Flashback: A Dark Glower (Velerian/Open)

[Asara Willow]

Summer 15th, 508 AV

Asara scowled as she worked her way along the cavernous tunnels to reach her usual thinking spot in the Rose Caverns. She knew she was close to the beautiful, quartz lined place. She could hear the steady dripping of water in the large still lake, echoing through the dim caves.

asara's pupils were widened to take in all the detail available to her, finding it easy to travel in a place where Humans would stumble around blindly. Her long, slender arms moved in synchronization with her legs, a style of traveling she often conformed to in order to spite Humanity and their perception of what was natural. Her nails were curved claws for this very same reason.

The thoughts of mocking Humans were interrupted by voices, both of which were familiar to the small Symenestra. One was... Velerian. A friend of sorts, someone Asara had just spoken to today, not so long ago. The other was a distasteful person, someone Asara could never convince herself to like. A half blood.

But why would Velerian, a pure blooded Symenestra, be talking to someone who's blood was pure corruption, who's very name was a symbol of his marred blood. Dra... 'Little'...

The female came much quicker than she had been walking, intending to see what was going on between her friend and the half blood. Her pale gold eyes were narrowed. She had all the intention of tearing the half blood's head off if he was threatening her friend.

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

“And there is not way to persuade you to stay?”

Velarian’s voice was quiet, just marginally louder than the myriads of soft rustling wings above their heads. Light the color of pale rose quartz fell on his brother’s face, making the young man’s complexion appear even a darker, tanned like his father’s must have been. The young animator had never come to know the man - and he doubt his brother had either. Although, Velarian had never asked but once and that day he had not been given an answer.

He had not asked since.

“I have been staying much too long already.” Dra-thier broke his study of the underground lake, turning. He was not as tall as his brother, but build broader, more massive. The hunter could in no way be called fat or unathletic, yet it was rare for a human, or a halfbreed, to match a Symenestra’s slender frame. Dra-thier was slender, in a compact, muscular way which hinted the impurity of his blood. His eyes were neither red nor golden nor purple. They were of a pure black, which, at times, made even his relatives nervous.

“When will you leave?”

“Next full moon.” The half breed shrugged his shoulders. “A group of merchants is leaving for Lhavit, they only wait for the nights to grow less dark. Silly, isn’t it?”

Velarian said nothing.

“I think... I might come back one day. See how you are doing.” Dra-thier searched for the Symenestra’s eyes. “Or you come looking for me, maybe?”

“You know, I don’t believe our uncle would mind if you staid. He has always liked you,” his brother staid instead of an answer. He knew it was true. The old hunter had not spend as much time with the Dra-thier as he had with Velarian and yet he had taken a certain liking to the young man who was just three years older then the animator. Few others had shown the halfbreed much sympathy.

“I don’t believe your uncle would have minded,” Dra-thier agreed. “But your brother would have and the old hag you call your grandmother.”

Again Velarian remained silent, his reason for not responding another this time. Instead he offered his brother a package he had carried around for the past half hour. Wrapped in soft leather it contained three vials of poisons, he had bought not to long ago.

“You could get them yourself next time.”

“She charges me four times as much as she would charge you. And you know it.”
Velarian knew his brother was right. “Nothing you will have to worry about in the future however, right?”

This time it was Dra-thier who did not reply. A sound behind them let Velarian turn around. In the multicolored glow of the cave he made out a slender figure heading straight for them, a pair of golden eyes narrowed. The same moment he decided the ‘someone’ was a young girl, he also realized he knew her.

“Asara?”

[Asara Willow]

Asara had seen the exchange, and that was enough to mark the one she'd assumed was a friend in the 'maybe' department. She wasn't so sure she liked a person friendly with half bloods like Dra-thier.

She shot Dra-thier a glare, warning him to be silent, before glowering up at Velerian. This was not something she'd ever expected, and her gold eyes glittered with anger and resentment, as well as a buried deep expression of hurt.

"Would you mind explaining this, Velerian?" The small Symenestra growled in a low voice, just loud enough for Dra-thier to also hear. "Why are you giving my poisons to a half blood? Hm?"

She turned her glare back to the half blood in question, her gold eyes narrowing on his black ones. She felt resentment that the male looked so different. Maybe if his eyes were more Symenestra, she'd feel some kinship towards him. A grudging kinship, though. Yet, the irises were completely black. Demonic, even.

"What are you even doing here, half blood?" Asara rarely would refer to the mongrel children of Symenestra mothers and non-Symenestra fathers by name. If she could, without suffering punishment, she would have done her best to chase them out. They didn't deserve to wear the name of Symenestra.

