave a content sound. When he let her know what was happening to the mage, she pouted a little. "That sounds like he's getting off easy considering what he's done. " She murmured with a pointed glance towards the women.

Mach held her a little tighter or perhaps his shoulders slacked a little more at her words. "For his crimes he'll likely live out the rest of his days as an indentured servant of the state once they surgically alter him so he can no longer use such high level magic again. He will repay society....besides...." Blue eyes blue turned to the corpses, his expression oddly stoic. "Nothing can be done for the dead and nothing can be atoned for from the grave...." He spoke those words that were obviously not his like a mantra.

That first statement made her brows perk and a whole slew of questions arise. But she silenced them, and nodded for a second. "He is still being let off easy. But it is your way. Your job. Can't get you in trouble. " As for his second set of words, she frowned a little. "Proper burial. That's the least that can be done for the dead. And perhaps closure for their families and loved ones, so they at least have something to mourn and aren't left never knowing. "

Mach smirked at her insistence. "Believe me....my superiors would want nothing more than for me to put a bullet in this asshats brainpan...no....I made a...." A pause, a shake of head. "I choose not to take personal revenge. " He cast a look back to the corpses, his jaw working slightly. "Yeah....we will see to that, and the principle investigators will....get in touch with the families, let them know so as they may find their closure. " He worked to stop clenching his jaw, a smile pulling upon him as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Your just a big softy demon aren't you..." Mach grinned at that tease, hands still holding her to him as the sirens drew ever closer.

She made a face at him after a moment. "Perhaps that makes you a little better than me. As I tend to be a somewhat vengeful creature." As she spoke, she watched him. When he said that he would have someone to get in touch with families, then went on to call her a softie, she made a face at him. "Just a little of a softie. Almost everyone is someone else's someone. Mother, father, daughter, or son. Family deserves to know what happened."

Mach smiled a thin sort of smile at that. "Better....hmm....I doubt it." A squeeze given of shoulders, drawing her into him. "Nah, just different sort of thoughts....yeah?" A grin. And at that mention of families, of everyone being someone to somebody' Well, that would just get another pull, another warm embrace. "You are most certainly a softy..." A finger danced down to poke her tummy and side teasingly. Both of those were obviously topics the man wasn't terribly keen on speaking on...smacked too close to home, too close to the cards he held close to chest. That same finger would lift the woman's chin to press a kiss to her lips now, the contact stretching out in that distracting manner.

"You doubt it?" The words were echoed as he drew her in closer. He was met with no protests. She just kinda leaned into him, and wrapped her arms around him. The motions were repeated a few seconds later when he pulled her in again. "I'm part softy. But I blame that on living around humans so much. As you guys deal with more varied emotions than most of us. I've found that my own have developed over ti-" Her rambling words were cut off by the kiss, before she melted a little into it. She made a very content little sound when he actually pulled away.

He smirked at her questioning his doubt. "Don't let these ruggedly good features fool you, there's a bad man lurking beneath it all..." A cheery chuckle at this, his words ringing with a tone of truth that usually felt absent from his speech....or perhaps it was just that plotting to steal more kisses. Mach did enjoy how she melted into his random bouts of loveyness and how she reacted to his rather burning passions. The man didn't seem very interested in holding such back....everything else about him maybe but he was a very attentive, very giving, and very passionate lover. "Oh' Being around us squishy humans make you soft....hmm, interesting..." He was most certainly going to have to ask her more about that later but those sirens were getting awfully close.

"I won't for a minute. Ruggedly handsome, bad man lurking underneath. Isn't that normal though?" She teased this lightly. As for her reactions to his kisses and touches and general loveyness, they were all things that she enjoyed. Very much so. So whenever he offered them, she devoured them quickly, and without complaint. "Yes. Just a little squishy and soft. It took some adjusting, definitely." Her eyes drifted in the direction of the sirens again.

He gave her another squeeze before a hand snaked away and back to his holster. Another pull of that trigger, another pop and crackle and the mage would be set to quaking upon the ground once more. And once more that hand rose to staunch another trickle of blood from his nose. "So are you okay Sarai....I'm sorry I used you for bait...usually that's my job. "

She gave a soft content sound at one of his many squeezes, and fell quiet until he asked if she was alright. "I am fine. Honestly, been years since I've been involved in that much action. It was fun....And if you buy me dinner again I'll call it even for using me as bait. " She paused, eying him. "Is there an opening for professional bait' "

He did smirk at him buying her dinner. "You just want to have the entertainment after the dinner! " He shot her a coy look, a cackle escaping him as he waggled his brows at her. Though that humor did dim a little at her question of being professional bait. A chuckle pushed from him. "Sorry love, I'm not in the habit of using folks besides myself as bait. If someone has to buy it due to a poor call it should only be me yeah' " Another kiss pressed into her brow. "Besides, the pay stinks. " A wink and a smile.

She grinned and leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek. "I do always enjoy entertainment after dinner." Pause. She pouted. "Honestly that was kinda fun. But you have a point as to where you are coming from."

A smirk. "Yeah....that was average sorts of danger for me....wouldn't want you to be seriously hurt on my account though I think you'd probably be better at this gig than me..." A wry grin. "You my dear have interesting thoughts on fun yeah?"

"For me, fun is anything that gets the blood pumping, Combat. thrillers, roller-coasters, sex....almost having something weird done by some magic nut job is nothing." She paused. eyed him, then grinned. "I bet I would be kick ass doing this job. Minor injuries don't really bother unless its getting stabbed. Leaves holes in clothes and those are no fun."

"So you like the thrills, spills, and passion yeah..." He chortled as he gave Tom a nudge tipping him over so as to insert a handkerchief in the man's mouth since he may be close to being able to chant things once more. You know, if his mouth weren't full. "Yeah....you might do well enough doing this....but then you would totally have to be okay having your clothes ruined..." A point to his own dress. "Functional and a-okay to be turned to ash....actually had that happen a few times....finish a job buck ass naked....elementals are really bad about that." A sage nod as he rose up once more.

"Thrills, Spills and Passion. Yes. That's a good and easy way to say it." She nodded a couple of times, and watched with quiet amusement as he stuffed the handkerchief into Tom's mouth. "Ahh. And that is when I would have a separate wardrobe for work. Jeans, comfy clothes. Things that are easy, cheap to replace." Then she grinned when he mentioned being naked and finishing jobs that way thanks to elementals. "Mhh. I have no issues with being naked, and fighting that way. Clothes can be a pain in the butt." A snort followed.

Another wrap of arms, a moments enjoyment of that closeness, and one more grin before the man would finally release the woman, stepping back as those sirens closed to but a block away. Perhaps he didn't want to be seen as so loving to someone for fear of teasing though there was likely more to it than that as he moved now to ensure the hold of those bindings on Tom. "Might wanna clear out yeah' Going to be sort of boring here a bit....can meet you somewhere after if you want"

When he stepped back and let her go, her eyes ticked upwards toward his. "I can stay. Boring isn't bad. Unless it'd be less questions and trouble if we just meet up somewhere, once you're all done?" Her eyes danced in the direction of the sirens, before she took half a step and bounced just a little on the balls of her feet.

Her asking about questions and trouble" Well, that gentle smile probably said it all. "Yeah....I think there may be some rather interesting questions with uncomfortable answers if you stayed....'who is this' 'this is Sarai, the hot demon I'm totally banging'..." Mach sort of chortled at that thought and talked out conversation. He was okay with such a third degree given to him, let the judgments fly. But the second such may have fallen on Sarai even if she didn't care" Mach knew well that he'd end up with some brig time for some very aggravated assault on another. Instead he'd step in, drawing that woman into a passionate kiss, tongue delving to play with hers for a long, stolen moment. It was obvious Mach had a thing for danger too but that had to be a given with his reckless lifestyle. A slight growl as he nipped her lip releasing that kiss reluctantly before he sighed.

"Well. Yeah. I can totally see the 'This is Sarai, The hot demon chick I've been banging' totally fly over well with your supervisor. Maybe you'll even manage to get yourself a promotion." She rolled her eyes, opened her mouth to say something, and was interrupted by his mouth again. Instead of complaining, she stayed caught in that little moment, and focused on the assault of lips, teeth, and tongue from him. All of which she returned without fail.

"Yeah....you remember that cozy little coffee shop that we..." A low tone though there was a slightly goofy chuckle. "...occupied earlier....why don't you meet me there yeah' Shouldn't take me half an hour.." Another nip of lip taken, hands wandering a moment before he forced himself to take a step back smiling that warm smile of his. And if Tom even made a peep during any of this so help him he was getting a boot to the head!

Sari was flushed and breathless by the time he pulled away. There was a content 'Mmmhmm' that came from her."Coffee shop from earlier. about thirty minutes. I will most definitely be there. Have fun with the boring part of your job, eh."

There was a gentle smile for the woman as he nodded. "Yeah....I'll see you there in a bit." A coy wink offered and he'd watch as Sarai wandered off into the alleys. He figured her for the sort that would avoid the incoming police and paramedics that his call would bring rushing to that scene and so when she moved out of sight he turned back to Tom who....smiled rather unpleasantly up towards him. The look was awfully smug for one hogtied with a compliance band on their head and a gag in their mouth. Squatting down he'd pull the handkerchief out. "What." The mage worked his mouth a little before that grin pulled on his features. "Nice little fu..." The man hissed as Mach's fist bounced his head off the ground, a wheezing chortle escaping him. "Touchy on that are you?" A dismissive look of those blues was cast upon the man. "You know, if all that look was for is so you can try to piss me off then the hankie's going back in..." Tom smirked. "You can beat me....gag me....do as you will, you've already lost. The storm is coming...SHE will pass judgment on you, and her judgment will be swift and terrible. You will suffer for that you do against her prophets hunter."

Oh look, the classic dramatic speech of the fallen foe warning that an even bigger challenge lies ahead! Mach just shook his head at how predictable the mages rhetoric was. It was almost like to go rogue a mage first had to learn all the proper tropes to use when facing off against someone there to stop them! "Oooh, your great she is coming to get me and my little kitty too..." A snort. "Why do you mages do this....honestly....almost every one of you does it! Is it a pride thing?" A thought, snap of fingers. "It's the hogtie position, right' I can totally see you being butt hurt at that..." And now Mach was grinning as he joked with the man. The mage himself was either buying into this bit of humor or had some other reason to chuckle along with Mach. "Yes, you and your bit..." And he bit back a sharp gasp as his head was slammed into the ground once more by Mach's fist, a groan escaping but it did little to reign in that humor. "..bitch and any other that may stand with you though I honestly think that number is none....all of you shall suffer judgment." Tom, bloodied with his face swelling, beaten as it was turned to look Mach in the eye with mad glee, his smile growing just a hair before splitting wide across his face as if realizing something. "E-li-tia Turner." That mildly dark humor drained some from Mach's features as that name was spoken, that name the man he'd never met before, didn't know about until a few hours past should not have possibly known. It made his veins run cold. "Wrong guy buddy, he died in a crater months ago..."

Tom cackled. "Oh how you try to lie....but you cannot lie to SHE, SHE sees all, knows all, and has plans for you Elitia Turner..." There was a sniff, a twitch of those rugged features before the man moved, that caster pulled from it's holster and driven hard into the temple of that mage, the cold magisteel barrel digging into his flesh causing the man to involuntarily whine in pain. Mach leaned down, his voice a cold, venomous whisper. "You tell whoever this bitch is that I ain't running, I'm right here, and I'll mop up all her little reject goonies and pop a cap in her when I'm done. I guarantee it." Mach pressed that gun a little harder into the mans skull, felt the soft flex of bone on the brink of giving before finally he released that pressure, the handkerchief being stuffed once more in the mans mouth. The watch officer that had been first on scene gave Mach a wary look as he stood up, a look between the beaten Tom and the hunter that with a pop of his neck had once more found his glib little smile. It was likely very hard for the man to decide who was worse in that moment....which one was the true psychopath.

