Reviewing the Situation.... (Dimitri)

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri felt his attacks had hit upon somethign though to call it a weakness would be going too far. He admired her stubbornness in a way, a useful trait in some regards. Yet he felt her lack of ambition was somewhat strange, surely man always sought to better himself, to be resigned quickly led to the end, the thrill of maneuver and the desire to acheive was strong in young Dimitri.

He held the key out for her, keeping her restrained would be pointless now. He could never establish anything approaching an entente with her, she was too moral and filled with the milk of human kindness. "The Paladins wife and necromancer, I did in the end pick right did I not? Though perhaps there was never a choice anyway." He carefully unlocked the cuffs still wary that she would launch herself at him.

"You may support her all you wish Miss Eventide and she is not lost to you, she will be the same as before and you will shed tears when you embrace, but she will wear my band and be my wife, and only I will really make her happy." He smiled sweetly for a moment, "I have for her a love so fiersome you cannot comprehend it, love is at its most violent when wounded, she has anything she wants, wealth and freedom." He smiled, "Which of us can claim such things, a Duchess." He smiled, "My home lies deep within the city of the dark elves down below us Miss Eventide, I have such wonders there. Beings that have died and walk again, animals taken from the Naturan lands and taught how to behave in this world, giants with bulls heads and people of such peversions you would not beleive, your sister is part of my world now. She will ever walk in your vinyards and whisper in your ear, but ever shall you share such luxury with I." He smiled, "Tell her this happened if you wish Miss Eventide, yet you know as I do that it will sadden her greatly, and it will make me more terrible than any would ever beleive."

He watched her and moved to the window, casting a glance outside the sun was slowly retreating on the greay horizon, past the great mountains and into such wondrous lands beyond.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

Avrie stepped closer to Dimitri. She remained silent through his soliloquy. The brightness in her eyes was banked slightly, tempered, lost in her own thoughts. There were things she'd have to work through in her own mind, and in her own time. One of them was her sister's new station in life. Avrie had no doubts it was of Anora's choosing. None at all. There'd always been something in her sister that Avrie had shied from slightly, a darkness that pulled the two apart, casting Anora in the shadows and locking her soul in ice.

That didn't mean Avrie didn't love her though. Nor did it mean her twin would judge her.

It just made things harder. It made the bardess angrier too. Such emotions never tended to manifest completely in Anora, but Avrie felt them all passionately. It was her rage, and her need to step forward and wound this man... the man who in turn hurt her. She had nothing but her words, because she was in his domain surrounded by those he owned. Moving closer still, she raised her chin proudly, and spoke firmly but clearly. "My name is Avrie Drega. _Drega_, Dimitri. I picked him when I could have had you... because he makes me happy. He gives me what I need. He listens. He encourages. He sings. He fights and rides and has more honor and integrity in his little finger than you have in the whole of your ego. And I love him so much and so often I make him dizzy with it. I gave him everything, and you nothing. What has Anora given you? What will she ever give you? You won't make her happy, Dimitri. There's something in her that feeds her that has nothing to do with mundane people like us. She's broader more powerful and deeper than any of that. Regardless of what you give her... wealth, titles, power.... you'll never be able to have that with her. Ever... Because shes above that. So far above all of us its not even something explainable. I'm just sorry you think you can mold her and make her happy. First and foremost, your not smart enough, I can tell already by how little you actually know of my sister. And secondly... curbing our conversations together isn't a smart idea. We talk without words, we breath as one, we know each others hearts. You can't ever have that... nor can ou ever take it away." The Bardess hissed viciously.

Once the cuffs were lose, she tried to push her way past him... and out of the cell. She'd had enough of his games and indeed enough of his arrogant stupidity. It was enough to make her want to vomit... and even as she thought it, her stomach heaved.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri pushed her back softly, he did not intend to knock her from her fet not to really enrage her just to stop her going past him. "We are not finished." He spoke simply and with a smile on his face, she could get angry and he would remain calm in a way then he would win regardless. Carefully he looked at his little finger and nodded, "I was never big on integrity Avrie, honour has a certain place but I would override it, my singing voice is weak but lyrically I perform better, and I fight and ride well though perhaps not as well as Venn." He smiled and nodded, "Your points are valid that much is true, and I bet he is all the more wonderful that he picked you over his past lover." A little kernel of knowledge Dimitri remembered clearly, "Anora did not appreciate Venn that much then you know, strange how a man can have two women at once, or did he misplace his first?" Dimitri grinned showing those pointed teeth, "Took your maiden head first though methinks, oh what a libertine you are Avrie running around being a bard and being rebellious."

