Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Dec 18, 2017 21:07:54 GMT
He was such a fool, to think the small knife could pierce the man’s spine through the back of the neck what a novice move, an observer would’ve thought he’d never killed anyone before. It was a perfect set up otherwise. The nobleman had been asleep in his chair in the study of his manor, passed out on hard alcohol and completely unaware, alone save a few guards who were easy to avoid in the night. He’d simply climbed up a back window, entered through the study door, kicking it in with a hard leather boot, and had yanked the man to his feet by his coarse gray hair. He had yelped and turned, almost threatening to rip the locks from their roots in an attempt to get away but his assailant was fast and had a knife to his neck in an instant. He’d had it right at first, the blade across the human’s soft flesh, his pulse pounding beneath his wrinkled liverspotted skin. But the guards had heard the door being slammed open, the books falling from shelves, the man’s small noise in panic and their footfalls up stairs had distracted him for a crucial moment. The old man had turned and pushed him away with both hands, strong for such an elderly gentleman, he must’ve seen time in war to have that much force and it had startled the shifter, thrown him off guard. As the man turned and leapt for the window he’d let loose his knife and it had hit, only to bounce off the man’s spine harmlessly, painfully and with a little blood but it hadn’t stopped the human from crashing through the second story window.
Carjen cursed himself now, minutes later, as he gave chase down the empty streets of Emberi. He was lucky that the man was foolish enough to think that leaping from his window would save him. Had he stayed in the study, the guards would’ve been a problem. Carjen was a tough, serious and ruthless man but he was no murderer, he wouldn’t have wanted to kill the guards, they were not a threat, just doing their duty, but this noble had to die to keep his clan safe. It would’ve been a tough predicament for him, to try and kill the nobleman without severely injuring the innocent guardsman, and by himself no less, without shifting. He might’ve considered the operation botched and left. But the human had leapt and now they were out in the open streets where he was faster, wiser, more at the ready. The man had sealed his fate.
He caught up with the human easily, the man had sprained his ankle in the jump and was only half running, and Carjen well, Carjen could run with the best of them. He fell upon the nobleman like a shadow in the dark, dark leathers silent, the streets thankfully empty and dark. Still, he hastily dragged the man with him, one large hand clamped over the human’s mouth while the other held him by the back of his pajamas. It was not the most dignified way to die, that was certain, but Carjen was a beggar not a chooser at this point. The guards would be right behind them, more of them even if they had alerted the city guard. He had little time.
Taking the man with him, the jaguar shifter rounded a corner and stopped, pinning the noble to the wall beside them just long enough to level him with a cold green eye. Normally, this was when he would tell his victims why they were dying tonight. Normally, he’d explain, not so much for their sake but for his own, to justify it in his own mind, to remind himself why he was doing this, who he was protecting, who was relying on him to get this done and get it done now. But he had not the time this time around, so after only a moment, long enough to memorize the man’s wide eyes and his wrinkled face and his disheveled white hair, he turned his fingers to claws, his hand into more of a paw shape and used it to swiftly grab and tear the man’s throat out. There was a noise, not a scream more of a whimper before the man’s voice box was filled with blood and his clutched uselessly at the giant hole now torn into his neck, before falling gracelessly to his knees and choking to death. It took only a moment, his jugular torn, his blood flowing into the street, before he finally slumped over and stopped gurgling. Carjen stayed to watch to make sure it was finished before casually wiping the blood from his paw on the black leather of his trousers and turning to leave.
Ruthalla Elanan
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Fireball for Hire
Straight.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Illyrianna.
Offline.
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Post by Ruthalla Elanan on Dec 21, 2017 23:20:48 GMT
Ruth couldn't handle the city in the middle of the day, and the town couldn't handle her either. There was too much noise, and too many people giving her stares and glares wherever she went. She was a hybrid, her scarlet dragon wings and scaly tail rarely welcome anywhere. So whenever she had to visit a big city, the half dragon did so at night, where not too many eyes were watching.
Heavy boots moving along, Ruth felt sleep gnawing at her as she headed towards an inn, fully intending to just collect wanted posters for her bounty hunting, before ambling away to the small camp she'd set up outside the city. The woman didn't even want to spend the night here, knowing morning in the city would be an unpleasant greeting.
