| Welcome to our home, a world in which anything can happen. From sprawling deserts and vast forests to massive volcanoes and luscious hot springs, Soare and the Scattered Isles are beautiful places just waiting to be explored. For the brave and the bold or the cautious and the wary, creatures of all kinds roam the earth, looking for adventure or for a place to call their own. Species of all kinds - the well-known and the unknown - thrive here, though not always in harmony. Elenlond is an original medieval fantasy RPG with a world that's as broad as it is unique. Calling on characters of all kinds, the sky's the limit in a world where boundaries are blurred and the imagination runs rampant. Restrictions are limited and members are encouraged to embrace their creativity, to see where they can go and what they can do. It's no longer just text on a page - it becomes real. Enter Our World |
| If She Hurts You, It Means She Likes You; for Sophia | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 30 2011, 03:53 PM (278 Views) | |
| Andromalius | Oct 30 2011, 03:53 PM Post #1 |
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Ten years. It was a long time. Even for the immortal and his twisted sense of chronology, much had happened between then and now. Soare hadn't noticed much. Time ran differently here than in the realms he'd spent the last decade. It crawled by slower. After he'd asked a demi-god of another dimension to take him back home, a worm hole was briefly created to bridge the planar rift between a chaotic realm called Rothscorr and the place called Elenlond. When the Banshee King emerged, he did so gradually as if waking from a dream. Deep in the Erth'netora Forest, he laid on his back, staring up at the sky through gold and orange foliage. The breeze was a cold northerly gust, which hinted at the coming of winter. How long had it been for them, he wondered? How well off had this place become since he decided to fly away? He wanted to know if some greater evil ever attempted to fill his position as the most loathed. And who might have forgotten he existed? It would be different this time. He would try to keep a low profile. Andromalius felt as if he carried around more discipline now. The thought of aimlessness didn't scare him as much as it used to. Instead of heading off straight away for everything he'd ever wanted, he would take it slowly with careful consideration. It was about time to settle, get a stable job, and build a day-to-day life worthy enough to linger beyond his initial demise. Perhaps the bounty hunters had given up on him, perhaps not, but he also needed to be prepared for that. Oh, who needs preparation? He felt fantastic! A change in his strength was recognized immediately. This world was where his abilities originated. Since leaving, he'd had to dance around all manner of magical sources, including living sentient organisms. The stationary, reliable power Soare used, without having to butter anyone up, was quite refreshing. The sorcerer spent a full hour and a half there on the forest floor, basking in it the way reptiles do in the sunlight, before moving. Considering the vegetation, he could safely assume he was in Soto, or very close to its border. After climbing to his feet, he dusted off his hands and lifted his feet from the ground. There, he hovered tiredly for a moment before steadily rising through the trees. Eventually, he popped out of the top layer of the canopy to see where he landed more accurately. Yes, this was certainly the western country. Some of the residual decay dotted spots here and there along the leafy horizon. If he west further west, he would find the sea shores. From there, he could find civilization. Why would he want to find civilization if he wanted to lay low? Well, because he sensed the signature of his brand, of course. Someone he knew and greatly appreciated resided in the northwest. The first thing he would so love to do is find a friendly face. The journey through the lower levels of atmosphere was brief, but the traveling he'd done by foot had taken longer than he wished, after coming too close to the capital city not to be noticed if he were hanging in mid-air. In order to avoid the local peacekeepers, he'd shifted to his stark and evasive shadow form, and effortlessly penetrated any exterior precautionary defenses. At last, he stood, solid, in the streets of the busy metropolis, staring down its main roads with people crawling all about like ants. He smiled warmly, having never realized 'till this moment how much he missed the predictable architecture, the sights, the sounds, and the scents. “Watch it, Fella! Move or lose a foot!” A wagon driver had nearly run him over in his awed stupor, only able to dodge with a tight turn and duck. Andromalius stood calmly in the same place a second later, still completely unconcerned with the oncoming traffic of mid-day. He only moved to the side when he decided he wanted shade, and admitted to himself that perhaps standing in the middle of the street like a zombie was too obvious. Fortunately, no one would easily recognize him. A heavy cloak of dark gray wool – perhaps it was black once – draped over his shoulders, concealing most of his figure. The hood had been drawn up, and the upper half of his face was obscured in shadow. The hemming of this article was tattered and worn, but not beyond presentation. For the rest of his skin, that which was observable, he'd changed his complexion to an ordinary light tan. His hair was all tied back, only a few wisps of snowy white daring to flow out from hiding. If he kept to himself and didn't stop in the same place for long, he didn't imagine he would be discovered in all the commotion. And so, he set out for the brand's signal. It was close, and it was leading him to the nicer neighborhoods. |
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| Sophia | Oct 30 2011, 04:35 PM Post #2 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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With a great sigh Sophia let every muscle, every poor, overworked muscle, turn to jelly as she sank into the warm water. She liked coming here, the baths were private, the water was warm and nobody bothered her. She could, for a little while, forget everything and just be... Well, just be. For a while she could exist, and nothing more. And that felt great. Her position in Ashoka, her attempts to finish learning to read, her attempts to become stronger and her efforts to find some way around the fact, the way she was pushing magic through herself, that she had only another few years before she started suffering major consequences were all important, but all, in their own ways very stressful. Of course, there were bathhouses in Ashoka, but they were… They weren’t the same. They tended to be much more public for one, and in Ashoka her face was much better known. Here, whilst not invisible, she was nowhere near as visible a presence. She just liked it more here. That and she had seen some of the clientele in Ashoka, and she was sure if she shared bathwater with them she would end up with some horrible disease. Soto, at least in her mind whether it was true or not, was much more hygienic. Without really thinking about her one hand snaked its way to her brand, something she had not thought of in what felt like an age now, and traced her hand along it, before it ran into the scarred skin of her other brand located next to it. The reminder of what the second one meant, and when she had got it as a mere girl caused a frown to cross her face. It struck her that, being where they were, she had never properly seen them. She took it as granted it