Not afraid of you [Marat]

[Haley]

It was cold but Haley barely felt it. She had consumed quite a bit of alcohol at Sabrina's Tavern, enough to kill several men via alcohol poisoning if the feat were attempted on Earth. Warmed from the liquid rushing through her body, her senses lightly dimmed but her body far from sick, Haley was aimlessly wandering into the Mists. She cared very little for where she was going, and though she was paying attention to her surroundings, Haley didn't seem too concerned. She, unfortunately, carried only two blades with her: a switchblade tucked into her belt and a knife hidden in the toe of her boot. Aside from that, Haley's hand-to-hand combat skills along with Akuji, who trailed at her side, were more than adequate (in her opinion) to deal with anyone that came her way.

Haley wasn't particularly in the mood to deal with other faerie, which is why she had opted to leave the tavern and head into the darkness of the night. She was in a 'devil-may-care' mood, where anything went. All Haley knew was that she wasn't quite ready for sleep, and until she was she was content to wander around.

It was Akuji who heard the man behind them first, his large sensitive ears detecting the subtle sounds of the man's feet. As her mantel turned and crouched down, his teeth bared, Haley jerked her head back to look behind her, one hand reaching for her knife. When she saw who it was the tenseness in her hand dropped, but it remained in place. Her eyes narrowed, "Got nothing better to do?"

(ooc: heading in the general sorta direction of the library etc.)

[Marat]

Marat’s eyes dance across the growling dog, a sardonic flicker across his handsome face in the form of an eye roll. But his glance does not linger on the dog long enough for it to be considered an open threat or a challenge. He continues on his path, not walking towards Haley but rather diagonally into the same bit of dense forest. He had no use for petty shows of bravado, territorial chest beating that this creature seemed to display. Marat was more of a wildcard, he kept his mantel in a linen satchel hanging from his belt and only revealed it when he felt showing off his deadly bonded could pay dividends. As of right now, he simply smiles at Haley upon hearing her words, knowing he wouldn’t have to worry about her bonded unless the faerie herself commanded the creature to make a move.

His hand rests lackadaisically on his sword as he exhales a sigh, staring at her from a tilted head, ”Better than staring at your ass? No, but it seems now that I’ve been caught I will be on my merry way.” The dry words are riddled with a flirtatious playfulness that hid the bit of sarcasm he threw in there as well. Marat had not been following this girl and he is amused by her arrogance that makes her believe it so. Perhaps it was the alcohol, for the scent of it was strong even from the distance which they stood apart, but he was quite a ways away from her and it was very evident that he was not following closely, if at all.

His posture improves immediately as he stands up straight, ”I’m Marat of the Seelie and I planned on heading towards the library.”

[Haley]

Akuji’s growl grew in volume as Marat spoke, but he was quickly quieted as Haley dropped her hand and brushed the top of his head gently. The wild dog snorted softly and shook his head, his ears lifting. Though he knew nothing of Marat’s inner thoughts about his supposed display of bravado, but in reality Akuji was doing what he did best: protecting his mistress. Haley was a strong faerie- that was true. She had proved it in the Altar of Fate. However, Akuji was possessive of his bonded. He left nothing to chance and distrusted all other faerie. He had seen them at work before, he knew very well what other faerie were capable of.

Haley allowed her fingertips to linger atop Akuji’s head as she watched Marat. The hand at her waist dropped- she no longer considered him a threat. He was, after all, a nimbus, and though she knew some of them to possess a hand of power, the likelihood of this one having one was slim in her opinion. She had seen him around the court and knew him to be Seelie. He was handsome, she had to give him that, but all faerie were good looking in some respect. Haley was numb to good-looking men and women. She had never considered herself particularly attractive, and thus was convinced that no man would want her, nor were any good enough to keep up with her. She was content to live alone for however long it took to achieve her more important goals.

