A Dramatic Meeting - No interfering pwease.

[Slither]

((You can come in, but can nobody but Slither and Ryosei take part in the Dramatic bit...))

The sun was setting over the naturally dim streets as Slither weaved his way through the populace of the Port. He kept one hand firm on his bag of coin, and the other ready over his sword. The area wasn't safe for anyone at any time of day - much less so for a man carrying four month's pay with him. Two men had so far tried to take it from him by subterfuge - one had crawled away on broken legs, and the other would do his thieving from now with only one hand.
He walked into the first tavern he saw, seeking relative safety in numbers. Thieves would be less likely to strike when surrounded by drunken, armed merchants who hated the pickpockets to the core. As he ordered a large drink at the bar and relaxed enough to move his hand away from his sword, he noticed a figure at the end of the row of seats. An elf, directing his attention into a mug of clotted ale, who seemed very familiar.
As Slither mulled over the matter, the elf seemed to emerge in his memories more and more often. At the masked ball, so many weeks ago - in the gardens of crystal - at a whorehouse in a seedy  town - at the beach… The elf was everywhere! And yet, Slither did not know his name.
Something was wrong - the elf seemed to almost be following him. Why?, he pondered, as his beer thickened due to a mixture of several unknown ingredients. He had never owed the elf money - never tried to kill him - never stolen from his - what could his quarrel be? Unless he had a problem with the fact that he was a pirate. Which meant…<br>He was a Sea Corp! Slither was certain of it. All the fragmented memories of the past fit themselves together. The Corps, chasing him - following him to his ship - his captain - his friends…<br>Slither stood quickly. The elf flicked a glance towards him as he made his way over towards the crouched figure. He had to act fast, Slither decided - remove the elf from his life once and for all.

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei stared downwards into his ale, deep in thought. The last month had been pure hell...ever since the incident at Sephira Nu, Ryosei had been depressed and bitter about everything. He had only fully recovered from the many wounds he received from that catboi and the lizard-man...but his emotional wounds still remained, and he felt as betrayed and used as ever. His finding out of Ana-Dreya's true identity was the biggest blow, and nowadays he seemed to wander aimlessly, rarely reporting for duty, and drowning his sorrows in weak ale or whatever he could afford.

He didn't let himself waste away, however, finding stress relief in exercise. Since he was unable to consciously get magic to work, he gave up on trying and isntead began to build on his physical strength. Although he was by no means muscular, Ryosei had become even more quick and agile than before. He still kept his long knife at his side, in case the need to use it arose.

Today would be one of those days. As he glanced to the side casually, he saw a familiar, scaly face. Ryosei's green eyes widened...it was the lizard-man. The same one that had attacked him in Sephira Nu and left him in the stone streets outside to die. Ryosei could still remember it...the lizard-man had tackled him to the ground, thrown him out the door and continued to beat him in his weakened state...like a typical pirate, kicking a man while he was down...and now he was headed this way.

Why? To try to kill him again?! Ryosei narrowed his eyes and the depressed expression appeared on his face again. It figures...as soon as he's in full health again, somebody should show up and try to beat him out of it. Ryosei looked side to side. Civilians...innocent civilians.

Ryosei stood and walked slowly towards the lizard-man in the middle of the tavern.

[Jung]

Kaori saw Slither and some other guy from the SEA Corps head toward the center of the bar, but instead of trying to stop them, she decided against it. Whatever had caused them to be angry at each other was their problem. No use in interfering. In fact, she was just too lazy, and probably had too much sake, PLUS the fact that she was still in vampyre mode, and might have the urge to bite.

[Slither]

The elf had stood and was walking to meet Slither in the center of the bar. He knew that he had been caught - so he was taking Slither head on. A foolish decision, he thought. The elf was like a cornered rat - and was prepared to bite the cat.
They met in the center of the room, each staring impassively at the other. Slither reached his left hand around to rest on the handle of a small dagger. He would be prepared to use it, if the other so much as gave an indication of drawing his sword.
"I've seen you before", he began. "Too many times. Too many places. You're a SEA-Corp... aren't you?" He waited for the reply, knowing that if he answered in the affirmative a fight would ensue.

[Jung]

'Oh man...' Kaori thought. 'How pathetic...' She shook her head and ordered another sake. She glanced around looking for something that didn't have much meaning, something to take the soul and blood of.

[Audrey Thatch]

A woman ducked into the tavern in an attempt to lose an angry merchant hot on her heels. Her identity was covered by a dark, billowing cloak and she pressed herself against the wall behing a large crowd of muscular, grotesque looking men and women with small black eyes and hairy faces. The merchant peered into the tavern, but decided it wasn't going to do his health any good if he decided to pick a fight against a woman in here, so he turned and returned to his stall in the markets.

