Fountain of Knives (Valence)

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

Nighttime -- it was a better time than most, better than when the sun glares against the harsh steel of armor and reinforced wagon spokes, better than dawn or twilight where too many shades melt together to form a forever-orange. Nighttime was better; the midnight hues that come to life, the sparkles of moonstruck mythril, they all soften against the corners of her eyes. And the sounds -- it was much quieter at night -- only the slight beat of a cricket’s wings, maybe a kitten’s mewl, and sometimes the occasional grumbling stumble of some drunkard. But all in all, nighttime patrols were her favorite if not for the scenic tour of town, then for the mysterious drops in crime the night she’s on duty.

Of course, she still walked about the streets with nonchalance, an air tinged with boredom, as the light clink of her armor clicked with the sound of falling water from the fountain ahead. She knew the fountain well; her daily excursions take her passed the sloshing water multiple times of day and no doubt many knew it better than her. Those who were the ones who tossed glinting emerald or sapphire rupees or maybe the occasional ruby into the fountain for the sake of a wish -- what, she wondered, do people wish for?

She stopped at the base of the pool, feeling the flecks of water tap upon her face. The homeless wished for food and shelter, the sheltered wished for adventure, the adventurers wished for a break, the bored wished for drama, the lovers wish for peace, and the loveless wished for passion. Where did she fall? Vanessa knew she was more fortunate than most -- a well-paying job, a title, a rank, a decent home. Perhaps there was a point where one wishes for nothing or when one forgets their wishes.

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tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 306 a little on the short
notes: twinkle twinkle

[Valence Nightingale]

Nighttime -- The daytime, of course, was no suitor for a hunter, a skilled fox, a catlike acrobat. No, nighttime was Val's cup of tea, his favorite friend, his most useful tool. He had, of course, being the type of man that he was, taken interest in the different nighttime patrols the city had to offer. On most occasions, being a man of assassination, crime, and doing his own personal justice, Val found it most convenient for himself on nights with easier patrols... This one, however, was not. That much, he was already aware of.

The townsfolk had, naturally, spoken of this patrol-- one that ran solo, because apparently she needn't any company or aid, and rightly so, Val asserted, when he saw her demeanor and the massive sword on her back. From his position on a high rooftop, Val watched as she walked with a peculiar, attractive, demanding respect and discipline. His lips curled into a slight half-smile as his deep orange eyes glowed softly, following her in the moonlight. She stopped for nothing, Val noticed, and took interest in nothing... Until she came to the primary fountain of the Castle Town.

Val didn't have to decide whether or not he would make himself known. He had already decided on that; he would indeed test his luck and reveal himself. No, the question the young, clever man asked himself was what he would do if she retaliated, which she might, depending on whether or not she knew his name. Then, Val contemplated, only his name was infamous. Valence Nightingale, the arrow of vigilance, perhaps known best for his archery skills that he more often used to put gold in his pocket, which of course meant he used his talent to fill out assassination contracts on a regular basis.

He could, he surmised, lie about his name. He had before, and so few had seen his face, it would be an easy card to play. But as he followed her with his bearing eyes, Val also decided it would be unwise to lie to someone with such an air of vigilance-- almost like his own. Added, she was much too beautiful for him to choke out an effective lie. "C'est la vie," The young man muttered under his breath. He picked himself up quietly, following the guard dead silently on the rooftops as she was at the fountain.

Eventually, he caught up to her, and decided to allow her to acknowledge his presence. He chuckled softly, but just loud enough so that the young woman could hear him. "Well well," He said, a slight inflection of amusement in his voice. His orange eyes flickered with a particular curiosity as his mouth curled into his characteristic half-smile. He lowered himself silently from the rooftop, landing with the softest thud on the ground below him. His knees bent a bit, then he came back up to his full height and addressed her.

"Only one guard out this evening? City's getting lax, hm?"

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

It seemed, she was always being followed -- not that she wasn’t flattered by all of the attention, but wasn’t she the one who did the following? The exchange of positions didn’t exactly bother her since it meant less work on her part, but being the follower for often than not, it meant that someone wanted something. She didn’t need to look to know there was someone with her, she didn’t need to hear for her to know that he wasn’t out for blood, and she didn’t need to fight to know that he was an assassin. A voice so smooth as falling water.

