Cold Hearts IC Thread

[Mello]

December's face suddenly shifted into a sad, haunted expression. He stared into the depths of his wine.

"Yes... that's all we can do really, get on with it." he muttered.

Shaking his head as if to wake himself, he leant down to open up the drinks cabinet to retrieve the wine, pouring Jan a not hugely generous portion.

Looking at her seriously this time, no glitter or disguise, he handed her the glass.

"Sometimes you need to live on your own Jan, you don't have to be with me all the time, I thought all our time apart would have shown you that at least, yet you spend every living moment trying to find me."

He turned around, and sat down in his lavish chair, crossing his slender legs elegantly.

"So, you finally have me, now what are you going to do?" he said, gesturing fluidly with his hand.

"This was your dream, so now what? Or have you not thought past that?"

 

[The Archivist]

Jan twitched an eye.

"Brother, you know that of our brood only you and I were anything but worthless. I searched for you because of loose ends, of uncertainty: had I known you lived, I would have happily gone my own way, but you left no sign, no clue. Had you betrayed me? I would not believe it. Had you died? I could not believe it. Were you scared? I should not believe it."

She stood, refusing to sit, glass left where it stood.

"Do you forget that we had plans for revenge? Do you forget my skill with a broomstick - a broomstick - and of your own skills with a pen? Do you forget the torture suffered at the hands of the family, the snivelling acceptance of our siblings and the pains we took to kill them all? Do you forget how I convinced a Witch that I was still our 'owner', or how you painstakingly drew copies of the sigils of madness to terrify the family?"

She withdrew a metal canister from a pocket, opened it and dumped it in her glass. The wine froze instantly, the glass shattering but stuck to the ice.

"I became an assassin because it was what I wanted. The Cold Hearts. 'With cold hearts of stone we leave the hearts of our victims cold'. The puns, the acting, the numerous roles, dead drops and stashed costumes across the city: this was all me! I did not search, I left messages; I did not pine, I waited patiently."

She finally leant against the wall, anger spent.

"I knew you for your intellect. I hoped that you and I might work together again, if not in the field then at least with contracts and such. I feared that you would come from the shadows, strike me as an enemy. Now, I ask you: why have you broken your silence?"

 

[Mello]

December smiled a very familiar smile to January, the satisfied one of a plan being born.

"Very good, I'd hoped you'd be as to the point as ever. Nice to see things don't change."

He slowly reached forwards and plucked the nearly broken glass from Jan's hands.

"I plan on killing.... The ruler of Karond Kar" and with that he flicked the glass, sending pieces shattering everywhere, the shards reflecting in his glittering eyes.

 

[The Archivist]

"Cool."
January smirked slightly.
"I guess that finally explains what you've been doing for so long. This sounds like the challenge of the century. Do you have a plan or do you want me to see which of the rest of the Cold Hearts are at your disposal first?"

 

[Mello]

December smirked likewise, rolling his wine

"Indeed, this is certainly a task I need help with, at least numbers wise."

Standing up, he pulled a hood over his head.

"I assume you can take me to them?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Returning to the hideout, Arkeith glanced around and frowned.

"Indoril's not here yet nor is Mythas...damn, well hopefully they returns soon enough." he said with a sigh.

Glancing at the Executioner, and feeling some relief at seeing the captive was still unconscious, he gestured to the ground.

"Throw him down anywhere around here." the knight asked absently whilst looking around "I have never had any skill with torture, I'm more likely to kill him than get questions out of him. Father always told us that it was the fear of torture that made them speak not the action itself."

The druchii crossed his arms over his chest "Did the temple ever teach you any interrogation techniques?"

 

[Malochai]

Indoril entered the cave soon after Arkeith and the Executioner, scowling slightly. "I see we have a visitor ... Am I allowed to have some fun with him?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith looked unseemly pleased to see Indoril.

"If you can make him talk then please work away. I want to know what they did with Jan."

The highborn smiled coldly "And if he doesn't know...well...then he's of no use to us so do what you will."

 

[Malochai]

Indoril seemed surprised, but regained his composure in less than a second and nodded, a foul, indulgent smile plastered on his face. "With great pleasure, Arkeith," he murmured in reply, before striding forwards, a knife having seemingly launched itself into his hand.

