Closed Little Distractions (Eshe)

[Zeran]

"Eshe Czardas," he repeated, committing the name to memory. The sundial felt warm, remembering and holding his body heat, as he leant back against it, clapping slowly all the way. It was not a name Zeran was soon likely to forget. Not a fiery determination such as hers. "Well done, Lady Eshe. That wasn't so hard, was it?" Tears washed over her eyes, giving her eyes that extra glisten as she glared at him. The same look that she had managed to hold for most of the conversation with varying degrees. Zeran was starting to see a pattern. Anger at his accidental use of hypnosis, collapsing after his first intentional use of hypnosis, and tearing up at a second use. Each after a defeat. Eshe couldn't put up with being overpowered. "Report me? On what grounds, Lady Eshe?" It was a bit of a harsh threat to make, wasn't it? "I haven't caused you any physical harm, and we have enough Aurists from the Dusk Tower to confirm I am not lying when I say you invited me to try. Cruelty has nothing to do with it. You willingly put yourself in this situation, and I merely obliged to your invite." You had to be quick for mind games. Eshe had proven she was resilient, but not immovable. And a hypnotist's power didn't rely solely on the amount of djed spent in his persuasions. He had been harsh in his assault on her, only to finish it with a friendly request. People seemed to be a lot more susceptible when there is a friend to shield them from the attacker, even if they are one and the same person. "I can assure you I am not controlling you. You would not have told me your name if you did not want to. Think about it Lady Eshe, perhaps you hate yourself for telling me your name, but knew it was the most likely way to stop me 'controlling you', as you so crudely put it. You wanted me to stop, I wanted a name. A simple compromise. And you wanted it to stop more than you didn't want to give me your name. The mind lives on such compromises for its own survival." It had not been his intention to reduce her to tears. He was not a sadist. Zeran didn't take pleasure in watching others hurt, physically or emotionally. Yet here she was, a fully grown woman, eyes sparkling, refusing to brush them away. Why? She wasn't willing to submit, wasn't willing to acknowledge she couldn't stand against his conditioning. That is what upset her. Not arrogance, or indifference. It was his hypnosis that got her going. Why did she not simply walk away? Leave and be done with the problem? "I'll stop as you ask, but you have to answer this question in return." Zeran laughed, as if he would find a way to amuse himself regardless of her answer. "What are you trying to prove? You could've left at any point during this conversation, I've done nothing to keep you here. You found I had hypnosis and invited me to try you after accepting I was no harm. Am I practice against future hypnotists? Or are you trying to prove you are better than me, a wizard? That I have nothing over you and you are my equal in skill, if not better?" Zeran lowered his tone to a gentle voice as he asked, "Are you going to tell me what is on your mind?"

[Eshe Czardas]

Now he was just taunting her. She would report him for using hypnosis on her thrice. It could be considered a threat... Couldn't it? But he was right, she had invited him to try and get information from her. She hated Hypnotists. Especially her sister. And Aurists. A curious place to move, considering that they were open about magic. She should've gone to Syliras instead. She didn't want him to know her name. A name was power. But no, he hypnotized her and forced her to tell him her name. Why didn't she just fake the name? Because of the hypnosis. Petchin' Hypnotists. "What are you trying to prove? You could've left at any point during this conversation, I've done nothing to keep you here. You found I had hypnosis and invited me to try you after accepting I was no harm. Am I practice against futer hypnotists? Or are you trying to prove you are better than me, a wizard? That I have nothing over you and you are my equal in skill, if not better?" Why hadn't she walked away? She looked towards Syna, thinking. She could've done that. Eshe tossed around various reasons, all possible, and settled on her manners. She was simply too polite to just walk away. But then, she thought, why did I yell at him? She quickly wiped away the tears, drying her hand on her skirt. What was she trying to prove? "I'm not try to prove anything. I don't know why I didn't leave. You're the second Hypnotist I've ever met, and a pretty poor one compared to my sister. She's ten years younger than me, and practically twice as experienced as you are in Hypnotism. I'm not one to prove I'm better than someone. I simply despise magic-users." She looked down her nose at Zeran again. He'd have to dig the information out of her if he wanted to know what was 'on her mind.' Wizards.

