(((PM me if you'd like to join.)))
"Don't you know about anyone... More suitable?" Nill hissed at the bartender, uncomfortably twitching on her chair. Her arched brows furrowed a little when she frowned, lifting her glass, and taking a drink from the sweet fruit wine inside. The man copied her frown, but his bushy face was far from the beauty of the pirate.
"Tha's right, I don't." he nodded, and turned his back to her for a moment, just to hand a full jug of beer to another customer. She crossed her legs, and peered into the drink.
"I could pay... In better things than money, too." Her voice was low, and her lips twisted into a seductive smile. The man raked his grey hair, but shook his head. "He's a lost case. Jirai's an ol' nutter, and yer not gonna help him. Such a pretty lass can sure find a better one." He gave her a grin of his rotten teeth, but only made her pull back in disgust.
"Eh, thank you for help, anyway." she mumbled, and sled off the chair, taking her drink to a further table.
Someone had to get Arthfael out of his crammed den he so proudly called a shop, or he's going to rot away in there. But it appeared that she was not enough for that... Well, then who was?
Vel walked through Jin'ta, looking around as he crossed all four of his arms in front of his chest. A lot of people had told him Jin'ta was worth visiting on its smell alone, and he struggled with this concept. Mostly because he couldn't smell, and even if he did, he doubted the smell of seafowl droppings and slightly decomposed fish would appeal to him. He had just come from Connlaoth, having dropped his newest acquisition at his "home base" (a pocket dimension he stored all his worldly posessions in). With him on this particular day, he had his violin, which rested in a case that was clipped to his back.
Vel decided he wanted to sit down somewher, so he opted for the newrest tavern. He was nervous, he had to admit. If any of the things he heard about these kinds of establishments were true, he would have to watch out. Someone might steal his legs out from under him.
As he approached it, the sounds of tagerngoers were made apparent, and he paused for a moment, bolstering hinself, before entering. He paid no mind to any stares he would recieve, and instead walked over to the bar and sat down next to a rather beautiful woman, ignoring her presence and ordering a mug of water. After a few exchanged odd looks, the bartender left to fetch the water.
Nill's gaze was pulled to the stranger that sat beside her almost immediately. What an unusual creature... It looked more like a machine, rather than something living. And it had - oh dear! - a violin on its back.
She gave it, unaware of its gender, a wide smile. "Hello there! I see you've got an, erm, instrument, huh? Mind to play something? I'd order you a drink if you would!" she offered. Actually, it was just an excuse to start a conversation. Who knows if this weirdo couldn't get Arthfael out of his shop?
Vel turned his head slowly to meet Nil's eyes, the thick, cloudy soul energy it was filled with swirled mesmerizingly as he considered his answer. He was fortunate that he didn't have actual eyes, or she would've noticed him looking her up and down. He stayed quite for a few brief milliseconds, before speaking up. "Play my violin? Of course!" He said, all four of his arms reaching behind him and meticulously unpacking the violin in an almost hypnotically complex process that no creature with less than four arms could do. The case popped open, and inside was a beautiful violin. The wood was maple, and along its length there was intricate gold leaf designs depicting the inner workings of machines.
There were some things added to it as well, things that would allow someone with four arms to tune it more precisely and allow for more complex melodies. He took up the bow in one hand, the violin in three others, and begun to play.
It was a complex melody, but beautiful at the same time. It was precise and sharp, but slightly upbeat. Masterful in its construcion, elegant in its execution, it was clear Vel was a master.
As he started to play, Nill clapped excitedly. Now this was more fun! This guy was incredible... And an idea came to life inside her head. Such marvelous play could maybe awake even her friend!
When the song ended, she immediately reached after one of his arms. "You play beautifully. I'd wonder if you... Don't play on... Request. I could pay, off course, if that's needed." she asked, moving a little closer to be able to speak quieter.
Vel set the violin down on his lap, listening to Nil. As she talked, his glass of water came, and he took a rag that was hanging from his belt and dipped it in the water. He wiped the front of his glowing orb and the area just under his neck. When she reached over and grabbed one of his arms, he tensed up for about a second, before relaxing again. He wasn't exactly used to being touched, even after all these years. Especially since he was one of the fhe few machines that could feel it. "Payment shouldn't be necessary, unless if you had a...complicated piece in mind." He explained, leaning against the bar and retuning his violin.
"No, not really that complicated." Nill assured him. "But the person I'd request it for is quite eccentric. You may have to be careful to play the right piece, otherwise he'll disappear and won't talk to you again." she warned him.
She reached up for the scarf over her shoulders, and softly pulled it a little higher over her tanned arms, giving Vel a look that was provocative at the least.
Vel wasn't sure what this woman was trying to get at. He was pretty sure that she was attempting to seduce him, but she seemed like the sort that did this often. He idly held his violin in his hands before standing up of of the bar stool, returning it to its case. "I've got nothing better to do at the moment, so I suppose I'll play for your.. eccentric." Vel said, locking his hands together. "Take me to him." He said, and gestured for Nil to lead on.
Nill gave him a soft smile. "I'll explain you on the way." she assured him, and sled off her chair, leading Vel out of the tavern. Her hand nonchalantly tossed a few coins to the bartender for her drink, and she walked out into the night.
"Have you ever heard of Jirai Iaranase?" she asked, a spark of curiosity glinting in her eyes.