was a stylised letter S for the now defunct Seville group and Andromalius’ symbol, but they were somewhere she tended to use for sitting, not looking at. She really would have to set up some mirrors at some point so she could be sure. Possibly remove the more recent of them as well. The man it belonged to was gone, and any twinge she felt because of it she had long since decided to ignore as nothing but a false hope. She shook her head violently and splashed her face with water. Why had her mind wandered to him? She did not know and did not care to know. Returning to how she was before, she continued and finished her bathing in a state of complete mental emptiness. She dressed slowly, putting on black trousers which hugged closely to her figure, and a white shirt which disguised it on, before pulling on a rather simple and light pair of shoes. Her hair at the moment was its natural black colour, and after some consideration she brushed it back, but left it loose. She considered putting her jacket, also black, into the Gate, but decided not to, instead opting to sling it over one shoulder as she stepped out into the street, pausing and stretching. She had some time to kill, she guessed. Time to… What, exactly? She decided to head to a small park nearby, where she leaned against a conveniently located tree, letting what there was of the suns rays beat down on her. She looked up at the sky, her face expressionless and unreadable. Why did her thoughts keep turning to the banshee today? It wasn’t like she missed him… |
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| Andromalius | Oct 30 2011, 05:29 PM Post #3 |
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If Sophia knew the intricacies of the spell of binding, woven in black ink and shaped like a coiling serpent, set before a tall diamond, she would have realized by now that she was sensing the physical nearness of the mark's maker. He was on his way, and turned to enter the other side of the garden square shortly after she'd found her tree. While he may not have been recognized by strangers, anyone bound to him could see though any disguise, no matter how disfigured his transformations became. The sorcerer cast this spell on those he deemed too precious with which to part. Its primary use was to alert him when one of the branded found trouble. It would then summon him to their location so that he might use the rest of his magic to protect them. Really, it was beyond simple defense. If someone didn't at least end up soiling their breeches, they died for toying with the people he treasured. His was a vicious kind of wrath. In addition to all of this, the spell also opened a weak two-way empathic connection when he physically drew closer. If either one of them were emotionally distressed, the other would feel it almost immediately - a distant, phantom aching. There were only six branded left in existence. Two had gone some place he couldn't follow. He spied Sophia from behind, in the shade, and then he could not control his elated grinning. There was a way about Andromalius, which could credit for much of his success with people as well as beasts. He carried an aura of strength around with him at all times, able to be felt from wherever you could lay eyes on him. He stood tall with high confidence, no matter the situation. When his head turned down, he did not look as submissive as usual, but feral instead. He liked wearing hooded cloaks, and when he did, the fabric would drape off his broad back and shoulders, hinting that what hid beneath was the body of a warrior. The dead man's passive talent for intimidation was far greater when hoods didn't blot his face out, and he regained his naturally colorless flesh. He had a grim and eerie beauty which made him seem untouchable or forbidden. His eyes, alone, were nothing if not predatory in nature. "Sophia." It sounded as though he were standing right next to her, but in fact his figure remained several steps back. He didn't know how time may have changed her - much can happen in a short span - and he recalled clearly how much talent for combat she possessed. If she was in a terrible mood, he didn't want to be too close. "Behind you. It's me." Edited by Andromalius, Oct 30 2011, 05:59 PM.
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| Sophia | Oct 31 2011, 06:52 AM Post #4 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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"Sophia. Behind you. It's me." The woman turned her head in the direction of the voice quickly as her hands clenched into fists and for a brief moment magic flew though her muscles and senses, enhancing each a hundredfold as she instantly felt threatened by whoever it was who wanted her attention. But as quickly as she enhanced herself, the magic died away once more and she slowly stood up from her leaning position, turning so she was looking straight at the source of the voice. Somehow, despite the hood, she could tell exactly who it was. Andromalius. She dropped her jacket to the ground from where it was slung over her right shoulder, and took a tentative step towards him. Her heart and mind raced, was it him? She knew it must be, she did understand the brand fully but knew enough of it in order to now put together why he had been on her mind so much. It had been telling her, even if she was too stubborn to listen to it. Wherever he had gone, he was back. And that made her... At the same time very angry and very happy. Happy he was back, but angry because he had gone just when she had started to become really attached to him. She was aware that with his disappearance at the height of the Dark Conquest that was twice when he had vanished and left her in a difficult position. She took another step towards him, calmly now and continued until she was right in front of him. She looked at him, her eyes locking with his. No mistake about it. Her right hand lashed out to deliver a slap to his face which, whilst not with the bone crushing force she could muster it was certainly enough to cause a slight sting. And then, almost before she had finished slapping him she threw herself at him, both hands wrapping around him and her face burying itself into his shoulder as she pulled him close to her. "I missed you" she spoke simply, her voice not betraying anything other than what she had said. She left a slight pause before she continued "You bastard, I missed you." |
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| Andromalius | Oct 31 2011, 09:27 AM Post #5 |
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He was still smiling like a fool when she turned to see him. Andromalius looked a little fatigued today with his slouch, but happy none-the-less. Sophia seemed astounded enough to drop her jacket. Strange. She was usually difficult to shock. What, did she think he'd never return? He was a ghost and Soare was his haunt. He'd always come back, especially when there were those who wanted him. He'd probably stick around now until the last of them were gone (a sadly reasonable prospect). When the raven-haired woman approached, Andromalius raised his arms at both sides and expected a hug. What he got instead was a hard smack in the face, which stung like a thousand tiny needles long after her hand left his cheek. His hood threatened to fall from the impact that jerked his head violently to the right, but he reached up and recovered the article before the whole world saw his renowned mane of perfect white hair. A few strands swept into his face, making him appear very haggard when he recovered. By that time, though, Sophia had wrapped herself tightly around him, and he found himself unable to hate her for the assault. His hand came up to smooth over the back of her dampened hair, the other reciprocating the embrace by snaking around her waist. He gave her a little squeeze and started smiling again through the pain of his throbbing face. “I missed you too,” he said affectionately. The sorcerer didn't doubt she could handle herself, especially after solving her identity crises in what seemed like ages ago. He imagined she still studied rigorously with the same passion, so she ought to be quite powerful by now. Because she wasn't dead, she must have made many allies. People don't just let that amount of power walk around unchecked. The stronger you become, the harder the world will watch you out of fear. “How have you fared? And how long has it been since I've gone?” He'd given their hug ample time, appreciating the feel of her chest pressed against him. While Sophia was a treasured friend and would never be more, she had the misfortune of being born with nice breasts... Andromalius allowed his arms to return to his sides and gave her a bit of space. Closer to him now, she could observe the rest of his shaded features. |
