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 Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:37 pm
She would have gasped, but she didn't really have time. Alright, alright, he was fast - very fast. The woman refused to move, though, or to flinch. This was a bit of a fix; she knew how to defend herself...but this guy was too fast, and had a drastic upper hand right now. Her options were quite limited. To add to the fact, they were juuust out of the view of the general public, and apparently the shop owner was in fact absent from his shop. For now.
But she was so independent that she'd much sooner handle this on her own. Looks like she'd be forced to, anyway.
Surprisingly, she was rather calm. Her dark eyes stared back into his with an unflinching lack of fear. The woman was almost more aware of the battling griffs than she was of the severity of this situation. Ma'at wasn't normally one to attack like she did, but....wow. Sadly, she couldn't really see the two very well. Her eyes didn't dare leave his - not again. Granted, she almost deserved this for stupidly letting herself be distracted by the want for detail.
They remained silent. Deciding not to focus on the griffs, though she was quite concerned for her Ma'at, she suddenly became very aware of the cold steel almost touching her throat. She also became aware of the fact that he too was paying attention to the griffs, like she previously was. Her eyes narrowed. How dare he do this and not even be able to pay full attention? Hmph. Well.
She almost spoke, but she instead decided to move closer, feeling the shock of the dagger actually touching her throat now. Their faces were incredibly close, which is exactly what she wanted. Hell, she wasn't afraid of him - might as well prove it, and maybe make him pay a bit more attention. If he was going to kill her, he might as well get on with it.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:39 pm
((Aaand this is not the original post that went here >.> Actually, there were several posts that went between the post right before this and the post right after, but...no one knows where they went T-T...so...filler! XD))
"Dammit." she said softly, leaning over to pick up the brush she dropped on the lush carpet. Iris set the brush back on her vanity, going back to the tedious process of applying make up in the soft light. The rest of the room, her bedroom, was dark, only slightly illuminated by the lamp beside her. It was the kind of light she enjoyed - not too bright, but enough to see. Her home was quiet, as was the norm on a cool Autumn night in the middle of the week. T'was a very beautiful place - two stories, nice piece of property, well-designed and decorated interior...well, she had the money for it, so why not. A great many Egyptian artifacts, half replicas and half heirlooms, scattered themselves around the house, and even managed to make it into her private room. A small statue of the cat goddess Bastet stood a few feet from her, scrutinizing her as she made herself ready for the upcoming 'event'...whatever it was called. She rather disliked several of these gatherings, but the woman had to attend all of them - it was expected of her. Honestly, she'd rather deal with mingling for a few hours than having to endure her family's scolding for not attending. Anything to shut them up.
Though...she did like the elegance of it all. That made it a bit more bearable.
A small squawk, and she looked back with a smile. Ma'at was sitting on her bed, head on the sheets, watching her with those inquisitive blue eyes. Iris turned back to the mirror and finished up, standing and twirling around for Ma'at to see. Her dress reached all the way to the floor, showing off the curves of her torso and hips only to flare out slightly at the bottom. It was off-shouldered, with a small amethyst broach on the left, and made of a silk satin material of a deep purple hue. Her hair was in soft curls that came to just an inch or two past her shoudlers, and for once, she wore no extra jewelry. Make up was sparing, only because she knew that she didn't need that much.
"What do you think?" she asked the griffin.
Of course, Ma'at didn't really have anything to comment on this, she just kind of...blinked, but that was alright.
Iris grabbed the special collar she had for the griffin for the event and placed it around the creature's neck. Ma'at wasn't too thrilled about it, but t'was necessary - her pet needed a little glammar as well. Returning to the mirror for one last check-
Suddenly, her door opened.
She turned...not startled, but not exactly expecting it. That slightly cheerful side of her demeanor that the griffin often saw faded upon viewing the man in the doorway. "Hello, Amun. Please, let yourself in."
"Glad to." came the reply in that smooth tone that she came to loathe. Granted, she had the same tone, but...mmph. Sibling rivalry was a kind term.
a*****e. She stayed silent, finishing up the final touches...but he just couldn't do the same. "I don't see why you insist on such a quaint little home. Beautiful, truly, but small. You could do better."
"Mhm. I could say the same for you, brother."
He smiled. "Yes, I could, but that would be a bit too showy for me, wouldn't it?"
