| Welcome to Imythess, the border between dreams and reality. We hope you enjoy your visit. Imythess is a creative writing board where you narrate the story of a character in the medieval land of Imythess, on the planet Chaon. Each topic is an opportunity for your character to interact with the world and its peoples by cooperatively writing pieces of a story with other members, one post at a time. We call this role-playing, because you assume the identity of your character as if it were your own. In order to play, you must register an account for each character you would like to write about, and begin their tale by filling out their basic profile information: Race (human, elf, demon, etc.), class (warrior, mage, etc.), physical appearance, and any other personal details you would like to describe. You are also encouraged to come up with some background history information for what your character's life has been like up to the point at which their story in Imythess begins. There is no approval process or application required to join, so long as you follow the rules then you are free to write whatever character details you choose. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Create a character now! If you're already a member, you can log into your account below: |
| Chosen; Meera, pm for entry | |
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| Topic Started: Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:28 pm (193 Views) | |
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Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:28 pm Post #1 |
 
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A cloaked figure seemed to glide through the streets of Balefire, his face hidden behind a consuming, shifting darkness that refused to reveal itself to even the most accustomed of eyes. From beneath the cloak's edge, dark tentacles writhed and lashed in the air as he hung just inches off the ground. His body gave off an aura of unmistakble power, and murmurs began to fill the air as people pointed and stared at the figure. He continued to move through the streets with some silent purpose, stopping in the middle of the town center, and bursting into white flames that seemed to consume his entire form. The cloak hit the ground with a dull thump, though the man inside couldn't be seen anywhere. A drow approached it, nudging it slowly only to jump back when a snake roughly 10 feet long slithered out from the fabric, and the white flames consumed it once more, before a man stood where the snake had been. He stood nearly seven feet tall, his skin pale and drawn against his flesh so that each individual bone could be made out. The blood vessels bulged against the withered flesh, and there were sunken circles under his eyes that made him seem more like a corpse than a human. He licked his lips several times, looking around, and finally spoke in a soft whisper that, despite being almost inaudible, was picked up by every alleyway and every shadow, causing the entire town square to echo his words. "Bring your friends. I've a story to tell." |
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| Nightgazer | Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:52 pm Post #2 |
 
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Balefire was darker than usual tonight. She could feel it in her bones. Being here no longer scared her as it had the first time. She carried herself assertively, spine straight and chin held level. Here, any sign of weakness was noted and taken advantage of. She was in no mood to talk her way out of anything tonight. If someone bothered her, they would get the full force of her power. For this outing, she had worn her leather breeches and corset with a cloak overtop. Though she abhorred the fit of the corset, it left her arms free and without hinderance. For tonight she had slipped a stilletto into her boots just in case. She had a full arsenal of spells and was well practiced in hand to hand combat, but one could never be too careful in Balefire. As she walked, she began to hear murmers coming from the people on the sides of the street. Something had walked by not long ago that had caused worry. Now more on her guard than before, her pace slowed to lazy, unconcerned strides. Her golden emerald eyes were bright and alert as they scanned the path ahead of her expectantly. Finally, she caught a glimpse of what the people seemed to be talking about. Eyebrows creasing, she continued to walk towards it. Just as Meera was rounding the corner where she had seen the thing dissappear, she witnessed the white flames in its stead. When the cloak fell to the ground, empty, Meera knew this was no simple villager. She halted her advance and crossed her arms across her chest, waiting. When the drow finally approached and provoked the snake, Meera's suspicions were confirmed. She was not surprised when the snake turned back into a man. Amused with the theatrics, Meera watched him confront the drow. She was close enough to hear the words that the pale man had spoken, but not drawn in enough to really care. Meera scoffed a bit and began to walk again, letting her arms fall down at her sides. She commented "You're going to have to do better than that if you wish to get attention around here". Though she could feel the resonance of power emmanating from him, she was not intimidated. Tonight, she would speak her mind. It was his turn to make a move. Meera was comfortable with her abilities were words to turn into actions, but she wanted to figure out who this guy thought he was and what 'story' he was attempting to enlighten everybody with. |
