"Looks like I win...yet again."

Oren furrowed his brows, lips twisting into a frown as he watched Zenobia sweep his coins off the table and into her purse. He threw the cards onto the table and folded his arms, those blue eyes of his studying her, hard. "You cheated. I know it." He shook his head as he spoke, voice lowering considerably. "No one has that amount of luck Zen...not even you."

Zenobia laughed heartily at such a notion. "You're just angry that you're a bad poker player...you just can't stand to let a girl win, can you?" A swift motion of her neck sent fiery curls from her face, those emeralds narrowed in delight as she watched his frown deepen. A finger lifted to tap thoughtfully upon her pursed lips. "Now let's see... tonight, I've won thirteen times and you've won...hmm." A mock pause of concentration and thought. "Now...how many times did you win tonight Oren?"

He rubbed at the scruff on his face, lip curling up in disgust as he snorted. "Bitch."

Zenobia's eyes widened as mouth opened in mock shock. To accompany this, she lifted a hand to her chest, feigning a look of hurt. "I am wounded... That's no way to speak to your future wife Oren...I can't believe you'd say...such a...such a..." She couldn't help it, seeing the look on his face, she snickered, the laughter soon following.

"Tch. Woman I must be a fool to marry you... but!" He shook a finger at her, grin starting to form over that scowl of his. "I'll not tolerate such behavior after you become my wife. I'll have rules." Oren nodded sagely, now crossing his arms as he studied his fiancee. "And you will follow them. I'll put you in your place Zen..."

"Oh really?" A brow arched with intrigue as she leaned forward, chin resting upon clasped fingers. "And how do you intend to do such a thing Oren..hmm? Surely you know I'll break your rules... you know I'll misbehave...what then? Will you..punish me?"

"As much as it would pain me to...yes." Oren gave a heavy sigh, hands going up in the air as he shrugged. "There's just no other way. Tough love all the way baby."

"Tough love? Oh my..." Her voice mere breath now as she leaned in further, bustline dipping to leave little to the imagination. "Just how do you plan to punish me Oren...? I do hope you won't hurt me...much."

Oren swallowed the lump in his throat, struggling to keep his eyes locked on hers...he wouldn't let them lower, he wouldn't let them lower... "For starters... I'd lock you in your bed room. For hours." Nodding firmly. "There would be no escape for you woman... not with me there with you."

She smirked wickedly. "Mmm... then I must confess. I did cheat tonight. All thirteen times as a matter of fact. I guess this means you should come over later and... lock me up." Honestly she didn't cheat, she simply had skills that Oren lacked... well, with cards.

"Ah..I..I suppose I'll have to... then ah-" Oren was interrupted by the pressing of Zenobia's finger upon his lips.

Emeralds twinkled devilishly as she leaned even closer, crawling over that table until she sat upon it, looking down towards Oren. Her free hand moved up to stroke his rough, beard stubbled face as finger moved away from his lips, that hand moved behind his head to gently grasp blond locks and pull him ever closer as she leaned in... those crimson lips of hers pressing hard against his. Zenobia exhaled sharply as Oren's hands moved over her waist and towards her lower back, drawing her closer as cards were carelessly scattered across the floor. Lips parted slightly as tongues worked in unison, sighs of contentment and moans of desire flowed from-

"DAMMIT OREN! My customers aren't paying to get a free peep show!!"

Oren pulled back so fast Zenobia nearly went crashing towards the floor, however she gripped the side of the table quickly and pulled herself up, mumbling a few choice words as a scowl was sent towards that short, squat little bartender. His attention however, was on Oren, rather than her, and boy, did he look pissed.

"Your break is over, now get back to work!!" The man pointed towards the dirty tables scattered about the tavern before he turned, grumbling a bit under his breath as he moved to resume his post behind that bar, serving up drinks in less than clean glasses and mugs.

"Y..yes sir.. I'm sorry.." Oren turned his head, sending a rather hateful glare towards Zenobia. "Damn it woman, you're going to get me fired!" It was hissed out before he kneeled down and started picking up those cards that had been scattered about everywhere.

She narrowed her eyes as she hopped from the table, arms crossing in front of her chest. "Now that I'll not tolerate Oren. Just because your boss is a little prick-" And no she did not lower her voice thank you very much, she cared not who heard her. "-doesn't mean you have to be one as well." Zenobia huffed a bit as she tossed some crimson curls from her face, ignoring that dirty look she was getting from Mr. Prick.

Oren shuffled the cards together and stuffed them in one of his pockets, eyes slowly moving upwards to regard Zenobia in a rather apologetic manner. "Zen... I'm sorry." Hands moved to his knees as he pushed himself up, barely any taller than the fiery headed woman. "Tch..you know, I'm just... you know how I feel about having to take this job. But I have to, because you know I want to marry..." His voice trailed off, he wasn't good at this kinda thing.

