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Post by balitiger23 on Jun 23, 2009 11:42:20 GMT -7
The street was deserted, and that suited Setmi just fine. His ride had dropped him off not too far from this desolate place, and the smell of the city was bitter in his nostrils. He was standing in front of what used to be a rather grand hotel but was now abandoned and in ruins.
He flared his nostrils as though trying to catch a scent, then shook his head and snorted. The place smelled like death, and he didn't even need to be in wolf form to realize it. He had already seen a multitude of rats and mice on his short walk. The large field in front of the building was overgrown with weeds, and there was the burned out husk of a car leaning against an old dead tree.
Screams filled the night, and the albino man glanced around half-heartedly. He knew the voice the scream sounded from, and the owner was dead. The wind was merely echoing with his guilt, playing tricks with his mind. Even so, the short hairs on the back of his neck and on his arms stood on end as a chill ran down his spine.
He was curious to know if anyone was within the hotel, but from the sound of the groaning foundations, he wisely decided not to enter. Instead, he went and leaned against the column in front of the hotel and sighed. He needed some direction, or at the very least something to do. The remainder of Kem would be after him soon enough, after they had recovered from the loss of their leader.
And when they came for him, he had to be ready.
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jun 23, 2009 12:57:22 GMT -7
To the desolate and the unfeeling, a dilapidated hotel was no different than the Ritz, she had been calling it home for some time now, ever since she had been evicted from her apartment. Sure it was the bad part of town, but she didn't care either way...if she was lucky someone would try to start some trouble, after all, there was very little difference between fighting and fucking in mind.
A distraction would almost be invited, she thought darkly as she lit up as she stepped out of the lobby, billowing streams of smoke hanging over her head like they were eluding to her bad mood.
She was a few puffs in before she noticed the stark white stranger, Malorie shrugged it off though, eyeing the man for a moment before giving him a nod. He looked like 5 miles of bad road, and she could appreciate that.
"Smoke?" she holds out her pack of cigarettes, if she feared the other werewolf, it was hard to tell, her expression was slack and her eye dull, almost glassy as she regarded Setmi with almost too much coolness. But she didn't seem the sort to bother with small talk.
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Post by balitiger23 on Jun 23, 2009 13:17:08 GMT -7
His pink eyes narrowed at the woman that entered into his sight, and he couldn't his lips twitching into a sneer. His long tongue parted his lips and laved across his chin before slipping back out of sight. It looked as though she wasn't going to notice him, but the relief was short lived when her dark eyes found his pale form.
And then, even worse. She spoke to him. He could have forgiven her presence if she had merely noticed him and moved on, but to dare speak to him was unforgivable. He straightened up, his prosthetic leg clinking softly on the cracked pavement as he pulled himself to his full impressive height.
He glared down at her, pondering whether to grace her with an answer or simply lash out. But he didn't know these parts, nor how important the woman before him might be in the local hierarchy. He cursed beneath his breath before stepping towards the woman and mechanically holding out his hand, the effort of such a gesture evident by the pained expression upon his face.
If the woman had any idea how much it had cost him to not outright attack her...
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jun 23, 2009 13:32:44 GMT -7
Malorie watches his expression with a slight tilt to her lips, the faintest hints of a smirk as she pulled back her pack of cigarettes. "Hmmm no? Suit yourself then." she tucks them into her pocket and shakes her head. She hardly seemed like she was going to torture the man, who looked fit to crawl out of skin at her presence.
"New to town huh?" she guessed, why else would be be fidgeting around like she was some sort of alpha, though it never occurred to her that he might just be afraid of women, and woe be to him if she figured out. "I'm sorry." the cyclops almost seemed sincere in her apology, like she was telling the man that one of his treasured loved ones had just passed.
She doesn't really look him over any more, even though she did see his hand held out to shake, her attention on the artificially lit streets, for a moment, she thought she saw stars...but she was mistaken. "No, I don't want to shake your hand, but I appreciate...the sentiment." she takes a particularly long drag of her cigarette and then gestures to herself with the cherry. "Malorie."
