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Post by Jazz on Jul 11, 2006 10:08:24 GMT -5
Jasmin walked slowly out of the Townhouse, dropping the key in her pocket. Her face, like the locals, was wiped clear of any sign of emotion. It wasn't to difficult. When other people went through broken hearts, they cried, yelled and leant on the shoulder of their best friend. Jazz carefully removed any visible feelings, became slighty reclusive, and her fury slowly bubbled away inside. Best friend? She wondered if she even had one, anymore.
She walked out into the bustling street, the marketplace sprawled not to far ahead of her. The wind slapped her face, a cold reminder. Hands in pockets, she proceeded down to the stalls, brooding. She kept replaying the scene over and over again in her mind, and each time it got worse. And each time there was that feeling, at the back of the mind, that maybe, just maybe... But she couldn't have been mistaken. She'd felt their prescene, both of them, the familiar feel of their magic that gave them away. She clenched her fists, tightly. She'd just have to finish what she came to do, and she could sort it out at home. In no way should this detriment the peace talks... Hell. Her two best friends. How was she supposed to carry on as normal?
She felt the sudden desire to talk to someone. Who? Kitana? She was working. Katya? Rose? Yes. Both of them. Jazz turned around, deciding to head back to the palace, when she heard a terribly familiar voice.
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Post by Claw on Jul 11, 2006 10:17:17 GMT -5
The marketplace bustled in the dying light, and the stars were beginning to light more brightly. Claw had been searching for a gift, but finding none that he actually thought would show feelings, he began forging his way back to the townhouse. As he neared the edge of the crowds he spotted Jazz and waded over to her, calling as he did so.
"Hey Jazz! Over here!"
She acted like someone unhappy thought Claw, as he battled off a peddler trying to sell him some shoddy goods. Why in all the world would he need a novelty sword? He shook his head absentmindedly, all attention focusing back at Jazz, who appeared to have slipped into Yamani mode. This only happened when she was sad or angry, and he was unsure for the reason of either. Almost at Jazz, he felt someones fingers slip into his pocket and he span, kicking out hard. The pickpocket flew back wards, a boot mark on his chest. He crashed into a stall and fell unconscious.
"Prat."
Claw whispered under his breath angrily. He couldn't stand thieves, ignoring the obvious irony that he had spent the first ten or so years of his life as one. But he was different... or was he? A strange thought flitted across his head, one almost like confusion.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 11, 2006 10:44:45 GMT -5
"Hey Jazz! Over here!"
She stiffened, almost too scared to turn around. But after the initial surge of misery, her temper flared. She spun around, her emerald eyes sparkling. He was smiling! Smiling. The bastard. She realized her knuckles were white. Slowly she relaxed her hands, though she wasn't any less tense. "Yes?" she said quietly, as a small, humourless smile replaced the blank expression. She thought she was taking this awfully well, for a person whose temper tended to get the better of her in difficult situations.
"What is it?" she muttered under her breath, so none save herself could hear it. She dreaded any would-be answer.
Her eyes narrowed are Claw landed a kick on the pickpocket's chest. She was a knight, but she couldn't stand unneccessary violence. Claw was a knight too, and he knocked the theif unconsious! "What the hell, Claw?" she asked incredoulouly. She didn't yell. She didn't need to. She could never have confronted him in normal circumstances, and now she lashed out, her voice venomous. "What did you do that for?" It helped, she found, not to specify what 'that' meant.
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Post by Claw on Jul 11, 2006 11:03:38 GMT -5
"What the hell, Claw? What did you do that for?"
Claw would have reeled back by the anger in his voice, but found himself unable to. Instead, he felt that feeling of anger rising in his chest. He ignored it as best he could, but his breathing grew heavier and his eyes gained a tint of orange of their ordinary amber. He frowned slightly. most people would be unable to understand his feelings, but those who knew him would be able to read his anger.
"Why'd you think I did it? Because I was bored?"
