westernzodia

[westernzodia]

The screams and fleeing of the people were things Arin was accustomed to hearing. The man screaming from the pain of the fire was also a common sound for the Ram.

What wasn't was the girl's voice behind him. Her quiet, stuttering tone pulled Arin back from his momentary anger. The flames are extinguished the second he shuts his mouth, no smoke being left behind.

The armor is likely still quite hot from the flames, which may continue to burn the man.

"He got what he deserved as far as I'm concerned." Arin spoke rather calmly. He noticed that the girl had let his hand go, flexing his fingers a bit before turning and facing her. "Are you alright..?"

Now the other people in the street screamed and hurried down the road or hid inside shops to get out of the way. The man inside the fire was screaming in agony, the flames burning his skin right to the core.

Haruhime, while glad this stranger was helping her, felt scared herself. This guy's fire was more intense than Bell's firebolt, despite how strong it's become since she first met him.

"I-I think he's b...been hurt enough..." she stammered, letting go of Arin's hand and took a step back. She'd be surprised if he didn't come out of there covered in severe burns from head to foot.

[westernzodia]

This guy's attitude was pissing him off. Arin's grip on her hand grew tighter, tension rising in his body. Slow, deep breathing, to keep his temperature down.

Fuck it.

The Ram inhaled deeply, taking a small step forward and exhaling a large stream of fire towards the armored man. Arin makes very sure that the flames fully engulf him.

KILL HIM. BURN HIM ALIVE.

Perhaps I will...

The heat and pressure of the flames were intense, everyone around them could feel it. The way the flames wrapped around him, as if they had a mind all of their own. Flames that would not and could not be extinguished.

Haruhime could feel herself trembling slightly--monsters were scary, but somehow the creep of a man was far more terrifying. She could probably connect it to her fairly recent past, in all honesty...

But there was a relief in that she appeared to have actually chosen the right person to help her. When he shouted, half the busy street stopped to stare, but carried on when they realized he wasn't yelling at them. Only one remained still, the one that'd followed her.

The man, clad in armor and a longsword--an adventurer, one Lili would absolutely despise--glared at them. "What, you need a bodyguard? Don't flatter yourself, bitch."

...Had she seen him before? When she was in Ishtar Familia...? Was he a client?

[westernzodia]

@familiasworn: continued from [X]

What the Hell? Arin glanced back at the fox girl whom had taken to hiding behind him, mild confusion on his face. She wasn't looking at him, she was looking at something else...

Someone else.

The Ram followed her gaze, spotting the creepy man just staring at them... her specifically. His hand gave hers a reassuring squeeze.

"You got a fucking problem?!"

Arin was loud, he sounded angry, but kept enough calmness in himself so that his body temperature wouldn't go up and potentially burn the poor fox girl.

[westernzodia]

'Though I doubt...' Doubt what? That he will be missed? Does he not have any close friends...?

Stop thinking about it. He tried to kill us.

But the Ram couldn't help himself. He felt bad for having caused him such distress. Perhaps their next meeting will be a lot more... friendly. Arin rubbed the back of his head, lowering his gaze from the trees to the grass at his feet.

"You take care of yourself, alright? Stay safe on your way back to your Familia."

"...You do have a point." He'd rather get back home before sunrise. He never told anyone about his nighttime activities. Why would he?

"Though I doubt..." even Lady Freya was waiting for him with open arms...

[westernzodia]

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

Okay, perhaps no sense of humor... which is better than a negative response to humor.

"Should probably be on our way. I'm sure someone is missing you right about now."

"Mmn..." he hummed as if pleased, only to pause, realizing what Arin just said.

"...Pardon?" He was more confused than anything, it seemed. He wasn't expecting that kind of answer at all.

[westernzodia]

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you... Just Hogni."

Hopefully he has a good sense of humor, because Arin would hate for the elf to get offended by the light joke and put the blade to his neck again.

At least it's better than him staring when Hogni was naked and making crude comments...

--Oh, that was a question. Using his Adventurer's alias felt...perhaps a little alienating. He shifted on his feet slightly with a soft sigh. "Just...Hogni."

...He wondered if Lady Freya would be pleased that he was at least talking to someone, but at the same time...all he really cared about was her happiness. If she would be smiling, at the end of the day.

[westernzodia]

"Freya Familia, huh? Might explain a few things."

Arin really fucked up with that then. He should have known better than to mess with anyone from Freya Familia. Ignorance is bliss they say, but in this case ignorance could have caused his death.

"Arin Estrella. Which name would you prefer I call you?"