From then on the rest of the hand over was stock normal. Another brain scramble for Tom would allow Mach to retrieve his compliance band and handcuffs from the mage as he passed the man off to watch custody before he quickly filled out a report with far too much speed and efficiency than had to be normal. He even worked on the report as the EMT's set back a couple of his ribs which had been broken out of place from that contact with the wall earlier....how such didn't pain the man was beyond comprehension as Mach seemed to be all human. Finishing all that and at the protest of the emergency responders he would wander off into the night making his way to that coffee shop he'd mentioned to Sarai. His expression was stoic, lost in thought for most that trip though he'd make sure to scrub away the evidence of those thoughts leaving an affable affect when he was a block away. A smoke snagged from pocket and lit and by the time he'd show up at the actual cafe he'd look as natural and lazily cocky as he always did.

(Adapted from live play with the awesome Deviously Charming!)

Mach

Date: 2015-06-19 05:55 EST
April 29, 2015

It was late evening when Sarai had left the Red Dragon Inn, and set out to just walk. Her head was swimming with all kinds of thoughts that recent talks with a certain man had brought up. Most of it was thoughts on Nicoli, but they strayed to Mach as well. Actually, he had been on her mind a lot lately as well. She hoped that at some point, walking would help her clear her mind, so she just kept doing so.

At some point her wanderings had brought her to the marketplace, and the small crowd of nightlife that still filtered through this late. She didn't have any intended destination, and for the most part, avoided people, and when she couldn't weave through them. This eventually led her to a less populated part of the marketplace, where on reaching; she slowed her steps, and sucked in deep breaths in an attempt to chase away her relentless thoughts.

And hidden within the darkness of the shadows eyes watched the distracted woman for some time, even before this night had come. Eyes from the distance noting her involvement with the hunter, noting her soirees to the man's apartment which had been a sort of boon to the creature and its master. And now this evening it had a different task as it followed along, silent among the fences and rooftops of the city as it stalked the demon. And when she moved off to an abandoned part of the marketplace" At this point it dropped down like death to the ground, moving with smug self-assurance forward as it flicked its tail. A black stray cat was all it was as it moved hesitantly towards the woman, a friendly mewl offered.

- - - -

Elsewhere in the Marketplace Mach fidgeted as he burned down that smoke, one of several he had killed in that sitting at the small cafe. His mind had been wandering to his past: Ellena, her fate, his road to hell, his road back.....the thoughts sparking angrily in his mind. And yet, in between it all there were flashes....soft flesh, red flesh, and a particular face, words and sensations....Sarai. The man had found himself thinking about her a fair bit more than he was used to and it was....hell, he didn't exactly know what it was. Holding that cellphone in free hand he toyed around with it, a message he'd been screwing around with on the screen ready to send but he'd been holding off on such for over an hour now. Was he really wanting to disturb the woman to come have coffee with him'

"Hmmmm....damnit....what am I thinking..." With a sigh he flopped back, another drag from that cigarette killing it. Looked like it was time for another.

Pulling out another cancer stick that was lit with a snap, crack, and pop of his zippo there was another sip of coffee taken as he toyed with that phone still, his thoughts still a mess. He liked the woman well enough as a distraction, a way to feel alive by that intimate contact....and she did it so well! He still had claw marks from their last night spent together, no mean feat given the regen factor he drank religiously....but then that in itself was worrisome as well as the fact that he'd spoken with the woman about Ellena, someone who he never brought up, not willingly. The curious thoughts turned slowly as his thumb moved idly, a little tap making that green button pulse. "....Shit!" He had inadvertently sent that text inviting the girl out for some coffee!

- - - - -

Mach was something else. That was honestly the only conclusion about him that she had come to. An infuriating goofball with a taste for liquor and cigarettes. But there was something about him, that she liked. Someday she'll eventually figure it out. Her thoughts would have continued to wander, but she heard a soft sound, a mewl, and it caused her to glance up, and towards the cat that was heading her way. She watched it for a moment, then grinned. "Hi Kitty-kitty." She moved to drop down into a crouch, and held her hand out to the cat. "Are you friendly' You look pretty friendly."

The cat mewled once more as it approached, a stretch of neck to sniff at the woman's hand before....it dropped down on its haunches and began licking itself. It certainly acted like a cat alright! But then its master was also fond of details. A distance away other figures moved along, quietly stalking along adjacent alleys from the one where Sarai was stopped, their vision linked to the familiar's vision as it paused to look up at the woman.A moment or two later it would resume its cleansing, keeping half an eye on the woman as it waited for that right moment to spring. There was a flop of ears though as it heard something buzz.

She watched the cat sit, and start to lick itself. She took that as a silent 'You may pet me now.' So she did just that. If it wasn't, and he attacked her hand, eh. She healed fast. Also, cats were cute even if they did decide to decorate your arms with scratches. Or, not that she knew, help with some diabolical plan. If he let her, she's scratch behind the ears, where most cats liked being pet. Then her phone buzzed. Curious as to who was texting her so late, she moved to straighten, and dig it out of her handbag. A couple swipes brought the message up. Mach. Several seconds of tapping had a message written, and sent.

Text to Mach: I'd love to. Same one as usual"

Once the message was sent, she pulled away from the cat, and straightened from her crouch.

The cat did let the woman pet it but only just so, in its approved manner as he bumped and prodded her hand this way and that to avoid certain spots. And when she straightened to dig out her phone, to type out her response....then something changed. Those amber eyes flicked predatory to the woman as the men on either adjoining ally began to climb their respective building with the aid of their slick, crimson servants. And in this time" During this time the cats head sort of ticked off to the side, normally at first before there was a soft crick and a crack as that head flopped over unnaturally, detached from the spine. That lull exposed a small hole in the creatures throat, straight into its jugular which allowed that lance of crimson to shoot out like a blade, aimed to pierce into the woman's free arm like a blade as those two battlemages now dropped, one before and one behind cutting off her retreat from that alleyway. "We have been expecting you."

- - - - -

Mach sort of bemoaned his own clumsiness when his phone buzzed, a return message popping up. He felt somewhat annoyance at himself for feeling somewhat happy at seeing that approval, another message swiped out -

Text to Sarai: Sure, or another at the marketplace if there. Near fountain. Either will work ^.^

A moments consideration before he'd tap that send button.

- - - - -

Her attention was on the returned messages from Mach. She had typed out half a reply when she heard an unnatural sound from the direction of the cat. She blinked once, glanced up, and started typing something else without looking back down.

Text to Mach: Yeah. That placeShit he-

Whatever else she was going to send was cut off when the lance of blade like crimson shot out and caught her by her free arm, which in turn made the rest of her body jerk and send the message prematurely. There was a snarl, the phone was dropped and clattered to the ground. Within seconds, her now free hand had freed what looked to be a punching dagger from somewhere on her being. Her eyes settled on which ever figure was closest. "Really' That doesn't happen often."

The two figures were dressed in robes though there was the glint of armor beneath, silvery and bright. Each pulled out a brilliantly shining arming sword, Mithrial, the blades engraved with row upon row of runes which glowed a faint blue as they hummed threateningly in the air. And in their other hands" Each carried a dagger that looked very, very familiar. It was the same kind that Tom Hopel had used that one night to bleed his victims. Each figure would slowly start to approach, cautious as they moved in. The fact that she was not screaming once having her arm pierced, rather if anything arming herself, only told them that she was not mundane. "You reek of the hunter, Elitia Turner....a fuck toy of the man perhaps" You will make.....a good symbol." And at those words each man would snap their mithrial blades up, a lunge sending those deadly tips lancing at her chest.

- - - - -

The man took a drag from his cigarette, that smile upon him annoying but pleased as he lazily held that phone. Another buzz, a tick of blues to the display would draw his brow together. "What the..." A quirk of brow as he tapped out a flurry of messages

Text from Mach: Shit he" Text from Mach: Where are you? Text from Mach: Double type a message to someone else >.<" Text from Mach: Sarai" Text from Mach: Sarai"

And with each ignored message he would worry a touch more, standing now as he dropped cash on the table to settle up.

- - - - -

Once the lancing blade was free of her arm, it was already starting to heal, and she was wasting no time in freeing a second matching blade to the first. Thin, elegant, and good for getting in those little gaps in armor. She just had to get close and avoid mithril swords, and she may have a chance. Then they started to glow and hum and those nifty blood draining daggers" Well....fuck. "I'm a lady. Fuck toy is such a crass way of putting it. I like the term fuck buddies. Little more elegant."

She was making sure to keep an eye on the remains of the cat, just because of who she was dealing with. So this time when tendrils lanced out for her, she dropped, rolled, and at some point during these actions, dropped her glamor, because when she popped back up, she lunged up, and gave a strong downward stroke of her wings which propelled her upwards. Several more frantic flaps had her well above their heads. She came to a stop and hovered there above them for a moment. "You really don't think I'm gonna make this easy on you, do you?" When she spoke, her voice was low. throaty, feral.

Her phone's screen lit up with each message that she received, illuminating the spider webbing crack that stretched across Each message had her phone buzzing itself about two inches away from where it had initially landed by the time he was done. Mach received no reply from her. The two figures missed their lunges, those thrusts cutting air as the woman rolled. One snapped the blade to try and correct but Sarai was already up in the air, propelling her demon form by those large leather wings until she hovered above their heads. The two watched her though she may have felt that their gaze was....uninspired given their slack stance. "Your some sort of incubus or demon' Well....he really must be hard up."

"Indeed, to want to stick his dick in that thing, but then suppose it's little more than a fancy fuck tool." The two chuckled amongst themselves as they spoke before one snapped that blade to point at her, a glyph carved in air summoning the forces of the ether to their control. That spell was assembled, compiled, and charged in a blink of an eye, leagues faster than what Mach could accomplish as he sent an arc of electricity charging through the air at the woman. And the other, the other just stood there watching as he held that hollow dagger up and towards the woman malevolently.

- - - - -

Twenty texts later and no response had Mach near beside himself as he was moving now, his thoughts wondering at the best and quickest method to try and find the woman. Perhaps she was in trouble.....perhaps she was having a bender with someone. There was a shake of head as he pushed all those theories down, focusing on the single task at hand as he pulled out that caster. He was in the midst of changing out his cartridge when he felt a strange tint in the ether, heard and saw the flash of lightening that arced out from a distant alleyway. There was no evidence that that was Sarai and yet something just pushed him to start running off in that direction.

- - - - -

She continued to hover in the air up above them, watching what they were doing down below, mainly because she had no clue what they were doing. "Incubus, demon. It's not going to make any difference when I'm wearing your intestines as jewelry." She paused and frowned when she noted what ever they were doing. What were they do- She didn't have a chance to even complete the thought, or even get out of the way, before an arch of lightning surged for her and had little trouble hitting its mark. With a roar, she dropped to the ground below.

Those two figures watched the woman as that arc of electricity struck her, bringing her back down to the ground. "She's sort of rubbish as a demon goes.....full of bluster but..."

"A dog of bark and no bite I think the axiom goes here..."

"I think she has plenty of bite...we will have to check on Elitia when we do the dissection." There was a nod between the two before the one holding the dagger gestured with it, a rain of blood falling from the rooftops and onto the woman splattering dark red in comparison to her flesh. And the one that cast that bolt' They would approach now with that humming mithrial blade held forth, a threatening stance as he closed obviously not thinking this one down and out. Of course they were battlemages by training, trained soldiers in the use of magic and warfare and not some mere magical thug. From the looks of things it was that approaching knights every intention to plant that glowing blade in the woman's throat.

She wasn't moving. There was no response of words, and no groans to signal that she was still alive. Oh, but she was. The whole entire time she listened to the way he talked. The way he stepped. The rustle of his clothing when he brought the blade up readying to drive it through her neck. Lightning quick she twisted, and aimed to jab him in the foot with it. Soon after, there was a torrent of heat and flames that glowed bright red, orange. Ha. Hellfire. It was shot straight up at the guy who was looming over her. Then she was on her feet, and scrambling for the gap that made.

The man drew back that blade, a thrust but the woman was already on the move. That mithrial blade bit into the cobbled ground, a chunk of stone removed where the woman's throat had just been. The dagger that Sarai stabbed at the man's foot would glance off his sabaton preventing the pin but it would still cut through the relatively thin metal slicing the mans foots "You bitch!" The knight roared as he sliced through the air, limping back upon that damaged foot which left rivulets of blood in his wake. And at that hellfire that the woman breathed up" Sadly it seemed more innate then spell based and so that sword did nothing to dispell the fury of that flame, but the robe that covered most of his figure would as it's wards absorbed the brunt of that damaging energy, the garment burning away to reveal the man beneath who scowled viciously at Sarai.

