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 Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 11:39 am
Blinking up at the sky, Pykichi estimated how much longer she had. A rare day off found the seamstress wandering the outskirts of the city, browsing wares that normally wouldn't be seen in the busy downtown streets where she usually stayed. Outfit in her oldest dressings, looking threadbare, she mingled among the crowds, effectively blending in. The activity might have been a bit dangerous, especially for a young girl by herself. But being young, with the mindset of invincibility commonly displayed by those who are too naive to know better, Pykichi had assured herself of her safety. After all, she had done her best to appear dirty and down-trodden. And it was worth the small amount of danger, as the stalls in this part of town had oddities and ends that often couldn't be found elsewhere.
She had a knack for picking out little knick-knacks and embellishments to take back to the store and using them in her designs. Objects that would otherwise never have gotten a glance by nobles were fingered and aah-ed over.
More backstory to be filled in. But go off this prompt:
Pykichi weaved in and out of the crowds, looking over wares and comparing prices of objects among the stalls. One never bought the first thing she saw from the first place. Chances were good that it could be found at a similar stall down the way. There were certain sellers to buy from; some put up a hard bargain, while others sold low just to see any kind of coin. But they all required a delicate hand when buying. Pykichi had found a mess of chains that, with a bit of cleaning, would go well on a new piece she had been designing. Holding them to the light, she was testing them, pulling, gauging their strength, weight, and other small details that were important. Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Startled, Pykichi followed the line of the arm to the stall owner's face. She hadn't stopped by this particular display very often, leery of the looks often given her by the man attempting to sell his wares. But the metal had caught her eye. Placing the chains down, she pretended to look at other things, feigning disinterest. All part of the bargaining game. In her concentration, she failed to continue to notice her surroundings.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:56 pm
Altais slipped fluidly between the press of people on the Avanderian streets, following the young girl he had taken notice of an hour past. She seemed to be searching for an item of some sort, had some purpose in mind, yet was quite unaware of her surroundings. Silly child. Didn't she knew there were predators out here? The man's lips turned up in a slight smile, glacial eyes shining behind the black-and-grey mottled fabric of his silk blindfold. Though the man appeared blind, he moved with such ease, no motion wasted, which made countless people wonder if he truly could see. Pale, icy blue eyes only added to the preconception of his lack of sight, and he did absolutely nothing to discourage the idea. The world was painted in a rainbow of monotony through the silk of his blindfold; there were no colors save for shades of grey. He had had it enchanted back when . . . well, he didn't quite remember, but it had been magicked so that he couldn't see any sort of color through it, save one, and only when he wanted to. Red. The color of life, and of death. He could call the color at will, but seeing it, smelling it, tasting it, feeling its warmth would send him over the edge. It would make his heart race, his body throb, his very mind, heart, and soul to be consumed with it.
There was something special about his eyes; a Geas burned into them from when he had been the product of Alchemy research. The man who he had seen as his family had asked him to meet some of his friends and under-go an experiment of sorts. Regardless, when he allowed his blindfold to even show a single, icy-blue orb, a fear so cold, so piercing struck through the heart of any who saw those glacial hues. They could see the unbridled insanity, that swallowing, yawning, great maw of darkness barely held in check, could see the swirling, chaotic hysteria, the primal hunger for pain, for blood. Following that, they were trapped within a maelstrom of delirium if their mind was not strong enough. And when the blindfold came entirely off. . .well, they were simply drawn into his very mind. Although he had only completely dropped the mottled fabric only once in his life, and there wasn't usually a need for such drastic measures.
Of course, his Geas had to be triggered -- it wasn't as if he could just look at someone and send them into some deranged hallucinations, no. It took copious amounts of violence, and the taste of blood on his tongue and in the back of his throat, along with an exertion of his own Demonic Skill. Of course, that was the only thing he could use his Skill for, save for when he was in a Contract, and then he had all of his power to draw upon. As long as he could retain what little sanity he had left though, he was content with his lot in life.