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| Sophia | Oct 31 2011, 02:08 PM Post #6 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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Usually Sophia was not one to seek out physical contact with another. She didn't take any real comfort from it and it tended usually just to make her feel uncomfortable and bring back bad childhood memories, but it was different. However wrong she may or may not be, she trusted the banshee. She felt like he cared for her, and that was unique. That was largely the reason why him going had hit her. She held onto the hug until Andromalius released her, and then with slight reluctance. She quickly smoothed down her clothes and made an attempt to regain her composure and make it look like she didn't care if he was here or not. An obvious lie, but she had her warped sense of pride which seemed to change and mutate around only the most general of principles. "I'm still High Inquisitor of Ashoka... Dealing with Orion is getting easier, more because I know how to keep him quiet, humour or avoid him better now. It has given me a lot of access to things I need to become stronger though. That and the Black Tower. Its all gone to hell there, but I have stolen a few books." she shrugged "Better than letting them go to waste" she suddenly looked at him with some slight excitement "I can read now as well, sort" she told him, like a child might tell a parent when they had achieved something. It said a lot that she was admitting that, when they last met she could barely read anything beyond her own name. She had tortured people in Ashoka for claiming as much. "And... Things has happened in Angkar" she decided not to say that she had 'killed' Razarod. It was secret knowledge, equally secret as was the fact she hadn't meant to. Not even Razarod knew she meant to leave him alive. "Its been an strange...." she paused, trying to think how long it had been since she last saw him "Ten months. There about." She looked at him, and could see he was tired. What had he been doing? She turned to her jacket and outstretched a hand, telekineticaly drawing it to her "But what about you? Where did you go?" she wanted to know, but in her voice there was a clear part of her that seemed to say 'why did you do that to me?'. She clicked her tongue "I have a small apartment in Madrid for when I need to get away from things. Do you want to go there and take a seat? I could get you a drink or something to eat. Or else I guess neither of us want to spend too much time out in public." |
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| Andromalius | Oct 31 2011, 10:31 PM Post #7 |
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Orion had held onto the highest command of Ashoka? Even more shocking, he was still alive. When he'd shared a presence with that warrior, marching into the epic battles of the glory days, he'd struck Andromalius as the type to attract too much attention. The memory was a blurr, but he could recall the look on his face when he'd eviscerated the former Mohgul in front of as many people he could find. Orion was formidable, and that is why The Banshee King had taken the fellow into his employ during the conquest. That Sophia remained High Inquisitor was, however, no surprise. The sorcerer grimaced when the tower was mentioned. He knew very well what state it must be in. The observatory was probably overgrown with part of its roof still missing, and his library was demolished - so many years of work collected there. So, when she told him she'd managed to save a few articles, he smiled like a happy boy. "I agree, entirely! Thank you for stealing them!" "Can you?" Andromalius seemed equally excited about her literacy, but it was only carried over from the idea of rescued spellbooks. As close as they were to one another, he'd been entirely oblivious of this inability in her. Also partially under his employ during the conquest, he'd used her to assassinate, not do paperwork. Briefing and debriefing had always been in person or across the astral plane, in dreams, where not even speaking was necessary. Sophia was already onto another thing before he felt he could finish a thought. She poured new information. He didn't want to miss a thing. Angkar was now the subject, yet she said single ambiguous sentence which revealed nothing other than secrets ahead. That was to be his next stop when he was finished in Madrid, because there was a very important person living in Castle Evermore. Whatever befell the nation, he'd have to prod until he knew. Ten months?! That was all? And so it was that while a month had passed for the realm of Elenlond, a year had passed between the places where Andromalius had been. He was startled out of delight, then mouthed a 'wow' without breathing, so it made no noise. Andromalius watched the inquisitor, letting it all sink in when she finally stopped talking, to pick up her jacket (rather, summon it hence). When she guessed in the end, she did so accurately. He would have suggested moving to a secluded spot if she hadn't gotten to it first. "I don't eat or drink, but yes. Let's remove ourselves. The natives..." A brow raised. "They are hostile." The Banshee waited for Sophia to take the lead, and fell into step at her side. "About where I've been, though... I'd say I was off adventuring in foreign lands. Incredibly foreign. Mm, I've been in other realms of space, connected to Elenlond by unknown magic with separate sources, like a web woven by something greater than gods!" He threw his hand up theatrically and swept it across the sky with an opened palm, making a big cheese-covered show of his very brief summary. "I skipped between worlds, leaving not a single one unmarked. Actually..." His arm gradually fell back to his side, and an uncharacteristically warm expression softened his face. The ghost's eyes were distant and dreamy as he told her, "I succeeded. I was able to overtake and build my own piece of the universe." Now was not the time to truly begin this story, though he sorely wanted to say, and it would not likely happen before he left Soto. "Anyway... that is the reason you weren't receiving any sensations from the mark I gave you. I was too far for it to reach. After I asked a Scion to send me back to this place, I fell into the forest, and here I am." |
