Fun in the Sun

[Maria Talwa]

1, Spring, 516 AV

With a bit of a yawn and a stretch Maria walked down the street toward her home. It had been a long day at work and she was ready for a little R&R. Right at this point she was thinking about a nice hot cup of tea, about the only thing she could make without burning it, and kicking her feet up in front of a fire for an hour or so. After that she would head down to one of the local taverns for diner and a few drinks, then maybe see if there was anyone who might need a little company for the night. The city was busy as people were getting off work and others were doing their evening shopping. Taking the same route to her home every evening Maria walked down the first of two alleys without even really thinking about much at the moment.

Near the end of the alley she saw the figure of a young man appear and lean against the wall with his arms folded. It took a moment for her to recognize him, then the fairly calm mood turned decidedly foul. The ragged young man was possessed of unkempt brown hair and part of a local street gang. They were so small, about a dozen members, that Maria actually considered them a wanna-be gang. Nothing more than a band of criminals trying to act to big for their britches in her mind. This one in particular was named Hugh and he'd spent the last several days trying to get into her pants as some might say. Trying was the operative word because Maria had turned him down flat each and every time.

“Hey there sweet thing,” Hugh said.

“Go petch yourself, I'm not in the mood,” Maria said. Brushing by the young man, Hugh grabbed her wrist. The response that came from feeling someone grab her arm, Maria spun around punching the young man square in the mouth. Hugh let go of her arm and staggered back, surprised at first, then spitting out some blood he got angry.

“You little witch!” Hugh said, loosening a club from his belt.

“If you have a brain in your head you'll walk away,” Maria said.

“More like I'll beat you face in then take what I want,” Hugh said. When the young man came forward and raised the weapon, Maria narrowed her eyes and waited. Hugh swung down at an angle and Maria twisted to one side letting the swing fly by. Drawing one of the short swords from her side, Maria's arm came around driving about an inch of the blade into his stomach. Hugh just stopped and dropped his weapon, looking down at the weapon.

“How about that, an insignificant waste of space just threw his life away,” Maria said. Placing her free hand on his shoulder, the blade was driven further in to the point of erupting from his back. As Hugh dropped to his knees Maria let her wrist twist so the weapon would follow.

“Pathetic,” Maria said, kicking him off the weapon. “The least you could have done was provide a decent challenge.”

[Lo'campo]

Snow melting, animals once nowhere to be found reappearing again, the ever so sweet warmth of the sun, all signs that winter had left and spring arrived. He loved this season primarily for two reasons. One being that he could kill on a more regular basis without having the fear of being tracked. Something that he longed 92 days to do, and two being that his 46th birthday was in two days. It was something to be proud of in his own right. He found himself walking. To what destination he didn't know as well as the reason. It was just him and the day coming to an end, thinking of pleasuring himself with the blood of another tonight. Maybe a trip down to the tavern to see if he could find someone arrogant enough to piss him off, and stupid enough to be led into a secluded place on a dark night.

"I smell death."

Oumoc spoke interrupting his "me" time. He normally didn't converse with the darker personality. The truth in the matter was that they were similar. That and Oumoc was just rude at having no respect for Lo'campo and his life. Though the two had a forever dislike of the other and their morals, they still were stuck by the hip, or brain one could say. This meant that they shared one body, one life, one mind, and thoughts as well.

Lo'campo stopped to listen as the alleys were known to be quiet at this time of day other than the noise of citizens travelling home. At first he heard nothing, just the quietness of the day. Then the sound of flesh being torn and bones breaking. Hoping to include himself in a good fight, he moved. Navigating the alley following the sound of grunts and shuffling. A sign that someone is dying. Damn Oumoc had good ears.

He had come around the corner hood up, moving against the wall in an attempt to sneak into the fight unnoticed. The element of surprised did one a great deal in Sunberth he learned. The look upon the faces of his victims were something worth seeing as well. Hand hovering over his lakan he stepped out into the alley from which the sounds of a soul leaving it's body originated.

He expected to find a gang war, or a tussle between swordsmen., instead he found a single woman. Small framed and very short. Then again, everyone was short compared to his height. She had black hair that came down a short length past her ears. He seen the hilt of the sword in her hand, the boy doubled over as if he were vomiting, then the blade of the sword protruding form his back. He didn't know what to make of this, a piece of him wanting this to be a murder.

