Post by mahri on Apr 16, 2010 22:07:37 GMT -5
Mahri didn't make a spectacle of herself in entering the Inn. At this time of day there were few patrons, most of them off to sea or getting ready to do so. Fishing trawlers would be in later that evening but for not it was blessedly quiet. Ebony hair is pulled back and twisted into a thick braid that falls to her waist and it's clean. Just saying. The lycan herself is in neither a good or bad mood and it can go either way at any point. Mostly because she's female and prone to being moody. Sidling up to the bar, Mahri taps it to get Simon's attention. "Ello, Mahri," the man greets, setting an unopened bottle of rum before her. "Ello, Simon. Any news?" With a shake of his head, the bar tender turns again to one of the other few patrons gracing his establishment. With a sigh, Mahri uncorks the bottle and lofts it salute to the stuffed mermaid. In her opinion, that's the only good mermaid. Oh, but then..then a good long drink is taken and her mood considerably brightens.
Shishi isn't aware of it, but the slow pace at which he walks through Rynvale's streets allows Mahri some time to enjoy her rum as he takes his time getting to the Broken Barrel. When he reaches the entrance to the Inn and gently pushes his way through it one might notice that he's wearing the usual, clean, comfortable attire he prefers to walk around in, aside from a missing scarf or neck tie, and not the bloodied, torn clothing that would usually accompany his violent alter ego. The man's clothes and eyes do not match however, his irises glowing their accursed shade of crimson as he slowly scans the establishment and doesn't overlook Mahri's presence while he has his look around. Some deliberate steps are taken towards the bar until a serving girl passes him by and he stops her by softly taking hold of her arm, muttering a food order to her, his plan to pick up some take-out for a set of blonde twins it seems.
Mahri was enjoying her rum, the bottle nearly gone before Blue showed up. Or rather, who she would assume is Blue once she turns around after catching his scent. "Well.." she drawls, "hello there, Blue." Silver eyes flicker over the vampire coming last to his own eyes. "How's the kids," she hopes to avoid whatever malevolent mood those crimson irises promise.
Shishi turned his crimson stare on the lycan and maintained it as she met his gaze and the barmaid shuffles away from the vampire and towards the kitchen. Shadows sway and pulse around the establishment, their strange movement noticed by some who scoot their chairs and stools away from dark corners and other poorly illuminated spots. Fangs are shown off, flashing into view as the Blue Demon speaks towards Mahri, "Morning..." he greets her, likely unaware of the time, "They're unhappy." is the flat answer he gives her while he averts his gaze and taps his foot lightly, awaiting his order being filled.
Mahri noticed the shadows but experience had taught her to be wary rather than alarmist. After all, if Blue had wanted to hurt her, he'd have done so. "I can imagine they are." There's no small amount of sympathy in her tone. She may not be empathic but she knew how it felt to lose someone very close. Clearing her throat, the lycan actually glances away then back to the vampire. "Ah..ye fed recently?" Obviously the order he placed was not for himself.
Shishi twitched slightly as a particularly adamant whisper came from the shadows. The vampire's right hand rises to his head and he takes in an unnecessary, deep breath, exhaling it slowly to calm his nerves and keep himself from attacking anyone before he can get a hold of Orange and Yellow's food. If anything conversation with Mahri is a distraction from those black voices crowding his mind, so it is with a small smirk that he assures her he's been feeding, "Constantly." Indeed his family's curse and vampirism were a vicious combination while working in tandem to fuel his blood lust. To keep the pair of curses in check he's been feeding on one or two victims nightly...
Mahri's eyes narrow slightly before returning to normal. Sensing, sort of, the problem, the lycan slides from her seat and leaves the rum behind to come stand a bit closer to Blue. "That's a good thing, aye?" It's odd, to be so concerned about this male who'd not once or twice but perhaps three times managed to hurt or incopacitate her. Ok, so she can admire strength in someone other than herself. It's because of that admiration that a had reaches out in order to rest on his arm. A gesture of offered comfort if ever she'd give on. "The Colors must be hungry," she murmurs, sure that he can hear her. Just about then, the wench appears with boxes that reek of whatever Shishi had ordered. "Do you want company taking their food back to them?"
Shishi nodded once, "Mmm..." as Mahri stood and rather emotionless crimson eyes watched her approach. A sideways glance is given towards his shoulder and her hand that came to rest there. It takes a fair amount of effort, perhaps unknown to the lycan woman, to keep every single shadow in the Inn from collapsing towards her when she makes that contact with him... 'The Colors', he'd never call them that himself, being a color in his own right, but it was a term of endearment a few of that Cabal group had taken to using to address the blonde twins. "Aye..." he says, his thoughts wandering and becoming Orange and Yellow in tint. The Blue Demon shrugs her hand off his shoulder as he turns to accept the food carried to him and give his payment after fumbling through his pockets. Some steps are taken towards the exit with the meal in hand before he throws some perhaps misplaced hostility over his shoulder, "I'll be fine alone... I'd rather not be locked in my own house again anyway..."
