Sin With a Grin (Omen)

[Catalyst Echo]

Chapter 1
Part 2
11:27 PM
Cloudy, cold

Amber was such a lovely color. Such a deep, dark brown, with a seductive hint of gold should've been reserved for the finest of things...like....like...

Well, if he could think of fine things right now, he would have colored them amber. The room absolutely spun before his eyes, an inconsequential blur of numbed faces. Conversation buzzed in a cluttered cacophony of guttural grunts and mirthful curses, rising from the tables around him. Grime caked the walls with God-only-knew what kind of substances. But none of that really mattered right now. No, all that mattered was the swirling amber spirit sloshing around in his mug right now. A lazy smile flowed over over the blacksmith's bearded visage, and he took another deep draught.

Compared to the colossal, rough-housing forms of the lawless, Eveyto looked fairly inconspicuous at his little table, form hunched, hair hanging in his eyes, gauntlets only half-tied. The vial of venom around his neck hung suspended, spinning as Eveyto leaned over further. Swinging and constantly fluctuating, the light above caught the glass on occasion, giving the bubbling liquid a neon glint.

Warmth feathered its way its way out from the pit of his stomach, making a growl burn in his throat. Halogehn's finest tavern offered not only some damn good drink, but several wonderful prospects of those less than content with the system. His eyes practically glittered, bloodshot as they were, as they spanned the room.

He could have any pick of the litter. Any fucking pick. No Ashar to belittle him, no inhibitions to tether him. A half grin, half sneer contorted the brunette's usually placid expression.

Smoke, an expensive, woody waft of a high-price cigar, caught at his nose before, suddenly, it was replaced with an odor that nearly made the Shaux tribesman vomit. Instantly, his posture stiffened, head tossed back and thick hand clapped over his mouth. His head snapped around, looking for the new source of the thick haze that was suddenly flooding the bar.

Gods, this stuff was foul. Eveyto coughed. A murmur struck the crowd, rippling through until his gaze caught the instigator of all the ruckus.

And holy shit, she was beautiful. Even in an intoxicated haze, Eveyto's vision was quite fine, though, seemingly, the muscles in his jaw lost their tautness. A lquick, wary glance, a toss of dark curls...and...was that a flash of a scar?

Well, well well...what did he have here? Somewhere, in the back of mind where the last shred of sobriety remained, a voice screamed that he should sit back down. Yet, Eveyto found his legs carrying him over toward the young lady. He stopped himself short a few feet, brows furrowing further as he observed her.

She was a flower alright. A strange...reproachful...flower that looked as though she'd sooner slit his throat than tolerate an intoxicated, fumbling male.

His sober self would have been shocked if he'd been afforded a sort of out-of body experience. A hand thrust itself down on the table next to her elbow, and a deeper tone than he was used to using rumbled out of his throat.

"IYou look like someone who's trying to hide something. Or from someone."

Oh, such a way with words. If he didn't end up with a dagger in his belly, it'd be a good night.

[Omen]

The slice of metal going through skin was a normal sound for the Tiberian, she didn’t flinch or give any notice as the man’s throat fell open and his life blood seeped down the front of his shirt. She was careful that none got on her, she was always careful but this man seemed to have a lot more blood in him than most as he burbled and slipped to the ground. The white’s on his eyes stared at Kaiya as she immediately started to rifle through the man’s pockets. The blade back up her sleeve in hiding, already cleaned from his small chore.

”Lie to me about the money… I let the fact that you sell women, killed your brother and all the other disgusting things you’ve done slid past my better morals.” She pulled out the wad of cash in his pocket… and the two rare methona crystals he kept in the waist band of his pants. A smile crossed her lips as she looked down at the corpse before her.

“But lie to me that you don’t have the money for my services and then lead me into a trap to sell me? Especially when I went through all that trouble to get you that information… tsk tsk…” She stood with her prize in hand and looked towards the warehouse he was going to lead her to.

His office my ass… the alley was the perfect spot to take out this low life and the fact it was right under his mens nose’s was all the more delicious. Pocketing her pay into a smaller bag at the side of her waist which disappeared under her gray sweater, she took off down the alley. Her laced boots were made for running in and fit snuggly into her black tights. She knew the perfect spot to let things cool for a bit before leaving this planet. She already had the lay out planned in her head and as she came to the busy street she barely looked winded from her run and easily melded back into the crowd with a sultry walk.

The body had already been found… she heard him hear it on his radio just a few doors in front of her. Damn he had more men than she’d liked to have admitted and were already combing the streets for Danny’s killer. Looks like her safe place would have to wait. She ducked her head and walked into the first available door she could get into, she paused only briefly to assess where she was and listen to see if radio boy had seen her. No he hadn’t, so she better stay for a bit, the tavern here should do fine for now. Not too long of course, they’d search for her here eventually. She pulled the hem of her dipping neckline up a notch to cover up the scar that was trying to peek through, and tossed her hair out of her eyes.

Gracefully she made her way through the bar and searched the minds of the patrons in the bar… none of Danny’s boys were here yet. She could relax just for a second at least. Ugh she was getting a headache from going through minds like water. She wanted nothing more than to take a swig of something to dull the ache but it would only make her incapable of defending herself. With great reluctance she took a seat near the back of the room facing the entrance, it was a shadowed corner and one of the few that didn’t have dirty dishes still sitting for the waiter to come and clean them off.

Once seated she took a deep breath before relaxing her mind, trying to ease the ache starting in her head enough to sift through the minds of the drinkers here to her benefit. It lessened only a tad and before you could say ‘gun him down’ a hand was placed next her elbow. Apparently she wouldn’t have to work for her bread and butter this time, good things came to those who waited, that is until he spoke.

She tried not to let the suspicion show in her eyes, did Danny’s boy find her already? Her mind shot into his in a blink of an eye… nothing but the beauty of her running through his head. Harmless really… but a distraction yes… cover yes. She should have turned him away, she really wasn’t in the mood to play with him right now, but she needed to blend in. Danny’s men would be looking for a single woman… not an entertaining one, this man just might be the thing that makes their searching eyes gloss past her. Decided in seconds she offers he most blinding smile she could.

“Hiding? Hmmmm… or looking for something, maybe even a someone.” she flirted well to say the least, it was a trait she prided herself on, but instead f placing her hand on his she leaned back in her chair as she flicked her head to move the hair out of her eyes. He wasn’t unattractive, and the smell of his leather combined with the alcoholic beverage made for an interesting combination as well. Could have worse company she thought.

“Care to join me stranger? I promise I don’t bite.” Blue eyes looked him up and down, easily to be mistaken for something else. She was merely sizing him up if she wanted him dead, and how much trouble it would be to achieve that goal. She decided too much work at the moment, besides she was still using him for now… just a forethought really. Yet she would try to keep her mind on his… her head was still aching but it wouldn’t be hard to manage.

[Catalyst Echo]

No sharp "twang" of insidious steel buried itself in his gut. First confusion, then pleasant surprise furrowed Eveyto's brow, and still, he took the instinctive step backward as if she'd drawn a weapon anyway.

A weapon, he'd been expecting. A quick spring of action, steel at his throat, poison in his veins- undoubtedly. The past few months were excellent tutors to their naive student in these matters. Seeking a mercenary, a killer discontent enough to shake up the world more often than naught ended with the shaggy rebel getting shaken down himself.

