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 Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:50 pm
The story thus far... Yousei Akki Ryn slammed a fist into the stone wall outside of a shop. Frustration was building behind his violet eyes and he praticaly shook with the need to find a form of release. Inhaling deeply, he attempted to relax the tense muscles in his back. Losing his temper was not going to help him any at all.
Second son of his house, Ryn prided himself on being level headed and capable of controling himself when his brother or sisters would simply fly off the handle in a rage. It had kept him from recieving the lashings his elder brother had suffered many times over, and had convinced his youngest sister to invest a little in his future training. But none of that was going to pay off if he did not find a new place to earn some coins.
By now Ryn's breathing had slowed, and the spark of heated anger had dimmed in his eyes. He turned and leaned himself up against the very wall he had struck a moment ago. His exceptionally long white hair was currently bound by a leather thong at about his waist, allowing the rest of it to sweep freely down to his ankles. If there was only one thing Ryn was vain about, it was his hair. But vanity was not his issue at the moment. It was finding a means to earn himself a living so he did not have to go crawling back home a pauper. His pride would take one hell of a hit, and his back was likely to feel the first whipping ever as his sister would take the amount she had lent him back in the form of pain. --- Hot Lolli Alna was deep in thought as she looked over the jems glistening among the gold layed out before her. Despite needing a new ring to replace the one she'd lost on her last raid, she'd really only wanted an excuse to get out without the constant surveilance of her sister. And even then... Well, she wasn't sure Jiv'unda was really as far away as the albino in the items shop wished she were. Sighing as she continued to muse and gaze half-heartedly at the jewelry before her, she worried on her lip just as she did the troubles in her head.
It was a solid thud coming from the outside of the wall parallel to her that drew her out of her own mind and into the present. Blinking at the spot as if she could instantly dematerialise the section of earth before her, she narrowed her eyes in annoyance and demonstrated her own act of violence against the innocent barrier by echoing the muted thunk with her own fist.
That was a bad idea. Nursing her bruised knuckles, the pale elven woman shook her head in disgust with herself and headed out the doorway. Ignoring the indignant calls of the shop owner as she did so, she made her way to where she believed the sound had come from and stopped short. She'd expected a dead slave, or at least another angry female, but what she saw confused her.
"You're a male." --- Yousei Akki It wasn't so much the sound of the voice that caused Ryn to lift and turn his head, as it was the obvious glaring white color of something caught in the corner of his eye. Ryn exhibited less of a cringe then most males as his eyes swept over the white females face. For a moment, and merely a moment, he had thought someone's slave had wandered off. Not so wise for a faerie to meander down a ally side street. Then and his eyes met her's, and he noted the crimson glow, Ryn became acutely aware...this was no faerie slave. Those were the eyes of a drow, but not of any sort he'd seen before. She stated the obvious, and Ryn returned her statement with a equal one.
"You're a female."
Well honestly? Ryn was caught off guard, as it were. It was not every day one saw a female like her. Actually the surprise was a welcome feeling, it broke the inevitable brooding he had felt himself on the verge of toppling into. --- Hot Lolli He did have a point, and it made Alna laugh. In the middle of her reaction she thought better of doing it, but it was too late at that point. Letting it run it's course felt good to her. This was something that would not go unappreciated by the albino. Upon finishing her fit of the jovials she swept a stray piece of curly hair out of her face and made a gesture with her hand to convey that she understood where his statement had come from.
"I expected a slave," she finally commented. "I'm not used to men showing outward displays of emotion." Of course, she knew she had been assuming all along that it was indeed him that had made the thud she'd heard inside and that he'd done it on purpose; but she suspected she was right and didn't want to start second guessing herself.
As she spoke she let her dark eyes scan the male she was speaking to in order to size him up. It wasn't something she did concienciously, but she was pleasantly surprised that she had. Her eyes lingering on his hair and eyes, as she'd found the rest of him to be fairly standard, she made herself look away. It wasn't unusual for a female of her class to openly admire a male's looks but she didn't want to be that type of woman. Besides, she reminded herself, it was always possible that he was a member of a higher ranking house or a slave of one. That was not a can of worms she wanted to open at the moment. --- Yousei Akki A slave? Well, perhaps that was a well founded thought. He was lurking in the ally side street like a common slave. Ryn's eyes followed the movement of the females hand as she swept the tips through her strangely black hair. It was almost eerie, her looks were akin to that of a ghost. Or so Ryn thought. But she was most definatly no ghost. She was indeed a drow woman, that he knew as he watched her eyes make a sweep of his form.
