RP:The Unwitting Accomplice

Synopsis: Anson unknowingly helps the smiley-faced psychopath dispose of a corpse.

Characters: Orphyn, Anson

Location: Cenril

Date: March 30th, 2016

Rocky Shore

Orphyn stood facing the water, her garb entirely comprised of black leather. A long leather duster concealed all form of tattoo, hood lifted above her head to hide those familiar crimson strands of hair. Her youthful feature were obscured by a most twisted looking smiley face mask; Dingy, yellow and long marred by stains of her past. She would be most unrecognizable to the one she met the night previous. From behind that twisted visage, a muffled sound rang out; Soft. Sorrowful. Weeping. The reason? Before the woman, sitting on the edge of the shore, was a crudely made wooden raft decorated in dry brush and kindling. In the very center something rested, a very humanoid shaped wrapped tightly in rope and white linen. A corpse. Family? Friend? A lover? Whomever it was, it was obvious that this was a final goodbye for the strange girl clad in black.

Anson had been told of a ship that rested on the coral barrier in the midst of the water at this spot known to many in the lands as the Rocky Shore, and since being the man he was he had determined that it was worth some spare time to explore its ghostly decks. He had made his rounds in Rynvale picking up needed things for the exploration, mostly the sailboat that held a metal bottom to navigate safely into the coral hell. As the wind blew him closer to his destination his eyes scanned the beach, hoping to be the only set of eyes to be in the area. A deep sigh took in as he gazed upon the darkly wrapped figure standing along the shore, had someone already beat him to the adventure? A simple silver scope was pulled from his pocket and extended to his eye, but what he observed on the makeshift raft took his breath, had he came upon a watery burial or a killer disposing of a victim. A jar from the bottom of the boat made the man fight to hold his stance, it also told him he was close enough to tie his own vessel to the wreckage, still his mind wondered back to the figure standing over the raft.

Orphyn had sworn she heard footsteps approach from the distance. She kept her head hung low, the weeping halting with a great sniffle. "H-hello?" she managed to spit out. That eerie mask was aimed in Anson's direction, its lifeless features staring at the other for a moment or two, trying to discern if someone were there. She could almost feel like eyes were staring upon her, but she couldn't quite pin down the location. Turning back toward the corpse, the leather-clad woman approached, falling then to one knee with flint and steel in hand. A few strikes produced no source of flame; perhaps the wind was too strong? She huffed.

Anson was successful in tying his ship to one of the mast's fallen post, easily he stepped on the line testing the tension against his weight, it seemed it would hold. As he made his way across the line his boots gripped the rope, arms sprawled outwards to keep the balance of himself up right. "1,2,3..." He whispered in concentration before each step he took. It was in the middle of his above the sea act that the flicker of something brought his attention back to the shore, the wind blew making him turn back for his own vessel. He couldn't explore with something else on the banks keeping his attention, so as he settled back into the smaller boat his arms began to stir a oar. His muscles rippled as he dug the oar against the currents of the sea, each powerful stroke brought him closer to the beach, closer to the figure.

Orphyn maintained her objective to light that damned corpse on fire. The wind however, was not so kind this day! Quite loudly she swore- words that would make even the most salty of sailors blush. Frustrated with herself, Orphyn stood abruptly and stamped her foot into the sand like a tantrum throwing child. The flint was then tossed into the ocean in a fit of anger. "Come on!" She was still oblivious to the approaching stranger.

Anson had made it close enough to make the rest of trek by boots. A rope swung like a lasso twirling above his head before capturing its intended rock, a mighty jerk was gave securing the loose around the jagged stone before a double-knot was tied to hold the boat. His frame bent and he began grabbing things to carry upon the sandy dune. "Dagger check, bag of odds check, torch... Where is that damned...." his voice had mumbled only to be interrupted by some very crude language coming from ashore. A wave began to sway making something heavy roll onto Anson's foot as the boat jarred. "Aha!" he exclaimed bending down to reach the torch. When it touched with his skin the fire automatically sparked up, it had been a nifty thing he had found at the trade mart and worth every golden coin he had gave the peddler. "Time to go" his pep talk said as he hopped over the ships edge and began to walk upon the sandy bottom towards the shady figure.