As fatigued as she was, the woman still remained ready. If the wings and tail weren't enough, leather armor upon her and plates of steel glinting off her shoulders and arms should be enough to deter any attacker. Granted, there were always a few who were fanatic enough in their hate to still attack her. The bastard sword nestled between her wings waited for those, and there was always her magic to deal with. The woman was a warrior to be reckoned with and she knew it, her back straight and step almost militaristic.
She was but a few blocks from her destination when something caught her eye. A man stumbled through the street, his steps evidently frightened even though he was a ways away. Then another figure followed a second later, its movement swift and filled with intent. It didn't take long for the hybrid to recognize prey and predator, and the woman promptly forgot about her bounty hunting, taking off at a dead sprint after the two.
It took her far longer than she would've liked to catch up, and she had to half guess where they went, the silent dark streets not giving much of a clue that anything was amiss. Still, she followed what few suspicious sounds she could hear, and wound up turning a corner and nearly running right into the murderer.
A snarl rippled out of Ruth as fierce amber gaze landed on the culprit, scarlet still half-staining one of his hands, or rather paws. Lightly winded, she narrowed her eyes at the man, form growing tense with anticipation of violence. She chanced one glance away over to the victim, quickly assessing him to be beyond saving, if he wasn't dead already.
"What in the nine hells do you think you're doing?" Ruth demanded, glowering at the shifter.
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Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Dec 26, 2017 19:23:18 GMT
Carjen stopped when he noticed a shadow cast over him by the light of a street lantern and turned his head to look upon is source. Inside, he was panicking like a deer set upon by wolves, fearful that it was the city guard already here to apprehend him. He still wasn’t sure what he was going to do about them. He had a lot of respect for the human knights that made up the guardsmen, they were proud and noble and their job protecting the innocent from threats- threats like him- was an honorable one indeed. He didn’t want to hurt or kill any of them if he didn’t need to. But the city was crawling with them and the guards from the nobleman’s manor must’ve alerted them by now, they’d be looking for him. How was he going to get out of here unnoticed?
The figure ahead of him proved to be an additional problem. He was actually relieved to see those wings, spread wide to block him from going around and that scaled tail thrashing angrily. A dragon hybrid, an obvious one at that. The guards would not take her word too seriously if she went to them, if anything they’d charge her with the murder in his place, just to have an excuse to get her off of the streets. Hybrids were treated so poorly in this world, it was a terrible shame. But he’d save his sympathy for later, right now he had an escape to make.
Standing up straight to his full height of 6 foot 9 inches, the panther shifter sneered, eyeing the woman aggressively but not moving to attack her. Instead he merely flexed his paws, unsheathing silver white claws that gleamed in the lantern light. He flashed a fang and rolled his shoulders, prepared for a fight. Or, rather, looking like he was prepared, in truth he just wanted to stall the woman long enough for the guards to see her. There was an alleyway to his left, he’d duck into the shadows, dark hair and dark armor helping him in to disappear into the night and let her take the fall for the murder instead. He growled.
“I’m leaving.” He said simply, voice calm and smooth, deep as a roll of thunder. “You should too, unless you want the guards to see you standing over a dead body.”
He paused to turn and face her, keeping a respectful and probably safe distance just beyond the range of that sword on her back. He, on the other hand, had no weapons but his claws, but tall, strong, powerful, he didn’t need them to be a real threat.
“This is none of your business. Keep it that way or we’re going to have a problem.”
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Fireball for Hire
Straight.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Illyrianna.
Offline.
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Post by Ruthalla Elanan on Jan 4, 2018 20:06:15 GMT
He was a tall one, she'll give him that much. Ruth had to look up, and up and up to meet his gaze as he straightened. The looming form, as well as the flash of claws and fangs would make most people hesitate, if not outright back away to leave the murderer in peace. Ruth however, was a woman that had faced and defeated many things in her life, going all the way up to a fire-breathing dragon. Compared to that, a simple tall werebeast was a walk in the park in her mind. Dangerous, yes, but not something to fear.
Ruth narrowed her fierce eyes at the man as he informed her, almost casually, that he was leaving. She didn't know what irritated her more, his lack of properly spooked response to her, his careless attitude towards death or that he assumed she would let him get away with murder just to avoid taking the fall for it. As a hybrid, Ruth got blamed for a myriad of things, but that never stopped her from doing what was right in her mind. That habit landed her in hot water more often than not, but the warrior woman wouldn't have it any other way.