Ryn did not take offense as she looked him over, he was well used to being looked over by more then just women. The need to gauge and size up a potential opponent was almost as common as knocking before entering a closed door room. One had to be certain of what was over there before getting involved.
"I do not often indulge in such displays." Ryn would respond after the woman had completed her assessment of him. It was only after her eyes had dropped that Ryn would take advantage of this brief moment, and return the scrutiny. He had never seen an albino before, nor had he heard of them. So Alna was quite the oddity. It did not occur to Ryn that a oddly colored female such as herself might be from a upper class. How could she be? She looked like she might, very possibly, have mixed blood in her. How else did a elf end up with night hair, pure white skin, and the crimson eyes of a drow?
It was his ignorance of the city's hierarchy as well as albinos that moved Ryn to be far more bold then he ever would with a female drow. Pushing away from the wall with his shoulder, Ryn dropped his arms from where they had previously been crossed over his chest, and closed the short distance between the two of them. "My frustration got the better of me for a brief moment. No one seems interested in hiring me and I'm out of coin. You wouldn't happen to know of any establishment seeking to hire a blade would you? Who do you work for? I've got a varity of skills as both warrior and merchant." Who knew, maybe what he needed to do was find a contact out on the street first. Someone who was a local so that the merchants here abouts would not feel so suspicious of a drow from a un-known house showing up on their doorstep.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:04 pm
 Alna could feel his eyes run over her hair and body, and could only guess at the thoughts that were running through his mind. She'd heard the rumors and whispers in back alleys about her 'surface blood' problem. It was a natural assumption with her appearance, but it still made her blood simmer. She was 100% drow. After all, if she had impure blood that meant her sister did as well... And she was sure no one was stupid enough to accuse Jiv'Unda of such a thing.
She was bolted out of her thoughts when the male began to speak, and his questions made her laugh. She was polite enough to stifle them, but they were still there. Scanning him one more time, she pursed her lips together in thought.
"I just happen to know a female surface raider in need of a bodyguard, if you think you could handle it..."
Of course, the priestess was the one in need of his services but it tickled her pink that he thought she worked for anyone other than their Goddess and herself.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:09 pm
 ((Minor edits to my first post ^^'' Ryns eyes are gold, not violet and his hair currently only goes to mid back. It'll get longer as he goes through his stages.)) The stifeled laughter was odd. Ryn had not expected such a response to his question. Lifting one white brow at the white elf, he paused his steps a few feet from where she stood. Before responding, Ryn took a moment to place his hands upon his hips, his head tilting in such a way as to cause his hair to shift to one side. Why had she laughed in a muted manner? He could not recall anything that had been amusing in what he had said...unless he had appeared too eager and desperate. In which case he had to admitt that did deserve some laughter on his part. "Indeed?" her response invoked just a faint spark of hope. A surface raider? Well. he had wanted to get away from his family. The surface would be about the furthest he could possibly manage. Even if it would be on occassion, it would be enough to keep him from being easily tracked. "I am a commited bladesman. If there were a female in need of protection I know my duty well enough to apply myself to the limits of my skills. I must admitt I am untrained for surface world activity, but I can overcome any obstacle." Ryn firmly spoke. Oh yes. He knew he possessed enough determination to overcome the burning light above.
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:31 am
Being the drow that she was instantly felt bad for the poor male as his confusion over her laughter became apparent, and the feeling only got more profound at his eagerness to meet his future possible employer. She'd thought she'd try her hand at mystery, and possibly play a minorly cruel joke on him, but she couldn't dot it. It wasn't in her nature. She shook her head as she ran all of that through her mind.
"I do aplogise," she said softly. Against her better drow judgement, Alna closed the gap between the two of them and lay her hand on his arm reassuringly. "I am the surface raider, and looking you over I have little doubt of your ability to cope with the surface world."
Without thinking about it, the albino again made a movement uncharacteristic of their race, and spread her crimson lips into a sincere smile. Not a large one, just enough of a gesture to show that she wasn't being sarcastic.