Altais slipped his hands into the pockets of his breeches and paused, leaning against the supporting pole of a stall next to the one the girl was browsing. No need to think on that now, lest the beast within his mind break free of its fetters. No, best he simply play nice this day so as not to draw attention to himself. He blinked when he saw the strong hand grip the girl's wrist. The man spoke gruffly, accusing the child of trying to steal when clearly she had just been inspecting the man's wares. Altais licked his lips, his slightly-pointed canines grazing his tongue. Best intercede before the girl got herself arrested. The assassin, leader of the notorious Black Serpents himself, walked quietly over to stand beside the child and looked down at the man. At six-two, it wasn't too difficult. "She was clearly just inspecting the damned thing to make sure it wasn't a sham, Stallkeeper. Which it clearly is. I'll give you four bits for it, and not a copper more."
Something about Altais' tone was off. The way his words rose and fell in a lilting cadence was almost hypnotic, and the man they were directed at seemed to lose his focus for a moment. "Ah, of course, good sir. Though how ye can see it bein' blind an' all is beyond me. But, 'ey, Ol' Al's not 'ere to argue, eh?" The man laughed nervously. Altais remained absolutely still -- a feat which humans couldn't accomplish. They were always breathing, always fidgeting, but not Altais. It unnerved 'Old Al,' and the man quickly snatched the chain from the girl's fingers, threw it into a small burlap sack, and passed it to Altais. The assassin reached into his purse and withdrew four bits, dropping them disrespectfully on the table so that they clattered and bounced off onto the dirt street.
"Ah, apologizes. Being blind really is such a pain sometimes." He fought a smirk from his features and placed his hand on the girl's shoulder, steering her away towards a bench set out beside a broken fountain. He sat down, as if tired, and offered the purchase to her. "Here you are. I'd avoid that man, were I you, child. He has a thing for young girls, and one that the Guard tend to overlook, if you catch my meaning."
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:58 pm
Pykichi had been startled and more than a bit scared when the stall owner had grabbed her arm. Rubbing it unconsciously, she looked at her unexpected savior, unsure of what just happened. Bowing her head towards the attractive man, she cleared her voice to make sure that it wouldn't shake. "Thank you, sir, for helping me. I'm not entirely sure what happened back there, but you surely have saved me from suffering at that man's hand." Muttering more to herself than anyone in particular, "I knew there was a reason I never stopped there. Stupid owner." Pykichi looked up, and looked around her for the first time in minutes. She should have known better than to be so inattentive, given the location, but she was shaken up over the lewd man's accusations.
She had never been accused of stealing before, much less attempted to steal anything. While sitting might have helped her calm down, she didn't like the idea of being vulnerable. Instead, she moved to the side of the bench, with her back to a wall, and watched as people passed by. After some moments, Pykichi had managed to collect herself. The afternoon was still young, but after the encounter, she was reluctant to continue her browsing.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:00 pm
The assassin eyed the girl as she leaned against the wall, his hands folded in his lap. She seemed nice enough, untainted by the miserable filth in this part of the city proper. Clearly, she wasn't used to such accusations, and he was sure she'd run far and fast if she knew his occupation of choice. Still, the notorious tattoo of a black snake behind the right ear was hidden by his long hair, and unless she somehow saw it, he knew it wouldn't be an issue.
That is, if she even recognized it as anything other than simple ink. Altais stood up from the bench and walked over to her, looking down at her for a moment, and though she couldn't see his eyes through the blindfold, he met her gaze. "What is it you do, exactly, My Lady?" The man extended his hand, his belled sleeve covering all but the tips of his fingers, his long nails lacquered. "Altais, by the way."
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:02 pm
Hesitantly, Pykichi met his fingers in an awkward shake. She wasn't used to formality, but if nothing else, manners had been ingrained deeply by the owner of Bobbins and Pins. "My name is Pykichi, sir. I'm head-assistant to the owner of a clothes store, 'Bobbins and Pins.' It's located in the center of the city..." She trailed off, an idea taking shape in her mind. "I would like to thank you for your help today, if that is okay. Are you free at the moment, Sir Altais?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:03 pm
The man held her hand for a moment too long, closing his eyes behind his blindfold. Her Soul shone brightly among the press of people -- like a star amongst thunderheads. He released it and took a step back, opening his eyes and forced himself to focus on her words. "Just Altais, please. 'Sir' rubs me the wrong way, really." He didn't answer her question straight-on, as he would never be free from the fetters on his mind, but he nodded, a slight inclination of his head. A clothing store, hmm? He felt his lips turn up in a grin. Well, it wouldn't be bad to have a contact he could call up every now and then when he needed a disguise to infiltrate a particularly difficult Mark's home.