So, in response to the murderer, Ruth drew the sword from her back, eyes never leaving his own to emphasize her point. "The guards can kiss my ass. You're not going anywhere." She informed him with a low snarl. "You just made it my business, so I guess we have a problem." The half-dragon said, wings twitching in anticipation.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't cut you down where you fucking stand." Ruth demanded, eyeing him as she kept the blade pointing down, from where she could easily swipe in an attack or defense. She kept her magic at bay and waited for him to attack, or run, or something. Whatever it was, she was more than willing to handle it, as well as risk the guards catching sight of her.
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Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Jan 8, 2018 19:36:58 GMT
“I could give you a list of reasons, topped with the fact that it is, in fact, none of your business.” He snarled, trying his best to seem irritated but as time ticked by his quiet panic was beginning to show through. As he moved away from the wall that had once held a man, the shifter stepped lightly into the street, somewhat foolishly in full view of the light from the lanterns and the moon overhead. When he shifted, it wasn’t openly apparent, he moved like water in every way, his gestures clean and crisp with purpose. But as he stepped from the shadows, he was followed by a long black tail that twitched in the yellow streetlight. The moon captured his whiskers and his fangs were even longer now as he traced them with edge of his tongue. He flexed his paws, unsheathing his claws, but made no move to attack, only seemed to pace where he stood in the road, moving first one way and then the other one or two steps, eyeing that sword with a healthy amount of concern. He didn’t want to be caught by that thing.
Part of him thought that maybe a full shift would benefit him in this situation. As a panther he was faster, swifter, could jump higher and run farther, but his armor would condense into an ornate collar that was not only loud and obstructive but unique and obvious. It might give away his identity more than he wanted it to. So instead he merely stalked around on two legs, his feet clawed in his shoes but not paws, not just yet. His ears had shifted and twitched where they stood upon his head, one turning to listen behind him. The world was alive with sounds around them as the guard converged. He hissed quietly to himself. He needed to hurry, the time to stall was over.
“Don’t be a fool.” He barked at her quietly, lowering his voice. “If the guards see you here, you’ll be pinned for this long before I am, be on your way and make as though this never happened.”
There was a bit of desperation in his voice but it was hard to notice. In truth, he didn’t want to frame this poor hybrid for murder, she’d be executed or worse, sold into slavery, he didn’t want that for anyone but especially not someone so willing, so devoted to justice, to stand before a murderer and bare her sword. She seemed like a good woman, he’d rather they both departed and the man simply die a quiet and unresolved death. But it didn’t seem like the hybrid was going to allow that.
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Fireball for Hire
Straight.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Illyrianna.
Offline.
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Post by Ruthalla Elanan on Jan 17, 2018 22:22:37 GMT
The man seemed determined, snarling at her that this wasn't her business. To his words she merely snorted, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
He stepped out of the shadows, claws flexing and fangs flashing in the dim light that the moon and streets provided. Ruth watched him carefully as he began to restlessly pace, eyeing her blade. Something felt off about him to the hybrid. There was too much tension in his motion, too twitchy for someone willing to fight, and the fact he didn't attack nor try to flee yet was odd for a cold-blooded murderer.
Perhaps he was afraid of her after all. Perhaps it was something else, but Ruth saw an opportunity to maybe, just maybe, convince him to do the right thing. Despite the fact he kept, irritatingly so, snapping at her. She stilled as her eyes kept tracking his every motion, her form a stark contrast to his. Where he paced about, she stood stalwart on her feet, like a guardian statue plucked off some rustic church, garbed in leather, steel and scarlet scales. She kept her sword point-down, ready to lash out if the werecat became foolish enough to attack.
"I am not the fool here." Ruth rumbled at him, tone annoyed. "So listen to me carefully. If getting locked up is what it takes to bring you down..." The woman shrugged her shoulders, motion stern. "So be it. Wouldn't be the first time. And if you think you can fight past me, boy, I have far more than a simple blade to wield against you." She said, amber eyes drilling a steady hole in the shapeshifter, even as she still stood her ground, as a statue of muscle and sinew.
"Come quietly and come clean. Perhaps the law will grant you some mercy if you behave. Fight or flee, and I will hunt you down and drag you back kicking and screaming if I have to." Ruth's sharp, commanding voice spilled before the woman spat aside and eyed the murderer.