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:52 pm
Ryn was not so young a drow to be nieave. He might be lacking in knowledge of his general area, but he was no fool. The hand that Alna lifted and rested upon his shoulder was given a suspicious sideways flick of his eyes. Simply touching another drow was...uncommon. he was certain of that. Things could not be so different between his home and this city. Yet he did not percieve any real underlying threat or malice. If anything she seemed just...very odd. As odd as her coloration perhaps.
Ryn's gold eyes turned back to the pale female as she explained that it was in fact her that was the surface raider. Ryn had to take a few moments to digest this. It seemed possible in a way. With her coloration she'd be quite the excellent scout. "So..." He slowly chewed on his words with thought. Her half smile made him...almost shy was perhaps the word. "Then you will hire me? I have never been to the surface before....and I am not completely trained... but I will apply myself with a unmatched diligence if you mean to give me the chance."
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:41 am
Alna nodded once and removed her hand at the same time. At least he was honest about his inexperience with what he'd be doing with her, as well as his earnestness to learn and adapt. Glad of her chance encounter with the male, she was also wary of losing him too quickly to rival houses. Be it by bribe or poison. With that thought sounding stronger in her mind than anything else, she motioned with one hand for her to move along beside her and began to walk in the direction of her home.
"Yes. I will hire you," she said softly. "Please follow me to a safer place to discuss payment and what you're duties to me will entail."
She moved down the lines of shop huts and stone buildings without a single thought of checking to see if he was indeed moving along with her. Alna was odd, for a drow and especially a female one; but she knew well enough that'd he was there. And if he wasn't... Well, she thought to herself, he mustn't have wanted hired that badly then.
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:57 pm
Ryn's head gave a small nod as his response. She would hire him! She had no idea at all what sort of relief Ryn felt at that time. In all honesty the promise of their pending talk was almost too good to be true. Had he finally found someone to hire him for what -he- actually wanted to do? Ryn's hand dropped down to the hilt of his sword and he squeezed it firmly in his grip.
He and Alna had not spoken much yet, but already her odd habits were known to him. Well, not all of them. Just a few things that certainly seemed a touch off. What sort of drowess would walk so confidently with her back turned to a unknown drow? On top of that, what drowess would be so desperate to hire a protector that was inexperienced and unknown?
Was she in trouble of some sort? Perhaps she had enemies that made it difficult to trust anyone within the city itself. Rather then finding these potential possibilities disturbing, Ryn grinned. A challenge would make his training all the more effective. As Ryn still did not know the females name, or even her ranking in this city, he felt emboldened to pick up his steps pace. Drawing alongside of Alna, rather then following behind, Ryn turned his attention to the pale skinned drowess.
"I have not given you my name yet. I am called Ryn Do'afin. This place we are going to, is it a place we will be able to get a drink and something to eat? I personally find having something to chew on goes enjoyably with busniess talk."
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 12:05 am
Even though he hadn't said as much, it was more than obvious that Ryn Do'afin was not from around Gualidurth and his name sealed it in stone. So to speak. Alna nodded at his name, eyes still on him through her hair, and waved a thin hand in greeting.
"I am Alna Tor'und Do Barri'Neld, favored of Lloth." Head held high at her own introduction, Alna felt a warm glow light her cheeks at the feelings her Goddess' name invoked. Still, she was vastly aware of the attention she might have drawn to herself for saying those words aloud and as they drew closer to the center of the city she drew her tentacle rod from the pouch at her side.
She didn't do it threateningly and indeed as they moved she tapped her first two fingers against the weapon with her stride. No, she'd removed it to serve to any prying eyes that she was a cleric and not a woman to be trifled with.
Coming upon the main gate of House Barri'Neld, Alna waved her ringed hand and opened the gate. Turning to Ryn she held her hand out before her, "I trust my house stores will serve just fine. It was obvious that the house wasn't as kept up as a higher ranking family's would be, but it certainly wasn't shabby. She just hoped that, for once, this meeting wasn't going to end badly because of their place in line.
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:54 pm
"Favored?" Ryn's words echoed mild surprise, though not of the disbelieving sort. He had not been in the city long enough to hear the rumors and whispers of the Houses yet. So this small revelation was surprising. Perhaps there was some sort of favored luck finally falling upon him? "I am... regretful that I was not respectful enough in our first encounter Lady Alna. I did not realize who you were."
