RP:Kindred Spirits- Wraith and Ghost Meet

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Bridge of Glass


You may not have noticed it, but you seem to be walking on air! But upon looking down, you see strong and stable glass supporting your feet. You might breathe a sigh of relief at this point... The view below is beautiful. Birds pass under the bridge, cities can be seen as tiny dots with even smaller ones bustling about. The bridge leads on to a sombre and silent cliff edge.




Kirien is stood on the very edge of the bridge, leaning forward with his torso thrust out over the empty air swirling about. Amber eyes observe the flight of birds below him, the land before that with matchstick cities and ant-like people; he'll wonder if this is perhaps how Avian kind sees the world mostly, and spreads his arms out either side of him, mimicking the flapping of wings for a few seconds. "Aha~!" Throwing himself back just then, the Elf takes a few steps away from the precipice eyes turned upon the sky above this time as he shakes his head and laughs. Apparently there's something he finds amusing, but it's not too obvious what it is exactly.


Satoshi is oblivious to the elf's presence upon the bridge, a particularly dangerous fact as her mount prepares to land, suddenly plunging out of the cloudbanks immediately above the stranger in a spectacle of rainbow feathers and emerald scales. Fortunately, her mount is not a stupid beast. Emiur, being a couatl, is of a keen intellect and his constant psionic-surveillance of the area is more than enough to alert him to the small being directly in his landing path. With a sibilant sigh, the seventy-foot long winged serpent abruptly alters his course with an aerial grace that startles even the unshakable Satoshi, bringing the duo from a direct landing upon the bridge to a luxurious coiling around its glassy length, winding about until momentum is worn down and the couatl can properly stop. Of course, right in front of Kirien, with serpentine head reared back and jaw parted slightly, multi-colored wings half-flared, and rainbow headdress raised in what the vain creature assumes is a breath-taking pose.


Satoshi mutters from behind the crest of feathers. "Oi. Show-off. I can't see~."


Kirien also happens to be quite intelligent, although perhaps not as Psionic as the couatl which comes bursting through the clouds from above the little Elf. Those sensitive ears are particularly well-practiced in picking up the tiniest of sounds, and as such he barely even blinks at the creature's sudden appearance. He skips out of the way a little to allow the serpent to make his landing, eyeing its each and every movement. Kirien being Kirien is not about to be frightened off by the couatl's fierce appearance, and even has the audacity to growl at it warningly, before a certain wyvern decides he'll do a better job of intimidating the snake. Dropping out of the sky in a similar fashion to the other beast the hatchling, roughly ten foot high and fifteen long, -- not counting his tail -- makes his landing right behind the rogue, talons slamming down into the fragile bridge and wing-claws gripping at the edges of the slippery surface; his neck stretches out above Kirien's head, jaws opening wide as the most ferocious roar tears from his lungs. Kirien can't help but grin like some sort of maniac, more amused by this situation than by whatever he found hilarious earlier.


Satoshi makes her appearance then, although not as spectacularly as the two winged-beasts do as she pushes between two of Emiur's crest-feathers to half-sprawl upon his flat skull, groaning dismally. "Oi~~. Warn me next time you do loopy-de-loop whatnot like that again, hrm~?" The couatl looks rightfully sheepish then, his head dipping slightly as wings fold against his emerald sides. Obviously he -did- forget to forewarn his partner of the maneuver, focused on the change of course and aerial display as he was. Shaking her head, the foxkin slides forward and off the end of the serpent's snout, landing lightly on her feet after a deft somersault mid-fall. "Ahem. Call off your beastie, would ya, monsieur?" the three-tailed bard requests, flashing the stranger a fanged, disarming grin as a clawed finger pushes her goggles up onto her forehead, giving clear view once more to amber-flecked azure eyes. "We're not here for fighting. Just getting some exercise while waiting for my no good brother-in-law to show up."


Kirien 's sharp eyes fall upon the form of a small, foxlike woman as she appears from behind that barrier of feathers atop the couatl's head; oh, what's this? There is the smallest spark of recognition there, in the back of his mind, and the rogue pauses mid-laugh to stare intently at the female. As if his usual gaze isn't already unnerving enough, this one of absolute scrutiny is ever more intense, enough to make one glance away. Where does he know this person from? He's quite sure he's never actually met her; an appearance like that would be very memorable to the Elf. It's when she speaks to him that Kirien snaps out of his little daze and blinks - he's not going to answer her words at first, as he seems to have noticed something else. Without warning Kirien's running forward to grab at the foxkin's coat, tugging the hem up a bit as he grins happily, fingers running through the fluffy trim. "Twins~!" he laughs then, motioning to his slightly ragged black coat, trimmed in white fur; it is true that they look a little similar. Just a little. "Oh, and don't mind him. He's trying to act tough, I don't think he'd actually attack." The Elf flashes Nameless a look then, and the wyvern huffs, settling back on his haunches, tail swishing about behind him. "Brother-in-law? What's he like, miss…?" This is bothering him a little now; he's sure he knows this person somehow!


Satoshi blinks in surprise at the elf's sudden approach, and it's only the quickly followed sing-song word of 'twins' that halts the raised frosty claws of her enchanted watery scarf from lashing out in reflexive defense. Still blinking, and waving a hand to ease some of the tension of out her poised accessory-turned-weapon, Satoshi quirks a brow at Kirien and somewhat matching white fur trims. "Ehe~. I suppose so, eh? Mine's a Frostmaw specialty. Keeps out, or in my case in, the cold like no other~." If the frost bard was a bird, she'd be preening right now to go along with her musical voice, but she's not, so on she goes with the impromptu conversation--save for an affirming glance at the huffy, but nonaggressive wyvern. "He's... erm. Fancies himself a hero? White coat, kind of like mine. Orange glasses, that are always hiding his green...or were they blue?... eyes, when his yellow hair isn't~. And, hah, a roguish grin to rival his brothers." Chuckling at a personal joke, Satoshi continues with a nod at Kirien. "He mentioned he works here now. It's a big place though. I don't pretend to hope you've run into him. But no matter, I'll find him later. For now... I'm Satoshi Azakhaer. Pleasure and all that. sorry old green-scales there almost sat on top of you~." Reluctantly, a chilly, gloved hand is offered to complete that oh-so-bothersome meeting ritual.


Kirien looks to the odd scarf flowing about the woman's neck for a but a moment, noticing its odd nature but for once resisting the urge to touch it. Pulling back after an extended pause and eventually releasing the other's coat, he places both hands upon his hips, head tilting to one side. "Hm…? Maybe I should get some of that~! Mine's all right at keeping out cold but it's not very strong. I need it enchanted and maybe armoured a bit better…" Inside, of course; grafting plating to the outside of the garment would ruin the Elf's perfectly crafted visage of the innocent civilian. At the description of the brother-in-law, Kirien blinks again, placing a single digit upon his lips as if in thought before he turns abruptly about, heading over to Nameless; or more precisely the pack slung over the wyvern's back and tied down by rope. He's yet to get a proper harness or anything. "Does he have a weird little fox pet~?" he calls, rummaging through the bag for a bit before tugging out a large coat. White in colour, it's likely rather recognisable to the foxkin. "This coat?" He spins about then, throwing the coat over his shoulders and taking a moment to snuggle into it some before looking over at Satoshi again. Ah, formalities. He'll skip back over to place his hand in hers, gripping tightly and shaking vigorously. "Kirien Vahir~! And, eh, if he had I'd have kicked him? Or something. Nameless might've tried to eat him."


