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Since his return from the prison cell, and the ensuing events at the train station, Aurostibite’s time had been spent mostly with Mintaka in their home, or patrolling out across the city. He hadn’t had much time to do his normal amount of work in the city, secluded away in the workshop his apartment now served as; and he had the feeling it was rather empty as of late. He still maintained the place to make it look as though he was still living there, mostly to protect Mintaka, but he could not keep up the facade for long.
Now, though, he paced the streets late at night, dark hair rippling behind him in thick black curls that reached almost to his waist, growing longer each and every day. The blue and green strands stood out starkly bright against the black, and it was the only real bright thing about his appearance, barring the single peacock feather in his hat. For the most part, Aurostibite was able to blend quietly into his surroundings, shifting through the shadows in silence.
He needed to gather starseeds for Umber’s project, but the streets were quiet tonight, Aurostibite having already pulled one or two from the drug addicts he’d found lounging pathetically in the alleyways between buildings. Now he was standing half doused in shadow, leaning against the wall, watching the girl across the street with narrowed eyes.
She had just come out of a bookshop, but the deserted streets would make it easier.
Now, though, he paced the streets late at night, dark hair rippling behind him in thick black curls that reached almost to his waist, growing longer each and every day. The blue and green strands stood out starkly bright against the black, and it was the only real bright thing about his appearance, barring the single peacock feather in his hat. For the most part, Aurostibite was able to blend quietly into his surroundings, shifting through the shadows in silence.
He needed to gather starseeds for Umber’s project, but the streets were quiet tonight, Aurostibite having already pulled one or two from the drug addicts he’d found lounging pathetically in the alleyways between buildings. Now he was standing half doused in shadow, leaning against the wall, watching the girl across the street with narrowed eyes.
She had just come out of a bookshop, but the deserted streets would make it easier.
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On the doorstep of the bookstore, Olga paused and peeked into the bag, just to triple check that she had the required books for one of her classes. Satisfied, she gave herself a fox eyed smile and with a cheerful swing stepped off the step and started to head back in the direction of her apartment. She knew she should have bought these sooner but...things...got in the way…(cough finishing up some smut writing commissions so that she actually had some spending money).
Oh well.
She had them now, would get through them relatively quick, and then be well on her way to earning her higher education to become one of the greatest romance novelists ever to grace the face of the planet. Yes.
Oh well.
She had them now, would get through them relatively quick, and then be well on her way to earning her higher education to become one of the greatest romance novelists ever to grace the face of the planet. Yes.
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It was a ridiculous hour of the night (the bookstore was a family owned, twenty-four hour thing with a late night coffee bar), which meant that for the most part, everywhere else was deserted. Even the bookstore, with its dim lighting and lingering customers were hidden behind heavy drapes that covered the windows, meaning no one would see anything if they looked out.
Still, he waited until she was a little farther away, out of earshot, before he made his move.
His footsteps were silent across the ground, clicking only once, twice on the pavement. She was not powered; he could tell from the lack of a signature, and even if she was, to power up in front of him would have been too dangerous, which meant that he had the advantage. Aurostibite sipped into the next shadow, and then came up behind her, as soft and quiet as a wraith.
“Good evening,” he said, voice flat, emotionless, and there was a glint of silver as a dagger slid into Aurostibite’s hand, the hilt feathered outwards.
“Read anything good lately?"
Still, he waited until she was a little farther away, out of earshot, before he made his move.
His footsteps were silent across the ground, clicking only once, twice on the pavement. She was not powered; he could tell from the lack of a signature, and even if she was, to power up in front of him would have been too dangerous, which meant that he had the advantage. Aurostibite sipped into the next shadow, and then came up behind her, as soft and quiet as a wraith.
“Good evening,” he said, voice flat, emotionless, and there was a glint of silver as a dagger slid into Aurostibite’s hand, the hilt feathered outwards.
“Read anything good lately?"
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At the flat voice coming directly behind her, the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up, and her heart leapt into her throat. Olga whipped around, simultaneously taking a step back as well, her black eyes widening briefly as she caught the silver, and her mouth dropped open in surprise. What the---
Seriously!?