He looked as if he was about to go after the woman that scrambled for an escape but something stopped him. He'd pause, letting the woman get some distance from him before the other mage lifted that dagger in hand, a snap of fingers and the blood that had rained upon her earlier would detonate, viscous and violent....the same sort of trick that Tom had used on Mach which had sent the hunter sailing into a warehouse.

- - - - -

Mach saw a gulch of flames a few streets down before there was the resound of explosions, that same smell of sick magic as when...."Sarai..." He grit his teeth as he booked it double time, a potion snagged from his belt and knocked back to increase his speed.

- - - - -

The grin that crawled across her face when she drew blood and was cursed at may have been just a little savage, not that he would see much of it. She hopped, stepped back from him a couple of paces, and took in the remnants of his robes, and his scowling. Her grin got even wider. "That's queen bitch to you." A short bark of laughter escaped her. "You're not going to be a poor sport, are you?" Her head tilted, as she made a few quick motions, and instead of a punching dagger, there was what looked to be a throwing dagger. Since she was backing away from him, she was able to see his lack of chase.

Huh. So her, being the person she was, would seize the opportunity to make a move. Hm. How protected was his neck by armor" If there wasn't any, she'd send the dagger there with deadly precision. If not, she take a couple of steps to the side and sent it flying towards one of those squishy spots not so covered in armor along his side. Either way she went, it wasn't but a couple of seconds after the knife had left her hand that her whole entire world exploded. Whatever noise she initially made at the explosion was lost in resounding boom that followed.

She had wings, and normally she would use them to fly. This time, it was not the case. No. She traveled a good fifteen feet, soaring through the air, until her journey was ended rather suddenly by an alley wall. There was a yelp on impact before she fell from there to the ground.

All was silent, and all was still for a couple of moments, before she finally started to stir. There was a moan of pain that escaped her, before she rolled onto her stomach, and started pushing herself up. Her wings were in tatters, the delicate membranes had been all but destroyed in the explosion, leaving nothing but bloodied shreds. One of the bones on the left wing was bent at an unnatural angle. signaling that it was broken. She didn't need to look to tell that much. It hurt. The man growled at the woman and her humor at his pain, silvery eyes ticking after as she moved. The armor he wore did provide excellent neck protection but such was to be expected as the man was a soldier trained to fight off a slew of demi-humans and monsters with vampires rating rather high on that list. His side though was much less well armored as evidenced as that blade sunk in drawing a yelp, hand moving instinctively to coddle that sliver of metal that now protruded from his side. That may well have been an indication of man's caliber that rather than reacting with action when faced with adversity he reacted defensively. "I'm going to enjoy gutting you filth....you will make a fine sacrifice to SHE." The man hissed as he kept his blade trained on the woman though the ugly smile that found him as she went sailing from that blast' He was obviously the sort that liked to kick people when they were down.

As she would rise there was another rain of blood from the sky, falling upon the alleyway and her if she couldn't move to avoid it, the other robed figure simply watching the proceedings. "Now, now....he wants her made a symbol of and her blood collected....wouldn't broken and destroyed be a much more fitting symbol?" Another gesture with that dagger and more blood rained down from the rooftops. "Besides....I'm going to need to top off Wild Blood soon at this rate....maybe stop off at the orphanage on the way back..." She wouldn't have been able to see the figures face but the tone spoke volumes as the dark mirth that played upon them. There was a turn of attention. "Tell me filthy creature, is there anything you would like us to pass on to Elitia while we bleed him?"

It would have been so satisfying to hear the man yelp from her blade. But alas her ears were ringing and she was still on the ground trying to get her bearings. Her movements were slow, uncoordinated for a moment, before she finally she straightened, and swayed. With a sharp inhale she made a note of everything that was sore. The lack of skin on her hip from it grinding against the wall as she fell, the severely bruised and battered feeling that had settled over her whole entire being. Her wing that needed to be set properly before it healed and would need broken again. If any were paying attention, they may note that her wounds were healing, little bit by little bit and slow.

The torrent of blood that rained down on her made her groan. She had exploded one too many times than she needed to today. As the two spoke, her eyes rolled back and forth between them, following the conversation and making mental notes. All the while she was taking stock of what weapons were on her after that. The answer" Not as many as she'd like there to be. It was the mention of orphanages that brought her attention to the one that spoke of it, and narrowed. "The elderly are better to sacrifice. More wisdom and experiences." Deadpanned, as if she wasn't joking what so ever.

There hadn't been much of an expression of her face when she had spoken. But then he mentioned bleeding Mach, and her face twisted into a snarl. He threatened someone she cared about. People like that were few, and far between and as a general consensus didn't live long. She didn't need their time cut shorter. "You do anything remotely resembling that and I'll merrily skip rope with your intestines as you watch." She didn't lunge for him yet. No. She was gauging him and his buddy, trying to decide which would be the best target, and most important to get rid of.

The two looked to each other, a shrug from the robed one while the man smirked at the woman's words. "You think your getting out of this alive?" There was another snap of fingers from the other, the blood that had landed on her left leg detonating viscerally though the explosion was less impressive this time, perhaps controlled so as merely to maim her" "Hey, this creature thinks it's getting out of this alive, what a fucking joke!" The man reached down to his belt, a potion vial very much like those that Mach carried pulled out and the top snapped before he quaffed down the brew, a shutter racking his form before he threw aside the empty container and plucked that throwing dagger out from his side. Those wounds would begin to close much like hers as that elixir took hold. With a pop of neck the man would begin to close once more, that blade held at the ready.

As for the other mage they simply chuckled. "Old blood lacks vitality, it is the blood of youth that has such....potency." There was a dark tone to those words though the smile seemed to come at her response to what would happen to Mach. "Oh' Do you care for the hunter that much' How absolutely delicious! The dying man has made a friend not of the Namesake covenant....how absolutely droll!" The man laughed as he too would begin to close, that hollow dagger held up menacingly.

The second, smaller explosion was still enough to drop her to her on her ass, because legs, standing. That was a hard thing to do when explosions happen. Burns were left in the explosion's wake, and she grit her teeth against the pain. "You underestimate how much it actually takes to kill me." There was a short bitter laugh that followed. Soon her eyes tracked his movements, first as he downed the potion, then as he freed his side of her blade and it healed over. For such a simple wound, it had been a waste to use such a precious thing, especially with combat. Despite the pain that surged through her with almost every movement she rocked back onto her heels and pushed herself up onto her feet so that she was standing.

"Vitality is not the only powerful thing. You just do not understand. But what more could be expected from a bunch of smelly cult-crazed idjits that know very little." Her attention zeroed in and focused on him since he was the one making his way towards her, sword at the ready. His words....Dying Man....Mach. Perhaps that was something to ask him about later. For now, as he crept forward, she was inching back, little by little, until she had reached the wall again.

"The most successful idiot yet I think....but then again he always had the devils luck....too bad it will not save him now..." The man lifted that mithrial blade to face even with the woman's face, his stance much more cautious. He'd not be caught off guard again by Sarai as he closed. But then, off down the alley there was a dull whine, a whir before a pop, the feeling of magic lancing forth barely proceeded the sonic boom as a lance of blue fire burned into the man's side, launching him down the alley with the impact of that bolt....a wet, flopping thud sounding first as the arm that was burnt and rendered off with the would be attacker fell to the ground.

"SARAI!" Mach's voice boomed, blood running from his nose and that caster was leveled again, the weapon charging once more.

Her eyes rolled towards the second mage that was doing that rambling thing that Mach said that they liked to do a lot. Huh. He was right. They did ramble. She moved after that to put just a little distance between her and the wall that she had been backed up against.She had opened her mouth to respond to his words, when a blast all its own collided, and sent the mage flying. There was two blinks that followed. But then her name. Shouted, and echoing along the alleyway made her look up. Mach. He'd found her. She wasn't going to ask why or how he had found her, but she most certainly was going to revel in it. She stared, for just a moment, and sucked in a deep breath. "Mach." His name was the exhale, soft, and perhaps a little relieved.

The two mages simply smirked at the woman's defiant words. "We do not underestimate creature....this is toying. You're broken and empty corpse will help to break that man, to turn him into what we wish. Yours is a noble sacrifice to a greater cause that SHE wills. You should be honored to be able to give twice over in service....to break Elitia and to give of your blood t..." The robed ones words were cut short as that boom echoed down the alley, as they watched their comrade get blown aside by that lancing fireball. Their attention snapped to the charging hunter as that mithrial blade in their hand was snapped towards Mach. There was a quick slice of gesture, a chant of words before that spell cast.

The ground rumbled, cobbles giving way as earth speared forth to create a barrier between Mach and the gathering, blocking the man though likely only temporarily. As for the mage that had his arm blown off" He'd land with a skittering crash further down the alley, dull silver sparks flashing as he tumbled, the kinetic barrier working to try and absorb the brunt of the punishment. When he finally skidded to a halt the man would howl in agony as he grasped at his still smoldering stump, rolling in pain and obviously out of the fight for the moment. This left the robed mage left, a menacing snarl escaping them as they brandished the dagger against the woman as he closed. "I suppose playtime is over....time to die." The words were cold and malice filled as that sword in hand cut a glyph in the air as they approached, a freezing cold coming over the air to try and slow the woman's movements as he closed for the kill.

The sudden wall that shot up and cut Mach away from her drew her attention. But then so did the words of the mage that was closing in on her. The chill that fell over her settled deep, and made her shiver. But it didn't seem to make her slow. Not yet anyways. Quick movements had two more throwing knives freed, and settled into her hands. She considered the man quietly, noted venerable spots. Like his face. That didn't have some kind of metal mask over it, right' Not seeing one she aimed one of her throws for the general vicinity of his eye socket.

The mage smiled thinly beneath that robe as he closed, magic continuing to pump into that spell as it slowly sapped the heat from the woman and all her surroundings. A localized dusting of snow began to fall about the woman as the moisture in the air condensed, freezing over and falling out. It would only be a matter of time before the cold would get too unbearable, before her very tissues would freeze to lock her in place. But then again the woman was still fighting, a pair of throwing knives produced and thrown. Unlike the other this one was composed even in the face of such danger. There was a tick of that blade to deflect the first though a rather impressive BOOM distracted the man from the other which sailed home to sink into his cheek drawing a gasp.

The wall between Mach and Sarai shook, violently, as rock was blown out of place by whatever spell the hunter had cast, a few of those unruly spires toppling though the wall still remained for the most part. "N..no....we cannot fail....not yet...!" The man growled through the pain as that sword was thrust accusingly towards Sarai, the power pumped into that spell doubling. The intent wasn't to slow her so he could bleed her.....it was now obviously to freeze her to death.

"SARAI!" Mach called as there was the whiz of that caster spinning up once more, the channeling processors whirring as he readied that spell once again with little care for the blood that dribbled from his nose. "Sarai!! I'm coming!!" The only question was whether he would be too late as he pushed that spell....hurry up, hurry up!

As for the woman normally freezing temperatures wouldn't have much of an effect on her. But this was magic that was slowly leeching the warmth out of her muscles, all the way down to the bone. This was different. Small tremors rolled through her as she tried not to shiver. Her joints and muscles felt tense like she was under the worst stress possible. Less than swift movements armed her with the last two weapons she had on her. One last throwing dagger and another thin, slender punching dagger armed.

The shaking of the wall made her steps stagger, before she steadied herself. Then her eyes focused on the mage, and she moved, still relatively quickly all things considered, in his direction. By the time she launched herself at him her joints were stiff and her movement was hard. Everything was starting to feel numb. The last throwing dagger was once again thrown at his face, but this time it was more in a distraction that she hoped would let her get in close enough to slip the punching dagger through the side, and a couple of ribs.

It was just as she did this, that he unleashed the second torrent of magic on her. Regardless of whether or not she succeeded in sticking him, her movements slowed even more, her footing was lost, as was her standing. Somewhere, in the back of her head, she heard her name being called.

All the while the mage watched the woman as she moved, another pair of weapons produced. Rather than throwing both one would was lobbed at him while the woman seemed to plan to deliver the second one personally. It was a flawed plan, likely a delusion born from her chilling mind as he deflected that dagger with the point of his blade....which still pointed menacingly to the coming woman. Yes.....come to him, come to his"There was another whiz, a pop as Mach cast a spell on the other side of the stone barrier. It was no matter, the woman was about to eat a face full of enchanted mithrial that could severe the very essence of life from the body with the right spell and the hunter could not get from behind the woman to before her to stop that fate.