Satoshi's accusation of murder and looting of family corpses dies on her lips when the elf snuggles the coat. Not many killers -snuggle- the stolen possessions of someone they killed, but then not all killers are the same, or sane. Nonetheless, the vixen is suspicious as she eyes Kirien, freeing her hand of the shake and idly tugging at the rainbow-hued feather in her hair--one of Emiur's tail feathers. The contact alights the mental-spark that forges their unique connection quick as a thought, made all the faster by the extreme proximity. ~Are you getting anything dark beneath that pretty surface, Scales?~ -...Don't call me that. And not particularly. Aside from yourself, of course, Snow Fox.- ~Hrm. Keep an eye out then. Don't like being caught off guard by tricks like my own, y'know?~ -I can try. Not as easily done without tripping his own mental alarms, however.-The exchange between them is silent and over in a heartbeat, but the mutual agreement allows for one to stay alert and watchful--sending out the faintest mental probes in Kirien's direction, like a snake's flickering tongue testing the air--while the other carries on the seemingly innocuous conversation. And Satoshi's a master at appearing innocuous and naive, thus it's with a harmless grin that she gestures at the coat. "That looks like his~. But what're you doing with Riss' coat? He doesn't tend to part from that easily."


Kirien seems not to notice anything particularly odd about the other as she plays with the feather in her hair, and busies himself with picking a couple of loose threads from the coat about his shoulders. There wouldn't be a darkness about him, for sure; and certainly not at this moment when the Elf is more interested in other things than the morbid. One might notice the oddness of his aura, though, should one be able to sense it. There's definitely something strange with this male, as harmless and tiny as he seems on the outside. And if one were to hold a magnet above him he'd likely stick to it, what with all the weapons he's carrying on him. None are visible, however; he's practiced hiding them for years, you know. After taking a moment to check the coat over once more Kirien looks up, blinking almost childishly. Satoshi's not the only one who can appear innocuous. He's quite sure he picked up on the suspicion in the foxkin's eyes, among other things. "He let me borrow it~." Yeah, you're not getting more than that at the moment. Kirien is an information gatherer, not a giver; although feel free to bother him for more details. He might let up. For now, the Elf will remove the coat and fold it up carefully, almost hugging it against his chest for a second before placing it back into his bag. "You…said you were here for exercise, right? Does that mean flying and such?" he'll ask after a pause, amber eyes bright as he looks around at the foxkin.


Satoshi's eyes narrow ever so slightly at the vague explanation. But no matter. She may not be a cat anymore, but she still knows how to make a mouse squeak when she really wants it to. She'll play along with Kirien's lack of forthcoming information, contenting herself to eager and amiable act. She's yet to have the technique fail to drop another's guard at some point in time, after all. Thus, with crooked smile still in careful place, the kit-vampire offers another nod. "Oui~. Emiur and I were getting a bit of fresh air. There's quite a bit to be had here~." A pause and she feigns thoughtfulness while looking at Nameless. "do you two go out too? Or are you one of those ground-bound lot~?" A playful taunting, just to test the elf's nature and level of pride.


Kirien catches that narrowing of eyes with a sharp gaze, and can't help but smirk a little in silent response. Not getting the answers you want, madam foxkin? It's not Kirien's particularly conscious intentions to withhold information; it's just the way he is. For once he's not deliberately screwing with someone. Amusingly enough, the Elf is not one to let down his guard ever, especially not around strangers. Despite her sweet and innocent nature there's little signs -- such as that suspicious glance, those eyes narrowing -- that have the rogue quite sure there's more to Satoshi than she lets on. And as such, he'll not be relaxing completely anytime soon. He doesn't always manage to relax around his own 'brothers', often. "Lots of air up in the sky and such~," Kirien will comment with a wry little grin, head tilting before he looks to Nameless. The wyvern snorts. "He ain't ground-bound but I am I~!" Pride, what's that? Kirien has no use for pride; all that ever happens to it is that it's torn apart and thrown in the mud, which is pretty useless in the Elf's eyes. "Although I want to try flying on him. Never done it or anything though, and I don't have a saddle yet, so I'm not sure. I was thinking of doing it today, perhaps… Who needs a saddle, after all~!"


Satoshi tugs once more on that feather in her hair, preparing herself for that exchange--mental contact only slightly less unsettling each time it takes place. ~He reminds me of someone. It's frustrating that I can't recall who...~ -Do you mean yourself? 'More than meets the eye' comes to mind upon seeing you both.- ~Hrm. Maybe. We'll have to wait and watch, ne? Let's play with him a bit longer, shall we?~ -As you wish.- Satoshi nods unconsciously as the contact is severed again, but fortunately the gesture comes at a time that makes it an appropriate response to Kirien's words. "Now's a good time as ever, es it not? I mean, I don't use a saddle with Emiur, after all~." Because the dignified couatl would never lower himself to such a level. "care to join us for another run? We can chit-chat about our common friend in Christian, perhaps~." Here fishy, fishy, fishy~.


Kirien looks to Nameless after taking in Satoshi's movements again, eyeing the wyvern with a mixture of careful curiosity and silent deliberation. He's silent for a little, placing a hand upon the hatchling's head as he leans down to peer at him questioningly; there's no such thing as a telepathic bond between the pair, but perhaps a connection just as deep exists. It's somewhat easy to tell that Nameless is one of the few creatures in this world that the Elf actually cares for and would risk his life to protect. After a long pause, Kirien looks round at the foxkin's words. "He looks proud. I bet he hates saddles," he responds while clambering up onto the wyvern's back, although unlike most dragon riders he's not sitting down. Two of the ropes securing the pack to Nameless are gripped onto tightly, the rogue perching in a crouched position atop the dragon as he stretches his wings out into the air, fanning them to their full length. "Oh, man," the Elf can't help but murmur as he glances downwards at the vast expanse below them. That's a long, long way to fall. He swallows, maybe a little nervous although that's the only giveaway; Kirien's expression is one of concentration, not fear. "You make it sound as if we'll just be floating about aimlessly. Race me or something, huh~! I need the practice."


Satoshi's playful nature is piqued by Kirien's comment, eliciting a smirk from the foxkin as a hand tugs the goggles back down over her eyes and the other tugs her scarf up to shield her face. "You want a race?" Emiur, seemingly without a signal from Satoshi, dips his head then just as the vampire leaps upward, allowing her to land deftly upon him in a half-crouch before tucking herself against the feathers sprouting from his skull in a fluid motion. It's a move that's taken a fair bit of practice and timing for them to master, but damn if it doesn't look cool. Pair of perfectly matched show-offs. "Then you'll have a race~. The Watchtower below has an orb at the top. Goal's to get it and put it atop the Mage Tower~. Ready, set..." Pausing for dramatics, the feline adds, "Go!" In a flash of colors the serpent is off the bridge and diving down, pointed muzzle aimed straight for the earth as he seems to coil and uncoil in a blindlingly swift slither through the air.


Kirien has no real protection against the winds and such, unlike Satoshi, so it's probably a stupid idea for him to be doing this so unprepared. It is, however, exactly in Kirien's nature to do things this way. Goggles? He can get those -- or something similar -- later. Mask? Same as the goggles. Saddle; pff, he doesn't need a saddle! Although he's going to end up with one anyway. Nameless, after finishing his stretch, crouches at the edge of the bridge, appearing quite excited about the whole endeavour while Kirien's hands tighten on those ropes, the rogue's tension a little more pronounced now, especially in his voice. "Right…! Orb, tower. Done." He's a little slow in response to the word 'go' but thankfully Nameless isn't, and dives abruptly from the bridge in the same moment the word leaves Satoshi's lips. A shriek will follow this, as Kirien almost lets go in surprise, the wind ripping across his body and threatening to tear him off. The sheer speed they fall is amazing, enough to take the Elf's breath away and cause him to close his eyes. And then Nameless' wings will flare open, the wyvern twisting through the air with his gaze trained upon that shiny little orb atop the previously mentioned Watchtower. It's him doing most of the work at the moment, as Kirien's far too caught up in the feeling of flying for the first time to do much but scream.


Satoshi's expression is unreadable with anti-wind gear in place and most of her small form nestled into the crest, but Emiur can easily feel the elation from her and feeds off it, adding it to his own simple joy of flight and boosting himself along. Not that free-falling counts as flying, with his wings currently put to no use whatsoever, pinned tightly to his body and looking like twin patches of colorful scales rather than appendages of feathers. The serpent's body is naturally streamlined for this kind of rapid descent, making it an easy matter for him to dart cobra-like as if he were on solid ground. Just such a burst of movement brings him close to Nameless, feathered tail whipping out to teasingly tickle beneath the wyvern's snout and egg him on. The couatl is guilty of loving to antagonize saurians with their infamous short tempers. -It makes the game more entertaining,- he comments, mostly to himself even as Satoshi sends a questioning mental note to him for his action. Oh yes, there's a reason the two work so well together despite immediate personalities being at obvious odds.


