Another Town, Another Performance

[Relairah]

The man noticed when she awoke, having expected it, and smirked, putting a piece of cooked meat into his mouth. He was in a crouched position, resting on the balls of his feet with his arms draped over his thighs. "Oh, you're awake." He paused, "Good, good." At her question, he merely shrugged, rising to his feet once more and grabbed a small wooden cup. "Tea?" He began to pour some of the tea into the cup and offered it toward her, though obviously, she wouldn't be able to grasp it herself.

"I have an offer to propose to you. You see, I've been following you for quite some time now. You've got quite a few tricks and gifts, don't you?" His dark eyes glimmered, a chuckle rumbling in hs throat. "Bah, but what of details. Either way, I've learned quite a bit about you so don't try to pull any surprises. Besides, no one is going to find you either." Perhaps not true, but he meant it only to hopefully keep her from trying anything.

"First, I'd say this may be of interest to you, not just because of your... predicament, but because it won't just benefit me. You see, I happen to be in need of someone such as yourself, as an accomplace, for lack of a better term. Help me, and I'll do you a favor, anything you ask. Someone such as you... certainly might have something you'd like done, or help with, perhaps. But all in good time... we'll come to that later."

"So... interested?" The look on his face said he wasn't really giving her a choice, but was suggesting it to make everything seem that way.

Outside, Joseph could now distinguish voices and was close enough to hear what he needed to. He frowned, debating whether now was the appropriate time or not. Besides, he kind of wanted to toy with this guy just as he was toying with whoever the girl was. He certainly was getting on Joseph's bad list quickly. With only a small snap of his fingers, a small tongue of flame was dancing on his first finger's tip. He grinned... this was about to get a bit more interesting.

[Moon_Song]

'Tea?'
The offer seemed benign enough, but she made no motion to accept. She only continued to glare at him, eyes narrowed. His hospitality was wasted.

He continued to speak then. She was careful to listen to each word. He had been stalking her apparently. How he knew about her abilities was a odd thing, for she rarely used them. Unless someone had seen her in one of her "alone time" sessions. It must have been some scout with one of the troupes she had been with.

She had the urge to spit as he chuckled, but she kept her posture straight and still. Her only movement was her chest as it rose and fell with each breath. Her eyes were fixed on his face, unrelenting in their ferocity.

When he spoke of no rescue, she did not doubt his words. She knew very well that none were interest in stretching their own neck for her. Especially in a city full of sheep. It only meant that once she regain full sensation in her limbs, she would have to make her break for it. Before she could make a mental plan, he continued with his monologue.

Accomplice? What the Goddess...but what he said after that stopped that thought process.
'Someone such as you... certainly might have something you'd like done, or help with, perhaps.'
Her gazed wavered, if only slightly as her thought flashed to her sister. She was quick to steel her gaze once more.
'So... interested?'
She was not. She wanted nothing to do with such shady company. Such kinds of people never made fair deals, and if they did seem so, it was only because the one on the other end was a fool. She had to stop herself from spitting this time. She was in no position to be making such rash actions.

It was then that she thought she sensed another presence nearby. She ignored it, but did not brush it off. Doing so would be stupid. There was a possibility that it was another of this persons men, ready to take her away or worse if she did not comply.

Instead of answering him, she asked a question of her own. "Who are you?"

[Relairah]

The man observed her movements and body language. He had expected her to be stubborn. He reached toward a long, pointed knife and twirled it in his fingers, watching its blade before looking at her. Perhaps she might need some help making a decision.

At last, she gave a response, though she asked him a question. He smirked, but wasn't able to get beyond opening his mouth to speak before he was interrupted.

Joseph was a tall figure standing behind the man in the tent's opening, eyes aglow. He was leaning toward one leg, one arm across his midriff as if he was crossing them and the other held upward, his fingers poised to snap. "Say, what are the chances of running into such a situation. Just my luck."