He stood and watched for a moment as she finished her kill, unknown to his presence. It was a clean kill, the blade pushed straight through, forcefully by the looks of the blood splatter. He didn't know if this was her first kill or not, but he could tell that she was skilled with the sword. She mumbled words that only her victim could hear before removing her blade allowing him to fall onto the ground to wither and die in a puddle of his own fluids.

He was impressed. He himself would have kept the boy alive a while longer, tortured him, made him suffer. It made for a better high that way, it was his style of doing things, but given the location and time of day he understood why it was rushed so. Overall he was impressed with her work now approaching as the man took his final breath. "I like your work." he spoke out only mere feet away from the woman now. He went to introduce himself. To get to know this woman better. He liked the way she did things.

[Maria Talwa]

Sneering at the body slightly Maria felt no guilt over killing Hugh. He was nothing more than a brigand, one of many that lived in Sunberth, taking advantage of the lack of overall government. Just another head of cattle for the slaughter in her mind. She even went so far as to wipe the blade on his clothing to clean it off. About to sheath the weapon she noticed a form beginning to move out of the shadows. He started to speak but being surprised in such a manner Maria reacted on instinct rather than conscious thought. She spin the blade forward to deter the possibility of a close attack. Then she drew the second short sword pointing it directly toward the newcomer, the other sword held back with the arm curled up behind her head, also pointed at him.

Though not a master swordswoman she did use a combat stance with moderate familiarity. At first she thought Lo'Campo might be a compatriot of Hugh, but that thought quickly faded. He was too well dressed to be part of a rag-a-muffin street gang, but her weapons remained at the ready. This man was unknown to her and like many new things in Sunberth, the unknown could very easily kill someone. Maria narrowed her eyes and continued to look at him for a moment, the words he spoke finally registering.

“I like your work,” Lo'Campo said. That drew and even stranger look from her. Killing people wasn't work to Maria, it was more a fact of daily life, sometimes she had to kill people, sometimes she didn't. From Lo'Campo's posture, Maria also picked up on the fact that he wasn't a stranger to fighting. The comment about work also clued her in to the fact he'd probably killed quite a few people. This made the man quite dangerous in her mind. Normally Maria only killed when she had to, but he seemed to have gone beyond that. Not long afterward four other young men came running up behind her.

“Oh my gods, they killed Hugh,” one of them said. Without even looking back the arm behind Maria's head dropped so that one blade was pointed in each direction. As the blade came down the tip sliced through the lead man's face enough to draw blood, but without serious injury. He reeled back with a yell and she looked at him for a moment.

“I guess you really are two-faced now,” Maria said.

“Kill'em!” the injured man said. With that the four men drew either low quality or homemade weapons.

[Lo'campo]

He must have not spoken loud enough. Either that or she really felt like relieving a LOT of stress. Which ever she felt, he came to a slow halt hands in his robes hiding the appendage hovering over the hilt of the lakan. She spoke no words to him. Only pointed her blade. He had half a mind to stick his tongue out and like the steel. No, that was Oumocs thing. If he did that he'd never hear the end of it from the mental companion, the word companion being used as loosely as possible.

The two stood in silence for a chime or two. Staring each other down waiting for the other to make a move. "She has green eyes." The comment from Oumoc bringing a feeling out of him that he had never felt before. He despised the personality for noticing it about the woman. His insult being interrupted by more figures that showed themselves in the alley. One of them said something about a Hugh. If he had to guess, Hugh being the boy that lay in his own blood. "Your friends?" He asked the woman who now held two short-swords one pointed and him the other towards the new peoples. In a swift movement she did a fancy with her blade slitting the skin of one's face scarring him. He sent a group of four in his place as he retreated.

"Alright then." Revealing his lakan, he moved pass the sword aimed at him as well as the woman. Approaching the oncoming boys in a walk one because he was tired and two because it seemed more intimidating that way. One gave swing. It was slow but heavy the weapon being made of stone and wood forged together. Doing a simple side step he lifted his foot rocketing it into the attacker's face. The other didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around the giant's waist. Being tall had it's perks. Bringing his weight down he fell upon the boy who couldn't be no older than fourteen. The first boy returned lifting his makeshift stone club up into the air above his head ready to bring it down.

