Chapter 1
Back to
An Elfish Idea
(Before we start I think that we should all talk about the characters and if they know any other characters, if they know about their powers, and how we want them to meet because RPing by yourself isn't fun)
Aeriora sank onto her stool behind the bar, gazing absent mindlessly around the room, looking at her lack off customers. The place was unusually empty tonight, and she didn't get off for another two hours. She grabbed a clean rag from beneath the counter, wiping at the already clean glasses for the fifth time that day. Someone sat down across from her, and Aeriora turned around to serve him.
"You look bored," he spoke in a soft but deep voice.
"Yeah, well, that's because I am bored," she answered curtly, before placing a drink menu down in front of him. He studied it briefly before sliding it back across the counter.
"Vodka," was the only thing he said.
Viktor entered the bar with a large stack of official looking documents under his arm. He walked swiftly up to Aeriora and, denying the drink menu, simply muttered "A pint of Ale, if you would." He gave a small nod of thanks asAeriora served him and then he turned, pausing for a moment. His eyes darted around the room, and they finally rested on a seat in one of the far corners of the bar. Just as hurriedly as he entered, he walked to the chair and sat down, beginning to sift through his papers and sipping his Ale. He was obviously in a hurry of some sort.
"Do you ever relax, ya ole bloke?" Tsuki asked as he approached Viktor, taking a seat beside the older man.
Viktor glanced up at Tsuki and smiled. "Tsuki my dear boy!" He slapped him on the back before continuing, "No, I'm afraid those bastards upstairs have royally screwed things up again... And of course, I have to make it all better again. Anyway, have a drink! My treat! What brings you here?"
"Heard the bartender here was hot," Tsuki shrugged, grinning sheepishly, "So I thought I'd see for myself."
"Ahahahaha. Oh to be young again." He downed the rest of his pint in one gulp, and sighed satisfied. "I suppose I still have a few years left. Anyway me dear boy, she's right over there. Can't hurt to give it go eh? She might be as nuts as you are!"
Tsuki took a quick glance at the girl, shrugging. "She ain't bad, but there's no way she looks as good as me." He shrugged, "What the hell? Hey, lassie!" Aeriora appeared at their table within a few seconds, wearing a scowl on her face that she thought her customers very much deserved.
"Yes?" she asked, smiling, and trying to be polite.
"May I have the honor of being serviced by ya, pretty lassie?" Tsuki asked, grinning with a hint of swagger in his aura. Aeriora handed him the drink menu she had almost forgotten about, standing by silently as he perused the choices. After a few moments, she grew impatient, holding her hand out for the menu.
"May I may a suggestion?" she asked sweetly.
He looked her up and down, "Nah, I'll take sex on a beach on the rocks in a low ball," he grinned a cheeky grin.
"I hear sex on the beach sucks, but hey it's your choice," Aeriora said, walking back to the bar. As she stood behind the counter, mixing the flirty bastard's drink, the man she had been speaking to earlier entered the bar once again. She had yet to get his name, she didn't even know if she wanted it. He glanced over at her and smiled, before turning away to greet someone sitting in a booth. Drink in hand, she headed back to the table she was serving, setting it down with a thud. She glanced over at the older gentleman, his face buried so deep in paperwork, she had barely seen him glance up thus far into the evening.
"Can I get you another Ale, sir?" she asked, surprised when he managed to look away from his papers.
Tsuki took a swig of his drink, "Sex on the beach only sucks if it's not on the rocks. Otherwise it's too easy to get distracted by all of the different tastes, lassie."
Viktor glanced up at Aeriora, smiling slightly. "Oh no, no thank you. I have to head back to work after I finish this, I can't have my breathe reeking of ale. Thanks." He buried his nose in his paperwork once again.
Behind her counter yet again, Aeriora glanced at the clock, her mood increasing as she realized it was a few minutes until closing time. She untied her apron, balling it up and tossing it into the corner. She glanced at the patrons still drinking and happily chatting away as the time grew later and later. Poor bastards had nothing better to do than drink apparently, however there were only a few of them.
