RP:Dove & Pigeon

Summary: Irenic meets an Avian and for once didn't have to look down to talk to someone.

Fountain of Wishes 

A marble fountain takes up the majority of Schezerade’s central square. In its centre, a ring of golden fish peek their heads out of the water, spewing streams of water from their mouths. Stacked on top of that ring lies a platform with a ring of majestic eagles, wings outstretched, chests puffed out proudly as jets of water shoot out of their beaks, into the sky. In the very centre of this beautiful fountain, placed on yet another platform above the eagles and fish stands a marble statue of Schezerade’s founder, a beautiful avian woman sporting a metallic arm. Passersby's stop to watch the living fish swimming in the fountain and the statue of the powerful woman with wonder. Some can even be seen tossing coins into the fountain as well, in hopes that their wishes will be granted.

Irenic wonders out of the Schezerade tavern for a smoke seeing as the twins there wouldn't leave him be and he comes to the fountain of wishes. It's quiet in the town of Avians anymore and he doesn't really see any new faces as of late while the town nearly lays abandoned. Every structure still dripped with opulence while his bi-colored eyes take in the sculpture of the fountain for a moment before turning to have a seat. Large ivory and velvety wings shift to either side of his athletic frame with a wince seeing as the left one was still trying to heal from an arrow wound. A grunt would be heard through clenched teeth  before an expletive being uttered. He takes out a cigarette case which looks a little out of place on him and place one between scarred lips before a match met to light it. A stream of smoke was forced through his nostrils as his head tilts back a little to look up at the changing skies turning quickly to dusk.

Eloni had made a point to steer away from the so familiar city of avians as her whole purpose was to see the lands and meet races that she had only read about in books, though she was not too fond of meeting a drow, the books where never good about them.  Angling her wings she lifted herself over the edge of the floating avian city. She avoids it but sometimes it's nice to be surrounded by familiarity. Here was a relatively safe place, no forces from the ground could easily invade and the other flying races have been peaceful with the avians for some time, allowing her guard to slip Eloni would fly right to the city center, the beautiful fountain, her wings stretched to their fourteen foot full span as the past of the air spills from them, her soft boots clicking softly at touchdown. She stood six foot eight inches tall with a form and curve that fit a woman of that size perfectly. Clad in leather armor with a bastard sword to one hip and a short sword strapped to the small of her back she looked to be one not bothered. Hand pass through her thick heavy curls, snow white, just like her wings. Save for half those locks where dyed a deep royal purple. A soft sigh passed through her lips as she took in a deep breath of air so fresh. She stopped suddenly. A sweet smell mingled with smoke of a cigarette, wings snapping tightly to her back she spun on her heel to look at him, eyes the color of molten gold go wide, having just now noticed him. A bit of color comes to her lightly tanned skin. "I-I was not expecting another." 

Irenic paid no mind at first as he assumes it's another idle towns person that he's seen before until she spoke to him… Not many people try to speak to him seeing as he kind of always looks irritated or brooding; the scars down his left brow and down the left of his lips didn't help either. Those eyes, one chocolate and deep brown and the other silver, take her face in at first without a changed expression. He carelessly flicks his ash into the 'wishy water' behind him while his gaze was unmoving from this strangers face and though he wouldn't admit it or show it, it was refreshing to see a new Avain face. His own dusky brown, yet graying hair was threatening over his brow while he takes another long drag from his questionable scented cigarette as he was still allowing a long pause to linger between them. Through the dense cloud of smoke from his lips his dark gruff tone ebbs out, "Ah, not expecting another in the heart of an abandoned city." A short chuckle followed his sarcastic comment before adding, "Imagine that." His gaze now catches the sight of her armor and choice of weapons, again he would not admit or show that it was refreshing to see a woman like her not so typical. "Well then, Dove…" The nickname he dubs to her doesn't seem as sweet as it may sound coming from his tone, "What exactly were you expecting.?" He would stand once more only beating her by a couple of inches yet his Ivory wings behind him tower them both by about a foot.

