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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 17, 2011 18:22:43 GMT -5
Rush, stab, pivot, slash, block, duck, leg sweep, execute. A rehearsed drill, practiced innumerable times, and performed to perfection even when done in person, on flesh and blood. She could do it with virtually any weapon, today however, she returned to her usual, favourite weapon. Her bladed lance. She twisted and writhed, a deadly, vicious and brutal dance, looking elegant despite the powerful, perfectly executed routine of terrifyingly efficient killing techniques. She prided her ability in combat, as a merciless, fearless warrior, easily worthy of her heritage, of her blood, of a people she had left for greater self-advancement. She had no regrets. She had more money and a more fearsome reputation than she would have ever gained, even as a Gerudo pirate. Such was the nature of the mercenary, people became more familiar with seeing your face, and hearing of your work.
A vicious, feral grin lit her face as she wove a tapestry that would stain its canvas red, splitting her bizarre weapon in two, swaying in an almost provocative manner, an unusual and strangely beguiling fighting style, feigning evasive techniques, a fluid, mobile and constantly striking and making parrying motions, defending against invisible enemies that swarmed around her, before reassembling the weapon, bringing the near symphonic display of the trade of death to fever pitch, to crescendo, before ending on a deep throbbing bass note of a crushing whirlwind strike.
She stood, maintaining her final stance, the unusual and wicked weapon held one handed behind her back, the other hand forward, a loose warding guard, legs set wide as a firm solid ground, her breath heavier, the feral grin on her face set firmly, before she swivelled, seperated the weapon, and hurling one half towards the entrance the clearing she had been practicing in, burying the blade deep into a tree. Something had made a sound, breaking the deadly quiet. A snap. Someone, or something had found her.
Come out with your weapons sheathed, or my next throw will split your skull in two.
Her eyes had narrowed, the grin was gone, as she looked towards the direction of the noise, holding the other half ready to hurl at anything that did not comply with her demands. She silently gave thanks to the Goddesses for giving her such combat readiness. It had saved her life more than once. A life of war was testament to that, or rather, a life not cut short by war. |
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 17, 2011 19:25:08 GMT -5
 x x
Such fluid motions were a waste if they went unobserved, particularly when performed by such a lithe and voluptuous figure. But then Kiir wouldn't expect anything less than perfection considering the legendary combat prowess of a Gerudo. Apply that to one who made a living using that exact talent and had a name to live by, well, Kiir wasn't disappointed by his choice in mercenaries. Needless to say. In fact that hypnotic dance was almost too much, caused a slip of his foot, oh so slightly, just enough.
When the blade embedded itself into the tree he was behind, watching. It embedded itself so deep that the tip came out the other end, and had it been a few inches lower it might have skewered Kiir's shoulder where he was leaning against it. He turned to examine the tip that had almost cost him a lot of pain, then decided he should comply with the woman's demands, lest the next one be a bit lower or, unfortunately, not through a tree.
So he strolled out, hiding his unnerve at the near miss and walking with a confident saunter. Had to make a good first impression, after all. That was just good business, as the mercenary would no doubt know. "Relax, I'm just an admirer, not an assassin," he chirped with a soft grin. "Though I suppose you'd get that a lot if you were threatening someone's life," he mused, tapping his chin for just a moment as he walked into the clearing. His only weapon, the dagger he carried, remained sheathed on his leg where it almost always sat. "I'm a lover, not a fighter."
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 17, 2011 19:48:13 GMT -5
Sekhmet, despite her adrenaline fuelled state, couldn't help but smirk at the individual she had almost skewered. He was so slight, so frail looking... She shook her head, hips sashaying as she strolled gracefully, but somehow powerfully, over to her weapon, taking hold of the haft, not pulling yet, leaning on the blade, looking at the man, amused, if a little pleased with herself. An admirer. That was a novelty. Quite a welcome one. And on a rather tasty looking individual. She crossed her legs just below the knees, her weight distributed on both the weapon and one foot, brown hair seemingly unwilling to so much as dare move out of it's seemingly haphazard and wild state, never once dropping in front of her eyes. Those startlingly piercing green eyes that now took the Oocca in full, smirk upon her face ever-present, savouring the slender man before her.