A relieved sigh...

The tension slowly left his shoulders.

Then a deep breath, and thought for a moment to offer his hand in greeting. But, ah...no. He wasn't ready for that kind of familiarity quite yet.

"Say...we do meet again..."

"My name is Hogni Ragnar, one of the Executives of Freya Familia," he usually didn't share that part--usually there was no need to. "Most...know my name as Dainsleif, however."

[westernzodia]

Does he not like being stared at? That's a relatively easy enough request, even if it's a bit off. Arin always had a habit of staring deeply into other people's eyes, it's far more intimidating that way.

Perhaps that's why he dislikes it?

Arin's gaze shifted towards the trees in compliance. "Yeah, no problem. I don't mind doing that."

Clutching at the high collar of his cloak, apparently intended to hide, he turned back toward Arin. "Thank you..." his voice was quiet, a little tired. "But sh-should we ever meet again and...even now--could I request...that you not stare?"

It was unnerving.

It made him anxious.

It scared him--that it was just another person judging him.

[westernzodia]

What the hell is wrong with this guy? Bashful embarrassed in the water, next huffy, then an absolute badass, now back to a flustered mess?

Arin had no idea, but at this point he knows better than to try and push this elf's buttons. He could pretend to wipe it from his memories, though Aries is always there... always listening and watching... it will remember long after he's gone.

Best not to tell this man that.

"We never met." the Ram responded simply, as a simple way of saying 'I'm going to pretend this never happened'.

...Hedin would never let him live it down if word got out. He took a slow breath and fully lowered the sword to his side now. Then, he turned away from Arin and grabbed the hems of his cloak, shaking it out slightly.

It felt weird when it was damp.

Now he was just irritated.

"Keep this meeting in mind, should you ever meet anoth--" full stop, another pause.

"W-WAIT, no, please forget it. Forget everything!! W-wipe it clear from your memory!!" His voice came as a flustered whine, a stark contrast to that scary personality he portrayed moments ago.

[westernzodia]

The silence that lingered after his apology was heavy. Their gazes were locked with one another, Arin wondering if his apology was going to be accepted or not. He honestly didn't really want to die just yet--

The redness leaves the elf's eyes, his blade is lowered, and the Ram could feel the tension leaving his own body.

"I don't acquaint myself with most..." And for good reasons, this interaction being one of them. "I don't intend on telling anyone..." As that would open him up to explaining this debacle, being held at blade-point by an attractive elf that could have very well ended his life faster than he could blink.

Not exactly an image he wants others to associate with him. Let others see him as a headstrong, arrogant asshole ram... rather than a cowardly lamb that rolled over onto his back and apologized the moment he was threatened.

He kept his feet firmly planted on the ground. Any sign of that awkward, shy, meek elf were gone now. What stood before Arin was nothing short of a competent, level-headed, and irritated adventurer. Effortlessly still holding the heavy looking blade out in front of him, he still hadn't said a word.

His sights never left the Ram, observing him closely, watching for a single sign that he was lying. Most would just to try and save their own rotten hide.

...The red left his eye as the silence dragged on, and he lowed the weapon--but his grip remained tight.

"...Have you never acquainted yourself with an elf? Count yourself lucky. Most would not have hesitated to claim your last breath." He lifted the blade again, but only slightly. "Do not breathe a word of what you saw here. Not to a single soul."

[westernzodia]

There was a very faint and subtle change in the air, and Arin didn't even have a chance to process it before a blade is held to his throat. The Ram could only take a slight step back, as a means of rebalancing himself from the sudden metal against his skin. His mind was trying to catch up with everything that had happened in less than a blink of an eye. The sheer shock of it all, the fire that was once burning hot had vanished with the breeze, leaving behind a faint trace of smoke.

What in the actual fuck?

Arin could only stare at the elf in front of him, his breathing a tad heavier than normal as his heart hammered in his chest.

FIGHT HIM!

A voice echoed in Arin's head, but by no means was he about to obey it. Arin is reckless yes, thanks to Aries, however he doesn't wish to die just yet.

"I apologize." the Ram finally responded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I hadn't meant to cause you such distress." Yes he did, but he can fib on that if it means living another day. "I was simply trying to have some fun," which was the truth, "I won't do it again, you have my word."

Oh, that was ferociously hot. It wouldn't be something he was used to--if his Familia's training wasn't already brutal to begin with. A red spell appeared beneath his feet while he started his dangerously(for others, not him) short incantation.

The next thing the Ram would see was a sudden break in the fire wall, a blur of something--and then a blade pressed to his throat.

