|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 4:56 pm
Sariza was in an absolute daze. Her bare feet stumbled down the broken pathway, sloshing through muck and gods only knew what on her way to...wherever she was going. The smuggler had said she was gone for two days but was that right? It was all such a blur in her mind that the Oban visibly groaned and reached up to cup her aching head. There wasn’t a speck of her body that wasn’t bruised or cut so even the act of leaning against a nearby building hurt.
Her body felt lighter than usual. Of course part of it was the drug still flowing through her veins, but what she noticed was the lack of armor on her skin. They’d taken everything they could before tossing her in that cell and now she was free...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 4:57 pm
Valek had been in the less savory areas of Oba to try and make some form of profit. The teen often stole for fun and found that trading in the black market was the best way to avoid notice of the palace guard. What he didn't plan on was helping someone who looked like they were on the verge of death today. Usually he would avoid most fights so that he could go in and out with whatever 'errands' he had finished but for some reason Valek found himself slowing down at the sight of the Oban woman bleeding all over the street. "On'os." He swore before turning around so that he could approach the woman. "Are you just planning on staying here so someone can harvest some parts or somethin'?" Hopefully not but Valek didn't recognize her at all so surely she was either new or not meant to be here at all.
[Sabra via Discord]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 5:00 pm
Sariza was only vaguely aware of bodies coming and going around her. She'd moved a little past her original post, but in all honesty she was happy just to stay in one spot while her head spun. It was only when one shape stopped so close to her that she craned her head up to look at...a young man? Two of them? "Is that...why you're here?" What was he trying to harvest? Was she near a farm?
[2/10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:32 am
Oh gods. Valek squinted his gaze as he studied the obviously disconnected woman. "Can you tell me your name?" He finally asked, his dark silver gaze darting back and forth as he kept an eye on both sides of the alleyway. Could he even get both of them out without running into any issues? His lips pursed into a tight line as he waited to see if she had some sense of awareness to give him a little hope. If she didn't then he wasn't certain what he could do for her besides trying to drag her into a safer place or somewhere more out of sight until she was more alert.
[Sabra via Discord]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:44 am
There was something about the question that gave her far more to consider than it should. Still, after some time, she gave a small nod. “My name is Sariza.” Her voice was scratchy, but slightly solid. The woman may not know everything but what she DID know was fact. “I’m not…supposed to be here. I need to go home.”
[3/10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:45 am
A sigh of resignation left Valek's lips as he realized he wouldn't feel right leaving the woman here. "Alright, Sariza." He began as he reached out a hand towards her. "Then let's get you home. Can you direct me?" Maybe he could ask some of the guard for help but it would be risky considering where they were coming from. If she was from a notable family then perhaps it would be good to get her to safety so that her family could deal with the mess but if she was some nameless woman in a bad state then maybe things would only get worse in the hands of the city guard. Valek pursed his lips tightly as he would much rather avoid prison or having to use his father's connections, especially when he was supposed to be in Matori and not sneaking around Oba for the few days he had away from the academy. Either way he was just focused on trying to get them both out of this area and into a safer place so that he could check over Sariza for any injuries and let the drugs work their way out of her system. Some fresh water and rest will do her good. Damn. This day was definitely not going as expected. He truly was a sucker for a cute girl but he did not want to leave her alone out here like this.
[Sabra via Discord]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:00 am
For a moment the Oban debated on taking his hand. She was just aware enough to know that something about this was because of a yaeli, and his eyes...Still, she reached up and took it. She didn't want to be here anymore and if this got her out of the street then how bad could he be?
Looking around caused Sariza to frown. "I'm not...sure where to go..." If she'd been in this part of the city before she couldn't remember it. And that...was alarming..."Millan's Flower Shop." How many times had father told her to go there when she was in trouble? The shop owner was ex-military and knew Hakan personally. If she got lost in the city she could always go to his shop. "It's in Sulburi. Are we still...in Sulburi?"
[4/10]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:16 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"If you want to call this Sulburi, yes." Replied Valek without missing a beat as he tried to piece together the name of the flower shop with a location. If she was decently well off then perhaps it would be in the upper district? It was hard to tell considering her attire and overall state of being. Yet she didn't look starved so that was something. Her hands though...Sariza definitely knew how to hold a weapon. That much Valek easily guessed when he tugged her upwards and towards him. Thankfully he wasn't scrawny himself with all of the training he had endured during the last two years in Matori.
