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Post by JUNIPER ?! on Apr 5, 2010 19:58:21 GMT
It was times like this, quiet, calm times, that Akane could actually think clearly. The absence of the regular sounds of the village that was her home had grown silent, and, to her sensitive ears, it was golden. There was the occasional chirp of crickets and snap of a twig underneath her footsteps, though other than that, it was silent. The hanyou had long since become accustomed to the white noise that came with superior hearing; the wind was impossible to ignore when she was younger, and her hearing was developing. Not to mention the scents inside the village were overwhelming. She had considered them a nuisance, though she couldn't imagine living without them now. The appendages atop her head swiveled as she thought this, catching sounds that would be impossible to hear in human standards. She paused, foot in mid-air, before yawning in her boredom, letting her eyelids fall in a slow blink before continuing.
She adjusted her course to head home, unconsciously beginning to step lightly as the familiar dark shapes of the huts became visible. She may have been the only hanyou in the village, but she most certainly wasn't the only canine. There were dogs in the village who hadn't taken a liking to her, automatically fearing the lupine heritage that she possessed as something foreign. They rarely threatened her; she was able to snarl louder than any of them, though she generally took measures so she wouldn't have to put up with their incessant racket.
She passed into the village silently, the faint light of the waxing moon providing her with light needed in order to recognize everything that stood in her way. She stood quietly over the sleeping figure of one of the village dogs, curling her lip and uttering a low growl, though why she did it, she didn’t know, that made the creature stir in his sleep. She sighed imperceptibly to herself, silently weaving in and out of the houses in a routine that was rarely broken every night. The time of the month in which her blood became fully human was on its way. It surprised her, actually, when her heart skipped a beat in tense excitement. When that happened, nobody recognized her as the part-wolf that lived on the outskirts; she could simply be a wandering traveler. Although it was difficult to keep up the facade, it was enjoyable, and provided a change.
The ookami hanyou blinked, stopping her slow procession as the wind shifted. She was used to this happening every night, though she made certain to scent the air thoroughly for any change. When she was sure there was none, she began walking again, gliding between the houses like a shadow. She could hear the deep breathing of everyone as they slept; the rustle of cloth as the rising and falling of their chests disturbed the material that covered them made her twitch an ear lazily. Weak things, she always told herself, if just for comfort. It amazed her how easily she could sneak in and slit their throats.
' Although, ' she told herself resignedly, stopping a moment, to press her ear to a random door, ' They wouldn't have any qualms in blaming me for someone dying. Even of old age or a natural cause. ' She snorted to herself and stopped, for it sounded embarrassingly canine, and cleared her throat awkwardly. Though she had been in this body for over a decade, she had yet to learn its limits and strengths. She had learned from an early age that she possessed supernatural abilities; she had almost broken the arm of a father who had threatened her mother on one occasion. Idly the teen wondered if the elderly woman was doing alright. The process she was doing was so routine and familiar that she didn't notice the sudden shift in the wind or the small, instinctual voice in the back of her mind that told her to be careful.
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word count; 659
notes; Excuse teh suckishness. |D So, this is open for anyone. Mebbe just one person, though? |
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Post by SLACKER on Apr 5, 2010 23:08:43 GMT
All our secrets they are tailored trouble
draped loose now around your hips [/color]
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day… Oh that there might be some diversion, some slight distraction, one simple incident, that would shake up that petty pace, that slow, drudging crawl from one day into the next. Life was meant to be a game, an exciting turn of one event into the next, yet today it fell so very short of that. If only a single incident might break the surface tension of this glass-like, peaceful lake of a day, and send ripples rushing across its surface, upsetting the balance of peace which was entirely too at ease upon it. If only.
Yet wishing was useless; a meaningless pastime meant for the weak who were unable to change things on their own strength. Wishing was not for her. She would not sit back only to hope that a single incident might wring some interest from this dull day, oh no, she would be the catalyst for that incident, she would be the one to seek it out and set it in motion. No, wishing was not for her; acting was far more entertaining, and far more suited to one such as she. Acting; she gives a brief, soft laugh; oh yes, acting was, indeed, so very suited to her.