Mahri inwardly winces at that parting shot but follows the vampire anyway. "Ah, that was nothin' but a misguided attempt at bein' helpful."
Shishi was slowly losing his little duel for control with the darkness, so as he pushes open the door to leave he shuts his eyes and forces his irises back to their usual oceanic Blue shade, choosing his own serenity over the threatening look his cursed crimson eyes gave off. "Very misguided." he snaps back, "I've no interest in salvaging anything with her... Yellow will be fine when he realizes that too..." Leralynn is left out of the conversation for one reason or another, likely because she was less concerned about Terra leaving the family than her brother was. If Mahri continued to follow him he wouldn't make any physical attempt to stop her, but that was no guarantee the verbal hostility wouldn't continue as they headed towards the shore house.
Mahri simply follows behind, hands clasped behind her back and listens to every word. "Aye, aye. Very misguided, indeed as it was. I was only tryin' to be a friend to ye both." Her tone is rather nonconfrontational, aware of the volatile currents surrounding the assassin. "Yellow'll come around. I've no doubt of that. He's a smart kid." Complacancy there, agreement and nonhostility were the order of the day. "Can ye kindly call off your pets," she gestures towards the creeping and swelling shadows. The angrier he got, the more they seemed to seeth. Unbeknownst to herself, a different kind of darkness insinuates itself inside her mind, clouding her irises with its inky blackness to see what she sees. Blue just might see it himself if he turns to look at her.
Shishi narrowed his now azure stare forward as he fumbled with the boxes in his hands to slip just one palm under all of them so that he could wave his newly freed hand over his shoulder, effectively dispelling what shadows were still trailing him, sending them scurrying back to their natural positions hidden from the sun. Only after the food is back to being evenly distributed between his two hands does he look back towards the lycan to say something about his son, "Yellow's no-..." he doesn't miss the change in Mahri's eyes and stops in his tracks, unwilling to lead the lycan and those phenomenal eyes closer towards his home, "What're you doing...? Your eyes."
Mahri comes to a stop just as Shishi does and blinks. Just that quick they return to normal and she is staring at him as though the vampire has grown a second head. "What about my eyes?" Brow furrowed she steps closer to Blue, "Nothing is wrong with my eyes.." Was there? For a fleeting moment something stirrs in the lycans consciousness, the sound of cold laughter. Shaking her head to clear it, the alpha shrugs her shoulders. "There is nothing wrong with me," she says firmly, setting her jaw in that stubborn manner of hers. "You're the one with the pigment problem, Blue."
Shishi grits his teeth slightly as his own 'pigmentation problem' returns, his irises shifting back to their crimson shade just as quickly as they had left it. He's never had an experience with eyes changing color that meant something good. "They were Black." he insists to the lycan woman. Shadows slowly creep towards the pair, The Blue Demon finding some comfort in having them near while his hands were full. "What's going on..?" he asks her, becoming just a bit paranoid after she denied that her eyes had changed. Was he seeing things? Was she lying to him?
Mahri is quite honesty perplexed by the insistance her eyes had changed. Of course that was...she stared back at Blue..ok so it's not impossible, but she had never had that happen before. Of course there were those times she didn't remember doing or saying things she had apparently done and said. Gnawing on her lip, the woman glances away from the vampire. "I don't know, Blue. It's nothing, I'm sure of it." She's rather proud of herself for being able to sound so sure about that..didn't she?
Shishi shook his head quickly, "I saw it. They were Black..." He won't let her have this one, hallucinations weren't one of the symptoms of his curse, at least not while he was awake and outside of the Obsidian Pool, then again those were more like nightmares than hallucinations. Shadows rose slightly from the ground at his feet and licked harmlessly at his ankles like black waves crashing against the shore... It is with a heavy sigh that he takes a step back from Mahri, "I don't think I want you to come with me... I have enough trouble worrying about them with me like this... I don't need your eye problems there too..."
Mahri actually felt..crushed. Almost like..she was being given the bum's rush. "Look, Shishi. You aren't the first to tell me about this," she admits with a sigh. "I don't notice the change so..maybe it's nothing. You know I would never--never-- put you or the Colors in danger." That was as close to saying how much she actually cared as she'll be getting. "I just--I wanted to say I was sorry. For everything and..I hope we can-" what, be friends? "-at least be civil." that sounded better. For what seemed an eternity she just stands there before finally, something seems to simply let go and her whole countenance changes. Her shoulders hunch just slightly and she turns to go back the way she came. "Tell the kids I said hi, Blue. And take care of yourself, you look like hell."
