It's a warm late evening day in the Wood District of Chronopolis, with people milling about the sandy beach of a vast artificial lake created by the Water Orbs spread around the city. The sun is a deep, bronzed red, with the clouds on fire and darkness on the Eastern horizon. A large section of the lake is abandoned, however, with a lone beach chair sitting under a tropical black umbrella. A pair of shapely, if sickly looking girls, entirely too pale to be out sunning themselves are reclining on blankets on either side of the longchair, and a small chest of iced drinks sits open next to them.

 

It's a balmy day and the man in the longchair wears pair of black swim trunks with small skulls all over it, and his skeletal hand grips a sweating glass of spirits. Entirely fleshless, just hanging out, the skeleton wears a tarnished crown of orichalcum upon its head, and something that resembles a moonsilver beltbuckle rests in his other hand. The brow of the skull is furrowed as though permanently mildly annoyed, and his perfect white teeth are curved into a permanent grin. The blackness of the void fills the hollow of his skull, and occasionally crackles with purple lightning within.

 

Philokrates does not, as a rule, travel in to cities. But on occasion when he has a peer to travel with, who can stride before him shouting a warning to those around him that the liebutcher approaches, he feels both less nervous about the risk of murdering others and less guilty about killing those foolish enough to both linger and lie. So it is that he has come in to Chronopolis, though the fees leveed upon him are higher than strictly standard. The weather is worth it.

 

Davon wishes Pleasing Sweet Viper and Hunting Mist a good night. He escorts her back to the Spiral, and Davon trusts him to. Going to investigate what the murmurs of the normal folk in Chronopolis are saying about some alabaster man, he walks down to the Wood District. After a late afternoon of searching he gives up and comes upon the lake. He walks toward the lake and starts skipping stones. At the slosh of ice in the chest Davon is suddenly aware he isn't alone at the lake. He look over seeing the backs of the umbrella's "Hey man, I'm sorry, I hope I didn't ruin your evening." he says with a hail.

 

Philokrates 's feet are tied to his waist with a length of cord. He is swimming in the lake, and he is happy in a purer way than he usually seems - vanishing in to the moment, zen in his serenity.

 

The skeleton in the swimtrunks turns its head slightly, drinking down a swallow of the tropical mixed spirits, which disappear into the blackness without any actual swallowing taking place. He casually states, "Ahhh." before placing the glass back down with a thud. The two girls with white hair look bored, wearing black bikinis and generally glaring at the beautiful lake and the searing sky. When Davon hails him, the lich raises its glass, "No, go right ahead." Nothing at all weird here.

 

So creepy. An artificial lake. Aza knows that such things are not so terribly hard to accomplish for the Solars, but the sight of the place rather sets her off her guard. Still, with Clan's admonishment ringing in her ears to go get some sun and -relax-, she finds herself sunning on the comfortable beach, a parasol stuck in the sand behind her and a book in her hands. She reclines in a dark green bikini, one white knee crossed idylly over the other as she reads peacably some ways away.

 

"Huh, now thats not something you see every day." he walks towards the skeletal man. -I wonder what someone like him is doing here. He doesn't seem as angry as Stilled Silence, maybe I'll just ask him - "Hi, Azami" as he passes by her. -Could be be one of walkers men? Nah, Chronos would have destroyed him, so who could he be. Maybe a abyssal without a deathlord, do they make them- "I hope I'm not intruding but I thought I'd say hi, you'll excuse my language, but one doesn't get to meet a person of your particular breeding... one moment..." he looks back. "Azami!" he looks back and yells to her. "Um... yeah so as I was saying one doesn't get to meet one of your breeding often around here, can I get right back to you... I've noticed someone I haven't seen in 5 months" as he scrambles back to Azami's location.

 

Philokrates pauses, seeing...

 

Philokrates says, "...Azami? What in the world are you /wearing/?"

 

Philokrates pulls his feet on and stands up on the surface of the lake to get a better view.

 

Comforted by the presence of the Heroes of the Dawn (or whatever), people gradually begin to filter back into the section of lake cleared out by the presence of the Lich King. The 'man' in question adjusts the tarnished, blackened crown of orichalcum upon his bony white head, and one of the girls with white hair picks herself up off the towel and stretches. She heads off towards the water and dives in. As some nameless guy comes up and starts talking to him, the Lich creature slowly raises one section of its skull like an eyebrow. The remaining girl also raises her eyebrow, her ghost-gray eyes slightly wide from the weirdness of that exchange. She looks at the lich, who just shrugs.

