Sigil: T.C.o.D - [Walk-In][Modern Fantasy: Cycle 32][O/A]

[Lian Feaorne]

Lady Gilaen

arrow Upperclass Apartments

Terrawilya had finished her ale and collected her axe when she saw Lovi run out to Tres. She wanted to say so much to the woman...but even when she had been in Fal'lain with Yai for a brief time, she had been strangely too shy. Even when she wielded the axe in her hand and she knew Lovi did the same. Even if Lian and Lovi didn't see eye to eye, Terra's hard headed mother still told wonderful stories about the people in Sigil she had met and one was the stony and sturdy Lovi of the old Dark Swan. She stood not far off from where Lovi and Tres had one of their dramatic interactions...and when Lovi turned away, she wanted to tell her just how much she admired her.

How she could be alluring and still even stop a man like Tres in his tracks without moving an inch. To go toe to toe with KB and be a leader to other women around Sigil who survived the streets.

And the woman who kicked Lian's a** too and left the infamous small bald spot.

Terra inhaled deeply, opened her mouth and called her. "L-Lovi! Hold up a sec!"She called out.

[Mavra Maadi]

Mr Shinjiko

Tindome

Tres Ecstuffuan

[Location: Market Ward - Streets]
[Currently: Dealing with the People.]

Lo' how the people turned on the undead cleric so quickly. Mavra glanced at the quickly formed angry mob. They surrounded the vampire, but yet made no move to strike down Mavra. The vampire was standing her ground on this, she refused to back down, even if it got her in real hot water.

"People of Sigil... Do you see yourselves? Turning on one who has come to offer you salvation, and uplift you from your pain filled lives." Mavra's tone turned soothing, trying to calm the crowd before she found herself in a more dangerous position. The vampire snapped her gaze onto Nadine and Tous as they attempted skirted around the mob that had her trapped much like a rat in a cage. "You even drive your own brothers and sisters away, do you see what your anger doe... It cleaves away, weakening the already weakened state you are in... In order to survive, you... No we must unify!" She added, a clear conviction in her voice as she lifted a hand to point at the pair clearly trying to avoid the mob, and the situation at large. Mavra hoped her impassioned speech was enough to soothe the savage beast of anger inside the mob, and also pave the way for the Church to begin recruiting soon enough, but that was the least for worries, for now, all Mavra needed to do was take it slowly and proceed with caution.

Character Specs

Hunger: Sated
Vitae: 45/45
Spell(s) Used:

Clarion Call: Still In Effect

Effect:This enchantment amplifies one's speaking voice, allowing it to carry of greater distances with much more clarity and ease as if one was using a megaphone.

Power(s) Used: N/A

[Brown satchel (Inventory)]: Vials of blood [x3]
Silver pieces [100x]
Unpolished onyx stones [x3]
Steel dagger [x1]

[ImNoHero]

To assume the man was bold enough to rob the merchandise here and now was absurd. Though if possible he would chance it. For now however, his plan was to simply search for the item in question, and to scope the place out prior to returning later, roughly around closing time if they had one. One couldn't be sure considering Sigil lacked a true day and night, the sky always a dawn/dusk looking phenomenon. That's why he occupied the city, it kept him from having to suffer the full moon when he felt he needed time to lay low. Looking to the portly man with a smirk and a nod, he would simply go to looking at things leisurely as looked for the key, and anything else he might like to take. Unless the portly store keep stopped him, he would make his way to the back eventually, in which he would see the sign and proceed upstairs.

The Female of the Species

[The Great Absolute]

The Light Thief

Location: The Market
Character: Norman Hollow
Story: The Return to Oblivion

In the shadows he stood in silence.

With a careful hand he peeled back the skin. The blade danced over the smooth surface with ease, carving away thin red slivers. A sweet scent filled the air as the sticky juices covered his hand. His empty eyes stared out through the busy market in search of prey. With a verdant glare he caught eyes with a young woman. Taking a bite of the apple, he cleaned his knife over his pant leg before removing it from sight. As he made his way across the bustling street, his predatory instinct took over. Her features reminded him of unparalleled beauty---as he had seen them all. Perhaps it was her ocean deep eyes, blue and vast. The color of her hair reminded him of his home, the golden amber waves that stole the very light from the sun. As he approached her, she turned and smiled to his adoring face. Her insecure kind voice coyly spoke.

