Saccharine Poison

She's sweet, she's kind, she's got a knife. (Indie OC Ana Sofia)

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

@eggyeiji

Ana sighed happily as she ran her hands over the beautiful clothes at the thrift shop. New York really was a place of miracles. So many fashionable people in a confined place really paid off in how many treasures could be found for a discount. Oh, she just couldn’t wait to try some of these on..!

Reaching out thoughtlessly to pull out a shirt that caught her eye, she found human skin instead of fabric. She had to steel herself to not react too quickly when she met another pair of wide brown eyes. Slowly remove the hand, don’t look suspicious or fast.

“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” She apologized quickly.

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak‌

He couldn’t remember ever being told that training was to begin, in fact, he was quite sure that to some extent they were made already aware. Already war-worthy and battle ready. Perhaps they were. Not that it mattered now, of course. 

“I… wouldn’t say no to coffee.” He could deal without food, but the lack of caffeine in his life presently was nothing short of a travesty. That and the chance to sit somewhere dry if only for an hour was tempting. “If you truly don’t mind that is.”

“I’ve shared coffee with worse.” She admitted humorously, gesturing for him to follow her out of the alley. It was better to get this guy out in public if she was still worried about him, anyway. If he was fine? Well, then, she only had conversation to gain and nothing too much to lose. She didn’t get nearly enough opportunities to socialize...

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak‌

“Well it certainly seems to have not let you down.” It seemed that for now, at least, that any animosity had dissipated and they were now somewhat at ease with one another. It was reassuring to know that she understood a little of where he was coming from, though it did make him curious as to how and why she ended up being raised in that sort of world. 

“I came from a family of soldiers.” he confessed, leaving a great many details out of the equation and condensing the whole thing as best he could. “Some of those learned lessons and this have kept me going many a time.”

“Soldiers.” She echoed, trying to keep her tone neutral. That never sounded good to her. Either in connection to the military or in other organizations. “That explains your skill, then.” 

Pausing for a second, she debated herself for a moment. Standing out like this made her nervous. “Look, if you’re hungry or something, I’ll treat you. I’m not made of money or anything but I can do that.”

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

“Yes, something like that. It makes ends meet.” odd jobs here and there went so far, but sometimes they were few and far between. Dabbling in this field of expertise filled his time until he found another job that wasn’t quite so questionable.

“Ha! Well, it’s nice to meet you Sofia.” he offered with a genuine smile. “That was quite a show you put on there. And I’m sorry, for trying to steal from you. Needs must, and all that.”

“It’s okay-- I mean, I understand that kind of place.” She responded, having to quickly correct her easy forgiveness. His smile had been so pretty that it just wasn’t fair. Why did such attractive people have to exist out in this world? It was just to malicious to her tender sensibilities. “I grew up in a place where it was pretty common.”

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

“In alleyways? No. I’m more of a crowd worker, as a rule.” he much preferred emptying pockets of tourists and through busy streets where the hustle and bustle often worked in his favour, he’d taken a risk by trying it on someone alone in an alley where it would be far easier for his little act to be unravelled. But still, what was done was done. 

“Do you always carry?” he asked with a vague gesture toward her. He’d been impressed, and she was evidently someone who knew a fair bit about weaponry and how best to wield them when engaging in close quarters. 

“And can I ask your name, at least?”

“A career thief, then? Good thing I do always carry.” She said, raising her eyebrows at him like a light accusation. Zaire seemed to be fairly honest here. That’s something Ana always felt familiarly comfortable with: an honest thief. That was back when life was simple, huh? Just a family of easy going thugs... 

A name. Right. “Don’t know if you deserve my name after that. Sofia, though, if you want to do things backwards.” She joked.

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

He relaxed somewhat when she lowered her own hands, though he was mindful to keep his eyes on her. He wasn’t too willing to have a repeat performance of this little scrap too soon. Besides, she’d peaked his interest and he wanted answers to his questions on where she’d learned what she knew. It wasn’t exactly run of the mill.

“No, I suppose I didn’t.” he offered with a light shrug, shaking the last of the effects from his body. “I haven’t much to tell you, I’m not really anybody. But my name’s Zaire, if you’re wondering. Does that help?”

“Not particularly.” She admitted. Hesitantly, after a moment, she lifted her skirt to briefly reveal the rather tactical and plain thigh holster she sheathed her knife in. Just as soon as he got a peek, it was gone again. 

