PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 24, 2015 20:23:42 GMT
A black haired woman sat upon a stool at a dingy bar in the back alleys of Redwell. A glass of strong whiskey was in one hand and a large bottle of it nearby that her other hand could easily reach out and take. The rain poured outside, the drops clattering upon the roof of the quiet bar. It was days like these that she began to recall memories of the past. A compulsion that she could not ignore, it simply dredged up too much. Her mind drifted towards the recent announcement of a ball in Newhaven. The whole thing screamed trap like nobody's business. But at the same time, there was a ripe opportunity in it. Apparently three of the four Councilors were confirmed to be going to the grand event. And from there her memories began to takeover.
...
..
.
The raven haired assassin was called upon by the Crown once more. Such a thing was commonplace enough, but in this instance it was a rather specific person that wanted her presence. The azure haired "War Goddess" known as Bellona Battaglia sent a pressing order to the Delacroix for Athena to report to her in the grand Gardens of Lorcastle. She was curious, this Athena had to admit. Generally when the Council called upon them it was as a group to address the circumstances of their next missions. But no, the singular Bellona called upon the singular Athena.
Athena bent her knee to the blue haired Councilor that stood before her. If there was one thing that Bellona was known for aside from her unrivaled bloodlust, it was the way she desired to dominate others. The desire for respect, yet also an aggressive and brutal declaration of superiority. Athena both loathed and respected it.
"I have received the summons. What is it that you desire of me, Madam Bellona?"
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 24, 2015 21:04:46 GMT
Despite the rain, Bellona was outside, in the castle garden. An open umbrella leaned casually against her shoulder, at just the right angle to barely shield her from the rain. Meanwhile, her free hand rested on the hilt of her rapier, as though she would be called to use it at any moment. The flowers around her still showed signs of life despite the heavy rain, a testament to their strength. Bellona admired that. Though most of her interests were decidedly un-girly, she still liked flowers for their resilience. For once she wasn't out here for them, though. The garden was her favorite place to go out and think on her own, when she didn't have work or a fight to distract her. Her thoughts turned to the announcement of a ball in Newhaven, the symbol that a full year had passed since the riots. The whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth, especially since the instigators had gone to ground since then and had been thus far impossible to dig out. There was no way the ball was any more than a show of what small shred of accomplishment Liliana and her pet noble had attained. Still, there was a chance more important members of Spectre would show up. That would hopefully be more exciting.
"I wonder if she joined up with them," Bellona mused out loud, angling her umbrella enough to stare up towards the sky. As she did, the memories came back to her, as vividly as if they had been yesterday.
...
..
.
"Ahh, thank you for coming," Bellona said, gazing down on the kneeling woman before her. Athena Delacroix, an assassin serving the throne from the shadows and known as the Nightblade. She had earned quite a bit of infamy, as many assassins with even the smallest amount of recognition do. Of course, most of this recognition was within the innermost circles of the Empire - the rabble would only know her by the bodies left in her wake.
Her body count was respectable enough, but some of the stories she'd heard made her out to be an unstoppable killing machine. Any lowlife with a talent for stealth and subtlety could kill, though. 'Unstoppable' was a description bestowed only on those who could survive direct combat. "You've made quite a name for yourself, haven't you, Miss Nightblade?" Bellona asked, adopting a facade of amicability. "I would like to see your abilities for yourself, if you don't mind. Spar with me."
