Drunkards, Drunkards, and More Drunkards... (Solo)

[Aello]

12 Fall, 511 AV Aello sat at a table against the far wall of the tavern. Her legs were folded beneath her wooden seat, her back pressed against the bars which lined its side. Her things rested atop the table, above her hands. Her curled fingers, which drummed an endless tune to the beat of the men at the next table banging their glasses against the wood. Looking for a maid, looking for a refill, not that they needed one of course. Aello turned to them then, tired of their behavior. "Oh would you put a bloody cork in it?" she hollered, over the noise everyone else in the tavern was producing. The men looked at her, their lips spread far apart, their teeth protruding over the wall of either thin pink strip. Their stubble dotting the edges. Their dark eyes glazed over with the drink. The one closest to her, who had a mane of dark hair which was tied back into a ponytail gave her a lecherous grin. "And why might you be asking for that lassy?" he asked, after giving Aello a small wink. Aello's stomach lurched as she watched him lick his lips, as though they were dry, or he was rather hungry. "Because you and your bloody drunken lot are getting pretty petching annoying... and it seems unlikely that I'm the only one in this bar who thinks so." The men at the table merely laughed, and wiped their lips off with the backs of their hands. Aello's face grew warm, as the edges were overcome by a ribbon of red, which seemed to expand with each moment which she sat, staring at them in silence. Her eyes had taken on a cold, hard, icy edge, and her hands had balled themselves into fists so tight, that her nails were beginning to dig into the center of her palm. Leaving tiny crescents upon her pale flesh. Aello growled, as she simply stared. Everyone else in the bar seemingly oblivious to what was going on between the two tables. There has to be a way to wipe those hideous grins off their faces, Aello thought, as she watched a maid come by their table, balancing several fresh glasses of ale in her hands. She put them all down, and scooted them over to each of the men with her hands, before pulling away. But not quickly enough where the man who had called Aello lassy couldn't hit her on the butt first. The woman squealed, and turned red, as she fled to the area behind the counter. Inwardly, Aello groaned. She wondered why she always came back here, if she hated it. If nothing ever changed, and then realized, it was because the place always promised a fight. Not necessarily a good fight, a fair one, considering the inebriated state of the majority of her opponents, but a fight nonetheless. Aello smiled weakly, before slamming her fist down on the table repeatedly to get the men's attention. When they finally looked up and over at her from their fresh round of drinks, Aello forced herself to widen her smile. She then drew her right hand up, and held it in the space between herself and the men. She loosened her furled fingers, so that they would look more delicate, and not quite so menacing. Then, she pushed her ring finger forward, and then back, towards her. Curling it ever so slightly as she beckoned to the one man who had spoken to her. "Come here," Aello said, as sweetly and seductively as she could manage. For, she thought it best to draw a fight into the open by welcoming it freely. Catching her soon-to-be opponent, off-guard, if she will.

[Aello]

