|
Latus
May the Quartz be with you.
850 posts
0 likes
Ain't got time for this. (?°?°??? ???
|
|
last online Jun 27, 2014 19:37:36 GMT -5
Guardian
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2009 20:51:17 GMT -5
Post by Latus on Jun 15, 2009 20:51:17 GMT -5
Well well, what do we have here?
Itani watched on as his sister and the black haired stranger retrieved a number of things from the cargo compartment. The assassin's eyes narrowed as they found their way to the family's small barn, Lia laden with the myriad of tools and her companion with the bags of feed. Was it merely a gesture of kindness that this man, quite dashing in his own right, was helping his hobbled sister? Shaking his head he lifted himself to a better position, he thought not. The way Lia acted around him, looked at him; there was something there. Something Itani had never seen where his sister was concerned. Perhaps it would utterly behoove him to have some fun with the stranger.
Moments later the pair disappeared into the barn, suppose its time. Gripping tight the rough bark Itani threw his legs over the edge of the limb and dropped. Itani's feet met dirt, the height of the drop causing him to drop to a knee to steady himself. Looking up a grin spread to his face, he hadn't had a chance to have any fun since he met Bane. The moment he took a step away from the tree his mother appeared from the house. Slipping into the tree's shadow he waited until she had entered the barn; his rapid footfalls echoing against the squeaking of the barn door's rusty hinges. There was a problem, he realized as the door stilled and he pressed his ear to the barn wall. Three people would be harder to fool than two. One wayward glance, one inaccurate footstep... all the more of a challenge.
Warmth flooded his cheeks as he listened to the trio inside speak, his mother's voice and Lia's not dissimilar. The young man casually mentioned something about a date; Itani's eyebrow quirked. As the trio continued on Itani reached into his waistline, drawing one of his daggers from the harness therein. Putting the edge of the weapon against the door frame he exploited it's reflective surface to give him a small, clear view of those inside. Luckily, all but his mother were turned away from him. One shot was all he had... all he needed. His confidence surged and he slipped through the opening in the old barn and against one of the many bales of hay stacked around the stalls.
“Good. Maybe next time you’ll not get me to worrying so badly! Ad’ika you…who’s your friend?”
His mother had seen him, of this he was almost certain but she continued the conversation. Something unique about his mother, she rarely paused when she spoke but his shenanigans as a child were a sure way to arrest her words. Stilling his breath, he peeked over the short-stacked bales of hay; thankfully their conversation continued unabated. Italia briefly introduced the young man as Daryn, completing Itani's required knowledge of his target. Readying himself for any inevitable punches from his sister or the young man he shifted his stance to something more fluid, moving. Sliding from his position, knife still in hand he stalked silently to his position behind Daryn and waited for both his sister and his mother to finish speaking. Looking like a murderer and before Daryn could get a word in edgewise;
Yes. Welcome. Visitors are always welcomed with a courteous greeting and a hot meal. Course you might want to take care against our last visitors; they are usually dry and kinda chewy.
|
|
|
|
|
Vex
A Self-styled computer geek that moonlights as a G.I. Joe.
1,014 posts
2 likes
Proud bearer of the "Polish Stalker Badge".
|
|
last online May 21, 2018 17:30:54 GMT -5
Master
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2009 15:15:00 GMT -5
Post by Vex on Jun 16, 2009 15:15:00 GMT -5
Let's face it. Daryn was not a killer, not a warrior, at heart. He'd taken up the bounty hunting and smuggling business because of the perceived intrigue and adventure. He kept at it because other than the harrowing near death experiences, it was fun and challenging. It forced him to think on the fly and try to outwit the others involved. He didn't hve that natural fighter's instinct...the desire to draw blood.
Heck, he'd never killed anyone yet. He wasn't planning on it either. There was a reason the weapons on Ante Up were ion based only and designed for disabling, not destroying. It was also the reason why he'd had his blaster pistol modified to only shoot on stun. In this case, it would prove to be a blessing.
In the end, if you weren't a hardline fighter, you generally didn't make it too long in this kind of business. Part of Daryn's success was his exceptional intelligence. Beneath that veneer of the blustery, self-absorbed ladies' man and vagabond, the smuggler was surprisingly intelligent. The other part, however, had to do with reflexes.
Daryn had always been very quick, able to respond quickly to the world about him. It made him a natural behind the controls of a speeder and later a starship. With what he'd decided to do, it came in handy when Daryn needed to get the drop on a target or when things went awry. His reflexes worked on a hair trigger.
Now, the one last thing to know about Daryn was that he wasn't necessarily a great shot. Sure, he could hit the silhouette well enough, and he wasn't bad when he did fire outside of the range, but he wouldn't be winning any elite marksmanship awards, however.
Good news was, you didn't have to when using stun blasts, given their larger area.
So...when there was suddenly that voice behind him, those reflexes kicked in and he spun about with a yelp that wasn't terribly manful. The hand hit the pistol in that thigh holster and, as he'd had to do more than once in order to get out of a hair situation, that weapon was drawn and fired in the blink of an eye. Twice, once he'd registered that weapon the man had.
If they'd hit, they'd splash against the hip/upper thigh and also in the vicinity of his shoulder.
It could have been a lot worse though.
