Hoen Naith's Story

The undermarket was an interesting prospect, a haven billed as a bazaar fit for assassins, thieves, smugglers, and even the stray scholar. Hoen Naith found himself chasing a lead on some half-forgotten tome that might serve to further his quest for knowledge. A black ivy cap tucked low shielded the upper portions of his face from passersby as Hoen made his way through the undermarket. Just a few minutes shy of his destination Hoen's false eye, capable of viewing the bloodflow of those around him, caught glimpse of a fresh cessation of lifeforce. Ever the inquisitive predator, Hoen made way, casually, towards the fresh cadaver.

A blood mage always needs materials. And Hoen, like the rest of his guild, can only manipulate the blood of the dead. So, barring his gut to avoid the situation entirely, he approached the tight space where our fresh corpse lay. In the moments before guards became alert and just after Sandar made his egress Hoen began the extraction process. Rather quick. A slice here and there and the blood would flow quite readily into the few empty spheres Hoen was able to present. An easy transaction, and worth it in the long run.

The lead could wait. It was probably a dead end anyway. Hoen was unfamiliar with the area as a whole, but he knew enough to gather that anyone willing to kill in the undermarket might be a heavy enough hitter to know somebody who would actually get some traction going on his quest for knowledge. So he calls upon his false eye again. Who among this crowd is excited? Whose adrenaline is pumping? And among that lot, who is attempting to leave the undermarket?

It took very little time to identify Sandar among the sample given the criteria. A pursuit. Casual. You don't want your mark to know they're being followed, least of all if they've just murdered somebody. Minutes pass.

"Who say's I'm a pawn in some game?"

Words bounce across the surface of an otherwise empty parking lot. Who is this man talking to? For now, Hoen, the inquisitive sleuth, ducks behind a group of nearby parked vehicles to observe.

A sigh slipped from Dark as he brushed his hair back from his face, which a sudden gust of breeze had blown it across his face, obscuring his features for several seconds, his thoughts twisting around everything the male before him spoke of not really caring that his voice or his words were cold and hard. His life wasn't normal, it never was from the moment he was born and only a very select few knew of that. And yet it never really kept him down. Thus this man didn't really worry him considering he had dealt with worse than him. "That doesn't matter to me. The fact my Mark entered an easy place for me to finish my job, was quickly taken. Thus he is gone and my account has doubled in greens. Sorry if my job has put you in 'danger' but that's not my business."

He shifted when he stood off his bike his eyes narrowing as he watched him walk towards him, taking in his looks and his attire calculating each step he took as well as filing away what he saw even as his onyx eyes flickered past him to his bike where he kept his weapons. 'Crap.' he thought as he looked back at him a sigh slipping from him as he shook his head. "What do you want?" he asked his face blank and his voice clipped.

As soon as Sandars eyes flickered towards the bike The mans smile widened "You have no actuall weapons on ya, Am I right? Only what you used in the Assasination. So you are in a pretty tight spot..." For an incredibly short moment his eyes flicks past Sandar instead focusing on the Vehicles behind him, His gaze then immidiently focuses back to him

"You are telling me that my well being isnt something you care about, then you apologize about putting me in danger.. You are quite the inconsisted killer" His gaze suddenly darkens as his smile twists sadistically "And you think you are so scary~ Do you have any idea how many badasses there are in wing city?" He leans forward in a hostile movement "You are so going to die" He giggles slightly

Dark smirked metaly at hearing his words knowing this man didn't knowing him personally let alone what he was truly capable of doing. "Sorry to say, but I'm not that....weaponless." he stated as he shifted his body in to a loose but easy formation that allowed for a combination of attacks and defensive motions a smile curving his full lips as he smirked, catching his own motion indicating behind him and sighed. "This is going to be even more of a complicating affair." he muttered as he shifted once more to be able to see behind him as well as the male before him.

"Sorry if my words upset you, Scar. But truthfully your well being isn't my business. If you can't defend yourself to your higher ups than that's no business of mine." His onyx eyes glittered as he flexed his fingers his body fully loose, not even tensed. "I may not be the bad ass as you speak of but I know how to keep my own ass safe. Killing me....well that wont be easy." He stated with a slight chuckle that was chilled and hard.

The conversation between the two strangers had peaks and valleys. Hoen caught the peaks.

"You are so going to die"

Apparently both these men were predators. Which of them knows more? Probably the stronger of the two. Hoen's problem then became how to pick a side while knowing very little about either.

"Gotta spook one of them..." He mumbled to himself while fiddling with his belt.

