InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "You wish you were me."

Dorian Kreskas (dust_and_shadow) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-02-17 22:26:00

Entry tags:

dorian, hesper

Week Two: Tuesday
Who: Dorian and Hesper
Where: Seattle Underground
When: Tuesday Night

The underground. It was both a haven and a haunt. Perhaps that was an unusual way to look at the dilapidated pathways that led underneath the city of Seattle. It was a haven to those who required the cover it so adequately provided and it was perhaps a place of nightmares who found their way mistakenly into it's dark depths. But Dorian had not found his way to the underground mistakenly... he did however take advantage of the cover it provided. Though it was not for the nefarious deeds that many used it for.

Rather, it was far more a matter of life or death. Maybe not quite anything that desperate but Dorian had taken to adding the seriousness of just such a situation to most average things he did. He never knew... though he did make it his business to try and know, to try and anticipate the actions of those that had wanted him dead for nearly two centuries. He hadn't lived this long without making it his business to know who was in each and every city he arrived in. Not just for the work he did, that was always secondary to just staying alive... but rather to know who would be the one that would lead them to him this time. To determine if he had walked right into the waiting orders of some minion of his... grandfather. Though that term was really far too familiar for a demon he had never met and hoped never to meet.

Dorian pulled the cloak of shadows he wore more tightly around him as someone passed by the particular alcove he was keeping himself to while he let his fine tuned senses feel the narrow alleyways that crisscrossed this portion of the city. The two acts, keeping the bits of darkness that clung to so much of the underground concealing his very presence and... feeling those that moved around him, took nearly every ounce of his focus. Something that almost left him vulnerable but it was a necessity.

More than necessary. There it was... the pull of demon blood. Walking the streets that were well... below the city of now streets. His shoulders immediately tightened and his jaw clenched. Dorian's hand strayed to the warded charm around his neck he always wore. Only one of many that was placed there to help conceal his own blood. Though it was never truly possible... they could always tell, those with enough age or enough skill. Dorian stepped away from the niche he'd tucked himself into, his steps falling near silently on the worn walkways as he moved off in pursuit. Looking for the one that was a demon... a potential threat.

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shadows_prism
2008-02-19 01:19 am UTC (link)

Hesper loved the underbelly. That did not just include below the city but the dark streets above as well that a whole manner of things could be gotten away with. It was where she offered her services for the jobs she wanted to take. Right now though she was just out for a pleasure walk. She knew of at least one card game that would be all too happy to welcome her in for a hand or two.

There was a tune to the Underground, a natural order to it. It was a working that flowed perfectly through the young demon and let her just feel the blood pumping through her veins. She felt no need to hide in this place, not that she ever felt a need to hide anywhere. The truth of her age in her own race was that she was young, but she was smart enough to keep herself out of trouble that she could not handle for the most part. And her own kind were fairly rare in truth. For some reason demons usually preferred hell. Hesper's thought on that was they would never know true variety.

Still, tonight felt a bit off. There was something around, something she could not put a proper finger on. Hesper might not be old but she was a trained killer, she hunted for a living and when something was in her surroundings that should not have been, she knew. Pulling out a cigarette, she lit it, pausing to lean against a wall as she did. With a back to the wall she could see all around her. The something was close and she was going to find out what it was. She might be off duty but there was no reason she couldn't find her own prey to play with.

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dust_and_shadow
2008-02-19 08:38 pm UTC (link)

The problem with trouble. The problem with keeping oneself out of trouble was that it had a tendency to find you... if it really wanted to that was. Perhaps it was just Dorian's lot that trouble, no matter how he desired to avoid it managed to seek him out on a regular basis. Maybe it just thought it needed to spice his preferred boring life up. If that was the case... Dorian was more than ready for the monotony of a boring simple life.

He'd had over a hundred of years to accustom himself to preparing and handling whatever was thrown at him. The methods he used were often less than... demon like if one throwing a stereotype around, but often with their race that stereotype was true for all too many reasons. Dorian however, had always tried to avoid much of what others that shared his blood seemed to so enjoy. He'd killed, but he'd never enjoyed it, despised it and what it did to him with every fiber of his being.