"Indeed. Too much room for too few guests, how silly of me."
"Easy, sister dear, you entertain even less than I do."
She returned his smile. "Ah, but my guests aren't street-bound and paid by the hour."
That struck, and she knew it, but he chuckled as only those who were in their position could. She took his arm as they walked down the hallway, Ma'at right behind them, but it certainly wasn't affectionate - her brother was a b*****d. The majority of the people in her society were - it was almost a requirement - but he was among the worse ones. He tried to undermine her or hider her in any way possible, especially when it came to financial matters. It never really bothered her anymore, but she did retaliate whenever she got the chance. Again - it was almost a requirement. It was that smile-when-you're-insulting-someone attitude, and their equal response. It was being as kind and generous as possible while making it known that, under it all, you were ruining someone's reputation or worth. It was all a seductive game that began when he entered that room and continued while they traveled to the 'social event' in the carraige that was no doubt filled with his 'friends' from the previous night. Iris couldn't help but play along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drink in one hand, she laughed and mystified and charmed her way through the various people in the crowd, simply acting the part she was expected to act. Her and Amun's parents were there somewhere, but that was one thing they both agreed on - not caring. She stayed with her brother, calm and collected even when approached by people that she held a mutual dislike for, mostly paying attention to the cool air outside. Her family was among the higher of the high class at this little party, so the amount of people she had to entertain was staggering...but nothing she hadn't done before. But when one particularly irritating person approached, she detached herself from her brother and made off for more pleasurable company. Much more pleasurable.
"Iris my dear, lovely as always."
The familiar voice made her turn and give a seldom-offered genuine smile. He was a charming, almost cute, old man, the kind that had ump-teen grandchildren and was adored by all of them. One of the few she actually liked, Iris took his arm and walked with the cute older gentleman as he explained to her his latest fishing and hunting adventures. The man was a member of the family that was hosting this little party, and though he had done and continued to do quite a few dirty little deeds in his old age, she had a liking for him, and vise versa. Hell, they had all done those unspoken 'business ventures' - it was nothing to judge on in this setting. They walked and chatted, him adjusting his wide-rimmed glasses every few shuffling steps.
"I heard of your recent run-in with that aweful thief. I trust that you are alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine. A little shaken, but he didn't harm me."
"Odd, but good. He'd have hell to pay if he hurt my girl."
She laughed. "Yes, yes, I know. Always looking out for me, aren't you?"
"You better believe it. I may be old, but I know how to handle someone who doesn't know how to treat a lady."
Iris chatted with a few people, shook a few hands…but really, she only spoke to the one elderly gentleman, one of the few she actually trusted. And as she stood there, talking, another gentleman joined them. Younger…flirty. She tried to get away, but she couldn’t. Not that it was such an issue two seconds later.
She gasped, but that was all. Blood covered the front of her gown. He had just-…but…..as screams echoed around her, she backed away from the fallen body of that younger man, impaled by a dagger coming from the trees. Suddenly, the alarm sounds of sentries joined the chorus of frightened women, aaand Ma’at decided to go the opposite direction of everyone else.
Damn bird.
Fighting against the wave of the crowd attempting to flee the little gathering-gone-bad, she followed Ma’at, who was surging into the woods like she had just found gold. Well, the griff had just found something, at least…Iris had a very fleeting, very preposterous thought regarding exactly what they were chasing, but…no. That wasn’t it.
Growling, mostly because now her dress was bloody AND was going to be ruined by this little wilderness trek, she attempted to keep up with Ma’at. If this night got any worse…uugh.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:40 pm
....Foolish for anyone to follow him. And especially foolish for -that- girl to pursue him once again. One would think that the intelligent person would have learned their lesson the first time.
Of course…the first time…well, he didn’t know what happened. He had every intention of killing her at that moment. Then, somehow, she disarmed him without even having to move a muscle. He made the mistake of looking into those eyes, that’s what it was. There was such defiance, such a lack of any sort of fear regardless of how much he dug, trying to find a weakness in that wall of calm pride that she radiated..nothing. Suddenly, he didn’t have the right to take her life. He released her and fled…and somehow, he still wondered why he did it.
That was a matter for another time. Focus.
