Stray not into darkness (OPEN)

[for_guild_justice]

Date & Time: April 15 - Midday
Location: The Market and surrounding streets
Characters: Clive & OPEN
Summary: Clive is practicing his hiding skills before his trip to the big city.
Warnings: He may be stepping out of your shadow like a stalker


Clive had begun to suspect the evolution of his new pistols a few weeks into his arrival, and he had taken time to make use of it through practice while alone or with certain individuals who he trusted. He was confident enough with it and had the knowledge of how best to use it with inanimate objects such as buildings, posts and even overhangs. Apparently shadows were to be his to use, and he was well pleased with it.

Now he considered the challenge of making use of people. He knew the principle was sound, and he had successfully done it once quite by accident. He hadn't consciously done it then, but he was going to learn to do it now before he made the trip into UE territory where it could be a skill that could save his life should things go badly while he was alone, since he knew he would be alone. He worked better that way, but regardless, walking from shadow to shadow was something he could use.

So, he headed to the one place that was generally populated with people looking for wears. He began in the streets leading to the market, easing from the shadow of a building and disappearing from it to a shadow two feet in front of him. He continued to walk, eyeing a person who seemed engrossed in their insignificant wanderings and stepped into the shadow of a support post, and he appeared from a shadow of a lamppost. Hmm, not his intended target.

He stopped, reviewing what he had done before he moved into the market itself. There were plenty of people here, and he moved around the periphery of the area, sliding into a passing individuals shadow and concentrating on moving to other. He stepped from another person's shadow, almost right on top of them, and he stopped walking to give them some distance. He moved off almost immediately to try again with someone else.

[Action or prose is fine by me.]

Comments

[marked_for_death]

Elza had her own troubles to deal with as of late. It was easy to slip away from whoever had been trailing her. In the beginning, she hadn't cared much at all that someone had foolhardy attempted to trail her every move. All the gunner had done was simply vanish from sight to lose her tail, but when whoever it was had persisted, Elza had decided to make a game out of it to bring some entertainment into her life.

She had ditched her trail for now, however, and instead decided it was time to stalk her own victim. The gunner had been told about the up-coming mission for her lover, and had secretly teased him about making friends with those who had come from their future. In reality she was pleased with it all, as it went to show her how much he had changed since he had first left the Guild all those years ago, but she kept such information to herself as she moved through the city to find her Guild Master.

It didn't take long, but then again it never did when it came to finding him. She had always been good at tracking him, of all people, down, and Elza proved that point yet again as she sat on one of the rooftops overlooking the market place. He had been easy enough to find, and while she hadn't made her appearance known to him yet, the gunner did find her amusement rising while she watched Clive popping in and out of the shadows below.

"Heh," Elza sounded quietly to herself as she remembered the first time he had 'purposefully' done it

[for_guild_justice]

Completing the action more and more made it easier to understand the differences between moving through the shadow of inanimate objects and those of moving people. It was also taxing to concentrate on such a task for long when he was just learning, and while he had no problem pushing himself to the very limits of his strength, he felt eyes watching him.

Easing from the crowd, he looked up at a rooftop, spotting the familiar Gunner and could almost feel her amusement. The corner of his lips curled in a faint smirk before he stepped around the building to find the fire escape ladder and took himself up to her level, since she clearly had come to visit him. He wasn't yet ready to undertake entering a shadow he couldn't see for now.

Stepping onto the rooftop, he eased over to her position to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her. "You clearly don't have enough to do in your day if you decided to come what that little show of mine."

[marked_for_death]

It didn't take long for him to sense her watching him, and Elza made no attempt to hide her presence either. What was the point when she didn't need to? This new found sense of freedom with watching him was something that she never took for granted, and she found herself often over-indulging more often than not whenever she got the opportunity.

When he made his way over, she peered back over her shoulder showing her amusement when he finally emerged. His words had her huffing in amusement as she offered him an arrogant smirk. "Well I could hardly pass up an opportunity to get to know that ability more. It might come in handy for the next time you decide to pop into my shadow."

[for_guild_justice]

He thought that she spent most of her time in some state of amusement, an act that he had never accomplished even in his times at the Guild as a child. She could smile through anything, and he just seemed to frown or grimace. Play had never been a big part of his life, and he enjoyed it far less than she did, even if he grudgingly had his moments here and there.

"I know better than to sneak up on you," he replied with a haughty voice. "I'll end up having to defend myself until you realize it's me after all, and I wouldn't want to hurt you in that act." Elza was very skilled, but she couldn't make up for the strength difference between them.

Of course that didn't stop him from rolling to his heels and easing through his own shadow to appear out of hers. Much like the first time, he set his hands on her waist and peered over her shoulder at the people milling below. "Still being tailed now and again?"