His voice was harsh and cold, driven by anger. The marketplace seemed to have grown brighter and louder around him, and a feeling of claustrophobia began to hang around him. He instinctively reached for his sword, and realized he had none. Then another thought shot through his head. One which made him angrier than before. He'd come here to get something for her, and someone had tried to rob him. And Jazz stood up for the thief! The anger rose in him again and his teeth ground hard together. And before he could stop it, a sentence burst out of him, as a shout.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
As son as he said it, he felt the anger bubble and his stance changed from his normal, casual stance, to that of the warrior rising inside him. Another hand slipped into his pocket, thinking him too distracted to do anything. Sadly, the pickpocket had chosen the worst possible person in the market to choose at the moment, as Claw span and grabbed him by the throat, hurling him through the crowds. The quiet marketplace from Claws shout grew quieter until and eerie silence had fallen.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 12, 2006 10:50:03 GMT -5
"Why'd you think I did it? Because I was bored?"
Jasmin should have noticed the small but significant changes that came over her fiancè. She really, really should have. She knew he was angry, but noticing those subtle changes could have stopped the resulting mess. But she didn’t. She was furious. Plain ol’ anger was seen often enough by her friends, and her temper had significantly been reduced over the years. Unfortuantely, the few things that made Jazz furious usually didn’t last long. The onlooking locals were blocked out, and all that was there was Claw, and Jasminai. She was furious, but there were other things shunted to the side – misery, heartbreak, hate, love. But for now they were forgotten, the fury rising. She could be terrifying, and her friends knew the warning signs that meant she was seconds away from going over the brink of self-control. They were there: humourless smile, quiet, poisonous voice, and a more attentive, alert stature. the one she used when she fought.
She didn’t know what she was expecting, but that definitely wasn’t it. She sub-consciously wanted him to reel back, stutter some apology, admit he was wrong and ask her what was the matter. Or give her something that could make her let go of her attachment. But the reply, the cutting, angry reply that he gave, made her catch her breath. She still didn’t shout. She shouted when she was annoyed, or when she couldn’t control herself. But when she was mad, really mad, she spoke in a normal, civillized tone, though her words were like daggers to her own ears. “If I knew, I wouldn’t ask. I don’t know, anymore.” Her last words were almost whispered, though still audible. Her throat clenched up, as if she was crying. I don’t know you anymore, she thought, slightly turning away. Goddess help me.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Her head snapped up at the shout. She laughed, though it was cold and empty. “What a question. I know perfectly well who I am, thank you very much. The question should be: who are you, Claw? I certainly don’t know you anymore.” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “I can’t deal, with this! You, and Fhire, and this whole godsdamned peace talk! she shouted, taking measured breths and trying to bring herself under control.
The pickpoket was bloody stupid, that was true enough. But it gave Claw no damn excuse to act so stupidly. She picked up his change of stance, and her hand automatically reached down to the hilt of her sword. She had one, of course. She used to live in the islands. “Gods, Claw! I know I can’t deal, but you are just an idiot! We’re peace delegation. You can hurt me as much as you want, sure, but try not to kill the locals, please!” Again, the incredulous tiredness. She should leave. She wanted to just go. But her fury had other ideas.
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Post by Claw on Jul 17, 2006 15:58:13 GMT -5
“If I knew, I wouldn’t ask. I don’t know, anymore.What a question. I know perfectly well who I am, thank you very much. The question should be: who are you, Claw? I certainly don’t know you anymore. She threw her hands up in exasperation. I can’t deal, with this! You, and Fhire, and this whole godsd**ned peace talk! Gods, Claw! I know I can’t deal, but you are just an idiot! We’re peace delegation. You can hurt me as much as you want, sure, but try not to kill the locals, please!”
As Jazz continued Claw felt the numb coldness which he normally associated with the sight of Bael: the grasp of anger closing around his heart. With the movement of Jazz's hand reaching for her sword Claw moved and did what he had been trained to do for many years, and his mind shot into a list of suitable spells. As he reached for them, he found nothing, the result of overuse in healing. This made him pause and think about what she as saying. How did Fhire get into the conversation? But then his mind had snapped back into battle mode. Since he had no sword, the natural course of action would be to acquire them. The closest choice was the novelty sword which had been offered to him and he ran to the stall, the crowd parting from the berserk man.
