THE DEVIL KEEPS GRINNING [P]

[Lyric Shikov]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 477px; height: 610px; background-image:url(http://i48.tinypic.com/255m62h.png)] The last month had not been shaping in Lyric's favor. From his initial argument with Kojak, to his rough beginning with the scouting party (Jed included), to Aurora injuring herself. It was not even the nature of the Menagerie that made his life difficult; on the contrary, his life outside had been just as hard, if not more so. It was merely due to the fact that old habits died hard, and Lyric was reluctant to let go of any of his previous lifestyles. The first of which was his seeming inability to succumb to authority figures. Hence the reason he was still a Tenderfoot. It wasn't because of lack of training. It was because most of Carna were spiteful, and very few of his mentors put up with him for very long. He had gone from apprenticing under a scout, to a hunter, to a scout again. Nola had been gracious enough towards him, and he had learned to temper his sarcasm, but she worked with Jed often. And the last few trips had ended awkwardly and with spiteful words passed between them. He knew something was going to break soon. He could care less, honestly. Someone was going to get pissed off enough to report him to a higher authority figure. It seemed as though today was the inevitable day. Lyric had bummed a cigarette off of someone in the sewers, and now he was smoking it at the entrance of them, sitting with his back to the wall. The sun was just rising and he didn't expect to be bothered for at least another thirty minutes. With that stated, he knew something was wrong when Kojak descended into the sewers, a purposeful look on him. The other Carna leaned against the wall beside Lyric. "C'mon, kid. We've gotta go meet with some people." Lyric didn't comment. He put the cigarette out on the concrete and followed his previous mentor. It didn't take them long to walk down the docks toward one of the old warehouses. It was one that didn't hold supplies due to the nature of it, which was disrepair. Lyric scrounged for some kind of emotion, such as apprehension, but he only felt indifferent. This seemed inevitable, and it certainly didn't frighten him. What was the worst they could do? He just wished that it would go over quickly. He had better things to do with his time. Kojak led him into the warehouse. There were two others standing there. He recognized the Scout, Jed. But the other face he had seen only in passing. Seija, Lead Hunter. Lyric had never spoken to her personally. He leaned back on his heels and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Kojak stood behind him. "Got him for you guys." He shrugged, but Lyric noted that he looked unsettled. He assumed he knew what this was about. Jed didn't want to put up with him any longer. Lyric turned his eyes to the Scout, raising his brows. "Ah. We're in elementary school now, yeah? I thought we didn't tell on each other." His smile was wry. "No hard feelings." The Russian turned to look a Seija then, his smile widening slightly. It was nonchalant, a devil-may-care smirk. "Guess you're going to punish me, right? Gonna have me clean latrines for a week?" He slouched, waiting for the verdict, whatever it may be. He knew he was already pushing his luck. But shit, why not push until it broke?