The man turned with a snarl, as if to lunge toward Joseph. This had not been part of his plan. But he was stopped as Joseph's fingers followed through and with their snap came a tongue of flame held on his finger tip. He pushed it toward the tent edge, enough to put a glow though not to light it aflame, yet. "Ah, cha, cha." He paused to grin, "I wouldn't be too hasty." Joseph glanced toward Nikita, then back at the man. "Now, just let her go and all will be well."

The man leaped toward Nikita and attempted to grasp her arm. If he succeeded, he would then try to pull her to her feet, holding his knife in the other hand. "Fat chance," the man muttered. "This is none of your concern, but go ahead flame boy. Do it." It was a challenge.

Joseph just shrugged and proceeded, the tent material bursting into flame. It didn't take long for the fire to begin to grow and devour, as was its purpose. But Joseph didn't wait for that. Instead, he lunged toward the man, a blade suddenly in his own hand. The man blocked with his knife, the sound of metal colliding resounding through the enclosed area. He then made an attack, Joseph blocking this time. Joseph hoped the girl would take this as an opportunity to escape, or at least fight back. He didn't know she was still recovering use of her body. He glanced toward her for a brief second, indicating his thoughts before returning his focus to her kidnapper.

Joseph slashed again, another blade now in his other hand. The man blocked the one, but the other slashed through his clothing. He growled, having no place to go since Joseph was blocking the one way out of the tent. It wouldn't be long till it burned around them and he could then be free to act, but till then, he was left with not much to work with. Still, he wouldn't be taken down that easily.

[Moon_Song]

Just as the words left her lips, another man appeared at the opening of the tent. Nikita's eyes widened with the realization of who it was. The fiery pupil-less eyes were unmistakeable.

Was he here there to save... No. She would not let herself think such idealistic thoughts. Could he be in this with her kidnapper? From the way he reacted to him, she doubted it.

She glanced from one man to the other. They didn't seem to know each other, and it made her feel a little better for some reason. The kidnapper moved to lunge, but was stopped by a simple snap of the other mans fingers. With that snap, a flame burst to life. Nikita couldn't help but be amazed. She had met other magic users before, but they were few and far between.

With a simple motion, the fire-man lit the tent, but by some magic, probably his, it did not engulf the hides. He smiled and spoke again to her abductor, asking for her release, but he would have none of that. Had she not been so mesmerized by the flame, she would have seen him reach for her arm in time.

He violently grabbed hold of her and jerked her off the ground. Her arm hurt where his hand clenched firmly around her gently muscled upper arm. There would certainly be a bruise there later.

The sudden change in elevation left her dizzy for a second, and she wavered. She tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. She needed a distraction. Something for him to loosen his grip enough for her to break away.

The fire-man made the first move, slashing with the knife he now wielded, but was blocked with the kidnappers own blade. The counter was equally unsuccessful. The two went back and forth like that. One slashing and being blocked or the other jumping away in time and countering, until the fire-man pulled another blade out of thin air and found purchase, cutting through the other mans clothing shirt. From where she was, she could not tell if flesh was cut as well, but from the lack of blood she guessed not.

Now was a good a time as any. She made one last hard pull away from his grip. If she got away, she would drop to the floor and kick his legs out from under him. Once he hit the floor, she would sit on his chest and hold his arms down with her knees. Her still bound arms would be at his throat and she would speak once again. "Now tell me. Who the hell are you?"

[Relairah]

OoC: Hey Moon_Song.. sorry to bring it up but you powerplayed again =P In the last paragraph, you did say if she got away, but after that you said she would kick his legs from under him and proceed with the other actions, rather than saying she would attempt to do so. Remember that in roleplay, every action to someone else's character must be an attempt ^^

The man was indeed quite distracted by Joseph as he brought on relentless attacks, and Nikita was successful in pulling away. Just at that moment, Joseph pushed him into the tent folds at the back and he stumbled, falling to the ground when she kicked at his legs. However, before anyone could pull anything else on him, he rolled, using his hands to spring himself back to his feet and made a dart toward the tent opening, not making it as Joseph stood in his way once more, blades in hands, eyes warning.

