Flashback City Animals [Kyra]

[Adam King]

60th of Summer, 511, The Pig's Foot Adam smirked at the cheap jokes his fellows around the tavern table flung around, leaning back relaxed as he exhaled smoke from his cigarette towards the decrepit ceiling. While colorfoul distractions for the senses and fascinating images aboundede all about the Pig, one in particular caught his eye. While drawing again from the smoke, his gaze narrowed on a group of loud mercenary types. His eyes scanned across the group in inspection. Inspection of their theads and leather apparell told they were from outside of town, but they fit right in in attitude. Beyond all else, the most notable visage was that of the young girl apparently at their beck and call. Adam gave an inner sigh as his body exhaled more smoke. Slave, most likely, and by the lost look on her face, rather new at it - not born into slavery. He hated that sight most. Those content with their position he could ignore, put out of his mind, but her eyes as she was ordered to weave more and more lasciviously to the bad bard music in the tavern were those of a victim. A shame, too, with that eye hue. So, while still exchanging the rough pleasantries with the mates around the table, he kept a close watch waiting for his opening. And it came, indeed, as she was sent, full with six mugs that were not easy to carry at the same time, to get refills from the bar. Adam waited for the girl to cross the crowded large tavern room as he got up wrapping the black leather coat tighter around himself. "Excuse me, gentle-scum.", he muttered to his company, and the young men's mean jokes were already cracking behind him about his sudden departure as he strode across the room through the crowd. While the girl was waiting for Merv, the loyal barkeep to get to her, Adam draw from his cigarette and exhaled to a side. He pretended to be inspecting the bottles behnind Merv put on display as he casually mentioned, without looking to the girl. "You're in a preety bad situation in a preety bad city, hun."

[Kyra]

After the disaster in the Wild Lands, Levuk had decided that Kyra wasn't ready just yet. The young kelvic was still too raw and easily influenced to be left alone for long, and so he returned to Sunberth. His plan hadn't been a complete failure as she had managed to scare him up some business. Although for Levuk, it wasn't nearly enough, but he knew better than to push his luck after all that had happened. Levuk wasn't the type to give up easily, nor did he like to lose. He would wait a while until things calmed down and use that time to re work his plan and his new kelvic. He sat there, his eyes watching her intently as she moved in front of them. She still had a long way to go, even her dancing was shameful in his eyes. Of course his friends seemed to enjoy it, even reaching out to pinch her back side or fondle her even more when she was close enough. However to Levuk, she was almost completely useless. He demanded more of his slaves, be it human or kelvic. Still, she was young and there was time to mold her as he liked. He wondered to himself as he reach for his mug and drank the last of the beer, he must have been to soft on her. Kelvics, depending on the type, didn't make good slaves. Alessa, as she had been called by her mother, was a spoiled brat that had been pampered. It would take hard work to whip her into shape. Alessa moved slowly in front of the men, her long blondish hair hung loose, flowing against her shoulders and back. The simple gown that she wore, hung loose off her tiny shoulders and dragged the ground around her bare feet. She attempted to dance in a slower pace as she had been instructed. The young kelvic tried her best, recalling the dancers she had seen in Ravok, and mimicked their movements. Alessa swayed her narrow hips from side to side, her small feet moving only an inch or so forward and then back again. Her skinny arms moved upward and to her side as she continued. Though she tried, her movements were sloppy and not even close to being elegant, much less seductive. The men around her looked on with lustful eyes, howling and shouting for her to remove her clothing or sit on their lap. Alessa heard little of this, though her body was in the tavern, her mind was else where. She had almost escaped, had almost been free of him. When she had first came to the Wild Lands she had been afraid. She was so far from home and without anyone to look after her. It was the first time in her young life that she had felt alone...Then she met Kiara, a leopard kelvic like her. They didn't have a lot in common but did share a fated past. Alessa had started to hope, started to feel again, and believed that it was possible to be happy. However the feeling wasn't to last and Alessa soon found herself alone again...and helpless. Her tears were all dried up now, and she would never feel the moister in her eyes again. Her heart had been destroyed and what was left was barely worth calling alive. Alessa danced more, throwing her head back, her arms swinging back and down by her hips, which she rocked to the awkward sound of the music. It was enough for now, and the men seemed excited in the least. Leuvk wasn't as pleased and decided to put her to work and bring back more drinks. Alessa stepped forward taking the tray into her arms. The board was light, with only Luvk's mug on it, but once the other piled theirs on she could barely hold it up. A warning was issued from behind her, as a hand landed flat, striking her backside to hurry her along. The sudden sharp sting caught her by surprise. She hissed lightly, her fingers tightly gripping the sides of the board as she started off towards the counter. Alessa weaved in and out as she traveled across the crowded floor. The bodies unyielding made passing more difficult and she had to turn and spin her slender body between them all just to get through with the tray. Once she made her way to the bar, Alessa sat the tray down, glad to be rid of it even for a few ticks. She attempted to adjust the shoulders of her gown so that they would stay on her but it was pointless. The gown was obviously made for a woman, and Alessa was still just a girl. She stared at the barkeep as he continued with what he was doing, her golden eyes bore into him as her frustration grew. Levuk didn't like to wait and she didn't want to be punished again because this human was bad at his job. Alessa hadn't noticed that she was being watched, or that the person had come over and joined her at the bar. Her vision was focused on the man moving about behind the bar. If he didn't hurry Levuk would surely blame her and that was something she couldn't allow. The thought crossed her mind, as she moved closer, to maybe jump across the bar and get the beer herself. Just as she was about to decide whether to commit to the idea, a voice spoke out and caught her attention. Alessa quickly turned to face the man, but seeing that he wasn't looking at her she imagined that he must have been talking to someone else. She turned back to the bar grabbing the board and pushing it hard across the counter to get the man's attention. "I need you to fill these.."

