Had she not been so focused in blending, Ellis might have picked up the distinct feeling that she was being watched. However, she held her blended profile, backing slowing into the building as Simon looked as if he was coming to the realization that something strange was afoot at the Nachton Mall.
Passing a mirror, she looked and caught her reflection or lack of it. She could see the faint heat like waves of where her image should be. Looking directly at it, one would just assume it was some sort of global anomaly, much like a mirage. Blending was such a wonderful ability, one she relied on so much lately that it had been taxing her other abilities. This would have been good to know, but her concern at the moment was standing outside the construction area - wondering what that familiar feeling was.
Ellis stopped moving, not wanting to leave his immediate perceptive area. Quietly she whispered to herself, 'Might as well come in, Simon - it's already too late.'
Have a holly, jolly Christmas... (private)
Nachton Mall stood in all its glass and brick glory as Simon shoved his hands into his pockets and grunted. This wasn't any mall, this was "the mall". It was 'high falootin' as Carol would put it, he thought with a small grin. An outdoor and indoor mall, Nachton boasted one of the most exclusive and high priced malls in the region with names found normally on Rodeo drive. Simon blinked the snow out of his eyelashes as he looked at the glass marvel under the thin dusting of snow. The growing cold and accumulating snow would be ideal for the upcoming winter festivals starting, which is where Simon wanted to present Carol with her Christmas gift. Just what that would be, he wasn't sure yet. That's why he had brought Nova.
Looking down at the ironically bronzed beauty next to him, he wondered if her tastes actually suited his heathen woman's needs. Carol was picky and feminine, Nova...picky yes, but feminine - far from it. Still, he smiled at her as they stood at the entrance of the outdoor section of the mall. At the far end, the large Harold's retailer stood under construction. Reaching up to scratch his lip, he noted the that all malls shared one thing in common.
The loud and obnoxious Christmas music.
Have a holly jolly Christmas
It's the best time of the year
Well I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer ...
It's the best time of the year
Well I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of cheer ...
Simon closed his eyes and sighed. 'Ok, where to?'
Ellis Duban
17 years ago
Ichiro Taiji
17 years ago
Tai slid back into the shadows behind the construction signs and equipment. The woman, Nova, had looked right in his direction, although he was fairly certain she hadn't seen him. If she had, she showed no sign of alarm.
Only peripherally aware of Ellis' location now, Tai was completely focused on his prey, waiting for the exact moment to strike. Not before Simon was engaged... Ellis' old flame was far stronger than he. Tai might enjoy a good fight now and then, but he wasn't a complete fool. If push came to shove, he valued his own skin.
Loyal he was... perhaps, had his relationship with Ellis been somewhat different (like if she were Yuu, a little voice in a corner of his mind whispered), he would have thought differently. Tai wasn't a stranger to placing himself in danger for a greater cause. His Yakuza family had expected, and received it. His ties to Ellis were different. No less strong, but different nonetheless.
Only peripherally aware of Ellis' location now, Tai was completely focused on his prey, waiting for the exact moment to strike. Not before Simon was engaged... Ellis' old flame was far stronger than he. Tai might enjoy a good fight now and then, but he wasn't a complete fool. If push came to shove, he valued his own skin.
Loyal he was... perhaps, had his relationship with Ellis been somewhat different (like if she were Yuu, a little voice in a corner of his mind whispered), he would have thought differently. Tai wasn't a stranger to placing himself in danger for a greater cause. His Yakuza family had expected, and received it. His ties to Ellis were different. No less strong, but different nonetheless.
Nova
17 years ago
Nova merely grunted in response to Simon’s teasing mention of a boyfriend, thinking that making a smart assed remark about just wanting to buy a Christmas gift to keep her name out of the papers would probably be a case of ‘the lady’ protesting too much. Funny that the idea of discretion would occur to her…but then, she’d felt a little more on the defensive in the past few days.
His ‘red thong’ commentary didn’t earn either the laugh or the horrified expression it really should have and she felt bad for getting distracted. She turned just as Simon called out for her to wait, realizing that she was leaving him behind in her haste to get out of there. Doubling back, she frowned and called out as she walked.
“There’s nothing over that way…”
And there wasn’t – it was just construction, no actual store yet, but somehow it seemed as though that sentence came out all wrong. Because there –was- something over there, something that made that a bad place to be. She couldn’t put her finger on it; her perception tended to register things without necessarily giving her conscious mind the full picture, instead just telling her that something was wrong. Had she heard a creak from the scaffolding? Seen a flash of metal where it shouldn’t be?
