[Valor City] Moon Lit Encounters -Closed-

[_Michael]

The city was quiet, silence filled the empty streets, and cluttered the open spaces. Moon light washed over the courtyard providing substantial lighting despite the eyes that illuminated the swallowing darkness and narrowed their brilliant gaze upon the air before them. The mind manifesting an image no other could see. A focal point, as the body followed through with a series of precise movements. Each movement was trailed by a blazing line of fire. Heat and power rippled off the flesh and poured into the open space of the courtyard, licking at the world around her like a starving flame.

Fyrei focused, bringing high kick, after high kick, and rolling the motion into a round house, following through with a series of quick hand movements that left little to the imagination of what her sharp talons could do. Tearing through the air as if strategically working an imaginary enemy. Still, each hand, was trailed by that blazing flame, it roared as if a beast within itself. The follow through finally stilled, and the body relaxed, all fire dying. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to catch her breath. Olive skin, glistening in patches where transluscent scales glittered beneath the skin, was coated in a small sheen of sweat.

Firery mane of curls were tousled, messy and quickly combed through with delicate fingers. Luminous eyes focused and narrowed once more before the languid motion of her body tensed and she proceeded with another barrage of fluid attacks. Bracing the knees and using the balls of her feet to press heavily against the earth, projecting her body upwards, a deep arching curve in the spine projected her in a backwards flip, arms crossed behind her back. The landing was braced in a low crouch and each arm was thrust forth, the glint of blades barely seen before they were hilt deep in the wooden post several feet at a distance. The soft thuds of their encounters the only noise she made.

Fyrei was fierce in her training, she was fierce in her dedication, and her will to pull through, to eliminate all forces that opposed her and her own. She refused to fail, and thus she partook often in these late night training sessions.

[Thoughtless Poet]

The world of Valor City was a quiet one, indeed, when the sun went down. Being the only settlement in the vast area, and since the city was self-sufficient for all its wants and needs, the city seemed almost surreal when its citizens were off sleeping soundly in their homes. People slept well in Valor, knowing the impregnable natural and mechanical defenses that were in place to protect them. Regardless of this detail, however, Commander Cale still found himself wandering the streets alone, each and every night.

Perhaps he just enjoyed being alone. Perhaps he just liked the silence. Perhaps he was just fond of being out in the open. Perhaps it was all of these things that motivated him, the usual loner of the camp, to wander about freely when the curious and weary eyes all turned their gazes away from him. Truly, he seemed more upbeat than he did during the day: typically, he was seen murking about just outside of someone's view...Cale had an uncanny habit of staying just out of someone's attention, unless he had business with them. This was partially due to his nature and nurture. Few citizens knew the frightening truth behind Cale's powers, and fewer still knew the infamous lineage that he heralded from. The one thing all the citizens shared, however, was an unsettling stare that he always seemed to get, despite his best attempts at keeping the people safe. In their eyes, he saw weariness and suspicion, but most of all, fear. Perhaps knowing that his were the only eyes open was what brought the slight smile to his face...something akin to a miracle, should anyone have seen it.

As he approached the courtyard, however, Cale noted the unsettling scent of fire, and heard the sounds of labored movement. He knew the grounds better than anyone, and could immediately tell that whatever activity provoked his senses was not of a hostile nature. However, he found himself curious as to what the source of the disturbance could be. Sneaking stealthily towards some of the larger trees that occupied the inner courtyard, Cale became like a shadow as he looked on at the figure standing alone in the yard, just out of his range of visible recognition.

[_Michael]

Delicate, keen ears could hear the brushing of movement. The sound of steps upon the earth. Most everyone in Valor should be sleeping, so whom would she find lurking about at this late hour? Eyes the colour of fire turned their luminous gaze in his direction. Thin whisps of hair fell into her eyes only to be brushed away with a flick of her hand. The voice which seemed to dance past full lips, came with a melodious lilt, a lull of sweet honey. "It isn't polite to sneak around where people can not see you!" She called, to whom in particular, she was not sure. The person stood just barely out of her line of sight. The female shifted her posture, right hip cocked just slightly, hands held out at her sides. A relaxed, fluid position, but one that hinted she would move faster than any common belief shall she feel threatened.

Lieutenant Undomiel, Fyrei to the common folk, was a woman of odd stature. A dangerous vision, and a sharp tongue. Though she was fierce in her endeavors, she was noted for her attempts -though troubles- to help the kind city folk within the camp. It was her prowess that brought the eyes of attention to her, but more so the oddity of her appearance. A woman of fair complexion, a near perfection in body and build, but marred with the scales of untold demon kin, claws of the fiercest feline, and small delicate horns often hidden in the fray of her hair. She held true to the image of the Tiefling, and she did so proudly. Despite the stares, the whispers, the curios minds of outsiders. Despite these seemingly esteem endangering conflicts, she was proud, strong, and dedicated to the cause. Often found illuminating paths for small children at night, or just as she was now.. training. As if she rarely slept.