He took a step back, "Well times change, you cant be like the breeze forever, I can give my future wife wealth and power because I have worked towards it, I have put my efforts into improving myself so my wife the love of my life can live comfortably like she deserves to, and she in turn will give herself to me on our wedding night." He nodded to himself revelling in his unexpected role of conservative moralist, "She thinks and acts on a level above us Avrie that much is true, but who are you to say I cannot find love within her, I coax it out more each day and fan it slowly and hope one day to make it a fire that burns as brightly as mine, I work towards this with passion like I work towards everything." He smiled and resumed his talking keeping his voice constant and heavy, gravelly as it rolled from his mouth, "She has agreed to marry me despite knowing of my background, she counts this as her home now, she studies the dark arts under people of my choosing and she works on becoming something, on ebign respectable." He nodded carefully and resumed with a bite creeping into his voice, "You seek your place in the world, with your gypsy kind, she goes on such journeys with you for you and not for her, she hates this side of her, she hates the idea that she is a bastard like I am, and you bring it up at every moment, you strive to find such things and drag her along with you never protesting." Dimitri was practically snarling now and took a step back towards her and leaned his head closer towards her, "Truth is Avrie, I give her more freedom than you, I put her first above even myself and I make her feel like she has always wanted to feel, like a woman of society, not some wastrel bardess running around after fairytales and flickers in the darkness, for the sake of your sister grow up." Dimitri moved backwards and towards the door of the cage standing by it but leaving it closed for now, he wanted her retort first.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

She didn't buy any of what Dimitri was trying to sell her. Definitely, Dimitri had something going for him, something that Venn would never have, but it wasn't something she was interested in. The ability to spontaneously lie wasn't a feature she found desirable, no, not at all. Avrie wondered, suddenly, if Anora bought into his words, or if indeed her sister thought she'd save this man. Anora was too practical, Avrie decided. Far too practical by far. Was she using him then? To further her causes and get what she wanted out of life? Avrie didn't know... but she'd have a long talk with Anora, that much was for sure, when she got a moment alone.

The bardess sighed. "Dimitri, you might as well give up this cause now. I don't know what your trying to prove with all of this. You won't drive a wedge between my sister and myself. You won't get me to hate her, or to even question her ethics. I know who she is and where her heart is. There's no secrets. None at all. You won't poison me towards Venn. Really, I don't know why you even care. My life is none of your business, just as yours is none of mine. Anora is old enough to make choices for herself, just as I was when I left Cloudkiss. If I choose to be a bard, and choose to have the values I do, then thats my decision. But rest assured, it won't ever be something you'll be exposed too... either my bed nor my music. I'll give nothing of myself to you ever. Why? Because your a like a sink hole, a dry well that only sucks water down and gives nothing back. I want no part of it, Dimitri. None at all. Anora shouldn't either. If she does, I'm sure she has her reasons... and maybe just maybe you'll give back to her as well." She said gently, folding her arms across her chest, waiting. Avrie had never been a patient person, but with Dimitri... only Carmelya knews how long this would take or where it would go.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"You are like a little parrot shreiking the same message of glorious morality over and over." He nodded, "The world must be wonderful coloured as it is in black and white for you, I am bad and you are good, Anora is good but necromancy is bad, how delightful to be left with clear dichotomies and to be able to define the universe." He smiled and leaned against the bars by the door to the prison cell.

"I find it humerous and necessary to interject myself into the lives of others, consider it a service, I add the spark to your otherwise humourless existance." He nodded, "Perhaps you enjoyed being kidnapped for a moment, the rush and the thrill of adventure, I think your sister enjoys the unexpected." He paused and tapped his foot carefully, "I have the rest of the day free, and you are at my pleasure for now, why dont you sing for me? I always enjoyed your voice and your lyrical poise, you can even make it vitriolic and nasty about me if you like, I wont take much offense." He barred the door and his guards stood behind him, control was his for now.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

The bardess sighed. Was Dimitri simple? Surely he'd heard her words? No... perhaps not. She moved closer, her long black tresses unbound and her feet bare. Colorful skirts swayed as she moved forward until she faced him, inches away. She reached out, her arm draped in Air'riela bangles... and touched his chest, running her hand up his armor to tap his chin lightly. Though her expression was smooth, seemingly serene, her Eventide blue eyes were fierce... like a raptors. "Perhaps you misheard me. I only sing for pleasure... for those I love, and for those who's company I enjoy. Sometimes I even sing for a living, as my brother asks me to do in his winehouse. Since you bring me no pleasure, and I harbor no love for you... nor will I ever be within your employ... I'll never be singing for you, Dimitri. Never." Her smile was sweet, almost light hearted, but it didn't match her angry eyes, nor the coldness to her soft words.

