[OPEN] i get the feeling that it's two against one

[deadelfwalking]

Date & Time: Jan 7 - 11
Location: Across the icy wilderness
Characters: Koltira, perhaps you
Summary: Maddened elf seeks large supply of blood, suffering
Warnings: gore; sadistic grossness


[There's something howling in the wilderness lately, and it's distinct from the wolves, from the yeti, from any other predator stalking the area around the city. This sound is a bestial keening, agonized and ragged, echoing and tortured. It's a sound of helpless madness, of uncontrollable rage, and its force lingers in the winter wind. Anyone who follows the howl, whether purposely or by accident, might come across a trail. Initially, they'll find animal corpses killed cleanly, with a single, precise cut. Caribou, at first, partially and purposefully skinned, as though harvested by a mindful hunter.

But the kills become progressively grisly as the trail continues -- mutilated bears, gutted arctic wolves. There's no sense of care in these later kills; the entrails are shredded, wrenched and twisted like wet rags. Blood spatters the snow in random, violent arcs. The animals' bodies are in strangely advanced stages of decay, and their semi-rotted flesh glows faintly green.

Or you may find no trail at all. You may find an animal's foreleg, snapped at each joint. You may find a crushed eyeball, smeared like jelly across the snow.

Or you may find no trace whatsoever. You may simply find someone near you, crouching, his white hair streaked red, his mouth dark and shining and wet. Grinding his teeth. Standing up. Advancing towards you, as the snow hisses, as the earth turns black and dead under his boots.]

Comments

[stonefaith]

[ This time Koltira's pull drags Bariyan along, but he still refuses to let go. ]

Then I won't. [ Bariyan hadn't expected Koltira to let him. Unfortunately, really. Bariyan itched to mend those scratches. ] But I won't leave you like this, either.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira stares at him, his eyes unblinking, his muscles tense.]

What are you proposing?

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan grins and rolls his eyes. ] I'm proposing that you sit here quietly and let me braid your hair.

[ His grip on Koltira's wrists loosens, just slightly. ]

Or we could just sit here quietly. Let me keep you company while you... not claw your face apart, eh? How about that?

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira looks away from him, but stops struggling.]

What does it matter to you?

[stonefaith]

The Light watches you through me. [ Spoken dutifully, and felt whole-heartedly. And...

Bariyan smiles. ]

Besides, I like you. I care about your well-being. Even if I don't know you. [ ...and Bariyan's got a bit of a soft spot for the Ebon Blade. That too. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira sneers.]

The Light? The Light? The Light has no care for us. Go on, crusader. Heal my face.

[stonefaith]

[ That gets Koltira's wrists another squeeze. ]

I know what that means for you. You know that I know. [ Bariyan lets his fingertips glow, anyway. ] So-- do you mean it?

[deadelfwalking]

[He winces, but then he locks eyes with Bariyan; he sets his jaw.]

Go on. Do it.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan meets his stare. ]

This will only sting a little.

[ He lets go of Koltira's wrists to place them on both sides of Koltira's face, instead. His grip is firm. Light flows forth, and the cuts start to mend, the gouges start to refill. ]

The Light cares for you, death knight. Or else you would not be here.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira seethes as the Light burns his flesh; the sensation is terrible, agonizing, it feels like being flayed internally, like raw muscle exposed to acid. He groans through his teeth, and he trembles violently, but he doesn't scream.]

Hnnh -- my existence -- has nothing to do with the Light.

[stonefaith]

Is that so? [ Bariyan frowns at the trembling, but doesn't stop until Koltira's face is healed over. Well... there's a few faint markings, remains of gouges too old and deep for Bariyan to heal completely. But he tried. ] I was at Light's Hope Chapel, you know.

[ He pats Koltira's face with both hands. ] There you go. Beautiful as ever.

[deadelfwalking]

[Undoubtedly, Light's Hope had been the site of a miracle. Koltira won't deny that. Holy power had erupted from the ground, and the Lich King had lost control of the Ebon Blade.

But.]

I am not here because of Light's Hope. I am here because of Arthas.

[His lip curls when Bariyan calls him 'beautiful'; he takes it as sarcasm, and tries to wrench angrily away.]

[stonefaith]

[ Koltira escapes, but Bariyan immediately -- instinctively -- reaches out to grab Koltira by the jaw again. ]

You are here because of Light's Hope. If it weren't for that, you'd still be part of the Scourge war machine. The Ebon Blade would still be Arthas'; the Argent Crusade would have stood alone. Perhaps the war would still be raging. [ The corner of Bariyan's mouth quirks. ] And one of us would almost certainly be dead.

[deadelfwalking]

[WHY IS THIS MAN SO HANDSY. The Bariyan that Koltira remembers was never like this. He was just as wary of touch as Koltira himself. Scowling, Koltira spits out a reply.]

One of us is.

[stonefaith]

You know what I mean!

[ Bariyan finally lets go of Koltira, laughing. ]

And it'd probably be me, besides.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira rubs the side of his face, irritably.]

Your survival is a wonder.

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan thumps his own chest and answers solemnly. ]

Truly a miracle of the Light.

[ He sits back in the snow, crosses his legs, and releases a sigh. ]

How do you feel now?

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira gets to his feet, gingerly. He picks up Byfrost -- resting in the snow until that moment -- and hooks the sword on his back.]

Terrible.

[stonefaith]

That's much better than murderous.

[ Bariyan remains sitting. He smiles up at Koltira, admiringly. Very long legs. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira's upper lip curls.]

What are you doing?

[WHAT'S WITH THAT LOOK?]

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan raises one eyebrow and leans back for a better view. ]

Admiring. Your legs, specifically. This seemed like a good time to do so, now that you aren't trying to kill me.

[ The Light tells him that honesty is a virtue!! ]

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira balks.]

Enough of you.

[stonefaith]

Please, you've barely had any of me. [ Bariyan sticks his tongue out of the corner of his mouth and wiggles his eyebrows. That done, he brushes himself off, and starts getting up. ] You have such nice hair, too. You should let me braid it.

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira just can't take this. Quick as a whip, he grabs Bariyan by the collar and shoves him back down into the snow.]

Enough of your mockery!

[stonefaith]

[ Bariyan's axe has been strapped to his back this whole time, and Koltira moves too fast for him to draw it. He's back in the snow before he knows it, swearing in surprise, Light flushing his skin in indignant self-defense. He reigns it back before it goes any further than that. ]

Koltira-- [ He grabs the forearm of the hand holding him down. His expression is alarmed, bewildered. ] I am not mocking you!