Fight:Cat Fight in Chartsend Spa

Chartsend Spa

Satoshi is rather enjoying herself at the absent owner's expense, and very likely without their consent. The feline lounges against the smooth stone wall of the spa, head reclined against the edge as she stares with unfocused gaze toward the bath house's entrance, lying across the heated pool from herself. She isn't sure how long the silhouette was present, so lost in daydreams is her mind and so hazy is the view in the room. However, when she does indeed take notice, her reaction is far from a friendly one--cats up to mischief do have a nasty habit of striking out when presuming they've been caught. With the faintest splash, her towel-clad form dips below the water, leaving only from her eye level and up visible through the steam clogging the room. Below the pool's surface the mage's mouth purses as she blows a steady stream of bubbles, each bearing a pale azure aura as they depart from her and travel toward the other present soul. Gentle ripples break the surface, a sound easily lost among the unsteady lapping of the pool, as the bubbles emerge as shimmering blue orbs, drifting stealthily toward the 'intruder'. It's not long before the enchanted dozen of bubbles reach where the person was first spotted and form a ring around the position, and without further delay each sphere erupts with an audible 'pop'. However, rather than a light rain of water droplets falling from the burst bubbles, a cascade of needle thin--and just as sharp, shards of ice are created. Their keen pointss are evident as any that miss an aim for flesh sink to their midpoints into the stone as if slicing through butter, standing erect in their place to serve as further hindrance to the commonly unprotected feet of a spa-goer.

Zeneth :: A splash. The gentle disturbance of water from within is picked up almost immediately by sensitive, pointed ears and Zeneth frowns slightly from her place at the very entrance of the establishment - she had thought that the owners of this beautiful bath house were not present. Still, it was probably just a mouse or something, so the female steps in, clad only in a bikini and -- for some odd reason -- a black tie. A few strands of snowy white have escaped from the silken, blue ribbon she has made use of to tie back her hair, and they drift across her vision, irritating the Avian slightly. It is as she reaches to brush these freed ends of hair out of mismatched eyes that the next sound reaches her, and suddenly thousands of tiny, icy projectiles are speeding her way, screaming through the humid air. There is only a moment to react, but it is the only moment she needs; a flash of radiant light erupts across the female's body like a fire, blazing like a fire and swiftly consuming the flesh of her torso and arms before moving down her curvaceous, yet slender legs. However, she seems to feel no pain from this and grins through the light as the needles strike her form - only to be lost in the mass of swirling brilliance this Avian has utilised as a rather effective shield. "Interesting. I can never keep myself out of trouble." A hand raises, flicking gracefully through the steam to scrawl one quick sign; tendrils of the same light that courses across the one-winged woman's body burst forth from her fingertips, dancing about her before, with another gentle wave of the slim appendage held aloft, they are off. A barrage of intense, light shoots toward the one who just attacked - a veritable hailstorm of blinding white and searing fire-like ropes of magic shower down upon Satoshi's general area, scorching nearby stonework and, if they should meet skin, burning terribly.

Satoshi is not one for remaining idle while one of her spells are set to work, and as such the cat is straightening to her full and meager height within the pool even as her ice is thwarted by fire. Lips move in a near inaudible whisper as the words are woven into another enchantment, a preparation arriving narrowly in time to meet with the unknown foe's counter. The water's of the pool shudder as the feline's hands are dropped to her sides, before suddenly she flings her arms outward. The gesture, coupled with a sharply hissed word, triggering the water's reaction in the form of three heavy waves. Half-frozen walls greet and absorb most of the lancing light, cracks and groans coming from the barriers as the light's intensity weighs heavily on them. With a feral growl, the mage drops her hands once more, abandoning the spell to allow the water to drop back into the pool, at the same time that she herself dives forward and below the surface to slip beneath the last of Zeneth's barrage. The now far more heated and steaming water is bearable at best for the chilly feline, but she endures in favor of it over actual burns. Surfacing for breath rather noisily, the mage treads water as yet another string of words fall from her lips. Her focus this time upon the steam hanging thick in the air. With a whistle the cryomancer directs the fog to condense toward the avian in a blinding cloud before, almost with a physical force, the heat is suddenly removed from the moisture, shimmering algid mist now swirling through the air and creating a layer of frost upon all it contacts. This frost is given a razor's edge, however, making for a rather vicious coat of ice as it clings with mage-given fervor to every surface but the cat.