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| Sophia | Nov 1 2011, 10:05 AM Post #8 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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She began leading him the not overly long distance to the small apartment she had bought here. She knew working for Orion was a dangerous job, and thus had used the money she had embezzled over the years, mainly from the revolution but also from within Ashoka to make sure she had somewhere she could hide out in every major city in Soare. Save Eldahar, seeing as she had her office there and soon would have her actual home outside the city. When she had gone against Orion and not killed Razarod (although he didn't know that) she felt this was more important. It was one thing to do her own thing and not give him a chance to tell her to do anything, it was another to do the opposite. Not that Orion scared her at all, he may have threatened her a lot to try and ensure loyalty up until recently, but in all honesty Sophia doubted there was much he could do to here. She knew Ashoka's armies very well, enough to avoid the groups that could hurt her and to the extent that he wouldn't be able to use the systems she made against her. She naturally didn't quite tell them everything she knew. This particular place was on the edge of the nicer area, just before things really started heading downhill. "I'm glad I took them then. They certainly helped me learn a couple of tricks" she remarked on the books. "You can have them back at some point. I don't have much need for them now" she had looked through them, and taken what she thought she could use. The idea of hanging onto something after that seemed sentimental and foolish. Her speaking had slowed now, she wasn't so determined to tell him everything for fear he might vanish once more. She turned a corner and walked up an external staircase, turning left at the top to one door on its own, separate from the others and waved her hand at the door, using her telekinetic abilities to manipulate the locking mechanism into clicking open rather than opening the Gate to get the key. They weren't looking for attention, and a six foot tear in reality tended to stand out, especially if all it was used for then was to get a key out of. She pushed open the door and showed Andromalius in. It was a simple two room place. The main room contained a bed, a couple of chairs and a small kitchen area. She threw her jacket onto the bed and then perched herself on the end. The wallpaper seemed to be holding up well, it was a inoffensive cream colour. The room had almost no personal effects at all, there were a few articles of clothing scattered on the floor in the corner, and in the small second room there was the remnants of the dyes she used when her hair was bright red for a little a few months back. Other than that there were a couple of sword leaning in a corner and a device she used to remove peoples fingernails on the floor, slightly under the bed. Evidently nobody had spent a lot of time her, using it more like a changing room than anything else. "I'm glad you had such fun" she remarked in a voice which made in unclear whether or not she was being sarcastic "Would it have killed you to say goodbye?" she looked away from him "I don't really have many people I get on with... It would be nice to know what the few I do are doing" her gaze hardened and she looked back to him, as if to try and say that in actual fact she didn't what he did and in actual fact she had loads of friends. "Still... Did you seek me out first on purpose?" she asked. She hadn't offered him a seat, but she trusted he was big enough to sit down himself if he wanted to. |
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| Andromalius | Nov 2 2011, 02:40 PM Post #9 |
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This place was more than adequate for catching up – even a little festive. The tight quarters were comfortable because he could see most of it all in one sweep. It was probably also why she liked it, among other things. The red dye looked like blood stains for a moment, but the slight variation in remaining vibrancy, where blood turned brown, told him otherwise. Andromalius drew his hood back after Sophia closed the door, and let his disguise fade away. It took him a short while to get comfy. By the time she muttered what may or may not have been sarcasm, he'd already picked up his feet and sat cross-legged in the air, as if on a chair, with the lower half of his cloak making a wall of fabric to the ground. He folded his arms behind his head and reclined about a foot, twisting his mouth into a pursed scowl, not necessarily displeased. “Sorry, Sophia. I'm not used to people who appreciate me. I've always come and gone as I please, without word. This is the first time I've been reprimanded for it. If it happens again – and it will – I'll let you know ahead of time.” She'd be the only one, unless something happened between now and then. It ought not to be difficult to remember just one person. It was silly. He wasn't considering how important he truly must be to her, for her to be so offended at his ten-month absence. He only thought of how he'd made a mistake in her eyes, and so he had to do what he could to rectify. As it was in his experience, even after gaining cherished friends, they all eventually forgot about him in the process of living their active lives. The phantom had grown rather used to not mattering unless he was scorned and destroying something – part of the reason why it was tempting. “Yes.” She'd asked if he'd intentionally found her first, and it was a complete lie. But he said it so quickly and fluidly, without a moment's hesitation, that it sounded just like the truth. No, he'd only come here because she'd been the closest to the place he'd initially landed. If she wanted to expand on their relationship, he would not be opposed (she had a great sense of humor), but there were at least two other ladies who held larger portions of his love. For extra measure, he sealed his mind off with a spell shield to keep her from detecting his lie. “You said earlier... that something had happened in Angkar. Would you mind going back to that? I have some important, severely limiting treaties with Razarod, and Kenna is a good friend of mine. If something befell them, I should very much like to be made aware before I go there next.” Andromalius would find out either way. Hopefully, Sophia would maintain her respect for him by telling him what he asked. |
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| Sophia | Nov 3 2011, 11:15 AM Post #10 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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Sophia merely raised an eyebrow at the banshee's chosen way of sitting. it was odd, but honestly, she wasn't surprised. She certainly knew she often used the power at her disposal for mundane things such as that, for example when unlocking the door scant seconds ago. Still, she felt heartened when he told her he would let her know if he choose to do so again. Ever since he had been into her dreams, into her mind, and helped lay the groundwork for her dragging Anna out of there and more or less destroying her (he had told them to compromise, but she didn't hold that against him seeing as it gave her the opening she needed) she... Partly it was respect. She wanted to impress him, and he wanted him to be around. Not necessarily right there, but close enough that if she ever needed to she could find him, even if that was so infrequent that the ten month stint would look like nothing. Admittedly, part of it also was because he was a visible target to set herself against, someone to use as a benchmark for her own improvement. She imagined he would laugh at the idea of her ever drawing close to him in arcane power. A