Tyche

Jiaying || 24 || She/her || Human || Tyche of the Emerald Hand Current location: On the road between Grimsby and Hala

[scornedearth]

Dangerous Night | Jiaying and Gage

[jiayxng-blog]

gage-of-athoria:

“I am a vampire, did you expect anything less?” Gage shot her a playful wink. Such banter made her increasingly comfortable with the human. It made her miss that vulnerability. She was still very vulnerable but in other ways. Jiaying ignited that longing to maintain some measure of humanity within herself. 

“Why not ask the real question, Will I be in the room watching you sleep lusting after a vein?” A laugh was as good an answer as any. Gage had no plans to harm the woman. She was worth far more alive. She was someone Gage would have gravitated toward as a human. Her human years loomed in the forefront of her mind, yes, Jiaying could have been there. Perhaps if Gage would have found her then she would have turned out differently. 

“I will give you privacy if you want it. Honestly though, I would like to have someone to talk to in private. I know it’s difficult to believe but I have no friends. It’s lonely as I said. Don’t worry, I am not going to hurt you. ” It was no exaggeration. The silence would drive a mortal mad. It gave gage time to reflect on the past and reflect on the doom to come. 

“Even as a human I was pretty much friendless. Father wanted a daughter he could marry to the highest bidder. HE wanted a means to a social raise. I refused him and he unleashed his own personal hell on me. Mother believed every slither of his lies. I became a monster to them both. Unnatural and rebellious. I wasn’t interested in anyone my father would try playing match maker with.”  Gage found the words coming to life as vivid as the memories floating in her subconscious. 

“I used to have long beautiful hair. Many men found me attractive, a tool my father exploited.” Gage grinned, “ I cut it all off the very same night I found myself on the business end of my makers fangs. I was finally going to run away from the death grip my father had on me. I was going to be free to be who I wanted to be. I spent so many years watching them burn the magic users praying someone would fight. I wanted that hope that maybe I could get away too. Truth was I was just scared. I wanted a sign that I would make it. No one ever escaped that flame until they did. They were different too and one of them made it out. My way out had to come out of death instead of life.”

Gage hadn’t meant to dive into the darkest corners of her past. It sort of just happened in the moment. She would usually manipulate the words and conceal the most secretive parts for herself but Jiaying was hearing it raw and uncut. 

“I died trying to be the hero. The girl was already dead and Then I was dying. I didn’t think of leaving my parents. I didn’t expect them to cry over my body. I knew I was dying and the only thing I could feel was relief. No more hiding, no more abuse. It was all going to end and I was welcoming it with open arms. When I woke up I was angry, still am. My throat burned for blood. It was like swallowing fire. I fed. I killed and it was easy because I told myself that I was making them free. It was miserable because my maker was no better than my father. I feel like a child still learning to walk half the time.”

She shrugged and sat down on the bed. It was a cozy little room but there was an icy chill to her words. “Your blood would be delicious. I could sink my teeth in and never let you go. I have wanted to. I have seen it play out a thousand times but that would mean taking you out of this world. I know I could not taste without ending your life. I don’t have the control for it. And from where I am sitting, the world is a lot better in my point of view when you are alive and well because there a slight chance I might actually have a friend in someone.” 

At first she did not say anything at all. It was a lot to digest, and the story was not a light-hearted one. She couldn’t simply brush it off with laughter or tell a joke to ease the mood. She would not feel sorry for her, not say that she did anyway, as Gage has specifically told her not to the first time they met. Thus she committed to silence instead, eyes following her as she sat down on the bed.

Throughout the time they had known one another, honesty had not been lacking. She had been careful of putting any trust into it all, considering the truths she had received sort of… accidental. The rumour about Gage’s parents had come from one of her informants, and last time they met Gage had just escaped a witch in Leeds. She could hardly be held accountable for anything she said that evening. This time, however, it was genuine, and there was no question about it. Nobody would possibly tell of their blood thirst in such a manner had the intent not been a true one. She pressed her lips together to a smile at the last of Gage’s words; wasn’t all of this what a friendship was?

 “You do.”

She made her way to Gage’s bed as well, sitting down beside her. She put a hand on her arm, looking at her with determination in her eyes, wanting to emphasise her own genuinity about the matter. 

“You’ve earned my respect, Gage.” Though she greatly appreciated it, honesty was not one of Jiaying’s strongest suits; she could easily slither from the truths, put on a mask to hide any sign of it. It was reserved only for a selected few, though she supposed Gage had grown to make the cut. She wanted to tell her more, but she found it difficult to find the right words for it. Instead she leaned her back against the wall, smile playing on her lips. 

“I’m sorry for doubting your intentions for bringing me down here.”

[killian-ravenswood-blog]

Killian & Jiaying || Hold Me Tight

[jiayxng-blog]

killian-ravenswood:

Killian swiped his hand one last time over the items inside his loft that needed a good illusion. Thankfully his magic complied, and certain items suddenly reflected simple books and tankards or other household things that were unimportant. It felt good to use his magic again so freely, even if his weakness made him feel…uneasy. Seeing Kali at the festival had given him some hope that he would be free of this demonic burden soon, and that – along with the beautiful woman standing on the other side of his door – was enough to keep him going.

He just had to keep convincing himself that he was doing the right thing. 

Opening the door with a final brush of his hand down his tunic, Killian gave a lopsided grin and leaned his head against the doorframe. “I was expecting one of the whores from the brothel but I guess you’ll do,”

He jumped backwards to avoid any physical repercussions, kicking open the door for Jiaying to enter.

“I’ve been back in Grimsby for a few weeks now and let me tell you something,” Killian went for two tankards and poured ale into each one. “The thieves you have working for you these days are way too lazy. And way out of shape. With the Kingdom expanding like this, I’m worried that our whole low-key attitude might just blow up in our faces. Maybe it worked out when Aeron was around, but I’m not so sure about these new people,” Killian took a swig of his drink, handing the other to Jiaying. “Of course, what do I know, being a simple pickpocket and all,“ 

He winked and swallowed the drink, not being able to resist biting the inside of his lip slightly at just the sight of her. When had he become such a stupid, love driven fool for the most important woman in Grimsby? “What brings you by?”