Eloni berates herself for acting so surprised, it had just been that every time she flew over the place there had been no one about. So this time she hadn't even taken the time to survey the area before landing. The name doesn't bother her very much, his words registering to her but her eyes locked on those massive wings. Why are they so big, she asked herself silently. Giving a slight shake of her head, a moment was taken to compose herself. "Well, lord hawk..." the words bitten off teasingly. "Most that even live here still don't like strangers. Even if they are fellow avians. Strangers are strangers." Heels of her books click lightly off the stone as she starts to near the man, "I was expecting silence and barren streets, not the pleas... the smell of another avian." She noted his scares. Most of their kind would have had them healed away as they are so vain. "Interesting..." she mutters as she leans in to investigate the facial scar, seeming not to care for personal space. 

Irenic gave a sneer at the name exposing very white, but crooked teeth as he said, "Hawk… Hah, more like pigeon." He barely has look down at her and her close proximity and in the back of his mind he doesn't think he's met a woman this tall before… Well there was that Naga. His expression still doesn't change when her close position brought the smells of home along with her, cooking herbs and pastries baking in the oven. His mismatched gaze narrows on her and doing so pushes lines across his temples in showing off his age, "Interesting?" He flicks the cigarette but over his shoulder, through his wings and it lands in the wishing fountain, "What's interesting?" His other hand smoothes over the top of his head to push the locks from his view. The stone-like posture and battle wounds may prove he used to be a knight like her, but the fact if he still is remains to be seen and the hints of tattoos peek out through his black button down shirt which is loosened at the stiff collar. All the while his gaze stares right back at her.

Eloni found that never changing face interesting in and of itself. Her getting so close so suddenly was a device, done to see if this man was easily rattled, he is not. "Large pigeon then." She flashed an almost playful grin before pulling back slightly as he tossed away his smoke. "What I find interesting is your scars. Most our kind would have had them healed, I find it interesting that you chose to keep them." With her being so close now he would be able to see the hints of a tattoo peeking from the edge of the collar of the breastplate, but any detail was hidden by the collar she wore. "Your eyes are another interesting feature. Lost and replaced... natural eye or construct?" Golden hews leering deep into his mismatched gaze.

Irenic gave another short dark chuckle, "That works, sure." He pushes on his rolled up sleeves so they cling back to their place just below his elbow and she could easily see that’s where a different tattoo pattern tapers off in the middle of his forearms. Being so close she could also take note of a few things other than his age; like his attire which is simple, slightly dressy and well kempt, his skin tawny and a bit weathered. His scarred lips spread a little wider in a devious smirk, "These old things… Well, some things you don't recover from. Given my history - I have earned every one of my scars." Although what he says sound like it might be sad, his tone was proud while his smirk continued and now someone might put together this man looks like an angel, but could be quite the opposite. By inspecting his eyes for so long she may take note that the brown one is slightly smaller in iris shape while the silver one was the typical avian optic, but he answers anyway in his usual dark and dry tone, "It was a trade." He looks her up and down himself since she is being so nosy, but doesn't find anything he wants to ask her about, yet. He would casually inspect now and tactfully ask questions later, also, not your typical knight.

Eloni had not missed the formalish attire he wore, almost like a relaxed statesmen. But as he shifted the sleeve her eyes slipped from their inspection of his own optics to the tattoos starting to peek out. Tattoos on a avian is no stranger thing. Usually they are covered, and each and every one held a deep meaning. Another step is taken back, giving a bit more breathing room between the two. "Scars can be good, and ones with deep feeling and memories should be kept..." Her voice trails off as a look of sadness passes over her face for but a moment. "I've never had any I wished to keep." Unlike the weathered and scarred avian Eloni was almost painfully normal, as far as the winged people can be. No scars marred her smooth sun kissed skin, the most unique thing about her was her height. Arms slow cross under her chest as she makes her way about the man to inspect his massive wings. Her own shifting slightly to brush against them. They where soft, her own being quite soft in their own right but these where like feeling a cloud. "To another avian... your wings are quite imposing, mildly attractive." A soft giggle slips from her as she moved back to stand before him. 

Irenic's hands idle in their own way and shove into his front pant pockets while he's being circled, "Yes the feeling of betrayal and the memory of not trusting others." Again, something stated so nonchalant about a subject so deplorable, is this man some sort of sociopath? The feel of her wings made no difference to his stance or posture and she might be able to tell the wounded wing's muscles were tense, but is own ivory massives look so dull and dirty next to her pristinely white ones; their reflections from the light of the moon show hints of gleaming silvers and pearly white in each velvety feather. Once she came back into view he glances at her out the side of his good eye until she was before him once more. "Mildly attractive?" A guffaw escapes him, "Now that sounds like flirting? Or was it meant to insult?" He had no shame in calling her out if she is going to be trying to push his buttons. His focus moves to her wings now allowing a moment of pause between them, "And yours are perfectly pristine and innocent seeming. So, they are -adorable-" he accents the last word so she may take it as either an insult or compliment, herself.

