Poster's Note - The following is taken from a log of live play with permission of both muns. Thanks~!! ]
Walking. Walking. And more walking. It was a good thing It didn't get tired too easily anymore. Although, the young man It had a hold of was another story. More than once it had to poke and prod him, stab him in some fashion. By the time they'd made it to the docks, It was pretty much dragging him along. "So you're sure this is the place?" No response. That received a hard kick to the ribs. There was a groan, and a nod of affirmation after he took a moment to assess his surroundings through insanely swollen eyes. "Alright then."
The soldier approached the elder, and offered a low bow, as he spoke in a somewhat hushed tone. "Hasim, they have arrived, sir." Nodding to the solder, Hasim rose from the desk that was set literally in the middle of the empty warehouse. A gloved hand lifted, and adjusted the collar to his shirt, as Hasim looked about the warehouse once more, and then to the soldier.
"Why do you whisper, so' What is wrong?" The soldier looked to the door in an unsure manner, and looked to Hasim once more, the young man's eyes, began to shift from the door to the elder.
"Two of them, Sir. She and Asant. No others." Pondering a bit, Hasim nodded, and instructed the other soldier present to open the door. Slowly, the main door opened, before them, as each soldier showed himself to her, their arms up in a show of no weapons, as they moved from the door. Standing next to his desk, with his arms clasped behind his back was, Hasim.
It snickered as It caught a firmer hold on the boy. "So...you have many friends, don't you..?" Crystal blue eyes, normally bright, were dusty with shadows and cobwebs. But they hadn't lost any of their knife's edge sharpness. Striding carefully up to the soldier so formally presenting himself to It, It shoved the boy from Its grasp right at him. "Dispose of this, I don't have any use for him anymore, and neither do you for at least a week." It stepped hard on the ground, making Its boot heels echo ominously in the vast cavern of the emptied warehouse. Then, It stopped. And Its head gently tilted, studying Hasim. It was no mindreader, but the soldier type seemed to peon-ish to be of real importance. "Hasim, I presume?" Ventured through a smirk.
His eyes watched carefully, catching each intricate detail, as 'Lain' made her way inside with Asant. Watching the exchange between the soldier, and herself, Hasim smiled faintly for but a brief moment, as more than a few mental notes had been made. The soldiers, looking back to the elder, as Hasim nodded to them. With no other words, they took their comrade to the far end of the warehouse, finally exiting through an exit. Hasim's eyes rested once more upon that which stood before him, as a cant of head commenced for more than a moment...Nodding to her, Hasim finally answered her question. "Forgive my delay in answering you, as I believe this was best to be discussed between ourselves, and as it looked, young Asant needed a physician in the most dire of ways. Still, I am impressed. I was impressed before, but no— No, please forgive me. I am indeed, Hasim De' Altier. But I think the true question, is who exactly, are you, no?"
One thin, skeletal even, finger lifted and ticked side to side - like the second hand on a clock. "Ah, ah, ah...apparently, it was you who sent them to find me. I'm sure you already know who I am, Hasim. Indulge me." Its chin lifted, challenging him, but pleased that It had impressed someone. Its arms folded too, Its new coat creaking in the otherwise close silence about them.
"Indulge you? For the moment, I shall. You are absolutely correct, I did in fact send for you, at the behest of my Lord, who shall be named later." His hand pulled from his back, and inside it was a folder. Clearing his throat, Hasim looked over the folder, and read a few lines here and there. "Lain Amthras, also know as Lain Schway to some, also known as The Schwayer, Lain Bat, Lain Ravenlock, The Doll...Once a member of the Bloods, if I am not mistaken, True Blood as well. Companion to one formerly alive, Alex Ravenlock, who also goes by other names as well. Now of course what I say, is more than common knowledge, my dear. So please bear with me. I know who you are, more so, I know what Lain is, but you seem something far more interesting that I was first lead to believe, you seem much more than what I had been looking for, and I believe that you and I can indeed some to an accord, as I am most assured in my judgment. What I offer is something that Lain never had the chance to accomplish on her own, I offer a change to even scores, long since left uneven. I offer, a revenge of sorts. Especially where a certain 'Empress' may be concerned...Of course that is if you will permit me the honor of a few minutes time."
Its head tilted severely as Lain screamed inside Its mind. "Shut up, you idiot, you're the Doll again, if you remember.." A sniff, and It continued on like nothing had happened. "That's better.." Its eyes moved to the desk Hasim had previously occupied, noting his chair, wondering if there were others nearby. No matter. Slow, calculated strides carried It to his desk, and It folded itself upon it; one leg curled in, the other dangling off the edge. Paying no mind to the fact there might be important things It was sitting on. This was more intriguing. "So you're interested, Lain.." No.." What do you mean you can get at Jewell any chance you please.." One of Its hands waved as if dismissing someone, but the only one present was Hasim - and It didn't even try to correct how that would look. Dusty blue eyes lifted to him and narrowed to slits in their study of his form. "Mm...I'll oblige you. After all you sent me those lovely presents, didn't you..?" It said, amused, lightly chuckling. "Information in exchange for information. Because even once you've revealed this to me, my knowledge won't be anything compared to yours on my vessel."