A twinge of pain disrupts her thoughts; the shaking of her quiet laughter has disturbed her companion, and his retaliation is made clear through the talons which rest on her shoulder. A grimace passes briefly over her face, before she hides it again behind the soft mask of the priestess these poor, foolish villagers believed her to be. She reaches a hand up, lightly strokes her fingers across the feathers of the hawk perched upon her shoulder, and lets the hand drop. Must you be so testy today, Kirit? A quiet murmur, her lips hardly moving; the villagers cannot see the shikigami, and she hardly wishes to appear insane. A light shifting of his weight, a sharp clack of his sharp beak, is all the reward she gets for her efforts, and she turns her attention away from the creature.
Ah, a brief, passing thought, perhaps dear Kirit is not simply being irritable… A soft smile, the barest hint of an expression, touches her lips where a cruel smirk is wanted, but kept hidden for the sake of the act. She pauses in her unhurried walk, head tilting slightly as she observes the scene before her. Her hand lifts again, and she absent mindedly strokes the raptor resting upon her shoulder; hardly amused by the contact, the creature tolerates it only a moment before it pecks sharply at the unwanted hand, and she lets her arm drop, passing a quick glare to the creature out of the corner of her eye. Fair enough, she murmurs, before turning her attention forward again.
Acting, yes, now was the time for acting; she steps forward, resumes her slow pace, but her steps give evidence to a more guarded manner, to cautions being taken—after all, she is a priestess, or so she should appear, and what priestess is the friend of demons? Another soft smile, brief in life before she cleanses it from her expression. The talons on her shoulder shift, each claw tapping lightly as the hawk shifts its weight from one talon to the other, eager for an order; yet no order comes, and it settles to wait.
”My, my,” her voice is soft, yet given now more volume, and allowed to carry on the wind so that others might hear beyond the hawk upon her shoulder. She stops again, leaving a buffer between herself and the canine; a few feet only, but she is sure it is enough. ”I was not told that this village was plagued by a demon. Tell me, what are you doing here?”
Sarisha
629
quote from Macbeth
>.> my characters seem to have an obsession with Shakespeare of late xD and gah, it has been entirely too long since I’ve had a female character; takes some getting used to, haha |
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Post by JUNIPER ?! on Apr 6, 2010 0:40:56 GMT
To be rather honest, she was so engrossed in listening to the creatures inside the house that her face, to one who could see it, held a rather peculiar expression. Ears erect and pricked forward, her intent expression as she listened to the human's breathing inside their wooden home rivaled that of a predator waiting in silence. The appendages atop her head twitched minutely with every breath, registering the sound of their blood pulsing through their breath with every heartbeat. The half-demon frowned; in comparison to her own heartbeat, the human's body rhythm was much faster, even considering it had lulled while they slept. Things such as that puzzled her and with a final sigh, she flicked her tail and took a step backward, intending to finish her round of the small village and perhaps return to her mother's hut. What she wasn't expecting, however, was a human voice. Fearing she had been caught out, or something else along the same lines, she whirled, bristling, a low growl whispering past her teeth.
The appearance of the woman startled her into quiescence for a moment as she took in as much information about her as she could, her knees bent ever so slightly in case she was needed to flee. The human woman looked kind, gentle even, though there was simply something about her that put Akane on edge, despite how much she wanted to look calm. She blinked as the woman spoke, feeling slightly offended.
" I don't think plaguing is an appropriate word. " Her tone was unnecessarily sharp, though she did not mean for it to be. Being caught off guard was something she was not used to, and she was still bristling from the surprise of it. She gave herself a mental kick; she should have known better than to have allowed a human, of all things, to have sneaked up on her. Her ears twitched as she regarded the human, amber eyes bright in the dark veil that was night-time. Then again, she had the distinct feeling that this certainly wasn't just a normal human. There was a power radiating off her that made her reluctant to relax around her. She took a guarded step to the right, keeping her eyes on the raven haired ningen. Her tail lifted as she sought to answer the human, her ears moving forward as she focused almost aggressively on her.