Feet gripping the ground Lo'campo broke into a roll letting his weight up off the second lad who felt the blunt force of hard concrete being brought down upon his chest. The sound of broken bone echoing through the alley as blood sputtered from his mouth. He loved to play with his prey. A flick of the hand rotated the lakan a quarter. His arm extended outward for a slingshot like effect. His weapon gaining speed as it whipped through the air running across the boy's back opening a large gash across it. He underestimated the boy's pain tolerance as the club was brought around connecting with his arm. The force not only rocking him, but he was sure that it would be sore by tomorrow. Using his free hand he took hold of the boy's shirt bringing him forward into the tip of the large dagger, a flurry of jabs from the weapon left many holes in the belly of the lad. That was two, he had did his part. Stepping to the side watching, studying the woman in action.

[Maria Talwa]

When the others attacked and Lo'Campo dispatched two of them, he stopped there and stepped aside. For a moment she wondered what he was doing, then it clicked the man was leaving two of them for her to take care of. This would be interesting because Maria wasn't that experienced in fighting multiple people at once, but the last thing was about to do was back down. She wasn't scared of either of them, but cautious about dealing with attacks from more than one source at a time. As the other two came forward, Maria dashed straight at them letting out an angry growl.

The first young man swung a crude sword like a bat and Maria ducked under the attack, slicing upward with one blade that cut into the family jewels. He let out a high pitched screech and doubled over. Maria quickly spun the blade around stabbing into his back, but instead of trying to pull the blade free she just let go. The second man tried an overhead swing with a club much like Hugh had, only this time she sucked punched him in the face. The second gang member fell backward and in short order Maria was on top of him delivering blow after blow to the face.

“All I wanted to do was go home,” Maria said, delivering more punches. “And you losers just had to ruin my day!” After a few more punches she started hacking at his head with the sword. By the third swing she was beginning to get spattered by blood, and by the sixth the sword got stuck. It took a little effort on her part to dislodge. Breathing a little more heavily from the sudden exertion Maria turned around and ripped the other sword free. By this point a small group of onlookers seemed shocked by this. People dying in Sunberth wasn't unheard of, but such a vicious and bloody display wasn't common. Seemingly noticing all the eyes on her Maria turned around.

“What? You want some too?!” Maria said. The other people quickly moved on and she decided it would be a good idea too, before more trouble decided to show up. Wiping the swords clean on her victim's clothing Maria spun the weapons around and re-sheathed them. Still spattered by blood she walked by Lo'Campo giving him something of a neutral look, at least enough to indicate she probably wouldn't try to kill if he followed. Right now Maria just wanted to get out of the area.

Grumbling slightly she took more back alleyways trying to avoid open streets. The whole situation still pissed her off, but where most people might be upset with themselves for getting that angry in public, she was upset over letting such rabble draw out so much of her aggressive nature.

“Nothing but damn gutter trash,” Maria said. “Not even worth that kind of effort... must be losing my cool...”

[Lo'campo]

He stood impressed with her skill moving delicately like a flower in the spring time breeze, yet slicing through her enemies like a glass storm. He chuckled to himself when the thug got nipped between the thighs before a sword dug itself into his back. The look on his face was priceless. It was as if all hope had been lost in his world. The second man wasn't as lucky receiving a punch to the mouth followed by an old fashioned beatdown finally ending with his head being chopped multiple times, blood splattering across the alleyway. With all her screaming and slashing, a crowd had formed. This wasn't good. If the wrong people saw....

She must have known this as well retrieving her swords cleaning them before sheathing them. She gave him a look as she passed by that said "follow me" to which he did. He walked to her side. The moon starting to arise from the horizon. "Lo'campo." He introduced himself attempting to break the silence that walked along with them. He wasn't one for conversation more of letting his actions speak for him, not his words. Hood over his head, eyes darted from side to side scanning the crowds of people for anyone that would be watching them or even following. He had his fair share of run ins with the major gangs of Sunberth and though he still lived they were are force to be reckoned with. He didn't know why but he had taken on a protective role for the woman.

He felt the urge to learn more about her. To evaluate her mind, find out if she were a killer like he. To think that there would be someone with an equal mentality as he living in Sunberth caused him to smile a bit. Yes he enjoyed to kill but what was the point of art if one couldn't show it off. The question still stood though. How was he to learn about her? "Care for a drink? On me. He offered. If there was anything that he knew about people from Sunberth, it was that they all loved to drink and that they could never turn down something free. Plus it would give him a chance to pick out an easy target for tonight's hunt.

