May 28 04:50:41 106 PA
From Chronicles
May 28 04:50:41 106 PA
Kingsdale - Jelani's Adventures
First thing in the morning and Tirzah's back on reception after a couple weeks of being in the field each day for Jelani's. And she looks alright with that as she tidies up the front for the day. Maybe she's glad for the small break from all the action. An easy day to relax and recoup. Currently she stands behind the desk doing paperwork in between sips for a large cup of tea.
An easy day for some, but not likely for others. Leonard enters the business, cloak carrying smudges of dirt and plant detritus, and his pressed clothes look anything but. The eyes that look over the establishment are wearied, but his growing smirk as he looks about has some spark left to it. "Tour guide..." is muttered, mostly to himself, and with a touch of wry amusement.
Tirzah raises a brow as she looks at Leonard becoming curious and perhaps concerned, just maybe. "Is you current state of disarray the price of the choice you made?" She asks, apparently wondering what brought Leonard here as he is.
And then there is another arrival even greater disarray. Though the entrance of a shadow beast is barred by the ever present security. But its presence at the door is certainly noticeable. Behind it it drags a very beaten looking darkling who may be familiar, maybe not.
It's broad daylight. The pair make quite a spectacle; one rather faded-looking Ahriman, his leather jacket and rough working pants looking several sizes too large on the greyed one underneath. If one stares at him long enough, they might even swear they could see right through him. His captor's in worse shape, practically translucent in the light, and also the worse for wear. The two had a bout someplace, and apparently Ahriman lost. "Help?" Ahriman calls into the air beyond the shop. "Police?" His calls are as quiet as the rest of him is faded, and he seems to have give up hope that someone will want to intervene.
"You could say that..." Leonard begins to note for Tirzah's benefit, before his attention is drawn towards the commotion at the door. The realization of the cause manages to brighten his countenance... or at least his smirk. "but it appears that consequence have proven far more trying for others. It's quite alright, gentlemen," he notes to security as he approaches the door,"they're with me, so to speak." His hand gestures dismissively to the larger and more toothy of the pair. "You can leave him here, and be on your way. I do hope he offered some fun to make the effort worthwhile." Then his gaze lowers to the quiet and broken one. "I believe the police are quite interested in you, following your antics."
Tirzah is out from behind the counter and behind Leonard to approach the beast and Ahriman in an instant, her eyes suddenly ablaze. Kneeling down she starts to take in Ahriman's condition but is interrupted as she looks up to witness the exchange between Leonard and the beast, mouth agape. "Yo.. You... WHAT?!" she finally blurts out as her mind pieces things together.
Once in the room, the lighting seems off. It fades in and out, faintly, as if tracking a heavy breath. Ahriman's eyes cast back at the shadowbeast, staring at the alien being a long moment longer while rumbling a single word in Dragonese. 'Traitor.' When he turns his arm dangles limply at his side, swollen grotesquely at the middle. He slows, and does his best to not move that arm as the illumination rapidly begins seeping from the room. The glow of the windows fade, their bright throw reduced to a flat image of the world outside as the light hits glass and stays there, throwing meager rays in to mingle with the faint overheads. Day passes through dusk to night in seconds.
The beast having happily done its duty nods with its toothy grin. The kind of look one would give if happy to work again under such agreeable circumstances. That is before it dissolves into thin air to where ever it oriinally came from.
Leonard lifts a brow at Tirzah's astonished question and supplies both a completed question and the answer. "I apprehended a witnessed murderer? Yes. It seemed infinitely more practical than letting him run free to spout his rhetoric while preying upon the helpless."
Tirzah glares at Leonard before looking to Ahriman and checking for obvious injuries. "Tell me where it hurts." She instructs as she very gently yet clumsily feels around his body. In so doing she moves to get between Ahriman and Leonard. "If he's a murderer why is there no warrant for him with the police?" She asks Leonard without diverting her gaze from her wounded friend.
A slithering sound comes in the darkness. Four tongues, whispering over one another, fighting to form language between them. It's a peculiar sound, forming harmonies amongst the low tones, something Tirzah might just be on the cusp of understanding. It sounds so familiar and yet ... not quite. The sound moves in the room, in height and position, fading in and out. He's staying well clear of Tirzah, unless she can see in the dark.
Leonard rolls his shoulders. "I've no idea. Zachary spoke to the police, but maybe they weren't so keen on arresting a... 'god.' If Alistair or the woman with the white bear reported anything, I know nothing of it... and what are you hissing about, now?" His attention drifts to the shadows with the query, as numerous as they are. Then a hand lifts to gesture, yet to no one in particular, accompanied by his own utterance in Dragonese. (Casting Tongues)
Tirzah sighs, Ahriman's avoidance of her obvious if what he is chanting is not. "Ahriman, if you run I can't help you nearly as well. Stay, I'll protect you." She urges before rising to turn to Leonard. "So you took it upon yourself to catch him without even checking to see if he is wanted for murder? Ahriman described it as suicide. Was it? And now what will you do? Pass judgment on him as well?" She asks, apparently very taken aback by this turn of events. Wasn't she leveling a fireball at this dark entity 2 weeks ago?
