Another Mercenary Among Merchants

[Aveilthé]

OOC: Sure, go 'head XD

[Mama Z]

(Someone else start..lmo..)

[Felypsa]

oOc| tuh. Lazy.




When December first opened her eyes, her first thought was: Am I home? It was a strange thought, since the last time she had had a “home” was when she was living with her father and his fellow seraphim. But that was worlds away. She had not been “home” in ages. So why did she think of it now?

December gradually got up from the couch she had fallen asleep on. She was in great need of a wash, but she didn’t want to take the time. Any moment, she expected a torch-and-pitchfork-bearing mob at the mansion doors, seeking revenge against the horrible beasts that had attacked their priest. So December quickly went to the pump and one-handedly splashed some water over her face and hair. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

She reentered the room, trying to recall the events of the previous day. The last thing she remembered doing was tying up Taro’s unconscious form, so that when he awoke he would not escape. Theoretically. He was fairly strong, after all. But at least she had put Bloodfang under lock and key.

December desperately wanted to just relax, but she knew that there was more to be done. First, though, she had to check up on the vampires—and get some food. December had not eaten since the little she had ordered in the café with Taro, a fact that her stomach was reminding her of constantly. She had dealt with not eating for a prolonged period of time, but food would still be nice.

She put that off, though, and went to the chambers where she had left Fortuné and Zayn sleeping like babies. She hoped that the sleep was enough to regenerate what energy they needed. With a pang in her heart, she realized how hungry they must be. I will not go out “shopping” for them, she thought vehemently. I definitely draw the line there. But neither would she stand in their way if they went out hunting.

With Seraphim firmly buckled on her back, as always, and a yawning Imi on her shoulder, December stepped into the room and looked around. She did not want to call out in case the vampires were still sleeping soundly, but she felt odd sneaking into their chamber without announcing her presence.

[Aveilthé]

In the mind of a vampire, evening was considered early morning.
The inclination toward this aspect stirred in Fortuné. His mind was
roused and attentive the moment the metaphorical alarm bell
chimed in his mind, resounding, "Time to awaken, lowly
vampire. Go stalk the night!"

Fortuné rose up, though with difficulty. He had almost forgotten
the past events, but slowly, he regained the reality of what had
happened. Gasping, he subconsciously felt his abdomen for the
dreadful punctured wound. As he groped wildly, it took him a
moment to realize that there was no wound there.

"Ce qui?" said he rapidly in French, unaware of what he
was saying. He was taken by surprise. Needing answers, he threw
the sheets off of him and stumbled out of the bed in an attempt
to find a mirror.

It took at least twenty minutes, at least, to find one. There was
hardly a mirror in the vicinity. Fortuné understood why.

In the meanwhile, his eyes became used to the darkness, so that
he could see almost perfectly in the dank lair. He lifted up a clean
shirt on his body he had procured from his brother's drawers hours ago,
and stared at his reflection on a small cracked mirror in a hallway.
He noticed that his abdomen was flawlessly clean. For a while,
he looked bemused, but as always, he was slow at figuring things
out regardless of his high intelligence.

"Oh... right...." Fortuné sighed, releasing his grip from his shirt.
"Vampires heal quickly..." He scratched his scalp wearily, then
let loose a broad yawn to which his jaw popped. "Ow...," he
muttered, rubbing one side of his jaw.

[Mama Z]

The daylight hours were rough. But when he woke up he was feeling the extent of it all. Zayn stretched and groaned as he felt the familiar ache in his joints and his belly. A hunt was going to be in order, a quick one at that. Then after his stomach was full they would have to flee. They were known. The damned priest knew where they dwelt, even Rosaline. Hell, he might just finish her off for screwing up everything.

A hand moved through his hair, placing the strands back as he reapplied his mask. He sat in the corner, waiting for his brother to awaken. In a way he had a concern over December. He was unsure of her and her intentions. She had a way of knowing right and wrong, but would she consider what they did completely right and try to stop them? Then Fortune stirred and staggered off, then he heard the soft approach of someone else. He turned his gaze to see December enter the room.

[/color][/size]

[Felypsa]

December heard the vampires stirring around, and Fortuné talking quietly to himself, and knew it was all right to call out. “Good—uh—evening,” she said, a little hesitantly. Imi felt no such inhibitions. The little bird jumped off of December’s shoulder and swooped over to where Zayn was, changing into a small bat as she neared the masked vampire. She pinged a greeting in the way that bats do, and if Zayn allowed it, would try to sit on his shoulder.

Well, thought December, watching this. “Zayn? Fortuné? Hello. Are you two feeling better now?” She entered the room a little warily, the floor creaking beneath her feet. As she looked around in the room, she thought she saw a movement, and turned to look; and imediately wished she hadn’t. For she had caught Fortuné looking at himself, his entire torso exposed. December was not one to blush, but she did back away before he could see her and jump to conclusions.

