An Encounter With Renna
October 19th
The evening was late, and while the smaller moon was in the skies above Rhy'din, it remained shrouded by clouds. Ebon was heading home through Dragon's Gate, seemingly inattentive to the city around him. He even hummed a faint tune.
A gentle thud, was all that allowed Renna's presence to be known. That, and the floral scent of her perfume. High heels clicked behind Ebon, her footsteps matching his. "Hello, Ebon."
He kept walking, not even breaking stride. "Hello, Renna." Though he didn't look at her, his tone was tinged with- not anger or hatred. Disdain, perhaps, but also a touch of amusement. "Enjoying the night?"
"I am. Granted, this city..." She made a motion he never saw. "It always is interesting. Heading home I see?"
"That was my plan," he replied drily.
"I know. I watch your movements. Always. As well as Doran. Including your home." She made a motion as he turned to the large bird flying circles overhead.
Finally he turned to look at her, eyebrow raised. "You look....well."
A simple white dress clung to her. Fleshed entirely—no metallic claws. No flaws. No scars. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her high heels were crystalline in nature—-transparent and yet tinted purple. However, in her hand, she held a gun pointed right at him. "So do you."
His eyebrow arched. "A gun" Really?"
She smiled. "It might look simple." It looked like a standard snub-nosed Dan Wesson revolver. "But it isn't." She tilted her head, her burning crimsons glowing. "I came to talk."
Pinpoints of white light flared within Ebon's own midnight eyes, and an unseen force gripped Renna's gun hand, forcing her arm back that the weapon was pointing up beneath her own chin. His mouth twitched into a smirk. "Then talk." He released his hold on her arm, having made his point. "I'm always willing to talk....although, do you mind if we talk and walk?"
Struggling with the weapon, Renna released an too inappropriate sigh as she felt the barrel of the gun against her own chin, and when he released it, she kept it there. Her eyes rolled back into her head as her eyelids fluttered. Her body shuddered with anticipation. It never came. He released it. But she kept the gun pressed against her own chin and even pressed it harder so that the barrel pushed into the flesh under her chin. "No, not really. I don't want any closer to your home, then we are now." An odd coldness overcame him as her eyes buried at his. They seemed....Inviting. Almost lovely to look at. His disdain was awash with a pleasant sensation tickling his skin and, for whatever reason, he wanted to step closer to her. Like a planet seeking to escape a black hole, but only orbiting closer.
Ebon felt his face go slack, almost numb, and he took a step forward. Then, in the depths of his subconscious mindscape, a flame blossomed, shining like a beacon, and he heard a voice, Phen's voice. Be strong. His eyes grew narrow and his lips thinned. "You've learned some new tricks, I see." Surprisingly, he didn't seem very upset, recovering his poise in moments.
She stared harder. "No. I ate someone similar to you." The sensation on him—-on his feet, felt like magnets. A gravitonic pull that almost could not be denied, but....Well, she knew better. A step alone was enough for her. Or two. Or three. Her crimsons glowed hotter, the very pupil of her irises becoming a darkness that invited a singular light at the center. And then, in his head, he heard her voice. Come take this gun from me, Ebon. She relaxed the grip of her hand, and pulled the hand away from her own chin, allowing the gun to go slack in her grip, the weapon dangling on an index finger. "It's an offering....of peace. My last one."
"Someone similar?" Thoughts raced through the back of Ebon's mind, even as he focused on Renna. Doran' Velen" Azure" No, they were all well and good; he had even seen all of them within the past two days. The smirk returned when he heard her voice in his head. *Why should I try to take it' I've no need for guns." Then she spoke of a peace offering, and that gave him pause. "I would like peace, but-" He frowned. "How can you expect me to trust you, after all you've done" To this city, to my family' You and your cohort tried to kill me. You abducted my daughter, my son....even though they came back to me, the fact that you took them is damning."