No, not bad at all. "For the moment, yes. I've about two hours' time before I must keep an appointment." A lie, of course, yet spoken fluidly and with such sincerity that even the King's questioners wouldn't have caught it. The gilded tongues of Demons were flawless, that was certain. He followed in the young girl's wake as she moved off, chatting on about the business. He walked one step to the right and two behind her, eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. He wasn't yet sure what he wanted from this girl, if anything, but if nothing else, he would keep her safe from harm until he decided.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:05 pm
The walk back to the store was thirty minutes at a brisk pace, (and rarely did Pykichi walk leisurely when on a mission), and once they had left the throngs of Avandere, Pykichi was able to keep a stream of chatter going for a bit. She discussed the store, encouraged by the occasional nod and glance from her companion. She had been discreetly eying him for some time, gauging his measurements as he walked. He seemed to be lanky, yet muscular, with a strength and flexibility that she admired. While their store catered to many types of people, many of them quite attractive in their own rights, Pykichi was a believer of admiring beauty of all types. Even the darker forms of beauty. She knew better than to pry, but from experience, Altais seemed to be one that came from a world completely different than her own. When she had run out of things to say, a nervous quietness fell between them. Well, nervousness on Pyki's part, at least. To break the silence, she tried to invite Altais to talk. "What do you do, Si.... Altais?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:07 pm
The man stopped walking at her question, wondering whether to take the child now or simply let this play out. His brow furrowed slightly with a frown as he picked his foot up and continued along behind the girl. She didn't do anything to deserve his madness. He would wait, for now. "Ah, I run a Guild of sorts, really. Very uninteresting stuff." He laughed; a rich, warm sound. "Nothing that would interest you, I'm sure, Pykichi. However, we do see all types who come in seeking our aid. People from Kings to the lowliest beggars -- it really is amazing what people do when they put their minds to it." The last part was said more for his own benefit than hers, but it still rang true. What did he want from this young girl? Her soul would be nice, yes, but why taint her when there were others with more ambition out there? No, he didn't see his life becoming fun with this child as his Master. She was too sweet for the likes of him, too gentle to be sullied and stained by the unceasing whirlwind of insanity within his mind. No, he would simply stay as her acquaintance, and just call on her as her patron when he needed new clothes. Altais nodded to himself. Yes, that'd be fine.
As the two passed through a shadowed alley, the assassin's hand snapped forward, catching the girl's shoulder. With a jerk, he yanked her back against him, so his torso and groin were pressed tightly against her back, his slender-fingered hand covering her mouth. He lowered his head so his lips were near her ear. "Quiet. Stay here, and when I release you, crouch down and make for those trash bins three paces behind and to your left. Understand me?" He waited until she finally nodded. "Good girl." He released her and she did as she had been instructed. The assassin turned to his right, his back to the girl, facing the junction of a second alley. "Come on out, then." His head was tilted to the side, a wolfish, feral smile baring his pointed canines to their ambushers. Three men came out, wielding knives and nail-studded planks.
"Ay, figgur ye got sum money on yah. 'And it over, and ye won't get 'urt."
Oh, please. Altais rolled his eyes behind the blindfold, and his smile spread further, showing the men his fangs. They glanced warily at each other, but apparently stupidity gave them the semblance of safety in numbers. Ah, well. Without saying a word, Altais rushed forward, drawing the twin daggers from his belt with blinding speed. He held his arms over his chest, wrists crossed, and without a single noise, he snapped his arms outwards, cutting two throats at once. He pivoted sharply on his heeled boot, lifting his other leg, and as he turned, tapped his toe thrice on a wall, and a spring-loaded, slim stiletto snapped out from the sole of his boot. Using his momentum to complete his turn, he bent sideways at his hips, and with a solid thunk, the three-inch blade of the once-hidden stiletto buried itself in the third man's neck, up to the toe of the assassin's boot.
