Paranoia Agent
01-07-09, 09:32 PM
He always felt like an outsider in Talmhaidh. He had felt that way all his life, traveling along with his parents. He never had any friends, never any place to call home. His position wasn't helped by the fact that Dheathain boasted only a very small human population, and most of the kids his age (whether Draconian or Fae) wouldn't have anything to do with him.
Even now, at 18, he still got more than his fare share of dirty looks while wandering the streets. Even though he had grown up around places like Talmhaidh, it still retained its air of distance and unfamiliarity to him. Anyway, he had only hung around because of the rumors about a monster that was terrorizing other humans like him. He leap at the merest mention of a monster which terrorized human travelers, since he was looking for the creature that had killed his parents.
After he escaped from his not-so-benevolent wizard rescuer, in the swamps of Fiorar, he had remained in Dheathain, hoping to find and kill the creature that was responsible for his parent's demise. He was trying his best to keep a low profile, keeping his cloth under wraps for as long as possible. Sometimes, life just pissed him off. Here he was, forced to hide his identity in the land which he had lived in since he was a little boy.
Of course, this place was far from somewhere he would ever be willing to call home, but it was, at very least, a very familiar place. But nonetheless, he had to be very careful. He had to be very careful to avoid that man.
Subterfuge wasn't exactly his favorite pastime, and as a result, his tongue had developed an almost permanent sore spot from the many times he had been forced to bite it. It really irked him to have to suppress so much of himself just to fit in. Just so that diabolist wouldn't find him.
The man he had to find was called Evanhas, and he was apparently a Fae skilled in Demonic magicks. He was supposed to be waiting near the pier. At least, that's what Daisuke had been told. The smell of the sea wafted in his nostrils, and with a deep breath, he brought the salty, somewhat pungent mix of damp odors deep into himself. Sometimes, just being alive was good enough for him.
It was only a brief moment, however, before he was recalled to his real purpose. He had received a brief description of the man, and as he approached the pier, he scanned the area for the man.
Had he even arrived yet?
"Damn it." Daisuke was fed up with having to wait. He just wanted to find that monster and kill it. He just wanted to avenge his family. Then he would be free of this desolate place. He could finally find a home. Seeing the rest of the world would be such a relief to him. He wrapped his fingers around an innocuous role of cloth, feeling its dry roughness. It comforted him.
He felt the interruptions of each of the needles as his fingers brushed them. Oh how he longed to remove the restraints and bathe in its power. The image of the red-eyed demon filled him, whispering of the power he could gain. If only he removed them. He caught himself pulling one of them out.
It's getting more powerful. I need to be careful or else it will control me.
His eyes focused on one man, standing alone near an ally, just off the bustling docks. The biggest port town in Dheathain received a lot of traffic, and it was pretty easy to forget what a segregated town Talmhaidth was, if you just observed the piers. The man seemed to notice his stare, turning and retreating back into the ally, out of his sight.
"Wait." He shouted, "Evanhas?"
He had no idea if the man had heard him, or if the man was actually the same Fae that he was looking for. He couldn't see if he was still there. He swore, jogging towards the dim alley.
Maybe I'm just crazy.
The alley was empty, but for a few animals scrounging for lunch in the dumpsters behind the various businesses that lined the street. He could find no trace of whoever that man was among the stray cats and the other, stranger denizens of the quiet alleyway. The silence was almost unnerving, compared to the busy shipyard within walking distance.
It was a shadow in the back of his mind, a shadow of doubt in himself. He just wanted revenge. He just wanted to be done. If only he didn't have to feeel this way all the time. Haunted. Haunted by his past, memories. It was all because of that man. The one who, under the guise of helping him, had simply made him into another experiment. The thing that was bound to him would never be forgotten.
He had even tried to get rid of it before. Every time, it would reappear somehow, some traveling salesman would be offering it, a local inn would offer it to him as a washcloth, and the like. He was always compelled to get it back. Eventually, he just stopped trying. The thing was bound to him, he had accepted that fact.
Where are you, Evanhas?
He turned, leaving the vacant alleyway. He could see the sea, and it was soothing. Of course, he knew that actually being on a boat would make him sick to his stomach. But it was a good thought anyway. The sea was always calming for him. Unless he was on it.