"I did that. That I cannot deny. And yes, I did that. For a reason. Perhaps a reason you cannot or even no one can comprehend. Not that I am saying I am working for some higher power because there is none, but myself. I am a selfish evil creature. I know that. Should you trust me" No. No you shouldn't. But I am not here for my own ends. If I was" I'd have attacked you on sight and hoped somehow, I could overtake you....and eat you. Absorb your powers. Your genetics. You and your whole family, was nothing but an experiment for me. Or, was..." She smirked a little, then she closed her eyes. "No you don't need guns, Ebon. Guns are nothing to you, but this" Is my greatest weapon. Better than me and better than you." She paused, lowering her gaze. "I am doing this for Batten. And don't think for a moment I'd do this selfishly. I am doing this for him. This weapon is not for you. It is for Doran." Renna looked to the weapon, then to him. "I don't expect you to trust me. I predicted as much. A fool could predict a spider cradling a fly back to health is out only for one purpose only."
She tossed the gun to his feet. "It is for Doran." She soured. "I've come to you because perhaps you could give him it, where I could not. Since he....well....he hates me. And justifiably so." She added, softly, "And this city?" Her crimson eyes looked about. "Has given me nothing but pain and yet, you people" Look at you. Living life. Heroes. Where are my moments when I saved so many of you? Nothing. Nothing is ever remembered about that, hm' But that's fine. I don't care anymore anyhow."
Without taking his eyes from Renna, Ebon crouched down and picked up the gun, then straightened once more. "You have done good. It may have been only a fraction of your total deeds, but I can't deny that truth." A soft chuckle slipped from his lips. "I accept your peace." One hand reached out, held there as an offering.
Renna stared to the hand. Then looked to his face. "I am going to do something you will hate, Ebon." She indicated the weapon. "You will promise me you will give Doran the gun and you tell him exactly, what I am about to tell you."
He lowered his hand and nodded. "I can promise that."
She held up her hand. "Five shots. I can produce more bullets but I doubt you will ask of me for that. He must understand that this weapon is a last, resort. If there is no other. He cannot use it unless he, or someone he loves, is in grave, grave danger."
She nodded slowly. "Somewhat. Each bullet contains a part of my SCHISM Technology, directly from my Engine. It displaces space. Imagine....she..." She paused, waving a hand. "If you were shot with this" Like I aimed at you? Imagine....Well. If struck" Which I doubt I could had, by the way....You are a slimy bastard....Then your chest?" She pointed at him, then to the wall. "Was suddenly over there——" The added question caught her off guard. She stood wide eyed. Her cheeks reddened. She looked away. "What has he got to do with anything with this conversation?"
"Nothing really, I was simply curious." The redness in Renna's cheeks spoke volumes, and Ebon smiled warmly despite himself. "An impressive weapon."
Renna kept her eyes away, then, looked at him. "Yes." She affirmed with a certainty that burned with her eyes. "He created me."
"He's a good man, if a trifle....reckless." He regarded the gun again. "I could probably think of a few entities that could survive this, but I do thank you." Then his dark eyes turned back to Renna. "I don't think Doran hates you. I think he pities you."
"No. He will hate me." She indicated the weapon. "Edward gave back a shard of....her. Renna." She hissed. "I made this." She indicated the weapon. "It is made to kill not only those you think, that can escape." She pressed her hands to her own chest. "It's made to kill me."
"Very well," was Ebon's succinct reply.
"I thought, maybe....this, would be enough..." She looked to him, searchingly. "So that you don't have to worry about me again."
His expression was stony, the perfect poker face, for a minute. Then another. Finally he cracked the slightest of smiles. "I appreciate that. Thank you." He tucked the gun into the back of his belt. "Although you do have a tendency towards multiple bodies. I may need to get more bullets." There was actual humor in his voice, however dry.
"I have clones. Yes. But this one? No, it's not one of them." She indicated him. "You can end it now if you want. I am sure Batten wouldn't mind."
"No." Ebon actually grinned. "I'd hate to have to clean up the mess."
Slowly, she held out hand her hand. "Ebon."
He took and shook it, firmly but not unduly so. "Renna." His bracers seemed to vibrate for just a second as they touched.
She gripped his hand tight. "Ebon." Then released it. "And yes. Yes. I Do. I love him. Absolutely. There is nothing I will not do for him and I am in love with him."
"Then I hope the best for both of you." If Renna had any sense of empathy, she would feel the honesty in Ebon's words. "I'm actually tempted to stop by the Red Dragon—Tenball told me he's going to try a shift behind the bar, to see if it's a good fit. But I should be getting home." With a nod of farewell, he turned and went on his way.
((taken from live play with Renna))