Was she about to be robbed? Mugged!? Sure, her parents had warned her up and down until they were blue in the face about the ‘dangers of the big city’ (cue some jazz hands here), but she, of course, had brushed them off---They had also advised what to do. Hand over everything to the attacker, and yanno what?
Bullshit! Not that she had anything of value anyways...except her iPhone.
“Yeah---” Olga replied, and then flung her bag of purchased books at him. “Your face!” She then spun on her heel and took off.
Seriously!?
Was she about to be robbed? Mugged!? Sure, her parents had warned her up and down until they were blue in the face about the ‘dangers of the big city’ (cue some jazz hands here), but she, of course, had brushed them off---They had also advised what to do. Hand over everything to the attacker, and yanno what?
Bullshit! Not that she had anything of value anyways...except her iPhone.
“Yeah---” Olga replied, and then flung her bag of purchased books at him. “Your face!” She then spun on her heel and took off.
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Unfortunately, for Olga, Aurostibite was a great deal faster than he looked - though the bag of books tossed into his face did succeed in throwing him off. He gave a hiss of irritation and surprise, momentarily entangled in plastic and paper, finally managing to get himself free, taking off down the street. She was several feet ahead of him by this point, and inwardly he cursed the damn books.
(It was almost as bad as Amphitrite throwing that stupid branch at him during their first meeting, though Aurostibite wasn’t quite sure if there was anything that actually topped that.)
He could have thrown the dagger at her retreating back, but he didn’t want to kill her. Aurostibite gave an annoyed snarl, and, as he gained speed, stretched out a hand, reaching for the back of her shirt, his fingers grazing the fabric.
(It was almost as bad as Amphitrite throwing that stupid branch at him during their first meeting, though Aurostibite wasn’t quite sure if there was anything that actually topped that.)
He could have thrown the dagger at her retreating back, but he didn’t want to kill her. Aurostibite gave an annoyed snarl, and, as he gained speed, stretched out a hand, reaching for the back of her shirt, his fingers grazing the fabric.
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You know, in hindsight...she probably...no...no she definitely could have downloaded those books from the internet. Yeah. Probably could have avoided this entire thing tonight, actually.
SIGH.
Her adrenaline was pumping, and she felt pretty sure that he wouldn’t pursue her--after all she had gotten rid of some of her valuables---though what a robber would want with some college required reading was beyond her---no. Nevermind. It was never beyond her imagination. You know what wasn’t beyond her imagination? Those fingers that managed to snag her flannel. Gah! It was fight or flight, but in this case for her, fight AND flight. Since he got her flannel shirt, she let him have it, slipping her arms out of the long sleeved shirt. She then spun around, aiming to try and catch him off guard with a roundhouse kick. She never intended to actually use her kick boxing lessons for self defense but...hey.
Guess they were now. Maybe if she could throw him off for real this time...she could get out of here!
SIGH.
Her adrenaline was pumping, and she felt pretty sure that he wouldn’t pursue her--after all she had gotten rid of some of her valuables---though what a robber would want with some college required reading was beyond her---no. Nevermind. It was never beyond her imagination. You know what wasn’t beyond her imagination? Those fingers that managed to snag her flannel. Gah! It was fight or flight, but in this case for her, fight AND flight. Since he got her flannel shirt, she let him have it, slipping her arms out of the long sleeved shirt. She then spun around, aiming to try and catch him off guard with a roundhouse kick. She never intended to actually use her kick boxing lessons for self defense but...hey.
Guess they were now. Maybe if she could throw him off for real this time...she could get out of here!
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Damn! Not even a knock over!? She needed better lessons (or maybe just to actually practice harder)! Though, she also could help but note, as she involuntarily froze as the knife was pointed at her neck, this had to be the weirdest...robbery ever. Well...okay, she’d seen some TV shows with some pretty ridiculous robberies, but this was still...odd. Also---
Why did her attacker have to be hot?
Also, why was he wearing what looked like some kind of military uniform with a peacock feather in it--
“...Screw that, guy!” She replied, and her hands snapped to her messenger bag. Olga then flashed him.