"What will it be, cat?"
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Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Jan 17, 2018 23:40:56 GMT
His face immediately tensed into something of a snarl or a sneer, baring his teeth. He was no boy that was for damn sure, how dare she stoop so low as to call him such, as though he were nothing more than a fleck of dirt beneath her boot. She didn’t know him, didn’t know what he went through to track down this nobleman, to be sure he was the only one injured in their scuffle, to ensure that justice was done and done right. She had no idea, she was as much as fool as he’d said. But before he could say as much, remark on her terrible offer or beg her to step aside and let him finish without obstruction, the guard was there. The first suit of armor turned the corner behind him and the werecat had no choice but to act. The guard called out, said something like ‘stop right there’ or ‘hold it right there’, Carjen was not listening to him, unconcerned. Humans were easy to deal with, the scaled hybrid took up all of his attention.
From his place in the street, he bolted, not left down the alleyway where he had planned, but forward, toward his obstructer, passed the dead body on the street and directly into her blade. He hoped that she didn’t swing it, that he was fast enough and sudden enough to catch her a little off guard so she would defend first. His goal was to knock her off balance, not a lot, he didn’t need her to bust her ass on the sidewalk, just a bit, just one foot off the ground would give him enough credence to speed by her and around the corner. Speed was not his strongest suit, not by a long shot, he was too big a man to move too quickly. But he was a cat, all feline grace and swiftness. He moved easily, charging the woman with claws out. But, even as he swung his paw up and over his head, bringing it down onto the woman, he aimed to rest it flat against the broad side of her sword. She’d block his claws with her weapon and he would just… push. Strength was really where he shined, he could topple a horse with enough speed and distance to gain momentum. So if this played out right and he could just touch her, all he needed was a good shove and he’d scoot by and be on his way.
She’d have to track him down and drag him back kicking and screaming if that was what she so desired because he was not sticking around, waiting for the guard to show up.
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Fireball for Hire
Straight.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Illyrianna.
Offline.
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Post by Ruthalla Elanan on Jan 26, 2018 23:04:24 GMT
Time seemed to slow down as so many things happened so swiftly, and adrenaline did what it does best. Someone called from behind her, a guard's authoritative voice hard to mistake for anything other than that, though the words themselves escaped her. The werecat before her was moving, lunging at her. Reacting out of sheer reflex, Ruth swung her sword at him, though she didn't seem nearly fast enough.
In a blink of an eye, the man bounced off the blade, making the hybrid rock back a step with a grunt. He sped past, infuriatingly fast. But not quick enough to get out of her magic's range. Snarling in fury, Ruth swatted one hand at him, fingers tightening into a claw as though she wanted to snatch him back.
Bright yellow flames came to life, to encompass the annoying furball. The fire would course over his bare skin, burning for half a second. Not enough to cause serious damage, but perhaps enough to make him to panic and crash or stumble. Rarely who could keep going with the sense of flames chewing at their skin.
After a heartbeat of a break, Ruth did it again, and a third time as she closed in on him, fully intending to put her blade against his neck and bring this ridiculous charade to a close. What she didn't count on, however, were the guards that had arrived on the scene. They were stunned for the handful of seconds that had passed but eventually got past the initial shock of seeing a freakish hybrid, having a scuffle with someone near a corpse.
Ruth had all but forgotten about them, until a painful punch to her back reminded her of their existence. Agony bloomed, the force of the hit sending her crashing forth towards the werecat, her sword no longer under perfect control. Though she tried to get the blade out of the way, it was a question whether she was quick enough.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was also aware of the footsteps approaching, and the sound of a crossbow reloading. Ruth growled a furious curse, trying to remember whether she had her chainmail on today when she realized one of the guards shot her in the back.
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Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Jan 29, 2018 20:54:24 GMT
Somewhere inside himself, Carjen grinned as his pawpads laid flat against the blade as he had planned. She had swung it, so it wasn’t at the right angle and cut into the base of his fingers, drawing blood, but it was a mere scratch and he successfully knocked the hybrid off balance long enough to slip by her despite it. It went perfect as far as he was concerned and he was home free. He’d shift somewhere down the road, once he was far enough away to be out of sight of the guardsmen, and then he’d really be out of there in a hurry, just a shadow in the darkest night. That was what he had been expecting.