[SEIJA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height: 440px; background-image:url(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/DoomBunniBins/tables/inktbl88.gif)] Seija had got some unfortunate news that early morning. The sun hadn't even risen yet when she was approached by two figures while she was training her lackey, Natalie, she had picked up as a rogue. Sending her off to deal with the catch they had made that night she turned to the two men, her arms crossed and mouth set in an annoyed way. She hated being interrupted without good cause. Though apparently this was cause enough. Lyric Shikov, the Tenderfoot that had been a Tenderfoot too long, was causing trouble. Kojak and Jed informed her of the happenings that had happened with the Russian the past few weeks with her in silence. She didn't move an inch. This seemed to make them slightly edgy as she stood there when they finished, her thoughts processing this whole thing as she stood there before a impish smirk slowly spread across her face. Oh yes, that plan would have to do she supposed. "Bring him here," she said and as they both turned to leave she cleared her throat, "just Kojak, I need to speak with you Jed." The scout glanced to the hunter quickly before swallowing audibly and nodding to Kojak who only turned and sauntered away. She motioned for the larger man to come closer. He did so slowly, that of which annoyed her as she impatiently sighed as her hands moved to her hips. Vivid green and violet eyes studied him from between her locks as she held an annoyed smirk on her face. "It was not your place nor it was of your priority to engauge in an anthro coming across the border." "But.." "HOLD. YOUR. TONGUE. Until I am finished you have no place to speak before I do." "Yes, ma'm." "Jed, your arrogance has not gone past me, nor has it gone past Adison I'm sure. Though I am not your Lead, I trust that you heed what I say. Do not engage with others of your family or you will be beaten by your family. Also, next time there is a trespasser, bring her to one of us and we will deal with them. Do not misunderstand me, it is normal to teach trespassers a lesson but do not push your position or you will find yourself stripped of even the rank you possess and found on the bottom of the food chain." Her eyes had narrowed, although her smirk still remained; and given the process of her speech her voice raised and lowered with odd notes and tremors. The creepyness of it all making Jed shudder a bit as he lowered hi head slightly. "I understand, ma'm." "And STOP calling me ma'm Jed." "Yes ... sir." She practically rolled her eyes as she let off an odd little laugh, one hand moving up to comb through her bangs to smooth them over her eyes. Only a few moments passed before Kojak's voice fell over them and she turned to see Lyric in tow. Her face was neutral then, her new found vision taking in the Russian she had only since 'seen' with her tremor-sight; so she called it. She turned her body to face them, seeing the smug look on Jed's face out of the corner of her eye as Lyric glanced to him. She let the man speak his frustrations, obviously knowing the fact that the other didn't take kindly to others snitching on one another. She'd make note to turn her head if Lyric decided that Jed deserved a well deserved punch to the face. She particularly liked the Russian besides his I-dont-care attitude keeping him rankless in her eyes. "...punish me, right? Gonna have me clean latrines for a week?" She smiled slowly, the grin spreading to sort of mirror his own, though a little extra quirk on the side was her trademark look. It was un-nerving really if she stared down someone for long enough, her eyes just visible through a few locks of hair at this time. "Hyvää huomenta.." she spoke in a cool, lilting voice. "Toivon, että olet tyytyväinen itse, Shikov." She paused, blinking a bit as she remembered herself, having easily fallen into her native language as she cleared her throat before glancing to the other two. "You're obviously getting some type of punishment, though I wouldn't say physical labor is suited for you. It doesn't really do anything," she said as her eyes narrowed slightly, though the smile stayed true. OOC | Hyvää huomenta, good morning (formal). Toivon, että olet tyytyväinen itse, Shikov, I hope you're happy with yourself, Shikov.

[Lyric Shikov]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 477px; height: 610px; background-image:url(http://i48.tinypic.com/255m62h.png)] He eyed Jed for a long moment. He, in all honesty, had been waiting for this day when he was called to talk to some superior. His harsh feelings for the other man had not faded with time, and although he had grudgingly worked alongside Jed, it was always with the image of splitting open his face. Now Lyric tested his knuckles, the brittle bones popping in his knuckles from years of fistfights. One good punch, and he could have Jed sprawled out on the ground for what he had done. He noted that Seija had looked away, and it occurred to Lyric that she may let him do it. He did. It was a snake-quick motion, and the sound of his fist hitting Jed across the face filled the silence. Lyric felt the fierce pain in his knuckles, but it was worth it, because Jed hit the ground with a groan, his nose bleeding. Before he stood, Lyric spat at his feet. Jed clutched his face and groaned again. "Vam povezlo, chto ya ne rezhut vashe litso ot vas syn suka." He raised his eyes to Seija. His gaze was not uncertain. It was matter-of-fact, as though what he had done ought to have been expected. He didn't normally judge people on first impressions (or second, or third), but Seija's smirk had him all at once like he was a butterfly pinned to a