Makthus's Story

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!"

Flynn fluffs her tail feathers once wrapping it around her legs. At least she wasn't going to get guards on her again. The saurid offered her hands and pumped them palm-up when it didn't seem like the small female had words yet, ♪The worm overbeings of my Thane's kind carved a new tunnel from the underworks to here. I found it and walked here.♪

Her crest rose in irritation, ♪They keep changing the tunnels and I can't find the way back! I keep going to other places here! They must be looking for something!♪

Thane floated closer to Flynn whom scritched its underside as it poured into the metal ingress on her neck.

Night strutted into the bar and scanned it, searching for his querry. He took in every single detail, making absolutely sure he missed nothing before coming to the conclusion they were not present in the area. "Godamnit" he mumbled quietly, he felt very slightly frustrated at the vague details his employer gave him as to how to locate his target's whereabouts within the city. He decided to for once take a break and relax, something he almost never does, while he is inside the bar. He walks to the nearest table and takes a seat, lighting a cigar and sticking it into his mouth, he sat there puffing his smoke in an attempt to finally relax.

Makthus eyes quickly almost unnoticeable glances over the new customer before once again focusing on Flynn "How... Fascinating!" A wide smile appears on his face as he rests one of his hands onto his sword "Soo this Thane, worm, thingy" He gently waves his hands towards Flynn's neck "What exactly is it? I haven't seen much manners of creatures like that"

Flynn took a deep breath as Thane fed off her implant to digest its meal. Her head darted to the newcomer then made a quick scan around the room. Whatever the worm had eaten absent any obvious angry glances she would figure it wasn't fingers.

Her digitigrade feet clacked the talon toe every so often as she sat on her haunches near Makthus out of the burning light. Over flat black eyes her nictitating lens flicked over before her blue-veined black irises were in view. She still shaded her eyes from the light outside with a hand as she spoke, ♪We make a Thane from hairworms in Losthome. Nothing is native to Losthome but we think they are as old as the mind of Grandfather Teeth that makes all false things in that space. They carve all Underworks littered about Grandfather Teeth's mind not just the new ones!♪

Pantomimed with a pinch she explains, ♪The worms are made of small motes each a creature of mind. My implant anchors them to my mind to keep them fed. Thane make good multitools so we reachers suffer them.♪

A perverse pleasure of the truly unknown her blue-feathered crest rises with a toothy grin, ♪Wherever they live it is unfit for life! Some of their tunnels scrape the living clean with great thunder!♪

He kept his guard up constantly, his acute ears picking up the sounds of conversation among the bar's patrons, if he focused on one voice he could hear the conversations being had clearly, as if he were right next to the person themselves. He decides to listen to Flynn's words. After he heard the three sentences he wondered how strange the world could truly get. He attempts to signal for a waiters attention, feeling slightly impatient and unnerved being in a public place like this where any person in the room could be out for their blood. "Hurry up" he mumbled under his breath.

Makthus smile widened as he listened to Flynn, Surely he had a hard time with some of the sentences still, he though he understood most of it.

He scratched the slight stubble on his chin "So these worms are more or less your means of attack and such, a multitool! And in return you keep it alive... in, some way...?"

He knew that the newcomer had something going, Well most people in Gambit''s have something going, He is an addition to those people, Still anyone that know anything about Wing City know not to start a fight in Gambit's. So he enjoyed his conversation with the interesting critter

Thane pushed across an egress in one of her lung sacs. It was a feeling reachers got used to once they were mind-bound to one of the worms. She shuffled straightening for the lump that crawled up her throat. Brow furrowed off-center of Makthus Flynn put two fingers up so he knew to hold a minute.

The worm emerged like an open-ended tongue from Flynn's throat after opening her mouth. Flynn coughed and added, ♪A weapon? No, that caste is the Far and Deep! I am fire support sometimes. We know the Thane shelter in large rocks in the other side of their Underworks into Losthome. Some of the larger ones in Losthome can talk. The implant makes us their large rocks and our mind is their food. They don't take more power than is safe.♪

The worm orbits around Flynn's head to look at Makthus as a moving ring down its length pushes wetness onto the floor. The two pointed ears solidify from small gysers of dust on one end. The swirling bumps on each four maw vanes on both ends gave a feeling of observation to Makthus should he be sensitive to psionics.

He was legitimately stunned seeing what appeared to be a worm crawl out a persons throat and peeking outside their mouth, he decided to tear his eyes away from the scene, still keeping his ears focused on the conversation, intrigued by the strange happenings within. He decided it would be safe if he discreetly moved his hand to his guns, so he did so, positioning it right next to the holster for one of his two revolvers, he does a quick scan to see if anyone noticed the move, taking in even the slightest movements to determine if there was any sign of hostility.

Makthus continued smiling wide towards Flynn listening closely to her explanation, He did not seem shocked in the slightest by Thane

He then slightly tilted his head, Diverting his eyes and smile clearly towards Night. His gaze didn't seem hostile, yet there was no sign of warmth or remorse, he raised one of his eyebrows towards him carefully shaking his sword before again looking towards Flynn

"So I suppose this Thane has some kind of Psionic power? He feeds of your mental prowess and in return provides you his services?"

Gambit's Bar, never more was there more a hive of scum and villainy. This was the narrative that the Empire had impressed upon young Claire Hanley as she pushed the doors open to the bar and set foot inside. On shore leave once more, she opted to frequent this establishment as they tended to serve the more obscure liquors, including those commonly found across the Empire.

She straightened her uniform, smoothing the creases and surveying the crowded interior. Hanley smirked, tossing some red locks out of her eyes, throwing them behind her ears as she stepped inside the bar.

"So much interesting things going on in here." She said, surveying the patrons of the bar, while letting her slender right hand rest on the disruptor pistol holstered securely to a polished black leather belt which was worn around her waiste.

The uniform itself was a light blue, bearing the crest of the United Aschen Empire's Imperial Defense force, a highly recognize able uniform and emblem to those familiar with Terra's past.