"Hey, are you going straight home after this?" Tsuki whispered to Viktor, leaning toward the older man.
Aeriora looked at the clock again, this time impatiently. It was more than an half an hour alter, and her room mate still hadn't arrived to pick her up. There were only two guests left, the flirty guy and the older gentleman. She swallowed her pride as she marched to their table. They owed her anyway, she had let them stay in the bar after the original closing time.
"Hey, can either of you give me a lift?" she asked, trying to sound bold, although what she really wanted to do was crawl beneath her counter and hide from embarrassment. She was going to kill her room mate.
Jaren came from the back room, he double-checked his watch. "It's past closing time you guys; time to pack it up," he said calmly to them as he walked past to finish locking up. Aeriora jumped at the sound of his voice. She hadn't even known he was working tonight...alth
ough she was partially relieved.
"Can you give me a ride?" she pleaded.
Jaren smiled. "I don't see why not," he replied. "Once everything is locked up I'd be happy to do so."
"Awe, are you sure?" Tsuki asked slyly.
"Give me a reason to, and I might," Aeriora replied, smiling sincerely for the first time that night. She had to hand it to him, he never gave up.
"Because I have yet to beckon you as the booze wench," Tsuki offered. She scowled.
"You'll have to do better than that."
Jaren walked back past them, now wearing his jacket and holding a set of keys in his left hand. "Time to get going," he said as he moved to the bar.
"Welp, got nothin' better," Tsuki shrugged. "Ole bloke..." he tapped the table in front of Viktor. Aeriora shrugged, walking over to join Jaren.
"Ready?"
Jaren nodded. "My ride is in the back parking lot," he explained as he turned to the others. "As for you guys, it's time you all went home."
Viktor rubbed his eyes and leaned back, having finished his work. He blinked, and looked around at everyone watching him, waiting to leave. "Whoa! Uhh... Sorry. I guess I got really involved in my work. Let's get the hell out of here." He picked up his papers and headed toward the door. "Hey Tsuk, follow me."
Kalix slid from his stool un-noticed, as he had been thus far. He slipped around the corner as the group made their way away from the bar. He had decided to follow Tsuki and Viktor first...
"Alright," Tsuki agreed, scratching his cheek as he stood, glancing back over his shoulder before focusing forward on Viktor. "What's up?" Tsuki inquired when they were a safe distance from the bar.
"Well mate, I got a job for you if your interested... Very lucrative." He looked around suspiciously, quickened his pace, and continued, "Hold up, I think we're being followed by that creepy bloke from the bar. Let's duck into this art gallery here real quick." He muttered, as low as he could.
Tsuki fought with the temptation to glance backward, keeping his gaze forward, "You have just got to see this gallery," Tsuki said loudly as he followed closely behind Viktor.
Kalix stooped, side stepping as they entered the gallery. He turned around, blending into the shadows, and disappeared.
A paint brush slowly ran it's way down a canvas, outlining the clothing of a young girl's portrait. The artist lifted the brush and sat back on her stool, gazing at the portrait on her easel. With a sigh she set down her brush on some paper towel and said "Aha! It's finished!" She left the painting on the easel to dry and started cleaning up. The floor in her small apartment creaked above her gallery. As she was washing her brushes her long hair fell from her shoulders. "Oh darn, paint in my hair again. Random inspirations lead to me forgetting to pin my hair back." She set out her brushes and tools out to dry and headed for the shower. The gallery owner stopped in mid step as the bell rang downstairs. I wonder who that is? Why are they coming in so late? I normally don't get people here this late... She reversed her direction and headed down the hallway and down the spiral stairs. I guess my hair will have to wait, she thought as she flipped some red strands back over her shoulder. She made it to the bottom of the stairs and welcomed her guests. "Well, hello there! I'm Aphrodite. Artist and owner of this gallery. Are your evenings going good?"
"Very well thank you!" Viktor said with a very deep bow. "I hope we are not intruding too late? We were just strolling along and had an insatiable urge to look at wonderful artwork!"
