Completed Poison me, poison you. Aha~~ {Ninus}

[Ronan Dugal]

As the three of them walked in the kitchen, the lady suddenly stopped and the servant bumped into her, Ronan as well, bumped into the servant. The rat was snarling and snapping at the lady as she pushed back, the servant moved back and Ronan stepped past both of them through the door as Ninus snapped out to his rat, getting it under control. Somewhat defensive, Ronan stood half in front of the lady, covering her from the rat, even though it looked like it wasn't going to do anything else. Ronan tried to explain to the lady and to Ninus at the same time but Ninus cut through whatever words he was planning on speaking. "I tried to explain but she's quite..." Ronan looked apologetically towards the lady of the house. "Strong willed. She wanted to know why someone would bar her from her own kitchen. I apologize for not having been able to keep her out." He turned from Ninus to the servant and the lady of the house. "Ninus -is- the expert here and you should always listen to the expert, milady. Please, just wait in the lobby while he prepares some food for your husband according to his own rules. It will leave him alive, milady." Ronan did his best to explain as he and the servant guided her to the nearby lobby, leaving Ninus to his work. Just then, Ninus started openly accusing her of being the one who poisoned her husband. The fury of the woman was barely contained by both man and Ronan's position as her shield turned into Ninus' shield in that instant. "You call me a murderer!" She yelled, her voice shrill as the tears welled up in her eyes. "He's my -husband- you peasant! Out! Get out of my house" Slowly but surely she was moved back as she was yelling. Ronan closed the kitchen door behind him, leaving Ninus and his rat alone in the room as he spoke to the lady. "Milady, I apologize on his behalf. He's not as educated as you or I and thus lacks the manners required for someone of your stature. Please forgive him. He has saved your husband from certain death. He only wants to make sure that he doesn't get poisoned again. Just let him do what he has to do and then, once he is gone, you can go back to normal?" He did his best to calm her down and, as her breathing slowed, she did regain most of herself. As if it had been her idea, she turned away from Ronan and walked towards the lobby door. "I will let him use my kitchen for now. But he is not staying here much longer, I hope." She gave a slight huff, the only remains of her earlier anger. Ronan made a slight bow behind her back before he slowly opened the kitchen door once more. "I'm sorry about that. She's quite... Well, you saw her. I hope this hasn't made anything worse."

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats "Has no woman poisoned her husband before? Have I not supplied the hand that has killed many an unfaithful man and wife? Have I not heard, time and again, the hatred tightening a man's throat when he speaks of a whore that has slandered him? Have I not endured the tears of your kind on my shirt once blood has been spilled? Silence your tongue woman, it knows not how ignorantly it moves." Ninus told the woman coldly. He returned to his food, glad she had left. He had helped many a man kill an unfaithful wife, and many a woman kill a cheating husband. Her defense, that she was Turan's wife, meant nothing to Ninus. He ate his food complacently, watching Cricet eye the woman. If the lady of the house laid a hand on him, he had no doubt that Cricet would scratch out her eyes or gnaw off her nose. The rat was very protective of him, and he gave her a tidbit of egg in thanks. The poisoner didn't look up when Ronan entered the room again. "Insult the cook and he spits in your food. A poisoner does much worse. The shrill shrieks of a woman whose senses have abandoned her merely annoy me. I much prefer the company of men. Why one would keep a magpie squawking in his bedroom, pecking at his hair and sitting upon a pile of silver, I could never understand." Ninus said in disgust. He finished his meal and set the plate politely in a wash basin, scrubbing the crumbs off of the plate and drying it. He set the clean plate and fork back amongst its fellows and picked up Turan's meal. He patted Cricet on the way out. "Do not be afraid to enforce yourself, though not with fang. Your teeth are as fearsome as the great lizards of stories, and may kill hysteria." he told the rat. She grumbled but settled down on the kitchen counter again.