Vel repeated nearly the same motions as Nil, sliding off of his stool, reaching into a chest compartment he used for petty change, depositing a coin in the empty water mug, and stepping outside. He couldn't feel the coolness, but he could tell it was a calm, fairly breezy night. Nil spoke up about Jirai, and Vel paused to think. He came up blank, and shrugged his shoulders. "This is my first visit to Jin'ta, so I can't say I've heard of him. Sounds like a local to me." Vel said, crossing his arms.
"He has a little shop in one of the backstreets." Nill explained, and led him through the mesh of streets, twisting and turning. They became narrower and narrower with every passing minute, till they found themselves in a courtyard between the houses. A small girl was sweeping up the ground.
Nill walked over towards her. "Hello, Urari. Is Jirai there?" she asked her softly. The girl nodded. "Boss is sleeping inside. You'll most likely find him under the table." she replied silently, nodding towards the entrance of the shop.
A large sign, reading 'Iaranase Shop' hung above the door. "This is it, sir... Sorry, do I know your name?" she raised a brow, turning at Vel.
"My name?" He said, pausing for a moment. Every time he met someone, he had the chance to change his past. To shake off the label given to him by Master so long ago. "My name's Vel." He said, cursing his words in his mind. He couldn't help it, it was how he was made.
"So, what songs does this Jirai fancy?" Vel asked, leaning against a nearby wall.
"It's a pleasure, Vel - the wonderful musician," Nill winked at him. "My name is Nill. This girl over here's Urari, she helps out in the shop."
At his question, she hesitated. Really, what songs did Arthfael like?
"Something fast, wild, maybe even playful. But not too dance-like. Do you know anything like that?" she replied after a while.
Vel thought about which song to play. Fast, wild, playful...He didn't know anything wild, but he could certainly do playful. It's not like he only had one song to play, he could always try out a few. First, he took his violin out of its case, and tuned the strings tight, like a fiddle. He looked around for a bit, before snapping his fingers. "Bass, I need a bass..." He muttered to himself, and he balled up some magic in his hands and shot it towards the floor. A small black vortex appeared on the ground, and a large bass flew out, Vel catching the large string instrument by the neck in one hand and the bow in another. He tapped his foot against the ground, and a spectral drum appeared. The swirling energy in his orb head coalesced into a woman's face, and he laid the bows against the strings, and the drum prepared himself.
He began to play.
Heather Alexander: The Faerie Queen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbEwUTjKwLU)
"Wait, wait! Stop!" Nill interrupted him. "You can't play yet! What do you think, in the middle of the street? We gotta go inside!" She grabbed one of his arms and pulled him into the crammed shop.
The inside was dark. A single lantern burned under the ceiling, shooting rays of light around, while underneath it was a cone of dark shadows. In that sat the legendary crazy shopkeeper, Jirai Iaranase, as he was called, on a small heightened space behind his desk. His wooden sandals were before him, and there was a pipe between his fingers - a very thin and slim one, creating a stream of smoke, rising up.
He looked up at them with his uneven eyes, coated in shadows. "Welcome! What can I do for you? Need some service, folks?" he greeted them, sliding off the step, and into his shoes.
"We have a service for you, Jirai!" Nill cheered, and nodded at Vel.
"Play!"
Vel was visualizing the song in his mind, and was about to start playing when Nil broke everything. The woman's face vanished from his orb, and the spectral drum faded. Begrudgingly, he followed her inside with the bass and the violin in his hands. He regarded the old man with a lingering nod, and prepared his performance again, reforming the drum and face. The song came back to his mind, and he started tapping his foot to form a beat.
This time, he really did start playing, and the music started flowing.
((Just use the link to the song in my previous post, too lazy to repost it :P))
Arthfael's eyes widened with wonder, and the hand with a pipe sank down. This music was beautiful! How amazing... His mouth twisted into an amazed grin.
Nill gave him a wink, and with gestures told him that she got Vel to play this for him. He nodded, jokingly puckering his lips up as if he was to kiss her. She smiled back, and poked him into the ribs with her elbow. It was apparent that they were old acquaintances, if not more...
With a masterful flourish, Vel finished the song. The woman's face faded away, along with the drum. He took a moment to release the tension in his mechanisms from such arduous precision. He let his grip on the bass and violin relax, and a sigh escaped a vent on his side. "Well, is your friend satisfied?" Vel asked, and he leaned on the bass.
"Amazed to say the least." Arthfael grinned, answering instead of her. "You play beautifully, mister."
"That's a yes." Nill joked. One of his arms appeared around her shoulders, and they laughed at each other.
"Only heard someone play so nicely for a very few times..." he admitted.
If Vel could blush, he would. He rubbed the back of his head, looking around. "It was a pleasure. It's only so often I get to play." Vel said, bowing. Although he had no eyes to glance around with, it was clear he was focused on Nil.
"So...What's the story between you two? If you don't mind me asking, of course." He said, pulling down his segmented wooden hood to fully expose his orb head. He started nervously rubbing his hands together, producing a quiet scratching noise as he did so.
Both of them paled at his question, and looked at each other in confusion. Their nervous glances met.
"She's my supplier..." Arthfael muttered, putting one hand on her waist. Nill nodded and chuckled, but her expression changed a moment later.
"Take that hand off my ass!" she hissed, and softly slapped her companion, pulling herself away. Arthfael stared at her like the definition of innocence itself. "I-I didn't... What hand... On your ass?" he muttered.