Zenobia shrugged her shoulders a bit, face softening a bit. "It's alright Oren...I know." She stepped forward, that long yellow skirt of hers swishing and clinging to her body as she moved. She leaned foward, planting a kiss of the chaste variety upon that stubbled cheek of his. "I'm going to take off before I get you in any more trouble, alright?"

He frowned at that, obviously not too thrilled with the idea of her walking the streets of Rhydin alone. Especially since it was dark out... "Hey, I don't have that much longer..." He gestured across the bar towards the old, out of tune piano that sat in the corner. "Why don't you play everyone a song or two? I mean...I could always walk you home Zen, just let me-"

"Oh no you don't." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a little girl any more Oren...we're not children. I don't need you to protect me any more." A shrug of shoulders before she stepped away from Oren, and a little closer to the exit. "Besides, I walk the streets all the time. I'll be fine."

"Hmph. What the hell do you mean you 'walk the streets all the time' woman? Just what are you doing on those streets?"

She laughed at the accusation, yet she simply blew Oren a kiss as she continued on towards the door. "Love ya!" Zenobia didn't wait for a response, she hadn't a need to. So she simply reached out, pulled the door open, and stepped out into the cool, dark night.

It was nice though, the time of year where it wasn't too hot, where it wasn't too cold. It was just cool and breezy, and Zenobia could get away with wearing just about anything without fearing the weather, unless of course it was raining mercilessly, much like it had for a couple days previous. However, tonight, there was no rain. Always a good thing for her, since she abhored the rain, being a studier of fire magics, she was what one might call a 'fire elementalist', and those who tended to lean towards the fire, leaned away from rain, water, and ice.

She moved quickly, boots scraping and thumping against the hard, damp concrete beneath her feet. She wasn't afraid, but her common sense told her it was good to move swiftly through the dark streets, considering she did have quite a bit of coin on her person. What a shame it'd be if someone attempted to rob her of her...earnings. Zenobia folded her arms tightly across her chest, pausing only momentarily where she stood, emeralds sweeping over her surroundings.

Did that shadow just move?

No, it was simply the wind blowing some leaves, an illusion. She smirked, laughing a bit at herself as she continued down the street. She needed to get home so that she could-

Click.

She paused again, arms unfolding as a hand moved instinctively to that double bladed sword hanging from her hip. "Hello? ...Damn it.. Oren if that's you I swear..."

Scrape.

Zenobia narrowed her eyes. What a sick joke. He must be trying to make his stupid point about her not walking the streets so late, alone. "Oren, if you don't come out...right now, I swear to god I'm going to-"

Crack.

"Oren...come on! This isn't funny! Just...just come out, alright? We'll walk home together..."

Scrrrrrrriiiiiiitch!!

Zenobia turned, emeralds widening just in time to see those red glowing eyes, a form hidden beneath a cloak moving quickly towards her, steel scraping and clanging as it moved. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her blades, yet she couldn't move her hand, as a stronger hand was gripped around her wrist, then around her other wrist...and her ankles...waist...throat...

She couldn't even scream.

Mommy was oh so very proud of her new little girl. Lucy had been recruiting people left right and centre into her dark army whether they liked it or not, struggled or came willingly - it all ended in the same outcome.

This one however was granted the powers of minion, and not just a general expendable thug like the Black Monks were.

This was one was different, somehow.

She was so very proud at the macabre display of love and lust that Lucy was VERY impressed of her new pet?s performance, and she?d grant her a most special place in her growing empire. Stepping from the corner of the room like she had been standing there the whole time, the armoured figure clad in the black monk robes moved uncaringly and slow on over to the dying or near dead man. His lipless mouth a work of art. There was a jingle of chain, and slowly her gauntleted hand had rise from the folds of her cloak, revealing it to be gripping the long metal hilt of Renna?s Morning star, the spiked ball thunking loudly to the ground.

?Your woman makes a fine addition,? Lucy?s voice was vague and distant, though the dark helm tilted away from the man and more to the mirror. The glass cracked as if by its own accord. ?And I won?t grant you the pleasure of becoming my servant, no, I think I?ll grant you the worst possible death?? A pause, though she went on as if interested in what she herself had to say, ?And you know, when and if you ever come back - though it will be unlikely when I am finished with you, I?ll send you to your lover. Make you see what a better being she had become? Without your disgusting, love??

Slowly she lifted the ball of spikes from the ground and to her hip, swinging the ball back and fore, ?I grant you this. To be sent to the void. To be a meal or a plaything to my Demons? Goodbye.?

The ball was swung over her head, his head crushed into nothing but shards of bone and pulp.