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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 18:56:33 GMT -7
The city was restless, and Awenydd with it. Hell, half the horde and then some seemed to feel the same thing she did, that delicious, sharp taste of something coming. No one was saying anything if they knew, not that she'd hard, but the rumors of death and destruction from the south only supported that feeling of the world holding its breath before plunging into icy waters.
With nothing important demanding her attention tonight, the musician found herself walking the streets and eventually going to the rooftops. Perhaps she'd find an inkling of inspiration, or even an answer. Or maybe she would look out on the city, on the lights that never died downtown or the lurking shadows of the slums, and find something.
Ultimately, her feet took her towards the slums, willing to risk a little danger. Either she'd be left alone or draw more attention that was worth the effort. Unbidden, her hand rose to touch the edge of her mask with the thought. It was the first time she'd worn it in over two years, but despite how alien it felt, the familiarity of worn and well-tended leather was a comfort. A reminder of what she had once believed in and fought for. Even if her life as a civilian was less violent, Awenydd remembered.
And so the bard wandered in search of her song, looking in dark places on a night where anything seemed possible.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 19:06:57 GMT -7
From her vantage point she'd be able to catch the sounds of conflict. Flesh hitting flesh. Screams and cries of pain. The familiar sound of a gun shot ringing out through the night before the startled and scared cries for mercy. There was the distinct sound of bone crushing against cement before silence hung over the block that she currently inhabited.
Should the bard dare to creep closer to the scene she'd find a lone hooded figure standing amidst a small group of large men and one woman. All of them save the hooded man in various conditions of injury. A revolver lay on the ground, feet away from the man nearest the hooded man, along with a splattering of blood along the ground and on the hooded man's boot. If she dallied in her perch, content with watching the hooded man would speak up to her without moving.
"I know you're there."
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 19:17:04 GMT -7
The melody of the slums rose up in a sharp crescendo, a clamoring of cries and pain and burning things. Even the familiar sound of a gunshot could be heard, accenting the song with a staccato burst of desperation. She could practically taste it, and in the silence that followed, she felt herself drawn to it.
Keeping her vantage point from above, Awenydd moved along in near silence, pausing at the sight of a small ring of bodies, of crimson clashing against concrete and a shadow that was little more than cloth moving in the wind. She could see the gun near the man's feet, but it was the flash of a dark hood that caused her heart to leap in her throat. Was it....?
No. This one was too short, the hood wrong. She felt the tension in her shoulders ease without realizing it had even begun, finding she was unable to remain undetected.
"I'd be surprised if you didn't."
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 19:24:52 GMT -7
"There's more where this came from. If you dare."
He still didn't turn to face her, instead opting to kick the gun further away from any of the bodies in the small ring of defeated criminals. He'd let out a disappointed sigh, as was becoming more and more common as of late. He just wasn't getting the same thrill from this as he used to. What was worse than that is it was becoming easier and easier to take out these thugs and gangs. The challenge was wearing off as it was clearly beneath his level now.
He should have been happy about that, to know that he was growing quickly, his Master would surely approve, but all he felt was disappointment. There was nothing here for him. He needed more, more challenges. He needed something bigger than himself. Literally or figuratively. He needed to find situations to thrust himself into where it was truly kill or be killed. Where the odds were stacked against him in every way. He needed to feel the rush of fear and uncertainty. He couldn't keep slumming it in his comfort level. Because he wasn't satisfied with his current level of strength yet.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 19:33:26 GMT -7
His words evoke a sharp laugh that's almost a cackle as she leans forward in her crouch, one arm draped across a knee as she smiled down at him like a cat that knew how many canaries were missing from the cage.
"I think not. Your reputation proceeds you, Warrior King." She uses that same hand to gesture to the carnage around him, raising a brow out of curiosity, not yet mocking.
"The man who takes down thugs and worse in the dark of night, cleaning up the slums better than the police or other supers have done. The lone wolf who gnashes his teeth in response to the world, threat or no." She tilts her head, looking again at the group that lay still around him.
"What are you doing? Or were, maybe."
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 19:37:13 GMT -7
If his reputation proceeded him then she should know enough to not expect a suitable response out of him for her questions. He didn't owe her an explanation or anything for that matter. He'd simply reach up and adjust his hood as he started to walk away from her and back toward the main street.
"Taking a walk."
She wouldn't be able to see the smirk from her vantage point, but she very likely would be able to pick up the smug satisfaction interwoven with the snark dripping in his tone. Disappointment or not, at least it was still a fun hobby. A hobby that now and then have yielded results that were worthwhile enough to continue with the hobby even if it wouldn't help him grow further.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 19:43:14 GMT -7
"Beating criminals to a bloody pulp is taking a walk?" The mirth fills her voice at his snark, words gone quiet a moment before she hoisted herself from her perch to land on the ground. For a moment, her own hood flared away from her face, but rather than fall back, billowed back into position as Awenydd joined him. She didn't expect heartfelt answers, nor more than he would choose to give. Gilgamesh was a bit of a funny one that way, which suited her fine.