But then it was perhaps something like this that Mach had bet on". that Sarai wouldn't give up till the last. So rather than save her he simply had to make it so she could do so herself" and to that goal the man now sailed overhead! The spell wasn't another knocker.....it was a launcher. The mages eyes ticked up just in time to see a cantrip snap in Mach's hand, the bolt of lightning traveling faster than the demon to shock that arm menacing with the blade. There was an involuntary twitch, an opening for Sarai to slide through and bury that dagger on home unimpeded.

She realized a little too late that she had made a mistake, and was going to end up skewering herself on his blade. That was gonna hurt like a bitch. But then, something changed. The blade was out of the way, and he was twitching in a way that opened up a wonderful window of opportunity. So she just continued moving closer until she was close enough to get up close and personal with him.

As she closed she could see beneath the shadow of that hood, her first blade still stuck in the man's cheek as wide eye horror filled the man's features. There was no hesitation, no second thought from the demon as she slid the blade cleanly into that tender spot between ribs. Her hand stopped moving when her knuckles brushed against clothes, and the dagger was buried deep inside. With a feral snarl she twisted it. Just because she want to see if he'd scream

That blade slipped between the plates of armor and between the man's ribs. There was a shudder, a sick look flashing over the fellows face before Sarai twisted that dagger. Features paled as a gasp took them, a grinding of teeth as the man whined. Was it pride that made the mage not want to cry out, not want to fulfill that woman's desire" Whatever the reason the knight grimaced as he leaned in. "This.....changes nothing....Elitia will suffer....and be sacrificed....and there is nothing....nothing that you can do but wait for it....but SHE will make sure you at least get a few scraps..." The man spoke menacingly with a mad grin, his words soft and only for the demon to hear.

And Mach' There was a thud and roll as the man's spell didn't really have a function for landing but he had anticipated that as he snapped to his feet with caster in hand. There wasn't any need to concentrate or to draw energy as he leveled that gun and fired a mk 1 bullet into the armless ones leg as he tried to sneak off, the limb snapped out from under him with a howl as he collapsed once more. And now Mach was moving towards Sarai, concern and rage rolling on his features....the concern likely for the damage done upon her and the rage" Well, that caster was being leveled at the other mages skull as he stormed over.

She listened to his words, and she listened to them closely. Then she grinned just a little. In a few quick moves and maneuvers, and using the blade in him as a handy dandy handle, she had him backed up against a wall, free hand fisted in his robes. She growled, low, in the back of her throat. "Yeah' You think so?" Another twist of the blade. "Do me a favor when you get where ever you're going. Kay' Tell your bitch to bring it. It's been a while since I've had a good fight and I'm itchy." Unless he showed signs of becoming unconscious, she wasn't going to let go of him.

She moved to jerk him forward, and shove him back immediately after so his head smacked against the brick. "That's for my wings, asshole." The sound was oddly satisfying, and she looked like she was considering doing it once again. It's quite possible that she may have briefly forgotten about Mach.

The man whined and moaned in pain, another cringe as she shifted that blade until finally pained gasps and little yelps escaped the man as she lead him back to a wall by that blade in his side. And when she'd slam him against the wall there was a cry of pain yet defiance still rested upon the man's features. "Do you care that much about a single life creature" Frail and short as they are....shorter and frailer still for the likes of Elitia. He will pass like smoke in the wind, his demise short at hand before SHE will even take hold...will you throw yourself away for that' Dare a god" Impudent whelp..." Viciousness took those last words as the dagger that he still held was driven into the woman's side as well, pushing with the aim for the blade to enter her central artery.

As for Mach he simply followed after the woman, apparently not very perturbed by the woman's treatment of the fellow. What he was perturbed by was the shape of her wings, fingers tracing gently up the bony ridge of that broken wing as he finally arrived at her back though there was a flinch as he saw that flash of dull, runed steel. "Noo!" He moved to try and stop that dagger but was too late.

"This isn't just about Mach, you sunava-bitch. It's about the six women your buddy Tom had piled up when we found him. It's about all the people that have suffered at the hands of you. All the families missing loved ones, broken, and never right again. The picture's so much bigger th-" Her words choked off as his dagger slid into her. She had forgotten about that little detail, cold brain and all. There were hands on her wing almost instinctively she pulled from his touch as it was most definitely tender even with the haze of pain she was in thanks to being stabbed.

"Haaa." Oh boy. That hurt. And there was a lot a blood wasn't there" She twisted and aimed to pull away from the knight. Stumbling backwards and onto her ass. Her balance, obviously, was not at its greatest at the given time.

The daggers function was to bleed the victim and bleed them it did, the vitae running out slower than one would expect as it spilled on the ground. At her words" Her outrage" The man simply grinned, a malevolently as a laugh rose upon him. "Aren't you just a bleeding heart monster...." Contempt dripped from his voice. "Those sacrificed will be reborn to HER, they will join SHE in her glorious rise....immortal as a part of her will....and you? You will be broken, the hunter destroyed.....it shall be....glorious..." The man was starting to succumb to the eternal bleeding but he had one last dirty trick for that blood that spilled from the woman.

Mach could already see it as he was pulling the stumbling Sarai back, turning her as he used his body as a shield as that mithrial blade rang as a crystal bell as it was dropped, freeing his hand as he held up that dagger still slick with Sarai's blood. For the woman's part she'd feel Mach's arms enclose around her before there was the ring of that snap and that blood pooled at their feet exploded. The hunter took the brunt of the blast wave, the flames searing flesh as he threw Sarai away to tumble while he sailed across the alleyway. That caster wasn't even drawn as he focused on the spell, the charge, the activation as that launcher spell fired just in time before he hit the wall with a sickening thud. Blown up twice.....Mach was 0 for 2 on that account it seemed. At very least that spell had made a lethal impact into a survivable one.....but just so as the man shuddered in pain as he hit the ground, no aid from a kinetic coat this time.

He'd cough out a gulch of blood from the internal wounds and the power from that just in time spell, another heave but already Mach was moving for Sarai, the panic and concern evident upon his features. "Sarai! Sarai!" Demons could take a lot of punishment but that didn't always apply unilaterally. And so he was pushing himself to the woman to render aid until he determined that she was better off than him.

There was a gasp, the rapid sucking of air in an attempt to bear down against the pain. She could take a lot, but she had already taken quite the beating already, lost a lot of blood from the wounds in her wings that were slowly healing. "Ha. Haha. That's new. Bleeding heart monster, I like that one." The humor that spilled forward in her words was dry.

When Mach started pulling her back, she stumbled and backpedaled, confused as to what was happening. Then her world exploded around her again, and the arms that had wrapped around her at last minute were gone, and her body tumbled, and came to a stop. It was there that Mach would find her, half curled against the pain. Her already broken wing looked a little more bent than before.

If it hadn't been for the concern in his voice, she probably would have just laid there until he interacted with her, or she was healed up which at this rate would take a couple of days. But she heard it, and she started struggling to sit up straight, to no real avail.

Mach looked like hell and smelled like barbeque....how a human could bear such damage was beyond implausible.....it was impossible. Had he drunk a potion before showing up" Or was this some effect of something else entirely' Either way the man was assessing the woman for damages, obviously no longer worried about threat from the smoldering half remains of the mage. "Sarai...Sarai....just....just lie there....you're alright, I got you..." Panic was upon the man's voice but already he was moving on automatic pilot. That EMS button was hit on his remarkably durable cell phone, designed by madscis specifically for hunters apparently, and the device was chucked aside to call for help as he set to tending her wounds.

Mach Swirled into her vision like a whirlwind, and loomed over her. He was spinning. Or she was spinning. Or something was spinning. Or maybe everything was spinning, or she was just suffering from various things. The latter was probably the most accurate as to what was going on. "Nn. Mach." She had heard her name, and she responded with his own.

A balm was pulled from his belt and the liquid poured on the oozing wound in her side to try and staunch the flow of blood, the liquid burning like all hell as it went to work temporarily stitching the wound closed. At the same time another bottle was pulled, the liquid within a verdant green that glowed partially. "Can you drink?" He asked as he was already pulling the top off. He'd wait a tick before slugging back that liquid and leaning in to pass it via a kiss to the woman rather than waiting for a response. The liquid tasted like birth and smelled like spring as it went down....but the effect it would have was immediate as it boosted her already increased healing rate and would revitalize her, clearing the fog from her mind.

Whatever liquid he's poured on the wound that seemed to not want to seize it's bleeding, burned. She sucked in a deep breath, curved a little. His question swam its way to her mind eventually and settled. Then when she opened her mouth to respond, she was being kissed and being given some kind of liquid. It reminded her of spring and warmth. Everything offered was swallowed down. The spinning stopped and the haze that had settled over her was gone She blinked once, and with Mach's help got up onto her feet.

"Sarai, Sarai?" He spoke gently as he'd help the woman up now, moving around her back to her wings, fingers feeling along the bone of that broken wing. The man moved with obvious purpose, one who had been trained for this sort of situation.....a battlefield medic. And so perhaps it wasn't surprising as he felt about that broken wing, feeling out the best places and how he'd have to turn the bones to align them once more when he set them. One final assessment and the man took a breath. "Ok....ok, luv....this is going to hurt.....are you ready?" He'd wait this time for her response, her consent before he'd set to task setting those bones.

The gentle prodding of his fingers was painful, even with it being gentle. He'd feel her wings tremble beneath his touch. They were sensitive. His question caused her to suck in a deep breath. "If I don't care to let my lips heal for the next month or so. I suggest that you get something for me to bite down on."

Mach seemed to brighten some as the woman began to start replying to his questions now, her speech a very strong relief to the man which obviously showed upon his features bleeding as they were. "Well....I'd offer shoulder but I'll need to be behind you for at least two of the sets.....maybe the third set..." With a waggle of brows, as much as that hurt, some of that glib tone had started to creep back into the man's tone though at the same time he still sounded rather serious. Mach....did have a way of encouraging her to be rough with him during some of their fun times together. He still had a few puncture marks from her and claw marks that hadn't healed fully. Instead though he'd fish around, a cartridge loader covered in leather pulled off his holster and offered to the woman to bite down on. It was metal beneath so it would be sturdy for the chore ahead.

His words received a crooked grin in response, mainly because it reminded her of the marks that more than likely still littered his body. Her fingers moved to wrap around and pull the cartridge loader close and inspect it briefly. That would work. The smile that followed for the man was tight before she brought the loader up and bit down on it. A twist of her feet had her shifting enough to present her back and wings to him so he did not have to circle around her. Two seconds later she put both of her thumbs up as the go ahead for him to start resetting her wings.

Once she was ready? "Alright, ready? One, two, three, four..." And he'd lean in, a kiss planted to the sensitive flesh of her wing just before he pulled, rotated, and set together that bone. Once the bone was in place he'd snap a wooden cantrip over it, a strange magic flowing and causing the bone beneath to lash together, at least tentatively, until it could heal on it's own. The same process would be repeated for each break of those wings.

He counted, and she braced herself. The first set was greeted with a muffled yelp and whimpers and the rest that followed were greeted with a variety of growls, snarls and jerking. The only time in between that she wasn't making the noise, was when he was setting the cast to it. And when he'd finally finish setting that last bone he'd go over each break with that cantrip one last time, making sure the temporary stitching of bone would hold as he had no real materials to physically splint her wings. Moving now before her those blues would tick about, that one right one in particular glowing as he scanned over her vitals. "How are you holding up Sarai..." Medical is on it's way." He spoke reassuringly to her, focused on her as he ignored the burns that stretched along his back from that last explosion or the pain of those broken ribs, that fractured shoulder. The man was a mess, but it didn't seem to phase him in the least, or maybe that was just a brave face"

He'd take that chomped on piece of leather from the woman's mouth, tossing it away before finally....finally his arms would encircle her gently. "I'm sorry." This was spoken softly, raw as he held onto the demonss.

Once he was finished fussing with her wings, she'd carefully let them droop. Meanwhile her eyes found him, blinked twice blankly, before they actually focused on him. "Haa.." She trailed off when she realized that the piece of leather was in her mouth, a couple of seconds later when he reached up to take it she gave it up willingly and sucked in a deep breath.