In a show of looking casual, she rested her hands tentatively on her hips. “Do you always try to grab girls in the alley, Zaire?” 

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

He let a few moments go by in silence, giving himself a minute or two to recover properly and regain any composure that he lost. He would have been embarrassed by his performance if he wasn’t so utterly impressed by her display and form. There were worse people in the world to lose against in a fight.

“I want nothing. Not after that.” He raised his hands slightly, palms open to show he’d opted to forfeit any chance at a second round. Clearly, she wasn’t in the same frame of mind but he hoped he’d at least be a little more prepared should she launch another assault just to make sure he wasn’t going to try anything else.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?”

Was this guy just a random pick pocket? Ana knew that she didn’t exactly... Not invite assault by looking like an easy target. It could be that this was just a grave miscalculation and bad luck on his part. An attempt at thievery gone terribly wrong. Still, his skill put her on edge. 

The question made her bristle but she knew that she needed to play it cool on the off-chance that he wasn’t a true enemy. Being upset over a question like that just looked suspicious. “You didn’t answer my first question.” She said smoothly, lowering her hands without ever looking away from him. 

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

And there it was, the thing that threw him off completely and left him breathless and trying his best not to throw up. It had been a long time since he’d had to use any sort of martial arts, and he was most definitely rusty. He made a mental note to brush up on these things as he shook off her attack, previously unaware of just how lax he’d become. 

“Alright… Alright… I yield.” he took a few steps backwards to a relatively safe distance, his voice now strained as he caught his breath and sent a hand to try and ease the ache at his throat.  

“I pity anyone that gets on the wrong side of you, Miss.”

Success.

She brought her fists back up to show that she was ready and willing to go for his throat with the other hand this time, her breathing only slightly heavier now. Where her opponent was rusty, she was well practiced. Not a day went by that she didn’t work on her survival skills. Even if she didn’t fight for years, she was almost afraid that she would never forget how to.

The admission of defeat confused her briefly. This wasn’t a sparring match. One didn’t yield out in the real world, right? It was fight to the death or flee. “... Who are you and what do you want?” She demanded to know, not letting up even slightly.

And now that the had a chance to look at her attacker... Holy shit. He was beautiful! No, don’t start blushing! That wasn’t scary, don’t you dare blush at him!

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

Well, he most certainly couldn’t chalk this evening up as another boring night with the same old idiots falling to his lightening of their pockets and bags. He almost regretted not making a swift exit from the alley way, he would have been able to put a sensible distance between them. And yet here he stood, almost dumbfounded when she pulled the shining blade from its resting place. He had to admit, it was a little exciting. 

He dodged her lunge, shifting slightly to the side of her and using the closeness to his advantage. Swinging his right arm across his body as he turned, he used the prosthetic as a makeshift shock absorber should she manage to make contact, making an earnest attempt to force her hand downward and away from him. 

“Someone’s been doing her self-defence homework.” her grip on her weapon was strong and sure, and he was intrigued to see just how far she’d be willing to go. He hadn’t had the luxury of being able to retrieve his own knife from his boot without leaving himself wide open to her, so bare hands it would have to be. 

For now at least.

She had more than one hand, dumbass.

While he spoke, she was already sending her open palm towards his throat while he was distracted with his short success in parrying her knife. The fact that he was able to react to her quickly enough was cause for her to want to get at least one solid hit in so that she could incapacitate him. Now that she had actually hit his right arm with the blade, she was sure that it was reinforced somehow. Not loosely. What if it was just all that hard material?

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

zairemalak

Complacency was a killer. Fact. 

And his face colliding with her knee was a stark reminder that one really shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. He didn’t need to be a genius to realise that he’d chosen the wrong individual; sure she’d seemed preoccupied with whatever was in her head, and she’d seemed ill-equipped to really give chase and whatnot with those heels. 

He’d not be making that mistake again.

Righting himself, he closed what little gap existed between them as he dragged his arm backwards. He gave her a swift and sharp push with his free hand, forcing just enough distance between them to her hold on his wrist. It would at least buy him enough time to brace himself if she had more to give.

This wasn’t how he’d planned on spending his evening.

Ana felt herself shoved back by an oddly firm hand. Reinforced gloves? Didn’t look like it. Movement? Doesn’t seem to be hindered. Perhaps a very well made brace and he had used his non-dominant side against her initially? Unlikely, but possible. The shove had not been as quick as his initial attack with the left hand, which she had determined to be unhindered by a brace. 