”Excuse me sir? Would you be interested in-“

He abruptly harked out to her inquiry.

”Absolutely-“

The woman, taken back by his abrupt response, fumbled the basket she held in her trembling hands, spilling the contents onto the cobble. Norman smiled a sinister little smile. He locked his emerald gaze to her adoring eyes in an attempt to charm her. As the apples spilled, she broke from his spell as they rolled down into the sewer drain. Norman simply stared down at her, arrogantly placing his foot atop the lone surviving apple. With a calm tongue he gently whispered out.

”I’ll buy the whole basket.”

The startled girl smiled widely as he bent down and picked up the final apple. It was scuffed slightly from the pressure of his boot. Upon closer inspection it wasn’t close to the pick of the batch, but it would suffice just fine for Norman. Brushing it over the lapel of his jacket he tossed it up and caught it. His eyes didn’t move from her, but her eyes followed the apple. With hunger he inhaled deeply, the scent of her flowery self, filled his nostrils with passion. The monster inside of him lingered on the precipice of his morality. The desire to flay the girl where she stood ate him alive, yet he didn’t act upon his impulses with haste. He would aim to lure her.

”How much do I owe you my beautiful?”

He whispered out in a soothing calm voice. Beguiled, her sparkling eyes stared into his like caught in a gorgon’s gaze. Petrified with his charm, it took her a moment to break herself once again. Her eyes only breaking with his when he tilted the brim of his hat down. The shadows hid the features of his obsessing face, with that he reached into the pocket of his coat. His fingers fumbled around his wallet and knife awaiting her response.

”Well… I think I had about twenty apples left so… Five silver?”

Norman returned his shadowed face to the light. He tossed the apple up once again, catching it in his hand. His eyes watched once again as she followed the apple before returning her bashful eyes to him. It wouldn’t be long before her exasperated cries would soon fill his mind. Norman was depraved beyond all measures of sanity. While on Earth he was responsible for countless murders of various women and children, always targeting the most beautiful and brightest of them. His sadism for punishing life was beyond any sensible comprehension. This was where Ertai found him, in the bowls of mental instability. His depraved mind was dark enough that it called out to Ertai indirectly from worlds away. It was with that Ertai abducted him, throwing him into world after world, using his charm and rhetorical skills as a spy for the mind of the population.

”It seems I have forgotten my wallet? Would you care to escort me to my room? Just through the alley to that building.”

He confidently said to her, gripping her by the hand gently. She resisted just a moment before her feet followed her swooning heart. Norman smiled as they made their way through the crowd of people. It was a benefit that Norman now lived in Sigil- The inability of enforcement of law was prevalent, letting anyone get away with whatever they wished. No one would cry foul if someone vanished; after all it was the gateway to endless worlds. Norman paused in stride as they reached the old wooden door. Turning her pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. Once again the girl dropped the basket and resisted his advancements. Pulling back her lips quivered with passion, her soft voice trailing out.

”Sir… Just five silver… I- I- I… I just don’t know you like that… I-“

She was soon silence as Norman violently shoved the apple into her open mouth, stretching back the contours of her mouth to the point of ripping slightly. It was a furious struggle she put up as panic rolled over her eyes. Norman moved in and placed his hand on the apple, shoving it deeper into her mouth, splitting the sides more. She screamed out through the apple gag, yet no one stopped to save her and no one could hear her. Norman swept her around and slammed her violently against the wall and pressed close to her as if two lovers were making out.

Hey eyes widened as he slipped the blade into her lower spine. She screamed out and the apple caved in and was crushed in her mouth. With another violent swipe from his fist he shoved the apple violently down her throat with a firm punch. Her eyes watered and she gasped, choking on the deliciously sweet fruit. His blade stabbed into her again, one after another, in violent quick jabs. Norman inhaled deeply around her neck, smelling the scent of the wild rose in her hair. The girl was powerless within his consuming grasp, the darkness of depravity returned as he kissed her neck.