Maybe someday it would be the death of him... figuratively or literally. But he was staving off that day as long as he could. Even if most days he wasn't entirely sure why anymore...

The scent of cigarette smoke was sharp and acrid in his nostrils as he inhaled it, his senses on high altert as he traveled through the darkness. It was kept as a cloak around him, a well honed skill. He turned a corner and saw the woman, cigarette in hand. Had to be her, he could feel the energy vibrating through her that spoke only of demon. Still shrouded in what he knew best, Dorian made the approach. Age, while being far from something easily discernable, would be determined here and now, would she even know that he was here, approaching. She felt young though...

What had been a slow approach was replaced with rapid steps. The shadows only dissipating when he was in striking distance. And that he did. A forearm straight to her throat, pressing her back against the wall. Perhaps not the best way to introduce oneself to a new person but paranoia always beat out his manners. "Are they sending children up from hell now?" The hold was not... harmful at least not to a demon but it was intended to hold her there until he determined if she was indeed the threat he sought to avoid. "I don't advise moving, just talking... who the fuck are you?" Using all the power he had to control the shadows around them, they pressed forward against them, with the threat of more...

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shadows_prism
2008-02-19 09:45 pm UTC (link)

While the disturbance was still faint, she could tell it was moving closer. Not only that but it was moving towards her. Last she knew there weren't any non-humans with anything against her. But Hesper was anything but stupid. Something out of place coming her way, she had to make sure that she was prepared for the worst. This was the Underground, the worst was commonplace.

Hesper lived off danger, she had never minded it. However she was not one that would take risks that weren't beneficial to her. Slipping the lighter back into her pocket she grabbed hold of the knife she kept tucked away in her coat. The energy was too faint to tell exactly what it was but there were very few things a knife wouldn't at least hurt.

Still relaxed against the wall, her eyes drifted along the way. There was something off, she could tell there was. Shadows were what she was bred into and they weren't completely natural at the moment. It was certainly an interesting thing to note in her mind.

When the shadows broke in front of her she was a bit surprised. More she was surprised on why she was being attacked then actually being attacked. People did not like demons, and she made no effort to hide what she was. But as soon as the hand hit her throat the knife was out and pressed up against his stomach ready to push in.

"Well darling." she purred, looking at him curiously. "I normally like to know when I'm in for a bit of rough play. But I'd advise letting me the fuck go. It's not nice to rough up girls you haven't even asked the name of. But really, you can keep on, bet you I'm faster with the knife than you are crushing my throat."

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dust_and_shadow
2008-02-22 04:57 am UTC (link)

Dorian wasn't so old that he should be as jaded as he often appeared, but he was. He rarely saw things as having any potential to be anything other than a disaster or a danger to his life. Maybe he was a bit of a downer in that regard but that was only one of the many reasons that he made sure to keep himself out of any close personal contact with others.

Right now was the exception. But of course his paranoid (for good reason) nature was definitely make this situation go from bad to worse. He was doing everything possible it seemed to bring about just the end that he didn't want. But for Dorian... the last thing he wanted to do was just sit around and wonder if she was the one that had been contracted next to see if they could do what others couldn't.

She was just a kid. No life for anyone but then again a lot of people seemed to enjoy lives that he couldn't even fathom wanting. So who really knew.

Dorian wasn't particularly shocked to feel, rather first he heard it being slid free, the knife pressed against his stomach. A wound that would no doubt hurt, but wouldn't kill him if she did let that hand slip. Not that he particularly wanted that to be the path the conversation took but he was ready for just about anything.

Dorian's eyes only narrowed as her tone came over him. He never cared for anything that remotely resembled a... purr. With one exception, or perhaps that was why he didn't care for it now. "Call everyone that threatens your life, darling?" Dorian asked, his hand keeping the same pressure that it had when he first moved in. "Just answer the damn question and we can move the fuck on little girl. You can go back to playing big bad demon all on your own."

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shadows_prism
2008-02-22 05:10 am UTC (link)

Hesper was mildly annoyed at this point. Not only had she just been assaulted by a loopy demon, but now he was ordering her around? That really would not do. There were very few things that she could not tolerate, and being ordered around was one of them. Most of the people that attempted to ended up dead or otherwise incapacitated.