“Hey Simon? I don’t think…”
She realized she wasn’t sure of how to finish that sentence without sounding a little nuts, but then it occurred to her that if he was lingering, that might mean he had seen something too. And if he wasn’t running for his life maybe she really –was- being paranoid. She came to his side again, still frowning, and looked where he was looking.
“…what…”
She realized as soon as she started speaking that Simon might be trying to look or hear or think or something, and she cut herself off and kept her eyes open instead.
His ‘red thong’ commentary didn’t earn either the laugh or the horrified expression it really should have and she felt bad for getting distracted. She turned just as Simon called out for her to wait, realizing that she was leaving him behind in her haste to get out of there. Doubling back, she frowned and called out as she walked.
“There’s nothing over that way…”
And there wasn’t – it was just construction, no actual store yet, but somehow it seemed as though that sentence came out all wrong. Because there –was- something over there, something that made that a bad place to be. She couldn’t put her finger on it; her perception tended to register things without necessarily giving her conscious mind the full picture, instead just telling her that something was wrong. Had she heard a creak from the scaffolding? Seen a flash of metal where it shouldn’t be?
“Hey Simon? I don’t think…”
She realized she wasn’t sure of how to finish that sentence without sounding a little nuts, but then it occurred to her that if he was lingering, that might mean he had seen something too. And if he wasn’t running for his life maybe she really –was- being paranoid. She came to his side again, still frowning, and looked where he was looking.
“…what…”
She realized as soon as she started speaking that Simon might be trying to look or hear or think or something, and she cut herself off and kept her eyes open instead.
Simon Huntington
17 years ago
Simon's eyes panned the front of the construction site, plastic tarps gently swaying from an unseen breeze. The music was suddenly so loud in his ears that he didn't hear Nova's stammered questions. He found himself walking closer to the entrance as a holly jolly Christmas blared in his ears.
He was focused now, his perception picking up minute feelings around him. Nova's racing heartbeat, bits of annoyed shoppers, happy laughter but something...something was drawing him into the building but it made him want to stop dead in his tracks. It was conflicting, what he was hearing from the building.
In the mixed of what sounded like controlled heart beats, there was one fluttering quickly, with each step he took, the anxious beat of a heart was thumping in his ears.
'No,' he murmured as he picked up his pace a little. 'No, no.' He reached the plastic tarp covering the entrance and pushed it aside. If Nova was behind him, he wasn't paying attention anymore. He stepped up into building walked further down uncompleted aisles and island counters till he reached an unfinished escalator. Whatever it was, had left this floor, so he stepped quietly up the steps until he reached the second floor. He stood at the landing and looked around - still nothing, so he continued to the third.
As his foot hit the third floor landing, his perception went off again like an alarm in his head. 'No, no...you're dead.'
He was focused now, his perception picking up minute feelings around him. Nova's racing heartbeat, bits of annoyed shoppers, happy laughter but something...something was drawing him into the building but it made him want to stop dead in his tracks. It was conflicting, what he was hearing from the building.
In the mixed of what sounded like controlled heart beats, there was one fluttering quickly, with each step he took, the anxious beat of a heart was thumping in his ears.
'No,' he murmured as he picked up his pace a little. 'No, no.' He reached the plastic tarp covering the entrance and pushed it aside. If Nova was behind him, he wasn't paying attention anymore. He stepped up into building walked further down uncompleted aisles and island counters till he reached an unfinished escalator. Whatever it was, had left this floor, so he stepped quietly up the steps until he reached the second floor. He stood at the landing and looked around - still nothing, so he continued to the third.
As his foot hit the third floor landing, his perception went off again like an alarm in his head. 'No, no...you're dead.'
Alfarinn
17 years ago
Alfarinn snapped the phone shut and then looked around for Simon. The man seemed to have disappeared. Where was he going to shop? Obviously not the half built store. He picked up his bags and moved closer. There was the jewelry store, the electronics boutique, a small food vendor...
Simon's companion was still standing near the plastic covered opening of Harod's. He frowned slightly as he sensed her confusion and anxiety. Christmas shopping could be stressful, for certain, but something was wrong. Had someone attacked the Tacharan?
He was pretty close to the woman by this point and there was still no signs of Simon. Now he recognized her; she was once again dressed for comfort and practicality. The red hair and native features were not seen often in Nachton; Nova was unique. She was Tacharan or human? A familiar? Alfarinn decided he could dwell on that potential revelation later.