[Adam King]

Adam looked on through the corner of his eye. She spared a glance but remained otherwise focused on her task. The eyes. Yellow. Gold. All sorts of races were out there, and Adam didn't know even half of them. So maybe she wasn't human? Whatever she was, the process was happening. Living in Sunberth, King knew a thing or two about slave-breaking and training. This girl was visibly entering the 'succesful' stage, training-wise, in which avoiding punishment and disapproval became the paramount directive. It felt like such a shame, because something in her demeanour suggested that she'd known freedom. You want to please those pieces of shit because you're afraid of them. Fine. Coat tightly wrapped around him, Adam half-turned towards her while in the same movement reaching for two of the mugs on her platter to pick them up and place in front of him. There. Now she couldn't please them. Not so long as he had the mugs next to him. No refills to be brought back. Despite the arguably agressive gesture, his voice seemed casual and jovial as he spoke right after exhaling another puff of smoke over her head. "Say doll, you know why Sunberth scum is never really picked up off the streets to be thrown into slave-labour, despite no king or government to look out for'm?" Smiling casually, he tried to lock his sight directly into her eyes.

[Kyra]

Alessa stared hard at the barkeep, waiting for him to turn around. The place was a mess, and the sickly smell of cigars and alcohol made her dizzy. She was more than ready to leave and the sooner that she could get Leuvk and his friends drunk, maybe she could slip away. That was her plan at least, though it wasn't perfect, she had to try. A voice continued to speak, mingled among the rest of the loud bunch in which she paid no attention too. However when the curious human decided to steal her mugs, that finally drew her attention. Alessa turned quickly looking to the man that now held her mugs. He looked like the rest, and even like those she had fought in the Wild Lands along side Kiara. These humans were all the same, all cut from the same cloth, and if it weren't for the golden collar fastened tightly around her neck, she might attempt to transform and slaughter them all. "Those are not yours..give them back." She said simply staring at him, her brow twisted and lips wrinkled together. Another puff of smoke stained the air, causing her to frown and turn away. It was a wonder how human's could tolerate such a smell, and even that of themselves when they hadn't bathed. The tavern was filled with these men, and she wondered if it was the drinks that dulled their senses to the point where they could no longer think or smell. The man continued on, though Alessa wasn't relly interested in what he was saying. He spoke of Kings and slaves, neither subjects she had an opinions on, nor cared about. She simply wanted to get away from that villain Levuk. Although she didn't have any idea where she was, or where she would run to once she was free. Still, she had to try and at the moment, the only thing that was in her way was this man. Alessa moved close to him, her tiny body pressing against his as she reached out to grab the mugs that he had stolen. Her eyes were fierce and not for a moment did they brake contact with his own. "If you're looking for a whore, then you should try some place else..."

[Adam King]

He smiled, almost content with seeing the girl's defiance. There was hope, then, if she at least had the backbone to snap at him. He allowed her to pick up the mugs, eyes locked into eyes as he also leaned in even closer, muttering out in a hush. "It's not profitable. We'd never make good slaves. Because Sunberthies are nuts about freedom. Should you try to enslave them, they'll jump for their slaver's throat, even if it's the last thing we do. Like wild animals. Rabid wild animals..." He drew from the cigar, his voice even thicker with the smoke along his neck and throat. "...The numbers don't add up. Ten Sunny slaves don't do any work, force you to kill them, and one of them might even succed in killing you..." Making sure Alessa heard, he added while putting out the cigarette "...The whole problem with the whole 'whore' snap being - I can get you from that piece of shit for only a few coins." Adam looked out over the crowd as he leaned back against the counter, seemingly looking away from her. As Merv came to fufill the refill order, Mr. King's push-dagger seemed to have found his way from the man's boot to now being apparently forgotten right by the girl's platter.