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Post by balitiger23 on Jun 23, 2009 13:50:21 GMT -7
He blinked his small pink eyes as she withdrew her offer of cigarettes despite his hand being held before him so that she could drop the smoke into his large hand without touching him. Preferably without looking at him too, and just like that, her eyes drifted away from him.
Confused, he barely heard her speak, as his mind raced to figure out how else she would have interpreted his out held hand. Was there some other gesture he was unaware of that was common here? A crease appeared on his nose as his mind raced. If he couldn't fit in, he was going to stick out. And if he stuck out, the time in which it took Kem to find him shortened drastically.
Then her words cut through his frantic reasoning, and he dropped his hand, shoving it into the deep pocket of his trench coat as he fought not to send his fist into her face. How dare she assume he'd even want to touch her! The very thought made him wipe his hand on the inside of his pocket as though the very thought of her was contagious.
Her introduction made Setmi growl deep in his chest, even as she waved the cigarette around mockingly. He hadn't had a smoke for a long time, and he craved one like he craved to eat her remaining eye. He briefly wondered if it would taste as good as it looked before shaking his head sharply and taking a threatening step towards her.
"Had I wanted your name," He growled out, his voice low and rough from being unused. "I would have asked."
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jun 23, 2009 13:57:21 GMT -7
"Had I wanted your name. I would have asked."
"Mmmm hmmm." Malorie eyed the growling fellow werewolf with utterly apathy. But her eye suddenly lit up, a terribly maliciousness as she took a step towards the albino with a snap of her teeth, if he wanted to play animal, she'd be more than happy to oblige. "This place is mine, the only reason you're still here, is because I can't be buggered to chase you off, so knock off the tough boy shit...al'right?" she drawled as she spoke, but she wasn't in the mood for this sort of crap.
As soon as was finished with her outburst, she finished up her cigarette and stomped it out on the stoop, this time she pulled out two smokes, she wasn't in the mood to smoke alone, and she sure as hell didn't want more stupid to come out of pinky's mouth. "Smoke this." she grunts, lighting up her second and then handing the lighter to Setmi.
There's a bit of a growl in her own throat as she now regards the male with more scrutiny, looking him up and down like a predator sizing up a rival, or perhaps pray. "Now, you're going to tell me who you are, or I'm gonna put this goddamn thing out in your eye." she waves her cigarette.
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Post by balitiger23 on Jun 23, 2009 14:36:35 GMT -7
Setmi did not give her ground to be threatening, but the show of animalistic qualities left him berating himself internally. How had he not realized she was a werewolf? Her missing eye should have been hint enough, if not her ability to live within the ruin of a hotel. While he wouldn't step back from her physically, he took a small mental step back and re-evaluated the woman before him.
He was insulted that she assumed that she could chase him away if she so wished, but if she had truly thought she could, she would have. Her words were contradicting her. She was afraid of him, but then, all women were afraid of him in his mind. How could they not be when he looked like something the god of chaos had crafted with his own hands?
Her renewed offer of a cigarette was accepted, though he couldn't help the low growls periodically escaping his chest. He snatched the smoke from her hand without touching her flesh; if he so much as made minute contact with her he'd attempt to snap her like the twig she was. He grabbed the lighter with the same deftness and lit his cigarette with practiced ease, taking a long deep drag and almost immediately feeling a little lightheaded.
He narrowed his eyes and almost visibly bristled when he found her eyes roaming his body. The only thing that saved her from his anger was that he recognized that she was sizing him up. Her next words caused him to arch a pale eyebrow, his expression daring her to try. If her home was this rundown hotel, he most likely did not need to worry about her being a high status.
She was what he expected from women, but as much as he would have loved to make her nothing more then a bloody smear on the ground, he was new to the town, and she wasn't being overly hostile. He tossed the lighter in her general direction and took another drag on his smoke.
"Setmi," He said grudgingly.