Setting the bags down, he pretended to be rearranging them for more comfortable toting. He paused a moment, his hand on the robot box, and closed his eyes. Opening himself more fully, Alfarinn let the emotions of those in the area assault him full force. Pain...coming from the food vendor and now annoyance. Nova's anxiety, happiness... a couple of Christmas shoppers walking past. Each emotion was like a snippet of film on high speed; he did not know the finer details but he was left with many different impressions. They all bombarded him at once. Anticipation, excitement...shock. It was on the edge of his senses but it was felt so sharply that Alfarinn could sense it through the dizzying mix of feelings that ran through him.
((OOC: Simon and Nova sensed with permission. If either of you think this should be worded differently then let me know. ))
Simon's companion was still standing near the plastic covered opening of Harod's. He frowned slightly as he sensed her confusion and anxiety. Christmas shopping could be stressful, for certain, but something was wrong. Had someone attacked the Tacharan?
He was pretty close to the woman by this point and there was still no signs of Simon. Now he recognized her; she was once again dressed for comfort and practicality. The red hair and native features were not seen often in Nachton; Nova was unique. She was Tacharan or human? A familiar? Alfarinn decided he could dwell on that potential revelation later.
Setting the bags down, he pretended to be rearranging them for more comfortable toting. He paused a moment, his hand on the robot box, and closed his eyes. Opening himself more fully, Alfarinn let the emotions of those in the area assault him full force. Pain...coming from the food vendor and now annoyance. Nova's anxiety, happiness... a couple of Christmas shoppers walking past. Each emotion was like a snippet of film on high speed; he did not know the finer details but he was left with many different impressions. They all bombarded him at once. Anticipation, excitement...shock. It was on the edge of his senses but it was felt so sharply that Alfarinn could sense it through the dizzying mix of feelings that ran through him.
((OOC: Simon and Nova sensed with permission. If either of you think this should be worded differently then let me know. ))
Nova
17 years ago
Nova stood where Simon had left her, watching him leave as one might watch the tide dragging everyone’s castles and collections of seashells away. She was conflicted; on the one hand, she should go after her creator. On the other…she really didn’t want to go in there. On the other –other- hand, he’d said to wait; maybe he meant to wait here while he checked something out?
Feeling only further anxious the longer she stood there, she looked around, wondering if anyone was watching. She had an exposed feeling, which might have just been from being out in the open, but she didn’t like it. So far, though, her eyes had told her absolutely nothing useful that she could ascertain; it was all ‘feelings’ and abstractions.
Looking again, she frowned at the sight of a seriously tall kid fussing with some packages. Could that…no, just a look alike. Arin Bjorn probably had shoppers to do his Christmas stuff for him.
Still, the resemblance was –amazing-.
Had to be him.
No…
Damn it! What was wrong with her, getting distracted by cute young blondes? Shaking her head fiercely, she turned once again to watch for Simon to come out again.
“-Fuck- waiting,” she concluded after about twenty seconds of anxiety. And with that, she headed into the construction, following in Simon’s wake.
Feeling only further anxious the longer she stood there, she looked around, wondering if anyone was watching. She had an exposed feeling, which might have just been from being out in the open, but she didn’t like it. So far, though, her eyes had told her absolutely nothing useful that she could ascertain; it was all ‘feelings’ and abstractions.
Looking again, she frowned at the sight of a seriously tall kid fussing with some packages. Could that…no, just a look alike. Arin Bjorn probably had shoppers to do his Christmas stuff for him.
Still, the resemblance was –amazing-.
Had to be him.
No…
Damn it! What was wrong with her, getting distracted by cute young blondes? Shaking her head fiercely, she turned once again to watch for Simon to come out again.
“-Fuck- waiting,” she concluded after about twenty seconds of anxiety. And with that, she headed into the construction, following in Simon’s wake.
Simon Huntington
17 years ago
Simon took a final step up onto the fourth floor and the noises were beating loudly in his head. He tried to focus in on that familiar sound that was floating about the room. The one heartbeat had slowed down finally with his entrance. Simon walked to the center of the floor, the wind seeping through the plastic tarp and unfinished walls. Small noises, dirt fluttering, pieces of wood moving were picked up by his perception - something was in the room and it was moving. He felt the right side of his scalp tingle as a slight gust of wind gently brushed by him.
Looking down Simon closed his eyes and with a reluctant and heavy sigh, he waited. The sound in his ears was that vacuumed silence as whatever it was circled him.
Looking down Simon closed his eyes and with a reluctant and heavy sigh, he waited. The sound in his ears was that vacuumed silence as whatever it was circled him.
Ellis Duban
17 years ago
Ellis' concentration on her blending relaxed her as Simon finally made his way up to the fourth floor where she was waiting. He was alone and seemed cautious but as he reached the center of the room, a mere 10 feet away from her, he suddenly looked sad.
He knew. She didn't have to say anything.
