Open Chronicles Watching for Gods

[Arumi Shacen]

It was hot here. Hot and dry and sandy. It was strange to the foreigner that there was place with so much sand and yet no beach. Was this common in this land?

The midnight winged elf lounged against the exterior stone wall of the massive arena hosting the fighting pit, having found a spot of shade. Arms across his chest and gaze down-turned, he half-listened to the dull roar of the crowds on the other side of the wall. Arumi's expression appeared bored, but his nerves were on edge as he waited for the call. He had an opportunity to make a name for himself and prove he was still worthy. Worthy of what was yet to be determined.

Sweat rolled down his neck and his wings were splayed open against the stone wall, trying to cool himself. He decided this was not a place he would linger after the fights were over. He was sweltering.

((OOC: this takes place prior to the fights starting, since the party is taking a little while and Aru hasn't actually introduced himself to anyone ))

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Crowds, distraction, and the inexperienced - the perfect combination for some light pick-pocketing.

Skirting through the crowds, the green elf's fingers deftly grazed the bags, packs, and purses as the sun beat down on the linen shawl covering her head. It was too hot to be wearing anything other than lightly coloured, loose clothing, which made it all the easier to hide the things she snitched - as long as no one snitched her back.

Purple lips curled into a small smile as she passed another group of gamblers, placing bets on the names of the fighters - even betting on who would be paired with whom. They were out-of-towners, she could tell - overly excited, boisterous, and awkward, they weren't sure of their own footing, nevermind their gold. Faelyn brushed close to one as if making to avoid another moving in the opposite direction, and she was rewarded with the feeling of gold ridges along her fingertips. Pocketing the coin in one of the many folds of her clothing, she hummed happily to herself.

Faelyn looked over just in time to see a large cart moving her way - pulled by an even larger horse. Skirting into the sun, she walked by Arumi Shacen. Never one to miss an opportunity, she meandered to avoid those with the cart and reached for a pocket -

But there was nothing.

Oh well, you don't get one every time, she thought with a sigh. Maybe it's time I took a well-deserved break.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

The traffic outside of the arena was not nearly as thick as those in the halls and interior of the circular monstrosity, but many were matching Arumi's intent - trying to stick to the modestly cooler shadows. He had attempted to find a quieter place, but with no luck. Nothing was quiet here. Nothing would ever again he quiet the way he wanted.

His blue and violet gaze flickered toward the beast pulling the wagon, wondering why anyone would think it a sensible way to travel in this yielding footing. Slow, cumbersome, and taking up an obnoxious amount of space. His nose crinkled as the wagon came uncomfortably close.

Unfortunately for the mossy elf woman, she had come closer.

He snatched for Faelyn Daestra 's wrist as her hand withdrew from his bare pocket, staring daggers at her from the corner of his eye. He'd been a pickpocket for enough of his own years to recognize her advance. He had nothing of value, nothing worth stealing, but she would know that even if he had, he was not to be trifled with.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn planted one small foot on the stone ground, making to step away from the winged elf as if she was merely maneuvering the crowd, her gaze focused on the cart - only to stop abruptly as she felt fingers tighten around her wrist. Her breath left sharply at the intrusion to her person as her golden eyes widened marginally.

Her smile appeared even as she turned back towards the glowering face of the man she had tried to pickpocket; smooth, natural, and relaxed, a small, pleased smile coming easily to her purple lips even as she took in a smooth, calming breath.

"Now now," she admonished, her voice smooth as silk, her shoulders dropping smoothly, subtly, as her hips shifted to one side.

Her golden eyes crinkled warmly in the corners as the yellow orbs looked the winged elf up from the waist to his eyes. She raised her wrist up and tilted her head marginally to one side.

"That's no way for an Avariel to behave."

She wriggled her fingers and suggestively raised her green eyebrows below the lip of her hood.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Arumi's lip curled in disdain at the coy smile with which the strange woman addressed him when she turned back. Did she think she could seduce him? He squeezed his nails into Faelyn's wrist, intending to cause pain but no damage. No blood need to be spilled... yet.

"And you would know something about good behaviour?" he snipped, unplastering his wings from the stone wall and folding them loosely against his back instead. His chin lifted and his gaze flickered over the woman's billowing attire. He also noted that no part of the crowd seemed aware of this little interaction.

