Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Oh, hello," Alec says, eying the handful of fire with one eyebrow raised, and one hand dipping and pulling a few gold pieces from his purse, rolling them together in the palm of his hand, melding them slowly into one large lump. Pulling the hand, holding the lump of meal thrumming with energy, from the bag, he crosses his arms in front of his chest. "Look. I'm sorry if I offended. But we don't want to do this in the street, or it will get very messy very quickly."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely brought her hand up and the books tumbled to the ground. Her vivid green eyes were reflecting the dancing flames. Those same eyes were pinned to Alec's face, not that she had missed the gold or how it molded to his will. But, this last assumption overrode whatever apology he had made.
"You are wrong. You might not want to do this in the street. But do not, and I repeat, do not speak for me. You have no idea what I might want. But, I'll give you a hint. I wanted some help on identifying these volumes. I wanted a clue. I wanted to find anything, no matter how small or trivial, that might point me in a new direction. And in that respect, I suppose I should thank you."
She did not sound thankful. The flames centered around Ely's fingers were growing larger. The few people that had been standing around the food vendor were watching the encounter with wide eyes. The vendor himself had taken their loss of attention as an excuse to vanish quickly. He was not a brave man and be dammed if he was going to be caught in the middle of some mage battle. The crowd grew louder as did the volume of Ely's speech.
"But. When said direction comes from a clumsy, ill-mannered lout who has obviously seen better days and cannot bother to look where he is going? Then assumes I am an uneducated idiot? Excuse me if I am having a bit of trouble believing the apology he offers is sincere."
She had gotten all the words out. Ely's gaze shifted from Alec to the fireball spinning around her hand. Good girl. Douse the flames. No. Set his clothes on fire. You don't want to hurt him, Ely. Do you? Teach him a lesson. Just because of some words? Boil all the water out of his eyes. The competing voices in her mind were driving her mad.
The world is filled with all manner of men. And men, as strange as any other creature, often came with their own set of rules, or a code, or some lost tenets or other nonsense that often gave them some sense of purpose... of duty.
Some men worked for money and really, why would you not? Money does make the world spin like a frisbee or something like that and well, the grim reality is that very little can be done to better one's situation without money.
Some men, well they are bound by pride. Pride in themselves or whatever nonsense they believe in, all men should have pride in some regards and pride is a precious thing. It is in fact, quite hard to be considered a man in any more than one's appearance without some degree of pride.
Some men, they believe in something greater than themselves. Righteous or even sometimes vindictive men, their sense of self is often secondary to what they consider their truth or their duty because such men gladly serve a higher purpose. Some might say that such men are rare whilst others might say that all men do this, but the greatness of what they serve may differ.
And then, amongst many other such motivations and machinations; are men who are quite simple at times. Men that serve instinct, whatever that might be, or men that give to some passing fancy, a fleeting desire. That is something all men do and really and it isn't a very manly thing at all. But this type of man requires mention at this particular moment as it's of great significance.
I say this because some men - well their desire burns stronger than others. Some men have a degree of devotion unparalleled by other men and when that happens, these type of men become the very definition of what is to be... a man. They think of another before themselves, they consider that their duty and their honor and without question, without qualm and sometimes without a great deal of thought, this type of man might act with such unrivaled zeal and passion that they quite easily put other, lesser driven men to shame.
But. Let it be said now.
Amongst all men, there is one thing quite clearly understood. A man-law as it is known
You don't, and I do mean NEVER, mess with a Ninja's girlfriend. ESPECIALLY when she's a cat girl. You don't even have to be LITERATE to understand that.
Secondary to that fact, might be understanding the value of knowing when you're outgunned.
The wind on the street suddenly picked up, as you may well be expecting; and with a quickly building howl, it blew hard over the cobblestones and dirt and sand and brik-a-brak, suddenly tossing them about like tumbleweeds or tumblebabies (they don't have much in the way of grip or wind resistance). People were clutching at their collars and their hats and looking to what was an entirely clear sky as they cleared the lane.
It settled when Kiga rose from the crowd and casually paced his way to stand beside Ely. He had a single feather, floating up and down and lazily rotating above his palm, an exercise in control that was actually not as simple as it looked. He looked at Alec without expression, without interest and without malice. Those who knew Kiga well enough, knew that was when he might be most dangerous.
He then looked to Ely with a tough guy expression.
"This guy giving you trouble?"
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I assume nothing," Alec says, barely sparing Kiga a glance as he saunters over, the absolute image of Billy Badass. "I was asking you those questions because I do not know you. I do not know what you are capable of, and I do not know what you know."
He sighs and wipes at his face, giving them both a critical look. "I apologized for bumping into you, and I meant it. And I apologized when you imagined a sleight against your intelligence, because I did not want to cause trouble. But I shall not apologize for your starting a scene when I am merely attempting to help a fellow scholar with an issue that, I certainly bloody hope, has gotten under her skin, and irritated her to no end." He sighs, heavily, shoulders slumping, and shoots a look over to the crowd. "Because if you truly are as lacking in self-control as you seem right this second, I am ashamed to call myself a colleague of yours. Now please, I am begging you, let us move this to a place where we will not hurt anyone uninvolved."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Set his hair on fire. Now. While he is distracted.
Alec was talking but Ely was not listening to any voice outside her head.
