Of Night and Herbs |Invite Only|

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

"This must be the house..." A shadow spoke, dropping down from a nearby tree and landing softly in the grass, one of the many shadows of the night. He stood, a human, with the eyes of a monster. He stared at this lone house, away from the world... he had heard a healer lives here, one who could provide the herbs he needed. It was hard... he was not the kind of person who could simply go out and buy herbs in the market.

Amadeus sighed and quietly looked around before lifting a sac from his shoulders, traveller's items including his violin. With great delicacy, the sac was placed onto a nearby tree branch, hidden by the darkness, then, he looked around and fished out a pair of large sunglasses and placed them on to hide his eyes before creeping up to the door and taking a listen.

There was no sound of movement. Perhaps the lady was sleeping. He took a sac of money from his bag of traveller's stuff, enough for herbs and bribe. He gently walked to the back and found a locked window... those were easy. He took a knife and carefully inserted it in a few cracks, finding the locking mechanism and dismantling it. Slipping his little knife back in its sheath, he opened the window and stepped out onto the floor with surprising silence.

Then, it simply took something to get the woman's attention, if she lived here. If not... it was quite a well-furnished place for something abandoned. Now, if he was to collect attention to himself, it could spell disaster... but if he were to surprise her, it could spell even worse problems. Regardless, he was a stranger in someone else's house, so he had to prepare for anything.

Gently, he began to sneak around looking for something to take and leave money as payment for.

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

Even though there was no wounded soldier or sickly lady in her bed that night, Rei still found herself waking up in a chair. She’d come so accustom to having to sleep in it that even though she could sleep in her bed she’d simply fallen asleep next to it instead. Thinking it ironic, she didn’t at first realize that it was still the middle of the night. Normally unless someone woke her she didn’t wake up until dawn. Sitting up slowly, she stretched out the kink in her neck and tried to clear the fuzziness from her mind.

Everything seems quite and serine and just as she thought perhaps she merely needed a drink of water she heard something. The faintest hint of a foot on the floor made her blood run cold and her heart leap up into her throat. She had to stifle a gasp. Her intuition told her she was not alone in the house when she was supposed to be.

Being a woman who lived on her own in the middle of nowhere, she was not without any protection, however Rei knew she was very weak and couldn’t stand up to much. Still she did have one thing. Trying to be as quite as possible, she slipped her hands under the mattress and pulled from it her late husbands sword. It was a silver handled long blade and quite heavy. She had to hoist it with both hands to lift it. But it was a blade at least.

Slowly, quietly, she stood and crept towards the kitchen. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears, and she wondered if the intruder could hear it as well…

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

Amadeus paused as he heard the shifting of a bedside. A person? He shivered in fear at the predicament he caught himself in. Maybe it would've been for the best if he just left now and came another day. He glanced at the window. No.. it would be too far away and he would get caught anyhow. Adjusting his sunglasses so it would suitably cover his eyes, he felt his face begin to grow hot with shame. Shaking away the heat and focusing on other matters, the young assassin walked silently, opening his palm and concentrating on his fear.

A glob of darkness formed in his hand, shooting from his gloved palm as if he had splurted blood. With glob in hand ready to throw if he needed, he began to walk further towards the sound of the woman. He would just present himself... this would be far too awkward... maybe he should pretend to be injured... No, she could probably already tell by his sneaking around that he was not injured at all. Suddenly he whispered, out of the darkness.

"Look, I... I mean no harm. I... I j-just wanted to buy some herbs." He spoke, indicating his presence as he snuck around. Then, he turned a bend and was face to face with the woman, sword in hand and hauled over her shoulder as if she was waiting for him so she could behead him like a slaughtered chicken. Immediately, he cringed and stepped backwards, making no sound and slipping into the darkness.

But it was obvious- he was afraid... and shy. "I'm j-just looking for herbs. I enough money to pay twicefold for the trouble." He spoke from the shadows, making his voice sound awkward, as if he was an amateur even though his movements spoke of a professional. His mind races, thinking of the perfectly constructed lie... what to tell her...