The man's smile widened as he pushed his seat back with the use of his legs. With his mug of ale in hand, he stood himself up, and strode over to Aello in a rather nonchalant manner. He stopped by the side of her table, towering over her, as he gulped another swig of the silver ale down. When he was done, he burped for good measure. "You called me over here lassy?" Aello forced herself to smile. The thought of punching him in the gut the only comfort she held right now. "Of course. Couldn't pass up the chance, on a guy like you..." she replied, allowing her voice to trail off purposely, so that he may fill in the blanks. The man smiled stupidly, as she pushed her seat back with the use of her feet. When it had moved back as far as it could, considering how close to her, someone at the next table was sitting, Aello stopped. The girl forced herself onto her feet, and extended her right hand towards the drunken man, slowly. She allowed her palm to rest against his chest. The gentle slope of it, its rise, before it again sank towards his belt buckle. She could feel a bit of moisture beneath her flesh, hinting to her that he had spilled some of his drink earlier in the night. Aello began to push against the man's belly gently, urging him back so that she may have a bit more wiggle room. The man smiled down at her, and grabbed her wrist with his free hand. "What is that doing lassy?" he asked. "What do you think?" Aello replied sweetly. "Just trying to make some room for myself." The man's smile widened, and his grip upon Aello's wrist loosened, allowing her to wiggle it free, only to push her hand back towards him. This time, she curled all of her fingers into her palm more tightly, with the exception of her pointer, which she ran slowly down the length of the center of his chest. From the area around his belly-button, to the area around his pecs. Or rather, between them, or where Aello thought they should be, considering the fact that he wasn't particularly muscular. She circled her finger over and over, as she held her body away, so that he could look upon her. "There's more than enough room for you," the man replied, as he took another swig. Aello simply smiled weakly as she poked the man's chest lightly, urging him back. "No, not nearly enough," she commented, as she raised her right leg, after having bent it at the knee, and thrust it into the lower portion of the man's chest, before rapidly bringing it back down. His body curled inwards with the impact, as though it could diffuse some of the pain which must now be radiating through the entirety of his chest. His arms moved inwards, as though to crush Aello, causing the ale in his glass to slosh up against its confines, as he tightened his grip upon the side. "What was that for lassy?" he asked, as Aello easily stepped back, out of range of his arms. "For winking, and licking your lips, and generally pissing me the heck off," Aello replied sweetly. "Well you shouldn't have done that," the man replied as he put his glass down on his table, and rolled up his sleeves. The men at his table were laughing, no doubt assuming that the little girl was about to be crushed. "Oh, and why is that?" Aello asked. "Because you made me angry," the man growled, as red pigmentation overcame the entirety of his face. "Oops," Aello replied, rather sarcastically, as a satisfied grin spread across her lips. She was waiting for the man to try and take her.

[Aello]

Aello could see the man's face getting redder and redder. A single deep green vein popping out of his neck, and a few more from beneath his skin, about his forehead. His eyes were growing wider. They were blazing now; yet so very cold. His muscles were coiling and uncoiling, becoming all the more tense. Aello tapped her foot on the ground, growing impatient. Oh just attack already, she thought, the voice in her head sounding rather frustrated, as the man, finally took it upon himself to lunge at her. His right arm raised. Curled at the elbow. Held against the side of his face, his balled fist against his cheek. He seemed to be yelling, Aello could see his lips parted anyway, but no sound seemed to be coming out. As he neared her, the man began to bring his fist forward, aiming for the top of Aello's head. Planning to knock her out. Aello, seeing the move coming clearly, swiftly side-stepped out of the way, but left her left foot planted in place, so that her legs formed a triangle above the wooden floor. She braced herself, as the drunkard came barreling over her leg, and then tumbling into a nearby table. His head smashed against its side, causing the skin about his forehead to split, and a slender trickle of blood to escape. Against his weight, the table tipped forward, as he placed his hands against its ends, and pushed himself back up. Aello drew her leg into her side, and took a few steps back as the man growled, and then turned to face her. "You're going to pay for that lassy," he roared. Aello simply smiled. She was still waiting for him to prove himself to her, and with the thin trickle of blood that was streaming out of his head, she knew he wouldn't be able to keep fighting for long. For she knew, he would be beyond dizzy soon enough. Especially when his blood had been given the chance to mix with the drink. Time for the alcohol to dull his senses. The girl was just about to open her mouth and taunt the drunkard, when he lunged at her again, in much the same fashion. Although this time, when he came within striking distance, he punched with his left hand, towards her face, and brought his right hand up from about his waist, to strike the center of Aello's chest. The young spiritist, having seen this move countless times before, knew she'd have just enough time to block at least one of the attacks. Thus, she unfurled her fingers, and raised her palms. When the man's left fist was close enough, she raised her left hand a little higher, to block her face. The man's fist rammed into Aello's palm, causing her fingers to curl towards it, with the impact. Her flesh stung, and began to turn red as he drew his hand away, and Aello pushed her center back, trying to keep herself out of range of the man's second attack. Even so, his fist clipped her stomach, causing Aello to stagger back a few steps. Petch, Aello thought, as she watched the drunkard wipe the blood from his brow with the back of his arm. He should not have been able to catch up quite yet. She shook her head lightly, as she balled her hands into fists, and raised them, so that each stood a few inches before her form. "Come on, that all you got?" she called to the man, who had just finished flicking several droplets of blood onto the floor. The drunkard simply ground his teeth, growled, and lunged for Aello again. This time, when he neared her, he raised his right leg, and attempted a sort of sloppy, roundhouse kick. Aello ducked, causing his leg to swing over her head, and into a nearby chair. When it had passed her, Aello straightened herself out again, and lunged for the drunken man. When she was within striking distance, she extended her right hand, and punched the man in the arm. It didn't seem to phase him, petch! The drunkard back-handed her across the face. Aello stumbled back again, clutching her cheek. Since when can drunkards fight? Aello wondered, as she considered ending this all the more swiftly by pulling out her cursed blade.