“Oh, fuck off.” She would’ve hit him to the back of his head had he not jumped away. Still, a grin was spread across her lips as she entered the room. It looked much like it had before he went off the first time. More items, more books. Trivial items that made the room appear like he was living there again. It was a sight she welcomed, and it never occurred to her to look twice at some of them.

Jiaying leaned back to the edge of his desk, arms loosely crossed over her chest as she listened to him speak. Her smile dimmed a little as he went on; she had thought much about this lately, and it never failed to sour her mood. It was true that some of the thieves were lazy and careless – one had tried to pickpocket a Bloodhawk on duty, for fuck’s sake – but she could not look away from the fact  that she had been responsible for the recruitement of some of them. She could not help the annoyance creeping in on her as he spoke about them, though whether it was from her hurt pride or disappointment in her new thieves, she could not tell. 

“Tell me about it.” She accepted the tankard and took a large sip. “And do you have any suggestions, or are you just pointing out problems I’m well aware of, just like everyone else?” She sent him a pointed look, but quickly let it all go with a sigh, closing her eyes briefly as she did. She did appreciate his input, and she did want to talk to him about it at some point, even if now was not the time. It was not fair to redirect her annoyance with some of the other guild members at him. “I’m sorry,” she told him at last. She mindlessly tapped her fingertips to the tankard, and turned to look at him again. 

“I’m not here to talk politics. I’m leaving Grimsby tomorrow morning, actually. I considered leaving a note, but I decided I rather wanted to drop by before I leave.” She let a hint of a smile return to her lips at her own comment.

[nitaspicer]

Tricks of Trade ||FB-4|| Nita+Jiaying

[jiayxng-blog]

nitaspicer:

Nita’s lips curled into a cocky smirk at the stranger’s compliment. While she was better than most of the wolves present, the gathering mainly consisted of trainees like her. Some of them were younger and less experienced. Anshega’s true warriors were on the sidelines observing and offering pointers on each session.

“Good to meet you too, Jiaying.” She said, shaking her hand when it was offered. Nita didn’t know anything about her, but she seemed rather easy-going. It was a refreshing change, considering the hot-headed environment. “And yeah, this lot usually has their heads up their asses. Some of them look down on wolves like me.” She leaned against her bo-staff casually, treating it as if it were a walking stick. Nita didn’t care that the other wolves could likely hear the conversation. With such keen hearing, their kind either learned to bite their tongues or tune out background chatter. 

“Most wolves here were born as they are. I was a Hybrid, then bitten by the Alpha to become one of them. For some reason, they think that makes us different…” She caught a dirty look being thrown her way out the corner of her eye and chuckled. “I like to prove them wrong about that opinion, as such as possible.” 

Jiaying nodded along with her words. It was rather typical. It was all comparisons, often prompted by insecurity, that made people place others in boxes. Born werewolf and born hybrid. Often such boxes were complete with an assumed skill set. “And then they get offended that you’re exceeding their expectations,” she spoke, raising an eyebrow to emphasise her assumption. It all did nothing to reduce her interest in the woman - quite on the contrary. She had a spoft spot for hard-working people, and she was clearly one. 

It seemed Nita wasn’t the only one who noticed she was the odd one out, as she caught several of the wolves watching her. Only to be expected, considering their supposedly enhanced senses along with the obvious fact that she had not shown herself in Hala very often. Some did not seem too pleased by her presence at their practice grounds, but she proceeded to ignore them.

Her eyes travelled over to what looked much like mentors watching the matches, reaching out to the fighting wolves every once in a while to speak. None of them seemed to match the description of Inga, and she supposed she had to make peace with the fact that this day would be yet another one without the sight of her. Where the hell was she? She turned her gaze back to the wolf beside her, wanting to take the opportunity to ask about her regardless. “They seem like important people.” She nodded in the mentors’ direction. “Does the Beta join them sometimes? I’m assuming the Alpha has enough on his hands,” she added with a smile at her lips.

[jiayxng-blog]

Unexpected Visitor || FB: 3 Years Ago || Jaden & Jiaying

[jiayxng-blog]

jadeofathoria:

“I suppose there are other places to call home. I just happened to enjoy the wilderness.” It was a place few would dare call home. The fear of a murderous coven could be thanked for that. Jaden could not hold back a smile at the thought of this fear, fear of a person like Jaden? It was humorous to dwell of such a concept. 

“Truth and lies, lies and truth; Its only a lie if you do not believe and its only truth if you do.” Jaden was enjoying the game. The curious thing was, that behind the meaninglessness of it all was something stirring. A spark of curiosity that had ignited many observations ago. 

“I am not able to dictate what you should believe. If you cannot think for yourself…” Jaden shrugged, “Perhaps you are not the individual I sensed you to be.” Jaden shrouded their life in secrecy, they relished the cloak of invisibility the Oak could provide. People skills had long evaded the young mage but something inside them longed to make those connections if only for the sake of the coven. 

“Look at the evidence. This coven you have heard of practices earthen magic. They are said to kidnap humans and use them as sacrifices. Rather dark tales, would you say?” Jaden held out a hand toward the sky with a smile as his familiar swept in to perch upon his wrist. 

“Aja, its rude to interrupt.” Jaden stroked his feathers with affection, thankful for the break in the conversation. It gave them time to think through the next words carefully. “You are smart. You won’t hurt me. Its a fight that is unnecessary. You…” Jaden pointed to her with a smile, “You are too smart for fighting unnecessary battles and if you are still wondering about your question…..some stories should be believed.”

Dark tales was to put it lightly. These tales were the reason why people feared the woods and why it intrigued her. The person before her did not seem scary, however. Strange, yes, yet not one to grab a stranger off the road and make them sacrifices. If they were part of the Coven, she did not think the stories held as much truth to them as people wanted her to believe.

