Topic: Under Watchful Eyes.....

Kairee · Date: 2006-04-27 14:59 EST

(Posted on behalf of Lucien`DeRaven)

She had made the boldest men smitten by her visage, and perhaps would become the face that launched a thousand ships to war for her very apparition?s capture. But in the wake of her alluring trail, she also inherited the attentions of a darker force.
He walked among the mortals, deceiving them with his human guise, yet using his own intangible allure to steal their very souls from beneath them. He was without vendetta for the mortal kindred, and indeed the others that too shared their land; but when his midnight-dark gaze became fixed upon a target, they were to him what prey would become to the predator ? a simple indulgence.
And as Lucien had often found his presence lurking within the Inn, upon the upper levels where below the commons could be viewed, he would come to learn of Kairee?s ways: her vivacious expressions, her attentive gestures, and her cunning chivalries ? all expertly noted behind the fine observations of his sinister, intrigued eyes, and approving smile.
She would have made an excellent Demoness ? such pity that she has encountered the ruefulness of demonic energies in such negative forms in the past. Nevertheless, Lucien was not that demon whom taunted her soul; yet he too was never far from such similar qualities, and whilst under his perpetual observance, Kairee could never be too certain of his intentions. He was, after all, merely a darkly clad stranger who once too often captured the inquisitive stare of Kairee as she had caught of his own curiosity, there within the depths of the Red Dragon Inn.

Kairee · Date: 2006-04-27 18:31 EST

It was a feeling Kairee was all too used to. To others the sensation of being watched is unnerving and causes them to fidget. To Kairee it means life as usual.

Tonight at the Red Dragon Inn was like any other night; she felt eyes upon her. Accompanying that ?watched? sensation was all the standard empathic impulses and lustful thoughts her mere presence caused within the very heart of her ?voyeurs.?

She barely gave it a second thought as her emerald eyes swept over the Inn?s patrons. All the standard admirers are there. The blacksmith, the wandering mistral, the nobleman, the bartender, the hunter, the quiet maid, and so on?

But tonight there was something...different?in the air. A light lick of her ruby lips as she considered what it could be. Her eyes danced over the assembled once again. A slight purse of her lips as she has difficulty separating the jumble of emotions and thoughts in the Inn. Whatever it is, it felt dark. Perhaps it is merely a forbidden lust or something darker still. Or perhaps it?s just a corruption Auric energies as a result of so many Vamps, Demons, and those that deal with that ilk loitering here at the Nexus point

The Red Dragon Inn is a beacon to those creatures whether good, evil or indifferent and with an affinity to the mystical and magical. It is an access point to the raw and primal forces of the Multiverse. It is a point of creation, where Chaos bears Order and where Order breaks down back into Chaos. The sheer magical emanations and fluctuations inherent this close to The Nexus alone would be enough to blunt the results of a quick scry but add on to that the power bleed and spells in effect surround the various patrons in the Inn?s environs, it becomes a daunting task. Kairee could, if she concentrated and spent the time, see through the overlapping auras, mystical tendrils, and magical fields and neatly sort and categorize them all but it would take far more effort than currently worth.

After all, her ?danger sense?, that early warning ability she?s honed over the years, isn?t alerting her to any imminent threat. Whatever is causing the difference in that ?being watched? sensation is not something she needs to concern herself with tonight especially when one of her more overt admirers offers her a present?..

Lucien`DeRaven · Date: 2006-04-28 09:38 EST

Far beyond the shadow?s cloaking darkness, stood the lucid Demon, leaning thoughtfully upon the balustrade of the Inn?s upper-level in mortal guise; gaze drifting downcast ever pensively upon the patrons of below. So distant seemed his attentions, so casual seemed his stance, that his nonchalance stood him unmoving and silent still till this moment.

A suede-gloved hand would tempt to move, fingertips slithering along the polished wood in serpentine tedium as a breath was drawn through unsmiling lips. Yet his sinister gaze would return to wash upon the shores of Kairee?s grace, as she sat purposeful, upon the pedestal her admirers would tirelessly surround, down within the Inn?s Commons room.

Offerings of plentiful gifts bestowed upon her, she seemed grateful for each one, yet beyond her tasteful poise and charm, Lucien saw the voracity of materialism that she possessed. He merely smiled to this knowledge, watching in amusement as her devotees, if such they could be called, continued to endow this maiden with pleasantries intent to parallel her beauty.

Her wary eyes, sliding in a sultry dip of lashes as she examined her crowd, would show Lucien that she felt his burning curiosity upon her. Though undisturbed, she had submitted to acknowledging this awareness ? however subtly hidden from the common eye.

And with this knowledge, Lucien would withdraw his emitting energy, if only just slightly. A straightening of his coat, where concealed mortal weapons lie dormant, and a stirring of his repose would see him take descent of the stairwell ? mingling in with unnamed patrons and familiar faces, till within their confines he was but barely visible.