Shishi turns away from Mahri quickly, the shadows that were at his feet springing up further from the ground to stand, writhing between the lycan and the assassin, "You have nothing to apologize for. -You- haven't done anything to us... Eh... to me." aside from fighting him on more than one occasion and tricking him into being stuck on a ship that is... "I'll tell them..." He swallows hard and starts moving towards the direction of his home again, "I'm in Hell, Mah... It's where Demons belong after all."
Mahri pauses and glances over her shoulder. This time she's glad he can't see her eyes. It's not that inky blackness so like the Pool that's in her eyes this time. And, we won't touch on what it is exactly anyway, "You're no demon, Blue." Whether he heard or not, she continues on her way and to the Illoria. More or less to lick her 'wounds' and figure out what the hell is going on.
Shishi winced again as the shadows did their best to block out the lycan's voice with their own. If their vessel thought he was a monster he would continue to use them accordingly. Once Mahri had moved on the shadows standing between the parting pair shot with extraordinary speed towards their 'user' following him towards the house that they were unable to enter.
~Later~
On the Illoria:
Mahri paces the quarterdeck with a distinct tread of irritation. Crew simply stayed out of her way, familiar with the ships owner's penchant for snapping at anyone dumb enough to ask what was wrong. They were loyal enough to the lycan, though she doesn't style herself as the Captain of this vessel, they do defer to her when she's aboard. The sails are furled and tied securely to their respective yardarms since The Illoria is not fit to sail at the moment. "Damn, stubborn vampires.." She trails off, letting the rest of her words be eaten by the oceanic breeze.
Lirithen 's silver tongue was often put to use here; beneath the helpful guise of his connections to the city's law it was easy to misplace the more zealous watchmen in preparation for a shipment, through either criticism of their work or the casual suggestion they break for the night. A jovial whistle floated upwards from fair lips as he strolled along the pier, keeping a sharp eye out for anyone who may prove trouble when the time came to unload the Starchaser's booty, though his attentions were beginning to lapse, somewhat. With a few guards moved and a handful bribed, the elf felt that there was little more he could do to ensure a smooth unloading. Thus, wandering eyes spied the lycaness atop the Illoria's deck, and a silver brow arched. A final glance about the harbour formed a brief once-over of the officers remaining, before a sly grin crept upon the rogue's features. Cupping half-gloved hands over his mouth, the ranger craned his neck backwards to help project his voice as he gave a call; "Hello! Inspection or... something. I don't know." Broad shoulders rose and fell in a single shrug, "I have a query, madame!"
Mahri's interrupted from her inner ruminations. Going to the railing she leans over and peers down to see who is yelling, "Aye, what is it ye want! We ain't takin' passengers nor cargo at the moment. Try one o' the other ships." Scowling, she took the moment to look over the male. Most wouldn't get much detail, but her eyesight was preternatural and she did manage to pick up little details with those silvery eyes. It seems there are less of the city guard wandering around, not that she minded in the least.
Lirithen :: "Oh, no, nothing like that," replied the elf in a cheery tone, letting his hands drop to slip into the pockets of his armoured trench-coat. The woman already irked him. Broad seafarer accent, blunt manner, dark expression... Would it kill any of these sailor fellows to have a little class? "It concerns equality, actually. I'd like an opinion on a little thought of mine, and I think you might be the woman to give it." Head tilted to the side, that silver brow quirked further towards a wavy hairline, "I'll even buy you an ale, how's that?"
Mahri , not usually one to turn down a drink, had made a habit of it while in Rynvale. However, "Make it a rum and we'll talk." Dropping the gutteral accent altogether, the woman disappears from the railing and clamors down stairs and gang-plank til she stands on the warf. "Equality you say? I don't suppose you mean between men and women do you?"
Lirithen 's brows lofted, this time in unison, with surprise as an altogether more pleasant tone drifted into his keen ears, though they quickly furrowed in dislike. The deception, the elf decided, was enough to earn her the arse he was so willing to give. "Oh, it's nothing, really," replied Lirithen, letting his hand drift around his wrist in a gesture of dismissal. Enchanted heels dug into the floor as the male swivelled upon his feet to stare the woman dead in the face, pale appendages withdrawing from his pockets, nimble fingers clasped tightly around a long, golden chain which lifted to reveal a marvellous timepiece, a pocket-watch of finest quality. Except it wasn't much of a watch, for the cover, when flicked open, revealed the big hand hovering above a minuscule word painted upon the clock-face: 'minor'. Emerald depths travelled down to the shorter hand, which too was poised over an inscribed word: 'peril'. A grin once again stretched his mouth, minor peril was peril worth risking. "I was just wondering," Lirithen continued, slipping the watch back into his pocket and letting hands fall to rest readily behind his back, "how it is that we are not allowed to walk through your particular plot of land, and yet you stand here, on ours, like it's nobody's business. Hardly seems fair, does it?"
Mahri narrows her eyes at the watch and crosses her arms. At this time she might be minimally perilous, but that could change with the tick of a clock. "I've had The Illoria docked here since before the Fold insinuated their rule over Rynvale. You needn't worry though, I'm gathering enough crew to move her out of your port." Clenching her jaw she juts her chin towards the Inn. "Now, about that drink."