She looked up to watch a bird glide down towards them, landing on the stranger’s arm without a moment of hesitation. A familiar. She knew as much, having a friend whose familiar attacked her the first time they met; being accompanied by an animal as such could only mean the person before her was a mage as well. It only made more sense with a possible affiliation to the Coven, and their next words made a smile crawl across her lips. 

“You take long detours only to get to the answer by the end of it,” she pointed out. It was perfectly understandable that the stranger turned to carefully placed words on the topic of the Coven. However, being a mage in the Hallowed Oak with knowledge of the forest’s secrets? It made it rather obvious, and they had not tried to put her mind off the possibility, quite on the contrary. She enjoyed riddles and puzzles, though not always when put into conversations.

She loosened the tension in the bow, as it seemed they meant her no harm. “What stories are we talking about, then?” she asked. There were a million stories about the Hallowed Oak, and she couldn’t help being curious of which kinds should be believed, as they put it.

[jiayxng-blog]

Breaking and Entering || FB: 4 Years Ago || Jiaying & Tristan

[jiayxng-blog]

tristananshega:

It was no secret that Tristan and Inga did not exactly…get along. And why would they? Tristan, besides being generally pompous and arrogant, had no respect for women and regularly made comments to the idea that Inga was not qualified for the position she held, simply because of her sex. Any self respecting powerful woman would hate him. Hell, any woman would hate him, and therefore it was a bit odd that he was hanging around Inga’s house.

He had just been passing by it on his way home, but something told him to stay. Some kind of…new scent. Something he didn’t recognize as a pack member or, much less, a wolf. Wondering if, perhaps, Inga had been having some sort of, we’ll say, conjugal visit with someone of another species, Tristan wanted to stay and spy a little. See if he couldn’t come up with anything interesting.

But it didn’t take long to realize his initial theory was wrong, as Inga was no where to be found and the stranger went through the door of the house. Tristan’s senses went into high alert as he followed her in. Perhaps it was a friend of Inga’s he didn’t recognize. After all, what kind of thief would just walk straight through the door of the place they were stealing from?

Tristan cleared his throat upon entering the home, closing the door behind him. “Excuse me, but Inga isn’t home. Perhaps I could take a message? “

Part of her wanted to run. In most situations, it was the easy way out, but she quickly pushed the thought away. She was not necessarily even interacting with another human, and even if she was, the instinct was foolish. However, it did fit well with the rest of her actions. Walking through the door-- it seemed the fact that she was in a city of wolves had vanished off her mind, and the knowledge of their enhanced senses along with it. It was a childish plan to begin with. She was much better than this. It all brought warmth to the tips of her ears, colouring them slightly. She was grateful the room was dark.

“She didn’t answer the door; I assumed she was sleeping,” she told him, straightening her back a little. She had not prepared to be caught in a situation like this, as she assumed she had grown much too professional to be this lousy. Fortunately, it did not seem the man before her was any immediate threat, not yet anyway. Maybe she still could salvage the situation then, putting on an act she dearly hoped he would believe, at least for long enough to make her escape.

“It’s for the Beta’s ears only.” An apologetic smile spread across her lips. “But I thank you for the offer. Though... do you know where she has taken the way? Do you know when she’ll be back?”

[scornedearth]

Dangerous Night | Jiaying and Gage

[jiayxng-blog]

gage-of-athoria:

“red headed whore.” Gage slammed a glass on the table as she turned her back to Jiaying. She couldn’t let the human see her tremble over some bloody witch. She could still feel the searing pain as she carved at her stomach. She could taste the blood forced down her throat and it made her want to spew it all out. 

The moment of weakness lasted only a second. She whirled back to face the response, a melodic chuckle she could not ignore. It seemed to spark her own darker sense of humor which was better than the fear. 

“Who says you’d have to die.” Gage licked her lips at the thought of tasting just a drop. It would take all of her control to stop but given the amount of respect this human had earned from her, it would be an easy feat. Gage knew she could keep her alive, she had to keep this one alive. 

“A room….” Gage tilted her head mischievously. “You know I told you that to try and get you alone right?” She returned to scrubbing out glasses here and there while she spoke. “You can crash here if you trust me. Which by now…” Gage shrugged as she looked to the other body behind the bar. 

“You, watch this lot for a bit yeah?” 

“Ill show you to it. Hope you don’t mind a bit of a mess. I don’t normally have company.”

Gage hoped the human would follow as she opened the door leading down to the basement level. It was nice compared to the bar upstairs. There was a large bed with heavy blankets, a fireplace, and a massive wardrobe. Gage was always perfecting her look. Strewn across the bedside stand were various bits of makeup and brushes. 

“Its home but its bloody lonely. You can take the bed. I wont need it til sunup anyway.”

“Considering you comment before, lucky to be in one piece at all, yeah thats how it feels. My soul is truly damned now.”

Jiaying had several contacts in Southwind that would lend her a room the times she dropped by; this time she had wanted to draw as little attention as possible, and thus found herself without housing. Some taverns acted as inns, and it was with this that she had posed her question. She had perfectly understood Gage’s intentions the first time around, yet the two of them seemed to have come to an understanding of one another since then. Though their conversations often were stained by sharp words and subtle threats, they both knew they did not truly have any interest in harming the other. Despite Gage’s implication of a bite, she did not truly think she would commit to it without her consent. 

It was this trust that made her follow the her from the tavern’s common room. Admittedly, she had not expected to end up in her private living quarters. “Well, you’re a bold one, aren’t you?” she joked, raising an eyebrow at Gage as she stepped into the room. 

It was nothing like what she had expected a vampire’s cave to look like. It was the fireplace and the blankets that stuck out the most, as it gave the room a homely feel that contrasted to the plain, dark room she had imagined for them. Childish, perhaps, based off myths, stories and stereotypes. “And where will you be when I go to sleep? I don’t imagine your shift lasts all night.” It was a tempting offer, maybe free as well as comfortable. Her other alternative would be to leave the tavern and find a room at an inn, one that would offer her luxury for a hefty price and yet another walk in the winter air. 

