Night. A gloomy night fitting for a stroll amongst the shadows. Shien walked along the deserted streets, breathing in the salty air. She had just gotten off a ship that had come in, and was taking in the view of her new lands.
With great agility, she climbed up onto the rooftops. She went from roof to roof, listening for the sounds of sorrow that always drew her in to feed. When she heard none in her general vicinity, she leaped down from the building she was on, and landed in the street below. She heard the scurrying of mice in the alleyway, and the sound of loud, raucous singing in the distance. A tavern. There should be lots of sorrows gathered there she thought.
Shien turned the corner, and looked at the sign over the door. "Bloodseal Tavern." I am a bit thirsty.
She pushed open the door, and walked inside. It was crowded, and smoky, but no one would notice her. She slipped into a table in the corner, and hid in the shadows. The barman came over and asked her what she wanted.
Some ale, if you please, she told the man. He nodded, and walked away.
A few of the patrons turned and looked her way, but very quickly averted their gaze as she stared at them with daggers gleaming in her eyes.
This place could prove to be interesting she thought.

Rith smiled as he wlaked through the streets of Talas. He had lost one of his contacts, but that did not bother him much. He took pleasure giving the man great pain before sending him to his death.
Rith was currently carefully disguised. Instead of seeming a small child of an age no greater than eight, he seemed a rather handsome gnome. He found that this disguise seemed more fitting for himself than his normal form. Gnomes were none to be master of illusions as Rith thought himself to be. Rith's normally straight hair was now ruffled. He had also dyed his hair to be jet black. He had few other large changes, but many small ones here and there.
Rith's attention turned to the tavern as he neared it. Rith wondered how well his disguise would work out. The last time he entered the tavern without an illusion about him, he was attacked by a few vampires. The situation was easilyy dealt with, but Rith did not like the strange looks at what the people had thought before was a mere lost child. Most people would be too drunk to notice him and other might pick on him simply for his size or prehaps because they don't like gnomes.

Rith pushed the door open and watched the smoke exit as he made his entrance. He had a dislike of this place. It was disorganinzed and too disruptive for himself, but he did enjoy watching peculiar events that occured in the avern even if he had to make them himself. Rith's eyes searched through the vile crowd and soon rested upon a woman sitting in the shadows of a corner. Rith saw her give a few men some intimidating looks and was pleased to see her results. None of the men seemed strong in the mind of too corageous, but Rith was pleased nonetheless. Rith slowly made his way to her table. "Is this seat taken, my Lady," Rith smiled as he rested his small hand upon the chair across from her.

Shien looked up. A small, dwarf-like creature was standing across from her. What did he want? Hadn't he just seen the looks she was giving all of the other men in this place? However, there was something interesting about him. Shien decided to toy with him.
No, kind sir. It is vacant. She smiled winningly, and motioned for him to sit.
Would you like a drink? I am sure the bartender would be more than pleased to get you whatever you need.
Just then, the aforementioned bartender appeared with her ale. He placed it before her, and she placed a few coins into his hand. The bartender, an overly cautious man, bit one of the coins. When it showed no signs of bending, he smiled slightly, bowed, and removed himself from their presence.
Shien returned her attention to the short one. He was still standing by her chair.
Please, sit down. May I ask the name of one so bold as to ask to share my company?

"Thank you. As for a drink I will have to decline. I have no a liking of cleanliness of the bartender, " Rith smiled as the Bartender came up. Rith was sure he could see an anger glance for the man as he left the two alone. "And as much as I frequent this place I have yet to obtain a taste for blood," Rith laughed softly. "As For a name. Peral Forbus, At you service, My Lady," Rith smilled with a bow before taking the seat. "Bold? I dare say that my actions are bold. I would say that you are more like a beutiful flower with fancy petals and divine scent. Of all flowers you are of course a rose. A rose who fancies using her thorns," Rith smiled as he attempted to listen into her thoughts. "May I ask of your name now that you have mine?" Flattery was not something Rith did often and he was sure he would not continue it for too long even if the lady found the words pleasing.