So yes. Guns, weapons, death threats, hissed obscenities, he'd expected all of those.

But....but....

Flirting? Not so much. He almost, even without the haze of alcohol muddling his brain, didn't know how to respond. He looked pretty vagrant tonight, he knew- the same baggy, white tunic he trundled around in, sleeves flapping about, was no debonair suit. Boots scuffed, endless straps and pockets to the leather outer-chaps of his pants- he looked like he'd walked straight off a worker transport. Still, with a furtive glance around, the startled Shaux man determined that there were slightly uglier...fish in the sea at the moment.

But still. Flirting. He hadn't expected that. He'd been approaching a killer, a would-be rebel, hadn't he? Not some wallflower at the bar...his instinct had never been wrong before....

Or maybe...maybe she was just an adept actress. Another step back, and hand on his left scimitar, buried in the leather against his thigh, before he spoke again.

"Well...erm...I happen to be looking for someone too," He asserted unsteadily, plastering that stupid, goofy grin of his that served so well as a defense mechanism. "I'm harmless." It screamed. It lied.

Sometimes. It only lied sometimes, he assured himself within. It felt like he was doing some weird two-step dance: drawn forward, then stepping back, then drawing forward once more. He took the offered chair with a puzzled shake of his own brunette mane.

And then, emerald caught a slice of sapphire it wasn't supposed to see.

She was looking him up and down- surveying him. NOT for reproductive purposes...he knew the eyes of the whores and desperate women.....no....these were the eyes of a seasoned K'bah serpent sizing up whether or not to snap his neck in her jaws.

Well, he had teeth too. If she wanted to hide her intent, he could for a little while too.

"Whadaya drink?" The catalyst cleared his throat, sounding far more articulate than he had a moment ago. The liquor made his head swim once more, and his steadied himself on his elbow.

A glance over his shoulder offered him a delightful slideshow of arguing patrons and working women. Another puff of smoke, accompanied by the same god-awful smell that made him retch forced Eveyto to wheel back around so hard his spine cracked.

Through the toxicity, his keen senses caught a subtle hint of........was that the acrid iron of blood on her?

His gaze hardened.

Maybe she WAS the someone he was looking for after all.

"What's your name?"

[Omen]

It was cute really, the man’s confounded look and fumbling for words to come out of his drunken frame of mind. He didn’t seem to have much experience in this, so why was he coming to her table then? Not looking for an easy lay then, not that she would be but it worked when she wanted to slit a throat for the cash they had on them. Not this one though, no he intrigued her somewhat. Just enough that she’d let him live, for now anyways…

She leaned back in her chair further for more comfort and kept her eyes on his face, even when his hand went to his weapon unconsciously. Reflex, she could tell, but you should never make aware of the weapon you have hidden, she learned that lesson a long time ago. One she might teach him if he was lucky. His dress didn’t appeal much, but under that exterior she thought him rather handsome, one enough to be in Tazzelle’s sort of lot if he cleaned up. She smiled at the thought, speaking of thoughts… she was paying only a side ear to his, but she did catch the word ‘rebel’ from him.

"Well...erm...I happen to be looking for someone too,"

Really? Was that was he looking for? His next sentence of confusion made it slightly more clear. Yes, that explains his response to her invite. He was expecting something else from her, the master of disguise here. She could be anything he wanted… for a price of course and it seemed that he had come to the conclusion that she wasn’t what she was pretending. His suspicion made her instincts sharpen and her lax pose turn in her chair towards him as he sat. He wasn’t as dumb as she thought, that goofy smile of his slipped and she smirked at the open book before her. She hardly needed to read his mind.

"Whadaya drink?"

“I don’t… but thanks for the offer.” She answered too quickly. The charade was over mostly and it was time to get to the point. His thoughts were curious and even though his voice was clearer than before, the haze in his mind was making her head hurt worse. It was difficult to focus on him. She went to open her mouth for another sentence when his attention darted to something behind them, if only briefly. She could only catch from his mind that it was a god awful smell… not from her, but the next scent was her definitely and not the fragrance of her peach hand cream.

Their eyes seemed to narrow in that same instant as he asked her name. He was something of what she looking for perhaps… another proposition possibly? She had all the money she needed for now but he might offer something else. She let her persona slip and she slid out of his mind only to give her a break from the fuzzy images.

Kaiya clicked her tongue in thought and let her eyes drift to her lap for a second as she thought to answer him, to bother wasting time. Sure why not, she had time to kill anyways. She leaned forwards on the table and shifted as she folded her arms. It would have normally been a seduction pose in most of her dealings, but she didn’t want her voice to carry.

“Kaiya Ashlyn Tazzelle…” She threw out her full name and watched to see if recognition twinkled on those baby blues of his. It was rare she did that, for the Tazzelle’s were famous for their capture 5 years back. A great triumph for the Force to nick a crime lord, although her name wasn’t mentioned much. She was the supposed sweet niece of the tyrant, she wasn’t known as the assassin she became. “KAT for short if you like… And just who might you be? You don’t seem the type to pick up women very often… I’ll wager you might had something else on your mind when you were swaggering to my table.”

She quirked an eyebrow at him, voice still the sultry smooth of a very good actress. She hoped her luck was changing by meeting this man and instinctively her fingers went to play with the amulet around her neck. Her lucky charm rolled between her smooth fingers as she offered a silent mantra of good fortune unconsciously through her head. At least it seemed to help her head ache. She wanted to take one of her pills but to admit weakness to this man would be a bad luck.

“Unless, I'm not your type. I can find business elsewhere.” she sighed in boredom and let her hands slid back to the table, letting the hem of her baggy sweater dip low. Her scar was gleaming under the light above them, well placed between her breasts, too bad those were covered by her black tank top underneath.

[Catalyst Echo]

A non-drinker in a bar like this?

She would be more likely to find milk or water int he Meshl Desert. She leaned forward, fostering intimacy- or guarding a secret, he wasn't sure yet. Dulcet tones ascribed a name to the peacock-cobra hybrid sitting before him...Kaiya.

Kaiya Tazelle, more importantly. Tazelle.......Tazelle....

His mind lurched, making him snort audibly and shake his head a little. He'd watched them, dragged in one by one with black masks tied tightly over each of their heads...watched them from behind his own bars, wondering if he somehow hadn't gotten off easy in his little concrete box. So this lass was an heir to the kingpin, maybe.

Maybe even close enough to want revenge?

“KAT for short if you like… And just who might you be? You don’t seem the type to pick up women very often… I’ll wager you might had something else on your mind when you were swaggering to my table.”

For short? Eveyto blinked. No, nothing was for short with the fabled historian of the Shaux. Names were connected to heritage, heritage fashioned the bindings of your beings, wrote the program of your very actions within the spinning nucleotides. To the Shaux, heritage was everything. Heritage was the only thing they could have pride in anymore, weaned from the titanic warlords they had once been.

"Kaiya...then..." He lowered his eyes, his own name dancing on the tip of his tongue. "You're a very blunt person, Kaiya." It was a struggle to keep the slur out of his voice- why, oh why had amber been so wonderful a color tonight? Liquid courage...right, right. Liquid idiocy.

"You're right...I...guh...uhm...*hic* I don't pick up women- seems stupid to me. I have a..." His spine straightened. "I have a business proposal for you, if you will."