He took a step back, and gasped as suddenly the tent crumbled to the ground around them in a whoosh of fire and smoke. The flames did not die however, but continued to burn in a ring around them, leaping toward the sky and growling as if challenging the man to escape. The man was more intimidated than he appeared. He knew the fire wasn't ordinary, and he might not get away with jumping through it like he would if it was normal. Still, he wouldn't give up, his eyes darting between the girl and Joseph. He was quite upset that his careful plans had been so dashed and ruined. With a faulty step, his boot was singed and he cringed, his eyes glancing backward only for a second.

Joseph siezed the opportunity, a smacking sound coming to the air as he hit the man with the flat of his blade. The man stumbled and fell, just knocked out for now. Joseph saw no reason to kill him at this time, but glanced toward Nikita, his mind turning. He hesitated briefly, before the flames died away from around them and he tucked one of his blades away in one of the hidden sheaths beneath his cloak. He made a gesure toward her bound hands and said, "With your permission?" If she allowed, he would then move to cut the ropes from her hands, freeing them.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to say much at this point, but he figured it would come in due time. "Shall we take him prisoner?" he asked, gesturing this time toward the unconscious man and indicating Nikita could tie him up now if she wished. Once the man awoke, they could question him.. that is if Nikita didn't dart away right then. For now, he waited on her response.

[Moon_Song]

((OOC: Oh, I'm Sorry :sweatdrop: I was trying to make it all just attempts. I guess I'm just no good at this sort of thing ))


She was able to pull from his grip. Where his hand had held her, a dark bruise was forming in the shape of his fingers. As she kicked out his legs, the fire-man pushed him. However, he was quick to jump back to his feet at try for the door, only to be thwarted my fire-man. Nikita stood back up. As she did, the tent crumbled around them. She put her arms over her face to protect her from the debris, but none touched her.

When Nikita looked from behind her arms, the fire-man was outside of the tent, and the kidnapper was standing before her, his eyes shifting between her and the other man. She adjusted her posture so that she stood straight and tall, a defiance in her eyes that dared him to make a move.

The abductor made a single faulty step and burned himself, distracting him once again. Before she could do anything, the fire-man hit him with the side of his blade, rendering him unconscious.

She looked down at him for a moment to be sure he would get up, then looked up to the odd-eyed man. He seemed hesitant about something. The flames died away and the flame man reached into his cloak and put his sword away. The sight made her yearn for her own sword. Would she ever see her precious possession again?

He gestured to her bound arms, asking her permission to cut the ties. She eyed him a moment. She didn't trust him, but he had come to her aide. What did he want? Was he hoping to take her for some selfish reason as well? Regardless of what he was planning to do, she needed her hands free. With a brief hesitation of her own, she held her hands out so that the rope could be severed and her hands freed.

She pulled the binding away and rubbed her the place where the ropes had rubbed the skin a bit raw. She glanced down at her abductor again to be sure he was still down, but returned her gaze to the fire-man. With his suggestion of taking him prisoner, she smirked. "Just what I was thinking."

She gathered up the ropes that had once kept her arms together and went to tie the unconscious mans arms. She hoped he didn't wake up in the process, but if he did, she would attempt to subdue him once more.

[Relairah]

OoC: Haha it's okay... that's where proofreading will help =) Look over your posts and look out for stuff like that. You'll get there, it takes practice. ^^

Joseph did not fail to notice her eyeing him, the distrust in her gaze. Frankly, he couldn't blame her. But he wasn't really worried about it. He supposed she could do as she wished. But aside from that, he was glad when she let him free her hands and then proceeded to bind her previous captor. How ironic, he thought as she spoke her agreement with him.

Once she was done, he grasped the man and began dragging him along the ground, taking steps toward the tree covering. He had no doubt that someone might have seen the smoke before he had put it out and might come looking. He wanted to get away from the spot just in case that happened. He didn't feel like dealing with much else right at this moment.