Eyes narrowed, thick lashes framed those brilliant burning hues as she awaited her unexpected company to reveal themselves from the shadows in which they lurked. Darkness hid many things, friend and foe, and it held many secrets she knew. But tonight she dare not let any shadows encounter her vulnerable mind.

[Thoughtless Poet]

"I'm...sorry for disturbing you, Lieutenant." Cale said softly, his voice like the gentle touch of the wind as he stepped from the shadows. Despite the soft greeting, Cale looked like a haunting visage, a ghost or demon perhaps, as he stepped from within the shadows. He blended in with the dark so well that it was almost though he was spawned from it, that he had simply been weaved into a shape from collected threads of darkness. It was this way that Cale appeared to the other citizens: A permanent part of their city, but one that they dared not venture into.

His black trench-coat fluttering ambient behind him, Cale slowly stepped towards her, closing the distance half-way before stopping still. His black hair fluttered in the breeze, and his chocolate eyes seemed to drink in the moonlight, leaving them black and cold to the sight. Despite this, his face seemed respectful to her as his earthen-toned, broad-shouldered stature stood like a fixture to the ground, in defiance to all around him.

[_Michael]

"Commander! She chirped, a little startled it had been him lurking about in the shadows. Her body tensed for a moment and she relaxed from her stance. Forgive me sir, I didn't know it was you. She chimed softly, those luminous eyes lowered their gaze to the ground, she felt she had disrespected him. She should have been listening a little closer, or paying a helluvalot more attention to her surroundings. She felt foolish and insubordinate. It wasn't like Fyrei to take such tones with those of higher rank, unless she felt what they were insisting was undoubtedly wrong, and misguided. Essentially when it came to the strategics that she and her troops followed. She did things in their best interest as well as those they aimed to save.

Fyrei understood, that the Commander was someone who was just as much a part of the city itself, as he was a total anomaly to the people within it. His existence, his demeanor and statures a conundrum to their common understanding. However, Fyrei understood it to an extent. Only she knew not his upbringing, his past, or his reasons for such... whereas her reasoning was like an open book, her history like a palpable subject that all who knew her kind, knew their likeness. As well as their likeliness to wreak havoc, and disturb a quiet peace. However, she sought to create that peace, to ensure it's survival and rebirth. She could not fathom the idea of becoming what was believed of her.. of becoming a part of the horrors told. She wanted to be a part of the legend, she wanted to be a hero.. not a villain.

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale knew the moment he'd addressed her who it was out in the courtyard. It was none other than Fyrei, the fiery Tiefling that worked with the group. When she'd first arrived, she seemed eager to help but, like him, was rather excluded from the other citizens. That may have been in part by the unusual combination of physical features the otherwise attractive lady had, but one could tell by looking at her that she had her share of troubles in life. In a way, he saw a bit of his own struggles within the brave young warrior...perhaps that was why he extended to her the regal title of becoming "Lieutenant of the Frontline": the officer-in-charge of Cale's direct-combat infantry. The title was one she held with pride, and it was no surprise to see her out so late...likely practicing her combat skills in private. Cale chuckled softly as he approached, thinking to himself about how the night seemed to draw all the unusual creatures from their holes.

"It's no trouble, Fyrei. I was just making my nightly rounds." Cale said, his voice comforting and his slight smile assuring. "What brings you out so late? Brushing up on your fighting skills, I presume?"

[_Michael]

"Yes sir." She responded softly, though Fyrei could be wild, and fierce, she was often soft spoken with a bit of an accent. One that had to wind itself around the slightly elongated incisors that glinted from her near perfect smile. Fyrei knew Cale as a figure head, but also someone similar to her, in the outward awkwardness of the city. They respected him just as much as they feared what they didn't know. "What brings you out this late, sir? Doing the rounds?" It was easy to assumed that he was out doing the normal rounds. He did them often if not nightly. She'd seen him pass a few times from her window some nights. When she'd sit up and admire the beauty of the camp bathed in moon light.

[Thoughtless Poet]

He chuckled softly, noting that in her surprise she must not have heard him announce his purpose, previously. Tilting his head a bit, he nodded, ignoring the oversight.

"Heh...yes, that is indeed my business, tonight. I would be a bad Keeper if I did not make sure things were well."

