The strange, lion headed woman had swiftly acted, moving the Archer behind the counter the moment the guards had begun asking questions. An occasional glance was sent at the girl- whose expression was positively still alit from her fury- and then a shrug was given. She'd snap out of it when something jarred her from her thoughts.
It took a lot to make a mind snap that far, whatever that samurai had done must have been simply dreadful, though Sobek had told her the battle was getting quite personal and the man had been positively dishonorable part way through the fight.
Coin was exchanged as she waited for the guards who occasionally patrolled the town and broke up the skirmishes that took place to leave and vanish out of sight. Turning to the girl, she put clawed hands on her hips and tapped her coral and gold sandal against the lush purple carpet she'd thrown down for others to stand on. And to complain about when it got dirty.
“Well, my dear child. You have quite the spirit, but none of the finesse of a true warrior. You took more damage than you gave out, though the critical hit at the end was most enjoyable.” Fangs bared themselves in an animalistic smile as the lion headed woman gestured to a chair that had appeared out of nowhere and ordered her to sit.
“However, I like spirit, it means you have potential; how about we clean you up while my lovely Sobek goes and retrieves some rather worried people to show them the way to your side again, hm?” Her reddish eyes gleamed in predatory anticipation as she rubbed her clawed hands together and laughed at the suddenly fearful look in the young girl's eyes, the rage finally vanishing and the realization of how much trouble she was in suddenly dawning on the young face.
“Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit.”
**
Sobek grinned, his crocodile's smile unnerving to the three he'd collected- though getting the boy with fancy wings had been a delightful trial all on its own- as they weaved through the bustling streets back to the one specific tent out of hundreds, perhaps even thousands that littered the place. “Yes, she was quite a terror. Reminded me much of what I imagine my Sekhmet to be like as an untrained little thing. Vicious and just kept swinging no matter how bloody she got.” The tone was ungodly happy and energetic, like a sports fan whose team won with no contest.
He didn't notice that the Wavemaster's face only seemed to get paler, more haunted looking with each word out of his mouth, or that the line the Twin Blade's lips had pursed into had become almost razor thin.
Or that the Long Arm's expression of fury was black enough to strike second thoughts into a lot of some of the level sixty players around who caught a glimpse of the look on her face. Whoever was on the receiving end of that much temper had their pity, even if they probably deserved it.
“Of course, she only got vicious after that Heavyblade practically made mincemeat out of her. But the courage she showed! Only crying out at first, and then she gave him that positively beautiful glare, ahh I may have fallen for her just a little at that moment.” He sighed dramatically, flipping the tent open in much the same fashion and gave his usual toothy smile at the creepily happy woman with a lioness' head who, not surprisingly to the Wavemaster, was standing beside what had to be Sekai with several bowls of what looked like extremely dirty, bloody water. “As commanded, my pride and joy, I've brought the ones looking for a girl such as the one we managed to pick up.”
She smiled, something almost as disturbing as when Sobek did it and extended coral and gold braceleted arms out to them all. “Welcome to my humble little corner, dear friends of the little warrior.” She proclaimed warmly, watching them all scout for the nearest exits or where traps may be hidden with a great deal of amusement. The girl in her seat seemed to stiffen up and slump down, trying to hide from sight. Someone was likely in trouble, the lioness thought in amusement, not bothering to distract the little reunion for much longer. “She fought as honorably as she could against a ruffian who quite simply lost his mind in battle. Such a pity that Heavyblades end up lost to that berserker rage sometimes. Happening more and more these days it seems.”
Sekai stood up suddenly in her seat, turning around with her shoulders practically hunched around her ears, a guilty but defiant look still on her young face as she moved around from behind the small 'register' that the two had set up. Anger turned to interest in December's eyes as she waited for Kira to notice the changes in the girl's outfit and appearance as well.
While she was still small, always would be, there were knee high dark brown leather boots with russet laces securing them to a pair of very bare, very shapely legs whose length hadn't been noticeable beneath that hakama and that made her seem a bit taller than she was. Thrown atop a rather stylish dress whose front length hit just at mid-thigh and back fell about mid-calf in a very pretty dark green that was a few shades lighter than the forest green hakama she'd worn, was brown leather armor studded with two clear gemstones matching the one on the choker around her neck... and the two studding the brand new, brown leather bracers she sported on her wrists and forearms.
“That's rather flattering,” December commented, her spring colored eyes lighting up as she circled the girl to get a better view of what it looked like all the way around. She could still see the tattoo that marred the girl's fair skin, but didn't pay it much mind.
The girl'd paid for the marking and so their power was incorporated into its design somehow or another. An odd design was on the girl's forehead, a black and white... almost hurricane shaped symbol with the 'eye' that currently resembled the same cloudy gemstones on the girl's armor, bracers and choker. Crimson painted fingernails reached out and caught the ends of the girl's snowy hair. “...your hair is a bit longer and styled differently, it gives you a more... mature look. I like this.” She praised the girl and glanced over at their two 'hosts', both of which looked enormously pleased with themselves.
“A true masterpiece; as her price for my keeping her out of trouble with the local guards here, she agreed to be my little guinea pig when it comes to my craft; I would say it was a success.” She purred in satisfaction, looking all the image of a cat who'd gotten into the catnip after a bowl of cream. Waiving a clawed hand at her shop, she smiled at all of them. “I am Sekhmet, and this lovely man is Sobek, my partner. We design for a living and sell our wares to those who serve as an appropriate challenge.”
