[open] the sun is setting, darkness taking over

[verstoned]

Who: the local catte Rhus and you.
When: The nights after Death of a Councilwoman
Where: Around the streets of Draega
What: The edge is calling tonight (THE EDGE IS CALLING TONIGHT). A dark knight is as a dark knight does, and that's making sure the people are all right. (From the "Dark Knights" prompt on the Influence page.)
Warnings: Possible violence, possible self-harm/bloodletting for edgy fighting reasons. Potential edgelord bullshit.


[Rhus Bashe has never been a traditional Eorzean dark knight-- didn't come by the discipline in any common way, didn't learn like the others did, doesn't have the same duties are other knights. He doesn't sit and wait in the shadows or prowl the streets looking for people to punish, as dark knights were wont to do. As Sidurgu tends to do, as Fray used to. But that tended to be because Rhus put his blade to use during his adventures, whenever he found needed to dispense the kind of justice dark knights prided themselves on.

Though now without an adventure to go on, Rhus has other things to be using his overlarge blade for.

Like investigating all these rumours of Blood killing young landen men who fit the description of the councilwoman's assassin... and just young landen men in general. Poor lads, he thinks, and that's why the Miqo'te is prowling across the rooftops, watching out for anyone who seems to be up to no good during the night when everyone else is meant to be sleeping. Indeed, literally prowling, crouching on rooftops and stepping around lightly-- he could be almost invisible, if it weren't for his preference of crouching on the edge of rooftops, ledges and the top of poles like a misshapen gargoyle, and the bright green of his one visible eye. Or the bright red of his fringe.

On occasion however, he'll drop down onto the ground and silently lurk in alleyways just in case there's something he's missed.

And perhaps he'll draw closer to anyone out on the streets, landen, Blood or Stranger and just stare for a moment, as if making sure they're not up to making trouble, without regard if he's noticed or not.]


[[ ooc: rhus is primarily looking for blood males who are about to do some crimes, but if your character would be up to no good i'm open to that too! ]]

Comments

[verstoned]

I know. [He did scent them, and notice Jewels ready to be used... Should have expected this. Should have known the little extremist would have friends because it's not as if a single boy could perform all those killings on his own.

And it's not like a single boy is the only one who carries such terrible ideologies.

Rhus reaches into his pocket and fishes out his Sapphire earrings, only cut and tumbled into spheres rather than properly polished into shining Jewels. As soon as he clips them on, one of the Blood males already hesitates, and Rhus can tell why easily-- Summer-sky Jewel, so light.

But there's a Green around as well, and Rhus knows he has to take care of that one.]

We fight-- but let's not kill 'em. [That's mostly a warning for himself, when he can... get carried away.]

[kesi]

Understood. [Regardless of who it was a reminder for, Takame would follow through on it and leave them alive. Of course that didn't mean he he wouldn't make them regret disrupting the peace Lady Fauyra sought to build.

While the smug look young man in their custody had long since dissolved, Takame would give him no chance to escape while he and Rhus subdued his friends. Tracing two fingers along the short blade of the knife they confiscated, he channeled power from his own Jewel around his neck into it. He then pushed the boy to the nearest wall, stabbing the knife into the corner of his sleeve and lodging the knife through it in an open crack in the wall. The knife was close enough to skin to make a point, but not to cut his shoulder.

It's then that he turns his attention back to the small mob, gripping the hilt of his sword but not unsheathing it. It took but the blink of an eye before two of them came at Takame. One, a reluctant Tiger eye wearer, another one who wore the Purple dusk and aggressively demanded the former back him up by virtue of his darker birthright jewel. Their intent; to utilize Craft in order to bind and maim Takame as he did their friend, but the Au Ra was more than fast enough to charge forward with Gyoten, calling forth power from his Jewel once more to close a wider distance.

Once he was right in the Purple dusk bearer’s face, he pulled his sword out halfway, slamming the blunt end of the hilt straight into the Blood male’s stomach with enough force to knock the wind straight out of him and allow Takame to follow up with a swift roundhouse kick to his back and fully unsheathed his blade, drawing around him the shape of a full moon stopping just at the collar of the poor Tiger eye sod. Takame did little more than cut a hole in the bastard’s collar before lowering the weapon and grabbing him by that same collar and lifting him in the air slightly. Though so focused on making an example of these two did he disregard the other two males waiting in the wings, fully prepared and able to subdue him.]