Vanessa turned out of courtesy -- it would have been awfully rude for not to have introduced herself to someone so diligently seeking her attention. So she gave him a generous smile replying with a humor-lilted voice, “A single guard for a single thief.” The moonlight complimented his features and his movements nicely, she decided. A criminal with some taste. It was a pleasing change for once; dealing with ruffians could become most tiresome.

She brought her hand up to her chin in mild interest as it wasn’t too often that someone went out of their way to reveal themselves to her, let alone the infamous Valence Nightingale. The Knight was well aware of his face and his name -- after all, she was Sergeant. “It isn’t uncommon for one such as yourself to roam the night streets.” The flecks of water captured the moonlight about her and tossed it against her mercuric eyes as she continued in that amused lilt, “Certainly you aren’t here to make a wish.”

Sounds of water upon water and water upon stone weaved through the night air and into the slight breeze, stalling for unhurried words for once. The night was barely awake and there wouldn’t be trouble any time soon. Perhaps this boy would occupy her time with a little chit chat -- she chucked, a light little thing. Fat chance. “I take that you have a question for me? Or do I have something that interests you?”

[/size][/justify]

tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 346 still a little short =w=
notes: little star little star

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[Valence Nightingale]

Val smiled, revealing but a few bright white teeth, and let out an equally light chuckle as he approached the guard by the fountain. In truth, Val admitted to himself that was certainly frightened of her, but his years of doing his job well created such a stoic personality that he was able to always hide the emotions he felt-- good or bad-- when he chose to. Granted, the emotions he currently felt weren't all negative, but the guard wouldn't be able to detect that, either.

Stopping just short of the fountain, Val's eyes drifted downward to the fountain, and he eased his smile a bit as he watched the waves in the fountain ripple gently to the edge, then stop, being proceeded by the next small wave. He noticed the rupees glittering softly in the moonlight under the water, and focused his attention there, as the young man dared not meet the guard's eyes. Her comment had made him uneasy; perhaps he was TOO lax, and she already know both who he really was and his persona.

Not revealing it, however, Val replied with an obvious tone of amusement in his voice. "Aside from the bounty on your head, I suppose I want nothing from you." His voice was light, jolly, uncaring. "Surely you don't mistake me for some common thief of the night. No criminal in his right mind would approach someone as notorious as you without a plan. But here I stand, and you must assert that I surely have no plan. Hm?" This time, the man looked and met the woman's eyes, offering a joking wink.

Then Val decided something: this guard surely knew who he was. Her tone, her manner, her word choice-- it all pointed to the idea that he had indeed been uncovered. He was far too perceptive to be so dense as to not consider his enemy equally as intelligent. And so, acting under the assumption that he had no mask, he continued. "Perhaps I'm just naturally drawn to the law. They do pick the beautiful ones, after all, when acting alone. Maybe to lure me out; I wouldn't know. I can't say it works, but I can't deny that it might. Here I am, after all." Val laughed lightly, still genuinely careless about the situation.

"Is it so wrong for a man immoral as I am to still have wishes?" Out of his pocket he drew a rupee, flicked it off of his thumb, and sent it gracefully into the fountain.

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

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She was hardly ever wrong when it comes to a sense of taste -- a criminal of exceptional ability, grace, and an agile tongue. This would be amusing for the time being, and she would prefer not to draw her blade. She mused to herself and allowed her silvery eyes the pleasure of watching his Valence’s catlike movements, understanding now how he could elude even the most well-trained Knights. But she was also genuinely careless, or perhaps it was his air of nonchalance that struck with her own, so she felt no need to apprehend the criminal. It was a romantic thought, really, the thought of giving eyes to what was presumed to be a blind Justice.

She was foolish in a sense, or perhaps confident -- either way it hardly mattered to her. “Hmmm?” A hum drawn out with a hint of amused question, left her lips, “My, my, should I be insulted?” A good-natured laugh. It was certainly funny as it wasn’t the first time that she’s heard of a bounty for her head, but it was still an interesting feeling to hear it from a criminal. “That bounty upon my head musn’t be very heavy if you would risk letting it go and if only one man is after it.” She offered a slight head-tilt and a playful grin, “Or is the infamous Valence Nightingale offering me buttered words to ease the slide of his blade?”