He wasn't trying to attack her yet, so she continued to follow at a casual enough. Gil was a big boy; if he wanted her to leave, he could learn to use his words sooner or later.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 19:51:04 GMT -7
"A very enthusiastic walk."
He amended. He heard her land on the ground behind him, mentally wincing as her footfalls continued toward him, clearly he was going to have to put up with another one of these tonight. He could only hope she had as much value as Limen, but with less of the sass. He didn't think he could handle two people who considered themselves to be "hilarious" hanging around him.
Nor did he understand the appeal for that matter. If anything he was known for not being friendly, and not hesitating to beat down fellow gang members if they got on his bad side. Brutally too. If Aurora was to believed that kind of reputation would move people away from him. And yet it felt like every night he had a new person shadowing him trying to weasel their way into his night. Could they not leave him alone? How much clearer did he need to make it to these people that he wasn't their friend, he wasn't their partner. And he didn't want to hang out with them.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 20:01:02 GMT -7
"I'll say." Another, softer chuckle as he reiterates himself. You couldn't do what he just did without at least a little enthusiasm, that was for sure. Awenydd also ignored his frustration of having yet another person joining him on said walk. He'd get over.
"You'd think you'd have fewer walks out here at this rate." Again, he had a reputation. Others did, too, but they weren't around at the moment, which was fine by her. Gilgamesh would probably start getting prickly if they were, which might be fun, provided the punches weren't directed at her.
"But I actually had something else in mind." She eyes him carefully, considering his demeanor. "You're a member of Pandemonium, but not like any others I've seen. You seem to operate on a different level, and yet here you are. Why?"
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 20:06:03 GMT -7
He'd just grunt when she said that she imagined he'd have fewer walks. But there were always people willing to cause trouble. People that thought they would get away from it. And frankly, why shouldn't they think that? Gilgamesh was one man. And the Bulwark was barely less than useless. He hardly stopped all crime. Nor did he intend to. He had reasons for the people he targeted. That was enough for him, and all she needed to know.
"My reasons are not your concern."
The Horde did what it wanted, as did it's members. And yet so many people seemed intent to find out his motives. What he wanted. Citing how he doesn't fit into the Horde, how he is different than most in Pandemonium. A stupid conclusion. He did what he wanted, his motives were inconsequential.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 20:13:14 GMT -7
"Fair enough." They all had their secrets, their skeletons. She wasn't exactly offering anything up in return, no reason or life story. That was her business, and no one else's. Of course she should expect the same, especially from the cactus king.
She studies his face for a moment with a distracted sound, gaze gong down one of the alleys where a scuffle of footsteps could be heard off to their right. Interlopers, perhaps, or more of the usual business?
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 20:16:01 GMT -7
His eyes flickered in the direction of the scuffle down another alleyway before shifting back to his unwelcome guest. He pressed his lips together in displeasure as he kept on walking, leaving the scuffle to resolve however it will. It wasn't his job to clean up every mess in the street. And he certainly wasn't going to give her a free show and entertain her through the night.
He turned down another direction and would start heading in the direction of the docks. He was thinking it might be a good night to meditate and center himself. Realign his Chakra. And bore the living hell out of his groupie.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 20:26:59 GMT -7
While curiosity could take her places, Awenydd had no more intention of interruption the fight or joining any more than she did at taking a strike at Gilgamesh - or taking one from him.
Perhaps to his dismay, she follows along as he heads towards the docks, ears perking at the sound of the water. She had come for a walk to find inspiration, after all, and though she didn't have his enthusiasm to back her up, she hadn't forgotten why she'd gone walking in the first place. She wondered if he'd ever been seen without his hood. One quick flick was all it would take, but hood rules were still in effect, so she behaves. For now.
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Post by Gilgamesh on Jul 5, 2016 20:30:02 GMT -7
It was wise that she opted to obey the hood rules or she probably would have found herself in for a rude awakening. He didn't take such things lightly, and no calls of it just being a prank was likely to quell his rage. She was free to look, but not touch. To do otherwise would risk angering the Warrior King.
He'd stop before they reached the docks proper, content with the sound of water in the distance before he leaped up, an arm extending to catch hold of the fire escape ladder or one of the apartment buildings that was locked in the up position. He had no trouble climbing up it with just the use of his arms until he could hoist himself onto one of the platforms and make his way to the roof. She could find her own way up or stop following him. He had no intention on lowering the ladder for her.
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Post by Awenydd on Jul 5, 2016 20:40:05 GMT -7
She watches as he pulls himself up onto the fire escape, an impressive physical display that evokes a toothy grin from the bard. Impressive, indeed. If nothing else, the show was quite an enjoyable one, and she doesn't hide her chuckle from him as he climbs up.
Ah, how sweet of him to leave her a challenge. She'd thought of just walking on, but now the game was afoot. She waits for Gil to be out of immediate range before pulling out her guitar and aiming a small concussive blast of sound at the lock that held the ladder up out of reach. It rattled on the way down until she slowed its speed, placing the guitar back in place on her back before climbing up the ladder and taking the escape up to the roof. The sight that spread out from the roofs, hardly pristine or glamorous, was still enough to evoke a small sigh of satisfaction form her as she took it in, as well as look for her evasive target.
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