The dark elf sharpshooter and amateur torture expert crouched over the prone, unconscious form of the prisoner and grinned malevolently, before placing the tip of the blade beneath the accomplice abductor's clothing and dragged it downwards, leaving pale elven flesh of his chest unprotected from the distinct chill of the cavern.

Happy with the canvas he now had, Indoril decided it was time to wake up the fool who had allowed himself to be captured, rather than killed. With a delicate prod, he forced the knife into the flesh of the elfs inner thigh, smiling angelically, forcing it deeper until he stirred, eyes blinking dully in confusion.

"Wakey wakey, friend. I have some questions to ask you,"

 

[The Archivist]

"Let's go. If I know them they've already found someone to hurt to try and find me."
January fastened up her cloak and gestured December to follow her.

Once outside, January noted where they had come out before hurrying towards the docks. December following, she asked him to cover his eyes for a while whilst she took him to the base, before descending into the tunnels.
As she reached the entrance to the cave she called out in a loud voice.
"I'm baaack! And I've got someone I'd like you to meet."

 

[Mello]

December chuckled melodically and his eyes glistened.

"Nice... hideout?"

His cape sweeping behind him he started glancing around the place, taking in all sorts of details.

-----

Mythas looked up from Sylvia's feathers and frowned.

"Who do we have here?"

 

[Zephyr]

Kelarith had stepped back and let Indoril take over the interrogation. Glancing back at Arkeith he said "No, torture was not something we are allowed to enjoy. At least not in the way you would know. Obviously some of us still...struggle with those urges but our main task is in the act of killing itself. We strive to be tools for Khaine, nothing more. Complete...devotion."

The executioner shook his head, he never talked much and if he did he knew it was hard to explain to those that lived completely for themselves.

He drew his Draich quickly as January called out and a stranger stepped in with her.

 

[Malochai]

Indoril dropped his knife when January called out, drawing his crossbow from his back and ramming a bolt home, bringing it to his cheek and aiming it.

"You bring another here? What's wrong with you?" he barked, eyes a glitter with rage. "Who's that, and why shouldn't I put an arrow through his eye and into his brain?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith nodded, he had a terrible and dangerous fascination with the executioners of Khaine which had lingered long after his short...experience amongst their ranks.

Had he been lower born or simply not an eldest son he might have walked the same path as the intimidating figure before him.

The Druchii couldn't help a self-deprecating smirk touch his lips at the thought of becoming something so...righteous.


Hearing Jan shout out the knight turned and raised an eyebrow seeing the stranger enter, the highborne's response was somewhat less drastic than the others as Arkeith simply crossed his wrists and rested them lazily over his longsword's hilt.

"Well...we won't be needing him anymore." he said with a glance at their captive before turning back to the new arrivals.

"I have to say Jan, you are looking in remarkably good spirits for someone who was up to very recently presumed kidnapped." he stated sarcastically smirking at her "Who's your impressive looking friend?"

 

[Malochai]

Indoril gave Arkeith a sidelong glance, then slid his eyes back to the intruder with January. "Cut his hamstrings; just don't kill him. I'll want him to torture, seeing as he's already here."

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith sighed and give a shrug as he turned around.

"First thing's first." he said as he slowly unsheathed his sword seeing the utter terror in the prisoners face.

The knight drove a swift kick into the captive's side causing him to roll into a fetal position, as soon as he did Arkeith's blade flashed down in a lightning swift slash down the back of his closest leg.

The pained figure screamed until the highborne rolled his eyes. "Oh have some dignity!" he snapped driving a boot into the elf's temple knocking him unconcious.

Arkeith pulled a cloth out that was tucked into his sword belt and rubbed the blade of his longsword as he walked back to his original position.

"You never know, the fool might have tried something." he told Indoril as he transfered his gaze back towards Jan and her...friend.

Arkeith began to walk over to Jan and the new elf, being careful to stay out of Indoril's line of sight.

 

[The Archivist]

"If you didn't object to Shavael, don't object to December. If you do, I'll give you the cold shoulder."
January snorted before composing herself.
"Jokes aside, December's my brother. Before you ask, I killed ten siblings, not eleven, and I haven't seen December since. He's intelligent, cunning and can't tell a joke if his life depended on it. He's also got the job of the century for us, so listen up."
She paused just slightly too short for any response to be made, then gestured melodramatically to December.
"Brother, please take the floor. I much prefer rugs. Oh, and watch out for Indoril, he gets cross with a crossbow."