[Zeran]

Even holding his mouth shut didn't help. There was just so much wrong with that reply of hers it was funny. Zeran snorted as the laughter stampeded up, finding his mouth blocked, and trying to escape from his nose. He had to relent and burst out in to a laughing fit, knocking his head against the sundial as it fell backwards. Laughing turned out to be an excellent distraction from the pain. "I guess that's what I get when I try psychotherapy without knowing a thing about it." His voice came out high and broken in places as air passed in and out of his lungs between words. "It's nice to know your younger sister is twice as skilled as me, Lady Eshe, though if I can toy with your mind so easily, she must do so when she's got nothing else better! But honestly, I don't care how much better your sister is than me. She's not the only one in Mizahar who is! You mustn't care either, seeing as you've got nothing to prove that your younger sister excels over you." Holding his nose and breath did little to stop his laughing, and his lungs were beginning to hurt from the lack of air. He continued to try, sticking with it until he managed to compose himself enough to breath in more air than he was laughing out. Was it possible to die laughing? It must've been. The aches and pains in his chest felt like he'd been bludgeoned with a warhammer. Not to mention the suffocation issue as well. Why weren't wars fought with jokes? Even if everyone didn't get it, you're bound to get more people in one shot than a standard weapon. Once he'd calmed himself down enough, Zeran continued, "So, not only are you judging every hypnotist based on your views on your sister, you are also judging every wizard based on your sister and any others you have met in your travels. And how many would that be? Just me and her again? That's a very narrow-minded belief you have there. That's like saying all Ethaefal are nymphomaniacs or all Zith are cuddly vegetarians, based on one meeting with one individual from that race!" A woman with a strong hatred of magic and a lack of sense to know when to keep your attitude neutral as not to betray those beliefs. If she maintained this much bravado with every wizard she encountered, Zeran would truly love to see how she would handle a Voider or Reimancer. Especially if they had no patience for that kind of attitude. "As long as you remember there are other that wizards exist, who don't stop just because you asked them too, or even start when you invite them, then you should be fine. Otherwise, you'll want to sort your head out enough to know when to keep your anger in check if you want to live."

[Eshe Czardas]

He laughed! He. Laughed. How rude. At least he knocked his head on the sundial. Served him right. He sounded strange, trying to breathe while talking. "Psychotherapy!? Psychotherapy!? You're toying with my emotions! Besides, my sister lives with our parents in Alvadas. I moved to get away from them!" "So, not only are you judging every hypnotist based on your views on your sister, you are also judging every wizard based on your sister and any others you have met in your travels. And how many would that be? Just me and her again? That's a very narrow-minded belief you have there. That's like saying all Ethaefal are nymphomaniacs or all Zith are cuddly vegetarians, based on one meeting with one individual from that race!" Ugh. She hated hypnotists. Eshe stood again, turning her back to Zeran and crossing her arms. "Petch you." Okay. That was a little harsh, she'd admit it. But she couldn't think of anything else to say to the vagik. She wouldn't just live, she would thrive. She bet she could take any Voider or Reimancer if she wanted. It was Hypnotists and Aurists she couldn't stand. Realizing tears were streaking her face again, she used the sleeve of her blouse to wipe them away. Petching emotions.

[Zeran]

"I can assure you, Lady Eshe, your emotions are as malleable as bread mix. There have been times when you responded more than I intended, but that is where I still need practice. You caught me off guard a few times, and I needed to act quick or else lose what I was trying to achieve." He watched as she stood and turned away from him. Must've gotten a crick in her neck from looking up so much. It was immature, turning away from your an argument that wasn't going how you wanted. Especially when you started it. Had she thought Zeran was just going to concede because she got a little emotional? That was her mistake. Now she was having to deal with the consequences, as he had warned her earlier when fighting with a wizard. "Is that meant to be an insult, or an invite, Lady Eshe? I'm confused, as you seem to use both without consideration." How tempting it was to trip her up with an invisible, astral arm. She didn't have any idea that he was an Aurist, as well as a Projectionist, and she needed to be knocked down a few if she was arrogant enough to judge others based on their skills alone. After all, she had no idea what could've drove them to learn. A desperate situation, curiosity, tradition, accident. Mizahar was a dangerous place to live. Not everyone learnt the same branch of magic for the same reasons. Unfortunately, she looked as if she were about to kick dirt in his face and walk away. There probably wasn't enough time for the detachment, and he wasn't going to rip it out just to make a point. Though from her past actions, she was probably going to bite at his last remark at the least. I've been wrong before though. "Are you going to run away from me, Lady Eshe? Like you ran away from your sister?"

