A Leisurely Stroll of Two Bloodthirsty Misfits

[Kincaid]

Cyrus had been sent out to welcome the new recruit, evidently she had arrived yesterday and with Tartaros being so short on staff, they were apparently assigning the newbies to welcome the other newbies. Kind of ironic there. Cyrus didn't understand why he had to be the one to welcome her and show her around the area, after all, he hated people. Then again Tartaros wasn't exactly the type of guild to be brimming with people more than happy to make meaningless small talk. So in this case, he just happened to draw the short straw.

Currently Cyrus was perched on a small, but flat top rock, a philosophy book in his right hand. The title, "You, Me, and the Screwed Up Workings of the World Around Us." It was one of his more liked books to read, as it basically just crapped on humanity throughout and this made him relate to the author. Of course if he ever met the man in real life he would burn him alive for some of the thing he said. Hey who knew, even rampaging, sociopath murderers had lines that could be crossed.

Regardless, Cyrus was getting tired of waiting. He had posted a ripped piece of paper on the girl's door saying to meet him in this location for a tour of the area. He wanted to get this over with so he could get back to his reading and being a total shut in in his room. Well at least if he got bored enough he could kill some of the undead lurking in the area. As he looked up from his book he saw one milling about in the distance near some shrubs. It hadn't even acknowledged his existence.

[Vixen]

Quorra was wandering around looking for something to occupy her time, it was odd seeing as they were in a forest, this specific forest filled with various undead the sheer amount making her positively jade with envy. Though outwardly no one could really tell, she wasn't the type to say anything and she wasn't one to stand out. Her lack of presence to the point that her own guild didn't know she had been a member for over a year now and had lumped her with the newbies....again.

It was..infuriating, that is if she cared enough to get made, this meeting would most likely result in the person getting frustrated with her, astonished by her magic type, or out to kill her because she had offended them by now bowing down to their greatness. Stupidity like that seemed to flock around in droves for some reason she didn't particularly understand why people so...inferior were even allowed to exist. Perhaps the creator was also an idiot just some being with too much power that it didn't know what to do with it and as such made everything in existence.

She would spot one of her future slaves walking about with Quorra trailing it via the treetops mainly because she always found the concept of undead she hadn't raised to be rather...interesting. She didn't understand how they came to be but it was obvious that they were aimless creatures existing simply to exist. It was..rather disgusting, without purpose they should not be just like the millions of other people in the world. A cackling laughter within her mind jerked her out of her thoughts and she regained her composure scanning the area before jumping down from the tree landing with a small thump her scythe resting on her back.

[Kincaid]

Even as Quorra dropped from the trees Cyrus didn't look up. He continued reading for a solid minute before finally closing the book and looking up. He couldn't place it but he swore he had seen this girl around the guild quarters before. That couldn't be right though, he had been informed she had arrived only just last night and he had been in his room all night. So then how could...? Regardless, Cyrus waved it off, his mind obviously playing tricks on him.

Cyrus stood up and nodded to the woman, Hello, my name is Cyrus Kincaid. I was told to show you around the forest and get you oriented with our surroundings. That was Cyrus, not much of a talker, just straight to the point. He tucked the book into his red shawl and turned to begin walking away, Follow me. Cyrus started walking, not even looking over his shoulder to see if she was following. For that matter he hadn't even asked her name because quite frankly, he didn't care. Such a gentleman.

[Vixen]

Quorra didn't say anything she was merely silent so that he could get whatever introduction he wanted to say over with. She noticed he didn't ask for her name, and frankly she wasn't surprised members of the guild each had their own...issues and it would seem his was being unsociable. It didn't bother her then again nothing did nor would she seek to make a conversation with him unless he specifically asked her to talk. She would stare at the zombie her eyes dull but full of longing as she wanted to make it her pawn but at her current level it would be impossible.

She would follow silently as he decided he would show her around, not like he knew the area better than she did, but apparently he thought he did. Her deductions of him were becoming less and less pleasant as time ticked on, though seeing as he was a mage like her he should be useful for something and at the very least when he went and got himself killed she would be able to harvest his body. She was curious, not really, to what he could do after all his attitude would imply that he would be used to working alone though she knew from personal experience how difficult that was unless you were sufficiently skilled.

