Alley Brawl (Aello)

[Solomus Revon]

54th day of Fall, 511 AV Solomus Revon was looking for more scum. . . Really, the apprentice was. The topknotted man strolled down every alley he could, searching for beggers, bandits, and any other person looking to do bad. While not like Sunberth, Ravok had its villains, and Solomus was there to exploit them. He needed more eyes and ears in the city, and what better place than in the alleys. This was where he had found Reaver, and where he could find many more people. And it was where he could find some that he didn't want to. So Solomus drew himself up at the entrance of yet another alley in the city. He wore his usual clothing, none that marked him as the apprentice of the Ebonstryfe that he was. Most could tell he was a fighter by the warhammer stuck through his belt. Some could mark him as one who had fought before by the scars on his chest from a fight from a Kelvic the year before. And a few could deem him one who was angry often with the scowl always on his face. He wasn't one to mess with. Which was why Solomus walked into the alley with less tension than some would. Who would dare bother him in the first place? Definately no one sane.

[Aello]

Aello's things sat in a neat pile behind her back, serving to support her in a way similar to some of the city walls. Although, her things were all the more likely to crumble if she put too much pressure on them than the walls. But the walls, unlike her things, seemed to have ears. Ears which told the leaders of the dark everything there was to know about her. It was a fair trade then, she supposed, trading stability for safety. As she sat, her legs folded into the lotus position, Yune rested on Aello's right index finger. The rest of her fingers had curled into her palm, as she held the young sparrow but a few inches in front of her face. "Did you want a little more, Yune?" Aello asked, as she plucked another seed from the folds of her dress, which hung nearly taut over her knees. The bird chirped, causing the girl to smile weakly, as she held the seed delicately between her left thumb and index fingers. She brought it closer to the bird, who, when it was close enough to reach, extended her head, and bit at it. She nibbled the edges, before grabbing the seed from Aello, and taking it in, in its entirety. Aello giggled. "Someone is hungry today," she whispered, as she ran the fingers of her free hand over the bird's feathers, before offering her another seed once she had finished chewing. The bird took it happily, content with its eating. At least someone can find peace in this place, Aello thought, as she stroked her bird's feathers, trying to calm herself. She felt strangely ill at ease of late. Even more so than usual, which of course, was saying something. The girl reasoned, as she continually thought about what the problem could be, that it was nothing more than her nerve. The evil of the city gnawing away at her bones. The poor weather even. For everything is as it always was. Nothing had truly changed, other than her heightening devotion to Dira. Her age... Everything was the same. As Yune finished chewing, Aello leaned forward, and kissed her on the forehead. The soft facial feathers sinking into her pale lips, tickling them for but a moment before she pulled away. "I hope you enjoyed your lunch Yune," Aello whispered. "You can have more later, for dinner, we can't have you getting so full you can't fly," she finished, with a small smile. Aello scooped the rest of the seeds up in her left hand, and pushed them into her pocket, as her bird chirped. The girl looked at her pet thoughtfully, wondering why she was being so loud. Surely, by now she had enough, and could not be complaining of an empty stomach.

[Solomus Revon]

If anything, Solomus expected a corpse laying in a puddle of blood and water. Maybe a naked drunk who got lucky with his right hand. Maybe even a cutpurse attacking him. But he did not expect to see a woman sitting back first to a wall, feeding a bird. A very odd location to do such a thing. Who was this woman, and why did she choose such a place as a nice location to rest and feed a bird? It truly was a bad spot to be caught, especially since this woman had yet to notice her. Only days before a woman was killed in the alleys, and this truly unnerved Solomus. Not because he felt sorry for that woman, but because she died when he failed to stop her attacker. Failure was not something Solomus tolerated, especially when he was the failure. But even though the woman hadn't noticed him, that bird had. It chirped loudly, an annoyance crossing the ears of the topknotted man. Why must ever bird sound so shrill? They were annoyances to Solomus, and he didn't like to put them up. But why didn't the woman even notice the bird's warnings. She truly was begging to be mugged, and from her small size, Solomus didn't see her as the one to handle her attackers. A mistake to underestimate the one who went by the name Aello. But Solomus couldn't blame stupidity. Just ignorance. "You know you should listen to your little guard more often. It was trying to warn you about the man creeping behind you, but you seemed to be listening to something else." Solomus leaned his left shoulder against the wall Aello was on, placing his right hand on his hammer. He made sure she understood he wasn't here to attack her, but his hand was there just in case. A good choice even though he didn't know it.