Kirien || Nameless emits a low growl that is likely lost to the whirling winds as those feathers tickle at his chin and snout; he's a wyvern, after all, and despite the somewhat sweet and curious nature he's picked up from Kirien there's that base instinct there below it all. Wyverns are, if possible, more ferocious than their six-limbed dragon counterparts, and a swipe of that fanned, spiked tail is the hatchling's retort before with a beat of his wings he's speeding away from the couatl. Kirien, meanwhile, manages to open his eyes some now that they aren't hurtling downwards at a breakneck pace, and takes a look around him, mouth falling open. "W-Woah." He's unable to utter much else, before the Elf remembers Satoshi's earlier words about a race with an orb, and he decides he doesn't really want to give the foxkin the satisfaction of winning. "Is that all you've got~!" he yells in her and Emiur's direction, tugging at the ropes a little and nudging for Nameless to fly faster. Down the wyvern dives again, wings tucking in tight against him as the Watchtower looms up from the earth below.


Satoshi catches the words despite ears pressed flat against the howling wind and slowly shakes her head, as if tutting at a small child's arrogance. ~Let's show them what else we've got, hm?~ A chortling hiss escapes Emiur, the sound torn away the instant it leaves his maw. -Let's. Here is your forewarning of a 'loopy-de-loop' as requested,- the couatl states simply, Satoshi tightening her hold, before his flight path abruptly changes, wings unfurling with an audible snap as they're fully extended to bring the serpent to a dead stop mid-air. Although something should be broken by such a sudden change in motion, Emiur seems utterly unharmed, allowing his forked tongue to flicker out once before he quite simply drops. However, 'drops' isn't entirely accurate, as gravity and his wings both are driving him earthward anew, sending him rocketing past Nameless. "Watch this~!!" Satoshi calls back as they pass, by way of catching wyvern and elfin attention for Emiur's following maneuver. For the couatl may be falling straight as an arrow, but there's a twist to his descent--quite literately, as he begins to corkscrew rapidly. The light bouncing off his spinning scales and feathers to be reflected tenfold by cloud-vapor is a dazzling display to say the least, enough to give most creatures pause, but the psionic beast is putting more than that into his efforts: a subtle persuasion, mental energies gently coaxing his opponents' subconscious to react and set in a feeling of befuddlement, to alter their perceptions just enough to slow them and send them off course.


Kirien is quite literally amazed by the unfolding display of skill and show before him, although Nameless isn't so impressed and snorts derisively, angling his body a little to the left. And left he banks, spinning about in mimicry of the couatl's move while Kirien clings on for dear life, shrieking with a mixture of terror and elation. Momentum builds up, sending the two careening wildly about the air. Although it's not quite as dazzling as Emiur's effort there's still a certain beauty to it; perhaps that won't be noticed due to the couatl's previous display of brilliance, however. Upon reaching completion of the corkscrew manoeuvre those wings flare open, catching the breeze which drags Nameless upward and back suddenly - unable to mentally warn Kirien of his intentions the wyvern can only hope that the Elf will manage to hold on as a 360 degree loop is attempted. It is halfway through this that that mental 'attack' of sorts strikes and the hatchling veers off-course abruptly, wings beating madly in an attempt to level himself out and flip back around while the rogue upon his back presses himself lower to the dragon. "You're such a show-off!" he calls Satoshi's way, while trying to shake the odd feeling of confusion from his mind. It's rather hard to do while Nameless is twisting and flailing like a drowning fish, however, his roar filling the skies as he tumbles downward. "Ah~! Fly straight, damn it!"


Satoshi isn't a bird, so she's not preening visibly at Kirien's words, but she certainly is mentally. As is Emiur, the two sharing a smug moment before the colorful display to brought to an abrupt end. Long fall it may be from Schezerade, but at the speed wyvern and couatl have been traveling, it's no surprise they're closing in on the Watchtower below. -Ready?- Emiur asks of Satoshi, receiving a tightened one-handed hold on his feathers as a silent response from Satoshi. The feline's focused on removed her scarf with her free hand while keeping a sharp eye on the swiftly approaching rooftop, and the glistening silver orb perched atop its matching weather-vane. ~Almost there...~ Suffice to say, neither of them are paying much attention to Nameless and Kirien at the moment.


Kirien and Nameless have, at this point, disappeared, although one can't be quite certain as to where they ended up. One might assume they crash-landed in the forest, or even the village, or if they're particularly unlucky, the Xalious Tree. There's silence for a moment, before the sudden return of the wyvern and his rider comes with another of those ferocious roars; from directly above the two dive downwards, the hatchling's talons extended with the apparent intent of ripping into the couatl's scaly hide open. This is, as with many of Kirien's ideas, a simple ruse to get the other pair to move, although whether they do or not matters little to the Elf. Holding on with one hand now, the other limb extends, a shadowy blade attached to silver string making its appearance from beneath the fur-trimmed sleeve of the rogue's coat - the knive cuts through the air at a frightening speed, its destination the orb atop the Watchtower. It appears Kirien's intentions here are to knock the object from the tower and send it tumbling down toward the three line, where a seventy foot long serpent might have trouble following them to retrieve it.


Satoshi's more startled by the pair's reappearance directly above than Emiur is, and it's the foxkin's sudden alarm that has him skittish and tumbling aside from the descending claws--shared emotions and reactions is a drawback to their contact, after all. Writhing mid-air in a mass of coils, the couatl fights to correct himself as Satoshi is left to cling for dear unlife and watch Kirien knock the orb free of its perch. ~"Emiur! Dive!"~ The words are so abrupt that the vampire shouts them mentally and physically alike, eliciting an immediate reaction from her companion. Without a thought, the serpent ceases haphazard flight and lets gravity take hold as he plummets for the trees, wings propelling him downward to outpace the falling orb as they angle closer to it. It's an utterly daredevil move, requiring the dual-consciousness of vulpine and couatl to execute, but execute it they do with another snapping open of angled wings by Emiur in time to force the dive into an abrupt glide, dropping the orb neatly into the waiting claws of Satoshi's animated scarf. Before she's promptly and forcibly dismounted, Emiur's dive having apparently been cut too close, sending him and his rider into the tops of the trees where they're firmly locked and stunned for a good moment.


Satoshi executes super cool move! ... and crashes.


Kirien is already telling Nameless to chase after the orb when Emiur dives, but the sheer speed of the couatl surpasses even the lithe wyvern hatchling -- likely due to him having yet to build up complete strength in his wings -- and the other pair are first to capture the sphere. However, when Satoshi and her ride crash abruptly, Nameless and Kirien are not far behind, the wyvern's talons snapping open once more although this time in an attempt to grab at the orb instead of ripping anything apart. Should they complete this action they'll be soaring off toward the Mage's Tower, Kirien grinning triumphantly; should they miss they'll be circling back around for another go. "Ha~! Not so showy now, are you!" the Elf calls to the downed foxkin and couatl, eyes bright, his words more playful than unkind.


Satoshi's down but not out! She may be draped over a branch while Emiur untangles himself from a few more pine trees, but the orb is well-guarded from wyvern claws for the time being. The scarf still has a firm hold on it, the manifested 'fist' it's formed to grip it sprouting particularly nasty spikes of ice to deter Nameless from getting to grabby. The repeated attempts by the wyvern are distracting, however, preventing Satoshi from both getting back to her feet and Emiur, while also maintaining the spell to protect the orb. Thus, it's with a flash of light and deft upward gesture of hands that the bard cancels her spell, the scarf-turned-arm heaving forward to throw its spherical prize and sending it sailing above the trees with a glistening trail in its wake. "Fetch~!" Satoshi trills with a malicious grin, scrambling across branches to reach Emiur as he finally rights himself. The little minstrel can't keep a whistle off her lips however as she palms the actual orb hidden beneath the sleeve of her coat. Kirien will have to be very keen sighted indeed to catch the switch of that orb with one of silvery ice during that flash of light, else he'll be chasing a fake while she makes her way for the Mage Tower~.


