RP:Something Wicked This Way Skitters

Part of the In Darkness We Trust Arc

This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.

Summary: After being interrogated by Bradyn on the subject of a spider that followed Khitti from Something Wicked, the two find that they have a mutual interest: the Necromancer's Guild.

Vailkrin-City Of The Vampires

Fumbling with several boxes of dark ritual goods, Khitti wandered out of the shop rightly named ‘Something Wicked’. One of the large spiders that roams the shop heads outside with her, the odd thing nuzzling her leg as if she were its mother! Well, she had been aptly dubbed Queen o’ Spiders some time ago, and even took on the name Mother of Spiders, even more recently, after acquiring the ability to summon Francis, the rather large huntsman-like spider, from the Shadow Plane. Would Larewen let her keep a pet? Would Brand be okay with her bringing home another stray? Was Francis and those Tikifhlees (read: really big freaking shadow cats, also from the Shadow Plane) really strays though? This would be the first one then, if they weren’t. Plus, Brand also seemed to like spiders too. Francis -did- need a mate, if he didn’t have one already.

“Do you vant to go home vith me zhen, little one?” It really wasn’t little. I mean, this thing was up to her knees. “Vell, I -suppose- it’s okay.” She took a quick peek back at the shop, squinted at it for any sort of possible onslaught of dark magic from “stealing” one of the shop’s spiders, and when there was nothing, she just shrugged. “Alright zhen. Vhat am I gonna call you, hm?” Khitti eyed the beast as it let out a bit of a cute warble. It was such a dainty thing, for being so bit, its type a black widow. “Are you a boy? Or a girl?” The spider wagged its big arachnid butt at her second question--how did she always manage to find the dog-like spiders? “A girl! Oh. Hm. Let me zhink about it for a little bit, okay? I should introduce you to Francis. You two might get along.” The necromancer grinned at the spider, nodding a bit before starting her journey back towards House Dragana.

It would be a voice that Khitti heard first, echoing from all sides in nothing more than a hushed whisper. "Do you think it wise..." The whispered voice becomes more focused, sounding as though it were directly behind Khitti. "...to steal a pet from the shop?" If a certain redhead whipped around to investigate the source of the voice she would be greeted with nothing but air. For a third time that same voice is heard, again it resonates from immediately behind Khitti in a bid to get her to turn heel once more. Parlor tricks. This time the voice speaks at a normal volume and if Khitti does do this second about-face, then she will find a man standing behind her. "Surely you would at least have the decency to go inside and seek permission? That could be a prized companion."

Bradyn Mahara was not the most formidable of looking men. First glances would show he was a bit scruffy, hair and beard only lazily groomed but at least his manner of dress was clean. Primarily dressed in the drab black and white semi-formal attire you might expect from a mortician. He was decently tall, standing an even six foot, but he was lean and pale. Some might mistake him as sickly but others like him would have an understanding of the true nature of his affliction...And an even rarer bunch see fit to try and cure it. Like Khitti. Had gossip of such reached Bradyn though? And would he know her by sight? If yes, would he care? Thus far the answer seemed like no to at least the first two questions, the third remains unanswered as the first two variables need to be addressed first. "And just where are you taking your newly stolen companion?"

Khitti was neither surprised nor impressed by the strange disembodied voice that heralded the coming appearance of the other vampire. She wouldn’t spin around right away, instead allowing for an unseen roll of those dark olive eyes at the questioning of her acquisition of a new eight-legged doggo pet. When she did spin around, however, with her mouth opened as if to say something snarky right off the bat, she’s stopped merely because of the fact that she’s face to face with another person much taller than she. Seriously? What the hell. Maybe people in Dhavislaav had stunted growth issues or something thanks to that magic ban. Who knows? It earns Bradyn a narrowing of her eyes, silent contempt for the male (and every other friggan tall person for that matter) perhaps a bit too obvious.

“First of all, you can’t steal vhat left villing on its own. Did you consider zhat perhaps it didn’t like being cooped up in zhat building all day? Or maybe zhe other spiders vere mean to it? If I vas going to steal something, it’d certainly not be someone else’s pet. Second, have you been in zhat shop? Zhere’s not an -actual- person in zhere. It’s magic. Always magic. And third--” She shoved the small boxes into her satchel finally, then finally settled her attention on him again, “--I don’t zhink it’s actually any of your goddamned business regardless. Nor is where I’m going.” Despite all of the personality changes she’s gone through lately, being mouthy as hell was not one of those things, one that most people saw as a flaw, that the vampiress had shed. In fact, it probably had worsened considerably.

It was unfortunate, really, that she’d been on edge lately since the assassination attempt (what was really in some ways a success) at House Dragana; she’d probably be a bit nicer if it’d not happened. Or maybe not. She’d long since tired of being constantly questioned for her actions, whether said inquisition came from a stranger like Bradyn or someone that she was rather close to. She didn’t leave though. Not yet. Not until she deduced whether or not he was a threat. It was becoming rather, and painfully, obvious that she couldn’t even trust people that she thought were friends.

