hadriel_logs | I'm your biggest fan.

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I'm your biggest fan.

Who: Edgar and Caedra
What: Local vampire stalking the local demon lady.
Where: Around
When: After the flu event!
Warnings: Possible violence at some point.

[Thank god the strange epidemic had passed. From what he managed to gather around the network and such Edgar figured that he had, in fact, been one of the lucky ones. He hadn't suffered the worst of it but even the slight symptoms of flu were a nightmare for him. Immortality and dead body kind of came with perfect immune towards any sicknesses and alike. But even worse than the runny nose or feverish head was the feeling of paranoia. Edgar was careful, always thinking survival before anything else but that didn't mean he was paranoid.

Eventually the fear and anxiety about people knowing the truth being after him for it toned down and Edgar felt more comfortable leaving the abandoned buildings. And to his pleasure, others were back in the streets and apparently feeling like themselves again. Guess these things go just as fast as they come. A nice feeling of relief washed over him, filling in the remaining small cracks of shakiness and uneasiness, as he walked around the city wearing a glad smile. He was just about to make his way to the orchards, a place that he had decided to be his favorite, when he noticed a familiar dark figure not too far away.

Ah, it's the aggressive non-human. Edgar had been shamelessly curious about her during their first meeting. And even though they hadn't separated as the closest friends (to put it mildly) he couldn't help himself but want to know more about her. She might've been arrogant and hostile but that didn't mean she wasn't fascinating.

So, with a perfect silence Edgar did the same thing as first time: stepping into the shadows to follow her.]

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[The paranoia had passed, all right, but Caedra's work hadn't. She recognized now that the strange feeling had gripped her and many others, that it was the work of some outside force - the creatures who called themselves gods, presumably. They had yet to prove their divine status, in her eyes, but the ability to make her ill was noteworthy enough to suggest they did have some real power.

But that paranoia that came after had given Caedra ideas. Ideas she now was still working on even though the excess of anxiety had passed. Here in Hadriel, stranded without the familiar mental tether to her lord, she would try to call the Abyss to her. Part of being able to do that was going to have to involve understanding the space she now found herself in, and now that she was out of the house again where she had remained for the past few days, she was busy trying to think up how this space related to her knowledge of the arcane. And one of the best ways to do that, she had found, was simply to go for a walk. Understanding would come with familiarity.

This walk came with an unusual but familiar feeling - that of being watched. She glanced around every now and then, trying to be subtle, not wanting her follower to notice she had come to realize what was going on. And the stalker, whoever they were, was quick and canny - not once yet had she managed to glimpse a face, though she thought she had seen movement once or twice.

Fine, then, she was clever too - with a quick turn she ducked around a corner and put her back to the wall. With a short Abyssal phrase and a flick of her wrist, she changed her form completely to the first person who came to mind who very clearly was not her - Ivar, that crippled bloodthirsty boy now stood in the shadow of the building.

Hopefully, she could shuffle her not-actually-broken legs convincingly enough if needed.]

[After a while Edgar started to suspect that the woman was aware that he -- or at least someone -- was tailing her. It didn't come to him as a surprise even though she had failed to notice him before their first meeting. He's quite sure that she, too, had been affected by the flu and paranoia which would mean she'd be on more alert than before.

And his suspicious were confirmed when she all of the sudden hastens her pace and slipped away from his vision. Pressing his lips into a tight line he moves closer but instead of taking a look behind the corner he starts to climb the wall. It takes only few seconds before he's reached the top of the building and from there he takes a quick peek over the edge to see what the woman was doing and --- ah.

Ivar.

A confused frown formed on his forehead as he lied down on his stomach to stay out of sight. It wouldn't have been weird to see the alley completely empty or... really to see anyone else than Ivar standing there instead of the woman. He wasn't supposed to be there -- Edgar would know if he was. After all he still could remember the taste and smell of the viking's blood.

He waits for a moment in a complete silence, waiting to see what Ivar would do, before moving back and sliding off the roof right back to the ground. Then he walks past the corner, glancing at the alley's direction only briefly as if he hadn't been stalking the other person at all.]

Ah. Ivar. [He calls out, giving him a happily surprised smile.] What are you doing here?

[Caedra listens as the footsteps approach, as the thunk-shuffle of the climbing person scales up the wall and onto the roof, then drops down again. Clearly, her stalker has caught up to her, as is her intent.

Good try, Edgar - walking past as if uninterested might fool a lot of people, but understanding behavior and using it to her advantage is one of Caedra's strengths.

Edgar does do a good job at sounding convincing, though, when he finally addresses her disguised form. Calls him by name, so they know each other, it seems. But the game is up as quickly as it had started, so she drops the disguise and immediately calls her sword to her hand instead as she takes several steps directly toward him. She's not one to shy away from conflict.]

Explain yourself.

[There's no question, it's phrased as a command. Caedra is often so cheerful, so positive, even if it comes with an air of malicious intent, but she's not messing around right now. She didn't part with this boy on good terms before, and now he's following her around the city which, honestly, that's fucking creepy. Less so than it could be, since he seems to be a child, but it still doesn't come across well.]

[And just like that Ivar's hunched posture suddenly straightens up and changes form. In less than a heartbeat in front of him is once again standing the woman he had been tailing. Edgar barely blinks when the change happens, smile remaining on his face. It's not the first time he sees the woman to change her appearance -- during their rather ill-nature last encounter she had changed the color in her eyes. That alone had been enough to impress him. This, however? This is something completely different. His fascination and curiosity only keeps growing.]

