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 Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 1:13 pm
Rory hadn't meant to leave the soup kitchen so late, but there'd been an influx of people that day and she had a hard time leaving before everyone was fed and the kitchen cleaned up. Her pops was gonna be so mad because she was out past curfew, but what was she supposed to do?
Leave the hungry to fend for themselves?
That just wasn't something she thought herself capable of doing.
Predictably, there were several texts and about four missed calls on her outdated iPhone 4s, all from her worried pops. She sighed, unable to keep the fond grin off her lips as she walked down the dimly lit streets that would lead her from the soup kitchen back to her house. She shot a quick, got held up with the volunteer work, be home in 20 to her dad before tucking her phone into the small purse slung across her chest and thumping against her hip.
The weather had been bad, with puddles still lining the sidewalks and even the streets, so she didn't bother to bring her board with her despite wishing for it. She'd rather keep it in running condition than risk ruining it. She - and her dad - didn't have the money to get her a new one.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:33 am
He'd gathered enough energy to last quite a while, Aurostibite considering the evening mostly a success. He walked now along the darkened streets, dark hair cascading freely over his back, and Behellagh had been sent back to the Rift for now, Aurostibite heading away.
Or he would have, had he not spotted the girl - and the youma.
It was somewhere within the shadows. He saw the shape of it, the black mass beginning to shift behind the walking figure, twisting and curling in a messy, ungraceful form of something long and snakelike, slithering along behind the pale haired figure.
Aurostibite slowed his steps, his eyes narrowing beneath the lowered brim of his hat. The youma was a weaker one; likely not able to kill right off the bat, and so instead of intervening, he stayed where he was, wondering what her reaction would be. Bloodstone had shown promise in his attempts at fighting back, and had ultimately been recruited. As for Kainite...well, Aurostibite wasn't going to think too hard about him.
Maybe tonight he'd find someone else with promise.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:10 am
Rory knew that travelling at night was dangerous, it had been highlighted in her texts from her pop, but she hadn't, despite living in DC for practically her entire life, encountered the dangers she knew lurked in the shadows or the dark of the night. So, there hadn't been anything to prepare her for well - the snake thing that was looming behind her.
She felt the presence before she actually saw it and - well she wasn't proud, but she let out a shriek, spinning on her heel and backing up as fast as she could without letting her eyes leave the monster.
If anyone asked, it was a shriek of surprise not a shriek of terror thank you very much.
"I don't know what you are or what you want, but you're not gonna get it so you should, I don't know, slither away or something." She huffed, glaring at the creature as it continued to advance on her. She didn't know if it could understand or - or if it could, if it'd even care. She clutched at her back, sliding the strap over her head and making sure it was zipped shut, prepared to use it to defend herself is she had to.
After this, maybe she wouldn't insist her pops didn't need to pick her up anymore.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:45 am
He winced at her scream, eyes flickering, and for a moment, Aurostibite felt a wash of disappointment settle over him. If she was going to be easily frightened, then perhaps she was not the best candidate for recruitment after all.
But she wasn't running away, and that was more promising. He continued watching, his eyes slightly narrowed, and the youma was sliding towards her, hissing and spitting as it moved. The girl had taken her purse out - and the disappointment from earlier seemed to melt away the longer Aurostibite watched.
He'd wait just another minute. If she fought, if she defended, it was a good sign. If she tried to run, then it would be less satisfying, but he could perhaps get some energy from her all the same.
The youma lunged, and Aurostibite's blades appeared in his hands, held carefully at his sides, waiting for the right moment.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:57 am
She probably looked crazy, given that she wasn't hightailing it away from the snake creature AND she was making an attempt at talking to it. Hell, if she'd been on the other side of the street watching herself, she'd probably think, that chick is crazy, yet here she was, frowning at the beast like that'd make it go away.
"I'm not - " she huffed, fingers gripping the strap of her bag tightly, rearing up to smack the thing's head " - really in the mood, it's been a long day at the kitchen and I just wanna get home - " she didn't get to finish her train of thought because the youma decided now was the time to attack.
It lashed out at her, fangs bared, hissing and spitting. Without thinking, Rory swung her purse at it and there was a resounding craaaack that followed upon contact. The snake beast's face hit the pavement and, moving instinctively, the turquoise haired girl stepped forward and stomped as hard as she could on it's head.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:19 pm
He had given her two minutes and by the end of those two minutes, Aurostibite found himself pleased. She was not a shrinking flower; she did not shy away from the youma, in spite of her earlier shriek, and while she lacked experience, she had potential.
It was a good start.
He stepped forward, no longer attempting to conceal himself. Aurostibite came out of the shadows swiftly, the scalloped edge of his blade glinting in the moonlight as he moved. The youma was already whining, shrieking in protest, weakened by the girl's attacks, and in one quick, easy gesture, Aurostibite swung low and neatly sliced its head off.
It dissipated instantly, exploding into dust. He straightened and turned towards her, dark eyes quiet, his expression impassive.
"Are you all right?" Aurostibite asked.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 7:59 pm
In Rory's defense, anyone would've shrieked when startled like she'd been, especially when it looked like that. Of course, if she knew the dude was lurking in the shadows watching her so he could evaluate her worthiness, or take advantage of her and leave her passed out, well, she would've been very, very annoyed.
She might have even been pissed.
But, he strode over and decapitated the thing crushed beneath her heel and she let out a gasp of surprise, hopping back almost immediately. The monster crumbled into dust and she cocked her head, shock lining every part of her.