Ignoring the fact that the girl probably didn't know who exactly it was she was chasing, Deste slid behind a particularly thick trunk of a large tree and watched Kalei dive beneath some shrubbery. Both thieves hunched down slightly, waiting to hear noise. The crashing that something was making in the underbrush was evident...maybe a dog was after them too? No...more likely than not it was that girl's griffin. Troublesome creature....
To the bandit, the noise the thing, and the person also behind the griffin, was making far too much noise for stealthing. Again, they weren't being subtle about following himself and his pet...another mistake. Had they even remotely attempted to sneak up on him - not that they really could - he might have just let them off. But the girl had seen his face, or would see it, twice now. No excuse to let her go this time; she and her bird would have to die.
His black eyes wandered to his own charge for a moment, wondering if the spotted male had the umph to take out one of his own kind. Hmph. If not, a bit of steel could be wasted on the beast.
And then the sandy-colored feathers flashed past him, bolting straight towards Kalei's hideaway. But, probably much to the female’s surprise, the male asserted himself by leaping up and meeting her tackle head-on with a threatening hiss. The squawks and tumbling by the two adolescents had only been occurring for mere seconds when the woman appeared. And it -was- her. Damnit....
He slipped behind her with the ease of many years' practice and once again, found himself sliding a dagger to her throat. Determined not to make a deja vu out of this situation, he slid his free arm firmly around her arms, pinning them to her sides as he encircled her waist. If he didn't see that impossibly strong look in her eye, his resolve would not waver. And, just as last time, he did not gloat. He did, however, choose to speak this time.
"You seem...to have a strange habit of following danger." he murmured quietly.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:40 pm
A small yip of surprise escaped her upon being trapped, once again. Dammit, Ma'at....captured, knife to the throat...again...near death, take two.
She almost rolled her eyes at the whole thing. The two Griffins just kept on tumbling.
"Actually," she said, just as quietly...but with an irritated underlying tone, only held at bay by the natural smoothness of her voice. "My griffin does. Or maybe you just like showing up at the same functions as I do."
She almost laughed, but thought better of it. This situation was different only in setting and how he had her trapped..and maybe the fact that he hadn't stolen anything from her, yet, besides an irritating acquaintance. He did get blood on her dress, though. Her eyes immediately narrowed...but she didn't have time to get too pissed, because voices interrupted the silence.
"Brother." she whispered, stiffening. Her captor silenced her the moment the words left her mouth. "s**t. Not a word, let's move."
She almost spoke, but she suddenly found herself in the air....he had picked her up. The nerve! With a squawk of indignation, Ma'at suddenly broke away from her squabble to follow her owner...as quietly as possible, this time. Perfect, just perfect
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:41 pm
Kalei bounded on ahead before Deste even had to whistle at him; good, the bird was learning fast. Glancing backward for only a moment, the man roughly shifted the girl in his arms, and a second later was taking off after his griffin. He could hear the light-colored one following behind, this time with more silence than the thief would have accredited to it. Hmph, that one was smart too.
Deste was unsure where exactly the whole entourage was. His griffin was merely leading them back the way the pair had first come in. He had hoped that it would merely be the pair leaving again, but their number had now doubled. Plus there were the others now in pursuit. The girl's 'brother,' hm? Feh. Troublesome.
He wasn't sure how long they ran, and her found himself somewhat lucky that his captive wasn't sporting too much gold and jewelry tonight, as it made carrying her all the more easy on him. Hmph. "Showing up at the same functions" as her. He went where he was hired. Speaking of which, he wondered vaguely if he'd get a chance at his other target tonight...and with a scowl realized that the chances were slim. Whatever. He had his pay.
Ahead of him, he heard Kalei slide quietly to a stop, and slowed to a job himself before stopping completely. And in that moment made what he later considered to be his most idiotic mistake of the night.
He glanced down at the girl and found her watching him with defiantly calm eyes. She looked miffed....but probably only because of finding herself in a situation that was literally a repeat of a week or two ago. He matched her dark gaze with his own for a moment, drilling into her for even a hint of fright...and found none. She merely reflected his own irritation back at him. Annoying little....
So he dropped her. Pulling his hands from beneath her, he let her fall unceremoniously to the earth with a thump and a scowl. A scowl because he knew that his resolve had wavered again. His fascination was peaked, and he couldn't....
