RP:The Night Heyx And Korbus Had A Talk

Korbus stands in a shadowy corner of the town square, the night falling around him like an insidious cloak, hiding him from the views of the unattentive. His posture is one of pure patience, his fingers lightly tapping on the hilt of the dagger tucked in his belt. His eyes peer out from behind the faceless mask for one person and one only - the one who left him wounded. Bandages creeping out from behind the mask wrap about his neck and chin; a tell-tale clue of his previous encounter with the bad luck mage. He stands in silence, watching... waiting.

Heyx walked happily through the town square, shouting greetings to the faceless folk that passed her. In this crowd, she looked terribly out of place. Her orange hair was held long this time, with two shorter strips of hair falling over her shoulders, held seperate by hair pins studded with diamonds. Her outfit, ever reveiling, was a laced bodice over a short, purple trimmed skirt. Black and blue striped socks were pulled up to her knees, beneath thick black boots studded slightly with spikes near the bottom. A collar outfitted with diamonds was around her grey neck. Her eyes were encircled by thick, dark purple makeup, and her lips were painted a deep blue this evening. Giggling to herself as she nearly stepped on the hands of a man who was down on his knees to catch something, the girl only breifly glanced in Korbus's direction as she continued through the square. She hadn't noticed him.

Korbus spots the girl through the crowd. The bright colors couldn't be mistaken even if he wanted to doubt it. A closer look is warranted, and so he begins to move through the passerby's, bumping one here, and glowering, then cutting off another, and silencing them with a flash of his most prized dagger. He uses the movement of the pedestrians to remain unseen; hiding amongst their shadows, and sneaking up behind Heyx. He adopts a larger gait than normal to reach the diamond-studded Drow, and extends a hand to grab her left shoulder. "You and I need to have a word..." Unless she resists, he'll pull her through the crowd to the spot he once stood in - the dark corner of town square that people rarely even glance at.

Heyx nearly leaps in fright as the sudden warmth lands upon her shoulder. Turning her head slightly to the man, she looked puzzled. "Vengeance?"

Korbus blinks, obviously not expecting such a response. "Well, most people call me..." he pauses, then shakes his head, "... it doesnt' matter what people call me. No, I'm not here for vengeance. There'll be a time and place for when I kill you... But for now, you're coming over here." He attempts to pull her towards the dark.

Heyx glares upon the man slightly as he pulls her over. She goes willingly. "I don't know what your talking about, Vengeance. You gave me gold and told me it was a treaty...After I beat you two days ago...." Korbus yanks the girl unceremoniously around the corner of a stack of crates Mesthak put near the tavern. There's a window looking into the establishment nearby, but he's sure to pull the Drow into the shadows. "Gold? I gave you nothing, you muddled little girl... I gave you naught but a shot in the leg... and this." The rogue reaches out to press his hand rather harshly against the Drow's stomach, more than anything testing to see how well she's been patched up. He watches to see how she'll react.

Heyx gasps as a hand is placed against her body. She resists the urge to smack him. Although the bodice is covering that part of her body, Korbus can easily feel the slightly uneveness beneath, signyfing a great scar. "Your not Vengeance at all....your the man that tried to kill me...what do you want?"

Korbus gimmaces when he realizes she's been healed. What was he expecting, anyway - that she'd not find a single humanitarian lying around like he had? "Who healed you?" The Drow's words appear to roll right off of him. No time to worry about this Vengeance person, yet.

Heyx always her lips to slide into a grin. "A very powerful man healed me. One who I work for. He knows about you."

Korbus can't help but grin behind the safety of his mask, though it gives the side of his face quite a tingle. "Does he now...? I imagine I should be very fearful of this powerful man. What's his name?"

Heyx brings up several digits, motioning for Korbus to lean in closer.

Korbus does as Heyx asks of him, but cautiously so; his fingers wrapping around the hilt of his dagger.

Heyx leans in, her head practically resting upon the thief's shoulder. She breathes gently into his ear. "It's a secret."

Korbus can't help but inhale the scent of the Drow at such an intimate proximity. The moment in his mind is quickly gone however, her answer obviously not what he's looking for. the rogue pulls his dagger from his belt and holds it up, as if to remind her he has it, "Perhaps you could indulge me just this once, Heyx...?" As an afterthought, he adds, "Oh, and if you start running your mouth off with arcana, I'll slit your throat. Just give me the name."

Heyx said to Korbus, "Oooh, a knife...So you know....not all of my spells or curses require a somatic component. But, since you are so insistent....the Master Centaur."