 

Vacation.

That's what he needed. Plans, military of all stripe, run through his mind as he steps into Wood District dressed in shorts and a white shirt, flanked by two beautiful women (both in fairly skimpy clothing). The One-Eyed Dragon general, Dokuganryu, moves with military discipline for the nearest beach chair, claiming it swiftly and planting himself down on it before swinging around to pop out a book - DOKU'S JOURNAL written on the cover in Old Realm, High Realm, Low Realm, -and- Rivertongue. No need not to get the point across.

The one-eyed sixteen-year-old lays down as his two bodyguards lay down in chairs next to him, ignoring them for the moment to scratch down a brief poem:

Chronopolis's beach;

A lich lies so very nearby;

Does he tan or bleach?

With that thought down, he double-checks the poem, then sits up to stare at the lich with his brilliant green eye.

"Is something troubling you, General Dokuganryu?" Bountiful Wellspring of Joy inquires.

"...well, there's a skeleton in shorts over there."

"And is that a bad thing?" Jyra asks. "He's probably getting some sun or something."

"I didn't even know skeletons -got- sun," Dokuganryu admits.

 

"A Bee-knee-key," Azami answers Philokrates, pale fingers flicking out to turn the page of her beach reading (A Gentleman's Conversions With the Void). "Clan threatened to toss out all my books. I conceeded to defeat."

 

Azami of course, completely slaughters the word.

 

Philokrates says, "Well, such things seem to be the style around here. For once, I feel nearly overdressed."

 

The Lich King of Torjan's Sorrow, the Harrowing of Gholana's Vale, the Lord of the Iron Tower holds out his nearly empty glass of rum and pineapple juice, "Refill." The woman with white hair, her own black bikini affixed with small skulls instead of clasps, hops up, takes the glass, and immediately begins mixing a new drink. Meanwhile the calcium-clad wonder looks over and raises a furrowed brow slightly at Doku's staring. It upnods slightly, tossing the kid-commander a mock salute. "Hey, chief."

 

Davon walks towards Philokrates and Azami "Miss Azami, its been a long time. I see you know Phil here, but I guess I'm the new kid to the game here. Can I have a conversation with you or is this a bad time?" he asks, his head turning towards the young general and a loud sigh is let out. -I hope he doesn't start screaming again-

 

Philokrates nods approvingly to Davon. "I have made accord with Davon, who is harmonious with my lie-butcher nature."

 

Dokuganryu rubs his forehead and nods at the skeleton before standing. "I've gotta know," he says to Bountiful Wellspring of Joy and Jyra.

"...are you really-" Jyra begins, but Dokuganryu is already marching his way over, black jacket slung over his shoulder, journal tucked under the other. Jyra and Bountiful Wellspring of Joy exchange looks, roll off their beds, and run after the young man at a quick pace, either uncaring or unaware of the bounce inherent in bikinis.

Dokuganryu makes his way over to the lich, looking down at him briefly before rubbing his forehead again.

"I have to ask," He says after a moment, "Do you tan, or do you bleach?"

 

Pointed in the general direction of the wood district, for where else but to a skeleton in a crown is anyone going to point one looking such as Stilled does? This probably isn't even where she wanted to end up, but such is life. She scans the 'beach' since hey, while here might try to make some allies eh? A small smile twists at the corner of her lips, for as she sees the...skeletal figure she also sees several other familiar faces. Striding over she calls out, "Davon, what a pleasant surprise."

 

The Lich tilts his head slightly, purple lightning crackling around the insides of its hollow eye sockets, "Bleach. Good for the bones, you know." He flexes his forearm back and forth, "Flexibility." The lich's head turns slightly, once for each bouncing woman, "Nice. Doing well for yourself, eh kid? what can old Zhou do for you?" The woman next to him continues to look sullen, glaring ineffectually at the One-Eyed Dragon. After a moment, the lich snaps its fingers and the woman appears to remember she is holding the finished drink, which she hands to him.