"You know far too well! Have you smoked so much of your brain out that you don't realize it's not alright in front of other people?" she burst out. He blushed crimson, and accompanied by the loud clattering of his shoes, disappeared in the back of his shop.
Nill sighed, glancing at Vel. "I'm sorry for this... I told you he's kinda weird." she grumbled.
Vel watched the exchange between them as he put away his instruments, returning the bass to its pocket dimension and his violin to its case. He could tell something was up between the two. Maybe it wasn't romantic, but it was definitely more than they were letting on.
"Weird? Believe me, I'm used to weird." He chuckled, and took up the nearest chairs, relaxing on it as he sunk into it. It was clear the performance had taken a mental toll on Vel, who had to play three instruments and sing at the same time.
"So...about my payment..." He started, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the chair. "...I have plenty of gold, so I don't need more. Do have anything else you can pay me with, by chance?" He said. His intent was not to come off as suggestive, but he inadvertently did.
Nill gave him a seductive grin. As she leaned in, a part of her dress sled away, and revealed her perfectly-shaped, bronze-colored leg, up to the half of her thigh. "I have many means of payment, my dear... Just ask." she winked at him, and her long lashes fluttered at that like the wings of a butterfly.
She was an attractive woman, and she was well aware of it...
Vel looked on, and the drumming of his fingers on the armrest increased slightly in velocity. Well, this was definitely not what he had in mind, but could he really complain? In one of his rare moments, he thanked the Master for not giving him an actual face, because it would be obvious that he was ogling her. He bit his nonexistent lip as he considered his answer. What harm could come of it? Besides, she was hard to refuse.
He came to a decision.
"I'm asking." He said, calm and collected, and leaned back in the chair, another sigh escaping his vents.
"...For what? I can offer you a variety of services and payments. I can dance in a clam shell bra and a fisher's net like a mermaid." she joked. That was when Arthfael appeared in the back door again.
"And I though I was special for that dance." he grumbled, crossing his arms on his chest. "You can pay with the stuff in my shop, too, ya know." It was apparent that he didn't really fancy Nill's 'payments' to this person.
If Vel had eyebrows, he would've raised one. To be frank, that dance didn't sound half bad, but then Jirai came back in, mumbling and grumbling. Yeah, there was definitely more here than a supply relationship. Vel placed his hands together, and thought for a few moments. "Well, that works too, I suppose, but if you would allow the lady to compensate me in the manner she specified, I'd be willing to perform two more songs for you, sir." He suggested.
Arthfael frowned. "Hmpfh. Then let her, what do I care. I don't want more songs. Get lost and take her with you." he growled, rubbing his left forearm. He didn't look as relaxed as before, although his scruffy hair was still giving him a lazy appearance.
"She ain't obliged to anything and neither am I." he added after a while, still running his fingers up and down the skin, covered in thin runes, which have been carved into it a long time ago.
Nill raised a brow. He was being confusing again... Well, their relationship was over, so?
"I ain't interested in anything more." the shopkeeper muttered, and turned away again, slowly walking over to the back room, accompanied by the clicking of his sandals.
Vel sat frozen in the armchair, hands locked together. It was then that he noticed everything. The thin runes on his arms, the scars on his face, The fact that his ears were cut short. He watched Jirai leave, and then motioned for Nill to come closer, tapping a hand on one of his legs. "Take a seat. There's something I need to ask you." He said, in a half-inviting, half-serious tone.
Nill sat on the edge of Jirai's desk, and crossed her legs, letting her elbows rest on her knee and supporting her chin with her hands. "Yeah? What do you want? Are you meaning to ask what color is my clam shell bra? Cause it's orange if you wanna know." she joked.
But as much as Nill was flirty, she wasn't stupid. This creature... Was sensing something. It was most likely some business around her former lover... She'd hate to break that visor if he discovered that Jirai Iaranase was actually Arthfael Dar'Al'Uliath. She'd hate to break him into pieces, but she might have to.
Otherwise Arthfael would do something far worse...
She shuddered internally at the thought of Arthfael's blood magic.
Vel chuckled at Nill's joke, but that immediately died down. "Listen, there's something you're keeping from me. No way your friend's a shopkeeper with scars like those." He started, and stood from the seat, pulling his hood back up. There was something familiar about Jirai that he couldn't really place, like he was someone he read about a while ago. "Is this just about getting me to play a song for someone, or does this rabbit hole go deeper?"
"I never said he's been a shopkeeper his whole life. Jirai's a wild guy who had a wild life, but it's his to keep. Even I know little of that life." she replied. The last sentence was a complete lie - no one knew more about him than Nill - but it appeared believable.
"All we had was a short relationship. It didn't work out, cause he's unfaithful and goes after anything hot enough... I know just a few things about him, really. It's nothing more than a wish to get an old friend out of boredom that's been eating away on his brain." she shrugged, giving him the innocent glance of a little girl.
Vel looked at Nill. He was still trying to remember where he knew Jirai from. The scars, the runes, the ears...the eyes.
The eyes!
Vel took a few steps back, and crossed all four of his arms for a few moments, then put one pair on his waist and held the other pair up. "No...He couldn't be..." Vel started, and he eyed the door. "If what I'm thinking's correct, and if Jirai's who I think he is, I may have...the perfect song for him." Vel said, raising his hands harmlessly.