" I should ask you the same question. " She said lowly, something inside her telling her to get irritated that this human dare ask her what she was doing on her own territory. She tried to keep her gaze passive, though her forehead was etched with deep lines as she frowned. " I live in this village. " She inhaled deeply again, though the hanyou tried not to let it show. She was almost certain of it now; something was quite off about this human, though she couldn't place it. Akane took another step to the side again, determined to step into a more open area. Right now she felt both cornered and distinctly ill-at-ease.
" May I ask what you're doing here so late at night? " She gave a small smile, though her eyes were hard. She found herself relaxing as the human did nothing so far that endangered her, though she kept her guard up. For all she knew, her instincts were overreacting and this woman was simply a traveler looking for a place to stay. Then again, though they mislead her often, they were never wrong. - - - word count; 588 notes; ahh, it's fine. :3 I found no fault. xD |
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Post by SLACKER on Apr 6, 2010 1:28:48 GMT
All our secrets they are tailored trouble
draped loose now around your hips [/color]
It certainly was refreshing, this chance at something, anything, happening, this speck of drama in this peaceful—too peaceful, at that—little town. The villagers here merely followed blindly the lighted path to dusty death, that flickering candle that is the daylight, the unreliable sun which came and went as it pleased, hid itself behind clouds, and surrendered itself to the moon. Never did they seem to realize the monotony of their lives, or wish for anything else. Nor did she, wish, that is; but she acted for something more, pursued something more, something which she doubted these villagers capable of even understanding. But she understood the need to find activity, to find things of interest. Oh yes, it was refreshing indeed to find her searching, meandering travel had brought something about, had granted her that ‘something more’ she so sought.
Her gaze wandered briefly astray from the canine creature, taking in the surroundings of the darkened village, before returning abruptly to the object of interest, and, by the looks of it, possible threat. Touchy, touchy, a brief thought, passing, and gone, but it brings its own smile, soft and hardly noticeable, to her lips. The smile, small as it is, is the only response she deigns to give the growl which leaves the demon’s mouth. Kirit, however, is not so calm; bristling himself at the threat, the hawk stretches his wings back and out, flaps them slightly in a show of size, and then folds them again, his sharp eyes ever on the demon. Yet the show is seen only by his master; if the demon has not noticed him yet, then he will remain unnoticed.
She does not let the show distract her, however, as her own violet eyes remain trained on the demon; feeling more than seeing the display her shikigami has put on. She takes comfort in his presence, in the reminder of her powers that he is, and meets the demon’s gaze, the barest of challenges in her gaze. Her head tilts slightly as she listens to the demon, and her smile widens slightly, still only a soft smile, though it aspires to be a cruel smirk. Touch a nerve, did I? She allows her eyes to wander again, a brief trip about the surroundings, before she concentrates again on her latest toy, unwilling to let the tense creature out of her sight for long.
”Oh? Are you sure? I’m afraid most would have to disagree with you. Your kind tend to bring nothing but trouble, don’t you agree?” She walks a fine line, she knows, uttering these words; what priestess taunts as such? Yet she is not so very worried; what human would believe a demon’s word over her own? She is willing to take the risk for some enjoyment, for the chance to break the monotony of the day, that dull, crawling passage of time. Oh yes, this risk is well worth it.
She follows the demon’s cautious movements, with eyes at first, then head, and finally body, as she shifts her feet to remain facing the demon—her own precaution for dealing with so high-strung a demon. Self preservation was ever the forefront of her thoughts; fun could easily come after that. After all, what fun would lie in death? No, she’d not risk that; but she would enjoy herself until it came to such.
She fights back a smirk as the demon continues to speak; ah-ha. A half demon, perhaps? Or at best a rather weak demon, to be living in a human village. How refreshing, indeed, this little meeting, this break in the humdrum routine, this ripple which was passing ever so quickly across the water’s surface. Best not to let it pass, now, else she’ll miss all the fun, and that wouldn’t do, not at all.