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Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:29 pm Post #3 |
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Yaksha turned slowly, and looked at her with surprise for several moments. There seemed to be something hidden behind his gaze, and he bowed graciously, before speaking in an amused tone. "I couldn't have picked a better day for my story..." A single hand rose to the sky, and the moon turned a deep shade of red, as if dipped in an ocean of blood. The new rays began to shine down on the city, filling the denizens with strength and causing the murmurs through the town to grow even more frantic. Somehow, this figure could control the moon; there had to be something strange about him. And yet the strangeness grew even greater as the hoards arrived. From every entrance to the city, undead began to surge forth, the dim looks on their faces and the rotting condition of the bodies making it impossible to mistake them for anything else. Their bodies were all pitch-black, but the various shades made them seem almost lifelike. The undead began to peer at the creatures that called the city home, and several began to branch off, pointing at the town square and letting out fetid grunts and moans. At the back of each group stood another undead, this one in much better condition than the others; its eyes glinted with an animal intelligence, and it managed to speak in a voice like an animal given human vocal cords. "Follow us. Many wonders to be seen. You will not want to miss." They continued forward, hardly sparing a second glance at the people as they poured into the town square, only to melt into puddles of shadows that quickly coalesced around the lich's feet, forming into a podium of pure shadows, shifting and writhing as the people watched. However, the lich was still smiling at Meera, while the seven undead all stood behind him, forming a V. "I imagine that would be better. Then again, it's no concern of mine who wants to hear my story..." |
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| Nightgazer | Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:07 pm Post #4 |
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Meera's gaze dutifully followed his theatrical hand as it rose to turn the moon red. Her expression did not change. What did this man expect from her? Did he want her to show fear? Did he want her to be amused? So he turned the moon red. Big deal. As her gaze traveled back down, her mind turned over ideas about where she could go from here. To her, this man was just another street performer looking for a quick piece of gold. The reactions of the people in the town caused her little concern. It was all gossip. She had just about turned and headed into a bar, when the grunts and moans of the undead caught her ear. Meera turned her head and gazed towards the opposite end of the square. She had to admit, this was a bit more interesting. Meera stood silent and still for a moment contemplating her options right now. She could go into the bar and have a nice drink, but a potentially boring night, or she could stay out here and listen to this attention-starved man who might actually make her night interesting. With a sigh, Meera begrudgingly removed her hand from the doorknob and turned back around to face this odd man. The Undead did not bother her, she had fought much worse, but it did bother her that this man wanted every inhabitant of the city to hear what he had to say. Was he into politics or was he just a storyteller? Either way, Meera had made her decision to hear him out. She backed up to lean against a wall and finally let her gaze rest comfortably on him. Since he obviously heard her last comment, Meera had no fear that he would miss her next. She warned "You had better make this story worthwhile. I'm missing a nice mug of drink for it." To most, it might be unsettling the way his gaze seemed to be directed towards her, but Meera had long shrugged off the shivers that came along with being stared at. Her years as a goddess had made her numb to penetrating glances imbued with all and any emotions. She had been an object of hate and an object of love. No longer was she so weak as to care about what everyone's opinion was of her. All she really knew about this man so far was that he was interested in her. Though his words stated that it was not his concern who heard the story, he would not have put so much effort into gathering a crowd if it wasn't important at least to himself. Meera reached her hand up and gracefully ran her fingers through her auburn hair. Her eyes glinted challengingly in the man's directions while she simply leaned there, waiting for something to happen. |
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Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:25 am Post #5 |