"The perfect song for me?" Arthfael's casual voice echoed through the room, followed by a silent tap as his black cane hit his palm. His figure appeared in the doorway like a shadow. "Well, well." he shook his head. "I want to see that." he growled.
This was getting uncomfortable, but he was curious, more curious than he was in a long, long time. Oh yeah, so curious...
But Arthfael Dar'Al'Uliath was dead... He couldn't allow himself to get into his old tricks.
Gods, how Vel wished he didn't speak up. He wished he had a tongue that could get tied up, or have to breathe so he could think about what he was saying between words.
He also wished he could swallow to push down the dread that jammed itself into his vocalizer.
"Uh...Yes!" He said, suddenly throwing on a cheery voice and spreading his arms wide. His vision fell to the black cane in his hands. He had a feeling it was more than a cane, which only served to unnerve him more. Was he doubting his own magical prowess? No. Did he think he could very well die here? If he said the wrong words, Yes.
he snapped his fingers, and two black vortexes opened in the air next to him. From one, he pulled a small hand drum, and the other, a small accordion like one would find on a pirate vessel. In the air behind him, figures formed. They were spectral pirates, rugged looking with cutlasses on their belts and pistols in their hands. There was one spectral pirate that stood out from the others, though. It was Arthfael, depicted as he looked in the legends.
And with that, the song began, with the pirates acting as singing voices, and the spectral Arthfael as the lead voice.
The Coast of High Barbary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zs-Zr95aw8)
Arthfael's eyes widened at the sight of the figures, and then they narrowed with poisonous hatred, but there was a spark of admiration in their uneven irises. His own self, back when he was young, standing before their ranks! Though, he had to say, his real self was more beautiful...
The tip of his tongue ran across his thin lips. He smiled, as innocently as a child. Even Urari wouldn't surpass that. But it was a sad smile, just like it was a sad applause when he clapped as the song ended.
"Congratulations. That was a beautiful song. Yes, I am said to resemble the great Hawk..." he shrugged.
"But that's just stupid fairytales! I'm just a shopkeeper. I'm no pirate. I'm not even an elf, silly!" he cheered at him, like a mother, laughing at a child's foolish mistake. "I was a traveler before, yeah, I went to the land and stuff, and I got caught up in some trouble that crippled me like this. I'm not anywhere near the Hawk!" He shook his head, and waved his hand at such a nonsense.
Thanks god he was such a good actor, otherwise his decades old cover would have been blown! And all because of Nill... Who was going to get some serious crap once this man gets lost.
Vel visibly wilted when the song was over, the pirates fading away and the instruments falling to the ground and evaporating. He took a few moments to recover, and straightened back up to his full height. There was something about the way Arthfael openly lied to Vel's face that lied to him, and besides, Vel could see it in Arthfael's face as he played.
"I think we both know that's a total lie, Jirai. I might have no eyes, but don't take me for a blind man. Your ears have been cut down, I can see it. I lived during your time, Artfael, I'm 400 years old." He said, and he raised his hands defensively.
Nill shook her head as Vel spoke, gesturing towards him to stop. Arthfael wasn't one to play with... And he was toying in dangerous business that might cost him more than life!
The pair of uneven eyes narrowed again. "I'm very sorry to hear that. I gave you an obvious chance to get lost and disappear from my sight, and live on happily. Now, you give me no options..." His face became sad for a moment, and he shrugged, tapping the cane against his palm again.
His fingers clenched around it, and he suddenly broke it into two. A long, sharp blade was revealed, all along hidden in the cane. "I don't like destroying pretty stuff, you know. But I take my life for prettier than your fiddle, know that, too."
"Jirai, stop this nonsense!" Nill shouted, stepping between the two with her arms spread. "And you, too, Vel... Jirai never had anything to do with the Hawk!"
Vel stood still, staring past Nill towards Arthfael. He remained quiet, arms crossed, The runes on his arms were glowing dimly, but all it would take would be a thought to set his mechanical body to combat mode. Even as Jirai threatened him, and broke his cane to reveal a sword, Nill was saying that he wasn't a pirate. Arthfael had even confirmed it when he spoke as if a terrible secret had been uncovered. Still he stood his ground, and his mind started running through all the defensive spells he ever learned.
"Nill, get out of this." Arthfael growled, tossing the girl aside. His actual strength was greater than his frail frame would say, and he managed to toss her into a small table. She collapsed onto it and broke it into two.
The cane got a dim red glow. While Nill stood up, he was already spinning it in his arms. There was a lot concealed beneath the black robe he wore - including his strength and speed that were not as little as they should be, judging by how destroyed his body got through the centuries.
"And I'm really sorry for this. I promise you to keep your fiddle in a good state, though!" A mischievous smile played at his lips even then. He seemed uneager to attack...
Vel stood his ground when Arthfael advanced towards him, although he did turn his head with concern when he threw Nill through a table. It was funny, how Arthfael kept mentioning Vel's fiddle, even though it wasn't anything precious to him or anything. He just happened to bring it along with him today.
Vel was about to see if he could sense magic in Arthfael when the pirate confirmed it, causing his cane sword to start to glow red. In Vel's body, gears locked and tightened. A pause in the machinery, and an infusion of magic into the gears. Vel didn't look any different, but his body was now ready to act on the drop of a hat. "I don't want to fight you. And I get the feeling you don't want to fight me. I mean you no harm, Hawk."
The grin suddenly changed. There was a little bit of insanity flashing through it...