Several spheres, capped with cork, hung from his belt like so many grenades. They were filled with blood. One such sphere would find itself in Hoen's hands, cupped delicately like a wine glass while he weighed his options. Should he engage? He scanned the area, looking for any elements as yet unidentified.

The man stance suddenly loosened as his twisted smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared "Scar? What a... fitting name..." He laughed a genuine laugh before scratching the back off his head "Its not really that I cant defend myself from them, Its more that it will be quite the pain to have every underground loyalist after my throat" He crosses both his arms his smile completely back to normal

"Atleast we have both noticed your Mysterious companion, Right?" He nods sligthly towards the Vehicles behind Sandar "He seems interesting enough, Atleast enough to fend off our Death Battle for a while?" He takes a few steps back giving Sandar some room, But places himself between him and his Bike "I suppose that he is either with you about to attack me, Or he is just as much of a stranger to you as he is to me?

Noticing how the male seemed to flip back and forth between amusement and hostility Dark shrugged his shoulders as his words registered and he straightened ever so slightly though his body was still in a slight imitation of his stance earlier. "Glad you like the nickname. Suits you considering the scars on your face." he stated smoothly, onyx eyes watching him. "Why would they bitch and moan about a measly weak individual who couldn't even defend himself, let alone be defended by his men, whom he hired to keep him safe. What's the point of protecting a measly weak individual?" he asked, the wind picking up just enough to send his hair into his face as he stood silently.

A frown marred his strikingly lovely features that always had others calling him feminine which irritated him quite a bit, and made many people think twice about calling him a female to his face. "Yeah I noticed him. Even securely latched orbs make a soft distinctive sound when they clink together. Specially with someone who can't seem to stand still." he stated as he brushed his hair back over his shoulder before snorting. "He isn't a friend of mine, nor is he with me. Figured he was your back up if you lost." he stated with a shrug.

Hoen was most of all a scholar. And least of all a spy. He knew that. But he's certainly learned a lot in his short time away from the blood magic guild. Things used to be so cut and dry. Do this at this time with these people every day. Eventually you'll be a doctor, or something.

Now he's swimming in a sea of external factors. They wash over him and truly he can barely keep his head above water. So he better learn to swim.

The two men seem to shift between amicable and disagreeable with each passing moment. It's a tough call who means what to who and whether or not that means anything to Hoen. But it's very clear that at least one of the men, the more physically pronounced of the two, is very acutely aware of Hoen. And that means likely they both are.

With his moonlighting as a sleuth going very poor and his brain awash with a mix of emotions ranging from regret to excitement, Hoen manages to scoff, "Well this is tits up." And with that conclusion the orb held within his hands began its journey. A practiced arc, a delicate, measured toss. The sphere would find itself between the two men. Harmless at face value. But the resulting pool of blood would violently spike outwards as several hardened spears. A haphazard "attack". More of a diversion.

Hoen would find himself nestled into a new position a fair distance away. His movement began when he tossed the blood sphere. Hopefully the confusion would make purchase on their collective focus, allowing Hoen to obscure himself for a few moments longer.

Makthus was suprised by this, He didnt expect this Stranger to attack so quick and not did he expect the attack to be this.. Ball.. Still with all the tricks he hides, He knows a special weapon when he sees one, He didnt wait to see what it was going to do. The moment the orb was lobbed Makthus was already running, He ran suprisingly away from both Sandar and Hoen Diving over Sandars Bike, disappearing in the shadows

But something was wrong, With the fake eye Hoen was equipped with, he manage to catch glimpse of something, It appears to be boiling blood, Its clearly not human blood, As it is more of a black oil than blood. Still this large amount Of boiling black blood, Moved incredibly quick among the shadows, Approaching Hoen At an Incredible speed

As startled as he was by the sudden lobbing of the orb, Dark's onyx eyes narrowed even as he twisted and leaped for the light pole behind him, his leath form shimmed up it like it was nothing and pulled himself up onto the top of the pole, his body perfectly balanced as he watched the other male dive behind him bike. 'It better not be damaged otherwise I'll be skinning me a boy.' he thought as his eyes locked on the sudden explosion of the liquid and hissed when he caught the distorted scent of blood.

"Effective for a diversion...." he muttered as his onyx eyes caught the distant sight of the fleeing boy, a smirk curving his lips as he leaped from the light pole for a sign which he used to vaulting himself on to the nearest roof and raced after the kid not really paying attention to the man who had dived behind his bike. Leaping, diving, pole vaulting and rolling over roofs, off signs and light poles that were perfect for his type of activity, which allowed him to keep up with the fleeing kid until he leaped down from a sign landing in front of him his long black hair floating down around him, obscuring his features as he straightened up, locking his onyx eyes on the kid.