Lirithen whirled himself around, invisible currents causing the tail of his coat to flare around him as he abruptly strode toward the indicated tavern, throwing his reply over his shoulder as his boots repeatedly thudded against the wooden planks of the pier underfoot. "Well then. Let's say, hypothetically, that I had buried a valued trinket in the soil of the woods now deemed yours, before the official statement was made. I wonder what would befall my person if I ever to try and collect," he paused at the doorway, glancing over his shoulder with a raised brow a quick, "hmm?" before disappearing into the haze of pipe smoke, idle chatter and the chinking of glasses inside the dingy establishment. "Sit where you will," Lirithen advised as he approached a most unapproachable-looking bartender, whispering for a few moments before enacting the exchange of coin and drink. Rum found Mahri, after, of course, Lirithen found Mahri, and the trio was joined by a glass of a cheap-looking wine, which found Lirithen, or specifically, his lips.
Mahri wasn't hard to find in the Inn, no pun intended. She'd simply procured a very visible table and sat down. At this time of day the place was nearly empty. Cupping her hands around the glass of rum she doesn't yet bring it to her lips. "Ah, so my ship is to be likened to a trinket aye? Well, hypothetically, I would give you a chance to retrieve it. I do have to ammend my past statement though. I do not want anyone in the Forest who harbor's ill intent. To me, thrusting your own claim of jurisdiction is a threat to those I protect." With a shrug, she then brings the glass to her lips and partakes of the fiery liquid. Hopefully this would be a 'clean' drink and not something that Simon was paid to slip a micky into..again.
Lirithen pretended to muse on the subject, though his mind had been made up days ago. He didn't like it. It was a selfish idiocy, and nothing more. But he humoured the woman by knitting his brows and tightening his lips, pupils darting briefly off to the side in a contemplative expression, before resuming verbal response. "It has already been established that we have no interest in Vailkrin... And, indeed, I don't ever recall it being suggested that we do." A frown pulled at his lips as a finger lifted to press against his chin, "indeed, who is it that you protect? Trees? Wildlife? Lycanthropes? It is impossible to force jurisdiction on nature, and we are not foolish enough to try," Lirithen craned his neck to look upon Mahri at a patronizing angle, "given the recent burst of stupidity from the realms, I would like to point out here that I speak as an individual, and not on behalf of the clan. In fact, they have no knowledge this conversation is taking place. Kindly do not hold them responsible for what I state, if my words should ever offend."
Mahri arches a brow towards Lirithen. How..arrogant. "Oh, now see. Your sheriff asserted she held jurisdiction over Kelay. What's to say she won't try to expand that? Who I protect are the citizens of Vailkrin by guarding the eastern border. I never claimed to be protecting nature. She does that well enough on her own." A quirk of her lips then, for she's beginning to find this all rather amusing. "I assure you, I will not be repeating this conversation outside this Inn." Leaving the unfinished rum where it is, the lycan gets to her feet and inclines her head rather regally towards her unwilling drinking companion. "If you will excuse me then, I have a ship to see refitted and ready to sail." A long pause before she inquires, "Unless there was something else you wished to ask of me..because there is certainly something I would ask of you."
Lirithen slipped a hand beneath the table, laying his palm flat against the underside. Was there a promise of threat he detected in the lycan's tone? "Why, certainly, m'lady," replied the elf, allowing his face to rest into a bright smile, "I would be happy to answer anything I can."
Mahri said to Lirithen, "Could you ask Arien to have the defenses that were put up at our borders removed?" Sensing the tension she gives a wolfish smile, "Trust me, if I'd any intention of harming you, we would not now be here."
Lirithen said to Mahri, "I'll see what I can do. Oh, and just for clarification... Many seem to think that it is the Fold who presently controls Rynvale. It is not. It is Arien alone. Two other members hold positions of office, but apart from that, the Order merely reinforces the Rynvalian military. Do keep in mind that the two, Rynvale and Fold, are separate." His nose arched as his head tilted backwards, eyes narrowing suddenly, "I am not defenceless in any sense of the word, madame. Testing me is ill-advised."
Mahri could begin to like this elf, if she weren't careful. Casually strolling back to the table, she does not sit but rather leans across, bracing herself as she leans over and comes nearly nose to nose with him. "I would be highly disappointed if you were." While she is unaware, something manevolent and quite evil twists her features for a moment and speaks with a hiss, her eyes turning completely black with a thick obsidian substance, "And I don't care if you are or are not, Elf. I will eat your soul when I'm done with this husk." A blink and the lycan becomes as she was, silvery irises glinting with amusement. Stepping away then, she heads for the door. Unfortunately, Mahri seems entirely oblivious to the sudden change.