”You’re so beautiful… I cannot stand it…”

He whispered into her ear as he watched the palpitations of her chest become violent before stopping rigidly. Her dying hands that gripped his coat soon fell limp, before falling to her sides. Norman held her in place, his blade twisting around pointlessly in her spine. He loved the feeling of blood on his hands, feeling life slowly become cold. The bulge in her throat from the apple disturbed him, making her look ugly in death. With another violent strike he smashed the apple in her throat down so it looked normal to him, returning her angelic beauty. For a moment he stared into her dead eyes. He searched for himself in the reflection but only seen his dark lord. He knew what happened to her, the true afterlife she would receive. Norman felt sadness for a moment as he brushed the tears away from her pale cheeks.

”Don’t worry my beautiful, someone will find you…”

He muttered under his breath as he yanked the knife from her back. Stepping back he let her body fall to the ground. Her head cracking violently against the stone street, itself oozing out the darkened blood that was still inside of her. He stole the light in her eyes to feed the darkness inside.

He took a bite of that last apple and tossed it aside, staring down at her as he walked back into the market street.

[Tindome]

The Market Ward – Pitchforks & Torches 'R' Us

oh s**t did i make eye contact ******** s**t no don't get 'em lookin' over here why even what

Inching sideways to try and hide behind her larger companion, she moved her hands in what she was pretty sure was sign language for 'I don't know what the hell you're talking about'. Admittedly, she was mostly guessing what it meant based on context. It may also have meant 'please shut up and suck my d**k', based on the person she was copying the signs from.

Pretending to be deaf was probably not the smartest or most tactful response, but telling some kind of insane street preacher to keep their lynch mob to themselves was probably irresponsible. Intervening on the woman's behalf probably wouldn't be much better. While Tous might be the sort who could fend off angry hordes, that seemed like the kind of thing that would get Nadine caught in a crossfire. Or twelve.

Nadine didn't particularly enjoy getting caught in any kind of fire. Thus, her current strategy: pretend she couldn't tell what was going on and try to run away.

Admittedly, now Tous was aware that she was the sort of person who would feign deafness in an emergency. That was less than ideal. She continued inching in an away-ward direction, sticking close to Tous all the while. Hopefully he wouldn't hold it against her.

Mr Shinjiko

Mavra Maadi

[Knight Breaker]

Orochi Sey

"Someone beat us to the punch?!"

YummyBiscuits

"Mr. Baker. I'll ask you to leave, once, and post-haste at that."

turnipsama

"I doubt I care who either of you are... I doubt the world will miss you. You're transient visitors. Destined to return to the darkness from whence you came..."

In a single movement, Jinbei would pluck a smoke bomb from a pouch on his vest and dart toward the steps as fast as he could muster without the use of a Jutsu. Mid stride the tiny black sphere would be tossed to land carelessly in front of the other gentleman with the sword. Impact with the ground would create a massive expulsion of black smoke that plumed upward and outward in order to obscure vision. Whereas the shinobi himself would take up a full on battle charge that would converge with KB. If allowed to, the shinobi would bring up his sword mid-movement to be drawn between himself and the vampire in a horizontal slash toward the abdomen when the gap was breached. The depth of the blow [if landed as intended] was aimed to fully cleave his target's upper torso from his body in a single violently powerful strike.

This was the Hive Ward though. The odds of Jinbei skating away with either of these notches in his belt was very low. All the same, for whatever reason the nin was seeing red. Though it may have only been an insult, he was acting like a hound. A rabid one at that.

<!>

There was too much activity all of a sudden for the recently awakened vampire lord to keep track of. Ursan who had seconds ago been a mere image was suddenly upon them, and the assassin charging with every intention of dispatching them like he had dozens of zombies prior. Sensing the shift in power and circumstance KB took a step back, still guarding the petite priestess.