Perhaps that was why him, like her was at his current rank, weak..though with time that would have to change, she couldn't bear being so far away from her goals.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus continued walking, he was a really terrible tour guide as he simply remained silent, allowing the girl to take in her surroundings. After all, if she couldn't orient herself with their surroundings she shouldn't be allowed to survive in the first place. After a long moment of hiking through the woods, Cyrus asked her, without even turning his head back to look, Why are you so interested in those abominations? He asked this, obviously referring to the zombies that lumbered about.

Since he had gotten here, just a month or so before, he had always hated those creatures. No one, at least the few that he had talked to, knew why the dead had risen again or if anyone was controlling them. They simply were a part of ecosystem, just like any other animal in any other ecosystem. It made a good cover for their guild's base of operations, not many people wanted to mow down a sea of zombies on their way to attack a guild, so most people stayed away. It was also a good test for initiates. If they could make it here alive, never mind find the place, they were generally at least extended an invitation to join.

Still, this woman had piqued Cyrus's curiosity considerably, although she hadn't said a word since arriving. The amount of attention she gave to the undead was quite perplexing. No one else in the guild had ever gave them much attention unless it was to train with target practice. She however looked at the creatures with a different look in her eyes. Her look was that of a calculating individual, someone who saw potential in these things. But why?

[Vixen]

"They make good minions." Was the simple reply as her eyes would meet his her dead look passing over him with slight disinterest, sure his question had not been expected. At least not so soon, more tended to notice her fascination with the undead when she interacted with them after all not most people would pet a zombie affectionately without a care in the world.

She had initially been drawn to the guild due to its scenery she supposed another type of mage with her element had raised them, but seeing them it would seem as if they weren't interested in their creations any longer seeing as how they wandered aimlessly. It was her gain, as she knew it was much easier on her body to enslave them than it was to raise her own creations though she knew her brand of magic to be superior to most types of necromancy albeit its...cost.

It was mainly her inexperience that led her not to personally see to controlling the entire horde which was around their guild. But eventually she would see to it, perhaps add a few more dangerous types like giants and the like. She would continue on her "tour" her body moving through the familiar pass by mere memory as she put the new changes to the scenery to memory her own mental map of the forest around her guild.

[Kincaid]

The two continued their walk in silence, Cyrus hadn't questioned her any further after her simple reply. What a pair these two were, silently walking through a zombie infested forest, because that's totally normal. Cyrus thought about it more and more as they walked, he was positive he had seen her before. As he played with that thought, he also thought about what she had said for the zombies. She was interested in minions? Judging from what he had read on psychology and various disorders, she probably had a dominatrix complexity. This woman needed to be the master of something, at all times, the unquestioned and unchallenged rival of a mass of people. In her case, it would be the zombies. How...very, very interesting, as much as it pained him to admit it.

Finally, the thought of knowing that he had seen her before was too much for him and although the end of their loop, which would drop them off at the guild, was still about a mile away, Cyrus suddenly stopped. He turned, You're not new to the guild, are you? He said this with no tone in his voice, no questioning pang at the end of it. Nothing at all, in fact it seemed to be more of a statement than a question.

[Vixen]

"Nope." Quorra said another simply answer to his new question, if she could be amused this would of been the perfect time to laugh at how stupid he might of felt. But she didn't get amused, not anymore anyways she would look at him with her lifeless eyes knowing that it was more of a rhetorical question than anything else yet she decided to answer him seeing as he had caught what most had missed.

Perhaps he wasn't as unobservant as she though, yes his worth as one of her undead minions was increasing, though he didn't seem like the reckless type that would get himself killed on a mission. She would walk forward before crouching down seeing a skeleton lying on the floor, it wasn't human judging by the look of it but it wasn't small enough for her to reanimate, she looked it over once before she got up and would turn to him waiting for him to react to her answer.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus remained still, not moving but his eyes tracking her every movement. When Cyrus was living on the streets, before the guild, he had been thought of as strange and stupid for not talking. In reality he was quite intelligent and was constantly observing, constantly learning. He was doing that now, watching Quorra as she inspected the skeleton, making his own deductions about her. Tartaros was quite short staffed, there had obviously been a mix up with names or something along those lines. The higher ups were in disarray and so the lower down people like himself suffered the consequences.