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Yaksha raised an eyebrow, and he seemed to be showing genuine concern. "Missing a mug of drink? My gods, you must really be interested. Worry not, I'll pay you back in spades soon enough. But this...this is something you won't want to miss." The man took a step backward, leaping slightly and landing on solid air. There was a complete, all-encompassing silence as he began to rise slowly, lazily, and the flesh began to fall off of his cheeks and face, landing on the ground and disappearing in swarms of shadows. Within moments, a skeletal beast stood several feet in the air, crackling blue energy holding the joints together as he spoke in a deep, resounding voice. "This story is about a woman...a wonderful woman, named Ranewen." He paused slightly, letting the words sink into the people. "She was a powerful woman, a woman who knew things, a woman who had plans. She was a woman that, quite frankly, would've changed this world." As he rose a hand, a shadowy silhouette of the woman formed in the air before him, and smiled down at Meera. The skull's leer was almost filled with smug confidence as he held out a second hand, causing a jaw to form, snapping shut around her. "But there was a being, a creature shrouded in mystery and power. A creature that not even the gods could defeat. He swiftly dispatched Imythess's greatest champions, and stripped their very divinity. Many of these gods simply vanished, a few may have even died...but Ranewen met a man. A small, insignificant man who had little on his side. But he had ambition...oh, did he have ambition. And you see...Ranewen liked him. She trusted him to finish what she had begun. Her very last request, before leaving this world...was for me to finish what had begun. For me to turn this world into a world of darkness. A world where the creatures of the night don't have to hide anymore. A world...where we are free to live how they wish." |
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| Nightgazer | Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:49 pm Post #6 |
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Meera's eyes narrowed at the concern he expressed for her missing a drink. Though he made it appear as if it were not sarcasm, she could do no less than take it as such. When he began to decay, Meera sensed that the show was just beginning. How much could he do, and why was all of this drama necessary in the first place? Meera believed that if a man were truly competent in his powers, he would not feel the need to show off and brag as much as possible. Currently, that was all Meera saw in this. As the skeletal beast rose high over their heads, Meera craned her neck upwards to watch his face. She was perfectly fine and calm until he said one word. One name, one person flipped a switch inside of her. Meera went from calm, cool, collected, and maybe even bored to on edge, defensive, and pissed. What right did this man have to speak of Ranewen as if he knew her? Meera gritted her teeth and managed to bring her body back under her control. She leaned back against the wall again and resigned to hear this man, or beast, out at least until he said something she thought was over the line. He formed a picture of Ranewen and Meera simply studied it. It was indeed the Ranewen she knew, but what chance was there that he was talking about a different one? His gaze directly went to Meera and she glared back defiantly, challenging him to tell her something she didn't already know. When he mentioned the fall of the gods, Meera felt a small pang of pain glance off her heart. The wound was still fresh, and his way of talking about it was as disdainful as she had heard. It made Meera sad to hear that Ranewen was no longer here. She was reluctant to admit that the simple mention of her name had been enough to give Meera hope that Ranewen was still around. Now, hearing that she had left this small, insignificant man alive to carry out her very divine goals was little to make her feel better about losing another friend. Already, Meera had judged this man. He was not even close to the person that Ranewen had been. Ranewen simply knew her power and had very little need to actually show it. This man felt the need to use it in any way possible. Though it might have been unfair to judge this man so quickly, the way he had associated himself with Ranewen caused Meera to compare them harshly. Begrudginly, Meera did have to agree with the ideal that he presented. No one should be forced to hide and everyone should have their own place to live in the land of Imythess. She was reluctant to admit this man had a good point. Figuring that he was as done with his story as he'd ever be, Meera pushed herself off the wall and walked slowly towards the center of the square. She clasped her hands behind her back and questioned "What do you expect to get from expressing these views in a town that already almost completely agrees with you? Do you feel you are gaining anything?" She stopped walking and asked one final question "Would you like to have a drink with me?" |
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Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:37 pm Post #7 |
