Gunblade Retreaval

*she looked up startled. For a second she looked like what he was talking about...just a coincedence maybe, that choice of word. But Alyss' expression turned a bit angry*

Of course I didn't fail! You're not that hard to beat Mr. Silverclaw.

*she then placed the headphones back upon her neck, without another word*

He smiled to himself. Her initial expression was all he needed.. "First, you may just call me Skye. Second, I believe I was the one who beay you. However, you still did marvelously in my opinion." He still saw that he was tense. "Look, I mean you no harm, can you calm down and lighten up already? You're a Nightmareian now, fighting's what everyone should expect."

Still. You make it sound like all Nightmarians are to be cruel and pointless in their fighting like you...

*either way, her body relaxed a little. She did need to calm down; even with the chamber healing, her body felt a bit worn and beat. She could feel herself weaker than she was yesterday...perhaps even weaker than in the fight she had with him. She felt...alive when she fought this mysterious man, the energy rushed through her like a sparks*

But if it means I have to fight endless people like you so be it. I'm grown fond of...

*she held herself back from saying it, and paused for a second*

...Fond of Nightmare and its people.

"People like me, huh..." He leaned back in his seat, she clearly was not going to give in that easily. Exactly the opposite of his intentions.. Well, there was no avoiding it now; he'd have to tell her his motives...

"The one. Don't fail, Alyss Frey... Sound familiar?"

Those words. I know of them. Where...did you hear of it?

*she hesitated, hand on her left headphone. This person was full of surprises...how would he know? She suppressed saying "How do you know", it seemed to eagar. Aylss watched him though, still listening to a soft melody from her headset*

As always her expressiong told a whole book of tales. All the information he needed... "These have been my thoughts since meeting you, and somehow they've been transmitted through that device of yours. Strange contraption.." He rose, pacing casually about the lobby floor. He was completely calm for once, taking a break from his usually maniacal personality..

Your first thoughts? Excuse me?

*she paused for a second, her thoughts replayed in her mind: the note, the Ivory Tower, the fight, near death, the pain in her bones. Then those words...*

The one...? The one for what? The one who needs to die? Don't fail...??

*shaking her head, she looked away, silent for a moment. She touched her headphones; they were just like the way they were the day Haseo left them for her....there was no way.. Alyss looked up at him, her eyes filled with contemplative thoughts*

The one for what? I'm the one for what?

"There's a qustion.." He faced her now, looking directly into her eyes. "You're the one who's passed my test, for the first time in my records.. You're the one to become my equal, in every sense of the word.." His golden eyes sent mixed messages, ones of kindness, bloodlust, and hapiness.. "Yet you're still not convinced; you have no idea how alike we truely are.."

Alike? You...jest. You must be.

*Alyss laughed nervously and shifted her eyes to the workshop. But Sedgar could no longer help her. Facing him again, she claimed first*

This is just a trick isn't it? Has to be. "The one to become my equal"?

*she scoffed, still unsteady. Her played with the headphones around her neck, the closest thing to comfort*

I really don't know what you're talking about...I know how to fight. So what? That doesn't make me one of anything.

He rose, walking towards her now, completely peacefully. "Have you had a ranking exam yet, Miss Frey? No? Then the rest of this village really doesn't know what you're capable of.." He stopped now, only a couple feet from her.

"If you think I'm bluffing, then you're only denying it based on a bias you set from the moment we met on the battlefield. You hold grudges.."

*she was silent as she looked up at him stubbornly. Yes she did hold a grudge for him...because he broke her trust before she never got to know his name. But she shook her head*

No...I haven't taken a ranking exam just yet. But perhaps soon. I would need a proctor.

"You said that you wanted a rematch.. just name the time and place and that can be arranged. As for ranking, it'd be wise to test yourself in the Village's hierarchy.." He moved back to the couch and sat once more.

*she sat the edge of the other side of the couch, still a bit uncomfortable, but next to him nonetheless*

A rematch...only if it means it'll help me. Afterall, I'm not as good as you make me sound.

*she leaned back into the couch and closed her eyes. Her body still ached and she began to wonder if Sedgar was still working. It seemed as if it were forever since he had come back. Not like she hated staying here with Skye. She hadn't minded it too much now, but she was still alert; he was as dangerous as he was when he walked in the lab this morning*

"All fighting experience helps you in the long run.." Afterall, that's what made him who he was today.. Seeing her actions, clearly still weak from the fight, he extended a hand in her direction. "Here." A golden light came from his hand, encasing her completely in a translucent dome. Parts of it began to get brighter, and healing energy was poured into her body, to relieve the pain in her bones and muscles. He didn't look directly at her, hoping she'd not find this action as any threat..