The goal was not to impress Khitti, that was not something that he cared about for that meant that he actually put stock in the opinions of others. Perhaps there were some individuals who may have an opinion he actually puts value in, but the red headed stranger standing before him? No. Pehaps this would change with repeated interaction, but it seems these two vampires were off to a rocky start as they have both lead the situation with their grump foot forward.

Niceties were not something that Bradyn was seeking either, in the world of vampires many were often arrogant and haughty. In fact just the other day Lady Dragana dared to set foot within the walls of his House and attempt to make demands, she was welcomed in much the same way that Khitti is being greeted now but their meeting had ended on civil terms at the very least, with the agreement of future discussions. Why, Khitti's attitude is reminiscent so much of Larewen's own (from the brief interactions he has had with both) and were he an assuming man he may have pegged Khitti is apart of House Dragana with the way she is speaking to him, talking down to him like he was a toddler with a complete lack of understanding of the world around him.

Bradyn is not normally a man of many faces, he typically has one and that is usually a dead-serious expression but Khitti...gets a smirk, calculated and devoid of feeling. There was no actual amusement behind the gesture, it was to mask his annoyance. Her words are not ignored but the bite behind them is brushed off without much thought or concern. "Such a defensive little thief. Usually those who respond with such hostility do so because they are wrong..or guilty...and they know it too." The shop may be without attendent, perhaps even owner, that was the mystery behind the shop. Or maybe the skeletal remains that rests stationary within the shop has a story to tell about that?

Bradyn would certainly be mistaken if he announced his thought pertaining to whether or not Khitti was a part of House Dragana; she wasn’t, even though she was aligned with the woman over the house itself. She just stared at him, her own expression a bit devoid of emotion now as he spouted off things he thought he knew, when in fact he didn’t. I mean, to be fair, she -did- have to steal a fair amount of things in her lifetime, but that was survival--there was a difference.

“Go home,” Khitti said at length, though her words weren’t directed at the other vampire. The arachnid peered up at what she thought would be her new owner, giving off another soft blurble. “Go on.” The redhead finally shifted her attention down to the spider, giving the black widow a slight frown (she might actually be disappointed about giving it up). The spider let out a whine from between those terrifying mandibles, then skittered off back to the shop, finding some unseen way to get inside.

With that frown still vaguely present, her line of sight returns to Bradyn. he said nothing, however, then turned away from him and resumed her walk towards the bridge, and the forest beyond that.

Fair is fair, tit for tat, maybe he was even doing it on purpose just to be an obnoxious little gnat? Well, perhaps not little because he certainly had Khitti in height. It is hard to say how much Bradyn would have truly cared if Khitti had absconded with the spider right in front of him (she could always come back later! When this creep is not around!) but as soon as that spider is dismissed he steps out of her path...Not that she really needed him to for she was intent on resuming her walk regardless of him.

Alas, she was not going to be free of the man yet for as soon as she begins her walk, he begins to match her in stride. His distance is kept though and hands are kept neatly clasped behind his back, as if trying to signal that he had no intention of being a threat....as if that meant much of anything in a place as magical as this one. "Why didn't you just step inside and ask? If the shop was truly unattended and you received no answer. What is this worst that could have possibly happened? We could turn around right now, we have not ventured very far." As the man is taller than Khitti, it would be fairly easy for him to lengthen his stride so that he soon overtakes her and is standing in the middle of her path AGAIN. And to what point? So she could turn around and ask a silly question to an empty shop?

Khitti almost certainly would’ve come back at another time when a certain mortician wasn’t bugging her. She decided to do her best to put the man out of her mind, even as he followed her, but he didn’t make that so easy as he stepped into her path again. “Vhat exactly do you vant from me? I don’t quite understand vhy you’re making such a big deal of zhis. You likely don’t own zhe shop, or zhe spider, nor is any of it your concern as I’ve stated. It doesn’t matter vhy I didn’t go into zhe shop or how far away ve are from zhere.” The redhead crossed her arms over her chest, her irritation obvious. “You really must have nothing better to do zhan bug me.”

"There is nothing that I want from you." Which means that Khitti was accurate? He may very well have nothing better to do with his time at this particular moment? Well that is not true, there were things he could be doing. Perhaps curiosity had even gotten the better of him, this is a lovely way to try and make someone acquaintance isn't it? Catalians are clearly not the only ones lacking in social graces, Bradyn might even be able to take a few lessons from them and be better off for it. Maybe. At the very least he does have some awareness that his behavior is less that acceptable, Khitti's irritation is quite obvious (he still does not quite care though). She stops. he stops, and a few of his own cards are revealed...not without motive. "Bradyn Mahara. I suppose there are better things I could be doing than bothering you. Lady Dragana has asked that I pay a visit to her house for a discussion. It would be rude of me to keep her waiting...." This was definitely a probe based on incorrect assumptions, trying to gauge Khitti's reaction to what he has said.

