Topic: Eclipsed

Saieniel

Date: 2014-01-08 17:36 EST
?You're failing me, Saieniel.? Hissed the familiar feminine voice, breathy and melodic like a whisper of wind chimes beside the elfess's ear. Saieniel tipped her head to one side as though the motion may quiet the words, to no avail. Gathering the sheet of silver-white that cascaded loosely down her back, she pulled it together tightly until her fingers could deftly twist the strands into a secure plait, held at the end with a clear elastic. Fanning out the braid's tail, she serenely patted it flat to her shoulder.

?You oversimplify.? Haughty tones came drolly from pale lips that twisted into a decided pout. The glow of the fire before her darkened Sai's features and left a scarlet tint that flickered upon powder blue flesh. She leaned against her backrest, a sleeping dragonne who was none too keen on having the pouting elf use him as a pillow. Akkan chuffed and shifted, nearly sending her flat on her back, eliciting an unladylike grunt as she pushed herself back up. Rose hues went skyward, taking in the hints of moonlight that filtered through clouds heavy with snow and slush. Her gaze lingered longingly, craving the lucidity gifted to her by the night sky.

?It is my nature. Is it so difficult to accomplish? Your predecessors had no issue doing so.? The sibilant purr, normally so seductive and alluring had Sai's expression contorting into a grimace, out of place on typically composed lineaments. It wasn't something she could block out if she tried, no matter how much she curled herself inwards. Outside of the immediate warmth provided by the fire, a ring of snow fell around the camp, her enchantments holding up just barely to ward off the cold of winter. She may have to consider retreating to the warmth of one of the various Inns in the city proper before long, maybe tonight even. Perhaps she could find one near the dueling venues or maybe amongst the vagrants and vagabonds of the city's less fortunate districts, those who would not be missed should an ill fate befall them.

?I keep you sated, is that not enough?? She hissed the words, fingers curling against her palms, nails biting into the faint scars that crossed her flesh. Dragging the scabbard that housed the Moonblade, Seregruth, she hesitated to withdraw it. Her hands were tingling, the compulsion to give in to the weapon growing by the moment. The blade was not sated, no matter how much the moon elf thought it should be. No amount of bloodshed would satisfy its lust. The prodigy of the House Dueth could deny the fact all she wanted but as the razor sharp edge glided effortlessly along her palm, biting into her flesh like butter, the proof lay in the incessant pull to feed the longsword's hunger. A hard shudder rolled through her willowy frame, her spine rounding as she bent over the blade's steel. Elven blood almost seemed to be lapped up, soaking into the Moonblade as quickly as she could spill it. The faint whimper that escaped from between gritted teeth was enough to rouse Akkan from his rest, his warm breath meeting the back of her exposed neck as she hunched over, feeling like every nerve ending in her body was on fire.

?Laelar dammia, give in. Trust in me.? Sai was urged on by the beguiling beseeching, her grip tightening around the blade, the pale expanse of her wrist lit a sickly shade of peridot green by the luminescent Moongem inset in the weapon's handle, sanguine trails rolling over her skin. The strange lighting of her surroundings tinted her blood black, prompting a curious tilt of her head. Slowly she released her hold, drawing her shaking hand down the flat of the Moonblade, spreading the smeared blood tribute along its length. No sooner had it been offered was it greedily soaked up, steel imbued by the elfess's atonement. The itch had been scratched and the contented purring that filled her mind was akin to the warmth afforded by daybreak's first rays of sunlight. Saieniel released a long held breath of relief as Akkan gently headbutted her shoulder, the great creature clearly troubled by his companion's ire. She managed to dull her trembling to the gentlest of tremors, mustering an unsteady smile for her sidekick.

?No rest shall come this evening, my friend. Prepare to move. Make haste.? Sai leaned over, bumping her forehead to his, her fingers slipping through his wiry mane. With a scritch behind his ears, she pushed herself to her feet, sure the world would topple before her eyes. Or maybe the waif-like elf would be the one to topple, pitching dangerously to one side only to catch herself with a stab of her blade into the ground for balance. Steadied, she plucked the longsword up and shoved it into its sheath. Her lips twitched and quivered as an impish grin weaseled its way over her mouth. She knew she couldn't keep up with this incessant fight on her own, trying to placate the insatiable with simple sport. So the city would become the unrepentant rogue's playground and while the rivers wouldn't run red by her blade alone, Sai knew with her guidance, Seregruth would drink its fill.

Saieniel

Date: 2014-01-14 15:23 EST
The roof was slick with ice and slush and Saieniel was damning herself for wearing those boots. Those stupid, stupid boots with their odd grip and uneven distribution of her weight. Her footing slipped again and she slid on her knees down the sharp angle of the roof. She grasped at anything she could, fingers raking over frozen shingles, her nails snapping backwards painfully as she desperately clawed for some sort of a grip. Catching a break, she saved herself from sliding off the edge, her chest heaving with each relieved but labored breath she took. Heavy footfalls sounded in the street below her, hushed and hurried comments wafting through the crisp night air.