Lover, not a fighter huh? Well, loverboy, I deal with both lovers and fighters on a daily basis. You definitely fit under the 'lover' category quite nicely. Though you do have that adventurous air about you. It's the eyepatch. Adds a certain... Dangerous element to you.
As usual, little contemplation for the words that fell from her mouth. She never really needed to think. It also helped that she generally had a knack of having most people's favourable attention before she even started speaking. He, evidently, wasn't much of an exception, whether purely through an 'artistic admiration', or because she was as beguiled by her as 'lesser' men, she wasn't entirely sure. She tightened her grip on the half of the lance, standing up straight, delicately maneuvering it, loosening it from the bark slightly.
Now tell me, are you admiring my handiwork? Or, are you simply admiring... Me.
At handiwork, she yanked hard on the haft, the weapon coming free, before rotating it in her hand, clicking it back into line with the other half, and in the same motion, swinging it up t her shoulder, holding it in place elegantly with her wrist, the other upon her thigh. At me, her smirk broadened, her hand tracing a line up to her waist, before lingering there. She watched for his reaction. As strange as it was for someone so inherently dangerous and deadly efficient on the battlefield, she really got kicks from this sort of thing. |
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 17, 2011 20:01:44 GMT -5
x x
The ladies loved a man in an eye-patch. Of course Kiir's one good emerald eye was watching her fluid motions, the feline grace with which she held herself as she moved, as she pulled the weapon from the tree, and as she stood there. She somehow made standing seem liquid and graceful. And yet simultaneously a little terrifying, he wouldn't lie, but that was overshadowed by far by her own sensual attractiveness, if you could call it that.
Kiir remained calm on the outside as he listened to her words and he watched the action that accompanied each word admirably. "In all honesty? A little from column A and a lot from column B," he quipped, grinned and shrugged. "But column A is what brought me here in the first place. Can't say you're easy to track down for a mercenary of such renown, must be hard for you to get work being so elusive, actually," he pondered for just a brief second. Mustn't oversell it.
"And as much as I'd love to admire you further, I should really lay out my pitch before I get too . . . erm . . . distracted, as I'm wont to do sometimes." The Oocca laughed at himself and his comment. "My name is Kiir, and I'm a captain of a very unique vessel," he started coyly. "One of a kind, the Sparrow. Chances are you've never heard of her, but that's why I'm coming to you now. A vessel as special as her needs fame to accompany her name, and in order to do that you need to find a path and stick to it. I have a particular path in mind, but I need a crew to fly the damn thing first, and then to help . . . progress. That is where you come in," he said and paused, letting his words sink in.
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 17, 2011 20:21:46 GMT -5
She leaned against the tree she had basically disembowled, head turn to look at her, staff planted in the ground, one hand still upon her waist, smirk broad upon her face, listening to him speak. It was a refined tone. As poised as she was in combat, as fluid, and likely, as dangerous. People with that sort of voice were usually the sort who could sway men as she could carve them into bloody chunks. She repressed a laugh at the thought, knowing full well that she MUCH preferred the bloodshed.
Girl's got to have her privacy sometimes. Besides, if you can track me down, you're probably worth listening to.
She admitted this openly. Not many could actually find her when she decided to 'take her leave'. Clearly, this man knew how to weedle information out of people. Handy talent when looking for a good 'blade for hire'. She noted the fact he openly admitted attraction to both her form and her function. Confident, honest, witty, she smirked a little wider, laughing as he spoke of being distracted.
I can be a very distracting person after all.