She turned to watch him flick the emerald, striking droplets of moon-kissed dew -- the initial strike of his fingers unto green still whistling in the air -- into the gurgling fountain. It landed with an inaudible splash, the little thing devoured by the larger sound of constant churning and splashes of undulating loudness and softness. “It isn’t wrong per se. But what would you, a man so immoral, wish for?” She shot him a teasing look, “Morals, perhaps?”

But it was certainly interesting to her, what people wished for. Do monsters wish? Perhaps. The nature of a wish is shrouded in hope, hope when there is no other means of attaining a target. A last resort. Curious. She took a rupee out in absent thought, turning it within her fingers. “Though, truly, Valence. You mean to tell me that you just happened to run into me tonight?” One couldn’t blame her, a Knight, usually all business, though this attempt was more half-arsed than anything. Just procedure.

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tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 407
notes: shades of gray

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[Valence Nightingale]

She was clever. A trait Valence most appreciated, especially in one that would, in normal circumstances, be prey. He couldn't help but slyly smile a bit as she spoke, and he offered an amused chuckle, a quaint sparkle in his eye, before he addressed her. "Oh, come now," he began easily, glancing back at her, then back to the fountain. "Your bounty is plenty heavy. Surely you know brute force isn't quite my, ah, cup of tea. If I truly wanted you dead, miss Vanessa, there would currently be an arrow in the back of your neck."

He let the words end coldly, not offering a chuckle or an amused inflection in his voice. In some regard, he was entirely serious: he had numerous chances before revealing himself to off her. Something, however, kept him from doing it. Money was normally his primary concern, but he was a cruel hunter, and often played with his prey. On this night, though, it was something entirely different than a desire to play with his prey. There was another factor at work, and Valence knew it...

Though he couldn't quite discern just what that factor was.

Regardless, he had decided to reveal himself, and as such had given up, willingly, his chance to receive the gold that was placed on the woman's head. It seemed as though, at this point, money wasn't Val's concern. And perhaps it wasn't. Even Val himself wasn't sure, but the one thing he was sure of was that he'd probably never be able to kill this woman. She was simply too fun. The world needed people like her.

He glanced at her nervously, which was rare for him, and there was no smile on his face. Just as quickly as before, his deep orange eyes drifted back down to the water's surface. He stared at the rupee he dropped in. Just what was it that he wished for, truly? Val, of course, wanted to find Lilah. She was practically a mother and a sister figure to him, and normally, that would be his wish. Upon deeper thinking, however, Val considered that if she really wanted to be found, she would have been found by now.

Almost like an abrupt snap, Val came-to, and his eyes darted back up to Vanessa. He offered a smaller smile than before, but one still full of amusement. "Morals." He chuckled, showing a few teeth again. "No, no, nothing so trivial. Perhaps... Compassion. Is a monster allowed to have such a luxury?" Full of life, his voice was. Though his profession was looked down upon, and he was indeed a criminal, Val was happy. And while his search would continue, he truly did wish to feel compassion for others aside from the woman that raised him.

Mentally moving on, Val stepped forward, turned, and sat on the edge of the fountain, facing Vanessa. "Oh please, my dear," He said almost charismatic in tone. "You know my name. Would I 'just happen' to run into anyone?"

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

“Hm?” She quirked a platinum blond brow at the assassin’s arrogance, and stifled a small laugh, “Then I suppose I should thank the ever-so-gracious Sir Valence for sparing my neck!” His abilities weren’t unspoken of, and, Vanessa’s grin grew, she didn’t need to hear to know of his abilities, “And so I’ll make a note, Sir valence, that if I ever wanted to die, I’ll be sure to let you know and plaster a target upon my neck.” A vambraced arm swept up with a little too much grace and a tad too much practice as she cocked her head back and drew a generous “x” upon her milky throat with nimble fingers, “I prefer here, if you will.”