As he grabbed the blunt blade he span, and the battle blood rose in him. He no longer cared for the swarms of innocents in the area, and all he cared about was his heart. Jazz had betrayed him somehow, and his sane side would have liked to talk it over. But Claw's sane side was nowhere to be seen. He walked back to Jazz and circled like a creature, eyes glinting with the madness in his blood. In his head he could only hear Jazz's ords, and everything began to become blotted out by a red mist, leaving only the outlines of everyone but Jazz. His temper rose to its top, and he roared, a beastial roar which echoed out of the marketplace and around the city. Ity could be heard by anyone within two mile radius, and he followed it up with a shout which could also be heard.
"YOU BETRAYED ME!"
And then he charged, barely missing Jazz as he ran forwards, hacking with the sword as he ran past.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 18, 2006 12:13:14 GMT -5
Jazz stepped back, clearly frightened as he ran and grabbed a rather blunt sword. They'd never had an arguement before, not a real arguement. Oh, they'd fought about petty things back in the days when they were rivals, and about fighting and wars and all that. But never, ever a personal battle like this. She'd thought they were aobve that.
He began to walk, to circle again, and Jazz automatically followed suit, drawing her sword. The tempered steel, sharp and deadly shone in the light. She was really getting scared now. She could read him like a book, usually, and now his eyes shone only like they did when he battled without a thought.
She wanted to run. Just turn back, and run. But all her instincts screamed violently: he was dangerous. She shook her head, her sword held ably in front of her. It was heavy. Almost flinched, she remembered that she really shouldn't wield a blade. After all - she was only three weeks healed from nearly fatal injuried, not to mention she was having trouble focusing. But she pushed the thought away, concentrating. Her stance, as well as her grip on the sword was defensive - any fighter would tell you that. "Don't do this," she whispered, pleading. "Come on, don't do this."
But, if he heard, he didn't listen. Next, the whispering of the crowds was blocked out by Claw's roar, and cry of outrage: "YOU BETRAYED ME!"
She managed to parry the blow, feeling the impact of steel-on-steel in her bones. If she'd been a second later, he'd have gotten her. She should walk away, she knew. She should run back to the palace and get Sa- Rose. Roseanna. She should get Roseanna. But something inside her snapped, and she brought her head up. "Oh, I did, did I?" she said, her words edged sharp, cold and bitter. "So, it's me, now? Right, thanks for cleaing that up." She lowered her sword, but didn't resheath it. He surely couldn't be as stupid to attack her again? Her breath was coming hard and fast. So this fight was phsyical... What had she been thinking, getting into a relationship with him?
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Post by Claw on Jul 18, 2006 12:35:59 GMT -5
"Don't do this, Come on, don't do this. Oh, I did, did I? So, it's me, now? Right, thanks for clearing that up."
The words were quiet to Claw. Very quiet. The only sound he could hear was the pumping of his heart and the roar of the blood it moved inside him. His thoughts had dissolved into a pit of anger, and his muscles shot into overload with the massive adrenaline rush. His breathing became heavier, and he charged again. As he did so a single thought remained in his mind.
Why was she acting like this?
It echoed through what was left of his conscience and drilled through his body, causing another roar to well up inside him. It broke out on his third charge, the blunt sword missing Jazz again and carving a gouge through the street, simply through sheer force. For when Claw became angry and fought, all his skill, finess and swordwork went out the window. It was replaced by sheer brute force, which was just as affective when weilded by Claw. One hit with the sword could cleave an arm off, and the crowd rushed backwards as he hammered into them.
He kicked out, foot lashing into the civilians who he careened into, sending them spinning away in a circle except the odd few who had seen him coming beforehand. He did not turn immediately, but when he did face Jazz again, he was a truely fiercesome sight. His eyes had turned to red, and his black ponytail whipped behind him in a wind which was beginning to howl with the last remnants of Claws magic.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 18, 2006 13:05:55 GMT -5
She raised her sword again, but he missed her by a longshot. Her face, the terror now invisible was white and drawn. Her eyes were attentive and acutely aware of his every movement. He was dangerous, and only proved it as he injured a few civillians for no apparent reasons. She threw her magic out - while unable to heal human wounds, she could still sense life force. No one was dead, thank the Goddess. "Oi! If anyone is really injured, taken them to the palace and ask for... Katya noh Karigan," she said quickly, but loudly to one of the locals in their native language. "Tell them Jasminai sent you." The citizen nodded, and rushed of to the small group.