She almost sighed as he said the words 'captain' and 'vessel'. Great, another pirate. He even had the eyepatch, she raised an eyebrow, holding back cutting in. He was good looking enough to afford that courtesy. She'd politely turn down the offer. Too many aspirant captains came looking for someone to fight their battles and...
Wait, did you say... Fly?
She stood up fully, her lithe frame moving as elegantly, though much more urgently, brimming with barely contained excitement. Well that was unexpected. A flying ship? Surely not... She stood, anticipation and curiosity lighting up her features, cocking her head to the side, the smirk vanishing completely. Not often did she completely stop being her usual teasing self. Flying ships, however, clearly was something that caused such a thing. |
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 17, 2011 20:35:34 GMT -5
x x
That one always got them. "Oops, did I?" Kiir blinked with feigned surprise. "I was hoping to save that as a big surprise," he joked and shrugged dismissively. "I am no ranger, no tracker, so I couldn't just follow your trail. From in the sky, though, there are things that are a lot easier to see. Particularly when one has the right kind of eye." Such as an eye for tasteful, attractive women, like Kiir, though that would've been overstepping himself to mention, so he kept that to himself.
It still fueled a little grin.
"I did tell you she was one of a kind, didn't I? First and only airship in the sky. Ooccan prototype, actually. I just . . . liberated her. Shouldn't keep a bird cooped up, it's not healthy, and no doubt it'd be forever before she actually got any sort of mileage while they conducted all of their tests." Padding. All padding. He had her attention, had her interest, he knew it. She wouldn't lose attention until she saw the ship itself, so he decidedly drew that out.
"Now, of course, no one signs up for a crew without first seeing the ship they'll be sailing on, right? As a mercenary for hire I'm sure you've had some experience on a ship in your time, am I right?" he asked, though he'd done his research. There was a reason he had tracked her down. She came highly recommended by many and not just for her mercenary work. Though that was one of those 'another time, another place' sort of things.
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 17, 2011 20:52:56 GMT -5
Oh wow. An airship?! Really? That was... Incredible. A broad grin, like that of a child who'd just found a bag of rupees in a box, lit up her features, casting a far less dangerous figure, an irrepressible enthusiasm and excitement running amok within her. Today really was her lucky day. She managed to keep a relative cool, the grin still upon her face as she listened to him detailing more of the fineries. Paltry details compared to a flying ship. The words combined boggled her mind. How was that even possible? Still, you'd have to have real gall to build people up like this, especially someone as dangerous as her, to not be telling the truth.
Have I served on a ship? Well, yes, trained up part of the Hylian Navy human auxiliary. Deck combat and boarding actions, as well as quartermaster until they could get a replacement. Four months service. Long job, but good pay. Nothing. Absolutely, nothing, compared to... This.
Her excitement built as the words 'see the ship registered'. Her grin broadened, as she yanked her lance out of the ground. She was brimming with anticipation, if a little nervousness. What would it look like? Would it look like a regular ship? Or would it be more like a bird? Where did he say he... Liberated it from, a flashier word for stole for sure, not that it mattered... The Oocca? Perhaps they simply recreated their own biology on a larger scale?
No time like the present. I have to see this. If she's special enough for you to ste... I mean, liberate, she ought to be a truly spectacular. Come on! Let's go!
She was becoming restless, still grinning childishly, excitement beginning to boil over her calm. It had been a VERY long time since anything had excited her this much. If she was a glutton for anything, that thing was adventure, danger and thrill. |
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 17, 2011 21:01:48 GMT -5
x x
And just like that Kiir knew he had made the sale. There were the finer points to discuss, such as the pay, and briefly he considered approaching those on their brief walk to where he had landed the Sparrow considering she was likely not going to pay much attention and potentially give him a better deal. But then he reconsidered. She was dangerous and skimping on her pay when they would be flying together would probably lead to him bleeding by some wound or other.