The last part was not a request. Sure, Athena could turn it down if she wished, but not without consequences. Bellona would not accept even an infamous assassin refusing her.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 24, 2015 21:37:29 GMT
The false platitudes were not lost on the "Nightblade" of the Delacroix. She did not know who first started calling her it, but she could care less as well. The first lesson of conversation with others was the detection of lies or falsehood. And in this, the voice of Bellona Battaglia was rich. None the less, if it was a spar that she desired, Athena would not mind indulging her. The raven haired woman nodded her ascent, the hand nearest her boot that faced away from Bellona beginning to move. "As you wish, Councilor."The assassin practically flew backwards as she launched herself up to her feet and away from Bellona. A bright flash of light briefly filled the air as the blade of a knife glinted in the sunlight, flying towards one of Bellona's arms. A mere distraction, to tell the truth as Athena went for her other knives. The Councilor did not carry around a rapier for nothing, after all. Two curved blades were drawn by the assassin, gripped in an underhanded fashion. After her weapons of choice were drawn, she was quick to press the attack with a few swipes, gauging Bellona's defense.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 24, 2015 21:57:34 GMT
Fortunately for the Nightblade, she had chosen not to try and refuse Bellona's request. Bellona could tell even before the assassin affirmed her assent that she was preparing to begin in earnest. She'd start with a throw, most likely. Something to catch Bellona off-guard and enable her to get in a quick first attack. So the moment the Nightblade spoke, Bellona had already shifted her weight to move. Sure enough, the thrown knife came, glinting in the sunlight as it left the assassin's hand. But Bellona had already moved, with a short step to the side that would allow it to fly past its intended target - her arm - while still permitting her to keep her eyes on Athena.
It was good that she did, too, as Athena quickly moved towards her with a pair of inward-curving blades. Bellona stepped back, drawing her rapier in a quick motion and using it with short, defensive thrusts and parries to keep Athena at a distance. The assassin had proven that her abilities were not limited to dispatching unsuspecting or distracted opponents. Now Bellona wanted to see how far those abilities extended.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 24, 2015 22:19:37 GMT
The sounds of steel clashing filled the once tranquil air of the Gardens. With each parry or defensive thrust, a little more of her sparring foe's posture and technique was given away. It was extremely solid though, Athena would give her that. She matched each of Athena's deliberate strikes with a well placed and well timed measure of her own. Now though, Athena was ready to presss the attack once more. As Bellona thrust forward, the assassin twisted her wrist and placed the hole upon the upper part of her left knife blade just right to catch the thin blade of the rapier. Her left arm thrust out, dragging the blade away before her right foot shot forward.
It actually skid upon the ground slightly due to the force of her step and the swipe of her right arm moved inwards towards Bellona's side. The curved blade gained a bit of extra reach than normal thanks to the underhanded grip that Athena used, seeking to tear through the Councilor's clothes and flesh. Had this been a normal target, she'd have simply aimed to take advantage of the armpit and sink her blade into the target's heart. But a different set of rules would make her rely upon non-lethal measures. Even more extensive immobilizing techniques were out right now. The assassin had to be careful, though not exactly for normal reasons.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 25, 2015 2:58:53 GMT
For the moment, Athena's strikes still seemed very deliberate. She was testing Bellona, gauging her defenses. But if Bellona faltered, or chose not to take them seriously, each one of them would still cause serious injury. Her response was to time and position her own responses to minimize risk and effort. But that would only go so far when the the Nightblade got serious.
And sure enough, it didn't get far at all. Bellona soon found her rapier trapped in a hole within the blade of one of Athena's knives. Clever. Did she regularly use that to disarm nobles, or had that just been improvised on the spot? Either way, enough movement in that arm and the rapier would come right out of her hand. The rapier was already lost, and so Bellona made no effort to retain control of it. Instead, she let go the moment she felt resistance on it and lunged straight for Athena. She passed and parried the other blade with one hand on the assassin's arm as she closed the distance between them. She wrapped the arm to trap it, then thust her knee forward to drive it right into Athena's side.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 25, 2015 3:33:02 GMT