Winds - not natural sea winds, but magical ones - brought Jazz back to her opponent. His normally amber eyes had darkened to a red colour, and the civillians that had seen the change scattered, tracing the six-pointed star that was the sign against evil. She was facing him now, and took a step forwards, so they were about three meters apart. She brought up her sword infront of her, then spoke through the magic link. If he could hear her, maybe he would come back. If not, he was a lost cause. She really couldn't give a damn about his well-being, but there were people around, and she knew the extent of damage caused.
Fine. Hate me, fight me. But you've hurt people, and if you don't stop you'll hurt more people. So come back. Please.
It wasn't the sort of speech she'd made in the past, but it was the best she could come up with, given her current state. She advanced closer, the sword still in between them. he showed no sign of coming back from wherever he went in these situations... Jasmin carried on walking towards him. Suddenly, he lunged at her with his sword, and she instinctively parried.
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Post by Claw on Jul 18, 2006 13:23:11 GMT -5
Fine. Hate me, fight me. But you've hurt people, and if you don't stop you'll hurt more people. So come back. Please.
The words sounded empty, with no compassion. As such, they failed to penetrate the mist inside Claw's head. No answer went down the mind link, only the sound of his blood rushing. Claw attacked again, and their swords locked. Claws face was twisted with anger, and he pushed with all his might. Jazz did the same, forcing his blade into a stalemate. And a stalemate it would have stayed, except for a person who had another idea.
As Claw began to put his full weight against Jazz's blade, an icy magical hand gripped his leg and pulled hard. it lasted for only an instant, and left no trace to track. But the damage was done. The move of his leg shifted Claws center of gravity, causing his sword to slide from the lock as he tried to steady himself. As this happened Jazz's blade, which she had been forcing with all her might, no longer had anything to stop it from traveling forwards. It carved into Claw at his shoulder, and tore its way through muscle, bone and blood vessels before emerging from Claws hip.
As the blood rushed from his body the red haze disappeared and his eyes returned to a startled amber. Worst of all was how the situation looked. It had seemed as though Claw had calmed down and backed out, only for Jazz to strike him down provoked. He fell to the floor, landing on his back as blood pooled around him. The commoners were calling for help, but Claw could only focus on one person. Jazz towered above him, carrying half a sword. The other half was firmly jammed in Claw's ribs.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 18, 2006 13:43:51 GMT -5
She was ready for his next move, but she hadn't expected so much... force. She blocked the blow, but instead of breaking the lock and attacking again, he continued to press down, his sword uncomfortably close to her chest. Her face was pale with terror and concentration, and she leant with her full body weight against the clash. In a normal stalemate, Jasmin would have broken away. But if she did, she'd surely be stabbed for sure. He was much stronger than her, which was quite a problem. She could only hope and pray that she wouldn't be killed.
Her prayers were answered, if somewhat ironically, to her horror. he tripped over, causing Jazz herself to shift slightly. She quickly regained her balance, but fate had other ideas when it came to her rival.
She felt the blade slide through flesh, and muscle. She immediately, pulled the sword back, but it was too late. She dropped the hilt, and what was left with the blade onto the cobblestones, making a loud clatter that emphasized the silence. She knelt down, blood or no, next to Claw, trying to push thoughts and memories out of her brain. She'd done this twice before, she shouldn't have to do it again... With utmost care, she removed the blade from his chest, and let it fall to the ground. He was bleeding too much for her to do something about it. She suddenly felt herself wanting to cry, though no tears came through her tough, blank face.
"You, you and you!" she called, ordering people to fetch healers, to stay by Claw incase something happened, and to find Roseanna of Castlemaine, who was exploring the city. Jazz herself stood up, oblivious to the fact that her shirt, hands, arms, face and knees were covered in blood. She was going to get Katya, her sister, the best healer she knew. She wasn't sure why. She hated him, she hated him with a passion, and he was currently very dangerous. But it was her duty as a knight and Tortallan representative. And as a fiance, the little voice said. But she pushed the thought away. Not anymore. Then why? Because... I still love you, she whispered, magically. But she was sure it went unheard. She took off at a sprint, only to stop dead still as a familiar, and very much unwanted, face came into view.