Kalix caught up to the tiny blue car as it neared Aeriora's apartment. He had been watching her for some time now, tonight being the first she had caught sight of him. He knew everything about her, and he knew she was one of them.
She laughed as the man bowed. "Feel free to look around and possibly leave a donation," she said with a flourish of her hand. "Would you like to have a tour guide? I would be happy to show you around and give you a deeper background about the pictures."
"A tour would be lovely," Tsuki said quickly, secretly admiring the arts himself.
"Well let's get started. We'll will start by going to the right. Here we have the first section of the gallery that features high school grade art. A change from many other galleries. They must be 14 or older to be illegible to enter." The different sections of the gallery were separated with velvet ropes. The floor of the high school art section was covered in huge paint splatters, adding a bit more of a crazy side to the gallery. "Oh, yes. All art here is for sale unless otherwise noted by the name of the artwork."
Aeriora and Jaren rode silently, conversation had never come easily between them. As they neared her apartment, Aeriora bent to pick up her bag, and came up empty handed. She looked under the seat and in the back, it was nowhere to be found. She silently cursed herself as she thought back to the last place she had seen it and remembered it clearly, sitting on top of the bar counter. She grabbed Jaren's arm, causing him to jerk the wheel.
"What the hell?" he asked, his voice sounded as if he were angry.
"We need to go back, I left my bag," she said, feeling bad for almost causing them to crash. Jaren swore as he made an illegal U-turn out of irritation and headed back to the bar.
"I'll wait for you out here," Jaren said, handing over the keys to the bar. Accalia nodded, feeling slithgly guilty that she had made him come all the way back after he was kind enough to drive her home. She pushed the key into the lock, and twisted it, and opened the door. Stepping through the door, she noticed that they had forgotten to leave a light on as they always had. She hated moving in the darkness, never knowing what's going to jump out at you. Her footsteps were muffled as she reached the counter, she fumbled around for her purse when someone stepped up behind her. She froze, hoping she would be loud enough if she screamed.
"I hoped you would return," the stranger said, the voice was oddly familiar. He grabbed her arm, forcing her around to face him. It was the man she had seen earlier, the vodka guy. She shoved against him angrily, all previous terror momentarily forgotten.
"Don't ever touch me," she hissed. The door flew open with a gust of wind, banging against the wall behind it. He looked up and smiled.
"You're an elemental. I knew it. You're coming with me," he said, grabbing her arm again, and tightening his grip. As Accalia struggled against him, she felt something force it's way into her mind, and she forgot what was going on. She shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts once more.
"You're coming with me," he said again,this time a bit softer. She nodded.
"Ok," she said as he tugged her along with him, out the back door, and away from Jaren and the waiting car.
Jaren came round the corner "I think you should leave her alone" he said in a slightly growling tone, his eyes flashed briefly with small sparks as he moved towards the man "she's under my protection and you are causing her trouble" he approached the man, cracking his knuckles. Kalix laughed, tightening his grip on Accalia's arm as she winced in pain. Her mind told her she wasn't really in pain, that it was an illusion and she should trust Kalix, not Jaren. She had a feeling her mind was the one she shouldn't trust at this point.
"I was under the impression she was leaving with me willing," Kalix smirked. "It's one of those things where a girl just won't take no for an answer."
Jaren's eye spark were getting slightly brighter now. "I know what you did to her and I'm not going to let you get away with it," he snarled slightly baring his fanged teeth. It was getting hard for him to hold back his powers now, and he was tempted to cut loose.
Kalix was getting irritated now, although he had picked up on Jaren's abilities and realized he was another of the ones he was looking for. He let go of Accalia, pushing her behind him in an attempt to free his hands, yet keep her away from Jaren. She was still under his control, so she herself posed little to no threat. It was the current fight he had to concentrate on now.