The little nimbus tilted her head as Marat spoke, her top hat teetering precariously atop her hair (currently streaked in red). Despite her slight buzz, Haley had maintained her glamour. So. His words further confirmed her assessment: a pretty boy who knew he was pretty. Haley rolled her eyes, as if the world didn’t have enough of those. Haley slowly turned and rose a hand, waving it in a somewhat lazy fashion, ”Good for you.” She declined to reveal that she was heading in the same direction as she started walking again. He would find out sooner or later.

[Marat]

Marat does nothing but grin, shaking his head as his hands dip into his pockets. His pace is a light stroll, casually glancing up at the night sky, the white lights twinkling above as his breath escapes his lips visible in the frigid atmosphere. He says little for the first few moments after he begins walking, notice she does not diverge from the path similar to his and at the pace he walks he is only a step or two away from walking parallel to her. However, they are separated by more than a stone’s throw, she walking along whatever path she chose to follow and he whimsically weaving between trees and brush.

Eventually, he decides to speak. ”Nice night.” He says with a twinkle in his eye, glancing at her only momentarily before casting his gaze upwards once more. ”Do you suppose this is the same sky as in the human world?” He asks curiously before offering his own theory, ”Because I don’t. The sky is always too bright. I’ve been in Alanor a long time and even when I did live amongst the humans there was smog. I’m sure it has only gotten worse.” Marat had lived amongst the faerie for hundreds of years now, his last toiling in the human world well before the Industrial Age or anything of the sort. Yet gunpowder technology and colonization had led to the degradation of nature even back then, so the man is sure that earth is only a pale image of what it once was.

His attention moves back to the world in front of him only when his peripherals catch the flickering light of the library, the silhouette of a cottage in the distance. A few springing steps places him at the doorway before Haley and he opens the door, ”Ladies first.” He says with a sweeping gesture for her to step inside.

OOC: I suppose Haley and I will both post again before narration? Hope I’m not too forward here…

[Haley]

Haley was content to walk in silence, but apparently Marat was a talker. She had gotten that vibe from him, but had been hoping, no, praying that she was wrong. Still, when he did speak it wasn't some stupid dribble about his life or some other nonsense...no wait, it was! Haley severely hoped that Marat wasn't the type to relate everything to his own life. Haley couldn't have cared less about his time in the human world, but his comment did strike a nerve. "It isn't." She stated a little more harshly than she really intended.

The sky in Alanor was beautiful, Haley had to give it that much. But it wasn't home. She saw none of the constellations she was used to gazing upon back on Earth. Back during those nights when she couldn't sleep Haley had frequently gone on nighttime jogs to alleviate some stress. Smog or no smog, the view of the night sky from Earth was spectacular and something she dearly missed. "And it hasn't." She added on, a touch sore from his words despite the truth they might have held. Still, Haley wasn't in the mood to bicker. Had she not been in a more subdued mood she would have lectured him on his assumptions. Instead, she simply trudged along, breathing in and out deeply in an effort to clear her head.

The moment he got to the door before her, Haley opened her mouth to object but then firmly shut it, her lips pursing. On one hand, Haley could damn well open the door herself. On the other hand, she recognized him as just being nice, or so she assumed. Haley couldn't penalize him for being nice. Taking a deep breath, Haley stepped through the door, Akuji following, and mumbled a short "Thank you." She took a few seconds to bask in the warmth of the room, her eyes, though clouded by a slight fog thanks to her previously consumed alcohol, widening in delight at the array of books and scrolls. Haley was a closet book worm. Texts fascinated her.

[Marat]

He bows adding a smile as he hears her words. Perhaps Marat had taken the first steps to cooling the flames of Haley’s fiery temper. The feisty nimbus does amuse him though; her curtness, her short answers, and the annoyance she displays do little but cause him to smile. Marat had always enjoyed cracking the tough nut, and she had the hardest exterior he had ever seen. For now, he would delight in her company for even those who others found “intolerable” Marat often found interesting in the way that they were tricky to figure out.

