Raidou

The rumbling of a large beast exploding in a wave of smoke, the slow slide of a blade into its scabbard as his robe flailed about violently. The midafternoon sun held high upon the steps of Athenia casting a glare, the rolling hills of red stone worked to paint a picture. In the distance, howls and growls of various lions, a bit aggressively fondling over prey. Removing his lenses and polishing them on his sleeve, and returning them to his brow. The gravel crunches as his feet start to move, winding out in a combing circle aiming for the horizon. To others, it would seem aimless, without reaso

Slowly removing a robe from his shoulders, allowing it to slide onto the bed behind where he sat. Then, almost as if in a routine, he reaches for the glasses on his face and plucks them free. Slowly folding them up and tossing them to his side. "I have been called worse. It is easy to assume one can understand, likewise it is easy to assume that one cannot. I would ask of you, what do you see?" A rather plain looking male, with his obvious defining features removed, he looked like he could blend so easily with the next face you'd encounter. "Let me answer your question with a reflection." As h

Waves and waves of troops began to pour in to surround him, as ships began to paratroop down hostiles. This isn't good, my focus needs to be on that ship. The thought races through his head, as slowly diminishing health bars charged through his miasma. Holding his ground until that final moment, that was all he could do. Marching footsteps one after another parade against his eardrums, finding him almost deaf in his intense composure. They'd close in one after another, watching on past shoulders as the battle raged on. The count was easily within the triple digits. His guild had their hands fu

The pungent red film still erodes the light around the swordsman, still on edge from the exchange from before. Those that would pay attention would see him keeping an eye on Gabrandr for any ulterior motives. A few discordant words as the field became littered with conflict, fires raged on as rebellion was still in full swing. Like creeping death, as Raidou would move, his hatred continued to drain away. A crimson aura that sapped the life of those he passed by. Evidently, he draws a blade, and starts to carve away at the opposed forces. He'd given his word. Lights began to take the

A silent intensity built on his face, as he listened to this group of virtual strangers. "What changed? I have heard from Rosa regarding Declan's death. Did that drive a wedge through you all, it would appear that is troubling Violet something quite considerably." He hung near that deck of cards, finding their presence almost abysmal in a recount of facts. Even still, he'd gingerly, an almost cursory shift, pluck another card and flip it over. A six of swords, upright and placed next to that card of wands. It didn't mean much to him, but perhaps more to Ronan. "What she needs is someone w

♫ The epiphany had sunken in, and with Xena's acknowledgement he takes to a shuffle as if building distance. "I am." The simple answer so such a troubling question, he wasn't the type to deny it. It showed that even the darkest story had a victim, or even a hero could be a villain. As he'd make a somber jaunt to the entry, seeking passage out as the bitter sting was realized. "The stories are true. Take what you will from that. All I can offer is this." A pause as he removes his glasses and works to clean them, a method to the madness. "Each of you will continue to walk the path

Nursing the top of the girl's hair, what was first a standard inspection had taken a different light. Now it was just for the sake of the feeling it gave. "Some people are mean." A reflection in his tone as worked way, sharing the warmth betwixt them both. He'd seen a million renditions of this, a myriad of lifetimes blazed past. Xena was herself, but for a brief instant she was Mari, then Ruri, then Foto and shifts to Quinn. Those specters share a smile under that exchange, and yet ceased to be. As his face would move, vision unbound and blurred. Akin to that of a smearing as the colors

With confirmation, a ginger brush causes one ear to fold and pop back up. Almost lifelike enough to get it confused. If they were false, then the look was so absolute that it was easy to mistake them. The warmth between his hand and the tuft of bright orange hair was noticeable, raking the space between them with a gentle graze. All sorts of questions, as he'd watch carefully how they react and move. "Why would I pull them?" The honest question came from him through a pair of reflective lenses. His aim wasn't to injure, just understand. Finding himself stuck in almost a trance, as if pett

The tiny ping rings out once more in a green circle, seeking out any hostiles, as the man was always first and foremost: cautious. "I am glad to hear that, it seems that determination of yours was well-founded." The simplicity in such a request, an offer and a shared perspective breathing life into her cause. Raidou motions to his lenses, taking solace in the reprieve from activity. He hadn't planned on any fighting this early, and the thought of such brash, unprepared action wasn't to his tastes. Peering back over his shoulder, as he began to mill about. Although he knew this place rathe

A slight murmur as he releases the weapon behind his shoulder, leaving it inside its sheathe. "I do." as he reaches to his glasses and shoves them up, having done their best to work their way down his nose. "Level is only a number, it is how you use what you have. I believe you are more capable than you realize." He glances back to Xena and that aura of tension was all but gone, as it had fallen with the absence of danger. A few somber steps into the clearing, the pair had found themselves in, keeping a watchful eye on and out for Xena. Gesturing out a hand, more of lifting his sleeve to find

He'd keep an eye on the held fast hood, and holding close as multiple triggers of detection rang out. It kept tabs on the second pairing, and equally the nomad on edge. "It should be yes, but perhaps this other pair had simply started first." An array of hasted steps, that start to become more volatile. Small trails of red like sheer being left behind each and every footfall, anticipation. Not too far now. The thought rings behind his eyes, bouncing around as he reaches for the handle of the other blade carried on his back. Leaning low, a tightness wrapped around his chest. He was ready f

The much longer strides matched with more abrupt scampering of heels, speaking out with a soft-spoken tongue. "A good stance to have, it's hard to know who to trust in Aincrad." Brushing a hand along the wall, and making an almost practiced turn around an immediate left. "The NPC you were looking for tends to wander, and although normally we should have encountered him first, I believe the Minos heard us." Finding a clearing of more ripe grass, and kneeling low. Raidou inspects the turf as if he held some expectation. "We are not alone." Raking the grass with his hand, this was where