board. It was the sort of smile that was meant to get under his skin, and if he was anyone else, it would have. As it was, his grin merely broadened, almost friendly in nature. She spoke in some language he was unfamiliar with, but he caught his name and knew that she was addressing him. His expression slackened into bored indifference as he assessed her, gauging her reaction. She was a slight woman, but he did not allow himself to underestimate Carna members, particularly ones of high ranking status. That, in itself, would be ignorance. She could obviously handle herself. And Lyric Shikov as well, it seemed, if Jed thought it would be suitable revenge to hand Lyric off to her. "The shame," he replied, raising a hand to run the hair out of his eyes. It was getting too long. "You sure though? I could rearrange your furniture." It was another idle comment. But she was right enough. Physical labor was a punishment that did little to Lyric. It made him wonder she thought would be sufficient, if anything. Perhaps she knew that there was very little to get a message across to him. Lyric did what he wanted to do, and short of his punishment being death, he wasn't all that apprehensive of her decision. "Do you know what Russians say? Nagonyay ne kuritʹ - ne budet razdrazhatʹ glaza. The scolding is not smoke -- it won't irritate your eyes." It was something Leena used to tell him, if he criticized her. He elaborated after a pause. "It means that hard words break no bones, if that is what you're planning." She could take it as she may. Lyric was merely implying that words would have about as many results as physical labor. But she was clever. She would not be in a higher position if not for that, and Lyric knew that he was likely underestimating her. Or maybe she was underestimating his depth of callousness. Punishment had never stuck well with Lyric, not even during his childhood. He had always seen it as a form of attention more than anything else. His sidelong smirk returned, lighting his tawny eyes with amusement. translations: "Vam povezlo, chto ya ne rezhut vashe litso ot vas syn suka - you're lucking I don't cut your face off, you son of a bitch.

[SEIJA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height: 440px; background-image:url(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/DoomBunniBins/tables/inktbl88.gif)] Her eyes merely counted the planks of wood in a crate off to her side when she heard Lyric move, felt him even, and grinned when she felt Jed hit the floor with a groan. Moving her gaze from the wooden box she laughed lightly before she stepped over to where the scout lay. She clapped slowly, only a little bit, as she walked, "Eläköön, Shikov ... Bravo." Giving a warning glance to Kojak as he moved to help Jed up, Kojak froze in his steps. She toed the scout with her boot after a moment of waiting for him to move. "Pääset vauhtiin." She waited a moment as her lips pulled into a frown. "Get. Up!" she said with a firm kick to his thigh. He got up alright. He practically sprang at Shikov, which he let out a disgruntled noise of surprise when he stopped mid-air as she grabbed him by the arm and yanked back hard to send him to the ground with a cry. It was a feat to see considering they all stood at least a good ten inches above her. As he came to his knees and he went to push himself back up her hand came around the back of his neck and pushed down. Jed grimaced as he looked to Seija from the corner of his eye nervously. "What Shikov did, you deserved for your smug look." Her grip became tighter as he tried to get away, lifting his hands to try and grab at hers. "And if you try to touch me I'll apply just enough pressure to rupture the C-1 and 2 of your spinal column ... leaving you a heap on the floor not even moving. You'll be a vegetable. Unmoving ... and only useful in death," her voice, as it went on, got lower and ended in a whisper as she bent over and came to place her cheek against his. Feeling his labored breath as she glanced over to see the whites of his eyes and the fear that sat within them. "Go. See a medic about your face, Jed." It didn't take but a moment for Kojak to move and walk away. Jed scrambled to his feet and jogged to catch up, holding his face. She looked back to Lyric, her lips pulling back over her teeth in a predatory way - even though she was such a petite little female in so many others eyes. She listened to him then, as he went on about some saying he knew in Russian. She almost yawned yet she kept her gaze on him, and let him explain it even though she did understand. It made men feel more confident when they could explain something it seemed, and she had plenty of time for interrupting him later on. Oh, they'd be spending some time together indeed. "Besides stating the obvious," she paused, smiling as she slowly strode up to him, her head tilting back and parting the hair that fell a bit back. Purple-green orbs glinted as her pupils dilated in the low light, "and by obvious I mean the fact .. that you fought family .. with the intent .. to protect one of non-family, you are slacking in any training required of you, and your associating with an anthro who came onto our land .. and my guess? .. is she was looking for you." She spoke slowly, her voice lilting and her head turning ever so slightly as her speech changed throughout her small talk. "No, you will not be cleaning. Rearranging furniture. Or anything of that sort," she said as she slowly tilted her head and grinned widely. A close-lipped smile that was smug and knowing as her tongue slowly rolled out to moisten her lips and she sighed a bit lightly. "You, Shikov. Are to be training with me .. and me alone." OOC | Eläköön, Shikov, Bravo, Shikov. Pääset vauhtiin, Get up.