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jun 23, 2009 15:08:41 GMT -7
The she-wolf didn't regard Setmi with any respect, or disrespect, for that matter. Instead she smirked oh so slightly puffing away on her cigarette as pleased as punch that she got him to speak. Setmi? Well it appeared that Pinky was a visitor from far and away...she'd have almost been curious if she could be bothered to give a damn.
But still, she played nice, after all, there was no reason to pull out claws and fangs right now...and who knows, maybe this haggard albino could be of some use to her.
She caught her lighter, and tucked it back in her pocket with her cigarettes, her glance finally turning away form the ugly man and to the hotel with a shrug, and then back at him. She was getting the hint that he was looking at her with a bit of unfair judgment, but even that only got her to smile, all too toothily.
"If you're trying to hide, this is the place to do it. " she says offhandedly, a noise coming out of her throat like a warning woofle, that one eye squinted, and going back to being dull and listless. "Not that I imagine...a...man...like you is trying to hide." she used the term 'man' loosely.
She grunts, and finishes up her cigarette, "But if you cop an attitude with the others, they'll gut you neck to knees before you could even figure out what your faux pas was...so best keep that in mind." Was she giving the newcomer pointers? Maybe, just maybe because she knew what it was like to be the odd dog out.
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Post by balitiger23 on Jun 23, 2009 15:33:14 GMT -7
He was a little off put that the lighter hadn't careened into her one remaining eye, but the light headedness he was feeling from his increasingly deeper drags from his cigarette made him a tad more chipper then he normally would be around anyone, woman or not. Nicotine addictions do wonders for those you choose to tolerate.
His eyes followed her gaze towards the broken hotel, lingering for a few moments as her words sunk in. He snapped his attention back to her, about to get nasty when she continued on. At least she had enough brains to know not to assume anything when it came to him, though her near stutter over the word man left him confused. He was obviously male, was he not? Was she referring to the fact that he was a werewolf, rather then a man? Or was she insulting him, letting him know that his appearance detracted from his masculinity?
Since he couldn't figure it out, he let it slide. He would not start an argument when he didn't know if he could win. Physically he was superior, but just by observing her way with words, he knew if he didn't have a sound argument behind him, she would verbally kick his ass. Women seemed to be better equipped for the verbal sparring matches, which was why Setmi preferred to take them on hand to hand. Unfair, but true.
His eyes flickered over her as he weighed the options of how a physical fight turn out. He would win, of that he was sure, but he couldn't be sure of the extent of injury he would sustain. Her final words caught him completely off guard and he paused with his cigarette half raised to his lips. He had expected many things from the woman, but not her help. He did not need it, and was about to tell her so, when a voice cried out in the night.
"MURDERER!"
Setmi's froze and looked over the field, half expecting to see his father standing there in the flesh, before shaking himself lightly and settling back into reality. Or as close as he came.
His father deserved to die, but the dead don't lie. He was a murderer, and Kem was after him. Perhaps a place to hide wouldn't be such a horrible idea. And as far as the woman went, well, he'd been around far worse. She was tolerable in small amounts, he supposed. He locked his pink gaze on her and crushed the cigarette beneath his boot.
"I will stay for now," He said, not saying aloud that which he hoped to accomplish by staying. Perhaps she would tell him more of this city if he just listened. And kept a distance. Too close and he'd forget about being civil and gut her like a pig. He motioned towards the hotel, which looked to be falling apart. "Where is it safe?"
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jun 24, 2009 23:45:41 GMT -7
Malorie took in a long deep breath as she sort of zoned out in front of Setmi, she had tried to keep her attention on the albino, but she was thinking for a moment, and couldn't be bothered to entertain. After all, it wasn't like they were friends, in all honestly she should have chased him out of her territory, but, she hated to be alone, and the creepy guy was company, even if that meant sitting in silence with someone you didn't know or even remotely like.
After the second cigarette, she decided she had smoked enough and just rested against the stoop quietly, she was content to just sit there, until she caught a look at Setmi, whose already ugly face had somehow twisted up in some gargoyle impression, like he had seen a ghost, or had somehow choked on some ashes, though she wouldn't have been surprised if he had somehow had an stroke and had died on the spot.