A slight twist of his wrist offers light into that maze, exposing the long narrows that would lead deeper. The Pillar fragment, held like fire in his hand, waving away the mist's obscurity. "If I could, I would have, I apologize for startling you." Spoken in a gentle and almost too low tone, like a rambling. The truth was, the thing undoubtedly picked up the sounds of metal on the walls and had moved to figure out the source. The girl seemed on edge, and most would be with a sudden crack of thunder after it being silent for so long. That red robe began to disappear into the confines of the maz

Finding himself staring again out of his peripheral, feigning a glance at the large structure that dwarfed them both. Beginning to pass behind her and shuffling past. "Not quite, I live around here." Lifting aloft, the small glowing star causing the mists to disperse and reveal the ground beneath. He'd pass just in front of the mouth of that maze, as a blade pokes out the space. A sharp grinding and a blast sends a scattering of sand that obscures vision, a harsh grinding noise finds its way out of that dust cloud. The sudden sound of an unsheathing blade. A flare of yellow light causes i

A gentle step through brush, the tall walls of tanned stone faintly visible through the clouds of white. Traveling seemingly aimless, and yet wasn't. Slowly bolstering stocks, preparing for the coming tides. He'd needed more than a few different parcels, and the grove near that labyrinth proved to be fruitful. The ripe taste of a strange mixture still muddied his mind, and the bitter crisp air helped to clear it up. The faint glow of blue that permeated that mist, piercing it like a knife. This was his home, and in it, he could never be lost. Soft murmurs in the distance play upon hi

With that plastered smile, heart thrumming to the tune of its own drum. Clutching Violet's waist and moving for his collar, before extending it out for him to accept hers. An almost forceful tug, and yet it was soft in its own way. Something primal, carnal in its delivery. Desire. A heavy pull on violin, as a man perks up, finding a new potential in this strange affair. Gazes begin to focus on the odd couple choosing to dance to music that unfolds around them. The tempo begins to carry heavier, changing rapidly from something somber to a beat. Other musicians in the crowd began to play al

Enjoying the feeling of her playful prodding and accepting her gift. "Yeah, I suppose I did." A smile, gingerly taking it from her hands. Linking eyes with her for a moment, and doing his damned to keep his cool. She really had the way of bringing out the best in him, and for all that he was trying to do, Violet made it so easy. Working his way through the taiyaki, almost ravenously. The man had been stressing so much over this he'd completely skipped lunch, and it was chum in the water. As dancers began to fill the streets, jugglers, the same building on the night. For coin and small ple

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This evening was going rather sideways, maybe. But Violet seemed to be enjoying herself and frankly that was all that really mattered. "I was...you're probably right." He taps the cancel, and lowers the price considerably. Palming the porcelain white queen in his hand, plucking the price tag from the base. Rolling it around in his fingertips for a moment, admiring the smoothness. It was truly well-made. "I'm sorry." he admits with a slink of his shoulders, offering the thing to his pocket. "I haven't a clue what I am supposed to be doing, I had this whole evening planned out. Food and a show,

Violet seemed to be enjoying herself already, and slowly the bundle of nerves was beginning to worm its way apart. "I wonder what they have in stock?" Rubbing his cheek with a fingernail, a single stare causing him to recoil. He was painfully aware that she was a woman, whereas for most it didn't even register. The soft tapping of their footsteps, as the swordsman swooned on the heat gracing his palm. Those entwined tethers linking one heart to another, Raidou finds his grip tighten a bit. To the first stall, some strange unexplained 'thing' skewered on a stick. The hell is this? It

Taking a gander down at his sleeve before basically melting into softened butter from a soft touch. "I uh... I am so nervous." He admitted abruptly. Watching her face light up in response, finds a held breath released. His date was so far beyond his class, watching the joy on her face as she cupped it with both hands. "It suits you." the dropped phrase, as this felt so damn jarring, like looking at an angel. Interlocking his fingers with hers, the warmth did well to stabilize the brain fried egg. "I was thinking we'd hit a couple of the stalls, see what we can pick up. I managed to steal a cou

The girl works to clean up her hands before bowing, and even still the prospect made Raidou uncomfortable. They were equals in how he viewed it. "That path will bend and wind in all manner of strange ways, and I suspect you will find roads that I would have never dreamed of." His hand takes to his brow and begins to clean a smudge off of the lenses. "There is no doubt in my mind that one day soon you will be there fighting with me. Keep fast your goals, your ambitions." as I have. "and you will succeed." Watching the girl head out the gate and gingerly latch it closed, he'd start to rake

Drinking in the serenity and enjoying the quiet reflection, stirring thoughts into mental folders. Nari had proven to be a better focal than simple reflection. "I do not pretend to know, I can only see things through my own point of view. Showing the way down a road is amicable, teaching and understanding the finer points. But it will inevitably backfire." Referring to Nikki & Miaki, who'd quit the frontlines entirely when Miaki almost died for Nikki. Thankfully, they made it out alive, but only by a hair. "I would be lying if I said this hasn't been pleasant. Most don't quite stop to

Another pull of the drawstring and a shift onto the shelf, it was if he was out here alone with his thoughts made audible. "It is lonely, and it is a very long road. Especially for a tank." Recounting the numerous quests he'd had to 'live' in given his damage output. "Relying on others is fine, as perspectives will always vary. Each person sees things in a slightly different light, a spectrum. Every person has something to offer. Sparing them may be self condemning, but isn't it best if we can choose this. Take on this hardship so that others do not have to. There is strength in numbers, in un