Eloni knew those feeling all to well, the trust placed in those who ultimately failed that fragile trust. She was hurt deeply by such actions in the past, and the scars left from those wounds, both emotional and physical had been healed and removed. Such marks she would not allow on her body, even as a memory. She took pride in the marks that adorned her body, pain like that had no place. "Well now matter what they hold, I find them... cute" She flashes a playful wink as his accusation of flirting was leveled her way. A mock look of shock and a sudden gasp passes her lips. "Flirting, with a gruff... -individual- as yourself. You should be so lucky." Her tone quite the playful one as she could not help but feel her wings flexing, fluffing up as of they where excited by the man's glances. "Innocent hmm?" Golden hews narrow. "Innocent is such a broad term, how would in pertain to me, in your mind?" She was not an overly young avian any more, she has killed and almost died several times, an arch eyebrow show her curiosity to his answer. Though no matter the meaning, she would take it as a compliment. There are few who view someone who openly carries a sword as innocent. 

Irenic arched a scarred brow at her actions, intrigued now, just as she was before. It wasn't often he met a woman, let alone an Avian woman, who came into him in such a way. "Cute," he scowled at the word, "Yes if laying the lives down of the innocent is now considered cute, sure." He sort of rolled he's eyes at her before the question hit him and this queues him to adorn his specs. Narrow and steel rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose now while crossing his arms with one hand on his chin. He does the same to her, slowly stalking his long strides around her only to pause a moment and give one of her feathers of her wings a soft caress. His own wing may gently pass by her own, but weather or not he did this on purpose would remain a mystery and his low tone finally answers, "This pure white nearly gleaming with positivity, but  as I always make a point to reason, darkness doesn't always mean evil and lightness doesn't always mean good. I sense you uphold yourself with honor and align yourself with the good as you know the right thing to do," he was in front of her now and the spectacles are removed to he place back in the crevice of his short. It would be at this point she might not think of his as just a brute of a man, possibly more scholarly and plotting of sorts. "Now, my question to you - why is it you care what I, a stranger, thinks of you?"

Eloni made no move as the man started to stalk around her, copying her own movements, she thought it only fare, he had allowed such a close inspection of his form, it was only polite to reciprocate. Snowy wings shift slightly as his hand brushed against her soft feathers, not as soft as his, but still very soft in their own right. Her eyes closed lightly as he continues his inspection. "Cure was for the scars themselves and how they show on you. The history behind then was unknown to me, the loss of innocent life is never a thing that should be brushed away lightly." She sucks in a sudden sharp breath as his wing brushes against hers, she had not been ready for that. Her eyes open slowly as he comes back around. "The color may be innocent but coated with blood these wings have been." She offers the sweetest of smiles. "Is anyone who takes up a sword, be it for good or bad reasons ever innocent again?" Hand slipping to rest atop the hilt of her bastard sword. "Goodliness is a fine concept, but light cannot exist without dark. A balance must be kept for the world to function. The scales kept even." She looks to him skeptically, measuring how he would react to the statement. 

Irenic's arms cross his chest now, "Hm! I didn't realize that scars on the face were such an acquired accessory." Of course he was being sarcastic in that bit  while a shrug was given at her question, "Possibly, or they blindly follow orders from their leaders. Naïveté is the real killer of the innocent at the hands of crooked leaders." It only took one sly stride to shrink the distance between them and it seems the tables turned between them as he's now testing her buttons, "Your sword, it's so cute on you. Like a kid playing grown up." He would also wink as she did to him and his good wing swiftly bent around to gently rest against her own. "But oh so corruptible you must be. All we need are the right things to make you tick." His face comes very close to her's, "Maybe we can get you your own sporting scars that you can show off like a badge." He is sure to get a sword or knife at his throat at any moment now, possibly a hard slap on his face as his lips gleam that devilish smirk, "Shall we 'balance' these scales -against- each other." Is his tone full of suggestion? Is he being sarcastic again? Will anyone ever really know.