 

Davon looks up from Philokrates and Azami at a voice he remembers. "Ohh Shay, you look lovely my dear. How has Lotus Crown been treating you?" he says with an almost air of whimsey. He looks over to Phil and then at Azami "Ohh please meet my friends Azami and Philokrates, warning on Phil though. He really -hates- liars. Like kills them hate. So yeah..."

 

A wry smile tugs at Aza's lips. "As hot as it is in South, it is no wonder maybe." Sitting up, she tucks the book away beneath the parasol and brushes the hair from her eyes. "It is good to see you, Philokrates. Rarely does a Solar give me reason to care for his well-being, so I am glad to see you swim, and smile." Looking up, she fixes her green eyes on Davon. "Of course." She folds her hands on her knees, staying rather under the pparasol's shade.

 

"Bleach." Dokuganryu mentally commits that 'skeletons bleach' to his mind. "Nothing." With that, he gives a sharp nod, though whether of acknowledgement or otherwise, it's impossible to say. "Thank you. Very helpful." With that, the general moves over to sit down (though in a slightly nearer chair, curious about the various conversations). His bodyguards do the same, reclining again nearby as he props open his journal to listen.

 

Philokrates glances to Stilled's weapon, then to her. "What a strange day it has become," he murmurs. "I am in arms reach of three great heroes, and across the lake, is that another I spy, bleaching in the sun? Truly, it seems that fate tied a knot in today."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou watches the One-Eyed Serpent head off and he looks to his assistant, "...Is everyone this far south so weird?" She shrugs mutely in reply and Zhou sighs. Meanwhile his other assistant emerges from the lake, sauntering over. The lich gestures towards her, "Great timing. I'm certainly glad I didn't need /assistance/ or anything." The woman, who looks nearly identical to her counterpart, appears to mutter without speaking. Maybe they're mute? Either way the Lich relaxes with his drink.

 

"Rose?" Stilled Silence say questioningly, peeking under the parasol. "Surprised I am to see you here, no lie" she adds with a wink to Phil. "Still, I cannot begrudge a good excuse for killing the right kind of people. You are from...the Great Forks are you not?"

"...hey." Dokuganryu says after a moment, pointing his pen at the two girls. "Mutes?"

 

"I am Philokrates of Great Forks, with all that that entails. And who are you, bladebearer?" asks Phil tersely. The tension between him and Stilled Silence, you could cut it with a knife.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou looks at the two girls, "Them? Nah. They're pouting." One of the girls glares at him, while the other rolls her eyes, her head turned away from him. "They wanted to go to Sijan. Visit some relatives." The lich grins, more than it already was grinning, and furrows its brow further at the girl closest to Doku, the one who rolled her eyes. She folds her arms over her bikini top. They do both look kind of pouty.

 

"Azami, how have you been, I haven't had another chance to thank you for sending my family, from Lotus Crown, to Lethe for me. I hear you are a necromancer par-excellance. Can you tell me about the Underworld?" Davon sits down next to Azami putting his arms around his knees.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou tilts his head a bit, as though tilting an ear to the wind. His eyes turn towards Azami in the distance.

 

"Ah." The general replies blandly, going back to write. "Sijan."

 

"Someone you probably don't like very much," Stilled Silence says with a grimace and a slow head shake, the shrunked djala skulls in her braids clacking lightly and hollowly against each other. "More formally though, I suppose, you could call me Stilled Silence. Nominal ruler of Lotus Crown and servant of the Walker in Darkness."

 

The lich's 'brow' lifts a bit at the additional revelation from the woman with the giant blade. "I think I like this town." He turns his head back towards Doku, his crown sliding forward a bit, but he doesn't fix it just yet, "Hey kid. You look like the capable sort. What do you know about those people over there." He nods off towards the grouping of Davon, Azami, Philo, and Stilled.

 

Azami nods with a tired sort of smile in greeting to Silence, then turns her attention toward Davon. "You're welcome," she says to the younger Lunar, sounding somewhat surprised. Nudging up her glasses, she settles the heavy old book in her lap, one hand resting atop that and the other going back to support her in her lounging. "What about it would you like to know, Davon?"

 

Dokuganryu looks up briefly, turning to look at them. He looks back down at his paper. "The man in fashion here is whipped." He offers blankly. "The woman in green I've never seen before. Nor the other two."