Zeneth is also not one to stick around in the same spot too long, having learnt in the past that keeping still in a fight can make for dangerous and painful consequences. As soon as the spears of light have been cast the opponent's way she moves, dancing across the prickly stone and wincing as a few shards of ice pierce the exposed soles of her feet. A warm fog obscures her vision for a moment before a rapid shift in temperature occurs and suddenly flecks of frost are accumulating upon her body, biting through the remnants of the living light shield to cut into skin - the Avian growls and skids to a stop at a spot where the ground is safer, the light flaring up once more across her and quickly melting the ice, but not before it creates a few nasty gashes in her arms and stomach. Once again ropes of light slip from her form, detaching from the main mass to swim fluidly in the steamy air about the female for a few moments. Then, with a spark of white flame, they dart toward the pool Satoshi is currently within, directed toward her immediate position. At the last second, however, they strike downwards at the very liquid itself; just a few feet in front of the mage the waters explode in a rush of brilliance and shocking magic, sending waves of deadly force the others' way. Should she not escape in time and come in to contact with these bursts of mana the woman would receive a violent blast of limb-paralysing energy, and likely a few burns as well.

Satoshi is given no time to take pride in the work of her frost, so quickly is it defeated by her opponent. But no matter, the mage is a resourceful creature and is already concocting another spell. This one is a fair bit simpler, both for practicality's sake and as evidence of the cat's energies wearing down from spells and constant water-treading: nothing more than a quick whistle to the water directly beside her, freezing a section of it into a thick sheet of ice. With a groan of effort she pulls herself atop the makeshift board in time to have her mostly bare back left open for the incoming attack. Her only saving grace is the wave of liquid rushing just before the larger one of mana, the fluid scooping up the iceboard and cat perched upon it, shoving both forward violently--Satoshi receiving numerous burns and stings from the proximity of the mana. A sudden, sharp dip of the ice down into the water stops its forward momentum abruptly, board flipping up and perpendicular to the pool's surface to conveniently place itself between mage and avian-directed attack. With a burst the frozen construct shatters and dissolves under the force of magic--but not before hurling the feline to relative safety on the other side of the pool, where she skids to a painful stop upon the stone floor. Hissing miserably, the feline shoves herself unsteadily back to her feet as once more words dance from her lips, this time her voice harsh and lacking a musical tone, sign of her forcing her magic into use, pushing its drained limits. Her magicked commands are not for the waters this time, oh no, she goes directly for the fluid seeping from the various wounds upon Zeneth. Warm blood is quick to cool upon her flesh, seeping cold eagerly spreading into the gashes to be carried through the bloodstream now surely rushing from adreneline. Her attack is internal now, chill the avian to the bone until every movement is excrutiating, blood vessels filled with icy crystals tearing apart veins with the slightest flex. Muscles too cooled to be capable of motion, not even a shiver possible if the magical hypothermia isn't stopped quickly.

Zeneth grins widely at her creation doing its work; a short laugh escapes crimson lips as Satoshi is hurled onto the stone, though her features are still obscured and she does not recognize her. A step is taken forward, and it is then that she stops. Dead. Odd mismatched eyes narrow - something strange just took place, and she is not quite sure what it was. Nothing more happens and the frown deepens, but the Avian shakes her head, twitching as a slight pain shoots down her neck. She ignores it, however, and flicks out a hand once more, ready to call upon her magic once more. Reserves are beginning to dwindle but are nevertheless drawn up from within to cascade sparks from the outstretched palm. These sparks fall to the ground but do not fade, gliding across the damp surface of the stones toward Satoshi. Flickering trails follow in their wake, lights dancing in the reflection of the water as thick walls of pure, burning light grow sharply upwards from the sparks - these have now surrounded the feline's form and are swiftly closing inwards, slowly trapping her in a cage of constricting, blazing light. She had better be quick to stop the magic somehow, lest the mage become a charred kitten. With the movement of lowering her hand comes pain, and Zeneth hisses in irritation, feeling more as she utters that simple noise. Magic pulses oddly, hinting that something may be at work; she looks Satoshi's way, eyes widening. An ice mage, feline in appearance…could this be the woman she met those weeks ago? Still, this is not the time to ask and Zeneth makes the odd choice of running right at the water - ignoring the shocks of pain she receives for such movements she dives into the pool, submerging completely. A few moments later her head breaks the surface and she sighs, relaxing a little as the agony fades as miniscule ice crystals are melted by the over-heated water she accidentally created with her last attack. A glance is sent Satoshi's way, the female wondering if she managed to escape the light cage alive.