She stepped back then, wiping her finger on her skirts as if it was covered with something distasteful. Then she waited, counting her breaths, feeling the walls close in a bit as he barred the door with both his bulk and his guards. Once more she wished for an Ambarando Line, or the ability to find the smaller less important fingers. Vortex was devoid of them, and it made her visit there all the more chilling. As they say, the ball was in his court. If he wished her to sing, or even dance for him... he'd have to find a more forceful way to do it. Bending her to his will wasn't something he was going to accomplish just by verbal threats. She was an Eventide, and they rarely backed down.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"One thing annoys me above all others, that is misplaced confidence. I stand here with two guards at my back and have you trapped in a prison cell and you scold me like a little child, I find that deeply infuriating." He bit his lips gently and spoke further, "You hold no love for me, you will not sing, you are a canary trapped in my cage and when I ask you to sing it is wise to sing, but you will not. So be it." He grinned carefully and took a step towards her, ready for another attack.

"Do you know, I have reached a wonderful conclusion. Feth to your sister, I may loose her for all I care, but this is too delightful and opportunity to miss." He moved quickly, remembering his training in irionically Natura, in Vega's temple, the hand to hand fighting he had learnt there had taught him well. he aimed the back of his hand resplendant with hard metal rings towards her cheek, it was not a light playful shot, it had force and he had every intention of knocking her down, of making her spew deep crimson vintage from her pearly lips. Then she would wail and to him that would be the most glorious singing of all.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

She simply hadn't expected it. In Avrie's world, a man's word was like a piece of his soul, steadfast and always there. The bardess knew for certain Anora had Dimitri's word that Avrie and Venn would be left unmolested... just as Anora had Avrie's word that Avrie would try to let peace happen between the two families. The blow was from nowhere. Once moment the man was standing calmly, stoically speaking with him. The next moment, he'd backhanded her with the force of hard metal behind his blow. Avrie had never, in all her life, been hit before... and certainly not like that. She went down, her head ringing before she even knew what hit her. One moment she was standing before him, the next she was sprawled on the floor in front of him, cheek darkening to an ugly black, white teeth red with crimson.

Wide blue eyes looked up at him, shocked and angry. She held her breath, pain exploding in her head from the blow, simply too stunned to move for a moment. Avrie didn't remember the fall. She was simply one instant standing, and the next laying upon the flagstones of the cell. But Gods it hurt... and her eyes teared up involuntarily with the sudden pain even as she finally took a breath, then another.... tamping them down. His reward of tears didn't come. She held them back, blinking rapidly, and slowly eased her way to her feet without saying anything at all.

Blood pooled in her mouth, coppery and sweet. She let the rage come, because it damped the sharp pain in her head, and she spat the blood upon him, defiantly. "Beating me won't... make me ... sing." She said softly, anger infusing her words.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Many men would strike out in anger, they would be down on their knees apologising and trying to make amends. Dimitri merely stood but he could not contain a large smile that spread across his face. Still he was not one for wasting time. He allowed her to move back and dropped into a stance, his fists were moving gently, one by his face the other by his side, he moved from side to side carefully.

"Do you know men are supposed to have a naive chivalry towards women, yet we all know women control men, women manipulate men. Perhaps I shall start a wave of fighting back." He smiled and circled her slowly wanting to get a clean blow in on her, "As for the singing, it is over-rated, that was my nice request, I have other wants now I have thrown caution to the wind." He paused and let her assume the worst for a moment, "Do you know I am very virile, I have fathered some children with only a single encounter with an unwilling woman, perhaps a few little Wladisyaw's will bloom in that pretty belly of yours Avrie Eventide Drega." He mvoed in now trying to approach from the side his fists drawing attention. An old trick his real tactic was to swing out a leg and catch her behind the knee, sending her down permanently he hoped.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

She stared at him as he circled her. Memories flooded her mind... old grandmother Beatrieaz insisting she learn Ataa... insisting she learn the Talvia. There'd been no time then, with Nicolezsa's death so fresh and so many new relatives crowding around her. Avrie had promised to return and sharpen her skills so that she wouldn't be defenseless in situations like this. Grandmother Chumomisto had known though. Avrie was certain. Venn had taught her sword, but that did little good without her Katana. Luca had taught her the ways of the Ambarando, but there were no great lines of life crossing the face of Telath here. Here, it was just her against him... against Dimitri and physically she couldn't win. It was a bitter taste in her otherwise proud visage. It was a twist of irony that left her furious. Guards at the door and a single man beating an unarmed woman. Such things shouldn't exist in the world.

