There was nothing familiar about this place, no sights, no smells, no sounds at all akin to those he was familiar with. And yet, he blended in rather well keeping as low a profile as he could despite being an elf who didn't belong here.
The ground around where he lay had a reddish tint to the soil. Though the mountains were full of trees, they were more dead than alive to the naked eye. Yet at closer inspection they held life, a life painted in dark violet and blood red hues that made the color in them feel as if the dark of night were given color.
A thick mist settled in again this night, it seemed it was common for this area which is the only reason he bothered to cover himself as he lay there beneath the open sky this night so to keep dry. He couldn't be bothered with his own tent to lay within and hide from the elements, he had to be ready at a single breaths notice should the enemy dare lurk near.
Eyes closed, he gave the impression he was resting perhaps even sleeping as the moon barely even shone above through the mist. The soft quiet voices from the tents pitched around him had quieted indicating most of the party had fallen to rest as well.
A small rustling detected sometime in the night, though oddly enough it was coming from within the tent nearest him. Something was exiting, not entering. It was the only reason he kept his eyes closed and allowed the illusion that he was fast asleep. It wasn't the elf nor the human, the sound too small to be one of them.
He could hear the steps placed onto the ground one by one, a moment's hesitation, the slight inhale of breaths taken, followed by slow careful steps approaching where he lay. He didn't twitch, he didn't move, still no sign at all that he was even aware.
Approaching the lone Shal'dorei who lay there on his side, one arm tucked under his head while the other more tucked against his chest, the lone figure was cautious to the point of tentative till its last steps were placed mere inches from his body.
An odd sense came next, one that would have made hair stand on his body if he had any. Like static electricity, it moved in for his face careful and slow.
Just before it made contact, with very little movement at all Stone's wrist blade hidden beneath his armor was suddenly pressed against the belly of the target with the most subtle of movements of his hand. The blade didn't harm nor cut, not yet, but an unspoken promise to disembowel was both felt and known if it dared try anything more.
Only then did Stone crack his eyes open to stare at the presence before him. A very cute puppy that looked like a living constellation itself glowing with a small hint of blue light stood there. Seeing stone staring up at it, a small raise of his tail as if it wished to wag was seen but it was very aware of the threat pressed against its stomach.
The supposed familiar was clearly intelligent, careful even but it almost acted a little too perfectly like a dog for a manifestation of mere energy. Stone had observed this Leo at its master's side enough times to know it was a loyal companion and had yet to show signs of aggression. But the fact it chose to come to him here and now was not lost to this stone cold killer.
The tension in the moment thick enough to cut. Stone's wintery chill of a gaze clearly one that would hold nothing back to take the supposed companions life. Though he'd rather not upset his current employer nor his partner so he made his place clear in this bizarre moment for him.
Despite it Leo finished bringing his face in carefully, slowly and drew his tongue hesitantly along Stone's face with a small careful lick. Stone had never in his lifetime been 'licked' by an animal nor familiar. But he knew an act that lacked aggression when he saw one. He narrowed his eyes a little more then pulled his head back just slight. Leo seemed to sense Stone's unease with the show of affection however friendly it had been intended. Slowly, he pulled back and Stone let him. Lowering his hand and retracting his blade back within the wrist sheath.
Leo slowly wagged his tail, tilting his head and Stone watched as he lay there. "I am not a friend, now go." He said quietly, so quiet it almost went unheard but he had a sense his words would be felt even if not heard nor understood. Leo's tail strangely wagged more, a look of joy on his face as it almost felt like the canine was staring -through- him. Interesting. Despite Stone's stern words and actions, it could probably sense that he meant the companion no harm unless given a reason too. Like a wolf bearing teeth to a pup.
Stone watched as Leo turned and went back to the tent. But he shared one last glance with the elf before he pressed inside between the flap. Stone let loose a sigh through his nose as he laid there, silence again filling the night.
@daily-writing-challenge
Mentions to @shandaumath and @pyran-xi and their cute little Leo!
"Being on duty doesn't sound like a valid answer to the overall question though."
Eyes staring listlessly at the wall across from me as I sat there on the carpet outside the bedroom door I was guarding. That innocent looking elf's words reflecting in my head. Considering the company he kept, I doubted he truly was but he was the only one who seemed to be enjoying the concert among us. Either way, he was right, it wasn't a valid answer. I hoped he'd take the bait and clam up, he didn't.