Bellona released control of her rapier, a clever counter but one that still left her weaponless. The Councilor's rapier landed upon the ground with a great clatter. But with the azure haired woman's sudden lunge, a very analytical part of the other woman was shown. With her reach now well past her actual foe, it was easy for Bellona to wrap an arm around Athena's own outstretched right arm, trapping it in her grasp. A leg then rose, slamming a knee into her left side and knocking a bit of the air out of her lungs. The raven haired assassin's left hand released the knife it held, letting it fall down to the ground to lay beside Bellona's rapier. Her fingers curled into a fist and came up to swing in retaliation.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 25, 2015 4:19:20 GMT
The sudden shift in tactics had worked. Bellona's knee connected with Athena and and left her winded for a moment. The instinctual reaction even caused her to drop the knife that still posed a potential threat to Bellona. Even so, to Bellona's delight she still continued to try and fight. Bellona brought her left arm up to shield against Athena's punch, then followed through after it connected to hook on to the back of the Nightblade's neck and push against the side of her head. She pushed the assassin's head down to prevent any subsequent punches from being effective, then continued pulling with her left arm and pushed with her right. In doing so she would twist Athena's body until it fell off-balance, then push her to the ground. As she did, her hand slid up Athena's arm until she could grasp her hand, preventing her from doing more with her remaining knife. Then, assuming that Athena didn't manage to immediately get away from her, Bellona would raise her foot to step on her, pressing the heel of her boot into Athena's side.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 25, 2015 4:41:53 GMT
If it weren't for the woman pressed atop her, Athena might very well have gone ass over head as Bellona took her down to the ground. She had ditched the knife as a way to avoid potentially lethal injuries to the Councilor, but it certainly put her into a precarious position. Not to mention awkward, as she was well aware of Bellona's arm snaking along to grab at her remaining knife while keeping her arm within a vice-like grip. And next, embarassingly enough, came Bellona's boot stomping down onto her side. Yet where many others would have faltered at this point to the "War Goddess", a fire remained in the assassin's eyes.
"Councilor Bellona! I have a repo-" A soldier's cry came out as he rounded the corner. And then immeadietly halted in his tracks as he saw Bellona and Athena in a rather compromosing sort of position. All at once he suddenly snapped to attention and saluted. "I'MSORRYFORINTERRUPTINGYOURPRIVATEAFFAIRSI'LLBEGOINGNOWMA'AM." The man stammered in a rapid succession before turning around and running as if his rear had literally caught fire.
For her part, Athena moved to take advantage of the distraction, her free hand grabbing at Bellona's ankle before pushing it forward and throwing her off balance. Not to mention catching sight of a certain something else. The assassin turned upon her side quickly, aiming a sharp kick at Bellona's other leg to send her sprawling onto the ground as well.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 25, 2015 5:09:57 GMT
Bellona was visibly delighted now at the determination still in Athena's eyes. Even after being pushed to the ground and pinned under her boot, she was still ready and determined to continue. Though this would normally be the point where Bellona would call an end to the match, the War Goddess now wanted to see what else Athena would do despite her position.
But sadly, she would never find out. Not what the Nightblade had originally planned at least, for it was at that moment that a soldier came running into the garden. Bellona's attention shifted, out of necessity. Reports could be ignored to a certain extent, but it was better to take them when they came, in case someone had come with vital information. Not that Bellona expected anything important at the moment. But whatever the soldier had to say, it apparently could wait, as he quickly stammered out an apology and ran off.
In that moment of distraction, though, Athena had struck. She pulled on the foot pressed against her ribs to try and pull her off-balance (and, in the process, spread the legs of the short skirt-clad woman standing right over her0. Realizing what was happening, Bellona snapped her leg up and brought it back down in an axe kick. But Athena had managed to turn and kick at Bellona's other leg as well, sending her keeling forward.
Unable to stop herself in time, Bellona found herself laying directly on top of Athena. While she might have had more thoughts on this compromising permission in a moment, all she thought right then and there was that she was going to make that soldier suffer when he finally gave his report.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 25, 2015 5:22:05 GMT
When Athena had attempted to kick Bellona's leg right out from beneath her, the assassin had not expected her to fall forward. Backwards would have been preferable. But as the azure haired woman fell down upon her, that wasn't exactly an option. Nor did it help with the earlier feelings of embarrassment from the way that Bellona had stepped down upon the other woman. Instead, Athena could feel her cheeks begin to burn a crimson red as mind comprehended the sort of position they were in. Nonetheless, Athena could feel her instincts beginning to kick in. Shifting all of her weight into a swing, she changed up their positions.