[Lyric Shikov]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 477px; height: 610px; background-image:url(http://i48.tinypic.com/255m62h.png)] Bravo, eh? Lyric did not respond. He merely watched the fallen Carna, wishing that there was a little more he could do. What Jed had gotten was not a proper beating. It was humiliating, perhaps, but it was not a beating. Get up. Seija nudged him, and Jed lunged in Lyric's direction. The Russian hardly flinched. It would be easy to redirect the idiot's momentum with a sidestep and a shove to the shoulders--but Seija seized him by the back of the neck like he was a child. The threat was one that he easily overheard, and knew that she could deal out. It was interesting to see her discipline someone that had done virtually nothing wrong, aside from be... what, turning him in? Lyric felt that it would make more since for him to be in the other Carna's position, but he wasn't arguing. He flexed his fingers. He had hit Jed hard--the sort of punch that came up from the feet, through the hips, into the shoulders, and out the fist, his whole weight behind it. Lyric couldn't help but think that there wasn't much a medic could do about Jed's face, despite himself. The Scout was dismissed, just like that, but Lyric knew that the resentment he felt was not lessened. He had just been embarrassed by Lyric and the Lead Hunter. He looked at Seija's smirk, then, something that was animalistic in its own right. She reminded him of some of the fighters he had seen in Russian, despite her stature. Many of them had had that look. He was surprised, however, to see her eyes focused on him. He had heard that she was blind. The verbal lashing, something he had been expecting, came at last. Lyric stood without expression and took it, despite the flash of annoyance he felt at her choice of words. Aurora was more of a family to him than any of the Carna he knew. The thought surprised him, more than he would ever admit, and so did the thought that followed on its own accord. But that's only because you keep them at arm's distance. They would be family if you let them. Seija's cleverness was like a slap to the face. She was looking for you. Her heterochromic eyes fixed on him. Lyric stared back, his face impassive. It was the look he wore when something was getting to him, a complete lack of boredom or irritation or amusement. Like looking at a wall, Leena would say. Again, he felt as though he were merely a butterfly pinned to a board. She had him, and she knew it. "What does it matter, umnyy? She wouldn't endanger anyone." His eyes, for a moment, held something--it was a quiet anger. Aurora was his. "No, you will not be cleaning. Rearranging furniture. Or anything of that sort." She seemed content as a kitten with a bowl of milk, which couldn't be good news for him. He smiled ruefully at her next words. "Ya dolzhen boyatʹsya? Why am I not surprised?" Lyric leaned back on his heels to assess her. It was not as bad as he expected, although he knew that she must have more up her sleeve than that. "I guess that means I'm not allowed to sleep in late anymore," Lyric said dryly. "And since it's the break of dawn, I bet we have a long day ahead of us, don't we?" translations: umnyy - clever one Ya dolzhen boyatʹsya - should I be afraid?