Cyrus leaned up against a tree as Quorra did as she pleased with the skeleton remains. Something still bugged him though, he had been right about her already being here and knowing the lay of the land. But then, why did she show up at all? After all if she hadn't he would just be wasting his time but by showing up, she was wasting time for both of them...why?

Why did you come then?

[Vixen]

"You left a note on my door." Quorra said looking at him with a blank facial expression as she gazed at him unblinkingly, her answer was correct, it was him that beckoned her to come meet him. Otherwise she would of remained in her room or lurking around the grounds in search of something to improve her magical ability. By answering she was being polite her upbringing causing it to be ingrained into her mindset so she was unable to do something rude.

She would look away from him studying the trees and the area around them her brain working and a few seconds later she had located where they were exactly simply by running various patterns in her head. Sure it was unnecessary as a rough estimate would get the same conclusion however her was more precise, detailed down to the inch and how long it would take them to get back based on their current movement speed.

Seeing as they weren't moving right now, that time would steadily increase as she didn't particularly know when he would begin moving yet again. She would turn back to look at him waiting for him to speak once more, or at least begin to walk along once more.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus nodded, Yes, I did, but I was instructed to do so. They told me you needed to be shown around the area, to become accustomed to it. I was merely following orders, nothing more. Cyrus had surprised even himself with how much he had just talked. Those three or so sentences were more than the two of them had said combined the entire trip. How strange...

As he leaned up against the tree, one couldn't help but notice it slowly dying. The leaves looked dried out and crispy, as if it was turning into fall quite rapidly while really it was late spring. He looked up at the leaves and then at the bark that surrounded the trunk of the tree. He quickly stood up right again, away from the foliage and began walking, We should go back now, unless there is something you need to do out here.

Cyrus was curious to see just what this woman was capable of. What would she do with the zombies if she got her hands on one of them? Could she tame them? What sort of magic did she possess and just how screwed up in the head was she? He liked to keep tabs on all the people in his guild. Cyrus always knew what to say and what not to say to who about what. It was the gift of paying attention.

[Vixen]

"No, I have nothing else to do here, Cyrus. Quorra said as she chose until he was done speaking to voice her own statement, it would seem they both had a commonality seeing as neither of them spoke more than a few words at a time. For Quorra it was a habit as she didn't like to speak more than what was necessary for him it would seem as like her he preferred to observe before speaking.

She would follow after him quickly closing the distance between the two of them until they were about three or so feet apart her face still blank as she had no reason to do so other than the simple fact that it seemed like he wanted to return to the guild. Their rather awkward conversation coming to another stage of silence, not that she minded, if he wanted to know about her, he would have ask. She would respond only then as if he was waiting on her to initiate a conversation he shouldn't hold his breath.

Then again maybe he should, she didn't mind either way.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus was getting somewhat irritated as they walked. He enjoyed silence but not when he was in the company of another person and that person wouldn't talk. He'd much rather learn about someone, their strengths and more importantly weaknesses in particular, then just walk silently. He certainly was not content with the fact he would obviously have to be doing all of the talking today. That was beyond frustrating.

They had been walking again for several minutes before Cyrus asked his next question, What is your name? It was simple, harmless, after all he had introduced himself but she hadn't said anything about herself. He had more to ask, but for now a simple name would do.

[Vixen]

Quorra kept walking behind him her eyes occasionally moving in a sweeping fashion and taking in everything around her, the sights, the smells..the death, perhaps one of the reason she had even stayed in this guild instead of being a loner was due to her sense of familiarity when she walked around. She would listen to his question apparently he had decided to continue the conversation taking a different angle now apparently he had desired her name..

"My name is Quorra Aegis." Quorra said politely albeit her voice being in a clear monotone, it would seem that the boy was making some sort of effort into communicating with her. It was..trivial at most and she figured he was trying to get to know her in order to figure out what type of mage she was, perhaps she would beat him to the punch. "Your magic. What is it." she said after waiting a minute if he didn't answer she would simply remain quiet yet again, and if he tried to pin the question on her she would show him, of course at a price.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus nearly smiled to himself at Quorra's question, nearly, because this guy literally never smiled. Not that it mattered, since no one could see if he smiled or not behind that mask. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't believe it's necessary to answer that question at this present time. After all, knowledge is power and the more knowledge you have on someone, the more power you have over them. He continued walking, quiet once more.