 

[Malochai]

"I'm relatively sure that I did object to the fool; either way, he was always going to die easily. He proved a useful distraction to both guards and beast," Indoril said, and then gestured at December. "This one ... He looks dangerous. Much more so than the Fool. I do not trust him.
"And if you have not seen him since you killed your siblings, how do you know he's truly your brother? You yourself are a master of disguise - maybe this is, too, and has tortured information from your real brother..."

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith stood off to one side of December, the side that Jan wasn't on, with his sword leaning against his shoulder.

He tilted his head with a slight smile.

"I think everyone objected to Shavael, nature itself objected to the man." he said jokingly before December could speak.

"Also I have to say, of all the types of people I'd say would be a good idea to bring back here the bottom of that list would have those who are intelligent and cunning." he added lightly still not sounding serious.

As he spoke he glanced to the side at Indoril to see what the highborne was doing, if the other Druchii planned to attack then the knight would back him up.

 

[The Archivist]

January looked at them through half-lidded eyes.
"If my brother wanted to find this place I doubt he would be hard pressed. I'm about the only one who actually tries to be stealthy, and the pier is hardly in cover."
She looked across at December.
"As for whether he's an imposter, I have no doubts this is my brother. If he weren't, he would have slipped up: I know December better than any other elf alive."

 

[Malochai]

"We rule this city through fear," Indoril growled, "We have no need for complete stealth!"

The elf spat, and relaxed slightly, although he was still at the ready. His trigger finger twitched slightly, but he suppressed the urge to shoot December through the gelatinous eye where he stood. "Say what you will, and then I will decide whether you deserve to live."

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith shrugged and stepped back slightly to put more room between himself and the newcomer, he sheathed his sword.

Folding his arms he watched December closely.

"Alright." the knight said with a smirk "Dazzle us."

 

[Mello]

December drew his hood down, his passive face scanning the faces before him. His eyes rested on Indoril

"So you must be Indoril then. You know you're almost as easy to find as Mythas." he chuckled

"A rich highborn who has access to poisons and loves to use them on the same group of people in the same brothel, week in, week out." he shook his head sadly, a sinister smile across his face.

"You know the whore you always wished you could bed? She didn't even scream. I give her credit." he giggled, almost malevolently.

"I don't know what time it is down in this cave, but the brothel will probably have burnt down by now."

"So once I had found Indoril, all I had to was watch him and I found all of you."

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith chuckled softly at first, hearing the newcomer mock Indoril, but despite his apparent humour the knight was concerned.

December knew far too much about Indoril's activities and the highborn wondered what information he had gathered on the rest of them.

Under the cover of his cloak the knight's hand rested on one of his many, many knives as he smirked at Jan and her brother but kept an watch on Indoril from the corner of his eye to see how the other noble would act.

 

[Malochai]

Indoril glared back with mild interest on his face, smirking slightly. "If I'm so easy to find, December, why is it that you only now know my face to be mine?" Oddly, the Druchii's tone wasn't angered, or indeed anything beyond inquisitive, before smiling indulgently.

"I have never claimed to be easy to find unless I aim to be. You would not have been able to track me across the mainland; here, I have no reason to hide." A faint shrug. "Clearly, you do not know how seriously the Madame of said establishment took the procurement of her stock - a new girl every time I visit. Granted, I have some favourites who I highly ... Reward. The others give me hours of my own entertainment."

He smirked right back at the obnoxious elf, and replied snidely. "December, you wish to get to me, but it won't work - at that brothel, any woman I wanted was mine! And even if there were, they all scream when I practise my Art. Clearly, you have severe failings to overcome in your own work."

Another almost imperceptible shrug came from Indoril, and he made a face to show how little he cared. "New brothels can be found, new stock can be purchased." A pause. He lowered the crossbow very slightly, before lifting it up. "But I will tell you this much. We will not allow you to interfere with our business interests."

His finger squeezed the trigger slightly. A bolt crossed the cave in a flash, passing so close to December to ruffle his hair. "I missed purposefully. Interfere again, and it shall be through your eye.
"Now, if you want our help, get on with your damned proposition!"