Gisela
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There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 20, 2007 16:30:19 GMT
An airship shot across the wintry skies of Midian with another in hot pursuit, there was a chase going on and so far the ship called the Valence was slowing down. It had taken some heavy damage. Gisela looked at the display screen in the cockpit and saw Vanguard’s ship was readying another attack and cursed loudly. That Bounty Hunter’s life seemed to revolve around chasing her through every inch of sky, the money surely wasn’t worth all that effort!
“Oh shit! Come on what did I do?!”
There was a buzzing in Gisela’s earpiece as a slightly fuzzy voice came through it, laced with static.
“I could make a list, you broke into the palace and stole a valuable relic, got thrown in prison and broke out of prison…twice and-”
Gisela rolled her eyes, Baltan could be a sarcastic smartass in the worst of situations without fail. She pressed the button on her com system to reply.
“Ya made your point smartass! Help me get outta of here!”
Gisela had to make a sharp midair swerve to dodge that electric shock the Vanguard had shot in her direction, she knew his game. He was going to fry her circuits and then total her engine so she would crash, not on his life! Then there was a shudder and the alarms inside the ship starting wildly sounding, she wasn’t sure what had happened but it definitely wasn’t good especially as she was headed downwards without any controls!
“Gisela! Gisela come in!”
Baltan’s voice cut out as Gisela’s ship crashed headlong into the forests of Midian and everything went dark. When Gisela came around it felt like she had a really bad hangover, her head was killing her but other than that she had been lucky. No serious injuries, just a few bruises and scrapes but her ship hadn’t been so lucky, most of its outer shell had been dented and there were pieces missing. Gisela got underneath and had a look at the engine, Vanguard had completely totalled it but there was no sign of him. He must have lost her in the forest cover.
“That was lucky, what do I do now?”
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 21, 2007 11:28:34 GMT
Orpheus and his familiar Merryl were hunting. The small white cat was particularly usefull, able to smell out creatures long before Orpheo could.
He wondered vaguely if Luna would appreciate such a gift, if an ivory or horn charm was considered too barbaric or unsophisticated. He could surely get away with giving such a gift out of friendship though?
The details were unimportant. He would bring something for Luna because she deserved it. Orpheo had grown used to the moonlight now, to the perpetual darkness, and although he craved sunlight, there was a certain ethereal beauty to Midian that compelled him.
He had fashioned the bow and arrow some time ago when he first arrived here, though had stowed it away in his cramped room until now. It worked well, the sturdy longbow, and he was stalking through undergrowth when he heard the sound.
Merryl mewled at the intrusion to their hunting. Orpheus snapped his gaze upwards, and saw a fiery streak as a plane of some kind zoomed downwards into a crash landing.
He swore in elven, his magic strong enough to make sparks from the word, and Merryl jumped up on his shoulder.
Orpheus ran, with unnerving speed, towards the epicentre of the blast. It was not far, though the thick forest made it slower than he would have liked.
It had crashed through the canopy, and Orpheus called out as he approached the figure who was near the wreck, "Hello? Are you hurt at all?"
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Gisela
New Member
There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 21, 2007 11:46:41 GMT
Gisela's sensitive elven ears picked up footsteps coming towards her and her wrecked airship, she spun on her heel in a fast turn to see who was approaching her.
"A couple of bumps and scratches but I'm in one piece."
She called back as Orpheus came into the clearing where she had crashed, as she looked him over she noticed that this stranger was of elven blood as well. At least she wasn't completely foreign in this place then despite her rough edged accent.
"Guess I must have caused a disturbance, sorry about that."
Gisela pushed her ruffled blonde hair away from her face and straightened her cloak.
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 21, 2007 12:18:53 GMT
Merryl whispered in Orpheo's ear, so quietly that the elf supposed that no one else might hear. "She's just crashed a ship and she's apologising like she spilt some milk? Be careful Orpheo."
He blinked an affirmation. Though his first instinct was to help, rather than hinder.
"You are lucky." Even in the moonlight it was clear that she was fair featured, and quite attractive. He considered the facts without emotion; his heart was tied to someone else. "Here, away from the city, you are somewhat safer."
Best now, considered Orpheus, to give an introduction.
"My name is Orpheus Elvimir." He had recently dropped the titles, they were inapplicable here. "Can I give assistance in anyway?" His expression was neutral, bland, polite yet severe.
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Gisela
New Member
There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 21, 2007 12:29:58 GMT
Gisela casually offered Orpheus her hand which was callused in places from years of sword training and working in mechanics, she was a little puzzled by the complete lack of emotion in his voice and face but didn't mention it.
"Gisela Veriah, pleased to make ya acquaintance and unless you're much of a hand with mechanics..."
At this point she jabbed the thumb of her other hand in the direction of the wreck, she was going to have fun fixing that up...getting the parts for it would be interesting but that was what the black market was for!
"There ain't much for ya to help with... unless ya know I place where I can stay the night?"
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 21, 2007 12:56:27 GMT
Orpheus took her hand in his own gauntletted one, and shook his head slightly by way of apology.
"I'm afraid I know nothing of technology, Gisela, though I do know of somewhere you can stay." Personally, Orpheus did not stay in the palace, for he had a slight point of contention with the King of Midian. That did not bode well for living in the fellow's house. Though in truth the palace was accomodating, and of course Luna was there.
A flicker of a smile, as quick and as fleeting as summer lightning flashed across Orpheo's lips.
"There is a palace not far from here, where there is food, warmth and room for you to stay. Many travellers stay there, it is not out of the ordinary at all." He wondered if Gisela was her real name, or if she would believe him. To Orpheus, he had been trained to protect, it was not especially strange to be dealing with a stranger, for he was confident in his own ability to protect himself.