"Just who the hell are you?" he snapped suddenly, uncharacteristically angry, though admittedly, he was indeed more upset at what he considered his own weakness than anything else.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:43 pm
The nearly backhanded him once she got to her feet, dusting herself off and holding onto whatever dignity she still held. Ma'at stayed at her side, clicking softly..but for once, she ignored her companion. She wasn't exactly sure why he was suddenly so angry, but if anyone had a right to be irritated, it was her - he just dropped her on the ground, for God's sake! Not to mention the fact that this would be so fun to explain to her snooping family..if she made it out alive.
He had nice eyes, though, and a firm grip...a passing pleasant thought amongst her anger.
She held herself proudly, but not arrogantly - she was too pissed for that. Her eyes held a fire that threatened to spill over if he gave her further reason. "I am Iris, daughter of the Nefretiri family...probably friends of the person who hired you to kill that man tonight, which is to your advantage, irritatingly enough....and who, might I ask, are you?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:44 pm
Kalei was notably more stoic than his guardian, which was possibly a first - Deste fumed at himself, and the griffin merely settled noiselessly beside the man, watching Ma'at for any signs of further attack. Though, considering the situation, neither human nor avian expected any sort of tricky business. Not right now, anyway.
But why the girl, this Iris, needed to learn his name now...hmph. Whatever. Maybe he should get his name circulated a bit more. "Deste Kestrysen of Albion." It sounded more formal than it really was, as he was merely confirming where he was from. And other than that, well. He preferred not to think about it. Hopefully this girl wouldn't know the etymology of his name and patronize him for it. If so, then he might just get angry enough to steel his will and do what he had intended to do.
The back of his mind told him that he wouldn't anyway. Logically, he figured that if she had meant him ill will, she would have started screaming the moment he put her down, as most other women would have. Irrationally, his subconscious was also considering his fascination with her. Something about her posture, her pride that was not overtly and irritatingly arrogant, just a carefully cultivated sense of fiery strength and beauty.
....Hell. The male in him admitted that if he was that kind of person, he'd take her to bed the first chance he got.
Snorting inwardly at that testosterone-driven thought, he voiced in a calmer tone, "And why, Miss Nefretiri, would association with you not be a disadvantage? I would assume that a family of nobles would want to bring a 'cold-blooded murderer' to justice." He considered that for a moment, then added in a somewhat wry tone, "Though I suppose that would be putting too much faith in any semblance of honor that you aristocrats have."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:45 pm
dipped her head, smiling and chuckling, before opening her eyes again and making sure they bore into his own...she held her anger in check, though, since that was only meant to piss her off more, and she didn't want to give him what he wanted. "It would be an advantage to you because we are as lacking as you say. We are like you - we lie, we steal, we kill....the only difference is that, when it's all done, you run. We stand there and smile and invite you over for tea and a bit of conversation."
In the silence that followed, she gave him an obvious once-over. He was dirty, a bit disheveled...but attractive. He was strong in personality and form...at least outwardly. Her world taught never to go strictly on appearance, though appearance was what everyone used to assess your worth. The wealthier you looked, the more powerful you were..and more dangerous. Sometimes. It was tricky, hence why this situation didn't bother her - she was used to it.
"So," she said, striding diagonally t'wards him and past him in slow, almost lazy steps, "what now, o' 'cold-blooded murderer'? I dare say it's your move."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:46 pm
Kalei gave a startled croak - a suppressed squawk - when he heard his guardian give what sounded like an amused chuckle. The griffin had never heard the man laugh, though he did know what the sound was. But the spotted creature had never associated the sound as being in his caretaker's vocabulary, and it was....strange.
But the bird wasn't the only one to find these events strange. The comment about his profession running couldn't have been more rightly put. And he was somehow amused by it. There was no shame in running; thieves ran to save their necks on a daily basis. And when a real master of his art provided services as he did, one had to know how to escape, and fast. Smirking slightly, he kept his eyes on her face, challenging her look even though his own irritation was, surprisingly, giving away to eased state of mind.
"You are..." He thought for a moment, appraising her figure as he did. "...Very strange, for a woman." By strange, he meant different...eh. Snorting, he decided to stop with the compliments, and instead commented, "But running is a part of the profession. My kind would rather get away and perhaps get hired again to off the people who are sitting and inviting us to tea." Iris's people might have the power to sit and look pretty even after a crime was committed...but Those in Deste's line of work had the power to completely rework the intricacies of that nasty little play.