Lirithen , after the first jittery twitch of his hand towards the hilt of his blade, appeared unimpressed. Illusion was a trick commonly employed by the realm's casters, whom seemed to don every guise available. Narrowed eyes watched the woman leave, the incessant clicking issuing from his pocket only registering when she had disappeared beyond the door. A hand fumbled for the watch, cover flicked open to reveal an unsettling sight; the large hand passing swiftly above 'major', hovering for a moment over 'moderate' before slipping back to 'minor'. Hmm. Perhaps there was some definitive threat after all.
Shishi isn't aware of it, but the slow pace at which he walks through Rynvale's streets allows Mahri some time to enjoy her rum as he takes his time getting to the Broken Barrel. When he reaches the entrance to the Inn and gently pushes his way through it one might notice that he's wearing the usual, clean, comfortable attire he prefers to walk around in, aside from a missing scarf or neck tie, and not the bloodied, torn clothing that would usually accompany his violent alter ego. The man's clothes and eyes do not match however, his irises glowing their accursed shade of crimson as he slowly scans the establishment and doesn't overlook Mahri's presence while he has his look around. Some deliberate steps are taken towards the bar until a serving girl passes him by and he stops her by softly taking hold of her arm, muttering a food order to her, his plan to pick up some take-out for a set of blonde twins it seems.
Mahri was enjoying her rum, the bottle nearly gone before Blue showed up. Or rather, who she would assume is Blue once she turns around after catching his scent. "Well.." she drawls, "hello there, Blue." Silver eyes flicker over the vampire coming last to his own eyes. "How's the kids," she hopes to avoid whatever malevolent mood those crimson irises promise.
Shishi turned his crimson stare on the lycan and maintained it as she met his gaze and the barmaid shuffles away from the vampire and towards the kitchen. Shadows sway and pulse around the establishment, their strange movement noticed by some who scoot their chairs and stools away from dark corners and other poorly illuminated spots. Fangs are shown off, flashing into view as the Blue Demon speaks towards Mahri, "Morning..." he greets her, likely unaware of the time, "They're unhappy." is the flat answer he gives her while he averts his gaze and taps his foot lightly, awaiting his order being filled.
Mahri noticed the shadows but experience had taught her to be wary rather than alarmist. After all, if Blue had wanted to hurt her, he'd have done so. "I can imagine they are." There's no small amount of sympathy in her tone. She may not be empathic but she knew how it felt to lose someone very close. Clearing her throat, the lycan actually glances away then back to the vampire. "Ah..ye fed recently?" Obviously the order he placed was not for himself.
Shishi twitched slightly as a particularly adamant whisper came from the shadows. The vampire's right hand rises to his head and he takes in an unnecessary, deep breath, exhaling it slowly to calm his nerves and keep himself from attacking anyone before he can get a hold of Orange and Yellow's food. If anything conversation with Mahri is a distraction from those black voices crowding his mind, so it is with a small smirk that he assures her he's been feeding, "Constantly." Indeed his family's curse and vampirism were a vicious combination while working in tandem to fuel his blood lust. To keep the pair of curses in check he's been feeding on one or two victims nightly...
Mahri's eyes narrow slightly before returning to normal. Sensing, sort of, the problem, the lycan slides from her seat and leaves the rum behind to come stand a bit closer to Blue. "That's a good thing, aye?" It's odd, to be so concerned about this male who'd not once or twice but perhaps three times managed to hurt or incopacitate her. Ok, so she can admire strength in someone other than herself. It's because of that admiration that a had reaches out in order to rest on his arm. A gesture of offered comfort if ever she'd give on. "The Colors must be hungry," she murmurs, sure that he can hear her. Just about then, the wench appears with boxes that reek of whatever Shishi had ordered. "Do you want company taking their food back to them?"
Shishi nodded once, "Mmm..." as Mahri stood and rather emotionless crimson eyes watched her approach. A sideways glance is given towards his shoulder and her hand that came to rest there. It takes a fair amount of effort, perhaps unknown to the lycan woman, to keep every single shadow in the Inn from collapsing towards her when she makes that contact with him... 'The Colors', he'd never call them that himself, being a color in his own right, but it was a term of endearment a few of that Cabal group had taken to using to address the blonde twins. "Aye..." he says, his thoughts wandering and becoming Orange and Yellow in tint. The Blue Demon shrugs her hand off his shoulder as he turns to accept the food carried to him and give his payment after fumbling through his pockets. Some steps are taken towards the exit with the meal in hand before he throws some perhaps misplaced hostility over his shoulder, "I'll be fine alone... I'd rather not be locked in my own house again anyway..."
Mahri inwardly winces at that parting shot but follows the vampire anyway. "Ah, that was nothin' but a misguided attempt at bein' helpful."