"I landed her not far away. Didn't want to be seen, you know how it is," he said, then batted his hand as she wouldn't care how it was. He turned and started walking back through the trees in the forest. He was great at backtracking his own trail, but he'd always fail if it came to tracking someone else's trail. Maybe it was because he wasn't exactly used to walking through a forest and his trail was remarkably obvious, a path that could only be matched by a dozen men walking single file.
The clearing he had landed the Sparrow in this time, as he had landed in quite a few, was probably one his largest yet. It gave the mercenary, once they broke the treeline, a fine and splendid view of the ship as it sat there, a few birds flying around exploring this new contraption that wasn't usually there. "And there she is," he said with a gesture, as if it wasn't obvious what the airship was in the first place. "I imagine you're quite interested in flying with her now, aren't you?" Her enthusiasm was impossible to miss.
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 17, 2011 21:22:58 GMT -5
She followed the man eagerly, having completely forgotten to ask his name, so engrossed as she was by the idea of an airship. She wondered what it would look like, what it would be like to fly aboard it. The rational part of her mind, however, reminded her not-so-gently that she was, regardless of the deal, very much a hot commodity. She smirked at that thought. In more ways than one. The passed through the clearing, light obscuring the vessel from view for a moment, before she stopped, her grin showing her evident pleasure.
Oh my, you are a beautiful girl, aren't you?
She leaned to the right, looking at the magnificent ship, delight in her eyes. Better than she could imagine. Sleek, elegant, utterly flawless, a curious blend of shipbuilding techniques and bizarre Oocca developments. Already, she could see the potential. Serving aboard THE first airship, to whatever end, would be good for her, regardless of whether she stayed on or not. Sekhmet, however, had every intention, at least in the here and now, to never leave this good looking girl for as long as possible.
And what a good-looking girl she is. Sparrow... A good name. Seems fitting. Not quite what you'd call... Combat ready... Let me guess. That's what you want me for, mister...?
She smirked at the man, having caught on to what he said about where she would come in, and finally remembered to ask his name. Her excitement, though present, was brought under heel, as she looked back and forth between the man and his magnificent ship. |
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 17, 2011 22:00:23 GMT -5
x x
"Kiir, just call me Kiir," he said simply as he began to walk across the clearing. "Or captain, if it so suits you," he shrugged as he walked. "As for what I want you for, I made that quite clear right away. I'm just looking to get a crew for my vessel. You have experience as a quartermaster which is perfect and, might I say, you'd help me sleep easier at night with your considerable prowess." He intentionally left that one open to interpretation. At least for a moment, with a brief pause.
"Being one of a kind like she is, I have no doubt the Sparrow might find herself in some danger here and there, whether it be Oocca looking to reclaim it or someone trying to liberate it from my control. The former I'm not worried about, but I wouldn't mind having someone who can handle themselves as admirably as you can on board." Lay it all out, be honest, and make the deal quite clear. "Of course you will be paid, as well as housed in the bunks. Food and all that. Your pay would be based on commission from whatever work we have, so it's not so much you're crewing my ship as expanding your enterprise, right?"
He got to the ship and pulled a latch on the side. Some mechanisms inside rotated and clanked and the cargo bay door dropped down, leaving the aft of the ship wide open and revealing the largest inner chamber. Calmly Kiir stepped inside, then turned to where his new business partner would approach. "I can give you the tour, if you like. Or we could just start talking business, or you could walk away. Though from your enthusiasm about the situation I have my doubts about the latter, don't you?" he asked with a wide, confident grin.
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 18, 2011 6:18:58 GMT -5
Sekhmet listened intently as he outlined what his employment prospects entailed. Combat? Check. Food and lodgings? Check. Being paid, likely quite lucratively? Also check. Biggest one here, did this excite her? Very much check. She nodded, a wry smile on her face. He certainly knew how to make a good pitch. Helped when you had something this impressive to display. She had to smirk when he mentioned 'sleeping easier', her somewhat over-active mind picking up on it immediately.