She lets the canine finish speaking, merely observing for the moment, noting the tension which grips her lithe body; a cautious one, very cautious. And how many lesser demons exercised caution? So few, so few; half demon it is, then, and she fights again the will to smirk, appeasing her amusement with that same soft smile, deceivingly innocent, deceivingly sweet. Go ahead, dear, I’m just a passing priestess, you can trust me. If only she could laugh at the trick, but how appropriate would that be? There’ll be plenty of time for that later, she is sure; she’ll make a point of running this little encounter over again, detail for detail, so that she can properly enjoy it later.
”Well, my apologies; it is not often I encounter demons who make a home in villages,” a pause, her lips twitch in a brief smirk before she quells it and speaks again, ”But, perhaps that’s because you’re not a demon. Not a full one, anyways. Do tell me if that’s the case.” Risky, risky, risky; she’d had her fun for now, best not to anger the creature too much—after all, she hardly wishes to fight, especially while standing so close. Let the canine continue lengthening the distance, she’ll happily take the advantage that distance grants her. ”Why certainly, you can ask. I am simply a wandering priestess, and I’m afraid I wandered a bit more slowly than I realized, for I had intended to reach this village rather sooner than I did.” She pauses, takes the chance to phrase her words, then adds, ”Surely that’s not a crime, now is it?”
Sarisha
909
more Macbeth references splattered about in there somewhere
why thank you ^^ |
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Post by JUNIPER ?! on Apr 6, 2010 21:41:10 GMT
She stopped her cautious retreat as movement caught her interest. Stiffening again in surprised, the half demon turned her narrowed eyes onto the woman's shoulder; though there was nothing there, she kept a trained ear on that particular part of the human as her amber gaze focused on the woman. This human was something else; she was meeting her own bronzed eyes with a dark gaze that sent an icy shiver up her spine. Resisting the urge to curl her lip, the part wolf simply met her head on, staring back coldly and determinedly, as if the first to look away would be the one to yield. She felt her irritation rising; after all, who was this stranger, coming to her village dead at night and openly challenging her authority? The rational part of the hanyou's mind told her to think things through, that the human was making no such challenge; and yet there was a part of her that rebelled violently against such thoughts.
Her eyes flickered to the distance between them now; she was out in the open, no longer sandwiched between the two huts. Keeping her eyes trained for any sudden movement, the guarded half demon took another step back, trying to widen the distance between herself and the strange ningen even further. She looked up as the woman spoke, a tad distracted, though she couldn't help the small growl that came forth as she replied.
" And your opinions are your own, as are theirs. " She replied brusquely, her ears tilting back. Incorporated into her speech was a low growl, barely perceivable, though it comforted her into keeping calm. " I suggest you keep them to yourself. " She snapped, growing more defensive the more time she spent with this human. Her nerves were flayed open and it made her feel vulnerable, not to mention, once again, that there was something about this human that made her seem dangerous, despite the sickly sweet scent that came from her and the gentle smile. She was resisting the overwhelming urge to walk away, as she always did when one questioned her like this, though she was unwilling to turn her back to the human. The half demon shifted her weight onto one foot uncomfortably, her eyes flickering from place to place. Perhaps she could make the leap.
The human smiled then, an overwhelmingly sweet expression, and the human side of her was soothed, though she remained antsy. The ears atop her head twitched as the other spoke again, facing forward for a brief moment of curiosity before tilting backward again. The half demon's actions were broadcasting nervous alertness, and, in an action to make her seem more confident, she tilted her head up ever so slightly, crossing her arms across her chest. Her eyes flashed sharply in brief surprise before she covered it with a slow blink. How could the human have known she was half-demon? Sure, her ears and tail were giveaways, but a lot of middle-class demons also carried those traits. Unsure now, she didn't know whether to feel anger, curiosity or suspicion. She settled for the latter, fixing the woman with a cold glare. She had no thoughts of perhaps becoming friendly with the human now; in the half demon's eyes, she radiated utter danger, and she was so unlike her mother that she doubted they would get along, anyway. She kept her mouth shut in a stony silence, determined to keep the human in the dark about her heritage.
