Who: Yelena and Isobel (Match Up) What: Yelena attempts to steal from Isobel When: Wednesday, Dusk Where: Streets Rating: low
Yelena was bored. Their ship needed repairs after a particularly fun battle at sea and so they were grounded and it left Yelena looking for things to do - this was never a good thing. Yelena did better on the open water with her crew that she trusted. On land, she felt like everyone was out to gut her… or maybe she was just projecting her own desires for skewering someone. Either way, Yelena found herself out and about in the market place as she subtly tried to scout her next ‘mark’. If she couldn’t steal things on the ocean, then she’d steal things on land, simple as that. It sounded like a lot of fun to her and surely there were enough wealthy people here that losing a bit of money or jewelry wouldn’t hurt none.
–
It was rare that Isobel was out and about without any companions, but given the weird things that happened around Isobel lately? She was okay with being alone even if it technically made her easy prey for pirates. Being robbed was far easier to explain, far more commonplace than the ‘powers’ she was exhibiting.
The blond exited the seamstress’s (she’d been checking on a dress) and headed out of town. She’d picked out a few things from the vendors in town, but nothing of too much value. The blond was growing nervous, especially since the sun was starting to set and she didn’t want to be caught walking alone at night. The chance of being robbed increased and while Isobel was willing to take a few risks to spare anyone seeing her abilities, she wasn’t willing to go that far.
–
It was the subtle air of nervousness that drew Yelena’s attention to the woman. Yelena assumed the nervousness was about the wealth she had while being unattended and unaware there might be more to the story than that. Honestly? She wouldn’t have right cared.
She started to follow the woman from a fair distance until she was out of the market’s most busiest places. Then Yelena decided to close the distance a little. Dressed in pants and a jacket with a tri-corner hat, Yelena at least gave away that she was of the seafaring folk. She spoke casually as if she could be a friend. “Bit dangerous to be out alone when it gets dark, now isn’t it?”
–
At the sound of a voice behind her, Isobel turned around swiftly. She was trembling so bad that she almost fell with the sudden gesture. The blond swallowed, taking in the woman dressed in pants, a jacket, and the telltale tri-corner hat. Could she be a pirate? The hat wasn’t a sure sign given all seafaring folk tended to wear them, but it certainly put Isobel on edge.
“It is. I should have actually started heading back a while ago,” Isobel replied, fighting to keep the nerves out of her voice. Despite not knowing the woman, she considered the obvious: it was safer traveling in a group, wasn’t it?
“If you are going the same direction, do you want to travel together?”
Yelena smiled and had the decency not to smile like the cheshire cat even if she wanted to. “I think traveling together would be an awfully good choice.” She bowed her head a little and touched the tip of her hat. Some people had given her a hard time when she was younger as a woman pirate, but being a woman made her all the more powerful she thought. There were those who underestimated her and those who too easily trusted her all because of her gender.
“Name’s Yelena, M’lady” She managed to keep most of her way speaking more even as she spoke so not to spook the fancy lady.
Isobel nodded and started off in the direction of her home once more, this time with the young seafaring woman beside her for company. Despite knowing looks could be deceiving, Isobel was comforted by the fact that she was indeed a woman like herself. Besides, she hadn’t threatened Isobel or attempted to harm her.
The woman introduced herself and Isobel turned to her, giving the other blond a small smile. “Isobel. It’s good to meet you, Yelena. I suppose I am lucky to have met you as well. Otherwise, I would be making this dangerous trek alone.”
“Mm, yes, lucky indeed.” Yelena really just wanted to get this woman by herself at a point in town where it’d be easy to take from her. Yelena didn’t necessarily want to hurt the woman. Hopefully Isobel would be a smart woman and simply give Yelena what she desired.
She spoke about the weather and such other small talk things until they were at a part of town Yelena knew was unlike to have frequent passerbys. She slowed to a stop. “Right then. I suppose now is a good time to ask you to hand over that fine jewelry you have on, Isobel.”
The small talk was strangely comforting to Isobel and she felt herself relaxing around Yelena even as they entered a more deserted part of town. Then Yelena slowed to a stop and Isobel paused as well, turning to look at her with a confused expression upon her face.
“Yelena, is something wrong?” Isobel asked, unable to keep the hint of fear from her voice. Unfortunately, Yelena’s answer was far from reassuring. In fact, it was truly what Isobel should have been expecting from the venture. Yelena was a pirate and she wanted Isobel’s jewelry. The blond took a step back, clearly frightened, and her fingers trembled as they worked to undo the pendant around her neck.
Just as she had managed to unclasp it, Isobel felt that strange feeling overcome her. The feeling she had before all those ‘accidents’ occurred. Suddenly, a few pieces of discarded wood from a nearby trash pile lifted into the air and shot towards the other woman.
Yelena had no desire to hurt the woman. Unlike other pirates, Yelena only saw the need to hurt those who deserved it like double-crossers. In those people, she could find pleasure in the suffering. In people like Isobel? It was just the fear she wanted. Fear meant they would hand over the goods without a fuss and no one had to get hurt.
She had her hand outstretched for the beautiful necklace which would look far better on her own neck. What she wasn’t expecting was to be accosted by flying debris. Yelena managed to bring her arms up to protect herself before she was hit, but the impact had her falling back onto the ground. She groaned from the sudden, unexpected pain.
She pushed away the debris. “You’re a witch, then, are you?” Of course she’d pick a fight with a witch.
At the sight of the debris hitting Yelena, Isobel nearly dropped the necklace. Instead, she merely cried out and took another step back. It happened again. She’d used her ‘magic’ and this time it had caused another person harm. The blond was more frightened of herself than she was of Yelena right now. Isobel held no control over this ‘witchcraft’ nor what it could do to anyone that stepped into her path, like Yelena.
It took a moment for the other woman’s question to sink in and even then, the blond could vehemently shake her head in protest. No, no, she couldn’t be a witch, but, then, how did one explain the flying debris?
“I’m-I swear I’m not,” Isobel replied, finally finding her voice. Yet, when her blue eyes fell on the planks of wood, they started to rise again. Desperate to escape, to get away from herself, Isobel turned and fled, barely able to avoid tripping over her own feet as she did so. What was happening to her?