And what now...hm. That would work. Trailing after her, he stopped a few feet away, arms folded in a relaxed manner across his chest. His quick hands were, in truth, getting something ready. "So. While I do enjoy this...meaningful conversation, I do believe you'll be expected home soon."
He saw that somewhat startled question in her eyes, but the needle was in her arm before she could move to ask. The thief watched those dark and fiery eyes dull after a few seconds, and he caught the drugged girl as she began to collapse. And he suddenly realized the commitment he had just made. Now, not only would he have to get out with his life, he was obliged to actually take the girl back to her place....He wasn't so much of a b*****d that he'd just leave her out here. He'd seen the tracks of a bear wander through. Hmph...
...If he remembered correctly, the home of Miss Iris Nefretiri was clear on the other side of the city. Damn five mile walk.....
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:46 pm
She felt like she had been in a knock-down-drag-out and lost. Badly. A soft murmur escaped her lips as she shifted in what she thought was a bed, barely aware of where she was. The last thing she remembered was being cause in someone's arms, Deste's...after the b*****d had drugged her. Mmph...she was too...something, to be angry.
A hand traveled to her face to rub her eyes, while the rest of her tried to figure out what was going on. She felt soft, fine sheets underneath her. The scent in the air was a mixture of exotic white jasmine - her favorite scent - and..something foreign. It was dark, and comfortably quiet. The dead give-away was the feel of a feather to her left, where Ma'at normally slept at night.
She carefully lifted her torso to sit up in the bed that she now recognized as her own, waiting a moment before opening her eyes and welcoming a swirling vision. Her bed was illuminated by the moonlight flooding through the large window to her right, and she noticed that the upper half of her body was a deep purple, as opposed to the crimson of her bed sheets. Good, she was still clothed. Looking around, she didn't see anything too different...but something definitely was. After all, there was a foreign smell in the air - not bad, just different. Her eyes slowly returning to clarity, they swept the room slowly...before coming to rest on a figure in the corner closest to her. Iris' dark hair fell in confused waves all over her face, so she had to take a moment to clear them away from her face completely before attempting a more thorough look. Right next to a painting of Horus was her captor, sitting still and quiet, watching her from an almost bird-like perch upon a chair. The woman said nothing, at first...she simply stared at him, still trying to regain the rest of her bearings.
Ma'at made a soft 'coo'ing sound, and Iris laid a hand upon her, not removing her eyes from the man in the corner. Oddly enough, her question was probably the most obvious one at the time - "...not that I'm complaining, but how did you know where I live?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:48 pm
The thief offered her a wry half-smile. Somehow, he felt more 'pleasant' when not on a job. That, and he knew he was relatively safe, thanks to hiding away in the girl's home, surrounded by....several things he'd like to inspect. He was controlling himself though, not that he knew why he hadn't even pocketed a few things....much to his chagrin. Anyway.
"You'd be surprised how much dirt you could dig up after just four weeks in a city, even one of this size. For example..." he paused to unfold himself from the corner and stand, and began to slowly pace the room, arms folded in a contemplative manner. "I know that your entire family has an...extravagant spending habit." Deste tended to try and find out things about potential employers. "Your father, Amun senior, is a well-established politician and businessman. Your mother is the daughter of a wealthy family from country in the south, and goes two Tuesdays a month to gossip with her friends over tea. Your brother..." he paused again, smirking a bit, though the expression seemed to be tailored toward contempt and disgust. "...Entertains frequently throughout the week, hiring often for himself and friends."
Deste paused in his pacing, not bothering to check the girl's reaction to his statements about her...or rather, her family. He knew enough about her to establish that she was from that family and shared a taste for expensive things...but as far as dirty little secrets went, he had nothing on her. Strange. And looking at her, he felt, would somehow confirm that he found her strangeness, her individuality, to be a fascination to him. No, he wasn't ready to admit to having a fascination for -any- human.
Turning towards the window, he moved aside the drape with one hand, letting a lace of sunlight stream into the room. Hm....a carriage was pulling up. Moving the curtain a bit more, the man smirked when he found none other than the infamous Amun junior stepping out of it.
