[So concerned he was about keeping his leg and the growing potential for him to lose his life - again - he wondered why he let his daughter leave town at all. She would certainly enjoy this sort of savagery as well as mocking him for his lack of combat prowess.
It turned out that he managed to escape the jaws of death - literally - by a sword to the razorfin's brain. His leg slid from its slackened mouth, and he dragged himself back and out of the way as his gaze found his new 'hero', as it were. He'd seen that one about but knew absolutely nothing about him.]
Drop it then.
[He was pulling himself back to his feet with the assistance of the wall and shook off his saliva and bloody leg.]
Pleasure is far from the word. [ He can smell the blood, after all, but far be it for the fire demon to offer any further assistance. Hiei isn't really the type for touch as it is, and add in that he doesn't know Silco from the next human he passes? Not likely.
For a moment Hiei's eyes drop to his sword, making sure that the creature hadn't somehow damaged it before he puts it back in the sheath to clean later. There's a lot of time to spend indoors in a night when he is needed for light or heating, after all. ]
I was going to watch until the thing nearly knocked the wall down with you, since I was on the roof.
[ That is a little dramatic, but that sounds like Hiei. ]
If you aren't a fighter, are you seeking injury or death?
I see sociability is not your strong suit. [Silco had to say that dryly as he managed to regain his feet - er foot - with the help of the wall, which he continued to lean against heavily. He carefully set his injured leg down, wincing but also enduring.
Somehow, he wasn't surprised by the commentary. So as long as the wall stood solidly, he would have only a peanut gallery? He actually appreciated the honesty as it was refreshing compared to the usual mundane heroics of this place and some of its Chosen.]
Am I supposed to sequester myself inside because combat isn't my strength? I'd rather take my chances than act like a frightened child.
Does it need to be, facing a beast that doesn’t speak?
[ Hiei’s strong suit had never been being sociable. Of course he’s also a literal feral child raised by a group of bandits in the woods, so the fact he’s even tame enough to kill a beast killing someone else is a small miracle. Someone should probably gift Yusuke and Kurama with something very precious for making him only semi-feral by this point in time.
The fire apparition offers a small flicker of a sideways smirk at the question, amused, brows raising under the band at his forehead for a moment. ]
The shorter version of that answer is just yes. A frightened child still has enough common sense not to die for their own ego.
[ says the guy who’s almost died because of his own ego at least three times not. Hiei’s head tips for a moment, a small quirk to the side that rights itself shortly after. ]
Let me guess, you usually have people that handle the fighting for you?
[If he wasn't shaking off the adrenaline of the moment, he might have been more eloquent and maybe a touch appreciative of the effort of his 'savior'. He imagined that neither one of them cared for such lip service, and so he didn't bother with it at the moment. He doubted he could stay here long, not with blood and fresh meat so easily available for whatever scavengers might be lurking about.
Of course, perhaps this one would simply pile the corpses up in the streets and be content with that.]
You've never dealt with many actual children, have you? Common sense is never their strong suit.
[He pushed off the wall, testing if he could walk a few steps. Heat and pain created a shudder through his frame, but he gritted his teeth and endured. That's what was required so that's what he would do.]
Are you inquiring after a job as a bodyguard? I do have openings, and you just showed a few unique skills I could put to good use.
[ Hiei is quite content to stack corpses if it comes down to that - it would not be the first or the last time the little demon has to do so, not that most people here are aware of that fact. He prefers it that way for the moment, anyway, though it may catch up with him if he dallies on the point a little too long. At any rate, he wouldn't know what to do with the thanks anyway, so saving the effort is the more worthwhile way to move along with things.
The comment on children at least spurs a little, smirking snort of a laugh in retort. Ah, right, they're talking human children here - ]
I forget that human children are not worth what they take in until... what.. ten or so?
[ The demon proceeds to have a shitty opinion as usual, no one was surprised. And beyond that, he dismisses the offer with a dismissive flick of his hand. ]
I don't work for humans. Nothing about it is worthwhile and I don't care about your money.
[He supposed that he shouldn't be surprised that they were a different species, though what this person was he couldn't say. Zaun and the whole world of Runeterra was filled with bustling range of species, some that were even human-appearing. He looked at his small saviour, giving Hiei a complete once over to determine their differences.]
Most young of most species take time to get up to speed. I take it that children of your race are different then?
[He preferred people with shit opinions over those that could provide nothing more than empty commentary. Of course, a shitty empty commentary was always worse and not worth his time to listen to unless it would actually benefit him at some point.]
My, my, so racist. Who hurt you, or was it a case of a lack of physical affection in childhood?