[Kyra]

Alessa stared at him curiously, her lips parted slightly, as if she were about to say something but paused. Was he really that naive, or was it more to the fact that he hadn't been in the position that she had. Lived the life that was forced upon her.. He spoke of Sunberthies, people like him, not being good slaves. Had he any clue, although now hidden by her appearance. The girl before him had been born and raised in the better side of Ravok. Her life up until that fated night had been nothing but bless, sheltered by those who loved her and kept her safe. She was even less likely to make a good slave than his people. Still, it mattered not. For wild animals, that she was and for all the weapons and raging of claws and fangs she could not escape. Human's grew by a large number, and even the most skillful would fall by those numbers before it was all over. Unlike this human, or as he claimed, she wasn't interested in dieing. The memory of what happened to her mother and their butler was scared into her mind, and she didn't want to end up like them. For Alessa it was about survival now, as Kiara had said it was all that mattered. As the man drew from his cigar again, Alessa quickly pulled the mugs away and placed them back on the tray for the bartender to take. She could still hear the man talking to her, but her focus was on the bartender who finally got around to taking the mugs to refill them. "Fill these please.." The young kelvic had ignored his comment about being able to buy her for a few coins. Though she couldn't be sure, she imagined that Levuk wouldn't part with her for so little. Not after all the trouble he had gone through to train her. It would seem that he had more plans for her...bigger plans, and that scared her even more. "I have to get away from him..I have too." Once the bartender had finished refilling the mugs, Alessa slowly pulled the tray back towards her. Her eyes flickered, looking down as she noticed the dagger resting on the table top. Looking back up Alessa studied the man beside her and the curious expression on his face. The thought of stealing the dagger did cross her mind, but she knew that she had nowhere to hide it. Even hiding it inside of her clothing wasn't possible, the way Levuk's friends pulled and groped at her they would find it easily. However Alessa had a plan, and she would stick to it, for now she just had to get them drunk and away from others like the man standing next to her, who might try to interfere. A soft grunt slipped from her lips as she pulled the heavy tray into her arms. It seemed as if it was heavier this time, being the second time she'd gone to refill the mugs and her arms was tired. Giving a final glance towards the man at the bar, she tilted her head towards his dagger before stumbling pass him. "I think you dropped that."

[Adam King]

Adam remained quiet, letting the girl return to her table. He evidently hadn't forgotten the dagger there. Once she departed, he returned it to the confines of his boot, sipping on the ale with a sigh. How could he help her? And why in hell did he want to help her?! Was it that she was preety, and those eyes? Perhaps. But the free-life behind the eyes was also a big part of it. He passed by his original table and left the money owed to his 'friends'. Heading outside, finding a nice nearby broken barell to use as an impromptu chair as he enjoyed the freshly purchased bottle of cheap sweet red wine. As he looked towards the entrance of the busy tavern, people watching the couples and grifters and dirty regulars and excited other younglings, he couldn't help but think the colorful tapestry of freedom he loved that was Sunberth was stained not only by poverty, but also by its worst consequence - slavery. He would decidedly rather die. But perhaps it was just self-bravado. He wondered what the collar was about. A way to mark a stock of slaves without marking them permanently? Bolt-cutters? A smart minute of running, bolt cutters and then you're free? Was it that simple? Or would you for ever remain broken on the inside? As he observed the people moving in and out of the tavern in careful inspection of gestures and social dynamics and pondering about such, over an hour passed, the bottle almost empty.

[Kyra]