Akane blinked as the woman spoke again, her tail twitching ever so slightly in her learning of this new information. A priestess? She exhaled quietly, a short puff of air that crystallized into a clear white vapor and floated away. That explained a lot. Priestesses weren't known to be friendly to demons such as her, having purifying powers that could vaporize them in an instant. She bristled in brief alarm, taking another step back while she growled again, louder, to reassure herself. Her mother had told her about wandering priestesses, who sometimes were offered a living from purging demons from small villages such as theirs. Having never encountered one before, she was feeling two potent emotions; curiosity and cold, unreasoning fear.
She exhaled sharply again at the woman's questioning tone, her cat-like pupils dilated as she took in every detail of this priestess. Surely she wouldn't attack now? Still, the instinct of self-preservation made her tense, her muscles trembling as she prepared herself to run. She knew that she was confident in her abilities to fight, but she was rather certain that she wouldn't hold up for one minute against a priestess.
" It's not a crime. " She replied lowly, her ears twitching again as she focused sharply on the woman. Any sign of an attack and she'd be gone. Still, she couldn't help the rising instincts that made it seem like the woman was invading on her territory; it certainly wasn't a feeling she enjoyed. She uttered a low growl before she responded again, her expression quite like one of a wild animal backed into a corner. " I doubt the villagers would be pleased at you waking them up so late at night. " She began, her ears revolving around her head to check that the villagers were indeed asleep. Perhaps that was a lie; they would probably be more than pleased to suck up to a wandering priestess. " Perhaps make yourself a bed of leaves in the forest? " She offered, her voice carrying the smallest challenge. Running away was beginning to look cowardly.
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word count; 929
notes; Sorry if this seems a little... vague. XD I'm still trying to get used to my character. ^^;; |
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Post by SLACKER on Apr 6, 2010 23:10:53 GMT
All our secrets they are tailored trouble
draped loose now around your hips [/color]
A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage… Fret on, dearie, fret on, strut about and perform your little show, dance for the audience, amuse them with your comedic foolishness; it’ll all add to nothing in the end, but continue, oh, do continue, for the audience is waiting, and the show must go on. A toy alone, this prancing little actress, this canine-esque hanyou, a pretty doll in the hands of this faux priestess, this puppeteer pulling first one string and then another, adding to the confusion which kept her so ill-at-ease. Oh what fun, indeed, this little incident; risky, true, but arrogance did wonders for doing away with such concerns, freeing the imposter to enjoy this little show. Tease and taunt, then wipe away fears with a disarming smile; a challenge, a risk, and oh so much fun.
Yet the growl which issued forth in the canine’s words worked wonders of its own; so low, so hardly audible, yet so quickly noticed, to one listening carefully. So quickly noticed, and even more quickly responded to; caution, it advised, and caution she would take. One who plays with fire is most certainly asking to get burned; she would play, oh yes, for she demanded fun, but she knew well when to retreat before the flames licked higher, before the fire might lash out. The challenge lay in the taunting; to back down was less than child’s play, a mere part of the act which, she felt, she had long since perfected. ”My apologies, my dear, I didn’t mean to offend you,” lies drip like honey from her tongue, her best developed and most often employed weapon, ”Although, I’m sure, you realize how many people believe such. In any case, I won’t bring it up again, and perhaps you can forgive me, deal?”
Disarming smile returned again to its throne upon her lips, chasing away the passing words, completing the act which gave the lie its strength. A mistake, a simple mistake, an incorrect assumption; with any luck, that was all the canine would see, and the taunt would die with that, leaving the act to live on in safety, leaving her unharmed. A game; all of it was so simply just a game—make the right moves, place the pawns strategically, and follow through with knights and rooks and bishops, and all went smoothly, all went without a hitch. The thrill was in the unknown, in the opponent, yet even the most threatening opponents could fall prey to a skilled strategist. A game, and one she prided herself at, one she enjoyed thoroughly. To the best strategists, the opponent itself becomes merely a pawn upon the board; fret on, dearie, fret on, and eventually you’ll find your place in the puppeteer’s control, playing along like the obedient pup you’re meant to be.
