A chance meeting (Eris)

[Nyahna Sasin]

He raised an eyebrow at her frigid tone, quite amused. "I've shocked you." It was a statement, not a question. He almost laughed. "Surely you've heard the stories about my kind. How we do things." He sneered. "And now you can tell anyone. They're true."

All of a sudden, he was frustrated. He loved this side of him, but, on the other hand, it wasn't in his best interests to scare away everyone.

Turning away, he walked over to the window. "I never caught your name." He remarked.

Slipping past her, he climbed down from the window. He waited, a smirk on his lips.

[Eris]

She had indeed heard stories about the snake-people. But most of them had come from her cowardly mother, ignorant of the world outside their small village. She had only spoken with one or two Dhani before and certainly had never seen one kill a victim. But she should have expected it, of course; should have steeled herself better.

Eris tensed as the Dhani approached, ready to close the distance between her hand and her dagger in an instant, should the need arise. But his intentions seemed harmless and Eris allowed herself to relax slightly. She considered not telling him her name or simply using one of her many aliases, but what difference would it make?

“My name is Eris,” she spoke, still looking out the open window. “And you are?” she added, purely out of courtesy.

It would not do for them to stay here with the corpse any longer. Eris pulled herself up on the windowsill and effortlessly swung herself over to the other side. Leaning against the wall, she waited for the Dhani and his answer.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin nodded. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Sasin." He said coolly. He eyed her, curious. She seemed quite young, and he vaguely pitied her. She seemed too young to be exposed to death. It was different for him. He had known death and pain since he was a child.

"It's rare one see's an assassin like you. You don't agree she deserved to die?" He asked bluntly. He had no desire to try and be subtle right now. But he wanted to know, and this was as good a time as any.

He didn't understand the revulsion he had seen in her eye's. If she didn't like death, why be an assassin?

It never occured to him that she had been averse to his torture.

[Eris]

Eris inhaled a breath of the cool, night air. It calmed her, ordering her thoughts into their proper places and locking up any stray emotions. She began to slowly walk away from the house, assuming that the Dhani would be walking by her.

“I most certainly agree that she deserved to die,” Eris said slowly. Though, we should not have been the ones to pass that judgment. Eris frowned slightly, annoyed with herself. Lately, her conscience has been getting the better of her. “But I am not accustomed to killing in this fashion. Frankly, I believe that torture was unnecessary. A death is a death. If your employer wished to make an example of her, you could have easily slit her throat, and carved her skin when she was already dead.”

“Unless, of course, that kind of agony brings you enjoyment,” she added, half-forming her statement into a question.

[Nyahna Sasin]

He kept with her pace, slow even for a human. So she did agree that she deserve to die. Then why the horror?

"Frankly, I believe that torture was unnecessary. A death is a death. If your employer wished to make an example of her, you could have easily slit her throat, and carved her skin when she was already dead."

"There is a difference." He murmured.

“Unless, of course, that kind of agony brings you enjoyment,”

He was silent for a minute. "I forget myself sometimes. In all honesty? Yes. I do, in a way. This wasn't just for my client. This was also for...." He stopped suddenly, remembering himself.

He turned away slightly, not wanting to talk about this. For some reason, he didn't want to mention Siku just yet. He didn't feel like explaining to a human just how greatly he sought his goddesses approval. He doubted she'd understand how it stung that everyone he knew had her mark, and he did not.

[Eris]

Eris walked a few more steps, lost in her own thoughts, until she noticed that the man had stopped. Turning around to face him, she raised an eyebrow. So, he had another reason for this cruelty; how interesting. Eris caught herself wondering what that reason could be. She shouldn’t care and she didn’t. But she was curious by nature – a trait that had often led her into trouble as a child. Now, she could not suppress the question.

“For who? Who could possibly be grateful for that display?” Eris asked, not caring in the least whether this question was too personal.

I just had to watch that psycho torture someone. So, to hell with all the niceties and ethical boundaries. Eris was feeling on edge again, annoyed at herself for no reason that she could discern. She took another calming breath, savoring the air.

[Nyahna Sasin]

One eye twitched. Human brat. She was lucky she had never seen a fullblown Dhani sacrifice. This had been mild in comparison. "That...is none of your business." He growled, continuing on, brushing past her.

Brat. Stupid, insensitive brat. Couldn't she see he didn't want to talk?

[Eris]

Eris scowled to herself as she continued walking. So what if I was a little out of line? He started, with his stupid torturous display. Eris felt the corners of her mouth quick up slightly. When had she become so easily annoyed? She felt foolish at her own anger. There was no need to act like a child and no need to ask strangers personal questions. She rarely got the chance to converse with Dhani and here she was, passing up the opportunity to find out something interesting. What would Joel say?

“I apologize,” she said easily, falling into step next to him. “I get a little carried away sometimes.”

She felt her irritation recede. There was no need to create conflict where none was necessary.

[Nyahna Sasin]

He watched, amused, as her face smoothed over from irritation to calm. He calmed himself down as well. He nodded, accepting her apology.

Curious, he asked "So, what brings you to this fine city?" He made a mental note only to ask what he wouldn't mind being asked himself.

Subtly, he steered them in the general direction of the Rearing. He needed a drink. Badly.

[Eris]

“Just looking for some information,” Eris replied, keeping her answer general. There was no way she was going to reveal anymore of her aim in coming to Syliras.

For the moment, she didn’t mind following the Dhani. They were walking along familiar streets and Eris wasn’t too concerned with where they were headed. She had a few hours to kill before sunrise and who needed sleep anyway?

“And you? Any particular reason for coming here?" she asked, idly.

Unconsciously, she brushed the fingers of her left hand against her right palm. The thin faded scar running across her palm was itching again. She hated when that happened – it brought back memories she didn’t care to remember.