ever so slight grin crossed her face when he told her he had sought her out, and the idea it might be a lie did not even cross her mind. She adjusted how she was sitting, moving back so that she was hugging one knee to her chest and leaning her head atop it. "A lot has happened in Angkar. I was partly involved. And I didn't kill anyone" she raised her eyebrows a little as if that surprised her. It was one hundred percent true, she killed nobody. However, Orion and Hemlock thought she had killed Razarod, and Razarod and whoever he had told thought she meant to kill and was dreadfully incompetent. And somehow a corpse that look so much like him it was taken by all to be him just sprung up from nowhere. Of the people that knew she never meant to kill him? There were two, herself and Mirix. She was not going to be adding another to that list, although she wouldn't outright lie... However, she was involved in more things in Angkar than that. "From the beginning" she paused and clicked her tongue as she arranged the events in her head "Razarod and Kenna got a divorce. Kenna wanted to take Elina and get out of Angkar before she lost the kid", the banshee was not to know this but the fact Sophia referred to Elina by name was quite something. By and large, she hated kids. "And I did that, flew them to the mainland. Every so often I try and take a look to make sure they are okay." "After that someone went and killed Razarod. A very good assassin, I reckon, someone on my level, easy" because it was her. She would of fought him off even easier if she didn't want to test his swordsmanship. He got a magical hit on her, and then she really had to be careful. For all she could do, she could never understand how some people could just roll with the punches. When things hurt her, they really hurt and she certainly couldn't take hits like some she had seen, not even close. Hell, the main reason she worked on moving as fast as she could was so she wouldn't get hit at all. "His place has been taken by a guy called Hemlock. Bit of a pompous ass, does the opposite of Razaord whilst singing his praises. Saw him at Razarod's funeral and am not sure what to make of him, entirely. I think him and Orion get along though, so... Yeah" her opinion or Orion was improving, but that was partly due to her learning to deal with him better. She would deny it, but he was possibly having a slight effect in changing her, too. "So, those treaties are worth nothing now. Congratulations?" she shrugged, not being sure of their contents meant she didn't want to rush to conclusions. "That sums up Angkar. Unless you want an in depth review of their military strength and disposition. In which case I would need to go to my office in Eldahar" she tilted her head a little to the side and spoke with obvious sarcasm. She had one, but it was pretty general in terms of what it said. The type of thing you could find out without too much effort provided you knew where to look. And she wasn't sharing it. Well, if Orion asked she would, but she wouldn't have a choice then, really. Of course, she hadn't necessarily told him she had done one... Edited by Sophia, Nov 3 2011, 11:19 AM.
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| Andromalius | Nov 4 2011, 10:49 AM Post #11 |
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He smiled when she did. It was a warm feeling, to know now how fond Sophia was of him now. She was a hard shell to crack. It was only after he'd given up on making use of her that they'd become close friends, as if showing a bit of disinterest was more effective on her than acting intrigued. Although, he didn't discount that his skill as a fighter and a sorcerer had something to do with the respect she gave. Many others in his travels had looked up to him for the sole, same reason. It was far more difficult to insult a man capable of genocide. The news regarding Kenna wasn't shocking. He had mixed feelings: sorry to know her family had broken apart, but glad that she was available... Her ex-husband didn't like Andromalius when he was encroaching on Angkar with his conquest, and he sure as hell didn't like it when he'd bedded his wife, prior to divorce. The fact he and Razarod had somehow come to terms was a miracle, due in no small part to the monarch's patience. The Banshee, on the other hand, couldn't recall a moment in his presence when he hadn't been toying with him – like a cat would a mouse. “So you and Kenna remain on agreeable terms. That's good. And it's good to know she's ...okay.” Surviving, more like. He was sure the separation hadn't been easy. After that someone went and killed Razarod. The phantom's jaw dropped in utter disbelief. How could she say that so casually?! Perhaps it was old news to her, but he felt like he'd just been dropped off a cliff. The former King had been no novice as staying alive. He'd been a fighter, too, and fairly skilled at incendiary magic. The fortifications of Castle Evermore were also nothing to scoff at. There was a reason he'd left the island for last, before. “An assassination is such a sorry way for his story to end...” Ah, well. Andromalius shrugged, at a loss for any real concern over the matter. Death wasn't so horrible, anyway. Just as he was about to ask who'd taken his place, he was answered. This information was ...sketchy. It left him with a bad feeling. Anyone who got along with Orion did that. If it was because the two were like-minded, then ...Soare was in trouble. What's more: if it was an assassination, it was likely political, in which case he could not eliminate the theory of it having all been set into motion so that this Hemlock could take the throne. The Banshee brushed aside her congratulations, sitting up from his reclined position to lean forward and stare Sophia in the face. His eyes narrowed skeptically, and he began looking her over as if he knew she hadn't told him everything. “Yes, I would like to go to Eldahar, but not today. Sophia, my dear...” his voice was gaining that remarkably acidic edge. “...Assassination is your trade... You work for Orion... who has allegedly allied, in part, with Hemlock. You can see where I'm going with this...” His legs extended beneath him before his feet once again touched the floor. “Was it you?” he asked as he crossed the small space to stand before her. “I won't do you any harm. I just need to know, for my own survival, if Orion had anything to do with Hemlock's uprising. You understand how it looks, and if I accidentally step on some tails with my latest aspiration, it may lead to war. I'd rather avoid that.” “So, please...” his expression softened greatly, as did his voice, and his body visibly relaxed beneath the layer of leather armor. |