He hoped the girl followed, if nothing else than for curiosity and answer's sake. It wouldn't take long for them to be far enough under the trees of that particular forest for his comfort. He would then stop, propping the other man against a tree until he woke up, which should be within moments, he guessed. He couldn't say for sure, being as he supposed he might have bumped his head several times while being dragged here. Still, he wouldn't waste the time completely.

He stood back slightly and twirled one of his blades, a dagger of sorts idly. He glanced toward the girl, if she had followed and if she didn't say or ask anything, he would break the silence himself. "Not sure when he'll wake up... but while we wait, do you have any idea why this guy wanted you?"

[Moon_Song]

With her knots finished and secured, Nikita stepped back and looked over her work, pulling to be sure the tie would not easily come loose. The fire-man grabbed hold of the now unconscious kidnapper and began to drag him away. She watched a moment at the slightly comical display, but soon followed. She had questions for both of these men, and she would get her answers...no matter what.

As they got farther into the line of the forest, she wished more and more that she had her beloved sword. There was a pang in her chest with the thought of never seeing it again. She was dragged from her pity party by the fire-man finally stopping and propping the other man against a random tree. She stopped, but said nothing. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him fidget with a dagger. The action made her feel a bit uncomfortable. All of her spare knives and daggers were still with her things under the collapsed tent in the market place. She was, as much as she detested to admit it, utterly defenseless accepted for her abilities...

He spoke and broke the silence, mentioning the uncertainty of when the other man would finally awake and asking of her if she knew why he was after her. She stared at the limp form below her and did not speak right away. When she finally did, it was short and abrupt. "I don't know."

She tore her gaze from the disgusting being on the floor, and looked into the pupil-less eyes of the one before her. "Who are you?"

[Relairah]

Joseph nodded deftly and put his blade away, his hands now empty. He might need them to get information out of the unconscious man, but that would be momentarily. For the moment, he didn't think about the girl possibly wanting her own things. But perhaps they might get to that in due time.

"I see," he murmured when she said she didn't know why the man was after her. Well, fair enough. He had full faith this man had some kind of huge idea in mind. Why else would he have prepared and been so intent on this one girl?

The girl looked at him and her voice broke his thought pattern, asking him something he should have at least expected. Bah, he had no problem giving his name. He let a smile flicker across his lips. "Joseph." It was best to assume that's what she was asking for, he thought. After all, the mere question of 'who are you' could entail so many different answers. Heck, some people couldn't even answer that question about themselves. If she wanted more information about him, all she had to do was ask. He could choose what he wanted to divulge, though he hardly felt a large threat from this girl.

After a pause, he returned her question and asked, "And you are?" He turned a glance away as the man they had taken capture of groaned, showing the first signs of returing to consciousness. It took a few more moments, time enough for Nikita to answer Joseph, if she so wished, unless she became suddenly distracted with the fact her previous kidnapper was waking. Finally, he blinked his eyes, moving about and coming to the realization of his situation.

He looked up at his now captors, a grimmace coming to his face. How ironic, indeed. He glared from one face to the next, not saying anything, just waiting for what he assumed was coming to him. Joseph made no moves nor asked anything at his point. On his part, he figured the girl probably wanted to do the interrogating. He would step in if he felt the need to.

[Moon_Song]

His only answer was 'Joseph.' At least now she knew how to refer to him. More information would have been nice, but she would get that later. What mattered now, was who the other man was.

With only a moments hesitation, he tossed her own question back at her. She toyed with the idea of a vague answer, but she decided against it. "Nikita."

The unconscious man finally began to awake. He looked as though he was squirming under the realization of the position he was in, but that could have just been her perspective on it. The man on the ground glared up at her and Joseph. She retaliated with an icy stare. She wanted to spit, but, again, suppressed it. Instead, she decided to do something else entirely.

With a gate that suggested anything but aggression, she made her way to the man, and leaned over him, keeping the silence the entire time. As soon as her eyes met his, she would pull back her arm with lightning speed and punch him in the jaw with enough force to daze him, but nothing more. She needed him coherent.