As Jared separated his hands a long arc of electricity shot between them. "Just back off now and leave her be, and I may let you leave in one piece," he growled as he fought to keep himself from changing. There was something about this man that was making his instincts tell him to transform an go all out, but since he didn't know the extent of the strangers powers, his reason was telling him to hold back a little and test this guy out.
Kalix looked to the ground, drawing Jaren's attention to the large puddle of blood. The blood seemed to be seeping from a large gash in Jaren's stomach that wasn't there a moment ago. The blood's dripping began to flow steadily, covering the entire floor space between them. "Are you sure you want to fight me? Do you really want to die?" Kalix asked, glaring at Jaren.
Jaren smirked. "Funny!" he said as the gash began to rapidly vanish, Jaren's demonic aura was breaking Kalix's illusion with relative ease. "I was going ask you the same thing," he snarled as his teeth began to spark. "I'm not the kind who dies easily." There was a flash and suddenly Jaren was standing in front of Kalix with his clawed hand deep inside his belly. "Are you?" There was a bloodlust in Jaren's eyes that none of the bar patrons or staff had ever seen.
Kalix pushed Jaren backward, knocking his hand away. He paid no attention to the pain in his stomach or his increasing amount of blood loss.
He grabbed Jaren by the throat and slammed him to the ground before peering into his eyes. "You will leave us now," his voice echoed with power as he resorted to using compulsion in his weakened state.
Jaren's eyes went, blank he didn't move but he didn't resist either, his demonic power was battling Kalix's compulsion ability and they were deadlocked, the result was Jaren's immobile state.
Aphrodite continued to point out details about the paintings and the artists who submitted them. "So, what brings you two to an art gallery late at night?"
"Jis passin through an we realize we'd ne'er been ere," Tsuki said quickly, silently cursing how strong his accent was when he spoke quickly.
They had finished their tour and Aphrodite was getting tired. Her shoulders were stiff from working and she really wanted to get to that hot warm shower she was so close to. "Great. I love to have new people here no matter what time it is. Do you guys have somewhere you're going or do you need somewhere to crash overnight?" she asked them sweetly.
Enna leaned against the counter of her bookstore, green eyes flying over the pages of her book as she waited for business to pick up. Things rarely got busy these days, but she still got the occasional oddball who enjoyed her selection and would come in.
It was nearing dinnertime for her, and her belly rumbled as she contemplated where to go when she closed up shop.
Rime smirked, watching the red-haired girl from the shadows. He had caught her scent the day before and he had spent his time watching her. "Maybe we can have two Knights of Fire?" he said thoughtfully as he looked the girl up and down from behind the frosted over glass.
At last Enna snapped the book closed and returned it to the shelf she'd taken it from that morning. She quickly cashed out the register and put everything into the safe in the back before grabbing her jacket and flicking off the lights. She was humming softly to herself as she locked the doors and took her first few steps into the chilly night air.
Rime watched her intently, smiling as she came into sight. He instinctively took a cautious step backward.
Enna shivered as a cold chill trailed up her spine and looked around, slightly nervous as she slid the keys into her pocket, wrapping her fingers around the base of them so that the keys jutted from between her fingers. She picked up her pace, frowning intently.
Viktor looked around the gallery carefully for a moment. "Oh, no no! Thank you very much for asking though. Sorry to keep you up so long miss, we'll uh... We'll just be going then." He looked very significantly at Tsuki and tilted his head towards the window, indicating he wanted him to make sure the coast was clear.
"You sure?" Aphrodite asked. "Well, if there's anything you need don't be afraid to ask." She smiled broadly at the guys.
Accalia climbed to her feet, looking around suspiciously. She had no idea where she was or how she had gotten there. The chilly wind blew around her, causing her to pull her jacket tighter around herself. She touched her head with her hand,feeling for the soft wool hat she had been wearing, but instead she only grasped soft, thick hair and her...ears. She gasped as her fingers ran across their familiar velvet fur, dropping to her knees in search of her hat. Her hand enclosed around the sodden hat. Weird, she thought to herself. It hadn't rained, and the streets were dry. She pulled the hat closer to her face for further inspection, dropping it as soon as she smelled the blood. Accalia quickly examined herself for injury, finding nothing to her relief. Someone groaned from behind her, and she twisted around, seeing Jaren haul himself from the ground. She ran over to him, frantically checking him over to make sure he was okay.