Asara then glowered at both males, wanting to make them nervous. She was starting to realize something about them, something she didn't want to see at all. Some small similarities shared between Velerian and his unfortunate companion.

"Who is this half breed to you, Velerian?" She growled shrewdly. Her thoughts were all jumbled in her head, each one hitting against the other, and they were the cause of Asara's restless, sporadic interrogation. She felt she was getting angry, and she didn't like the feeling of it.

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

Velarian froze. It was not the young woman’s anger which kept him in place - although her expression was impressive in its own right - it was the surprise to see. And to see her so enraged. Still searching for an explanation which might calm his friend down, he felt Dra-thier shift right behind his back.

“So many questions,” his brother murmured sourly, glancing past the younger man towards the furious Symenestrian. Like Velarian the halfbreed did not show any fear facing Asara, but other than his younger sibling his features hinted a distinct feeling of worry over the woman’s presence. And her temper. Already he made a little step backward, when Velarian finally rose his arms in what he hoped to be a reassuring gesture.

“Everything has its order.” He threw a quick glance over his shoulder. “Dra-thier was occupied with work. I just tried to do him a favor buying it when he couldn’t.” It was a small lie, although one the young man hoped she would not catch up on. It would have been hard to prove him a liar anyway. His brother had been working this morning.

“Besides - you never said one couldn’t resell of gift the goods bought from you, I don’t think.”

Again he was close to lying. While he could not remember her ever mentioning such a thing, he did know about Asara’s dislike of the halfbreeds and the fact she sold them her poisons at considerably higher prices than she would have dared to ask from a fellow Symenestra. Velarian could have bought the poison somewhere else - but the young woman was good in what she did.

“He is just here because I brought him here,” the animator answered her next question before her brother had a chance to. Velarian could feel the man’s anger which was just a hint more quiet than Asara’s own. His brother had never taken well to the contempt most Symenestra held for him and those like him and as so often it was prudence which let Dra-thier remain silent.

“And I brought him here, since he is my brother.”

Velarian said it as calmly as possible, making a small step back and to the side, trying to remain between the tanned man and his friend, while keeping his distance to her at the same time. Compared to him Asara had always been of a certain temper. One he did not feel like challenging right now. He had never seen her so furious before. Not even when she started to rant about halfbreds.

“Did that answer all your questions?”

Looking over Asara’s shoulder Velarian wondered how easy it would be to just leave. He wasn’t worried the young woman might rise a hand against them - he was however not sure if arguing with her would make much sense either. But then, he could not just walk away either.

[Asara Willow]

Asara narrowed her eyes, yet the voice of her friend actually managed to settle her a bit. She still experienced a feel of disgust when she glanced between Velarian and Dra-thier. She tried to reign in her contempt at seeing the mongrel handling her specially made poisons for Velarian and growled softly.

Asara kept her gold eyes narrowed on the unnatural black ones of Dra-thier. She listened to their replies, after hissing at Dra-thier's.

Her dislike of the half blood was startling, even to her. She supposed it was the loss of money from selling her fare to her fellow Symenestra, and she wished she'd anticipated Velarian giving it away to someone of dirty blood. She wasn't Konti or whatever, though.

"Are you a half blood too, then?" Asara said very softly, her eyes flicking to her friend at his words. She didn't know how to react to such information. She didn't know what she'd do if he said he was indeed a half blood as well. Would she give up her friend?

Being the cold hearted person you are? Yes. Yes you would. That always calm voice said in Asara's head. Really, this was a bad time to go insane. A headache rippled through the Symenestra's head and she flinched at it. In a way, she wished she'd taken up medicine instead of poisons, but poisons were so much more amusing.

The Symenestra took a step closer to the pair, clenching her clawed hands until the long black nails drew a trickle of blood. She didn't know why she was wounding her hands, really. The cause could have been fear, anger, disgust, or even the pain of the headache that plagued her.

"Yes, you did indeed answer my questions..." Asara relented slowly, baring her fangs in distaste. She was extremely displeased with the situation, and although she wished she'd not come upon it, she had no desire to leave it alone.

"You purchased these for one of his kind, Velarian? You kept it that quiet, didn't you?" The Symenestra glared her eyes between them again and suddenly smiled venemously. "Make sure to remember this next time, yes? Or are the whispers true and Kalinor will finally be relieved of another half blood?"

She really didn't like these mongrels...

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

For a moment Velarian's smile threatened to falter. The line around his mouth tightened and quiet anger entered his ruby eyes, an impression lasting just an heart beat. A long second the animator watched the young woman before him. When he spoke again his voice was surprisingly soft.