Alessa made her way across the floor again, using the same weave and twisting just to make it back without spilling any beer from the heavy mugs that she carried. Once she was back standing at the table with the group of thugs, she quickly sat the platter down and rested her arms. Her rest didn't last for long as she felt a hand reaching for her body, causing her to quickly moved away, a low growl forming in her throat. Levuk looked on, a bit amused by the scene going on in front of him, and the fact that his friend was about to get his head bitten off. He knew of the kelvic's vicious side, he had seen it first hand when he went to reclaim her in the Wild Lands. He wouldn't have thought that one kelvic could do so much damage, but the evidence proved otherwise, and if the man clutching at her thigh knew any of this he would likely retract his hand at once. Though he had seemed amused for the moment, Levuk's features quickly hardened as he stared at Alessa. He waved her over, and once she was close enough, he pulled her down into the seat beside him. He leaned into her, squeezing her hip a bit as he spoke in a low but demanding tone. He questioned her for several ticks, asking bout the man that he saw her talking too. In truth, she hadn't talked to him as much as it was him trying to draw up a conversation. But she knew Levuk all to well, and this was exactly why she didn't want to talk to the man to begin with. He didn't believe her, and try as she might to convince him, it was all pointless. For a moment, Alessa was afraid that he would punish her, but his face suddenly changed. He reached for her, gently cupping her cheek before moving his hands down to tug at the shoulders of her gown so that it hung even lower than it already had. The look in his eyes was wicked, and Alessa shuttered to think what might be going on in his head. She tried to move away, as he continued to rearrange her clothing to be more appealing. He pulled her back hard, even tightly gripping the back of her neck to hold her still. "Bring him over here..." Was all that he said. "If he wants you for the night..he has to pay me first." Fear and disgust twirled around in her gut, turning of a shade paler than she already was. With the way that the night had been going and in a place such as this. The young kelvic had hoped that she could avoid this, but it would seem that there was no escape. Without another word, or pause, she simply rose from her seat and left the table. Whatever calls that were made, or hands that reached to grope her, she paid them no attention. She moved through the crowd again and made her way back to the bar. A task made easier without the platter full of mugs. She was surprised to find that the man was no longer there. Alessa turned left, then right looking for him, but he was nowhere in sight. However, there was a scent, a faint smell that lingered, the same one that she had picked up on when he was standing next to her. Again girl turned and headed back through the crowd, slowly looking around as she followed the scent. The trail lead her outside, and she paused just outside of the doorway as she stared at the sky. The city there was very different from Ravok, though it seemed to have a subtle wildness similar to that of the Wild Lands. She wondered if she should try it, if she should run for it and never look back. The idea was inspiring, and proud a renewed fire into her golden eyes. She could run now, disappear into the dust and Levuk would never find her. But that wouldn't satisfy her, she wanted him to pay for what he did to her. In her eyes he was just as bad as the man who killed her mother, and for that he had to die. She could run, but if she did then she would be likely be hunted. Her life wouldn't be her own and she would spend each day looking over her shoulders and covering her tracks. However, if she were to kill him, kill each and every one of them, then there wouldn't be no one to come after her. She could be free, and all she had to do was wait until the right time came. Just then she heard a sound and turned to find the very man she was looking for resting upon a broken barrel. Alessa pushed her long her back over her naked shoulders and slowly walked over to him. She stared down at him, her lips almost curving into a smile as she spoke. "He wants to speak with you.."

[Adam King]

Bottle half-emptied, Adam saw her approach. He really wasn't expecting to, and the fact that she was coming out alone made him worried that she was in fac an already broken slave. What was this about? The girl wasn't in a hurry so she wasn't bolting. Was she so tame that she'd fetch him herself when the slave-driver either wanted to hurt Adam for giving her attention or even to make an offer on renting her? His tilted head looked up at her, eyes narrowed. One truth was that he was afraid to walk up to a table of thugs. Some guys never came back from such. But he wouldn't even admit the fear to himself. Yet maybe there was a point. Maybe it could be somehow worth it. "I'm only seeing him if it can help you..." Adam got up, wiping a drop of wine off his mouth as he took a step closer. His green eyes were less bright by comparison looking into hers as the gold shined in the night light. "... Look, I know a guy who can get that shit off your neck just a few streets down..."

[Kyra]

It was a full moon that night, risen high into the sky, casting down hard shadows upon pale walls. From where she stood, the man in front of her, somewhat covered by her own shadow, looked almost menacing. To her he looked like the rest of his kind, and wasn't to be trusted. Alessa tilted her head, folding her arms cross her chest, and sliding her bare feet around on the ground. The wind picked up and brew through the streets, not enough to cause notice, but seemingly unnoticed as it glided through the strains of her blonde hair. "He wants to see you..What does that have to do with me?" She stared at him closer, her eyes narrowing in to focus on the curves, marks and lines in his features. He looked like a mercenary, drank as they did, and as far as she knew, all mercenaries were slave drivers in some form. "Why would you want to help me?" She asked curiously as she watched him. She didn't understand what he was trying to get at, or what he wanted to accomplish by stating that he wanted to help her. His kind were never interested in helping anyone but themselves and to make as much coin as possible. She wondered about this, if he truly wanted to help her, or if he really was just looking for someone to warm his bed. At the mention of the collar she wore, Alessa reached up for it, her fingers lightly touching the rim. She hated it, wanted to get rid of it and the person who placed in upon her. Glancing back towards the entrance of the bar, she paused for a moment, thinking over what the stranger had just offered. Removing the collar would mean that her plan would be un doable. She couldn't return to Levuk without the collar, of that much she was certain. Alessa though more on it, and wondered if it would be better to simply run. Still at this moment, she wasn't sure if she could trust him. "Are you..afraid of him? Do you think he will kill you?"