The building seemed out of place some and looked like just a normal tavern, but... The normal patrons came and went like any other tavern, but... She stood outside the noisy establishment and tipped her head to the side. Shadows whispered underneath it... it was there... hidden from these normal people, there was something else... others...

She stiffened a moment as a drunk staggered out and collapsed on the ground, a dagger in his back. He was a huge man and AD blinked. She felt the shadows shift and a thin woman appeared to retrieve the instrument of his death, and took his coin pouch too. The woman saw AD watching as she rose and they looked at each other for a moment. Then she felt something tug at her own shadow, as if something else was bidding her own shadow to act! She gripped her shadow with her own mind and bid it be still. Not once did her gaze part from this woman though. Then, the woman smiled and beckoned AD to follow. She paused just a moment to look back at the dead man before slipping inside. The place was... intriguing. She found herself smiling though as she trailed the other woman inside.

It wasn't long before the woman stopped and leaned close to speak and actually be easily heard over the music. "Would you like to dance?" AD blinked but nodded numbly. She then had her wrist grabbed and was being pulled along. Then they stopped and the woman spoke again. "So is there anyone you would like to dance with in particular. Don't worry about asking, I'll be your big sister tonight." The woman made a vague gesture across the room and AD found herself looking at the people already here and those just arriving. She hadn't yet stopped to think about what she was doing here...

Shadows hugged the narrow street as it wound this way and that, until he finally came to a stop not too far off from a building that caught his attention. There was quite the bustling of people as they entered and exited the building, but what for…? The question bothered him, but the only way to satiate such a trivial thing was to go and find out for himself. In a slow methodical pace, Manic made his way towards the Dancers Nest totally oblivious to its purpose or what was held within its four walls. Only to be stopped just before he got to the steps of the building, causing his dark cold eyes to slide off to the side where the man stood, hand upon Manic’s chest, “You have five seconds to remove your hand.”

The man regarded his own hand with a glance and dropped it to his side, “Be weary of who you talk to in there. There’s some rough characters in there, I say this for your own sake.” The man would then offer a nod of respect before slinking off back into the shadows that lined the side of the building.

Manic lifted a brow at the man’s statement, before shrugging it off only to continue up the stairs and through the threshold of the door. Music fluttered to his ears, leaving a semi-pleasant thought in his mind but only for a fleeting instant. For his eyes caught their gaze falling upon that of Aether Draka, while he didn’t know her by name, she was indeed the same person he had met that one day with Alice Winters. The spy…As he knew her as was now standing before him accompanied by another woman. The one struck no familiarity in his mind, but his attention would stay only for a moment. When it settled back upon AD, a malignant grin took upon his face at the sheer instance another song would pick up.

This woman would have no choice to run off this time, no less to play such a droll trick like she had done so before she left their company. It hadn’t bothered him in the least, since it was simply dismissible by walking a certain distance from the apparent illusion. She would be his tonight and only his, to divulge any and all information that she held stored away within that little head of hers. The grin still prominent upon his lips, Manic began towards her in a slow methodical manner, only to then quickly slink up behind her. Once behind her, his neck would swing up and crane over her shoulder, bringing his cheek along side of hers, before whispering, “Boo.” It wasn’t meant to scare her and if she was as rugged as she spoke that day then there would be no chance of it. Regardless it was still a fun thing to do, since games were his forte.

“Would you like to dance….My arms are free and there’s no woman to accompany them, besides I have some things I would like to ask you.” There was a certain hissing sound within his voice, signaling that there was a certain mal-intent within what he wished of her. Whether she would pick up such a subtle hint was something he would have to see, but for the time being, he would slink out from behind her, winding around in front of her as though he was gliding across the floor. The sounds of his feet were subtle to issue no sound, while his movements were smooth and fluid without a second of hesitation. Moving a hand out in front of him, it would offer itself palm up at his mid-drift, awaiting her to take it up in his hand so he could lead her off to the floor. Should she accept, Manic would lead her off to the stage where they would begin their so-called “Tango.”