"I am no halfblood."

As you might have noticed had your disdain for my brother and his likes not eaten you up neck and crop, leaving little but scorn in you, he thought quietly to himself. Still, he had to resist the urge to turn to the nearby lake, checking over his own features. The idea someone could so easily mistake him for less than he was bothered him - but just for a second. Quickly the sensation was replaced by a distinct feeling of shame. Suddenly he was glad his bother stood behind him, where he could see nothing of the emotions playing over Velarian's face in rapid order. The young man shook his head.

In a way the situation had been his fault to start with. Dra-thier had warned him to not play the younger girl for a fool, but in a moment of unfounded gallantry Velarian had decided that if his brother deemed Asara's poison most suited for his hunting, he should well have it. He had never expected the girl to catch him. Now it seemed too late to make a retreat and still remain on the woman's good side.

His gaze still resting on Asara the animator's lips suddenly twitch into a smile.

"Why, yes. I did not say who I bought it for," he admit with a shrug. "But then – you did not ask about it either, or did you?"

He knew she had not. It would have made things harder for him had she questioned him in depth about how intended to use the poison. He had no talent for deception. And he did not like to outright lie to friends either.

"However, it was not hard to guess that I would give it away," Velarian shrugged. "You know I am no hunter. You know what I do. And as you might imagine... I don't need any toxin for that sort of work."

Animation was, like all kinds of magic, dangerous in its own rights. Adding poison to the mix did not seem a wise idea. Even though he could think of a few automatons and golems where poison might be used. Already he was about to say more then his brother snorted.

"Yes, there will soon be one less, I can assure you."

"Dra-thier..."

"No, why shouldn't she know it?," the older man asked coldly. "I am sure she is most happy to hear about my nearing departure. Isn't that right?" With his last words the dark eyed halfblood had turned towards Asara, watching her for one second, two. Then he leaned forward his voice a whisper in Velarian's ears. "I see you at home. Try to not let her scratch your eyes out."

With that the half breed tried to step around both his brother and the younger woman, heading for the cavern exist.

[Asara Willow]

Asara almost smirked at the play of emotions in Velarian's eyes. Cruelty was rising in her, the desire to hurt and damage something that she felt was whole and pure. She had only accused him of being a half blood because of his most unfortunate brother. His reaction brought her sick pleasure though, and she felt a faint trace of disgust for herself.

"Why are you so upset I'd make you out to be one? Aren't you standing in the company of one of the little folk, as I am?"

Asara smirked poisonously at Velarian and his brother as her friend explained himself. Even though she wanted to draw out suffering for him, she knew that doing so would have terrible repercussions. Her dislike was meant for the people like Dra-thier, the ones who had found it so fun to tease and gnaw at her own happiness with being Symenestra that she loathed them. They hated her because she was too small, like a 'disproportionate doll'... She hated them for something more meaningful, especially for their race: their mixed blood.

"You're right. I didn't ask. But if I had known you'd be gifting my poisons to this person, I'd have refused you entirely." The bitterness in her voice stung as it swept past her pale lips, and her gold eyes flashed darkly. When Dra-thier began to speak, the gold darkened near to black.

At his words, something in Asara's eyes seemed to glitter in malicious amusement and complete shock. She almost appeared to show loss in her gaze, before she twisted her lips into a snarl and bared her fangs. She could almost appear to be a rabid beast.

"I am very glad to hear of this, Dra-thier. Believe me, you shall not be missed." She stepped to the side so he could pass, keeping her eyes on him and glaring at his parting comment before turning back to Velarian. "Is he truly your brother, Velarian? What was his father?" Now, Asara spoke in an almost normal voice, although her fangs were extended still in irritation.

"You should have told me about this. Friends don't keep secrets like this, Velarian."

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

“You can be assured - I do look differently when upset,” Velarian smiled, more angry than he should rightfully have been. Again he was glad his voice betrayed little of the ire burning in his chest. It was hard to infuriate him, but the young woman was close to manage what no one else had accomplished in quite some time. But then, it was hard to face so much spite at once, anger you had no arguments to counter anyway.

Velarian could even see her point. It was irresponsible to sire a child which would always be deemed a pariah among his people, who would never even be able to navigate the city without help. However, growing up with two halfbred brothers the young man long since came to accept their presence, even when he hoped no more of them would be born to his family. Or anyone else.

“My, one would think you were glad to make some money,” he said, watching Dra-thier as he moved passed the young woman, towards the cave exit. “You can hardly make so much to simply refuse a customer. Or do you?”