The woman relaxed a bit and sank to the floor, drawing out a small parcel from underneath her cloak and resting it on her knees. She pushed the cloak aside, revealing a bloody wound just below her neck, and unwrapped the parcel. Several coloured bottles clinked together as the wrapping was hastily tossed aside and a small emerald coloured one was opened; it's contents quickly splashed onto the wound.
Concealing the bottles in one of the massive pockets, the woman pulled the cloak around her frams tightly and stood up, pushing her way through the crowd, fiddling with the few coins in her pocket.

She reached the bar and slid the galleons onto the counter. "Just a mead thank ye... Anything else goes into it and by Mother I'll have your head mounted with the others..."

Turning around, she caught a glimpse of Kaori and winked at her, hoping to grab the girls attention.

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei stared back for a short while. He then flicked his eyes to the side for half a second...he spotted another familiar face. A girl he was sure was there that night at Sephira Nu...most probably another pirate. They seemed to pop up everywhere...and although this one seemed quite happy with her drink, he knew much better than to take anything for granted. His eyes flicked back to face the scaly being in front of him.

"I spotted one of your shipmates over there. How many more of your pirate friends are in here?" He asked, coldly and blankly. He spoke silently, so as not to draw attention to them. His eyes flicked quickly to and from the lizard's hand resting on his blade.

"Whatever you keep showing up for, I'm sure it's for bad intent. Pirates always have bad intent. If it's a fight you want, I suggest we take it outside. I know you pirates thrive on the death of innocents, but I'm not about to stand about and watch them get involved..."

Ryosei saw a mad glint of anger in the creature's eyes as he unsheathed his blade. Ryosei instantly had his own blade in hand, and the loud clank of metal pierced the tavern.

[Jung]

Kaori gave Audrey a small glance, then turned back to her drink. She peered deeply into the dark color of the sake. She then raised the cup to her lips, tasting her saviour of when life began to taste like shit.

"Aaaah......." was the sound that came from her delicate pink lips.

[Slither]

The drunken louts that filled the tavern parted as the two drew their swords. The elf had no idea what he had just said! Slither had never even drawn his sword against an innocent man, let alone kill one for pleasure. And this elf... not even an elf, he had a tinge of human about him... had the gall to claim that his friends were murderers!
"I have no wish to harm innocents - the only blood that I have in my blade is that of scum like you." He glanced the tavern at the frightened faces and noticed that of other Pirates like himself. Should he call for their aid? No, he decided - this was his fight, and his fight alone.
"I'll be headed outside - and there I'll wait. If you choose to follow me, I'll not only run you through, but spread your SEA-Corp carcass over the city."
He took a tentative step back, and then another, as he moved towards the door, all eyes on his waving sword.

[Ryosei Zealotes]

Ryosei allowed himself the smallest tinge of a smile, the side of his mouth twitching upwards, almost unnoticably. Good. The Pirate saw his way then...there was no point in letting the innocents get in the way.

As for the threat, Ryosei couldn't care less. He didn't have anything to lose...he had felt no love in the past month. Only hate and emptiness. And to be frank, he was becoming quite used to it.

Let the fool think what he wants... he thought bitterly as he exited the tavern, into the stone streets outside, eyes never wavering from the scaly creature.

"So you DO have a hint of decency," he threw at the creature. Go ahead...cause him pain. Why should I be the only one to feel it? His eyebrows knitted and a nasty grin appeared on his face... it was so completely unlike him, he even startled himself. Yet everything appeared so...trivial.

What's....happening to...me...?

"Let's get this over and done with..." he sneered. "And when I'm finished with your scaly hide, I'll seek out and slaughter all your shipmates in there. Wherever they're hiding!"

[Jung]

Kaori heard the two draw their swords, but paid no heed. She looked around at everyone else, they seemed concerned and afraid.

'Pathetic...' she thought, and took another swig of her drink.

[Slither]

When the elf mentioned his friends in the bar, Slither's blood began to churn in hatred. The elf dared call HIM a murderer - when he himself was no better than the filth on the soles of his feet.

Slither gained a better grip on his blade and waited for the elf to make the first move. A personal insult, he could manage - but when his friends were threatened, he had no option but to take the path of violence. His suspicions had been correct all along - the elf was planning to kill him, his companions and his captain.

He was the last barrier between his friends and possible death... He wouldn't allow that to happen.