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Post by Sapphire on Jul 18, 2006 13:54:39 GMT -5
Sapphire walked through the market humming merrilly. She was so glad to be home. She walked with a spring in her step, her dark curls coming loose and the wind tugging at her dress. She wandered past shops and restuarants comparing them to Tortall. Speaking of which, where were the Totallans, and Jazz and Claw.
She came to a halt as she heard a bloodcurdling scream. She stopped humming and started running towards the voice. She came into a clearing and gasped as she saw Claw lying on the floor, "Oh god, Claw. What happened?" She ran to him and started preparing her healing song. Her magic flowed through her and mended the wound. It was deep, she searched her magic reserves let her power go into the wound. She was already tired from the boat trip and she had little magic left.
She noticed the sword and looked at Claw, "What happened?" she asked again.
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Post by Claw on Jul 18, 2006 14:07:17 GMT -5
A few words floated through his mind, but Claw did not hear them. He only saw Jazz, turning and running for help, and then stopping... and the Fhires voice, sounding worried, to say the least.
"Oh god, Claw. What happened?"
Claws eyes slowly came into focus and he saw Fhire standing above him. It took him a while to form the words in his throat as his lips moved, making no sound, several moments later he managed to squeeze out a few words, but not the sentence he wanted to say, which told of the magic, but a short cut out of that. It was very quiet, but the gist was obvious.
"Jazz...sword..."
He struggled to remain concious, and then realised that as he lay there is life blood was pumping out onto the tiles. Using the logic of only Claw, he decided that to stop himself from dying he would stop his heart. He could freeze it for up to ten minutes, and it would slow the blood loss no end. And so he went about releasing the muscles one by one until his heart stopped beating. And when it was so, he meditated on the cold flagstones, and battled the pain which welled inside him, both physical and mental. But there was one thing he was sure of.
He hated Jazz.
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Post by Sapphire on Jul 18, 2006 14:19:39 GMT -5
"Jazz...sword..."
Sapphire stopped singing in utter shock, "Oh gods, but why?" she asked. She looked down at Claw as if expecting an answer. She felt his pulse and swore. She checked it again and shook her head. This couldn't be right. Could it. She placed a hand on his chest and felt his heart stopping. No, this couldn't be happening. Why was it happening. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Numbly she stood up and looked at the surrounding people. "You," she pointed to a random Yamani, "Please stay here, look after him" try to save him she thought as she looked at Claws body.
Jazz had done this. Why had Jazz done this. She bent down and touched Claw's hand. Jazz. Why had she done this, the question repeated itself in Fhire's mind. She looked around and spotted Jazz's face. She stood up slowly and moved carefully, "Why Jazz? What did you do?" she asked, fighting back tears. She came up to her friend, "What did you do?"
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Post by Jazz on Jul 19, 2006 8:39:18 GMT -5
She froze as she watched Sapphire run to the body. She could have coped. She really could've. But Sapphire... she felt numb. Somehow seeing Sapphire felt like her verous system had shut itself down, and she felt numb. Just numb. The hate was welling up inside, but she just looked on, incapable of moving.
Sapphire being so active and helpful and worried was normal, but with every second Jazz sunk deeper into despair. She gathered herself and turned around, once to be stopped in her tracks once again.
"Why Jazz? What did you do? What did you do?"
There was something in Fhire's tone of voice... accusation, perhaps. She snapped. She fought back tears, now unwanted and unneeded. She couldn't deal. She was faint, dizzy. The world was spinning around her, her head was pounding, but she couldn't let him die. She hated him, but she just couldn't.
"As a matter of fact," she said hoarsely, "I was defending myself. And now, I'm going to find a capable healer. Now get out of my way." She shook her head, oushing hair out of her eyes and pushed Sapphire aside, feeling angry and betrayed. She began to walk quickly up the road, planning to sprint up to the palace once she got to the main road.
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