Three figures formed half a circle around him, encroaching on his personal space as the barrel of a hunting rifle as aiming steadily at his forehead.
From left to right this ecclectic group seemed a strange mix of individuals, which if it hadn't been for the shift, probably never would have crossed paths.
From left to right to left:
There remained an awkward silence for a couple of moments as the group sized the stranger up. The tallest of them a strangely painted fellow (was it paint?") put his axe lazily across his shoulder, before the woman amongst them let out a soft laugh as she noticed the 'threat' Maxwell would pose.
"Looks like we stumbled upon a little babe lost in the woods."
With her nonchalant remark the other two eased up as well, though the distrustin their eyes did not waver.
The two men at her side glanced at one another, before one decided to lift Maxwell's chin up with the barrel of the hunting rifle, took take a better look at him.
"Nother scrounger, Val." He spoke with a hoarse voice to the fourth figure of their group.
He had remained off to the side, focussed on his prey. The panicking hog and busy suffocating it, so it could not draw more unwanted onlookers.
Aside from the whole coldheartedness of the deed, it was how he did it that was most terrifying.
He was using his Lucid powers.
And did so in an almost lackadaisical manner.
The tendrils he called forth acted like so serpentine and constrictorlike that he might aswell be. His face however remained a porcelain emotionless mask.
He cast a large shadow despite his smaller stature in comparison to the two other men, who clearly seemed to designate him as their leader. And considering the feats the youngman was able to pull off...it was no wonder.
When the hog was finally quiet and slumped in the grasping tendrils he turned to focus on what the others had found."
As he walked over, his clinical, cold stare practically froze the air in front of him.
"If he is as hopeless as you say he is we might as well snap his neck right here and be done with it. Can't deal with another mouth to feed. Wasted space, after all, is wasted space." He spoke softly before glancing over to the woman that was with them.
She hardly seemed impressed, clearly not putting up with whatever the youngman insinuated and raised an eyebrow.
"Try that shit on me and you'll regret it." She snarled in dark promise, before she smiling wickedly.
"Besides, you'll never find anyone as good as me."
Implying they were more than just associates, the world had grown rather dangerous, so it was no wonder that the powerful would seek out those they could respect or rely on, if only to deal with larger groups of 'undesirables'.
The man didn't bother to reply, instead he focussed on Maxwell again, gesturing for him to stand up.
When he didn't move quickly enough the weird painted brute literally yanked him off the ground.
"How is it you survived up until now?" The soft voice of Val started as he began his inquiries.
"Considering all that creeps around in the dark, surviving on your very lonesome must have been hard, if nearly impossible. It would almost make me believe that there is some value to keeping you around." He stated as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Are you like me and Pharangese? Capable of set the Dreamscape to your own hand?" He asked as brought his hand up to Maxwell's face, showing the slight distortion as the shadows that lept from his fingertips coiled forwards, towards him. The intent stare watched him closely, almost as if he was digging through his soul, finding out his darkest secrets and picking up the slightest of facial cues.
"Why don't I give you the opportunity to try to convince me to 'spare' your miserable life, hmm?" He suggested.
The larger of his brutes immediately objected.
"I wouldn't bother Val, he's a scrounger, just like all the others. We have enough wimps to do the heavy lifting for us, we don't need another."
"Hmm, Priest does bring up a good point." He stated watching Maxwell. "Jericho, what say you?" The man with the hunting rifle merely grimaced as he sucked on his cigarette, as he had taken a break. He figured this Val had got things handled allowing him to take in a good wiff of nicotine.
"If it was me..." He replied before exhaling the smoke. "I'd use him. A good hunter always needs a good distraction."
Valdemar smirked at that remark, a malicious smirk at that.
"Case in point." He agreed before glancing at Pharangese again.
"Your thoughts."
"I could always use another 'playmate'." She grinned, making Val shake his head in amusing disbelief.
"What else did you expect from her? Everyone knows her reputation. She is thinking with her...."
"Don't get your knickers in a twist Priestly. It ain't helping here." Jericho replied cutting the big guy off as he saw Val's anger flicker up for a moment. A moment the other two seemed to miss.
During this Val had remained silent, but the silent rage that lay in his eyes was palpable. Luckily for the other two Jericho had noticed, because the stare Val had shared absentmindedly with Maxwell had been utterly terrifying. Focussing on him now that he was calmed down again he finished.
"You'd best start to impress us with your story, if you value your life at all."
Single Malt
Vixere
Vampiretwilight