"Go." He said to her, keeping his eyes forward. Jinbei rushed him and made for a heavy horizontal slash. KB blocked the attack by twisting his torso and drawing his free arm in front of him. His black cape solidified in an instant as it whooshed out toward the assassin, transformed into a large steely wing. The appendage smashed into the blade with a shower of sparks and threatened to slam the swordsman to the side. Only after bracing his wing against the sword or knocking the assassin down would the snarling vampire command his partner with the utmost seriousness. "Run!"

A plume of smoke obscured Ursan from his sight, causing him to curse within the confines of his dead mind. To the vampire's eyes the living glowed with internal light revealing their location. That power did not extend to the undead, so the lich was effectively well hidden.

[Mr Shinjiko]

Mavra Maadi

Tindome

Location: Market Ward - The shots heard around Sigil... or maybe not

Large arm wrapped around Nadine's shoulders, his body turning to face her. Left hand moved up, index finger curled to lift her head up to face him directly. Right hand moved to his own face, index finger straight to tell her to shush. He'd lead her to the side of the street, his back to the crowd. He made the motion for her to stay there, which hopefully she didn't have a problem doing. Hands took hers, moving them up to her ears, pressing them in so she couldn't hear anything.

He didn't turn around, instead he moved her again, this time into a place she had already stated she didn't want to go. There was a reason, the next few seconds would be filled with a lot of confusion. Tous had Nadine walk about three feet in front of him, and behind her he stuck his right hand into his coat. Removing the hand, it was holding one of the two black .45s that had made their home in the shoulder holsters.

Hand went up, aiming away from the crowd, index finger squeezed the trigger. The unforgettable sound of a .45rocketing through the air. Shortly after there would be a second shot before the gun was replaced into the coat, Tous catching up with Nadine and putting his arm around her, as if they were meant to be in that alley for some other reason.

The alley they had chosen connected to another street in the Market Ward. And as they made their way through, they would see the silhouette of a figure. The actions of the figure were clear after the figure of a woman fell at the end of the alley before the man walked out into the street. He was gone, she was dead. Behind them was a mob of civilians turning on an undead martyr. Welcome to Sigil. Again trying to usher Nadine, he'd step in her line of sight so she didn't see the brutality done to the woman.

"Perhaps we should get out of the Market Ward now."

The Great Absolute

[Lian Feaorne]

arrow The Hive Sewers


Kalmuli continued her route, looking through the bag once in a while for any signs of where exactly Lian had planned to plant the explosives. There wasn't a map anywhere and she didn't have a computer on her to look up the map...well...at least not one like her other's. She removed the gas mask, breathing through her mouth and slipping the dark glasses back on her face, tapping the edge. It pulled up a a home screen, Kalmuli using her eyes to guide the computer to do a search of the sewers and spotted the route that she would take that would close off the Hive and the Market Ward from each other. The goal was just to keep people away from the area when Lian was ready to wipe the city clean.

She was just giving a helping hand unknowingly. The matron was probably in a tizzy trying to either find her or find a means to cover things up until she was ready. It was going to still take a lot of effort to hide it, but having someone else destroy things would definitely keep the attention away, even if their faces were the same. Kalmuli slipped the mask back on, walking along the plotted route but stopped in another area that was...actually smelling pleasant. Even through the mask, it smelled like something was cooking and she shone the light into the area. There was a wooden door that looked like it separated the rest of the Hive sewers from this one area. She ventured closer, tugging open the door and looking inside. It was lit up with candles, a kitchen with a big cauldron making a big pot of stew from the smell of it and areas in the large space quartered off into rooms.

"It's not nice to come into someone's home."A sour voice spoke up from one corner of the room, Kalmuli whipping around to see an elderly woman sitting there with a newspaper in a big high backed chair. She rose maybe only five feet tall when she stood up, and moved over to Kalmuli who removed her mask.

"I wasn't expecting someone to actually LIVE down here. Who are you? What is all this down here?"She asked.

"I am Agatha. I am what the Slummers call 'The Sewer Witch'."The old woman spoke, starting to pace around Kalmuli, peering at her from under the raggedy hood and long gray hair.

"Who are the Slummers?"She pressed on.

"People who cannot even afford a home in the Hive so they came to the sewers. However, the stench is terrible, so they come here. This part extends under the Market Ward...People come for healing and for food here. Slummers run my errands...Who are you?"Agatha inquired, moving over to the big cauldron of stew and stirring it around with a massive wooden spoon.

