ain&#x27;t no rest for the wicked

I will not have people coming into my shop,

Of course they are sweet heart.

That's what I like to hear.

Cities are so... confusing.

I wouldn’t need to pay closer attention if it wasn’t for the cities lack of creativity.

Of course not. I suppose you'd like someone to show you where this Inn you're looking for is?

amberheardl

#me

I will not have people coming into my shop,

axelreid

I’m Axel. Last name’s Reid so that makes me Axel Reid. You can call me Axel though. Who’re you?

I'm Isobel. Last name's none of your business so that makes me Isobel, and that's what you can call me.

I will not have people coming into my shop,

A woman can’t reveal all her secrets.

I suppose not. I'm willing to bet they're some fairly incredible secrets.

amberheardl

#me

Hunting Trip | Isobel

“Not such a loss,” he offered offhandedly, voice maintaining just an edge of a growl. Liam didn’t quite care about her sense of fairness or justice- and using it in name only as an excuse was perfectly fine in his book. She was still there, after all, so he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, ask for anything more. Not that he would ever acknowledge that he was asking for something in the fist place.

Liam made a noise that was a mix of derision and acknowledgement and shrugged one shoulder. “Far be it from me to say otherwise, then.” There was a glimmer of camaraderie that surfaced for a the briefest moment before dying away and leaving customary coldness in its place. He’d never made much of an attempt to educate himself on her physiology aside from the obvious- that would be a measure of closeness, and that would most likely mark the end of their whatever it was.

At her comment, Liam bit the inside of his cheek. It was entirely unfair for him to bristle at that, but the darkness was a familiar place for him to dwell. Some minuscule spark somewhere in his depths and wanted to rebel and shout that he was trying, but he quashed it neatly and violently. “‘S right,” he spat out, clenching his jaw.”And I’ll judge whatever the hell I want to.” Roughly, he added, “So where is this blight?”

#[[that's okay! aurgiusetg i honestly adore reading everything you write. it's wonderful~]]#para #p:liam #p:huntingtrip

"Have you ever heard of the saying that forcing a smile sometimes brings on a real one?" She hadn't a clue why she'd continued to argue with him on a topic as trivial as smiling - after all, I don't think the word 'smile' was ever associated with Isobel, not outright anyways. Alas, it was just her way of going about things, particularly with Liam. If one bothered to ask the question: to argue, or not to argue? The answer would always be the former. Well, almost always.

As Isobel approached a small, almost run-down looking cottage, she stopped in her tracks and took note of how absolutely spectacular this location was. Right on the edge of town, not far from the forest and not particularly close to any other houses that could be filled with prying eyes. "This would be it. The fool lives alone, so we shouldn't have any trouble."

One might look at what these two were about to do and see twisted, animalistic (no pun intended) bloodlust, which is exactly what it was in Isobel's case. She didn't know what Liam thought they'd be doing, but her intentions were to kill the man. Slowly, most likely. Probably taking his hands off first, as a poetic sort of punishment for his theft, followed by the removal of his flesh, and then the devouring of absolutely everything that was left over, bones and all. This was a hunt, to Isobel, something she didn't often do with others, and for good reason. In the heat of a murder (or a meal, in her eyes), she wouldn't care who was around - she'd be a bloody, terrifying, savage mess. That's just how being a rugaru worked. When she set her mind on a kill, she would get it, whether it was from the original target or not, and at this point there was no turning back.

I will not have people coming into my shop,

Oh? Well this should be entertaining.

I hope it turns out that way.. Tell me, if this were you, what would you do to the poor man that stole from you?

I will not have people coming into my shop,

Perhaps you should teach them a lesson.

Oh, I intend to do exactly that.

burning-baby

I will not have people coming into my shop,

axelreid

Nope. It’s the truth. Just repeating what you told me, right?

Right.. Who the hell are you?

#I MISSED YOU~

Cities are so... confusing.

Exactly my point. I wouldn’t be if there weren’t so many buildings that were identical.

Or perhaps you wouldn't be, if you paid closer attention.