[SEIJA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height: 440px; background-image:url(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/DoomBunniBins/tables/inktbl88.gif)] She was annoyed, simply annoyed at the fact that her team - or any Carna for that matter - had to go around tattling on others. If she wanted the information she would gather it herself or send someone out specifically. Narking was one of the lowest things on her respect level besides betrayal. As she went through her motions, standing less than a foot away from the tall male and not budging, she pondered the buttons he had; and how she was to press them. Tipping the psychological scale and letting others drift out of sink with themselves was always a fun thing to do -- and yet it was hard unless you found someone that was relatively untainted by life, or for the majority of the M population, the dome itself. "It's not the fact that she is harmless, but if we were always so pleasant to everyone who happened to be on the better side of one of our members and let them come into our home what does that say? It says that we will let anyone who looks innocent and acts innocent enough into the heart of our existence. Do you know how many good actors there are in the world? Two-faced bullshitters in this dome-hell who would love to tear us down from the core. I don't care about what you think about it right now, but I have been a part of this group for far too long to let just anyone come in and not be expected to go through some type of lashing, verbal or physical. It is the way that we do things Lyric, and everyone knows what is expected and what is done here before they join - so you have no excuse." She eyed him, letting her eyes trickle down his neck, shoulders, arms .. thinking of menial little tasks that she could possibly get at him with. He seemed the laid back type, though it was obvious his testosterone levels would make him fun to play with as well. She pondered this as she crossed her arms under her bust, a hand raising to tap her chin ever so lightly as she laughed, "Hmn! .. Mikä tekee sinun hulluja?" It was an airy sound of amusement as she slowly turned and motioned with her hand to follow her; it was obvious she said - whatever it was she said - questioningly. Although she seemed to more ask herself it since it was said a bit low and while she sauntered off and out of the warehouse - south towards retro territory. The sound of snow crunching under her boots seemed to echo off the warehouse walls as she went. "Et tiedä." she said as she grinned and moved to stretch her arms above her head and let out a sigh of pleasure and multiple bones shifted and crackled in a bitter, loud and obnoxious way before she strode to a lone crate where her weapons lay. She wrapped her chain whip around her body in an 'X' shape before clicking the ends together. Lifting her skinning knife from the spot it was she brushed her thumb over the edge before shoving it in the hip spot it had next to her ever-present three-bladed hunting knife. "We're going to grab some water and then be off, I hope you don't mind walking," she said with a glanced over her shoulder as snow began to drift down around them in the already whitened land. OOC | Et tiedä, You don't even know/You couldn't imagine. Mikä tekee sinun hulluja? What makes you mad?

[Lyric Shikov]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 477px; height: 610px; background-image:url(http://i48.tinypic.com/255m62h.png)] Her comment, an explanation as to why Aurora was not allowed in Carna territory, only made Lyric's shoulders slacken and the line of his jaw tighten. He knew the rules. He had known the rules all his life, and most of the time he could care less--but the difference was that, in the real world, the consequence was jail. And in the Menagerie the consequences was either death or banishment, and banishment could be a synonym for death. "I understand." He had to swallow his pride to say the two words, but he managed it--and he did understand. He understood it all too well, and that was what angered him so much about the situation--it was what drove him to all Rory a freak, over and over again, to lash out at her. He couldn't keep her. He was always forced to separate her from him. Lyric was familiar with the way her eyes assessed him, and he looked at her in an equal fashion, trying to figure her out. The "reprimand" he had received was not what he had expected. and in a way he almost felt cheated out of genuine punishment. A lashing would have been easier than whatever she was planning, he was certain, and this caused Ly to eye her cautiously. "Hmn! .. Mikä tekee sinun hulluja?" It was a question. He could tell from the tone of her voice, but he didn't know the language, which was annoying. He knew he did it to other people constantly, but that was... different. He wasn't the one who ended up confused. Lyric crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one leg, his brows raising as if to say, "Well?" He watched her as the commented in the same language and then walked toward one of the wooden crates, revealing several weapons. They seemed to be hers. Lyric let out a low, appreciative whistle and shook his head slowly. "As though you weren't frightening enough." He followed her, his gait reminiscent of a cat even in human form. The snow didn't bother him much. He tilted his head back and looked at the sky, suddenly reminded of the sky in Moscow, of the city in the wintertime, of the bitter cold. "I don't mind walking. Where are we headed, though?" He picked up his base to walk beside her, his gaze sidelong. He was suddenly thinking of Rory, wondering if she was alright. But he shoved this thought aside, because what could he do if she wasn't? Nothing. Just worry, and that would do him no good. She had caused him enough trouble, hadn't she?