There were countless people that she didn't know here, including this woman who had for some reason decided she was going to be her big sister tonight. The woman rose an eyebrow and AD was about to turn and see what her 'big sister' was looking at when a voice next her her ear spoke a single word. She blinked. What was that supposed to mean? AD turned her head to catch sight of who it was. He then shifted from behind her to in front of her.

It was the one that she had smelled his blood in the river. She knew his scent because of it. There was too many smells about here though to have picked it up sooner. It would have been imposable. He had only been talking with that woman and AD had never really discovered what had caused the blood. Her curiosity had never been satisfied and she had gotten annoyed with them and left. She did still have the bit of metal somewhere though.

AD hadn't danced in a long time. She had been too busy to even think about it. The woman with her only smiled and whispered loudly so AD could hear over the den, "I've got your back girl, go on!" The woman placed a hand flat on AD's back with a slight push. Not a shove by any means and it didn't actually make her move at all, but it was still there. Aether Draka smiled slightly and shook her head as if she wasn't going to accept the invitation, but it was more one of those 'I can't believe I'm doing this' sort of things. She wasn't very sure about it, there was something in the way he spoke, but she couldn't pin it down. Besides, he had caught her curiosity so it wasn't as if she could refuse him even if she felt so inclined. It was that curiosity that ruled her next action more then anything else. Perhaps this time, her curiosity would be satisfied.

She took the step forward and accepted his hand. She was lead off to the stage where the music simply got a little louder and the sounds of everyone talking became a little less. She didn't feel like shouting over it so she would wait a moment to ask him what exactly it was that he wanted to ask, that is, if he didn't just decide to ask right away. Aether Draka was going to let him take the lead for now.

(( OOC: Hope you don't mind me taking the lead. ))

Delicately each of his digits would curl around her soft hand, holding it loosely in its manner while he led her off to the stage. Taking a step up on the platform, a couple more would follow only to carry him off to the middle portion of it, only to then turn to her. Their hands would part momentarily; one moving up to her upper back, while the other scooped up her other hand, digits interlacing themselves betwixt her own. As he brought their hands up and off to their side, a step back would begin their movements in a ballroom style dance. The music seemed to sway with swift yet subtle melodies, carrying certain elegance to the listener’s ears. Those sounds only seemed to translate into foot placements by Manic, as they glided across the dance floor in effortless succession of movements.

While they moved, all of his attention drifted from the floor and everything else only to fall dead on focused to the woman within his arms, “You carry yourself well, perhaps too well.” After a period of time his voice would pick up above the music again, “You made a statement before you left a very curious statement might I add…” There was a long pause after his words, allowing her some time to stew over her memories of that day so she knew exactly what he was referring to or at least had a general idea. Once he was sure that she held the answer he seeked, a smug grin would tug at the corner of his mouth, “You said that even God’s can die…I’m curious as to why you say that, are they not among the immortal, the untouchable, and the high and mighty?” Certain viciousness picked up in his voice while his mouth spewed out those vile titles.

Whether or not she would have his answer would remain to be seen. Manic could only hope that she did hold such a thing within that interesting little head of hers, otherwise this all might be for naught. While he waited for her answer, all movement would come to a halt momentarily, the hand on her back parting off to the side briefly. Using the hand he held interlaced to hers, each digit would slip out to take up the tips of her fingers as he slung her arm up over her head in a counter clockwise fashion as if to lead her into a spin. Taking up his hands within their previous placements, the corner of his lips would twitch into a wry grin, “Don’t disappoint me…”

((OOC: I do believe it is the guy who takes the lead in a dance! ^_^ ))

She let herself move with the music, following his lead. She didn't know any particular dance for the area, but she did know how to follow. That was something she was familiar with. It was the work she had to go through to get to where she was now that had been so difficult. It had been hard to break some of those habits, but here, it seemed useful. In the right situation she supposed it would be. AD listened to him as he took his time asking his question, drawing it out through the dance when ever there was a good moment to speak.

His question though, was an odd one. Did he not know that just as people could become Gods that they could fall in their divinity to become mortals once again? She supposed not. What would be a good example? Gregory Faust. She didn't like him that much anyways and felt no qualms about talking about him.