If her fist was to connect with his face, she would begin her interrogation. "Who the hell are you and what exactly were your plans for me?" All the while, her voice would be calm and even, giving the entire line of questions an eerie tone.

[Relairah]

Joseph nodded deftly at Nikita's response, having expected it. Afterall, he hadn't given her much else either, he thought. Good. They now could actually address and refer to each other without just saying, "Hey you!" or something similar. But such thoughts were put to the back of his mind as all attention turned toward their captive.

The man eyed Nikita carefully as she approached him, like a serpent preparing to strike, and strike she did. With her punch, he flinched, his face being pushed to the side with her force and he spit in the dirt, unable to do anything else about what he was sure might become a bruise. Well, well, she was stronger than he'd thought. Fiesty. He looked up at her with those sharp black eyes as she asked her question and at first he was silent.

"Oh, dear, such violence." Again acting collected despite his situation. He wasn't to be outwardly intimidated, even if he was on the inside. At least not that easily. He released a sigh, knowing he was hardly in any position to try anything or refuse to answer. So he did. "I am a mere traveler and I already told you my plans for you. In fact, I gave you most of any information you might want when I had you in my tent, in case you don't remember." He looked at her smugly, waiting for her next question or action or whatever she would do. He wondered if she would punch him again, just for the hell of it.

He glanced briefly toward Joseph, a bit more wary. He knew this man was someone to be careful with, but it was only a glance before his attention was on Nikita once more. "Say, if you ask me, it might actually be in your interests to agree to my earlier proposition."

[Moon_Song]

Nikita tucked a lock of her silvery hair that had fallen loose from her headscarf behind her ear. The "traveler's" answer was no less than she expected. So, she reached out for his face once again, but this time, she tried to grab ahold of his face in her left hand, attempting to press her thumb hard into the spot where her fist made contact.

She offered her response in the same eerily calm tone. "What specifically did you want me as an accomplice for, 'traveler'?" If she was able to grab his face, she would be pressing even harder now, "I'm sure there's more to it." The words he spoke last left a troubling wake in her gut, but she dared not let it show through. "And why, exaxtly, would it be in my best interest.?"

As the scene played out, Nikita wondered how this whole thing looked to Joseph. Did she seem the violent type? Feisty? She new this was only the face she showed to men. A woman or child would see her softer side, for they, more often than not, were the helpless and abused ones. Men almost always seemed to be the ones who hurt others, the sniveling pigs, so why did she care how Joseph saw this?

Now is not the time. She pushed away her distracting thoughts. She needed to focus on this man, who face she (hopefully) held so gingerly...well, except for where it would hurt the most.

[Relairah]

The man grunted when she reached out and grabbed him, he unable to prevent her actions whatever they may be... especially with his hands tied. Yet his eyes remained the same, even if the rest of him felt pain of any kind. He listened as she furthered her questioning, pressing him for more details. He waited a moment before answering, simply because he felt like drawing it out.

"An adventure of sorts I'm on. Or maybe a quest, as some others might call it." He paused, wanting to see if she'd have any reaction to that. Whether she did or didn't, he continued. "Oh, please. As if you really want to spend the rest of your life dancing for a circus. It might be great for now but admit it, you're the kind of girl who wants something out of life." He paused again. "Besides, there's good pay." He smirked, or at least tried with her pressing her fingers into his face.

He was being completely serious and half honest. He needed her assistance, it was true. She could do a lot of things that he, frankly, couldn't and would make the acquiry of his goal a lot easier. However, there was information he wasn't giving. At least, not right then. There was no way she could have known that, however, unless she could read his mind. He gave her enough in hopes that she would if nothing else be interested.

Joseph continued to watch from the sidelines, somewhat amused. She certainly was a girl who could handle herself, given the opportunity, he thought. But his focus was also on the man as he spoke and his body language. He was arrogant; Joseph didn't like that, but then, he himself had a bit of that to him. Though in an entirely different manner. He waited, curious to what Nikita would say. He felt it was about time he interjected, but after a moment. He would only if he felt it was necessary.