?Find her. And when you do, I want her hands broken for her insolence. Actually, no. Slit her throat, I don't want to see her face again.? A stout man down below hissed at his hulking comrades. Sai found herself holding her breath, fading back against the roof and letting moonlight filter through her like stained glass. Careful not to cast a shadow down upon them, she slunk her way along the roof's edge, searching for a better vantage point or a more optimal escape route. Running on rooftops could only get her so far, the risk outweighing the reward when each precarious step ran the risk of sending her sliding to the sludge filled streets below and right into the hands of the furious shopkeeper. Perhaps she had selected the wrong target for the evening, a simple supply run quickly becoming a dangerous debacle for all involved. She danced her way across the rooftop, carefully choosing where to put her boot-clad feet. That is, until she picked wrong and went sliding. Sliding, sliding, sliding, right off the edge.

Those stupid boots.

As if she didn't loathe them before, she certainly did now. And now Sai was on her back right in the midst of her hangers-on, staring up at their silhouettes looming above her. Time came to a stand still and she almost wished she could make out their expressions because she had some odd thought in her head that it would have been incredibly amusing. There were a few seconds of dumbfounded silence on all of their parts and then a burst of movement all around. She sprang to her feet, whipping Seregruth free from its sheath. The blade's blood lust echoed violently in her mind, the din of chaos around her drowned out by the single minded thought of eliminating her foes with as much bloodshed as possible.

?Grab her, you idiots.? The merchant's voice rose above the scuffle. One of his lackeys was too busy choking on blood to do much more than flounder like a fish out of water, gasps and spurts of air and sticky red liquid coursing from the gaping wound in his neck. The portly boss was sprayed by the man's fluids, bespectacled eyes widening behind the spattered lens as the nimble elfess worked to dispatch her attackers. The lines of her form moved slowly, lit dimly by moonlight and street lamps, in a hypnotic sort of dance. He found himself unable to pull his eyes from her, the fluid movements twisting and turning her in graceful and steady movements as she deftly deflected each and every incoming blow from the two remaining men. The bumbling duo tripped and stumbled into one another, led this way and that by her motions, only to find themselves on the receiving ends of the razor sharp edge of the glimmering moonblade. The stone inset in the handle slow illuminated the vicinity with its emerald glow, lighting the elfess's features at last. A cruel smile was imprinted upon delicate features, stretching into a crazed grin as she drove the longsword into the last man standing, a haunting tune echoing from her lips. Her arm jolted as the hilt hit his stomach and the green lit moon elf paused to savor the sight of the light leaving his eyes. Sai's head tipped to one side as she watched him take his last breaths before gossamer fingertips came up to rest against his chest only for her to shove him with the heel of her hand. Freeing her blade, she had turned away before his lifeless body even hit the ground.

?I should thank you.? Saieniel wore a broad smile as she faced the remaining man, the shopkeeper who had been reduced to a sniveling, stuttering mess, if the dark trail down his pant leg was any indicator. The blood hungry blade, content with tonight's violence, hummed gleefully as she sheathed it once more, lovingly returning the longsword to its home upon her hip. Striding across the distance between herself and the man, the grin seemed permanently etched upon her expression even if she was still quietly cursing the noisy footwear that had caused all of this to begin with.

?Th-thank me? What for?!? He cried, his voice rising in pitch as he desperately glanced side to side while trying not to take his eyes off of the approaching elf. She knew that look well. Desperation.

?Allowing me to kill two birds with one stone.? Sai's shoulders tensed upwards then released shortly after. Shrugging. A vague motion picked up from the humans she seemed so fond of. At best it provided a short distraction, if that. It worked for just a moment, his gaze flickering over her form as she came to a stop in front of him. He had to look up at her, his chin trembling as he did so. It provided just the right angle for her to jam the long thin dagger through the underside and up into his mouth. She met some resistance as his body tensed and he tried to open his mouth. Holding the dagger's handle tightly, she closed free hand and hit her balled fist against the end to urge further until the length of the blade disappeared into the man's head.

?Mmnnnff nngh.? The last gurgles of words caught in his throat, the confusion in his eyes making way for mindless bliss. Peace. Death is a tender moment when shared between two people, a strange intimacy you can never experience at any other point in your life. Sai found herself drawn to it, a moth to flame over and over no matter how many times she got burned. This one she gently eased to the ground, taking her time to pull the dagger free from its resting place nestled under his chin. Turning out the merchant's pockets, she took anything of interest and left the rest strewn about haphazardly. Free to go about her evening, she dipped into the first alley she found, stepping over a sleeping woman who'd not roused despite the commotion in the street. Sai bent over to eye the woman, assaulted by the overpowering stench of liquor. She wasn't one to leave witnesses behind but the homeless woman hadn't so much as twitched as the elf towered over her. Rather than slit her throat and walk away, Sai slipped her feet out of the fur lined boots?sturdy, practical things, perfect for winter in Rhy'Din according to the advertisement?and in a turn of fortune for the bedraggled bum, set them down beside the passed out woman before continuing on her way.

Sai hated those stupid boots anyways.