[Ronan Dugal]

Although Ninus was in the middle of threatening the lady of the house, Ronan could do nothing but sigh. On one end he had a woman who was obviously distraught and worried for her husband but at the same time a little too headstrong. On the other hand he had an expert poisoner who was quite possibly completely mad. And Ronan stood in the middle, taking blows from both sides while trying to keep the peace between them. Ronan couldn't help a grin as Ninus compared the woman to a magpie. "Men are magpies just the same. As you said, many husbands died because they were unfaithful. What you should prefer is not the company or men or women specifically but of people who are loyal and whom you can trust. Or whom you need to keep an eye on at all times." Ronan held the kitchen door open for Ninus as he spoke. He remained silent on their way up, listening for any stirrings from downstairs, in case the servant or the lady decided to go into the kitchen anyway. The wood of the stairs creaked under their steps but downstairs everything remained quiet. As they walked into Turan's room, the heat was obviously lessened but it still greeted them. Turan was sleeping still, stirring lightly as they entered. He managed to mumble something Ronan couldn't hear but even from the distance, Ronan could tell that Turan was looking better already. Ronan sat himself in the chair he had occupied before, watching as Ninus did his job. Time passed in silence, Ronan with his thoughts, Turan with his doctor and savior. Loud banging on the door downstairs jerked Ronan out of his thoughts. Immediately irritated, Ronan walked towards the bedroom door and looked around the corner into the hallway below. The servant opened the door and was immediately pushed aside by three huge thugs. "Ninus Aurellius! I was told you're here. Come out, you dirty poisoner. Come out and pay!" One of the thugs grabbed the servant and smacked him into the wall. Quaking in his boots, the servant managed to lift a finger to point at the kitchen. They let him go and he slid along the wall down to the ground. Ronan stepped back into the room, giving Ninus an amused look. "Unsatisfied customers. The bane of our existence, dear prince." Ronan grinned as he walked past Ninus towards the window. A quick glance outside told Ronan what he needed to know. The vines climbing up along the wall and around the window were still in place, grown over the years. Turan had never forgotten. Ronan blessed his old friend. "I hope you can climb. There is a door at the back of the garden, it unlocks from the inside. From there a left and then the second right will get you onto the big market, enough people to hide in." Ronan explained quickly as he moved back to the door to check on the three thugs. If they remained in the kitchen, Ninus' escape would be impossible. But when they didn't find him there, they would come here and then his escape was guaranteed.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus' head jerked up when he heard the shout and the loud bang, then the sound of a body being shoved against the wall. "Comest thou, o thunderous voice, like winter upon my soul. Will my tears shed upon thy face, to restore eternal spring to thine hatred?" he whispered quietly, eyes focused on the kitchen doorway. Cricet leapt to the arm and crawled up it, her fur puffed out in nervousness. Ninus looked at the escape route, at the vines tenderly caressing the side of the building...but he did not want to leave his patient. "Away from the window, ser." Ninus said calmly, withdrawing the brass syringe from his pocket. "I will not be a hart to be hunted, time and time again until time wears on my flanks and exhaustion my legs. Nay, I will strike my feet upon the ground and lower my crown of bone, and see these wolves in the eyes." He tore open the poison kit and lifted a bottle of brackish brown liquid. "Would that the tree that felled your friend become my servant in such a faithful hour, that her branches cradle mine enemies that they may lie prostate upon the floor. Do not tarry, gentle ser, draw a weapon and join my side." Cricet snarled, baring her teeth and hissing out a breath. "Come, wolves, come find your prince of rats! He doth not cower in darkness under filth and villainy, but faces you as a lion among hunters!" Ninus shouted, his other hand grasping a kitchen knife. "Come you then, you dogs, that I may see your blood upon the pavement and be gladdened! They are but glistening rubies upon my heart!"