Shien laughed, a deep, throaty chuckle. The small one was complimenting her! Never had anyone had kind words to say to her. But then, she never really had anything nice to say to others.
Thorns indeed! Believe me, kind sir, my bite is most certainly worse than my bark. She took a sip of the ale. Disgusting stuff she thought. However, it is better than nothing at all.
Shien gestured again for him to sit. It was much easier to talk to someone when you can look at them straight in the eyes.
Sir, I am Shien Darkraven. I have but newly arrived here in this--"fair" city. As a matter of fact she paused to take another drink. I am newly arrived to this entire land. I have traveled a long distance, and came into port only this evening. She ran her finger around the lip of the mug. It kept her hands busy, and gave her something to focus on.
What makes you think that I drink blood? Never have I mentioned it, least of all to you.

(I thought I sat down. :huh: )
Rith sat down at her gesture. Rith was pleased to see she seemed to like his flattering words. He knew that he pushed it much further she made soon find it annoying. Rith listened to her words with intrest. He wondered slightly where she came from. "Tis a glorious name, Shien. So did you have wonderful adventures in this other land....or where your days better left without description?" Rith asked. Rith dug a hand into his pocket and pulled out a monocle and a wihite hankercheif. He wiped down the monocle a placed in infront of his right eye. An illusionary glass cup appeared before him as he placed the cloth in his pocket. An illusionary wine bottle appeared hover ing ove the glass and seemd to filll the glass with a black liquid before vanishing in the same sudden fashion as it appeared. Even as close Shien was the illusions would undoubtedly seem real. Rith ran his around the lip of the ilusionary glass as he spoke to her. "I also came from another land, though I have been here in Imythess for quite some time and have become quite knowledgable of many things," Rith said truthfully. Rith seemed to take a sip of his glass before speaking again. The liquid convincingly sloshed around in the glass as he picked it up and raised it to his lips and seemed to have lessened after he seemed to drink it. "I did not say nor imply that you drink blood. If you have not noticed the name of this tavern then you might not be able guess that this is a favored hangout of many vampires. But now that you have let a small slip of information would it be alright to ask by the fact that you have never mentioned a taste for blood to anyone?"

Ooh, this one is tricky. I shall have to be careful with him. He looks into things too much, and the slightest slip from me, and he will know everything.
Sir, you have caught me. But do not think I will let other information slip so easily from my lips. She smiled. I believe that my past is better left unsaid for the time being, she told him. Perhaps, once I have begun to know you better, I will reveal more to you.
Shien watched in amazement as a glass and bottle appeared as if from nowhere. She watched Peral drink from it, and took a sip from her own mug. The small one showed promise. Maybe I can use him someway. He did say he knew a quite a bit about this land.
She picked up the heavy mug, and held it in her hands. The solid metal of the mug felt good in her hands, so smooth, and cold.

Rith smiled at her thoghts as he swirled the strange liquid in his illusionary glass. Her thoughts were more true than she would wish to know. Even the slightest thought could give heself away. He took this thought as a very nice compliment. "You don't seem the sort who let's too much information slip. I would suppose I just got luck," Rith smiled. " I understand and respect your wish of secrecy. I have seen several cases of this and I even prefer to keep my own past kept away." "What is it that brought y... No, I suppose that might be a question to simmilar to my last. What is it that you do for your own personal enjoyement, dear Shein?" He found it funny that she thought she could use him. It was often those who thought they were in control that were held under control with the tightest grip. Rith was aware what this meant of himself. He knew that a time may come when he was the one fooled. In any case his knowledge of thoughts and adeptness at reading body language would help him keep this time away for a long time. "I shall tell my own personal enjoyments after you, if you wish." "I can use her someday. She has an interesting process of thoughts. I am sure I shall see more good things from her," Rith though to himself as he sipped more of his illusionary drink.

Shien leaned back in her chair, relaxing for the first time since she sat down. She placed her hands behind her head, and sighed deeply.
I fly, she said. To me, there is nothing greater than spreading my wings on a bright, sunny day, traveling enormous distances in the blink of an eye, and being able to watch people from the branches of trees.
She leaned forward then, and rested her elbows on the table, her chin in her hands.
This probably doesn't come as a surprise to you. I am sure that you can tell that I am a shape-shifter. However, my abilities are very selective. I can only fly during the day, which, as you know, is a handicap for a being of darkness. She went to take another sip of her ale, and found that the mug was empty. She held it up in the air, so that the bartender would know she wanted more. She caught his eye, and he shuffled over with more ale.
Thank you, sir, she said to the bartender. Then, turning her attention to her companion, I have told you about my enjoyments, tell me about yours. I am quite interested.

