Bad Night, No Games...Right?

[Cass]

Her growls grew as Marc rose to a stand. Even with his hands held out Cass wasn't going to fall for any more of his tricks. His strange weapons left her at a disadvantage. She had no idea what his attacks could be. But that didn't mean she was going to run from a fight. Curling her clawed fingers inward she bent her knees, keeping her balance so she could quickly move if need be. Her growls softened a bit when Marc began speaking of trust, human trust, instead of an assualt. She quickly replayed the images of Marc's hand falling upon her shoulder in her head. Had it been a sign of trust or a ploy for an attack?

Cass's conflicting thoughts came to an end when suddenly...the music returned. Her growls were silenced instantly as she silently listened to the sweet music coming from the flute. Cass's fingers uncurled one by one as her muscles began to relax once again. She didn't say a word, not wanting to ruin such beautiful music.

"Kill him," her imaginary friend whispered, appearing beside her.

No...no. If she killed Marc then the music would be gone. Gone! But this could all still be a trick. But was it worth sacrificing the music? Taking a step forward Cass allowed herself a moment to try and calm her nerves. "S-Sorry." She paused, trying to come up with some way to explain her aggressive reaction. "I don't fully understand human trust. I thought you had a different agenda."

[Marc]

Marc let out a sigh of relief as the Zith before him let her muscles lose their tension, another potential crisis averted. He almost chuckled, had he not been so well versed in controlling his expression. It was fortunate for him to have such a trump card up his sleeve, and he passed a gentle smile towards his now-docile companion as he lowered the flute from his lips. "Please don't apologize... I suppose I should've thought about that beforehand, being of a different upbringing and all. I don't blame you for your instincts, miss..." Marc chuckled as he found himself making full circle, all the way back to square one. "Actually, I didn't manage to catch your name earlier. I won't touch you this time around, I swear." He extended a hand out in a friendly gesture as he smiled his calming grin towards her, and where as others may have seen a vicious and blood-thirsty monster, his eyes envisioned a beautiful and exotic woman. "Trust Me," were the words that wisped softly through the air as he motioned her back over, to the mental safety of company and companionship. While the physical words passed through eloquent lips, the mind behind it all was plotting out two counter-active situations; one where everything ends happily ever-after and Marc makes an exotic companion, and another where everything goes to hell and Marc needs to escape within seconds or his life receives an unpleasant snip. These parallel trains of thought, although heading in different directions, tended to help align Marc's actions with what he truly wished to accomplish, which in this case was a chance to be close with this 'woman.' His professional mind may be intrigued by her exotic species and mentality, but whenever the thoughts began to wander, the physical aspect of her appearance was not too far behind. Despite the scholarly and stoic appearance, Marc tended to be a love-sick puppy around women. This probably was not a good time to have that happen...

[Cass]

A small smile formed on Cass's face at Marc's calm response. It was one she hadn't expected, to be honest. She was used to humans and other animals simply running from her when her less than humane side came out. Coming closer to Marc she realized that she indeed hadn't revealed her name to Marc yet. "I'm Cass." His hand stretched out in a gesture Cass had only seen a few humans give each other before. She didn't quite know what the gesture meant but his plea to trust him began to wash away the ideas of a sneaky attack.

Trying hard to remember what humans exactly did with thier hands Cass stepped forward and shakily tried to take Marc's hand with her own. It felt...strange. She quickly released his hand, not sure if she followed through with the gesture correctly at all. She made a mental note to take more time into studying human habits so she could avoid these unnecessary...problems.

"There aren't many summoners are there?" Cass assumed, directing the subject of conversation back to the magic and the portal. "I haven't seen many humans create a portal to other worlds. You're the first, actually."

[Marc]

A small chuckle escaped from Marc's lips as the curious Zith came up to shake his hand, or at least attempt to. It was a curious sight in and of itself, but Marc was still being wary of upsetting whatever precarious balance laid inside this exotic companion. Cass, half-demon and half-woman, aroused some part of Marc's psyche that laid repressed under years of Socratic regimentation. Something that is as shunned by civil society as his own profession. There is no better companion for a man who dabbles in dealing with demonic beings than a seemingly demonic-being. But, whereas Marc had experience in dealing with Glassbeaks and marauding mercenaries, a Zith woman was a different world altogether. Marc shook off his scattered thoughts as Cass re-railed the conversation, this time asking a more 'answerable' question. Marc nodded as he spoke, kneeling once more before the ground-bound portal, still teeming with small steaming and watery familiars waiting to be called through. "No, there aren't too many... At least not around here. Syrilas isn't very fond of magic, especially Summoning." Marc traced a finger around the border of the portal, the fizzling glyphs crackling in sparks under his touch as he continued talking. "I'm not the best wizard around, but I can still create steady portals between the stars." There was a tinge of bragging in his voice this time around, before he turned to Cass and gently took her hand into his. "Just bear it for a moment," was the only warning he gave as he began to guide her, but Marc believed that the ethereal feeling would make up for the possibly uncomfortable contact. He simply smiled as he watched her expression, his fingers weaving between hers as he let her clawed hand press gently against the rim of the portal, the Djed barrier emanating an unnatural warmth and sensation unlike anything anything in the natural realm. All Marc wanted to do however was watch Cass' curious face beam in reaction to the feeling. His body was still awaiting a claw-tipped slap however, coming from prior woman-experiences.