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan admired the man's bravery, even when faced with three of these guys. He didn't quite understand what he was talking about, as his speech suddenly changed, sounding more archaic than before. Ronan pushed it aside. His life was possibly in danger and he was pondering about a man's way of speaking. Draw a weapon? Ronan reached with both hands for his own body, his left hand moving to his heart, his right hand to his belt. But both items were missing from his apparel. He cursed at himself. He hadn't expected a home invasion. He was completely weaponless. Unarmed. All his defenses were taken off together with his clothes, resting in the guest bedroom. He cursed again and turned around looking for something useful, but Ronan's skill in fighting was so small that everything he saw only made it him despair more. Turan's kitchen. Of course, he was in Turan's kitchen. Sick Turan. Good Turan. Street orphan Turan. Ronan rushed to the many cupboards on the wall, pulling them open and reaching in. Nothing. Next. Nothing. The men were already heading towards them as Ninus found it important to taunt them some more. Next. Nothing. Come on Turan. He wouldn't have. Not Turan. He wouldn't have let him down. Next. The door opened and the thugs walked in, the first one a big grin on his face as he could already see the big payday he would receive for this job. Ronan grabbed hold of the object and pulled it out as he turned around. His fingers held the shuriken softly, a comfortable feeling in his hand. His arm lashed out as he let the object fly. Although he was far from skilled with the weapon, Ronan had practiced enough to be able to aim it enough. The shuriken struck into the side of the man's face, piercing the skin and flesh of his cheek. He staggered away from Ronan and the impact on his face as blood started to flow over his face and neck. But it wasn't enough. Far from it. The man turned to Ronan and let out a furious roar before storming towards him. The wooden club lashed out towards Ronan and glanced off of Ronan's shoulder, hitting the counter behind him as he ducked away, throwing kitchen decorations and utensils all over. Ronan grabbed the first solid object he could get his hands on and swung it towards his opponent, who received the steel end of the pot right on his chin, knocking his head back, stunning him and giving Ronan a moment. As the thug shook his head, Ronan looked around for a new weapon to fight with, completely oblivious to the other two thugs, who were probably, hopefully, fighting Ninus and his pet. In an attempt to keep his distance, Ronan grabbed the fruit and the potatoes and started throwing them towards the thug as he moved away from him. "Coward. Come here! Fight me like a man." The limited size of the kitchen didn't allow Ronan for much retreat though and he grabbed onto his next solid weapon. In response to his taunt, the thug received a wooden chopping board to the side of his face, knocking the shuriken into his skull. With the wooden board stuck on one end of the shuriken, the thug slumped to the ground, dead. Looking up from the man, Ronan could feel, through the rush of adrenaline, the pain coursing from his shoulder.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus bared his teeth as the thugs came through the door, and two of them made for him straight away. The third he heard a howl from as some strange device Ninus had never seen before suddenly bloomed from the side of his face. Ninus backed up, keeping the island counter in the middle of the room betwixt him and the two rapidly approaching thugs. Unfortunately, with the needle it meant he head to get in close, very close, before he could poison one of them. The concentrated version of the same poison Turan was afflicted with would cause extraordinary nausea, vomiting, and he hoped dizziness in a matter of minutes. But did he have minutes? He grit his teeth and charged the foremost thug with the knife securely in hand. Cricet leapt from his shoulder onto the other, landing in an awkward fashion over the thug's head. She scrabbled with her back feet on his chin, her teeth sinking into one of his ears and flaying it to pieces. The thug, blinded, screamed and his hands flew to his face. They wound in the rat's fur and attempted to pull her off, but the furious creature moved from ear to cheek, tearing flesh open and working on the hole toward his eye. Ninus, meanwhile, had a real problem on his hand from the other thug. He took the man's blackjack straight to the right side ribs, feeling one of the bones buckle. He made a feeble thrust with the knife as he was clutching it with the right hand. The thug simply grabbed his wrist and made to turn aside the thrust, and that was when Ninus jabbed him in the stomach with the syringe and depressed the plunger. He saw a faint look of surprise cross the thug's face, then anger cloud the man's piggish little eyes. "Thou comest to the home of my friend and abuse his servant with death and bloodlust behind your eyes. Mine weapons are not steel, and cannot be fought with like." Ninus snarled, his wrist still trapped. He had a limited amount of time before the man struggling with Cricet would come to his senses and find something to batter her with. Very well, he could learn from her. He lunged himself toward the hand on his wrist and bit the thug. The man howled and struck him again on the head with the blackjack. Ninus felt a trickle of blood run down his face, but the second blow across his shoulders was weaker. He didn't dare let go of the hand, but the hand had let him go. The third blow was enough to make him release the thug's hand and lean upon the counter. He could already feel the starting of bruises flowering across his shoulders, his rib was aching hideously and he was dizzy from the blow. Out of the corner of his eye, Cricet had already burst one of the other thug's eyes and was working on the other. One of her legs dangled uselessly; the thug had thought of his blackjack and had struck her across the hip. The prince of rats looked at his poisoning victim. He too was leaning on the counter, and Ninus saw blood vessels burst in his eyes. Ninus grinned nastily at him. "Thou hast taken in air with the poison...blood was never meant to carry it." he spat at the man as the air bubble travelled up to his brain and burst the vein. Both of his eyes turned red with blood, and he sank to the floor. That left the third thug, who had ripped Cricet off of his face and thrown her on the counter. Poor Cricet was now attempting to evade the wild strikes for her body; the thug was completely blind and striking without reason. Ninus shut his eyes a moment, dizziness coming over his senses. The strike to his head had been a harsh one; not enough to split his skull, nor knock him unconscious, but it certainly gave him pause and the blood dripping down his face was travelling down his throat. He bared his teeth, hissing angrily and pushing himself away from the counter. Nausea hit him but he forced it down. "Blind, like Titan's children spewing from his throat!" Ninus cackled madly at the third thug. "I am but the seer to see your fate, walking aimlessly among the bowels of hell with only your blindlessness to content you!" He lunged for the blind man and bit his shoulder, his hands winding up to the man's head and plunging into the blank, bloody holes he found there. The thug whirled with a shriek, and Ninus held onto his back. "End his torment, Ser, end his torment and give over your mirth!" Ninus snarled at Ronan. The thug elbowed him in the injured ribs and forced Ninus to let go. The poisoner staggered drunkenly and rested against the wall.