Regardless of what she would end up with, she was intrigued by the prospect of being in privacy with the vampire; meeting in taverns, they were always surrounded by people. People listened in, and thus their words had been limited. Gage had told her bits and pieces of her story, though she was interested in whether she would tell her more when there were no people to eavesdrop on their conversation. She turned back to her as she spoke of her encounter with the witch. “How so?”

[jiayxng-blog]

Gengangere || Winter challenge

Winter member challenge Related to the events in my autumn member challenge

There would always be something nagging at her from the back of her mind. Things to do, problems to solve. Lately, those things seemed trivial, unnecessary worries; she had secrets she kept close to her heart, and it was these that kept her shoulders tense and her mind occupied. Today, however, none of these things seemed to matter. They had vanished from her mind, and it was as though they never existed at all as she sat with her back to the trunk of a large oak tree outside Grimsby.

It seemed a little strange, considering she had been in Southwind Fortress not long ago. She could not remember it was part of her plan to return to Grimsby so quickly, but that very thought soon disappeared as well, her mind trailing off onto another path, onto the present. The oak tree, Grimsby. Killi sitting beside her. Food and wine. They were well onto their second bottle, yet she could not truly feel the effects of the alcohol, not if she concentrated hard enough.

A day off duty and spent with one of her very favourite people. What more could she want?

“Something’s bothering you.” He had brought his button, the one from the festival. She thought he had thrown it into the cauldron, but she supposed he had kept it after all. And now he wanted another truth from her. Strangely, she appreciated it. There had been something on her mind. She could remember it now. In the end, she supposed he knew her better than she did sometimes. He put the button to her palm, held her hand with both of his.

“Tell me.”

The scene flickered. She was outside her front door, at the top of the stairs. It was dark. Night. It did not last long, and when she turned to look back at Killi once again, she was back at the old oak tree. Their hands were engulfed by blue fire, yet it did not hurt. She had told a truth. Had she really?

She was back at the stairs in only a matter of seconds. She knew the stone steps were cold beneath her feet even if she could not feel it. What if they find out? The voice was strange and unfamiliar. Humour in their tone as they spoke to her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she looked down at her hands. Blood. Blood on her hands and splatters of red on her nightwear. She knew then what sight would meet her at the bottom of the stairs. A pool of blood, orange fur. Certainly someone could use this to their favour. Nobody in their right mind murdered a cat in their sleep. Simply sleepwalking was too simple to work out the combination required to take a life. Nothing about all of this was remotely close to normal, and even the most dimwitted of them would know so. And if word got out? Some were already on the fence about her as Tyche, after several missions gone awry. It could tip the scales if someone used it to their advantage. Someone with a respectable position and a clever mind.

They’ll think you have gone mad.

The cold winter air wrapped around her. The stairs were gone, the blood, the cat, the button and the oak tree. Replaced by the drunken chatter from the tavern in Southwind Fortress and the stink of alcohol. She was still in her nightwear, however, just as she had been at the top of the stairs. It took her a moment to take it all in. Waking up outside a busy tavern at night in only her nightwear. She could feel the adrenaline rushing in her blood as she came to the realisation.

“Bed felt lonely, huh, didn’t it? I’ll help a pretty girl out, keep you company...” She turned to see a man, uncomfortably close and clearly drunk. A wide grin on his face, eyes taking in the sight of her. Before both she and the drunk man could even registrer it, she slapped him hard across the face. Pure instinct, an action promoted by the fast heart beat and the adrenaline.

“Piss off.”

She was not there to see his cheek turn bright red, but rather hurried inside with long, determined strides. The man was forgotten within seconds, replaced by one single thought, screaming at her. 

It had happened again. 

[nitaspicer]

Tricks of Trade ||FB-4|| Nita+Jiaying

Hala 4 Years Ago @jiayxng

Nita often spent her time with the Warriors of Anshega when she wasn’t trading. Given her aspirations, it was a weekly occurrence. However, some of her fellow packmates often joked about it. She was someone who spent their days traveling and was the savior of witches, healers, and cooks all over the country. She’d done it for years and would happily continue, but she was often jokingly called the ‘Merchant with a Warrior’s Heart’. Long ago, she’d learned how to protect herself, to make sure what happened to her never repeated itself. Nita was strong enough to save her own skin, but what about others? She was told that being a warrior of the pack was no small thing. It wasn’t just about herself or the heat of battle, but all of Vargulf. 

Even with that knowledge, Nita still could not bring herself to be that disciplined. Her pride always got in the way, that voice that kept egging her to place herself first was loud as ever. Sometimes, she wondered if it was her own form insanity, to keep making the same mistakes over and over. Despite her habits, Nita still worked hard to hone her skills and perfect them. She had years upon years on her side, and she knew her resolve would match her skills eventually. For now, she’d continue on as she always did. Sparring with her peers was a wonderful way to pass the time and nourish her ego. Though the latter might not be for the best, there was nothing like handing a cocky man his own ass, which was already in the process of.

“Aaand that’s your neck, yet again.” She said to her current sparring partner. “You’re lucky I didn’t thwack you that time! Call it merciful, I guess…insult me again, and I might not be.” She’d taken him on twice now and bested him in front of the group. Competition among wolves was not only a friendly hobby, but a way to assert dominance between one another. Werewolves may not have been actual animals, but their instincts and habits still mirrored their fully wolven brethren. Finished with her fight, Nita took her bo staff and retired to the sidelines. For once, she didn’t grab for her skin of whiskey, but water instead. 

Next to her, was a women she’d never scented before, nor a face she’d seen in Hala. She smelled different, like she came from a close-knit city, instead of a place like Hala. Nita turned toward her, raising a curious brow. “You enjoy the show? Can’t imagine you get see sweaty werewolves fight in the springtime where you come from.” 

[jiayxng-blog]

It was simply by chance that she heard word of the werewolves’ sparring grounds. Eavesdropping had proven mostly ineffective, but at the mention of a place like this, Jiaying had sharpened her ears; a woman with a sword like the one she was about to steal undoubtedly had to spend some of her time in such a place. And if the Beta herself would not be present, she could not imagine there would be anyone who did not know her. It was with this in mind that she found herself by the sidelines, watching as the werewolves practiced against one another.

