RP:An Attempt at Stealing a Key

Part of the The Orb Of Life Arc

Characters: Arcos, Neema.

Location: Kelay; Kelay Way

Arcos said to you, "Hey, you... I've seen you before, ja?"

Neema said to Arcos, "I don't think so."

Arcos tilts his head at Neema, coming forward slowly to get a better look at her. His bright scarlet eyes peer down at her, his long brimmed hat casting a shadow on his face. "Hmm... I think I have. You were there when the Great Tree spoke, weren't you?"

Neema was sitting side-saddle atop one of her precious golden cockatrices, one hand gripped on the reigns that could lift the mask blocking the magnificent creature's petrifying eyes. She never left anywhere without one of her vicious, flying companions. Ever since she acquired one of the keys, anyway. Recurring nightmares of what might possibly happen next kept the avian on guard. From per perched position on the still beast, she peeks downward, peering at Acros beneath the oversized brim of her purple hat. A nod is given."I was. Why?"

Arcos offers the woman a smile, removing his hat as he nods his head politely. "Thank you for your honesty," he says as his eyes flicker to the avian's mount. "I was merely curious. That key around your neck drew my attention." He returns his hat to his head before he places his hands behind his back. "But I've forgotten my manners. My name is Marcel Freedman, and you are?"

Neema kept the key he was likely referring to tucked beneath the eight layers of thick hanfu robes that constricted her lanky body. It was hidden, so for the briefest moment the avian looked perplexed. Eyes flickered down to her flat chest, where the only visible trinket was a phoenix insignia, which was kind of like a key itself. "It did?" Thin fingers from her free hand touch the phoenix pendant idly, while she glances down toward the male again. "Neema."

Arcos frowns, moving to reach into his jacket pocket to pull out a leather eye-patch. He places the eye patch over his right eye and offers Neema a sheepish smile. That magic eye of his had fooled him into thinking the key was on the outside of her robes. Putting on that eye patch was the only way to nullify the eye's power sence he was still getting use to controlling the magic within it. "Forgive me... I must have been mistaken." He smiles again, hoping he can recover from this setback. "It's nice to meet yo Neema, even in an awkward situation like this one."

Neema lofts one of her tiny eyebrows at the frown, not entirely sure as to what it signified. He hadn't been hostile so far, but Neema had to be careful. That hand that touched the phoenix insignia inched toward the octopus-topped staff latched to her mount's side, before gripping it fully in that hand. "Nice to meet you too," she replies, producing a smile of her own. It wasn't one of her typical, goofy smiles. It was much smaller, tired almost. Her gaze remained fixated on Arcos while the cockatrice she sat upon fidgeted a bit to readjust her sharp talons on the uneven ground. Neema remains silent, tightening her grip on both reigns and staff, one to keep herself balanced on Fidget and the other to pull her favorite weapon closer.

Arcos would gaze upon the woman for a long moment, watching her body language carefully. Even if he didn't have a magic eye that could see through three inches of matter he could tell she was hiding something and was gaurd because of it. The dark avian inhales, his wings shifting slightly as he takes a step backwards, away from Neema's precious golden cockatrice. "Relax," he says, "I don't want it. I wouldn't want the responciblity that comes with it." He wasn't being specific but she could figure out what he ment. "I'm just trying to find out more about it."

Neema didn't relax. In fact, after Arcos spoke again, she tensed with knuckles on both hands tightening their grip further. She knew exactly what he meant, but wasn't aware of how he knew she was in possession of one of the keys. The avian knew a small amount of people knew. Perhaps news spread fast? No matter. She was going to guard that key with her life. Even when he has stepped backwards, she keeps her guard up. "Ask away," is her response. While waiting, she contemplated whether or not to begin gathering the energy to do something in order to defend herself further, if the cockatrice she sat upon wouldn't be enough. Neema seriously doubted that, however.

Arcos crosses his arms as his scarlet eyes narrow. The sheer fact that she wanted to hold onto the key so badly tempted the vampire inside of Arcos to try to take it away. Once he delt with the bird the girl would be easy enough. Blinking away his aggressive thoughts, the dark avian clears his throat. "What do you plan to do with it?" He says, "Are you really prepaired to kill off a whole race of people?"

Neema didn't like the other avian's change in posture. She tugged at the reigns just a bit, a threatening gesture, causing the thick metal flap blocking her cockatrice's eyes to lift just a little, enough to show what the reigns would do to him. Neema had no problems with petrifying somebody if it meant the key would be safe. While doing so, she continues her unwavering stare at Arcos, and speaks once more. "I plan to do what I feel is right. And of course, I'm prepared." She should've been terrified, what with being an avian herself, but after a good talking to from the first key bearer she had nothing to fear, aside from the key being taken away. "If you're done, I'd like to take my leave. It's late." Who knew what types of people could be wandering about in the dark.

Arcos didn't flintch as she threatens to pull back the cockatrice's mask. He knew what these creatures were used for and what they could do and he had already plotted out in his mind what he would do if she did indeed try to have him petrifyed by the creature's gaze. He only offers the avian a small smile in return. "You sound the part," he says to her pleasantly, "Just make sure you know what 'right' is." He smirks, "Sure, don't let me keep you. Take care of yourself." He waves idly.

Neema 's lips turned into a sneer. She wasn't an idiot. While repositioning herself upon the cockatrice's back properly, the creature bends its knees, golden feathered wings spreading out far to take flight. "Don't take me for a fool, Mister Freedman," she calls over Fidget's high pitched screeches in a tone not often used by the avian, while a hand still held tight on the reigns. She knew what he looked like, an alias he used, or it could've been his real name, she didn't know, and his voice. All of which she could regurgitate back to somebody if needed. One of the other key bearers would be receiving a message very soon, and if that one knew of the third key bearer, they'd all know. The cockatrice lifts itself from the ground with Neema on her back, and she makes a swooping arc over the night sky. She makes an intentional dive, straight for Arcos with the beast's sharp talons jutting outward as if to strike, while the cockatrice's beak opens to make a loud screech. The talons purposely miss, though, while Neema has her mount circle through the air again, this time stopping from a high point in the night sky. From the vantage point, she yanks back the cockatrice's mask, revealing a pair of petrifying, golden eyes. She knew not whether the distance between she and her desired target would be too far for the petrifying to work, and nor did the avian care, quite frankly. After doing a few more dizzying circles in the air, both cockatrice and rider fly off to find a hiding place for the night.