She paced around to hide her flusteredness—for she was a little flustered, though she would hardly admit that to anyone. And what was wrong with her? She had been part of a band of mercenary men—who cared not if they had shirts or who saw them without. It was no big deal then. Why should it be different now?

“Taro’s all tied up, and his sword put away,” December said, though she was just talking for the sake of talking. “But we—you should probably get moving as soon as possible.” I’m not leaving with them, am I? she wondered. The question had not crossed her mind before. She hadn’t even gotten that far…now that Taro was no longer a threat (theoretically), did the vampires even need her any more? Should she go with them anyway, since Rosaline and the priest would be able to point out her involvement with the vampires? It was all too confusing.

[Aveilthé]

Upon checking himself, and privately thinking that he looked in
pretty good shape in that small mirror, Fortuné heard a femenine
voice ring through the vicinity. "December?" he whispered.
"You're still here?" That was an irrelevant question; of course she'd
still be here. Even Fortuné knew that she had no where else to
stay, or so he thought. But then he thought how she lingered,
perhaps for his well-being. If that was true, then...

Adrenaline rushed into his veins as he thought about it. He
turned and saw December standing there, but he knew that
December would never return the same feelings he felt for her,
regardless of knowing her for... well, the past few days were so
long, and felt weeks ago at least, if not years. "I feel fine...
are you feeling all right yourself?" He took a step forward, as if
trying to show concern like she had. Then he continued in a
passive manner.

"I agree," he replied softly, looking in an entirely different direction now.
He noticed that Zayn had already awakened as well. Funny how
people wake up at nearly the same time sometimes. "But won't
you be coming with us?" This was added in a weak tone as it
was directed at the seraphic-human girl. He tried his best to
ignore his brother; he was sure that Zayn wouldn't like it in
the slightest to have December around. Or perhaps Fortuné could
be mistaken.

[Mama Z]

The bat like fluttered over and with ease rested on his shoulder. Green eyes peered at the creature with a calm curiousity. The idea of Imi still intrigued him, as well as how one like December came by a thing such as this. But that wasn't the only thing on his mind, a quick glance at December pushed further questions into his mind, and his brothers dumb approach. The air felt sufficating with how awkward it was. He looked over at his kin and sighed. He shifted and stood up, the question was not if the mercenary should join them, the question is would it be a good idea?

He would admit, he had never traveled long with another in so long, he was already beginning to fear how he and his brother would react to each others company. "Could you handle it?' Zayn asked moving towards his piano. 'Could you handle the fact that night after night we are killing again and again. But I think another question is, can we trust you and can you trust us?'

[Felypsa]

“I’m fine,” December answered Fortuné’s question curtly, not meeting his gaze, fearful of what she might see there. True, she was concerned for him, but only as a friend would be. The concern he showed for her was the irrational concern that a lover felt, when he needed constant reassurance than she was perfectly unhurt, for if the slightest thing were wrong, he would worry. December winced as she looked at her still-broken-but-healing wrist, which throbbed with an unceasing ache. She was not truly fine, then, but she did not want Fortuné worried.

But that was the last of her anxieties. The question came up of whether she could travel with them. As Zayn asked her reasonably whether she could handle their lifestyle, which was so drastically different from her own, she lapsed into thoughtfulness. Only a few days ago she had viewed vampires as creatures of darkness, the fiercest enemies of both her human side and her seraphic side. Yet recent events had uncovered that her enemies had been humans: the foolish (Rosaline), the self-righteous (the priest), and—she winced—the mercenary (Taro). Her friends and allies, on the other hand, were these very vampires. Life was strange indeed.

“As long as you take your meals seperately,” she said at length, “and not eat them in front of me, when I can see—” She shuddered. She was part human, no matter how often she might forget. “I will not prevent you. You have done this for hundreds of years, and I…I’ll have to trust your experience. You know how to hunt the most effectively. Which prey to choose without…causing too much of a scandal.” I cannot believe I am condeming these future people we will encounter, she thought. As a mercenary and an angel, aren’t I supposed to protect the innocent? “Criminals,” she whispered. “If you can—avoid innocent bystanders—choose those no one will miss.”

She looked over at Imi, who seemed so comfortable on Zayn’s shoulder, completely unperturbed by what Zayn had to do. And she looked at Fortuné, softly pleading, for all intents and purposes a friend. “I trust you,” she concluded. “I’ll have to.” Not wanting this moment of moral compromise to continue, not wanting to further labor upon what she had just agreed to do, she said, “But I need food to survive the journey as well. I have no weapons with which to hunt—Seraphim is purely for battle’s sake—and even if I did, I could not hunt effectively with my broken wrist.” She shrugged. “If I had money, I would risk being seen outside and buy rations, but I have no money either. In theoretical terms, I will go with you; in practical terms, I’m not sure I can. I didn’t get any of that reward money. Obviously.” She smiled wryly.

oOc| i can't remember the deal that Taro made with Grandma, and am too lazy to look that up. i guess she could rob him if he had any on him, but i don't remember x.x

[Aveilthé]

OOC: The money was 200,000 Escavan coins. x3 Or Es. as I call it. Hurhur.