It was truly a mark of a mad person, or a person who had seen death so many times that they would be so brazen as to joke about him behind his back as if he were a good friend. That, Vanessa thought, was what they had in common. He brought death patrons while she stole them -- and they both had probably been tempted to take his hand numerous times before. A common friend for a common way to meet new acquaintances. Though, to be fair, she knew he wasn’t joking, but the thought still amused her, such an unfitting reaction, or perhaps it was fitting as her aura hardly shifted, still keeping its cool, metallic stillness. But of course, she wouldn’t let her guard down, after all, they were so close upon opposite sides, so she kept an observing eye upon him, catching that nervous look, feeling the shift of energy mingle restlessly about.

She sat down next to him, upright, proper, Knightly, in all fashions, but still with her own air of stillness and calm. “Compassion. A noble wish for an ignoble soul.” Or perhaps noble? The characteristic head-tilt and hand-to-chin overtook her form again as she pondered his question: is a monster allowed to have a luxury such as compassion? A faint smile now, not really one of teasing or one of anything, one just because as silver eyes turned to meet their kin upon the sky. “Why of course. He’d simply be a monster with a human heart.” And therein lay the irony of her sentence or the question: was it the heart or the bodily lusts that ultimately determined what a thing was. And something that was unattainable to the assassin -- compassion? “To place such hopeless value within this, one must surely know its nature. Why would one such as yourself hope for such a thing?”

And she was truly curious about this and other things of course, but now that the infamous assassin had finally decided to show himself, she wasn’t going to let him off without some pleasant chit chat. “Ah, of course not. Surely you haven’t come out just to share your feelings with me!” She zeroed in upon his nervousness as her smile flickered between images of knowing and images of innocence. “Hence I’ve asked you and will ask you again, Valence Nightingale. You’ve been following me for awhile now, what is it that brought you here on this lovely eve and why so nervous?”

[/justify][/size]

tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 538
notes: what's your wish

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[Valence Nightingale]

Val's current posture was none like the woman next to him: he slouched, his forearms resting on his thighs, and he leaned over forward, looking off towards the distance. He was sitting as carelessly as he felt, and had taken a desirable position on the fountain. He was about comfort more than appearance; or so he often told himself, though he couldn't honestly say he always took on such a tenant. Her remarks were snide, clever; she was playing along with him, the only difference being that she wasn't on edge.He was. And Val knew that she knew, and intended to explain himself in due time. With her comments, though, Val couldn't help but laugh. "Sir Valence... such a royal title, one so unfitting for one of my expertise. But I shall gladly accept it." He added lightheartedly, glancing over in Vanessa's direction with a smile. "It's not everyday that I let the most precious targets live, you know. Perhaps I'm slacking." His tone was still easy, carefree, but with a fake sense of despair for added effect. He knew he wasn't slacking.

Ignoble. Val chuckled, pleased. "Indeed." The young man looked towards the sky, his eyes meeting the moon. His mind relaxed a little, and he attempted to enjoy the night as he had intended to. Things weren't so bad-- yet-- and he knew he ought to enjoy the feigned peace. "That I am, I suppose. A monster with the heart of a man... Or could it be a man with the heart of a monster?" He asked, that same tone of amusement in his voice. Rarely was Val ever not amused with a given situation. "Either way, neither is desirable, though compassion certainly is. Whatever you and your Law may label me as, I do so earnestly wish to feel compassion for some. My whole life, I've lived with kill-or-be-killed-- targets here, new targets there... Ah, never a rest do I get." Val chuckled, his tone now slightly more depressed, but still characteristically light. "I sometimes find myself wondering what type of person I would be without my bow, without my arrows... without my greed." Looking over to Vanessa, strangely enough, he offered a smile. A genuine smile.

"I have indeed been following you." Val admitted gleefully. "But I can't say it was for a specific reason. You see... I tend to act rashly when my life is in danger." Val stood, having been sitting too long for his taste. He brushed himself off gently, stretched, and stared back up at the moon. "My feelings are shared with few, and shared truthfully with fewer. I suppose when I'm about to die, I'd like someone to know what really went on in my head, hm?" He laughed a bit, seeming not to care about his endangerment. "Some of the law is lax, like yourself. You could have easily killed me, and you've chosen not to. Others... Well, let's just say the Castle Town hasn't been the only place I've been tonight. And I'd venture a perceptive guess that I'm being followed, watched, or both. Currently."

