[Closed] The Innocent Demon from my Nightmares {Rend}

[Alias Burns]

She turns to me whispering something under her breath. I curve an eyebrow, keeping the grin on my face. Then she suddenly strikes out with her hand, clasping my wrist as she steps close to me. I don't fight her grasp, instead, I find myself captivated by her eyes. The feeling of her fur against my wrist pleasantly shocks me. It's silky. In the same movement she leans until her face is but inches from mine. I partially pull my head back in a flinch to the sudden intimate proximity as my eyes slightly widen. I could hear alarms bells tolling somewhere in my head, but her innocently delighted expression has my guard down. "We will go there, and Allys will buy food, and Rend will eat food and then we will sleep." My grin broadens as I gently shake my head. Well, she's got her priorities straight. "Let's do just that." I say as I gently put my hand on her back below her wings. With that, I begin to be lead by her greedy pace towards the sea side market. Something about the way she had said that pulls at my mind, demanding attention. But instead of letting it control me, I look over to Rend and allow myself the full smile within to meet my face. I look ahead with purpose. As we move along, we start to pass by other people. Those not enrapt in various tasks take the time to look up at Rend with mixed reactions. Some went straight back to what they were doing, others pause to gawk for a moment, while some get one glance and change directions to avoid her. It doesn't seem to be bothering her all too much, I think as she lights up with enthusiasm over a jewelry stand whose owner doesn't seem to know how to react. Is she a trouble maker, thief, or potential customer? I could see it all play through his face before he finally decides on the latter. As Rend maneuvers around his modest stand, "What could I do you for young lady?" he says with the slightest hesitation before saying 'lady'. His voice came out particularly slow, his tone silky. Rend looks up to him, slightly backing away from what was the focus of her attention but a moment before. He and I glance at the item in question. "You have a good eye about you, that locket is from the far west. The runes around the rim are written in Makath, the language of the Nights Mistress, Goddess Akajia. It is extremely unique, and highly valued in the right circles. I've had it for some time in my travels, and truth be told, I remorse the thought of parting from it." He pauses in what I assume to be a suspenseful moment for him before continuing, "But, I may be willing to pass it on to a fellow connoisseur of artifacts, for one-hundred gold Miza." He says, probably lying. But I can't tell about what part. As he spoke I notice some passersby lingering insultingly long, staring at Rend. I stolidly glare at them until they move on. I look back to Rend as her eyes flick back to the locket in wonder. I walk up next to her gently putting my arm around hers, "Rend, food." I say in a light voice as I point her attention through the crowd to a meat stand with a small makeshift pen littered with various live animals. Her eyes seem to light up for a second, and then darken with inner conflict. I catch her glancing back to the locket, "That is pretty, Rend." I say with a kindly smile. "But I can't afford it." I lie. "Wait, sir." the jewelry owner suddenly says. "Maybe we can arrange something." "Thank you, but no. Sorry for wasting your time, we'll be moving on." I follow up with a grateful nod before leading a now pouting Rend to the meat stand. I bring her over to the pen. "Take your pick." I say with a smile, she seems to be trying to keep her pout, but the meat breaks through. "That one" She says softly as she lights up with renewed vigor. I walk over to the stall owner and make the order. He gets busy pulling the chosen animal out of the pen and begins preparation of the butcher, his actions encapsulating Rend's attention. I take the opportunity to jog back over to that jewelry stand and haggle with the man. I keep peaking over my shoulder to assure myself she is still there. We finally decide on fifty gold Miza, I grin at having gotten half starting price. As I hand over the agreed upon price, he grins. I all of a sudden can't help but feel I lost this negotiation.. I shrug it off and walk back to Rend with a grin on my face as I think of her reaction.

[Rend]

RetConAny conflicts between Rend's actions in this post compared to the previous should be seen as the cannon version

As the strange pair enter into the market they step beyond the embrace of looming shadows, the midday sun glaring over them causes Rend to slow down and narrow her eyes against it. The flood of noise from the assembled mass pulls on her like the tide, dragging her down. She Marches forward, refusing to be weak in front of the cattle. Before long she slips sideways into the sheltering shadows of a stall only to find it is filled with strange sparkling things. One among them draws her to it. It's a small locket, set with a small dark stone and decorated with a collection of symbols. There meaning is lost to Rend but something about it feels good, like falling through shadows upon prey, something of the avarice of her thoughts must have played on her face as she was soon being offered it for some trade. Allys began talking to the man who smelled of metal and clinked when he moved before reminding Rend of the reason they were here.

A set of pens are set up in the middle of the square and Allys leads her over. "Take your pick". Rend's eyes narrow again against the glare as she sweeps her gaze over the pens eventually those dark eyes lock onto a target. 'Delicious looking prey, plump, dark haired, soft looking. The little human will taste good once roasted. Her hand plays out languidly but sways slightly in front of her "That one She coos softly. Allys dutiful heads over to the owner to demand it for her.

Rend watches a few of the other creatures snuffling about and somewhere in her mind imagines carving there bones into things, necklaces and pendants, rings and fetishes, Which would Allys like? She suddenly stands ridged and looks around as if Allys might have heard her thoughts only to find him missing. She looks over to the pen-man to find him dragging a small calf over to a shed by a rode leash. Rend simply shrugs it off, assuming Allys must be off catching the little fat boy and instead strolls off to the edge of the market where a stall is set up selling carpets.

Rend feels the shadows wrap around her as she steps out of the suns glare and looks down at a soft, patterned, rug. A small man with a hunched back comes doddering over to try to sell it to the strange new arrival only to see her crawl onto it, sprawl out and get comfortable. "E..Excuse me.. er.. madam but that... I can't -". A low throat growl cuts him off mid-sentence as Rend glowers at him. The man backs up slightly and mumbles a "very well" quietly as he retreats.

Rend lays in place on her side, supporting her head on one hand in the hopes that that will stop it spinning, It doesn't but at least it's comfortable.