Shishi was slowly losing his little duel for control with the darkness, so as he pushes open the door to leave he shuts his eyes and forces his irises back to their usual oceanic Blue shade, choosing his own serenity over the threatening look his cursed crimson eyes gave off. "Very misguided." he snaps back, "I've no interest in salvaging anything with her... Yellow will be fine when he realizes that too..." Leralynn is left out of the conversation for one reason or another, likely because she was less concerned about Terra leaving the family than her brother was. If Mahri continued to follow him he wouldn't make any physical attempt to stop her, but that was no guarantee the verbal hostility wouldn't continue as they headed towards the shore house.
Mahri simply follows behind, hands clasped behind her back and listens to every word. "Aye, aye. Very misguided, indeed as it was. I was only tryin' to be a friend to ye both." Her tone is rather nonconfrontational, aware of the volatile currents surrounding the assassin. "Yellow'll come around. I've no doubt of that. He's a smart kid." Complacancy there, agreement and nonhostility were the order of the day. "Can ye kindly call off your pets," she gestures towards the creeping and swelling shadows. The angrier he got, the more they seemed to seeth. Unbeknownst to herself, a different kind of darkness insinuates itself inside her mind, clouding her irises with its inky blackness to see what she sees. Blue just might see it himself if he turns to look at her.
Shishi narrowed his now azure stare forward as he fumbled with the boxes in his hands to slip just one palm under all of them so that he could wave his newly freed hand over his shoulder, effectively dispelling what shadows were still trailing him, sending them scurrying back to their natural positions hidden from the sun. Only after the food is back to being evenly distributed between his two hands does he look back towards the lycan to say something about his son, "Yellow's no-..." he doesn't miss the change in Mahri's eyes and stops in his tracks, unwilling to lead the lycan and those phenomenal eyes closer towards his home, "What're you doing...? Your eyes."
Mahri comes to a stop just as Shishi does and blinks. Just that quick they return to normal and she is staring at him as though the vampire has grown a second head. "What about my eyes?" Brow furrowed she steps closer to Blue, "Nothing is wrong with my eyes.." Was there? For a fleeting moment something stirrs in the lycans consciousness, the sound of cold laughter. Shaking her head to clear it, the alpha shrugs her shoulders. "There is nothing wrong with me," she says firmly, setting her jaw in that stubborn manner of hers. "You're the one with the pigment problem, Blue."
Shishi grits his teeth slightly as his own 'pigmentation problem' returns, his irises shifting back to their crimson shade just as quickly as they had left it. He's never had an experience with eyes changing color that meant something good. "They were Black." he insists to the lycan woman. Shadows slowly creep towards the pair, The Blue Demon finding some comfort in having them near while his hands were full. "What's going on..?" he asks her, becoming just a bit paranoid after she denied that her eyes had changed. Was he seeing things? Was she lying to him?
Mahri is quite honesty perplexed by the insistance her eyes had changed. Of course that was...she stared back at Blue..ok so it's not impossible, but she had never had that happen before. Of course there were those times she didn't remember doing or saying things she had apparently done and said. Gnawing on her lip, the woman glances away from the vampire. "I don't know, Blue. It's nothing, I'm sure of it." She's rather proud of herself for being able to sound so sure about that..didn't she?
Shishi shook his head quickly, "I saw it. They were Black..." He won't let her have this one, hallucinations weren't one of the symptoms of his curse, at least not while he was awake and outside of the Obsidian Pool, then again those were more like nightmares than hallucinations. Shadows rose slightly from the ground at his feet and licked harmlessly at his ankles like black waves crashing against the shore... It is with a heavy sigh that he takes a step back from Mahri, "I don't think I want you to come with me... I have enough trouble worrying about them with me like this... I don't need your eye problems there too..."
Mahri actually felt..crushed. Almost like..she was being given the bum's rush. "Look, Shishi. You aren't the first to tell me about this," she admits with a sigh. "I don't notice the change so..maybe it's nothing. You know I would never--never-- put you or the Colors in danger." That was as close to saying how much she actually cared as she'll be getting. "I just--I wanted to say I was sorry. For everything and..I hope we can-" what, be friends? "-at least be civil." that sounded better. For what seemed an eternity she just stands there before finally, something seems to simply let go and her whole countenance changes. Her shoulders hunch just slightly and she turns to go back the way she came. "Tell the kids I said hi, Blue. And take care of yourself, you look like hell."
Shishi turns away from Mahri quickly, the shadows that were at his feet springing up further from the ground to stand, writhing between the lycan and the assassin, "You have nothing to apologize for. -You- haven't done anything to us... Eh... to me." aside from fighting him on more than one occasion and tricking him into being stuck on a ship that is... "I'll tell them..." He swallows hard and starts moving towards the direction of his home again, "I'm in Hell, Mah... It's where Demons belong after all."
Mahri pauses and glances over her shoulder. This time she's glad he can't see her eyes. It's not that inky blackness so like the Pool that's in her eyes this time. And, we won't touch on what it is exactly anyway, "You're no demon, Blue." Whether he heard or not, she continues on her way and to the Illoria. More or less to lick her 'wounds' and figure out what the hell is going on.