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

The voice that came through the darkness made Rei jump and she stifled a scream. He was in her pantry area and she thought about how much she’d loose if she lost her drying herbs. They were worth quite a bit at the market. As the voice came closer she stopped in her tracks, still afraid even though it told her it meant no harm. The voice sounded young, younger than her in any case, but even so why did they feel the need to break in?

As the body came around the corner she braced herself, ready for any attack, but the personage took a step back, as if in fear himself. She blinked at the sight. In the pale moonlight that seeped in through the windows she could see the strange things covering the persons eyes. Why would anyone wear something like that on their eyes at night?

With a sigh she finally lowered the large blade. “Hasn’t any ever taught you to knock?” She breathed. “I have many herbs, and most of them are for sale. Tell me what it is you need treatment for.” She still felt like there was something terribly suspicious about this intruder. However she’d sworn she would help all who came to her for aid, and that was what she intended to do…

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

"I can't be seen in the day." The response to her reply was quick, spat, more bitter than any herb. It spoke, in a moment, a lifetime of hatred.

He dared not step into the light, into where he could be seen. She had already seen his sunglases and although they were a bit strange, they were far less strange than the deformity beneath. His oddly turned eyes blinked as he thought up a list of herbs he needed- ones that were not typically used as poisons, but when used in the right amount would be far deadlier than expected and with effects that mimic other diseases- the latest customer wanted this assassination to be clearly a wasting disease... and he knew just the list...

"I need a small sac of Ike's Root, Three large Fogcat leaves, a medium sac of Sky's Stem, five strips of Dark Oak's Bark, and a vial of Weaver's milk." He spoke softly, some of those herbs were pricy and so he showed the bag of money he had. "I'll pay double your usual price for your troubles." He spoke softly, before pocketing the bag of money.

He wondered what lies to spin to her. Should he speak of his mother, long dead of Whore's disease? Would he say he himself needed the treatments? No... she might decide to check up on it afterwards. He had to think quickly... A traveler. That was what he was. He was a traveler who needed to refill his herb bag but couldn't go outside during the day... he could make up an excuse as to why easily. If she asked again, that was. Maybe.... just maybe, she would be blinded by greed and gather the herbs without a second thought.

But then again, if she was that stupid, she wouldn't be alive all alone in a forest where she could be robbed and killed. He'd have to wait and see her reaction.

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

Not being able to see him well, Rei tried to have her eyes adjust. She didn’t trust this person at all. Something in her gut told her this was no good. Even so she wasn’t about to just judge a book by its cover, even if he had broken into her him. Maybe there was a reason why he couldn’t be seen. She had heard once of personages being born with a syndrome that rendered them unable to be in the sunlight or else they would develop terrible blisters. Maybe that was this poor fellows case. Anyways, he seemed legitimist and seeing his large money purse she decided she could do with the extra income.

As he started to list his requirements she dragged the sword over to her cupboard and took the key from around her neck. After a moment the lock clicked and she swung it open. Upon setting the sword nearby, she grabbed the first Herb and sat it beside her the reached for the second. By his third request her hand stopped short and she slowly began to turn around. She eyed him for a moment before speaking.

“And what, exactly, do you need all these things for?”

This was very suspicious indeed. His requirements were for a concoction that was most deadly indeed. It would make a lot of sense if this was someone searching for poison instead of healing. And poison was not something she’d have any part of.

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

"...Because, mixed together, they're a poison right?" His reply was blunt, to throw her off, so that she knew he knew what she was thinking. "...look. I just need to refill on herbs and leave town in the morning. I'm just a traveler." He spoke, extending his hand into the light, gloved and showing no skin... unrecognizable save his voice... but really, his voice sounded like many others his age. Young. He was in no danger, for he had no dialect in his voice to make him stand out to anyone... no, the words he spoke were perfectly normal.

So he was in no immediate danger. So long as she just saw that he wore these sunglasses he would be fine. He would throw them away later and buy a new pair, so that it wouldn't be able to follow him. As to where he got the sunglasses, he was a thief before he was an assassin. It would be easy to simply swipe them from a person without their noticing. In fact, he could probably kill her and walk off with all her herbs. But of course, he wasn't killing because he liked it or even found it convenient. It was just his only way of being able to survive.

Hmmm, maybe something to throw her off...