The hissing ends, and the shadows deepen. Leonard may catch the last few words of 'Blessing of the Lord,' though the implication is that this is a specific Lord he calls to. The room's utterly still then, so dark one might have trouble seeing the hands held before their face -- much less the next person over. Ahriman must be exceedingly comfortable, wherever he is.
"Actually," Leonard begins, offering Tirzah a smile that is almost sweet, "the thought occurred to reintroduce him to a friend. One that he's apprently put fear into, and that's no easy task. A peace offering, as it were. I wasn't intending to do anything to him..." Then his words shift into sounds that should, in all likelihood, he unable to make. 'If you're attempting to menace, you might wish to reconsider. I could always change my mind.' Either not to be outdone, or to remove some of Ahriman's advantage, there is another, mostly unseen, wave of Leonard's hand before he, too, is swallowed by the shadows, even to the darkling. (It's a Shadow Meld party)
Tirzah growls, not satisfied with that answer at all. "And his injuries? What's that, just an oops, sorry for the inconvenience? That beast probably had to beat him within inches of his life to drag him here in daylight." She exclaims before here frustration doubles and both are gone in the shadows. "Fine, you two have it your way and I'll step out." She decides before casting her hand aflame to light her way to the door and into the bright daylight.
The room's still. Silent. Tirzah's disgust at all things male falls on deaf ears, as one wonders how ninja-like the pair truly are. The hairs on the back of Leonard's neck might well stand up, a sense of unease wafting through the room. Nobody's heard from Ahriman in a while, but he's not gone. You can feel it, screaming at the animal hind brain. Something's not right in the world. Quietly in the dark a black fist lashes out, aiming at Leonard's right shoulder. Primed with enough force to puncture steel, the darkling tries to settle the score.
Leonard's kung-fu is not strong, or not nearly as strong as the fist flying at him. So much for lurking unseen. Apparently Ahriman takes the top place for that, as well. Armor or no, the impact is still impressive, and whomever may be listening is rewarded with a startled yelp as Leonard swivels, part of which is not from his own accord.
"Armor," the voice speaks, in that slithering four-tongued tone. There's no bass, just that rumbling whisper, and it seems to be moving. Closer to the door it laments, "Whatever am I to do with your kind any more? You owe an arm."
"You owe a life," is noted in return, in the same tongue, "so you should consider it a generous trade. I'm sure you'll heal." Leonard resists the urge to rub at his shoulder. Not only would it do no good, but Ahriman would most likely witness the gesture.
"Perhaps," Ahriman replies simply, "But it was not your life. See that it does not become that way." The sound of the doors opening penetrates the shop, though it remains cloaked in darkness. The doors swing shut then, illumination beginning to trickle back into the room.
Outside, the dark being stares ahead with red-tinged eyes, one arm still hanging loosely at his side. His perfect jaw is set, the velvety black skin faded to a grey as Ahriman begins marching south. Towards his home, perhaps, or just the nearest ley line.
Leonard offers nothing further as there is the distinct impression that the darkling has left. Something about the doors and the returning lumens. His own shadowed form regains its color, primarily that of his pasty complexion, with the rising light. Leonard's first thoughts are of what might next be in store in what has become a very ...eventful past 24 hours.
"I guess we'll catch up later.." Tirzah notes to Ahriman from her spot of loitering outside the building before she decides to reapproach the door and Leonard inside. "Come see me later if you want help with your injuries." She ofgfers to him before stepping back inside.
"Little Sister," Ahriman stops as he speaks, his back to to the woman as he stares down the street under the unrelenting beat of the sun. He looks thinner than before. Smaller maybe, but his jacket is definitely not so well filled out as it once was. "You were the only one who knew where I was. The Shadow Beast came with you. You word. Did you do it apurpose?"
Leonard considers the now somewhat emptied establishment, and wanders to Tirzah's abandoned desk. He did have a purpose for venturing here, and so he loiters for the moment. It can't hurt to allow the shadow being a chance to move beyond the door, or potentially tire of such activities as waiting in some shadowed corner for him to emerge.
Tirzah stops at the door, and looks hurt, like he hit her arm. She tries to speak for a moment, the words failing as she stumbles over the inherent distrust she has allowed. "My word, I did not. If I wanted you tried for your actions. If I felt they needed consequence when no one else would give it. I'd do it myself, not an aid of shadow or even fire or air. That's my word." She decides once she's found her composure, giving Ahriman a brotherly look.
Ahriman's head turns, the faded play of his mane hiding all but one red-tinged black eye. That eye narrows, with his lips pursing. The darkling stares at Tirzah a long moment. Wounded and mistrustful, his mask worn away. After an impossibly long moment his lip curls, Part sneer and mostly smirk, and he shakes his head as he walks away. Gaining odd looks as he goes, disquieting the plebes even in his battered state.