Though he wouldn't admit it, he'd admired Fyrei as a warrior many times during the moments when she was called to arms. Though others may have had more power than her, few had the drive and motivation that she did. It was a spark inside her that ignited her personality as readily as her flames did to her adversaries. He sometimes found himself curious as to why she worked as hard as she did, though. Nevertheless, he'd overlook her late night appearance. Such were the perks, when you were Keeper of the City.

Slowly walking over to a nearby bench, he patted the seat next to him as he took one for himself. The truth was, the city was more than safe as it was. With all the magical enchantment and natural defenses they had sheltering them, a siege would almost certainly end in failure, for even a well-equipped army. But the silent patrols comforted Cale's thoughts, and kept his mind on the people rather than himself. Perhaps he could find similar comfort in a conversation, for a change.

"Care to sit with me, Fyrei? I'm sure the city will be safe enough for the next few minutes." he said, a rare offer of kindness from the usually silent and disant Commander.

[_Michael]

"You said that... already, didn't you?" She stated, more than asked, a little embarrassed she had missed it the first time around without meaning. She watched him move, her eyes alive, and alight like a burning fire. Blazing in the deepening darkness. Allowing her to see each motion as he moved to sit upon the bench, openly inviting her to join him by patting the seat beside him. Fyrei nodded softly, and delicate, keen ears caught his words as she moved to join him. The soft soles of her boots made not a sound upon the earth as she walked. Turning slightly she settled herself onto the bench next to him. Her eyes trailing back along the path she took, to the tree whose trunk glistened in the darkness, from the blades she'd embedded within it's dark bark.

Fyrei brought her hands up, and brushed those talons through her fiery mane, pushing curls back out of her face and allowing more of the exotic patches of scales upon her cheeks to me seen. Their existence was no mystery to her, she loved them, as she loved herself, their touch like silk, and bringing an ethereal glow to her skin. Closing those luminous orbs she released a heavy breath and allowed the tension to wash out of her body. Every muscle in her being relaxed, as she settled in next to the Commander. Cale was a man Fyrei respected heavily. She worked under his division, and took commands from him and one other messenger in the mix. Her Captain. But even then, Fyrei had expectations of herself, she was only the third in a carefully orchestrated chain of command, but that would not stop her from every trying to best those above her.

She had proven her worth, much as she had watched Cale exuberantly shine his own. He had faced trial and error to gain his position she was sure, but she knew not those experiences personally. She know of only word, passed along from member to member. The stories they liked to tell while everyone was training, preparing for this. Showing what skill they had, and earning what skill they didn't. Fyrei possessed and variety of skills, some sufficiently practiced in the open, others she harbored, and kept at bay, but every bit of her was strong, and determined. Willed to do the right thing, and she believed Cale.. and the other man.. were the keys to her rebirth.

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale looked on at Fyrei as she stared about the courtyard in silence, the moonlight shining off her scales making it seem as though she were bathed in stars. It was definitely a new way of looking at his young Lieutenant, not that he was very old, himself. Only twenty-one, and he'd encountered so much in his time with the group. She was another item on a long list of oddities that he'd become familiar with, throughout the years. Leaning back, Cale stared distantly off at the night sky, the flickers of light looking like holes punched in a black tarp that cloaked the world.

"Why are you out here?" Cale asked her, his voice friendly and polite. However, his words seemed to be prying deeper than their basic meaning.

"Why are you training like this...you're a Lieutenant. You've proven your talent to the group, many times. Why must you sneak around when no one else is looking? What are you trying to accomplish from it?"

[_Michael]

"It isn't about proving.. Talents. It's about self worth, and proving it with ultimate victory. If I didn't do this.. if I didn't focus.." She broke off for a moment as if thinking, absent minded she danced a single figurine of fire across her fingertips. It danced from tip to tip, jumping and sparking vibrant colours of teals, purples, reds and blues. "I'd lose track of how hard I've worked to get here.. how hard it is for me to stay this.. benevolent.. this dedicated to a better cause.. it's my blood to do wrong, Commander.. It's not in my blood to right." She explained softly, still dancing that particular flame from finger to finger.

Before touching her thumb and index finger together, snuffing it out of existence. "Besides.. whose to say I don't someday wish to challenge for the position of Captain.. Lieutenant is pretty.. Captain is prettier." She teased, with a playful laugh, but an edge of sincerity stood deeply behind those words. Captain did ring a pretty little bell.. but Lieutenant was her place for now. She'd earn her marks, her scars on the battle field, before destroying the beliefs of those who though little of her, like many seemed to do. Fyrei did not like to think badly of others, but when she was determined, that she could fit a better role than someone else.. she tried for it. She was outward in her beliefs.