There was a woman present, beautiful and fierce, with skills greater than all the men combined; at first she was convinced this might be the woman she was looking for. However, she quickly let this idea go as soon as she heard the petty comments some of the men threw her way. Beta was a respected position, so she had gathered, and she dearly hoped few were as dimwitted as to show their lack of respect so bluntly. Of course, they clearly fit the category in some aspects, with their pride too great to admit the skills of the woman. It made it all the more amusing to watch as she beat them, seemingly without much effort at all.

“Hardly,” she responded as the woman turned to her after yet another win. A smile tugged at her lips. “You made the show worth watching.” Frankly, she was the sole reason Jiaying had not turned as soon as she figured Inga wasn’t present. Not only did she peak her interest, but a woman like her had to know a thing or two about the Beta. Maybe she knew where she was, or maybe something about her sword-- at that very thought, it was as though her mind went blank for a brief second. The sword was just a sword. Nothing more, nothing less. There was no reason to ask about it. She furrowed her brows slightly before turning back to the woman, trying to shake of the lingering confusion and hoping she hadn’t noticed. 

“It’s Jiaying.” She offered her a hand to do a proper greeting before she glanced over at the other werewolves present. 

“You’re better than most of them, if not all. Are they always this arrogant?” 

[killian-ravenswood-blog]

Killian & Jiaying || Hold Me Tight

Grimsby @jiayxng

Everything was about to change.

He could feel it in the palm of his hands quite literally. As he stood in the middle of his loft in Grimsby staring down at the flesh, he watched as the purple magic pulsated slowly. He squeezed his palms together and closed his eyes, focusing his energy and very soul on the magic inside of his body, hoping to recharge. Yet when he opened them to look down at his hands once again, the magic inside his hands only reacted weakly like a child slumping into a nap.

“It’s fucking wards. You act like I spent the entire day raising the damn demon already,” he said to himself, or more to his magic as if it were it’s own entity. Killian’s sigh was more than frustrated. He was happy to get the wards back up in his loft yet he wasn’t exactly planning on needing to replenish his magic so quickly. Why was he feeling so weak, anyway?

Night time in Grimsby was always a beautiful sight. From the loft window, Killian could see the large lake and the boats coming in from a long evening of fishing. He had taken the eternal light from the Lighthouse a few years ago, but over time another flame had been constructed and the boats followed that light home. If he listened close enough, he could hear the hollering and bellowing of fishermen on the piers, the drunken sailors stumbling from their boats and caravans, and the dock workers all trying to assist with the load so they could earn a coin or two for the taverns. Life in Grimsby was truly Killian’s favorite adventure. Yet the thought was guilt driven, as always. As Killian knew this was not where he truly belonged.

God damn legacy titles, and all.

But he cheered up quickly when from out the window he saw his temporary means of his existence heading up the road towards his loft. Jiaying. His Tyche. And Killian couldn’t help the cheeky grin that tugged at his lips. And he realized that at least for the next few months he could still relish the idea of not being a legacy and continue on with his mission…one that was started seven long years ago. One that would be finished in only a few weeks at last. After all, his life in Grimsby with Jiaying was something that could be permanent, something that didn’t leave a stain on his reputation or name.

He wondered if his parents and the people of Miervaldis were looking for him now that they knew he wasn’t in a coma.

The quicker he raised this demon, the better.

Killian waved through the window at her, leaning against the frame to watch her further.

[jiayxng-blog]

Jiaying had no idea what to expect from her travel to Hala. She had been there several times before, of course, getting to know the area properly and planning her heist. Frankly, it was a suicide mission without a proper plan - she could not count on leaving with her life if she was caught stealing the sword. Sometimes she found herself wondering why she had agreed to the mission at all, though the thought was quickly put aside each time. It was the thrill of the heist, the adrenaline rushing through her blood. The sixty golden coins. As Tyche she spent more time organising heists than joining them personally, and she missed it.

The day had largely been spent preparing. Leaving a mission for Ivar to do along with some other thieves while she was gone, looking at maps and notes she had gathered about Hala over the years. Taking a bath before spending days on horseback. Her hair was still damp as she made her way towards Killi’s loft. She had opted for more comfortable clothing than her usual armour and she had not bothered braiding her hair, tying her hair up in a loose bun to keep it from her eyes instead. Neither did much against the cold winter air, and she walked with long, quick strides to keep her warmth.

Maybe she simply should’ve left him a note before she went off to Hala, returning the favour. I’m off on business. Don’t know when I’ll be back. Take care of the house while I’m gone. Nothing more, nothing less. It was tempting, and maybe she would’ve done it too had she not missed him as much as she did. They had not seen one another since the festival. So much had happened then, and she did not know what to expect when she came knocking on his door. Killian Ravenswood. Their trust. The kiss. The latter was a memory that visited her quite frequently these days, even if she tried not to let it. There were other things to focus on than a silly kiss; the Emerald Hand, the Anshega Beta’s sword, the King’s expansion and the Bloodhawks. Her sleepwalking and the dead cat. She did not have time to spend her days daydreaming.

Hell, she never thought some high-born asshole would get under her skin like this.

Yet, as she neared the tailor’s shop, seeing him by his window, she could not fight the smile spreading across her lips. She returned the wave and quickened her pace further. It did not take long until she was outside his door, not bothering to knock as she waited for him to open.

[scornedearth]

Dangerous Night | Jiaying and Gage

[jiayxng-blog]

gage-of-athoria:

Gage leaned forward and with a playful smile. She was more than alright by this point but she could remember the feelings from the past. they were engraved there to take up residence forever. “Did I ever apologize for that?” Gage was in a much better place at the moment. There was no lingering paranoia or fight or flight. It was simply Gage conversing with a human she had grown quite fond of. If it had not been Jiaying that night it might have ended much differently. 

“I believe in fate.” Gage returned to wiping down glasses here and there, stopping only to refill the drinks of her patrons. Despite being a vampire, the place was quite crowded and warm. “ A witch held me captive in Leeds. I lost time due to the block on my mind. What you saw in me last we met….. it was fear and confusion. I won’t trouble you with the details.”