"I also heard you sold a particularly desired assortment of spices. Are those still in stock?" He asked, quietly, an added footnote to try and ease the tension. The spices themselves wouldn't do anything, but he did certainly miss a meal that tasted good. Some spices would be a good treat and... he could probably afford a small bag... ah, the luxuries of the rich... did they ever realize to be grateful for the joy of tasteful foods? Perhaps not. He had always heard that the taste of blood changed depending on a person's diet from other, more bloodthirsty co-workers.

Would a nobelman's blood taste of a mix of herbs? Or would it taste vile, like his spirit? He didn't know, maybe he would try the theory out on his next target, but for now... He had to grab his poisons and leave.

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

As he spoke, Rei peered into the shadow that the voice came from and tried to think this whole situation over. The amount of money he offered was almost irresistible. With that amount of money she’d be fine until the next growing season whether she was paid for her services or not. Sometimes she was paid for healing, but most of the time she did it for nothing. Afterall she helped any who came to her as best she could, and tried to make a living off what she grew. From that, and from what she could collect from the land, she made enough to survive.

But in the end her conscious won over. She could not aid in the death of someone, and there was no way she could be convinced that that particular combination was not going to be used for death. Even if it was not going to be by this particular individual. Reaching behind her, she started to shut and lock the cupboard again.

“I have all the spices you would like. But I’m afraid I cannot help you with the herbs.” If she had to she’d lie and tell him she didn’t have them.

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

"Then, if you really don't believe me, could you at least give me a few herbs I need? I can grab the rest whenever I make another stop, I guess. Just unfortunate for me to run out of that combo of herbs at the same time..." Amadeus kept his tone understandably annoyed, of a character who merely thought of this as plum dumb luck that was out to screw him over.

He certainly was very convincing about it.

The being sighed again, audible and expressing irritation. As long as she couldn't see him, it really wasn't a problem to him.He could always leave and simply swipe herbs from someone who simply didn't notice. Sunglasses were a common accessory during the day, after all it was slowly becoming brighter and warmer. He could also wear traveller's clothes, make him more convincing.

He just hoped he wouldn't have had to go outside. It always made him anxious... dealing with people in public. Killing someone was no problem to him, but dealing with many people... it was more nerve wracking than killing even the highest lords and royalty. He glanced at the glob of darkness in his hand. Maybe he would have to use this on her... maybe...

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

Once again things turned for Rei. This person certainly didn’t seem like they were desperate for the herbs and didn’t threaten her for them. And they were not common herbs either. So the fact that he merely shrugged off her refusal made her think twice about taking his money. Obviously she did have what he needed. Her certainly wasn’t stupid and saw her reach for the things in her cupboard.

“Wait.” She said suddenly before shifting her stance a little, “If you promise me you wont be killing anyone with them I will sell to you whatever you wish.” She waited then. She would take this persons word and if he could tell her he wasn’t a murderer she would allow her conscious to settle on the matter. She knew people were liars but if this person were truly bad why didn’t he kill her? She certainly wasn’t armed and dangerous. She wasn’t even armed at that point.

Turning back around, she opened the doors once again and collected the jars that held in them what he desired, as if already assuming he’d tell her he had no intention of killing anybody with them. It was probably a stupid mistake that she’d pay for later…

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

...Oh, how he hated making promises.

Amadeus closed his eyes, and made another sigh, one that was not of irritation. It was silent, quiet, one that echoed throughout his body and expressed clearly on his face as a frown. He hated making promises... they would always be broken. He should've long outgrown these morals, but he just found these another way to tell himself how much he hated himself.

But... he'd to just that.

"Yeah, I promise. You want my pinky?" He joked, showing his dark, gloved hand as an offering and waggling the littlest once or twice, forcing a lighthearted chuckle though his lips when in reality his words chilled him, even though by voice it was a shy but friendly stranger... by reality he was feeling himself die a little inside to continue this conversation. He was lying to a lady who did nothing but help others.

Oh... how he hated his job...

Regardless, he just had to wait. Then, perhaps, he would receive the herbs he wanted, he'd pay her, and then he'd disappear, never to be seen again. Actually... he felt fairly guilty. He shouldn't just leave... although it would be the best course of action. It was simply impolite. He at least had the right to maybe have a simple conversation with her. As she searched and gathered, he spoke softly.