In a fluid motion, Arumi lifted his arm above head-height, taking Faelyn's hand to what would probably be an uncomfortable position, and pivoted his stance to put the pale woman between himself the wall. He planted his other hand on the stone behind, at her chest height.

"Split the coin, and we can both forget about this," he said in a low voice, looking down at her with honest threat.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn's eyes narrowed a fraction when Arumi dug his nails into her wrist. She was fully picked up on his intent to scare her, her smile icing over, her golden eyes going brittle.

"Certainly," she replied, "I know better than to go grabbing people I don't know."

Her eyes trailed down his clothes again before lighting open his mix-coloured irises.

"Not without a prior agreement, in any case," she replied, her gaze shifting and dancing mischievously. Her gaze shifted quickly again as the winged elf pulled her arm above her head - she winced slightly, her mind running through her options. Tone it down, girl. Don't get this one too riled up, she admonished herself. She was getting carried away. He certainly was a temperamental one --

Her eyes widened in surprise as she was pulled from her feet and whirled forward against her will. Well, her was faster than she would have guessed. She grunted as she hit the stone wall. She didn't bother trying to tug her wrist from his - she knew his type. They craved that sort of withered, pathetic response, fueling their dominance. She wouldn't give him the pleasure, instead relaxing as much as she could, considering, a soft smile grazing her lips.

....might be too late.

"Split the coin?" She glanced back towards the group of gamblers just in time to see them all roar in outrage and raise their arms in the air before they all started arguing with one of the taller of the group.

"But you didn't do any of the work, hun."

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him, her smile fading as she pursed her lips.

"I did."

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Arumi's nostrils flared, his shoulders becoming taught with aggravation. This woman was chatty and it grated on his nerves. She just wanders over, tries to thieve from his person, and then would reprimand him? Insolent wench.

He held her wrist firmly with no intention of letting her go until they came to an agreement. He had the advantage of height and would use it, and any other available options, as long as necessary. At least he got the satisfaction of the simper wilting from her plum lips.

Arumi's attention was drawn momentarily to the group of men not by their uproar, but by his captive's reaction to it. So, she was insolent and a fool - stealing from that sort of people and not making a swift getaway.

He pointedly turned his gaze to the gamblers, then back to the woman. He leaned in, his lips near her ear and the tip of his ivory horn against her cheek. "A good girl would return her gains to their rightful owners," he hushed, "a smart one would give up half and walk free with the rest."

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn ground her teeth when the elf rested his ram horn against her skin, the end of her hood shading parts of both their faces.

This child thinks he can touch me however he pleases? Without my say-so? she thought as her anger began bubbling to the surface. Does he think he can hold me?

"Well, well..." she purred leaning forward, into his horn and towards his ear, "I'm not either of those, sweetheart."

"Besides -"

She swing her free hand towards the demon's side, aiming for his kidneys, the palm of her hand up to hit with the hardest part of her hand.

"You can't - "

At the same time, she dropped, bracing her legs as her centre of gravity shifted -

"- split -"

- while pulling all her fingers together to slip her narrow hand from his, using the force of gravity to give weight to her body to pull herself free.

"- a -"

A second later she brought her knee up -

"- docatto!"

- to colide with the winged elf's more...sensitive regions.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Arumi shuddered in disgust at the woman's breath against his skin, her silken words. Too close.

As was often the case, his arrogance got the better of him.

He had no options. He was the idiot, leaving himself entirely exposed. There was no time to react as the heel of her hand slammed into his side and drove the breath out of him. Eyes wide, his back bowed as she slipped from his grip, but that wasn't the worst of it.

The winged elf didn't have enough air to even swear as her knee made excruciating contact between his legs, causing stars to dance and his gorge to rise. Only a weak whimper escaped as he slid down, tears burning his eyes.

This had not gone as planned.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn slowly rose back to her full 5' - 6" height, shaking out the hand Arumi had held in his grasp. She clenched and unclenched her fingers, rolled out her wrist. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Glaring at the winged elf, she let out a huff, her golden glare annoyed but marginally satisfied with what had transpired.

Placing a hand on her hip, she placed her booted foot against one of Arumi's hips and gave a little shove.

"Don't pick fights you can't win, little one," she said as she stepped slowly around him. She glanced up to see if anyone was watching - a few of the gamblers were looking in their direction, a puzzled expression on their faces. Faelyn grinned and winked suggestively at them. They glanced at each other and turned back to their business.

