I saved your grand entry for this one, Baj.
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PART VIII - DEADLY SHADOW
"I'm going to go with the assumption that you are, in fact, not Kiko," Cythe said as he jabbed Acute in the side. The Assassin had become cozy in the humble home of the Paladin. By far, it was the deepest sleep he had fallen into for a long time. So much that he did not snap awake nor make any sudden movement to stop Cythe. Instead, he rolled over and rubbed at one eye, looking up at the blurred view of his client.
"...What?" he asked somnolently.
The blonde stroked his chin then sighed. Folding his arms and shifting his weight, he bore down at Acute suspiciously. "A girl was sleeping there last night. Given the fact she was unconscious, I find it highly doubtful she stood and just strolled out of here."
Realizing he meant Ereshkigal, he propped himself onto one elbow, the drowsiness fading. "She was here... and I was on the floor. She's not here now?"
"So she woke up?" A hint of surprise could be heard in his tone. Acute nodded. "Well, that's good... Wonder why she left? Actually, get out of my bed now. It's early morning and I haven't slept a wink. I lived up to my bargain and let you stay here for the night."
Sluggishly, the Assassin stood from the bed and ambled over to the pile of his clothing. First picking up the white shirt, he slipped it on. The next article was the blue vest, then the shoes. He made sure all the pouches attached to the belt were secure, that none had been tampered with. It was more habit than anything now, doing that check-up. No one in their right mind would barge in Cythe's home without permission or knowing they were welcomed.
Cythe was in the process of removing his armor while Acute checked his belongings. He wondered with all that weight taken off how fast the Paladin was. Surely, any Thief could out-sprint him. But in the long run, once that stamina was extinguished, Cythe would run right past and keep going. That was his belief, anyway. It was ignorance to believe he could ever take the leader of The Nameless head-on, one-on-one. Acute shook his head, face expressionless. Why was he having this thought? It went from determining speed and lasting to fighting? Maybe one day...
Acute looked over his shoulder while opening the door. "I'll see you tonight at 20:00. Chateau d'Oraguille."
"Yeah," Cythe replied wearily. He wished moogle were not gone shopping. Removing the armor was a task in itself. "Later."
"See you..."
"Wait!"
"Huh?" Acute paused, taking a step back.
"Uh, I'm guessing this flower is yours? Or did the moogle bring it?" Cythe motioned to the poppy set up in a tall, thin vase on the table.
"Er," he stammered. "Keep it. I have no use for it."
"Aren't you just sweet," Cythe said sarcasticly. "No one's ever given me a flower."
Acute choked back laughter, then waved and left the lodging.
The first thing Acute did upon closing the door behind him was shield his eyes from the bright sun. It was always at its worst in the early mornings, beaming directly into his eyes no matter where he turned it seemed. He was a man of the shadows and night, not the radiant light. Also, he was not fully awake yet either. Still, he began the trudging to the shopping boulevard of Lower Jeuno. He figured it was packed as always. When was it not? Unless the threat of a severe thunderstorm was imposing, he could not think of a reason or time the area had been scarce. Always the hustle of the auction house, all the busy shops lining the path, and the neverending incoming and outgoing adventurers and citizens at the gate and chocobo stables.
The day was like any other. Once the sun began to set, his missions began. By 15:00, he had to complete this one. Typically, he took care of business later in the night, but that was one difference. He was booked double and planned to keep to his contracts. The first task loomed omniously over him, but it paid well. The joint deal with Cythe was beneficial in that he had the opportunity to see more of what The Nameless was about and to evaluate the Paladin, meanwhile acquiring any item except the main one, and was being paid for the service. The latter did not pay in money as much as the first- it was still a lot, but it did not compare to the other man who hired him. What made it worthwhile was the experience and knowledge he would gain. Money had several ways of being replaced, gathered... but certain things had to be learned firsthand.
At first, Acute was skeptical of undertaking the assignment despite it being Cythe. He was asking to go to a dangerous place that ultimately defined a nightmare. Where the Assassin was no coward, if he was injured, then his only way of acquiring gil had to be put on hold. The question that lurked was what did he do with all that money? Every client he worked for did not pay poorly, yet he lived without stability and wondering what he might eat the next day.
It was this first job that bothered him. Acute never questioned the reason behind an assassination request. To do so was entering a world he preferred to refrain from. The customer had his or her reasons for the demand. All they had to do was lay out the payment. He did not want to know whether someone was about to meet their demise for a valid reason or for no good explanation at all. Emotional attachment could quickly put him out of business if he let himself fall into the trap. This one was different though. Out of all his years of carrying out the kills, this was the first one where he was actually associated with someone involved with the victim-to-be. Acute was approached by the cloaked woman and the exchange was simple. Would he take the offer for so much gil? Of course. But when did this transition in the Assassin happen? When was it that money came to mean more than a possibly innocent life...