Korbus feels a slight twinge of fear run down his spine at the revelation about Heyx's spells. Something to remember, certainly. With it in mind, he lowers his dagger as a sign of peace, and takes a step back from the Drow. "Master Centaur, eh? It's a pity you opened your mouth to him, girl... I don't much care for loose ends. As it is, I've already got headhunters on my trai. I can't very well have magical beasts running after me, too."

Heyx said to Korbus, "Well....that's what happens when you go around trying to kill people...."

Korbus suddenly lifts the dagger again, pointing it right at the Drow, though not really brandishing it as a threat, "You know what? I don't -try- to kill people. They do things to get themselves killed. I take from them what I need to survive in this world. I've seen your kind, and your kind pillage and plunder like a bunch of pirates from underground. Taking for the sake of taking. Killing for the sake of carnage. I take for me what I can use to keep myself out of prison, and very much breathing. If you turn yourself around and leave me a loose end, I'll take you out. I'll take everyone out who thinks they're better than me, just because they've got mining gigs with the Xalious Dwarf. Or because they've got the best fishing poles to catch the rarest fish. Or because they've killed the mightiest beasts. You all look down on me, because I've stolen fruits from a merchant, or, or because I've served time in prison, but I do it to -live-! I deserve fresh and free air just as much as you do! I have every right to compete for the jewels you wear, just like the fighters compete with the dragons for their hordes. I'm no different from you, or any other adventurer. Don't you for one second think that I'm just some common thief or even worse, some maniacal murderer. I kill to keep myself alive, and I have -no- qualms about gutting you right here and now, believe me." Korbus breaths heavily, tired from his tirade.

Heyx giggles slightly, now in any way visually showing how she was affected by the man's speech. "Oh, I know you have no problem with attacking me right here, right in the middle of Kelay. *her brow lowers* But don't talk to me likeI am -anything- like the Drow. I was born and raised above the surface, in a quiet village, around humans! I do not kill people, I do not steal things, and I do not brag about anything I've ever accomplished! ....even if it hasn't been much."

Korbus is visibly stunned by what the girl says to him. His eyes dart this way and that, as if trying to process her words. Especially coming off of the angry rant he had going. Slowly, he lowers his knife, but doesn't put it away. "I'm sorry." It's all he can manage, and even though his face is hidden from Heyx, it's obvious that he regrets his words.

Heyx stares blankly at the man for a few moments, before her brilliant blues open wide. Now this seems to have had an effect on her. Her left arm begins to tremble slightly. "Your sorry?"

Korbus remains silent for a moment, not daring to make eye contact with the Drow. Just like he wishes to deny himself as a common thief, perhaps she is truly not some common Drow. The bright colors would certainly attest to that. "Yes... I'm sorry. I haven't had a good life, Heyx... And the Drow have been a large part of it. They put me out, and took or killed what I held dear - and it wasn't much to begin with. I've been left to fend for myself for ten years, and I've not even reached a third decade. I haven't the skills of a smithy or the battle-hardened finesse of a duelist... and I blame it all on the Drow, for denying me any possibility at a real, sporting chance..." Now he raises his eyes to try and meet Heyx's. "You're not like them, and I should've seen it. I'm sorry."

Heyx 's entire body begins to shake as tears well up in her eyes. She suddenly, without warning, grabs the sides of her head and gives out a loud cry, before collapsing to both knees and sobbing hysterically. Korbus is utterly shocked by Heyx's reaction. Wide eyed, and near panicked by the noise, the rogue peeks around the corner and makes sure no one's decided to search out the source of the loud cries or the yelling, and once he's certain no one's attention has been grabbed, he returns his own to the weeping girl. Reluctantly, he replaces his dagger in its sheath and kneels down beside the Drow, reaching out to place a hand upon her shoulder - which would come off as a very awkward attempt at comfort if she allows him to. "What is it...? Why are you so deeply affected...?"

Heyx wipes the tears from her eyes, sniffling and trying to focus on the man's blurry, mask-covered face. "I tried to kill someone because I thought it was you! I put someone's life in danger with no need!"

Korbus furrows his brows behind his mask, his hand absently resting on her shoulder now. "I... Do you mean someone else? Other than me? I don't understand..."

Heyx said to Korbus, "No...the man...I called you Vengeance...That was him....I almost killed him...."