"...You help a lot of people, I hear." His tone continued to be light. "...Why?"

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

Rei nodded slowly. She turned around and began to put together the order, bundling each herb up in a tight little parcel. She tilted her head to the side when she heard his question and couldn’t keep the corners of her mouth from flickering in a slight smile. "Yes. I help who I can..." She had to conceder his next question carefully.

"Because it was what I was created for. It's my purpose in life." She turned back to him, the parcels in her hand but she made no motion to hand them over yet. "I'm sorry, but I’d really like to hear that promise again. These are very deadly, and I will not be a part of taking lives. I wish to see your eyes while you make that promise to me."

Something inside told her that he had not meant what he said. But in any case she needed to hear it again. And there was also curiosity there. She wondered why someone would wear something so dark over their eyes in the middle of the night.

Still she didn't feel any danger from this man. For all she knew he would attack her now and take the herbs and be gone....

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

Amadeus smiled softly. She sounded like an accepting person.. but him? No.. no being would accept who he was. Another silent sigh shuddered through his lithe frame. Then, she spoke again, not of kindness, but of another, more worrying aspect. She asked for the promise again. He could do that. But his eyes... He couldn't do that. She'd reject him, and he's have to run in shame and fear and never return to the village again.

"I promise I'll not kill anyone with the herbs you bring me tonight. However... I can't show you my eyes." He spoke plainly, his tone light at first, but regretful on the last sentence. "It would be good enough for the both of us if you simply handed the herbs over and I'll toss the money. Afterwards, I'll leave... and you can forget I ever existed."

He spoke quietly, carefully trying to convince her that it would be far easier if she just handed the herbs over. He couldn't show her his face... it was shameful, it was freakish. It wasn't possible. She'd reject him, and he wouldn't get his herbs, and then he'd have to use the glob in his hand and.. harm the nice young lady who did nothing but want to help and heal people. He had already lied to her- twice now he gave her a promise he'd eventually break.

He closed his eyes and felt a tear slip down, although his voice never wavered, his spirit suffered in silence, unseen by the world and now he was face to face with his own suffering... Just.. to get some herbs... and forget this ever happened.

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

There was something wrong. Rei could feel it. Not dangerous wrong, just something wrong. “I’m not one to do things the easy way.” She said. After all, the best way to heal any wound was to clean it out first. It was painful and impossible most days, but she did it because it had the best results in the end.

What was wrong with his eyes that he would not show them. After a slight moment of hesitation she stepped forward, crossing the stream of light between them that came from the window and into the shadows with him. Without a word, her hand reached up to push upward on the glasses, trusting him fully not to hurt her for doing it.

No sooner had her fingers brushed his skin did a cold, throbbing, pain set into her body. Normally she could not take on the pain of others without her willing it. But this being seemed to be so full of it he overflowed with it. Abandoning the attempt to see his eyes, she took a step back, the herbs falling from her hands while she clutched the finger that touched him as if she’d been burnt.

“Who are you?” She breathed, tears brimming in her eyes. They were not tears of fear but of pity. How could someone feel that much and stay alive?

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

Amadeus didn't see it coming. Well, he did, but he didn't bother to move away. She touched him, then drew away. He drew away as well, deeper into the shadows. His body kneeled and he swifty picked up the herbs he needed off the floor... it was all he needed. With herbs in hand he used his other hand to pull out the money needed and carefully set it down between the two. He adjusted his sunglasses again, even though he knew she couldn't see him in the shadows.

What had hurt her so? It was as if she could feel his own pain, his lifetime of misery and the knowledge that his life was absolutely meaningless. "Just another shadow." He replied softly, pocketing what he needed and he turned to leave but.. he couldn't just leave her like that. He stayed a moment.

Just a moment, he told himself. To see her reaction. He frowned and sat, leaning by the wall, waiting for her to step out again, in fear or rejection or both. After that, he could wander off and jump out and run away, finding a small cave somewhere to rest the night and hate himself some more... for being who he was, for being born the way he was born.

Just a moment.