antivanleather | First Cut - It's the deepest, woah [Action/Voice] Backdated to this morning

[Another day dawns and it's normal enough for the village. People laughing, groaning as they wake, brushing their teeth, taking a shower, or sleeping in. Things that are normal enough for anyone that isn't nocturnal.

What might not be normal is the fact that there is, your bed, hammock, or wherever it is that you sleep, an elf.

A tanned, tattooed sleeping elf, all but cuddled up next to whoever's still in bed with him, or curled around a pillow if they've stepped out for the aforementioned shower. The exhausted thing is out cold, wings tucked up against his spine, fingers of one hand curled as though cupping the face of a lover. Or around the hilt of an absent knife. Care to wake him from his deep slumber? Perhaps with a kiss? Or a fist. Whichever comes first.

Later in the day a voice rich with laughter crackles across the network]

-nd it records voice as well? Marvelous! Ah, the wonders of this world shall never cease. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zevran, Zev to my friends, and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a prime hunting ground. I've recently found my blades and find myself in need of an...exhausting diversion.

(ooc: Breaking time is just fine, and the art linked was drawn by the lovely Plum, Sabriel's mun. Tattoos doodled in by me.)

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That sounds right.

[She smiles tightly]

Does that make you sad?

I would certainly hope so- how would anyone make an honest living for themselves if all they began with here were the very limited clothing upon their backs?

Sad? [A bit of honesty for this mage. This very powerful mage.] No. Frustrated? Yes. I had hoped to be free of this situation rather than pulled into another one much like it.

Oh? Are you incarcerated at home, as well? What did you do, Zevran?

By circumstance, more or less.

[He lifts a shoulder and flips through the next set of pages.]

I am a blade for hire, so to speak.

An ashigaru? Or...a ninja?

[She understand the concept, not the meaning]

A Crow, for whatever it may be worth to you.

A crow? Is that...some sort of association? You do not look like a bird.

[Zev snorts a soft laugh and shakes his head at that, flipping the book closed.]

It is a guild of assassins.

Oh. Well then. You...hopefully are not going to try and kill me to keep me quiet. I don't think that would go very well for you.

[She knows thats something assassins do...]

[That pulls a brighter, more earnest laugh from the elf.]

Ah, I can understand why you might think that- but no. It is a job much like any other, unless I am paid I've no cause to kill anyone. Not to mention I do not think I would be able to kill you even were I paid to do so.

But you do. Kill people that is. Why?

[Shut up Saori, you've killed lots of people!]

For a start, there is no currency here. All of the food, clothing and services are free.

[Crouching down to give a quick check under the bed she spots the leather bound journal and reaches for it. Sure enough, Zevran's name is embossed across the cover.]

Here it is.

Ah, yeah. That looked familiar.

"Oh, yeah, lesson the first. You have wings now. Don't let anything happen to them, or you could die."

Because I was paid to do so. And once I've been paid I am obligated to perform a service, am I not?

Forgive me if I do not take you at your word in this. Nothing is free, not without reason.

[He accepts the book and blinks down at it- his name across the front. With a curious tilt to his head he begins to flip through and the casual smile melts away. Not entirely, but enough for one to know he's shaken.]

"...What?"

That didn't make any sense. He was a Crow, true, but Crow's didn't have wings. Zevran frowns and peers over his shoulder at-

two. Very small feathered wings.

"...what."

I suppose, if you value money. But, that doesn't answer my question. Why did you start taking money to take lives in the first place.

At least, there is no form of payment in the village between the villagers. Our captors on the other hand...

[She shrugs and lets the man read. The gradually falling smile doesn't escape her notice and considering his situation her stern attitude softens a little.]

...Would you like some tea? It's a lot to take in all at once.

"Yep. Like I said, don't let anything happen to them. We all get those when we arrive.

And that's not even the fun part."

[Protip: Lightning makes the mage look really, really cool.

This particular one, though, isn't feeling very cool at the moment. Especially not when the... elf? ...just bounces right back with more blatant flirtation. She lets out a small "eep!" in surprise at his comments, and the electricity is released from her hand...into the wall above the bedpost. And the break in concentration releases the bedsheets, freeing the intruder.

Blast. Well, at least the wall will fix itself?]

Don't...don't do that! I'm trying to be intimidating here, and I-I can't do that if you...if you... [She just waves her hands at him. Free of any magic this time.] ...if you keep doing that!

"Oh, do tell me about the fun part."

I was not given much of a choice in the matter.

Take their favors as they will, yes?

[He snorts a laugh that's edged with bitterness. He'd fallen right back into an uncomfortably familiar situation.]

...that may make this more pleasant.

If not for their meddling the village isn't all that bad of a place to live, but we don't have much of a choice.

[Sabriel shrugs and turns to lead the way downstairs and to the kitchen. Setting some rolls and butter out on the counter she sets the kettle to heat on the stove, preparing the teapot from memory as she glances over her shoulder to the man.]

If you have any questions that haven't been answered by the guide I can try and provide you with something.

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First Cut - It's the deepest, woah [Action/Voice] Backdated to this morning

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