An Extraplanar Exorcism
Consisting of a duel, a slumber party, and a very strange trip.
The sun had recently slipped behind the staggered rooftops of east Radasanth's tranquil residences, sky awash with vibrant golds that melted into a star-studded indigo on the opposite horizon, when a sea-scented breeze borne from the waves wove its way through the brown brick and gray stone neighborhood to stir Resolve's short, dark hair, salt condensing sticky on her skin in the summer humidity. She was currently standing alert in the alley next to Moody's Ale Cellar where, quite suddenly, she had found herself rather concerned for her bodily safety.
"I don't know what ye have with my Rose, but she ain't interested in the likes of you." A wiry sailor-type fellow blocked the entrance to the side street, an exotic blade spanning what his arms did not, and it gleamed devilishly in the light of the newly lit street lanterns. He had skin like leather from decades in the harsh sun, nut brown and riddled with faded blues and blacks of tattoos that outlined the rest of his illustrious romantic history. Resolve swore she spotted at least two Margarets, a Prudence, three Marys, and one so worn that what might have been Georgette now simply read George. She'd save that for a snarky remark after she beat his sorry arse into the cobblestones.
"Oh, please don't," Rose shouted in an exasperated tone from a window above, her round face glowing under a full rainbow of cosmetics. To put things into perspective, Rose was Madame Rose of Madame Rose's Girls. Yes, that kind of girl. But that is said with utmost respect, as she always told Resolve: "If all that exercisin' or whatever you do don't work out, you come see me. There ain't no shame in this kind of life. A pretty thing like you could pick and choose, no one to answer to but yourself, and oh, the gifts!" Rose had become somewhat of a mentor to Resolve when her mother was working abroad, and visiting was always an experience in itself. Her cluttered flat was a museum of knick-knacks from all around Althanas, ranging from the endearingly kitsch to the truly marvelous and unusual.
The evening had begun pleasantly. Resolve stopped in the tavern downstairs on her way to visit Rose and, after packing away two mugs of beer and a bowl of stew, the casual chit-chat she had going with her neighbors at the bar was interrupted by a ruckus from above. Her protective nature immediately went into overdrive and she dashed upstairs to discover a row had occurred between her dearest Rose and a patron she didn't recognize. A shelf had been knocked over and the woman was in tears, auburn curls obscuring much of her face as she picked up the broken remnants of her treasures and placed them carefully in the skirt of her blue satin gown. Resolve noticed swelling and blood on Rose's bottom lip.
And it was then Resolve saw red.
"Outside," she directed the offender, her voice hoarse with tension. He pocketed his hands with ease that only incited further infuriation and Resolve responded by drawing her sword with the ring of steel against leather. Raising it cut the distance between the two in half in the small room, and his smirk only deepened.
It was true that Resolve didn't look particularly intimidating. At a height just above average she was built with spidery limbs, discretely toned under the dark leggings and short violet sari wrapped around her figure; the ornately woven cloth had more bulk than her body did. But the scowl on her face showed the sailor she wasn't going to leave him with Rose and, mostly out of curiosity, he conceded to meet her outside for a duel that he fully expected to (and likely would) win.
It was still early in the evening and so the alley outside Moody's was empty, save a stray cat that quickly vacated the premises at the first clash of metal. Resolve held her own for an impressive length of time, scoring a crimson slash across the sailor's left shoulder in reaction to a matching cut down the thigh of her right leg.
Tired of the stalemate, Resolve made an impulsive lurch toward her opponent. This impatience paid off, surprisingly enough, and she was able to disarm him, which was highly desirable in this situation. She had passable skill with a blade, but she was deadly with her bare hands. Or at least she fantasized that she was, going unbeaten in wrestling in her weight class in this corner of Radasanth. (Such a thing might sound impressive, but at her size, most of her opponents were prepubescent boys who were afraid to fight back. These awkward victories did nothing to diminish her bloated ego.)
The girl made her move and the sailor was very surprised to suddenly find himself pinned to the ground under a tangle of feminine limbs, his head pulled painfully back by the roots of his greasy hair. Resolve jabbed her knee into his back triumphantly and yanked on his ponytail, Rose jeering merrily as spectator. "You shall leave Rosie be," Resolve ordered with an animalistic growl that was punctuated by a cheer from above.
No verbal response was forthcoming. The man tensed under her and she sensed him bracing himself for something. She prepared herself by quickly making to wrap her arm around his neck for a choke hold but was too late, and in that panic had regrettably released grip on one of his wrists. With the hard jab of an elbow she was shoved off his back and he crawled for his sword, which he reached well before she could find her own. Resolve had barely made it to her feet when the sailor advanced menacingly, and unfortunately for her, with great advantage. She was closed into the empty alleyway without much more than the stray's dead rat feast and some litter with which to protect herself.
Rose gasped in horror from above and left the window in a hurry to fetch a bouncer from the tavern, but even that might not be quick enough. Things were looking pretty bleak for Resolve, and all she could do was hope he wouldn't focus the beating on her face. She liked her face.
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