[marked_for_death]

"Who says that I wouldn't know it was you right from the beginning?" She teased in response while flashing him a near-lazy smirk. Elza was more than well aware that if it came down to brute strength, she would lose out in that factor. There was just no way that she could get any leverage over Clive in that way, but she was more than fine with that. Her skills and talents were some of the best in all other areas that helped to compensate for that lack of strength.

Clive disappeared through the shadows much like he had on that first day to reappear behind her. Inhaling a deep and satisfying breath, she leant back against his larger frame while hands came to rest against her hip. Turning her attention back down to the busy people below, she chuckled lightly at his question.

"Of course, not that they've been able to for long though," Elza said with amusement. "It will end today."

[for_guild_justice]

"Because in that split second before you realize it's me, Stern or Mond will be against my heart," he murmured against her ear, fully aware of her capabilities much like he knew his own. They were quick to react, and while he knew she would stay her hand, there was always the chance that she wouldn't recognize him in time. "I wouldn't want to risk you having to heal me like that."

He shifted in, rolling his shoulders to free his arms from his cloak but was careful not to press in too much. The rain made it impossible to do much of anything of use in public, yet her clothing was warm beneath his hands. He rested his cheek close to her ear as he observed much as she did.

"Ah, bored of their attempts already? Don't play with your food, alright? It tends to get messy when you do."

[marked_for_death]

There was an amused puff of air sounded in return to Clive's murmur. "You'd be disappointed if it was any other way," she murmured in return. The warm breath against her ear was welcome, and Elza found her eyes momentarily slipping shut as she appreciated his closeness. "Afraid that I'll hit my mark this time?" No, he wasn't, and she knew exactly what he feared.

Feeling him shift in behind her, Elza found her eyes slowly opening once again as Clive came in close. It was where she preferred for him to be. Maybe it made her sentimental, but those types of feelings had always given her strength in the past.

"It's been close to a week already," Elza muttered while leaning her back against his strong and muscled chest. Dropping her own hands down to rest against his, the gunner finally peered back over and regarded him with a pleasant smile. "I will give them one warning shot. If they persist after that, I won't guarantee anything."

[draconic_historian]

From ground level, Clive's motions were rather difficult to track. From up above...marginally less so.

Just as Clive noticed that an above average number of people were occasionally glancing upwards with a very slightly nervous look in their eyes, he suddenly felt a tingling feeling in the back of his neck that you get when you're instincts are telling you that someone is watching you.

[for_guild_justice]

Clive stopped his actions at the sensation that he was being watched, and he side-stepped into a shadow to reappear in the shadow of a building. Sturm eased from his back to come into his hands as he looked towards the sky to observe the flying lizard.

His instincts would have had him taking out an eye on the beast, but he had seen that one posting to the network. He stayed his hand as he issued a 'hmpt' of annoyance.

[draconic_historian]

Not flying, actually, but sitting atop a grocery store like a huge cat, watching everyone going about their business at street level. It cocked its head to the side slightly when Clive vanished, then looked around for a moment before relocating him. It typed out something on its Initiative Tablet. Notes, probably.

[for_guild_justice]

His eyes narrowed at the sight, though there was a marginal shift of pleasure at getting out from under that kind of scrutiny. He could care less what the lizard was doing writing notes? That seemed a little odd, but then apparently dragons that came here were sentient. An interesting concept.

It wasn't one he was thinking too hard about exploring. At least he wasn't being put in the position to shoot the creature.

[draconic_historian]

When it noticed it had been seen, it waved one arm in a dismissive gesture, as if to say "Don't mind me."

It seemed the dragon was just as content to be ignored as Clive was to ignore it.

[for_guild_justice]

Hmpt, all that watching and eyeing him and then he got the brush off? He couldn't say that he was surprised at all, and he lost the interest to remain in that area for any longer.

He grunted to himself, tucked Sturm away to the confines of his cloak and eased away into the shadow between buildings and left the area.

[holy_prankster]

Sohki was as blind as they came, but that didn't mean he couldn't see. He was sitting beneath the covers of one of the small undercover areas while Clive was making his way through the shadows. Enjoying a warm cup of tea, he 'watched' with closed eyes as the human popped up from different shadows. Now that was an interesting ability!

Sipping on the warm beverage, he remained forever regal in his seat while he watched the free show.

[for_guild_justice]

Clive passed by the elaborately dressed blind man drinking tea with only a glance before he was moving through the shadows again. He eased into a more populated area and begun his training, pushing himself as he stepped through one person's shadow to the next, lengthening the distance until he knew it was a risk to continue.

On the verge of exhaustion, he eased back to a safe distance and stood under an overhang where it was dry. He clenched his hands to keep them from tremoring slightly with his lack of energy and blinked tiredness from his eyes. He glanced over at the blind man again, feeling it was safe to stay in this spot, unaware he probably wasn't actually safe.