With a polaroid camera.
Why did her attacker have to be hot?
Also, why was he wearing what looked like some kind of military uniform with a peacock feather in it--
“...Screw that, guy!” She replied, and her hands snapped to her messenger bag. Olga then flashed him.
With a polaroid camera.
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The bright flash of the camera took him completely by surprise, Aurostibite letting out a startled yell, lights sparking in front of his eyes. It momentarily blinded him, his grip on the knife wavering - but if she thought it was going to deter him completely, she was sadly mistaken. Once he had the thought in his mind, there was little anyone could do to dissuade him from his goal.
He was part of the Negaverse, after all. He had a job to do, and he was going to do it.
Aurostibite’s hand shot out blindly, seeking the young woman’s wrist, a snarl on his lips. He was aiming for her wrist, but any part of her would do, he just needed to touch her to start the draining process, his knife still raised as he blinked back spots, the lights slowly beginning to dim.
“That was not a smart idea.”
He was part of the Negaverse, after all. He had a job to do, and he was going to do it.
Aurostibite’s hand shot out blindly, seeking the young woman’s wrist, a snarl on his lips. He was aiming for her wrist, but any part of her would do, he just needed to touch her to start the draining process, his knife still raised as he blinked back spots, the lights slowly beginning to dim.
“That was not a smart idea.”
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The picture fluttered to the ground once it was taken, and Olga let out her own startled yelp as one of his hands finally landed on her. She tried jerking her wrist out of his grasp, while still holding onto the camera, and accidently snapped another photo as her finger jerked on the trigger. What the--
Once his hand was on her, she was starting to feel sluggish, where only moments before she felt like she could flip a car--
She tried yanking her arm out of his grip again.
“Messing with me wasn’t a smart idea---Let go!”
Once his hand was on her, she was starting to feel sluggish, where only moments before she felt like she could flip a car--
She tried yanking her arm out of his grip again.
“Messing with me wasn’t a smart idea---Let go!”
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He’d thankfully - finally managed to get ahold of her. Aurostibite was still blinking light out of his eyes, but everything was slowly coming into focus now, his grip becoming tighter around the girl’s wrist as his gaze cleared. She was a feisty one, but he wasn’t about to let go anytime soon; and now that he had her wrist, it would be much easier.
“I told you,” he said, as the dagger disappeared - he wouldn’t need it anymore, energy draining process already beginning. He could feel it seeping through her, pooling between his fingers; and she would start to feel tired within a few minutes.
“If you had just stayed still, this would all have been over quickly.”
“I told you,” he said, as the dagger disappeared - he wouldn’t need it anymore, energy draining process already beginning. He could feel it seeping through her, pooling between his fingers; and she would start to feel tired within a few minutes.
“If you had just stayed still, this would all have been over quickly.”
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She tried. She really did, but every tug and pull just seemed to aid her rapidly depleting energy. Her limbs started to sag, and she felt herself getting closer to the ground as her legs couldn’t keep her up anymore. She blinked furiously, trying to will her eyes to stay open as she tried to muster the energy to glare daggers at him.
Definitely the weirdest robbery ever.
“Wh-who are you? What are you?”
Definitely the weirdest robbery ever.
“Wh-who are you? What are you?”
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He followed her down without much effort, reaching out to help steady her as she sank lower and lower. Clearly he’d had practice - too much practice - in dealing with things like this, Aurostibite’s gaze impassive as he looked at her. There was the brief, faintest flicker of something in his eyes - regret? No, something else, something darker, before it dissipated.
“Sorry,” he said, and it wasn’t an apology, not really, more just a word to say in lieu of anything else. “But I’m afraid you don’t get to know that just yet.”
He reached out a gloved hand and placed it atop her head - not heavily, but simply, lightly.
“Sleep now,” Aurostibite said quietly. “It’ll be over soon.”
“Sorry,” he said, and it wasn’t an apology, not really, more just a word to say in lieu of anything else. “But I’m afraid you don’t get to know that just yet.”
