Of Night and Herbs |Invite Only|

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

Rei recovered quickly. She wasn't one to be shocked or surprised like that and then now want answers afterward. "Another lie." This wasn't a question, but a statement. Shadows didn't hold in them such a raw, human emotion.

She stayed where she was, but turned to face where the man sat. She didn't bother to try and retrieve the herbs, but she didn't take up the money either and probably wouldn't for some time after he left. As far as she was concerned she had been robbed. She knew now he'd lied to her, but she wasn't upset or angry about it. It was difficult to explain, but after the slight touch she could somewhat empathize with this poor boy.

Slowly, she moved to the other chair and sat down in it. "You are in the home of a healer." She said slowly, "And you are in great pain... let me help you..."

She really hoped he would let her. She couldn't bare the thought of anyone having to live life like that. (Of course she didn't consider that she lived every day with her own deep, dark pain buried deep in her heart.)

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

"I doubt you can do anything for me, healer." Amadeus spoke kindly. "But... I'll at least let you try."

He got up effortlessly, walking into the light without fear. His hand reached for his sunglasses, hesitating a moment before they clacked onto the floor as harmlessly as sunglasses always were, but they were meaningful. "My alias is Oculus... a master assassin. I've killed countless people without a hitch. I'm so skilled, I don't need to see to know my surroundings. Noblemen have hired me to settle their petty disputes. I have all the money I need." His words were quiet.

Then he turned around, looking at her over his shoulder, his odd eyes giving a silly look to his face, though his mouth was set in a quiet frown. He turned fully towards her to let her see, then cast his eyes downwards (albeit, his other eye couldn't really go downwards, it was more of a head motion) in shame. Surely, she would reject him now. He should've left.

"You can't do anything for me, healer. This home cannot heal a lifetime." He spoke plainly waiting for her answer. Maybe then she could see that her efforts were hopeless, to just let him leave without another word and so he could go and do his job and never be seen from this healer again.. if he had an injury, he could find another healer. Although hard to find a decent one these days, a bit of money always revealed surprising results.

[Rei Layla Shikhem]

Rei watched him get up and listened carefully. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't put off by his confession. A killer usually had no respect from her, but somehow she knew that he didn't kill for money, just as she didn't heal for money. They were two opposites, sitting together in the dark. She wondered if it was fate, or maybe some form of god that brought them together like this. In any case, she wasn't going to let her own prejudice keep her from doing what she knew in her heart to be right.

There were many things she could have said then, but instead she stood slowly, watching as he removed his glasses and looked at her. She'd seen many things in her life, blood, organs, many deformities from war, but never any deformities from birth and the sight did unsettle her a bit, especially with how his eyes peered at her from the dark features of his face.

But as they turned downcast sadly and she saw him already give in to the idea that she found him unsightly she couldn't bring herself from reaching over and putting her hand on his arm.

"Don't leave." She said quickly, worried he would run out now. She moved around the table to stand beside him, looking upon his face. Her hand that rested on his arm slipped up to touch under his chin, attempting to make him look at her.

Then, as if it were merely an after thought, she rose up onto her toes and touched her lips to his cheek, just below his eye. She felt the sparks of pain transfer. There was no way she could relieve all of his pain, but at least a small amount for a short period of time.

[Seccom Masada-Sensei]

Amadeus should've simply killed her a moved on, cold and heartless like any assassin. This wasn't how things were planned, he didn't ask for help... he just wanted to leave. He stepped back once as she stepped forward, her hand on his arm, asking him to stay before she pressed her lips to his cheek.

...Warm.

The two stayed frozen, a statue in the light and shadow created only by nightfall. She with her want to heal, he with his fear of her care. Strangers with conflicting worlds smashed together to form a picture with their pieces, before being shattered again as the assassin finally pulled away, one gloved hand pressing to where her lips were. Did that really just happen?

It had to be a dream, but she was still there. The world did not melt away, he was not jerked away by a rising sun or the sound of the morning chorus. He stared at her with his odd eyes, blinking in a mixture of confusion and disbelief, though whether or not it was readable on his face was all up to if she could look past his odd, silly eyes that warped every emotion to insanity or a joke.

But he did feel a bit better, like her kiss was a bandage to his soul, though now that she had applied it the bandage already began to fall away as the world of anxieties and worries rushed in, once cast away by the momentary moment between the two. He smiled a moment, something that made him look psychotic, insane, murderous... his free hand lay over his heart, heating it beat for a few moments more.

"Thank you. Goodbye." He spoke a moment, before he stepped past her, obviously taking his leave into the darkess of the night once more. Maybe he could come back again, but.. probably not. Take what little pleasure he could and walk away.