Gage wasn’t quite ready to talk about it with anyone other than Kali. Jiaying was falling into being a good friend but opening up about her issues was still difficult waters to navigate. “If you want me to grab you by the collar and drag you over the bar to be my personal blood bag…” Gage offered a shrug and a playful wink at the idea, though she would never hurt this human. Jiaying had proved to be worth a decent conversation to the vampire. There was something about her that had Gage intrigued from day one. 

“How long are you going to be in Southwind?”

“A witch in Leeds, huh?” she repeated in a mumble. Leeds had no lack of corrupt witches. Dark magic seemed to have gotten the best of them, as recent events in the city had proven. Truthfully, she had never understood the extent dark magic could harm and destroy before she found herself in the middle of  what truly had seemed like Hell on Earth, surrounded by demons and witches reaching towards the hand in the sky. Eris too, who had accompanied her through it all-- she remembered it all clearly. Dark magic had once been simply a powerful branch of magic, one that she did not know much about; magic was magic, and she would use it for her own or the Hand’s good if she got the chance to. She never offered a thought to what it truly entailed. The corruption. The destruction. She had never been one to care much about morals, but she could not imagine what good could come from it. After the event in Leeds, she had sworn to keep a considerable distance from it if she could, and Gage’s words did nothing to change her mind about it. “I don’t blame you for your paranoia. I guess you should count yourself lucky to get out in one piece at all.”

Though a part of her was curious, she knew did not truly want any of the details, and let the vampire change the subject. There were already more than enough to occupy her mind at the moment. She took another sip of ale.

A laugh quickly followed Gage’s offer. “I’ll pass this time. I do appreciate being alive.” The latter might not be entirely obvious, particularly not if one knew why she was passing through Southwind Fortress in the first place. 

“I’ll be off in the morning,” she told her. Then she leaned over the counter, looking at her expectantly. “Didn’t you say you had rooms to spare last time I was here? I’ll take the best you have.” A grin appeared on her lips following her words. In only a couple of weeks she would either be very rich or very dead; both possibilities were reasons to throw some money at things she wanted that she did not truly need, and an overpriced room for the night undoubtedly fit the category.

[jiayxng-blog]

Unexpected Visitor || FB: 3 Years Ago || Jaden & Jiaying

[jiayxng-blog]

jadeofathoria:

Jaden was enthralled. Their eyes fixed at the belt holding two perfectly crafted blades. Jaden had striven to remain neutral, but it was a neutrality with an absence of peace. The storm within their soul raged as a hurricane in reverse and he was at the eye, in the calm of existence. Fighting was a part of living. Peace could not live without the war. Peace existed because of war. Her voice broke the chains of rational thoughts like shattering glass. She was honest, they could tell. She had no reason to lie to them.

“If I gave you a reason to hurt me. I think you are more calculated. Swinging blindly at an me when you know nothing about what or who I am.” They smirked at her question, eyes falling to the ground briefly with the weight of a chuckle. It was rude to stare someone in the eye and show amusement. It also happened to be a good way to get into a fight.

“The Coven?” He plopped down on the grass at a safe distance. “Is that the group of witches they say sacrifice people, innocent lives lost in the woods?” Their eyes enlarged in amusement, a smug grin forming at his lips. Eye contact, confidence; they were characteristics they seldom let emerge but there they were.

“Do you really believe those stories?” They laid back with their hands behind their head. The sky looked to be gathering rainclouds. This poor woman might find herself up a creek without a paddle.

“I live in the Oak because I do not wish to go back from whence I came or where I have been. The city life is not for me. “ Jaden saddened instantly as they spoke of their time in Brailston. Every detail laced the timbre of their words. It was obvious that there was a deeper rooted reason they did not like the city. It was a place that reeked of unnecessary evil.

Jaden knew the world at its wildest heart was a cruel and unfeeling place. It was the law of nature but man’s law was formed with iron chains. The sort of cruelty that held a man captive and crumbled every ounce of dignity until they had nothing left but a name. Jaden had had their entire identity striped from then in the few years they spent chained to that sinking ship of a city.

“What if my answer to your question was yes? Would you be afraid or move to strike me down?”

The person before her was clever, it was not hard to tell. They had caught up with her, speaking her mind even if she had not told them much. It was true she would not simply start a fight with a stranger like this; while she knew little and less about them, she did know they knew more than they let on. Knowledge was a sharp weapon in itself, and they had not sugar coated the fact that they knew how to fight. No, she knew better than simply starting a fight with someone who shrouded themselves in mystery like the one before her. 

She almost laughed out loud at their explanation. The city life is not for me. “There are other places to live if you wanted away from the city.” Hallowed Oak was a strange place to move regardless of how deep their hate for the city ran. “These woods would be no place to live if you knew nothing about the truths and lies of the stories, would it?” That, or they were mad. However, judging by their conversation as well as their repeated spying, she could not rule out the latter.

Stories usually came from a place of truth, even if it was only small parts of it, hidden beneath extravagant details that would make it more appealing to the public. Thus, part of her wanted to think it was not all talk; another part of her knew the lust for danger and adventure people possessed-- she had it too, after all. It could undoubtedly drive people to make up absurd stories without any hint of truth that the original ones once had. “You tell me. Should I believe them?”

And what if they were part of the Coven? Of course she would not try to strike them down. The person before her, whoever they were, did not seem to have any intentions of hurting her, and she hardly wanted to make an enemy of them without reason. She could help the amusement that spread across her features at the question. “What, do you want reassurance I’m not going to hurt you?”

[scornedearth]

Dangerous Night | Jiaying and Gage

@jiayxng

The bar was alive with the chatter of recent events. The missing queen mother, what a tragedy. Gage stood behind the bar with a grin plastered on her undead face. She found the entire situation comical. She could imagine the little distraught king running around looking for his poor mommy. What a world, what a world.