*Alyss closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It was like a wave of warmth from a sun that did not burn, but welcomed her with positivity and melted the still aches that Sedgar's technology could not erase. Though it was difficult believing it came from a person such as this, Alyss opened her eyes and pondered to herself of the current circumstances*

Perhaps...I can give him a chance. He doesn't seem too bad a person. Implusive...secretive and sometimes an asshole, but still bearable. And besides, if something happens...it wouldn't be too bad having him as an ally.


*for once, a real smile painted her lips was for him, and she spoke with concern, or at least whatever concern she could muster in her voice*

You weren't hurt neither, right? From our fight that is.

"Ah, I was. Those bullets you deflected caught me completely off guard.. Though I've since healed them, so no worries anymore." He stood, stretching slightly. "It's been only two hours, wonder what's taking the man so long.." He walked over to one of the broken machinesalong the wall, where a large dent had been made, seemingly from some impact.. human sized. "You seem to trust Sedgar rather easily and quickly.. aren't you the type who's usually like a brick wall to get trust?"

Huh?

*she glanced over at the imprint of the body in the machine and nearly facepalmed. She remembered that...when he was only trying to "help". Alyss narrowed her eyes though. He was right. It was true, it took a while to gain her trust. Even so she didn't trust Sedgar even if he helped her a few times. There was always room for him to betray her...to send his...security system on her at his will. And it was true, she didn't trust the rest of humanity; and they didn't trust her neither*

Not really. It's not that I don't trust him, but...

*hesitating, she lay in denial, lying to herself, feeling guilty inside*

But his resources are plentiful. He's a person with powerful technology. Nothing with him personally of course.

He caught her bluff once more; Alyss really needed to learn how to lie better. "And yet you practically live with him now, aiding him in experiments.... But perhaps I'm poking my nose in where I shouldn't." He moved over to table, examining its contents. "Alyss, what is your ultimate goal.."

My ultimate goal?

*she had plopped herself down upon the couch once more and wondered herself. What was she doing in Nightmare anyway?Then it clicked*

Haseo..

*Alyss blushed, turning to look at something else than his eyes; she spoke when a voice that shook just a little*

To...get as far away from the place I was born as possible.

"Ah.. an ill-ending past. I see." He moved back to the couch and sat at the other end, still looking in her direction. "Well, we've both got time, if you care to talk."

*she shrugs. She didn't exactly trust him and she had a...colorful past to say the least. But someone needs to know about him...*

Well...I had to leave my village I was born in because there was a heirarchy there. Of course it was bearable but...I also had lost a friend there, my best friend. I was sort of lost from then on, so I wandered here.

*Alyss gave him the gist of it, then stayed quiet. He didn't need to know everything, just that Nightmare was the "paradise" she was hoping to escape to. Away from the Ellion*

"Ooh..?" He smiled a bit, looking a tad mischevous, but not necessarily threatening. "Seem to be leaving out some info there... I get it." He sighed, closed his eyes and began thinking. Around ten seconds later he spoke once more, eyes stll closed.

"So there was some sort of dispute or somethin', your buddy gets killed, the village is completely changed, you try to escape the past by running over here. Amirite?" He opened his eyes now to see her expression, smiling at how easy it was to deduce.. Shockingly similar to his own history, in fact...

((oh snap, Skye's history: coming soon ))

*startled, she kept her face as a stone as practiced, hidden of her surprised emotion*

How......then again it's him. No surprise he has tricks up his sleeve.

...You could say that.

*Alyss stayed quiet afterwards, fiddling with the inside of the round headphone with her index finger. The headphone signalled affectionately and the color of the pads melt from the black to a dreamy blue*

Skye looked at her still, the smile had subtly disappeared. "She's getting better at this... I can't read a thing in her face.." He then looked back to his front, gazing at the bare ceiling. "This place needs t get more interesting... and how much time has passed anyway?"

"And now I've run out of things to do or talk about... you have any idea how much time's passed since Vyland started?"

*touching her headset, she closed her eyes and mumbled*

3 hours. Since you've gotten here.

He better not be doing this on purpose..

*Alyss looked at the workshop door and glared....then she stretched out her legs, her shorts ruffling, resuming some talk*

What about you Skye? What about your history?