Ellis began to circle Simon, brushing by him with her vampire speed, then slowly passing behind him, letting him feel her. He'd recognize that feeling. Oddly enough, she was almost happy to see him. Ellis had missed his pensive demeanor, his almost sad indifference. Always so willing to be the shadow, the support. She supposed that's what made his betrayal such a surprise.
She brushed by him again and she heard his sigh. He had resigned to wait for her to show herself. Ellis gave Simon a small smile and leaned in close, about an inch away from touching him. Suddenly she could smell his scent and felt his warmth and the feeling it conjured up inside her perplexed her.
She very badly wanted to wrap her arms around him and just dig her face into his neck. Have him hold her like he used to...but didn't she always pull away from him first? An aching in her that shocked and angered her rose up. How could she still love this man, after all these years and after such a bitter and premeditated betrayal?
The question burned in her mind just as she noticed the barrel of a gun that had made its appearance just below her chin.
'Now what kind of 'hello, I've missed you' is that?'
He knew. She didn't have to say anything.
Ellis began to circle Simon, brushing by him with her vampire speed, then slowly passing behind him, letting him feel her. He'd recognize that feeling. Oddly enough, she was almost happy to see him. Ellis had missed his pensive demeanor, his almost sad indifference. Always so willing to be the shadow, the support. She supposed that's what made his betrayal such a surprise.
She brushed by him again and she heard his sigh. He had resigned to wait for her to show herself. Ellis gave Simon a small smile and leaned in close, about an inch away from touching him. Suddenly she could smell his scent and felt his warmth and the feeling it conjured up inside her perplexed her.
She very badly wanted to wrap her arms around him and just dig her face into his neck. Have him hold her like he used to...but didn't she always pull away from him first? An aching in her that shocked and angered her rose up. How could she still love this man, after all these years and after such a bitter and premeditated betrayal?
The question burned in her mind just as she noticed the barrel of a gun that had made its appearance just below her chin.
'Now what kind of 'hello, I've missed you' is that?'
The Pipers
17 years ago
LT watched quietly from the scaffolds outside one of the floor to ceiling picture windows on the fourth floor. Huntington had walked to the center of the large floor, away from the escalators, giving him the opportunity to send two of the team up from the third. With a quick flick of his head and a soft, low sound only the other wolves could hear, two moved off quietly back down the scaffold.
He continued to watch the vampire look around the room in an odd disbelief and then finally look down as if waiting. LT couldn't see the female but he could smell her. She was there, somewhere on the fourth floor. Both he and the male knew it. Just as he finished that thought, Huntington moved ever so slowly and suddenly she was there, next to him. Huntington's gun was pointed just under her chin and he had did it without either one of them noticing. Formidable, LT thought. As the two engaged in their talk, LT slipped quietly through one of the small holes in the plastic tarp to wait.
He continued to watch the vampire look around the room in an odd disbelief and then finally look down as if waiting. LT couldn't see the female but he could smell her. She was there, somewhere on the fourth floor. Both he and the male knew it. Just as he finished that thought, Huntington moved ever so slowly and suddenly she was there, next to him. Huntington's gun was pointed just under her chin and he had did it without either one of them noticing. Formidable, LT thought. As the two engaged in their talk, LT slipped quietly through one of the small holes in the plastic tarp to wait.
Simon Huntington
17 years ago
He moved two steps away from Ellis, gun still pointed at her face as he extended his arm. He backed about six feet away and held the gun level to her right eye. It wouldn't kill her, but a bullet to the brain would sure as fuck sting.
In a dry, monotone voice, Simon replied slowly, 'Hello. Gosh, I've missed you.'
In a dry, monotone voice, Simon replied slowly, 'Hello. Gosh, I've missed you.'
Ellis Duban
17 years ago
With a flip of her hand, Ellis pushed back a bit of her black hair and gave Simon a large smile, coupled with a chuckle.
'I'm sensing some sarcasm.'
She pointed a finger at him and then put her hands behind her back. Her fitted black jacket was unbuttoned, revealing an equally tight and black sweater. 'You know, you had me really confused that night back at that bar. What's it called...uh, Shades I think?'
Ellis shrugged and moved a bit plaster with the toe of her buckled boots. 'I'm thinking...you were hearing voices? My voice maybe?'
'I'm sensing some sarcasm.'
She pointed a finger at him and then put her hands behind her back. Her fitted black jacket was unbuttoned, revealing an equally tight and black sweater. 'You know, you had me really confused that night back at that bar. What's it called...uh, Shades I think?'
Ellis shrugged and moved a bit plaster with the toe of her buckled boots. 'I'm thinking...you were hearing voices? My voice maybe?'