He pulled her into a hug before she could comment on his own injuries. He's been so caught up in her. The raw intensity of those two words sent a shiver through her, before she drew in a deep breath, and responded. "Hnn. I'm okay." He would probably consider it a blatant lie, but...."I just need a moment. Healing." Her hands came up, and he's probably feel the prick of talons through the back of his shirt, as her hands found it. She gave a soft throaty groan, and pressed her face against his chest. "Fuck. It's been a while. That hurt."

He held her to him gently, a mild smirk as she said she was okay. "Liar...." He spoke gently, a kiss planted to her neck as he rested his head on her shoulder, those injuries he'd sustained starting to take their toll. "I'm just....just glad I got here in time...." He spoke quietly, relief in that tone. He didn't doubt that Sarai was tough or could handle herself; but he also knew that she was up against professionals trained in dealing with her kind and with the aid of those damnable crimson servants there was some real potential for....for" "I don't..." He shook his head, letting go of all those thoughts. The worst had not come to pass and so there was no need expend energy worrying on such, not right now at least. There may have been a slight flinch as he felt those talons, a hiss before he modulated the sound. Accepting, willing....as those times when she'd particularly abuse his flesh during some of their more passionate encounters. Pain should have been pain and yet somehow they were different to the curious hunter....that which she caused rather welcomed. But then sensation was something that would inevitably become a commodity to the man which may have been why he reveled in those with a positive light while he still could.

"Been a while...?" He asked mildly as he tried to regulate his breathing, those broken ribs taking their toll as adrenaline gave way to exhaustion. "You mean....you've been blown up before?" And even as jacked up as he was the man was cracking jokes, a grin upon him as he turned to press another kiss into her neck. In the not so distance was heard the approach of sirens, of the much required medical assistance. But there would be no sending away of the woman tonight. She needed medical attention....hell, he needed some too! And as for the questions that were about to be raised" Well, that was tomorrow's problem as he nuzzled gently into the woman. "I can't believe they targeted you intentionally..." He spoke mildly as he pieced things together while trying to ignore the burn across his back or the scream of his own broken bones. He may well have started dozing while holding the demoness if he thought the scene was secure but they were out in the open and there was still"

The man jolted some from his daze, blues shifting to the other battlemage that had been incapacitated earlier. He almost growled at himself at that blatant oversight as the magus still had a voice, one good hand, and a brain which was generally all that was needed to kill a person by arcane fury. Already his hand was drawing away from Sarai down to his caster when it would sort of freeze halfway along the journey, that gaze upon the fallen knight incredulous, that was a lot of blood" too much for the amount of wounds sustained. It would take the hunter a moment to notice the silvery sheen of that chestplate which had been left to the side of the fellow exposing his squishy torso beneath' which had one of those sacrificial daggers buried crossguard deep just off to the center of their chest.

From the look of the blood splatter which doused the man the dagger must have been driven into his heart. The knight's limbs lay peacefully splayed out as a shit eating grin was frozen upon his features, those once silvery eyes now the color of mud were glazed over and vacant. Mach was torn between snapping a curse congratulating the asshole on their well-deserved departure and snapping a curse because now he had nothing but corpses to try and get information from as to why this cult had started to target Sarai. "Damnit?" He muttered a general, all-purpose curse as he settled back into the woman, his jaw working in annoyance. This case was getting strange and, more importantly, dangerous for those that the hunter cared for" and that was unacceptable.

It would be these dark thoughts that held upon the man until those sirens finally arrived, the paramedics finding the hunter and demoness still holding each other; broken, burnt, and bleeding in that back alley of the marketplace. This wasn't at all how the man had intended to spend his evening even if it was, in a rather poor sense, with the company he had hoped to spend it with.

(Adapted from live play with the scrumptious Deviously Charming!)

Mach

Date: 2015-08-09 23:48 EST
A maniacal grin pulled upon the man as he wandered down the alleyway along the docks, hands fiddling with the poorly tailored off the rack suit he wore. The man particularly fiddled with that slash along the front breast of the suit where Sarai had apparently tried to cut him with one of her hidden blades. Why would she have done this" Likely because the man had walked up to her during her random travels and introduced himself as:

'Hello dear. I am Renton Molden, and I am here to bleed you so as to break Eli Turner. Won't you please cooperate"'

It was at that point that the man would have tried to stab her with one of those damnable daggers of that cult! Whether he succeeded or not the ensuing struggle would have marked the man as a mage of rather marked skill. He fought with the discipline of a soldier, snapping off spells with deadly efficiency and never once having fallen back to rely upon his crimson servant which had remained out of the fight. And what about in close fighting" Why it seemed the man was even better at that then he was at distance attacks, able to flash cast touch electrical and force spells to augment his hand to hand combat prowess. It was almost as if the fellow had been chosen specifically to go after Sarai as he was well adept at countering and punishing the demoness and her love for knives.

"I promise deary, this really is for the best if you just give up." The man popped his neck, a crack of knuckles as the air tingled with electricity while the man prepared another spell with which to attack the woman he was closing in on.

When he first approached her" She had eyed him with confusion, both unamused and wary. The seconds following after his words" The alley way echoed with her laughter, bouncing off the walls, and well on down the alley. And while she laughed" She twisted out of the way of that damned dagger.

As she twisted, her hand moved immediately for her punching daggers, and freed them, before her eyes danced back to him and focused. Then, without warning, she darted forward, and gave him the lovely slash that he'd been toying with.

And then he threw magic into the mix, which involved disgruntled sounds at the electricity that managed to catch her off guard. And as time passed" She slowly began to realize how...well matched he seemed to be, even for a crazy magic wielding cultist.

"Right. I've been alive for a very long time. I'm not just gonna roll over and let you bleed me dry."

As she spoke, she felt the static crackle of electricity in the air. Almost immediately, she maneuvered one punching dagger to the other hand, and held onto them, then freed one of the many throwing daggers she had. A flick of the wrist had it flying for his chest, right where his heart should be, and soon enough, another blade followed, this time for his face.

After that, she let her glamour drop, and with a jump, followed by a powerful stroke of her wings, launched herself up into the air while he was distracted by her blades.

That grin never faded as the man's silvery eyes watched the woman. He had missed with that stab but then he may well have been very disappointed if all it took was one little surprise attack to fell the demoness who had helped in the capture of three of his comrades. The slash had been expected....or at least enough so that beneath that suit the man wore a fine metal mesh armor which protected him from such slashing attacks. At her words in response to him a bark of laughter would escape the man. "Good! It is of poor sport for a victim simply to accept their fate. Life is struggle....do you not agree?"

At the thrown daggers the man would simple grin, a press of fist into the palm of his other hand changing that spell matrix as the charge was already there. There was a shift of currents just before those blades made contact, striking chest and and face....and bouncing harmlessly off of the slightly reflective stone hardened flesh. He'd let the spell drop, more magic charged and held at the ready. As for her taking flight' With a snap a number of crimson lances would surge forth from the shadows all along that alley, their aim obviously to shred her wings....and to stick her in a number of unpleasant manners as well. "Oh no, running simply will not do! Please....me and Bloody Legion have not yet begun to have fun!"

She sneered at his words. "Life is more of a struggle than you think. Take it from someone who's an old lady." There was a brief pause. "You haven't seen much. You're nothing but a baby." She would have waved a hand at him dismissively, but her hands were currently....preoccupied, as for the two daggers she still held, one in each hand.

She watched, mouth twisted into a grim line, as her knives clattered to the ground, instead of sticking into him.

There was half a curse that escaped her when she saw bloody lances barreling their way towards her. So she did what she could with quick thinking, and angled her body, then very abruptly snapped her wings in tight to her body, so she dropped. Her intentions were on avoiding his attacks, and protecting her wings. Which she succeeded in, to a point. Several caught her body as she dropped, and a couple more managed to pierce both body and wings, which got him a very unhappy snarl that escaped her, right before she collided with the cobbles of the alley, bounced once, and skidded a couple of feet.

The man watched her, his grin growing cocky as she spoke. "Oh' Well, you seem to have a thing for robbing the cradle then if I am but a babe in comparison to you....or that is what I would presume is your interest for pursuing humans for your relations." And that grin only grew as those lances of blood speared her, brought her down to the ground. She had meant to preserve her wings and yet it seemed they were damaged still. When she'd skid the blood lances would return to their liquid form, drawing back along the ground and into the shadows once more, a deadly trap armed again as the man began to close, the air around him smelling of burnt ozone.

"Tell me demoness....do you willingly go after dying humans or is that just a subconscious thing" I am curious as to your ability to detect leaking life force energy.....you see, I am an academic. I seek to understand....even if my time may be short and limited." He'd stop a few paces off from her, a crystal removed from his ruined blazer and pointed to her as that charged air shifted, a new spell forming before it would launch, a bolt of lightening coalescing from that focus and arcing into Sarai with the obvious intent to disable her so as he may close with the ritualistic dagger that sat in his freehand.

"Ah, consenting adults. Like age honestly matters when it comes to those I care about. Or whether or not they are human. Someone is more than just that." The words, were all but spat in his direction as she started pushing herself up, and to her feet. She took a quick stock of her already healing injuries, then rolled her shoulders.

Eyes of molten oranges and yellows, found him once again, and narrowed on him for a moment. "Dying Man?" Slowly a brow arched, and briefly, she wondered how much he knew of her more recent past, and if it stretched as far back as to Nicolai. She wouldn't scrap that Idea at any point. It was his distraction, the words of Mach being a dying Man, that kept her attention just a second too late, to escape, or even really start back pedaling, or generally just get herself out of the way.

There was a shout when the electricity made its way jolting through her. For a moment she growled, and grit her teeth against the pain. Even though it wasn't enough to knock her on her ass, it still hurt. So there were a couple of lingering seconds, before she stooped down to pick up her daggers, and her feet were all kinds not wanting to cooperate properly.

Renton smiled gingerly as the woman screamed under the electrical arcs of that spell, his expression not really the maniacal glee of one who derived pleasure from hurting others but more a curious expression. He watched the woman as she moved, as she reacted to his words, how her body reacted to the insults visited upon it, and even details of her body. One may have thought the look was lustful for how intense the interest was but there seemed an odd sort of sterility to it. Academic.

Even as the woman started to try and right herself the man was drawing in more charge from the environment, that sickly churning atmosphere quickly rebuilding as he prepared for another spell. Her words did bring a chuckle. "I meant robbing the cradle metaphorically dear. I am glad to see that word play seems to be lost as much with demons of whatever realm you hail from as those from mine." An approving nod though it would pale into a broad grin. "So you cannot tell a human is dying" Curious....does your breed of demon not feast on souls" I would imagine a hunter would seem a veritably ripe fruit just so enticing in how close to death they skirt, particularly one relegated to this place."

Another little chuckle escaped the man as he raised that focus threatening yet not with malicious intent at the moment. "Then again hunters are known for their rather....secretive natures." He chuckled. "Though in honesty I do not think a single hunter has survived over four years in Rhydin since they started throwing the bastards through the portal. A kind of sad fate really." The man seemed to consider this mildly. "Oh....and please, feel free to attack as you please though I am interested in speaking with you." That was offered so nonchalantly as if the man did not consider her a serious threat in the least. Perhaps such was a bluff....but then the man seemed a rather capable combatant, much more composed and collected than either of those two knights the woman had faced off prior.

It took a few seconds before her screams choked off into a low snarl. She almost forgot how painful it was to be electrocuted, and didn't care to remember so, any time soon. Once the demoness managed to get to her feet, she wobbled a little, and stumbled a few steps. After she had found her balance and steadied herself, her eyes rolled towards him. The snort that followed was loud. "We take things quite literally. That, and we don't speak in fancy words." Her voice was soft, laced with what seemed to be pain from her electrocution.

Then he asked about whether or not she feasted on souls, and that being tied into being able to tell if a human is dying or not. Finally her lips pressed into a thin line. "Would" have saved myself a lot of grief it it worked like that." The bark of laughter that followed was bitter. There was a lot of pain that could have been avoided. But that would have also meant that she would have lost lots of happy memories as well.