What he had not been expecting was fire. Why? Well, he couldn’t tell you. He knew he was dealing with a dragon hybrid, he honestly should’ve anticipated some magic. But for some reason it had slipped his mind in the chaos and as she reached out and tore his sleeve with her claw, a burning sensation drew his attention from the distant walls. He had to nearly stop, turning wildly to use his other paw to put the flame out, frantically batting at the burn to extinguish the embers, and though it happened in the span of a moment’s breath, he had enough time to curse before another ball of fire engulfed his vision.
Expertly, he dodged it, simply falling to the ground and letting it pass over him. But just as he went to leap up again, a weight fell against his legs. The hybrid had fallen, had she tripped? No, there was the clear shaft of a crossbow bolt sticking out of her body. Carjen blinked, a little shocked by the sight. Tonight’s guard really meant business, he had to get out of there and fast. But as he moved to get his legs under him, scrambling to get back to his feet, something in him recoiled. He looked upon the dragon woman with his usually cold green gaze, thought of the way she confronted him, a murderer, a scumbag by all accounts, and did nothing but tried to stop him, was willing to take a crossbow bolt to stop him, would take much more to probably. She was just determined to do what seemed right to her.
Carjen made a face, paused just long enough to look over his shoulder- the road behind him was still clear, he could still disappear into the night. But rather than turn around and run, he cursed himself again as he stooped down and scrambled for one of the hybrid’s arms.
“Come on, they’re on us. Unless you want to get pinned for murder we have to move.”
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Fireball for Hire
Straight.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Illyrianna.
Offline.
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Post by Ruthalla Elanan on Feb 5, 2018 13:39:18 GMT
Ruth sucked in a hissing breath, as she crashed against the murderer's legs. Her sword clattered out of her grasp, though not too far away. Close enough to get it with a simple flop, though Ruth wasn't that willing to endure pain. The woman put one leg under herself, gritting her teeth against the pain in her back as she reached for the blade. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware of the guards getting ever closer, and the blasted cat scrambling back to his feet. She cursed him in her head, realizing he was surely going to flee and get away with this murder.
Not if she had anything to say. She would just have to track him down later, presuming she got out of this alive. It was a strange kind of motivation, but it was enough to summon a look of pure, stubborn determination on the hybrid's face.
The last thing she expected was for him to turn back and help her. Her fingers just began curling around the hilt of her sword when one of his black claws snatched her arm away from it. Ruth let out a growl at that, both at the frustration and the pain he'd just caused her. Her other, free hand went up in flames instantly, ready for a mad, desperate fight she was sure this was going to be. Yet as she looked into his eyes and heard his words, she couldn't help but blink at him in sheer confusion. He was helping her. A simple question of 'why?' took over her expression, though she didn't resist his aid. The flames upon her hand sputtered out, as the woman grumbled unhappily under her breath.
"Pinned. Yeah, haha. Real funny, cat." Ruth said as she got back to her feet, partly on her own and partly thanks to him. As much as she hated it, in a split second she realized walking wasn't going to be easy, nevermind running fast enough to get away from the guards. She was going to have to rely on the werecat, the very man whom she was trying to bring to justice. That didn't sit too well with the hybrid, making her wings and scaly tail twitch in irritation.
Still, the woman forced herself to lean on him, half-turning with a pained hiss to swat one hand in the direction of the guards. A bright, long wall of flames roared to life between the duo and the members of the law, garnering a few surprised shouts from the lot. The tall fire obscured one group from the other, though it was too thin to actually harm any of them if they decided to step through.
Judging from the scuffle of boots on the other side, the guards weren't aware of that, hesitating to follow. It summoned a tiny, tired smile of satisfaction on her face, there for only a heartbeat before the serious look was back.
"Hurry. They'll figure it out soon." Ruth rumbled low to her companion, doing her best to stumble along to his guidance.
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Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Feb 5, 2018 22:57:17 GMT
Carjen scrambled, hoisting the hybrid up with him and hooking her arm over his sturdy shoulders. It was awkward and uncomfortable, he really had to stoop to match her height, practically crouched, but they could move and that was what mattered. In hindsight, he could’ve just picked her up, perhaps hoisted her over his shoulder like a naughty child but he decided to spare her the dignity. He didn’t know her, honestly didn’t want to know her, his whole life would be a lot better off right now had they never met but he could only respect what she was doing and what she obviously stood for. Murder was wrong, he knew that, believed that, wanted to side with her in that and if only he had the time and place to explain, maybe she’d understand why he was stuck with it tonight. Maybe she wouldn’t, it really didn’t justify anything, that was a man’s life he’d taken, he had no right. He couldn’t take it back, couldn’t undo it, but he could at least spare this innocent woman a life in prison on his behalf.