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The lich lowered to the ground slowly, and chuckled politely at her. "Meera, Meera...I suppose you could call it a test. This town...these people...they respect no one but themselves. Only power, swift and overwhelming, would cause them to change their mind. Make no mistake, Meera; I would've much preferred something that didn't take such a blatant show of power. But in Ranewen's memory, I will let nothing stand in the way of finishing the mission she started. If that means I have to do a few things I don't like, then so be it." His eye sockets peered at her silently, blue sparks dancing in them wildly, before he finally bowed and waved a hand over himself. "As you can see, alcohol goes right through me. But, if you'd pardon me for a second, I think we can accommodate for you." He took several steps backwards, finally stepping into an alleyway and seeming to become consumed by the shadows. There were soft whispers and the loud crack of a bone snapping, before he stepped back out. The change was almost shocking, as he stepped towards her. Even before he had lost the flesh, he had been a tall, thin figure. Somehow, he had turned into a man standing just at six feet tall, his hair black and wild, several strands sticking down over his forehead, while several others stood in the air. His facial hair seemed almost to form a mane around his face, and his teeth were startlingly white. He still wore a thick cloak, and little could be seen other than his face, but that seemed to be all that was needed to see for now. The man's face broke out into a slow grin, and he drew a cigar. "Mind if I smoke? It's been a while since I indulged myself." |
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| Nightgazer | Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:25 pm Post #8 |
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In the first instance that he used her name, she hated him. She had not told him her name. She had not given him permission to use it so condescendingly. How he knew it was a small care in the back of her mind that might come to matter later, but right now, she was seething at his tone. Though she did agree that his reason for using such a flagrant display of magic was sound, she refused to admit that out loud. Her lips tightened together and formed a thin, straight line as she attempted to calm herself down. When he finally slipped back into the shadows to do whatever he needed to do, Meera glanced away and shifted her weight to the other foot. What point did talking to this man have? He wasn't worth her time. There was nothing this actor could possibly tell her that would make listening to him worthwhile. For a moment, she contemplated just brushing him off and leaving right then, but he stepped back out of the shadows before she could. She couldn't say she was shocked at the change, for it was to be expected, but it was obviously a very different costume than the one he had worn before. He asked if she minded whether he smoked. Meera waved him off. What did she care? This wasn't a man she was going to be spending the whole night with. If anything, she would listen to him for a few minutes, then be off on her way to something or someone more interesting. Not wishing to delay any longer, Meera did not wait for him and stepped off towards the bar. She let her arms drop back down to her sides as she climbed up the few steps to get to the door. Warm air from a pleasently crackling fire greeted her as she opened the door, but that was about the only comfort she got. All sorts of people were hanging out around here and none of them looked inviting. Meera could almost remember the fright she got the first time she walked into a bar in Balefire. She was a different woman now. Any sign of weakness that showed would immedietely be taken advantage of. That was the last thing she wanted right now. Meera, once more, straightened her back, steeled her gaze and walked calmly towards the bartender. She wasn't aware of any of the hands that reached out or the catcalls echoing the room. All she saw was her path to the bar. Once she was there, she grabbed a stool for herself and ordered a glass of wine. She crossed her legs, finally able to relax at least a little bit as many of the men had returned to whatever they had been doing before. When the bartender brought back her glass, Meera gracefully clasped the fragile stem and lifted it to her lips for a sip. The entire time, her eyes remained trained on the door, wondering if the man was going to follow her here after all. |
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Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:51 pm Post #9 |
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Yaksha lit the cigar, watching her with eyes that glinted with an amused smile. Many of the people of the city had simply dispersed, going back to whatever they had been doing; still others watched him with something close to malice, hoping against hope that this man would get what they felt he deserved. The lich looked at each of them in turn, raising a hand lazily and wiggling the fingers as he grinned around the cigar. His fingers began to trace symbols in the smoke he blew out from the cigar, his soft murmurs filling the air as he cast his spell. The entire world seemed to slow down, his smoke almost standing in place as he walked through it. The men stared at him with a mix of fear and anger, but they each turned quickly, hoping to retreat before he could do anything to them. As each one turned, they found one of his seven elite undead standing just by the few ways out of the town square, each looking ready to tear apart anyone who got close. The lich was growing closer, moving startlingly fast to those in the spell's range, but seeming almost languid to everyone else. His lips began to form into a faint smile, and in the time it took to register the