"Just follow me. If we can get to the main market I'm sure we'll find this Millan place for ya." He promised, his fingers tightening around her hand as he peered down the alleyway. Just a left then three rights before going under the bridge... "You uh aren't being chased at the moment, are you?" He asked while debating how quickly they should be moving. Would have definitely been a rough day if he had pissed off some people as well but thankfully he had already lost them earlier this morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:21 am
[5/10]
That's all she needed to hear, really. They were close enough that she was still within the city and although the logical part of Sariza knew that didn't mean squat given it's size hazy Sariza was satisfied.
She walked along beside him easily enough despite a few stumbles. Physically the Oban was starting to, slowly, come around. Her brain may have been in a fog, but the texture of his hand and of the wind on her wounds was more real to her now than it had been before.
"Oh, yes." Sariza answered dully and slowly turned to look at him. "Matori smugglers and a little yaeli." She held her hand up closer to his shoulder, furrowed her brow and dropped it roughly half an inch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:29 am
"Oh great. I'm so glad you have friends." Quipped Valek with a groan. Out of all the things for him to fall into! Matori smugglers were the worst and he had irked his fair share of them while darting around the southern docks. And to think he left his familiar home so she couldn't even help him out. Valek frowned thoughtfully before his gaze settled on some burlap sacks. One had been torn open and Valek wasted no time in picking it up and shaking it free of the little rodents that scurried further into the alley.
"Worst case I'll distract anyone that shows up but here." He handed the torn pieces to Sariza. "A makeshift headscarf to look more like some beggar may buy us time if they're out looking for ya." It wouldn't hide her but it could perhaps give them a few extra seconds since her pursuers may need a double take to confirm the identity. He'd make certain to add some dirt to that affect as well. It wasn't uncommon for urchins to walk these streets after all and even Valek made certain to wear simple, dark clothing when coming this way. Not like it helped much with his obvious hybrid appearance but still.
[Sabra via Discord]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:35 am
[6/10]
"Don't you?" Sariza raised her brow. Was that why he was alone out here, at this time of night? She watched passively as he lifted the sack, only showing some form of animation when the little pests ran out.
Still, it seemed that even in her inebriated state Sariza still had a sense of herself. She curled her lip at the thought of putting that thing around her head, but ultimately sighed and tried her best to make it work. "It smells like mold." By the end of it she looked worse than she had initially, which was truly something, given that she had looked like a vagrant before!
"Why aren't you wearing one?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:42 am
"Don't need them." Replied Valek without hesitation, his sober demeanor only breaking at Sariza's commentary. "Better than other things. I'm sure you can take a wonderful bath to freshen up later." He replied before giving her a small smile and pulling out a plain black scarf for himself from his satchel. Not like it helped when one could see his eyes but it did hide his purple hair at least.
"I'm not the one they're lookin' for anyways." He offered with a slight shrug before holding a hand up to stop her from moving. A finger raised to his lips before he darted out alone to check out the next alleyway before gesturing for Sariza to follow him.
[Sabra via Discord]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 8:50 am
[7/10]
"A cold bath. A quick one to wake me up..." She mused groggily before reaching back up for her head. Why couldn't she seem to wake up? Everything around her seemed to be in a void and though she was physically moving, thanks to his efforts, mentally she was thousands of miles away.
"You're not? Then why are we running?" Despite the situation Sariza made no effort to lower her voice and though she wasn't outright yelling it was definitely audible in the quiet night. When he only seemed to move away from her Sariza moved to get a little closer. "What are you looking for?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:05 am
Valek let out a soft hiss of frustration. He knew she wasn't completely there but it didn't make anything less frustrating. The hybrid simply shot her a glare before sudden noise made him tense up. Without hesitating he grabbed Sariza and pushed her into a narrow space, hidden in the shadows of the alley, and he made certain to keep a hand over her mouth. It was just best not to try and make any new acquaintances tonight. It felt like an eternity but eventually the strangers trudged on their way and Valek waited a good few moments before pulling away from Sariza.
"Tea." He breathed finally as he glanced over her. "I will get you some herbs to brew when we get to the market." Valek figured his words wouldn't make sense to her, not much would probably right now, but surely a good drink could help flush the drugs out of her system.
[Sabra via Discord]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:10 am
[8/10]
Sariza opened her mouth into a small 'o' before blessedly taking the hint. He looked a lot like her captors when he did that, and it made her a little nervous. Was he actually a bad guy, then? He hadn't knocked her out yet or hit her, so she didn't think he was, but maybe.... She was about to say something else when all of a sudden she was pushed back into the alley and made a 'umph!' of surprise.
What was it with hybrids and being aggressive in alleyways?!
Hybrids....
"Faisal!" Sariza immediately slapped a hand over her mouth and turned guiltily toward the boy. "Sorry..." This time her voice was much, MUCH lower. "Tea sounds nice..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