Simon Huntington
17 years ago
Again with her shit eating grin. If there were one thing he wished he'd never have to see again, was her smug smile. As she did her best to be charming, he kept her right eye in his gun's sights as she flipped her hair and shrugged prettily. He concentrated, listening to her heart, waiting for the tell tale sign of adrenaline pumping into it when she lunged at him to claw his eyes out. There would be no other reason why she lured him into the unfinished building.
'Even in death you were equally as charming, E.'
'Even in death you were equally as charming, E.'
Ellis Duban
17 years ago
'Really?' Ellis laughed prettily. 'I bet.'
She tipped her head to the side and watched the barrel of the gun follow her eye. Wow, he meant business. She looked past the barrel and asked, 'Is the gun in my eye really necessary?'
The look on his face would have been comical if it had been a funny situation which technically it wasn't, but Ellis was still enjoying herself.
'Alright.' She lifted her hands slowly, showing him her painted black nails. 'Look, I'm unarmed. Besides, if I wanted to kill you Simon, I would've done that while you were shopping for Carol's Christmas gift. I won't guess on what it was,' Ellis purred slowly.
'I like surprises too.'
She tipped her head to the side and watched the barrel of the gun follow her eye. Wow, he meant business. She looked past the barrel and asked, 'Is the gun in my eye really necessary?'
The look on his face would have been comical if it had been a funny situation which technically it wasn't, but Ellis was still enjoying herself.
'Alright.' She lifted her hands slowly, showing him her painted black nails. 'Look, I'm unarmed. Besides, if I wanted to kill you Simon, I would've done that while you were shopping for Carol's Christmas gift. I won't guess on what it was,' Ellis purred slowly.
'I like surprises too.'
Nova
17 years ago
The trouble with indecision, Nova reflected, is that you couldn't pause the world while you thought things over. Everyone else kept going the same speed, and in this case Simon had gone God only knew where while she had debated.
She walked at a pace that was somewhere between 'leave no stone unturned' and 'blind panic run', becoming more and more uneasy as the moments ticked on. How long had Simon been out of her sight? Too long, she thought. If only she had followed him sooner! How the fuck was she supposed to know where her creator had gone?
At that thought she froze, and had the store been opened a crowd of people might have slammed into her in a rush to get to the shoe sale. Simon was following the same thing Nova had been avoiding; it followed, then, that she could use that whole ability thing she had to find him. Only...for her it just sort of happened; she didn't squint her eyes until she 'perceived' something. She would just be working in the lab and suddenly realize she was aware of things happening around her while her face was in a microscope. Or she would realize, after she opened a door, that she knew how many people were going to be inside the room. Or she would just sort of know when a scene was going bad.
Sort of like this one.
But if she could do all that, surely she could find Simon. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to hear everything, breathing in, nostrils flaring, trying to take in the whole area at once...
...and feeling a little stupid when she realized she was standing in the middle of construction trying to go all Zen when Simon might be in trouble. All she could hear was that fucking Christmas music drilling into her brain. 'Do you hear what I hear?' Well, no...that would be the problem. This wasn't working and she wasn't sure of where to go next. She opened her eyes, looking around, when the elevators caught her eye. Was it Jan or Alec who had told her that people never look up? She took a few steps in that direction and saw the door leading to a stairwell. This felt right; she couldn't explain it, which bothered her to no end, but fuck it, she was going up the stairs.
She stepped into the stairwell and started her ascent. The heavy door closed behind her, distorting the music with echoes. But underneath that, she thought she could hear something else. She wasn't sure what, yet, but it was enough to keep her moving. When she got to the second floor she didn't bother looking around.
She was going up.
She walked at a pace that was somewhere between 'leave no stone unturned' and 'blind panic run', becoming more and more uneasy as the moments ticked on. How long had Simon been out of her sight? Too long, she thought. If only she had followed him sooner! How the fuck was she supposed to know where her creator had gone?
At that thought she froze, and had the store been opened a crowd of people might have slammed into her in a rush to get to the shoe sale. Simon was following the same thing Nova had been avoiding; it followed, then, that she could use that whole ability thing she had to find him. Only...for her it just sort of happened; she didn't squint her eyes until she 'perceived' something. She would just be working in the lab and suddenly realize she was aware of things happening around her while her face was in a microscope. Or she would realize, after she opened a door, that she knew how many people were going to be inside the room. Or she would just sort of know when a scene was going bad.
Sort of like this one.
But if she could do all that, surely she could find Simon. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to hear everything, breathing in, nostrils flaring, trying to take in the whole area at once...