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| Sophia | Nov 4 2011, 05:09 PM Post #12 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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"You could say that" Sophia responded. She liked to think her and Kenna got along well enough. What would happen if she knew all Sophia had done, who could tell? It would probably be better to actually tell her... Sophia doubted it would remain a secret forever. Of the assassins skilled enough to take down Razarod with such ease... Well, there can't of been many. The link between Hemlock and Orion too, was something to be wary of. Leaving Razarod alive would probably come around to bite her in the ass too, but if it came to it then everything else be damned she would have to go kill him. If he was too stupid to realise she had given him life when he should have died and then made it obvious what had happened, well, she would need to get rid. She had done him one kindness, she didn't given people more chances lightly. She watched Andromalius' surprise with amusement. It was nice to know she could surprise him. She tended only to surprise people in ways which lead to them being dead, and they didn't tend to give much of a reaction then, other than guttural screams. Although sometimes they had that death rattle as their last breath left them that she just found so... Exciting. The banshee however, did not seem so happy all of a sudden. Sophia got the distinct impression she was not going to like what was coming. Was it her? There was a lie she had prepared to tell, and had told many times. One advantage of being an assassin so long if you learnt to deny doing things very well, very fast. Or else you died. Her voice was as cool as ice when she replied, evidently not quite as friendly as she had been "So, somebody gets assassinated and you all but accuse me immediately?" she asked, her facial expression in lockdown, like it used to be near enough all the time for years until recently. "Just because I work for Orion doesn't make me his lapdog" her eyes narrowed and locked with the banshees for a moment. Andromalius was close to Kenna, and Sophia didn't want her knowing anything about her involvement. It would just lead to a tangled web she didn't want to deal with. She also was very aware of when he said that he wouldn't harm her, in particular the implication he could, and there was nothing he could do. In her mind, saying he wouldn't do her any harm if she talked was the same as saying he would hurt her if she didn't. She had been a slave to those kind of promises before, and she didn't accept all the training the assassins guild offered to go back to who she was before that. And if he meant politically... Well, then the offer not to harm spoke that he assumed her guilty. And that did not sit well either. But she did get on well with him, and did want to help him, so she was torn. "I advise you not to threaten me, no matter how much you wrap it up." she spoke slowly, picking each word "But I will tell you what I know, so long as you don't harm me" sarcasm dripped with hostility, but after she finished her body language seemed to relax, become less confrontational. "If it doesn't leave this room... Then Orion was involved, yes" she answered "Albeit loosely. He certainly was pleased with events as they went. I was involved, for my part, but took some efforts to keep him alive, at least" she spoke the truth technically. Just... An interesting version of it. One that didn't deny she was the assassin, but made it sound unlikely. It also put the burden on Orion, which she liked. He didn't give a toss what anyone thought about him, and she didn't like negative attention. So it worked, as she saw it. "So, do I get to ask you what your plans are now?" she asked, friendly once more, although there was a little more tension than there was "I promise not to hurt you if you tell me" she added, sarcastically "But anything that could lead to war in any way is naturally of great interest to me, no matter how small the chances". |
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| Andromalius | Nov 8 2011, 09:31 AM Post #13 |
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Sophia came back at his question with a measured defense, and Andromalius folded his arms across his chest with an irritated roll of his eyes. He'd picked that up from Sphynx. Sometimes it was a good thing to be a dog, especially if you're supposed to be a soldier or a noble beneath a monarch. No, truly, dogs were better than sentient people in that aspect. Of course, he could also understand Sophia's perception, as he tended to share it. Sometimes a person was born to live above it all: dogs, cats, men, gods... Without that desire, one would hardly even have the potential to do what Sophia, or Andromalius, had done in their time here. The dead philosopher didn't feel wholly won-over by what his dark-haired friend knew to be a lie. Still, her tactics triumphed, and he was rendered unable to press her harder due to concern for ruining their young, delightful relationship. They'd only become close shortly before he'd left for his decade-long adventures in various wonderlands, in any case. So then, why did he care so much? He knew she was a prickly sort of person. The fact she acted so hospitably towards him, hugs and all, made him feel special. He rested a hand on Sophia's shoulder, a deed anyone less magically charged wouldn't dare after she'd glared daggers at him. “It wasn't a threat. If it sounded that way, I'm sorry.” He looked right into her eyes, submissively. “I'm just on edge, alright? Orion... freaks me out. The fact that he has you as a resource is frightening. Not only can I not predict what's going to happen, but he has a rather significant vulnerability to use against me.” The Banshee gave her shoulder a little squeeze before allowing it to return to his side. The news that Orion was indeed involved wasn't comforting, but her words situated themselves in a way which suggested that Ashoka tried to help. He could only scratch his chin in mild bewilderment. Presently, he didn't know what to think. It'd take time, and more sources for information. He'd likely have to pay separate visits to Ashoka and Angkar, himself. He could go anywhere undetected, except for Evermore Castle's subterranean prison halls. “I won't repeat it. I'd rather no one else know, just as well.” Andromalius glanced up from his pensive state when the Inquisitor inquired as to his short-term aspirations. His brows were raised in a half-startled way, as if he'd forgotten that he'd said something like that. “Oh! Well. I want to try to build a life for myself within the system. You know, have some land, some investments, friends stop by on the weekend for tea... Problem is, if I'm not putting my mind to something complicated, I can fall a little bit off my rocker. I need a legitimate job which allows for this, and makes a good amount of money to legally supply myself with good and services.” A wide, wicked grin split his face. “I'm going to try to convince Empress Isra to give me the position of her Military General.” It was perfect! As long as the little Empress remembered who she was dealing with, he didn't see himself against taking her orders. What's more: Morrim was his home. It'd been his home since he'd died the first time, and it had been the first nation in the conquest that he'd taken into his wings. If he had anything to fight for now, it would be that empire, and the people he cared for enough to keep it in good condition, so they might come and see him. “What do you think? Impossible?” Andromalius chuckled lightly. "Do you think Soto would mind? Haha..." |