 

Philokrates pauses. "Then we are enemies. I have heard what happened in Lotus Crown." He conjures an arrow of light, and casts it to the earth. "I challenge you to a duel. To the death."

 

Azami straightens where she sits, lynx ears lofting forward, looking at the two golden children, one dimmed by death, where they stand not far away. "...though it may wait, maybe," she murmurs to Davon, tensing.

 

That settles it. The lich affixes his moonsilver belt buckle to his swimtrunks and cracks his neck a few times. The girls look to each other, confused, before the lich snaps its fingers, motioning upwards, "C'mon you lazy meatbags. This is like a carnival, you should be excited." Adjusting its crown off to the side a bit to balance it, the Emperor of Pain and Death strides across the beach towards the coming duel.

 

"I see, yeah this might get interesting. Maybe we should back off a bit" he stands. He holds his hand out to azami, "shall we take seats closer to the audience and not the participants?"

 

Dokuganryu looks up, sighs, and stands, tucking his book under his shoulder. "Come on." He notes, marching for the duel.

The women - both beginning to enjoy the sun - sigh and swing to their feet, following behind him like the trained professionals they were.

"Too much annoying nonsense in this town." Dokuganryu mutters, "Not worth the effort."

"No sir," Jyra agrees.

"Ought to go somewhere south and just..." He clutches his fist.

"Yes sir," Jyra agrees.

"Did I train you never to hold intelligent conversation with me?"

"No sir," Jyra replies, smirking, "I'm just snippy, sir."

Bountiful Wellspring of Joy makes a face. "-I'll- talk to you, Doku-sama."

"Thank you, Joy. I'm glad I can always count on you."

"-Always-, Doku-sama."

 

"Real straight shooter, aren't ya?" Stilled says, looking down at the arrow and back up to Philokrates. (and committing 20 personal motes to essence overwhelming: melee, just in case. "There could be a lot of collateral damage you know. All these poor people here, I do tend to fight...a bit messy."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou cups a skeletal hand to the side of his jaw, "Go for the legs! They're already half gone!" The two girls flanking him giggle despite themselves before immediately glaring again, sullenly.

 

Philokrates says, "We'll fight in the ruins of Lotus Crown City, in one week's time. You can bring what warriors you wish."

 

Azami rises, holding the book to her chest. Her white hair brushes down her back in unruly waves. "I will stand witness to this challenge, Philokrates... if it is agreed upon."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou throws his hands up, sloshing his drink, "What? Why not now? You've got a perfectly good populace to maim!" He motions outwards towards the people on the other side of the lake, since most non-Exalted have already fled. You know, just in case they missed it.

 

"I dunno Phil," Shay says, seeming to him-haw a bit. "I mean...you're such a nice guy. I really...I really like you, she says in mock seriousness. It'd be such a shame to...ok you talked me into it. Lotus Crown, 1 week. Really though, I'm not sure /why/ you want to die, since you apparently came pretty close one other time and clawed your way back but I'll be more than happy to oblige...stumpy."

 

Philokrates says, "Don't forget to bring your friends."

 

Azami catches at Davon's elbow with her cold fingers. Watch how the Solars in their native environment circle each other!

 

Dokuganryu runs his fingers through his windswept hair, watching the discussion cautiously. "Is there ever a day that goes by in this city without idiots bumping into each other?" He grunts.

"No sir," Jyra teases, "Idiots bump into each other every day in this city, sir."

"That is," she adds, "Why they're idiots. They keep bumping into each other."

 

Stilled Silence shrugs, "Will be seeing you. Now if you don't mind," she says, "I've some folks to talk to here not, to my knowledge, currently interested in ending my existence."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou turns his head a bit, "Hey meatbag, I don't care what you do on your spare time, but please no bumping in front of me. I just ate!" He looks to the others, "So are you two going to hack off limbs or not? I have a massage scheduled in half an hour."

 

Azami can't help but look at the skellington directly after the massage comment.

 

Dokuganryu turns to stare at the skeleton. "How in the name of the Unconquered Sun and all the Incarnae does a -SKELETON- get a -massage-?"

 

Philokrates nods quietly, glances mournfully at the waters that he can no longer enjoy, and jogs off for the city walls. He has much preparation to do.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou turns towards Doku, "Didn't your parents explain this stuff, kid?"