Now, he was Catalyst. Not drunken blacksmith, not fumbling Eveyto- no, he could feel the very God-king's touch at the back of his neck, making him bold (at least for the moment). His eyes fell to her nimble fingers, twirling, playing with the amulet as if the jewelry were prey. He fought the urge to reach inside his shirt collar for the K'bah venom, the vial that sat there, so close to his heart. Would he need it at some point? Probably. He hoped not.

Not his type? Judging by that scar and....connections, she might be just the vigilante type he was...looking....

Looking at....what was he looking at....for...er....at....erm...what a curve, spattered with scar tissue, but she was VERY pointedly trying to trap him within her cleavage. His muscles jerked, an ethereal slap upside the head rudely bringing him back to the matter at hand. Business. Proposal. Not of the "working girl" kind.

"Forgive me for speaking plainly, but you seem to be very much what I'm looking for, Kaiya." That goofy grin again, that instinctive "don't-shove-a-dagger-between-my-eyes" expression, honest and open. "As a Tazelle....at any rate....though scars speak louder testament than any name would." He fought to repress the cough and the bile as the noxious smell washed over them again.

"Would you care for a walk? These matters can't exactly be discussed in public and I.......well, frankly, I'm going to throw up if we stay here much longer. Beer before liquor, never sicker, and all that..."

Contrary, the relatively brawny man leaned back in the chair, resting his arms on the slightly wobbly ones of the chair. His boots shifted, and the would-be Herald met her eyes once more. She was either a pampered heiress, or something truer to the breed of the Aengels these dismal times called for. Halogehn, at least, was untouched by the force- a sanctuary for the wild, unbroken behaviors of society at its worst and most basic. He liked the glinting, gold city- promises of wealth and secrecy alike.

And connections. Oh the connections to be made in Halogehn....

[Omen]

Kaiya nearly laughed, although she reframed from doing so, but his macho like manly manliness had tried to come forth and be serious. Again… it was cute. She hardly ever used that word these days and she couldn’t help but place that word for him now. He knew how to fight she assumed but still, his attempt was rather… well… she wasn’t going to use the word for a forth time for then she would have to use it a fifth time. The number four meant death and it was an unlucky number, even when using it on others. So instead she smiled sweetly, an honest smile for once.

“No name huh? Well, warrior then? I'm glad you think so warrior, I don’t like to beat around the bush so to speak. You interest me as much I seem to be ‘what’ you’re looking for.” Of course she noticed him looking at her chest, but his eyes weren’t so much on her scar, that seemed to come later… they did hold the appeal for the generous bosom she carried. She would have blushed if she didn’t flaunt it so much to have no affect on her as a woman. No man had ever made her feel like a woman before, she wasn’t about to let that little attribute of hers go just yet.

She shifted uncomfortably as he mentioned her scar, she only had a flash of remembrance of the removal procedure… she insisted on being awake during it. Not a choice she regretted, she knew how Olaf worked and would just as well set off the bomb in her chest as soon as she was asleep. But this stranger knew Tazzelle… either from the news or other means.

She jumped on the fact that he assumed she would want revenge for her dear sweet uncle. A snort did escape her lips then. “Not revenge… and speak as plain as you like. I’d like to hear your proposal… without vomit over my clothes if you please. So yes, let us walk-” She smiled widely and openly as she went to stand up.

It was then she heard the angry thoughts of Danny boy’s coming in through the door, looking for a good time as they cannot find their target. Something to let their frustration out on, her eyes only glanced towards the door and in seconds she made up her mind. Only two steps and then she was sitting…well more like straddling this young man on his chair. Her arms instantly went around his neck.

“Please don’t stab me or anything… we have guests that want a chunk from my hide. She hissed into his ear, as her hands buried themselves into his hair. Making it look like from the back she was doing a rather nice make out session with a patron in the bar. Her body pressed closer to his chest as she kept her lips near his ear.

“Don’t look!... and for god sake’s pretend like you’re enjoying this. Use your hands, place them on my back!”

She was monitoring the mind of the men that walked in. At least six in total and she cursed inwards as they made their way through the tavern. Attempting to look around for her but getting more and more distracted by the women flaunting off their low cut clothes. This she could use.

“I have a way out of this, just bare with me for a little longer okay? There’s six here… and more outside and I’ll tell you now. I work in discretion more than upfront, I don’t like down and dirty but I can if need be… so please tell me now that you can fight if the need arises.”

Look at those jugs… how I wouldn’t like to burn my face into those… Not like we’ll get into trouble with the boss gone…. Just a little…. Squeeze. She began her work, implanting in each to want some action of another type.

This chick… we don’t even know what she looks like…. Makes no sense for her to be in here… she would be long gone by now….

[Catalyst Echo]

Her uncomfortable shift didn't go unnoticed.

....so....the scar was a literal sore spot. Hopefully she'd explain that later- he'd rather take up a scarred assassin that had pulled a knife out of her heart than some shaky-handed doctor's patient. Thick fingers feathered up the underside of his white sleeve, along a particularly scarred burn. Wonderful pieces of history, scars were, Eveyto mused as he awaited her reply.

Warrior was fine. If it was anything Ashar and Vem had taught him along the way, it was that giving your real name was the absolute pinnacle of stupidity in these endeavors.

Oh, good. She was in agreement. He must have avoided coming off as the "creeper", Ashar had described him as once....delightful. Walking might prove difficult, but it at least would clear his head and-

THIS WAS NOT WALKING.

Flabbergasted, the brunette's expression went completely slack as the lithe woman straddled his VERY off-guard body. Silk skin brushed the back of his sweaty neck, and another wave of amber went straight Eveyto's head. Dumbfounded, he could only sputter in protest as her lips, very intimately, pressed against his ear. Her body writhed. Remnants of hackles rose on his chest, the back of his neck, down his spine- his entire body suddenly revved.

"What the fuck?" The catalyst whispered.

Poor choice of words. Why'd he say that? One hand instantly dove to his crotch, humiliated and serving to hide the awkward erection that had sprung to attention. The other, rather unsure, palmed her back. Stab. Don't stab her. Eveyto couldn't have grabbed one of his scimitars if he tried. His fourth "weapon" however....

His back arched unwillingly. "I can fight." He gasped quietly into her hair. Instinctively, his eyes wandered for their would-be assailants before her hissing reprimand. Curves against perpendicular sheet-rock made flesh were an inviting distraction enough. A shaky breath left Eveyto's lips, barely masking a moan.
Pretend? He could pretend alright.

"That feels good..."

His free hand roved, his body melded against her. Focus drifted in and out of his mind as Eveyto desperately tried to keep his awareness firmly on their surroundings at the potential assault at hand.

At hand. Rear at hand. God, this woman had a nice body-

He was half tempted to ball-tap himself. Shame burned his cheeks, and he fidgeted uncomfortably. Fighting, at this point, would be easier, but he'd play along if she liked. Muscles, tense with testosterone, roiled, but with the most base of urges and one far stronger in the Shaux- the urge to fight.

Well, this was unexpected. Apparently the alcohol was unlocking a lot more doors that he had perceived it would. Door number 1, courage. Check. Door number 2, sexuality. Check. Door number 3, battle lust. Check.

His body revved again- somehow the combination of fighting and intimacy boiled his blood. Eveyto's lips pulled back in a half-snarl, revealing barely cut fangs. He dipped his head, lips finding their way to the junction of her neck and shoulder.

Roving again, his hand moved from his still painfully hard tool to the hilt of his dagger, sheathed next to his right scimitar.