[Moon_Song]

Again, he answered vaguely, trying her patience. It was a good thing she had a lot of it when the situation called for it. When he paused, the only expression she gave was one that encouraged him to go on. If he was going to play that game, should would play back.

He went on to say he thought her to be one who would want to move away from her dancing days to something more. At the end, he tacked on his little comment about the finacial aspect of his proposition. At this Nikita laughed out, but there was no humor in it. "You have grossly misunderstood my priorities, traveler." She moved her hand to push his face to the side with a little more force than was necessary, finally letting go of him. "And you still have not answered my last question. Even so, I will as one more of you: What exactly is this 'quest' you find yourself on? Answer frankly, now. It would be in your best interest to do so."

She had intentionally threw the comment he seemed to like so much right back at him. Something about the way he acted made her feel as though there was far more behind all this than just 'assistance with a quest.' If there was, he was careful not to give it away. Who was this man? And why was he so intent on having her aid his goal?

Something inside made her shudder internally. She didn't like the idea one little bit. She glanced back to Joseph to make sure he wasn't doing anything odd. "Did you want to add anything?"

[Relairah]

The man stared at Nikita for a moment, tracing the inside of his mouth with his tongue as he thought. Oh, why couldn't things go just as he had specifically planned them? Bah, but it was too late for that now. After all, he hadn't thought anyone might bother to interfere as whoever the guy was standing to the side. Still, he saw that things hadn't gone his way and there was nothing he could do about it now.

He shrugged when she mentioned he grossly misunderstood her, murmuring only, "Perhaps." Until now, he had been pretty much saying whatever he thought might bait her. Obviously, she was a tough shell to crack. "But, I do happen to know that you don't stay with one group too long." It wasn't like him yanking her away was that bad, he thought to himself. She would probably have left them on her own soon enough. "Now, of course I don't know your reasons other than the desire for something new every once in a while. Either way, coming with me would certainly gain you a change of scenery and if nothing else, perhaps give you a chance at something that wouldn't come around very often." Again, he was implying she might get something out of it for herself.

He paused, letting those words sink in before he continued, putting thought into everything he said. He disregarded her threat to him entirely, how she shot his own phrase back at him. Had he been in a different situation, he might have laughed at her, simply for spite, but instead, he remained in the same state he had been, being utterly serious. "Now, about the quest. I'm sure you've heard of various items whether blessed or cursed or whatever other fancy tales people might tack onto them. The case being, of course, they have some kind of special quality. I know the whereabouts of one in particular of which I wish to attain."

He paused again, hoping she wouldn't ask him any further details. Afterall, in truth, he didn't even know some of the specifics and for what he did know, he wanted to discover it in ways once he got hold of his objective. He eyed Nikita, his black eyes revealing nothing except his cool arrogance. "Unfortunately, I cannot aquire it in entirety by myself. Which brings me to you." He knew she would know what that meant.

Joseph, up to this point, had been quietly thinking. He now wasn't certain he really wanted to say what he had considered before. He glanced toward Nikita when she asked if he wanted to add anything, his eyes showing his caution. He sighed and stepped toward them. "I would not recommend listening to anything this scum has to say. I don't believe it would be wise to accompany anything he asks for. However," he paused briefly, eyeing the man. "I do have a thought." He stepped back once more, making a motion for Nikita to accompany him. If she did, he would get to a distance where they could talk without being heard, but still observe the man from said distance.

"I do have a certain curiosity of just what this man is up to. I have a feeling it involves the harm of others, besides yourself, in getting whatever it is he is after. I think perhaps you might agree, maybe with your own terms and conditions, of course only if you're alright with it. In the end, if nothing else, we might be able to protect several and maybe even dispose of this man afterward." He hesitated, glancing toward the man. "It's up to you. You should only do what you're entirely comfortable with." It was kind of a given. He had a feeling she wasn't the type who would do anything otherwise anyway. But nevertheless, he said it as a way of implying he was in no way trying to control her. Merely offering a suggestion.