That was her luck. Which only made her smirk.
"Jesus man, you alright?" She stepped forward curiously, but didn't reach out to him in anyway, in fact even her tone had a certain detachment to it. Saying the words, but not meaning the sentiment. But it seemed like the man came through whatever it was that was bothering him quickly enough, having no problem staring at her, and stomping out his own smoke.
"I will stay for now, where is it safe?"
The female rolled her shoulders, she was so nonchalant about things, that she blew off even this craziness without a moment's hesitation, "Most of the city is safe if you mind your Ps and Qs.." she lets out a soulless husky laugh, "That's a lot of rolling over and showing your tummy if you ask me...so, I stay here, where no one would look for me. The shitty part of town, no one would expect a werewolf, humans yea...a bunch of vamps...well of course, a werewolf? Hell no." she pounds a fist to her chest. "We're apex predators you know? Royalty." she made a snarky noise and rolled her eyes.
Malorie's gaze follows Setmi's gesture to the old hotel, she really could care less. "Get a room here." it wasn't like she was going to bother him, she could hardly stand people anyways, "An extra set of eyes never hurt." she snorts.
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Post by balitiger23 on Jun 25, 2009 0:09:45 GMT -7
Setmi was counting the number of steps before physical contact was inevitable between them, and he was not liking how few they were. Yet he had resigned himself to staying with the woman for now, so he would control his... urges.
He listened carefully as she unwittingly gave him more information on the city, though he sneered when she mentioned having to be submissive. He had done quite enough of that over the span of his life time, thank you very much. There was no way he would roll over for anyone, no matter the situation.
As Malorie continued on her speech of werewolves being the top of the food chain, so to speak, Setmi gave a thought as to what had happened in this city that had made it so eerily silent. He could count on one hand how many people he had seen on the streets since he had arrived, and she was standing before him. What exactly had occurred here? Though she had mentioned 'vamps'... whatever those were. He had a suspicion that he would find out soon enough, though he thought less of them already from the tone of voice the woman used when speaking of them.
At her suggestion of staying at the hotel, he visibly blanched.
"Stay here? With you?" He asked, before shaking his head to help clear his prejudiced mind. If he were to survive, he must learn more about the city. If that meant staying in the same building, or even the same room as the woman, he would suffer. If she tried anything, he would punish her accordingly. Until then, he would play it by ear. The extra set of eyes comment was lost completely on him; his sense of humor had never been on par with everyone else's.
"Alright," He answered himself before she could speak. "Fine. I'll get a room. But I refuse to bow to anyone."
He gave Malorie a pointed glare as he said the last part, licking his top lip unconsciously. His body had already gotten used to the new hit of nicotine, so his head was no longer spinning nor was he tingling all over. If she wanted to take the comment personally, he was no longer hindered. "What room is mine?"
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jun 29, 2009 11:15:16 GMT -7
The cyclops nearly chokes, making a face like for a moment she was utterly pained by what Setmi said. Like she was half between laughing, and trying to keep her snarky demeanor. After all, what a stupid thing to say to her.
She snorts, I wouldn't exactly say you're staying with me...you're living in the same building, people do it all the time." the corner of her lip curled up even thinking about him living with her, it was disgusting, something about this man was utterly repugnant, and she couldn't quite place it. The personality? His appearance? It was probably just the whole package deal. And if she found him sniffing around her place uninvited, she would end him.
"As for rooms...hell if I know, or care, whichever you end up with I suppose." she waves a hand about dismissively, "I'm on the third floor, I would suggest you not stay on the third floor." there she said it. "Though I wouldn't exactly be offended if you don't listen to me. After all, if you don't expect to...bow to me, I sure as hell hope you know I won't bow to you." Malorie's face was now a complete sneer as she regarded the albino coldly.
"Get it?"
The sooner they could cross over this bridge the better, she had better things to do with her life than deal with alpha males and their ill-placed superiority complexes.