Stumbling a little as they started their untimely shuffle down the road, the werebeast noticed the heat on his back before he really saw the flames and they startled him enough that he missed a step and had to catch himself. He still wasn’t used to magic, would probably never be. Even though his shift was a magic event and most humans would look at him with the same awe, conjuring fire from nowhere was just beyond his comprehension of time and space and he paused to look at it in wonder before the urgency of the moment caught up with him again.
“Cool party trick.” He muttered before setting them off again toward the main gate, which stood wide open, welcoming to all manner of guests and visitors, even despite the late night. He was grateful for it now, that the human kingdom was so vast and powerful that they could leave their gates open without fear, he was beginning to worry they might have to climb the wall. If the guardsmen in the towers saw the flames, they might still have to- a murderer on the loose was enough reason as any to close the gates. They’d just have to hurry and get there before the word on the street did.
Though the road that they were on lead straight across the back wall to the rear gate, Carjen hastily dragged his companion to the right and darted down an alleyway. They needed to get to the gate but they needed to do it unseen. He shifted his hold on the woman so his arm was around by her waist. Originally, he was holding her up by the armpits but he shifted his hand lower to the bolt sticking out of her back and wrapped his fingers around its base, trying to block the flow of blood from the wound so the trail wouldn’t give them away. His fur was fortunately good for that.
“Sorry.” He apologized roughly for the pain he knew he was causing but it couldn’t be helped. A few more moments and they’d be beyond the walls and in the grasslands, where they could find a nice valley among the rolling hills to rest in. Or perhaps make it to the ruins, that would certainly be a feat for someone with a crossbow bolt sticking out of their torso. Carjen didn’t hold his breath for that one. "I mean I'm not sorry. This was not included in the plan for this job."
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Fireball for Hire
Straight.
Single.
Hybrid
Authored by Illyrianna.
Offline.
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Post by Ruthalla Elanan on Feb 6, 2018 22:50:54 GMT
Ruth went along as best she could, though a part of her was aware the werecat had to stoop pretty low to help her keep going. Still, she considered getting shot to be his fault entirely, and wasn't about to forget that he still murdered someone, so she thought it apt for him to suffer a little. After all, she was doing a lot of that as they began moving, every step sending a jolt of pain through her back. Stoically, she grit her teeth over it and kept one foot in front of the other.
The gate came up in front of them shortly, but Ruth didn't consider not going directly towards it like her companion did. Even with a clear head she probably wouldn't have, too used to dealing with her threats directly. With her draconic lineage, hiding and sneaking about never even came up as options up until now.
So she was mightily surprised when the werecat dragged her off into a side-alley instead, summoning a low hiss from her. For a moment, as they dove into the dark pathway, she wondered if the man had simply dragged her off just so he could dispose of her, and thus the only true witness to the murder. If that were the case, she realized there was little she could actually do. True, he would have one hell of a fight on his hands if he thought she'd go quietly, but survival seemed unlikely all the same.
Ruth flinched as the cat moved one of his hands to the bolt in her back, summoning a curse from the hybrid at even more pain. It scattered her thoughts for the moment, the following apology stunning her mind further. It sounded genuine, though the werecat retracted it a moment later.
That one got her blood boiling once more, perhaps even irrationally. "Oh screw your sorry." She growled at him, voice rife with pain. "And screw your plan. And your job, too." She went on, her words getting a touch slurry as her anger faded, and with it what little strength she could muster.
Still, Ruth had enough mind to remember they were trying to pass the gate stealthily, so after that tiny bout of anger she remained silent, moving as best she could.
Things went by in a blur from then on. She didn't know how much time went by before they were out of the city and well away from prying eyes, but in a moment of clarity she decided it was too much nonetheless. The woman jerked back, motion groggy as she tried to pull them both to a sudden stop. She doubted that she could truly do that, considering that at that point he was practically half-carrying her, but she still tried.