She let herself break away into a spin before finding herself held close in the dance once more. There was the interesting feeling, as if someone was trying to weave a cage about her without the use of magic. Her emerald eyes settled on Manic as he spoke what could have been a warning. With those she had been around as of late though, he didn't seem to be any immediate threat. That could no doubt change with time though. She smiled a true smile that shined in her eyes with a touch of malice. Yes, Gregory would do for this explanation.

“The God of Light for example. There was another person called that before the one now and even before that a God of Day ruled.” She let her feet move her across the floor as she let his hands guide her. “I knew Gregory Faust before he was the God of Light. That means… he became divine. So what happened to the other God of Light? He would have to be either mortal or dead for Gregory to have gained that power. It’s not too hard to kill a mortal, fallen from the divine or not.”

Her voice dropped a little as the song drew to an end and right before the next song started she said very simply. “What was gained can be taken away. It’s the gaining of something that takes the most work.”

It was an interesting choice of comparison, one that seemed to spark his interest greatly. Undividedly his attention fell to her with a certain enticement by her speech. Through all the meetings and run ins he had with people during the vast years of his life, none ever proved to be interesting AND useful. But as he was going to open his mouth to respond, it would immediately close in response to her following statement. What was gained can be taken away…To take away Godhood, to strip a man of his rank and position. The thought was unthinkable, but yet it played over and over in his head like some sort of nightmare. After a spell of silence, it would shake itself from the grasping tendrils of his mind, allowing it to float effortlessly away within the depth of its caresses.

Another thought would immediately replace the previous, this one actually making it to his lips in a soft monotonous tone, “There’s a problem with what you told me. You state it’s not hard to kill a mortal, fallen from the divine or not. Albeit you’re mortal when you’re no longer divine, but I was told that the divine are immortal…If what you said were true, then that would mean any measly little two faced punk could walk up and take down a God without a second thought about it. I would like to believe that, but for some reason it only seems nothing more than fallacy to me.” For some reason his mind couldn’t really grasp such a fact as that, so his thoughts would quickly misdirect themselves upon dancing for the time being.

Another song begun in the wake of the last, filling the air with a sweet upbeat melody which made him pause momentarily to ponder it. Coming to a decision on how to take part in this song, each of his hands would move to take up hers in a loose grip. Moving back a couple of steps, a realm of distance would part the two of them, only to be covered by their now semi-extended arms, with hands joined in between. In a slow methodical manner his feet began to shift this way and that, gradually getting a feel for the song, before picking up in a rather mock display of the people around him. It was at that point that his attention shifted yet another time back to the woman, thoughts formulating in his head, “I’m looking too much into the things you said. Excuse that, I do that from time to time, what I wish to know from you now…..If this is even in your vault of knowledge, how one would go about stripping another of such a high and prestigious rank.”

Like venom dripping from the fangs of a rattlesnake the words would spew from the lips, only to be followed by a simple fake appearing smile. It was out in the air now, the true intent relinquished and the question floating off in the air only seemed to linger for the time being. What she would do next was simply up to her, but from what he gathered there were only two probabilities for this woman to act upon. One, ask the reasoning and remain spectacle about answering such a thing forth right, or simply answer it without a seconds thought. Judging by the way she used the God of Light as a target of the conversation, it would more the less be the latter that would ensue. There was something about this woman that told him he would get the answer he seeked without issue, but perhaps it was only because of the way she spoke that led him to believe it.

AD found what he said interesting, but not terribly useful. Though his interest in it seemed to be, but he didn't really want to try that, but... for some reason she was sure why he wanted to know. Then, after starting to dance once more, he did voice just that. He wanted to know how to kill a God. Aether Draka shook her head, and said it was almost a sad tone, "Unfortunately you have caught me a bit too early to answer that question. I am working on it though and plan on testing it on our dear God of Light once I'm done recovering from our lovely little last encounter where he failed to rip my soul in two.” There was a hatred in her voice, one that was by this point unforgiving. Her hatred for that god and what he had tried to do to her was only matched so far by Lynthaer. Though when Aurikos found out he was rather upset about it too.