"I'm sorry...." he said, pretending to casually glance down at his hands. And then, he leaped up, onto Vel like a hurricane. His body was arched as it was thrown up, good two meters in height, and spinning around, with the blade swung around to give it velocity. It flashed with a crimson lightning along the blade.
"...Did you say something about not wanting to fight?" he finished his statement, collapsing onto Vel like a whirlwind. His speed was... Insane, considering how withered his figure appeared to be.
Vel just barely managed to get out of the way, thankful for his idea to charge up his mechanisms. As he came to a rolling stop and quickly stood back up, he switched himself into combat mode. Underneath his plates, his inner body started glowing a dim blue, and his arm runes started glowing brightly. His arms were sheathed in blue energy. "Are you mad? First, you throw your own friend through a table, and now you're losing yourself. Snap out of it!"
Arthfael was just about to charge with a deadly fast blow, when Nill stood up, although with shards of wood in her dress, and breathing heavily, she grabbed a large metal tube from one of the shelves.
"Stop being an idiot, Arthfael, and use your smoked-out brain!" she roared at him, and hit him in the back of the head with the full force of the metal tube. Off course, the sheer weight of it immediately knocked him out. His body collapsed into the floor like a bunch of rags.
Nill took a deep breath, still gripping the tube. "Sorry for that, Vel. His head is kinda messed up. But yeah, here's your legendary Hawk..." she sighed.
The glow inside Vel's chassis died away, and he lowered his arms, returning to how he looked before the fight. He looked down at Arthfael for a few moments, and crossed his arms. "It's hardly his fault. He's been cooped up in here for too long, I can tell. It's driving him mad, Nill." He said in a sad tone, and squatted down to get a closer look, especially at his cut down ears. "I assume he attacked me because he's been laying low for the past years?"
Nill sighed. "He attacked you because you were about to break his cover. He could die if you did so, do you realize it?" Her voice became a hiss at the end of her statement, and she put the tube back onto the shelf. "He's gonna sob like a kid when he wakes up... God, I hate hurting him, but sometimes nothing but a strong right hook will stop him from acting dumb."
She bent down and picked up her unconscious friend, almost effortlessly holding his nearly gaunt body up in her arms, and carried him over to the back room. She laid him onto the bed with care, and quickly returned back.
Vel made a motion with his head, as if he was trying to imply that he was rolling his eyes. "I wasn't going to tell anyone, swear on my ticking heart." He said, and raised a hand to where his chin would be. "Actually, I want to help. Partly to apologize, and partly because...well...I'm kind of a big fan of him, and would like to see him better." Vel explained.
"A fan of him?" Nill first raised a brow, and then burst out in laughter that bordered with being hysterical. "Of him? Please. Tell me you're not serious."
"And help with what? You just gotta let him wake up. He'll survive it without any consequences..." she shrugged then.
Vel crossed his arms, giving off a sigh. "Why wouldn't I be a fan? I was...well I guess you could call it raised during his time. My creation's a complicated story that I'll have to tell you later, but I also think you misunderstand me." He said, placing one set of hands on his waist. "I want to see if I can help make him better from...all of this.." He said, motioning around to the various things in the store. "I know a developing condition when I see one, and eventually, Arthfael's going to reach a breaking point. To be frank, I'm pretty sure that this calm life as a merchant's killing him."
Nill sighed deeply. "That's not the problem. He really likes the shop and this life. He told me that he's too 'damaged' to be a pirate or to fight, and that he's better off here. That he enjoys it, and doesn't miss the days of his youth. The problem is that he is hunted. That fear is what is truly killing him - the fear of being found one day and sliced up piece by piece."
They both were, but most hatred was focused on Arthfael. And even though he didn't mind this life, he did mind being constantly in hiding. "Look, if you had a whole bunch of killers perpetually on your neck, you'd go mad, too. I don't blame him."
"I see..." Vel said, looking around. "It appears I have misjudged him, I apologize." He added, and sighed again, idly twiddling his thumbs.
"Say..." He started, and he leaned inquisitively towards Nil.
"...I might just have an idea, but I'm sure he'd never agree to it." Vel mentioned. "I might know a way to get the hunters off of his back." He added.
A spark of fire was lit in Nill's blue eyes. "What way? Tell me!" She immediately straightened her back, and prepared to listen as carefully as possible. Any way to get rid of the cult would be good... At least they could both finally live their lives...
She sat down onto the edge of the desk, and crossed her legs, her eyes seemingly glued to Vel.
Vel raised his hands defensively, and waved them nervously. "Okay, do remember that I think this idea's insane." He said, and sat down next to her.
"I know a spell that's designed to preserve bodies in the exact same manner they die. It works by putting all of the flesh into a time-warp stasis. This means that it freezes everything in place, including the blood and muscles. When preserved like this, not even the color leaves the skin." He explained, and placed his hands together.
"Now, here's the crazy part. We have Arthfael lie down, and I'll cast the spell on him. Once he enters a temporal lock, we...we sever his head. Because his body's locked in a time warp, this won't actually kill him. I take the head, turn in the bounty for myself, and bring it back, where I'll magically mend it back into place. Arthfael keeps his sanity, there's no more hunters on his back, and he gets a tidy sum of cash to top it all off."
"That's a pretty clever idea... And he might actually agree." Nill laughed roughly. "But how would you manage to get the head back on?" she questioned him, raising a brow. That was the sole major mistake of this theory. How could one get someone's head to connect with his body once severed?