Eventually, her shaking stilled, and became nothing more than what could be considered a nervous tremor for most. Taloned hands moved to rub against the fabric of the now too tight shorts that she wore, as she watched the man closely. For now" because she had a feeling that things may not go as well if she continued fighting with him, her threatening demeanor dropped. Finally the hand that had been rubbing at her shorts came up to lazily scratch across her belly, and her eyes settled on him.

Her other hand lifted, and she pointed a taloned finger at him. "You said you wish to speak with me. Is that not what we're doing now?" She arched a brow that twitched twice, before settling into a comfortable stance.

The mage noded solemnly at her words. "Yes, I have been told that before by others?" His mind wandered a bit before those silvery eyes focused on the red skinned demoness once more. "Ah, pardon. I am an academic necromancer" focus in the study of infernals. You see, I have quite the vested interest in someone as you. In this place in general which allows such beings as yourself to roam freely." He'd motion mildly with his free hand at Rhydin in general. "Where we come from' Mach and I" demons can only really exist in the world if bound by summoning, signed into a contract, or in possession of a focus. Makes it quite hard to simply speak with one you see." A friendly little chuckle escaping him though his stance would not become any less rigid.

"Sorry if I do not join you in being so casual. I have been given all the information that has been gathered on you as of now. Sort of unfair really our fight but then I'm sure if you ask Elitia he would be the first to tell you that the best way to win a fight is to cheat your way through it' So I am well aware that you do love your surprise attacks so?" And he'd roll his shoulders in a simple little gesture as he studied her once more. A moment or two would pass before he speak once more. "Would have saved...." Those words plucked from what she'd said, examined. "You have been hurt by pursuing romantic involvement with a human prior" Well! That is fascinating. You are basal, violent, and yet seek the comfort of love" even with those of such fragile existence as humans."

A little hum emanated from pursed lips. "You must be much more like lust demons than rage demons" but it seems so much more?" The man really was an academic fitting everything together as if performing a study of Sarai. "Hmm' I would ask why you are drawn to humans but even I know love is a blind and often a drunk thing. Ah....please feel free to ask questions yourself, I do not mind conversing." He offered this with a friendly smile as if they had not just minutes prior been trying to kill one another.

As he spoke of what he was, her brows merely drew down into a deeper frown, and her hand that had pointed at him dropped, and came to a rest at her side. "Necromancer." The word was repeated as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. "An academic one that's apparently studied all about me. That's kinda high on the level of creepiness. How do you manage with all the women back home?" Something gave off the feeling that she was amused, and being snide.

Several moments of silence hung in the air, as she shifted from foot to foot, and quietly made an effort to kill the urge to pace that was building up within her. She nearly froze when he picked up on, and mentioned her comment about being hurt before. Then, with an audible snap of her teeth, she brought her arms up so she could cross them. "That is none of your business. And I plan to keep it that way. You have no need to know of my past." With that, she drew in a long breath, and slowly let it out.

The more he spoke, the more she wanted to flatten him. But she had a feeling that it would not turn out well. As he had obviously done his homework, and she had not. He had quite a few advantages over her. Knew what to expect for the most part, and she did not. But she knew someone who did. So when her phone chimed like a savior, for some reason or another, she kept up the the nonchalant ruse she had been clinging to since she rolled her shoulders, and pulled it free of her back pocket. Then her eyes danced up to his face, and settled for a moment.

"You wouldn't even be able to understand why. Is just the way I feel." Her attention flitted briefly back to her phone as she brought up the contacts menu, and scrolled through them for a certain hunter's contact information. "Why are you guys attacking me" What's the purpose" I certainly don't think I'd make the prettiest decorations around." With that, she located the contact, hit the button to call him, and merely dropped her hand so it just looked like she was waiting for a response. She was quietly praying that for once her phone call wouldn't go unanswered. Mach had gotten her tangled up in all this mess after all.

A lazily little smirk escaped the man as she sniped at him. "And here I thought your kind didn't parley in fancy words?" A little smile drew on him though it would fade, his expression growing somewhat dark. "But I haven't been getting on well with women, not after the forced sterilization for being a threat as a mage". too radical of thought and power I believe the hunter report said. I suppose I should be lucky they merely broke my head and not my noggin." That bitterness only held a moment before it faded from the man's features, his nonchalant little smile pulling upon him once more.

"And yes, Necromancer. Many people tend to hold a poor view of such...too much mainstream media I believe of creepy folk in dark hoods practicing "wicked" ceremonies of debauchery and carnality to raise a gaggle of skeletons or some such drivel. In reality Necromancy as a discipline is much more useful than Regeneration in terms of medical breakthroughs and discoveries. No less than twenty necromancer patents keep people like Mach alive and kicking and have helped countless other lives" though I imagine you will only have something glib to say about such." A dismissive snort escaped the man which only drew up into a smirk at her defensive words of her past.

"Touchy are we" they must have died on you." Observed perhaps a little too frankly. "Word of advice: if you dislike human death so much then you best leave Mach alone. Death follows the hunters like a little lost kitten, either in the amount they deal or the inevitable one that finds them." A little shrug offered at that. "Not that it will matter over long. Our interest in you is merely incidental and Elitia will not live till the end of the year." His tone was casual, assured as he spoke of Mach's impending death.

And when that phone chimed, when she drew it out as if to merely check a message a mild little smirk would escape the mage. "Calling for the hunter" I do believe I have mentioned that I am an academian and as such you should likely assume I am not that stupid." And yet despite his words there was no attempt to stop her, no shift in the man's expression. Her phone would ring" once, twice, three times". over and over until finally. "Hey, you've reached the voicemail of Mach also known as..."

The mage simply smiled as he watched the demoness. "You see, you may find him' in dispose. Another hunt as it were, across town. A couple more of my comrades". likely not a serious threat for the man but there have been measures taken to even the odds" a fascinating pharmaceutical that was found to augment innate abilities." As he said this one could swear the sound of a rather impressive boom could be heard a long ways off.

He'd let that sink in a moment before that focus was pointed at her, his lips moving in silent chant bringing forth a new arc of lightning, much stronger than the last to leap angrily to her. He'd pump magic into that spell which cooked the very air, seared the ground where hit. "I suppose your attempt to call for help though means it is time to end this. I was hoping to speak longer with you, perhaps learn from you and let you learn from me" but it seems you have no interest in such. Basal and crass, your kind only understand such. Then let me communicate with you in a manner you are more accustomed, yeah?" An accusing push of that focus would surge more energy into that spell as even now he drew that ritualistic dagger from beneath his ruined blazer. "You wish to know why we attack you? Foolish. Why waste the effort pontificating on the plans of my brethren when you are about to face your end."

"Ah, my words are not fancy. They are simple, and short. The fancy ones are long. Hard to spell. Y'know, like the ones that a lot of fancy college students use. They're kinda annoying. Like you are. It's a good thing that you can't reproduce." She rolled her shoulders in a shrug. Then as he continued on, and spoke of how he was a necromancer, and the things he did, she actually listened to him. "Actually, it has just been my lack of running into necromancers. I honestly did not know that you were capable of that. It's cool. Much better than raising the dead, and taking over with a hoard of zombies. That's what I hear most of you guys do."

Molten lava eyes narrowed on the necromancer, and a very low growl escaped her when he mentioned that whoever it was had died on her. "It's none of your fucking business. My past is nothing you need to concern yourself with." The sentence ended with an audible click of her teeth as she snapped them together in what could be considered frustration, or anger. As for the comments about Mach not lasting until the end of the year" She ignored them. She wasn't planning on trusting him with any information like that.

The demoness took a deep breath then, rolled her shoulders in a shrug, and stared at her phone quietly, waiting, until the mage spoke. Well Crap. She had tried. That's all could be said for that. "You asshole. Drop off the face of the earth, Ignore me. And get caught up in something else, because they fuckin' set a trap. If I die, it's your fault, ass hat." Once she finished the less than brief message for Mach's voicemail, she shoved her phone back into her back pocket. Then her eyes returned to the Mage, and she stayed quiet, seemingly waiting for something.

Then he moved, and electricity arched her way. The only thing that came to mind as for what to do initially, was to fling up a burst of searing hellfire, fiery orange, and purple like that found in a sunset, flared out from her, racing to meet up with the electricity.

What happens when hell fire and Necromancer electricity meet"

The magus smiled thinly as the woman threw up a gulch of hellfire to counter his lightening, the two spells mingling and melding in their destructive potential. But while hers was much more a natural ability the mages was structured, clinical. His was a direct manipulation of the forces of nature, tweaking of the parameters and domination of the energies required to materialize such a force into the realm of reality. The man manipulated the spell, changed it here and there against the onslaught of her flames. Rather than exploding the man's spell worked to contain her fires. "You play with such forces with so little understanding....your kind has always been as such: might makes right. When you come across one who can manipulate such might though..." He carved a sigil into the air, that spell shifting once more as that fire was collected. "Then what do you have left?"

It was obvious what the man was planning to do as that gathered flame only grew more intense in it's electrical cage. The man took a step towards her and that cage closed in turn, another step bringing the inferno closer still to the demoness. "This really was a one sided fight my dear....I apologize. I do hope when you return to your plane you will not think ill of me..." And now that dark grin curled upon the mage as he took another and another step, closing with that captured hellfire. And behind the woman' She could hear the slither of that crimson servant in the shadows, ready to leap and pierce her flesh were she to try and retreat.

It took a couple seconds of her feeding her flames, before the demoness realized that things hadn't exploded. She hadn't been blown to bits by something exploding, which she had thought would happen. No, instead....he seemed to be caging.....her hell fire" And he was talking. Talking, talking, talking. She was beginning to get tied of his running mouth.

"Shut up....Shut up...SHUT UP." The words were snarled the last one nearly roared. "You don't know everything. Stop talking like you do." Her lips pulled back just enough to reveal teeth, and for a moment, the hell fire she was pumping out flared, then died, suddenly, when she realized that he was creeping closer with the cage out in front of him. Half a step backwards had crimson tendrils poking into her, and caused her to step forward, taking back the step she had tried to retreat.

The woman was quite literally between a rock and a hot place as the man closed. He lifted his hand that controlled that spell, a nod of head offered. "But for now, goodb-" There was a sharp resound, distant, but it was most certainly the sound of a gun firing. A moment or two would pass and suddenly' Suddenly all hell broke loose as that cage which contained the spell destabilized, the wild energies on both ends of the spectrum egging each other on until that lightening caged fireball from hell would shimmer, shake, and explode. This was obviously not part of the mages plan as his hands rose to shield himself from a spray of static flames which launched him away.

"Fuck you." She growled, and resisted the urge to fling herself back, and get pierced by various things, though, It may be a better choice at this moment, considering the fact that she had a feeling that the fire cage would implode, if given a chance. The sound of a gun firing caught her attention, and the sudden change in the cage of fire" It had her back pedaling, frantically almost, not caring about the tendrils of blood. All she knew was that she wanted to get as far as she could from it.

She had only managed to get somewhere between five to ten feet from where she had been initially standing, before everything exploded. The blast caught her by the wings, sent her flying quite a few feet, before she landed with the solid snap of bone, and a yelp in response to the pain. Another snap followed when she skidded to a stop. Then she pushed herself to her feet, and stumbled for a moment, trying to assess her surroundings. Figure what was going on.

White hot pain lanced through her right wing. Part of it was bent unnaturally, when compared to the other. As she struggled for a moment to get back to her feet, there was once again a bout of pain that followed, only this time because of what felt like a broken rib. In fact, her ribs felt like they had been set on fire. There was a quiet and steady stream of curses that rolled out of her, before she growled...

And swung her attention around wildly, searching for two things. The necromancer. And who ever the heck it was that had....shot something.

The man that had been so smug, so full of words mere moments before was now a singed lump a good ways away the direct opposite direction of the woman. The blast had sent him flying like a rag doll, the fire and electricity biting and tearing at his flesh stealing the mettle of his mind, the focus needed to cast that reserve protective spell as he hit and bounced along the ground. He may well have suffered much more grievous injuries if not for that thin mithrial chain coif that was worn beneath the tattered remains of that suit. Pushing himself from the ground, a cough sending a little shower of blood falling from him at internal injuries he had sustained.