slight change, it had once again changed into a full-blow rictus of delight. Each tooth could be seen through his mad grin, and blood ran from the edges of his mouth where his lips had split. He moved with slow, sinuous grace towards the first one, and lay a hand under his chin, gripping hard enough to make him feel his jaw beginning to grow sore. "I'm trying to HELP you, dolt. If you can't stand to accept that, it's no concern of mine. But I'll not let you treat me like some intruder here, in the one place I should be welcome." He turned on his heel quickly, just as the spell began to wear short; his smoke began to dissipate quickly, and the breeze that had momentarily ignored his clothing now began to whip at his cloak, blowing it gently; beneath, various colors could be seen. The door to the bar swung open before any of them could form some coherent picture, leaving many of the people outside baffled and, truth be told, scared. The man had a strange reptilian intellect to him, and not a one of them would've denied he could have torn them to shreds if he'd chosen to. The lich seemed to glide into the bar, his gaze flitting across everyone in the room. He saw drow and demons, saw vampires and what looked remarkably like humans, but not a one of them held any interest for Yaksha right now. He was looking for one woman in particular, a woman who was surprisingly tough-willed; the thought of getting inside her head almost made the lich shudder in expectation. Everything about the woman hinted at a challenge ahead, but Yaksha was nothing if not patient, and he was ready to lay everything he had on the line. The lich chuckled slightly, finally having spotted her at the bar, and he moved towards her slowly, doing his best to appear unperturbed. "I'm sorry about what happened out there; I think it might help if I explained myself a little bit." He sat next to Meera, his voice having dropped into some silken, dulcet tone that plucked at her heartstrings. "I'm a demon, from the Abyss; one of the few demons who had the foresight to formulate a plan beyond 'kill it before it kills you'. I was never much of a strong person, but I at least knew how to use what I had to my advantage. I came to Imythess not long before the gods fell..." He paused, and there was a clear undercurrent of sorrow in those words. It was true Imythess had never quite recovered from that event, but even some of the people still held those scars. "I met Ranewen in Gloomwood, hurt and confused. She hadn't yet gotten over the shock of...I think we both know. But the point is, she needed help. I was one of the first to come across her, to offer her a helping hand. Even then, I wasn't especially strong; simply a man of wit and of will, at that point. But, when Ranewen left...when she gave me this mission, to finish what she started...I swore to myself I'd do everything I could to make it happen. I've had to struggle more times than I can count, I've wanted to give up more times than you could imagine. But every time, I got back up. I told myself that Ranewen wouldn't have let some pain, some sacrifice, slow her down. And so, Meera, I swore to myself that, for her sake, for my mission, I would let nothing hold me back. Not even my pride." |
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| Nightgazer | Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:13 am Post #10 |
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As soon as Meera's eyes caught the sight of the being walking towards her once more, she turned back around. She did not want to appear too interested. Part of her had even hoped that he might have forgotten all about her invitation into the bar. It wasn't so inconceivable to believe that she was much less interesting than the shadows that haunted the alleys of Balefire. But alas, he had followed her and did not appear interested in anyone else. For the moment at least. She tipped her glass of wine back for one final gulp, then set it back down on the bar with some finality. For all she knew, he might not give her another chance. The very first sentence he said simply rubbed her the wrong way. Though the content was polite enough and gave him some bonus points, Meera could not deny the cold shiver that went up her spine. Her eyebrows quirked. Why would he have reason to apologize, and even if he did have a good enough reason, why was it worth apologizing to her? Finally, she turned to look at him. She rested her left elbow on the counter while her gaze locked upon his own and she gave over her full attention. The more he attempted to win her over with the simple sound of his voice, the more irked Meera became. Did he not believe that he could win her over with his simple words? Seduction was persuasion for the dumb. That final thought was where Meera caught herself. What was she doing? Why was she being so cynical and judgemental? It seemed as if ever since the fall of the gods, Meera had been by herself with little to no social interaction. Her thoughts had turned inwards and she had begun to blame herself for every problem. Now that she was once more in society, her inward bitterness had turned outwards. She had spent so long seeing the bad within herself that she could no longer see the good in others. Though this man was certainly doing things that had bothered her before and most certainly bothered her now, had she truly given him as much patience as she