How did Gage feel? A smug grin danced across her face as she served a few gossiping patrons. She was on thin ice as it was but she couldn’t hide the humor within the story. She hated the Athor line in a childish sort of way. That old bat in Chile had been far too prying and far too prejudice of supernaturals. It wasn’t really pressing until she had been thrust to the other side of the fence. 

“The whole bloody country has been turned upside down.”

Gage laughed through the words with pure amusement. There was no thought to be careful or need to be. It was the furthest place from reach, or so it had been since she came here.

It was only after she had spoken that she realized who she was speaking to. “Jiaying?” She leaned across the counter to immediately prepare her usual. “We seem to keep meeting this way…..” It was still there in the back of her mind, the way they had left each other the last time. A mess indeed. Gage had healed her mind or at least the outward appearance of it. 

“Thanks for last time. Drinks on me tonight.”

[jiayxng-blog]

The ride from Grimsby had been long, and the sight of Southwind Fortress was a welcome one. She was quick to find her way to the local tavern, aching for a cold ale and a room to stay the night. She was met by loud chatter when she entered, and a familiar vampire back behind the bar. 

It did not seem she noticed her at all when she approached, and she sat down on a bar stool by the counter while she waited for the bartender’s attention. When she got it, a smile spread across her lips. “You seem awfully content with that fact.” Jiaying offered her a raised brow. Personally, she despised the whole situation. The arrests had certainly affected the Emerald Hand and its members, and having Bloodhawks so close to the thieves guild’s head quarters was nothing short of uncomfortable. Still, this evening was no time to linger at the annoyance it all brought her, and she was determined not to let it get at her.

“It seems we do. I would say it’s fate, had I believed it existed.” She flashed her a grin. She responded to her promise of free drinks by raising her ale, fresh from the tap, offering a single nood in silent cheers! before bringing the glass to her lips. 

She took a moment to look over the vampire as she put her glass down on the table again. She seemed different. Less exhausted and not nearly as skittish. “Are you sure you’re alright?” A hint of amusement appeared in her eyes. “You haven’t tried to grab me by the shirt yet. I thought that was the customary welcome.”

[jiayxng-blog]

Breaking and Entering || FB: 4 Years Ago || Jiaying & Tristan

City of Hala @tristananshega

Breaking into someone’s house was always risky, and particularily when you neither knew much about the target nor their current whereabouts. Though she had tried to search for information about the Beta, listening in on conversations and starting her own with people from the tavern, it had proved to be close to fruitless. After a week’s effort, she decided that it was worth a shot to sneak up to her living quarters despite the lack of information on her.

It was not as though she could complete this whole mission without taking risks, besides. Stealing from the Beta of the Anshega? Hell, sometimes she questioned why she had accepted the offer at all - was her life really worth twenty golden coins? Even if the question had run through her head multiple times, she had done nothing to cancel the mission. Finally being in Hala, she could not let the opportunity slip from her fingers, and thus she finally found her way to Inga’s house. 

The dark had fallen upon them and the street was deserted. Was she going to do anything like this without any proper knowledge on the Beta, she might as well do it the easy way. Naturally, less people naturally meant less trouble. With only the moon as light, she could see little and less through the windows. None of them were open either, and it left the door as the obvious option. Picking a lock took little to no time at all, and this time was no exception. It was when she threw a glance down the road that she realised that perhaps she had let the simplicity of the task dull her senses. 

Apparently, she was not alone. 

[jiayxng-blog]

Preparations || FB: 5 Years Ago || Jiaying & Miniel

[jiayxng-blog]

angelminiel:

It would have never been Miniel’s plan to stay at Grimsby if not for the whisper of a storm coming from the ocean. She didn’t know of this place as much as she should by now and her lack of knowledge was only made worse by the small detail that she was in a rush; not that it mattered now, with the rumours and the danger of travelling with her clothes through a path condemned by poor weather. “At the very least I might find a few new clients.” She thought to herself before organizing a tent in a small unoccupied space no one seemed to be bother. In the event of water actually falling from the sky her heart was in piece at the fact there was a tavern less than a ‘street’ of distance. Right at the moment her focus was to make herself known so something good might come out of the situation, and in the end she wasn’t nearly in a bad mood as any other being would be in her place.

As a consequence of staying there she had taken her time to observe the living. There weren’t many humans in comparison to Brailston, and one could say it did feel crowded; like somehow the city wasn’t well thought of and there weren’t enough space for all the people and their houses. She wondered how it had been organized in the past, or if the humans had organized it itself, simply by going there and building their homes wherever they could. Whatever the option she didn’t have the time to find out and soon it became clear no one would approach her being, besides the interest everybody showed to a foreigner. Deciding it was best to focus on getting back to Brailston, she judged wise to wait only one more day before leaving; thus, the angel now stood waiting, hopefully, for somebody who might show any interest in her dresses and garments.

“Afternoon!” The angel grinned at the sudden realization somebody was actually checking her clothings. A second was enough to decide the best form of approach, which was exactly the one she had promised to try in case somebody showed interest: act as usual.

“Don’t be shy, dear. I promise you these fine clothes won’t melt in your hands, as delicate as they might seem.” Winking at her, Miniel retraced a few steps before settling in a  good enough distance to observe. She was eager to help as much as she wanted to advise the young girl - it was a young girl, after all - about whatever clothes would go well with her appearance and body, but maybe it was best to wait; in a different place like this, who knows what would take to scare a client away. “

Anything appealing to your eyes?” And once again hopeful Miniel made an appearance.

Many of the dresses were sewn from fabric both softer and more luxurious than she had ever dreamt of wearing in her life. It certainly was a contrast to her leather clothing and worn cotton shirts, and it was a strange thought thinking some people simply wore these fabrics every single day. She did not know whether to feel jealous about it or not; while the fabrics were both beautiful and soft, dresses were hardly practical. Well, she supposed in order to afford wearing them, they had to be far above work that required practicality. 

Regardless of her own social standing, she had one night where she could slip in among the lordlings. It was a small event, a party to show off their wealth. It meant a party with expensive accessories and decorations - those were the things that had caught the attention of the Emerald Hand’s Hermes, and the things she and her partner were paired up to get away with. In order to do so, she needed the right costume, and she suspected a tavelling tailor knew more about the current trends of lords and ladies than she did. 