Satoshi is given two options with the blazing cage closing around her: die, or use every last dreg of magic she has left for a final defense. Option two is the obvious choice for a cat who so strongly fears death. Her hold upon the chill within Zeneth fades, providing the avian swifter relief soon enough, as fangs clench together and lithe, feline frame tucks as tightly into herself as she can manage. Her last spell is brought about with a single cried command before she takes a shuddering, prepatory breath. And like obedient soldiers answering their struggling general, every drop of water coating the mage stands suddenly erect and in formation. The pale blue light spreads over the cat as what once had soaked her through is now frozen into an ice solid enough to rival the sturdiest of ancient glaciers, magus encased inside. For all appearances there is nothing more than an ice sculpture of a crouching feline trapped within the lights, chunks of the frozen substance sliding away half-melted under the intense heat's approach. And yet, every piece that melted away only finds another place on the frozen armor to lock into again, frost shifting constantly to guard Satoshi until the avian's magic finally burns out. Only after the last of the sparks vanish does the cat release the spell, armor collapsing around her in a wave of steaming water with a gasping mage falling amidst the puddle seconds after. Gulping hungrily for breath, azure eyes flick toward the pool in search of her foe. And she finds the familiar Zeneth. Oops is an apt word to insert here.

Zeneth , now quite free of the danger of being destroyed from the inside, swims toward the side of the pool and hauls herself out, grumbling under her breath as the wounds she received smart. "Ugh…ouch, ouch, ouuuch~," the Avian whines, seating herself beside the waters' edge and pushing soaked white hair out of her eyes. Tired and now in real need of a bath the female exhales slowly. "You're alive, I presume?" she asks the obscure steam around her, too exhausted to raise her head to look Satoshi's way.

Satoshi weakly bats away the last tendrils of steam, after flopping onto her back with a heavy sigh. "Oui. Alive. Et wondering what exactly you're doing here, Lady Bird...." The mage shivers once, results of exhaustion and obviously not cold.

Zeneth laughs upon hearing the voice of the feline and eventually looks up, smiling slightly. "At least I didn't kill you - I think your…Requiem, was it? He wouldn't be very happy with me if I'd killed you, I should think. And…I wander a lot, of course~ I was in Venturil earlier, heard about this place and decided to relax. It's been hectic lately, what with Vuryal showing up."

Satoshi adds her own laugh along with the avian's. "Ah, yes. I don't think he'd be happy at all~. But, I can relate to the wandering and relaxing bit. I ended up here for the very same reason." Heaving another sigh the mage pushes herself up onto her elbows as her head tips back to stare at the ceiling. "Hectic, you say? Sound's like everyday life in these lands, non?"

Zeneth gingerly gets to her feet as Satoshi speaks and heads toward the entrance to the bathing house, picking her way across the minefield of rapidly melting ice shards and needles. "Well, I'm glad you're alive then. I'd rather not have Requiem's wrath upon me as well as this whole Chaos crap -and- that arrogant bastard." The latter she referred to otherwise known as Vuryal in these lands. "Everyday life is so demanding…" murmurs the Avian, bending down to retrieve her clothing from its dumped spot in the doorway.