Korbus lets out a deep breath, and by putting his remaining hand on her other shoulder, he tries to lift her to her feet. Looking right at the Drow, he says, "Heyx... You didn't kill him, it sounds like. He'll get himself patched up, and be walking in no time. Soon after, he'll have forgotten the whole ordeal... What happened was an accident, and a case of mistaken identity. It all comes down to me trying to rob you of your things on the mountain pass. If we hadn't tried to kill each other, it would never have happened.You musn't blame yourself... If you need to blame anyone, blame me. Please."

Heyx continues to rub her fists over her eyes, sniffing slightly. "I guess your right...you never told me your name...?"

Korbus falls silent again. Afte the surrounding crickets play an entire symphony, he slowly shakes his head, "I can't... Any normal day, I would've killed you just for seeing my face. The more people that know who I am, or what I look like... The greater my risk is with the soldiers. I can't go back to prison, Heyx..."

Heyx begins to giggle slightly, a certain familiar gleam returning to her eyes. "Oooh..." she whispers as she crawls slightly, putting her face next to his and staring him directly in the eye. "What did you do?"

Korbus is reluctant to respond, but finally concedes to the girl. "I killed. There was a man - a rich man - who lived in a village that could've prospered with his wealth, but instead he chose to use it for his own devices." The rogue takes a step away from Heyx, then walks around her to lean with his back against the wall of the tavern. "I was asked by several of the villagers to steal some of his gold, and I tried to one night, but he found me. He attacked me first, and I killed him. The man's guards, who were soldiers from a nearby kingdom, found me with the guy's body in my arms, and my dagger in his chest. It was the first time I killed. But I got a taste for it... I know I won't let anyone try and stop me again. I know how fragile life is..." He sighs, "They had me in prison for three seasons before I escaped. I killed two more on my way to freedom... And they still hunt me. I don't know how close they are, but I know they're out there."

Heyx thinks long and hard before she speaks. She has to be sure that this man really deserves the chance she is about to offer him. "I can help you." She finally says.

Korbus looks over at Heyx, thankful that his mask hides the incredibly skeptical look he wears underneath it. "What? How? And, more importantly... Why would you help me, when I ran you through the gut with my knife...?"

Heyx cants her head ever so slightly. "Because you apologized to me. That means alot. And...I can help you if you send a letter to a dear friend. And I need to call you something."

Korbus shakes his head, "No... No, I can't involve more people. I can't take such a chance..." He stands straight, no longer leaning on the wall.

Heyx said to Korbus, "We can offer you protection...you know."

Korbus can't help but scoff. "Protection...? What, you and your centaur friend? -I- nearly killed you two days ago, girl... What do you think the heavily-trained, heavily-armored men with swords and axes and flails and bows are going to do with you for harboring a fugitive...? Oh, and the horse-man's a bigger target. They'd take him down in a moment."

Heyx shakes her head slightly. "Tis many more than just the Master Centaur and I. And, I would be careful with how you speak of him. He is a very powerful man, as I stated earlier. Trust me."

Korbus mulls over the offer, and settles against the wall again, crossing his arms over his chest. "Call me Lucas... I have my doubts about this arrangement, though. I dont' think anyone in their right mind would protect a man who'll continue stealling to get by... It's a way of life, girl, not a job. I can't give it up."

Heyx smiles. "Lucas, eh? Good, good. I was just going to call you Stranger...but Lucas is much better. You won't be dissapointed. Keep a lookout for me later, I'll speak with the Master Centaur when I can and tell him about you. You'll be pleased." Korbus said to you, "I mean it... I keep stealing - I can't expect these people to turn me in for it. Seedy folk have to stay with their own. And if your people are as benevolent as they sound, I don't think they're as seedy as I need them to be to protect me.""

Heyx said to Korbus, "Don't worry, don't worry. We've been looking for people with unusual talents and you fit in very nicely. Trust me when I say that what you believe you could be doing immoral is nothing compared to what some of our other....friends, have done and are capable of doing. We are exactly what you need, by the sound of it."

Korbus narrows his eyes at Heyx, becoming more suspicious of this motley crew she speaks of. "I guess we'll see then... Alright, talk with your four-legged friend, and have him leave a note with Mesthak. I'll tell the Dwarf my name's Lucas, and it'll get to me just fine." He takes a few steps towards the mage, and says, "Thank you, Heyx... After all we've been through already, you're the last person I'd have expected to lend me a hand... But you have. And as much as I hate being in people's debt... I'm in yours. I won't be easy to find, but if you need me for anything... I won't be too far off."

Heyx giggles and blushes slightly, waving her hand at Korbus. "Oh, it is no big deal, really. I have to bid you a good night now, Lucas. And don't worry, if I need to contact you, Mesthak will be a big help. Seeya!"