Shishi winced again as the shadows did their best to block out the lycan's voice with their own. If their vessel thought he was a monster he would continue to use them accordingly. Once Mahri had moved on the shadows standing between the parting pair shot with extraordinary speed towards their 'user' following him towards the house that they were unable to enter.
~Later~
On the Illoria:
Mahri paces the quarterdeck with a distinct tread of irritation. Crew simply stayed out of her way, familiar with the ships owner's penchant for snapping at anyone dumb enough to ask what was wrong. They were loyal enough to the lycan, though she doesn't style herself as the Captain of this vessel, they do defer to her when she's aboard. The sails are furled and tied securely to their respective yardarms since The Illoria is not fit to sail at the moment. "Damn, stubborn vampires.." She trails off, letting the rest of her words be eaten by the oceanic breeze.
Lirithen 's silver tongue was often put to use here; beneath the helpful guise of his connections to the city's law it was easy to misplace the more zealous watchmen in preparation for a shipment, through either criticism of their work or the casual suggestion they break for the night. A jovial whistle floated upwards from fair lips as he strolled along the pier, keeping a sharp eye out for anyone who may prove trouble when the time came to unload the Starchaser's booty, though his attentions were beginning to lapse, somewhat. With a few guards moved and a handful bribed, the elf felt that there was little more he could do to ensure a smooth unloading. Thus, wandering eyes spied the lycaness atop the Illoria's deck, and a silver brow arched. A final glance about the harbour formed a brief once-over of the officers remaining, before a sly grin crept upon the rogue's features. Cupping half-gloved hands over his mouth, the ranger craned his neck backwards to help project his voice as he gave a call; "Hello! Inspection or... something. I don't know." Broad shoulders rose and fell in a single shrug, "I have a query, madame!"
Mahri's interrupted from her inner ruminations. Going to the railing she leans over and peers down to see who is yelling, "Aye, what is it ye want! We ain't takin' passengers nor cargo at the moment. Try one o' the other ships." Scowling, she took the moment to look over the male. Most wouldn't get much detail, but her eyesight was preternatural and she did manage to pick up little details with those silvery eyes. It seems there are less of the city guard wandering around, not that she minded in the least.
Lirithen :: "Oh, no, nothing like that," replied the elf in a cheery tone, letting his hands drop to slip into the pockets of his armoured trench-coat. The woman already irked him. Broad seafarer accent, blunt manner, dark expression... Would it kill any of these sailor fellows to have a little class? "It concerns equality, actually. I'd like an opinion on a little thought of mine, and I think you might be the woman to give it." Head tilted to the side, that silver brow quirked further towards a wavy hairline, "I'll even buy you an ale, how's that?"
Mahri , not usually one to turn down a drink, had made a habit of it while in Rynvale. However, "Make it a rum and we'll talk." Dropping the gutteral accent altogether, the woman disappears from the railing and clamors down stairs and gang-plank til she stands on the warf. "Equality you say? I don't suppose you mean between men and women do you?"
Lirithen 's brows lofted, this time in unison, with surprise as an altogether more pleasant tone drifted into his keen ears, though they quickly furrowed in dislike. The deception, the elf decided, was enough to earn her the arse he was so willing to give. "Oh, it's nothing, really," replied Lirithen, letting his hand drift around his wrist in a gesture of dismissal. Enchanted heels dug into the floor as the male swivelled upon his feet to stare the woman dead in the face, pale appendages withdrawing from his pockets, nimble fingers clasped tightly around a long, golden chain which lifted to reveal a marvellous timepiece, a pocket-watch of finest quality. Except it wasn't much of a watch, for the cover, when flicked open, revealed the big hand hovering above a minuscule word painted upon the clock-face: 'minor'. Emerald depths travelled down to the shorter hand, which too was poised over an inscribed word: 'peril'. A grin once again stretched his mouth, minor peril was peril worth risking. "I was just wondering," Lirithen continued, slipping the watch back into his pocket and letting hands fall to rest readily behind his back, "how it is that we are not allowed to walk through your particular plot of land, and yet you stand here, on ours, like it's nobody's business. Hardly seems fair, does it?"
Mahri narrows her eyes at the watch and crosses her arms. At this time she might be minimally perilous, but that could change with the tick of a clock. "I've had The Illoria docked here since before the Fold insinuated their rule over Rynvale. You needn't worry though, I'm gathering enough crew to move her out of your port." Clenching her jaw she juts her chin towards the Inn. "Now, about that drink."