[Aello]

Aello turned to look over her shoulder. "You would have been noticed soon enough... You walk so loudly across the road, that you may have been shot in the dark," Aello commented, cooly, as she stroked Yune's feathers with the back of her left hand, one last time, before rising to her feet. Yune chirped several times, before fluttering onto the woman's right shoulder, as the girl turned to face Solomus. He was leaning up against a nearby wall, seemingly unthreatening, given his stance. The girl tilted her head slightly to the side, resting its top against the wall, as she allowed her hands to fall to her sides. The right, however, lingered atop her thigh. Circling the place where her cursed dagger was kept. Just in case Solomus was stupid enough to give her reason to reveal it. To use it against him. "Now, stranger," Aello began, "what reason do you have to try and sneak up on girl's in alley ways, and their pets?" she inquired. "Do you mean to mug us? Find a place to get drunk in peace? Dispose of a body perhaps?" Aello went on, before pausing for a moment. "Or do you simply mean to tell us that you are on patrol? Making sure the city streets are safe for someone such as myself?"

[Solomus Revon]

The woman turned, replying with a calm about her. Of course Solomus would've been noticed soon enough. He would've been noticed after slitting this woman's throat and she turned to see her killer before passing onto Dira. But he doubted he would get shot in the dark. Not many people were ignorant enough to fire at a follower of Rhysol. Or insane. The woman stood, her bird fluttering onto her shoulder. She leaned onto the wall similar to Solomus, except putting her head on the wall. He hands dropped to her side, and Solomus noticed that her right hovered around the thigh area. What was there Solomus had no clue. But he knew to be careful just in case this conversation went any further. Not that he expected it to. The woman spoke to him, listing off possible reasons for him being in the alley. Most were false, but one was true. Solomus only shook his head, watching this woman. When he spoke, his tone seemed to poke at Aello, as if he wanted her to hear every mistake she made. "Look at me, woman, and you wouldn't have let such foolish things escape from that mouth. If I wished to mug you, I wouldn't have announced my presence, letting your little bird chirp while I beat you down. I carry no ale on me, so I'm not here to drink anything away. And do you even see a corpse? We're the only things in this alley, you idiotic woman." Solomus really didn't like women who talked a lot. So it was safe to say Solomus wasn't big on many women. And he despised those who thought they knew more than they did. An example standing opposite of the apprentice. Solomus glanced at the alley, and then behind him. Returning his eyes to this woman, he continued speaking to her. "As for patrolling the streets, I guess that's true. Apprentices of the Ebonstryfe are often chosen to do such tasks. As for keeping it safe for people like you? Personally, I'm not sure if I'd want to protect you or not." Solomus wasn't lying. Why protect someone you hate? The apprentice paused, waiting for the woman to respond. He cared little about her answer, wishing more to see how she reacted. He wished to know if the knowledge of his standing in the Ebonstryfe had any affect on her treatment towards him. It might just prove her feelings towards the followers of Rhysol, and whether or not she deserved to live in the city. Or to live at all.