"Besides, are you sure the spell would work? And are you sure the cult would let you keep the head?" Another little plothole. How can one be so sure about those freaks?
"Please Nil, you underestimate me. I have mechanical precision on my side, I can magically reattach his head with little to no problems. After that, I'd take the spell off, and it'd be like nothing ever happened to him. Trust me on this one." He said, placing a hand on his chest. Then, she brought up the issue of the possibility that the cult might want to keep the head, and he visibly wilted. "Yes, I do suppose that's a problem. I suppose that I'll have to brush up on my acting skills, insist on keeping the head because I'm some kind of psychopath or something..." He muttered. "...Perhaps they'll let me keep the head if I bargain for a reduced bounty..." He continued, placing the bottom of head on his knuckles.
Nill smiled a little. Her full lips formed a slight arch, and she dropped her arms onto her knees, softly crossing them over each other. Her fingertips connected, and she took a deep breath before speaking. "That might be a good idea after all... Though, you do keep the head in the same kind of spell, right? If yes, even he himself might agree to it. We just... Have to wait till he wakes up, I'm afraid! It was quite the strong blast into the head I gave him. Tell me..." The smile became mischievous, "Do you think that spell could fix his crazy brain?"
Vel shook his head. "Of course the spell will also affect his head, Nill! If it didn't, I wouldn't be suggesting it." Vel explained, and continued to listen to her.
"Fix his brain? No, that's psychological. But, once he's free of his burdens, he's sure to make a healthy recovery, free of all the stress and paranoia he had before." Vel said. Although he had no face, there was an impression of a smile coming off of him.
Suddenly, his tone changed and he pointed a finger at her. "If I do this for you, however, you owe me that "dance". Deal?" He asked, and extended one of his arms for a shake.
"If it will work out, I'll give you a special special one." Nill gave him a seductive wink, and one of her hands ran up to the sleeve of her shirt, sliding it down her shoulder a little. She shook his hand, and smiled at him. If Arthfael would be finally free of that burden... Then they would BOTH be safe.
"Should I go and wake him up?" she asked then.
Vel thought for a moment before nodding. 'Yes go wake him up and explain my plan to him. I need to work on my appearance a bit. Let him know I'm changing how I look as well..." He said, and stood up from where he was sitting. He thought for a bit, before casting an appearance spell on himself, making himself look like he was made of dark, foreboding metal instead of a mix of wood and gold. His orb head turned an evil shade of red, and he grew blades on his forearms.
Nill gave him a nod, and disappeared behind the curtain, dividing the shop itself from Arthfael's living premises. Yeah, it seemed like a good idea... Risky, but good none the less.
After about half an hour, she returned, followed by a groggy and somewhat confused-looking Arthfael with his hands in his hair. At first, his blue and green eyes narrowed at the sight of Vel, and he frowned a little, but then the pieces of information seemed to fall into place, and he nodded. "I'm not sure if I should believe ya 'bout this..." he sighed.
Nill gave him a confused look, but then she herself understood. Yes, they couldn't be sure that it would surely work... And yet...
"Try it on me first." she suggested, sitting into the armchair behind Arthfael's desk. "Use the spell on me, and take my head off. Then, sew it back. If I will not wake up..." she took a deep breath.
"If she will not wake up, I will smite you to pieces." he added. She gave him a nod.
"And I want to be there as you take the bounty. I want to be sure that you don't betray us." Nill reminded him. "I can easily tell them that I lured Arthfael into a trap."
Vel released another sigh from his back vent, and nodded. "Very well, Nill. Lie down on this table here." He said, walking over to a cluttered table and carefully clearing it up. He held up one of his arms, and a long, collapsible blade popped out of his wrist, nearly three feet long. The other three arms were spread out, building up the magic necessary for the spell.
Once Nill got all settled down, on the table, he'd place one hand on her hair, clutching it tightly, another on her heart, and a third on her forehead. She'd feel herself going numb, and after a minute, she would go completely stiff, and her body would freeze up, her chest no longer going up and down.
From her perspective, everything went dark, like she had nodded off to sleep.
To test it, Vel tried to lift one of her arms, only to find it frozen in its spot, impossible to move. She was now time-locked.
Without wasting any time, Vel promptly severed her head, catching it just before it hit the ground, and holding it up for a few moments. It didn't bleed, so it was further proof the spell was working. The sword went back into his wrist, and he went to work reattaching her head. Using two arms to hold it in place, Vel conjured a spectral thread and needle, and sowed her head back on perfectly. He snapped his fingers on one hand, and the threads disappeared, knitting the flesh, nerves, and spine back together and leaving no trace of the injury.
He placed his hands back on her heart and forehead, and she'd slowly come back, albeit feeling really numb and having a slight pain on her neck. "Numbing's a side effect. Give it an hour or two, and you'll feel perfectly fine." Vel said, holding a hand out to help her off the table.
Nill woke up from the strange experience feeling only a little out of the normal, and immediately reached at her neck, cracking it. "That was pretty quick." she muttered. Arthfael watched it all along, and his eyes widened as Vel cut the head of his ex-partner off, and sewed it back on. Quite a spectacular sight...
Though, not as spectacular as seeing her wake up again. He immediately disappeared in the back of the shop, to bring back a glass of water. To the surprise of anyone unaware of her nature, she dipped a few fingers into it instead of drinking it, crossing the thin line on her neck with it. All that was left from the wound seemed to close almost immediately after the water touched it, and she bent her head back to stretch the numb muscles right after.