...and feeling a little stupid when she realized she was standing in the middle of construction trying to go all Zen when Simon might be in trouble. All she could hear was that fucking Christmas music drilling into her brain. 'Do you hear what I hear?' Well, no...that would be the problem. This wasn't working and she wasn't sure of where to go next. She opened her eyes, looking around, when the elevators caught her eye. Was it Jan or Alec who had told her that people never look up? She took a few steps in that direction and saw the door leading to a stairwell. This felt right; she couldn't explain it, which bothered her to no end, but fuck it, she was going up the stairs.
She stepped into the stairwell and started her ascent. The heavy door closed behind her, distorting the music with echoes. But underneath that, she thought she could hear something else. She wasn't sure what, yet, but it was enough to keep her moving. When she got to the second floor she didn't bother looking around.
She was going up.
Alfarinn
17 years ago
Alfarinn picked up his bags and headed towards Nova. He was not sure what she was doing with Simon but it was obvious that they had been together just a moment ago. Therefore she might have a better idea of what was going on.
He got closer and...
"Nova....wait..."Â?
Too late. The woman decided to head into the construction area. His luck would be that this was some Tacharan Christmas rave set up, "Deck the malls...with vampires."Â? and he would suddenly find himself very out of place. Quite possibly in serious trouble. Alfarinn could tell that there was not that many people in the area yet. So if this was some secret meeting then at least not everyone had arrived. Still there were enough different sets of emtions to make him distinctly uncomfortable.
He muttered a few choice oaths in Norwegian before heading under the tarp himself. Setting his bags down, Alfarinn then wondered which way Nova wandered off. The other emotions in this area were further away. He moved further into the store. Towards the center the other emotions were closer.
Alfarinn looked up at the ceiling. This was not a good situation. Their kind might survive a fall from a several story building but that was no good reason to trap yourself up on one with no good way down. He looked around for the stairs. He wondered if Simon had told Nova to stay put...obviously she didn't listen.
Sounded just like a Tacharan.
Opening the door to the stairwell, he sent to Thaddeus to quickly let him know what was going on. There was no need to unduly alarm his companion. Thaddeus could also get Evenhet security here if things went awry. No need to call in the cavalry yet though. Alfarinn made his way cautiously up the stairs.
He got closer and...
"Nova....wait..."Â?
Too late. The woman decided to head into the construction area. His luck would be that this was some Tacharan Christmas rave set up, "Deck the malls...with vampires."Â? and he would suddenly find himself very out of place. Quite possibly in serious trouble. Alfarinn could tell that there was not that many people in the area yet. So if this was some secret meeting then at least not everyone had arrived. Still there were enough different sets of emtions to make him distinctly uncomfortable.
He muttered a few choice oaths in Norwegian before heading under the tarp himself. Setting his bags down, Alfarinn then wondered which way Nova wandered off. The other emotions in this area were further away. He moved further into the store. Towards the center the other emotions were closer.
Alfarinn looked up at the ceiling. This was not a good situation. Their kind might survive a fall from a several story building but that was no good reason to trap yourself up on one with no good way down. He looked around for the stairs. He wondered if Simon had told Nova to stay put...obviously she didn't listen.
Sounded just like a Tacharan.
Opening the door to the stairwell, he sent to Thaddeus to quickly let him know what was going on. There was no need to unduly alarm his companion. Thaddeus could also get Evenhet security here if things went awry. No need to call in the cavalry yet though. Alfarinn made his way cautiously up the stairs.
Ichiro Taiji
17 years ago
Thanks to an overabundance of agility and an unfinished elevator shaft, Tai wisped away from the woman, staying close to the shadows and emerging onto the unfinished third floor across the room from the figure of Simon.
Ball, heel, ball, heel... Tai's quiet, measured steps brought him up behind the distracted Simon. The floor was so roughly finished that there were plenty of obstacles about; Tai stood half-hidden by a floor-to-ceiling pillar as he raised his arm, hand gun and all, a small, compact weapon. It wouldn't do any more damage to Simon, he was sure, than Simon's would do to Ellis, but for the moment they had Simon outnumbered and at a disadvantage.
Tai was loathe to give up his presence and position, but the situation seemed to require it at the moment. He held the Sig P228 steadily, and with hardly a movement at all, cocked the hammer with an audible click that echoed through the empty floor.
Ball, heel, ball, heel... Tai's quiet, measured steps brought him up behind the distracted Simon. The floor was so roughly finished that there were plenty of obstacles about; Tai stood half-hidden by a floor-to-ceiling pillar as he raised his arm, hand gun and all, a small, compact weapon. It wouldn't do any more damage to Simon, he was sure, than Simon's would do to Ellis, but for the moment they had Simon outnumbered and at a disadvantage.