A wry, amused smile grew slowly across Val's lips.

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within a Fountain

There was a certain ambiguity in the situation, shifts in intentions, the shifts in emotions -- they were all interesting enough. His words were light as air and Vanessa could only chuckle at their little exchange -- she was the sort who enjoyed breaks in the clouds, and he was a funny sort, a charismatic sort, the sort that has a lot to hide for the sake of himself -- but those words were weighted with stones of undercurrents. Leaving his words at that, she watched him fidget to his feet, just watching, always observing.

But he did bring about an interesting morsel of thought, “Yes, both would be tragic; a monster with a human’s heart would be lonely forever, and a human with a monster’s heart would also be lonely -- and so both would be undesirable.” But she smiled and watched him as he spoke, pitying him a if only for the moment -- it wasn’t so much compassion on her part as it was curiosity. What drove this man, and why so torn. He was a leaf worn too thin by the autumn air.

Water tapped lightly against the polished armor upon her shoulders as she continued in a more more pensive tone,“But what of a human with a human heart? Would that be desirable?” Silver eyes turned to follow his restless movements -- truly, why was he telling her such things? Perhaps the man merely needed an ear. “Hm, so the great Valence did come to share his feelings. What type of person indeed...” A slight teasing tone, but with an underlying understanding woven into her voice as the sentence trailed off.

Vanessa threw a feigned chastising look in his direction as he spoke, “Why am I not surprised? From whom have you managed to incur the wrath with your naughtiness?” There had been eight readings upon her mental map, and they had been closing in as they spoke, but within a five mile radius, Vanessa could tell: Valence was truthful. Though, it was a curious thing, which of her supposed allies did he anger for him to obtain eight trackers upon his person, “My, my, we certainly have a party here.”

Standing to brush herself off as well, she sighed in mock exhaustion, “You do know, that to interfere with the noses of those trackers would be highly unadvisable in my situation.” She spun around to face him, tossing the rupee she was holding into the fountain without hesitation, a glint of slyness entering her eyes, “But I’ll make you a proposition: I’ll take them from your watch -- forever, that is -- but for something in return.” Her voice was just as gleeful as his moments before, “I want one favor from Valence Nightingale -- it could be any favor and there is no expiration date on when I can ask.”

Why would she trust a criminal? Vanessa shrugged: she would have been an accomplice to many more murders -- not that he’s killed anyone of too much importance yet, but she smiled her coy grin, “Well? Care to take my offer?” She chuckled and felt the presences of the trackers closing in, it would only be moments now. “And...without your bow and arrows and greed, you’d be a very dead type of person.” She outstretched a hand towards him.

[/size][/justify]

tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 548
notes: --

[Valence Nightingale]

Shoving his hands in his pockets casually, Val laughed. "A human with a human heart? Well, perhaps that's what you are, but you see, Miss Vanessa, I was born a monster. And there's no changing that." He offered her a coy smile and another joking wink, then taking a few looks around the area.

His pursuers, as he'd predicted, had caught up. He didn't know their numbers, nor would he estimate, but he had caused quite an uproar in Kakariko earlier that evening. Val wouldn't have been surprised if the city had sent a small force after him, but at the same time, he wouldn't be surprised if it was only two or three pursuers. There was, however, one he noticed far on a rooftop. A faint shadow, that was all, but the shadow of a man, indeed, and Val then knew for certain his pursuers had arrived-- likely all of them. But only one could he see.

Val began to move slowly, pacing, walking in a half-circle around Vanessa. His eyes drifted from her and back to the black shadow in the far distance, and he hoped that the clever knight was picking up his signal. He flashed her an amused, toothy smile and a chuckle, regarding her words with his own. "At this time, I'd guess the Kakariko Guard. Turns out they don't take so kindly to their valuables being taken from under their noses, nor do they appreciate the killing of their political officials-- but hey, business is business, hm?" He laughed, stopping his pacing. "And yes, a party indeed; the more the merrier, after all." Val knew he was in danger, but almost nothing could take away the light, amused tone in his voice.