Once she was behind the winged elf she leaned over, placing her lips close to his ear, and murmurred quietly, "The name's Faelyn. Faelyn Daestra. And, hun, if you're thinking about competing in this mess..."

She smiled, straightening

"Maybe you should think about dropping out."

Straightening her hood, she took another deep breath, and stepped away from the groaning Avariel.

It was time for a drink.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

He made no effort to avoid the jade elf's boot - he was down, and she appeared satisfied with that. His face was paler than usual, freckles standing out starkly, as he glowered up at the woman.

Little one?! That blow was enough to let him swallow back the bile and find breath in his lungs. If she knew who I was...! Arumi snarled at her smile, unfortunately not yet able to get himself to his feet. Well, he knew who she was now. The knowledge of a name could be powerful. As for what Faelyn was...

He inhaled as deeply as he could, still on the ground, wings splayed across the stones and sand, and mustered his voice, pointing in accusation at Faelyn's back. "THIEF!" That got the attention of many members of the crowd. "CUT PURSE!" Arumi called, his voice notably higher than normal.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

"THEIF!" she cried as well, pointing towards one of the many unsuspecting teenage humans rushing by in a panic, obviously in a hurry and likely on errands for one master or another.

As if this child could pull a fast one on me.

A few of the guards - or were they simply hired hands? - turned towards where she was pointing, alerted by Arumi's cry. The innocent panicked, wide-eyed, and dashed further into the crowd. Faelyn looked at the guards with surprise, frustration, and shock on her face.

"My purse!" she cried is disbelief, holding up both hands, empty, towards those who had begun to look over the crowd at the commotion, "She took my purse!"

"My gold!" one of the gamblers exclaimed, standing sharply and looking from the group towards the disappearing back of the teenage human. "She took my gold!" The other gamblers all stood up at once now, checking their pockets. The one missing his gold dashed forward to catch the innocent teenager, pushing the crowd apart, the guards following - but the young girl was already gone.

The guards - the few there were - now sufficiently distracted, Faelyn turned back to the Avariel, the edges of her hood hiding her smirk, though her golden eyes burning with tempered annoyance.

"Tisk tisk," Faelyn said, taking a step back towards the Avariel, "No one likes a sore loser."

"What did you say your name was, little one?" she purred, an undercurrent of rage and the promise of retribution lacing every word.

"You can try your little trick again," she murmurred icily, "But all the guards are gone now." She looked pointedly at their disappearing backs before turning her attention back to the winged man. "So you have a few choices: try, in vain, to get me caught again; move on and prepare for your fight, because you obviously need any extra training you can get; or come have a pint with me at the bar."

"The choice is yours, little one."

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Arumi stared at Faelyn, mouth agape, disbelieving what he was witnessing. Not that he hadn't pulled the same stunt himself as a child, but seriously? And the entire crowd just turned the other way, as if on cue. His shoulders slumped. Clearly there would be no winning here for him.

The raven haired man gathered himself and stood gingerly, stance somewhat splayed. He flapped his wings, shaking out the sand, and ruffled his feathers. His mismatched eyes went anywhere but Faelyn's face as she spoke to him as if he were a fledgling.

Little one, little one... Arumi closed his eyes at her taunts, inhaled slowly, and opened them again with an exaggerated exhale. He had done this training. He had learned to manage his emotions many ages ago. But until this moment, he hadn't wanted to do anything more than start a fight. After all, there wasn't another soul in existence who mattered, or who's time was of any meaning.

Resettling his wings, he finally looked down at the pale creature, scowl lessened but expression still far from friendly. "I am Arumi Shacen." Banished ruler of Ki'Laren. Not that it would mean anything to you. "And I will attend the bar on your measly docatto, since I have no need of your other suggestions, and nothing better to do until the fighting begins." As if the arena battle would be anything like this encounter! He could have killed this aggravating woman in a moment if he had wanted, and she could have done nothing about it.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn arched one dark green eyebrow.

"Arumi Shacen, is it?" She asked rhetorically.

"...and you'll 'attend the bar' with me, will you?" She added in a mutter under her breath, rolling her eyes.

His ego's so big it would blot out the sun, she thought the mild disdain.