Jaren was struggling to get up, there was a monster of a headache in his skull right now "I'm gonna get him for this" he growled, he glanced at the large puddles of blood on the floor "if he survives that wound that is" he said with a slight smile, he saw Accalia heading towards him "are you alright?" he asked when she was kneeling next to him.
Accalia threw her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. She tried to control her sobbing, but the tears that streaked down her face were inevitable "I-I thought you were dead!" She gasped.
Jaren smiled at her and hugged her gently "I'm a thunder Demon" he said in a near whisper "we're not easy to kill" he placed one hand on her head "besides,all that blood isn't mine"
She lifted her head vehemently "If he's not dead now, he will be," she hissed.
Jaren smiled at her "come on" he said trying to sound calm "lets get you home"
"Miss, no need to stay up any later on our account," Tsuki replied curtly. "Whataya say we get goin'?" he turned to Viktor.
"Yeah, yup." He nodded more vigorously towards the window, indicating he STILL wanted Tsuki to make sure the coast is clear. He slowly started walking towards the door, taking his time.
Aphrodite laughed. "I won't be staying up later on your account. Are you sure there's nothing I can do? You guys look like something's troubling you."
"Erm, just job, life, family..." Tsuki said as he took a quick dash toward the exit, "The usual but thanks for your concern!" Tsuki dashed out the door before the artist could further her questioning.
Kalix stumbled into his home, practically collapsing on the couch. His self healing hadn't begun yet, and he was in an intense amount of pain. The bleeding had slowed, and had he been any normal human being, he would have surely died seconds after being wounded. He grabbed the remote, turning to one of his favorite channels, and settled in for a lot of pain while he healed.
Aphrodite sighed and decided it was time to lock up because it was getting late. Those two odd guys would probably be her last visitors. She grabbed the key from the belt loop of her jeans and locked the door. She peaked out the windows wondering what those two odds were up to.
Rime stepped from his hiding place and continued his silent pursuit. He smirked as he caught up to the human girl. Preying was his specialty and he was about to prove it.
Enna frowned, slowing her footsteps slightly as she heard another set behind her. She turned quickly, lashing out with her foot and catching her follower in the stomach, her bag held tightly in her grip, "Who are you?" She demanded.
Rime gasped for his breath as he stumbled away from his assailant. He fought with his eyes' natural reactions of tearing up in pain as he brought forth his ability to speak. "Some manners to greet a total stranger," he huffed turning his nose up at the human, his hair shifting in such a way that the points of his ears showed.
"Sneaking up on someone alone at night isn't the greatest idea, especially in this city." Enna replied crisply, looking him over, "You'd better have a damn good reason."
"If I were sneaking you wouldn't have known I was there," Rime replied indignantly as he pushed past the human, too absorbed in his own pride to remember his mission.
"I'm sure." Enna huffed, crossing to the other side of the street in irritation, "Some people..." She muttered under her breath.
"No wonder elves severed all ties with humans..." he spat glaring over his shoulder at her.
"What?" Enna choked back an amused laugh, "Elves? What fantasy world are you living in?"
Rime froze, searching his mind for a thought...any reply. I thought I was muttering that! he hissed in his mind. "Erm..." he scratched his cheek as he continued coming up speechless. I can either run and let her think I'm a weirdo and that's it or come up with a reply and bide my time until I can kill her... "Uh..." What's that game where the humans mock us...? he asked himself, "Dungeons and Dragons party!" he said, snapping back to his human mindset. "That's it!"
"Whatever you say," Enna muttered flippantly over her shoulder, What a weirdo... Saying that as if he had to actually think about it. She rolled her eyes and shifted her bag to her shoulder, heading up the road at a brisk pace towards her house.