She glanced to those around them and noticed off to the side the woman who's name she didn't even know but who had claimed to be her big sister tonight. She had a drink in hand and was watching her. When she saw AD was looking her way the woman rose her cup and grained. AD blinked and smiled back before turning her gaze back to Manic. “I haven't discovered how one becomes divine in the first place, though I have read of something called a God Slayer. That might not require someone to take away the divinity of a God before killing them. I'm going to visit the Academy of Magic and see if I can learn more. I have some guild business to attend to first though. Then I will look into it more." He was demonic, she had smelled it in his blood before. She found she preferred the demons to the angels. Some demons might not like her, but they didn't try to 'save' her. She didn't have a problem with talking about what she knew either, at least not this topic. She smiled, letting herself enjoy the dance even if there was a bit more talking then she remembered. Not that it was a problem. He was a good dancer...

(( OOC: Just so you know, I have NO issue with continuing the topic, it's all a matter of what AD wants to do. n.n It's either let him leave or try and stop him. ))

Without delay a sudden rush of noise would erupt from his larynx in response to what she had said, “Ahhhhh! I see, I see, a God Slayer…Such a tantalizing idea, no less delicious.” If it weren’t for this woman within his realm of space, the sheer thought would have driven him to salivate. Oh what a good idea this was to come and ask such an interesting woman. On top of interesting, there was a hate dwelling deep within her, a hate that would drive her to the darkness and push her as far from the light as she could get. Another possible servant to his already growing legion, or perhaps she could be something much more than a servant. At the rate she was going, she could very well be an equal at the helm of it all. That of course would take some time…

Countless thoughts flooded his mind at the sheer words the woman spoke, much like the waters retained behind a flood gate that had just been opened. Not only did she offer him what information she knew of, she even wanted to take it all upon her own hands to take the God of Light down. But…If she did that, then there would be no satisfaction for him to enjoy from the whole thing. So in response to her words, he would offer his own, “I have my own ‘respects’ to pay to the God of Light. I will accompany you in doing away with him. Should you refuse my help, then I will go off on my own with the information you allowed me, and do it all myself. So the way I see it you won’t have much choice but to bring me along on this excursion of yours.” Each of his steps would soon falter to dead idleness; a wave of seriousness would wash across his visage as his onyx hues settled upon hers

“I am offering my aid, nothing more and nothing less. I’m not going to play savior if things get rough, but I will try to make things easier if I can. Who knows, perhaps I could add God Slayer to my repertoire. It certainly has a nice ring to it, no?” Parting his hands from her body, they would move to his sides, with the exception of one that would neatly drape itself across his midsection, a bow ensuing the action. Lifting his head up enough from the bow, his eyes would gaze up at her momentarily, before rising once again. “I appreciate your cooperation and the dance, but my time here has come to an end. The name is Manic Deathstorm, King of Kings, Lord of Lords…And soon to be God Slayer.” Issuing nothing more than a wink to the woman, Manic would turn on the heels of his boots before proceeded his way down the stairs to the main floor where he would pause momentarily.

“Don’t come looking for me, I will be the one finding you. Even without a name, the world is an easy place to find a person, especially a woman with such an interesting appearance as yours. Don’t change it.” With that said, a simple wave would gesture itself as he began to retreat off into the crowd and out the door. Should she find the need to stop him, it would take nothing more that an utterance of his name, but should she choose not to then their next meeting wouldn’t be too far down the road…

((OOC: gah! Sorry it’s so short!))

He was walking away? After that, he was walking away? She noticed her self proclaimed big sister coming towards her then and AD shook her head. That was not a note she wanted to leave on. She had a few questions of her own now. The music picked up again, and so did the dancing, and suddenly she really didn't feel like being inside anymore. Without thinking about how others would react, AD promptly pulled the shadows about herself and vanished to just outside the door, where she had been standing before being dragged into the noisy place.

Inside, her so called big sister was shocked. She wasn't even that high of a shadow dancer herself to vanish like that. Truly vanish... She was sure of it as she stood in the spot AD had just left. She cussed softly under her breath. There was no way of knowing where she had gone. So much for trying to help a young shadow dancer in the art. It was clear that girl was already past her own skills.