"I don't know." she said in annoyance, tilting her head cheekily. "Do you always jump girls on the street?" Really, muggers were more polite than this. At least they were reasonable. This number really was a crazy. And she was more than ready to gut him if she had to.

Cocking an eyebrow up at him, she really could not believe what she was hearing. Big, bad demon? Well he certainly did not have much of a way with words. "And since when did standing on the fucking street smoking a cigarette count as playing at anything? Now why don't you let me go and then I'll think about asking your question."

He could crush her throat, it was possible. But she could feel that he did not want to. That did buy her some leeway. Or it would have if the bastard was not so damn jumpy. Jumpy people were never easy to deal with and she was not in the mood to be kind and gentle. Not that she ever was but the man had jumped at her and had her up against a wall.

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dust_and_shadow
2008-02-22 07:49 am UTC (link)

Somehow, her level of annoyance or irritation at the moment, had little effect on Dorian's actions. It was almost shocking even to him how... different he could be from one moment to the next. How the appearance of one of similar blood could turn him into nearly exactly what he hated. Life was pretty fucking ironic wasn't it.

At least she had one thing right... there wasn't a muscle in his body that wanted to complete the press of his arm against her throat. If he knew it was that obvious... well he likely wouldn't do much about it. There were some things even he didn't want to fake.

"Often. Favorite pastime." The annoyance was just as clear in Dorian's voice though he had no desire to play this game of witty banter. He wanted an answer, wanted to be able to tell if he could sense a lie on her, though it was always hard to tell if one was experienced enough as a liar, which all too many were, heart beats rarely increased, perspiration didn't come like he'd hope. But the question was asked regardless.

His arm finally fell away. "If I really wanted to have a chit chat with you I'd have bought you a fucking drink. Now put your little knife away, it's plain as day on your face.. you can't be what more than half a century? But you know that you're hard enough and bad enough to play this game. Frankly it's old and if you're what they're sending for me now..."

He just shook his head, almost smiling with the idiocy of it all. Probably about five minutes from pissing her off enough to actually gut him. Or have him declared mentally insane.

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shadows_prism
2008-02-22 03:32 pm UTC (link)

This was getting on Hesper's nerves very quickly. She was about to just shove the knife in when his hand finally came away. Even though his hand was away she still had the intense urge to just stick him like a pig. The man probably was a pig anyway so really it would have been fitting at the very least. Still, Hesper wanted answers, so she could hold back the urge for just a little while.

And then he just kept going on and on and it kept not making anymore sense. Not that she really expected him to, but it would have been nice. People usually liked to know why they were suddenly attacked for no reason. Unless this guy had some human lover then really there was no way Hesper could have done anything to him to deserve that kind of reaction.

She kept a firm grip on her knife. Really at this moment she would have preferred one of her guns, but this was better at such a close range anyway. He might be crazy but he did have a better control over shadow than she did. Running would not be a smart idea. Not that she really considered the idea of running much, but she did not like this situation at all. Crazy people did not work on the same pattern as normal people when it came to things like this, they were a hazard.

"Will you fucking stop saying I'm playing some fucking game, because obviously I'm not. Now why don't you get off your high horse." she snapped at him, frowning. "No one sent me out on anything, I'm on damn vacation."

Well, the vacation bit was not entirely true, but she was not accepting jobs at the moment. Plus humans rarely wanted specific demons dead. Demons hired out to kill other demons, and demons were cheap when it came to payment. She would much rather stick with humans. "Now if you're done trying to attack an innocent person, I'll let you buy me a drink to make up for it. Otherwise get the fuck away from me before I decide to find out if I bring your dead body in if I'll get a reward or not."

People with prices on their heads talked like this. Normally the ones she ran into were not nearly that strong. She was nothing to sneeze at, despite her age. And if he did not calm down then she would attack just for the fun of it. Really it had been too long since she had fought with anyone that matched or exceeded her own skill.

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dust_and_shadow
2008-02-25 06:40 am UTC (link)

It was getting on her nerves... well then by all means he was just going to back off. Couldn't have that. In all reality, Dorian was a far more considerate man than he was showing right now. He didn't try and piss people off and he most certainly didn't try and use violence as the means to solve every problem. He had found though... when it came to dealing with those that wanted him dead, violence was the only language they spoke.