Eloni did give a slight nod to his words about corrupted leaders and those who only follow orders, "but is the shield of I was just doing as I was told ever enough of a defense." Then he would close the distance she had made, upon her like she had been to him but moments before, she does not back down much as he hadn't. A slight toss of her head set her thick loosely curled locks bouncing as her eyes locked to the man's as he spouted his mocking words. "My swords do as much good to my as those clothes and spectacles make you seen like more than a simple drunken tavern brawler. Maybe you where something great... long ago." Her final words almost a whisper, more than a little sass kneaded in.  But most of her bravado slipped as his wing slid around to rest against hers. The pressed wing shifted to press back, as she took a deep steadying breath. "Rude..." she would mutter eyes narrowing at him but still not backing down, hoping that he had not picked up on just how much she liked having her wings touched. No blades or hands where raised again the now so very close male, maybe to his disappointment, but she was not goaded that easily. "Give me a reason to keep it and maybe I would wear a scar." Her teasing come back accented with a soft yet playful click of her teeth before her smile grew so wide and playful face hovering so very close to his. "How would you balance such a scale, for once it seems you're not towering over the person you're so -vigorously- trying to unsettle."  

Irenic let out a low and soft chuckle at her insult of age to him, "I've made efforts to -not- be something great, but rather something feared." His glance catches her playful bite without flinch he lowers his volume, "You've got me shakin' in my boots." His hand boldly slipped itself through her hair to the nape of her skull to hold her where she is and in doing so there was no space left between their bodies. She would feel his build was firm and without pliability for he may act/look old, but his body - a well oiled machine. He had pulled out a small pocket knife and held it hovering over her lips, "Looking for a reason? How about, I think it would look good? Is that a good enough reason?" He kept his face close to her's while his wing pressed and caressed a little more into her own. "How about here?" His fingers expertly flip the small weapon to point down without touching either of them and shifts the blade to hover over her temple, "I think having one here would accent those pretty eyes you’ve got, no?" His devious smirk remained and it would be hard to tell if he was joking or not.

Eloni shifted slight as she found herself pressed against the other avian, his strong hand holding her head to the side slightly as he deftly held the blade against her temple. A soft rose color coming to sun kissed cheeks, though not from the closeness of him, nor the threats of the blade, but his damn caressing wing to hers. A soft sparkle came to her golden eyes as one hand gripped his side and pulled him against her a little harder. "So you wish you mark me? Attempting to claim a pet on our first meeting?" A slight turn of her head would cause his blade to nick her cheek, "you know how to show a girl a good time lord pigeon." Always that teasing tone. As she would be able to feel his form, he would be able to feel hers, toned and fit form years of training and battle, though soft and pampered in a way as she enjoyed spoiling herself from time to time. "Can it be reciprocal?" She all but purred as he would feel a point press to his side and back, her free hand holding a small hidden dagger against his shirt just above his kidney. A promise of shared pain if he takes his joke to far. 

Irenic swiftly pocketed the knife once more while the hand that was behind her head shifted to the peak of her wing closest to him with a firm grip, "What about these?" His other hand was swift to reach behind him and pull her from behind him and over her own head. In a swift movement he would be attempting to force her to backpedal to the outside wall of the tavern behind her. One hand holding her wrist and the other on her wing while his own block any onlooker's view, "You really shouldn't be aiming to get mixed up with the likes of me." Their lips became very close as if by habit while his gaze looks down at her lips and for a moment it seemed they may kiss, but those elongated pointed & pierced ears seem to pick up a noise causing him to pull away slightly. He goes quiet for a moment while looking off to the side and his grip loosens on her, "Well, dove… I must be off." Leather booted strides back away from the woman so he may depart, without a goodbye or a wave.

Eloni was rather shocked by the sudden action, taken off guard more so when he gripped her wing causing her to gasp loudly. But now having been pressed against the wall the small knife slips from her hand to stick into the ground by their feet. She fought to focus due to his hold on her sensitive wing. "B-bastard..." she collected herself enough to glare at him, "you don't get to tell me what to do, lord pigeon." Rather liking the name she settled him with. Then as suddenly as it started he rounded and left her against the wall.  Rubbing her wrist softly she watched him leave, a slight playful grin playing across her face. She can't wait to see him again, she had such a fun time.