Kirien gives the ropes a little tug upon taking note of the wicked icicles protruding from the protective scarf, causing Nameless to veer away at the last moment, legs tucking back in against his body. Amber eyes survey the movement of the foxkin female, taking in the scintillating object as it's flung from her person; they narrow slightly at this, a small curl of the lip following before he yelps in surprise as Nameless begins to chase after the ball. He's not stupid, although the same level of deduction is not possessed by Nameless, who is completely sure that the thing he's following is the real deal. For a moment he allows it, peering around the wyvern to eye the orb before he glances back over his shoulder to see Emiur and Satoshi taking off again. "Sneak," he mutters, a little annoyed at having been partially fooled as he pulls Nameless about and sends him streaking back toward the two. Kirien knew she wouldn't have given up the sphere that easily, although he didn't see the exchange take place; he presumes it to have been done during that blinding flash. Bright flashes and Kirien don't mix well together. But, with powerful wing beats and that lithe form, the wyvern hatchling and Elf are swiftly catching up to the couatl and his vixen of a rider, Nameless' claws extending this time in an attempt to grab at Emiur's feathered tail and pull him off-course.


Satoshi's nearly dismounted again when Emiur is unexpectedly pulled up short, an indignant hiss marking Nameless' successful grab onto his tail. Instinctively, the couatl whips around to snap curved fangs at the offending talons, and although Satoshi manages to keep herself in place... the orb isn't so lucky. Out of her satin-gloved grasp it slips to go spinning toward the ground, and all she can do is stare dumbly after it while Emiur's feinted bites attempt to dislodge the wyvern.




Town Well


As you walk into the middle of town you see no one, the town seems to be almost deserted as if someone or something has causes the villagers to up and desert the town as you see the red mist and spot of blood upon the floor you feel an eerie feeling and decide to leave Xalious, To the west is a large watch tower that seems to have blood and ash around the entrance, to the south the Xalious tree s seen but not as vibrant as it once was, to the east lies a fog filled park, in the center of town is a bloody well, as you read the inscribing you get a deep cold chill run down your back, in the distance you hear roaring, the beast hasn't left.




Kirien || Nameless is quick to release the couatl's tail as he whirls around, lifting legs out of reach and giving what can only be described as an attempt at a grin; Kirien's influence is far too pronounced in the wyvern, and whether that's a good thing or not will be left up to the viewer to consider. "I knew you were up to something~!" the Elf cries as Nameless turns into a swift dive to follow after the dropped orb, which is now speeding toward the village below. Stretching his neck out the hatchling makes a few failed snaps at the sphere, as the ground rises abruptly up to meet them - or rather, the cool waters of the well. And it's far too late to stop so with a screech both orb and wyvern plummet into the well. Mostly, at least. The orb will drop into the water at the bottom, while Nameless becomes stuck in the top of it, and Kirien is launched from the wyvern's back to land spread-eagled on the ground beside the well. Their appearance prompts a bit of a shock from the villagers, surely, as Nameless begins to roar and struggle, tail whip-lashing the ground. Kirien, meanwhile, collapses forward, whining in pain. Landing with your legs so far apart when you're male is not good - I repeat, not good!


Satoshi and Emiur are hot on their rivals' collective tails. Which proves a bad thing when Nameless is brought up short by the well. If couatls had brakes, they'd be squealing and smoking right now as he goes against gravity and his own momentum to stop just short of rear-ending the wyvern, and succeed Emiur does. Just barely. Earning him a tail to the face during the trapped saurian's thrashings that send him serpent and fox sprawling to the ground in a heap. "Hnn~. That's a draw, esn't it~?" the Frost Singer calls from somewhere beneath a pile of colored feathers, Emiur merely hissing a sigh in response. Heedless of the villagers' stares, Satoshi begins coaxing her companion back onto his... coils? He doesn't exactly have legs, being a giant snake and all. Either or, once Emiur is up, he's winding his way toward the entrapped Nameless as a gentle pressure descends on the minds of elf and wyvern alike, a polite request to be allowed in so that he may speak to them himself. -Ahem. If you'd be so kind as to stop squirming, I believe I can remove you from there, young cousin.- The couatl's mental voice is a formal thing, smooth as velvet and articulate as a school teacher.


Kirien makes it slowly to his feet after a short pause, testing his legs gingerly and then shifting his hips from side-to-side. Well, nothing appears broken, at least…which is good, the rogue supposes, although it's not as if he really needs anything there at the moment. "I suppose so," he responds at Satoshi's words, despite the fact that he can't quite see her at the moment due to the couatl's coils. Moving over to Nameless and dodging around that thrashing tail he places his hands on the wyvern's wing, trying to help pull him free; but Kirien is not a strong creature, and his movements seem to cause more panic than anything helpful, as Nameless begins to roar a little louder, his noise muffled some by his own body. The odd pressure at his mind has the Elf looking around and blinking, while his companion continues to struggle and whine. ~Er. You sound as fancy as I imagined,~ Kirien can't help but comment offhandedly, before adding, ~…I'm not sure Nameless'll understand, by the way. He's not a dragon, so, uh, his ability to speak is kind of. Not there. So I don't know if he even knows the language or not.~ This must be such an odd sight for the villagers.


Satoshi can handle nosy villagers as soon as she's dusted herself off. "Oi~. Oi~. Go back to your business and such~. We're just undergoing a little test for my... apprentice here~." A few more words, something to do with "Magister Templi" "Mage's Guild" and the like, has most of the citizens nodding in understanding, glancing toward the Mage Tower with knowing looks, and departing with shakes of their heads. Shaking her own head, Satoshi turns her focus on Emiur. "Can we get him out of there quick-like, please? Last thing I need is the Eldermage annoyed at me for dropping giant lizards and snakes on the Tower's village. ...Again." That last word is vaguely muttered into her scarf. Nodding his understanding, Emiur slithers closer to Nameless. -I can manage more than words, if it is words he does not understand,- the couatl states simply, offering Kirien an odd flicker of dual-eyelids that is presumptively a snake version of a wink. Without further speech, the psionic serpent begins to emit gentle pulses of calming thoughts, urging images of comfort and relaxation into the wyvern's addled mind, soothing him with illusions of the sounds he loves most.


Kirien is also brushing himself down upon taking note of Satoshi doing it, and remembering that he's probably now covered in dirt. His poor coat! Though it's been through a lot worse.. He'll listen in to those murmurings of Guilds and Templi and tilts his head curiously while stepping closer to the vixen and leaning to whisper; "What's a Templi?" He'd comment on being magic allergic but decides against it upon taking note of the fact that that'd essentially be telling her one of his weaknesses, and withdraws so as to move back over to Nameless; or rather, avoid that tail once more. ~That might work?~ At the couatl's, erm, less-than-words, the wyvern pauses, obviously picking up on the sounds and images. He relaxes a little, although he keeps struggling some, talons digging into the ground in an attempt to pull himself free.


Satoshi gives a simple nod, needless really, once the wyvern's calmed enough. Emiur's already well-aware of what to do--it was his idea anyway--and swiftly he goes into action. A few flaps of his wings brings him hovering above Nameless, coils descending to wrap around midsection and base of tail even as he continues to give off that lullaby of psion energy, willing the saurian to relax. With Nameless looking something like an oversized meal for a winged constrictor, Emiur begins to backwing, driving himself up and backwards, tugging and wriggling his 'captive' in an attempt to free him from the well he's wedged into.


Satoshi said to Kirien, "And, it's a Magister Templi. Which es me. Title of the Mage's Guild."