[Maria Talwa]

When Lo'Campo feel into step beside Maria and introduced himself, she looked over for a moment, then grumbled her name in response. Another problem on her mind was such a bloody and violent display wasn't a good idea, even in Sunberth. It could easily catch the attention of the wrong people, especially if Hugh and his friends were connected with someone stronger. Anger management had never been something Maria was very good at, and more than once her temper had caused problems. It would probably be best that she lay low for a while and let the heat die down.

At the offer of a drink she stopped and looked at Lo'Campo, arching a brow at him. That was an odd offer as people in Sunberth weren't known for being the generous, most were rather paranoid. On the other hand the drink wouldn't cost her anything and she did like to drink. That in mind Maria nodded for him to follow, a habit she picked up from Otis at work. Before they got anywhere she used a watering trough, making sure it was fresh first, and did a little clean up. After that Maria headed to The Pig's Foot Tavern, her favorite haunt. Even from outside the lively atmosphere of the place could be heard. Upon walking inside Maria took a deep breath and seemed to cheer up noticeably in the process.

The sound of many conversations could be heard going on at once, along with the smell of food and beer. Near the door two rather large men were glaring at one another over a table, traded punches to the face, then laughed. There was a card game going on at another, a couple arguing near the bar, and more. Or as most might call it, business as usual.

“Welcome to the Pig's Foot, have a seat and I'll be right with ya,” a woman said.



As the barmaid walked off Maria watched her go, even walking backwards a few steps, making no attempt to hide her stares. Taking a seat at one of the tables it didn't table long for the barmaid to return as promised. Maria ordered a pint of bitter ale then leaned back in her chair and looked at Lo'Campo. “Alright, we're here, who are you and what do you want? Oh, and if you think I'm going to get drunk and take my clothes off, think again.”

When their drinks finally came Maria took hers. Having noticed the barmaid was only being tipped a copper here and there, she took out a silver miza and used an index finger to shove it down into the woman's cleavage.

“Thank you sweety,” the woman said, giving Maria a small peck on the cheek before walking away.

“She must be new,” Maria said, taking a drink of the ale. “I like her.”

[Lo'campo]

The Pig's Foot Tavern, her choice. Filled with men and women alike drinking and being loud with one another. He preferred The Drunken Fish as his watering hole, but it didn't matter. Not now anyways. The waitress approached their table with a cheerful smile already carrying two mugs of ale to another table. Maria, he thought he heard her grumble when she shared her name with him ordered a mug of ale and he the same. He wasn't really a drinker. He could drink, having the ability to chug down multiple pints of ale and still function thanks to Oumoc who was a functioning alcoholic, but he never really had the time to actually sit and enjoy a drink. He was either working in the orphanage or killing someone. Both that he couldn't do if he were stumbling around and tripping over himself.

"So who are you and what do you want? And if you think you're gonna get me drunk and take off my clothes, think again."

Maria shot out across the table. A crossbow bolt he had to dodge. "Please, if we really wanted what was in your pants, you would be dead and naked in the alley somewhere." Quickly he had to block out the voice of his darker personality from his mind. He hoped that she couldn't read one's thoughts or she would've been drawing her swords here and now. The waitress returned promptly with their drinks. It was better service than the Drunken Fish where he would have to wait awhile for a measly cup of water. Partially due to the drunken men that caused a muck for the building but that's what he went there for. Can't have the best of both worlds.

He took a sip of the gold colored liquid. Calmly setting it down on the tabletop. He stood up removing his hood and the pin the kept his hair in a large ball, letting it fall down and throwing it over his shoulders like a scarf to keep it form pilling up on the floor. I'm sorry, 45 years of not cutting your hair becomes a chore. Like I said before, my name is Lo'campo. I want nothing from you. I was just highly impressed with the way you handled those thugs with your swords. Just thought I'd get to know you is all. Any harm in that?"

He lifted his drink a bit before taking another sip. The ale here tasted different too. Richer, sweeter than the ale at the Drunken Fish. He might be switching taverns by the end of the night. He gave a look around the establishment. It was a happy setting. Happy meaning that everyone was drunk and having fun singing, punching each other as a game, or just laughing for a reason that they had forgotten. He couldn't find a target. Not by a quick glance like he normally does at his watering hole.