Much like the woman the man too worked on getting his bearing as that focus stone within his hand was lifted up, aimed at the demoness across the way. Of course he was looking for the source of that resound as well, at whatever it was that caused his spell to destabilize. The man focused, drawing in energies as he assembled a new spell that he focused upon the woman. Grinding his teeth he'd force that spell into manifestation, directed the collapse of the matrix as the energies that gathered around him coalesced into a lancing spear of flame. It was very much like that spell which Mach had deployed to burn off the battlemage's arm, but Renton cast it at a fraction of the speed. There was a crack and a boom as that spear came to life, lancing for the woman when suddenly the spell fizzled once again. That which held the lance of fire together suddenly collapsed allowing the flames to dissipate into air with another resounding boom.

One may well have missed that gunfire once again just before that spell cast but it was there" distant but there. Silvery eyes scanned from where he heard that report; his features, peeling from the burns he'd suffered, snarled ugly as he finally caught sight of the source of the disruption. Clinging to a cell tower was a lone figure bloodied, beaten, and holding a caster leveled at the distant battle: it was Mach. He yelled something but the man was much too far away to possibly hear anything he said as he remained clutching to that metal construct.

Her wild searching eyes found the Necromance, before they found the source of the disruption. And didn't go much further than that for the time being, because it looked like he was once again, trying to cast another spell. So more hellfire flared up, but this time it was in a protective shield across the air in front of her. One that she hoped would take the brunt of the attack. Seconds passed. Five. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Twenty-five. Thirty. When nothing happened by then, the fire dissipated, and she sucked in a deep breath, despite the tightness in her chest.

Then she spotted the necromancer, staring awfully hard at something. A brief glance of molten hues followed his gaze to the cell tower and a bloodied Mach. Relief flooded her, followed by irritation. And even though it was the wrong guy, she was going to take it out on the necromancer. She had lost her punching daggers somewhere when she had been caught by the blast, and wasn't going to waste time searching for them.

Two throwing daggers, one from each of her boots she was wearing were freed, and this time while he was distracted by the hunter up on the cell tower she flicked a blade towards his head, only this time aimed for the small squishy spot on the side know as the temple. The second followed after, only aimed a couple inches down towards his throat. Then she said lots of unelegant words about her ribs. She should have most definitely not thrown those daggers, because, ow.

The man squinted at the distant figure, those silver eyes taking on an unnatural glow as he fed a far sight spell. He observed the sort of wobbling figure of Mach as the man juggled a number of spells on his caster query, a constant trickle of blood dribbling from him though that may well have been due to the fact that it looked like someone had gone a little ape shit on the hunter. The magus couldn't quite make out the other two spells in the query but he could easily see that chaotic mess that was a counter/dispel spell which the hunter had obviously been firing to destabilize those last few attacks. He bit back a growl as those silver eyes turned back to the woman, vicious intent in that gaze though such would be cut short as that blade aimed for his temple sunk into his cheek while the one for his throat would slice down to the bone of his chin.

A howl of pain escaped the man as he clutched at the offensive sliver of metal that now protruded from his face, the weapon pulled free with a splatter of blood. ""Ou "i"h!" The man's mouth moved but the words came out garbled, soaked in the blood that spilled from that mostly severed tongue within his mouth. Scrambling to his feet he'd charge the woman, focus held menacing in one hand with that ritualistic dagger wielded in the other as he closed to finish the injured woman off. He focused, gathering more energy for another spell which he held onto so as to force the hunter to keep that dispel at the head of his query as he aimed to bleed the woman. ""IEeee!" The man growled gurgling as he snapped into the woman's inside line to try and slip that dagger up and under her ribs.

She watched, first as the one dagger caught his cheek, while the second caught his chin. Not where she had intended, but it worked. Plus the nearly severed tongue meant that he wouldn't be doing that annoying ramble talk.

When he charged her she made no move to get out of the way. No, instead she moved to free a dagger from somewhere underneath her skirt, and let him collide with her. There was a snarl given when his blade slid home. But it put him right in front of her which meant it would be easier for her to bring her blade up and aim to drive it into his neck with a growl.

Renton grinned as his dagger found flesh, his hands working with morbid skill and intimate knowledge of the anatomy to lodge that ritualistic dagger home. The tip would slip into the woman's descending aorta. Even as those silver eyes caught sight of that shimmer when another blade was produced he'd not back away, instead pushing forward with another step as he gave that dagger a twist ensuring a good hole was put in her.

There was hardly a widening of eyes as Sarai's dagger bit into his neck, buried down to the hilt while the sliver of metal cut through his jugular and into his larynx. A well of blood spilled from his lips as the man mouthed something; the words coming out as raspy, gurgling sputters of sound. One last word was spoken in that dying tongue before the man pushed forward against her blade. The knife cut into the flesh of his neck as he leaned forward, a kiss planted upon the demoness' lips. She felt an ever so slight little charge of electricity before there was the pain of swords piercing into her form.

The man's blood servant rushed out from the shadows at those last words, piercing her and the dying magus once more though this time those crimson tendrils felt as burning skewers. Where they contacted with her blood it would make such boil within her, boil into the man that spluttered and steamed from the self-destructive attack. That burning would last as the man's silver eyes turned dull to steel and iron before finally extinguishing to a natural blue as they took on that thousand mile gaze. It was then and only then did those burning tendrils loose form, spilling away as liquid dust from those seared wounds.

Renton pushed forward and she stumbled back a foot or two, balance hard to keep with the pain of him twisting the dagger in her. There was a sharp gasp given, before she returned with savagely twisting the dagger in his throat. "Go back to whatever hell you crawled out of." The words were snarled at him, just as he started leaning in to press his kiss against her lips.

The jolt of electricity made her body stiffen, her fingers twitch. The pain of swords piercing her body caused her to cry out, her fingers to latch onto the shreds of whatever was left of the suit that he was wearing if there was anything left at all. Her body arched slightly with the pain that lanced through her and she grit her teeth against the pain to keep from crying out any more.

Then before she had a chance to twist away from him and let his dying body drop to the ground there was a second wave of pain that went lancing through her thanks to the tendrils that pierced her. Her body arched, and a half choked scream escaped her. Hell, that burned, almost more so than holy fire. Her legs buckled, and as he crumpled to the ground, so did she. Tears burned with the pain, and spilt over, leaving glistening tracks on red skin.

There was a curse from the distant Mach as that dispel spell was released, the distance between the two too close to cast. It wasn't like shooting a person with a dispel spell would kill them....but it was still a very terrible thing to do randomly breaking apart the weave of ether that was one's essence of life. Instead he focused on that second spell, another resound echoing out into the night would be followed by a sharp whiz and crack of a bullet hitting a nearby wall. A poor shot if the schmooze had been aiming to kill anyone with that but then a few moments later and the man would sort of slip out of existence upon that cell tower just as he slipped into existence where that tracer bullet had lodged.

Mach fell the ten or so feet to the ground from where that bullet hit, his body hitting the hard ground with a sickening little crunching thud. Up close the hunter looked much more beat up with his clothing pierced in a few places and his left arm hanging at a slightly odd angle to the rest of the limb. The man shuttered, a pop of his neck as steam rose from his lips even in the warm summer night. "S-Sarai..." A glowing blue eye deeply hazed with concern looked to the woman as he forced himself to his feet, pushed himself towards the demoness and the dead magus in her hands.

The sound of her name drew her eyes towards Mach, unfocused for just a moment, before they truly found him. A moment passed, before she growled in his direction, and let her hands grope for the dagger still stuck between her ribs, blood pouring freely from the end of the dagger, and staining her clothes crimson red. Once she managed to find it, she drew in a shaky breath, and yanked it out. Then she dropped it, and let it clatter to the ground.

Quietly she took stock of him, the injuries that were visible, and the look in his eyes, on his face. The concern she saw on his face made her angrier than she had initially been at the hunter, and adding that to the pain humming through her" It wasn't a good combination. "This is your fault, you fucker." The words were growled, and didn't sound none too friendly.

Mach assessed the situation with that still dully glowing eye, taking it all in as he approached. He noted that grinning magus, recognized the man from the profiles stack upon his desk. Fourteen mages his fury golden ass! That number quoted months ago with his meeting with WO Hardings had come and gone without pause as more suspects crossed his desk and required hunting. The bastards were getting better too, showing more and more creativity in attempting to kick his ass.....his ass. He had a bad feeling about how they seemed to target Sarai with the two knights but with everything that had been going on both work wise and personally he had little time to look into this fully enough. And now"

The man pulled that odd facing arm out and pushed it back into place with a wince, holding it there until he could feel the dull, throbbing pain as the bone once more began attempting to knit itself together at that accelerated rate. Did he note the look upon the woman's face" Hear those accusing words" Know he was approaching a pissed off demoness!" Or perhaps the more important question was whether he cared about any of those things. The man had shown, time and time again, that he was just the sort of idiot to keep walking into a situation that screamed for him to turn back. Mix in someone he cared about being hurt and you had the perfect formula to lure the schmooze into whatever deathtrap one could cook up!

"Y-yeah....you're probably right....got your message too?" Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket he'd wrap that bum arm up so at least it wouldn't snap free again while he took to tending to the woman. Angry, in pain demon and he was stepping into her personal space to all but cause her more pain as he began pulling out some of those medical potions of his to start treatment.....yeah, Mach was obviously not thinking this out.

"I....I'm sorry....about everything....this.....the not being around....this some more..." A mild little grin, humorless, pulled upon him as he reached with a rag soaked in some potion for that seriously bleeding hole in her abdomen.

She watched him, first as he popped his arm back into place, then as he started moving closer to her. The look on her face was wary, like a cornered animal. "Good." The word was hissed when he spoke of receiving her massage, before she shifted with a wince, moving into a crouch, instead of sitting on her butt there in a puddle of her own blood.

When he reached out for her with the rag soaked with healing potion, she swiped at it with a taloned hand, intent on knocking it away. "I don't....need your help. You dropped of the face of the earth. It had to take some psycho necromancer trying to kill me for you to even bother talking to me again."

She sneered at him. "Keep your fucking potion. I'll heal on my own." With that said, she rocked back, and stood, her hand moving to press against the wound on her abdomen. Her one wing was still crooked along the top as well, obviously broken. Her head swam with the sudden movement, and she swayed, threatening to topple for a moment. "You didn't even have the decency to text me." The words were said viciously before she took two steps back from him.

Mach winced more at the words than the bat of that taloned hand. "I didn't....I've been b..." The man sighed as those words, those excuses fell from his lips. The schmooze wasn't really up to his game it seemed....but then that was something that had been changing. "....I've been a shitty friend." He finally spoke with resignation at this fact.

Blue eyes blue watched as she stepped back, teetered really which had him moving with a start for her though he'd not intrude upon her space quite yet. "I did text you....a little..." The man ground his teeth as he considered just how much he'd been letting one aspect of his life take over the others. Or more so, the aspect that revolved around the demoness. He had to wonder why but then that would have been pretty balls stupid and he wasn't that much of an idiot. He liked Sarai....it was a simple fact. And where he was at now that was a very scary thing given the life he had lead up to this point. "...not enough." A tired sigh escaped him. "I'm sorry Sarai....I....am really, really sorry. I've been shit to you and you really do not deserve that....particularly not from someone who makes claim to care for you..."

He flexed that hand with the cloth a few times before he stepped in once more to try and tend to that seeping wound. "You may not need my help....wouldn't blame you if you didn't want it....but fuck all am I gonna let you just bleed. I'm an ass hat and an idiot and a shitty person but I'm not the sort to just leave anyone, particularly a friend, alone when they are hurt right in front of me."

She watched as he winced at her words, struggled for an excuse, then gave up. Good, her words had some kind of effect on him, she wasn't sure what kind yet, but it made some twisted part of her feel just a little better. When he admitted that he'd been a shittly friend, her brows shot up just a little, as if surprised. "No shit. Really' Here I thought that friends don't bother talking to one another." Her words were laden with sarcasm.

When he moved closer when she teetered she gave a scowl, and looked like she was probably considering punching him. Or stabbing him as she still had a couple daggers left on her being. "A little. And then nothing. Great way to make a friend feel like a friend." She scoffed, and took a couple more steps back away from him, putting more distance between the two of them.

His apology was heard, and made her face twist briefly, into something that looked hurt, before it faded away into another scowl. ?????" "What was so important that you forgot about me" I thought I was to some degree, memorable." There was a faint tremble in her voice this time when she spoke.