"It seems to work pretty well. Now I believe you." the shopkeeper mused, putting the glass away again, and letting her slide off the table and sit on his lap. "When do you want to do it with... The bounty?" he asked then, stroking Nill's shoulder.
Vel watched as Nill healed herself with the water. Remarkable, absolutely remarkable. Perhaps there was more to this woman than he originally though. For now, he concluded she must be some kind of mixed blood, most likely with water spirits, since he didn't detect any actual spellcasting going on.
"It's a remarkable gift you have there, Nill." Vel mentioned, and looked to Arthfael. "If anything, I'd like to do this as soon as possible."
Arthfael gave Nill a glance, and she sled off him. "I'm half demon, Vel." she replied, showing him a sharp-toothed grin. "Water's my home. There's nothing as close to me as it!" she explained. Arthael frowned a little. "You're forgetting about me..." he reminded her.
The casual teasing between them soon stopped, and he got up onto the table with surprising ease. His hands ran up his neck to get his hair out of the way, and he closed his eyes. "Get to it, then. I want it to be over as soon as possible." he instructed them. "Nill, when it's done, lock my body in the bedroom and leave some food for Urari. Also, make up some excuse for where I'm going. I don't want her to freak out, or she'll blow this house up."
He took a deep breath. So, now he was to be frozen, his head will be taken off... Yeah, guess he could deal with it.
Vel nodded, and walked up to Arthfael on the table. Here he was, about to cut off the great Hawk's head. He supposed he'd done more exciting things, but this was going to be up there with the rebellion he lead against the Master and that one night he spent inside a gnomish tavern. Repeating the same process he did with Nill, he slowly started working the spell into Arthfael. Before he completely froze up, however, Vel lifted his hand and made a cut on Arthfael's hand, allowing the blood to get all over his hand. When Arthfael fully froze, Vel rubbed the blood into his mechanical claws and spattered the rest onto Arthfael's face, so as to make the kill look more...well...bloody.
When he was done with the blood, he swiftly took his head off, again catching it before it hit the ground. He messed up Arthfael's hair, and stuffed his head into the nearest burlap sack, and tied it to his waist. He turned to Nill, and made sounds as if he was clearing his throat. "I'm all ready to go." He said in a modified voice, sounding more like a machine of hell than a machine of magic.
"Let me do what he told me to." Nill groaned, picking the skinny figure, draped in a great number of layers, up. Arthfael wasn't as heavy as he was tall and bony, even without the head, and it took some serious effort to get the body into one of the wardrobes in his room, where she locked him, and put the key onto a chain on her neck.
She quickly made her way to Urari's room. The girl was there, playing with something on the floor. "Urari, boss had to go away for a few days. He left you money in the shelf of the desk, so when you'll be hungry, go to the market or a tavern, and buy something. Don't let anyone into the shop in the meantime, alright?" she requested, bending over. Her turquoise locks fell over and lined her face as she spoke. The little girl nodded after each sentence. "Thank you, I will remember. Hope he returns soon." she said silently. Nill softly patted her on the head, smiled, and walked out.
"I'm all ready." she greeted Vel with a confident smirk, crossing her arms on her chest. "Shall we go?"
Vel waited patiently for Nill to come back down. There were a lot of things racing through his head, like what would happen if this didn't work out. He cursed his instincively helpful nature. It was always something he couldn't shake off.
Vel, could you reach that book for me?
Vel shuddered as memories of his life under Master trickled back. "No, this is different. These people didn't ask for help..." He muttered to himself while he was still alone. He shook away his erroneous thoughts and fears. Nill came back down, and he perked up. "Lets." he said, and stood up, opening the door and holding it open for Nill to walk through.
Nill walked out of the door with her usual movement, resembling a flow of water, tying the long turquoise hair up to stop it from falling into her face. "I told Urari what to do and locked him in the wardrobe. Thanks for the door. We'll have to take a boat for a while, so I hope you don't mind water..." she explained on the way out of the courtyard of the shop.
Vel clasped his hands together, a visible spring in his step. "A boat? I love the water!" Vel said in a giddy tone in no way meant for the voice he was using at the moment. Of all the things in the natural world, the ocean is what intrigues him the most, and if anything, he'd like to devote his entire existence to it once he was done exploring the land.
"I'm something of an amateur fisherman. Well, amateur anything, really. I've had plenty of time for myself to learn basically any skill I could ever want." Vel explained.
"That's good." Nill replied, raking through her long hair in an attempt to scruff it up. "We're going through water for a long time. The place I need to take you to is in a cave underwater..." she explained while leading him through the city, now and then giving the satchel with Arthfael's head a glance.
She led him towards the docks. Once again, the stench of fish and drunk fishermen greeted them, and through that smell Nill made her way towards a small boat, stuck in the back. A man sat on the pier before it, gazing somewhere into the distance at the dawning sky. She poked him with the tip of her shoe, and he immediately turned towards her. "Huh? Whatcha want?" he groaned.
"You know what I want when I come here, Jairu. The boat." she replied harshly, tossing him a small coin. He caught it and scrambled back to his feet, stepping away to let Nill in. "Thank you, Nill!" he replied in fear, quickly running away.