No, he had no idea at all, and that was a little embaressing. The walk through the crowds to their destination made him wonder, perhaps for the first time, if he truely knew what he was doing. He was a wizards son...trained to be a scholar. Not a warrior born with a blade in his hand. Did he honestly think he could possibly possess the skill needed to be useful for someone like her? What if he turned out to be only half talented? Her position and her choosen profession placed her in a great deal of danger. Could he honestly protect her?
Ryn tilted his head slightly to look at Alna. Her strange white skin and lusterouse black hair were very...alluring. As honest as he attempted to be with himself...he could not deny the selfish desire in himself to take this opportunity. He turned his gaze next to her rod. It's presence had been hidden before, and now that she had brought it out, it made him realize a few other things that he had not thought of before.
In his old home clerics were not the solitary power. He would have to remember that this society was radically different from the one he'd grown up in. Should he make a error here, specifically with Alna. Odds were there would be no leniance. They had reached her House by the time his thoughts had reached this point, and his gaze was now redirected.
It was not at all like the House he had been raised in. Her home differed from the Seventh Ruling House. However, he was keen not to let this distract him from the great opportunity he had here. "I am honored you would see fit to bring someone like me here Lady Alna. I am certain whatever you are gracious enough to provide will be far more then fine."
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 4:28 pm
A smile warmed Alna's face as her temporary companion repeated her status to himself, true it hadn't done anything for the House she was allied with but it certainly showed when she was in danger from other drow. Deep down she knew it was only because of the chaos the color of her skin created, and that embittered her smile slightly, but it served her for now.
She could still feel the looks Ryn had been giving her as they walked and it made her heart pitter-patter. As far as knowing any other drow the priestess knew that he would only be temporary, whether he betrayed her or was killed, it was more likely than not that they wouldn't be around each other for very long. But she hoped against hope that he'd surprise her, and not only be loyal but just as potent with his blade as she had told him she had no doubt of. As he graciously said nothing of the state of her House, she thanked the fates that he'd shown the frustration that had brought them together. She was starting to feel herself attracted to this new stranger and prayed she could keep him around.
Smiling once again in her special non-drow way, Alna led Ryn into the entry way of her home and into a smaller dining cove. There were no servants around other than the matron's personal hand-maiden, but Ryn would never see her. So instead, Alna gestured for the male to sit.
"I will return shortly with food and drink."
With that, she vanished through the black curtain blocking the entry to the food stores with every intent on letting Ryn Do'afin mull in his own thoughts for awhile.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 12:11 pm
Upon entering her home, Ryn found himself paying far more attention to Alna over the interior. He hardly gave his surroundings more then a cursory glance before his gaze returned to settle upon Alna. It was increaseingly difficult to let his eyes stray. It only concerned him partly. He knew what it was. Alna was a exotic. Ryn had always found the strange and otherwise uncommon things in the Underdark to be quiet interesting. Alna was definatly one of the uncommon things that you rarely came across. She had to have so many appreciative males in her life... He wanted to touch her. That was a dangerouse impulse he knew. Outside of his home city it certainly would end poorly for him if he forgot himself. Still... the shine of her hair practically beconed for a gentle stroke...the pureness of her skin color tempted like a talented seduction with the promise of smoothness.
Ryn's left hand lifted to his side, and he placed it quiet firmly upon the bare skin of his exposed hip. His fingers dug in gently to serve as a reminder his hands were to be kept to themselves. Ryn possessed restraint. He would not forget himself...even if it was so tempting otherwise. He had only met the woman, time would surely prove to lessen his attraction. Drow women outside of his home tended to be quiet...harsh.
When Alna gestured for him to sit and informed him she would fetch the food and drink Ryn bobbed his head in silent acknowledgement. Though, he did not sit right away. His eyes remained set upon Alna's body in a appreciative admirance. Ignoring the presence of her rod, he was able to indulge in a typical male trait of viewing her bottom as she walked off. Once she was gone, and the distraction removed from the room, Ryn's mind quickly cleared. Taking the hand that he had placed on his hip off, he raised it instead to his head. Rubbing his fingers through hisloose hair, Ryn exhaled a deep breath.