Avrie spat more blood.

She had to think. Clara would cost her ten minutes... perhaps fifteen. How long did it take a man to rape a woman? That long? She had no idea. The only experiences she'd had was with Venn and sometimes they took all day... sometimes just a brief laughing instant. "It's only flesh... empty flesh...." She told herself suddenly, keeping her eyes on Dimitri. His words rang empty on her fury. She wasn't afraid of his body. She wasn't really afraid of his fists. It was pain, but he couldn't really do much other than hurt her. He couldn't own her... not like he wanted too. Just like he couldn't own Anora... she suspected this was what this was about. Anora, not her.

Avrie sneered and went down with his sideswipe behind the knee, but she didn't stay down... instead she lunged for him as she fell, rolling and hitting him as hard as she could trying to bring him down too. If she could bring him to the floor, her fingers turned into claws aiming for his eyes, his nose, anything she could wound with her nails. She'd even use her teeth if she could.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri as usual did not expect the fight from Avrie that she showed, most women stayed down when he hit them, many rolled over and closed their eyes. This little vixen would fight to the end it seemed. She struck him in the stomach and he felt some of the air roll out of him, still he had his mind about him and quickly wrapped his bear like arms about her hindering scratches and cuts.

The orcs by now had entered the room but Avrie if she wished could sink her teeth into his shoulder, the flesh was bare and it would hurt him that much was sure. Regardless with two orcs grabbing each of her arms now her chances seemed remote. Evidently Dimitri did not intend to fight her anymore, rather the battle would be fought on more uneven terms.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

A sensation filled her, something she thought perhaps had to do with her Air'riela blood, but perhaps not. Later, much later, she'd take the time to examine it, review the situation and try to discover for herself what it was. But she felt somehow filled to the rim... somehow very very close... to the cougar she had been so afraid of. It was as if the essence of the cat, or a sort of cat spirit filled her. It was easier to fight, going down, feeling Cougar so close to her, than it was to be Avrie in that moment. It was as if she knew what was going to happen to her, and somehow it'd be far more bearable if it happened to Cougar and not to the bardess herself. And so it was the cat... the big tawny cat that Avrie always felt inside... that lunged like a predator and brought Dimitri down with her. It was the clawed and sensuous creature that sunk its teeth into his shoulder all the way to the bone. Dimitri's blood would have sickened Avrie as it poured into her mouth. But when Cougar bit down, attempting to rend flesh from bone, it was a sweet natural sensation, and she kept clamping harder. Had her teeth truly been Cougars, she would have torn his shoulder apart.... but her teeth were only blunt Avrie's... human and inadequate for doing more than only minor damage... damage nontheless that would scar.

She wondered, the still human part of her that was hiding in the back corner of her mind letting Cougar fight for her, if this was what madness was all about. It felt powerful and embracing. A part of her almost felt she could loose her Avrie shape if she knew how to tap the essence truly, and become something else, something far more deadlier to Dimitri. But she was ignorant and bound to the flesh she was born to.

Cougar fled suddenly, leaving only Avrie as two giant Orcs hauled her off Dimitri. She must have looked quite the sight... gypsy, mouth filled with blood, lips bared, hands forming claws that were ineffective, and eyes glittering with a near madness. The Orcs knew the drill, especially with Dimitri and his numerous women. They pinned her neatly up against the wall, so professionally, so strongly, that she couldn't hardly struggle. She glanced from one to the other and realized with a sick sort of knowledge that they were excited and delighted by her fight. Their hands weren't impersonal on her, but rather invasive, as if they anticipated Dimitri throwing her to them once he himself was done.

Bile rose in her throat, causing her stomach to heave. Part of it was the Cougar's withdrawl and Avrie's full awareness of a mouth and probably a stomach coated with Dimitri's blood. It caused her senses to heave.... coupled with the ripe raw smell of the orcs... who were less than clean. She tipped her head forward and wretched until the blood was free of her stomach and free of her mouth. The taste of bile was far more comforting than the coppery sweetness that was Dimitri. Though she couldn't move, she was grateful that her head was free enough to get the job done.

