As Bitter As A Limonbug

[Fiorae]

The night air blew west as the shadows held a secret and the cold, fake moon failed to spot it. With no hesitation, Fiorae dashed from shadow to shadow, making her way to the one place she thought she would never have to go to under negative circumstances.

Behind her, guards failed to notice her light, clothed taps as she ran by them with less than a foot between them, and guard dogs never raised an ear as she slipped through the tent they were guarding.

Standing before him, sleeping like a fat, nasty baby, Gordo - the tyrant - lay sprawled out in a wobbling mess. Sneering in disgust, Fiorae pulled her book from her bag and closed her eyes, connecting with the power inside of her and silently spoke a spell to implode the evil man. After the final word, the man woke up, gasping for air and looked at the Notei - her light red eyes burning as hot as his insides where. "Goodbye." She said coldly and rushed out of the tent as men rushed in.

Once she was safe, she stopped in the alley and leaned lightly against the freezing metal wall and closed her eyes for a moment - to pray for her forgiveness.

[Jin]

Jin walked slowly through the streets, his hair swaying slowly in rhythm with his gait. A gentle wooden clop accompanied his step as he used the parasol as a walking stick. The moonlight cast ominous shadows across the dimly lit night.

What a place... Jin thought to himself. Having not encountered anything else since his run in at the Opal Ocean, this place was quite a new experience.

Jin passed by lots of people scattered about, though none ever noticed him. No amount of noise could draw attention to himself and he quite liked it that way. Occasionally someone would draw close but then they would stop frozen, like a bug in amber. A monument to his time field that he had spent so long working on.

Jin didn't entirely feel comfortable here however. Everyone here seemed.... rough. Not to mention almost all of them were armed.
A loud commotion jolted Jin from his thoughts as armed men came running past him in a fluster. Smiling to himself he thought Ah finally something exciting!

Jin began to follow the guards to a tent. Looking inside he sighed with disappointment and sadness. It appeared as though someone had killed this man and murder is murder..... Jin turned to leave when out of the corner of his eye he saw someone - no, some lady - leaving in a hurry. Turning off the beaten path he followed her until she walked into an alley way. Walking in, he dropped his concentration on the time field and he phased into reality.
Jin took a breath then smiled. The act was genuine and his youthful features were prominent in the moon light but anyone could see that his eyes betrayed his ancient age.

Speaking aloud he said "You wouldn't happen to be the cause of all this commotion would you? I'd hate to think that someone as pretty as yourself would do something so wrong."

[Fiorae]

Startled from his sudden appearence, Fiorae turned to the man that spoke to her, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. After a moment of containing herself, she took a step back, straightened her shoulders and looked at him with eyes as hard as rock. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Her eyes gave no sign of her lying as she began walking further into the alley. "Even if I did know, what makes you think I would tell you anything - you don't know me anymore than a Limonbug knows he doesn't have teeth."

The red in her eyes gleamed in the moonlight as her hand tightened against the ancient, leather cover of the spellbook she was holding.

[Rio]

"But truly, was it wrong..?" Called up another voice from behind the man. The footsteps of the new voice drew closer as his form slowly began to come into focus in the moonlight. His glowing blue optics gazing straight over the shoulder of the man and to the woman. A small smile began to slowly grow upon his lips. Some of his blond locks fell over half of the metal mask that was upon his eyes. With a small chuckle, "If you are not the one who did it ma'am, then I am unfortunately off track.."
Just as he stepped up beside the other male, his gaze slowly shifted towards him, his blue optics giving a small flash, "..The beautiful ones can also be the most dangerous.. Although as I said before.. Was it truly a bad act?.. Murder.. It is considered one of the worst things, yes.. But ridding the world of an evil.. Is that bad?" He rose up a hand to his chin and stroked it slightly before his smile grew.
"In a place like this.. I have noticed in order for anyone to get anywhere.. Drastic actions must be taken.. In fact, how is the world to progress anywhere, if we are afraid to stand and rid of those who make this world a bad place.." He slowly dropped his hand to his side and bowed his head, "If you may be the one, ma'am.. Then I must introduce myself.. I am Rio, Rio Gavin.."

[Fiorae]

Sensing the man before he entered the alley made Fiorae turn, but as he came into vision, she couldn't help but wonder if the two were together. Then it hit her - they knew she did it and came to rid of her, or maybe it was her client covering up his tracks now. Narrowing her eyes, she listened to the man introduce himself as Rio, and then looked back at the unpleasantly clean man beside him.

"The man," she began, trying her hardest to buy herself some time to think, "deserved to die: he was cruel; he raped women, children, slaves; he stole from both the rich and poor, as well as from the prison; he spreads disease. Worthless maggot of a life! I killed him not only for the money, but for myself!" Fiorae envisioned her mother lying in bed with skin as cold and pale as ice, her hair dirty and mangled, and the smell of her own urine staining her body because of the man she had just killed.