would have before? Though Meera had still been listening to him, she almost wished she could ask him to repeat what he had just said. Instead, Meera resettled herself. She ran her fingers back through her hair, and allowed her mouth to finally twitch upwards on one side into an amused smile. When he began to speak again, Meera was listening. As soon as she heard the name Ranewen again, her attention was piqued. This was his story, and she was genuinely curious for the first time in a long time. It hurt her to hear that Ranewen, her friend, had been lost and alone. She should have been there with her. So this man was someone who gave her a friend in her time of need. Meera's eyes narrowed slightly. He had more of a heart than she had originally expected. Out in Balefire Meera had expected this to be a self-righteous evil person who cared little about what everyone else needed. Her brows furrowed. This man was rather profound. She found that she did want to know more. Though it was apparent now that Ranewen had to have been the one that revealed her name, Meera did not know why and in what context. Since the man appeared to be done for now, she began to form her questions. She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts, and with a hesitant breath asked "Exactly how long has it been since you have taken over Ranewen's mission?" She lifted a finger to her cheek and gently scratched it before asking the question that was bothering her the most. "If you arrived here just before the fall of the gods, you must have known that Ranewen was a goddess. Did...you know any of the other gods and goddesses. Possibly...what happened to them?" She paused a moment, then continued, "And why? Why did you help her? What was in it for you?" |
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:13 pm Post #11 |
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Yaksha smiled dimly, and it was clear that he was finally happy to have a chance to talk to someone. His eyes were pleased, and on the surface there was a supreme, almost world-changing confidence in his gaze, but underneath it all, there was an almost hurt look, as if he was trying to figure out where he belonged. Still, his words were soft and charming, and the pleased tone to them dispelled all illusions that he may have been trying to trick her; it was as if the tone was instinctual for the lich, as if seducing and tempting was as natural as breathing for him. "I met Ranewen just over a year ago. Even then, I was stuck between a demon and a human. You see, Meera..." He ran a hand down his face slowly, almost sadly. "My mother was a human. I've always been a bit puny for the demons, and a bit unsettling for the humans. I've lived halfway between worlds for a long time. For hundreds of years, I tried to fit in with my abyssal ancestors. I fled the Abyss the first chance I could..." He inhaled sharply, and his tone seemed to take on a more emotional tone. "Once I came to the surface, I learned to drop my demonic ideas pretty fast. I started to see that senseless violence wasn't nearly as interesting as I once thought. I started to...settle down, you could say. This wasn't long before I met Ranewen. She was weak, she was alone, she was in need...and I was confused, myself. I hadn't found a way to fit in yet, hadn't found a way to make sense of it all. I saw her, and I simply knew that this was a woman who had no such problems. A woman who could help me discover what this world had for me." He tapped a finger on the bar as the bartender grew close, and turned to him with a smile. "Wine, if you please. Red. And something for my friend." The bartender nodded slightly, and Yaksha's grin grew wider as he watched the bartender saunter away. "I've always been a man of simple pleasures, you know. A good glass of wine...a fine meal...a scroll worth reading...and the presence of a beautiful woman. Right now, two out of four sounds like more than enough to me." He chuckled softly, and lay a hand on her shoulder; even through her clothing it was clear his hands were rough, and blistered. They were hands of someone who had learned to do things himself. "But, I digress. The reason I helped Ranewen is something even I don't truly understand yet. But I wanted to fit in; I wanted to see what it was like to be human for a change. I think...somewhere inside me, I knew she was what I needed." He sighed, and squeezed her shoulder gently. The fabric of the cloak was beginning to slide backwards, and beneath it, his flesh was tattooed on every square inch. The ink blended seamlessly, leaving not a single patch of bare flesh, and yet each image seemed to compliment the next. There was a long, green snake with a wide hissing mouth, and beneath that a pair of headless snake's eyes, staring with a mix of malice and utter disinterest. Beneath even that, there was a skull, lit with blue and red flames that seemed to engulf its entire form; in its eye socket, a snake coiled around, slithering out of the open jaw. All of this created an utterly baffling situation, but his words still struck her, almost like a soothing balm to her spirit. "I've never met any other gods, but I've heard names. Lothlomendil...Sargoth...my eyes and ears span quite a ways across this land; if you need to know something, I'm your man." The bartender arrived with his drink, and Yaksha snatched it up quickly, sipping at it slowly, with obvious