Most demons are born ready to run and fight. Or at the very least prepared in some way to defend themselves.
[ Such was the need of living in the demon woods that those who were not born ready to fight were.. well. Ice apparitions that lived mostly tucked away on their own floating island or children raised in the rare peaceful locales of the demon world. Hiei, of course, had not been raised by either of those groups, instead left to be a feral menace to the demon woods.
If only throwing him off of a whole island in the sky had worked - ]
I was basically feral, as a child. [ Well, at least he's honest? At any rate - ]
Beyond that, I refuse to work below a being I will always outpace, overpower, and outlive. There is little benefit to me with all of that considered.
A dog eat dog world then if nature's prerogative is the need to fight and flee immediately. Do you not have parents to defend and protect you as infants?
[Or maybe demons didn't emerge as infants at all. Perhaps they sprung from whatever creature they were progeny of fully formed and ready to make life difficult. From what he understood, demons all had their own stories and origins, fit and twisted by both imagination and whatever kind of land they hailed from. This was not the first demon he had met of course.
He looked the little demon over as he leaned on the side of the building bleeding all over the place. He didn't plan on staying long, especially if his 'hero' could flit off and leave him to the rest that were bound to arrive. Razorfins usually hunted in packs.]
It doesn't seem to me that the term has waned in its relevance even with you being an adult.
[Honesty. He appreciated that, and he found himself amused around the pain in his leg. He finally pushed himself off the wall and forced himself to put the leg back down to stand on it as much as he was able.]
And what benefit do you consider worthwhile to you then? Surely you have something you want aside from being annoyed the building you're roosting on was shaking a bit.
Some do. I did not. [ He did have a group of demons who he had once considered his family, but even they had cut him off so, you know. Generally, he's been an awful little shit from day one and doesn't see any reason to change even now many years later.
Hiei for a moment turns to his left, red eyes scanning. If the rest of the pack comes he would at least like to be aware before they're on top of them, even if he isn't all that worried about the nature of the threat in general. If anything he's wondering if he might be able to convince the others that the razorfins were edible if he brought back a few butchered pieces...
Maybe that's something to run by Kurama before he goes through he effort. ]
My partner would not be thrilled to hear that. [ The fox had been putting in so much work, even when he'd been angry to notice after the fact. Anyway, in this instance Hiei doesn't disagree, since he knows that he is still, habitually, an outside sleeper who tends to be a pain in the ass on purpose habitually. ]
It used to be power. [ That much he had achieved, in a literal and annoyingly political fashion, but - ] Here there is not much benefit to anything, so.
Seeing what I can get in to for my own entertainment it is.
[And Silco did understand potentially on levels neither one of them seemed keen to discuss either. It was for the best, but he did rationalize that people were the way that they were partially because of their upbringing and if this demon had been abandoned or just didn't have protectors, it made sense about the standoffishness and reluctance to engage. And the racism, when one had nothing, they clung to whatever they did usually.
It's why Zaun was such a generally prideful lot. Anything less and they'd probably all collapse into some form of despair.]
Your partner? Well, small miracles do happen and you have a connection or two. I assume one of your own kind. [He could guess who that was, only because there was a very limited amount of Chosen who would call themselves 'demons'. It narrowed the list down considerably.]
Entertainment then. Depending on your preference, there can be plenty of that here.
[With that, he did begin to limp heavily away from the corpse. Only idiots stayed next to a kill when something bigger and hungrier came to investigate. His hand rested against the building to steady him as he walked, leaving behind a blood trail in his wake.]
[ Hiei is a little surprised - most people he meets have a much more visceral, almost angry reaction when he says things like that so casually. It’s refreshing, in a way that he can’t really explain. He still has not learned how to deal with things like other’s condolences or pity around that subject.
He and Kurama tend to stick to “it’s passed” and keep on moving. Sure, it changes nothing about the bitterness in him, or the revenge he will still take on a human if they dare to torture or capture his sister again but, for the moment …
It’s passed. ]
The world has its ways. [ like running in to an extremely powerful legend of a demon in a human shell and somehow having him heal you instead of kill you. He still wonders at his own luck from time to time. ]
One or two is all you really need.
[ it’s more like three here in Aldrip, but like hell is he going to announce that much. Particularly not as the other begins to walk away, a brow arching slightly under the headband covering his third eye. ]
Speaking of - you’re not waiting for the next one to smell the blood?
[It was good to know that regardless of sentient race that they all had some form of pure awful in their ranks. It united them in purpose potentially, and all the filth might either sink or rise to the top if they were given the opportunity to cobble something together. This place certainly wasn't going to put up much of a fight, just the other Chosen and a pure lack of personal motivation.