"Stop." Ruth hissed at him. "For the love of... Hold up." She slurred, shaking her head to try and clear it up some more. It didn't help. "I'm losing too much blood. Move your paw." The hybrid demanded, not waiting before she practically swatted his hand away from the bolt to press her own hand against it. A bit of fire magic, and a growling curse from the woman later, and the wound was burned shut. It wasn't a perfect solution. It wasn't even a good one, all things considered, but it was something.
"Get me to a healer." Ruth rumbled, still trying to command but growing too weak for it to truly hold weight. "And then... we're going to have a talk... about that... thing you did." She said and thought she felt herself being lifted off the ground, world promptly spinning before it sank into darkness.
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Nobleman/Leatherworker
Heteroflexible.
Single.
Werebeast
Authored by The X-Ray Dog.
Offline.
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Post by Carjen Brando on Feb 8, 2018 22:52:33 GMT
Carjen took the insults on the chin like a champ, not even once considering leaving the woman on the side of the road to bleed out or anything. They weren’t really creative enough to impress him, if he flew off the handle at every ‘screw you’ he’d be in the stratosphere all day. He did level her with a look, lowering his brow like he was preparing to say something, but a shadow passed over them and he started into silence, pausing where they stood, crouching lowly to avoid being seen as some guardsmen passed by. Judging by their lofty armor, they were the gatesmen, headed back the way they’d come to investigate the flames probably. Perfect. He waited until their clanking footsteps grew faint before stepping out into the street again and dragging the hybrid the rest of the way through the gate unseen.
He didn’t stop once they’d cleared the walls. He followed the road some ways before randomly veering off of it to avoid being followed, stumbling off through the tall grass to one side and through a thicket of trees and out the other side. He wasn’t going anywhere specific, just away in a generally random direction to make sure they were difficult to track. Their pace was slowing, the guards would search the area for them soon and they needed to get away as fast as they could, as far away as they could.
Carjen was in the middle of wracking his mind for a solution when feet planted into the ground heavily and he had to stumble to a stop. He turned to his companion, confused, watching dumbly as she swatted his hand away from her wound and, with more mind numbing magic, cauterized it herself. That probably would’ve done them good to do much sooner, it would’ve stopped the blood flow more efficiently than holding it did and for a moment he was miffed that she hadn’t suggested it sooner. He made a face at her and went to say something but stopped himself when he noticed what bad shape she was in. Again, he felt it. That guilt, that respect he had for justice and the admiration he couldn’t help but feel for the woman who stood for it so powerfully, so selflessly. It sort of tore him in twain, part of him annoyed at the woman for interrupting his task for the night and becoming such baggage so quickly, while the rest of him wanted to just shut up and help her. He growled quietly to himself and ran a set of claws through his hair to calm himself.
“My keep is only a ways off. We can get you patched up there, Dynrir is no healer but he knows how to deal with battle wounds and crossbow bolts, he’ll be good enough for this.”
Taking a moment to survey the area, the werebeast found himself confused as to how exactly he was going to get the injured hybrid home in this state. She was too weak to walk the whole way there and he didn’t have his horse Manus with him, he didn’t bring his steed with him on missions like this. Looking around, a little lost, he paced momentarily, thinking, muttering to himself before seeming to come to a conclusion. He came to a stop in his nervous fidgeting, paused to take in a good lungful of cool night air to calm his nerves and keep him on the right track. He’d done enough wrong today, he was not going to do wrong by this woman too, not yet anyway. Perhaps later, when he’d racked up some karma.
As he breathed out, his whole body seemed to sink into the movement, not just his chest heaving but his whole form, limbs twisting and his skin rippling like water as things rearranged themselves underneath. His armor didn’t shred but instead shrank into a collar of sorts, retracting like a machine, folding up along his back and arms and into a neckpiece that, once he was finished and came to a stop again, hung snug and well fitted around his neck, chainmail dangling. He stood proud and comfortable the largest panther anyone had ever seen, easily almost four feet tall at his shoulder and well above the woman’s waist at his back. His fur was sleek and inky black with only the shadow of spots showing up along his flank and sides, barely visible in the moonlight. His eyes were still their natural haunting green. He turned his side to her, tail flagging confidently.
“Hop on.” His mental voice invited calmly as if riding on his back would be the most natural thing in the world. “We’ve got no time to lose. I can get us there in less than an hour, just hold on tight.”
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