relish. "Ranewen told me much of her time as a goddess. Of her friends. Your name in particular stuck with me. Yet she never hinted at how beautiful you might be...I suppose, in the end, a friend can never truly see another as anything but a friend." His hand rose slowly, brushing against her hair as he gave a wan smile. "I suppose you think I'm some arrogant fool after what you saw out there. You probably think I get pleasure out of shocking people with my powers, or showing off." He looked down at his own hand, where a small black spider formed, crawling up his arm. "It's actually quite the opposite; I hate showing anything where it has the slightest chance of being used against me. I know that, in the end, every man's fall can come about from something as simple as a word said at the wrong time. Rather, Meera...I realized long ago that to gain, man has to make sacrifice. That to grow, a man must be willing to experience pain, to do things they don't truly want to do. Over this last year, I've trained mercilessly, until my entire body screamed at me to surrender. I've been so tired that I've slept days at a time before. And all of that taught me something important; a man can never claim to have something until they've fought for it, struggled constantly. Nothing worth having in this world can be gained until you're on the edge, scrabbling just for that last bit of purchase. And so I promised myself, Meera...I would always remember where I came from. What I've done to reach where I am. And I would always, no matter what, be ready to acknowledge my own flaws. Because if a man can't recognize his own shortcomings, he will always be doomed to fail...doomed by his own pride." He smiled slightly, and drained the rest of his wine. "I have never once 'underestimated' another man. I pride myself on being a masterful judge of character. Were I to meet an equal, I would proudly admit it. But you see, Meera...my training...my struggles...all of it has given me a lot to remember. And I know that, though a man can always be brought down by his own mistakes, I have never entered into a fight I couldn't have won." He looked up, and there was a straightforward, steely glint to his eyes, that seemed to say, "I'm not better than you; you're just not as good as me." |
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| Nightgazer | Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:56 pm Post #12 |
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Meera tucked a piece of her hair back behind her ear and turned her head away from the man. Though she was now resigned to the fact that she would hear him out, she couldn't get over the feeling telling her that there was something about him that bothered her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but he just rubbed her the wrong way. As he explained his situation, Meera did feel sympathy for him. She could understand how hard it was, straddling two completely different cultures. That might have been the reason why Meera wasn't getting a clear reading on him. The demon in him might be the warning she had been getting, but his human side still appealed to her. With a shrug to herself, Meera let it go. He still had much more to say to her, it was possible that everything would clear up as she got to know him better. He ordered her something from the bartender when she clearly already had a glass full in front of her. Meera's brows furrowed. Where was he going with this? It did not surprise her when he followed this by flirtatiously suggesting that she was a beautiful women. Immediately, no matter what she had been trying to convince herself about him, Meera's hackles raised. Who did he think she was? Some easy prey, eager to be in bed with him? With a silent scoff in her head, Meera knew he would just have to learn. Her eyes watched as if he moved in slow motion when he placed his hand on her shoulder. Licking her lips, Meera kept herself quiet for now. He would be taught his place in time. Sorrowfully, she realized that her thoughts had digressed from Ranewen, her true friend, to this man. She had not been paying enough attention to his story ever since it was clear he was much too interested in her company. Meera attempted to listen to the rest of his story, but her mind could not leave the smoldering hand that still rested on her shoulder. She tensed her muscles as he squeezed her, but was glad for the distraction as the bartender brought back his drink. Meera took that opportunity to grab up her own drink while at the same time surrpetitiously trying to shrug his hand off her shoulder. She took a long drink, almost draining her glass, but she wanted to save some at the bottom in case she needed another excuse to move away. The next time he called her beautiful, Meera was not quite so surprised or bothered. Now that she knew what he was all about, she knew how to handle the situation. It wasn't like this was the first man who had ever tried to make an advance on her. What did cause her to flare up was when he brought is hand to her face to brush a piece of hair away. Meera shot an icy glare at him as a warning. Hopefully he would be intelligent enough to pick up on her threat and knock it off. Although Not all men could be so intelligent as to have that concience. Though Meera did agree with most of this doctrine that he was expressing, she could not get past his personality. If there were