"I wouldn't advise you to interfere with my, ah, loving relationship with the Kakariko law. You and I both know it wouldn't be good for you. Good for me, but disastrous for you." Val analyzed the situation. As skilled as he knew he was, he was certain that with long range weapons, even in the dark, with a home turf advantage, he couldn't take on any more than five guards on his own. If the city had sent more, Val knew, though he didn't express it, that he was in trouble.

Trouble on its way or not, Val also knew that faking a hostage-take would also result in an arrow through his neck. His analysis lead him to confirm that if they were being watched, the duo was being watched by archers. Val was confident that no one in Hyrule could match his hunting talent, but they were both currently open targets, and the guards were likely good shots, regardless of the fact that they may not be as good as he.

Coming back to the present talk, though, Val acknowledged Vanessa again, this time with a louder laugh that was likely audible to their watchdogs. "You'd trust a thief? That isn't wise, my dear." The inflection was curious, almost devious, with an air of both amusement and danger. The offer, however, was intriguing, and it also sounded like a trap. Val hated to be indebted to anyone-- least of all the law. His enemy. "You do strike a favorable offer, I must admit," Val began, walking towards her and bringing his hand up to meet hers. He clasped his in hers, and let out a large, defeated sigh. "It's not often I ask for help from my enemy, but seeing as--" his voice grew quiet, "--we're being watched by a number I cannot conclude, I suppose the only way to save my neck is to accept your conditions."

With that, his orange eyes met hers, and they were filled with a devilish, spark-like stare. He smiled at her slightly, then let go of her hand, took a deep breath, and waited.

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

Smart boy. The grip of his hand sealed the deal, or perhaps it wasn’t so sealed, but somehow it hardly mattered to the Knight. This wasn’t compassion, she didn’t believe, it was merely because having a favor form such a name could be handy, and he was interesting enough for the time being. What would the others say now? A questionable deal perhaps, and admittedly she probably should have left her curiosity for her off-duty hours -- but when was she really off-duty. Vanessa sighed, an expression of steel and mercury smoothed out the smile in her eyes and upon her lips; a facade -- she would put on a show

As Valence loosened his grip she stepped forward reaching out to capture his wrist in a move to pin his arm and shoulder, “Trust me, you’ll want to play this game. It’ll be fun.” She said just soft enough for him to hear and kept her expression as smooth as polished metal. It was amusing really, why would he trust her just as why would she trust him? Should. That was the better terminology. Neither of them had given the other reason to trust, but here they were asking for such a silly thing. With the distance closed, it was nearly impossible for the archers to shoot without harming her. And who would dare harm the Knight Sergeant?

“Struggle.” It was a command, or a teasing little remark whispered into his ear. She felt it, the Kakariko guards had no choice but to close in and reveal themselves now -- it was much too difficult to strike a a moving target and all too easy to kill a moving ally. Her body as the shield. Aegis, she thought. A shield for the criminal. At the sound of footsteps form the shadows, the hunters revealed themselves -- all eight -- and she gave Valence a little nudge to keep playing along with little struggles.

“Knight Sergeant, we have come to apprehend this thief and murderer.” Vanessa listened with apparent boredom upon her face as he explained protocol in the most generic of fashions. Truly, someone really needed to teach these guards a sense of humor, or at least a sense of wit. Perhaps making it a point the Knight Captains wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

She cut him of, her tone saturated with annoyance; the guards shifted with apparent discomfort. It was nice to have power. “I know the procedure, soldier. It seems that you’ve arrived a tad late, and seeing as though the criminal has entered my jurisdiction and has been apprehended, it would be wise to head back to your posts.” Vanessa narrowed her gaze to the team leader, “It would have been wiser to send a messenger here,” and that reprimand wasn’t at all false, “Or does the Kakariko guard have some issues with communication?”

He stuttered and fell silent, “No, Knight Sergeant. But we need him back -- ”

“You are relieved of your duties here. Return to your posts. He is now under my personal surveillance, or do you think that the Kakariko guard is more capable?” Her words bit. With that they saluted and left. Once they were out of range she released her grip, “Ah, you’ll have to forgive me for being so rough,” the playful tone returned to her voice though a more morose expression damped her visage, “I had to make it convincing, you know. But how does that sound? Being under the surveillance of the Knight Sergeant.” An implacable curl of lips -- a double-edged sword for both of them

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tags: valence, vanessa, random people
word count: 596
notes: hope you dun mind the little bit of grabbing and such, kinda wanted to speed it up a tad.