Orphyn was still having her little fit, kicking sand and stone every which way. Another huff and a puff. Things were just not going her way today! She rotated on her heel, the yellowed face of her mask stopping in the direction that footsteps seemed to originate from. it was then that she finally spied Anson. He was familiar! it then dawned upon her! He had fire! Wildly waving an arm, the mysterious woman called out to the man. "Hey! Hey hey hey! You! With the Fire! Help?"

Anson was now upon the edge of the raft and instinct told him to keep his eyes on the person who seemed to be pitching a awfully nice temper tantrum. A slight smirk formed on his lips, only to demise when the figure had turned on its heel. The booted feet of the man had finally made it up to the rocky shore making his steps a bit more sturdy, now he was close enough to see the woman by his torch light. "Yes Smiley?" he asked while the same smirk had arose from the dead.

Orphyn sniffles like an overtired child. "I need help. My... friend.." she points to the raft containing the tightly wrapped corpse. "..my friend passed. An' I wanted to give him a proper goodbye.. but the wind won't let the spark catch... and..and.." A whimper rings out from behind that strange mask, the woman turning toward the raft. "Will you...help me?"

Anson now had taken a deep sinking relaxation that it was a body wrapped so tightly, a gulp was swallowed making his Adam's apple bob up and down. The hand that gripped the torch had tightened around it making the flame blaze even brighter. "So the wind is playing your antagonist in this burial?" His brow had lofted over his gaze that had flicked back to the woman. A few steps backwards and a torch lowered it caught the raft and started to smolder "I have done this a time or two, mine wasn't for a friend though" his gaze was still piercing at the mask. "We need something that will hold the fire beneath the body... Some tinder really..."

Orphyn hrmphs. THis was going to happen one way or another! "Tinder?" A careful look around the beach was taken, the disturbed girl spotting pieces of bark, branches and debris from ships long wrecked. She was also lazy and wasn't quite sure she wanted to put in the effort. No. No! This had to happen! "Okey dokey! How much do we needs?!"

Anson was a card player in his true nature, it had taught him many things but most of all how to read people. "Just a few pieces of that bark" he said as his boots crunched into the rocks towards the wood. "Come on Smiley... We have to get this a going if we don't wanna be caught by the patrols" his words was gruff and somewhat tinged with experience. As he walked towards the brush his hand had removed something rolled to place to his lips and light from the torch, the magical smell of the smoke was deep and quiet smelly and when he let out a cloud it appeared a bit of a rainbow.

Orphyn was already set to work as soon as Anson had finished speaking. Like a little squirrel she bounced from spot to spot, just picking up any dry bark that she could find. The scent of smoke hit her masked nostrils and a content 'mmm' rang out. "My favorite too!" she chimed with a quite chipper tone. When she felt she had a sufficient amount, two arms full, she wandered over to the familiar male with a bit of a skip to her step. "How's this?" she asked.

Anson was surprised how the girl had moved in such a squirrelly way, it was quite a cute thing that caused him to choke on a cloud and bark out while laughing. "That is enough" he said offering the woman the rolled paper as he began loading his free arm with some of her load. Again his feet crunched in the rocks as he made his way to the raft hopefully for the last time. "Now watch..." He directed her as he began to place the debris under the body leaving enough out. "This is what we need to ignite it... Have you put any accelerant on your friends last voyage?"

Orphyn nods in a very enthusiastic manner. "Mmhm! I used a potion a witch gave me! Very very flammable." A hop and a bounce would lead the oddball assassin over to where her bag lay, from within a large whiskey bottle were produced. She looked to Anson and then the raft as she said, "Hum. But... he's been floating for a bit... maybe the water washed some of it away. I should be sure." Without hesitation Orphyn pops the cork on the bottle and wanders a bit into the water, practically emptying the entire bottle over the corpse like an overzealous child at their first outdoor barbecue. When sufficiently doused, Orphyn hurried back to the beach and sniffled a little; The emotions were flooding back.