Hair-trigger response, he figured. The second the made a move toward them, Eveyto would flash his fangs.

God, amber was a wonderful color.

[Omen]

His voice had changed… the way he felt against her skin was more than what she wanted to think at this time. She was slightly surprised by the bulge he was trying to hide though. Oddly enough, she thought would have had at least some more experience with women to have that under control. Then again, he did have some alcohol under his belt already. Che, she’d let it slid… she was being more than generous these days, at least he didn’t attack her like she thought he would. She wouldn’t have been surprised then, no what really shook her was how good he felt against her. She used every ounce of strength in her to shove that feeling away and lock it tight from her thoughts. Her focus was needed on those men.

She relaxed further into the man she was sitting on and let her mind work on the others… Ignoring how she melded against his form. He was getting waaaay too comfortable... but the way his hands held her, and stroked her back....Thoughts, thoughts thoughts... oh ya... she was implanting thoughts......Thoughts of her leaving the city by now, thoughts of the women here instead… thoughts of picking fights at the local bar down the street for fun. Anything to keep her mind off the man currently between her thighs.

She’s not here… no one would stay around after killing the boss like that!

What kind of name is Omen anyways?... like we could use that to look around…. pfft

That piece of ass is nice… much more easier to look for than a missing one

I want some of that action over there...

Kaiya nearly missed the breathy sound of the Warrior voice, the roving hands and his whispered sensations. She cleared her throat and tried not to let the fact that she was turning him on, turn her on. That and his mind was so close to hers she was feeding off his thoughts, handy thing was that it helped in guiding the others out the way they came. Bad part… he thoughts were more than steamy and the haze of the alcohol made them more appealing than she would have liked normally. Her body was slowly turning into a haze of fire. Hey needed to separate… fast.

“Focus if you please… They’re about to leave… they have a lot of control in this area and-“Her own tone was less harsh and more whispered as well, a testament as to how this strange, alluring man was affecting her in ways she didn’t want to face at the moment. Sultry, sexy… But the sound of her voice was not what stopped her sentence from continuing. One of the gang member shad seen their intimacy and was staring with such interest Kaiya could only know it to be lust. Great, just great… she was already playing with fire here and as the other 5 men got up with their women in tow… he stayed behind to stare at them.

Desperate to separate the two of them before either burst into flames from the forced contact, she threw more impulses at him. To leave with his buddies, look for Danny’s killer elsewhere… but nothing stirred his sudden want of … her! Damnit! She was doing such a good job with her cover that Danny’s onlooker wanted more than just a good show. She gave an audible gasp as the man stood to walk their way. Yes, she gasped aloud in Warrior’s ear, but she wouldn’t admit because it was Hero’s mouth here had found her exposed flesh at her shoulder. No, she didn’t gasp for that reason… nu huh. She found she had to relax her grip on his hair from that little adventure though and even straighten her arched back. Damn what had she gotten herself into? Pressing herself against a man like a teenager! This was business…. Alllllll business.

He stopped his heavy boots that seemed to echo throughout the whole bar. Either that or it was because of the pounding headache Kaiya had that made it seem so loud. She shifted in his lap to allow him access to his weapons if need be. She wasn’t about to blow her cover yet. Everyone in the bar would be able to point her out if Danny’s men came calling to find out who gave onlooker here a new mouth to eat from. Yet, from the feel of how tense Hero here was, she didn’t doubt his ability to fight. Only his ability to still keep things cool afterwards…

“Ready to keep your prize Warrior?”

“Hey… you… share some of da wealth, t’ere other whores here to ‘ick from… So I say you let dis one work on licking my junk instead of yer ugly ass…” A heavy grimy hand lay on Eveyto’s other shoulder as he went to try and pull them apart. Well fuck… so long buddy… she could tell that Warrior here was taunt as a bow string… she was sure he would be glad to leap from this chair. No doubt from what she just had put him through in the last 5 minutes wouldn't help with that... or, she guessed... yes it would help AHA!

At least the upcoming stab session could turn to Kaiya’s advantage. She started immediately on the other patrons witnessing this little event, shoving thoughts of how it’s a bad thing to try and take another’s woman… especially when a good time is obviously happening between them. All the minds she touched already pegged mister shit-disturber here a dead man… perfect.

[Catalyst Echo]

"My dear grandson...it was not mere wit, nor careful strategy that made our proud ancestors so strong....the power, the power we wielded, fire from the gods...that was what made our warlord predecessors so feared and mighty."

"But argo, why don't we still have that power?"

"My dear boy....the Shaux do not feel as deeply as our revered ancestors do. Because, you see, the key to the fire from the gods is none other than the very fire of your own heart."


His breath quickened.

"“Ready to keep your prize Warrior?”

Prize? What prize had he won? Wasn't this some act, the bar a stage until the threat diffused?

"“Hey… you… share some of da wealth, t’ere other whores here to ‘ick from… So I say you let dis one work on licking my junk instead of yer ugly ass…”

He could ignore words. Words were meaningless, trivial compared to the warmth seeping across his skin. Words meant little in the present. Words carried the echo of history, true, but actions...now those were what shaped living history. Words only affirmed what actions asserted. A furrowed brow foretold the brunette's thorough annoyance. Subtle hints, a vein twitching, the tip of his tongue on his left incisor, a crack of a vertebrate in his spine, flashed by in a few seconds of readability. Kaiya’s weight shifted on it, an undeniable signal that she knew the way this was going as well. His expression caught fire slowly, and a stray hand crept from its post to clench the back of his chair.

The change was much more drastic when the unwelcome hand alighted his shoulder. A ray of light glinted off the slight hint of flaxen hidden within his right iris, and as if propelled, Eveyto exploded from his chair. Like a K’bah bursting from the sand in a territorial rage, Eveyto hurtled the large chair he’d chosen in one swift, twisting jump. Two sharp stints of light, and his fangs- literal and metaphorical- flashed in the dim atmosphere of the pub. Perfect- he’d caught the vulgar pervert off guard. The quick rush of mug to mouth halted, and several patrons looked up from their froths as the catalyst’s boots landed solidly on the man’s chest. He was wearing fatigues….camoflouge wouldn’t help him now. A huff, and Eveyto’s body expanded. The breath shattered the stillness, and suddenly, their spectators spoke up. Taunts and cheers arose, the clink of mugs in toast- a toast to karma. Suddenly, he was karma. Polished steel glinted next to the gasping grunt’s throat. A silent snarl pulled at his face, and death flooded the scholar’s eyes. Karma taught harsh lessons.

“Ruddy…hell….what’s…the matter….with you?!?!?”

A fist slammed into his lower shin with a crack, but one boot stepped down from his perch to crush its wrist with a much bigger crunch.

No words. Words were meaningless. His right blade travelled from the rapidly pulsing jugular of this man, this FOOL, floated on the guidance of a sure hand until its tip rested solidly between greedy eyes.

Eveyto murmured, no, growled.

The scream split the air a few seconds later, poignant as the cut was quick. He knew just how deep to go, just how shallow to keep it before hitting brain. For once, not a shred of conscience squirmed as he split the howling man’s head open.