When he did not run after putting distance between them, she reached beneath the hem of her pink skirt to unsheathe her karambit from it’s thigh holster. Deft fingers quickly spun it into place as she put herself into an offensive position. Her ankles were going to ache later but she didn’t have the time to kick them off as she closed the space between them, making a swipe at him with her weapon.

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

Pick Pocket Dance

It was always so late when she finally had time to go grocery shopping. Damn, she needed to get a lot. She really needed to invest in one of those wide carabiner grocery holder things. Her arms were only so long to carry so many bags...

Cutting through the garbage filled alley between large buildings, her thoughts were mostly filled with this. Sure, she noticed some guy walking the opposite direction towards her but she had a grocery list to think about.

Until she felt fingers on her glittery pink purse.

Reacting instinctively, she grabbed onto his wrist and pulled him forward so that she could get him off balance and ram her knee directly into his face.

@zairemalak 

[thedesiredgod-archived-deactiva]

Reblog if your muse grew up in poverty tbh

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

hit the like for a starter from Ana as a retired assassin, comment for assassin age starter!

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

eternalandrei

Armand’s full lips twitched into a slight smile. 

I am no child.

She would understand him, perhaps without realising she had heard him speak. He approached carefully, slowly, with his hands up. He altered her mood subtly, infected her mind with calm and awe. 

“Do not be afraid.” He replied, softly. “I am unarmed.”

She instantly believed the statement. No, hardly a child. A beautiful and young face didn’t mean a thing. He had snuck up this close, already. Yet she felt her heart was even smoother than usual in a combat situation. Strange. She was so used to feeling the introductory throb before her training beat the adrenaline back, yet there was no such alert this time. She was completely and utterly calm.

“... Bodies are weapons.” Ana replied hesitantly, unsure if this strangely unreal character was truly there. He seemed too smooth to exist in this world.

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

eternalandrei

Armand often roamed the streets when it was time to feed, and he had done it the very same way for hundreds of years. Slowly, the most vulnerable in the city would come out to meet him, like moths to a flame, and give themselves up to death willingly. Indiscriminate, merciful death at the hands of a skilled killer that would offer no pain and a comforting face as they slipped away.

He was standing and staring at her from a short distance away, reading her heartbreaking thoughts, her tragic story. She deserved some respite from all that. Leaning on a wall, staring at her with warm eyes. Staying very firmly in the shadows so she wouldn’t be scared by his complexion.

A gentle pressure in the back of her mind made her repress a shiver. Instincts pounded into her from years of having to trust her natural intuition or be taken by surprise. A deadly mistake. It was time to make her rounds again, anyhow.

Slowly standing, she made to keep her expression calm as she stretched. Do not alert the enemy to your awareness. Let them think they retain the element of surprise. Let them--

As she turned around, she was genuinely surprised at a human figure lingering in view. He was in the shadows of the building so she couldn’t make out much of his face but he seemed just a little younger than herself. Of course, she wouldn’t underestimate someone just for that. Without thinking, her hand was already on her gun as she faced off the stranger. 

“Kids shouldn’t be out after dark. Go home.” She suggested, keeping her tone cordial. If he was in the same profession, he would understand that she was on a job and in no mood for sparring.

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

“I’ve got some pretty diverse skills so I am definitely sure I could help you out. I’m in the market so any job is a fine job right now.”

[perfectlykawaiikitten]

It had been a long week already with her job. She didn’t know who the well dressed man was that she had been hired to protect but glimpses of conversation had been enough to assure her that she never wanted to meet him again. Not that she feared for being on the receiving end of his evil. Of course she felt no trembling at the thought of any peon catching her when her lingering school-age nightmares could outdo the imagination of any sadist. No, she didn’t want to meet him again because men like that disgusted her. All hands and smiling teeth. 

Not that it was the first time a client had thought it was fine to smack the ass of their bodyguard because she was a teenager. If she left the job for that, she’d struggle even more. Hell knew she couldn’t live outside of this world.

Sitting outside the warehouse that her client was meeting in, she listened to the soft noises of the night while remembering her lost family members. The street thugs that had taken her in, her fellow students that had helped her survive unspeakable horrors. She missed them. Where were they all now? Scattered across the globe, in a prison or two, maybe. Life was so bleak without a single friend.