"To fly, you say? I have yet to enjoy the wonders of flight. Prehaps one day I could join you as you fly. If am correct it is a raven that you turn into at day, is it not? Most shape-shifters have only one form and by you words and your name I should say that your form is that f the raven," Rith smiled before taking another sip from his glass. He then set the glass down upon the table. "As for my own intrests, I have a considerable liking of magic. To be particular, spells that allow making the imagination visible," Rith said as he rested an elbow on the table. the thin elbow went straight through the illusion of the glass. The glass itself was visible where Rith's arm was not and didn't didn't seem disturbed at all. "And making reality seem little more than a forgotten dream," Rith smiled as he picked up his elbow off of the table and waved his fingers over the flame of a candle. The flame seemed to jump off of the candle and dance harmlessly upon the table before returning to it's perch on the candle.
"So you wander both day and night? That must be very tiresome," Rith smiled.

Shien watched in amazement as Rith seemed to pass his arm directly through the glass. It was an amazing illusion. She stared at the glass as it stuck out from the young man's arm. Her eyes were wide in disbelief, and they grew even wider as the flame from the candle seemed to dance all around. She shook her head. Such illusions were beyond her ken.
She turned her attention back to her companion. She shook her head slowly at his comment. Nay, I do not wander all the time. I simply travel where ever my feet or the wind take me. I have an uncontrollable urge to travel, and I am never in one place for very long. Still, she said, pausing to take a sip of her ale, One must have a place to call home. When I discover it, there will I set down my roots, and end my journeying. But until then, it's a vagabond's life for me!

Rith was greatly pleased to see her reaction to his illusions. Most people were amazed as she was or annoyed at his attempt to impress people. The later was a rare occasion, but it had happened before and would likely happen again. Rith thought it slightly strange that his words continued to be used in ways that he had not meant, but were quite useful nonetheless. Prehaps it was just that Shien wished to hold up her end of the conversation. He pondered over her words slowly. She lived the life of a vagrant and seeked to find a place to call home. Rith could help there, but did not want to bring it up, not now anyways. He hardly knew her and had not yet assessed her capabilites. Prehaps later he could see more of her and her skills. Even if she lacked useful skills Rith could see a spark of potential in her eyes and hear it in her voice.
"A Vagabond's life you say?" Rith repeated thoughtfully. "I must say that I can not live that kind of life....Though there was a time when I used to do so, but I suppose I can tell you more of that later," Rith smiled. "Do you think we could get together again some time, wheter flying through the sky at day or chattering at night," Rith smiled.

'Tis not an easy life I lead Shien mused. But it is a life that I endure, and even enjoy when such occasion arises.
She slowly sipped her ale, enjoying the company, and relaxing a bit in her seat. It was not often that she felt so comfortable in the presence of one whom she barely knew. She could feel her shields relaxing somewhat, though she knew that she might regret letting them slip sometime in the future.
She listened to Rith's words, and nodded affirmatively.
Yes, I believe I would enjoy spending more time with you. Being new to this land, it would be nice to have someone to talk to everyonce in a while. I would be happy to meet and share a mug of ale, or in your case, wine, whenever we have a free moment.

"Ah, speaking of free moments, I beleive mine have expired for the night. I must depart shortly for business. If you will have a spare moment your self I can meet you at the anceint ruins tomorrow after dark. I hear the cathedral is an interesting place to look over. Some say that the place is haunted. It is one of the few things I have had a good amount of time to look over," Rith smiled. He was curious as to if whether or not She would be able tomake it there. It would be a far better place to talk than this filthy dump. He wasn't too happy about leaving when she was just getting comfortable, but he did have things to handle elsewhere. Rith did not yet yet rise from his seat. His purple eyes gazed firmly on Shien as he waited for her reply.

Shien inclined her head, and smiled.
It would be my pleasure, Peral.
She stood, her hands going immediately to her skirts to straighten them out. She Walked around the table.
It was very nice to meet you tonight. Thank you for welcoming me into this new land. She smiled, and lowered her eyes. Raising them again, she looked him directly in his eyes. They are purple! What an odd color! She recovered from her slight shock, and held out her hand. Until tomorrow night, friend.


((OOC: sorry 'bout the short post <_< ))