Appropriate challenge huh, seemed to be the look on the three's faces as they stared directly at the girl saved by the fashion designers. Said girl flushed and pointedly looked away from them as if she didn't see them in the room. “What do we owe you?” Kira managed after a very long period of silence, which she'd used to collect herself. She'd explode at Sekai later. When they had some time alone and she had a good damn space to yell at her in and corner to put her in as a result.
Sobek looked surprised, looking at Sekhmet and shrugged. “We have already accepted payment,” He explained, his reptilian features somehow managing to look puzzled in a most comical manner. “She's to be our... how do you say it, walking billboard? A most pleasant job, I assure you, whenever she uses whatever special thing she can do, she'll have a change of outfit designed specifically by us.”
Sekhmet smiled again, looking pleased with herself and pointed to the gemstone on her own forehead. “I had the idea myself after I was tired of taking up an inventory slot with all the outfits I wanted to wear; so I invented a way to change them whenever the occasion was appropriate. It works with even the rare articles of clothing picked up in dungeons or awarded at events. For her, she just has the one at this moment, we're working on a design that will compliment her when she is with you, assassin.”
December looked surprised, but intrigued. “I look forward to it then, I think it's kind of a fun idea.” She glanced at Sekai, who looked more like she wanted to sink into the floor and die right then and there. Well, troublesome children oft earned unexpected consequences, she thought with a smile on her crimson lips, chuckling as she noticed Kira glance in her direction, back at Sekai and return her gaze again. Must be trying to imagine what they'll design for her with my own theme in mind, the pink haired woman thought and sent the icy Long Arm a bemused look and shrug.
“...right, so she's free to go?” The long haired woman finally asked, wanting nothing more to get back to the hideout before that damn meeting with the Fire Master started. Mostly so she had a chance to flip out on Sekai in semi-private... and because being so exposed in front of all these weird hackers or players with strange abilities was starting to freak her out in a way that wasn't going to be healthy for anyone here in a few minutes.
Sobek eyed the women- and then the boy as well- with more than a shade of interest. “Of course, but wouldn't you let me-” Sekhmet placed her clawed hand on his shoulder, leaning her head against the scaled surface. “Not now, dear one. They need to head back for a little while, we'll be seeing them again, I'll send her a flashmail when her order is complete.” Red eyes turned to the three new ones who'd come into the shop, attention sharpening and voice turning stern.
“Now then, she's received her scolding from me, it's your turn. Keep a better eye on her; as strong as she is, she's still not ready for a one on one match against those stronger than she is. More training is needed before she can do that. Help her get to that point and work together, perhaps next time she won't feel she has to prove herself as much.”
Sekai's face turned red as Kira hooked her arm around her waist. “Oh believe me,” Her voice held a wealth of promise and intent, her arm tightening possessively around the slim waist of the little Archer as they began to walk out. “I have no intention of letting her go untrained, or unescorted for a good, long time.”
They left the tent quickly, December serving as Takua's guide as the four of them headed quickly for the Chaos Gate in a silence that was filled with more tension than any shoujo manga could have possibly generated.
Sekai glanced back once, noticing the odd couple smiling at her and gave a slight smile, apologetic and thankful as well, mouthing her thanks to the couple and blinked at the way they seemed to high-five and cheer, walking back into their tent with their arms wrapped around each others' waists.
And she thought she and Kira made an odd couple.
“Are you going to yell at me?” Sekai asked finally, in a voice that was filled with expectant dread, her shoulders still hunched and body absolutely stiff during the walk back toward the hideout. Worry filled her, what if they were going to wait until they were in the hideout to yell at her? That'd be even worse, everyone there would hear it and know what happened.
Kira looked at her with a look that made the girl shrink. “I should, after all you put us through.” Her tone was furious in a way Sekai hadn't heard before, closest had been her fury at Trent when she'd shouted at him for kidnapping her and threatened to end him right then and there if she were harmed.
There was a 'but' lingering unspoken there and hope suddenly filled her. Maybe she wasn't in as much trouble as she thought!
“No, you're in even more trouble than you think you are,” The former princess informed her, dashing her hopes in an instant. December's smooth, deep voice quickly picked up where Kira had left off. “But now is not the appropriate time, and you seem to have been punished sufficiently in body.”
She did hurt.
Kira's furious look turned chillingly devious, the smirk across her face giving Takua a reason to pause, staring at her just as warily, if not more so, than Sekai chose to do. That look meant trouble for someone, and he had a feeling Sekai wasn't going to want to go along with whatever Kira had planned for her.
“So I'm the one who gets to make sure you're in battle ready shape,” The amber eyed woman practically purred in a disturbing imitation of Sekhmet. “And you are going to be quiet and do as I tell you.”
_________________ Name: Sekai Level: 54 EXP: 0000/1000 Class: Archer Clan: Army of Darkness HP: 835 SP: 347 Currently Equipped:Einherjar: Kira, December, ZoryaHead: Bat Earrings (Ola Repth 40, Rip Maen 40) Body: Saint Cross (Rue Zot 10, RaJuk Zot 30) Arm: Protect Ring (Ap Vorma 15, MeJuk Kruz 20) Leg: Ninja Anklet (BiVak Rom 20, GiGan Zot 30) Add-Ons: Forestlore, Wood Magic ( permanently raised Wood Offense/Defense by +3 total) Wishlist: Levels, Summon: Wood, Archer Weapons, Light Armor
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