[Aello]

Aello didn't have more than a moment to nurse her aching cheek before the man was upon her, swinging his arms so furiously, that there was little more that Aello could do than merely back up, and out of his way. As she watched his arms swing by in a blur, the girl noticed that the wound upon his forehead was still bleeding, although more slowly now, and that his chest was rising and falling far more rapidly than before. She could tell that he was tiring by the sound of his ragged breath. How his steps seemed more and more unsteady. Just stay out of his way, and he should topple soon, Aello's mind advised as the drunkard swung at her again, causing her to back up into a table. The man sneered, thinking he had her cornered now, he prepared to strike. He wound his arm up, giving Aello just enough time to push against him with both hands, inch him back, and then duck as he swung at her again. The man growled as he swung at air, and Aello tiptoed to his side, and then darted past him, giving herself some more room to work with. "Would you stop running from me!" the drunkard yelled as he turned on her. "I'm not running... if I was running I'd already be out the damn door," Aello replied. "Don't try to be funny with me lassy," the man growled. "Fine, suit yourself," Aello replied, as she lunged for him. At the last second, she dove, sliding across the wooden floor towards his legs. Hoping to plant her head by one of their sides, while her arms wrapped themselves around his legs. If he tried to shake her off, she hoped she wouldn't budge. That instead, the drunkard would fall to the floor, and they could finish this there. But luck wasn't in her favor today, for as Aello neared him, the man lifted his leg, and planted a kick in her right shoulder. She groaned, knowing that a bruise would appear there in the morning. A moment later, the man started to wobble, and then, fell on top of her. Aello could feel herself being pushed into the floor, as every muscle in her body began to ache. As sharp shooting pains shot through every fiber of her being. That must have been from the blood, Aello thought, as the cold air of the dagger sank into her bones. As she placed the palms of her hands on the ground, and slowly, pushed herself out from underneath the man. She groaned, and took several moments to catch her breath when she had broken free. The man not moving an inch. Seemingly unconscious. She could feel his warm blood against the lower portion of leg, and groaned. "So much for you asshole," Aello growled, as she pulled her dagger from its hiding place, and slit the underside of his right leg. "Have fun trying to get up," she hissed, as she got to her feet, and looked up at the man's table. Everyone who remained was shooting daggers at her with their eyes. Uh-oh. One of the largest men at the table pushed his seat back, and got to his feet. "Now why did you do that?" he growled. Aello gulped. "Well he did attack me," Aello replied. "After you provoked him." "A matter of semantics," Aello responded. The man slammed his fist down on the table. Apparently, her answer had not been good enough. He strode around the other chairs, and into the slender isle between tables, which held the unconscious body of his friend, and Aello as well. The girl could feel her heart hammering in her chest. This is so not good, she thought, as she eyed the nasty scar that ran across the length of the man's square jaw. Seemingly inflicted by a sword. His bulging muscles, and great height. The man cracked his knuckles, and then inched closer. Causing Aello to tighten her grip upon her dagger. Think Aello, think. There has to be a way to get yourself out of this.