"I only attend these events when a client demands it or the job requires it."
The best lies told are wrapped around a core of truth. I hadn't attended an event like this unless I was being drug there by a client. But the truth was, there was a time I enjoyed them too. And that was entirely a moment of weakness.
"He's married to duty, Elexie."
The statement Vynlorin spoke was not incorrect. Or was it? If it were fully true, would I have let my guard down and let that weakness in back then? If I was wholly devoted to my duty, would he still be missing?
Leo's muzzle sat against my leg for some time now through the night in silence. I'd lost the will to pry deeper into what truths lie behind the facade of the starry canine that seemed strangely attached to me. Tonight, I simply didn't care and gave in to the dog's comfort. But comfort was far from what I felt.
"Take the job Stone. You need it. Yer not gunna find the kid, just let it go fer fuck's sake and get out of 'ere."
Jaques's words were both needed and true. It wasn't that I'd given up, not entirely. I'd -never- failed as bad as I had this time and as the years passed it became apparent I wasn't going to find him. Olave was right afterall, I'd gone soft and now I was paying the price.
Why did I take this job? Because I needed a distraction from the sleepless nights these last several years as my efforts seemed futile. If he was still alive, he knew how to hide or be hidden even from me impressive as that was. Why wasn't I enjoying a dance? Because I had my last dance the moment I had my first. I can't afford to make that mistake again. My family and our teachings be damned, I was sick of trying to swim through this trip down memory lane after hearing the songs played tonight. Songs he'd sang time and time again to his clientele, to me. Now they only played in my head.
I could only hope the voices of the void in this place would grow thick enough in time that they'd drown out the sound. So I studied them closer, closer...
@daily-writing-challenge
Mentions to @shandaumath @pyran-xi @beaureve-lunathas
The sound of claws tapping against wood was heard as with every footstep down the stairs, Ru'lan's larger claws were impossible to silence. But the big full sized Ravasaur didn't care. He was excited to be let outside after sleeping so long upstairs as Konietzko and Talthorn finally had roused enough to come downstairs for the day and start on their normal morning routine. The ravasaur ran right past the living area once he made it to the bottom and was already heading across the larger open living area for the front door.
"Should we make a light meal to save ourselves for tonight's Lunar festivities or would you like just some coffee to start out with Kal'dalah?" He asked walking down behind his husband rounding down the last few steps himself.
So far no one seemed to notice anything amiss, nothing strange at all. The giant sectional couch in the corner of the room was a little darker than the rest, the sunlight from the window shining on the opposite ends but in the very corner it was still shadowed. That was where a lone figure that had not been seen for some time now currently sat. Both legs on the floor in front of him, hands clasped in his lap as the well dressed assassin sat there with his usual face mask not currently worn. Wearing one of his finer outfits instead of the usual full armor but any who knew him knew he was still heavily armed even under that suit jacket of his. He sat there, awaiting for the elves to see him.
Talthorn yawned still coming out of his daze of waking, stretching on his way down the stairs. "Maybe just a coffee…." he mutters in a happy tone and reaches to pet at Kon’s hand after. "Coming right up." Konietzko said as his fingers brushed against Talthorn's.
As they both come around together and the magi saw a lone figure, he stopped which made Kon stop but only because he had. Kon witnessed Talthorn's sudden reaction as he began muttering a quick spell to entrap but did not finish his words. His fingers glowing and even crackling in arcane as he did a quick scan over the familiar figure, and was... well confused honestly! Not only was there Stone in their house but he was not armored up. Kon did a double take, jerking a little from the startle of seeing someone there. But it downright sent Ru'lan on high alarm as he suddenly turned around and came racing for the couch with a warning snarl. "Balah!" Konietzko sharply barked a command in Shalassian as his eyes narrowed. Ru'lan stopped but his tail was thrashing agitated and letting loose several barks of aggression towards the intruder. He did not like being startled like this and eyed Stone with those reptilian predator eyes however the spoiled ravasaur had not been raised to be a killer.
Stone had seen right through the ravasaur, not even twitching as he watched it with those eyes cold as wintery skies. The moment the beast obeyed, he looked to Talthorn and Konietzko. "Your security in this house is a far cry from something to be admired, Kon." He said with a sharp voice of disapproval. Clearly he saw no threat in their pet that was far too docile for a real predator.