"Reach for one of those orbs and I'll break your arm." he stated coolly. Dark was both frustrated and agitated, his breathing was that of one used to a longer session with parkour which to him was a past time of his that he enjoyed. Thus it kept him in shape and allowed him to actually get to places faster than others. As he stood there loose and breathing softly not winded from his activity he kept his eyes on the kid. "That wasn't very nice of you.....I was no threat to you.....unless you attacked.....even for a diversion it is still attacking."

Hoen's exit became the focal point of two very talented individuals. Or rather, the prevention of an exit. As he moved through the parking lot a mass of sorts began closing in on him.

Somewhere between scholar and spy Hoen held the qualities of a brawler. Not a practiced killer. But a creature of instinct. His movements were often in hindsight just a few notches shy of perfect. So it goes. While moving away from the scene another orb was loosed from his chest rig, the details of which were obscured by a long coat with an ornate trim. It would catch the light in passing whenever possible. Gritted teeth loose the cork stopper, and without missing a beat the liquid begins pouring out of the container.

Be like water. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. Hoen's mind is the bottle, and blood is his water. The liquid would spill out and follow his wrist's circular motion. The black mass might find itself within a knot of sorts if it weren't careful. A knot that would spike inward once a significant portion of the target was ensnared.

A brawler. Not a practiced killer. And with his focus tied to one opponent, another would find himself standing in Hoen's way.

"Reach for one of those orbs and I'll break your arm"

A compelling argument.

"Ah, don't mind me, just a guy on the wrong end of a weird scene." Hoen chirps, his voice not yet aged by these streets.

A cheeky smile, potentially disarming, forms on the young man's face. His hands slide out from his sides. Inwardly, Hoen winces. He's not certain what would happen to the creeping mass that sought to approach from behind.

And just as that thought crossed his mind The mass Of boiling black blood reached him, Suddenly out of the many shadows Behind Hoen Makthus stepped out, But his face was even more twisted than the earlier encounter with Dark. Much More twisted. The sadistic smile was sat upon his lip but the scar covering his face was.. Bulging.. Black veins going from the scar cut acroos his face almost covering it all. Honestly he could easily be mistaken for a monster with this terrifying look

His gaze seems to have turned almost as black as Darks as he eerily look between the two men infront of him "I smell your Blood~" He leans back while his body almost seems to go limp "Dont think you can use blood against me, I can sense it well, You wont suprise me again... And now you are surrounded! The only question is, Wich one of us are you most afraid of? Or are you even afraid?" He Tilts his head slightly "You never know around here..."

His voice seems completely changed, As if the words are struggling to escape his scarred and mouth

Onyx eyes narrowed when the boy spoke, his thoughts drifting to a time when he had been an innocent child, way younger than this kid, and that innocence had been stolen from him by one who was meant to protect and cherish him, not hurt him. Yes he had learned that home was just as bad as the streets, but at least on the streets he was able to live and survive. Yet one who was new to this life wouldn't survive wholey intact. For a part of them would die and continue to die until they were nothing more than a shell of themselves with a mindless need to fill an empty void with in their bodies with what ever could make them feel happy for a brief moment.

'Something this kid hasn't tasted yet.' he thought even as he snorted at his chirped comment. "Sweet and innocent....something the wolves of the streets would enjoy devouring." he stated softly, his voice smooth but brisk, considering he spoke the truth ignoring the cheeky smile that formed on the kids face while keeping an eye on his hands when they moved out from his sides. "Wrong place....wrong time.....Very Wrong Move." he stated softly as he ignored the thick scent of impure blood that seemed to thicken the air.

Even though Dark was taken back at seeing the man he had nicknamed Scar stepping out of the boiling black blood, it didn't show on his face or in his eyes, which had flickered towards the male's face taking note of the way it looked with the scar bulging with black veins, before his eyes once more locked on the kid.

"Ease up Scar....I do believe the kid was more worried about keeping his hide intact that he attacked in a defensive state of mind. But than again....he could have just faded into the shadows and fled back the way he had come." he stated as he shifted his stance, his arms crossing over his chest. Yet even though he seemed harmless it was blunt lie.

Hoen adjusted his stance. His weight shifted from left to right. He tapped his right foot. Considering the situation he looked really at ease. Stood before him was a bloodhound, apparently, and an as yet unidentified sort of predator. At the end of this chain of events these men found a common enemy in a stranger. If only they'd have let him watch a casual fight.

