Ceeda
Covet slowly rubbed down a couple of tables. Today had been awfully slow as Veronica neared closing time. Matador had taken upon himself to take Enoch for an afternoon stroll, seeing as how he was not needed to keep the minimal business flowing. This had been Covet's life, and she could run Veronica just as smoothly as her owner. The beautiful bar was empty of customers at the moment and her thoughts had turned to Matador escorting the beautiful Enoch out the door. She just didn't understand why he could not stay with her instead. Why did he insist on spending all of his time with her? She straightened up when she finished the table and moved to the next one, twisting the white rag in her fists irritably.


Medea
Mecca leaned up against the wall of the alleyway, watching Veronica. Having long given up the pursuit of rats to torture, watching the bar had become something of an obsession.
His obsession was one of the many habits he had carried with him from childhood. Narrowing his eyes he watched from the shadows as Matador and the white skinned woman left. Engaged in some boring conversation they walked past him. Mecca pulled back into the shadows until they had gone. His sights set firmly on the colorful bar. Stepping out into the warm sunlight he ran a hand through his long red hair and headed for Veronica. Maybe today he would make his move. Smiling to himself he pulled the door open and stepped inside.


Ceeda
A bit flushed with her irritation and distracted by her thoughts, Covet did not hear the cheerful tinkle of the bell that hung from the front door. Muttering softly under her breath, she scrubbed the table with a bit of unnecessary force. It was when she looked up to shove some of her royal purple hair that had escaped from her braid out of her face that she realized she was no longer alone. Leaving the rag on the table, she rubbed her hands on her bright violet apron and walked up to the crimson skinned shu. "Good afternoon," she smiled at her customer, and then stopped short when she realized who it was. Her smile faltered as she took in Mecca's sudden appearance and her mind went blank. It had been a while since she had seen her old childhood playmate... assuming that that was what he could be labeled. "You're not supposed to be here," she managed to say, at a sudden recollection of Matador tossing the young shu out the door.


Medea
A smile flickered across Mecca's face. The smile that many would recognize from his youth, one with no emotion behind it. His grey, blue eyes remained cold and dark.
"I think you'll find he said I could not come back until I learned to be civilized." He said, his voice smooth and low. "I believe I have learned a great many things since my youth. Civility being one of them." He folded his arms and crossed over to the bar. "So...Covet. It has been a while since we last met." Taking a seat he turned back to face her. "I hope your master has been keeping you well." He added with an aloof smirk.


Ceeda
A pink flush colored her cheeks at his words. Why must he always refer to Matador like that, she wondered to herself. "He's not my master. He's my friend. Or would you know what that word means?" she asked him, crossing her own arms across her chest. She remained rooted to her spot, still a bit stunned at Mecca's sudden appearance.


Medea
Mecca gave a small pitying laugh. "Touchy subject it seems." He said leaning back against the bar. "I know the word, friend. Though it holds little interest for me." His smirk grew wider. "It seems you have been somewhat abandoned by your 'friends' this afternoon." He sighed looking down at his fingernails. "Now do you actually serve drinks in this bar, or just polish holes in the tables."


Ceeda
Covet would never admit to him that he had rubbed a raw nerve. Inwardly glaring at his snide smirks, she fluttered her eyelashes at him and gave him a brilliant smile. "Then it seems you haven't learned much more than civility in your absence if friends still mean so little to you." She smoothly walked to the end of the bar, to reappear behind it. "What would be your fancy this afternoon?" she asked, reaching under the bar to pick up a menu. She placed it on the bar and slid it across to him. She leaned down on one arm, placing her chin in her palm. "Where did you disappear to for so long?" she asked, waiting for him to turn around and give her his order.


Medea
Mecca grinned with satisfaction as she got all huffy on him. Emotional pain, not quite as good as physical pain but could be almost as much fun.
Turning around he leaned one arm on the bar and smiled his smile. "I have no need for friends." He sighed. Taking the menu from her and looking it over. He already knew what he was having. He knew the moment he walked through the door.
"Water please. With a slice of lemon." He closed the menu and placed it on the bar.
"As for where I have been. Here and there. Wherever my interest takes me." He sighed again and flexed his wings. "How about you?"


Ceeda
Pushing herself away from the bar, Covet reached under and grabbed a deep red glass. She went over to the ice box and chipped a nice sized chunk of ice off with the ice pick. With an unceremonious clunk she dropped the ice into the glass. Glancing over at Mecca as she went over to the water tap, she wondered where he truly had been. Vagueness was not her favorite quality in a shu. She filled the glass and set it down next to the cutting board where half a lemon rested. With an experienced hand she sliced smoothly into the firm rind. She grabbed a plastic sword and stuck it through the lemon slice and dropped it into the glass. She turned and thunked the glass down in front of Mecca. "I work most of the time, but when I have time off I find myself here and there. Where ever my interests take me," she shrugged, throwing his comments back at him.