[/size]

[Valence Nightingale]

Val was no fool, and knew when it behooved him to play along with the law, even when he desired not to. Admittedly, however, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed her tone or her proximity to him, but he knew he could never let her know such a thing, and so he remained amused and smiling, as he normally did, though he did offer a struggle when he was told to. He was, fortunately, able to make it convincing enough to draw the guards out, and while fake-fighting for his freedom, he realized that there were 8 total. 3 more than Val could have handled alone. He chuckled quietly at this, and eventually gave up, allowing himself to be apprehended by Vanessa.

Val chimed in, addressing the Kakariko guards that had so failed to take him into custody before he had time to make it to Castle Town. "You heard the woman," Val said, a tone of both feigned defeat and smugness in his voice. "Seems Kakariko is slipping. My condolences to your dead. Perhaps you ought to prepare your city for a larger danger than a--" Val struggled again, making sure it was clear to the other guards that it was no ploy. "--common thief." He laughed gleefully, smiling at the guard that was speaking.

Knowing that it would be wise not to respond to Val, the guards simply grimaced, then saluted and left. They realized they had been beaten, and then Val realized he was in debt, which he arguably hated more than anything else. Sighing, he gently released himself from her grip, stood back, and addressed her with a sigh. "Knight Sergeant surveillance, huh? Can't say I find that too disagreeable, to be honest with you, though in any other case I'd rather not be indebted nor under any kind of watch... But ah, such are my circumstances."

He chuckled, amused as he always was, and met her eyes with his. "I suppose a thank you is in order, but I'm afraid to leave you with something insincere." His smile was wry, and he was obviously bantering to see her response. "Only eight, after all." He added, nonchalantly. "I could have taken ten in my sleep. Now, before I ask what you would have me do in return-- which I will surely regret-- I must also ask, why would you offer me such help? You know what I am..."

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

She dropped back onto the edge of the fountain, miniature domes of water brushing against her fingertips, looking back upon the sparkling rupees heavy with wishes. Somewhere amongst the green, blue, and red, was her own jewel, but hers was light and wishless. “I expect nothing less than brutal honesty from Sir Valence.” She laughed, openly this time, voice ringing, clearing the night’s haze, but for reasons unknown -- the situation just seemed like a humorous one, a free one. A decision not on the behalf of everyone else or the kingdom, but her own, something of an instinct that was silenced far too often.

“Oh, really?” A blond eyebrow raised with amused abandon as she caught the banter and tossed it back with a light tongue, “You certainly had me fooled back there -- looking so sullen and on your deathbed! Such a wonderful actor -- you could join a troupe!” A fine finger broke the rippling surface, drawing absent shapes within the water, her expression softening to something of drifting thought, pensiveness, perhaps even an essence of melancholy.

“On the contrary, Valence, I do not know who you are or what you are,” a weak smile dawned upon her lips, “I only have wanted posters, bounties, files, accounts, records...there are only so many words to a face.” There was no particular point to her words, merely observation, sickness, exhaustion, and hopelessness. “As for why I decided to help,” the light ring retouched her voice, “I was feeling unusually generous tonight.”

She flicked droplets of water in his direction with a little smirk, “It’s not everyday that I feel so compelled to give. After all, Justice isn’t blind, but Fortune is.” She supposed she helped for the same nature of the reason why this man came to her of all people. Another implacable smile upon practiced lips, “And the favor...I haven’t decided upon it yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know if I ever think of it.” She looked upon the night sky turning a hue of periwinkle, only a few hours until sunrise. “I am, after all, a woman of no wishes.”

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tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 355
notes: --

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[Valence Nightingale]

"Brutal honesty from a pathological liar? You play a hard game, my dear. Perhaps you expect too much from humankind... Or perhaps just out of me." He smiled warmly, chuckling, and took a seat beside her, leaning forward with his arms resting on his thighs again. He laughed; an actor was something he had to always be, and he wondered if she realized that. As a 'professional' thief and murderer, an actor was the role he had to put on when he was in danger-- rare though it was, he had perfected it, and could, in all seriousness, act well when needed. The unfortunate fact almost made Val second guess his life's career...