"Right then, shall we?" She asked, and without waiting for an answer moved back into the flow of the crowd, heading for the nearest bar. She didn't bother to see if the winged elf had followed her - she was mostly hoping he wouldn't, and she could have a drink by herself in peace, as she'd originally desired.

It only took a few minutes to find it - she decided to go to one of the nicer ones, with shade, and tables, and some privacy. She wandered up to the barkeep, smiled and winked at him, and had a foaming mug in each hand less than a minute later. Meandering to the back of the room, she sighed at the lack of free tables, and took to the back of the bar instead, placing the mugs down and grabbing a nearby stool. Making herself comfortable, she took a swig and gave the barkeep another wink as thanks.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Perhaps he wouldn't follow her. She was entirely childish, talked too much, and was an eyesore to boot. But it would be cooler inside (hopefully) and Arumi had no coin of his own, as Faelyn had discovered, and thereby would likely get kicked out of most places for loitering.

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he strolled after the woman, glaring at anyone who was in his path. Which was most of the crowd. There were all sorts of folks and creatures like nothing he'd seen before. Strange scaled humanoids and hulking dark beasts and children with animal-like tails. But nobody like himself. No winged and horned elves. He was out of place, in his entirety.

He pursed his lips as he entered the bar, not too far behind Faelyn. It was busy, but so was this entire event. Standing next to the empty stool beside Faelyn, he looked down at the frothy mug that his jade companion had left untouched. He pushed it closer to her. "I don't drink," he stated with a note of derision. "It ruins men." Instead he called to the barkeep, and once he had his attention requested food; specifically whatever was immediately ready and filling. The man nodded and shuffled away.

Finally sitting, he leaned against the counter top and looked sidelong at the pale haired elf. "You're old for a pickpocket. Nobody willing to make you something better?"

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn rolled her eyes as Arumi pushed the mug back towards her. She pulled back her hood, no longer needing it in the shade of the bar, and shook out her white hair.

"Oh yes," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "It's the drink that ruins you lot indeed."

She took another swig of her ale, leaving the other on the table -

- and just about spat it back out.

Choking, she pounded a fist against her chest.

Old?! The Avariel had a death wish - it was the only explanation for his insolent behaviour.

Ah, but that's the spirit. At least the horned elf wasn't as moody as he had been outside.

"'Make me something better'?" She demanded, turning her glare towards Arumi, "And what, exactly, is that the supposed to mean?"

She took another drink of her ale and assessed him again - looking at his horns, his curly hair, his dark wings, his mismatched eyes.

"Keep up that kind of talk and you'll get yourself in trouble, Arumi Shacen," she warned, taking another swig - her mug was almost half empty and they'd only just arrived.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

My lot? He scowled at Faelyn. She knew nothing of him, or his 'lot'. He got the feeling she knew very little of men in general. She winked and cocked her hip and flirted, but it was all pageantry. And really, what kind of man would be interested in someone so.... green?

His scowl was replaced by a satisfied smirk as the foul-smelling drink sprayed across the smooth wood of the bar top. Ah, she struggled to breathe, but it hadn't killed her. Too bad.

So she would play at not caring about physical insult, but touch her pride...? There was the reaction he'd been looking for. "Snitching purses is child's play," he replied, waving his hand in a dismissive motion, his lip still curled and partially revealing a gleaming canine.

The server reappeared from the back and set down a bowl of strange, pale, lumpy cold stew, something similar to flattened bread, and a mug of water. Picking up the wooden spoon also provided, Arumi poked at the contents of his meal. The word 'appetizing' didn't come to mind, but he was admittedly famished.

"It's just 'Arumi'," he corrected, still scrutinizing the bowl. Perhaps folks in this realm used full names regularly? He was regretting giving his family name to this irritating woman. He finally lifted the spoon to his mouth, and decided that while flavour was lacking, the food would suffice.

"And what I mean is a Master. A teacher. Someone to teach you how to actually grow your skills into something of value." He sipped at his own mug, his irregular eyes judgmental as he noticed the rate at which Faelyn's drink was going down.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

"Ack..." Faelyn muttered, lifting her arm off the bar - the beer that had spilled on the bar had gotten the ends of her sleeve wet. She screwed up her nose and pursed her lips in annoyance, shaking out the sleeve - which, of course, only sprayed drops of beer everywhere.

She looked pleadingly at the barkeep, who gave her a disapproving look but wiped up the spill off the bar with a towel nonetheless. She smiled and thanked him, and he gave her a slightly exasperated look before attending to a pair of humans who approached the bar down the line.