These were a different kind of drunks. Not the cursing, swearing, scum of the earth types. The types that he usually enjoyed being around only because it made picking out victims easier. He turned back to the table catching Maria sticking a coin into the waitresses chest. "I like her" she chimed. He had gotten a look at the waitress and she was very attractive, but that wasn't what his mind was here for. "So what are you doing in Sunberth?" he asked nearly done with his ale, thinking of ordering another.

[Maria Talwa]

“You just want to get to know me?” Maria said. From the look on her face it was easy to see the young woman trusted Lo'Campo and his explanation about as far as she could throw them. Downing the ale fairly quickly Maria burped with her mouth closed, then motioned for another. The same barmaid as before came over bringing new mugs, and while there Maria also ordered meat and potatoes, this time she drank somewhat slower than before. Chug one to knock the edge off, then nurse the rest for enjoyment. The stress from the day was finally starting to wear off and while watching Lo'Campo let his hair down she just blinked a little, and expression of not exactly knowing how to react to something. She'd seen long hair before, but a man with hair this long was way out of the norm, even for Sunberth, and that was saying something.

“You haven't cut your hair in... 45 years... is that a religious... thing, or something?” Maria said. While conversing with the man her main focus was on dinner which usually took place here as she could burn water when it came to cooking. When the meat and potatoes finally arrived Maria's stomach let out a low growl and she almost snatched it out of the barmaid's hands. At this point she began to eat showing little if any table manners. Stab, slice, chew, repeat, including a few chewing noises, she at least kept her mouth closed. “Oh my gods ridding the world of stupidity really works up an appetite.”

When Lo'campo asked what she was doing in Sunberth, Maria actually stopped chewing and looked up at him speaking out of the side of her mouth. “What, can't you tell by my cheerful personality? I live here.” The meal was mowed through with relative speed speed, then the last of the second ale followed shortly after. About to settle down and relax a little one could almost see the mental 'poit!' on Maria's face as she looked across the table. “We?” she said, referencing one of Lo'Campo's earlier comments.

[Lo'campo]

"It'll be 46 years in about two days, and no I just never saw the reason to cut it." He answered before hearing her last statement. We? The question rendering him stuck as it floated through his head. We? We what? He wasn't one to be skilled at riddles giving long thought before it smacked him in the head. She must have been talking about Oumoc. His face flourished with embarrassment, little puddles of red showing upon his cheeks though he tried to hide them. Had he really slipped up and let Oumoc speak? He hadn't even realized that it had happened. He took a long sip of his ale trying to figure out what excuse could he use without sounding strange. A pause. He was an Akalak, she could see that. Shouldn't she know about the race. A sigh. This also meant that he would have to explain the whole two personality thing as well which brought another bout of embarrassment.

He ordered a meal as she did to smother the butterflies in his gut. He didn't like explaining the psychological setup of Akalaks to those that didn't understand. It only made things confusing and awkward and he really liked her company. Another sigh escaped his mouth as he looked her in the eyes to show his seriousness. For her to know about this information, information about him specifically was something dangerous and he hoped to the heavens that he wouldn't have to kill her though it would be a good fight.

"His name is Oumoc. He is my darker personality. You see I am an Akalak, a physically perfect being from Riverfall, a ferocious race of warriors. But perfection comes at a price. " And he went on to explain about the Akalak culture and life growing up. About the trails and tests that they must go through to prove themselves, as well as how every Akalak eventually produces a "darker"
personality that they either overpower, succumb too, or have to spend how ever much of their life with the other being inside their heads until one of them wins the body or both of them die. "And, we can switch at any given time. Sometimes without knowing it."

By the time he had finished his explanation he had chowed through his meal and third mug of ale. He was surprised that she had stayed to listen to his explanation. Either that or she fell asleep through the whole thing. More people had entered the tavern seeking to drown their long day of hard work and sorrow in a pool of golden happiness. He enjoyed the time that he had here in this place. He felt no responsibility, no pledges that needed to be kept. At this moment he was actually enjoying life. It was a rough start, but something was better than nothing. He looked back to the woman waiting for her response or for her to just get up and leave. Either way he would've enjoyed talking to her.