He lets her slip inside before him. Now at the vantage point of being truly behind her he takes the opportunity to check out her ass for real this time. If Marat didn’t think Haley would slap him now that they were in close proximity to one another he would have made a remark. Nice probably would have been all he said, just so she knew he had taken a gander but now he remained silent, a small satisfied smile the only indication something was amiss.

[Skylla]

As the two moved inside they were greeted by the upturning gaze of two figures: one, a gaunt man who despite being youthful in appearance held a mark of age in his face, his hair tinged with gray and his eyes sunken and dark. The second man was tall and thin, handsome with dark blue flesh. His eyes were solid black as was his hair, braided into a long tail with a fine silver cord. He was dressed in robes of the wealthiest fashion and he offered the faerie a great smile between puffs from his pipe. ”Faerie,” he said with the tones of his voice sounding deep and soothing.

The other man then spoke, “Welcome to the Library, I am Ciodar.”

[Haley]

Amazingly enough, Akuji did not immediately growl, though his ears did pin back against his head. It may have been the swipe of fingers across the top of his head that quieted him. Haley had reacted faster than her alcohol imbued state might have suggested, but her reaction was somewhat uncharacteristic of her- at least, judging by how she had previously greeted Marat. Instead of reacting with hostility, Haley simply stared…at the blue-fleshed man particularly. She found him immediately fascinating, save for his clothing and obnoxious pipe. He could have seriously done without those.

”Yo.” Haley replied with a tilt of her head, her red-streaked hair tumbling over her shoulders and obscuring her hazel eyes. She peered out from beneath the strands, her gaze mostly fixated on the blue…creature. Cracking her neck loudly, Haley drew herself up and took a few more steps into the room, adjusting her top hat with one delicate hand. She glanced briefly to Ciodar, then back to blue-man, her fingers running through the fur on Akuji’s head to keep him calm. Marat was completely forgotten, though had she known he had partaken in a long look at her rear she would have stabbed him several times….in the eyes.

Without any further hesitation, Haley strode up to Ciodar and held out her right hand for a shake, ”Haley.” She offered her name with no reservation. The man before her was the most human-like faerie she had met and this brought about a sort of nostalgic feeling to Haley. Afterwards she was quick to offer her hand to the other as well, who despite whether or not she learned his name, Haley was now content to refer to him as Mr. Blueberry.

[Marat]

Marat follows closely behind Haley, but not so close that she would notice or care. He figures she has some issues with personal space, and if she didn’t, he figures she’d likely just snap at him anyway. Still, the nimbus eyes the two men up carefully, and though he did not get a particularly welcoming vibe from either of them, his eyes linger on blue man longer than on Ciodar. At first he pegged the man as a sidhe, but as he inspects him he realizes that his flesh does not shine with the inner light of the pure blooded faerie. Upon realizing the man is unlikely to be a fae he quickly raises an eyebrow, mentally he lifts his guards up even higher.

Haley, however, does not seem to be suspicious of either man and takes to the garlanger more charmingly than she had taken to Marat. For a moment he’s a bit jealous of the civil greeting she gives to the librarian but quickly realizes that her benign are not likely to last very long.

He steps into the room, standing closer to the man who is not Ciodar. Looking between them he speaks in a low tone, ”I am Marat. And you?” The only man in the room who did not introduce himself was the mysterious blue being, and Marat wished to change that.

[Skylla]

“A pleasure, my lady.” Ciodar said with a bower, “Do you seek anything in particular?” The man was very straightforward and deliberate, but still there was an underlying tone of mysteriousness to him. He seemed smug in his age and his knowledge, and his gaze perpetually looked as if he knew some dirty secret about you.

The second man looked at Marat when he addressed him. “Erogsal,” his smiled was wide and wicked; revealing rows of teeth that were no different than any faerie’s but still gave the impression of being sharp. He held his pipe in his left and an extended his right to shake Marat’s hand.