It was only then that he would emerge bar-side, for idle purposes, thirsting not only for mortal beverages, but for the taste of their invigorated souls. Once more, the callous poison of his gaze would waver down towards Kairee behind the curtain of his fallen mane; that recognition between them shared instantly, as once before when they had met ...genteel acquaintances.

Kairee · Date: 2006-04-28 22:44 EST

Ah yes. Now Kairee felt it clearly as she sipped the champagne. It was closer and it was dark and what?s more, she recognized it.

An amused smirk danced on her lips; another sip of her champagne concealing it. Kairee let her senses reach out following the tenebrous thread of the sensation back to its source; let her Sorcerer?s Sight? see what there was to see.

After a suitable delay, she set her empty champagne flute down and turned her emerald eyes down the length of bar and settled them squarely upon, Lucien.

?Hey Lucien-babe.? Her smile dazzled in its brilliance; her eyes however, though seemingly smiling as well, considered him with a hard inner strength. ?Long time, no see. Business keeping you busy??

Lucien`DeRaven · Date: 2006-05-06 09:14 EST

The Demon-bred gentleman, swathed in his midnight-hue attire, had seated himself by the bar and was regarding Kairee with an uplifted look. There was a veiled inward expression about his eyes, something curiously ominiscent and pensive, and around his visage a most faint air of indifference, as though he had not even thought to hear the informality in which Kairee had addressed him.

But he did respond, and most directly unto her did he speak; ?A long time for you perhaps, dear Kairee,? and there would come a thin cynical smile to play upon his lips as he gazed on at her past the occasional obstructing patron.

But to her question, he would rise to a stand and proceed toward her: deftly construed steps that would see him lean upon the bar ledge on which she claimed. A curt smile waned as he met her rich, green gaze and uttered, ?But business is as you ask, indeed? for a Devil?s work is never done; as you well know, dear Sorceress.?

He paused then, drawing in his words and extending a gloved hand to her, in wait for the receiving of her own, should she have at once warmed to his roguish greetings and contemptuous ways; though it not be said such ways were a lure to play with fire.

Kairee · Date: 2006-05-06 15:54 EST

Kairee watched Lucien as he rose and made his way over to her. Her lips curved upward in a small yet appreciative smile. There was something about sharp dressed ?men? that she always admired.

She couldn?t help but notice that he caught the eye of a few of the other women in the Inn. Kairee?s smile faded as she considered their fate should they catch his interest. But as he was upon her, Kairee?s smile was renewed in all it?s splendor.

Drawing her eyes from his, she considered his gloved hand. Was it a compliment or a challenge? She thought challenge.

With a bewitching smile and a dare glimmering in her eyes, Kairee elegantly offered him her hand; his glove preventing any real contact between the two of them.

?You are very unusual?..it?s not often I meet anyone as exquisitely mannered as you, especially given your provenance.?

Lucien`DeRaven · Date: 2006-05-07 08:34 EST

?Oh?? he would entertain her observation with a vacant query, as gloved hand had fluidly swept beneath hers as it was received, that he may just softly stroke her knuckles before raising them guardedly to his lips.

Upon the loosening of his grasp, that then she may retrieve her hand into her keeping once again, he would straighten. ?Given my provenance, my dear, is all the more reason to be as unlike what one would expect,? he dipped his smiling visage ever briefly then as if to conceal the sight, then would, with renewed graveness, return his devious gaze of subdued mirth upon her.

?But surely, it cannot be a bad quality to be so unlike the rest, hm?? A rhetorical retort offered then in the most courteous of ways.

?Do tell me, though,? he would begin, taking an invigorated intonation of his voice as he moved their topic of conversation, ?you have quite the uniqueness yourself ? surely it is because of that fine history of yours that you have come to be so alert of my energies, is it not??

Though not intending to re-open old wounds, Lucien probed her gently for insight into her past ? especially that which had to do with a Demon he well knew of. This however, would not be let to Kairee?s learning just yet.

And so it was here, that Lucien settled beside Kairee with that all daring closeness that would naturally be repelled by both their tastes, in the idle stance that would suggest his full attention was gifted to her keeping for that one, intensifying moment.

Kairee · Date: 2006-05-07 21:25 EST

Kairee considers Lucien under lowered lashes for a moment; a sly smile creeps across her fair visage, "I'm a Mage, babe. Mages see things that others cannot see. We have arcane knowledge. Some of us are more skilled and experienced than others. "

She leans a bit, bracing her self on one hand, a shift of her hips and she re-crosses her long splendiferous legs. "Of course I'm unique. If I weren't would you come in all this state to pay court to me?" she leans a little closer to Lucien, her voice almost a whisper, her eyes never leaving his, "Or is there another reason you have singled me out amoungst all the remarkedly good looking women who frequent this Inn?"