Oh, I'm sure you'd sleep easier. Clearly, my reputation precedes me.
Her tongue licked the corner of her lip, smirk ever-present, teeth bared slightly, mischief and flirtatiousness evident in the twinkle in her eyes. Captain or not, he was still male, and clearly knew VERY well that she was female. Very much female. She continued to listen to him as she returned to examining his lean, slender physique. Clearly, there was something about him that made him carry himself so much more... Confidently. Magic possibly. Quite a lot of mages carried themselves with the authority of a king. Until of course she punched them in the gut, then they doubled over like any other man. She stepped back slightly, smirk vanishing as the mechanized door hissed and clanked open, a look of awe on her face, replaced by a smile.
Actually, we could talk business while you give the tour. Because, as I see it, while Sparrow is most definitely a girl who turns heads, she lacks the punch to... Fend off others.
She smirked at the analogy, thinking back to herself. She'd NEVER at any point lacked the ability to smack someone upside the head so heard they'd leave her alone. Sparrow, the poor girl, had probably spent so much time cooped up that she'd never had the chance to learn how to defend herself. It was strange thinking of her as a living thing, but something this unique just had so much character, so much soul, that it was hard not to regard it as alive. She ran a hand along the outer hull, before leaping slightly up onto the cargo door.
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 18, 2011 9:43:39 GMT -5
x x
As the Gerudo came on board Kiir reached over and pulled the interior lever. Once more gears clanked and the chains on either side pulled the cargo bay door up like a drawbridge from a moat. As it came to its final close there was a brief hiss as a airtight seal was created. Kiir pulled down another lever and several mechanisms clicked in place. "Don't want any unwanted company sneaking on board while was play," he said with a grin before continuing on through the cargo haul for the tour.
"As for a punch . . . well I don't believe she was meant as a warship. Still, though, when you can fly a ship wherever you want and drop out for strategic insertion I don't think you need to worry so much about the ship itself. I do plan to make necessary modifications when the time comes and the money is available, no doubt to your schematics should you decide you want to fly with me," he continued. He walked up a flight of stairs onto a walkway at the back of the cargo haul, a door to the rest of the ship was in the middle.
"Honestly there isn't much to show. It's based off your typical ship design, so you have a cargo bay with the large entrance we used and a smaller escape hatch there. Through here there's all the commodities a crew needs to live from day to day; a kitchen, a small brig, the crew bunks, the captain's quarters," he paused deliberately. "All the usual. You have experience aboard a ship, so it shouldn't be too alien to you until we get up on deck and flying."
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 19, 2011 15:15:16 GMT -5
She heard the hiss behind her as the bay door closed, mechanical noises having preceded such a comparatively faint noise, clanking and rattling as they heaved the door shut. This, however, was nothing, compared to the delightful spectacle of being on deck, looking above, the twin, strange bags of... Something. Below, a well crafted, solid floor. She moved to one edge, grasping the rigging, inhaling deeply, an almost peaceful smile crossing her face. She had enjoyed her time aboard the various Hylian naval ships, but it had never been quite satisfying enough. But as part of the crew of THE first airship? That was a different matter entirely. She smirked softly, as he lingered on the location of the Captain's Quarters, before turning, smirk almost feral upon her face.
Odd how you should pause as to where your quarters are. Perhaps you're insinuating something? Or are you simply making sure that I know, exactly where to find you, should you require my... Assistance?
Far too easy, far too much fun, she did love to torment and tease virtually anyone, as she leaned more against the rigging, hand on her hip, having holstered her beloved spear behind her back, eyes flickering with their usual mischief, lifting her chin high, exposing her pristine and slender neck, still smirking. She thought while she almost habitually assumed this position to torment him further, contemplating her choice, one she had, in truth made quite some time ago, but was simply holding back a bit to make sure she got as much of a deal as she could. Fascinated she may be. Stupid she was not.