Yet even arrogance as great as hers will fade rapidly when chased by danger; pricks of pain do their part in shaking her from her reverie, and she glances sidelong at the hawk, tensely perched upon her shoulder. He has shifted again, unnerved by the growls, by the tension which remains in the canine, even now she has reached an opening. Faux priestess returns her gaze to the hanyou, distraction driven off by the shikigami’s movements, attention trained upon the moment at hand. Perhaps it was for the best, the fading of her delusional thoughts, of her arrogant fantasies, for the canine was speaking again, and it would certainly have been a shame for her to have missed the words.
She lifts a hand as she listens, moves as though to brush her hair aside, a well-practiced act which allowed her to brush her fingers lightly across the feathers of her shikigami, willing him to settle down, hoping he might relieve his ever tightening grip upon her shoulder. The pain was distraction enough, far more potent than her own winding thoughts; she couldn’t concentrate with his talons digging into her flesh, and that simply wouldn’t do at all. A clack of his beak is, at first, the best she receives for her effort, yet, as her hand falls back to her side, she feels the grip loosen, and finds she can concentrate on the words once again.
She is no stranger to subtlety, no stranger to concealed challenges and calm little taunts; no, she reveled in such—did this little pup truly intend to beat her at her own game? Or perhaps it was merely her need for fun, superimposing the hidden challenge upon the canine’s words. Yet she was prepared to rise to it, regardless the source, regardless of the risk—it was simply too much fun to pass up, this little game.
Her lips turn down, a soft pout forming upon her face, an innocent look of disappointment, another part of the act. ”Oh? That is a shame; I do wish I had walked faster, it would have saved me such trouble…” Words are soft, playing into the act, a mere murmur of regret, only half meant to be heard; but she knew well they would be. ”Sleeping outside; it’s simply so uncouth, and so very worrisome, being without any shelter.” A long sigh escapes, following the words closely, as though truly despairing at the thought of being without shelter. She drops her gaze, a calm expression of consideration slowly replacing the frown on her lips. One moment, two, another for good measure, and she suddenly looks up with a broad smile on her face, again meeting the canine’s eyes.
”I know! I simply couldn’t wake the villagers, but you, why, you’re already awake!” Her excitement is hushed, as though she truly did fear waking the villagers, but her smile is without restraints, friendly and inviting. ”I really do hate to impose, but surely you’d be willing to share just a corner of your home?” A sharp clack of the beak made her aware of Kirit’s feelings on the matter, but she ignored the shikigami’s discomfort; the creature had no need for sleep, and as long as he kept watch, she was certain she had nothing to fear from sleeping so near this testy hanyou. And oh, how fun it could be, forcing hospitality from the very same one she had already offended. Unwilling to let the opportunity pass, she spoke again, her words passing through curled lips as her smile refused to retreat, ”I’m sure I can find some way of repaying your kindness; there is always so much which needs doing, after all.”
Sarisha
1082
Nope, you’re fine ^^ I didn’t find it vague at all; it just seems like Akane’s a bit indecisive, which is, I’m sure, more Sari’s doing than anything, haha |
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Post by JUNIPER ?! on Apr 25, 2010 19:53:17 GMT
 it's a thief in the night to come and grab youit can creep up inside you and consume youa disease of the mind, it can control youit's too close for comfort- - -
The guarded hanyou shifted uncomfortably onto her other foot as she listened to the woman aptly. She felt a touch of irritation that the woman was daring to make a deal with her, of all things. If it wasn't enough that she had meandered into her homely little village in the middle of the night, the priestess was now beginning to get under her skin. Although it was fair to say she couldn't possibly be doing it purposely, the half-demon gave a small grumble, snorting again and flicking her ears irritably before replying.
" Deal, miko-sama. " Her voice reluctant, Akane settled herself into a stony silence, her back rigid. Amber eyes glowing in the darkness, she allowed them to narrow, not bothering to hide her examination of the priestess before her. She had yet to find out how she could possibly know she was a half-demon. Other youkai had no trouble in discerning her heritage; they generally tended to have an excellent sense of smell which always gave her away. Tail flicking, she blinked again as a shadowy movement caught her eye, though it seemed to vanish as the priestess moved her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair away from her face. Feeling distinctly ill-at-ease, the hanyou glared at the woman's shoulder nervously before facing the priestess again. By all means, their position was similar to a stand off, and neither was willing to back down. She quickly hid her smirk as the woman replied to her little taunt.