Kirien || Though he continues to wriggle, Nameless has sufficiently calmed down enough to be lifted without attempting to claw Emiur to death in the process. His tail manages to wrap itself about the couatl's, poisonous spines glancing accidentally across his scales but likely doing little damage as the movement isn't intentional. "Ohh, a fancy title to make you seem important. Right. What do you do as part of the Guild then?" Kirien asks, while Nameless finally begins to come free from the well; when his wings are in open air again, the hand-like claws grip on tight to the sides of the watering hole and his head lifts out, eyes wide but a lot calmer than he was before due to Emiur's Psionic energies.


Satoshi arches a brow at the elf while a lopsided smirk creeps onto her face. "Heh. I suppose so. Although 'seem' isn't the right word there. As for what we do..." The foxkin gestures with a jerk of her chin toward the Xalious Tree, "we protect that. Teach magic-users. So on, so forth. If it's to do with mages, the Guild is usually involved somehow." As her statement reaches its end the wyvern is freed, and she can swear she there's an audible 'pop' like a cork when he's finally removed. Emiur, a naturally good-natured creature, sets Nameless down as lightly as he can before releasing his hold--both physical and mental--and joining the saurian on the grass so that a forked tongue to tend to the various tears his emerald hide has suffered this afternoon. "So tell me. Are you a friend of Christian's? Or did you steal that coat, be it from living or dead body~? We got a bit off the subject earlier." Satoshi is foregoing the roundabout game and opting for a straight to the point method. Patience was a cat trait, and she's given up that one with the rest.


Kirien is perhaps mimicking the vixen as one of his own eyebrows quirks upward slightly. "How about 'pretend'? They give you a title, you can pretend you're extra special, and such." Stepping over the Nameless when the young wyvern manages to hop down from his previous perch of teetering above the well to the ground beside it, the Elf's amber eyes are cast briefly in the direction of the shimmering tree, bright orbs reflecting the light of the enormous structure until his gaze returns lazily to Satoshi. "Oh~? What makes that thing so special, apart from the whole…sparkly-ness of it? And…oh! You're like Tiphu~?" Yes, he's got a nickname for the Eldermage and yes, he uses that name in front of him. It's a wonder Kirien's not been murdered by the Drow yet, although he's been known to have begun displaying a modicum of respect for the other recently. "You should teach me something cool~. I can use magic, sort of. Not too much though." Petting Nameless idly and then hugging his head close against him, the hatchling's snout brushing against his stomach, the rogue leans to murmur something to the other before straightening once more. His cheeks might just have darkened a little in colour at the mention of Christian. "Aha~. You could say we're friends of sorts, yeah. And I told you, he let me borrow it! Long story short he messed up an outfit of mine so he leant me his coat so I could get back to my room with dignity." Whatever that is.


Satoshi grins at the elf as if she's indulging a silly child, letting the taunting remarks ruffle her temper unseen. "Pretend is wrong too~. You earn such things through proper displays of power. As for -that- thing, as you call it," the bard glances toward the Tree as a hand reflexively goes to her boundless satchel, where a part of the Tree resides, "it's far more than just a tree. It's the pillar of magic, and said to house the God of Magic himself, Xalious. You should see what one sliver of its trunk is capable of doing to a person." As if to elaborate without words, the vulpine makes a little gesture with her hands not unlike the replication of an explosion. There may even be a barely spoken 'ka-boom' following it before she continues, "And yes. I'm like the Eldermage. Somewhat. Different fields of magic, but fundamentally the same." Any further mention of Riss is put to rest as she dwells on what she's already been told... and what she's seen from Kirien's own actions. They -do- speak louder than words, after all.


Kirien rolls his eyes then, placing both hands in his pockets and shifting to a more casual posture, leaning some against Nameless in the process. The wyvern is busy shaking out his wings and eyeing any nearby villagers still watching the scene as potential dinners. "Mm, sure, whatever you say," he comments nonchalantly, offering a lazy shrug at the same time. "I don't get titles. If you're as powerful as you say you are and such, you shouldn't need arrogant titles." Another shrug, those amber eyes glancing back toward the Xalious Tree; a derisive snort follows at the mentions of gods. "Gods don't exist." The mimicry of what slices of the Tree are capable of doing to a person has the Elf frowning a little, however; though he seems more curious than disturbed. "I should get myself a piece! It'd be interesting to see what it does to people~!"


Satoshi rolls her eyes in mimicry of the elf, in response to his comment. "Well, see, you can't. Only those with the right -titles- can have one, you can't just cut it out of the Tree, it won't work at all. And the items don't respond to anyone else. See, titles -are- useful, no~?" The minstrel's singsong voice is obviously pleased as she settles against one of Emiur's coils. "It is that powerful though. I've done that to someone. Nasty beastie. Froze 'im solid and shattered into a jillion little pieces. It woulda been pretty, if the scenery wasn't a g'damn sewer..." The couatl merely snorts with disdain, either at the idea or possibly something else relating to the event...


Kirien is silent for a moment, allowing the vixen her moment of smugness before he claps and laughs, spinning about. "Well then I don't want it~. I'll find something that doesn't require the mark of arrogance and pride to wield." He's an odd creature, if his comments don't already make it obvious enough. He likely doesn't realise he's being offensive and rude, too firmly believing of his own opinions and thoughts - Nameless, meanwhile, is quite good at picking up on emotions, so he might be eyeing Satoshi with a mixture of worry and sympathy right about now. Maybe. "Sewers are fun though! There's lots of things hiding in there to play with, and pipes to explore~! Being frozen and shattered doesn't sound so good."


Satoshi eyes Kirien for a long moment, trying to determine if he's purposely baiting her or is actually just a self-absorbed idiot. Either way, he's provoking her unstable temper and it's only a few plaintive trills--muffled by its metal sheath--from the blade at her hip that's keeping her in check. Today, Ko'tar is winning the battle over Satoshi's state of mind. Tomorrow, it will likely be Asorial. She'll have to make sure not to cross paths with Kirien tomorrow. Riss might be unhappy if she beheads a friend of his for calling her "Fluffy" or somesuch. ...Internal ramblings aside, the bard simply slumps further against Emiur and sighs. "Hrm, hrm. Sewers can be fun, yes. These ones weren't, really. You should ask Riss about the Ghoul in the Sewers some day~."


Kirien is practically giggling with glee by now, amused by the silent reaction from Satoshi; likely because he knows it means she's more than a little annoyed by his words. He attempts to stifle the laughter in his sleeves, mischievous amber eyes peeking out over fluffy white trims at the fox maiden, wide grin hidden away although those eyes give everything away. It's around then that he'll be nudged by Nameless, who gives him a stern look reminiscent of a certain draconian friend of the Elf's - this simply causes even more laughter and the wyvern receives a pet between the horns. "Ahaha. I'm pissing you off, aren't I? Jeez, I can't say a thing around here without angering someone, it's great~! I wonder who'll be after me next…" A pause follows, the rogue looking up at the mention of a Ghoul. "…But that's not a very romantic topic to discuss with him~. And I want to find out what the shiny he's got me is, so I'll most likely bother him about that! /You/ should tell me about this…Ghoul thing."


Satoshi regards the elf silently, mulling over a few select words that tell her far more information then he's likely intended. She's getting her questions about his relationship with Riss answered, whether the rogue likes it or not. Preoccupied with her thoughts thusly, the foxkin studiously ignores the attempts at getting her to story-tell and turns it back on Kirien with a casual remark. "So, that was your first flight with your winged friend, hrm? Not bad, not bad. He looks like one of the desert breeds. How'd you partner up with each other~? You don't strike me as the sand-roaming type and such."


Kirien , now leaning idly against Nameless' side and petting his neck, meets Satoshi's gaze with the usual stare of infinite curiosity. Her silence prompts a slight grin from the Elf, who becomes briefly distracted with his own internal workings; what might she be thinking? More importantly, what does she think of him? It's not as if he much cares himself, but for the sake of Christian he supposes he'd rather the foxkin treated and thought of him in a cordial manner. The thought of Satoshi being pleasant is one that Kirien finds will not fit together quite right no matter how he tries, but the rogue shrugs that off. "I guess I get the hang of things pretty quick," he comments in response to the questioning. "And I wander all the time; been all over Lirthydel by now. Nameless, I found when he was a chick, all abandoned in his nest at the edge of the desert. So I figured I'd help him out, and I took care of him. They always say that deep bonds form from that sort of stuff." And in the case of these two, it appears to be quite true.