A glance is cast to the glass storefront, Tirzah's silhouette (the bright one) noted in the doorway. And so Leonard waits, leaning against the desk as his eyes wander about the room. Holos and ads are absently skimmed, as if he were just one more potential client killing time.
Stepping back in Tirzah seems much more calm than when she walked out as the matter resolved itself. walking back up to Leonard she looks him up and down with her fiery eyes. Taking very serious consideration to this new fellow. And apparently she considers him within within reproach as a backhanded slap follows, aimed at his jaw.
Leonard did not expect this, amazingly enough. Some part of that hind-brain still running strong, apparently... or he's still inclined to flinch, even as he blinks at the sudden swing. The majority of her hand falls just shy, with just the sting of her fingers on his jaw. It might have been worse were it not backhanded. "What the hells was that for?" Given, he's been rolling hot in the realm of aggravating females, but...
"That's for being stupid enough to summon a beast far beyond your comprehension to do a task you would not do yourself. Do you have any idea the risks you took? What if he had been in the Alibi, or any other crowded place, choosing publicity of seclusion? Did you even consider that? I saw the look on that beast as you released it, it enjoyed beating him down for you. I bet it would have gladly gone through anyone else to get to him. You sent a predator out with no leash." Tirzah lashes into Leonard, her voice as cutting as it gets as she easily points out issues she is all too familiar with. "And why? So you could have a talk? I thought he was an ass when he was high on being creepy and mysterious. But you, you just took being asinine to new heights."
"Beyond /my/ comprehension? Hardly." Leonard's eyes narrow, and he stands his grond against her tonguelashing in a decidely un-lamblike fashion. "I sent a predator to catch one, and I expect it enjoyed the hunt, but I always held the leash. I think you're the one speaking beyond your understanding, Tirzah." Now his shoulders roll. "He did leave rather abruptly for having performed whatever benign service he's misled you into believing. Darting away in the night are hardly the actions of a benevolent savior. Whatever possessed you to care, at any rate?" A brow arches in query. "As I recall, you were prepared to burn him to cinders when last I saw you both."
Tirzah glares at Leonard bold and fierce a look she hasn't actually had around town yet as she becomes hot with fury. "You assumed he would hide and you got lucky. But you still risked dozens of lives with the order you gave. Would you like to ask them, go out and do a poll for me, tell me how many people think that's a justifiable risk." She dares him, leaning close and clenching her fists. "You used to be responsible and sensitive, what happened to that Leonard? Who decided he needed to be upstaged by some jerk who thinks might makes right?" She asks him, her tone quieting to her true feeling, clear disappointment.
Leonard waves a dismissive hand and turns to step away from her glare, but more in indifference or indignance than retreat. "I learned that he wasn't in the city, so the risk was minimal... Sensitive? More like afraid, Tirzah. I don't want to be fearful of every little choice to the point of never making it." Her tone causes him to pause and turn, then, and his features soften. "I'm sorry... does the big bad wolf miss her little chew toy?" The repentant mellowing of his expression continues long past the limit of sincerity and well into mockery.
Her arm coming back across nails Leonard's squarely this time as she make it clear she will not tolerate being belittled. "Actually no, this wolf is glad to finally find prey she can actually sink her teeth into. Maybe I'll give you a little lesson? Some of your own medicine. How about I summon an elemental and send it to bring Vixen to me from wherever she is. Because its wrong for her to spy on people all the time. Its clearly evident, she's got the video camera out whenever something worth taping occurs. She's invading privacy city wide. Seems perfectly justified to stop her." She suggests, her voice holding no attempt to control her obvious disgust. "Or maybe I should just have it end you for me. Cull the heard when one gets too hot for me to handle right? Would that be fair? I have the capability, why not?" She asks him, her fury renewed.
Leonard's head is turned by the blow, his arm far too slow in lifting to deflect it. His head reorients istelf upon Tirzah, bearing a smirk. "If you despise the fact that I won't submit and scurry away enough to risk your life, feel welcome to try. Although, it would make you quite the hypocrite, now wouldn't it?" Mention of Vixen draws a roll of his shoulders, but also a flicker and wane to the defiance curling his lips. "If you brought her here, now, I doubt that you'd be the one to end me. I expect that she'd manage that before you even called your servant."
Tirzah grins as she shakes her head slightly, her look confident and intimidating. "I have no desire to make you scurry in any manner." She tells him softly. "Guards! Show this prick we don't tolerate his disruptive behavior here." She orders before returning to her spot behind the desk. "And don't feel any need to be gentle." She adds before getting back to her work.
"I can find my own way out, thank you. Should I leave my qualifications and character references on you desk, then?" Leonard finally implies the reason for his visit, albeit a tad late, as the guards move to ...escort him out. Regretably, the effectiveness of any struggle is all but nonexistant, and he doesn't even waste the energy.
At the mention of the application Tirzah rises and reapproaches Leonard before he is escorted out with the firm hand. "I'll take that." She accepts, taking the application in flame engulfed hand. "We'll get back to you as soon as this gets processed." She promises with a sweet smile as it chars to ash.