[Aello]

Aello raised a single brow. "Oh but my dear... you may so easily be destroyed, even in the dark, beneath the light of Leth's fading moon." Her words seemed to wind around the length of her arms, as though they were her pet snakes. "Especially with an attitude such as that... where you think it wise to step right into situations you couldn't possibly so much as begin to understand. Into places that contain people far more dangerous than the likes of you." With that, Aello paused, and pulled her head off the wall, so that she now, stood up straight and tall before Solomus. Her hand still dangled over the dagger, waiting for him to be foolish enough to make her bring it forth. It surprised her then, but only a little, when Solomus announced his being one of them. Only an apprentice, but still, that was enough to piss her off. For just because he was a member of their little band of miscreants, she was not supposed to so much as lay a finger on them, even in self-defense. But then again, who was around to stop her from killing this idiot now? A sinister smile crossed Aello's lips, as her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Only an apprentice? One of the Ebonstryfe's finest lapdogs?" she asked, her tone playful. "Why, with the way you've been talking, I was almost convinced that you'd be a threat. Something along the lines of a paladin." The girl paused for a moment, allowing her taunts to sink in. "Someone that actually knew how to wield a weapon... for surely it is common knowledge that the weaklings remain at the bottom of the totem pole, where they may easily be fed to the city as fodder. Where they may remain under foot, ready to lay down their lives to a foolhardy cause." Aello took a half step back, and slipped her right hand under the slit in her dress. The folds of the fabric curling over her skin as she reached for the hilt of her blade, and pulled it free, inching it out slowly, to make the escape all the more dramatic. To allow the sun to catch the blade's silver, and cause it to glint, off-setting the blood stains. When it was free, Aello held the dagger out to her side. The tip resting against her elbow. "Do you really believe your masters will care if I strip them of one of their pathetic pawns?" Aello asked, not at all afraid of those in the city anymore. For the dagger was making her both reckless, and bloodthirsty.

[Solomus Revon]

As first impressions went, Solomus saw this woman as only one who talked too much about things she didn't know about. Leth might say when darkness came across the world, but Rhysol decided what happened to his people at all times of day and night. And he wouldn't let harm be brought onto his followers. They dealt harm, but didn't take it. And who was this who was more dangerous this him? The apprentice was tempted to look around to see if anyone else was around. This woman couldn't be saying she was more dangerous than him. He could probably break her in half if he got his hands on her. But Solomus had learned earlier in life that women were dangerous. So even though Solomus didn't see Aello as a big threat, she was still a threat. The woman than spoke as if his being an apprentice of the Ebonstryfe to be nothing but a title. This woman had nerve that Solomus didn't see often. She was brave enough to call him a lap dog. It ticked him off that a woman like this could have such free rein with her tongue and no one told her off. She needed punishment, but could Solomus give it to her? The rules said no harm could be done to Ebonstryfe, but nothing say don't harm citizens of Ravok. He didn't want to kill her. Just hurt her really bad. Solomus was sure Rhysol would understand. But before Solomus drew his weapon, the woman reached into her dress. With purpose, the woman drew a dagger that shined in the sunlight. It was easy to see the stain of blood on the blade. Blood that this woman spilt. She truly was brave. She asked if his masters would care if she skinned him, and Solomus' scowl darkened. He wasn't frightened by this woman. Just disturbed by the fact that she would threaten him so openly. But it didn't mean he would back out of this fight. Far from it. "I do believe they will care more about me than anyone would care about you. My death would hurt more people than your death. You're worth nothing." Solomus reached to his belt, drawing his hammer. He ran his hand over the cold iron once. Hopefully would understand. Hopefully he would understand why he killed this woman instead of just maiming her.