[holy_prankster]

This human was rather energetic! Sohki was getting tired just watching him bounce from shadow to shadow like it was going out of style. Perhaps this was a new ability that they had just received? It was quite possible, and the kirin most definitely did like possibilities! He would find out one way or another while sipping on his endless supply of tea.

When he seemed to tire and come out of the rain to rest, the fancy headpiece jingled as he gracefully turned his head more to regard the young human. "You must me tired after all of that jumping around," Sohki said with a friendly smile. "Would you care for some tea to help rejuvenate your body?"

[for_guild_justice]

He was instantly aware of the movement of the blind man's headpiece, glancing at it. That seemed like a rather elaborate thing to wear in the middle of a war area let alone in the rain. He wondered if the man was from a different world and if so, why bring a blind man?

He raised an eyebrow and his lip curled in a faint snarl. So this guy just looked blind but wasn't actually? An interesting trick. "I was practicing," he said stiffly, turning his face aside so the hood of his cloak hid most of his face. "No, the fatigue will fade on its own. I prefer it that way."

[holy_prankster]

Sohki could have answered such a question, but judging by what he sensed of this man, he wouldn't take too kindly to such a thing. Not that those reactions bothered the kirin in the slightest. It was quite the opposite really! But he was honestly enjoying his tea and knew well that bringing up such a topic would mean that his beverage would go to waste.

"A new skill then? How exciting!" The kirin exclaimed as he placed the cup back on the small table beside him and returned his closed eyes back on the young human. "You're not one to rely on others, are you? Strong and proud of your own abilities."

[for_guild_justice]

If he had known that this man could read his thoughts, he would have kept a larger distance. As it was, he was unaware and still kept a little distance. He wasn't one to get close to people, particularly those that he didn't know. He was ready to leave in a moment's notice, but he appreciated being out of the rain for the time being.

He glanced over at the other man, not sure about that sort of enthusiasm for his skill. "We all apparently get one. It's nothing new," he replied stiffly. He narrowed his eyes at the insight, glancing back at this very strange blind man... or not blind man, he couldn't decide which. "Why should I be anything else?"

[judgmental]

Yuri was alert to his surroundings as usual, but he was also engrossed in a search for tea. It wasn't impossible to find tea here in Exsilium, but good tea was another matter, and he had his own preferences when it came to leaves and blends. Tea was an art form, in some ways, as far as he was concerned.

So he was walking from tea merchant to tea merchant, and finding the next one was his primary priority. It wasn't an essential mission, but it was a way to pass the time.

[for_guild_justice]

He recognized the man instantly, both because he had spent considerable amounts of time in Yuri's company when their bodies were swapped and because he had been in that body. He eyed the other man from a shadow, noting the small distraction and finding it amusing. Of course, he knew of the ability, knew the man had tight control of it and thought it would be interesting for yet another meeting between them.

He stepped into a shadow and reappeared right out of Yuri's, jabbing a finger into the man's back where, if he had been wielding a knife, a kidney might have just become his victim. "Too slow. It's been awhile. How's the body?"

[judgmental]

If the situation had been different, he might have used his fire, but this was a public place, in broad daylight.

Yuri started at the unexpected touch, then moved very quickly, stepping back and turning to see who was behind him. Ah yes, he recognized that voice. "Clive." He was unamused.

Clive was not someone he had been hoping to see. However, he was willing to maintain a connection with the man due to what he knew about him. He was willing to be polite.

"I'm fine, thank you." Not that his tone was particularly warm, as it might have been with someone he had more interest in deceiving. "And yourself?"

[for_guild_justice]

If he thought that he was all too serious, he had met a man that was his match in that regard. He didn't pursue Yuri as the man stepped away, and he dropped his hand back to his side at the acknowledgement. "Yuri," he said slowly as returned acknowledgement.

He could tell that he wasn't a popular person, but it had been an opportunity on his part. He wasn't one to miss an opportunity when it was presented in such a way, especially if it caused discomfort to the other person.

"It's raining. I'm getting tired of the rain," he replied simply. "You're looking to purchase down here, are you?"

[judgmental]

There were few people more serious than Yuri. He had little reason to smile. He regarded Clive gravely, with a nod.

"Yes, I was interested in buying some things." His tone was slightly guarded. He had no reason to hide what he was buying, but he didn't feel particularly forthcoming at the moment. Something about Clive rubbed him the wrong way, and Clive's manner of presenting himself hadn't helped.

"So it is. I don't believe anyone's overly fond of this rain."

[for_guild_justice]

Interested in buying things, huh? Clive eyed Yuri for a long moment before turning his gaze to the vender nearby. "Make-up perhaps? Or something a little more simplistic?" He kept his voice purposefully low so that only Yuri was privy to it, aware the man guarded his secrets well. He respected that, but it didn't mean he couldn't needle the man a little.

He never liked small talk, mostly because he was horrible at it. Still, he was tired from jumping around, and too proud to wander off just yet when it might be seen as weakness. "Are you finding time to train on your own?"