If you would like to demonstrate however, then by all means. He stopped, spreading his right hand out towards the forest as if to say she should show it to him in that direction. Cyrus thought about it, perhaps if she was trusting, or stupid, or calculating enough to show him her magic, he would open up a bit more to her. After all, trust was a two way street, stupidity was always fun to manipulate, and a calculating mind was quite respectable.

[Vixen]

Quorra saw that he didn't trust her, or at least he didn't want to give an edge over him to her by knowing his magic, she didn't particularly care to show him her magic though she wouldn't simply demonstrate for the sake of demonstrating, after all even minute of her life was worth something and things such as showcasing her skills was simply not worth the price. She would look at him before looking at the forest seeing nothing in the vicinity, obviously he thought she had the usual type of magic, it made sense after all.

[b]My magic is to dangerous to use for trivial things like demonstrations. Perhaps when we are doing something important I shall let you take a glimpse of it. Quorra said as she continued walking her eyes looking at his mask but locked at where his eyes were supposed to be. She wasn't lying and if he could tell he would see that clearly her magic wasn't something for demonstrative purposes it was something made for serious situations only to be thrown around carelessly when she was using another's life to make payments.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus stayed motionless for a moment before nodding in thought, Yes, I see. Something tells me our magics could make for a very cooperative system in the future. He said this and realized he actually had no intention of ever teaming up with anyone. He rarely went on missions with others, if he did it was always with a higher up that he respected or was forced to go with. This woman however, she was someone that could either earn his respect or just become another wasted human being in his eyes. Useless. Trash.

Cyrus thought back to a chapter in a book he had once read. Something about how humans naturally set goals for themselves that they never actually could attain but if they could somehow manage to attain such a feat, they would find eternal bliss. What are your goals for the future? It was a simple enough question, asked in a simple enough way.

[Vixen]

Quorra would stop and study him briefly not buying what he said but regardless no one had ever bothered to say they would team up with her, perhaps he was merely saying that for now and when he did glimpse her magic he would be quick to distance himself from her. Though he didn't seem like the type she would bring herself out of her thoughts before following him once more seeing as she couldn't simply stand still while he was still walking.

His new question was different, goals. What were her goals actually, sure she had two one main goal..and one secondary one. The main goal was something she rarely focused on while the secondary one filled her thoughts more often mainly to prevent..her from knowing what she thought. It was odd honestly having to hide things from her, she supposed their separation made it easier even if She occupied her mind. "I want an undead army." she said quite simply sure it wasn't her goal in its entirety but it was enough for him to know right now. She would leave him guessing as to how she would obtain it but informed enough to know that it was something she intended to make possible.

"You?

[Kincaid]

Cyrus thought about this for quite awhile as he leaned against another tree. Ironically he had never actually thought about his own question, he had always just asked others to answer it and so they did. But he himself, he didn't have a goal. Nothing he really knew about anyway. Cyrus just went on day to day, fulfilling missions, killing people and creatures alike, and then collecting his rewards for completing said tasks. He had escaped a life of imprisonment and slavery and never looked back. Cyrus didn't want to know who his parents were because he would simply kill them for abandoning him with that monster.

So, it came down to the question of, what was he looking for in life? Why did he exist? What purpose did he serve in this world or the next? Cyrus shook his head, I'm not sure, not yet. The more he thought about it, the more it bothered him. Everyone, everything had a main goal in life, why didn't he? For now he would simply settle with the goal of survival.

[Vixen]

"That's good. If I had a choice. I would probably be as unfocused in the future as you." Quorra said ass she had figured he didn't any more motivation than simply existing on a day to day basis, he didn't seem like the type to plan overly ahead like she did. It wasn't a bad thing in fact planning for the future wasn't actually wise seeing as not many could predict it. Especially for someone like her whose time was perhaps going to be even more limited that most.