[Aello]

"A hammer?" Aello asked, incredulously, as her brow rose into an arch. "Don't tell me you were nothing more than a blacksmith before the 'stryfe accepted you into their pitiful gang," Aello taunted. "And more than likely a lousy one at that... with such slender arms, devoid of muscle. Nothing like the Isur, now they're good at what they do. Rather deft hands, those with the over-sized arm are." Aello's eyes sparkled as her grip tightened upon the hilt of her dagger. She was hoping to make the man angry. For that made for a more intense battle, approximately ninety-nine point nine percent of the time. The rest of the time, it made one's opponent so reckless, that they were far easier to kill than usual. "You cannot win a fight with that stranger... not that'd you'd know the truth in that, being little more than one of Rhysol's puppets, though," Aello sneered, as she darted forward, and swung her dagger-wielding arm out to her side. At the last minute, when she was within range, Aello began to bring her arm inwards in a wide arc, as though she were about to rake her blade against Solomus' chest. Yet, as she moved, she swiftly twisted her body. Twirling, her hair flying wildly about her as the blade inched out to the side with her motion. Should Solomus fail to move, or block Aello's advance, the girl would strike the area just behind his arm. The place where his shoulder blade rested, or so. As soon as she had pushed her blade into his flesh, breaking the skin and spilling his blood, Aello would extract her dagger, and dance away from any of his advances. Prepare for her next attack.

[Solomus Revon]

It was odd to Solomus that this woman would draw a blade on one who had already named himself Ebonstryfe and continued to taunt him with her words. She deemed him nothing more than a blacksmith. She even went as far as to say he wasn't built to be a blacksmith. Which was ture since the apprentice didn't really want to beat metal all day, everyday. Nor was he one of those short freaks known as Isurians. He was pure-blooded human. And his genetics bred killers. But Solomus wasn't going to just sit here while she spoke to him so. Sneering, Solomus shook his head, his topknot flinging back and forth slightly. "Says you, woman. It is good that bird will kiss you. With such a frail body, you'd never make it trying to kiss men like the whore you are. You'd have to pay them to ever get any further than with a bird." Solomus smiled, just an extension of his scowl. But this wasn't just some bantering between friend, but the insults traded before someone was about to die. And then Aello ran forward. Solomus held his hammer up, ready to parry any blow she threw at him. The woman swung at an arc for his chest, and Solomus moved his hand so the hammer handle would be across his chest to block the strike. But then the woman twisted, hoping to attack him in a different spot. She had caught the apprentice off guard with her speed. He could tell she was skilled with that dagger. But that didn't amount to the size difference. Even when he couldn't block the strike standing still, maybe he could knock off balence. Solomus dropped his shoulder, and ran forward with the intent to bull-rush Aello. If this connected, Solomus hoped it would stop Aello from landing her blow. It wouldn't let him get in any immediate second attack, but hopefully it would give him space. Not that there was much to get in an alley.

[Aello]

Aello's blade was just about to sink into the man's skin when he dropped his shoulder, pushing her away. The girl scurried back a few steps, preparing to take anything he had to throw at her, which she doubt was much. Surely, he had simply gotten lucky that one time. "That the best you can do?" Aello sneered. "A simple block, which lacks a formal attack afterwards?" How pathetic. Once again, growing impatient with the waiting game, Solomus' inability to challenge her, Aello darted forward. As she reached striking distance, she allowed her body to sink into a sort of crouch. A subtle flick of the wrist turned her blade towards the man's body, which she dragged from the area about her hip, upwards, intending to slice him in a clean line, from the bottom of his chest, towards the top, just below his neck. Aello wanted to cut the man in half. See a slender line of red divide him into equal parts, which she could then mar however she saw fit. Perhaps even, mark deliberate slices into. Something that would remind him not to piss her off if she let him live. Something to show others not to mess with her either. Something to show Rhysol that she didn't care about his existence. He couldn't have her. She wouldn't serve him. She belonged to Dira. Perhaps she could carve "chaos will fall," into Solomus' flesh. But such a thing, in and of itself was somewhat chaotic. She'd have to think of something else once she had forced the man to fall to his knees. To beg for her mercy. His pitiful existence. His life. OOCAnything in bold is what Aello is thinking. Also, with combat threads, I tend to attack/block, and then when the other player posts, I let them decide if I hit them, same goes with me when you attack. Typically anyway.