 

"A deep-bone massage, I think." Azami says in her thick northern accent."

 

Davon feeling the chill of Azami's touch, and the surreal nature of this spectacle puts her hand on his forhead. "Azami, that is quite refreshing of you, thanks"

 

"No. My father was busy getting shot in the head." Dokuganryu adds blandly. "It runs in the family."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou ahs, "Well that sucks." He then turns from Doku. Just like that. He looks down at Azami, "Nice accent, sweetcheeks. Icewalker?"

 

Dokuganryu, who has a similar habit, doesn't seem even remotely bothered by the skeleton turning from him. He sits down in a nearby chair.

 

"Shay, you just have a way of impressing people you know? Well me oh my, if I knew this many people were comming I would have packed a picnic" he says surveying the area. "Shay, your a little over dressed for this aren't you" as Davon begins to strip down from his suit.

 

Azami goes briefly to her toes, taken by surprise. A moment later her other hand delivers a sharp but light jab to the other Lunar's ribs. "Hey!" she complains, shooting him a dirty look. Tu-Yin's question gets her attention though.

 

"Sw... Sweet Cheeks? Excuse me?!" She flusters, blushing. Not that she has any idea what the Rivertongue colloquialism /means/, but she can guess. "Yes I am Ice-Walker. But not /sweet/."

 

"I tend to have that effect on people," Shay says absently to Davon as Phil runs off, "perhaps it is my pleasant demeanor. Don't you think?"

 

The lich waves its hand off to the side, "Yeah, Seal Tribeswomen were always rather cold fish. Get it? Seals and fish? I kill me."

 

Bountiful Wellspring of Joy bounds over to the other Lunars, examining them carefully even as Dokuganryu goes back to writing. The lunar mate looks intensely curious at the presence of other Chosen of the Moon, despite her own militaristic demeanor - she's still a Lunar, after all.

"Hello," Bountiful Wellspring of Joy offers.

"Somebody must've," Dokuganryu observes in Tu-Yin's direction.

 

Azami's eyes narrow to murderous slits of green fire. "Seals," she says, riled. "Are 'aquatic mammals'." SO THERE! HAH! She has /read/ the dictionary, yes she has!

 

Azami straightens and looks to Bountiful Wellspring. She cools a little, ears flattened back still and stubby tail switching. "Hello miss," she says, more politely. Curious as to the scrutiny of the girl.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou's bony brow inches upwards, as though the skull were raising eyebrows. The lich looks off towards one of his mute assistants, who shrugs. He looks from Davon to Azami and shrugs himself, "I think maybe that hyperactive fellow was confused about her being some great necromancer."

 

"Not hyperactive, just friendly." he yells over to the lich, still rubbing his sides. "Azami, why'd ou do that, you have a really cool touch and its a warm beach. I didn't mean anything by it." he looks at Azami a little deflated. He holds his hand up to Joy, "Hi, I'm Davon". as he finishes taking off his shirt. *Everyone can see he has moonsilver tattoo's in a fractal pattern, those with a MDV of 6 or higher see he has lithoderms on his spine similiar to that of a crocodile and has a large grin on his face*

 

Tu-Yin Zhou furrows his brow at the yelling, "I'm standing /right here/."

 

Dokuganryu sticks his fingers in his ears at the yelling briefly. "Noisy," he mutters.

"Hi. Bountiful Wellspring of Joy. Nice to meet you both," Joy offers cheerily, shaking Davon's hand. "I couldn't help but notice..." She gestures to her own Tell (undecided by her owner >.>). "You know."

 

"Meh," is all Stilled Silence can muster in disgust, and she walks out of the district with a determined look on her face.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou waves, "Later, jugs." Meaning Stilled.

 

Davon Timinus says, "Hello," Bountiful Wellspring of Joy offers."

 

Azami lets out a slow breath. Calm. Calm is what she should be looking for. "I," she says, in a controlled sort of way. "Am a Necromancer, yes. Better certainly than some cheeky skelington with shorts on."

 

The lich continues to grin with that furrowed brow, its usual expression, "So, employed? I could always use another 'mancer in my entourage." The two women with white hair widen their eyes, momentarily looking alarmed as they exchange glances. Turning about, seeing their expression, the Lich just thumbs over his shoulders, "You even have the curves for it. You'd fit right in." The two women glare now, folding their arms and tilting their hips to the side.