He reached out a gloved hand and placed it atop her head - not heavily, but simply, lightly.
“Sleep now,” Aurostibite said quietly. “It’ll be over soon.”
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At some point her camera had clattered to the ground. It sounded far away, and she idly hoped it wasn’t broken. Those things were hella expensive to repair. She blinked once, and fought hard to keep staring up at him, her eyelids feeling like they weighed a ton. “I will---” She blinked twice, feeling that pleasant looseness of the body that came with the promise of sleep, and her eyes barely managed to crack open.
“Count on it, guy---” She blinked a third time, and fell asleep.
“Count on it, guy---” She blinked a third time, and fell asleep.
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He pulled his hand away as she fell asleep, not wanting to pull so much that it would cause physical damage or death. For a moment, Aurostibite simply watched her, took note of the fact that she was still breathing, and then reached for her things, settling them carefully around her, tucked so that they were not obvious. It was a secluded area; she shouldn’t be disturbed here, at least not while she was still asleep. She’d wake up in a few hours, and feel a little tired, but there would be no lasting effects.
Aurostibite stood, brushing a bit of dust from his pants, and as he walked away, back to his patrol, his foot knocked into the photograph.
It would be a slightly blurred picture of him, but it was still there, and he didn’t notice it, didn’t remember to take it as he slipped off into the night.
Aurostibite stood, brushing a bit of dust from his pants, and as he walked away, back to his patrol, his foot knocked into the photograph.
It would be a slightly blurred picture of him, but it was still there, and he didn’t notice it, didn’t remember to take it as he slipped off into the night.
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She blinked once, again, and then thrice before she snapped up, her head whipping around with wide eyed alarm.
She was alone...and...on the ground. Right where that guy---Olga patted herself down, both confused and relieved to find that she had all her stuff---wait. She shifted, knocking into her camera and flannel and---wow. Even her books she had purchased. Olga stared down at her items with an utterly baffled expression. Weirdest. Robbery. Ever. He didn’t even take any---
She felt for her iPhone. It was there, and checking the time revealed it had been a few hours since she had left the book store. Still utterly baffled, Olga sat there stunned for a bit longer before common sense dictated that it was very late at night, and being here, alone, with stuff, and thus a bad idea to stay out...lest she get...actually robbed?
Hrm.
Olga collected her stuff and stood, feeling tired still, but…alive at least? She was about to turn in the direction of home when faint flash of white caught the corner of her eye. She back tracked, and once she drew closer she immediately knew what it was. The photo she had taken. Olga knelt quickly, wavering a bit as she picked up the photograph and peered at it. Blurry, yeah, but still. Very recognizable to her.
That weird...military gentleman...vampire?...guy.
She was robbed of something...nothing of monetary value but...something... She peered at the photograph for a moment longer before she stood, and then, finally, made her way back home. She wasn’t sure how yet, or when---but she was going to find him.
That was a promise.
She was alone...and...on the ground. Right where that guy---Olga patted herself down, both confused and relieved to find that she had all her stuff---wait. She shifted, knocking into her camera and flannel and---wow. Even her books she had purchased. Olga stared down at her items with an utterly baffled expression. Weirdest. Robbery. Ever. He didn’t even take any---
She felt for her iPhone. It was there, and checking the time revealed it had been a few hours since she had left the book store. Still utterly baffled, Olga sat there stunned for a bit longer before common sense dictated that it was very late at night, and being here, alone, with stuff, and thus a bad idea to stay out...lest she get...actually robbed?
Hrm.
Olga collected her stuff and stood, feeling tired still, but…alive at least? She was about to turn in the direction of home when faint flash of white caught the corner of her eye. She back tracked, and once she drew closer she immediately knew what it was. The photo she had taken. Olga knelt quickly, wavering a bit as she picked up the photograph and peered at it. Blurry, yeah, but still. Very recognizable to her.
That weird...military gentleman...vampire?...guy.
She was robbed of something...nothing of monetary value but...something... She peered at the photograph for a moment longer before she stood, and then, finally, made her way back home. She wasn’t sure how yet, or when---but she was going to find him.
That was a promise.