Snorting, Altais disengaged his foot gracefully from muscle and sinew, eyed the mess behind him, and walked casually over to the hidden girl, crouching down beside her. He gave her a winning smile. "All clear." These souls weren't even worth taking, so he helped the child up and stood on her left side, so she would not see the carnage and blood steaming on the cobbled alley. No, she need not see that at all.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:14 pm
This was not her lucky day, Pykichi decided. To be attacked twice, in one day? The Gods were against her. Shaking and shivering, she waited for Altais to come for her. He was the one bright light in each event, saving her again and again. At this rate, she wasn't sure she would be able to repay him. As they passed by the wreckage, Pykichi closed her eyes tightly, attempted to breathe a little as possible, relying on sound and luck to get past it. At the end of the alley, she opened her eyes, glanced at Altais, wondering how he was so calm, and picked up the pace until they reached the shop.
On a split-second decision, and a glance back at the man following her, she made a left, and detoured into a coffee shop a few doors down. "I apologize, but I need a few moments to collect myself. May I get you anything to drink or eat?" she asked.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:16 pm
The assassin followed her into the small cafe, ignoring her apology and striding right up to the counter. The man behind it started visibly at the blindfolded man before him, immediately touching left forefinger behind right ear and bowing slightly. "On the house today, Sir, yes it is. For you and the lady, there." Altais smiled and nodded at him, ordering a small kaffee, black. He waited for the girl to order as well before speaking quietly to the man in a low undertone, while Pykichi waited for their drinks. "Heard of the Bobbins and Pins tailor?" The guy at the counter thought for a moment before nodding. "Aye. The King himself orders outfits from them, actually, I hear. Looking to get an outfit for work, Master?" Altais smiled and shook his head, waving to the man before going over to join the girl. As their drinks were placed on the counter, he scooped his up and led the pair over to a small table always left clear in the farthest corner from the door.
"Friends with the owner here. He and I go back a ways. We do each others favors every now and again." Like me killing off all of his rivals for free kaffee when I want it, and Hatchlings and arrow-fodder for the Serpents. The assassin stifled a laugh. Ah, this sweet, innocent girl knew nothing of the ways of life yet, and for some reason, that made him quite sad. If only every child could be so fortunate. The man took a sip of his kaffee, studying the girl over the rim of his mug. "Are you alright?" He simply couldn't comprehend why she was upset, though. He just wasn't able to process that getting ambushed wasn't a regular thing for people, or that children never had to fight or kill growing up.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:18 pm
Stunned, Pykichi followed the motions of ordering and picking up her tea when it was ready. Sitting down, she dropped the tea ball into the hot water, inhaling as the aromas of cardamom and bergamot were released. She nodded in response to Altais' explanation, grateful for the drink. While she had offered to pay, the truth was that she was not particularly well-to-do. Assistants of tailors were not known for their high paychecks. But if ever there was a time for fortifying tea, this was it. Eventually she quietly answered the question asked. "I have never been attacked before, much less seen a fight bigger than a group of drunkards duking it out over misunderstandings. You killed them, didn't you?" She didn't look away from her tea, but kept talking.
"But if you hadn't, they might have probably killed us instead, huh..." she understood this, but the idea of killing anyone for any reason was incomprehensible to her. But still... "Thank you for saving me. Again. My debt and gratitude to you have grown." Pykichi found herself afraid of Altais. Finally she looked up at him. "That you can kill people scares me. But I'm not the type to hate you for using it to help others. Rather, I regret that you and that group of bandits have found it necessary to learn such a skill in your life. It is truly a sad thing."
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:45 pm
Altais' eyes narrowed as the girl spoke, his elbows resting on the table, having already downed his exotic drink. He fiddled with the tail end of his blindfold, wondering if he should expose this girl to his mind and let her see what the world was really like. Sad? No. No, she knew nothing about the perils and dangers of the world outside of this city. He sighed and allowed his hand to comb through his hair instead, taking away the temptation of making her go truly mad from hallucinations. She was too sweet for that. In answer to her question, he nodded. "Yes, I did kill them. And yes, they surely would've killed me. Probably would've each raped you once or twice, and then offed you too. You're quite pretty, you know, and with those types, they're used to gutter whores." He lifted a broad, bare shoulder in an elegant shrug. "And you're right to fear anyone who has killed before, My Lady. When you kill something within you...snaps. Or disappears, I'm not sure which. Mine was a rather unique case."