 

"Necromancers," Dokuganryu observes, looking over at Azami, green eye locking onto hers thoughtfully. He looks back down at the poem he's been writing. "Ought to learn how to do that."

"Sounds dreadful, sir," Jyra offers.

"Go fuck yourself, Jyra," Dokuganryu replies jovially.

"Yes sir. Would you like to watch?"

"..."

 

Azami very calmly says: "I've had better offers for employment from graveworms."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou clenches his fist, shaking it subtly, "Damn unions!"

 

Davon finnally putting together the conversations of the young boy and his entourage looks a little surprised. "I take it your his mate? Do the three of you flirt often? If so I think you have someone to me..." he looks as Azami is getting in a yelling arguement with a skeleton. "Azami, don't worry about him, he's just trying to get you riled. Care to talk?"

 

"He's my mate, yes," Bountiful Wellspring of Joy offers, narrowing her eyes at Jyra, "She's...the lieutenant." Joy slides her arms under her chest, crossing them in annoyance. "She's good at fighting, I guess. But I'm his bodyguard." Joy smiles at Davon. "More important than a lieutenant."

"I can hear you," Jyra notes.

"If I didn't want you to hear you, I wouldn't say it!" Joy mocks.

"Hnph."

Dokuganryu, meanwhile, seems to have tuned them both out, writing gods-only-know what.

 

Azami returns to her parasol, sinking down under it once more with a 'hrmph!' and rolling onto her side with her back facing the Lich and company. She opens her book again with a decisive THUD! of heavy pages falling open and tries to get back to reading. The soulsteel tattoos which mark her form in bold lines glow with her aggravation. "Talk later!" She growls at Davon, black-dipped lynx tail switching back and forth in a supreme bad mood. In fact, the air around her feels a good fifteen degrees cooler. "Damn cheeky skinny sons of oogie-boogies interrupting my studies sons of *muttermuttergrowl*"

 

"Whatever?!" Davon goes running towards the lake, leaping into the air. -Is that a yeddim- and a VERY large splash will probably rain down on those too close. Too close reading on the beach. After the splash the young man can be seen doing the backstroke.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou looks over the reclining Lunar, raising a bony eyebrow. One of his assistants lightly hits his arm bone, and the lich's eyes widen a bit as he turns towards them, "What?" Chuckling to himself, the lich reassumes its fearsome visage as he strides back towards its camp, the moonsilver item on his trunks never touched. "I like this town. I think we'll head South instead." The girls glare harder, and he sighs, "First to Sijan, /then/ South." The girls beam and begin to bounce slightly in their step. The lich just shakes its head.

 

Dokuganryu barely manages to close and hide his book under his jacket. "You -fucking moron!-" He snaps at Davon.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou tilts his head at the shout. Maybe there will be blood after all.

 

Azami instinctually rolls onto her book, protecting it though the water only splashes her feet (which are closest to the water). She lets out a sigh of relief.

 

"Unnattural. Water so warm," she says, shaking her foot a little in a particularly feline manner. Its all well and good, getting rained on. But she doesn't trust swimming.

 

Davon hffts in the water. He swims over to the young napolean. He turns his head to the lunar near Azami "I promoise I won't touch him". "Listen you little one-eyed freak. Stop insulting me just because you didn't get your fucking way." he sighs and wiats for the obvious retailiation.

 

Tu-Yin Zhou turns and ambles back on over to the two, the Sorrow of Fhelson chiming in, "Are you going to let him talk to you like that, kid? Women like pro-active men, you know."

 

Instantly, Jyra and Bountiful Wellspring of Joy are in front of Dokuganryu. Jyra's hand goes to her sword; Bountiful Wellspring of Joy's rage is blatant.

Dokuganryu settles his hand on their shoulder, staring at Davon calmly as he touches his eyepatch.

"You're nothing," he observes idly at Davon. "But a whipped dog. I saw you the other day." His lips quirk upwards as he sits back down. "And dogs can bark as loud as they like. It's just ambient noise."

 

Azami exhales softly. Looking around, she seems to consider finding a quieter place to read and study.