A contract. Once signed, it bound Acute to his mission and the client to live up to his or her word. He assured each one the contract was only around long enough to ensure the sum was paid. Afterwards, he burned the paper with their names on it, the victim, and the amount. If a dispute ever arose, it saved a lot of time to pull out that contract, point at the numbers, the signature, then demand it or a cut-throat was the only way to settle it. The method had been effective in the past. Only one individual attempted to speak out against what was in ink, and that individual died a dishonorable death while spread out on the ground grabbing at his neck.
Aidyn Tavari... Acute knew him, all right. Except this was not about him, but his wife. He never knew the woman, but had seen her countless times accompanying Aidyn. What could she have done to enrage this client to have her wanted dead? She turned Aidyn around almost completely. These day he worked as an artisan Bonecrafter. That was a good change. He still delved in treasure hunting occasionally, nothing close to what he participated in before. It rattled Acute's mind that he was going to end this woman's life who worked so hard for Aidyn and was incredibly devoted. Having kicked back with Aidyn countless times during their beginning days as struggling treasure hunters, he knew the flirtatious young man that proved unattainable. Until her, that is.
Acute ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. He refused to develop a guilty conscience. All that he knew was Aidyn could figure out in a second who murdered his wife. Then he would have to fight Aidyn, an old and trusted friend.
"You look so lost and upset," calmly came a voice from behind. Acute's brows perked and he looked around, spotting the flower girl. She smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I hope I didn't interrupt any soul-seeking? Thought I should say hi." The rest of Jeuno bustled around them. He was able to single out her voice and hear it clearly as if they sat alone together in a room.
"No, I'm fine. Hey... would you like to go to the Marble Bridge? I need to kill some time for awhile." A desperate look filled his eyes. He really wanted to just sit down and talk with her for some reason.
"Oh.. sorry," she replied dispirited. "I was going through is all. I have to hurry to Port and catch the airship." Similar to last time, she started to fade into the ruckus of the moving crowd, but Acute caught her wrist.
"At least tell me your name?"
"Ithenas," she answered enchantingly, or so it was to him. But then she broke from his grasp and disappeared. She did not bother to ask for his name.
As the day proceeded, Acute lingered around Lower Jeuno. He ate, he wandered aimlessly, he sunk into the shadows as they grew in the late afternoon. Today was the day to make the kill on Mrs. Tavari. She did not deserve to be stripped of her life, but business is business. He knew where she lived and exactly what time she left the house to attend her job at Neptune's Spire Inn. It was all too easy. Aidyn was away at Windurst. She lacked the skills of her husband offensively and defensively. Even as she shut the door to leave her dwelling, she was oblivious that a killer watched her. From there, she walked the same path as usual. Routine is a dangerous thing. The young woman was nothing more than a lamb walking up to a wolf. As predicted, she cut the corner and was going to take the shortcut route. The darkened pathway describe it easily enough. She took it because she always ran late. It never posed a threat until now. Her pace picked up as she approached. To Acute, it appeared as though she entered a whole new world once both feet crossed over the line that separated the lit world and the shadowed.
This time he chose to be different. It was a matter unlike the other, the day itself was dissimilar. As the deed was done, everyone would know about it right away. He stepped forward as she passed him. A crossbow was overdoing the case, and so he raised a gun. A disposable one that had been handed down several times. A bandit's gun, loaded only to deal the worst and be tossed away. His marksmanship was up to par by working the crossbow, but a gun was different. The impact clashed to the normal sight he was used to.
"Tavari?" he called out flatly.
The woman, a Mithra with blonde hair tied back, spun around. Acute never saw blue eyes so wide before.
"Courtesy of Bajaratt."
The shot rang out. He swore it must have echoed throughout all of Jeuno. He never blinked while watching her fall to the ground. Aidyn might figure it out. Maybe he would not. One thing for sure, he would not be gazing longingly at that Mithra's face any longer.
Lowering the gun, Acute took a step back and faded from sight. Another step, then he completed a one-eighty degree turn and burst off into a sprint. He wanted to be as far away from that body as possible. At 15:00 he would receive what was due.
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I have a small request. ^^; Could I have some screenies of the mentioned characters screenies? Or anyone else in the LS for that matter. I want to squeeze in whoever I can. Oh, and the screenie would be because I've been wanting to draw up some stuff lately.
;