Of course, the stillness didn’t last. The man promptly swept the Aengel leader off his feat in a bellowing rage, fists flying and blood spewing. Eveyto spat, shuddering as a mouthful of the iron-tasting liquid crossed his beard and lips. His back slammed into another chair, splintering it, but he recovered, tasting his own sweeter blood amongst the spray he had just caused. His thigh ached from where the henchman’s foot had connected, and his shin throbbed- fractured, maybe, but that was easily ignored. A petty switchblade was pulled. Shaking his head, he advanced on the bleeding, bellowing male. Music kicked up from somewhere, and somewhere in the back of his muddled brain, he affirmed it. Yes, the bar was a stage, with a curtain of amber and beautifully choreographed violence.

He played with the idea for a moment. Kill the man, and risk an unraveling string of connections, investigations, and enemies. Knock him out, and walk away- that seemed like a decent enough option.

But oh, he wanted to do so much more.

Too much thinking- the grunt rushed him with surprising speed for one so heavily built. The two men collided stiff-arm to chest as Eveyto’s reflexes just barely kicked in. Shocked, a slight “Hnnngh” escaped the brunette’s throat as that stupid, petty blade buried itself in his side. Worthless piece of craft- he’d made finer weapons in his childhood! The sticking pain in his side overrode rational thought, and the decision was made.

Raising his voice for the first time, Eveyto roared with sound of something wild, a decibel just above an ear-bleedingly annoying jackhammer. Two corded arms twisted, and before Danny’s man could rear back for strike two, a pair of crossed blades crashed through his ribcage until the gleaming scimitars jutted through his back. Expression full of distaste, Eveyto shrugged, no, threw the man across the room and off his prized hilts. Apathy claimed the rest of his visage as the body crashed into the table- it would be a bother to check if the man was dead yet. He would be soon, at any rate.
Limping, he fell silent again except for the slight huff of his breathing, and made a beeline for the exit. Both swords dropped quietly into their holsters at his hips, and a shaky hand dove to the stab wounds that bit between two of his ribs.

Curtain fall. The show was over- he hoped.

[Omen]

She felt it, almost instinctively the moment when he would spring into action. She could see it in his mind but when she moved off him it was the feeling that had made her react just as fast. It was foreboding, like death was in this man. A raging creature had exploded from somewhere in the abyss of his consciousness. Somehow it awoke like a sleeping volcano and erupted out of this being before her. She couldn’t imagine what had brought forth such raw strength, such a raw source of power but she saw a different kind of person now. One she did not intend to misjudge again. the force of his lift off had made her stumble if only slightly but enough to leave her shaken.

It was then she saw it, the glint of light, the flash of teeth and snarls. Sharp teeth mind you and instinctively she thought of his lips against her neck. Shivers ran across her skin, creating goosebumps and a delightful sense of danger within the Tiberian. She was sure her cheeks were flushed and lips swollen from excitement but now she felt more of a bodily attraction. She liked power, and he had it alright. Although from the judge of it all, she was sure he wasn't even fully aware just how much he had inside him.

Curious, she touched his mind only briefly to find it a muddle of raw energy and instantly she was thrown back out. Like a blinding light from the blackness she was mentally shoved back hard enough that she felt like her brain was bouncing within her skull. She took two steps back and placed a hand to her head to try and turn off the voices suddenly rushing to her head. Ya right, like patting her head would do anything to shut off the invading thoughts. A reaction really but no one was interested in watching her mental struggle. No, Warrior here all their attention and this worked out just fine for Kaiya.

The force of the mental blow had shattered her barriers and nothing in the moment was going to help her put them up again just yet. Everything was coming to her in waves upon waves. The knife to the man’s throat then his piercing scream as his head split open… she saw it all through the eyes of the other patrons, all cheering and rooting on the Warrior. Heh warrior, she had picked a good name for him it seemed, but she didn’t have time to think for her self at this moment. Everyone else’s minds were pouring into her’s, even the man on the bar floor that was getting his ass handed to him.

That chair broke so-Get him, get him. Teach that boy-slice his throat alr- ouch that crack sounded ba-YA more blood more bloo- this guy is gonna pay with his lif-ooooh he was stabbed now-ya this is better than-go go go go- ya more blood!!- whose the ulgy one now-damn that guyz kicking ass-wouldn’t want to be him righ- death blow coming up-yahoo I just won my bet against that dead man-shit I lost 500- [/i]

A roar, so loud it drowned out the voice for only a second but Kaiya opened her eyes in time to see the death strike. Thrown across the room she could only grip the table edge to keep herself up right. Then all was silent… it was like all thoughts had turned off in that instant. Shock, it seemed as the observers took in the death of such a pretentious jerk like Danny’s boy.. It was brief and instantly she used this to her advantage, the back door. She slipped through it and took a deep breath as she began to build up her shields again, the voices were there but muffled from the walls now and there was no one in the alley to worry about at the moment. Her mind felt torn and battered and she leaned against the opposite wall of the alley facing the back door to steady herself. Her head and stomach were churning at hte moment. Deep breaths there girl. Whether Mr. Warrior would come out this way or not she wasn’t sure, she wasn’t able to implant the suggestion to him before she left the building. It was then she noticed the trickle of blood leaking from her nose. Angrily she wiped it with the back of her hand just as Warrior came out the very same door she did.

“That was quite the show back there Warrior. I'm impressed, Forgive my absence but matters required me to vacate...Your prize would be my skills at your sevice Warrior, that is unless you don't wish to continue." She smiled more openly, trying not to cringe as the pain shot through her head more than ever.

"Wow, you look awful…” she looked him up and gave a smirk. “Come on… I know a place nearby if you still wanted to talk… we can patch you up there.” She rocked forwards off the wall she was leaned against and stepped towards him. Reaching into her a pouch under her baggy sweater she handed him a bandage, even though all she wanted to do was grasp her head and pound it into the brick wall. She wouldn't take her pilsl just yet... no matter how bad her head hurt. Although the pain in her eyes and paleness of her skin was one thing she knew she couldn't hide but only pretend nothing was wrong.

“Here.. use this for now… it’s two blocks this way or would you rather go to your place inside of mine?”

[Catalyst Echo]

It. was bloody. COLD.

The amber effect was slowly swirling off his body in the same waves it had brought his courage, leaving him in a sweat for no sun, one that lacked the influence of heat. Left. Right. Left. Right. Lingering kills could only mean questions and death. Surely his legs could move more quickly, even under duress. A shiver crossed the warrior's soaked skin. Expression pulled back in a tight grimace, hand plastered to his side, Eveyto barely looked up as the vixen murmured, taunted. Was she taunting him? Lulling him into a further trap? His head felt so much clearer in the cold, and another spasm roiled up his corded arms. Momentarily, he was grateful for the sleeves he so rarely wore. Halogehn’s moon, obscured by the smoggy clouds roiling above them, could only wink at the lone pair in brief bursts.

Oh, how he hated the cold. What was he doing here, so cast away from the burning sands that sandpapered his skin into roughness, the warm sun that lit his eyes. The air was cold smog, carrying a thousand and one scents of Halogehn’s secrets upon it. Rubbish littered the towering alley he’d thrust himself into, a shadowy hallway of sub-outlets and no doubt some of Halogehn’s famous passageways.

He’d be making one of use of those. Probably. Maybe.
One foot in front of the other- oh, there’s a good lad. Just ignore her. This woman was clearly bad luck. He squared his shoulders against the sudden gust that swept through the alley. A rather wet slosh crossed the leather toe of his boot, making the brunette halt his wounded pilgrimage and look down.