[Ronan Dugal]

When Ronan looked up from his opponent he could immediately see both Ninus and his opponent leaning on the table. The third thug was screaming and clawing at his face, fighting with the rat. For a split moment, Ronan had to admit he was in awe of the creature. Where both men had, either through luck or through skill, managed to take down one person their own size, the rat, Cricet, was taking on someone endlessly bigger than itself. The rat fought with righteous fury but ultimately got beaten back to the table, where it did its best to dodge the blind attacks from the thug. He didn't need Ninus' words to egg him back into the fight. Armed with a pewter plate, Ronan threw it just as skillfully as the shuriken before, hitting the man in the chest, shattering the plate into pieces. Although it did relatively nothing to damage the man, at least he stopped wildly hitting at the rat in front of him and Ninus on his back. Ronan couldn't see why but Ninus suddenly released the man and staggered back, probably from a hit somehow. Ronan reached down for the thug he had beaten and pulled the wooden chopping board, with shuriken attached, out of the dead man's skull. In an attempt at a beautiful finish, Ronan spun around on his heels as he pulled the weapon out and aimed it right for the thug. The wounded shoulder disagreed with his finish and flared up, pain spiking through Ronan's upper arm and shoulder. Black spots popped up all over his vision as Ronan staggered and stopped mid swing. As his vision continued to sparkle black spots, Ronan could see the thug's club heading for him and he stepped aside, more falling than actually moving, dodging the attack. Shaking his head profusely, he tried to get rid of the spots on his vision while at the same time stepping closer to the man. With only one hand, leaving his wounded shoulder, he swung his weapon up to the man's face, trying to end it the same way as his first opponent. So focused he was on his attack that he didn't see the blind swing coming upwards. As he smacked the chopping board against the side of the thug's face, piercing his skull with the sharp end of the shuriken, the thug's lifeless arm completed its motion. The club hit Ronan full on the chin, knocking his head backwards. His teeth snapped together as he wondered what had just happened. Ronan had taken many beatings in his life, but there were always certain parts of the body that needed specific training in order to become better. Ronan was not a fighter. His legs buckled under him and he landed on his knees. The black spots on his vision exploded all over and he couldn't see anything anymore. He blinked and his vision returned for a moment, long enough to see the thug collapse on the floor, his head resting on the wooden chopping board. For some reason, Ronan found that funny. He wondered why as his head touched the cold kitchen stones. The cool stones provided some relief to the onsetting heading that was taking over his head.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus panted quietly, closing his eyes. How he wished for cool water to plunge his head into, it ached so. He breathed quietly in and out, trying to focus himself. The blow to his head had hurt, but it was ever so slowly going away. He was more concerned about Cricet. He slowly made his way to the counter and opened his eyes, putting his palm on her. "My valiant lady, my valkyrie, how you lay there." he said, gently feeling down her body. She was bruised and battered, and while her hip was strained there was no sign of a break. He stroked over her fur. "Lay there, my angel. Recover from the battle you so valiantly fought." Ninus walked very slowly toward Ronan, kneeling with one hand on the counter to steady himself. "My brave Ser." he rested his palm on Ronan's back. "Are you gravely injured? Hath some club wielded by ogres shattered your bones?" His voice was concerned, but slightly slurred. He was aware he probably had a concussion, and he was struggling to stay awake. He grasped Ronan's hand and sat down on the floor next to him. "Stay next to me in quiet repose, ser. I feel sleep creeping over my eyes, bidding me to sleep, the lullaby of the gods is not always sweet. I fear if I sleep, the sleep shall never end." Ninus said. Cricet sat up slowly, wincing as she put weight on her injured haunches. She limped to look down at her master holding Ronan's hand on the floor. Ninus put Ronan's hand against his cheek and shut his eyes. "Wake me my dear knight, I wish not to wander in Elysium." he said quietly, but sleep overtook him.