Then she looked up at Dimitri and the ruin of his shoulder, and smiled slightly, a nasty feral smile. It was worth it... by and large worth it. And she'd do the same to other parts of him, if he chose to touch her with them.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

(OOC; Doing a magical asumption if impossible without mod pm and I will edit)

"Another scar, you naughty little damsel." He smiled through the pain as he stood, his right arm did not move correctly and he clutched at the wound carefully as he grimaced. Slowly he knelt and began to enter clara, carefully he began to draw the strands of magic about him. The life that flowed from all things, from the girl, from the orcs and from the very air itself. He bagn to collect the strands and later them upon his wound that gushed life as he moved, slowly and slowly he layered and hoped the flesh would return and quench the bleeding. It was a spell he had performed before but not to this scale.

When completed with but a simple scar in place he turned his eyes back to her, "You know what Eventide, I am not going to tup you this day, I would need to wash you first, wash the holy manhood from you, and you would bleed, I am no fan of such mess." He chuckled as he walked towards her, "I wonder how long I can keep you before I throw you home? Three days I would guess, three days of fun we could have." He paused, "So Venn has his religion, Anora her quiet habits, you your music, you know I think torture is a wonderful hobby, and with that spell you just saw, I can cut you up and heal you and start again, pain upon pain upon pain." He tensed for a moment and then sent a slap with the back of his hand at her face again, and then another sending her head the other way as the orcs held her up.

"I find it amusing, on your face what blood is mine and what is yours?" He laughed at his joke as he watched her bleed and writhe before him, "So do you want to sing a nice song for me or shall I pull out your toe-nails first?" He grinned and flexed his lithe fingers fully ready to make good his threats.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

The bardess was starting to think he enjoyed it... the pain she caused him... the pain he gave her... that was the battle. They were fighting a war, she realized. It was one of wills... who would break first. Would his fear of what Anora would do if she found out fill him before Avrie's fear of pain and rape ... or could she drive him mad with her stubborn refusals. But none of that was what Avrie was really afraid of. She was afraid of pain... terrified of it for sure, and scared the Duke would force her as well. But what she really feared even more was that she'd truly start hating him... and in hating him she'd blame Anora for Dimitri's place in their lives.

And if Avrie hated Anora... then she hated her other half, and in doing so would hate herself. It was a strange circular thinking, one that was very damaging... but it was a means to keep her sane, even as green clawed hands pinned her to slimy stone walls and Dimitri's words echoed through the stone chamber. She hated his words... and pressed further against the wall, not doubting a bit he'd do it. Orc claws tightened on her shoulders and arms, holding her firm.

A part of her, a very dark part of her, watched his ruined shoulder and rejoiced in it. It was a bitter pill that he healed himself... he was a mage? She hadn't known that. She hadn't known at all. Her eyes widened as the wound closed and her heart sank as his words filled her ears. The sharp crack was unexpected, and bloodied her lip, causing her own crimson life to mingle with the stain on her chin and neck where she dug had deeply into his flesh with her teeth.

It took her forever for the pure blind pain in her head and jaw to recede enough to allow her to swallow, turn, and answer him. "You'd better start pulling them out then, because I will never sing for you, Dimitri." She said softly, and closed her eyes. She wanted to reach for Clara, but there was no time. He knew the game, and kept the distractions coming... the painful cracks to her face and the terrible words that painted visuals in her mind that would haunt her long after he left her sight.

She wasn't afraid of him. She was afraid of herself and loosing who she was within his grasp.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"Avrie Eventide, so beautiful and so damaged." He paused and looked with a sickening pride at his handywork, "You know how many people I have killed with my bare hands, it is over ten if that is any clue." He grinned, "Keldon Elsdragon tried to take me away to trial once for rape and many other lovely crimes, I escaped his camp and killed six Imperial soldiers." He moved formward in a moment slipping his hands to the side of her face, his thumbs moved carefully over her eyes and hovered.

"I held their heads much like this and pressed with my thumbs, and it sends their eyes back into their skulls and when I squeeze enough I crack their skulls and ruin their brans." He paused, "I never think of them, I just kill, it is easy for me, I long ago found the part of me that was never really retained by society, by civilization, the horrible instinct that drives men." He paused, "I was threatened so I killed, that is natural."

He did not press with his thumbs but gave her head a little squeeze, it would not hurt her really but it showed his power over her. His knees were together ready to block any attack from her legs and for this moment he felt his control ooze over him like a great black cloak, "