And her brother just happened to glance up tot he window space the thief was currently occupying. Now this could turn into an interesting morning....Stepping back and letting the drape fall back into place, Deste turned around to look at Iris, his face cocked in an amused expression. "It seems as though your brother has come to pay a visit, Miss Nefretiri..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:49 pm
"My brother is a pervert. Please, if you ever get hired to kill him, do it quickly."
She sighed, slowly getting out of bed to take a look for herself out the window. Not that she didn't believe him, she just wanted to see it. Right now, she really didn't care what he knew of her and her family - fascinating, but it was only mildly more amusing than what the normal guns-for-hire knew. He was more thorough. She respected it, but other than that...yeah. Straightening, Iris forced herself back to 'normal' in a very small span of time. Cleaned herself up, looked a bit more presentable - just in time, as she could hear Amun entering her home. She went to leave the room, but stopped at the door, turning to look at Deste. "I suggest staying in this room...only because I think Amun may have liked the man you killed. He's no threat on his own, but he does share my father's genes...and I'm sure you've dug up more on my father...and brother....than just his social standing."
With that, she left, closing the door behind her and traveling downstairs. Her brother waited at the base, an arrogantly amused look on his face combined with a cocky, one-hand-in-pocket pose that meant...well.....nevermind. She didn't greet him, opting to walk past him and into the kitchen instead. Oh, but he wouldn't be swayed so easily.
"My my, quite a disappearing act you pulled out there...one moment you're there, the next you're gone. Are you alright?"
He really didn't care. She knew that. "Yes, I am."
"So, did you find him?"
She..lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh, don't play innocent. I saw you go in the woods after him. Everyone was talking about it."
"If you listened carefully, brother, you would know that I was going after Ma'at."
"I'm sure.....sleeping with the enemy. I'm proud of you."
"Actually, sleeping with the ally." she said, smiling at his rather surprised expression. "He's in my bedroom right now. You should go look, say hi, sit and chat, invite him to one of your little parties."
"Cute. You should know better than to toy with me."
"And you should know better than to come here and expect me not to."
His eyes narrowed. Yep, he had had enough of her smart-a** for today. "You had better be careful, little sis. I'm the eldest, I hold the cards."
"Keep telling yourself that. It'll make it all the more easier for me to take everything right out from under your nose when the time comes." she said quietly, smiling at him.
Amun made a move t'wards her, but she gave him a look so fierce that he paused. He had no qualms against hurting a woman, and he would be so quick to get her out of his way....except he knew that she could handle herself, at least against him. "Leave, before you do something you regret, dear brother." she spoke, still softly, but with a more deadly tone.
Holding her gaze, he straightened, and did as all their kind - returned to normal in a flash. He smiled sweetly and embraced her as only a good brother would. "Take care, Iris. I will try to make another visit later. You seem a bit off...don't forget, mother expects us at the estate next week for the Rashki gathering."
She nodded, and bid him farewell as he left...God, she had made an art out of getting rid of him...
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:50 pm
Deste made an attempt to listen to the conversation occurring downstairs, to no avail. They spoke politely for a sibling pair rumored to be "the most openly quarrelous ever to be seen in public." Other rather...nasty rumors too about a relationship much more sexual, but considering how clean Iris's closet seemed to be - even if the "pervert brother's" wasn't - the man was relatively sure that they were just rumors.
Though, what he found shifting through her things...maybe a not-so-clean closet. Now this was interesting.
Tossing his findings onto her bed and earning a distrustful glare from the woman's griffin, Deste wandered to the window and stole a glance out. The carriage was still there; probably enough time for him to climb up and check on Kalei. Why the thief cared about the creature, he didn't know. But the avian's loyalty to the human was something that the latter wasn't used to; faith without pay, expectation, or ridicule. Just some food, a grooming here or there. He was a useful creature, more trainable than a dog or horse. And at the rate the thing was growing, would probably end up fiercer and larger too.
He swung quietly out of the window and up onto the top story, where Kalei raised his head and gave what sounded like a pleased whistle. Around him were the bones of...whatever haunches of meet the guardian of the bird had looted from their host. Snorting, Deste gave him a quick pat, and climbed back down. Bored now, he decided to venture into the hall, the blonde griffin still glaring at him all the way out the door as he crept silently into the hall.
And he caught the middle of a VERY interesting conversation.
"....sleeping with the enemy. I'm proud of you."