But then again.. why not? Why not spend my nights training.. toning... honing my skills.. my abilities. Furthering the reaches of my prowess.. dominating that which tries to dominate me?

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale nodded as he heard the girl's honest words. She spoke of honor and self-worth, things that he often thought about, himself. It was both refreshing and nostalgic to hear Fyrei discuss them now.

"I see..." he said softly, looking over at her with an intrigued stare.

With his hand propped against his chin, he looked on at her with ever-growing curiosity. He, too, knew what it was like to have bad blood. It was something that he struggled with...struggled to contain, struggled to deny. But something that he was sure everyone around him was aware of. Only one man in the entirety of Dictum Veritas...in the entirety of the world knew about Cale's past. Cale felt compelled to add one more person to that list.

"You know..." he said, a tone of sadness in his voice as he leaned back against the bench and looked up at the stars. "My name...is Domino. Cale Domino, from Renovatio."

The words would've sounded as casual of any other greeting, but the gravity of what he'd spoken would've sent even an iron-willed man into a state of shock and panic. The Dominoes were ruthless in the back alleys of Renovatio, known for their dirty deeds and even dirtier souls. If ever there were bad blood, it was coursing through Cale's veins. He let out a soft sigh of relief as he let the secret out, a weight lifting from his shoulders as though he felt someone else may finally understand him as his partner did.

[_Michael]

"I figured you had some kind of darkened secret." She teased, not at all shocked to his sudden confession. Possibly because it didn't matter to Fyrei. She wasn't in this for personal reasons. She had picked Rosinder.. had given herself to the cause, to help them.. to help a struggling people. Much like herself. She chose them for a likeness, for a closeness that brought her an extreme calm. "We are not.. what name or blood makes us.. we are, what we chose to make of ourselves. It is that blood and name however, that make it difficult.. but it is a challenge we must overcome, in order to find our truth."

Fyrei stated quietly, glancing to the young man in the seat next to her. Granted, she had a few years on him, she was relatively young for her kin. She was amazed, at how such a young soul, could harbor so much difficulty.. so much determination and knowledge. He was fresh youth, he was unhindered in his ambitions. He had only the weight of his past on his shoulders, or so it was likely to seem. She was certain there was more. But for Fyrei, it was beyond family names.. beyond bad blood... it was far, far deeper.

"I would never judge you for a name.. for a blood sake.. or a birthplace.. I would never judge. But I would hold you responsible.. for you as a person, and the actions you choose to take."

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale was rather shocked by her nonchalant reaction to what would've been a terrible revelation to anyone else. The casual tone of her voice made him stare down at her in bewilderment, probably the first ever look of surprise he'd shown since he'd first arrived with his partner, when they founded the city. Cale didn't know how to react to this...she'd reacted the same way that Apidej did. How could it be that the only two people to know Cale's terrible secret were also the only two to accept him for it?

"I...well...I..." Cale started and stopped, struggling to keep his wits about himself while attempting to put together a proper reply. "...I understand." Cale finally managed to say, putting his hands behind his head as he leaned back once again, staring up at the sky as he did before. He didn't use them often, but words failed him in this moment. It was uncomfortable, to say the least...not as much as her last few words, however.

I would hold you responsible for you as a person, and the actions you choose to take...

It was in that moment that Cale knew that the darker truth behind his past life could never be revealed. Biting his lip, he swore silently to himself on the taste of his blood that he couldn't divulge his role in the fateful tragedy of the Domino Family. Not to her.

[_Michael]

Fyrei glanced up at him, his face a conundrum of expressions, thoughts, concerns. She laughed softly, the sound a chime of silver bells. Enchanting, alluring.. much a prospect of the life she used to live. A life of deceit, foul play, and murderous intentions. "I said the actions you 'choose' to take.. not the ones you 'chose' Cale. Your past is simply that. The past. If it was in the matter, that the past held presidence over the present.. I'd be royally screwed." Such a tasteless choice of words, but it got the point across. Fyrei's past was riddled with holes, moments not even she could recollect, even in her deepest reveries. However, there were pieces that she could.. and their riddles.. had been solved in massacre.

"It never fails, how idiocy prevails.. and our best intentions are left at the wayside. But here in this world, how would one know what angels look like?" She riddled for a moment, looking up at him. She clasped her hands together, brought them to her lips and blew against them, as she opened them, two large wings of flame spanned out, about the size of an average dagger in length. "Even the strangest of creatures, for instance myself, could have wings.. we are the self proclaimed angels of the world.. we choose to do better for the good of others.. we can not let our pasts.. or our lack of self confidence deter our ambitions. .. in other words, you shouldn't be so much afraid of what you used to be.. but proud of who you will become."