It happened to be a universal currency unfortunately.

Dorian's shoe crunched slightly as he took that step away from her, putting the space between them that didn't have her knife pressed against his stomach. Though when it came to demons, that space could be crossed all too quickly. He listened to what she said. Weighed each and every word to the best of his ability. It was getting to be pretty clear even for a hard headed son of a bitch like him that she wasn't what he feared she could have been. "Might want to think of picking a new vacation spot..." was his only retort. Though unfortunately for his mindset... demons all too often preferred just this kind of place. Dark and full of what wasn't always allowed just above ground.

"I don't buy that you're innocent for a second, though probably innocent of what I had to accuse you of, for that I apologize." Invincibility of youth. Fuck he sounded far older than he actually was... life could do that to you though. He wouldn't doubt that she was good at whatever it was she did, that she could fight and kill but there were somethings that age just brought, perks of having made it through those years. "Hope you make it long enough to know exactly how you sound now though." Someone had given him his asshole vitamins today.

He couldn't exactly say what it was, but being down here made him tense as all holy hell. And what a phrase that was...

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shadows_prism
2008-02-25 11:09 pm UTC (link)

Another thing that annoyed Hesper was being patronized, especially by men. Older demons, really older supernaturals in general, viewed themselves as better just from age. It was true enough that with age came strength but it was also true that Hesper had brought her fair share of older demons to their knees. Normally it was not by a knife in her hand but she certainly did not feel that age automatically gave one the ability to use the power they amassed.

And the truth of it was that really most of them were not all that smart. Brute force could get someone to a ripe old age, but that did not mean a quick mind could not take them down. She had serious doubts with this one. He was being hunted, that was for sure. Had to give him credit for staying alive since it was obviously a demon after him. But fear made people just as sloppy as it made them dangerous.

She held her knife out for a moment longer before tucking it back away. Cocking her head back slightly, she looked him over critically. "Well I don't normally have crazies trying to jump all over me, now do I? A mugger has more class than you do. More balls too."

Shaking her head she pulled out another cigarette and lit it, pained over the one lost in the scuffle. It was not like she did not have the money to buy more, she had plenty. But she was a true believer in waste not want not. "And like I give a fuck if you think I'm some innocent little nymph." she replied, letting out a puff of smoke. "And save that hope for yourself. You're sloppy enough that you're going to need it."

Pushing herself off the wall she tutted at him. "Really, I'd get a stronger cover if I were going to try hiding in plain sight, sweetheart. Though if that dinky thing could mask you completely from an older hunter, then shit I'm better than I thought I was."

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dust_and_shadow
2008-03-01 08:09 am UTC (link)

He couldn't argue with her. Fear, just the same as cockiness could make someone sloppy. He knew that all too well. It wouldn't be more than a few hours and he'd be chastising himself for his own behavior. Pushing too hard and too fast, the attitude that he usually fought to restrain... it was all out in full force tonight. He hadn't lived as long as he had by acting the way he was at this moment.

Not that aggression didn't serve it's purpose. He had managed to get the jump on more than a few who had been sent his way by finding them first and ending it all before they could even start. But it wasn't something he... liked to do.

"I'm sure my manhood is properly affronted." Dorian replied dryly. And comments on his balls or lack there off, rolled right off his back. He had never been one with anything to prove and that wasn't about to start now.

It probably had been a wasted apology considering he had just threatened her with something more than simple bodily harm but one of the few memories he had of his mother had been a lesson of a certain degree of manners. She certainly had done her best to raise him as far from how she'd been raised as possible. In some ways she had succeeded and others... she had not. Most of her words had been missed as every hackle on the back of his neck was raised by something he couldn't identify. Whatever it was... it wasn't good.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind... little darlin'." Clearly Dorian really did appreciate being referred to as sweetheart. He was distracted though, something felt too close. Though what it was... was far harder to tell. But he'd played with enough fire tonight. Instead he pulled that "dinky" cover of shadow out of the darkness that permeated the underground and cloaked himself entirely in it. "You already think you're better than you are." One final quip and he was gone.

He really didn't feel like dying tonight and whatever was raising each and every one of his senses tonight... he just didn't need to meet that head on just yet.

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