Rime glared at her, sneering as she took her eyes off of him. "Conceited human..." he growled. He blushed, embarrassed when he realized that his fingers were coated in ice, his powers brought to surface during his anger.
"I swear... I'm getting a car before the month is out, this is ridiculous." Enna huffed under her breath.
"Gotta wait for her to get far enough away..." Rime said softly as the icy air became more visible around his balled fists. "And then I've got to make my move."
Enna continued to grumble to herself in irritation as she moved swiftly up the block, she felt hot and took slow breaths to try to calm her agitation.
Rime smirked when he watched her step out of sight, using his energy over the icy air to float, ensuring that she wouldn't hear his footsteps again.
Enna leaned against the building nearest her a few minutes later, her body quivering as she tried to catch her breath.
Rime smiled from a few feet in front of Enna. "Cold?" he asked as he willed an icicle into his hand. Stealth is no matter when I have an environmental advantage... he thought as a cold gust of wind rushed past Rime's hair.
Enna frowned as she glanced over at him, "How in the hell...?" She trailed off, surprise making her speechless.
"You heard me say it before," Rime said coolly as a half-hearted smile crossed his lips. He gripped his icicle like a blade and made a cutting motion through the air, "Sorry, little Knight. I was going to spare you but I can be a bit cold when I'm angered. You understand." Rime continued floating toward her on his chilly gust of wind.
Enna took a few steps backward, blinking a few times as though it would clear her vision, This is insane! Am I dreaming? The hell is going on? "What, you're saying you're not a dungeons and dragons geek after all?" She managed.
"Why play pretend when you can and do have magic?" he asked as he continued advancing toward her. "But I feel rude. My name is Rime, master of ice," he stopped, sweeping a low bow.
"You're a strange guy alright..." Enna muttered under her breath, fumbling for her keys and tightening her grip around them, "You should just go home, go away... whatever it is I don't care so long as its far from me."
"See, I can't do that until you're dead or incapacitated. I don't care which," he replied coldly.
"Neither is going to happen..." Enna glanced at him, gaze narrowing, "I don't know what your issue is or what the hell is going on here but I'm not just gonna let you do what you want."
"Awe...now I have mixed feelings. I'm beginning to like you for that," Rime said with a frown, willing the icicle to disappear.
"Um...?" Enna blinked in confusion. This is by far the strangest night of my life... She thought.
"Showing spirit is a real thing," Rime explained. "Genuine spirit...so rare...so fiery and courageous..." he murmured, trying to understand her absence of fear. "But why? I mean if I were human and an elf was about to kill me with an icicle I'd hightail it..." he scratched his head in confusion.
"Why should I be afraid? Fear makes one lose oneself, and thus death is generally swift or drawn out and painful. Now fighting on the other hand..." Enna trailed off thoughtfully.
"Fighting is just a rush," Rime offered with a lopsided grin.
"It's a good way to stay alive." Enna replied simply.
"I can't say I've ever had to stay alive. I've always been the predator and never the prey," Rime muttered as he began to mindlessly create icy energy around his hands and fingers.
"I'm sure that'll change. Now if you don't mind... I have a cat to feed." Enna said, crossing her arms.
"Doubtful," Rime said calmly. "I control the weather, so being prey is impossible."
"Even so, it's late, do you mind?" Enna sighed.
"By all means," Rime swept another low bow. "I'll come after you soon enough."
"Don't think I'll be so willing to just walk away next time." Enna yawned as she slipped past him. Definitely a weird night...
Rime stared at his icy fingers. "What's your name, fiery one?" he wondered.
"Enna." She replied flippantly as she walked away.
"Okay, let's see if that weirdo is still waiting for us," Tsuki suggested, turning to face Viktor.
Aphrodite was interested in the two guys and decided that she was going to follow them. She knew in her gut that she needed to. She unlocked the door, put the key back around her belt loop, and stepped quietly outside. She relaxed her energy and concentrated on being a squirrel and transformed. She then ran near the wall towards the two men.
Stumble!