Blood on leather- not hard to clean, really, but still an unsettling sight. That reminded him- he needed to clean his blades, they’d rust with that leech’s blood on them. Another gust, blasting through the loose fabric he was wearing. The cold air seemed to be concentrating on permeating the last bit of warm on his body- seeping through the fingers of his right hand in a very annoying dribble.

Where had he been going anyway? He’d taken a transport here- planned on reserving a room for the night later. “Later” had been before the alcohol, of course. A dry swallow, and a glance back at the sleek assassin offering a bandage. Despite himself, Eveyto snorted in his throat. The switchblade may have been a piece of shit, but it had struck deeply enough. No, a Band-Aid wasn’t going to fix this one, but he’d need a warm place to stitch up- his skin crawled at the thought. A tired sigh, and he returned her golden gaze with resignation. Closer consideration, and the trace of blood, along with her pallor, etched its way into his notice.

She hadn’t been hit though. Not a single bruise, no swelling….just the slight shatter in her eyes that something had gone horribly wrong within her body. Intriguing.

His head was clearing even more, whether it was the pain, the natural path of the alcohol in his body, or the sudden surge of chemicals in his blood. Skills. She had said “skills.” On one hand- following an assassin back to her den was the pinnacle of stupidity, but at least he’d find what he’d been looking for. On the other….skills….following a prostitute back to her haven was much safer, but not all that productive. That was something Ashar would do, he thought to himself.

Thinking was becoming a little tenuous, though, what with the constant throb of the blade’s bite.


“Lead the way.”

Her stride was brisk- nothing he couldn’t match when pain wasn’t radiating up his shin bone. A sour glance caught his reflection in a puddle as they moved- she was right. Not that the blacksmith had ever been one to be vain about looks, but he certainly did look awful. That was alright. He was a Catalyst, not a king. He took up his pace beside her. A fool wandered out front. A traitor followed behind, waiting for the right moment to wedge whatever they were wielding between their leader’s shoulderblades.

A friend and an ally…well, they walked on at your side.

There are others outside…

He remembered her whisper with a slight jolt as the two fell into silence.

“You said others.” He intoned quietly, eyes suddenly energized in their paranoid search for more assailants. “Are they nearby?” His hand fell to the Shaux Dagger, the heirloom of his own forging, tipped with the poison of the K’bah. No ire, no annoyance, sprung to his eyes, only tired fear and wariness. His body felt drained- much more so, Eveyto thought, than it should have for such a simple jump and attack.

Maybe it was just the alcohol. Or…

Startled, his eyes widened, and suddenly his hand, plastered so carefully to his bleeding side, was at his mouth. His tongue swiped across his palm, and satisfied, the tribesman relaxed.

No poison, no sleep agents- nothing. Trust a gang member to leave his blade naked. Eveyto let his arm fall back to the side, not bothering to glance if Kaiya raised issue with this strange display of behavior. Another swallow, and he wondered if his hand would be at his mouth again soon- what little that was left in his stomach was threatening to climb his throat. Two blocks, she had said. Two blocks felt a lot further than it was. Still, his other hand remained tightly twisted upon the hilt of his prize, ready to deliver death in fateful seconds if need be.

This was not the walk he had intended to take.

[Omen]

Geez this one was grumpy when injured, like a bear or wild animal of some kind. You wouldn’t kill it or injure it much with a stick to the eye, but merely serve only to piss it off more and go on a rampage. Was that what she saw back there? His rampage? The guy carried a stick alright, not to big but just enough. She was sure of it… only what animal was he then? Only time could tell.

She listened to him debating with himself in grumbles and complaints. At first he didn’t want to bother with her, thinking she was unlucky… her unlucky? She tried not to laugh at this thought. She was probably the most luckiest woman around, it was his own bad fortune that brought it on. Head was pounding she still smiled at his wimpy whine towards the cold which seemed to have awoken his drunken mind. Common sense seemed to have returned and made him leery of her. As he rightfully should be. But he changed his mind, thinking better of his now clearer head. He would go with her after all.

He declined the bandage, hmm apparently sense had not fully returned as of yet. He was bleeding, she knew of course this little thing wouldn’t stop the warm liquid flow, but at least prevent a trail of red behind them… oh boy. He did need some training… As smart as he thought himself, poor kiddo had no real dealings with true assassins. Although she shouldn’t be too harsh on him, he didn’t have her gift for reading minds. She had to hand it to him though. He may be an open book, but he had keen eyes and noticed the change in her. Not something she was going to admit to him but… still he had sharp eyes. She’d have to remember that.

Her mind was still on his as he fell instep beside her. Her? A friend? Ally? Really?... She felt touched that he would try to ignore her, calling her back luck then walk beside her only to think her an ally. Well she knew better, he needed her for something and was merely showing her respect. Not that she could complain but it made her uneasy about how she was to approach this man now. He seemed to think one thing and do another, just like Tazzelle. Did he really consider her an ally? Probably not but she could keep an ear out for that little thought later.

More enemies? Ah he remembered! Even from his drunken aroused mind… Warrior here remembered her whispers; she smiled at him over her shoulder as she walked down the alley to the right. A glint of mischief dancing in her eyes only slightly obscured by her dark hair in the fading moonlight, making her hair shine with slivers of silver.

“How astute of you… yes… they are nearby.” She tilted her head to the side as if listening… She had to stretch her mind a little and push past the pain to get a good idea of the gang’s whereabouts. Ah yes… she heard them near the front of the tavern, yet on either side of the building. “Seven to the left of the building… but only three to the right. Not to worry though, only together they cause a problem, which is why I didn’t want them to attack in the tavern, there were twenty outside until the others left with the women.”

It was interesting though seeing things through is mind, even the thought of poison coursing through his veins and the possibilities of that. How he could tell by licking his blood? She wasn’t sure and nor did she pick up that bit of knowledge from him but it was a useful tool to know that he could tell the difference. Her mind was so into his that she nearly missed the whispers on the edge of her mind as they approached the end of the tavern wall. She stopped suddenly, hearing the three minds clearer than she was moment ago and withdrew from Warrior’s mind for the time being. Her amusement would have to wait. They were now just around the corner from them, at the end of the alley. They didn’t know buddy was dead in the bar… not yet anyways. She held up her hand to stop Warrior from going further, they didn’t need to go back to the front of the tavern, but these guys weren’t in her plan of action… until now.

“Hold up…” She listened to their minds… they were angry, they didn’t get any of the girls brought out by the others… a fight, they were looking for a fight and trying to pick random people that walked by. She slid against the wall and peered around the corner with only one look she had the layout. The alley was wide, and even though it was dark, they would notice them walking by in the alley criss-crossing her path, specially with limpy here. Two had their backs to the walls on either side while the third was slightly ahead facing the street. Like a perfect triangle the three seemed to move like one. She reinforced this into their for a bit, ignoring the stabbing behind her eyes. She did however, notice that the two story building next to her had a thick cable wire running between the buildings in the alley mid way down. Lovely. She could perch above them like a vulture.

“Wait here… I’ll be 2 minutes…”Her voice went from playful and sexy to commanding, confident. She only gave him a quick glance before she grasped a rickety storm drain, hand and over hand she made it look easy as she shimmied her way up to the top of the building. Once on top she jogged down to the end of the alley where they were still staring out into the street. Che, worms, and not the best location really, the cable was further back down the alley.