She stepped into the boat with confidence, and gestured towards Vel to follow her. "Just come. It looks rotten, but it can carry us." she assured him. The boat wasn't as bad as it looked - that is, if someone didn't make a hole into it in the meantime.
Vel happily stepped onto the boat, clutching all four of his hands together. "I've traveled on worse..." He commented, deciding against using his magically modified voice until he actually needed, no matter how cool it actually sounded. "Where does this "cult" live, anyways?"
She shook her head. "I can't tell you that. I'll have to cover your head with my jacket as we get there." she explained, and leaned over the back of the boat, submerging her hands into the water. The boat started moving, carried by a current of water, as she moved them, and it sped up, breaking the surface of the water. They moved along the shore, north and away from the ports.
"Ah, I understand your secrecy." Vel said, and sat down, being careful not to squish Arthfael's head under his weight. He held a hand out, and another purple vortex appeared in it before disappearing, leaving a fishing rod in his hand. it had two cranks and an incredibly complex spool of wire. They were just barely out of port, so Vel didn't need to use his own supplies of bait. He snapped his metal fingers together, and a small bait fish flew out of the water and into his iron grasp, which he promptly attached to the hook.
After a few seconds of adjusting the line, he cast it. He went still and motionless as he waited for a bite.
Stretching her legs across the boat, Nill carefully watched how Vel took out his fishing rod. "You really do like fishing, am I right?" she joked, a small smile appearing on her lips. It slowly shifted into a smirk, revealing her sharp teeth. "It looks really interesting to see you in this... Form with a rod in your hands."
She was really the right one to speak. Even despite her charming form, Nill was a deadly hunter of men and treasures.
In the meantime, the boat continued its journey by the coast, pushed forwards by the stream that she created. The water was moving aside to made way to this small boat...
Vel chuckled at Nill's joke, and turned his head to look at her. "Strange words, coming from someone who's blood comes from the water demons." He retorted, but his tone was playful enough. "But I digress..." He said, standing up. The arms holding the rod did not come with him, instead floating in mid air as they dislocated themselves from their sockets. He remained with his upper pair only.
Every once in a while, one of the floating arms would crank the line a bit, or bob the rod.
He sat at the prow, and took his violin out of its case. He started playing an idle melody, much like a sailor's shanty, but slowed down to the pace of a waltz.
"Don't say it like if it was a bad thing! I keep this boat going, boy!" Nill quipped back, tilting her head to the side, and pointing a finger up at the starry sky with an incredible amount of sass. However, the way he left his arms floating interested her.
It was another of his funny antics... Funny, yet with a potential to be deadly and dangerous. A small smirk appeared on her lips as Vel took his violin out, and begun playing another song.
She wished she'd be on a ship's deck, dancing with Arthfael like when they were young. Even though he wasn't one hell of a dancer, it was always so comforting and pleasing.
"This sounds a little like when I used to dance with the Hawk... Now, I wouldn't dare," she cackled shortly, "you've seen the shoes he wears. Tell me... Have you ever had pirates dancing to your tunes?"
Vel talked as he idly and slowly played, keeping rythm by tapping his foot against the floor of the boat. "Can't say I've played to pirates before today. I've played to Master, my brothers and sisters, mercenaries, dukes, and even a few fae spirits." He recounted, and went silent again as he continued to play. He was still paying attention to what she had to say, however.
"Well, one day you might." Nill winked at him seductively, shifting aside to let her ample curves stand out under the measly clothing she wore. "And I wonder, what would I count as?"
"You?" Vel repeated, gazing out towards the sea. "You're dark, you're infinite in your mysteries and beauty, and as far as I know, you're merciless. I'd have to say that when I play to you, I play to the ocean itself." Vel said, and stood up, detaching his other set of arms, which continued to play the violin.
In his empty sockets, spectral arms appeared, and he held them out to her. "Shall we pass the time with a dance?"
"Indeed, I am..." the mysterious smile on Nill's lips became an invitation. She took off the belt and boots she wore, and just in a wide white dress slipped right over the boat's edge. "Let us dance, then." she giggled.
Water was her home. Like a veil, it covered her figure, easily keeping up with the speed of the boat, and she, twirling in a mesmerizing rhythm in the water, dove underneath the surface to come up again, over and over again.
Vel was intent on following her off the boat, but as soon as he stepped onto the edge, he hesitated. He took the bag with Arthfael's head and left it on the floor, and mentally braced himself. Jumping into the deep waters of the ocean was something he eventually planned to do in his life, but after considerable study. Regardless, he stepped over the edge.
At first, his heavy frame of brass, steel, and magically treated wood sunk like a fully armored knight with a weight tied to his ankles. He thrashed at first, but grew calm as the panels on his upper body popped open and slid aside, exposing the large fans that kept his inner working cool. They sped up, and he stabilized in the water. He could see just fine in the water, since he had no proper eyes to be obscured by it.
He reached out to Nil for help, although there was no urgency in it. He just needed her to lead in the dance for a bit while he got his bearings.
A smile sparking up on Nill's lips as she saw Vel catching the gist of it, this underwater dance, she propelled herself forwards, like a shark lunging forth to be slowed down by the water's current shortly before reaching him, and taking him by the hand.
Swim with me... Just follow what I do. her lips said.
Vel looked on at Nil with visible excitement, and when she took his hands, he relaxed completely. The fans would keep him stable and moving at her pace, so all she had to do was guide him. He allowed himself to be completely at her mercy, something her rarely did if at all.