Medea
Mecca watched her with interest; with her back to him his eyes fell on her wings. They really were beautiful, such colors and markings. He thought of the feather he had taken as a child. The feather that Matador had unfairly taken from him.
His expression darkened for a moment.

As she turned back to face him his smirk returned, growing wider as she slammed the glass down on the bar.
"My my." He grinned his eyes meeting hers. "It looks like you have developed a hot temper in your transition." He ran a red finger around the rim of the glass. "I like it." He smirked raising his eyebrows.


Ceeda
"Hmm... a temper that only seems to rise when I'm around you," she smiled prettily back into his stony blue grey eyes. She glanced down and watched his finger trace the rim of the glass. Such an elegant movement. He had changed quite a bit from the child shu he had been. His adult appearance suited him better she decided. But she still could not suppress the small chill that ran down her back when she looked back up into his eyes. She ruffled her feathers, giving her wings a small shake. She leaned back down on the bar, replacing her chin on her palm and resettling her wings tightly against her back.


Medea
Mecca gave a small chuckle and took a sip of his water.
"I often have that effect on people." He smiled fondly at the thought of those he had managed to work into a frenzy lately. None as fun as those he had known as a child here in Crescent city. "So, have you played tag lately?"


Ceeda
"Tag? No. Sadly I haven't had much time to play," she said with a small shake of her head. "And even if I did... I'm sure I would have a hard time finding someone who would want to play the way we used to," she smiled fondly. Even if it had been painful, it had been one of the few times she had actually witnessed joy on Mecca's face. She had to admit, she was rather surprised at his willingness to reminisce. She surely had never pegged him to be of a sentimental nature. "What about you? Have you found anyone willing enough to brave your tag?" she asked, suddenly reaching out and giving a lock of his hair a gentle tug.


Medea
"Hmm. A few." He said putting his glass down on the counter and looking up. "Some willing, some not." The tug of his hair was the last thing he had been thinking she would do. In normal terms it would have been affectionate, flirtatious even.
Mecca however had no use for either of those words in his vocabulary.
"It seems Covet that you still like to play with fire." He said softly, his hand moving up to her own hair. Gently he stroked her smooth purple locks before grabbing a handful and tugging her head down to the bar. "When you know full well I play rough." These last words were whispered into her ear. "Honestly Covet do not tempt me unless you can handle my games." It was a warning rather than a threat. He knew once pushed it was hard to bring himself back.


Ceeda
Covet took a deep breath and blinked back the tears of pain that suddenly sprang into her eyes, her face being pressed into the bar and her hair nearly being ripped out. She took another deep breath to remain calm. He most definitely was no longer the child she remembered. Her hands gripped the edge of the bar as she fought the urge to cry out. "You know me Mecca," she said weakly, blinking furiously to keep the tears at bay. "I'm like the moth to the flame." She cleared her tight throat and tried to push her head up from the bar, one hand slowly reaching up to lightly caress his grasping fingers, locked in her hair, trying to get him to loosen his grip.


Medea
It amused him that she was trying to play brave. Pretending she was enjoying his game. He was sorely tempted to actually hurt her. Maybe help himself to another one of those feathers. He decided against it. The last thing he needed on his first day back in town was hassle from the self-important goody goodies of the town.
Releasing his grip he pulled back and sat back down. Drawing his glass of water closer.
"You know what happens to moths that get to close." He said darkly. "I mean it Covet. Be careful. Next time I might just continue."


Ceeda
Covet took another deep breath and straightened up. Lightly touching her messed up hair, she decided it would just be easier to release it from its braid instead of trying to salvage it. Trying to regain her composure, she turned her attention to pulling the tie off from the tail of her braid. She didn't doubt his warning was valid. "It seems your game has turned more violent in your old age," a teasing light shining in her eyes. "Thank you for the warning... though I doubt I truly needed it. You've always been a wicked little beast. Why should you have changed in your absence?" she asked, giving her long locks a shake to free them from the braid. A royal purple river spilled across her back and she rested her hands lightly on the bar top.


Medea
Mecca took a sip of water and looked down at the bar top. "More violent?" He gave a small laugh. "Not really. I have just grown more skillful at what I do." Looking up he raised his eyebrows and ran a hand through his hair once more. "We have both changed it seems. I find you less irritating now. Calmer somehow." He watched her purple hair carefully. It was pretty indeed, but not the most captivating of her features.