"Actually, sleeping with the ally."
Really now? His thoughts turned back to the items he'd dug up from her things. It honestly made him wonder now; just who was she really? It occurred to him that he was letting himself become more interested in her than was safe, but...Feh. No excuse. Might as well accept the fact that there was something about her he liked.
The bandit slipped silently back into her room when he heard the girl stepping back up the stairs. He had one of her whips in her hands by the time she stepped back into the room, and by that time her griffin was hissing at him. Apparently, she used these for something, and Ma'at associated whatever it was she used them for with danger. Interesting indeed.
He turned to grin cheekily at her startled expression of seeing him holding another of her things. "So..." he started, trying to curb his amusement at her words, "You're sleeping with me now? And here I thought you never entertained....or am I missing something?" he asked, voice toned to suggestiveness as he uncoiled the leather rope.
Deste watched the fire flare in those dark eyes. Pretty things they were, like sparkling black jewels. "No."
"Damn." he said, turning away. "I find that...." he searched for a word, and nearly startled himself by using the one he chose, "...arousing."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:51 pm
She found herself a bit surprised at his words. A bit irritated at the entertainment comment - though she could see where that would seem to be evident - but more surprised at other things. Aroused? Damn...first he tries to kill her. Twice. And now he's smiling and making sexual comments t'wards her..not that she didn't welcome them, but..well, no time for that. She was attracted to him, though. Iris didn't try to deny it, there was something dangerous about him - that bad-boy that every girl liked...but there was also something else. Something that made her like his eyes. Didn;t know what it was. Oh well.
Iris walked past him, smiling as she opened the middle drawer of her dresser. "As sexual as that one may seem..." she said, lifting a closed black case from the drawer and placing it on the bed. "These," she paused there, opening the case, "Are the real things. That one is just practice."
Inside the case were two identical, carbon steel whips that could obviously do quite a bit of damage. They were each about 7 and a half feet long, coiled and shining in the moonlight like two snakes prepared to strike. Iris has them special made about two years prior, and they had serve her well - there was a reason no one knew of a good majority of her exploits, and that was because few believed it. Her next thought got voiced as she sat down on her bed. "People know what to do when you pull a knife on them, but they start to falter when you prevent them from getting within eight feet of yourself. They get nervous when steel threatens to both slice them open and break their neck."
She wondered vaguely why she was being so candid...but, somehow, she had a feeling they were both being a bit uncharacteristic of themselves. After all, this was an odd situation. Leaning back, she stroked Ma'at's feathers to sooth the bird's hissing. She was just being protective, couldn't fault her for that.
"I doubt you'll tell me, but why were you hired to take out that man tonight? Seems a bit odd, from my perspective."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:53 pm
"Odd, you say?" he echoed thoughtfully, mock-considering the answer to the question even as he kept his eyes on her...weapons.
Deste wasn't entirely sure what he made of this woman. She surprised him far more than any living creature had surprised him in years. For the most part, since coming to this country, he'd been met by the same similarities of people as those in Albion, where he had spent the better (or the worse, if he thought about it) part of this existence. He'd never met a woman quite like Iris...well, almost no one. Intriguing to say the least. Irritating also, because if he became too involved with her - which, a gut feeling told him he was about to - then she became a liability. If there was ever a time that she wished to turn on him, she had the power and influence to do so. The thief had already run once, and he didn't know if he'd receive another chance to.
"What, in your perspective, makes it odd that an assassin might kill someone?" There. Now she was a liability.
He couldn't figure her out though. The girl's choice of defenses was very...different. For one of his path in life, a quality of uniqueness was dangerous; secrecy was the golden rule. If you could be identified easily, you didn't make a good thief, assassin, whatever. Hence why he used non-descript and un-noteworthy throwing knives when he went on killing jobs. The daggers he'd stolen the first time he met Iris had also been stripped of anything identifying; blacksmith's plate, ornaments, everything but the blade, hilt, and handle.
And yet here was someone an opposite of himself, completely. Deste supposed, in a world of conformity where her class was expected to act and think a certain way, well...some of her characteristics made sense. Some....still didn't. Perhaps he'd never understand those born of noble blood. No...he wouldn't, because he hated them.
All but her...loathed her still for making him reconsider things that had been solid in his mind for years, but hate...no.
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