[Eshe Czardas]

'As malleable as bread mix.' What would he know about mixing bread? It was called dough, anyways. Eshe loosed a sort of sarcastic laugh. She caught him off guard. That was amusing to her, but she didn't understand why. What was he trying to achieve? "Is that meant to be an insult, or an invite, Lady Eshe?" An insult, what did he think!? Now he was edging into the more improper acts. If he hadn't been thinking that before. Sheesh, she hated wizards. "An insult, vagik. I don't see how it'd be anything other, considering my moods. Or were you not snooping about inside my head without my knowing?" Gods. Hypnotists were the worst. She should've just kicked him in the face, or hurl some dirt at him, but she didn't have shoes on. Why didn't she have shoes on? She normally did. She must've taken them off. "Are you going to run away from me, Lady Eshe? Like you ran away from your sister?" How dare he make such accusations when she hadn't told him anything except her moving! "I am not a coward."

[Zeran]

"A coward? Definitely not, that much is evident." Zeran scrambled to his feet, disturbing a lot of dust and dirt that had settled on the paving stones. "Neither are you brave. Instead, you're ignorant." The heat had decreased in intensity. Syna had been generous with his earlier request. It did pay to ask a Goddess nicely sometimes. His cloak would still be too warm to wear. He let it rest over his shoulder. "No hypnotist has the power to read minds," he spoke to her as he paced around her, circling as a predator would around its prey. "I am only every in your head without your knowing if you do not know of my presence and influence." He paced until he was in her line of sight. Stepping in closer than anyone would've felt comfortable with, he hissed, "You let your bias against hypnotists feed your paranoia that they are always in your head. Some of us have better things to do." He jumped backwards, as if a venomous snake had tried to bite him, and continued circling her. "Hypnotists are as varied as humans in their personalities, as are all wizards, because that is what most of us are." His boots made dull, slow thumbs as they hit the stone. Zeran examined Eshe up and down. From her face, to her blouse, to her skirt, and to her feet, just to follow up again and repeat. Constantly checking, as if he expected her to lash out at him with a knife or something. Where she would hide it, or anything bigger, was beyond him. Neither was it a cause for concern. "Yet here you stand. A woman with enough guts and determination weaved into her soul. A woman who knows everything about every wizard, simply because she knows her sister." He had come full circle, staring at her back once more. Zeran didn't stop there. His astral shoulder had already come loose, and he was heading for a full right arm detachment from his physical arm. He continued around to the front of Eshe again. "You may not have left from cowardice, but I reckon you didn't leave on good terms. Was it neglect? A feeling of inferiority? Or were you fed up of being second to your 'ten years younger' sister?" Zeran stopped, taking an imposing stance a few steps in front of Eshe, watching her face. Feet in-line with shoulders, and arms folded across his chest, primarily keeping his right arm held in place for when his astral arm was free. He started laughing. "If you answer nothing else, Lady Eshe, answer me this. Do you think you have the skills to match your mouth to stop me, if I decided to attack you?"

[Eshe Czardas]