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Post by balitiger23 on Jul 7, 2009 1:45:39 GMT -7
Setmi's lip curled into a sneer as Malorie began her rant, and a low growl was rumbling in his chest by the time she was finished.
"I understand well enough," He said, his hands curling into fists within his pockets, his nails biting into his palms as he tried not to put the female in her place.
His pink eyes seemed to flash as though lighted from within, though it was just a trick of the lighting as he cocked his head and his gaze grew distant, as though listening to something only he could hear. Which was more than likely, considering. At that exact moment, if she were to attack, she'd have the upper hand. His mind had drifted back to memories of Khemu and how he had ripped apart her abdomen and strung her intestines across the ground. A strange emotion filled him. It could almost be guilt.
He shook his head like a dog and his eyes focused once more on Malorie, his tone a touch less hostile. "This truce will only last if I stay away from you unless necessity absolutely demands it, is that about right?"
He was suddenly exhausted, and wanted nothing more then to get his room and sleep for twenty four hours or so. He would take precautions once he got to his temporary room, to ensure the woman wouldn't creep in and slit his throat in the night. He wondered if there would be others in the hotel, and if he even truly cared. Time would tell, he supposed.
Whether he liked it or not, this was about to become home.
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Post by Malorie Cohen on Jul 10, 2009 12:46:45 GMT -7
"Well, its good to know you're not as dumb as you are ugly."
Malorie smirked a bit, and gave the albino another cigarette as she lit up herself, really this was a bit of a problem for her, the whole chain smoking thing. But at least she didn't feel guilty about it if she made someone else share her vice.
For a moment, she wanted to just put the cherry out on his horrid pale face, she couldn't figure out why, but there was a tension, some unmentioned promise of violence that she wanted to get out of the way immediately. But for now she kept her cool, a sour smirk on her thin lips. "I'm not generally in the market of babysitting new pups. But I suppose if its an emergency, or some question that's burning into your skull, I suppose you may come and ask me. So long as you don't make it a habit to visit." Really now, she was being more than kind to Pinky, but she didn't want to see him haunting her doorway like some horrid white sheet.
"Besides, I'm sure a man...like yourself, has plenty of business to attend to. It won't be long until you find yourself moving on." More loaded messages, truly she couldn't imagine him surviving too long in these parts, he seemed nuttier than a turd.
But natural selection had a way of surprising her. If someone as physically messed up as her could eke out a niche for herself, perhaps a crazy bastard like Setmi would make it.
Though Malorie was hardly the sort that staked any credence to such things.
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Post by balitiger23 on Jul 13, 2009 13:32:13 GMT -7
Setmi allowed the slander concerning his appearance slide. He was very much used to it, and wasn't even ruffled that the woman had mentioned it. Granted, it was rude, but he had a feeling that Malorie was used to being snarky and bitchy. Then again, most women were.
He accepted the cigarette with no thanks, lighting it and tossing it back to her once again. This time he didn't get buzzed, which was fine with him as his eyes narrowed at the woman's words. He ran a hand through his hair; he had always enjoyed the feel of the short hair between his fingers. It had been longer when he was a child, but Desher had cut it off when Setmi hit puberty, using a knife and taking a good part of his scalp in the process. It was a good thing he healed fast.
He understood what Malorie was saying: Stay away unless it's absolutely necessary. He was completely fine with that, though agreeing with the woman made a worm of disgust wriggle in his gut. But she had the potential to be a useful source of information, and he didn't quite trust himself enough to seek out someone else. For a woman, Malorie was... tolerable. Coming from him, it was almost a compliment.
"You don't need to worry about me sneaking in your room at night for a game of slap and tickle," Setmi said with a highly sarcastic lilt to his voice, blowing smoke through his nose as he snorted. "You're hardly my type."
He gave a tight smile, the scars across his nose and down his chin distorting his face slightly to give it an even more ghoulish appearance, as though his features weren't quite symmetrical. "And my only business is staying alive."
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