[Haley]

Haley’s eyes narrowed instantly at the way Ciodar addressed her and she snapped at him immediately, almost as if it were a built-in reflex, ”Don’t call me that.” She was, of course, referring to the ‘my lady’ bit. Running her hand through a few strands of hair, Haley allowed her glamour to fade, revealing her natural long medium brown and red-tinted tresses to show. Though it was a minor change, Haley felt no more need to upkeep appearances. She was tired of thinking of it anyways.

She completely ignored Mr. Blueberry and Marat off to her right. After all, she hadn’t particularly come with Marat, so what he did was little of her concern. Instead, Haley focused on Ciodar, ”Alanor’s history, particularly regarding the Seelie court and its monarchial history.” She paused briefly, cocking her head, ”That and any information you may have pertaining to Queen Annette.” There was a veiled message behind Haley’s speech, one she suspected the wizened Ciodar would understand. Haley didn’t want just information. She wanted all the deep, dark, dirty secrets he had to offer.

[Marat]

Marat shakes the creature’s hand and nods in reciprocation of his introduction. The creature, if he had been listening, already knew his name. Thus there was no point in reiterating it. Instead, his attention turns to Haley; the precocious nimbus is probing the librarian for the history of the Seelie matriarch. And though Marat’s interested is grabbed by the subject of Annette’s history he also feels as if it is unwise to delve into the history of one who is widely considered the greatest warrior in modern history. Annette was queen to both of them, and she would be a terrible enemy of have.

He remains silent as Haley urges Ciodar on. It’d be curious to see what the old man knew.

[Skylla]

“Very well,” Ciodar bowed with the slightest hint of a smirk on his face.

When she asked of Annette he chuckled. So she wanted to know about the Fae of Reticent Fury? It was not the first time Ciodar had been asked about the queen, but it was one of the very few times. Most were too afraid to question the queen, directly or indirectly. The fact that Haley was even asking about her showed some gall.

“Well,” Ciodar began, “Queen Annette seized the throne from Queen Xiao Long who was given the throne by King Narichter. To be honest, it would be easier for me to tell you what you’d like to know if you were looking for something specific.”

[Haley]

Haley rose an eyebrow at Ciodar, but immediately complied, "Her Goblin Blade title." As of this moment, Haley saw nothing wrong with her request. In her mind inquiring about someone was no crime. Haley had been mulling the prospect of approaching Queen Annette with a proclamation of allegiance, an idea brought about because of her growing insecurity without a firm leader. Though Haley was a leader in her own right, until she had the ability to secure the throne for herself, either by upsetting Queen Annette or simply waiting until the Queen abdicated the throne, she needed some cause, some direction, something to keep her feeling as if she had a purpose. It was a mindset she had adopted from the military.

Until she knew about Queen Annette, Haley would be unable to pledge even her pinky finger to the pompous Queen. The brash Nimbus had drawn immediate conclusions about the Red one, but should the information be right, those conclusions could be shoved aside for a new impression. Haley could be open-minded if she felt like it, especially if the topic pertained to someone who ultimately ruled Haley's life.

Upon stating this she shot a look at Marat, almost as if daring him to challenge her words. Haley wasn't particularly concerned with him, but still, his presence somewhat upset her. She preferred Mr. Blueberry over there to the Seelie Nimbus any day.

[Marat]

Marat leans back against a bare wall, settling himself with his arms across his chest. His gaze is narrow and his eyes are constantly moving, blinking between the being to his side and Ciodar. He wasn’t wary of Haley, and because of this no longer glanced at her with any type of suspicious or anticipation of what she might do next. The other two gentlemen were worth such attention.

Upon hearing Haley’s words and seeing her glance, he merely shrugs. ”Don’t look at me. I have nothing to do with this.” He does however look back at Ergosal. ”What do you know of any of this? And are you even a faerie?” It is not like Marat to be so blunt but secrets pertaining to his court were not to be spilled so blatantly in front of strangers.