Anson had stepped back when the girl had went about dousing the raft, she had been smart about the raft being in water but what if the potion was one that didn't matter to water. His muddy hues scanned over the raft and the body that laid on it so still. Who was the poor soul who laid there? Had he a family? Or was he a scumbag that had been murdered in a kind act of elmination. Another long inhale of the paper was took, until it's cherry had reached his calloused finger. Quickly tossing it down into the rocks his feet crunched again. "Alright smiley..." he said with a smile until he sensed her emotions floating back. His steps picked up pace to where he was only a step from the woman "Look now... Your friend, your family, your kill, your whatever is now dead... That means you don't remorse... Remorse means you are weak.. Are you weak? I have a feeling this isn't your first time... Probably won't be the last.. So remorse for you is useless" his eyes was even darker then they usually was the brown looking more black, and his face cringed as he spoke to the girl as if aching memories was tearing at his semi-young soul. His hand whipped back to point at the raft "Now you say your peace to whatever is out there rather it's a spit or a prayer... And you light it..." His hand thrust the torch at her, she would find it worked with touch of any human hand.

Orphyn sniffled again, head bobbing in a most understanding nod. "I'm not weak. Never ever. They all called me weak. I showed them." she muttered incoherently. Torch taken in hand, the mysterious woman took a deep breath and moved forward toward the raft to send this body into its final rest. "Goodbye..." she whispered, flame touched to the kindling to start the funeral pyre; One booted foot then giving the raft a good push to send it moving out to sea. Taking her place next to Anson, Orphyn bowed her head in mourning, a muffled whimper escaping into the night. Crying? As the raft floated out further into the open water, the flame began to grow, finally catching onto the linens- That's when it happened. At first one might think it was the darkness playing tricks with their mind. Maybe it was the wind? One might have sworn they seen movement. Orphyn's weeping began to grow louder in turn. When the flame fully ignited the corpse, thing became really strange. The body on the raft began to twitch and flail, a deafening bloodcurdling scream let loose. He was still alive!! Orphyn began to sob louder and louder until those sobs began to bleed... into giggles? Was she actually giggling? Any sort of confusion on the matter would be put to rest as the woman dropped to the floor and started laughing hysterically.

Anson lips twitched as the sight of the body's movements on the raft began to flail. He has helped burn a man alive...it really wasn't the first time... A shake of his head was gave as his ears went deafened to the sound of the scream, when burned alive they all screamed the same, why listen to it again. Instead he was looking at the woman who now laid on the rocky Shore in a fit of laughter, he dark deed was done... She had won.. "Well?" He asked reaching into his side satchel to remove a tin of rolled tobacco, a small dink was heard as he packed one. A box of matches was produced and he struck three it helped against the wind because a long cloud of smoke fell from his lips. "I think I need a drink.."

Orphyn stops rolling around and finally sits up, a little giggle here and there as she tried to regain her composure. With Anson's question, Orphyn popped up on her feet and stated with glee, "Oh! Right! Thank you! You're the bestest!" He couldn't tell, but there was definitely a grin under that maniacal mask. The madwoman turned toward the raft, the screaming having died down, "They won't hurt no more! No more you hear?! No more!" There was anger in those words. Finally, as he seemed to calm a little, Orphyn then took to noting Anson's lattermost statement. "Have you been to the Hanging Corpse? Very good place to drink! I highly recommend it."

Anson shook his head and raised his hand to scratch his chin strap. "I didn't want a thank you.." he said giving her a dimpled smile. It was his eyes that was now hawking her, some may think he was actually flirting in a rude way, but when she had suggest the bar, what his eyes was doing had clicked. "I be damned" he said shifting his weight on his heels and inhaling while snickering.

Orphyn tilted her head ever so slightly. "Damned? Why are you damned? Did you anger the gods?" That dingy yellow facade aimed skyward; One hand was lifted, fingers all balled into a fist but one. A sign of protest. To Anson, the assassin regained her focus and giggled. "It's okay. I'm probably damned too!" It was here that she would look to her left and ask, "Right SiN?"

Anson eyes went up as the woman's hand did, wondering if a God would send a crash of lightening thankful for the praise it would receive, sadly he or she hadn't. "Religion is my my thing" he says taking another inhale but this time letting it seep out thru parted lips and inhaling thru his nose. "I just recalled something is all.." He knew that in his world they wasn't anyone on this shore besides him and her, but in her world things was different. "I knew they was someone helping you pick up that brush... Said the name was SiN?" he eyes gazed upon the spot she had confronted.