Satoshi can't entirely keep the smile off her face at those words. It's just the little similarities between herself and the elf leaving her thinking one moment that he's insufferable, and the next a potential partner in crime. Just which is it going to be, however? -One tends to dislike the ones so similar,- Emiur comments cooly on Satoshi's thoughts, before adding fairly, -although, one can also get along dangerously well with a likeminded companion.- Nodding absently at the mental words, Satoshi glances sidelong at Kirien and flashes another grin. "Afflicted by wanderlust too, are you? You meet the most fascinating folks that way, I've found. And learn too many stories to ever retell, if those listening bother to even believe you~."


Kirien has that sort of effect on most people, really. Contradictive in nature and words and thoughts as always, the Elf is constantly confusing even his closest of friends and allies, despite how well they might know him. "Of course! It's far more fun to wander and discover and such - I know my way around most of this place by now, which is pretty useful." Useful in plenty of ways for one always on the lookout for information he might not supposed to be hearing, or whom is being chased by the most recent victim to his snide comments and irritating behaviour, and seeks a spot to hide from the pain they wish to bring him. "I've met some pretty crazy people while wandering, yeah. Like, one of them is this guy named Redhale -- though I just call 'm Red -- and I ran into him just after finding Nameless…he tried to eat me but apart from that he seemed pretty cool. But he was all rotten and dead and stuff, it was weird."


Satoshi barely suppresses a shudder, Kirien's words calling up her own peculiar meeting with Redhale some time ago--as if she can possibly remember the amount of time past with any accuracy. "I know him. Somewhat. ...Odd fellow. Pays well if you're willing to be a zombie-wrangler, however." And yes, she purposely doesn't elaborate further on that story, falling silent to stare off toward the Mage Tower while stroking one of Emiur's feathers.


Kirien decides he's going to seat himself on the ground somewhere around this point, Nameless following suit and curling around the rogue's body, head nuzzling into his lap. Continuing to idly shower affection upon the wyvern, the Elf's attentions remain mostly focused upon Satoshi, an eyebrow quirking in curiosity as she mentions her encounter with Redhale. "…Zombie-wrangler? What's that?" Call him naïve but he's not quite sure what the woman means by this. "He is a bit odd, yeah, but apart from the whole dead thing and trying to eat me, he seems like a guy I could probably get on with."


Satoshi said to Kirien, "Would this evening be more interesting if I tried to eat you too? I could, if you insisted." A flash of fangs, but a lack of predatorial light in her amber-specked eyes marks the vixen as merely playing as she settles against Emiur's coils. "Zombie-wrangler, by the way. Snaring and capturing one of the walking dead. He offered us a decent bit of gold to catch the rotter without harming it. Made for an interesting evening, at least."


Kirien pouts a little. "Not particularly. If you tried to eat me it means I'd have to mess up your pretty face, and I'm not sure Christian would be too happy if either of us ended up beaten up." Then again, knowing Riss he'd probably be more upset that he wasn't invited to join in the massacre. "Ah, right…why'd he want a zombie ali--…well, unharmed, anyway? Must be easier to just let it wander off and go get another one, right? There's plenty of dead things around here, after all - I swear more people die every day." The Elf shrugs, relaxing back against Nameless and humming thoughtfully. This land really does seem so unreasonably violent in comparison to his old home, and that's sort of saying something considering he lived with Drow for a majority of his life.


Satoshi looks decidedly bored as she replies, "-You- mess up my pretty face? Far more dangerous folk have tried. Admittedly, I'd have no qualms damaging your own pretty face. Nor do I imagine Riss being particularly upset if we traded blows. He, his brother, and I have a habit of ambushing and attempting to kill each other. All in good spirit, mind you. Training, y'know?" Or twisted ritual of a bloodthristy family. It's so difficult to tell with the trio of Figments. Pity she can't read Kirien's thoughts either, or she'd offer to point the elf in the direction of a place so violent and feral that it makes Lirthydel seem like a newborn kitten by comparison--ah, good ol' home she's only recently learned was home.


Kirien sighs in a somewhat over-dramatic manner, waving an idle hand before going back to petting Nameless. "Assumptions! You're like all the rest, that's a shame. Just because I look pretty it doesn't mean I'm defenceless or exceptionally weak - I'd have thought one such as yourself in the same situation might have known this. I'd give you a run for your money, or some such." He's not overly arrogant about his own abilities, but the rogue's not about to doubt himself completely either; he knows what he's capable of, and with his trickery the odds of him actually striking the foxkin's face are perhaps a little higher than she may be thinking. "Hm~. Reminds me I have some training of my own to do, I guess. Since so many people seem to want to rip me apart here~."


Satoshi makes a tutting sound as she shakes her head. "Oh, I assumed you were capable of handling yourself well enough. You'd have to be, to survive long in this land. But you've also given away a bit of your capabilities or lack there of already to me, without you learning my own in return. It's an advantage, firstly. Secondly, even if you -could- hold your own against me.... -none- have managed to strike my face yet, and believe me, many powerful folk have tried. I'm rather protective of it." The minstrel winks at Kirien then as she adds, "If you're ever interested in trying, however, feel free. I like a good game. Counts as training too, which gets that mate of mine off my tail for a day."


Kirien raises a single hand in the same bored fashion as before to scratch at the little scar marring his own features; resting just below his right eye, the mark is a mystery to even the Elf, who is unable to remember how exactly it got there. The movement likely causes him to seem somewhat self-conscious of the scar, although that's not quite the case. "I know you're good with magic," he remarks with a tilt of the head. "Ice especially. The fake orb you created earlier sort of gave that away, and your…" Pausing and donning a thoughtful expression, Kirien motions to Satoshi as a whole, as if there's just something about her physical form which whispers her secrets to the Elf. "Your look, and your aura, makes me think of ice. I'm good with following my instincts, so that's what I think you are. And! I don't necessarily need to know everything about your tactics to be able to fight you and such; the surprise makes it all the more interesting. Playing with you does sound quite fun though…"


Satoshi claps her hands together with something akin to childlike delight. "Aha~! You -are- as sharp as I thought~! Yes, my ties with magic are through ice. But I'll leave it at that, because as you said, the surprise makes it all the more interesting." The foxkin grins at Kirien, the expression a peculiar mix of amused and feral. "We'll certainly have to play some time. If you're tied in with Riss as you seem, it's a given that we'll have a dance at eventually~."


Kirien now bears an almost cloned expression of the foxkin's, it's so absurdly similar to her own - this will likely be found hilarious by Satoshi -- or perhaps Emiur, who is able to see both their faces. "People rely far too much on their sight to tell them things. I mean, your general look /does/ hint at ice to me but it was other, far less pronounced things that told me what you worked with." The sly little grin working its way onto the Elf's features silently states that he's not about to indulge the other any further should she question what exactly these 'things' are. "I'm sure we will~. Don't get too upset if I make a couple of marks on you though, hm? I'd hate to be mopping up tears as well as blood." By now Kirien's simply teasing, though knowing him those words may not be a complete joke; his outward demeanour and innocent tone of voice will allow the remarks to be picked up as being harmless, however.


Satoshi can hear Emiur's quiet laughter in her mind, but she pays it no heed as she perks up and nods eagerly at the elf. "Oh, no tears from me, I promise~. But you're not allowed to cry in pain either. Or if I happen to sever a limb or two. I'll try not to, if Riss is fond of you, since I'm fond of him and all. But... well, ice... likes to destroy things. It's fun, though~." For her, maybe. Usually the one being crippled disagrees. ..that is, if they've survived to complain.