[Aello]

Instantly, color sprang up where there had once been none. The misty hues swirled angrily in the thick, hot air that lingered in the tavern. In the space between the two fighters. Delicately, Aello stepped over the unconscious body of her former opponent. As she did so, she never took her eyes off the man who had stepped up to take his place. Their eyes were locked, her dark brown upon his deep green. As she watched all of the colors, Aello grew dizzy. But she forced herself to ignore this sensation, as she zeroed in on her opponent's aura in particular. In the distance, she could hear the clashing of steel, the meeting of flesh against flesh, the crack of a bone being broken. Screams. This man is no amateur, he knows how to fight, her mind whispered, as she watched the man lurch forward, rather steadily for someone who had ingested more than just a few drinks. She could smell blood on the air. Salty sweat. Hear ragged breathing. The sound of a heart beating rapidly. Too rapidly. She could see red mist winding its way around his body, as though it were a snake. He is rather angry... tends to fight better in this state. You'd best watch out, for he will be more difficult to defeat than his friend over there. There was a slight pause, as a thread of silver mist appeared upon his right knee. Although... he has injured himself a lot in the past. All in the same place. The area with the silver thread... strike it, and you may be able to get out of here without having to fight anyone else. Aello's lips curled into a small smile, as the man lunged for her. He seemed to think of himself as some sort of ram, which could bring her barreling into the far wall. Of course he did, of course he could. But he had forgotten, that although injured herself, Aello could still easily side-step, out of his way. As she did so, she held her arm out to the side, the dagger twisted towards her opponent. As he swept past her, Aello braced herself for the impact. Tightening her hold around the hilt, as the man raked his left arm across her dagger. The dagger broke his skin. But not deeply. Still, just enough to release a slender line of red. Aello's smile widened, as the man halted, and turned back around. "Going down just as easily as your friend?" Aello sneered, as the man raised his fists, and came at her slowly. When within striking distance, the man punched at her with each of his fists, giving Aello just enough time to bring her blade upwards, and out to the side, to block first one fist, and then the other. "That all you got?" Aello asked, as he brought his knees upwards, and into her chest. Winded, Aello lost a few breaths as she stumbled away. Okay... maybe he has a trick or two up his sleeve, she thought, as he lunged for her, attempting to strike again with his fists. Swiftly, Aello raised her right hand, and thus the blade, and pushed it against the man's fists. Spilling blood, and causing him to stagger back. "Enough," Aello growled. "Stand down, or lose all of your fingers." The man laughed as Aello stepped back, and gathered her things from her table. "Consider that your one and only warning." The man laughed again, as she tightened her grip upon the dagger, and then fled the scene. Disappearing into one of Ravok's many darker alleys. OOCSorry for the swift ending... didn't want to pile up the injured/dead people.

[Verilian]

Aello +2 Seduction +3 Brawling +2 Evasion +2 Dagger +1 Auristics +1 Intimidation You Question My Logic? : So its pretty straight forward. Below is a point by point on the xp. If you have any questions feel free to ask. +1 Seduction in post one, although personally I found it a little creepy. +1 Seduction for feeling the guy up +1 Brawling for kicking him in post 2 +1 Brawling in post 3 +1 Evasion in post 3 +1 Brawling in post 4 +1 Evasion in post 4 +1 Dagger in post 4 +1 Auristics in post 5 +1 Intimidation in post 5 +1 Dagger in post 5 Lores: Seduction as a WeaponThrough cunning use of seduction, Aello knows how to throw a man off guard before she strikes, Brawling Technique: Trip-upAello is skilled in the technique of using her foe's own momentum to trip them over her leg, Using Auristics to Discern Weakness Notes: Ah, Aello, just can't get along with anybody, can she?