“Morning.” Talthorn said simply, as there didn’t seem to be any kind of secret or intimidating aura. His spell dissipated into stars. “Don’t suppose you’re here for coffee…?” Talthorn asks and peeks at Kon, guessing he had no idea that this elf would be visiting today either.
"I'm not staying long, thank you." Stone said in response to Talthorn politely turning down his offer.
"Ah, I wondered if we'd be seeing you again. Though you're quite bold to break into my house again." Konietzko said with a tease as he eased up once Rul'an obeyed.
"Still not locking your doors, clearly you welcome visitors." Stone said with a greatly unimpressed tone in his voice as he sat there.
Kon ignored the dig at their son, but flicked his amber orbs to Talthorn with a smirk. "I don't bother locking it much anymore it's true. We really have little to worry about when we're home." He admitted.
The magi looked over this very curious and a bit on guard honestly. As much as this was actually a remembrance of past events, there were parts of this that made it seem like it could be not completely real. His heart jumps as Ramiel speaks, reminded of someone else, and suddenly his lack of mind protection due to his therapy becomes a forefront thought in his head. He dismisses it quickly but mutters a different spell just to be sure illusionary elements were not a part of this. Talthorn easily put on his mask to be at ease, giving a nod to Stone for his honest, direct words. He blinked at the last ones and hms. “Did we not last night? We’ll have to remember the next time…” He knew both he and his husband didn’t have to worry about hurtful invaders much in these parts. One the benefits of being in this part of the world. “Are you here to talk with Kon then?” Talthorn asks curiously, as it really made no sense for Stone to see him alone. But he had been surprised by wilder things before. He could always make the coffee for him and his husband, even if Talthorn adored to be served by the best barista elf in all of Azeroth~
"Mostly." Stone replied to the inquiry as he looked from Talthorn to Konietzko. "Though if I sought him alone I'd have found him alone." He made clear and motioned to the couch as if to imply they should both sit. A bold move considering this was their home.
Konietzko shook his head. "You'll never change Ram…" He sighed and rubbed at Talthorn's shoulders. "Lets hear him out and then I'll make your coffee." He suggested to his husband to see if he would agree to join him on the couch.
Talthorn listened to Stone and his ears droop a moment. Not because of the Shal’dorei’s company, he liked talking or rather listening to their guest. It was about the coffee and he had big, shimmering eyes about it and looked to Kon with them. It was like he KNEW and then with his soothing voice took all of the concerns about not having his one caffeine away. “Okaaaay~” he sighed. Konietzko smirked at Talthorn lovingly, leaning in to kiss at his forehead as he walked over with him and sat down putting himself closer to Ramiaell so Talthorn didn't have too and lovingly placed a hand on Talthorn's leg as he sat there, leaning back into the cozy cushion as he looked to the stone cold killer with a calm relaxed air about him that had come from years spent with this one prior. "I'm guessing this is about Vynlorin? Unless… of course you're here because you actually missed us?" He jabbed at his old friend.
Stone's eyes gave away no sign at all of dismay or otherwise, he simply got right to the point without missing a beat. "What exactly is your relationship with him Kon?" He asked and he sounded like he meant business.
Raising a brow, Konietzko shrugged idly. "To be honest, there isn't one. Much as Talthorn and I try to be friendly with him and his lover, he's always given us the cold shoulder. But I am making an attempt to get to know him better as they both seem rather fond of us. Purely platonic just to ease your mind."
Stone's eyes narrowed somewhat, looking then to Talthorn directly without words as if implying he wanted to hear his answer.
The magi listens to Kon about this and gives a nod in confirmation. That look cast on -him- now was surprising, that expectant one to get a response out of him. “New friends, most certainly. Vynlorin and I get along….as one might think at this stage.” he nods with that and draws breath through his teeth slowly. Talthorn had slowed down in abducting people to get to know them, because he realized only a short time ago? That wasn’t exactly usual. “Why?” he asks Stone with a smile. “Is he a known criminal? Perhaps he has some dealings we should know about.”
For the first time he'd been there, Stone finally showed the first inkling of a trigger and it came with Talthorn's latter words. He frowned, slowly sliding his arms down to his knees as he hunched forward just a bit and spoke with a firm tension in his voice. "Do either of you even realize the situation you put yourselves in? You may walk another path in life now Kon but this is not a laughing matter. You play with wolves eventually you get bitten. You, of all people know this." He said zeroing in on Kon though his eyes flicked between them both.