Ah, this is going nowhere... we’re too visible this close to the exit of the alley… maybe further down it’ll be easier to get more action. Some dupe would come down for sure. Slobbering drunk and needing to take a leak.

She put it in each of their minds and with a brief conversation between them it seemed to be a good idea. Perfect, she stood above the cable and waited until they stopped just short of it. Close enough really… and the cable was stable, very secure in walls with just the right amount of thickness to support her weight. This setup was almost too perfect. Without pause she legged over the edge of the building and jumped lightly to the cable. Graceful and light she seemed to float down and land on the cable. Her feet merely touched it for a second before her hands joined her feet, wrapping around the cable like it was a high-wire turned into parallel bars. With acrobatic ease she rotated around the cable 180 degrees, into the small triangle position the men were in. Her ankles just managed to snake around the rear man’s neck. Two men arms length apart with the last in the middle but a few paces behind the walking pair and she was horizontally smack dab in the middle of group.

“What the fuck?” Surprise from all three cried out as she pulled out her plastic blades from her hand wraps as soon as she let go of the cable. Mid air she arched backwards and plunged the weapons into either man on her sides. The soft collar bones of each took the brunt of the force as the cheap handmade knives broke free of their handles off as she twisted her frame into a backwards somersault. The blades were left inside their intended victims. Delicate hands touched the ground just in time before a twisting of her hips to bring them round to the front, snapping the neck of the last of the men. A perfect ten. Her feet touched down agilely before either man had even fallen to their knees. The two gurgled while the other simply wobbled on the spot. A quick turn and she was facing the alley the way she had come, took three steps and they all crumpled to the ground in one heaping mess.

Her walk was brisk and her hips swayed like a woman wearing a cocktail dress and knew she had the attention of the room. Red in color or course, meant to accent every curve, every move… yes, this dress would hide many things under its exterior. Like it was made for dancing, flaunting and loving the woman underneath it, this is the walk that said screamed Tazzelle. Sophistication and deadly accuracy. Kaiya, the seductress of the night simply adjusted her hand wraps and stuffed the remaining handles back up her sleeves like they never were. The imaginary cocktail dress replaced back to the black tight, boots and too big a grey sweater.

Once assured the weapons were hidden her gaze turned towards the alley ahead of her, the bodies behind lay forgotten and ill treated. Too good for the bell of the ball. Pursing her lips and readjusting her hair like nothing happened she stopped in front of her secret prospect and pointed in the direction of the other side of the alley. They would have walked with their back towards these three if she hadn’t taken them out.

“Quick they’ll notice soon, once we get to the end, go right until the end of the block… we’ll be there before you can say ‘Freedom’, just try not to leave a trail of blood that way.” She smiled her pink tinged lips before continuing on down the graveled alley. She made the turns as directed without any further hitches or unwelcome guests. She came to a rather dull building, gray and broken windows. Looking to be abandoned and should be torn down for all the damage over the years. The door that led to the basement of the building was least to say, shady looking but Kaiya walked up with confidence and bent over a keypad. A few button presses and the door opened.

((ooc: sorry it's so long))

[Catalyst Echo]

Nearby. His body tightened again, this time in a different way, pulling itself together in a wary coil. Seven...and more. She had a keen sense of hearing, alright. Maybe he'd been in too much of a haze, but he wouldn't have even suspected that many. The slit in his side seemed to be clotting alright, but still, the warmth against his fingers remained unsettling. He was in no condition to fight. Not now.

Trust his luck to end up in the company of a stranger with multiple foes. Fish bait. He was fish bait, tied up on a neat little string with blood to attract the sharks. She, on the other hand, looked almost...excited.

Crazy woman.

Still, the dog would obey, and Eveyto blearily glanced at her as she smoothly melded into the shadows, the gait and finesse of a predator radiating from her body. Amber was no longer his color- black, that of the shadows, that of the assassin in wait- that was the color Eveyto would wear. He would give her the two minutes she requested to dispatch the group, collect himself, and try to make himself useful if need be. Luckily, the slight inlet of the alley still offered a decent view of the showdown.

It was a glorious dance. Eveyto couldn't help but let his head fall to the side in an intrigued tilt, brows furrowed and attention lit aflame. She was both serpentine and feline, graceful and gritty. She made no bones about the way she killed. It was both entracing and utterly frightening. Eveyto found himself making an array of both taken aback, triumphant, and utterly confounded. She was an acrobat in sweeping silks, the alleyway her theater, and Eveyto her rather captivated audience.

He couldn't blame it on the amber anymore, the Catalyst thought with a bitter shudder against the cold. Before he knew it, the show was over, and she was directing him off stage. Curtain fall- again. No need for applause, no need for thanks or exclamations. Quiet regard and a nod was enough- his eyes, oh his eyes, Eveyto knew, were both stunned and grateful enough, for the Shaux wore no masks.

Keeping close to the grimy wall, he peeled around the corner in a slow trot, following the finger that had gestured. They met shoulder to shoulder in the middle, and Eveyto marveled at her persistently bubbly mood.

"Freedom." The Catalyst intoned mirthlessly, then with confusion and another step. "Freedom, freedom, freedom." Sarcasm wasn't really his strong suite. She was right, though. Their rapid stride led them quickly to a door....and a keypad? His eyebrows practically receded into his hairline. The building looked as though it had breathed its first a hundred years ago, and its last about sixty. There was no way technology like keypad locks should have hanging about on posts like this. And yet...the door swung open and he followed her in. Pleasantly surprised, the Shaux forger took in his surroundings with half-interested, half reproachful eyes. His posture still remained coiled, drawn into itself, as if he expected her to shove a dagger between his shoulder blades after propelling off one of the eaves above them. He limped over toward a more lit area, eyeing the wound in his side for the first time.

"Do you have any thread?" He murmured off hand. Sewing was a woman's job, according to some, but the skill was an asset in situations like this. His gaze met hers again with his question, unfettered as he watched her walk away. Not even a drop of blood on that sweater of hers. Impressive.

He looked down at the worn armor hugging his torso, and unceremoniously undid the ties on the sides before slipping the garment over his head. The shirt bloodied, tattered, and smelling of bar, went next, smoothing over his head like some sort of veil over sculpted stonework. Hissing, he looked down at his bare flesh and squeezed the wound between his hand, testing it. Good. The bite was shallow enough that stitching would fix the problem, though he'd have to worry about infection later. Another glance around the rather bare room made the question, conversational as it may have been, rise to his throat.

"You haven't been here long, have you?" He looked around for somewhere to sit, and found it in a wooden chair, suddenly feeling as though his injured leg was about to splinter. Unveiled as well, the hilt of his dagger peeked out from the line of his pants over his hip, glinting gold in the subdued light, ready at hand. If this was a trap, now was the time to realize it...

[Omen]

A smile pursed her pink lips as he jeered her on with her comment, happy to see his grumpiness had dissipated since her display in the alley and low and behold he had followed her into her den. Well her borrowed den at least. Glorious was the minx in wolf's clothing. She still hated to come to this place just because of all the death had happened in this room. Danny liked to use it for his sex charades to scare the whores he brought. Seemed to get off on their fear, not to mention the beatings that occurred here for those that did not 'pay their respects' to him on time. It was grisly to say the least, all the things she had plucked out of that pathetic man. Blood had been dried along the walls which only now show as dark stains, at yet she had done a pretty good job on cleaning the place up. Well worth the days' work, it was perfect for her because only Danny knew the code to get in here, keeping it even from his members to instill fear in them. The room was large, all cement with several crates at the back end... looking more like a storage area more than anything. But it had a bathroom to the left with a stand in shower... she had no idea why... but it was there. She had her makeshift bed in the corner on top another small stack of crates with her belongings in a black suite luggage bag. Sure it wasn't the prime hotel but now that she had money she could go to one.