" Uncouth? I do it all the time. " Akane gave a casual shrug, still refusing to drop her arms from their crossed position across her chest. She gave a small sigh of satisfaction as the woman dropped her head, taking it as a sign of submission from the human. Although her mother was, generally, the only one who understood her instinctual little urges, and she was still in the process of understanding them, they had helped her from time to time, and this was no exception. The sight of the woman dropped her gaze made her considerably calmer, and she had a moment to think to herself. Although the priestess not doing anything to harm her yet was hardly a reason to trust her, the regret in the other's voice made the half-demon let her guard down ever so slightly, a small frown on her face. However, the woman;s next intonation caught Akane completely by surprise.
Visibly paling, her ears twitching in discomfort, she thought over her situation. The woman was asking her shelter? The fact that she had offended the hanyou only moments before made it hard to absorb, not to mention the woman was a priestess, seeming completely willing to share sleeping space with a half-demon such as herself. She tensed up again, taking one step forward and giving the woman a hard stare. The miko gave no reason for Akane to fear her, yet bringing a complete stranger into her home seemed quite the idiotic thing to do. Not to mention she had no idea how her mother would react to such a thing. She didn't even know if there was space in their tiny hut for an extra person.
' I suppose it couldn't hurt... ' She told herself reluctantly, raising her chin higher as she considered the woman's request. She seemed adamant that she would repay her, yet the hanyou had no idea what she could ask of the woman. Sure, she was a priestess, probably excelling in purifying things, but she doubted getting their house blessed would have a very nice impact on her youki. She shuddered at the thought, giving a final huff as she opened her mouth to answer. If she told her mother about this, she had the distinct feeling that the elderly woman would be disappointed in her, and that wasn't a very appealing thought to the teen. Besides, she could always sleep outside. If there was an ounce of trouble she could kick the priestess out, simple as that. Feeling reassured, she gave the miko her answer.
" Follow me, then. " She grunted, letting her arms drop to her side as she strode ahead of the priestess, towards the forest surrounding the small village. She didn't cast a glance over her shoulder as she walked, simply allowing her ears to to a ninty degree turn and listen to the miko's movements. The hanyou was unbelievably tense, and the feeling of having such a strange, and most likely powerful, human at her back made her instincts cringe. It took about five steps of walking before she finally halted, dipping into a low crouch and bunching her legs before releasing, aiming her leap toward the roof of a nearby hut. She landed nimbly, bending her knees and balancing herself by placing both palms on the cool wood so as to make as little noise as possible. She straightened, amber eyes seeming to glow in a predatory manner before looking down at the woman.
" Just keep going in that direction. " She called, gesturing to the well-worn path that led away from the village. " Our hut is on the outskirts, so don't think this is some sort of a trick. " Her voice held a friendly jibe to it, though the hanyou was rather serious. " I'm not gonna attack you or anythin'. "
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( word count ) 892
( notes ) huhr. lateness is inexcusable. |D;;;;
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Post by SLACKER on Apr 26, 2010 18:55:43 GMT
All our secrets they are tailored trouble
draped loose now around your hips [/color]
Look into the seeds of time, and say which will grow, and which will not… How often it was, she felt as though such a power were hers, as though she could, at but a glance, determine the fate of all those she met, of all events she encountered and laid eyes upon. How often, indeed, did she feel as though time itself were so predictable, as though the cycle upon which all events seemed to take place merely granted time an air of predictability, as though, if one so simply looked, they could always see, could always divine, could always know. That crawling pace of day to day seemed so often so uneventful, as though never could a surprise come leaping from that slow-lurking beast, as though the very idea was unthinkable, absurd, even fantastical in nature—a mere story alone could bring about such a thing, and even then, scripted by those sunk knee-deep and beyond into the dull pace of day-to-day, even then, such surprises were inadequate at best. Indeed, it was very often that she fancied the future clear for all to know, if only they would take the time to look; and oh, of course, she would do so.