What are you waiting for? There is a weapon in his hand!
She was still arguing with herself but that battle was cut short. Ely braced her feet against the wind unconsciously, hair spilling out in wild tendrils all around her. Kiga had come from out of the crowd. Crowd? That confused her for a second or two, too. Where had all the people come from? How long had she been standing here?
Ely's eyes were no longer green. Her irises had been enveloped by the dancing flames. Flames that had grown to three times the size they were before the dervish whirling down the street had fed them air. Flames whose whispers had gone silent.
"K-Kiga? No... I mean... he... ran into me. Then... started throwing questions... left... and..."
The confusion in Ely's voice ran out. The flames leaped back into life in her eyes and her gaze spun to Alec. When she spoke again her voice was harsher, deeper, and to someone who knew her; did not sound like her at all.
"I did not ask you for an apology. I questioned the sincerity. And as for control? Do not think for one instance I am lacking in it. If I was? You would already need a priest."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga didn't like that Ely was upset but Alec was little more harm than a blithering bore at times. Intelligent, studious... and incredibly thick it seemed. Still, he had no direct quarrel with him and truly, this situation would indeed get terribly dangerous all too quickly.
How to diffuse the situation...
He turned, his shoulder blocking out Alec. He looked at Ely with those eyes, filled with charm and the wind, the sun and the joy of laughter. He took her hands and lifted them, looked down upon them and smiled, then tilted his head, eyes back on her own. He spoke softly.
"Ely? Would you like to go for a walk with me?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely shook her head. Kiga reached out his hands to grasp hers and the flames were abruptly snuffed. She blinked, her brow furrowed for several seconds, and then reached down to pick up the spilled books.
"Walk with you?"
There still seemed to be some confusion on her features. As if she was not sure what has gone on just seconds ago. She stood there with one hand still cupped in Kiga's and with her other one wrapped around her books.
"Yes... of course I will take a walk with you. Just let me... "
Her voice tailed off and she glanced around.
"That fellow earlier..."
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga just smiled in his carefree manner and walked along with her, taking larger steps than needed, bobbing up and down as he walked for a moment and whistling, watching her.
"Hm. I hope someone has told you how lovely you look today Ely."
Kiga and Ely will be moving this story forward due to Alec's absence. Alec take 2 acclaim points and 10 gold for your participation. Thanks! We'll see you another time.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely's brows, which had been furrowed up above her nose, smoothed out. She stopped looking for Alec and if she had been angry or upset seconds ago, and believe me she been, that was true no longer. Though, her fingers were still clutching her book very tightly.
"Hm?"
Her eyes found Kiga's bobbing body and she watched him dance along the street.
Kiga nodded enthusiastically, leading her away from the conflict with Alec and toward... well wherever they ended up. He gave her a charming smile and looked her up and down in an approving manner.
"Yes. If no one has told you, then I shall. You do look lovely."
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Ely smiled at him. She did not feel lovely. She felt out of sorts. The booksellers had been useless and then that other fellow had gotten her riled up. And a little whispering voice in her head was still trying to convince her to go back and prevent him from insulting anyone. Ever.
But, it was just a whisper. Kiga's eyes and expression when he spoke had her attention instead. The tips of Ely's ears went red and her tail swished around behind her thighs before curling against her leg.
"Thank you. Umm, where are we going on this walk?"
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga shrugged and tilted his head, looking to the sky with that smile. He was carefree, bouncing as he walked and entirely, completely happy at that moment. He had no idea.
"Hm. Well, you and I... I'm not sure it matters."
He meant it as a compliment, stealing her away from Alec and the prospect of them just being together had him perfectly relaxed... but he wasn't entirely sure it came across that way.
"Oh... I mean wherever. Where should we go? What where you up to before I showed up?"
Ely [M:164:1653:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=394&page=1#14814][b]A soul on fire...[/b][0:Snuffed][1:Flame On!]
Secrets were not Ely's forte. She was brash, impulsive and the years had not changed that behavior. She took responsibility for her actions, of course, she paid for what was destroyed due to her quick temper and fire magick. But, that did not always stop the explosions. She had really stayed away from Wistvale; too, once purchasing her home. Well, except for nightly trips to the Hot Springs and occasional supplies.
But, when Kiga asked her what she had been doing her first response was to lie. Not only that, but the little whisper was back in her head, angry and demanding. Ely's fingers were white knuckled and pressing heavily into the books. A single glance down told her why her hands were throbbing. It shocked her.
She jerked her hands away from the books. The volumes tumbled to the ground. Ely rubbed at her palms, fingers, and the knotted up wrists.
"Kiga... I. I was trying to find out information on these books."
The last words were rushed out of her mouth rapidly as if she were afraid they wouldn't get out and she was breathing heavily besides.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Kiga looked a little startled, alarmed perhaps when the books fell. She wasn't acting like her usual self and he wasn't ignorant of the dangers that some magics possessed. In fact, he'd practically had to learn to read all over to further his skill with Dark Magic - it was considered an elite skill and one he was never seen fit to learn as a child.
He looked at the books and then hurriedly, crouched to pick them up as any boyfriend should. Was he her boyfriend? It didn't matter. He looked up instead of staring at her feet as he scooped them up, with what was likely a silly suggestion.
"Does your library have any other books that might help with these ones?"