Sighing as she walked to her 'bed' she pulled off her sweater, revealing a black tank top over her black yoga pants with her hands and wrists wrapped in a single line of white cloth. She took out the handles that she tucked within the folds of her hand wraps and tossed them into her open luggage for fixing later on. An array of little tid bits were along her belt along with the tiny bag she stored her stolen credits in, which also followed the handles into her luggage. She took a deep breath and stretched her arms high above her hand, her back turned to the man behind her. She felt somewhat self conscious about the scar but he had already seen it... so when she turned it stood out from her low dipping top with gleaming pride. Angry and jagged it looked larger than it was hiding under her sweater.

She looked at Warrior with a frown on her face, wondering what he exactly wanted from her and why was he stripping in her room? Oh right his injuries... she had nearly forgotten with the stabbing behind her eyes getting worse. She watched him peel off his top and ... then her jaw went slack as she saw the muscled form underneath the bloody cloth. She smiled in approval... a looker for good reason it seemed. Now that his mind was the only one to listen to she could fully appreciate this male now within her view. A raised eyebrow graced her features as she watched him examine the wound. Hmm yes, not that bad a wound really... she gave herself a mental shake to keep from staring like a school girl.

"Thread... actually yes." she then went into the bathroom, she had found a first aid kit stuffed to the brim with goodies when she first settled in here. A rather nice find and she didn't doubt to know what it was for. Old Danny wanted his victims to survive further torture or not die on him until they had done the job he asked for. She took her chance to slip out three pills for her headache and swallowed them dryly, with a cringe she shook her head and turned on the tap to splash water on her face and rinse off the blood still on the back of her hand.She sighed... only 15 minutes of this throbbing and she'll be back to normal. She threw a towel over her shoulders before plucking the first aid kit out from underneath the sink. Tapping her face dry as she walked out of the bathroom with the white kit in hand. It was then she heard the distrust in his head and she handed it over at arms length. "Here... the previous occupant kept a steady supplies of thread, bandages and the like...

She opened it up for him to inspect the contents before placing it down on a crate next to him. She stepped back, ignoring the blade at his hip she turned her back to him as she continued to dry off her face and neck. The gentle sway of her hips she couldn't help but monitor his mind for reaction... he was an enigma really. He wanted her help for something but was too afraid to trust her at all. Well most people wouldn't trust her once finding out the ties of her heritage. A delicate hand traced down the front of her chest to find the scar there. Yes, she can understand why he would be afraid of her. That dance in the alley was a common occurrence for her, probably not something he was used to seeing a on a daily basis. "No I haven't been here long... I do not linger long in one hole... I go where the work is."

She stopped and leapt up on a crate crossing her ankles as she slouched forwards. Her eyes watching him. She felt inclined to continue talking... but about what? She had no idea what though she knew he wanted to know more about her... maybe it would bring up his trust in her... but then she had no trust of him. Well no matter really... it's not like he was part of Danny's gang.. or looking for her in particular. Not to mention a man that won't give his own name was not the kind to turn her in or back stab her. No she would be a pawn on their board instead, until they tired of her. Another common thing she came across in Tazelle's company. "So what exactly do I call you? I haven't had much to go on here except Warrior and frankly it's wearing on me. I do not bring strange men into my circle easily..."

She leaned back on her hands. "So...either you have a job for me or not... I'll listen either way."

[Catalyst Echo]

He hoped she hadn't been here long, anyway.

One by one, the scent of death and torture crept along the air currents, stale, but vivid nonetheless. The Catalyst's eyes fluttered shut for a moment, lost in reading each smell of fear and despair. Echoing screams ground across the cement of the walls, as if being dragged, voices injected with dominance their keepers. Visibly, Eveyto flinched. Kaiya, he hoped, had no part in any of these exploits. With a slightly more jaded gaze, he watched the femme fatale saunter over to her bed and slip off her clothing.

She was flaunting her scar now. What a curious change, the weaponsmith noted. Curious indeed.

Eveyto was curious in his own right, but that came to historical pursuits, inquiries of scrolls and maps, not social interaction and peacocking. Still, a wary eye watched with appreciation as her curves waltzed by and into another room. Maybe she'd procure his much-desired thread now. The bleeding wasn't showing any signs of slowing, he affirmed with a sigh and a squeeze of the wound between two apathetic fingers. There was a rattle of pills, an audible swallow, and the opening of something distinctly plastic.

So there had been something wrong after all. He'd press that issue later.

She returned abruptly, brandishing his request and that same jilting smile. Grateful, the Shaux tribesman took it in one hand, drawing his eyes away from her form.

"Well, how fortunate."

Irritability and logic both sprang and clamored as she swayed her hips again, leaping up onto the makeshift chair with a grace that absolutely, under no circumstances, should have made his body return to arousal. Her words drifted uselessly through his ears, affirming what he'd already figured out. Shaking his head to rid it of the muddled fire that had arisen within his mind, Eveyto leaned over and plucked a small item from one of his boots. The needle glimmered in his bronzed fingers deviously for a few seconds before Eveyto registered her question.

"I thought you'd settled on Hero?" He joked in the most innocuous manner possible. Name. He had to give her a name- who would trust a nameless comrade? Names were tied to history, and history to genetics, genetics to the soul...

Name, Eveyto. Name!

A paused breath was held, eyes averted as he began to thread the needle. Then, finally, he mumbled. "You may call me Echo."

And if I can trust you, later, Eveyto.

"Understandable- I am not quick to let others into my ring of trust quite so quickly either. You've undoubtably already realized Echo is not my real name, but we'll move to that as we go, eh?" He sucked on his tongue, hard, then wrapped it around a canine within his closed mouth as he made the first puncture, one hand steadily holding the wound, the other deftly twisting metal through flesh. His breathing became thready, short, pained pants, but out of pride he quashed the bellows that threatened his throat.

Talking. Keep talking. Pain could be diverted with conscious effort and thought into tasks greater than itself. The old Shaux quip of advice rank in his ears. Swallowing, Eveyto continued.

"I'm not sure what encounters you have had with the agents of authority in this neck of the galaxy." His flesh was pierced again, pulled close by the thread as the second track was started. "But my associates and I have quite frankly had enough with the regime of the ones that identify themselves as Force. The job is rather simple- you would join my associates and myself in destroying them."

Pain seized his face again, still, Eveyto persisted, falling into dead silence. A few seconds for the delightfully deadly women would give her a second to mull the idea over anyway.

"I cannot offer you a defined reward as of yet." His voice scraped along his tongue, as if dragged against sandpaper. "But I can promise you whatever you can take from them- revenge, riches, or simple righteousness."

The last of the thread pulled through, cinching the skin tightly against itself. Shaky hands tied the thread off, and finally, he returned her rather feline-esque gaze.

"And I can offer you my loyalty. No more, no less. Mull the offer over, Kaiya. I will not rush you. For now, I am going to sit her and quietly mutter every curse I can under my breath, if you don't mind, because that whole process hurt rather emphatically."