"Kalmuli. I'm here in the sewers on a mission..."She said, looking around. It looked like some of the space was just divided so people had privacy or it was Agatha's storage space. There was no one here but the old woman. Still...She was probably what Lian would have ended up as if she never surfaced and shown herself in Sigil. Kalmuli knew it all too well. She looked around, seeing many different tinctures and salves all over the walls on shelves made of scavenged car bumpers. "Some place you've got here...Other than the Slummers, who else knows about it?"

"Very few...I ask that you leave if you have nothing else."Agatha pressed on. "The more who keep it a secret the better."

"Believe it or not, I think I may have something for you to do if you're willing. There's going to be quite the major event coming to Sigil and I need a place to hide someone. If you do it, I can give you and your Slummers a good stock of food, gold and access to any other goods...Just so long as they can hide here and heal no problems. Do that, your secret is safe with me."Kalmuli offered, Agatha rubbing her chin. With resources above running low, having someone to make a generous donation was extremely helpful. Agatha nodded slowly.

"You've got yourself a deal, lass. A hide out for food for the Slummers...I know that they will be very grateful...who may I ask?"She inquired.

"Someone who is going to be very important soon...Tresondros Ecstuffuan spoke of bringing a New Dawn, but the one who will rest here will be the usher of it's Rebirth. Someone who give Sigil the new start it needs, which means a much better life for your Slummers."Kalmuli smiled. "Thank you, Agatha...I'll get back to my mission."

Kalmuli left with a sense of accomplishment under her belt. Not only was she going to make things go BOOOM! but she also had a place to hide the Lian after the storm. It was perfect. The sewers were such a maze that it would be difficult to find someone on top of just how dangerous it was to venture so close to the Hive to begin with...and it was about to get more dangerous too or safer depending on the view. Kalmuli left Agatha's Hollow and resumed her trek to the beginning of the path that was to be blown up. It was some ways away from Agatha and according to the map, was a little more on the side of the Hive than the Market Ward...but it would do. She started taking out the bombs by fives, planting them every twenty feet as she traveled down the sewer lines. They weren't going to go off today, but planting and syncing them now would save the trouble later. Kalmuli finished planting them, setting up the syncing mechanism. The tunnel lit up like a subway tunnel, lighting the path and then shutting off to conserve power for Boom Day.

She left the sewer by another manhole in the Market Ward, inhaling the fresher air deeply after she removed the mask...but now she needed a bath. Sewer slime coated her hands and face with her heeled boots coated in something foul she didn't dare wipe off with her hands. Kalmuli made her way to the Dark Swan, going to borrow Bravot's bathtub.

count_zantara

[YummyBiscuits]

Knight Breaker

Orochi Sey

turnipsama

[OOC: I won't reply until Turnip posts as either being blocked or thrown to the side.]

[countgraves]

Jinbei

While Jinbei certainly had a mighty sword stroke, he wasn't about to out class the uncanny strength of a vampire. Much less when met with the strange properties of their bio-morphic abilities. The cape shield would successfully catch the sword strike. Friction would create the sparks that flung out between the two opposing forces in the aftermath. Due to the way Jinbei leaned into his swing with the fullest expectations of meeting and passing through the most resistance, he would have to drop his weight and shove hard with either arm in order to not full on be heaved uncontrollably. Over all the swipe would send him tumbling in the direction the cape was thrown. Jin himself was left to back flip haphazardly and slam down into the base of the steps with a four point landing. Impact would rupture kinetic force up through his limbs. Worse than the slight sting in his limbs post landing, was the fact that he would have to wait a moment for the world to stop spinning from the sheer sudden reversal of his own position.

The opening was there however, seeing as how Jinbei's own uncanny speed and strength equated to little more than a mild challenge in an arena of the supernatural. Odds were if someone wanted to end him within that moment after impact, he would be able to do little more than barrel roll should the need arise.