He stood. Eshe heard him, his boots making a 'ssk' sound as they moved against the stones. Ignorant? She'd admit that, but not to him. Never to him. He talked to her as he circled, like a vulture around a dead animal. It made her uncomfortable. Finally she could see him. He darted forwards, coming much too close for the girl's comfort. Eshe almost stepped back, the muscles in her legs tensing up. She leaned back, trying to bring a little bit of distance between them. "You let your bias against hypnotists feed your paranoia that they are always in your head. Some of us have better things to do." Thankfully he moved away, but with a quick motion like something had tried to strike at him. He resumed circling her. His boots made an even, slow, dull noise as they hit the ground. Why did he have to examine her? She just stood there, arms crossed. Eshe hoped she looked either bored or neutral, because on the inside she was sparking with readiness. Was he expecting something? And why did she care if hypnotists were as varied as humans? "Yet here you stand. A woman with enough guts and determination weaved into her soul. A woman who knows everything about every wizard, simply because she knows her sister." He had gone around once, but kept walking. "You may not have left from cowardice, but I reckon you didn't leave on good terms. Was it neglect? A feeling of inferiority? Or were you fed up of being second to your 'ten years young' sister?" He stopped in front of Eshe, taking an intimidating stance. He watched her face... Why did they always watch her face? She wasn't going to glare them to death. That'd be ideal for Zeran, though. The girl mentally shook her head. No, he wasn't Zeran to her. He was a wizard. And he was laughing. "If you answer nothing else, Lady Eshe, answer me this. Do you think you have the skills to match your mouth to stop me, if I decided to attack you?" That sent a shiver of cold fear down her spine. He wouldn't dare... Would he? Those magician types were unpredictable. Funny how at first she was concerned for him, which turned to anger, then sadness and followed finally by fear and caution. Her lip lifted in a sneer, making a 'tch' sound. She knew she didn't have the skills. She was a healer, not a fighter. Tough, but not strong enough to hold off anyone bigger than her. She could admit that, maybe it'd save her life or something. "'Course I didn't leave on good terms. It was all three of the reasons. They babied my sister, and left me to practically fend for myself. No, I don't have the skills, and I'm not afraid to admit that. Call me foolish, but you wouldn't dare attack me. The Shinya would just throw you out of the ci-" Eshe stopped talking. The sentence died off. Her eyes were focused on the black mark on the back of his hand. How did she not notice it before? It was a half-sun. Wasn't that how slavers in Ravok marked their wares? She'd met someone from there before, who explained how it worked. If she was correct, he used to be a slave. The girl opened her mouth and asked the most obvious question one could ask regarding that mark. "What's that?"

[Zeran]

Well, there's my answer for why she has such a biased hatred for hypnotists. Bet she'd be fine with hypnotists if her sister was a Morpher. Though they'd be at the receiving end of her emotions then. How unfair to them. But Lhex has let her hate hypnotists, so I'll just have to deal with it. He shrugged. Lhex had a reason at the time for giving Eshe her life the way it was. What that reason was would be anybody's guess. It wasn't likely to be answered any time soon, if ever. Lhex had his secrets, but Tanroa would eventually reveal what they were. Whether they were understood at their revelation was the issue most mortals would have. I, me, I, me, you... Wait, 'you' as in 'me'? Ah. A bold statement. Nothing less to be expected from her. She didn't believe that Zeran would dare attack? Very foolish indeed. All he needed was a reason, and her attitude was reason enough, just to put her in her place and realise he, or anyone else, didn't have to be an outlet for her vendetta against her sister. And a threat from the Shinya? Wizards lived to take risks. Magic was dangerous. And what was to say she might not just have an accident in the Misty- "Huh?" He hadn't even realised she had stopped talking. And now she was asking a question that wasn't condescending? Had he missed something here? This didn't sound like the Eshe he had been talking to, breaking off from a rant at 'The Hypnotist' just to ask an ordinary question. Zeran followed her gaze to where she looked. "That's my half, black sun mark." He spoke with the voice of an innocent child suddenly, rocking backwards and forwards on his feet as a child answering an adult's question. "I was a slave when I was younger." He smiled at her, though was curious again to why she suddenly cared about anything that had to do with him. Up until now, she had spoke of hypnotists and wizards with such disdain it was as if they were monsters more than people. Monsters that would be so much better to be lying on the floor as she stepped over their bodies. That was more his words then hers, but it was the impression he got from her. Though he did tend to have an over-active imagination. He was going to play along with this for a while. He wanted to see why she cared.

[Eshe Czardas]

He sounded so innocent for a grown man. How old was he, anyways? He didn't look that old. Suspicious rose again in Eshe. A slave, eh? That makes sense. It certainly explains his creepy attitude. "Uh-huh. Slave. Got it. H- I mean, yeah. Whatever." She released a breath, kicking herself for wanting to ask why he had been a slave. She already knew the answer of how he got out. Hypnotism. He rocked back and forth on his heels, and it was unsettling. To say the least. And he was smiling. "Why are you smiling? It's creepy." Eshe did want to know his past, but not abruptly change the way she acted towards him. As far as she knew, he was an evil person that she obviously despised. I hate wizards. She felt like she was lying to herself, suddenly. Was that... It was. She was pitying Zeran. The girl made a dissmissive sound.