But he knew he had just been around the law for too long. If not too long, longer than he had normally stuck around. Even he, though, had to admit there was something luring about this woman; she was not, against his initial judgement, like most of the Force that would quickly and rashly detain him and be proud to turn him in. They were conversing. Such a thing had never happened before, which could have been why Val still stuck around. The only other possibility was that her personality, aside from her looks, was attractive to him. And while he hated to admit it, Val surmised that being interested in her was equally likely.

The young man sighed heavily. She wasn't as judgmental as he'd wanted to guess, either. She was, however, wrong. Val's first instinct was to respond that a monster was a monster inside and out, but her comment made Val ponder that perhaps there was a man behind the mask, and the infamous Valence Nightingale had another side-- but if he did, why didn't he know it? Or maybe, Val thought, he subconsciously knew it. He wasn't about to be read like a book by some law-enforcing officer, though, that much was clear.

Was it too late NOT to be read was Val's next question to himself. So instead, he asked her, "But can you not judge a man by his actions?" His eyes met hers, and his tone was ever light, his eyes even bright, his inflection ever amused. "I mean, I do ever so much love my face being so popular, but in the eyes of your kind, I'm nothing more than a fiend and a villain... So why treat me otherwise, hm?" His orange eyes seemed to gleam, and he turned back towards the sky, pensive if anything.

"Generosity is a trap, cher ami. Fortune may always favor me, but to you, it is nearly an enemy. This is surely more than coincidence, after all... I don't believe for a second that someone like you would happen to feel generous, least to say that generous, to someone as high on your bingo list as I am. I'm a fool if I didn't say there was more to it, but I'm also a fool if I venture to guess what it is that interested you. Regardless, though I may be vile and devious, a promise is a promise, and my word in your favor shall be kept." Val was analytic, but also genuine. He hated it, but he would keep his word; the man indeed intended to repay the favor. He knew he couldn't have taken eight men.

Though, her reasoning for helping him still eluded him; he was still curious. "My my, Vanessa, you are a book too challenging for even a librarian such as myself to read. Kudos to you. A woman of no wishes, you say... Even if I did believe that, I'd find it strange. Everyone has a wish... And I've told you mine. Now, you will tell me yours."

[VANESSA FERRE]

† The Look of Knives Within the Fountain

Vanessa looked at him with amused pity, “Only if Man is without reason. He may still be a villainous man, but judgement must come from reason.” Thus was her own justice, the ideal, the only thing that she may follow -- or was it even hers to begin with? She didn’t quite remember. A playful grin broke upon her face as she made it a point to scrutinize him with all of the awkward silliness in the world, “Well! They must be blind, or I must be for that matter. For I see a man with two legs and two arms, a head, fingers, feet...nothing particularly out of the ordinary.”

“As for the reason of my blindness: a second chance isn’t always on the table.” Vanessa became lost in thought; where was she going with this? Valence was a criminal, one at large, and there would be problems if the Knight-Sergeant was caught in some sort of scandal -- and she knew this; she knew that it was a risky game to play, but it was one instinct she hadn’t the energy to ignore. “But as for a man who wishes for compassion,” she fished out the rupee that Valence tossed into the fountain, “a second chance isn’t impossible.”

Eyeing the emerald jewel, she pondered what did she wish for. Was it so hard to believe that she had no wish? Contentedness was truly a monster or perhaps it was Ennui that was the true demon’s head. “Is it so strange?” She paused to think as mirth turned her lips upwards once more, “Then I would wish for the right to wish!” Irony again. After all, her life is not her own. She smiled a faint one, one that was better late than never to answer his own genuine smile from before, before a tinge of playfulness struck the edges of her cheeks. “You know, compassion isn’t to be wished for, especially by the likes of you.” It would’ve sounded hostile if it weren’t for the teasing spark in her eyes and her light tone. The implications were there; work for it.

Vanessa tossed the rupee back to Valence. “A true wish isn’t really a wish at all.”

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tags: valence, vanessa
word count: 368
notes: tick tock

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