Topic: May the Madness Ensue

Jalleia

Date: 2006-12-05 23:23 EST
She'd left the Inn with Korlian earlier that afternoon, but had gotten quickly sidetracked by the array of carts still operational despite the weather. The bag on her shoulder was now stuffed with cheap fabrics, thread, needles and all other sewing tools for practice. What he'd said about her to Erin - that she was adept - she'd not deny. But she'd wish to brush some dust off her skill given the chance.

They'd become separated a short while later, as well. He'd mentioned he had some sort of business to attend to and that he'd meet up with her later. The 'later' had turned into evening, and she glanced up to the sky with a scowl as she'd still not seen him, raking her gaze over her surroundings before consulting the cocktail napkin.

~~~~~~~~~~

Her nose and fingers were frozen to the point of burning, slush soaked through to her toes and she'd still not found it. The only good news at that time was the fact that she'd found the docks. It couldn't be too far from there.

"Excuse me," she flagged down a man who resembled a gorilla with a few vigorous waves. He was exiting a nearby pub at the time and walked with a slight wobble. As he approached, she stared at him with a brow arch but continued. "Could you direct me to this address, please?"

"That address? Why certainly, m'lady." Hiccup. "It be down that road, take a left an' ye f-follow until you come to the gargoyles, heh."

"Thank you," she mumbled with a slow nod, moving to stride away from him rather quickly. The stench of alcohol nearly rotted her nostrils. But, she was immediately caught by the arm in a grip that could crumble stone.

"Th-things are not.. free. Not f-free, m'lady."

"Then please take my compliments on your ability to hold your liquor, sir," she said lightly, her fingers digging beneath his in an attempt to pry them off. They didn't budge. She glowered upwards, her lime green eyes meeting his heavy lidded, bloodshot ones.

"Are ye," HIC "makin' jokes about me, m-m'lady..?"

"I only speak the truth, sir. Now ah.. would you kindly let go? I've an engagement that I'm rather la-"

With one swift spin, she found her back colliding with the nearest wall. Her bag slid from her shoulder as she let out a loud cry more out of frustration than actual pain.

"Y-ye'll pay fer that," HIC "m'lady."

She found it odd how he kept calling her 'm'lady' even though he was as angered as he was. Her mouth opened to say something before she felt her throat abruptly squeezed under a large hand. Very slowly, her feet left the wet ground, and she was able to kick freely. She tried that, hearing the loud twangs of her toes as they hit his breastplate. He didn't relent.

A rather sick sounding heckle was coming from his lips, and she grabbed at his arm, aware that this predicament just escalated into horribly dangerous.

What she could guess was his other hand slipped down her side, and she swallowed, or attempted to, as it ventured..

"This'll.. be m-my reward for my," HIC "services." Her surroundings began to swim together as she slowly began to lose consciousness. She sucked in one tiny breath as a brilliant, lime green orb started rotating above her palm. Sparks that resembled lightning flashed around its surface as it flickered in the darkness.

Jalleia blinked lazily as she saw his gaze lower. With a small flick of her wrist, the orb was sent flying upwards into his nose, instantly exploding into streaks of white and green. His form disintegrated quickly, his arm fading away. She was left with no support, and just dropped like lead down to the cobblestones on one knee.

"AAAAGGGHHHH!" was the shout that then pierced the cold air. Through a sheen of tears, a death glare was sent to the pile of dust now occupying the male's previous stance. A slight amount of pressure was applied to her leg as she tried to stand but almost immediately tumbled back against the ground with another small yelp.

"Korlian, please be nearby," she spat, shimmying up against the wall, both hands clasped around her knee as if she was trying to keep it from falling apart. She leaned her head against the support, letting out a low, shaky sigh and a soft chuckle.

"Never travel the Westend in the evening."

Korlian Bloodstorm

Date: 2006-12-05 23:27 EST
"You said this blanket is of wool?" Kor's gaze raked over the material, slender digits pinching the fabric between an index and a thumb. "It feels cheap."

"Yes sir. Nuthin' butta." The tailor couldn't have been more certain, judging from his tone. Scandalous blue eyes dared to stare at the elf.

"'Butta', you incompetent fool, is not what I requested." Kor's fingers flicked the pinched article of fabric from his grasp, watching it as it sailed towards the ground, riding the currents. "If I had to guess, you wove this material with linen. It's not even filamentous." The elf scowled, finger lifting to point at the vendor. "Charlatan."

Such was the morning for the Highborne Elf who decided to take care of business in the early afternoon. Their festive time of year was quickly approaching, he still without a gift for his beloved. He was riddled with ideas, a jigsaw puzzle missing the heart of the board, for there was no gift he considered worthy. His search would come later, once Jal was accounted for.

The WestEnd he had heard about. Erin's warning did not fall on deaf ears; it's setting the perfect epiphany of disaster. His own personal Murder Row. The Alleys of Moonsorrow could compare, however sleek and mannerism they could muster within the shadows. Such a place would not cause his perception to wane. Korlian was dressed for the setting, if but slightly finer in choice of fabric. Heavy nethercloth adorned his frame from head to toe, with the slosh of snow effortlessly soiling the edges of the ruby-dyed fabric. He'd not notice. Beneath the hood that kept the frigid breeze at bay, malachite orbs would examine cautiously at his surroundings, careful to avoid any figure of life that would provide an otherwise agitating encounter. He could not risk it, for the sake of those living in the slums of filth.

The quiet crunch of snow yet to be removed beneath him was his only realization that his large, pointed ears were still functioning appropriately as he rounded another corner. Korlian knew he had no idea where his destination was located, for Jal possessed the cocktail napkin with their only source of directions. All he required was a sign.

"AGGGGGH!"

Eureka. His elvish addiction coiled his mind as he dexterously pressed into a brisk run, proving his heritage without a shadow of a doubt. Rounding another corner, sixteen feet to the left, he'd find his source. A lone elf, kneeling before the ash-remains of what he assumed to being the culprit of the previous scream. A wide grin curled upon his fine lips as he subtly approached, his tone gentle to mask his thoughts, "Playing with the natives, Jalleia Sunstriker? I had thought you better than that." It couldn't be helped, his laughing sincerely at her.

Korlian gallantly approached his fair maiden, offering a gloved hand before him should she require aid. "Are you hurt?"

Jalleia

Date: 2006-12-05 23:30 EST
One eyelid slowly but surely lifted lazily as she tilted her head. She felt her jaw clench tightly at his laughter.

"He was attempting to play with me. I ah.. just halted the process." Please ignore the fact that her voice is rather scratchy at the moment. She hoped it would go unnoticed for the time.

She didn't move from the ground, yet, though she saw his hand out there. Hers were wrapped firmly about her knee, fingers massaging what she felt to be swollen flesh. Jal let out a long sigh.

"What is it, Kor, about males and directions?" lifting her gaze as she finally let one of her hands go into his. She gripped it hard, pulling up onto her only good leg, almost instantly toppling forward into him.

"My knee," she mumbled, not even attempting to place pressure on it, her eyes following the road that they would need to take over his shoulder. "I was dropped on it."

Another hard clench of her jaw, this time it was to stop the chattering of her teeth. "I need to ah.. get inside somewhere."