Tai was loathe to give up his presence and position, but the situation seemed to require it at the moment. He held the Sig P228 steadily, and with hardly a movement at all, cocked the hammer with an audible click that echoed through the empty floor.
Nova
17 years ago
Nova made good time up the stairs, taking them two at a time in her hurry. She came to a stop at the third floor landing and, as it was either this or the roof, she decided it was time to see what was on the other side of the door. Nervously, she pushed it open and peered out into the construction. Seeing nothing of note, she stepped completely through the door and shut it behind her before walking slowly and carefully out into the unfinished aisle.
She was half tempted to shout out ‘helloooo’ or something like that when she heard a voice that really, she had no business hearing.
Shocked half out of her wits, Nova crept –toward- the voice rather than away from it, navigating pillars and hanging electrical wires and coming to a stop behind a pallet full of mannequin parts in boxes. There was enough space between the boxes to peek through, and she certainly got an eyeful. Simon and Ellis, it was impossible but Ellis was –here-, seemed to be locked in confrontation. Her creator clearly had the advantage, what with a gun being shoved in Ellis’s face and all, but even so this was an incredibly bad situation.
Then it got worse. In the silence that followed, she clearly heard a click, and gasped sharply at the sight of a strange man who was, in turn, pointing a gun at Simon.
She was half tempted to shout out ‘helloooo’ or something like that when she heard a voice that really, she had no business hearing.
'I like surprises too.'
Shocked half out of her wits, Nova crept –toward- the voice rather than away from it, navigating pillars and hanging electrical wires and coming to a stop behind a pallet full of mannequin parts in boxes. There was enough space between the boxes to peek through, and she certainly got an eyeful. Simon and Ellis, it was impossible but Ellis was –here-, seemed to be locked in confrontation. Her creator clearly had the advantage, what with a gun being shoved in Ellis’s face and all, but even so this was an incredibly bad situation.
Then it got worse. In the silence that followed, she clearly heard a click, and gasped sharply at the sight of a strange man who was, in turn, pointing a gun at Simon.
Simon Huntington
17 years ago
The audible click was so loud it rang in Simon's ears, breaking his focus on Ellis. He half turned and immediately zeroed in on the soft beat of a steady heart standing half hidden by one of the pillars. It was a face he did not recognize but one, he imagined, he would come to know. The implication that this man's revolver would actually hurt Simon was laughable, but the point was well taken.
Ellis was no longer alone.
Was he? Simon wondered as he turned and looked back at Ellis, standing with her head tilted down, large smug grin in place. Her hands were still up and she wiggled her fingers comically. It had been a full year since the inferno that had supposedly devoured the black evil in his life, yet here he was. He squeezed the gun in his hand, causing it to tremor. Why did he expect a fair fight?
Just then Ellis shrugged, blinking slowly at him. 'Why indeed' she seemed to reply, reading his mind. 'You know,' Simon started as he continued to point the gun in her face.
'I seem to recall using a gun at our last stand off. It didn't work then...' Simon suddenly relaxed, stepping out of his prepared stance and casting the gun to the side. It clanked down the escalator steps loudly, the noise vibrating throughout the building.
'So maybe this time I'll kill you with my bare fucking hands.'
The next few moments were a blur to Simon. There was the steady, angry thumping of Ellis' heart, the slow methodical rhythm from her unknown accomplice but much to his dismay, the erratic heartbeat that was coming from the mouse like shocked Nova. For a split second Simon turned, distracted and frantic, yelling at her to run. He barely got the word out when the shiv like knife that Ellis had slipped from her sleeve was coming at him with blinding speed.
Ellis was no longer alone.
Was he? Simon wondered as he turned and looked back at Ellis, standing with her head tilted down, large smug grin in place. Her hands were still up and she wiggled her fingers comically. It had been a full year since the inferno that had supposedly devoured the black evil in his life, yet here he was. He squeezed the gun in his hand, causing it to tremor. Why did he expect a fair fight?
Just then Ellis shrugged, blinking slowly at him. 'Why indeed' she seemed to reply, reading his mind. 'You know,' Simon started as he continued to point the gun in her face.
'I seem to recall using a gun at our last stand off. It didn't work then...' Simon suddenly relaxed, stepping out of his prepared stance and casting the gun to the side. It clanked down the escalator steps loudly, the noise vibrating throughout the building.
'So maybe this time I'll kill you with my bare fucking hands.'