He still hadn't seen the man he was supposed to meet, and time was passing. Where had he said to see him? By the pier. Anything more specific than that? A tavern.
He remembered now. A tavern by the pier.
His trajectory and path thus changed, he sought out the tavern most frequented by sailors and merchants who just arrived in the city. It made sense, too. He felt rather foolish at that moment. All that stress, all those second guesses, all for nothing.
The Kraken's Tavern, it was called. It was smokey, and not too crowded, because of the time of day. He immediately found the man he was looking for, sitting on a bench at the bar, sipping a cup of something. He couldn't tell what it was. But the flute he was drinking it from suggested Elven or Fae origin. He took a seat next to the man.
"Evanhas?" His voice was quite, reserved. He was doing his best to conceal his real personality. "I heard you know something about demons?"
He was still matter-of-fact, that's for sure. He saw no point in beating around the bush. Looking up, he saw the bartender glaring at him. He was taking up a seat without giving his custom.
"Oh, I'll have a beer, if you don't mind. Surprise me." He turned back to Evanhas, watching the thin man sip his inhuman beverage.
"Yes," Evanhas answered, "I do."
"I've had a lot of experience with demonic magic, vile curses and the like." He began to explain.
"So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about, anyway?" He sipped his drink again. "I know you didn't just seek me out here without a very good reason."
He withdrew the bound roll of cloth from his pocket, offering it to the Fae for observation.
I sure hope I can trust this man.
"That's interesting" The Fae was staring intently at the cloth with shimmering eyes.
"And these are blessed needles, you are using them to contain the demon? How quaint."
"Sorry. Can't help you with that one, he's far to vicious. My advice, never remove the pins." Evanhas told him, draining the last from the auburn flute.
Daisuke suppressed a torrent of swearwords.
"I came here looking for information, a solution even. Could you at least tell me something more about this demon that he bound to me." He bit his tongue, having let slip a bit too much. Mentally cursing his loose tongue, he prayed that the strange Fae would not ask more questions.
"You truck with demons, then?" He looked more interested at Daisuke's remark.
He bit his tongue, hard.
"Well, I don't help those who would do such a vile thing." Evanhas stood, leaving payment for his drink.
"Wait, please. You don't understand."
"I'm afraid I do. All too well."
And he left.
Damn, I've said way too much.
Even now, at 18, he still got more than his fare share of dirty looks while wandering the streets. Even though he had grown up around places like Talmhaidh, it still retained its air of distance and unfamiliarity to him. Anyway, he had only hung around because of the rumors about a monster that was terrorizing other humans like him. He leap at the merest mention of a monster which terrorized human travelers, since he was looking for the creature that had killed his parents.
After he escaped from his not-so-benevolent wizard rescuer, in the swamps of Fiorar, he had remained in Dheathain, hoping to find and kill the creature that was responsible for his parent's demise. He was trying his best to keep a low profile, keeping his cloth under wraps for as long as possible. Sometimes, life just pissed him off. Here he was, forced to hide his identity in the land which he had lived in since he was a little boy.
Of course, this place was far from somewhere he would ever be willing to call home, but it was, at very least, a very familiar place. But nonetheless, he had to be very careful. He had to be very careful to avoid that man.
Subterfuge wasn't exactly his favorite pastime, and as a result, his tongue had developed an almost permanent sore spot from the many times he had been forced to bite it. It really irked him to have to suppress so much of himself just to fit in. Just so that diabolist wouldn't find him.
The man he had to find was called Evanhas, and he was apparently a Fae skilled in Demonic magicks. He was supposed to be waiting near the pier. At least, that's what Daisuke had been told. The smell of the sea wafted in his nostrils, and with a deep breath, he brought the salty, somewhat pungent mix of damp odors deep into himself. Sometimes, just being alive was good enough for him.
It was only a brief moment, however, before he was recalled to his real purpose. He had received a brief description of the man, and as he approached the pier, he scanned the area for the man.
Had he even arrived yet?
"Damn it." Daisuke was fed up with having to wait. He just wanted to find that monster and kill it. He just wanted to avenge his family. Then he would be free of this desolate place. He could finally find a home. Seeing the rest of the world would be such a relief to him. He wrapped his fingers around an innocuous role of cloth, feeling its dry roughness. It comforted him.