[Cass]

Marc's chuckle signaled to Cass that she might have done the weird hand contact gesture wrong. She bit back her embarassment and remarks, deciding to simply spend more time studying humans so she could get their strange touchy gestures down right. Though her eyebrows rose in interest when Marc noted Syliras's lack of interest in magic. "Why doesn't Syliras like summoning?" She cast a quick glance in the direction the great city was located. It briefly reminded her of the tunnels during her childhood where acting like a human was frowned upon by mostly everyone.

A small gasp escaped her when Marc's hand intertwined with hers out of the blue. She couldn't help the fear and gasp but she held back from attacking him. Remembering their last encounter with touching she figured that he did no mean any harm. She knelt down next to him as she watched him guide her sharp claw-like fingers towards the portal ."N-No, wait. I might break it!" But her warnings came too late.

Cass expected the portal to explode at her touch but instead all she felt was a sudden rush of warmth. She blinked in surprise as the warmth flowed gracefully through her fingers and then crashed like waves up her arm and spread throughout her entire body. A smile stretched across her face, never having felt so warm and...and happy. It was all so beautiful. "It's like your music...only quiet."

[Marc]

Marc felt satisfied after seeing this beautifully exotic Zith smile, and could've happily called it a night at that. Luckily for him, that would not be necessary however, and Marc chuckled as she mentioned his music. "Really? I never thought I was too good at playing, but you seem to enjoy my flute more than most. It's quite flattering, truthfully." He flashed a beaming smile towards her as he continued around the edge of the circle, the warmth melting between their fingers as it resonated between worlds. It was an experience beyond description, and one Marc had always wished to share. He spoke up almost out of the blue as he continued curling back and forth along the now-glistening edge of the ethereal conduit, with an unexpected question to be had. "Cass... What do you think of me, as a Zith? I noticed that you didn't freak out when I touched you this time around. As someone without such primal instincts, I don't know how it feels to have such a strong conflict of wills, but I can't imagine it's pleasant..." Marc honestly meant his words though. To be out of control of his own mind and body would be a death-blow to the budding wizard. Perhaps it was that intriguing 'disability' that attracted Marc so strongly to this odd companion. Whatever the reason, as Marc continued chatting, his voice soft and warm to the touch, his hand tightened amidst hers, the heat of their pressed skin/fur blending with the heat of the portal. "Cass, how does it feel to have thin fur all over your body, and wings on your back? How does it feel to be so close to human, yet so far..?"

[Cass]

Cass watched as their hands continued to slowly run along the edge of the circle. The warmth continued to steadily flow in through her claw-like fingertips. "I guess I haven't been around much music. I...I never really thought about it actually. Music hasn't been part of my life." It was almost saddening to hear herself say such a thing. Something so sweet and beautiful wasn't part of her rather violent lifestyle. Her musings of music fled when Marc spoke up with questions concerning what she was.

Peeling her eyes from the warm portal she looked over at Marc. Her smile fell as the truth lingered on the tip of her tongue. "I see you as something new and exciting. You do things that others like me don't. You talk, act and sound...different. But I also see you and everything else as a threat. A trap ready to spring at any given moment." It was all true. Even though it seemed so easy for Marc to understand the difference between a gesture and a threat, it all blended together for Cass. Nothing was as it seemed because nothing was always the monster sneaking up behind you.

"There was no conflict before I met and began watching the human race," she continued, quietly. "But then...the questions started and I couldn't ignore my thirst for answers." The mention of her physical features caused her to quickly pull her hand out of Marc's grasp and away from the warm portal. The warmth within her seemed to wilt and die. "I...I dunno. I've tried being human. It hasn't really worked out yet."

[Asara Willow]

Leaving the castle-city was not something Asara had planned on, yet she could not deny the fact that she had to escape the confines of the crowds and oppressive walls. The regret of coming to this city, this Sylaris, lingered in her mind like a poison, growing stronger as time passed.