The next few moments were a blur to Simon. There was the steady, angry thumping of Ellis' heart, the slow methodical rhythm from her unknown accomplice but much to his dismay, the erratic heartbeat that was coming from the mouse like shocked Nova. For a split second Simon turned, distracted and frantic, yelling at her to run. He barely got the word out when the shiv like knife that Ellis had slipped from her sleeve was coming at him with blinding speed.
Ellis Duban
17 years ago
Watching him put two and two together was hilarious. Simon might not know just who Tai was, but it wasn't as if it mattered. He'd know in a minute. Ellis wasn't one for fighting fair, although he would be no match for Tai, her Asian boy toy would certainly be a distraction - just enough for Ellis to gain the upper hand. She knew that his age was catching up to her, so to speak. He was on the edge of becoming an ancient and his abilities would be evolving, if they hadn't already. In a fair fight, Simon could take her - but in her kind of fight...well she was sure as shit going to enjoy herself.
He broke off his concentration just enough for her to take her chance. Ellis had wondered where his wee one had gone. What perfect timing. Even Ellis had heard the freakishly rabbit like thump of her heart once Tai's click resonated in the room.
Feeling the tell tale tickle of her blood-lust rising, Ellis embraced it with her seething hate and felt her fangs tingle, sending adrenaline coursing throughout her body. Simon tried to tell Nova to run, but to where? Tai may not have age on the little brown one, but he had ancient strength. Granted there was a great chance of a fizzle, but the honed killer in him would undoubtedly give the scientist a run for her money.
Cold steel touched her hand, only this time it was a lethal and painfully razor thin knife that slipped down her sleeve as she lowered her arms. Her Celtic short swords were unfortunately back at the Domicile. Hmm, she thought. She'd have to retrieve those soon enough.
In the blink of an eye, Ellis lunged at Simon with everything in her. This was a gift, catching the never unprepared Simon off guard. It was a gift and the gods had wrapped it well. Ellis sliced at Simon, ready to unwrap it.
He broke off his concentration just enough for her to take her chance. Ellis had wondered where his wee one had gone. What perfect timing. Even Ellis had heard the freakishly rabbit like thump of her heart once Tai's click resonated in the room.
Feeling the tell tale tickle of her blood-lust rising, Ellis embraced it with her seething hate and felt her fangs tingle, sending adrenaline coursing throughout her body. Simon tried to tell Nova to run, but to where? Tai may not have age on the little brown one, but he had ancient strength. Granted there was a great chance of a fizzle, but the honed killer in him would undoubtedly give the scientist a run for her money.
Cold steel touched her hand, only this time it was a lethal and painfully razor thin knife that slipped down her sleeve as she lowered her arms. Her Celtic short swords were unfortunately back at the Domicile. Hmm, she thought. She'd have to retrieve those soon enough.
In the blink of an eye, Ellis lunged at Simon with everything in her. This was a gift, catching the never unprepared Simon off guard. It was a gift and the gods had wrapped it well. Ellis sliced at Simon, ready to unwrap it.
Ichiro Taiji
17 years ago
Tai didn't need any more cue than what he saw before him next. Simon turned to Nova, actually looked straight at her, and shouted for her to run. Tai's eyes remained on Simon, but he noted the bit of Nova he could see now, tucked in behind wiring and pillars. A shoulder, an arm.
Ellis lunged at Simon then, which cemented Tai's next move as far as he was concerned. Nova was his target, and Ellis had eliminated the option of shooting Simon. He shrugged internally; let her tackle him. Literally.
His hand swung steadily to the figure crouched in the shadows.
That could be Yuu.
Tai blinked for a moment, the thought springing to mind unbidden. Don't get in the way now, Yuu, he thought. Not a good time.
The moment of hesitation passed... or rather, was buried. Tai couldn't let Yuu interfere in this. This was his purpose; this was why Ellis had made him what he was. Let it be done with, and let him go his own way.
He pulled the trigger, and, without waiting to see if his shot hit, leaped toward Nova's ineffective hiding place.
Ellis lunged at Simon then, which cemented Tai's next move as far as he was concerned. Nova was his target, and Ellis had eliminated the option of shooting Simon. He shrugged internally; let her tackle him. Literally.
His hand swung steadily to the figure crouched in the shadows.
That could be Yuu.
Tai blinked for a moment, the thought springing to mind unbidden. Don't get in the way now, Yuu, he thought. Not a good time.
The moment of hesitation passed... or rather, was buried. Tai couldn't let Yuu interfere in this. This was his purpose; this was why Ellis had made him what he was. Let it be done with, and let him go his own way.
He pulled the trigger, and, without waiting to see if his shot hit, leaped toward Nova's ineffective hiding place.