When he stepped towards her once again, she took a couple more teetering steps away from him. His words were the only thing that made her pause, her brain quietly working through something, before she pointed a finger at him. "But you'll leave them alone to hurt and wonder just what it was they did to make you not even attempt to try and communicate with them for months. I've been spending all this time wondering what I've done to warrant that, Mach, and it's bullshit. You don't do that to someone you claim is a friend. That you care about. You don't." For a moment, her lower lip trembled, and she bit down on it to hide the fact that it was. There were fresh tears in her eyes, welling up and threatening to spill over. Then, as if all her resolve to keep him away from her left, her shoulders slumped.

That caustically sarcastic remark rocked the hunter like a physical slap across the face, his jaw working as teeth ground uncomfortably. Ow....yeah, he deserved that. The guilt was evident upon those rugged features as the woman unloaded on him, tore into him with the blunt and unpleasant truth. He had kept his distance for many reasons....to protect him though he felt like a right rat bastard in the process, to protect her which was obviously turning out brilliantly, to protect Serah which was really just an excuse. A sigh escaped Mach as his reasons just sort of shriveled up. And then the woman asked that question which finally brought those blue eyes blues laced with moisture up to meet her gaze.

"Y-you're right....about it all...I...I've been terrible to you....because..." He sucked in a breath. This was the time he told a really good lie, spun a hell of a tale. Schmooze as hard as he could schmooze. Yes, schmooze.....schmooze.....schmoooooooooze....damnit. "I was afraid....of my feelings for you...and for Serah...." He spoke quietly as he admitted the truth that sat behind those withered excuses he had come up with.

"You are very memorable Sarai.....very...but....I didn't want to jeopardize what little time I had left with Serah....long sort of story....though that sort of turned into a few cans of worms on it's own..." A dry chuckle escaped him. "I....like you Sarai....but I didn't fall in love with you....but I was afraid I might. This whole 'emotions' business not really my forte yeah?"

He stepped forward once more, and another as that cloth was finally placed upon that wound as he drew her into a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry Sarai....I....I didn't want to hurt you....with who I am....what I feel....look how well that seems to be going..." A self-deprecating smirk pulled upon him as he sniffled back those pesky emotions that lurked on the eves. "I really have been shit in all this....I'm sorry." His tone was but a whisper as his forehead finally met hers, a soft lean as he held her comforting.

The demoness saw the guilt creep onto his face as she spoke, let him have everything that she had been feeling for the past few months. And when his eyes finally came up to find her's of molten lava" She seemed surprised that the moisture in her eyes was reflected in his. Then he spoke, and the more he spoke, it seemed like she was piecing things together, connecting the dots and figuring it out.

"She almost killed you." The words were soft, as if she was trying to throw it up as some way to protect her from the onslaught of emotions that were beginning to surface, make things inside her ache. "You didn't fall in love with me....but were afraid you might. Because you fell in love with Serah. Couldn't even?" She trailed off. It seemed like voicing these words aloud, caused the dam to burst, her tears to spill over, and a sob to break through.

Mach chuckled soft and airy at those words. "You do remember I'm an idiot right' Stupid head....stupid heart....what can I say' She did almost kill me....and I....I still couldn't....can't leave her alone." The man felt ill as he spoke, felt as if he were betraying Sarai. It was easy as Mach the Schmooze not to feel guilt, sadness, loathing for what pain he brought to those whom he seduced to his particular brand of madness. They were distractions, he was a distraction, not an emotion to be had and if any started to form then it was simply time to move on. As Mach the Hunter or even Eli though things were much different. He still wasn't really sold on not being the schmooze, particularly with how much stuff like this hurt.

She wanted to yell at him, push him away from her when he pressed the cloth to her wound, and pulled her in for a hug, but all of her fight was gone, spent on the necromancer, and her initial anger at the hunter. Instead, taloned hands lifted to his shirt, wound themselves into it and clung tight, as if he was the only thing keeping her from falling over at the moment.

"I....I cared deeply about you. Still do. You couldn't have....have hurt me with who you are. I cared, flaws and all. I accepted them, Mach. This....This now, is what hurts. Worrying about you, wondering if you were okay, or even alive for all that time- that hurt. Feeling like I didn't matter enough for some kind of contact, hurt. I...I..." Her words trailed off into a hiccupy sound, her eyes fluttered shut, and her hands tightened on his shirt. It wasn't until she felt his forehead rest against hers, that she opened them again, and wasted little time in seeking out his blue hues. Anger, hurt, confusion, he could see it all in her eyes.

"I should hate you...But I can't." The words were soft, a breathless whisper he could miss, should he not be listening carefully.

The hunter pulled her into him more as the demoness finally broke down, sobbing into him. Hot tears of his own streamed down those rugged features as he listened to how much he had hurt the woman. "I....I care deeply for you too....you....you have been.....are....someone who has helped me to?" His teeth ground as he considered his words. Change" Have emotions" Have a care" The demoness had been part of all such, was a part and so much more. He pressed his brow into hers gently. "...heal. Because you accepted me. I'm sorry Sarai. You are so important and I..." A tired sigh escaped him. "I really am such a fucking idiot..." This was spoken just above a whisper, an admonishment meant only for himself.

And when she spoke, soft and breathless those words the man's features churned as guilt, sadness, agony, confusion, and hope rolled within those deep cobalt depths. "You should....but....thank you....for not." A fresh trickle of tears fell from the man as he sniffled, a light smirk escaping him. "Gah....this is partially your fault....these emotions..." That ever so slight humor stayed but a long moment upon the man before he took a deep breath, holding it a tick before he let it drain from his lungs. And at the end he hazarded to plant a kiss upon the woman's nose. "I....probably don't deserve such a chance....but....I want to be a friend to you....to be someone you can rely on....and maybe one day be proud and glad to have at your side yeah?" He gave her a gentle squeeze. "I.....I know mere words don't mean much of beans....can't fix the ass I've been.....but....moving forward....I want to be the man....the close friend that I should have been....if you'll let me. Cause I....I could use all the good friends I can get." His jaws worked a little harder at that last phrasing, as if more meaning were behind those words than he cared to admit. Letting the thought fall away he'd let his gaze catch her, let the sincerity in his eyes make that argument.

There was soft, but dry bout of laughter that escaped her when he called himself an idiot, with a stupid head and stupid heart. "A really big idiot. Biggest one I've met so far." Her attempt at some kind of humor was half hearted, lost in the swirl of emotions that were still running through her.

When he pulled her into him when she finally broke, she sagged against him, content for a brief moment to let him hold onto her, and just kind of let her tears flow free for a moment or two. It took several moments for her to get herself back under control enough for her to respond. "I'm...I'm glad I helped some how. I just..." She trailed off, voice wavering for a moment, like she was getting ready to start sobbing again. She trapped her lower lip between her teeth, and bit down on it, hard. The physical pain overpowered everything else she was feeling for a moment, distracted her.

Her eyes moved to find his once again, when he th"anked her for not hating him, and she saw everything he was feeling, and perhaps everything she was feeling reflected back at her. "I can't. It's hard to hate you Mach. Despite how upset I may be at you." She swallowed, eyes following the path of his tears down his cheeks. "It's partially your fault too." This was murmured, as he drew in his deep breath, and held it. The kiss he bestowed on her nose made it scrunch a little. As he spoke, of wanting a chance at being friends, the sincerity of his words, of his face, were not missed by her. It was probably the one thing that made her decide. "A chance. One, Mach. Because I care about you. And enjoy your company. And you're truly a good guy, even if you're an ass hat of epic proportions sometimes. Don't make me regret it." That for the moment, was all she said, despite the feeling that she had, that there were more to his words than just what was on the surface.

Her eyes ticked up to Mach's then, and lingered for a long moment, before she spoke, softly. "She makes you happy, yeah' Cling to that. As much as you can. Live in the moment as much as you can with her, Okay' Because that's what counts. And I wish I had honestly realized that before it was too late for me." Yes. She had caught what he had said, when he mentioned what little time he had left with Serah. Also, those words were probably going to be as much of an acceptance of his apologies that he was going to get from her at the moment. "If you love each other....that's something special. It doesn't happen often."

Then, wordlessly, she reached up, fingers moving to brush away the fresh wave of tears that had stained his cheeks. "I'll be happy for you. Because I care. Because you're my friend, even though all of this hurts so damned much."

The man listened to Sarai's words, held her gently as he processed it all. Of when she threatened him he couldn't help but chuckle, genuine and true at that. "Ah....good....threats....I'm good with threats." He'd almost cackle as near everyone he called a friend felt it necessary to threaten him to do the right thing. Mach was really starting to feel that he was a bigger fuckup than he'd ever previously believed! Of course this humor gave wave to a heartfelt smile. "Thanks Sarai...I'll work hard not to let you down again..." He spoke softly as he rolled his brow along hers, felt the warmth of contact that had been so intoxicating at first. It still was, but now it was different.

As she began speaking on Serah and he, about their happiness there was a pang of guilt once more but he swallowed it down with a gentle smile. "She does..." He admitted this sheepishly. "And I plan to....as I can....am an ass hat of epic proportions at times though, may be hard....feel free to give me a stab if...if you see me doing such again yeah?" A half cocked grin was finally offered as he gave the woman permission to stab him for being an idiot. He may well have more ventilation in the future he felt! At her words about realizing the fragility of the present he simply squeezed her a little tighter. Did she know about Serah....or him' Or was this simply something she said as she was getting to see the lovely sort of folks that Mach made his bread and butter dealing with"

Regardless he pushed the thought away as she spoke of supporting him despite how much it hurt. There was another pang of guilt, a reflex to apologize though he'd bite this back. He had made a choice. It was a hard choice and yet somehow easy....but it was still the choice he made and he knew always apologizing for it would simply cheapen it. And so he'd press a kiss to her cheek. "Thanks....I....appreciate it Sarai....I know how hard it must be..." A sad smile was offered, the guilt evident upon him but there was still a resolve behind it all.

One more squeeze was given before the hunter finally released the woman. He was likely drenched in the demoness' blood given the number of holes in her though that only raised many questions on how she must have been fairing at that moment. "Lets get you back to my place yeah' It's really close by. We can get you patched up, cleaned up, and resting some to help along your healing. Will also give us a chance to talk....catch up a little I think."

The better choice, of course, would have been for her and him to seek aid in a clinic or hospital proper, particularly given the serious injuries he'd incurred by the young mages that were hopped up on some new drug, but then Mach felt that emotional healing was much more important at this moment than physical healing, particularly given the remarkable regenerative abilities of the both of them. And at the man's place there were protective wards, his EMT bag, and a collection of alcohols all just a short little walk away.

There was a tiredly wicked smile that lifted on her as Mach gave her permission to stab him so as to keep him honest. "Is that a promise?" She sounded almost honestly excited about this before the tired smile told of her teasing, her brow rolled against his enjoying the comforting contact. Listening to the rest of his words molten lava eyes watched him as she decided on what to do. Things were most certainly not OK between them yet but the chance to mend was there. This along with that dizzy feeling of anemia, the pain of her injuries helped to settle her mind. After a few moments she finally nodded, almost looking annoyed as she accepted that offer silently. Yes, talk, there would be much talking. And drinking of alcohols.

Upon seeing that nod, terse as it was, the man's expression would split into a warm grin before he reigned such in. "Alright' thank you?" His words were heartfelt as he moved now to support the demoness using his one good arm to support her. They were certainly a pair, a pin cushioned demon and a jacked up hunter but something about this felt right to the schmooze. It was perhaps high tide that he worked on cementing some friendships in this land, finding folks he could truly depend upon when his chips were down, whom he could talk with those few times when the crushing burden of everything threatened to drag him down. And yet despite all this hope there was something that nagged at him. He wasn't sure what exactly it was but something just felt' off, missing, unresolved.

He thought on this a moment as cobalt blue gaze turned to the demoness next to him, at the tired lull in her expression. No, this was more important than some paranoid notion worming around, the safety and health of this woman. The demoness whom he cared for, whom his government likely hated, whom was his friend. And so he'd push aside those thoughts as he started off with Sarai under arm for his apartment.

And in the shadows far enough away to be unseen and unsensed a little black stray cat watched the two with amber eyes. It's tail twitched as the creature let off a pleased purr, turning to slink off into the night.

(From live play with the phenomenal Deviously Charming!