[SEIJA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height: 440px; background-image:url(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/DoomBunniBins/tables/inktbl88.gif)] She grinned as she heard his low whistle and complimentary words with it, her eyes dancing in an amused fashion as she tilted her head back over her shoulder, her layer brown hair falling about her face in dry, straggled layers. The light snowfall only clung to her hair gently, melting into the dark locks to settle them down from the teased mess it usually liked to sit in. "Frightening? Well that's a nice compliment to start the day..," she said in a low drawl, chuckling lightly as she turned her eyes to follow him to her other side as they began their walk. Her tone spoke of mild sarcasm, though only light and barely noticeable, as if she were covering the fact that she might take it as a compliment, if anything. "South, Retro territory," she said after a moment of walking over to the water reserves, nodding to the male who saw them coming and turned to grab two containers of water. She grabbed them both and tossed one to the taller male in the moment she turned back around, heading south-west out of the city. She hadn't given the plan much thought, but she supposed menial things would work first, but she definitely wanted to test his boundaries. He seemed the sort to only hold his tongue around upper-folk so long, and this, she wondered about. She was fairly certain he was capable of just about most jobs, though she wondered how long he would last in torture. Things like that she always liked to think about ... and even do if the opportunity arose. Though she figured it would not, at least with Lyric, unless the other happened to betray the Carna in some fashion. As they began walking in the south-west direction of the mountain range, she glanced to him, reaching over to give him a playful shove as she laughed. "I hope you can keep up," she said with an amused grin before side-stepping away from him and out of reach of retaliation. "I mean, a big, strong man like yourself being able to hold your own. Well ... except with me you wouldn't," she said as her voice began to taint with a dark tone, though amusement in fun or in teasing was all the same to her. OOC | hope this is enough to stir up things some. Lemme know what you think! ^^ <33

[Lyric Shikov]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 477px; height: 610px; background-image:url(http://i48.tinypic.com/255m62h.png)] Lyric smiled thinly at her reply. It was honestly meant as a compliment, considering the fact that in the dome being "frightening" meant being alive. He caught the container easily enough, trying not to feel too apprehensive of where they were going. "Analoya?" Lyric questioned further, falling into step beside her. He was... well. He didn't know what to anticipate of her, and this worried Lyric some. He was used to be able to guess the moves of others, so to speak, and Seija was being a blank slate. He didn't know her well enough to play this game, and he felt like she would be watching his every move. You did this to yourself, he thought, annoyed. Why was it? Some pretty girl batted her eyelashes, and suddenly he forgot all of his old morals? The first of which was to watch out for himself? This punishment, whatever it was, certainly wasn't watching out for himself. Lyric brushed some of these considerations away, resolving to forget about Aurora. Or, if not to forget about her, then to learn to live without her. He'd be better off. He was pushed, quite literally, from his musings. Lyric's tawny eyes jerked in Seija's direction, a quiet fury burning in them, but he thought that the entire gesture might have just been baiting him. He regained his balance and resisted the urge to rub at the smarting muscle of his shoulder, where she had pushed him. "Oh, I'll keep up fine, umnyy." He put an over-exaggerated swing in his step, suggesting excitement. But there was a sardonic tinge to his expression. "And maybe you're right." He didn't argue with her. Lyric was many things, but an idiot wasn't one of them. Seija was a force to be reckoned with, but then, he prided himself on being one as well. He couldn't bite his tongue on this topic. "Although, I can't help but wonder how well you'd fair without the little presents the Keeper's keep giving you. Don't get me wrong. You're obviously very capable, but were you this capable outside of the dome?" There was no malice in his tone, despite the nature of the words. Contrarily, they were unemotional, like stating facts. Lyric glanced at her sidelong, gauging her reaction with his yellow eyes, before looking forward again. It was going to be a long day, despite the fact that each long stride he took closed the distance that much more.