[verstoned]

[Red magic vivid like blood and indigo streaks so dark they might as well be black begin to crawl along Rhus' body. Sensing something dangerous happening, the Blood male with the Summer-sky Jewel charges him with a blade, attempting to do away with him before what he's planning is over.

But unfortunately for him, the Dark Arts tend to be explosive, violent, and, of course, quick. His dark magic bursts out from the Miqo'te's body, rocking the entirety of him and lifts him right off his feet-- but the first thing he does right as he's returned to them is lift one foot and deliver a solid axe kick to the Summer-sky boy.

And the poor boy falls over cupping his groin, screaming about how his sac and prick might have broken.]

Good! [Rhus' tone is utterly vicious, a complement to the sharp, wild grin on his face.]

Stupidity shouldn't be allowed to breed!

[kesi]

[An absolute contrast, Takame was chillingly composed and silent, having since grabbed the wearer of the Tiger eye by the throat, hovering his foot over the Purple Dusk male's leg in a wordless warning to go ahead and try to move. As if to make a point Takame slammed his foot down on his leg followed by the sound of a bone fracturing. Their initial target against the wall sat petrified, at Rhus' display especially, as if he's met a demon that will drag him down through the depths.

For long enough did he have the Tiger eye male by the neck that he was choking out pleads for his life. Eventually Takame threw him to the ground by the whining Summer-sky whelp.]

A waste. [Said with cold disgust as he glanced with wider interest at the Green Jeweled male. As it dawned on him that he was outmatched the interest only grew, but his awareness of his surroundings fell back in as well.]

He is the only one left. [Said to Rhus, allowing him the chance at the target despite a lingering need for a better fight. He did not see or sense any others.]

[verstoned]

[Despite the dark arts crawling over his skin and rushing underneath it in his blood, screaming for him to simply let go and give these youths no more chances to spread their stupidity, Rhus bites down on the inside of his cheek hard enough to nearly draw blood. Still he controls himself from letting himself go and becoming addicted to the powerful rush and euphoria of dark magic, despite the pain. If he drew blood however, that would have been more dangerous.

But he relaxes his jaw enough to speak, and takes his blade from his back, his magic beginning to crawl all over it.]

That one's mine.

[He sounds so much like he's ready to maim the Green male. Or break him completely.

He stalks towards the boy, and quickly drives a fist and an elbow into the boy's gut in quick succession, dropping him to the ground. Then the Miqo'te stabs the ground between the Blood male's legs with his greatsword.]

Try an' run or fight back, an' I'll more than just ruin your bollocks.

[kesi]

[There's a collective shock from the less beaten males with how quickly their Green Jeweled ally was taken down. Takame paid it no mind, expecting such skill of the Warrior of Light whether he wielded a cane or a blade.

For precaution, he scanned the surrounding area once more for any Jeweled individuals coming towards them. At the very least with their proximity to the Queen's Residence, it would be hard for anyone else to slip through.]

The area is clear. [He glared coldly at their captured Blood male stuck to the wall. Even with his softer features the subtle glow the rings in his eyes gave and the dim lighting made him look like a vengeful spirit.] Right?

[All the young man could do was nod without a coherent word. Only a half "yes" choked out between gasps. Another waste. Putting him aside, Takame turned back to Rhus.]

Will we take them?

[verstoned]

Aye, just a mo', Talkame. [The Miqo'te is busy staring down at the Green Jeweled male, baring his fangs even more.

He did not appreciate this poorly-planned ambush. Did not appreciate the little coward they'd caught dragging in more people to be hurt.

But he'd rather attempt to use his dark knight temper and desire to lash out more in a more useful fashion, rather than that which he's been trained to. He has no desire to leave a trail of bodies in his wake.]