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Gisela
New Member
There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 21, 2007 13:05:19 GMT
"Don't worry about it, ain't too much of an issue. If I can get hold of the parts I need it's just a matter of fixing the Valence up on my own."
Gisela got the impression that Orpheus didn't trust her but that really wasn't that surprising, most people didn't trust Sky Pirates so it was nothing new to her.
"Palace eh? I'll be looking into it."
She looked thoughtful for a moment as Gisela remembered the last time she had been inside a palace in a fit of reckless behaviour she had nearly got herself killed.
"Care to show me the way? It ain't really manners to leave a Lady stranded."
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 21, 2007 13:14:43 GMT
Orpheus exchanged a glance with Merryl. A meaningful glance that suggested a myriad of different ideas. Mostly concerning Orpheo's supposed bad manners.
Though thankfully his familiar stayed silent on the matter.
"I will show you, naturally." Orpheus concluded, somewhat frostily. He somewhat wished he had included his title, if only to perhaps incur some respect. Had he not commanded legions of men and women without any issues with discipline? Though Gisela was obviously a freewoman, not bound to the rules of the Hataka army.
He should allow her that, at least. "I don't know if you will find many mechanical tooling merchants in Midian, for I have not met any yet. However, I may be mistaken. The city is a strange and shifting place, after all."
Orpheus began striding off in the direction of the palace, consoled by the fact he may be able to see Luna once he got there.
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Gisela
New Member
There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 21, 2007 13:32:12 GMT
That wasn't unusual...most of the places Gisela ended up were a little off the scale of what could be considered as normal but none the less she shrugged and followed Orpheus, matching his stride with ease. He seemed to be a little more than unnerved by her...oh well.
"Thanks."
Gisela listened to what he had to say about not seeing any mechanical tooling merchants and chuckled, tapping the side of her nose with a slender finger.
"Between us that's what the Black Market is for, Icy."
Like she did with most people who had a long name Gisela had given him a nickname.
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 22, 2007 13:05:38 GMT
Icy. Did she think he had not encountered rudeness and degoratory comments before? Lord Captain Orpheus Elvamir in all his arrogance and coldness, ignored the comment. Merryl mewled quietly, sensing his displeasure, and proceeded to lick his ear.
Orpheus shrugged, continueing in a rather presice tone. "Mechanical parts are not illegal here, therefore for an illicit market to exist then there must be a reflection of it in legal trade. It is best to ask for help at the palace, there are beings who have access to more planes of existance."
Merryl meowed again, obviously unable to continue to stay silent. "Icy? What do you mean by icy? Why are you calling my Orpheo that?"
Orpheus bent his head forward slightly so she could switch shoulders, to be nearer Gisela. Fine, let the cat be drawn into a petty arguement. Orpheus would have been happy merely to show the way to the palace, then leave the woman to her own devices.
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Gisela
New Member
There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 22, 2007 14:34:18 GMT
"I ain't saying it's illegal, just saying that it's cheaper but I'll be asking for a couple of hands at that palace."
Gisela wasn't being rude, behavior like she was displaying now was just her manner. Any noble upbringing she had been initiated into had been completely wiped out from growing up around Sky Pirates. As the cat questioned the nickname she had given Orpheus Gisela raised an eyebrow, what was wrong with giving someone a nickname?
"Relax furball, it's just a nickname. No need to take offense to it."
Gisela replied casually and stretched as she walked along, none of the discomfort that Orpheus was feeling around her seemed to change her behaviour.
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 22, 2007 15:23:59 GMT
Merryl 's eyes, the exact same colour as Orpheo's, narrowed at the casual and familar movements of Gisela. She announced almost imperiously, "A nickname? As names go I've certainly heard better!"
Orpheus did not like this, as if his familiar was attempting to protect his honour, as if he were a maiden of fifty rather than a grown lf in his eighties. Calmly, the elf picked up Merryl by the scruff of her neck. "Do you want to get into a fight with Gisela, Merry? Or are you merely being ignorant?"
The cat mewled ineffectually. Orpheus sighed under his breath, retreated into silence as he placed the small cat back on his shoulder.
Merryl, obviously was trying to be polite. "Ah, so, Gisela, do you have a nickname?"
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Gisela
New Member
There is no Destiny, only a book full of blank pages.
Posts: 13
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Post by Gisela on Aug 22, 2007 16:23:58 GMT
"One for nearly every occasion."
Gisela chuckled slightly as she watched the interaction between Merryl and Orpheus, it was almost like a parent and child kind of situation. She didn't know what the furball got so insulted about...it was just a nickname and saying Orpheus over and over again was a little tiring.
"Ace, Lady Luck, Patch, Tabby, Blue-eyes, Ella just to name a few."
She ticked them off on her fingers as she went along to keep track of them, She was known widely just as Gisela but most of her friends and some of her enemies adopted a variation of her name or an entirely different one altogether. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of them all!
"I'm gathering that things are more formal around here?"
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Orpheus
New Member
I'm an evil man who's also into cats
Posts: 48
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Post by Orpheus on Aug 22, 2007 18:05:56 GMT
Merryl nodded, and twitched her whiskers. Orpheus felt his lips twitch again in a smile. She was trying very hard not to continue to be rude.
The cat explained, "It depends who you meet. Some people aren't at all. Others have manners."
Orpheus decided to step in, "Don't worry, I'm just a military man, I never quite got the nuances of informalities. Like anywhere there is a mix."
The forest was thinning now, making way to the ruined city of Midian. In the center loomed the palace. Orpheus gazed at it with a mixture of longing and trepidition. There after all, where enemies and friends.
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