Aether Draka waited outside for the door to open at his hand before speaking to him once more. "Manic Deathstorm. A better name then mine. I already have two so called savors coming with me already, so I am in no need of another. I would have argued with them, but I would rather have the help. Enough numbers will give us the better chance of besting him, as I doubt he will spread his powers so thin as to attack us all. If so, it will only weaken him more. So if you shall be so instant on offering your aid, I’m afraid I will have to be the one to contact you. It may not be hard to find someone in the world, but I am often not here." She shrugged lightly and then her head tipped to the side slightly as she spoke further. A smile crossing her face. “I’m wondering though as to why you would be so interested in such visits to a God?”

A brow quirked curiously at the sudden sight of the woman as the door swung open. It would simply be dismissed as a thought came to mind. Since the day she had spied on them, Manic made well with his thoughts of how such a thing would be possible without issuing a sign of her presence. Then it had hit him, it was the same ability that he too possessed, but his was of course a bit weaker than her own. Upon knowing that bit of information, he recalled the final stages of the ability he could attain and knew that was what got her out here so quickly. It really didn’t make a difference though, since it didn’t seem she was intent upon simply allowing him to leave just like that.

While she spoke a look of distaste washed across his face, not exactly liking the options she offered. Deciding to keep this between the two of them, Manic would emerge fully out into the night air, closing the door swiftly in his wake. “Personally, I’m not fond of the idea about you contacting me. I run a tight schedule of appearances and contracts, so to say I can freely sit around and wait for you to come and find me just won’t work.” The soft lull of his voice seemed to carry with each word that rolled from his tongue, “Let alone the fact that it’s not a definite thing that you would even allow me along on your little excursion. So, in short I would simply be waiting around for nothing? I don’t do that…In fact that sort of thing irritates me.”

There would be a pause in his words as his eyes regarded her momentarily, “You’ll be allowed a specific amount of time to request my services and allow me to join you. Should you fail to do so in that period of time then I will simply bring my appearance to that of the God himself. What I do from there is merely my choice, I could choose to take things into my own hands, or I could simply give the man a passing tip of what’s to come.” With that said, manic would issue a wink to the woman known as Aether Draka, knowing full well that she would not like the sound of that.

Deciding to dwell on the matter no further his mind would travel to the following question, pondering it for a couple of moments, “My reasoning for visiting this God is simple…But it’s for me to know and everyone else to find out. I stand to gain a lot from the God’s fall, should you do it for me, then it will make my job much more easier. Though…Should I allow that occur without me having my fun with him then that’s just utterly droll. Idealy…It’s not something I would like to have happen, because it would be such a great feeling to have him brought to his knees by my own hands and not someone elses.” Issuing a simple wave of the hand, Manic would shift his stance slightly in a patient manner, “Any other questions, Woman with the oddly colored hair?” The odd name wasn’t meant in sheer disrespect, but merely a fact to point out that she failed to issue her own name in return for his own…Whether she would catch that or not would remain to be seen.

Aether Draka frowned at him when he spoke about sitting around. She decided to ignore his comment about her name though. He hadn't asked for it and she wasn't inclined in the least to give her name to anyone who didn't ask. Well, perhaps when she felt like it...

"I have no intentions of waiting around for you and would not expect you to do any sort of thing like that for me. Go ahead and keep your schedules and such. I have a friend who is very good at contacting people for me and is discrete enough about it to not draw attention. And if you feel the need to tell Gregory Faust of my intend visit, you may not get much from it. I'm pretty sure he is aware of it one way or another. Something to do with an angel finding its way into the abyss accidentally... apparently. Even if the angel doesn't talk, she might look into things and raise enough suspicion. Not that I care really. He knows I favor his brother over him." She shrugged and waved her hand dismissively, as if it wasn’t even important enough for her to have mentioned it.

Then AD smiled. A true smile that showed a happiness most she was around found… innocent. There was honestly nothing else to it; just some thought that had made her happy. She placed both her hands behind her back and took a step forward. She had to raise her chin some to keep her gaze on Manic's face. "You can do it your way if you want to though. Who knows, you might luck out and find me. First time playing hide and seek where I’m not the one looking. Should be fun.” She had shifted her weight forward when she said ‘I’m’ and let her weight shift back to her center as she finished her sentence. The smile was still there.