Khitti would definitely agree that Bradyn’s social graces are definitely up there with the Catalians--at least, Brand anyway. Then again, the pyro did manage to unintentionally set fire to her heart (not physically, of course, or else she’d be double dead). That doesn’t seem to be the case with Bradyn, but it did take Khitti damn near a year to realize she had feelings for Brand! Anyway, a slender crimson brow is raised as he offers his name and states that he’s on his way to meet with Larewen.

“Larewen? Vhat sort of discussion?” Larewen was...having and out of body experience at the moment, what with this new ghost form she’d acquired while Khitti herself was recuperating. “And, uh… Khitti.” There. You get her name. Not the full thing. She’d probably also mentioned that if Larewen ever speaks about her, she’d be called ‘Khatja’, but she leaves that detail out. Her interrogation mode has been sparked, you see, and she’s more about getting info than giving it out.

The route to Larewen's would not be a direct one, he himself was dragging his heels to some extent on this meeting. The man had some idea of what it was Larewen may be demanding of him but that does not mean he was quick to run recklessly into a game of political cat and mouse. "An arrangement, the specific details of which I am not entirely certain of." Nor would be speak too freely of he few details he did know, Khitti was largely unfamiliar to him. What side was she on? Not his own side. And while at present his side intentionally was aligned against either Khitti's or Larewen's....but there was a shift in power afoot and Bradyn's House could be at stake. "I suppose I will find out when I venture over to her house." If he did not try and lure her elsewhere, he was not so careless as she was when it comes to waltzing into the manse of another. Yet maybe he would, as an extension of good faith. Hm. "Perhaps if you’re close with Larewen she will let you be privy to our discussions." Not that Bradyn had any malicious intentions for this discussion, but if Larewen's state was what it was then perhaps it would be good for her to have a trusted companion for this chat. One never knows until they know. "What is your relation to her?"

Khitti was actually okay with not returning to Larewen’s just yet. Now that the elder vampiress was free--to an extent anyway--to move around, she had political things to deal with, like the coronation in Alithrya. Khitti -probably- should’ve gone with her, but stayed behind to work on studying her necromancy. She can only take so many major events per year, you know; socializing was not her strong point, as it has been made obvious so far with Bradyn.

She’d eventually divert their path further from House Dragana when they reached the woods, deciding to take the long way around. “I’m not her fledgling, if zhat’s vhat you’re asking. She’s a friend and my guildmaster.” Khitti didn’t divulge how close her and Larewen were because honestly, she didn’t know either. She -did- prevent the elder vampiress from dying at the hands of her former lover, but it might not even really mean anything in Larewen’s eyes.

Taking the long route was not something that Bradyn was adverse to either -- it give him time to contemplate matters. On the upside, the vampiric male no longer seems so intent on tormenting Khitti with annoying behavior and has fallen in line with some civil conversation. "All the more reason for you to join us. I hope that joining the necromancer's guild is one of the things that she and I will discuss." There were numerous other issues he was not so keen on chatting with Larewen about, those political issues that she had to deal with. Bradyn has not encountered Larewen since prior to the assassination attempt. Her brief visit to his home occurred prior, it should make this meeting all the more interesting. "It sounds like you and I will have the pleasure of repeated run-ins then." Bradyn issues a short chuckle. "Aren't you excited?"

Another member for the guild? Apparently there was more people interested in it than Khitti originally thought. Then again, Vailkrin was never short on its followers of the dark arts. Khitti too eventually dropped the snark for the time being (it was always just kind of waiting there on the sidelines though to pop back out at any moment), quietly considering the male’s words. ‘One of the things’? What exactly did Larewen want from this guy? It’s not like Khitti really kept up on the status of the vampire houses in Vailkrin--she didn’t even want to be one of them in the first place. “Hm. Perhaps, yes. I’m only a Novus Morior vithin zhe guild--a beginner in zheir eyes--but I’m vell-versed in my particular field of necromancy. Larewen knows I’m know beginner zhere, but I’ve plenty of other zhings to learn.” He’s offered a smirk, as she comes to a halt near the pond, eyeing its dark waters when she asks if she’s ‘excited’ about having to put up with him more, “I’m overjoyed.” There was that snark again, albeit a bit more on the joking side this time. “Maybe ve’ll end up in some of zhe same classes together--depending on how ve both branch out in zhe guild, zhat is.” Though Khitti had opted to lead them the long route toward Lady Dragana's House, the two of them were slowly and steadily making their approach of the home. With every step taken and every word uttered, they would soon both be right there standing upon her doorstep. "I guess there is only one way to find out." Is the short response that Khitti would receive from Bradyn and it would come once they were both standing on the doorstep of Larewen's home. If Khitti was comfortable enough to just enter of her own accord, Bradyn did not know, but this man was not and he would not be shy about taking the lead and letting his knuckles tap securely on the main entrance of the mansion.