Ceeda
Covet smiled softly at him. Her head still ached where he had grabbed it. She watched his crimson hand slide silkily though his long blood red hair and thought about what he had said. "Growing up will do that you know, and I'm glad I've changed for the better then," she said softly, moving her hands to cross them in front of her chest. "What brought you back to Crescent City Mecca?" she asked, looking directly into his blue-grey eyes.


Medea
Mecca shrugged and finished the last of his water. He thought about why he had gone away in the first place. To get away from the tedious people. The slow pace of life. He was an intensely curious Shu and had wondered if there were others that enjoyed the same things in life as he. "I remembered I have some scores to settle." He said remembering his first few weeks in Crescent City. "I promised myself that when I grew I would repay a couple of people. So, here I am."


Ceeda
Covet blinked a few times at his brutally honest answer, even though she knew she shouldn't have expected anything less from him. She leaned down on the bar again to put herself at eye level with him. "So here you are. Back at Veronica where you received your first trophy," she said stretching her wings out leisurely with a small smirk. "Your reasons for being here are quite transparent I think. You believe Matador still has my feather?" she said softly. A small twinge of anger twisted in her belly. Even if they could hardly be called friends, it hurt that he had only returned to retrieve a simple object.


Medea
Mecca gave her a pitying smirk. All grown up yet still so naive. "Transparent? I don't hide the reason I am here." He eyed her wings as she stretched them resisting the urge to touch them. He knew where that would go. "Yes I do believe Matador still has MY feather." He said slowly, his eyes on hers. "And yes I am here to get it back. As well as having a debt or two to pay."


Ceeda
"Debt? To whom? I would have imagined you would have grown past your childhood wrong-doings. Or is the emotional pain too much for one like yourself to bear... though I doubt you truly suffered much," she fluffed her wings impatiently. "Would you like some more water?" she asked casually.


Medea
"Thank you." He said pushing his glass towards her with his finger.
"Heh, my debts are nothing to do with my 'childhood wrong doings' as you put it. More favors done for me which I need to return." Absently he thought of the green skinned woman. Her black river of hair and the fire that burned in her eyes. A malicious smirk crossed his face. "Now now Covet. You're beginning to sound jealous." He leaned forwards and lowered his voice. "If you want to play, and I mean REALLY play. All you need do is ask. I'll move you to the top of my list.


Ceeda
Covet studied him for a long moment, her heart pounding in her chest. His offer was dangerous and she knew that. She had always known that about him. Still, she felt trapped within his gaze and malicious smirk. She said the only thing that she could manage to think of through the haziness of her mind. "What favor did I ever do for you to end up on your list?" She pulled away from his nearness, reaching out to grab his cup.


Medea
Mecca's grin only widened. He had her, he knew that. She was unsure, of herself, of what he offered. "I consider not running away a favor to me." He said sitting back on the stool. "I hurt you countless times, yet you still came back…" A thought crossed his mind. "Why?" He asked. "Why didn't you blacklist me like your ruby haired 'friend.'?"


Ceeda
Covet picked up his glass and turned her back to him to refill it from the tap, thinking hard about what he had said. Why the hell hadn't she? No... she knew why. She could not allow herself to believe that his love for pain meant that he was purely evil and unable to love. Despite how he so often boldly stated otherwise, he needed friends... or at least people to receive his abuse. She believed, in vain perhaps, that somehow, by not giving up on him, that one day she would be the one to witness a different Mecca. But she was not about to tell him any of this. She turned to face him again, placing the glass down on the bar and sliding it smoothly towards him. "Why didn't I blacklist you?" she repeated his question. "I'm not sure. Maybe I just like the abuse," she said with her own smirk. She knew she was dancing on the edge of a blade now, but, just as a child, she didn't mind.


Medea
Mecca closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. She was treading a dangerous path, tempting him. He had given her due warning of what he was capable of. Hadn't he? Not really, he had pulled her hair a little, pulled a feather out one time. Pretty minor things where pain is concerned. Opening his eyes he let them run over her wings. Oh how he would love to pull those feathers out one by one. Maybe just a few. To ease her into things, then what? Maybe he would see what her pretty white skin looked like in contrast to red trails of blood. "I won’t warn you again Covet." He said softly the light behind his eyes flashing like lightning. "You're walking on the edge. If you tempt me, you had better be willing to accept the consequences."