Lucien`DeRaven · Date: 2006-05-12 08:24 EST

There was in her response, a tinge of elusiveness to his query, and with it Lucien seemed appalled by her simplicity of answer. It was not in his interest to be told that much which he already knew; but it served him nonetheless to learn there laid some truth in the matter. He would let it dissolve for now though, as if it were a passing breeze on which only a few leaves of interest would shudder beneath ? for it mattered not if the branches did not break.

And then there came to his observance, her subtle shifting and refined, but confronting gesture as the whisper of her voice was breathed into the confines of his hearing alone. How curious of her, yet how blatant her confusion as to the purpose of his presence before her. He could but only smile faintly and sweep the depths of his eyes across the Inn as though following her pointed remarks.

All the while retaining an unmoving posture of recline against the bar ledge, gloved fingers interlocked in the pose of thoughtfulness as one arm took rest along the edging and the other was levered in the ascent of his grasp, he managed to return his lethal gaze upon Kairee without delay. Replying calmly then, ?Oh, but my dear Mage, surely that you would already know.
?You do so attract my attention, I concede, but for what purpose I doubt I could say. After all, how would one explain the forces of magnetism without taking all the pleasure out of its experience??

Touching along the curves of his lips a sinister smile would wane, and then the Demon-bred would merely push from the bar-side and stalk slowly from Kairee, stopping only to turn and thieve her gaze with his lasting words; ?Perhaps when you are bored of your humans, you will consider this ? for I am quite sure that blood coursing through your veins is quite apt to Darker things, as such Darker things would more than be apt for you.?

And with the slow sweeping of his hand to and from his lips toward her direction, Lucien nods slightly and turns to take his leave of the Inn, disregarding stares from nameless patrons sliding from his path. But as his form began its relief into the shadows, Kairee would hear his departing mind-speech; Until next we meet by chance, I am but a thought away.

Kairee · Date: 2006-05-14 17:27 EST

Kairee watches Lucien?s sardonic features; trying to read behind the cool disinterested fa?ade he wears, as he teases her. He?s not going to be so easy, Kairee notes, unlike so many others he shows no need to divulge his secrets or demonstrate what he thinks he knows to impress her.

Sitting back up, brushing a length of her long fiery red hair back over a shoulder, as Lucien pushes off from his lean to saunter away. Her gaze drifts up from her admiration of the way he walks to meet his eyes as he speaks those words.

?Perhaps when you are bored of your humans, you will consider this ? for I am quite sure that blood coursing through your veins is quite apt to Darker things, as such Darker things would more than be apt for you.?

She was careful not to react to his probing words. She would neither confirm nor deny what he alludes, choosing instead to offer a puzzled look.

Her puzzlement gives was to a light and pleasant laugh as the dread demon-born blows her a kiss. Reaching up, she intercepts its ethereal form in her hand; only to cause her fist to erupt into flames. Opening her palm she watches what?s left of his mocking gesture burn in her hand, hearing his parting thoughts echo in her conscious mind.

Turning her attention to something or someone else, Kairee flashes her trademark dazzling smile, as if the encounter with Lucien never occurred. Her mind, however, pondered the encounter and the subtext therein.

Does he know or only suspect? Suspect, she concludes. But why would it interest him? What does he want? Other than the obvious, that is. Is he acting on his own or as an agent for another?

Only time will tell as the old saying goes.

When that time arrives, she'll be prepared.

Lucien`DeRaven · Date: 2006-07-26 06:21 EST

He had mingled into the crowd; his dark form becoming consumed by the movement and barter of the unaware patrons around. But he had not left the Inn entirely. It was to a booth around the corner that he had enwreathed his presence in; choosing to subtly mask his identity behind the heavy curtains that enclosed his entrance.
A single, dark brow lofted as he met the gaze of another within, and a sinister curve of his lips began to edge its way across.
?She suspects us, but knows far less than expected,? he would say casually to the other seated across from him, the visage a part of the shadows in entirety.
And then Lucien leant in quite surely, folding his arms fiercely across the table that came between them, if only to say, ?let it stay that way. There are other Demons finding refuge in the bleak memory of her past. Let us not join them in her hatred.?
And silence fell. Lucien knew exactly what he commanded, and gave no hint to his kindred of the conversation that had passed between he and Kairee.
There was no reply, merely a nodded gesture in the signal of acceptance. ?Return. I will remain and keep an eye on her affairs. Should the one whom has desecrated our Name resurrect his forsaken soul in this realm, there will be only need of one of us Archetypes to see to his annihilation.?
A very callous smile consumed Lucien?s unsmiling features, before the fierceness of his words brought haste to his departure of the booth and back into the casualty of the mortal habit.