All the same, if given the opportunity he would shake off the shock and rise to a standing position. Regardless of what happened, he would need to be aware of the fact that his smoke bomb diversion was fading quickly. Possibly even swiped away physically and removed from the situation entirely long ago. It was in the end worth little more than a small opening of free movement when used against monsters like this.

[Derpinja gear: Top bottom

equipment: Ninjato, Smokebombs [4]]

Knight Breaker

YummyBiscuits

Tres Ecstuffuan

Orochi Sey

[YummyBiscuits]

Knight Breaker

Orochi Sey

turnipsama

Ursan looked down to his feet, where the approaching ninja had thrown a small bomb. He cocked his head, as if curious at the little smoking ball. And ultimately, he wasn't at all surprised when the fuse burned down, and it threw harsh, dark smoke into the air, centered around the Lich.

Ahh, as if it were useful. Ursan looked back up, the golden eye in his head twisting and turning continually. If one were close enough, they would have heard it moving against the inside of his skull. He almost made to chuckle, but merely stood.

Watching.

His eye was special, see, and it easily looked it's way through the smoke. Even without the semi-x-ray vision, he would have had enough sense to use a fleeting bit of detection. With that alone, he saw the inky darkness, a blot on the Sigilian Canvas, that surrounded Kyle Baker. He was no normal undead; rather, one of the few that turned on their own kind for more power, and it showed truly how dark and depraved the vampire was. Jinbei was a brighter light, nevertheless a speck as things went in the long run. A speck that the vampire would crush if Ursan didn't intervene.

Nevertheless, Ursan easily saw through the smoke, and watched idly as they clashed. The shinobi was outmatched, and Ursan could see that negative feeling, the inadequacy inherent to man's soul, p***k it's way through his aural coat. Was he afraid? It would be wise to fear the Vampire, and equally unwise to have walked into the Hive by himself as well. Ursan turned the thought over in his mind for a long moment, tasting and delving deeper into what he could feel of of both men. Kyle apparently cared for the woman behind him, enough to protect her. That would be important. The Shinobi was feeling an unnatural rage, with a hint of his fear muddling the initial reading. It was curious, and the entire situation was already trying his patience. This wouldn't do.

It was time to direct this little show, Ursan decided, and with a show of power, a hard, strong wind would blow through the street they were on, whipping clothes and hair alike in a sudden, short bursting gale.

The smoke was gone, leaving Ursan to push air through his sullen, skeletal mouth and frame. He was wreathed in the stuff, appearing as much darkness as he was internally. Absolutely demonic.

There was little sign of his moving, but with Ursan's next step, he appeared in between the two combatants, both hands raised. His left hand, towards Jinbei, would have the ring responsible for his sudden agility, and it was already cooling down to the dull amber it previously stood as.

Ursan would give one directive.

"Leave, Mortal." Before his attention moved back to Baker.

"The same goes for you. Leave with your woman, or you will both kiss my boots by day's end."

[Sivak]

[Location: Market Ward - Streets]

She'd only been here a few days but she'd already run out of fingers and toes counting what Sigil considered street entertainment and of course following the new golden rule. Don't get involved, just let it play out because you really don't need to be item of amusement number two.

Today, there was a vampire preacher of all things that was of course getting booed to hell. People, Sivak included, generally assume that when the undead are offering you succor from you're woldly pains they're offering to kill you. About one hundred percent of the time. Gods really aren't any better, worse actually. They want your soul and expect you to just pledge it to them.

So when Sivak heard a pair of gunshots.. well... they actually seemed kinda overdue.

[Orochi Sey]

What was this? Sey had spent so much trouble reviving KB, and already there were offenses to his life immediately. It angered her immensely, making her want to turn these two attackers into toads with some dark magic of hers. Her supply, unfortunately, was little, and she needed to save it for emergencies. She was, also, not ready to use it. Sey grinded her teeth, then KB's outburst for her to leave had her hesitate for a moment. She did not want to run, but apparently, it seemed like the best option right now.

The Falis priestess turned, and she ran away, looking back at the vampire himself one more time. He dare not die on her again or next time she was going to torture his soul with as much pain as possible. Her feet carried her away as fast as they could, her run rather controlled and quick.