He inclined his head in mild agreement.] So it would seem. It allowed us a brief interplay. You're not sappy and stupid like the others.
[How was that for honesty? Well, he was in no mood to flower up his words, yet he paused at the question, toe touching with the injured leg. He twisted his body to look back at the little demon.]
Why would I? Are you going to play my protector all night? If not, I have to get off the streets.
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expiationlogs2024-11-11 09:09 am
no subject
It turned out that he managed to escape the jaws of death - literally - by a sword to the razorfin's brain. His leg slid from its slackened mouth, and he dragged himself back and out of the way as his gaze found his new 'hero', as it were. He'd seen that one about but knew absolutely nothing about him.]
Drop it then.
[He was pulling himself back to his feet with the assistance of the wall and shook off his saliva and bloody leg.]
To what do I owe the pleasure?
no subject
Pleasure is far from the word. [ He can smell the blood, after all, but far be it for the fire demon to offer any further assistance. Hiei isn't really the type for touch as it is, and add in that he doesn't know Silco from the next human he passes? Not likely.
For a moment Hiei's eyes drop to his sword, making sure that the creature hadn't somehow damaged it before he puts it back in the sheath to clean later. There's a lot of time to spend indoors in a night when he is needed for light or heating, after all. ]
I was going to watch until the thing nearly knocked the wall down with you, since I was on the roof.
[ That is a little dramatic, but that sounds like Hiei. ]
If you aren't a fighter, are you seeking injury or death?
no subject
Somehow, he wasn't surprised by the commentary. So as long as the wall stood solidly, he would have only a peanut gallery? He actually appreciated the honesty as it was refreshing compared to the usual mundane heroics of this place and some of its Chosen.]
Am I supposed to sequester myself inside because combat isn't my strength? I'd rather take my chances than act like a frightened child.
no subject
Does it need to be, facing a beast that doesn’t speak?
[ Hiei’s strong suit had never been being sociable. Of course he’s also a literal feral child raised by a group of bandits in the woods, so the fact he’s even tame enough to kill a beast killing someone else is a small miracle. Someone should probably gift Yusuke and Kurama with something very precious for making him only semi-feral by this point in time.
The fire apparition offers a small flicker of a sideways smirk at the question, amused, brows raising under the band at his forehead for a moment. ]
The shorter version of that answer is just yes. A frightened child still has enough common sense not to die for their own ego.
[ says the guy who’s almost died because of his own ego at least three times not. Hiei’s head tips for a moment, a small quirk to the side that rights itself shortly after. ]
Let me guess, you usually have people that handle the fighting for you?
no subject
[If he wasn't shaking off the adrenaline of the moment, he might have been more eloquent and maybe a touch appreciative of the effort of his 'savior'. He imagined that neither one of them cared for such lip service, and so he didn't bother with it at the moment. He doubted he could stay here long, not with blood and fresh meat so easily available for whatever scavengers might be lurking about.
Of course, perhaps this one would simply pile the corpses up in the streets and be content with that.]
You've never dealt with many actual children, have you? Common sense is never their strong suit.
[He pushed off the wall, testing if he could walk a few steps. Heat and pain created a shudder through his frame, but he gritted his teeth and endured. That's what was required so that's what he would do.]
Are you inquiring after a job as a bodyguard? I do have openings, and you just showed a few unique skills I could put to good use.
no subject
[ Hiei is quite content to stack corpses if it comes down to that - it would not be the first or the last time the little demon has to do so, not that most people here are aware of that fact. He prefers it that way for the moment, anyway, though it may catch up with him if he dallies on the point a little too long. At any rate, he wouldn't know what to do with the thanks anyway, so saving the effort is the more worthwhile way to move along with things.
The comment on children at least spurs a little, smirking snort of a laugh in retort. Ah, right, they're talking human children here - ]
I forget that human children are not worth what they take in until... what.. ten or so?
[ The demon proceeds to have a shitty opinion as usual, no one was surprised. And beyond that, he dismisses the offer with a dismissive flick of his hand. ]
I don't work for humans. Nothing about it is worthwhile and I don't care about your money.
no subject
Most young of most species take time to get up to speed. I take it that children of your race are different then?
[He preferred people with shit opinions over those that could provide nothing more than empty commentary. Of course, a shitty empty commentary was always worse and not worth his time to listen to unless it would actually benefit him at some point.]
My, my, so racist. Who hurt you, or was it a case of a lack of physical affection in childhood?
no subject
Most demons are born ready to run and fight. Or at the very least prepared in some way to defend themselves.