Bellona lay upon the ground and Athena began to adjust her position to a seated one atop Bellona, her legs on either side of her foe's waist. While she attempted to keep the Councilor pinned, her free hand shot out to grab at her other knife due to the War Goddess' grip on her wrist. The whole time, the raven haired killer still had that embarrassed look upon her face.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 25, 2015 5:36:02 GMT
Seeing Athena's blush, it started to dawn on Bellona just what position they had found themselves in. She blushed faintly as wel, but had little time to do anything about it. Even as embarrassed as the assassin no doubt was, she still had plenty of fight left in her. The next thing Bellona knew, she had been rolled onto her back, and Athena now lay on top of her. The assassin quickly sat up and tried to grab the dropped knife. But Bellona still had Athena's other arm, and that was all she needed. Rather than attempting to grab Athena's other arm, Bellona brought her trapped wrist to her chest (uncaring at the moment of where that arm ended up) then trapped the arm under her other arm. Using it as leverage, Bellona rolled Athena right back over, pushing the assassin onto her back and shifting her legs up to sit on her in a similar position. With their positions reversed once again, Bellona used her grip on Athena's wrist to push the knife closer to the assassin's throat.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 25, 2015 5:45:35 GMT
Athena had miscalculated, this she realized as Bellona unashamedly dragged her arm right towards a certain area in order to use the leverage and turn her over right onto her back once more. And in short order, it was now Bellona seated upon Athena's waist. She continued to manipulate Athena's arm after doing so, turning her own knife blade towards her throat. The raven haired woman fought against it, reaching a stalemate as it remained only a couple of inches away from her throat. Yet...
Yes, Athena realized it. This battle was lost. Bellona possessed the superior position and it would not take much for to truly finish the battle. Especially as Athena began to feel the strength in her right arm fade after being jerked around so brutally. The knife began to lower. And yet... Athena grinned. This was the first time she had ever truly been challenged.
"I yield. It's your victory." She chuckled, her eyes looking into those of Bellona's.
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Satori
Only the strong have a say in this world. The rest can take their place in the dirt! |
|
Post by Bellona Battaglia on May 25, 2015 6:10:50 GMT
Still, for a moment longer, Athena continued to fight back. She resisted to the best of her ability as Bellona guided her hand and knife to her throat. Even more delightful to be sure, although Bellona wondered if, despite her spirit, the assassin would also have the sense to surrender when she knew she had lost.
And, before Bellona could go too far, she did. She yielded, graciously and almost happily. As though she, too, had been yearning for a proper challenge and had finally received it. Bellona loosened her grip, and sat up again. "I accept. I'm impressed though. You put up a valiant fight, and remained determined right to the end." Though Bellona's voice had been full of false niceties before, every word she said now was genuine. She smiled, then stood up and offered Athena a hand. "You've earned my respect. That's not something many people manage."
|
|
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Witch
Dark skies are falling, the reaper is calling. |
|
Post by Athena Delacroix on May 25, 2015 6:36:58 GMT
No false platitudes existed in Bellona's voice as she spoke. A cheer could even be felt in them as the War Goddess smiled and offered her hand. It was a beautiful smile, Athena decided. One that she felt truly did belong to a Goddess. Her cheeks reddened slightly once more under the weight of her sparring foe's complimentary words. "Thank you." She spoke, almost meekly. Her free hand then reached up to accept the offered aid, rising quickly to her feet with Bellona's help.
"My parents have always said that we fight until the very end. It's something I strive to live up to." A smile crossed her lips, but she didn't really have the nerve to look Bellona in the eyes once more. It felt... odd. Nonetheless, she moved over to pick up her knife, placing it in it's hidden sheath along with the other. Athena's hand also brushed by the rapier that the Councilor had been using. Picking it up, she placed the flat of the blade along the palm of her hand and offered it back to Bellona. "Your sword, madam."
...
..
.
Athena looked at the shot glass in her right hand with a wry grin and drank down the strong dose of whiskey. It then turned into a softer smile after a moment, her eyes growing half-lidded.
"Dark blue..."
The raven haired woman noticed the bartender look over at her quizzically, having been pretty damn quiet and stoic before those words and the smile. "Oh don't mind me. Just remembering something good."
What a memory.
|
|