[Ronan Dugal]

Ronan groaned, his eyes still closed. He lifted his free hand up to his chin, careful touching it. He groaned as he touched the bruise forming.The club had hit him critically, although the damage done had been little, the point of impact had been quite devastating to him. He slowly opened his eyes. Still, the black dots danced in front of his eyes, blocking his vision with spots of nothing. He blinked several times in an attempt to get them away but his head only hurt worse when he did. He rolled over on his stomach and tried to push himself up. He noticed he only had one hand to use, the other seemed to be stuck somewhere. "I'm not a knight." He felt it was important to mention it, although he couldn't clearly remember why. He saw Ninus sitting next to him, sleeping or dead, Ronan couldn't quite focus enough to tell. He got his hand out of Ninus' and managed to get off the floor. The dead didn't move. Cricet was looking down at him from the kitchen island. As Ronan tried to get himself back together, the kitchen door opened. For a moment, Ronan saw a fourth thug walk in and head over to them but it was the servant who knelt beside him. "Are you alright, ser?" With help from the servant, Ronan was quickly lifted back up on his feet. Although his shoulder and arm ached and his side burned, Ronan could ignore most of it because of the massive banging in his head. As he stood up, he felt the world spinning and was glad for the servant holding him upright. "Ninus? No time for sleep." He spoke to the sleeping man, trying to wake him. The servant helped him out of the kitchen and into the lobby, where he was seated down on the sofa. The cool fabric of the furniture felt nice against his banging head and Ronan let his eyes close once more. Within moments he was sound asleep. He could hear the front door closing. The servant removed himself to check on Ninus. If the man was awake he would help him up and move him to the lobby. If he was still out cold, he would make an attempt to lift the man up and carry him over to the lobby. The lady of the house walked into the room where Ronan was sleeping and where Ninus was just brought in. She had called for the doctor, the same one she had called for when Ronan had been here the first day, using one of the many eager children outside.

[Ninus Aurellius]

The Prince of Rats Ninus was able to wake himself and gather Cricet up in his arms, cuddling her against his shoulder like a babe. He winced at the pain in his head and the burning in his ribs. One was broken, and would need to be bandaged. The throbbing in his skull would probably persist for a few days or maybe a week, but seemed not to be all that serious. He settled in the lobby, checking over Cricet once again. She had blood all over her muzzle from attacking the thug's face. He licked his thumb and washed it from her fur lovingly. "What man could know that such a small creature had the heart of a lion and the teeth of a dragon? You have become a mastiff among rats, that which can kill a man with her teeth alone." Ninus comforted her, praising her for her bravery. He remembered his patient, hoping he was fine and safe upstairs. He heard the lady of the house calling for a doctor, which Ninus recognized he probably needed. The rib had flowered a beautiful black, purple, yellow and green bruise up his skinny ribcage, and he ached for a bath. "Perhaps, ser, after the healer has looked over our battle scars, we may bathe in warm waters. To soothe the muscles so strained by our combat, to breathe in comforting steam and lay in such a gentle porcelain womb." Ninus said to Ronan.