"It is not a request." He watched his face closely, his one visible red eye glued to Arin's face. "Take accountability for such shameful acts, for forcing such humiliation upon me, and my blade will have no need to taste your blood tonight. Or say your prayers to the God you worship."

[westernzodia]

"I'm not apologizing."

Arin's gaze remains steadfast on Hogni. He's not skilled in fighting, not against most anyways. His best bet is to try and keep them at a distance with fire.

A tall wall of flames erupted from the ground, circling around the elf. It was immensely hot, but not close enough to burn... at least not yet.

"I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not going to kiss your ass and apologize. I'd have offered to suck your dick though if you hadn't been such a fucking brat."

Keep coming back? Did he just threaten one of divinity? Slowly, he raised his sword, pointing the end towards Arin.

"Then...o-offer up an apology. Having the knowledge that you watched me bathe, refused to be respectful once reprimanded...A-an elf should not feel this amount of shame."

[westernzodia]

Is he being threatened now? That's not surprising. Arin just barely tilted his head to the side, his gaze still up at the sky. He lets the question linger in the air for a few moments, allowing the breeze through the trees being the only sound heard.

"Well, I'm not 'most'." the Ram informed, finally shifting his eyes away from the night sky to look back at Hogni. His gaze grew intense, body temperature beginning to rise.

"I don't care if you're a higher level than me. Gouge my eyes out, kill me, I don't care. I'll come back, and I'll keep coming back... and I'll make you regret it.

When Hogni reached the waterline, he quickly grabbed his clothes and equipment and ducked behind a rather large rock conveniently situated nearby. He used part of his cloak to dry off, then pulled on his clothes, then draped the cloak over his shoulders.

Once it was fastened into place he peeked out and stepped out from his 'hiding place.

Hand shaking, holding his sword--

"There is no greater shame--"

"No excuse for such vulnerabilities. Wi-with the blessing of the moon, Lady Freya would forgive me should I carve out your indecent eyes from your skull..."

"--Wh-what say you? Most would seek forgiveness..."

[westernzodia]

Arin can hear him moving in the water, even if it's just faintly. Seems he would rather get his clothing by himself, which is fine. Not like the Ram made himself out to be a 'good' guy anyways... which is also fine.

The sound of the wind through the trees is very pleasant, very calming. Perhaps that's why this man came out here to begin with. After all, most normal people enjoy soaking in water.

What does he say to fill the silence now? Or does he fill the silence?

It might be better to let nature's ambience fill the void rather than words. Arin's gaze remains up at the night sky, doing nothing more than adverting his eyes for the other man.

Hogni said nothing else as he slowly glanced over his shoulder, his one visible grey-ish green eye making an appearance as he spotted his pile of clothes, then started slowly making his way over--while still trying to remain shoulder deep in the water. His sword was right there.

[westernzodia]

"Think 'lecherous' is going a bit too far."

Sounds like he's pushing this man too far. Perhaps the Ram should count whatever blessings he has that the other isn't in possession of his weapon. Arin finally shifted his gaze away from Hogni, to instead peer up at the clear midnight sky.

The way the stars shimmered and the moon shined bright like the sun.

"Would you like me to grab your clothes for you? Or would you rather I simply leave instead?"

"...Do you know n-nothing of consent, y-you swine. S-staring with such lecherous vigor...I should have you skinned alive f-for daring to linger even whilst told to take your leave...!"

[westernzodia]

Oh, this is exactly like messing with Angel. Several differences between the two, but the reactions are almost identical.

"How do you know I'm staring? You're not even looking at me."

It's pretty obvious to tell, given the rude things Arin had been saying.

"You should flaunt what you have, you're quite handsome~."

This wasn't happening.

He wanted to make himself as small as possible, with his back facing the intruder. But that was difficult, when he was 5'11. Night, ruined. "C-c-cease your staring! The vulgar gaze! S-so uncouth, and...d-dastardly...!"

[westernzodia]

Now this is going to be fun. Arin kept a good distance from the pond itself, not really wanting to be anywhere near the body of water. He placed his hands on his hips with a shameless whistle.

"No can do." the Ram hummed, having far too much fun at Hogni's expense. "This time of night, not many are out. You're the only one around, so you get my full attention~... but that's not the only thing at full attention."

For someone with enhanced senses like Hogni, this newcomer had managed to approach without his knowledge. He flinched very noticeably and dunked his entire upper half into the clear pond surface to hide himself. No no no--

"B--begone...! S-Seek your perversion elsewhere!"