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| Sophia | Nov 9 2011, 04:53 PM Post #14 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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The banshee immediately seemed to go on the defensive, crossing his arms. In many ways he was mirroring herself, Sophia felt. As if she anticipated him attacking her she threw up her defenses, magic ran through her enhancing her senses and muscles to well beyond what should be possible, and in some ways wasn't. When he placed his hand on her shoulder she was ready to fling him across the room with a burst of telekinetic force. He apologized. That, at least, caused her to relax a little and the more offensive of preparations she had made faded away. "Sure it wasn't" she responded, as if she believed it only wasn't as of when he realized it would not work. She was aware he was much better at the whole... Talking thing than her. "The fact Orion worries you is understandable. The fact you think just because I work with him it makes me his resource to do with and use as he pleases is less so. Do you really think I just go along with whatever he wants? That I have no will of my own?" she asked, gently placing her hand onto his wrist and removing his own hand from her shoulder just as he gave it a little squeeze. She returned his gaze however, and didn't seem to harbor any hostility. Perhaps a little disappointment. He had tried to threaten her, and now seemed to think she was Orion's puppet. Did he really think that little of her? Evidently she would have to create proof that she was much, much more than that. She changed her seating position a little when he began to speak about his plans and seemed honestly interested. Largely because it was the first time he had actually trusted her with anything about himself, another of the reasons she felt he didn't quite think of he what she wanted him to. "Morrim, then" she spoke softly "I suppose there is a chance. I have never met the empress, so who know's what she would think. As for Soto... Well, if it annoys them, good. If they want to kick up a fuss you know I would have your back. Not as a representative of Ashoka, but still. I daresay I can create another identity, especially if it means knocking some Sotoan's off their high horse" she didn't add that she had substantial pull with one of the guilds in Soto. Didn't seem relevant. He had plans to build his own powerbase, she had her own. "Besides, I doubt Soto would do much. Currently they are very worried Orion is going to do something" she declined to say whether those fears were well founded or not. Partly because she didn't really know. "Or at least about some Ashokan refugees are going to kick start something. As long as anything you do, you do whilst things are tense there they won't bring much you can't handle." she clicked her tongue "Just promise me one thing. You'll be good to her this time. Morrim, I mean. Maybe its residual Anna I didn't purge, but not again" her gaze suddenly hardened "If you can promise me that I will do my best to keep Orion off the matter." She stretched her legs out and stood up, walking over to the small kitchen area, pouring herself a glass of water "Want anything?" she called back, her earlier hostility seemingly faded. |
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| Andromalius | Nov 17 2011, 08:50 AM Post #15 |
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She sounded insulted that he'd called her a resource. Why someone would be angry at that, he didn't know, particularly if it was the truth. What, did she think she was Orion's friend? People like that don't have friends – just utilities. He'd taken Sophia as a woman cut from that same cloth, but perhaps he'd been mistaken. More and more this evening, it was becoming apparent that he didn't really know her at all. He never cared to learn, until now while she held a significant political position and enough magical power to give him a damn fine chase. Before, when she worked as an assassin for him, and again when she was going by Anna and he'd helped her piece together her psyche, she'd merely been ...a resource. That was the nature of the dead man. The only thing which could peak his interest in another was their usefulness to him, and this rule applied to absolutely everyone – even Ashes. He would deny it if asked, though. Not even he realized this way in which he chose to socialize. It was simply something that was, far too engrained in him now to ever hope for change. As for the puppet show... Isn't everyone wearing strings? It was highly debatable, sure, but the Banshee believed in cause and effect and, to an extent, the theory of predetermination. Metaphysics was his pantheon. Life, Death, and Destiny were his wrathful gods. Sophia's returning congeniality (or, what passed as congeniality for her) was putting him back at ease. It crossed the phantom's mind that she didn't know him all that well, either. He couldn't recall telling her anything truly personal before that he wouldn't say to anyone else. Her political standings made her seems responsible with information, though. He trusted she was smart enough to know what shouldn't be repeated, which had always been the greatest reason to withhold his thoughts from leaving his mouth. “Isra forgave Sphynx for ripping her heart out,” Andromalius folded his arms and slowly began to pace around, no longer looking at the woman. “I can provide a valuable service. I see no reason why she wouldn't utilize me after ridding herself of some fear from this old corpse. If she's a Banshee, then she probably dreams about what I did to her quite often...” “Oh, please, you don't have to say that sort of thing,” he'd stopped and looked up at her when she said she'd have his back. “I don't expect anyone to have my back. I wouldn't ask it.” If his blood ran an oxygen-rich red, he'd be blushing. The truth of it was that he didn't know how to handle that. It had outright flustered him to the same degree as a love confession. She must be very confident in herself, but ruin followed the Banshee, and it wasn't always by his hand. She didn't know the weight of her words. Regardless, the High Inquisitor would likely be able to pick up on his embarrassment by the way his eyes kept skipping back to her from darting away, and the manner in which his broad frame shrank. “I'll let you know if there are Sotoans to smash, though~” She expressed her own concerns over Morrim's well-being during his latest venture, and he nodded solemnly. “I'll do everything I can to help Her. You know, I'd actually intended to turn the empire into the continental capital after I'd taken over Soto and Angkar. All the financials would have been pooled and re-divided...” A deep, forlorn sigh passed though his lungs as she got up and fetched herself a drink. “No, nothing for me, thank you. I don't consume food and drink,” the last bit was said rather absently. His attention wandered, and eventually landed on the door. “Actually, I ought to be going. I have a lot to do before the day's end and I shouldn't be lingering in one place for too long. I just wanted to drop by and let you know I'm back.” |
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| Sophia | Nov 17 2011, 03:09 PM Post #16 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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A resource... The implication that she wasn't her own person, just a tool to be used by other people for their own ends. That was exactly the kind of thing she was fighting against, she had swore never to be enslaved or used by anyone, not again. The implication that Orion had control of her to use as he wished... The implication that she wouldn't turn away from him in a second if she felt it warranted. That she disliked. Sure, she had his back now, but the best thing about that was that she was in the perfect place to stab him in it if needed. She always liked having that as an option in any contact with any other person. "True, I imagine having you around would be a very powerful card for Isra to play, if needed. The state Morrim is in, they need what they can get. And with the frenzy that was whipped up in the Dark Conquest, there are probably plenty that think you are even more dangerous than you are. Which is tough, but makes you all the more useful an ally for her." she waved her hand "Provided she is as forgiving with you as she was with the Sphynx. I suppose you don't have the bonus of having brought her back, but who knows?" she shrugged slightly "stranger things have happened. I am not naive enough to call anything