Ceeda
A chill ran down Covet's spine as she watched his eyes caress her wings. She involuntarily pulled them closer to her. She took a step backwards to lean against the back wall of the bar. "I don't think you'd really want me. I'd be too easy of a victim for you. Too willing to give you want you want."


Medea
Mecca kept his eyes on her as she backed against the bar. True, she would be an easy target, but there was a difference between those who were so scared they could barely be near you and those like Covet. She was curious, he could feel it. Scared, yes, but her protests seemed half baked. Unconvincing. He smiled a little. True she wasn't ready yet. Given time however... Picking his glass up he sipped the cool sweet water and leaned back. "True." He said simply. "I have greater challenges to meet. I don't suppose the green skinned Shu is still around here is she?" He asked giving Covet the escape route she needed.


Ceeda
"Devaki? I haven't seen her in a while. But she's not really one for cities. It may be a while before she reappears," she replied nonchalantly. That twinge seized her for a second time and a shadow crossed her face. What difference did it make to her if the pretty green shu was the first to receive his attentions, she wondered to herself. "How long are you planning on staying here?" she asked softly.


Medea
He smirked, yes, she did seem like the kind to dictate when she made her brief cool appearances. He was lost for a moment in one of his few good memories of his childhood. Snapping out of his reverie he returned his attention to Covet and her question. "I don't know." He said tracing a line in the condensation on the glass. "It depends, how long can you keep me amused?" He asked playfully.


Ceeda
A slow smile curled her lips as she pushed herself away from the wall. She slowly closed the distance between her and the bar. She leaned on the bar, pulling her hair over her shoulder. Slowly, she reached out a hand and ran a well manicured fingernail down his extended hand to his fingertip. She raised an eyebrow as her smile grew. "I guess that depends on how much of your attention I can withstand," she said dropping her voice.


Medea
Mecca watched her carefully. He wasn't used to the suggestive tone in her voice. It confused him. One moment she was trying to put him off, the next she was asking him to do his worse. He had a feeling he knew why. It was in her reply. She wanted the attention. He smiled again. Taking her hand in his gently. "Well, when you put it like that. How can I refuse?" In one swift movement he had grabbed her hand hard. Jumping up on the bar he twisted her round holding her against him. His arm tight around her neck, his nails digging deep into her shoulder. "This is it Covet." He hissed in her ear, his free hand running over her wings. "The point of no return." He had given her plenty of warning. This was her last stopping point before he let the thought of her pain consume him.


Ceeda
Covet involuntarily gasped at his sudden movement and being twirled around unexpectedly. She could feel him pressed against her back and his arm around her neck. She tried to swallow, but couldn't get it past the lump of fear that threatened to choke her... or was it his crimson arm? She closed her eyes as his nails dug deep into her shoulder. This is it, she agreed silently. She had pushed him to his breaking point, but his final warning drew a small smile from her. Warnings so far. That's all he had given her. Even feeling the immanent danger coursing through his gentle touch on her wing, she could not bring herself to tell him to stop. Or was it his arm crushing her throat... she couldn't decide.


Medea
Once he knew she was up for the game he smiled. It had been so long since he had last played. For a moment he caressed her wings gently appreciating the soft delicacy of each feather. Wondering where to start. "Now Covet...I want you to enjoy this as much as I will." He whispered into her ear. "Don't think of it as pain. Think of it as a release." With that he took hold of one of the feathers and pulled it hard, out of her wing.


Ceeda
Covet jerked involuntarily at the sudden sharp pain that shot down her wing and into her back. She clung to his whispered words. Keeping her eyes closed tightly, she attempted another deep breath to slow her racing heart.


Medea
Once he knew she would not move away he shifted his hand. Moving it splayed across her shoulder, under her collar bone to rest just above her chest. Drawing lines of red with his nails as he went. He could feel her heart racing which only made him more intent to cause pain.
"You're good for a beginner." He said, pulling out yet another feather followed swiftly by two more.


Ceeda
Covet attempted to move her wing away from the offending hand, but she was pressed too close to his chest. She opened her eyes as she felt his nail slice into her skin and glanced down to see trails of bright red etched into her white skin. A small whimper escaped her throat at the sight of the blood.


Medea
Mecca laughed in return to her whimper. She was doing very well indeed...he was severely impressed. Bored of feathers he moved his hand once more, sliding it down over her chest and down to her hip. His arm now tight around her waist and his nails finding a new resting place in her side. He was still playing fairly nicely; it would not do to push too far too quickly. He wanted the pain to last. His free hand moved to her delightful purple hair. Spots of blood glistening in the lights of the bar. He stroked a strand gently curling it around his finger several times. Breathing deeply he tugged it hard, VERY hard.