ever to be a friendship, or even just an alliance between the two of them, he would have to understand her and the things she would not put up with. As his introduction came to a close, Meera licked her lips and stood up. As she spoke, she reached out and ran her hand through his hair, down the nape of his neck, and back up to cup his cheek. She said "Though you may feel as if you cannot help your flirtatious nature and/or feel as if it is helping me to become attracted to you.." she slid her hand quickly forwards to grasp his chin, "It's only making me more resigned to the fact that you are weak and feel as if you must rely on seduction to make friends. If you are truly ready to acknowledge your own flaws and also wish to continue this nice conversation we are having, I suggest you cut it out." Meera then flashed him a grin and a wink before sitting back down. She crossed her legs, then as if nothing had happened, said "The people of Balefire do not appear too interested in your soap box preaching. You say you used that display to get their attention and yet you simply left them without a leader or a cause to follow. What do you intend to do next? And what makes you feel as if this fight must begin with the opressed peoples. Why not the opressors?" She picked up her glass once more and drained the final drops. Meera finally got the feeling that this might be a long night. |
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Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:21 pm Post #13 |
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Yaksha gave a bemused expression at her glare, giving an unrepentaant grin and pulling his hands off her shoulder. Something warm and lively sparkled in his eyes, and he seemed only mildly perturbed by her words. The faint smile on his face faded into an expression of serenity as he spoke. "Meera, I'm not the sort of man who expects a woman he just met to go to bed with him. No, you see..." He paused, cocking his head, and staring at her in silence for several moments. His eyes flittered across her form, seeming to drink in every detail, and just as the silence grew cloying, became so solid the urge to scream would've set in, he finally spoke, sounding surprisingly serious. "In 600 years, I've met all kinds. I've met the blood knights; little more than glorified berserkers, really. I've met the paladins; not bad men by any means, but often all too quick to dismiss others' logic as flawed." He held out both hands, palm up, and took in a deep breath. "I like to...'read' people, you could say. Every little thing you do, every little reaction I see, helps me understand who you are. After all...how better to see what sort of person you're dealing with than to see how they react? I assure you, though you are by no means homely, I don't much enjoy false flattery. Still, it does so depress me when a woman is ready to leap into your arms just from a few compliments..." He shook his head slightly, then ran a hand through his hair, causing it to slick back neatly under his fingers. Had Meera looked closely enough, she may have noticed that the first knuckle of each finger had an eye painted onto it. "Now that we've gotten past the personal talk, let me answer your question." He lay a hand on the bar top, drumming his fingers against the wood every few seconds. "You're right when I left them without a leader to trust or a cause to follow for now. But that's because I know it takes more than words to make a point to these men. Tonight's display...my little speech...that was to open their eyes; to make sure they're watching. Soon enough, we'll be taking back what's ours. You needn't worry, I have no intent of hurting anyone if the opressors are willing to solve this peacefully. But there are times, I'm afraid, where threats and soft words simply won't cut it. It's something I hope doesn't have to happen, and it would be counter to everything I have planned..." His hand tightened around the drink brought to him, and spoke slowly, in a voice that sounded every bit of his 600 years and more. "But I'm not going to let them stand in the way of what's been several hundred years in the waiting just because they don't think we deserve to be equals." He downed the wine in one long gulp, then put the mug down with a trembling hand. A small trail of wine was moving down his chin, and he wiped it off carefully. "I'm not a nice person, Meera; I'll admit it, I'm a spiteful, cold bastard. I know what I have the capacity to do, the sort of sins I can commit when I'm pushed..." He paused for a moment, and the shudders that passed through his body looked almost as if someone had passed a current through his body. "And it scares me, Meera. How bad do you think a man has to be to scare HIMSELF? So I hope they'll listen, my dear...I really hope this doesn't come down to a fight. Because if it does, I don't...I just don't know if I can control myself." He rose his head to the ceiling, not even speaking to her as he finished. "I try to be helpful, to be polite. I try to forget the evils I've committed for the sake of it, so long ago. But I don't have time to let anything hold me back now, Meera. If I have to become a monster to make this world safe for everyone, human or demon, man or woman, large or small, then so be it. I'll deal with it when the time comes..." |
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11:47 PM Feb 9