 

"Hey, I like you kid. Always trying to go for the gut, I mean sure it hurts alot to be tough all the time. But deep down jabs will always hurt others more than the wounds you have from defeat. Look here" he points at a scar over his heart, it looks as if someone with a hand made of 4ft sabers tried to applecore is heart out. "I got this when a monster far more horrible than your worst nightmares killed almost everyone I've ever known and loved. You know what happened to the rest of them? I killed them by trying to save them. So when your done playing general and your mate isn't here to protect you, we can talk loss. Till that day, you can keep your judgements of a lap dog to yourself." at that he walks over to the lich. "Hey, yeah, my name is Davon. Since my friend is too mad to talk to me about underworld, maybe you will"

 

That gets Aza to stand up. She dusts off the sand and jogs quickly to intercept any shady business on the skellington's part. "Davon, don't get too involved with such ridiculous characters," she warns. "For goodness sakes, he is skellington in shorts! Come on what do you want to know?"

 

"Playing general," Dokuganryu sneers, "Is that what you think I'm doing, you condescending little puppy? Go talk to me when you do something important. Too bad your family's dead."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou raises an eyebrow when the Lunar starts to approach him, but at the question, the Lich just shrugs, "Sure. Great place. You did the right thing killing those people, though you don't realize it yet. That beast would have consumed their souls, and if not them, ole Juggs who was here earlier." He gestures, palm up, "You saved them. You should be proud of yourself. But you could have done more. I could teach you, if you want. The Underworld isn't all bad." Serious now, the Lich has lost its joking-deadpan demeanor.

 

Azami twitches, and looks over her shoulder at Dokuganryu. Her full lips pull into a frown. That, she would seem to think, was a little out of line. But she doesn't stare at the man, averting her green eyes to return them to the younger Lunar. Waiting to see how he reacts.

 

Davon walks over to Azami, turning aside "Have fun playing soldiers boy, remember when they die they were just your troups dying in -valorous- combat. They don't have families or anything right." he walks further over to azami past the lich "Sorry man, she's got first dips, besides she's got a prettier voice". Just as he gets near Azami "Besides I'd rather have the noble life of a guard dog than one who sends people to their death for glory". he turns back to Azami "Thank you Azami, I'm sorry I splashed you, can I buy you a dessert and we can talk?"

 

Azami breathes a sigh of relief. "First," she says, nudging up her little reading specs. "Put your clothes back on." That said, she glances over at the Lich, raising her chin to meet the hollow gaze with a predatory gleam in her eyes. Nobody preys on young lunars under her watch.

 

Dokuganryu stands up. "One day, dog, I'm going to storm this city, I'm going to kill everyone you care about, and I'm going to see their blood run through my fingers, and when I'm standing over you, I'm going to -laugh-." He turns and gestures to Jyra and Bountiful Wellspring of Joy, "But next time you throw insults, how about you be prepared to take them back. Nothing worse than a spineless puppy who can't take what he dishes out."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou drops his hands to his side, his glass emptied during the fireworks earlier, "That kid keeps talking to me then walking off immediately afterwards. Is this an Eastern custom?" The two girls shrug mutely, and he turns to look at them, making them shrug again so he can see it. Looking back to see Azami staring at him, the lich holds up a hand, "Maybe later, Sweetcheeks. I've got that massage."

 

Azami's cheeks burn with anger.

 

Davon starts to put on his clothing piece by piece "Idle threats child, if you were so prepared to kill me you wouldn't stand behind your mate and your friend. And you can't kill the dead" he chuckles.

 

The one-eyed general nods at the lich. With that, he slides his book back into his coat, tugging the outfit back on.

"Sir, that's a bit-,"

"He didn't just insult me," Dokuganryu notes idly, "He insulted my father, his father, his father, and the fathers and sons of every single soldier in my army. Yours, too."

Jyra rubs her forehead. "Yes sir, but-"

"But?"

"A bit overkill for a worthless mutt, isn't it?"

"If he's willing to claim that I don't care about my soldiers," Dokuganryu snarls, "He's clearly stupid enough not to care."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou mmms as he turns away, "I think she was blushing. We should keep an eye on that one. Lets go hit the 'hotdog' stand. I'm curious to see what we can reanimate out of /that/."