Lirithen whirled himself around, invisible currents causing the tail of his coat to flare around him as he abruptly strode toward the indicated tavern, throwing his reply over his shoulder as his boots repeatedly thudded against the wooden planks of the pier underfoot. "Well then. Let's say, hypothetically, that I had buried a valued trinket in the soil of the woods now deemed yours, before the official statement was made. I wonder what would befall my person if I ever to try and collect," he paused at the doorway, glancing over his shoulder with a raised brow a quick, "hmm?" before disappearing into the haze of pipe smoke, idle chatter and the chinking of glasses inside the dingy establishment. "Sit where you will," Lirithen advised as he approached a most unapproachable-looking bartender, whispering for a few moments before enacting the exchange of coin and drink. Rum found Mahri, after, of course, Lirithen found Mahri, and the trio was joined by a glass of a cheap-looking wine, which found Lirithen, or specifically, his lips.
Mahri wasn't hard to find in the Inn, no pun intended. She'd simply procured a very visible table and sat down. At this time of day the place was nearly empty. Cupping her hands around the glass of rum she doesn't yet bring it to her lips. "Ah, so my ship is to be likened to a trinket aye? Well, hypothetically, I would give you a chance to retrieve it. I do have to ammend my past statement though. I do not want anyone in the Forest who harbor's ill intent. To me, thrusting your own claim of jurisdiction is a threat to those I protect." With a shrug, she then brings the glass to her lips and partakes of the fiery liquid. Hopefully this would be a 'clean' drink and not something that Simon was paid to slip a micky into..again.
Lirithen pretended to muse on the subject, though his mind had been made up days ago. He didn't like it. It was a selfish idiocy, and nothing more. But he humoured the woman by knitting his brows and tightening his lips, pupils darting briefly off to the side in a contemplative expression, before resuming verbal response. "It has already been established that we have no interest in Vailkrin... And, indeed, I don't ever recall it being suggested that we do." A frown pulled at his lips as a finger lifted to press against his chin, "indeed, who is it that you protect? Trees? Wildlife? Lycanthropes? It is impossible to force jurisdiction on nature, and we are not foolish enough to try," Lirithen craned his neck to look upon Mahri at a patronizing angle, "given the recent burst of stupidity from the realms, I would like to point out here that I speak as an individual, and not on behalf of the clan. In fact, they have no knowledge this conversation is taking place. Kindly do not hold them responsible for what I state, if my words should ever offend."
Mahri arches a brow towards Lirithen. How..arrogant. "Oh, now see. Your sheriff asserted she held jurisdiction over Kelay. What's to say she won't try to expand that? Who I protect are the citizens of Vailkrin by guarding the eastern border. I never claimed to be protecting nature. She does that well enough on her own." A quirk of her lips then, for she's beginning to find this all rather amusing. "I assure you, I will not be repeating this conversation outside this Inn." Leaving the unfinished rum where it is, the lycan gets to her feet and inclines her head rather regally towards her unwilling drinking companion. "If you will excuse me then, I have a ship to see refitted and ready to sail." A long pause before she inquires, "Unless there was something else you wished to ask of me..because there is certainly something I would ask of you."
Lirithen slipped a hand beneath the table, laying his palm flat against the underside. Was there a promise of threat he detected in the lycan's tone? "Why, certainly, m'lady," replied the elf, allowing his face to rest into a bright smile, "I would be happy to answer anything I can."
Mahri said to Lirithen, "Could you ask Arien to have the defenses that were put up at our borders removed?" Sensing the tension she gives a wolfish smile, "Trust me, if I'd any intention of harming you, we would not now be here."
Lirithen said to Mahri, "I'll see what I can do. Oh, and just for clarification... Many seem to think that it is the Fold who presently controls Rynvale. It is not. It is Arien alone. Two other members hold positions of office, but apart from that, the Order merely reinforces the Rynvalian military. Do keep in mind that the two, Rynvale and Fold, are separate." His nose arched as his head tilted backwards, eyes narrowing suddenly, "I am not defenceless in any sense of the word, madame. Testing me is ill-advised."
Mahri could begin to like this elf, if she weren't careful. Casually strolling back to the table, she does not sit but rather leans across, bracing herself as she leans over and comes nearly nose to nose with him. "I would be highly disappointed if you were." While she is unaware, something manevolent and quite evil twists her features for a moment and speaks with a hiss, her eyes turning completely black with a thick obsidian substance, "And I don't care if you are or are not, Elf. I will eat your soul when I'm done with this husk." A blink and the lycan becomes as she was, silvery irises glinting with amusement. Stepping away then, she heads for the door. Unfortunately, Mahri seems entirely oblivious to the sudden change.
Lirithen , after the first jittery twitch of his hand towards the hilt of his blade, appeared unimpressed. Illusion was a trick commonly employed by the realm's casters, whom seemed to don every guise available. Narrowed eyes watched the woman leave, the incessant clicking issuing from his pocket only registering when she had disappeared beyond the door. A hand fumbled for the watch, cover flicked open to reveal an unsettling sight; the large hand passing swiftly above 'major', hovering for a moment over 'moderate' before slipping back to 'minor'. Hmm. Perhaps there was some definitive threat after all.