08-27-2014, 03:15 PM
Shadows swathed half her face, her back resting against the wall of an alley bordering the empty street. Black hair framed the paleness of her cheeks, the stormy murk of her eyes surveying her surroundings with idle disinterest while she spoke into the Wallet in her hand. The call was business, one of many forays into plans that had been simmering in the back of her mind since her visit to Sofiya's grave. Kallisti was not known for attracting trouble, and she had always left the unimportant detail of security to Carmen. Until now. A smirk upturned her lips as she spoke, though her voice was low and perfectly inflectionless as she bargained.
She desired loyalty unquestioned, of course, but for that required leverage. Money was too weak an incentive, easily outbid by others, and that made her doubt the more notorious of security companies. She didn't want a contract of ink and words, she wanted it of blood. A cause that claimed the soul. Morality was negligible; she wasn't after a white knight, so her feelers fed into the Underground first. The hooks were set. She'd wait. Call ended, she slid the Wallet into the pocket of her jacket, set to move on.
Two men broke the isolation of her view. Gave her pause. Her gaze followed them ahead, darkly curious for a single reason; the one that walked stiffly, despite no visible bonds. Oriena was not unaccustomed to violence. Her childhood had been punctuated by the sorts of heinousness no-one wished on a child, and she knew the value of turning a blind eye. Whatever was happening, she did not care for soft-hearted reasons.
Still, a sly look followed them into an abandoned building, and she stepped out of the alley, arms folded. A smile curled like smoke from her lips. The curiosity lured, despite the danger.
Better judgement was lost to the maelstrom as she crossed the street to loiter by the door, leaning casually, the sole of one booted foot pressed against the wall. Silence hung heavy; she heard nothing of what transpired within, even with the light that fizzled brilliantly against her skin, dousing the world in a new dimension of sense.
The man who eventually retreated was alone. Ori pushed off the wall to join him in step. "Where's your friend?"
The words were brittle, accusatory. Knowing, even if only in pretence. There was probably only one reason he was now alone. She braced herself for his reaction.
She desired loyalty unquestioned, of course, but for that required leverage. Money was too weak an incentive, easily outbid by others, and that made her doubt the more notorious of security companies. She didn't want a contract of ink and words, she wanted it of blood. A cause that claimed the soul. Morality was negligible; she wasn't after a white knight, so her feelers fed into the Underground first. The hooks were set. She'd wait. Call ended, she slid the Wallet into the pocket of her jacket, set to move on.
Two men broke the isolation of her view. Gave her pause. Her gaze followed them ahead, darkly curious for a single reason; the one that walked stiffly, despite no visible bonds. Oriena was not unaccustomed to violence. Her childhood had been punctuated by the sorts of heinousness no-one wished on a child, and she knew the value of turning a blind eye. Whatever was happening, she did not care for soft-hearted reasons.
Still, a sly look followed them into an abandoned building, and she stepped out of the alley, arms folded. A smile curled like smoke from her lips. The curiosity lured, despite the danger.
Better judgement was lost to the maelstrom as she crossed the street to loiter by the door, leaning casually, the sole of one booted foot pressed against the wall. Silence hung heavy; she heard nothing of what transpired within, even with the light that fizzled brilliantly against her skin, dousing the world in a new dimension of sense.
The man who eventually retreated was alone. Ori pushed off the wall to join him in step. "Where's your friend?"
The words were brittle, accusatory. Knowing, even if only in pretence. There was probably only one reason he was now alone. She braced herself for his reaction.
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