"Kill me, judge me, even label me if you must, but if surviving in a world you don't belong in is what is needed to be done to breathe and eat every night, then I will kill the filth from this world..." Her beautiful eyes teared up for a moment before she looked back at the two before her, then they went solid again. "Do as you must."

Although Fiorae wasn't sure what the two were there for, she knew she had to be ready for anything.

[Rio]

"Kill you? Judge you? My dear girl.. I am here to show you respect.." Responded Rio as his glowing eyes seemed to give an interested flash towards her. He slowly stepped forward from the side of the other male, making his way towards her. A smile still playing across his lips as his gaze moved right to her's, noting the tears forming in her eyes, the passion was true and she meant exactly what she said.. And that is /exactly/ what he needed..
As he made his way closer to her he spoke up once more, "This world needs more people like you.. And of course, much less of those like the man you have rid of.. Although I must say I am a little displeased to hear there was money involved.." He paused for a moment, stopping his approach, not wanting to get too close to her as he did not want to appear to be a threat.
"But alas.. I see your passion.. I see your need to rid of the filth, rid of the wrongdoers, rid of those that bring no good to this world.." His smile slowly formed into a smirk before his gloved hand rose up and was held out to her, "You.. You my dear are exactly the type of person I want alongside me.. To stand for my cause.. To stand for the better of this world.. This world needs ones who will actually take a stand.. And do what must be done, to make any changes..."
His head gave a small tilt before peering slightly over his own shoulder at the other male, still curious of that one, and how he would respond to all this, already assuming he would oppose his cause, their cause.. Just as he caught gaze of Jin, he then shifted his head to look right back at the girl and he flashed another smile, "Join me.. And we shall make this world.. All of this world.. A better place to live.."

[Jin]

Jin only nodded his head and took a slight step backwards towards the shadows, causing darkness to cast over him and obscure his face.

"Death in all circumstances isn't anything to take lightly. True power lies not in the ability to take life but to spare it. Though the fact that you saw murder to be your only option is a troubling. "

Jin touched the leaf brooch resting on his armband out of habit and looked up towards the waning moon that rested in the sky.

"Wherever you seek to sow sorrow and despair for your own personal profit or gain you can expect me to be there as well. To stop you from doing anything to compromise our second chance on this world."

[Fiorae]

The clean man backed into the shadow, and for some reason, Fiorae wanted to see him in the light again - he gave her a sense of peace and relaxation that she didn't want going away. Although he resigned himself, his words overthrew everything Rio offered in their short meeting...and they scared her.

Looking at Rio, she placed her hand on her heart and backed away; terrified by the clean man's words and confused by Rio's. "I..." Her eyes searched for a way out of the alley but there was only one way with far too much distance between her twisted situation and freedom. "I don't like killing...but I don't like when evil, filthy people are taking life from the innocent... How," her question was directed mostly at the clean man, but to the pair evenly, "am I supposed to overcome that, or balance that?"

[Jin]

Jin sighed and spoke softy, the words however full of the knowledge and wisdom of his unnaturally long life.
"You speak of evil like it is an absolute. You could have been brilliant but you were so much less than that. You took a man who did terrible things and then did a terrible thing. How are you any better? He no longer has a chance to change. A chance to apologize. A chance to become so much more than he was. Everyone can shine like a star. Everyone could be so amazing if given a chance. You ask me what you could have done? You could have tried. Tried to help him shine."

Jin turned to walk away slowly and spoke even more softly as he left but his words carried on the wind after him. "Death lasts a moment but can haunt your dreams forever..."

[Rio]

With a small scoff he knew that the other male had only made this more difficult that he expected it would me. He emitted a soft sigh before his blue optics shutting as he reached up to place his gloved hand upon his forehead, shaking his head slowly, "..If only things were that simple.." He emitted a soft laugh and began to slowly walk forward, but only to slowly pass the girl, "If ones were to change by mere chance of apology, ones who don't even listen to the cries and pleas of their victims, life would be so easy, no? If they can blur out the screams and terror of those... 'below' them.. What regard would such sickening people pay any mind to any other's words?.." He stopped his feet for a moment, giving one last look at the girl before looking straight ahead once more, "I am sure while you continue to learn the disgusting ways of the world, you will sure see that there is no other way.."
His fists clenched before he began to walk, "I am one who is constantly treated as scum in this world, and for what? For being birthed..or..created?.. Bah.. Those who are given the power, and have the will to be cruel and evil with no one to oppose them will not care of mere words trying to stop them.. What a waste of ones true guide to freedom, their true strength and justice they are born with to rid of these.. disgusting beings.."
He smiled slightly before waving his hand, slowly slipping out a small metal sphere, "And I assure you.. It is no different in here.. Or out there.." He muttered his last words softly, before shaking his head, tossing the sphere up and down.
"I am sure.. his world.. his way.. sounds alot easier to bare.. but, truly.. When does anything good come from taking the 'easy' route, rather than working for what you desire... My offer stands, my dear girl.. If not, either way, I bid you farewell for now.."