impossible" She couldn't quite tell what it was he thought about her comment. He seemed evasive, like he didn't want her involved, maybe? Even better. If he had a plan of something big it could help her out in her aims. "Don't get me wrong, if your in a bind because you were a jerk about something you can pay for your own mistakes. But I imagine your bound to have some problems, and I am here if you need me. In some ways we are the same. Just a few, but..." she trailed off and her hand briefly rested on her Inquisitional sign. Partly she called them alike because of the link that gave her to a past plan of his. "Enough for me to want to know your around to help me destroy rogue elements of my mind, if needed" she was partly aware that Andromalius probably had wanted the Sophia and Anna sides of her to work together, not have one destroy the other, but that wasn't really an issue to her. She was a little surprised he didn't eat or drink "Really?" she asked "All the material I read on the undead and I did not pick that little gem up. Seems the mundane, but important stuff is always forgotten. Maybe I should have saved some more from the tower when I was there. Too late now." she said with a sigh "Is a shame, really. Still, it is a good place if you ever want to find someone nobody will miss, for whatever reason" her mind went back to her Sign, but her hand did not this time "The place is crammed with them. But, I can't be keeping you if you have more important things to see. I assume the brand will work as usual again now? I might give you a call soon, I am planning something I think you might find interesting as soon as I have finished gathering resources". Five hundred souls. That was how many she needed. And then she would get to see if it all worked as planned. |
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| Andromalius | Nov 20 2011, 01:07 PM Post #17 |
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“Well, that's the 'fair exchange'. I didn't resurrect her, no, but Sphynx didn't want to hang around, and she owes her allegiance to no one. In addition, my credentials are even more impressive than that fallen goddess'.She never led an army beyond her own conjurations. Hm, at least not that I'm aware...” The mage scratched with his talons just beneath his chin thoughtfully. He laughed, though, when Sophia told him to pick up his own messes. Yes, that was a far more appropriate thing to say, rather than let him wander off thinking that she'd want to get tangled in those scenarios, in which the fault was his. “If I'm having a good day,” he chimed with a chuckle at the idea of playing her psychotherapist again. Now that he was a bit older, he'd considered the whole ordeal with Anna as a stroke of luck. He knew he was terribly out of touch with the world beyond his own perspective. What he'd told her then was the product of extreme arrogance and the desire of a quick fix to Morrim's problems. Andromalius thought he'd handled himself very poorly, but it didn't seem like anybody else noticed. He began making his way back over to join the woman, intent on saying his goodbyes, “It's situational. That's why I love Elenlond. The magic here is chaotic. Perhaps it is the residual influence of the East. I hear some very interesting things about a sleeping Goddess.” He smiled pleasantly. “But, yes, I'm all mixed up under my skin. I could fill a volume.” The assassin's words slipped to the Black Tower. His smile vanished, and he adopted a brief, distant demeanor. It was strange: he almost felt comforted by the news that it was inhabited by vagrants. It was a cursed place with a dark history. Only the most desperate would pass through its gates now, people like himself who were pariahs on the world. He liked that he could inadvertently bring them all together ...to feed the Basilisks, who were surely still nesting around the foothills. Typhod, a Basilisk Patriarch, and his brood knew very well that the tower was theirs in his absence. Andromalius supposed the upper floors were now feeding grounds. As cousins of pythons, the big snakes never left much of a mess in the process of swallowing their meals whole. “Hmm?” he glanced back up when Sophia remarked upon the brand. “Oh, yes. It works the way you remember it. I'd be happy to come see what you've been working on. Surely, you've managed to do some ingenious things in my absence.” The sorcerer lifted his right arm marginally, and then gestured her towards him in a way that wasn't even close to resembling a strict command. He was asking for a farewell hug, and his smile was creeping back in. |
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| Sophia | Nov 22 2011, 04:50 PM Post #18 |
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High Inquisitor of Ashoka
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Well, it seemed he still hadn't developed a sense of modesty. Usually she hated people subtly boasting about how great they were, but with the banshee she knew that he was being brutally honest in regards to his capabilities. In some ways though, that was a good thing, she liked having something to set herself against, it gave her even more drive than she usually possessed. And she possessed quite a lot to begin with. She merely nodded "True, although different people are leading armies nowadays. I could, if I wanted to..." she mused "Not that I am sure it would be a good idea. Who would want to follow me?" she smirked. She was under no illusions at how she was perceived, and knew that she wasn't exactly a popular person with anything other than a handful of individuals, one of them in the room with her. She never had got on well with others, probably because she adopted the philosophy of 'strangers are just enemies you have not met'. She created working alliances. The tribes of Ashoka, the assassin's guild of Soto... They weren't brought round to her because they liked her in the slightest, they did it because she made it the only logical choice to be so. She had no doubt the banshee was the same, and Orion. To them she was a tool, useful but little else. If she lost her skills, her ability and her drive then she doubted she would hear from them ever again. Although, with Orion that could be a blessing. "Good" she seemed pleased when Andromalius stated he would be happy to see what she was working on If it all goes right I will" she stopped herself and shook her head "It doesn't matter." she wanted him to see what happened when she created life. By her estimate she needed another two hundred souls to make her first homunculus, so she was well over halfway. She hoped he would be proud of her, but in the same vein, if he didn't, well he could go stuff himself. He spread his arms wide for a hug and she but raised an eyebrow "Really?" she asked him "You know I am not one for... Well, touching, in all but a few occasions." she walked over to him and seemed torn between going for the hug, or offering him a handshake. It also occurred to her he was wide open if she wanted to stab him in the gut, but she couldn't help herself from noticing things like that anymore, and long since stopped trying not to. She offered the handshake in the end "Good luck sorting yourself out. And if you want anything from the tower back, I am done with most of it" she didn't mention the two fragments of the Eye of Zanna she took. She needed them. "And I am not one to keep things out of sentiment." she exhaled "Don't get dead until someone pays me to be the one to do it" she tried to make a light hearted comment to say goodbye with. She was pretty sure it sounded more like a threat. |
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