Five days and you're already giving up? Came a soft, cold whisper from the far reaches of Asara's thoughts. Asara ignored it though and started off into the forest. After all, she shouldn't have to explain her need to leave the city to a voice that inhabited the inner confines of her head. If the voice could not tell that she was wearing thin clothes, was ungloved and even uncloaked, then she did not need to tell it that she was going out on a hunt. Even she desired meat, if rarely.

Asara crept through the trees on all fours, seeking out little sleeping vermin in the bowels of large trees. If she found a nest of squirrels she might even laugh with joy. Slowly a headache began to form as thoughts of tender squirrel-flesh filled her head and she almost missed softly spoken words and the sound of abrupt movement.

The slight female stopped dead in fear, her heart rate accelerating as her fangs emerged defensively. While relatively weak in the arms, Asara would be able to try and dose any attacker with a fatal bite. Even if she were to die, her prey would follow her.

Of course, you don't want to die, silly girl. Was the soft, snide remark that drifted through her mind. Grinding her teeth together, Asara crouched lower to the ground and looked around intently for the threat. Seeing no one she slightly relaxed and tilted her head to listen. There was silence, but that did not mean she was safe.

Well? What are you waiting for? Climb a tree, take a look, and continue on your 'hunt'. Curiosity isn't a sin, Asara. It's time you satisfied it.

This time, Asara had to admit the unwelcome companion had a point and she crept as noiselessly as she could to a nearby tree, slowly climbing it. If anyone were watching her, she really qould look like a pale spider.

Once at a safe height, Asara shifted around, stiffening as her tree protested even at her slight weight, before parting some leaves and peering down at the encounter. Intrigue at the odd pair made her eyes brighten.

Interesting... You may be able to dine on human flesh tonight, dear Asara. Came the whisper. And even if not, at least you'll have an interesting story for Zafkil when you get back to the stables.

[Marc]

Marc listened solemnly as Cass spoke, in welcome detail, of the aspects of her life. A difference in upbringing was, to put it one way, expected. They were of two different species after all, not just a couple of towns away. But the part that saddened, almost pitied Marc, was the constant paranoia this woman lived in. It too was not a complete surprise; humanity had been pseudo-conditioned to fear and despise these beasts of the night, as well as many other beings who were undeserving of that distrust. However, he had been given an opportunity at objectivity in his studies at Zeltiva, and he had taken it. All he could do was stoically shake his head at her words, and allow her the ability to talk that she had most likely been yearning for all this time. I doubt a fellow Zith would help you find yourself out here; but is my position all that different..? Two subjective parties both trying to bend the coin their way, but which way will last... The philosophical reverie was snapped however when she broke the tranquility of the moment, and lost that personable spark Marc had seen in illuminate in her eyes. Marc put on an expression of determination as he reached out to grab her hand, covering it gently from the other side with his other palm as his eyes gazed intently into her own. His voice was suddenly powerful, the effect eerily amplified by the exotic ethereal entrance as he spoke, his speech void of his prior nervous and indecisive pauses. "You don't have to be Human. I honestly wouldn't want you that way... But you don't have to be Zith either. You don't have to conform to the neat little pockets society and nature have created for you, Cass. I just want to help you be yourself..." Marc, with his newfound guts and stupidity, pulled himself closer to Cass, potential harm be damned, until his face was no more than half a foot away from hers. His words brushed warmly across her cheeks as he spoke, almost tangible from the eloquence he had required in the University. "Cass, I swear to you, I will never be a threat. In a world full of monsters waiting to take advantage of you, Please, consider me the dove amidst the swarm..." It was a solemn oath that he was determined to defend, if only for the supposed sake of intrigue and scholarship. But then again, was that really different from her own supposed motives of curiosity..?

[Cass]

The instinctual twinge ran up her arm again as Marc quickly took hold of her hand once more. Thankfully she managed to keep herself from striking. Her other arm merely twitched. The threat she had asummed Marc posed was beginning to wither away. While it felt good not to kill someone over a simple gesture, it also felt strange. Like she was also losing something as well. She quietly listened to his promise. A dove among the monsters? That would be something new and...nice. Yeah, it would be nice.

"Neat pockets," she repated, imagining pockets of people littered all around the world. It actually made sense. Why had no one said such a thing before? "We don't fit into those pockets, but it would be easier if we did. No strange questions with everything clear cut and simple." That and she would be accepted by her brothers. She wouldn't bring shame to her race. But that wasn't the way it was.

"How do you hide your magic?" she asked, wondering how Marc kept his own secrets from a society that didn't care for magic. "I use dirt and mud to cover my skin." She was somewhat eager to hear how he managed living in Syliras and kept his true self hidden from prying eyes.