He could hardly imagine it to be the case. There were trades, coming to the city at times, but they were rare and he was doubtful she made large amounts of money within Kalinor. The city was measured against its inhabitants small and how many could find a use for the work of a poison craftsman, no matter how experienced?

Velarian waited for his brother to vanish before he offered the young woman before him a shrug. “Not a what. A who. And I don’t know.” He tilt his head to the side. “And I do not care either.”

In his youth he had sometimes wondered... but even on his travels he had never seen a race he found suitable. When the books he read and the stories he bought on his travel were to be trusted his Dra-thier’s father might be found among the desert dwellers in the south - and yet he was unable to tell for sure. He did not feel like sharing his musings with the young woman either.

A long moment he looked at her. Then he shrugged. “I did not imagine it was so important to you. Or maybe I did and could well figure how you would react.”

Velarian did not feel bad, keeping his brother’s existence a secret. He did regret not being more careful however. It should have been easy avoiding Asara - especially since he knew she liked the cavern and could sometimes found here. Still tempted to flee the woman’s presence he continued to watch her.

“Besides - he is leaving. What does it matter now?” His earlier hope to persuade his brother to stay longer had crumbled to dust with Asara’s arrival. Truth been told, his chances for success had been slim before and yet his own stubbornness had urged him to try still. Now he had little desire to try again.

[Asara Willow]

A soft sigh passed Asara's lips. She couldn't fully tell if Velarian was angry, but the way he grimaced when he smiled told her that he was very displeased. Lucky her, she didn't have any bond to those 'Dra' so she felt none of the anger that could be glimmering in Velarian's soul. Her brothers had mothers taken from other races, and could have been deemed half-bloods too if the Symenestra gene wasn't so strong when passed from father to child. With the was Dra came out, like Dra-thier, one could deduce that the gene was not as strong when passed from mother to child. It made the half-bloods less than Symenestra from non-Symenestra mothers. Velarian should have had no reason to defend that sub-race, even if the one defended was a brother of his. The Dra were what they were, and shielding them from the harshness of pure-blood standards was not going to help them grow any tougher.

His comment about making money brought a long-winded sigh past her lips and the gold in her eyes darkened just slightly. While it was true that she was glad to make money, she didn't make her poisons for just that. She loved playing with toxins and mixing different types of venoms. She needed to sell her poisons to buy more ingredients, though, and Kalinor was a poor place to sell anything. So, relief aside that she'd made money off her own talent, Asara still disliked missing the chance to ruin the day of a half-blood due to the compassion of a pure-blood. It wasn't just that, though, that had sparked her anger. It was that her friend had to be the compassionate pure-blood and his own half-brother the dirty little half-blood.

"I rarely refuse a customer, Velarian, and I know of how difficult it is to make a profit selling poisons to a race of people with venom already. It is more the insult of what you've done and how you've kept it secret. You and I both know that I make more off his kind." Her eyes narrowed. Suddenly, she forced herself into calm and she smothered whatever emotion had controlled her. eyes and voice. She crossed her arms in an attempt to keep. From gouging her palms further and looked out towards the shimmering surface of the lake. She didn't know what else to say, even as she listened to him speak.

She dismissed his words on how she'd take this with a flick of her hand. She didn't much care at this point. She knew, very well, the workings of her mind. Her anger had been sparked by Velarian's secret relationship with Dra-thier and the giving of her poisons to him. Her anger at the Dra sub-race went much further than just a stinging revelation. Just as they didn't like her, she didn't like them, and neither made their distaste a secret.

"Where is your unfortunate brother planning to go to, Velarian?" Her question was very quiet, a whisper compared to the dulcet tones used previously. She did not look at him. "The amount of poison you purchased today will not be adequate should he encounter something dangerous. I suggest returning to where I keep my poisons and taking another similar amount for him. Preferably a stronger dose, in case he meets something like a Dhani wherever he goes."

She did not state that he would have to pay her, because she did not want him to. While she would never feel true remorse for alienating the brother of her friend, she did feel angry at herself for doing that to someone she'd come to like. Only a twinge of guilt echoed through her mind at how she treated Dra-thier before being smothered by other thoughts.

"Also... Make sure he doesn't come to buy anything else while he stays in Kalinor. I will over charge him. And I'd prefer you don't keep a secret like this. I do not like it." A small smile curled her lips before fading. She still hadn't looked at him, and she had no way of knowing if he'd left except for his breathing. She didn't know what to do now, how to react and speak. She felt awkward after her angry outburst. She'd not have stopped him from leaving, however.