Her response should have been one of thanks but then she started thinking about how long he might've been hanging around. And if he'd been around long why hadn't he helped sooner.
Immediately Rory stepped back again, defiance written across her face as her chin tilted up so she could glare at him. "How long have you been there?" She asked pointedly, ignoring his polite question.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:32 pm
He seemed unfazed by her accusatory tone and the defiant expression on her face. If anything, Aurostibite felt pleased by this; it was indicative of a certain type of personality, one that he found quite satisfactory within the Negaverse. If he could manage to tame that, she would be a good asset.
"A few minutes," he said lightly. "I wanted to see if you could handle it."
He glanced around, then looked back at the girl.
"Which you did. My name is Aurostibite, by the way."
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:43 pm
"That's just great," Rory snapped, hands finding her hips as she glared up at the tall man with flowing locks of hair. "Fan-tastic," she hissed grasping at the bag strap across her torso as she stepped forward to glare at him. "You're an a*****e," the words slipped from her mouth before she could think twice about it.
"You think it's fun or funny to watch a - " she stopped faltering when she almost called herself a kid or girl but she was, to the older man in the funny looking outfit. "To watch a kid deal with," she waved an exasperated hand at the pile of dust beneath her feet, "whatever that was."
Maybe she was a little shaken over the whole ordeal but Rory was a tidal wave of turquoise hair as she stepped forward like the man with metal wings couldn't cut her up.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:30 pm
Throughout the girl's little tirade, Aurostibite just stood there serenely, his dark gaze never leaving her face; though he might have raised an eyebrow or two the more her tone rose and fell. She was young, after all; he had half expected this.
"No, not at all," he said truthfully, and the blades in Aurostibite's hands disappeared as he banished them back. He stood in front of her, arms at his sides, and said, "I knew you could handle it from the first few seconds of watching."
Not entirely true, but close enough. Aurostibite lifted both hands in front of him in a gesture of submission.
"I have an offer for you," he said, "One that will give you the ability to deal with creatures such as these without needing assistance."
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:28 pm
"I don't want anything you have to offer," Rory snapped, taking a strong step backward. Her heart was thudding in her chest at the realization that she was alone, in the dark coils of the night with a strange, dangerous man. "You're a creep, so I'll have to hard pass."
She shook her head at him, long locks of hair falling across her shoulders with the movement. "Oh, I thought I looked like I could handle it, why would you bother with someone who could already handle it." Her teeth set together as she scooted backward already, about to turn on heel and stalk off.
"But, I mean, who's to say you don't know better." Her pops would've been so mad at her for mouthing off to some guy she didn't even know, but Rory was riled up and it just so happened that Aurostibite was getting the brunt of it.
Fighting off a snake monster did that to a person she supposed.
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 6:31 pm
His head tilted a little, dark hair cascading down his back, and Aurostibite made no move to step closer to her. He very well knew the possible implications that could be drawn from their difference in age and gender, and he had little intention of giving her cause to run away.
Gloved fingers reached out, Aurostibite's demeanor remaining as quiet and controlled as ever as he said calmly, "Behellagh."
A small portal opened, growing wider; and a creature came stepping out of it, wings fluttering, soaring over in an arc of feathers and color as it landed beside Aurostibite. The youma reached up to about his knee in height; a monstrous construct of peacock and lion twisted and shifted together - however it stayed obediently near him, and did not approach the girl.
Aurostibite lowered his hand as the portal closed.
"I do know better," he said, fingers lifting to stroke along the top of Behellagh's head. "So about my offer...?"
He paused respectfully, an indication he was waiting for her name.
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:10 pm
Turquoise eyes widened in a mix of terror and awe when the man mumbled a word she didn't understand and a bird monster appeared, flying out of a portal in the ground.
What kind of sorcery was this?
The black magic kind, Rory was certain.
Her heart was thudding against her ribs in a such a manner that she thought it might burst free and leave her in a broken mess on the sidewalk. She took a hesitant step back, voice caught in her throat as her tongue pressed against her teeth, words attempting to form only to fall when they found the tip of her tongue.
"What the hell are you?" Pops would've scolded her for her language but in the moment Rory didn't care.
Her instincts were telling her to run and yet she stayed. "I'm not - you don't get - I'm not telling you my name until I know what freaky bull you're playing here is about," she stuttered stubbornly.
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:17 pm
Behellagh was easily tameable, resting proudly at her master's side. Aurostibite slid gloved fingers across her glossy feathers in an absentminded gesture, but his eyes remained on the girl, posture relaxed. He did not want to startle her or scare her; he was not going to hurt her and had little intention of forcing her. It would have to be willing, but he knew she had potential.
"A general," said Aurostibite now, simply. "A fighter. And I can make you one as well."
Behellagh crooned dolefully, and a little gust of wind ruffled through his hair, a few black strands falling across his face. Aurostibite kept his voice level, calmly surveying his hopefully next recruit.
"I can give you magic, if you want," he said.
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:27 pm
Rory couldn't help but peer at Behellagh with her strange combination of creatures and her odd, terrifying beauty. She was less frightening than the freaky snake thing but -
The teen was certain the creature was more dangerous. If only for the man it rested by.
"What does that mean? DC doesn't have a military." At least she didn't think so. She knew about the police force but a load of good they did. Buildings were getting destroyed constantly and really, the newspapers were still reporting on the "terrorists".
But those weren't things that Rory could help with, so she stuck with volunteering and now, it looked like her desire to do more for the "greater good" was getting her into trouble.
Figured.
"Why would you? I don't understand."
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