She stiffened at the word 'Master', a subtle movement that was gone almost a second later, replaced by her usual lackadaisical smoothness, raising the glass again. The end of her light-coloured sleeve was still damp.

"Honey," she said after she licked her lips, "Do you really think pick-pocketing is all I can do?"

She raised an eyebrow and gave him a look before taking yet another swig. She ignored his judgmental gaze - he was the one who was missing out. His look was most likely due to jealousy. Lowering her mug again she made a pointed look at his food, as if to say 'You prefer that to this?'

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Arumi leaned away from Faelyn in disgust as beer splattered him from her soiled clothing. He wiped a hand down his cheek, nose scrunched. Great. Now he would smell almost as bad as she did. "Ugh..."

The winged elf almost snatched the towel from the barkeep for his own use, but the man had walked away before the chance arose. Instead he ended up drying his hand on his trouser leg. He would need to find a place to bathe later anyway.

"Truly, I'm surprised you can even do that much." His brows were lifted, his expression clearly unimpressed. Just because she had got him down with an ill-placed kick didn't mean the woman would be capable of the same in a less even-matched situation. Tearing a chunk off the bread, he sopped up the stew and consumed it without much time for chewing or tasting.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

"Dear," she said as she finished her first mug, then reached over and grabbed the second, froth spilling over the sides.

"Mm, yes, you, my dear, are not a very observant Avariel," she commented as she swung the second mug back.

"Besides," she added as she rested the now half-empty mug back on the bar top, her voice starting to become a little slurred, "You really have no manners." She gestured to his....everything.

"Better hurry up, little one," she slurred only slightly, pointing to his food, "You're fight's about the start, I think." She nodded her head to the crowd around them - the bar had become increasingly busy, people bustling in and out, some stopping at tables, some at the bar. Some were leaving their tables in a hurry, tossing coins on the table or nodding to the barkeep and tossing it directly to him. Faelyn eyed the coins left on the table, then glanced back at the barkeep, noting his attention was elsewhere. She scanned the bar quickly, but decided there were still too many looking in her general direction to look inconspicuous about it, and so remaining where she was, a small, unhappy pout on her lips.

 

[Arumi Shacen]

Arumi rolled his eyes as Faelyn referred to him as 'dear'. As if they were close. Yes, he decided, this had been a very poor decision, following her here. The only good thing coming out of this ill-advised meeting was a meal, and that was mediocre at best. He spooned the stew into his mouth in a repetitive motion, too distracted by his growing disgust at the jade elf to notice the lack of flavour or be considered about the lumpy consistency.

Unable to ignore her any longer, Arumi gave Faelyn a dirty look from the corner of his eyes and stuffed the last bite of unrisen bread between his teeth. He pushed the bowl away, its contents mostly gone, and slid off the bar stool. His patience had been done long before the meal.

"Thank you for your generosity and pleasant companionship," he mocked, half-spreading his wings (while being careful not to knock anything or anyone over) and bowing from the waist, one hand at his navel and the other in a fist at the small of his back. Resuming an upright position, he looked Faelyn up and down with open contempt for a last time before turning on his heel and heading for the door, following the crowds out.

"Enjoy your drunken stupor, old woman," he called back before stepping out into the sweltering heat and sunshine, making his way to the arena and what he hoped to be a satisfying day of battle.

 

[Faelyn Daestra]

Faelyn sighed at Arumi's mocking tone. This one was becoming old hat.

"It really was my pleasure," she replied, her tone matching his. Faelyn's smile widened, her eyes darkening dangerously at Arumi's open contempt of her.

"Enjoy your bloody battle," she retorted musically before he vanished through the door of the bar. She sighed and shook her head again. That winged elf was full of a lot of anger - she doubted he would survive the Arena. She wondered, for a moment, who had hurt him so to behave the way he did, every other word a barb meant to slice to the bone. Faelyn had learned a long time ago to let such comments slide , that they had very little to do with her.

"Besides," she muttered under her breath as she finished off the second ale, "I'm not old."

Resting the mug on the table, she caught the eye of the barkeep and winked. He grinned, shaking his head as he turned to pour more ale for two elves at the counter.

"Ah, perhaps this little trip wasn't such a waste after all..." she mused with a smirk.