 

Dokuganryu stands. "I don't care about the whining of a dog," he says calmly, moving around Bountiful Wellspring of Joy and Jyra, "But if you ever insinuate that I don't respect or care about my men again, I will cut you down where you stand. And I don't need my mate or my lieutenant to leave your guts all over the floor, you worthless cretin."

 

"You don't get to run and call me a freak, then whine when I call you a dog. It doesn't work that way, I'm afraid."

 

"Well," He amends, quirking his lip. "It does. But...only for -bitches-."

 

"You keep saying you don't respect my opinion yet you keep talking back to me. I think your a little divided on the matter kid. Whats the phrase "divided they are conquored"

 

"Frozen gods," Azami mutters. "But men will growl and hiss at one another when there is these 'shorts' visible."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou turns back around, his eyes widening out a bit from the perpetually 'evil' look, "Why is it every time I turn around a duel breaks out? Is this city enchanted?" He points at one of his assistants, "You, start mooning people. Lets see what kind of a ruckus we can cause." The woman's eyes widen considerably, and she looks uncertainly at her twin, who shrugs. The white-haired girl mutters and jogs off.

 

Davon barely parrying the young Solars sword with his sai, the last thing he picked up. He looks for a breif moment at Azami with a shrug. At he does a backflip over the young solar kicking sand over him the entire arch, landing to rake his back with his Baneclaw.

 

Dokuganryu's short sword slides back with practiced ease. He's not 'playing' anything - that much is clear by the light blazing on his head, the Dawn caste's insignia burned into his skull. "If you dare to insinuate," he snarls, "That I wouldn't put my own life on the line for any statement I made, every soldier in my army, every husband, father, son, every wife, mother, and daughter,"

The Dawn grabs the short sword with both hands, moving fluidly into a new stance and adapt to the new events, "Then I will force you to see the error of your words, you contemptible, honorless dog! I don't need anyone..."

He whirls, blade flashing in his own anima banner, "To kill you!"

 

Tu-Yin Zhou leans a fraction to the side, the Lich King handing his empty glass over to his assistant without looking at her, "Refill." The black bikini-clas woman fumes silently and carries the glass off towards their chair, towels, and cooler, while the lich cups his bony hands around his bare jaw, "Go for the eye! The eye! No, the one that still works!" Dropping his hands to his sides, the lich deadpans, "I love this city."

 

The serpent coils around the boy - no, the young man. It burns, bright like the sun, hissing and spitting like a dragon of Essence with every slash of the boy's short sword. "I will -not- fall," he snaps, "I will not die, I will not lose! I will not be beate-"

SLAP!

Bountiful Wellspring Of Joy's hand crosses his cheek, and the essence serpent breaks apart in a flow of essence. Dokuganryu turns from his foe to glare at her.

"You let him get to you again," she chides, "You let someone who shouldn't matter - by your own words - get your blade drawn. You lost."

Dokuganryu frowns. "I-...you're correct. I let myself be controlled by my pride." He flicks his gaze back at Davon. "I lost the moment I drew my blade, whether I won or not."

 

Davon Timinus says, "General, I promised your mate I wouldn't harm you and I did not. Watch your words and your pride, even in your concession of defeat you can't see me as an equal. If you would call me a dog then you call every lunar mate a dog too, I do what I do for mine, as yours does for you. I hope this lesson lets you know that not everyone is below you. Try treating someone with respect and you may gain a powerful ally." A that Davon looks over to see Pleasing Sweet Viper watching from a distance "Hey love!" and he runs over to her after giving Bountiful Wellspring of Joy a knowing nod."

 

Tu-Yin Zhou looks unimpressed. His assistant comes bouncing back, and he holds out a curled hand without looking at her. She slides the drink into it and he brings it to his jaw. Gulping down a few swallows that disappear into the blackness of oblivion, the Lich comments, "Ahh..." When it appears the fight is over, he shakes his head, "Solars these days. In my day the battle didn't end until one side was a pile of smoking ash."

 

Bountiful Wellspring of Joy flicks her eyes at Davon. "Be magnanimous in victory as you would in defeat," she notes to the other Lunar, "Or you just come off as condescending."

 

Dokuganryu simply makes his way back to his chair, sheathing his blade and kicking himself back onto the chair.'