Hunting Trip | Isobel

“Fair?” Liam had to roll his eyes, though it wasn’t a particularly spiteful gesture- just a familiar response to the mention of societal convention, as mocking as it was put forth. When she stalked off, he followed her with a long, languid stride that seemed both unaffected and still somehow angry. “The day you care about fair is the day I learn to smile.”

He caught up with her, and fell in step, walking at her side as he watched her from his periphery. Her statement caused him to quirk an eyebrow, and he huffed an exhale that was close to a sound of amusement as he ever made. All he said on the matter was, “Is that so?” But it was a little soft; not entirely so- his voice was fairly permanently hard edged and gruff, but some part of him liked the fact that beneath the teasing tone there was truth. Perhaps like was too strong a word; it was simply comfortable when it should have been uncomfortable.

“I still have to know who people are,” he snapped back, just grouchily but without too much venom. Her tone made him shake his head- usually stuck in one mood himself, or at least clinging to shades of said mood- he couldn’t always follow her shift in emotion. Or didn’t try to, simply waited for her to return to familiar territory.

He clicked his tongue at her. “You’ve got a lot of confidence there. But you’ll have to trust me on that one- not nearly as cute by half.”

#[[you're actually doing wonderfully! it's different than our last Liam but I actually reallyy like the way you're taking him :3]]#para #p:liam #p:huntingtrip

His words made her laugh - a harsh, and yet simultaneously amused sound that was cut off as abruptly as it began. "Then I guess you'll never learn how to smile," she nodded. There honestly wasn't a single part in Isobel that gave a damn about fairness or equality - she just wanted whatever would benefit her. In fact, there had been occasion upon occasion that she had managed to cheat men out of their money, placing bets and gaining their trust by putting on an act of innocence. That was something she was incredibly good at, playing innocent. She had to be able to put on an act, being what she was.

"It is so," her comment was dropped absentmindedly, carefully watching the little buildings they walked by to find where the man lived. He wasn't all that old, to be fair. Isobel was almost 121 years old, and no human could live that long, so they all seemed like children to her. Sure, it might have been strange that she was one hundred years Liam's elder, but it didn't feel that way. She did, however, feel like the old man (who wasn't really that old - 51, to be precise) was a child to be punished. He had to learn his lesson the hard way.

Isoble's mind worked in peculiar fashions, consistently countering its own values and lack there of. She'd pondered it before, and to her the only explanation was that that tiny, minuscule speck of humanity that was left inside of her was struggling against who she had become. She didn't know which side she wanted to win, but it sure was a hell of a lot easier to live the way she was currently living. "And who are you to be so judgmental? The last time I checked, your attitude scared most people away."

I will not have people coming into my shop,

axelreid

Uh huh. Right, candles are a necessity.

#OMIGOSH ASTIN RIGHT #HIII BBY i missed you too akfhkurhaer

Was that sarcasm?

Hunting Trip | Isobel

If he was inclined to laugh, he might have at her explanation. He wondered, vaguely, what it said about himself that he didn’t doubt her- logically, he knew that it was foolish waste of energy. But it didn’t feel that way, and if there was something that he understood it was compulsion. As odd and self-sabotaging as it might be; at least, in terms of himself.

So he didn’t question her, just snorted derisively and rolled his eyes at her as he pushed himself from where he was leaning and took a languid step forward. “How useless,” he countered, knowing that she wasn’t one to take his gruff tone to heart. And though he wouldn’t admit it- not even to himself- the knowledge came as almost a comfort.

When she named the thief, his expression twisted into one of disbelief, tinged with a touch of contempt. “That charlatan?” He scoffed. “I wasn’t aware that the game at hand was an old man. Not much sport in that.” Stil, he shrugged. It wasn’t like he had any objections- and a thief and a liar was still a thief and a liar, regardless of their age.

Liam felt a hint of heat tingle in his neck at her slight. “-I know who people are,” he snapped, glowering. “I do run a business.” He took a step back and gave her room, still nursing his ire as he cocked his head in a motion for her to lead them. “And you’re not as cute as you think you are.”