With December's words, Fortuné chuckled some. "Of course, of
course...," said he, scratching an area above his brow
unpretentiously. "But we all know that hunting could go...
terribly wrong!" He was, of course, talking about the past event
where he murdered Rosaline's grandfather in that alley the day
before yesterday.

Fortuné, upon hearing that December would be willing to follow,
felt overjoyed. In times like these, he just wanted to hug her,
but he restrained himself. "Oy, I have an idea," he said suddenly,
pacing around the dank lair. "I could pretend to be dead so that
the lady would pay you up! And if she needs proof that I'm
a vampire, all you'd have to do is to show her these." And he
grinned broadly, divulging canines that slightly protruded more
than what was natural. "The money could get you some
needed weapons, and food!"

He was so happy to have thought of this idea, that he could just
piddle in his pants.

[Mama Z]

Zayn had paused in his walkings and looked at Fortune as he babbled on about pretending to be dead. 'And how will she prove that? Cut your head off or drag your body there? Fortune, she herself will stab you with something to make sure you are dead.' He actually thought that maybe somewhat funny, Fortune lying there acting dead then getting whacked on the head by the old woman, then Rosaline coming out and as if in a bad opera toss her body over his hoping he wasnt truly dead, nor a vampire. 'We can steal from those ...evildoers if you wish.' He offered, 'They wont be needing money in hell.'

[Felypsa]

December put her forehead in her good hand, rubbing it as if she had a headache. Of all the ridiculous ideas…luckily, Zayn took it upon himself to explain how that plan might go wrong, so she was spared from having to point out the obvious. “I appreciate the sentiment,” December said with a sigh. “But handing yourself over to someone who very much wants you dead is never a good idea.”

At Zayn’s suggestion, December grimaced. She had always believed in abiding by the law insofar as to work for money, but never steal someone else’s hard-worked-for money. Yet Zayn made a good point, and she did need the money. “What evildoers are you thinking of?” she asked the more practical vampire. “I will not steal from the church’s collected offering, though I am not averse to hitting the priest’s private stash. We should leave Rosaline’s family alone, however,” she added. “They’ve been through enough.”

Then December paused, considering. “I wonder if Taro has any money on him,” she thought out loud. With that, she went over to where she had tied up her old fellow-in-arms, examining his person for any money whatsoever. He had sold himself out; it served him right to be broke. Again December wondered at how much her ideals had changed in the past few days. She would have never robbed a fellow mercenary—or anyone else, for that matter.

[Aveilthé]

Taro was covered in Fortuné's blood, but was otherwise out cold
as December took him. If December looked carefully, she would be
able to find that in Taro's front pocket bulged something that looked
like a wallet in his baggy Army pants. If December opened it, she
would find a modest amount of Escavan money there - and if she
so desired, through her travels, could visit the Escavan money
exchange program and exchange the coins for various other
dollars in other countries.

Fortuné looked slightly taken back at being told that his idea
was not a good one. Sighing heavily, he resorted to the shadows,
which struck him an idea.

Quietly, Fortuné scampered out of site from the lair. Fortuné would
steal the gold himself, just for December, to prove that he was
not a brainless dolt. He would certainly be eating his own words
soon.

[Mama Z]

For some odd reason, Zayn felt completely alone. He watched as December moved over to Taro to check for, what he ventured to guess was money. Though for the judge of it, the man didnt look like he owned much. He glanced around the room, now noticing that his brother had disappeared. Somewhere in the pit of his stomach he had a bad feeling about that. He glanced over at Imi then back at the mercenary. 'I need to go out and hunt. You can stay here or go out for a bit, but after my brother and I have fed we truly do need to get going.'

[Felypsa]

oOc| Aww. Do we need a girl for Zayn? (=




December lifted up Taro’s wallet triumphantly, but that momentary triumph faded as she found just enough money to cover perhaps a week’s rations—maybe a week and a half’s, if she planned carefully. She frowned; it was better than nothing, certainly, but she did not like the idea of suddenly running out of money and food in the middle of nowhere.

She merely nodded as Zayn said he would go and hunt, with Imi the bat still on his shoulder, and did not notice at first that Fortuné had vanished. She counted the money carefully, weighing in her mind how much she should use to buy food and how much to keep. When she finally realized that she was standing in the mansion alone, she assumed that both vampires had gone out hunting. Well, she could hardly go out shopping at night; all the merchants would be home by this time tonight.

But if Escavas was the only city they encountered for a while…she might have to go days without food. After some rumination, December decided to buy a meal at a cheap café, and see if she could buy some food to start their journey with. Even though she did not like leaving the mansion alone, she had too, or else face starvation. So, like her companions (as she assumed), she went out into the night to eat.