Ceeda
Covet shivered at his feather light touch traveling down to her hip, squirming slightly as he hit a ticklish spot until his nails drove deep into her side. It was enough to distract her from his other wandering hand. By the time she felt her hair being wrapped around a finger it was too late. His deep breath was the only clue she had to the next moment and she slammed her eyes shut as he jerked the lock out of her head. She cried out, tears springing to her eyes as a hand flew up to the throbbing pain in her head. She started to pull away.


Medea
She was close. He could feel it. The scream was there, it just needed a little encouragement. Of course she was an easy target but she was holding out much longer than he had anticipated. When she decided to move away from him, he laughed. "Oh no. I don't think so." He grinned twisting her and pinning her against the bar. His hand cupping her face briefly before sliding up into her hair. He tightened his grip pulling her head backwards and exposing her white throat.


Ceeda
With an undignified "Oomph!" Covet could feel the bar slam into her back, crushing her wings and digging in. His hand felt falsely soothing against her pale cheek. As it worked its way up into her hair, she felt her pulse speed up in genuine fear. She was certain her heart was going to jump out of her chest as pulled her head backwards. Suddenly her temper flared. She was angry at herself for allowing him to scare her. Unwilling to wait for his next move she kicked out at him exclaiming, "I do think so!"


Medea
Mecca smirked at her attempt to fight back. If she had actually managed to a) kick him and b) hard he might have been impressed by her attempt to fight. As she missed. He wasn't.
"You wanted this." He sneered. The nail from his free hand tracing yet another red line down her cheek. "I warned you Covet. But you still wanted to play. Couldn't bear on missing out could you?" His hand slid across to her wings one last time. "Maybe you'll think twice next time." He cried grabbing three or four feathers and pulling them out at the same time.


Kaleido
Matador keyed into the backdoor of the shop, his head still swimming with the wonderful evening he just spent with Enoch. He was all set for unwinding with a nice drink before bed, when he heard an unfamiliar voice threatening Covet. Throwing the office door open and storming into the bar proper, Matador nearly knocked the door off the hinges. His eyes burned seeing Covet pinned against the bar by an unfamiliar man. It wasn't until he saw the bar littered with Covet's feathers, strands of hair, and drops of blood, that he knew who her assailant was. Matador's blood boiled as he had told Covet and Mecca both that he wasn't permitted in the shop. Stalking forward, he grabbed the hand holding Covet's feathers tightly; his own nails digging into Mecca's wrist. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded in a low tone, completely different from the one either of them were familiar.


Ceeda
Fear flashed in her bright green eyes. Through the web of Mecca's twisted game, she had forgotten about Matador. "Matty I'm sorry..." she gasped, through the pain and shock that had flooded her senses. Her hand flew to her face to try to brush away the blood, but only smearing it brightly against her pale white cheek.


Medea
Mecca wrenched his arm from Matador's grip. He had wondered how long it would take for the ruby haired wonder to return. "Keep your hair on." He snarled. "I was just leaving." Smirking he licked the blood from his wrist, teasing. "Come and find me when you are REALLY ready to play." He snapped cruelly to Covet as he stalked towards the door. What had started out as fun was suddenly rather annoying.


Kaleido
"Clean this mess up, Covet." Matador said, slamming a towel on the bar. He couldn't believe after all this time, Covet welcomed Mecca back into the bar, and from the looks of it not only served him water, herself as well. "Never in the bar, you know that. Next time you whore yourself to a customer, do it in your own room." His violet eyes remained on Mecca as he slithered toward the exit like a coward. Refusing to look at Covet, Matador leaned against the bar waiting for Mecca to leave.


Ceeda
The pain that seared through Covet physically was nothing compared to the white hot shame that broke her heart at Matador's words. She had never seen him so angry, and he had never really ever been angry with her. His harsh words brought true tears to her eyes. 'You're one to talk about whoring yourself to customers,' she thought angrily, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words aloud. Not to Matador. Her guardian, her most treasured love. She slowly knelt down to start picking her feathers up off of the ground.


Medea
Mecca smirked as he watched Matador throw his weight around. Some things never changed.
"Adieu." He laughed as he reached the door way. A mock pout on his face. "Parting is such sweet sorrow." With that he disappeared out the door. On the street he stretched his wings. His tussle with Covet had left him severely unsatisfied. He would need to find someone who could play properly. Fight back a little. Stifling a yawn he headed in the direction of the forest, in search of the shu with hair as black as night and fire in her eyes.