Orphyn huffs. "Me either. All the crazies pray to their little saviors in the sky. Silly little crazies. No deities are going to save you." she rambled on with a minor level of incoherence. Suddenly with realization that Anson was addressing the invisible elephant in the room, that twisted smiley face bobbed up and down fervently. "Mmhm! My bestest chum, SiN! She's been with me for um... um.." She turns her head to the side again, "Oh? Really?! Wow. Okay, so.. since I was a teenager! Wow. Time flies!" A giggle sets her head turning in Anson's direction once again. "No one can see her though. They say she doesn't exist. But I see her and that's all that matters." she states matter-of-fact.

Anson was in a sort of a daze while his eyes darted with every move she made, his eyes every moment or two dashing towards SiN. "I would say she is the best chum.. Even tried to get you to skip work that day.. My old chums used to do that... I think that's how I ended up in the lifestyle I am in.." he said licking his lips to fight the wind. His cigarette was gone, but his craving was not ceased, it made him bite the inside of his bottom lip. His muddy eyes finally removed from the woman and went to his pack, he had to have something in here to drink... By gods he was Anson, he always had liquor.

Orphyn stopped any sort of motion dead in its tracks. What did he just say? The words hit her hard and beneath that still, lifeless smiley face she mouthed the words. 'That day'... As the man turned his back to look for some liquor, one hand lowered and removed one of those signature daggers from the sheathe at her waist. He knows. How does he know? He shouldn't know! She told herself repeatedly. One slice. Ear to ear. No more knowing. Unbeknownst to Anson, while he was fishing through his pack, Orphyn would be just a mere foot from behind the man- no trail or footprint to show how she moved across the sand so fast. The soft glow of her dagger was hidden behind her back as she asked quite coldly. "You know? You're not supposed to know. I don't want to take your eyes."

Anson see the thing was Anson hadn't been looking for a bottle of liquor and corner vision was always handy when bending a bit. Tightly his own hand went to his dagger and gripped. "Yes I know..." he says with a slight chuckle and sending a elbow back towards the woman's abdominal cavity not enough force to kneel her but enough to make her step enough for him to turn and face her. "I don't want to kill you either Smiley" he said twirling a butterfly knife dazzling in his hand. "Now I know how to keep my mouth shut... It's in the line of business I run..." his hand kept twirling the knife, his voice was a bit of eerily calm for a man in the path of the mentally unstable. "How much Patchy pay you to clean up after the slobs?" his smirk planted on his lips.

Orphyn wasn't very prepared for that sneaky little blow, reeling back a few steps with a vocal 'OOPH'. She could have lunged in and attacked him right then again there. Yet, she waited. It was self defense after all, wasn't it? "From beneath that abysmal gaze she peered, one brow lifted as she listened. "Hrm. I see." she stated, plainly. With his question a shoulder lifted in response, "Not much.. but I don't work for money. No sir no sir. I keeps me that bad things out." Relaxation settled in now, that hidden dagger dropped to her side, an effervescent haze of viridian cascaded upon her thigh. "Why do you ask, Handsome Anson?" That's right. She recalled his name and the nickname she bestowed upon him that evening.

Anson had taken a step back and folded his arms still twirling the knife, this time for his concentration. "Handsome Anson?" his smirk lead into his dimpled smile and muddy hues fluttered his dark lashes. "I was just thinking Smiley... I could use you and SiN helping me in Rynvale is all.." the sound of him sucking his teeth. "I figured you out Smiley.. If I did others will... Not that they are better at reading human than I am" he laughed at the thought of that. "I could teach you to disguise it all..." He said looking at his nails. "And I wouldn't try to get rid of SiN" his smile went a bit darker than all of his others.

Orphyn nods once. A mutual understanding of all that the other had spoken to her. An act of trust displayed, she slipped that jagged dagger back into its sheathe with a giggle. "I am not worried of you trying to get rid of SiN! I'd be worried of her trying to get rid of you. She's not so nice to others." A shift of her stance followed her next reply. "I will think think thiiink about it. I will! But..." The sound of shifting sand in the distance cut the woman off. Who could it be? A passerby? Guards? A spy?! Without even thinking about it, Orphyn took off running toward the city. Words called out over her shoulder, "Hanging Corpse, later!!" And with that she darted off into the horizon.