Kon was clearly amused by Talthorn's comments, but that smirk on his face slowly faded the way Stone was acting. His words wiping it off his face entirely as he looked to Stone a little more seriously. It wasn't a laughing matter when Stone was actually worried, and in this case, he knew he was or he'd not be here. "You know I can't resist a tycoon when I see one. Nevertheless, I offered him your contact info because I could sense he was in some real trouble. Despite not having a clue what it is, I knew you could help if you chose too. What I fail to see is why you feel we're in any sort of danger?"
Talthorn looks back to Stone with curiosity. “How about you enlighten us!” he expands on Kon’s thoughts there. “About how you feel we are in danger and just what you know about Vynlorin’s situation. Or as much as you can so we can understand your perspective, hm?” It made logical sense to him.
Stone's hands remained clasped together even as he leaned forward on his knees as he stared them both down with his cold gaze. "Kon knows damn well I won't disclose client information, no matter how friendly you think you are." He said in a tone of finality making clear he wouldn't entertain divulging -any- information. "I'm only here to say one thing further." He said as he looked them both in the eyes. "The next time you give someone my contact info, don't give them a reason to use you as leverage." He said and paused trying to let that sink in to at least one of their skulls.
Kon blinked a little at that, looking shocked. "Did he seriously threaten us if you fail?"
"Not if I fail, no."
"What are we dealing with then? Is this one of those hear no evil, speak no evil, we know nothing and saw nothing situations?" Kon asked as if he had asked this sort of thing before.
"You have nothing to fear from him, I'll see to that. But the fact remains, I don't work well with threats."
Kon was finally starting to read between the lines enough to somewhat get a grasp on what was going on here. He glanced at Talthorn, then back to Stone. "Are you going to deny the job then?"
Talthorn’s ears twitch as Stone speaks in his usual way. The magi blinks and thinks about the level of friendly he honestly thought he possessed in himself. Tal never gave it that much thought, but it struck him that people might actually think it a tool to manipulate. That was interesting to him. He looks back to Stone and takes in more words, glancing as Kon reacts. He furrows his brows at the idea that Vyn was actually using threats. He was going to ask Kon later.
"I don't typically take these sort of cases, especially outside of Shal'dorei culture. But as my only current client has gone stale, I believe I can afford another. It's yet to be seen how high profile this will be, but I will treat it as I would any other client. But this one Kon, Mr. Syl'voran." He looked from Kon to Talthorn using his last name as they were not that close of friends yet. "If you two choose to interact further with this one and I am in his presence, I will not treat either of you as friendly unless he says otherwise. This case demands my full attention and the less you are both involved the better. Am I understood?"
Talthorn nods once. “Yes. You are understood.” He expresses simply but still with a smile. He had no pretense that Stone would ever think him a close friend and knew he couldn’t be anything other than himself!
Konietzko nodded his head with understanding, "So be it. We'll try not to poke this bear. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eager to see you out there and back at what you do best. He's lucky to have you take this case, whatever his pest problem is. And in all honesty, I'm glad you are. Say what you will but I do still hope to get to know Vynlorin and Aleron better. I'd want any potential friend of ours to breathe easy and live safer no matter how high profile a lifestyle they lead." Kon said with a soft smile. "Besides, since when have I ever backed down from one of your edgy friends when they threatened me in the past?""This one is not my friend, Konietzko." He said firmly as he eyed him and his husband. "Nor is he yours." He reminded them as he stood up from the couch, tugging on the hem of his jacket to straighten it as he made ready to leave.
Kon corrected him quickly. "Not yet, but a work in progress." He winks up at his old friend. Talthorn bit his tongue in asking when Stone and he were going to work on THEIR friendship! But he just chuckled at Kon instead and nodded a bit about Vyn and Aleron becoming their friends.
Stone eyed them both one last time and turned towards the door. "Somehow you remain a thorn in my side Kon, do me a favor and try not to make this as complicated as our prior situation was." He said as he stepped for the door, ignoring the now pouting Ravasaur that was eyeballing him as he left.
"There's only only one man for me now Rami, and one day you'll learn to love him too!" Kon called out before pulling Talthorn in for a big wet kiss only to hear the door slam shut.
Mentions to @shandaumath @konietzko-sylvoran @talthorn-sylvoran @pyran-xi