Hello. [He greets her, crossing his hands behind his back and showing no regard to the sword pointed at his way. There is something sheepish in the way he carries himself, making him look like a school boy that's being scolded for bad behavior.]

You seem to be in bad mood. Again.

Yes, you seem to have a way of putting me in one.

[THANKS. She shows no signs of relaxing, either - in fact, despite her small stature, she leans a little closer, as if daring him to back off.]

Do you have a question? Something you need? Or do you just enjoy following me around for no reason?

That's unfortunate. And here I thought it was your default mood.

[She might be small and Edgar continues to refuse showing any kind of fear at the encounter but that still doesn't mean he's stupid enough to underestimate her. He's still not sure just what she is or what all she's capable of.

When she leans in Edgar only cocks his head to the side, revealing some of the skin on his neck.]

I thought I saw a friend. But it turned out to be just you in a disguise.

You were following me before that. You might be able to sneak up on everyone else easily, but I'm not an idiot.

[Spending several decades in a world where certain death could be lurking around every corner tends to instill some strong survival skills.

The hilt of her rapier is comfortable in her hand. It would be so pleasant, so satisfying, to shove its blade up through his gut and out his ribs. Not a blow to deliver a swift death, but an agonizing one, while the necrosis eats him from within.]

So, are you going to lie again, or tell me what you want?

['Sometimes ignorance is a blessing' he almost says but decides to keep his tongue in check. He didn't want to offend her on a purpose. The charming -- nearly smug smile continues to stay on his lips as he quickly dibs his gaze down on the sharp edge of rapier, then looking up back to her black eyes.]

Same as last time. I want to know about you.

[He wants to know about her? Fine. She'll teach him something.

In the blink of an eye, the rapier whips upward, seeking to catch him through the underside of his jaw, through his throat, into his skull. It has been too long since she has drawn blood and violence is an essential part her being. At home, it is her first reaction to insult - and she absolutely feels insulted by this boy's very presence.]

[This again? Edgar knew she was strong and dangerous. Her reacting to him with violence was boring.

But that didn't mean he could just stand around doing nothing. She's fast but so is Edgar -- on the same second the tip of rapier surges forward towards him he reacts, leaning his slim body backwards and bending his neck further to the side, dodging the attack. With one quick sweep of feet he takes a step away from her, moving weightlessly like a cat. His knees and back bend, ready to move again if needed, he looks up to her. Gone is the good and charming smile -- his eyes are bright and feral as his lips are curved into cunning grin.]

Got it out of your system?

This is my system.

[She too moves with some amount of grace, though she doesn't consider it any sort of dance. She's heard that comparison and doesn't care for it. She has always aimed to be fast and precise, to enjoy the rush of killing without wasting any time in the process. A holdover, likely, from her time as a human, when she was so desperate to stay alive and out of prison and yet unwilling to curb her own behavior. And now, of course, it's simply practical. Drawing out the death of one's intended target just makes the both of you an ideal snack for a larger third party.

He's quick, though. And they're out in the open, and while she doesn't fear the enemies she's made, she doesn't want to draw them to her right now. It's just not a convenient time. So as he springs backward she regains her posture, holding her blade low, ready to strike at a moment's notice but not attempting to do so just yet.]

You have done nothing to earn information from me. Worse, you insult me, and stalk me through the streets, then lie about it. Approach me again and I will kill you.

You couldn't kill me even if you tried.

[His voice is different now too. It's both low yet clear and even though his lips moves it's like the sound comes from somewhere else, sounds of echoes from another world. However, his words aren't spoken to be a threat or a challenge. He isn't showing any blood lust nor eagerness for a fight.]

I haven't done anything you haven't. You insult me constantly and attack, setting yourself foolishly above me without any merit. If you want respect you should earn it. [He says calmly, dropping his posture.] I follow you because you will not answer me.

[She is sorely tempted to prove him wrong. He may not intend it to be a challenge but she absolutely takes it as one. Fancy voice effects? That's just a simple cantrip. Any beginning wizard can learn to do that.

But for now, she continues to hold back. Doesn't want to make a scene. She'll have to let the bloodlust build a little longer, because there will come a day when she needs blood for a ritual or a body for a sacrifice, and doesn't want them to already have locked her up or begged the gods to make her stop. When that day finally comes, it will be explosive.]

I don't think you understand. I don't want your respect. I don't care. You're the one who wants something from me, and I'm not interested in giving you anything.

It's what you expect. [He adds, not backing down.] Or why else would you call a simple question or want to talk with you as 'insult.'

[Caedra takes a breath. Quelling her anger is not something she does. It burns fiercely within her, and she feeds off of it.]

Child, let me be very plain with you. You followed me. You continue to defend your actions and imply I am in the wrong. And if you breathe any word that isn't an apology in your next sentence, I will smash your skull and paint the ground red with your blood, is that understood?

[Hearing the word "child" spoken the corner of Edgar's lip tugs up a little. He's not surprised to hear it. After all it can't be helped. He briefly wonders if she'd react to him differently if his body wasn't so young. ]

For following you I do apologize, I had no other choice. [That much he's willing to submit. Although he is more sorry for getting caught than anything else.]

You always have choices. When you make poor ones as you have repeatedly done, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

[She doesn't look about to step down, but hey, at least she didn't attack him so he did something right, probably.]

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I'm your biggest fan.

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sorry for ancient tag!

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