His lip lifted in an ironic, sarcastic smile. He had killed for the first time when he was still human, when he was a child of only seven. Still, to this day, any time he ate bread baked with cheese, he tasted iron on his tongue, and the coppery tang of blood filled his nostrils. He spun his now-empty mug on the tabletop, eyeing its movement, but seeing something completely different. "I grew up in the Lands Below in a sea-side city called Corsairh. This place had no law, no rule, only chaos and crime. That was our trade down there in the city. Death. Thievery. Rape. Torture. Violence. Swindling." A corner of his lip rose in a hard smile. "That was all I knew growing up. By the time we could walk, most of us kids were orphans, if not before. We wore the same clothes for years and years unless we stole or killed for another. We had no families save the gangs we ran with, if we decided to join up with one. But me..." His voice trailed off for a moment, remembering the first time he had seen the big manor; the only clean house in the whole stinking city.
"I was lucky, to an extent. When I was eight, I had been sliced across the ribs and was on the run from three men who wanted to capture me and sell me to a brothel." His blue eyes flashed hard and cold behind his blindfold, mouth set in a grim line. "That was a big trade down there, you know. Many dignitaries and nobles came from hundreds of leagues away to sample the youngest children in all of the Lands Below." His fingers tightened around his mug, and with a loud crashing sound, the porcelain shattered completely in his grip. The man looked down at the blood running between his fingers, cut from the shards of fate. A man rushed over, apologizing, and offered to call a Healer for him. The assassin waved him off and simply licked each finger clean, thinking of how he should explain this to the young girl without horrifying and scarring her for the rest of her life. When he had his thoughts in order -- and the staff had given him a new cup, with a free kaffee on the house, he continued.
"Anyway, I had been running for a good half-hour, which sounds easy enough. But when you haven't eaten in four days and haven't slept in three, running at a full sprint for so long -- with cut ribs and four broken fingers, mind you -- becomes a hell of a lot harder. Anyway, I was at the end of my rope just about, and a huge blizzard was coming on that night. I ducked down an alley, thinking if I had my back against a wall, I could at least try to fight my way out or die free and not sullied by fat old men." He laughed then, a low, dangerous sound. "The idiots didn't see me turn the corner, so they kept running straight ahead. Thank the Faces. Anyway, it turned out that alleyway didn't lead to a dead-end, so I would've been screwed-" he watched his language, "if they had followed me in there, anyway. So now, cut up, starving, exhausted, and bleeding all over myself, I had to try and find shelter. Maybe find someone's discarded skivvies to wrap up my ribs. Not the most sterile thing, I know, but you've never seen the damn city. Clean linen costs more than half a loaf of bread, and there was no way I could afford the former, since those three goons had ambushed me while I was sleeping and nipped my purse before I ran." He shook his head, wondering to himself if he'd chosen a different place to sleep if everything would've turned out differently.
"I had saved up everything I earned or found since the age of four -- five whole years, gone-" He snapped slender fingers, "Just like that. Anyway. I had to find shelter from the oncoming blizzard, and I had to at least attempt to find something to stop the bleeding. Well, the bleeding stopped on its own, considering my blood started to freeze right there on my skin in about ten minutes. However, that meant my damned hand was now stuck to my side, and I couldn't get it off without making things worse." The man laughed again, but this time it was one of genuine amusement. "Funny now, when I look back on that. At any rate, I went down to the other side of the alley, and about a mile and a half down the road on the other side, at the very edge of town, was this huge house. Must've been at least thirty rooms, complete with stables, kennels, aviary -- you name it, though most were not used. So I set it in my head to at least make it to the house. I staggered and stumbled, and when I was -- I kid you not, child -- a mere thirty or so feet from the house, I collapsed. I saw it then; a side-door on the manor, complete with porch and overhang. That meant I could sleep with my back to the door, and the overhang would keep the snow off of my head. I might be able to survive the damn night if I just made it thirty more feet, and I could worry about my ribs and food the next day." The assassin sighed, a faint smile on his full lips. "But my body was weak, and I was spent. The last thing I remember, darkness and warmth greeted me, and I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in a bed. A real bed, Pyki! With silk -- silk! - sheets, and a fire crackling in the hearth." The man threw back his head and laughed, truly laughed, with so much joy and a fierce pride echoing throughout the small cafe. "I had been saved, girl."