In the distance headlights flicker with the bumps in the road. Hoen thought a change in scenery might be useful. He needed to go where at least one of them wouldn't. Back to the crime scene? We know the guilty always return to the scene. But this soon? Maybe not. The white noise of rubber on pavement began to close in.

"Yeah Scar, ease up and kill this guy already." That boyish grin of his danced around the spaces of his speech.

Hoen's eye flicks slightly left and back to his two assailants, tracking the approaching vehicle, his prosthetic lagging behind in an awkward, twitchy attempt at replicating organic movement. Subtle, but unnerving to the uninitiated.

"Or do you need help?"

And just like that, as if the sassy query were an incantation, the "lenses" of Hoen's glasses shot outwards as two tiny knives. Fakes! Though difficult to tell in the lighting, they have a faint red sheen around the edges in the daylight proper. The knives, or needles even, would penetrate the driver-side tire of an oncoming sedan. The expulsion of air pressure, a shockwave in the otherwise still night, rang out loud enough to disturb the peace of at least a few people. Especially the unfortunate driver who found himself barreling, uncontrollably, towards Hoen's inquisitors.

Hoen would waste no time. Perhaps one of them would flinch at the sudden display of spectacle weaponry. Perhaps not. Hoen would take the time for a second sprint. Towards the undermarket proper. He needed a crowd.

Makthus didnt flinch during Hoens attempt to taunt him into attacking Dark, He simply keept smiling, It was clear he would not fall for something like that

When the sudden spectacle of Hoens lenses happened Makthus simply sat down, Holding one of his hands over his Scar he swore silently "Im getting to excited... But Hey... Why should we chase him? I just lost a little control of myself... We dont really have any business with the kid... Right?" He quickly stood up again facing Dark, He is regaining himself the Veins slowly disappearing and His voice gently regaining its naturall calm

"I just got a little heated when he attacked us... But He is clearly leading us back to The Undermarket..." he scratched the back of his head "Should we just let him run? I was kinda excited about fighting someone using Blood magic..." He sighes slightly

Onyx eyes narrowed when the boy spoke of Scar killing him only to leap back when his spectacle's exploded or what ever they did, his eyes blinking against the sudden bright lights of the sedan as it's tire blew out and dove out of the way, a snarl slipping from him as he rolled to his feet in a fluid motion his eyes locking on the kid as he raced back the way he had come and sighed.

"Why the hell would he head back towards that place? Does he think I'm that fucking stupid." he muttered shaking his head.

Sometimes Dark wondered if people were actually smart, of if they grew dumber the longer they lived. Muttering under his breath he looked over at the male who was sitting down and sighed. "So you still going to force me to compensate for the dead back at the Undermarket?" he asked, as he pushed his loose hair back behind his shoulders and out of his face.

Yes he was agitated that the kid seemed hell bent on escaping. 'Were we that deadly or was he that desperate to escape because he did something wrong? Hell what am I thinking, I did something that seems to make me a target but that's nothing new for me.' he thought as he looked over at Scar once more. "As to why he is heading back there....I don't know and I don't care really. My job there is done. Though Blood magic.....that isn't my forte." He stated as he shrugged. "Let him go or go chase him down. I don't really care." he stated as he headed past him, his footsteps silent as he moved. "Shadow better not be damaged or I'll be skinning the kid when I see him next." he muttered as he headed for where he had left his Jaguar.

Makthus Only stood up and gazed over Dark with a smile "Nah, There has happened so much around the Market now.. Noone will target me specifically after all this chaos" he stretched his arms slightly, the black veins now completely gone "You are free to continue your murderous spree~"

Makthus then looked over towards the direction Hoen ran "I guess his plan worked, I didnt wish to follow him anymore and you cant just charge back right now. So honestly his escape was successful

He then simply started walkling down towards the Undermarket Waving slightly towards Dark "You know, With the kinds of jobs you do, and the jobs I do... I know that we are going to meet again" Now with his back turned, That familiar feeling of his smile cutting its way to you appears "Bye for now!"

Fenrias Halvard leaned against the entrance to a darkened alley. He watched the happenings of the Undermarket with keen eyes from the shadows as he searched for a potential mark or client.

Remy "Gambit" LeBeau straightened his coat as he noticed several suspicious patrons entering the market. This place had sure become popular since it was confirmed to have existed... damn those pesky news reporters! Wing City had always been a place of change, but... his precious respite!

Finishing up his transaction with the final vendor he'd come here to see, Gambit then began to make his way back towards his age-old home.