She supposed she should add another goal to her life, finding a way to counteract the effects of her magic, of course she could always use others as payment but she wanted a more permanent solution which didn't rely on chance and luck. She had read about soul magic but most had their own prices which clashed with her own Life-Force Necromancy..which wasn't something she wanted to risk at the moment.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus continued walking again, assuming Quorra would of course follow. They were close now, it would only be a few more minutes. Cyrus wasn't sure what else to say so he decided to remain silent. If she wanted to take information form him, she could but he was done asking for it from her. He had pried enough, it was her turn.

As they walked he thought about the zombies and Quorra's desire to amass an army of them. He couldn't picture how she'd do it or even it being all that useful. After all in the few months he had been here he hadn't encountered any particularly powerful zombies in the forest. They had all been the same maggot eaten, decaying, walking sacks of shit. Useless and dumb, nothing but target practice and fodder.

The guild came into view and Cyrus trudged the last thirty feet or so to the front door before opening it and stepping inside. He gave the door enough force so as Quorra could easily slip in before it closed, but he made sure not to hold it for her. He was no gentleman. Women were nothing more than sex objects. They satisfied his needs when he needed it and weren't tasked with anything else.

[Vixen]

Quorra would silently walk behind Cyrus and after a couple of minutes of silent walking she would notice that they were much closer to the guild than before. If she chose to she would be able to see it in the distance however her eyes lingered on the forest floor simply looking at it for something of interest, perhaps a rabbit or something, a pet to practice on for a bit. She would notice he stopped talking apparently he had noticed she wasn't one for conversation.

That was good, as now she didn't have to bother with opening her mouth to answer him on the basis of trying not to be rude. It was times like these she thought back a bit to her former life, sometimes she tried be angry but Angelique had taken that from her, turned her into a lifeless husk of a person with almost no people skills unless it was getting sex. Only then did she manage to regain what was lost perhaps it was because Angelique benefited from it as well.

Her eyes would trail upward slowly by the time they reached the guild and she would watch Cyrus as he pushed open the door not holding it, though she didn't expect him too. She would walk in after him quick enough that she wasn't hit by the door but slow enough that she hadn't broken out of her pace simply taking a longer stride than usual. "Thank you, for the escort." she said in her usual monotone as such was the polite thing to say.

She wasn't actually grateful, she honestly didn't care much for her their talk wasn't anything significant she hadn't gained or learned anything from it that she considered useful. The only useful thing that she could of learned had been shot down and the only reason it was useful was for when he was dead. Eventually she would find out though and while she lacked the drive to kill him she would silently be hoping when he did die, she would be around to harvest him.

[Kincaid]

Cyrus turned back and nodded, We're done here, although that was pointless. The man looked Quorra up and down once more, not to be a perv but simply so that he could remember her face and figure to recognize her later. He realized she was still a mystery to him, all he knew was she had an interest in those walking corpses outside and that her magic somehow pertained to that. That was fine with him though, if she ever needed to be executed, he would simply take her somewhere far away from the bodies. It'd be child's play.

The man turned and walked off to one of the empty tables that lined the main guild hall. There were a hand full of people milling about, eating, drinking, other normal things. Cyrus picked a quiet table in the corner, away from the few people actually in the hall and sat down. He pulled out a tiny book, one that could easily fit in a pant's pocket and flipped open to a specific page. He took one more look at Quorra before settling into his book.

[Vixen]

Quorra would make her way back to her room her latest encounter fresh on her mind, he was oddly paranoid, it was as if he expected her to try and kill him, no that would be pointless and she would be down a potential ally. No she would simply wait until he died and then raise him again. As she walked up the stairs she would brush her hands on the walls before stopping in front of her door.

She was..tired, and staying awake would only make it easier for that person to take over something she couldn't afford to reveal just yet. She would open her door before walking in an bolting all seven locks behind her. after all it was time for sleep..

(Quorra Exits)

[Kincaid]

Cyrus watched Quorra stride across the hall and up the stairs to the sleeping chambers. He watched as she dropped herself into her room and shut the door, listening as 7 individual locks were put in place. My my, someone is a bit timid of the horrors that lurk at night. Cyrus thought to himself, though since meeting her only moments ago, Cyrus found it hard to imagine this woman as the cautious type. She seemed more like the killer to the killer that broke into your house. Regardless, she was gone, his duty was done and now he could get back to his reading. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to this woman than met the eye.

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