Kirien leans a little further back against Nameless' side, his gaze slipping from the form of Satoshi to his wyvern's face as his head tilts skywards. He grins a little, and pets his mount's snout. "I didn't cry when a centipede ate my arm~," he says with a laugh, wiggling the metal digits of his right hand in the foxkin's direction. "I hope you don't cry. It's terrible to see a little girl in tears, after all. I'd feel horribly guilty, I'm sure!" Although judging by his tone of voice, all saccharine and laced with a hint of mocking sarcasm, Kirien doesn't mean a word of what just came out of his mouth. "I like ice, though. It's easy to see through."


Satoshi promptly dons a pouty expression, even going as far as to childishly cross her arms and utter a 'hmph'. "I wouldn't cry~! Unless, of course, it has a use." Just what the vixen means by this is anyone's guess, but the smirk that replaces her pout suggests she's not thinking the sweetest thoughts. Emiur merely eyes her a moment before shaking his head. And Satoshi simply ignores the couatl and his thoughts, to trill at Kirien, "It's got more uses than that~. Like making beasties, or freezing tongues of chatty folk, and other fun whatnot."


Kirien , funnily enough, has a pretty good idea of what Satoshi might be hinting at with that statement; being of quite similar minds, the thought of crying to distract another or garner sympathy {and perhaps free food and drink} has crossed the rogue's mind more than once before. Then again, she may also have been referring to using the liquid as a weapon…which, even had he thought of this, Kirien would not be able to do himself. "Freezing the tongues of chatty people? Where's the fun in that~? It's much more interesting to listen to those people - they're like a well of information, sometimes~!" He rocked back and forward a few times, pressing further against Nameless in the process. "Icicles are useful. Nice and sharp, and so many people seem to ignore them when they're fighting. I'm a resourceful guy, so they shouldn't be so blind, perhaps. Then again, they're people, I guess they can't help it. So reliant on their sight these days, it's terrible."


Satoshi scoffs. "Sight. Ha~. It's more fun fighting blind. Other senses are more useful than sight. -They- aren't so readily tricked by illusions and such." Nodding firmly at this, Satoshi slumps against Emiur and begins absently fiddling with one of her tails. "Freezing tongues, though, can be useful. Especially when someone needs to stop talking--like unfriendly spellweavers--or when I want to remind someone that their entire body is a potential weapon I can use against them~." The wide-eyed innocent look she throws Kirien then clashes badly with her statement, mixing about as well as honey and vinegar.


Kirien dips his head in a vigorous nod, agreeing keenly with the other's words. "Exactly! Though admittedly it is amusing to watch someone fall victim to an illusion. My favourite sense is the one no one else seems to think about often; it's all about hearing, seeing…but being able to /feel/ things is very, very useful." He grins to himself, patting the ground to his side gently with one hand and threading this fingers through the grasses sprouting up from the earth. "Hm…silencing a mage like that would be useful, I guess. Don't some of them cast spells without words though? I think Tiph might've done it before…" On another note, Kirien has tasted honey and vinegar before, as a dare. It was not delicious, or anything remotely close.


Satoshi nods slightly. "Oui. Most mages need to speak to cast. Strong ones don't. Or have a very useful medium. Depends~." Plucking a random piece of fur from her tail, she releases it into the wind to watch it drift about. "Eldermage is definitely strong enough to do spellwork without words. He could probably glare at someone and set them on fire." There might be the tiniest shudder from the foxkin at such a thought.


Kirien snickers softly before quickly shutting up; what may have amused him so is questionable, but one who knew of the Elf's ability to pick up the tiniest of vibrations in the earth beneath his feet might assume he took note of her tremble and found it hilarious. "Aha. He glares at me a lot, but he's not set me on fire yet. Well. He has set me on fire, but not with his eyes?" Truth be told, the rogue is not a fan of flames either. He's been burned far too many times by them in his stay here, by various people, and if he's honest with himself he quite hates that it seems to be an almost daily occurrence. "I'm sure he could do it if he wanted to, yeah. He's a scary guy sometimes." The way Kirien speaks of the eldermage suggests the two know each other quite well and are good friends, but the reality is rather different; Kirien is just overly familiar with people he's taken a liking to, and the drow appears to be one of these {un}fortunate few.


Satoshi makes a noncommital sound in response, losing herself in thought a long moment before actually speaking again. "He's not that scary. Dangerous, but we get along well. Interesting fellow, really."


Kirien smiles then, somewhat softly as his gaze drops once more to the ground. "Yeah. He was scary when I fought him, but I didn't tell him that. Now we don't seem to be enemies it's better. I don't think he likes me that much, if at all, but I'm pretty used to that by now. At least he's willing to help me out."


Satoshi can't help laughing then. "You've fought him~? That must have been fun~! I haven't had the chance for that... although, I expect I will, soon enough. Quickest way to move up in the guild and all that whatnot." If anything, the foxkin seems thrilled by the idea, rather than apprehensive.


Kirien || "Of course!" laughs Kirien, his smile forming a mischievous grin once more. "I got on his bad side once; insulted him. Pissed him right off, so we had a fight. It was pretty fun, though yeah, he was scary. If I remember right he tried to melt the ground I was standing on, and burn me alive with it. I like mud baths but that was going a bit far, you know?" His head tilts a little in Satoshi's direction. "So you should fight him~. Even if there was none of this 'moving up in the guild' incentive you should do it. It's fun~!"


Satoshi nods in agreement. "I've no doubt in that. Always enjoy a good fight. Maybe once I win enough rounds of his Fight Challenge thing in Trist'oth, he'll challenge me himself~." Ah, Satoshi, convinced she's invincible. Silly, dillusional little fox. ...Emiur keeps similar thoughts carefully to himself.


Kirien 's head now cants in the opposite direction. A curious eyebrow quirks; fighting challenge? How odd, it seems to be a rather large event and yet the Elf has heard nothing of it! He mentally chides himself for not keeping up with information as he should be. "Hm…and what will you do if you don't win enough rounds? Challenge him anyway? Although surely, if you were unable to make it through the rounds of this fighting challenge thing, he'd likely not see you as a worthy opponent, right?" Ruffling Satoshi's feathers amuses Kirien, apparently.


Satoshi scoffs once more, the very idea apalling to her. "I can handle anything the challenges throw at me. I haven't survived this long by being a weakling~. I just hope they're -fun-. Boring fights are just that... bo~ring." -If I didn't know better, I'd say you were downright bloodthirsty right now,- Emiur comments cooly into the foxkin's mind, blinking an amber eye at her. Satoshi barely shakes her head in response, not even looking toward the psionic serpent. ~Excited by the prospect of challenge, is all. ...You'd sense if the bloodlust was back, wouldn't you?~ If only Kirien were able to eavesdrop and hear the note of anxious pleading in Satoshi's mental voice--it might just ruin her carefully composed appearance, don'tcha think?


Kirien rocks back and forth a few times, clutching his legs and tugging his whole body into the movement. "Hm~" he murmurs, a sing-songy tone likely meant to draw the foxkin's ire a little more, "maybe you've just got lucky all the way. I've heard of people like that!" He smirks at the woman slouched opposite to him, before fine features melt into a softer expression. Shifting onto his knees, the Elf crawls forward a little so as to close the distance a bit, and settles in front of Satoshi once more. "But," he says in a quiet voice, "I'm just teasing. I don't think you're like that. Just…don't do what the stupid people do and delude yourself with grandiosity, mm? It'd be such a shame to see you become pretentious, constantly lusting for a new battle to prove your 'power' in." Oh, what's this? The feeling could almost be classed as worry, or sadness, but Kirien is quite sure he's not feeling for someone he doesn't even know that well just yet. Although he'd rather that than trust her, he supposes.


Satoshi raises her brows in surprise at the sudden change of attitude in the elf. Kirien's quick-change is enough to leave the Queen of Mood Swings blinking in silent confusion as her knees coil up to her chest, only to have her chin rest upon them. Perhaps it's this unsettled state that results in the foxkin answering truthfully, when she actually composes herself to speak. "I won't. I know where I stand in my power, no matter what I might say. My survival is as much from ability as it is caution. I imagine you're one who understands that, non~?" Is that a genuinely friendly grin from Satoshi? Quite possibly. It's a rarity to find kindred spirits of her sort, after all.