[SEIJA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 498px; height: 440px; background-image:url(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x363/DoomBunniBins/tables/inktbl88.gif)] "Possibly ... somewhere near there," she said absentmindedly as she took a quick swig of her water, capping the container back up before attaching it to a heavy string around her waist. She could feel as if his eyes were on here, even though she wasn't looking at him, the faint 'feeling' of his body on the outside of her peripheral was an odd thing, having her feeling-vision separate from her 'normal vision'. She relished that she was already so honed to seeing without her eyes, only her advantage in battle with no one that knew. She wished she could see inside his mind, as he was a man of few words since she knew of him, and see what gear were working their way about in there. His facials were a bit backwards than the normal person's, and with this knowledge, he intrigued her even more. What was so special in his mind that he did naught to receive a rank? Did he think himself to high for them? Did he seek a better role like Beta or Alpha? Maybe even her position? She grinned at the thought, wondering if he would hit a girl. She already knew the answer though, her eyes glinting with mirth as they swiveled to meet his as this name in his native tongue fell from his lips. When he agreed with her, she frowned in disappointment, she shook her head with a few soft 'tsks' thrown in there. Though her ears perked as he began to speak, and the glint in her eyes darkened slightly even though a smile spread over features. She turned her head to look at him, her pace slowing a bit as her breathing slowed and she pushed her tongue out from between her lips, slowly running it over her bottom lip to moisten it as it curved to the corner of her mouth; her smile turning into an amused smirk. "Ei, en heikko," she said with a small shake of her head, a sad look flickered behind her eyes. "It is sad, komistus. I used to be so fragile outside of these glass walls. Sheltered and never let to make my own mistakes and reach my own potential. My sister always coddling me...," she said as she drifted off in thought before she shook her head, her expression loosing it's amusement with the thoughts she seemed to shake away. Without skipping a beat she swung her foot out in front of his to catch his gait and hopefully send him falling face first. As she felt his shin connect with her leg she spun back the other way, a small girlish giggle escaping her as she bounded forward only a few leaps before propelling herself atop a boulder. Turning on her perch to find him with her purple and green iridescent orbs that peeked through curtains of almost black brunette, a predatory grin spreading slowly. "What is this you call me, komistus? .. This Umnyy?" OOC | Ei, en heikko, No, I was weak then. Komistus, Handsome boy/Pretty boy

[Lyric Shikov]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 477px; height: 610px; background-image:url(http://i48.tinypic.com/255m62h.png)] Lyric did not dwell much on their destination. Sure, he was curious, but he was also positive that she wasn't going to give way to her intentions. They were heading for retro territory--why, he didn't know. This might have bothered another man, but it added a bit of intrigue to what would have otherwise been boring--he liked unpredictability. "Then you enjoy the Menagerie." Not a question, but a statement. Only a fool would dislike power, particularly when they had once come from weakness. He may have added more, perhaps asked a question about what she had said in that language of hers, but she stuck out her leg and promptly tripped him. He would have hit the ground hard, but he shifted as he fell, and instead hit it on four legs. He turned to look at her with a flick of his tawny eyes, irritated for the first time. Which is probably what she wants; she's just like Leena. That was a thought that he immediately ignored, as he loped over to the boulder. "If I told you, it wouldn't be any fun! Lyric replied, his voice taking on a sharper note as he leaped, with a coil of his powerful haunches (some of the most powerful of any feline). His hind legs hit the base of the rock, and he used his momentum to propel him forward a second time, with the intent of slamming soundly into her shoulders and sending both of them to the ground. Lyric was not one for pulling punches, particularly when one began to frustrate him. If she wanted a fight? Well, his claws were out, and his heart was beating at the promise of conflict.