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:40 pm
Growing up with a family, a younger sibling, and being apprenticed at a very young age, she had never been alone. She had never had to fend for herself. Pykichi was the epitome of sheltered and naive to the dangers and evils of the world. Never before had it been so clear, though. This man... had seen the worst of the world. And still, he had helped her. Had defended her twice. He didn't even know her! She didn't know why he had saved her. It was entirely possible that he would later turn on her. But that didn't matter. She was in his debt, and nothing she could do would ever be as great of an impact.
Pykichi had never thought of herself as a humanitarian, but then, she had never understood the depth at which a person could be cast into a living hell. The salt water continued to fall until she finally noticed, a drop hitting her hand, and she grabbed a napkin to bring her appearance to a more acceptable level. With a loud clearing of her nose, she wiped up the last of her sorrow. While she could never hope to right the wrongs of the past, maybe she could help this man in some way. If nothing else, she owed him a debt. And Pykichi intended to pay back her debts. She collected herself, with the help of the tea, and wondered why he had opened himself up to her. She hadn't done anything to earn his trust, but she valued his honesty, and his willingness to confide in her.
"I know that no apology would suffice, nor help the suffering of your youth. But know that I appreciate your help today. I would like to repay you with something. As a seamstress, I can make clothing. Anything you'd like. Please, tell me if you should ever need anything. Ever. I would be more than willing to help. In anything." She blushed, but continued on. "For your help today, I had hoped to create a blouse for you, or pants. What ever you might be in need of. Do you have a preference?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:06 pm
Ah, if the girl knew the rest of the story, and how it ended, she would be high-tailing it out of there as fast as she could, and damn her gratitude. He sighed and ran a hand through his tousled locks, wishing for the millionth time that things had happened differently when he was a child. But then you would've never met Alston. And where would you be without him, you thankless monster? The assassin snarled silently and pushed the voice within away from his consciousness. Not now. He focused on the girl, turning her offer over in his mind slowly. He could seduce her easily. Oh so easily. He had saved her twice -- once from a potential problem with the law, the second from a sure rape and killing. Yes, with the right words, the right actions, she would fall into his arms with minimal effort. He wouldn't take her Soul -- no, she was too innocent for that, there wouldn't be enough substance -- but he could feed from her heightened emotions while he had her beneath him.
A pointed canine made a small divot in his lower lip as he rolled the thought around in his mind. It had been awhile since he had fed through sex like that, but it wasn't like he were starving. And if he played his cards right, he could simply allow their chance meeting to part with her untouched and unscathed, save for maybe a few pokes from one of her needles as she tailored something for him. He tapped the long nail of his forefinger on the dark cherry wood of the table, considering his options. If he went the latter route, he could easily string the feeding out over the course of several months, if he even did decide to do so. He made a pensive sound in the back of his throat. Well, always test the ice before putting your full weight on it.
The assassin stood from his seat and walked around the table to look down at the girl, completely silent. He could simply hook a finger under the hem of his blindfold and expose her to his Geas. Right now. It'd be that simple, that easy, over in a heartbeat. But she would be shattered, broken beyond mending with her personality and the sheltered life she's lived. And she had parents somewhere who undoubtedly loved her, maybe siblings too. He shook his head. No. He was a Demon, not a monster. He leaned down and pressed his full lips behind her right ear, where the tattoo of his Guild was on all of its members. His mouth lingered there for a moment, his breath hot against her skin, until he was sure it had worked. When he pulled back, he caught a very, very faint grey silhouette of a writhing, coiling snake where his lips had been. There. Now if any harm -- be it a theft, a rape, a murder, a strange fire, even a mannequin falling through their store's window -- came to her or her family, half his crew would come to him immediately while the other half would already be out looking for the people who did it.
Nodding to himself in satisfaction, the man offered her his hand. "My thanks, Lady Pykichi. I'll gladly accept your offer, as I fear that I don't have quite enough pockets on the inside lining of my sleeves." He smiled warmly down at her before moving his fingers in an intricate pattern -- much like one the King uses to communicate with his men -- and told the man behind the counter to watch this girl and have someone follow her for protection for the next eighty days. The youth nodded seriously and touched left forefinger behind right ear in a farewell. "Come, let me escort you to your shop, so that I might spend lavish amounts of coin on the lovely sleeves I'm sure you'll create. And I'm doubly sure my blindfold could use hemming." He chattered on as he walked her out of the door and into the street lit by the dying sun.
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