Kirien is likely quite amused at the foxkin's bewilderment, however his facial features for once do not give this away as that same countenance of calm and slight worry shifts into another of those soft smiles. He would appear almost relieved, if one were to scrutinize his expression for long enough. "I understand completely." And it is highly probably that that is the most sincere tone of voice the Elf has ever used. "Completely, miss Satoshi. It's my exact situation, after all."


Satoshi matches the rogue's smile with one of her own, signature mimicry slipping through at an appropriate moment. "Maybe, just maybe, I won't try and freeze off something vital when we dance. After all, it's not every day I meet a secretive, clever little survivalist that can handle a wyvern and the Eldermage while still swapping taunts, blows, and information. I wouldn't want to damage that, y'know~?" The foxkin winks, her smile broadening with delight when Emiur huffs a, -The strange company I keep...- for all present to hear.


Kirien 's lips twitch a little further upward at the sides, and he nods. "Well, thank you. Maybe I'll make a point to avoid your face. After all, it's much more fun to dance with a beauty than a disfigured woman. Good for stroking the ego, and whatnot." He manages to withhold his own laughter for about five seconds before it bursts out of his chest and he falls back onto the ground, arms flung out above his head. "Ahaha…ego." Amber eyes flick in Emiur's direction then, the Elf picking up on the words and grinning faintly. "You love it, I'm sure," he says to the couatl with a nonchalant wave of the hand.


Satoshi's composed enough to not fall back laughing like Kirien... up until Emiur gives the elf a withering look. "Nyehehe~. C'mon, Scales, 'm not -that- bad to be around~," the vixen taunts through giggles, grinning up at the serpent from her spot sprawled on the grass. Emiur repeats his prior expression, adding in a dry tone, -Sometimes I prefer shedding season to your peculiar antics. Like sitting a kit, some days.- Satoshi responds by sticking her tongue out at her companion before nudging Kirien and miming out a few pompous gestures--an invisible tophat dip here, snooty sipping of tea there, and so on--in playful teasing of the couatl.


Kirien abruptly finds himself in fits of giggles with Satoshi at her miming antics, the Elf reaching with one hand to cover his mouth in an attempt to stifle the sound a little. "A-Ahaha. G-Good lord, my esteemed lady Azakhaer, I'm not sure he finds our little game so amusing! How frightfully terrible!" he snorts in response, the words laced with what is likely the most faked aristocratic accent ever to grace the lands. Nameless meanwhile, being a little less of an idiot than his owner, tilts his head and glances off to one side, emitting an exasperated sigh; and, had he been able to speak, he'd likely have chided Kirien for his behaviour. Instead, his tail snaps out to whip the rogue gently over the back of the head.


Satoshi's laughter is cut off mid-chuckle by a similar smack to the head from Emiur--who's obviously taking a page from Nameless' book at the moment. "Owww~." The minstrel winces, eyeing Emiur in a sidelong glare before loudly protesting in a feigned tone of voice to match Kirien's, "I say! That was quite rude, wouldn't you agree, Lord Vahir~? Barbaric, simply barbaric." Apparently the serpent's physical reprimand has failed to stop Satoshi's acting, which leaves poor, harassed Emiur with one option. Unfurling his wings, the couatl gives the pair a sharp look before taking to the air and simply departing as swiftly as dignity allows. And leaving Satoshi blinking in surprise. She knows Emiur is a prideful creature, but she didn't think it was possible to tease him -too- much. Still.. she can't help adding quietly, stifling a giggle, "I'm pretty sure I heard him say 'hmph' just now."


Kirien shoots Nameless a look in the same moment Satoshi glowers in Emiur's direction, prompting a frown from the wyvern which is brushed off with a shrug. "Terrible! How undignified; it's something you'd see only those filthy lower-class doing~!" The whole 'Lord Vahir' can't be ignored, however, and the Elf laughs loudly upon repeating the title a few times to himself. How pretentious, he thinks, although of course this is waved off as idly as Nameless' attempts to shut his master up. A little squeak leaves him when the couatl rears up and flares his wings, the rogue expecting an attack for a moment before Emiur departs without a word, and thankfully leaving Kirien in one piece. "…Wow. He doesn't look it but he's a sensitive guy, huh? Then again, those nice bright feathers should've given that away…what manly guy dresses up in feathers…"


Satoshi does her best to maintain a straight face at Kirien's remark, waiting until she senses that awaited severence of her link with Emiur--preventing her from reaching him, but likewise blocking him from the rest of the conversation. "Touchy, touchy~," the bard murmurs, shaking her head. "And I thought -I- had a temper. But, erm, yes, 'Lord Vahir'. He can be. His kind don't have much of a sense of humor, I guess. Teasing's fun until he leaves in a huff. But he'll soothe his ruffled feathers soon enough~. Always does." Looking toward Nameless, Satoshi tacks on, "At least -you- seem to know how to take a joke. Somewhat."


Kirien , standing, moves over to Nameless once Emiur has disappeared above the trees, avoiding another swipe of the wyvern's tail to pounce on him and pet him vigorously. "I wouldn't count too much on it. Nameless is pretty confusing; moreso than me, maybe? He's got a lot of my personality but he also has some of Nemi's--ah, my friend's. Who's…kind of really serious and hates jokes. So I think it depends on his mood." A pause follows, the Elf glancing skywards and murmuring, "you had to pick up Honor's personality, hm…" to his wyvern - likely thought an odd thing to say, but one knowing the demi's situation, such as Kirien, would understand. "So…will you wait for him to come back? Or just…wander elsewhere?" he asks Satoshi, glancing over one shoulder to her while continuing to scratch under Nameless' scaly jaw.


Satoshi looks startled by the question, but perhaps it's her relationship with the couatl that's more unusual. "No need to wait, really. We're used to being apart most of the time. We find each other when we need to, and we're never -really- apart anymore." She lightly taps at the rainbow feather tucked into her hair to emphasize her words. "For now, I'll let him cool off. Plenty of work I could be tending to in that time, anyway." The minstrel looks utterly thrilled by this prospect, it's written all over her glowering face and in her sarcastic tone.


Kirien snickers to himself, scratching Nameless a little more before pulling away to hop up onto his back. Crouching atop his mount, the Elf tugs a little at his makeshift reins, testing their strength and hold, and he sighs softly. "Odd relationship you two have, isn't it? Quite different from us…maybe one time you should tell me how you met him~. It sounds like an interesting story." Tugging the amethystine hairpins free of his hair and allowing chocolate strands to permeate his vision a little more, the Elf tucks the accessories into an inner pocket so as not to lose them, and directs his gaze back to Satoshi. He grins a little. "Well, if you need a lift to wherever you're doing this work…" The rogue pauses, allowing a little dramatic tension to build up. "…Then you'll have to pay me. Hee."


Satoshi said to Kirien, "I'd rather walk~." She winks at Nameless then, adding softly, "No offense. I just don't trust his skills yet. New and all that." Nodding, the foxkin takes a few steps back, folding her arms behind her head as she begins a backwards departure. "It -is- an interesting story. Starts off with him trying to kill me~. I'll tell you the rest some other time, though~."


Kirien || Nameless snorts at Satoshi's words, leaning out so as to peer closely at her before giving what can only be called a shrug and unfurling his wings. "Aw, shame. I think he was looking forward to showing you he's good at flying. He's practiced a lot, you know! Even before I could ride him, he was flying around…'s been a while since he learnt to fly, after all." The most nostalgic of expressions has taken over Kirien's features as he pets Nameless some more, before catching himself and crouching low on his back. "I'll be bothering you about that story next time I run into you then~!" he laughs, and Nameless leaps skywards; with a beat of his powerful wings the two are ascending above the trees.


Satoshi calls after the pair, "Not if I'm trying to freeze you next time, you won't~!"