So, you want me as part of the crew, and you want my expertise concerning armaments. I also assume that you want that expertise to be part of my place in the crew. So, you want me to be your quartermaster. Can you explain exactly you intend to split plunder and earnings?
She grinned as she said this, crossing her legs at the ankles, very slowly raising the one without the weight up behind the calf of the other, her pristine, smooth flesh sliding with ease, hoping to keep his mind off topic enough to be able to keep him honest in these negotiations. Nobody ever mentioned anything about fighting fair while they discussed pay. After all, a fair fighter generally equated to a sucker. |
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Post by Kiir Ophanine on Nov 20, 2011 0:08:25 GMT -5
x x
Unfortunately for the Gerudo she was fighting unfairly with a master of this particular method. Kiir knew his way around words and guile, and so when she went to use those on him, he knew better than to fall for it. But he did make a point of hiding this particular knowledge. Let her think the seductress routine got her the upper hand in negotiations and he would be subjected further to such splendid displays. They didn't work to keep him off focus, but that's not to say he didn't enjoy them.
Besides, there wasn't any subterfuge to be had. He wanted a quartermaster he could trust, so why would he start off lying to her? "Payment will be through your share of each job, obviously. Shares will be divided evenly from what is left after necessary funds are withdrawn to keep the ship airborne. Without a ship there would be no further jobs, meaning no further money, obviously. After maintenance costs are covered there will be some set aside to stock the ship with what commodities are necessary for the crew to live comfortably. This will be considered a rent, of sort, for your bunk. Finally what remains is split among the crew fairly and evenly, even for myself."
He leaned against the Sparrow's equivalent of a main mast as she leaned out over the rail and looked down. "As for the pause, I was simply making sure you understood where I could be found if you have any needs or desires that require the captain's express attention," he cooed casually, crossing his arms and grinning ever so slightly as he took her in once more. This was not the kind of lady you admired from afar. She was the kind who reveled in the attention, who knew how to draw that attention to the right aspects, and the kind of lady who knew what she wanted.
"Now, you have my offer. Shall I give you some time to consider it or will we discuss which bunk you'll be taking now?" he asked, purposefully leaving out one particular option where they both walk away without making a deal at all. He knew he had her attention, had her interest, and now that the terms were set it was only a matter of time before he had her. They weren't exactly terms that could be negotiated, after all, without purposefully taking away from the rest of the crew.
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Post by Sekhmet Ramiles on Nov 20, 2011 11:38:42 GMT -5
Either she was much better at this than she thought, or this man was an impeccably moral and fair man to deal with. Equal split for all crew, captain included? That was an offer that you would have to be insane to turn down. She kept cool, pulse picking up slightly, knowing full well she'd be accepting this mind-boggling offer, but frankly, enjoying just talking to this, somewhat unique man before her. She quite enjoyed the attention as well, and he clearly enjoyed 'appreciating' her. She continued to pose languidly against the railing, coiling her hair around one finger, smirking mischievously.
And what needs would they be, Captain? What could a girl like me need from you?
Her smirk broadened into a grin. She was enjoying this for a completely different reason to normal. Usually, the victim of her somewhat wanton behaviour would simply cave. Kiir however, seemed to retain his calm, so this was more akin to a duel, rather than an execution. And for that reason, she actually respected him somewhat, not only for that, but his fairness and, even more impressively, his generosity. Serving as part of his crew would be a pleasure and an honour. She stood up abruptly, hair unraveling from her finger, as she snatched her lance up.
I'll be honest, you had me employed from the time I saw Sparrow. She's a beautiful girl. So, you'd better show me my bunk.
Her grin eased to a smile, she'd had her fun for now. She was as fickle as she was deadly. While she would present herself as very much 'fair game' at times, at others, she was about as accessible as a door encased in diamond. In other words, not at all. Everything she did, she did to serve her own whims and desires. Numero uno, after all. |
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