“Of course. There are many fine dresses on display.” She offered the woman a smile. It struck her the woman was young as well, perhaps her age, even. For a brief second she could not help but wonder if she had someone to escort her about or if the reason she and her clothes were all in tact was due to pure luck. Jiaying quickly turned her eyes to the clothes. “I don’t want to spend too much money on a dress, but I do need a pretty one. Something some lady from Brailston could wear.” She glanced up at the vendor, not sure if she made an impossible request or not. “Do you have anything like it?”

[wordsnquotes]

If there’s a single lesson that life teaches us, it’s that wishing doesn’t make it so.

Lev Grossman, The Magicians (via wordsnquotes)

[jiayxng-blog]

Unexpected Visitor || FB: 3 Years Ago || Jaden & Jiaying

[jiayxng-blog]

jadeofathoria:

“I can see you are confident.” Jaden nodded at her words. They knew she was more than likely growing annoyed. No one liked to be told they made a mistake. “A bow is a tricky thing to master. You should feel very accomplished.” Their eyes went from Judgmental to hinting at admiration. Jaden could lace their words with their magic ever so slightly. This was how the tides turned in their favor. 

The quick shot question, who are you, rang through their ears. Who was Jaden, what could they say as far as who they were.  An Answer was demanded. They looked her up and down, unblinking and wide eyed. It was not a question they could answer quickly. It would take time to delve into the belly of that beast. 

“Who are you? What would ease your conscious? I can give you a name but you will find no comfort in the title. Who we all are is based on more than a name.” Jaden paced in front of them with their hands moving as they spoke around the subject. Answering her question with a question was all part of the mystery that was hidden deep in their eyes. 

“I am Jaden Nicoline, I live in the Oak and I am a beekeeper. Is this what you want to know?” They smiled with all the mischief their pearly whites could muster. “ I know quite a bit about you, you are a fighter. You carry weapons and I suspect you occasionally use them. You would have no trouble using those blades on me.”

Jaden Nicoline, a beekeeper. It did not truly tell her anything at all. It did not answer how long they had spied on her, or why they had chosen to show themselves. It did not answer if their spying was simply a source of entertainment or if they had an ulterior motive behind it; the answer nothing to cease her concious, and it seemed they knew it themselves. She supposed she had asked the wrong question and simply received the appropriate answer. 

“No, I won’t,” she simply replied to his comment about her blades. She was a fighter, it was true. She prided herself on her skills in close combat in particular - dancing light on her feet with a blade in each hand, strikes clear and executed with confidence. Of course, being too arrogant about it would undoubtedly backfire as she knew she still had room to grow. When it came down to it, she was a strategist most of all. Her fighting was good, but it was heavily influenced by quick thinking and strategic attacks and dodges. More often than not she avoided fighting altogether in favour of silent steps or words spun from gold.

“How come you live in the Oak?” she proceeded to ask, not sure she believed them. She cocked her head to the side as she looked them up and down, trying to somehow make sense of them.  “Are you part of the Coven?” She was not sure if she was being completely serious as she spoke the question aloud. There were many rumours about the Hallowed Oak, and many of them were intertwined with rumours about the mages. She did not truly think anyone would live in the forest voluntarily, unless they somehow had ties to the rumoured source of unrest within the woods. 

[jiayxng-blog]

Unexpected Visitor || FB: 3 Years Ago || Jaden & Jiaying

[jiayxng-blog]

jadeofathoria:

“Perhaps more than once or twice.” Jaden was quick to close the distance in silence. Their agility among the foliage was unmatched by most humans. He had made a point to go unnoticed until today when. “So, your escort is out of town. You are here alone.” Jaden was impressed by such a boldness. The girl was a fighter, they could feel the spirit within them. Perhaps the young mage even fed from it.

“You are either very brave, very stupid, or simply too arrogant to know the difference. Judging by the apparent lack of concentration, I would hope you have brought another method of defense, ah….” Jaden’s eyes dropped to the twin blades at her side with a nod and a smile of amusement.

They had tasted close combat before. The adrenaline had left them in shambles among the shadows on many occasions. Violence remained an egregious necessity to them. They must kill to survive, it was the law of nature. They wondered silently what moral compass directed this woman.

The judgment radiated from the intensity of their stare. Jaden found themself utterly intrigued at the aura before them. A bow materialized in their hand and they shot three arrows in rapid succession. Flawlessly, they flew true and landed withing millimeters of each other.

“If you must kill, kill quickly. If you must fight, fight confidently. There is no room for doubt or distraction.” Jaden took a stance a safe distance from the woman. They wished to stay just out of reach of the length of her blade.

“To answer your question, why…” Jaden looked sidelong toward her.

“From the first time I watched you I have admired your perseverance toward perfection. Each time you returned the skill came more quickly and confidently. You are not afraid of the oak either. It is intriguing that you came alone today.”

Overthinking, lack of concentration. The bow was not her weapon of choice for good reasons and she knew them well, yet she could not help feeling a little annoyed by the person before her pointing them out. It was only one stray arrow - it could happen anyone. Her mood was not bettered by their extravagant show off, both conjuring a bow from nothing and shooting the arrows with impressive precision. She would not let her admiration of the precisely placed arrows display on her face, and offered them a roll of her eyes instead. 

“You don’t have to tell me how to fight.” She knew these things. She had been trained by a mercenary most of her life and excelled in the use of her twin blades. She was part of the Emerald Hand - while she got away most of the time through her soundless steps, she had used her blades on several occasions. Fighting was not unknown to her. 

Compliments were laced into their confession as to why they had been spying, and though it did help on her sour mood, she could not push away the fact that they had been observing her over quite some time. “I’ve been here alone a few times before.” She did not believe they had watched her every time, and she guessed they had simply passed by when she and her father had been practicing. Though she thought of their observation of her was more done at random rather than having sought her out, the way they formulated themselves could make one think differently.

“Who are you?” she demanded.