[ Such was the need of living in the demon woods that those who were not born ready to fight were.. well. Ice apparitions that lived mostly tucked away on their own floating island or children raised in the rare peaceful locales of the demon world. Hiei, of course, had not been raised by either of those groups, instead left to be a feral menace to the demon woods.
If only throwing him off of a whole island in the sky had worked - ]
I was basically feral, as a child. [ Well, at least he's honest? At any rate - ]
Beyond that, I refuse to work below a being I will always outpace, overpower, and outlive. There is little benefit to me with all of that considered.
no subject
[Or maybe demons didn't emerge as infants at all. Perhaps they sprung from whatever creature they were progeny of fully formed and ready to make life difficult. From what he understood, demons all had their own stories and origins, fit and twisted by both imagination and whatever kind of land they hailed from. This was not the first demon he had met of course.
He looked the little demon over as he leaned on the side of the building bleeding all over the place. He didn't plan on staying long, especially if his 'hero' could flit off and leave him to the rest that were bound to arrive. Razorfins usually hunted in packs.]
It doesn't seem to me that the term has waned in its relevance even with you being an adult.
[Honesty. He appreciated that, and he found himself amused around the pain in his leg. He finally pushed himself off the wall and forced himself to put the leg back down to stand on it as much as he was able.]
And what benefit do you consider worthwhile to you then? Surely you have something you want aside from being annoyed the building you're roosting on was shaking a bit.
no subject
Some do. I did not. [ He did have a group of demons who he had once considered his family, but even they had cut him off so, you know. Generally, he's been an awful little shit from day one and doesn't see any reason to change even now many years later.
Hiei for a moment turns to his left, red eyes scanning. If the rest of the pack comes he would at least like to be aware before they're on top of them, even if he isn't all that worried about the nature of the threat in general. If anything he's wondering if he might be able to convince the others that the razorfins were edible if he brought back a few butchered pieces...
Maybe that's something to run by Kurama before he goes through he effort. ]
My partner would not be thrilled to hear that. [ The fox had been putting in so much work, even when he'd been angry to notice after the fact. Anyway, in this instance Hiei doesn't disagree, since he knows that he is still, habitually, an outside sleeper who tends to be a pain in the ass on purpose habitually. ]
It used to be power. [ That much he had achieved, in a literal and annoyingly political fashion, but - ] Here there is not much benefit to anything, so.
Seeing what I can get in to for my own entertainment it is.
no subject
[And Silco did understand potentially on levels neither one of them seemed keen to discuss either. It was for the best, but he did rationalize that people were the way that they were partially because of their upbringing and if this demon had been abandoned or just didn't have protectors, it made sense about the standoffishness and reluctance to engage. And the racism, when one had nothing, they clung to whatever they did usually.
It's why Zaun was such a generally prideful lot. Anything less and they'd probably all collapse into some form of despair.]
Your partner? Well, small miracles do happen and you have a connection or two. I assume one of your own kind. [He could guess who that was, only because there was a very limited amount of Chosen who would call themselves 'demons'. It narrowed the list down considerably.]
Entertainment then. Depending on your preference, there can be plenty of that here.
[With that, he did begin to limp heavily away from the corpse. Only idiots stayed next to a kill when something bigger and hungrier came to investigate. His hand rested against the building to steady him as he walked, leaving behind a blood trail in his wake.]
no subject
[ Hiei is a little surprised - most people he meets have a much more visceral, almost angry reaction when he says things like that so casually. It’s refreshing, in a way that he can’t really explain. He still has not learned how to deal with things like other’s condolences or pity around that subject.
He and Kurama tend to stick to “it’s passed” and keep on moving. Sure, it changes nothing about the bitterness in him, or the revenge he will still take on a human if they dare to torture or capture his sister again but, for the moment …
It’s passed. ]
The world has its ways. [ like running in to an extremely powerful legend of a demon in a human shell and somehow having him heal you instead of kill you. He still wonders at his own luck from time to time. ]
One or two is all you really need.
[ it’s more like three here in Aldrip, but like hell is he going to announce that much. Particularly not as the other begins to walk away, a brow arching slightly under the headband covering his third eye. ]
Speaking of - you’re not waiting for the next one to smell the blood?
no subject
He inclined his head in mild agreement.] So it would seem. It allowed us a brief interplay. You're not sappy and stupid like the others.
[How was that for honesty? Well, he was in no mood to flower up his words, yet he paused at the question, toe touching with the injured leg. He twisted his body to look back at the little demon.]
Why would I? Are you going to play my protector all night? If not, I have to get off the streets.