You boys may have Jewels, but you're no real combatants. You're weak. [There's no mistaking the derision in Rhus' voice, the sheer disgust he has for the young men who have tried to attack them. Though perhaps Takame may notice how his accent has cleared up somewhat, smoothing out to a Hingan courtier's-- or perhaps, if Takame chose to visit certain areas of Kugane, a specific sort of worker meant to mimic a courtier's speech for varying reasons.

Then he points at the boy who started this all.]

You! Know that all of this could have been avoided! You are to blame for what has come over your friends. Sit in a cell and reflect upon that.

Takame, bind them.

[kesi]

Right away. [Said with a nod and the temptation for a "sir" to slide out of his mouth after. Turning first to the least injured among them, the fool who started it all who had no choice but to let Rhus' words sink deep into his heart in fear, Takame removed the knife from the wall that trapped him.]

Up. All of you.

[His power faded from the small weapon and fell to the ground as he grabbed the young male by the shoulder making him stand with his fallen friends and utilizing Craft to string their hands behind their backs and to each other's in a chain.

The change in the Miqo'te's accent was noticed, but little mind was payed to it. The words Rhus spit like venom at them were a mercy these sorry peace killers did not deserve to Takame. But Rhus made the choice to go that route rather than execution. The fact that he did meant it was the correct route.]

Bound and ready to move.

[verstoned]

[Rhus cant deny that berating these youths into eternal shame was satisfying. ... Possibly a little more than kicking one of them hard enough to possibly break his eggs.]

Aye. [He kicks the nearest boy in the rear to get him moving, and grasps the back of the neck of the Green-Jeweled youth in warning, given how he would be able to break through Purple-dusk Craft with some amount of effort.] Try an' call more friends again, an' this shall continue to happen, over and over.

[Though perhaps they wouldn't try. Rhus has some inkling of how to keep them from doing so, but attempting would take time and effort, and possibly a nosebleed as he tries to make magic he's unfamiliar with work. That's not something he can risk right now, he's not familiar with fine workings using magic.]

March to the Queen's residence. Takame, herd them behind me, an' I'll keep this boy up in front.

gmail ate this x_x

[kesi]

Yes.

[It was no small relief having Rhus wear a darker Jewel to keep the wearer of Green in check. Each of the young men seemed to accept their fate, not wanting to get another hard arse beating. It made all their lives easier though the confrontation was a waste of time on a number of levels.

It could have been avoided had this sorry bunch not thought themselves strong in numbers. Takame pushed the young man who started this entire mess forward hard, creating a domino effect pushing the other two to his front and side along as well.] You heard him. Move.

[Not as if they had a choice in the matter, they all complied without another word. The rest of their walk was uneventful, quiet without being suspiciously so as before as they finally made it to their destination.]

We're arrived. [Said giving Rhus an expectant look, awaiting direction on what he might do with this lot.]

gmail needs to be taught that tags aren't food

[verstoned]

Aye. [Rhus tosses the Green Jeweled boy down onto the ground before the front doors and grasps his bonds. With some amount of concentration, he pushes what magic he can muster up into the bonds already in place, strengthening them... And when he puts his hands away, he's noted that the bonds Takame had place take on more of his own colour. Strange how that works, but he'll find out more ways of how their Jewels tend to show themselves.

He's still dealing with how different Draega's world is after all.]

There. Should hold 'til the morning exercises.

We can leave 'em here, Takame. They'll keep.

[kesi]

Yes.

[Following suit, Takame dropped the other young males to the ground. It took little effort as both their shattered morale and battered selves had them downcast either way. He barely felt the need to spare them a passing glance afterward, having enough faith in Rhus' reinforced bonds and in his own. They weren't worth the look or the time.

Anything he could have said was already said by Rhus, there was little need to waste anymore time. Their fate was in the hands of the guard now and may whatever gods they revere have mercy on them.]

[verstoned]

[Rhus begins to stomp away, oh so tired of spending time around foolish, reckless youths who believe they're in the right. Of extremists and the constant reminders of a civil war just waiting to happen.

Then the Miqo'te drags a hand through his mane and sighs once he's well out of the boys' sight.]

Good bloody riddance.