Gray eyes watched her approach the desk....Normally one would be rather concerned, as only one of his men returned from seeking her out, yet Hasim remained where he was, and allowed her free reign. That is how this would play out anyways, they would offer free reign, so long as she did whatever she wished to do, which in their minds was very high, on the not to nice scale. All of that aside, he watched the exchange between herself, and...herself" Hasim shrugged a bit, as a little internal strife never hurt anyone, for the most part. Letting her finish, Hasim nodded to her, and continued. "Thank you...And for the record I am speaking of Jewell Ravenlock, and her brother Brian Ravenlock, and anyone else associated with their family...And I do mean anyone. But you, I believe are the sole exception, are you not' Always treated as an outcast, looked down upon for your past acts, especially those concerning one Renna Bloodstone, of that is the name she is currently using. You see we have been watching you all, for quite sometime, and my Lord has been given a mission. His mission is to make them suffer in a likeness, of which they have never dealt with. He wishes suffering, upon suffering to each of them, and their own, and he sees that can happen, and sees that it can happen in a much more powerful way, if you will assist us...You see, we have seen what you all have been through these last few years, we have watched, and recorded, and have bidden our time. We have seen how poorly you and Alexander were treated, especially, after what had happened with Renna, and Lucy Ravenlock. We have seen Brian Ravenlock himself commit to FAR more despicable actions, and yet he is revered like a saint! While you and Alexander were driven away. While you may not see it in that mann— Well, I think now you see it in that manner, maybe not before, however. In any event, Brian Ravenlock, Jewell Ravenlock, and all who stand with them must fall, and we are dead set in that course...Of course I am over simplifying, but I do hope you get the jist of what I am speaking of.."
"A vendetta against the Ravenlocks...or something of that nature, correct?" It laughed a mirthless, maniacal heckle that didn't fit Its delicate features. Entity didn't care one way or the other, but he knew that Lain was paying attention. She was twisting in her shackles in Its mind, not wanting to agree with Hasim, but having really no way to deny the truth. Even if she didn't care about herself. "Oh, I know, Lain...no, he didn't deserve it. He deserved a better family.." eyes remained deadlocked on Hasim, and It jerked suddenly at the mention of Renna and Lucy. "Mhmhm...You seem to have touched a nerve, Hasim. She's conflicted...greatly." Deeply inhaling. "Ahh, the events that transpired because of those two women - they don't matter anymore. You won't win us over with trying to play on her sympathies because she has none. She doesn't give a righteous shit about anything but Alex, and he's not around anymore. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to kill him myself.." Sighing exasperatedly, but having to rub at Its temple because of the shrieks and cries in Its mind, It shifted in Its seat. "I go back to my original point, a vendetta against the Ravenlocks. Lain is one of the Ravenlocks. Why ask her to join you? Is it because she wants the same thing as you?" It sneered venomously at a point over Hasim's left shoulder. Shadowy tendrils spiraled and licked up from Its shoulders, undulating in the air. It was really amused by all this.
"A vendetta, and much more...And I play on no one's sympathies...As I have none myself, I am a soldier, and have a task to complete, one way or the other. In all honestly, I asked for Lain, because I was told to, and that reason was because the Lord saw fit to offer herself, and other such as the Orcs of Kher Ridge, or any others wronged by any of the Ravenlocks and their kin the chance at the revenge so many have been denied. And yes Lain is a Ravenlock, but is she truly?" I do recall an incident inside the Red Dragon, in which she was quoted saying something to the liking of 'You do not know the real me, or you do not really know me, Brian.' after which quite the spat broke out, between herself and Brian, and the sad part was that Brian was the ONLY one who actually vouched for Lain, save Alex. And yes, Alex is not here anymore, so what exactly does she have" Not family...In watching her, we have come to the conclusion that is a far fry from a Ravenlock, and in fact harbors quite the hatred for some of them, especially Jewell. Of course, over simplification once more, but the heart of the matter is we all have the same agenda, so to speak, so this can be done with you all, or without, either way, the wheels have begun to spin, and Brian Ravenlock, most assuredly will fall, the question is, will Jewell fall with him' Or will someone else, bring her to her knees."
"Your, ah, Lord has been really quite thorough, hasn't he.." Another set of snickers fall from pale, glossed lips. Thin fingers brush errant strands of limp white from Its brow and cheeks. "Ahh, yes, she was quite irritated by all that. But already know that, don't you." The tip of Its tongue slides over the entirety of Its mouth while It inhales and ponders. It was being given free pickings from a buffet. Things couldn't have worked out better for it. "From what I've gathered, Brian and Lain still barely know each other and were only introduced because Alex and he had reconciled. Somewhat. Do not blame me if I don't see your reasons for claiming that he vouched for her. If telling Jewell not to kill her is a vouch, it was a ridiculous one that she still wishes never happened, and really wants to do something about.." His questions turned in circles through Its mind. Was Lain a Ravenlock" And what did she have" Entity was in control now, and that meant Lain had no place to talk. But he felt that he owed his vessel something...For all the free meals, and for all the delicious torture her tough spirit was able to endure. It ignited inspiration in him like none he'd ever felt. Possibly because he had never been a tangible being. "You said your revenge is against the Ravenlocks and their extended relations, correct' You can scratch that off of her To Do List. The Ravenlocks are Brian, Jewell, and Alex. The rest aren't worth her time. And as far as I can tell, neither is anything else-" It stood, and the noodles of ink black twitched accordingly.
"Fine. Let's have some fun with these bitches...There's a whole helluva lot they deserve, so who are we t'deny'm, huh?"
There was a long pause before It could respond, It was that surprised. But soon after, Its cruel smirk returned. "Well, Hasim...I think we have ourselves an agreement. You know Lain, and you know how she works. I'm sure her conditions don't need to be explained to you."
Hasim was silent, studying It as It closed the distance between them and extended its thin, pale blue hand.
Moments later, It was on Its way from that place. Spikes of ebony shadow exploded upwards from the soles of Its boots and swallowed It whole, snuffing out Its existence and carrying it back towards the heart of Rhy'Din city.
"A little angry, are we?"
"You bet yer ass."