Yet even she must realize, as reality’s cold embrace collapses around her as it does around all things, that even she cannot see the future so clearly. She may guess and predict and play at divination, may act as though all people are so entirely predictable, but even she will come across surprises, for even she is not so perfectly capable of discerning the fates of the seeds of time. Yet now was not yet the time for admitting herself so weak, so impotent; no, she continued her delusional fancies, continued to predict how this little incident would play out, refusing to allow herself to feel surprise, even when surprise ought have been called for; after all, admitting surprise would be to admit she had been wrong, she had guess or predicted falsely, and she could hardly allow that, no, not at all.
It seems her arrogant fantasies are not to be banished for long, as tricky to remove as mice who dodge the traps set out for them, or webs which linger on the hand which is meant to pull them free. Clinging, then, her delusions, and cling they still do, entangling her as surely as she meant to enwrap this unfortunate hanyou in her own web of lies and deceptions, her well-versed act. And they cling well, these delusions and fanatical ramblings of her arrogant mind, so that she believes every word spoken so stonily by the half-demon to have been known to her long before they were voiced—poor, pitiable fool, so enthralled in this arrogance. But cunning serves her well, and caution weaves itself amongst the arrogance, sparing her a moment more from a harsh punishment for the crime of pride.
”Oh, wonderful,” the words leak like honey from her mouth, her hands clapping quietly together in restrained excitement—ever the considerate one, so concerned for the poor, slumbering humans, unaware of the snake in their midst. ”I just knew you could forgive me,” broad smile accents the words, as though pure naïveté would have her see the best in all, would believe that all would simply adore her. Only Kirit does not play along with the act, a faint look of disgust entering his sharp eyes; dismissed by the woman and unseen by the hanyou, his complaint goes ignored.
Her head slides to the side at the next words, a look of mixed curiosity and pity forming upon her face. ”Why, you poor thing; but isn’t it just awful having to sleep outside of shelter? How could you stand to do it so often?” Yet she does not expect an answer, oh no, for she sees the warring effects of the canine’s considerations, the changes which flit across her expression as she struggles to decide whether to take pity upon this irksome human—oh, dearie, how sweet of you, being so kind even when I’ve been so wretched! It is a will of steel which halts the smirk which threatens to show upon her face.
Yet the excitement which pulses upon her face a moment later takes little effort at all, so little an act is it—oh, what fun this is, indeed! A broad smile spread across her face again, and she bows slightly as she gives her thanks, ignoring the disgruntled hawk who finds himself disturbed by the action. ”Oh, I can’t tell you how grateful I am—“ but she gets no further, and instead must hurry to keep up with the retreating canine, who has wasted no time in setting out. ”Really, thank you, dear. I promise I’ll find some way to repay you!” She continued to her escort’s back, though only her voice continued the act, her face sliding into a smirk.
Yet even this was not meant to last, for an expression of feigned surprise alighted next on her face—perhaps not so very much feigned, though she would hardly admit that to herself—and her gaze hastened to follow the canine’s arcing path onto a nearby roof. Mirroring her unease, the hawk on her shoulder nearly took flight, but settled a moment later when the hanyou, too, had ceased to move. His angry shrill calls were heard only by his mistress, who took care not to show her irritation.
”Oh!” the exclamation slides with ease of practice from her lips, as every other line has done in this well-scripted little meeting, ”Dear, you should be careful; you might hurt yourself, jumping about like that!” A pause, and she glances down the offered path, considers a moment, and glances back at the canine. ”Oh, I’m sure you wouldn’t, my dear, but where will you go? It is awful late, shouldn’t you be getting home, as well?” Another pause, and she is ready to rise to the bait, unwilling to lose face even in this lowly half-demon’s eyes. ”But… if you insist…” and she lets the words trail off, just as her feet carry her on down the path. However, her attention remains on the hanyou, as does that of Kirit, and her pace is comfortably slow; she can only hope it is inviting enough to entice the canine to follow.
Sarisha
1050
lyrics © taking back Sunday (have I not been crediting them? =o) quote from Macbeth
No worries on lateness ^^ And yay, muse! …although, it kinda died there at the end… whooo, I think I need to go lay back down, Rofl |
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