Tatyana-TchocoltTchocolt. I, at first, read it as the French Chocolat, as the name is rather unusual for a Sinfin name, but I supposed that was intentional, learning what occupation xie was given. Bicetaeramn. A borrowed word, hetaera, a sort of ... companion one pays to spend time with. I saw xir photograph, and my hearts skipped their next beat simultaneously. Large, dark-brown eyes, with equally chocolate-y hair in wondrous waves. I must have been dumbstruck enough to be noticed, when a pin-stripe suited man cleared his throat for me to move aside as he inserted his credit key on a nearby slot in the display. My automated circuits brought up my blushing parameter, and I shied away. I didn't realize at the time, that I was noticed... Tchocolt suddenly put xir hand on my bare shoulder. A definitely Sinfin gesture, and one I couldn't help but shudder a bit in pleasure over, "I see. I know the feeling, to be alone in a sea of people. To make due, filling that hole in your spirit with the companionship of strangers. Please," xie looked into my eyes, the caring, brown eyes, slightly glistening, "don't be nervous to join me. It's for the health of two stranded Sinfin, for our spirits. I know I can't fill the void of your loneliness, and that you can't fill mine... But we can be lonely together." Suddenly, all my senses began to buzz. Danger was nearby. The crowd became a second, then third thought, as all of my physical perception narrowed to a razor's edge upon a single individual. I studied him for a moment. Lemure, Niflum, pallored skin, grey, lifeless hair slicked back into the upturned collar of his coat. He never made any sign of noticing me, but I know he did. My magical senses caught up; compared to the blazing shadow of his aura, every other person on the street was an unnoticeable candle. He wasn't exercising it; the entire street would be filled with bodies. I trailed him, he led. A Lielum would've thought it very dark and scary where we finally stopped, but the Niflum before me put out enough infrared light as to be a beacon. His poise and movements were very unlike the relatively young Altaner or Myk-angelo, so I guessed him as quite old... "Let me guess, you're here to avenge that little whore friend of yours?" His tone was one that hid that dagger of a word. "Avenge would imply xie died," I started, I almost tried to step closer, but something was stopping me, "I'm also well aware of that word's meaning." Oh, that was it. An incredible feeling of doom; not fear, Nikita shared fear in our sessions, but doom. As if death were almost upon me, and beyond simple danger. He made a strange gesture with his head, "Oh? I suppose you're not one of the normal, ignorant, naive puppies. To hear she survived is a shame, though. I had hoped I at least killed someone when she protected my target. Still, all she did was delay me by a few hours." An assassin? I forced myself to study him more. He had no need for weapons, by appearances, nor armor. His clothing casual and fashionable, but forgettable. But not his eyes. I noted he was holding sunglasses; he was allowing me to see his eyes. The black sclera, and sickly green, glowing irises. Shadow... No, Death-Touched. The crest on his ears was plain, bronze. But that told me what I needed to know. "Your name... It's Deacon, right?" To his credit, he didn't look nonplussed at all, "That is correct, my smart, little puppy." I restrained another shiver; the voice that usually gets me in trouble, my human brain, was screaming for me to run. I won't run. "Then you are who I think you are. There's no purpose for me to fight you; what scars I can leave are ones you can heal. But I shall add my name to the undoubtedly long list of people who wish you dead." His only reply was to laugh. That feeling of death and danger intensified for a brief moment, and I finally let out a cough, then, it faded. My regeneration circuit almost sighed in relief, quickly repairing the damage that threatened to overwhelm me. "I look forward to when you finally try. To be honest, I've yet to be able to actually kill one of your kind." And so he left. I glared daggers into his back until the darkness finally cloaked him from my sight. That I amuse him wasn't an insult. Neither was his toying with me. No, I'm not insulted. I'm elated; for I know the exact two people to help me, and I have found that which they have been seeking, in revenge and in hunger. I am the Hound of Tinaldos; I will not let him get away for long. |