Satoshi follows Zeneth's example and forces herself onto her own feet, the feline's weariness evident with her usual grace missing. A few stumbles and half-shuffles later has the mage at the door as well and plucking her own abandoned gear up. And all the while she attempts to retain enough focus to carry on the conversation, "One trouble after another, just how life is~. I recall the 'arrogant bastard' from a while back." Ears fold back with the dug up memories before she continues, :Not the friendliest of folks... I steer clear of him for various reasons."

Zeneth sighs almost with relief as she pulls the -- frankly rather tattered -- black shirt on, as if having missed its feeling upon her skin. A delicate sniff is taken of the faded material, a memory flickering at the corners of her mind, before she releases it and it dissipates back into the depths. "Mm, I suppose. Und, I remember hearing about him being around before." A pause in words as she begins messing with the silken top hat, placing it gently upon her damp hair, before the female continues. "I was out of the lands last time he was around - by the time I returned he had disappeared. Tell me…was he sealed away, or some such? If so, I wonder who did it. We have to get rid of him somehow."

Satoshi shrugs rather helplessly, the gesture also serving to slide her coat back into place. "I don't know what happened to him last time, I left rather quickly after the first time we crossed paths..." Gathering up her hair into a ribbon she hums to herself, thinking for a moment. "I can ask Ka-... Requiem, what happened. He should know, or at least know someone who does."

Zeneth grins a little as strong, yet light Meterioric leggings are drawn up over her hips. "I don't blame you," she states. "He's irritating, to say the least. If I said he was powerful and deadly I'd just give his giant ego an unneeded boost." Movements still for a moment as Satoshi falters in her words. Ka? A silver brow arches curiously, but she says nothing. "I expected Requiem to know, to be honest. He seems to be…knowledgeable of things from past times. Oh, how I wish I hadn't spent most of my years away from here~." Heavy spiked boots are drawn on, clunking loudly on the wet stone floor.

Satoshi nods along to the words, pulling boots on with a slow, deliberate air. Or maybe she's just too unsteady to put them on easily. "Oui, that tiefling's got quite a bit of information stored away in there," at this she taps her forehead meaningfully. "I know, I've seen some of it... It's how I got this little accent of his~." Stopping herself mid-chuckle she shakes her head and returns to the subject at hand, her grin almost sheepish. "You wish you hadn't spent years away? I'm glad I did. I'm sure it saved my tail from a few fires..."

Zeneth :: Now finished redressing herself, Zeneth turns to the doorway, mismatched eyes wide and reflecting the twilight and last remnants of sun disappearing below the skyline. "I spent -too- long away, though. The best part of…well, over fifty centuries, at least. I'm not quite sure. Ninety or so centuries, I've been gone~." A hand raises to run gently through stark white hair, an odd, reminiscent grin gracing delicate features as she watches the sun slowly slip out of view. "I prefer to dance in said fires. I'm not ready to die yet, so I won't. Even that prat Vuryal won't bring me down~. My song is my own and I won't allow others to cut it short. I shall have my encore." With that, she ceases for a second, biting her lip. "Hah, foolish words to speak, but…I speak them all the same…" The Avian hums cheerfully, quickly changing the subject. "Well, miss Ice Magus Satoshi, I suppose I should be on my way. It was…nice to see you, ja, und nice to fight you and -not- have Requiem hunting me down in revenge for you."

Satoshi remains silent as she simply follows the avian's gaze toward the setting sun, the only sound coming from the cat is light breathing and the swish of fur against fur as her tail sways across her coat. With the sudden subject change the feline grins and rocks back a bit on her heels, hugging her collection of clothes and gear to her chest. "J'e pense you're right. I should be heading back to Vailkrin myself. It was... fun, painful et a bit frightening, but fun. Take care, Whistling Chaos. Don't let any arrogant bastards interrupt your song~." With a fresh whistle on her lips the mage bows and strolls toward the door.

Zeneth nods her head in agreement with the other, magic flickering into view in the dying light - the area quickly brightens as her entire form is overtaken by a radiant aura once more, light transforming the Avian into a one-winged creature of angelic -- or perhaps demonic -- origin. "You look after yourself too, ma'am," whispers the woman, voice crackling oddly with power before she bounds off into the darkening streets of Chartsend, her lingering, melodious song fading into the air about the feline as she is swallowed up into the twilight.