[Tres Ecstuffuan]

Orochi Sey

The Falis priestess turned, and she ran away, looking back at the vampire himself one more time. He dare not die on her again or next time she was going to torture his soul with as much pain as possible. Her feet carried her away as fast as they could, her run rather controlled and quick.

The Hive

____The Falis priestess would run through the Hive, an environment that she was certainly comfortable in. Where others would be terrified at the dangers that beset them on all sides, the fell priestess would be calm and collected. In her acuity she would note an emerald shimmer floating silently above, through the rank dust that hung over the entirety of the hive. She could not be sure if she was seen or not but there seemed time enough to take action to become hidden...or not...For now, the figure did not seem to change its course.

[The Great Absolute]

The Predator – The Beggar – The Prey

Location: The Market – Staking In Pandemonium
Character: Norman Hollow
Story: The Return to Oblivion

He slid through the tides of man and myth like a surgeon’s blade. Chaos had seemingly erupted all around him, filling the air with the smell of smoke; the sound of gunfire. It didn’t bother him one bit. He was a true predator, only concerned with the hunt. He didn’t kill as many succulent innocents without superior guile. Grossly aware of his surroundings he relished the opportunity of being caught in his vicious performance. It was unknown to Norman whether or not the beggar had witnessed the entire thing, but he was certain that the girl he was shielding sure didn’t. Light as a leaf he slid through the shifting wave of bodies. Slipping his hand into the back pocket of a passer, stealing a pair of leather gloves. The blood on his hands told the story of his crime, yet he chose to save that chapter for a different time. It was his voracious nature that prompted him to impulse. He wanted to taste the sweet fruit of her sorrow, and the beggar would befall a more direct fate.

The features of his hat shifted to shield his shifting face. He was an actor on this grand stage and would lure them on their sympathies. Nothing more tragic than a murdered youth. It was with this notion that Norman decided all beauty must die. Sliding the gloves over his hand he returned his gaze upwards as he reached the beggar and the girl. His handsome face struck will sadness and panic. With a voice to match, he cried out.

”Help! Someone help! Murder!”

Norman bumped into each person he could on his way to the girl. His distress looked like natural panic, as if he himself was wounded. It was with his victims that he learned what true tragedy looked like. He emulated and played out the struggle of the many that died. The simplest of things, such as the contortion of his limbs as he cried out and bumped into people. It was as if his very soul had be ripped out, the burden of losing the one he loved. Yet deception ran deep, the darkness inside was a glutton and lusty hunter, he used his charm like a snare. Norman picked up on the first weakness of the beggar, his natural protection of the girl from the dead- it was with this honorable trait that Norman would rape.

”Sir! Ma’am! Please help, I think my wife was attacked in the chaos, she is bleeding a lot I think she’s… DEAD!”

He cried out before tears started to pour down his handsome face.

This was where he played, in the trenches of the mind. His soaked, emerald eyes, played at snatching away her soul in his handsome stare. Norman focused on the girl more than the beggar, he knew it was her he had to win over to dictate the progress of events. It wasn’t out of the realm that the beggar would be suspicious, so Norman would need to play to the weakest of the group---his prey. With a quiver of the lips he placed his masked grasp to her hand, tugging at it gently, pointing back at the slumped over corpse. He managed to tremble out a few words.

”Please help me, please come see if she can be saved… Please,-“

With a quick glance he shifted his eyes down to the peculiar beggar and ordered.

”Go get help! Go get help!”

It didn’t really matter to Norman whether or not the girl followed him. He would obsess over her until she felt the cold steel of his blade and cried out his name in a whimpering whisper of woe. Norman wanted to smell her hair, wanted to feel her breath but the beggar held his urges in. The idea that the filthy man would be alive to witness it did entice Norman a bit, entertaining the idea of just paralyzing the dirty vagrant and leaving him to the foul denizens of the Hive. Time would tell but until then Norman played his role, testing the exciting new waters. His heart surging with adrenaline from the thrill of just killing and the prospect of more.

”Please-“

With a final whisper as he tugged at the girls wrist, staring into her eyes.

Tindome

Mr Shinjiko