"Gods, you play frightful games with my young life." He whispered ferverently under his breath. Such a tempting offer from such a tempting woman. "Either the most fortunate bit of luck has been given to me like a blessing...or..." Or this was a set up for his ultimate demise. He could succeed and gain all that he wished here. Or he could fail and end up quiet dead. Alna's mere physical attractiveness already assured him that he would accept this job reguardless of his lack of training. he would merely have to seek out someone skilled in weaponry and manage to convince them to teach him. Since he had already been honest about his lack of skill he did not need to be deceptive. That made his task easier. But...how would he be able to handle working so closely to a woman like Alna without succumbing to other desires? Perhaps if fate was kind it would make her either quiet receptive...or give her a nature that would put him off enough that he'd be capable of focusing on his job.
Sitting would be good at this point. Yet Ryn chose to remain on his feet so he could begin to pace slowly across the floor. Nervouseness would effect him one way or another, and he would much rather prefer to pace then tap his fingers or feet. His right hand busied itself with his hair, trailing the fingertips through the crimson dyed length and flicking it over his chin as he attempted to distract those mulled thoughts by looking at the decor in the room. His left hand fell to the hilt of his weapon, gripping it with his fingers but allowing his thumb to stroke over the exposed flesh of his hip.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:52 pm
Slipping through the curtain, the albino female turned and faced the fabric she'd just let fall. It had been enchanted for just such an occasion by Matron Bari'neld and Alna was going to take full advantage of it. Ryn's whispers were picked up quite well by the woman's keen waiting ears, and a soft smile graced her lips upon entering her head. She wanted to reply in a similiar fashion, but knew that prayer of any kind to Lloth could end very badly.
No, instead she chose to take a moment longer to watch the ever increasingly attractive male pace nervously. She knew that with most other females, this would be where they'd want him. Questioning her, the Gods, and eager to do anything for her good graces... But Alna wasn't so sure that's what she wanted. His pacing, though beautiful and catlike, made her anxious as well. She didn't understand it, or herself, but she wanted him to be comfortable. Especially around her. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she did whisper aloud to herself this time. "He's male. A tool for you to use as you see fit and nothing more."
She continued her new mantra in her head as she moved from the doorway and gathered the food and drink that been prepared for her the moment she arrived home; and even though the mantra kept going and going, another small part of her mind cried at it. It wanted Ryn Do'afin to be so much more.
Closing her eyes tight for a split second to clear all noise from her head, she re-opened them with a smile and slid past the very curtain she'd used to spy on her hopefully new hired sword.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:13 pm
Ryn turned at the movement of the curtain. His amber eyes falling once more upon Alna's strange and exotic features as she returned to the room. He allowed his lips to part, only slightly, in a faint smile.
"Ah, you return. I suspect you will have questions for me Lady? What is it you wish to know first?"
He did not believe for a moment that he'd merely be hired without at least some deal of thought placed into the descion. Surely she would not feel easy hiring a untried sword meant to defend her. In all honesty he was quite nervouse at the thought. Yet excited. Her position and job meant something of an adventure for him. As well as an escape...
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:02 pm
Alna couldn't keep her eyes off of Ryn as she set the food down, and very quickly performed the magic neccessary to check that her food had not been poisoned. Still, she masked the look as one of scrutiny as best she could. She knew eventually the slight smile she wore would give her away though. His comment on her wanting to know about him did give her an easy escape from the thoughts of him that had started in the kitchen. She let her small smile turn into one slightly larger and waved a hand at him to eat and talk.
"Tell me of your House and the city you are from," she commented after making sure he's piled enough food onto his plate. "Since you are clearly not from Gualidurth."
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:50 pm
The pending question was one Ryn had been prepared to answer even before he had met Alna. As he sat at the table and began to help himself to a healthy portion of the food presented he began to answer her.
"I am houseless Lady Alna. So I am afraid I do not have any stories to amuse you with. Unless the antics of a common blood dust-biter b*****d has any interest to you."
The well practiced lie slipped easily from his lips between bites. Ryn gave a small gesture with the fork he held, his amber eyes glancing across the table to Alna's own. She seemed to be taking stock of him now, perhaps even judging him? Consciously Ryn took a larger bite of his food before continueing to inform Alna more of his false past.
"My city is Llurth Dreir. Not the most pleasent of cities to grow up in, I really would prefer not to go into too much detail about it. Gualidurth is far more inspiring if I may say so. Though I will answer any specific questions you have for me as I will be working for you after all."
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