He felt the interruptions of each of the needles as his fingers brushed them. Oh how he longed to remove the restraints and bathe in its power. The image of the red-eyed demon filled him, whispering of the power he could gain. If only he removed them. He caught himself pulling one of them out.
It's getting more powerful. I need to be careful or else it will control me.
His eyes focused on one man, standing alone near an ally, just off the bustling docks. The biggest port town in Dheathain received a lot of traffic, and it was pretty easy to forget what a segregated town Talmhaidth was, if you just observed the piers. The man seemed to notice his stare, turning and retreating back into the ally, out of his sight.
"Wait." He shouted, "Evanhas?"
He had no idea if the man had heard him, or if the man was actually the same Fae that he was looking for. He couldn't see if he was still there. He swore, jogging towards the dim alley.
Maybe I'm just crazy.
The alley was empty, but for a few animals scrounging for lunch in the dumpsters behind the various businesses that lined the street. He could find no trace of whoever that man was among the stray cats and the other, stranger denizens of the quiet alleyway. The silence was almost unnerving, compared to the busy shipyard within walking distance.
It was a shadow in the back of his mind, a shadow of doubt in himself. He just wanted revenge. He just wanted to be done. If only he didn't have to feeel this way all the time. Haunted. Haunted by his past, memories. It was all because of that man. The one who, under the guise of helping him, had simply made him into another experiment. The thing that was bound to him would never be forgotten.
He had even tried to get rid of it before. Every time, it would reappear somehow, some traveling salesman would be offering it, a local inn would offer it to him as a washcloth, and the like. He was always compelled to get it back. Eventually, he just stopped trying. The thing was bound to him, he had accepted that fact.
Where are you, Evanhas?
He turned, leaving the vacant alleyway. He could see the sea, and it was soothing. Of course, he knew that actually being on a boat would make him sick to his stomach. But it was a good thought anyway. The sea was always calming for him. Unless he was on it.
He still hadn't seen the man he was supposed to meet, and time was passing. Where had he said to see him? By the pier. Anything more specific than that? A tavern.
He remembered now. A tavern by the pier.
His trajectory and path thus changed, he sought out the tavern most frequented by sailors and merchants who just arrived in the city. It made sense, too. He felt rather foolish at that moment. All that stress, all those second guesses, all for nothing.
The Kraken's Tavern, it was called. It was smokey, and not too crowded, because of the time of day. He immediately found the man he was looking for, sitting on a bench at the bar, sipping a cup of something. He couldn't tell what it was. But the flute he was drinking it from suggested Elven or Fae origin. He took a seat next to the man.
"Evanhas?" His voice was quite, reserved. He was doing his best to conceal his real personality. "I heard you know something about demons?"
He was still matter-of-fact, that's for sure. He saw no point in beating around the bush. Looking up, he saw the bartender glaring at him. He was taking up a seat without giving his custom.
"Oh, I'll have a beer, if you don't mind. Surprise me." He turned back to Evanhas, watching the thin man sip his inhuman beverage.
"Yes," Evanhas answered, "I do."
"I've had a lot of experience with demonic magic, vile curses and the like." He began to explain.
"So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about, anyway?" He sipped his drink again. "I know you didn't just seek me out here without a very good reason."
He withdrew the bound roll of cloth from his pocket, offering it to the Fae for observation.
I sure hope I can trust this man.
"That's interesting" The Fae was staring intently at the cloth with shimmering eyes.
"And these are blessed needles, you are using them to contain the demon? How quaint."
"Sorry. Can't help you with that one, he's far to vicious. My advice, never remove the pins." Evanhas told him, draining the last from the auburn flute.
Daisuke suppressed a torrent of swearwords.
"I came here looking for information, a solution even. Could you at least tell me something more about this demon that he bound to me." He bit his tongue, having let slip a bit too much. Mentally cursing his loose tongue, he prayed that the strange Fae would not ask more questions.
"You truck with demons, then?" He looked more interested at Daisuke's remark.
He bit his tongue, hard.
"Well, I don't help those who would do such a vile thing." Evanhas stood, leaving payment for his drink.
"Wait, please. You don't understand."
"I'm afraid I do. All too well."
And he left.
Damn, I've said way too much.