"Son of a Sith!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
Master
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2009 16:25:25 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Jun 16, 2009 16:25:25 GMT -5
She'd been so absorbed in the conversation that she'd ignored the creeping feeling that went up her spine. They were in a barn so nothing could come from behind them anyway, right? Well, wrong really considering she had an assassin for a brother...speaking of, where was that little git? Her question was swiftly answered as she noted the movement of what she'd thought to be a shadow. Turning, she barely heard Itani speak before Daryn was moving.
Only two things really registered in her mind as Daryn fired on her brother:
"Oh Manda! He shot my brother!!" and "gorram he's FAST!"
Growling, she brought her boot to the back of one of his knees as she moved to come behind him, her hands flashing outward him to push forward and down his shoulder while gripping his wrist to wrench it around behind him. That was the idea anyway. With still being injured she wasn't half as fast or powerful as she was while not injured, but she wouldn't just stand by while Daryn had shot at her youngest brother. Hell, he might as well be her ONLY brother by now since she'd not seen her other one since she'd been thirteen.
Half way through the movement she finally realized that there had been something "wrong" with those bolts. Stun bolts? Oh kriffin...Lia'd just realized she'd acted before thinking. She'd managed to get hold of Daryn, and hopefully that'd teach him a lesson about shooting at her brother at all, she didn't know that he ALWAYS shot at stun, but now she let go of her current quarry, and like a firestorm she blew right around him to scorch her brother next for being such an idiot. Her mother, by now, was laughing her head off at the scene.
True, Itani was more agile than she, and with current injuries, faster and stronger; Italia, however, was counting on the stun bolts and surprise that she let the smuggler go to get her blasted brother. Launching out a hand, she went for his wrist, continuing her forward motion as she brought his wrist back and upward with as much power as she could muster. Once beside him, she planted her right foot, pivoting on it as she brought her left around to catch Itani's ankle and drop him to the ground also.
Gorramit, Daryn! Ya just shot at my brother! An' Kriffin' A Itani, you're lucky he didn' kill ya, ya damned idiot! Assassin or not, yer not faster'n everybody!
|
|
|
|
|
Latus
May the Quartz be with you.
850 posts
0 likes
Ain't got time for this. (?°?°??? ???
|
|
last online Jun 27, 2014 19:37:36 GMT -5
Guardian
|
|
|
Jun 18, 2009 21:11:21 GMT -5
Post by Latus on Jun 18, 2009 21:11:21 GMT -5
It happened fast... really fast.
Oh, bloody bantha sh...
Moments earlier
It had been a long time since Itani had actually plied his trade but the feeling was familiar. The adrenaline coursing through his veins, a heightened sense of things. If he had wanted to kill this man he would have plunged the knife into the carotid artery in a quick downward motion making the clean and fatal cut. He would have bled out nice and quiet-like; a gurgle, a thud from the body, but silent. Thankfully that was not Itani's intent.
He had been ready of course, feet apart, knees loose. Ready to dodge or evade. Ready as if he was about to make a kill in earnest. Instead he spoke to the man, loud and even enough that a punch thrown to the torso or face could be read in the body language easily and dodged. The gun, on the other hand, didn't register as fast. Time seemed to slow as the assassin gazed down the barrel, the trigger being pulled. Forcing his body to move he threw his weight to the left, shifting faster than he knew he was able a foot or two of distance. His eyes registered the first blast streak past his left shoulder, not a "blast" per sae but a wave of energy. Stun...
Tearing his eyes away from the blaster barrel he looked up, into the darting eyes of Daryn. He saw fear there, and genuine surprise. The meek yelp and the look on his face served to force his stomach to clench against an approaching laugh. Got you. His thoughts were frozen as the second burst erupted from the blaster. He felt the neutralizing energy slam into the neuron receptors in his right shoulder, arm, abdomen, and leg; the senses deadening and seizing causing him to drop his dagger. He exhaled sharply and, unable to keep his balance he shifted his weight onto his still stable left foot.
His stability didn't last as Lia snatched his deadened wrist and, with a shove and a step, dropped him to a knee. Thankfully it was the one that still had feeling. Unable to help himself he laughed. It was soft at first like the dry winds outside but built until it reverberated throughout the entire structure. He just found it riotous, a grown man yelping like this one did. He also laughed for his mother. She so rarely got a chance to laugh, to enjoy herself, that alone made the dead limbs worth it. Looking up at his sister who still had a grip on his dead wrist, which was twisted at an unnatural angle, he smiled broadly. His gray eyes glistened from laughing and the blaster fire.
Right you are, Lia. Now, please give me back my wrist. I need it for other nefarious deeds. And a sith? I am the son of someone much more sinister than sith, her name is Kiva.
He quipped with an ever glowing grin. Lowering his voice he whispered up to her before she released.
Skittish, Lia. Very skittish.
As she released it he watched as it fell back to his side, unresponsive to his commands; such an unsettling sight. Looking up he saw that a similar fate had befallen Daryn. Smirking at the man he held out his good hand.
Spend more time around us and you would find out, this is family bonding. Its Daryn right?
The outsider might shake it, he might not. However, considering the scare Itani delivered, the assassin felt it polite.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
Master
|
|
|
Jun 19, 2009 0:29:19 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Jun 19, 2009 0:29:19 GMT -5
Much to her surprise and delight the movement had worked on both of them. Too bad she couldn't count on it all the time. Either way, her brother went down with a satisfying thump on the wood. He started laughing then, that dry chuckle building as Kiva laughed as well until both were all but rolling on the ground with it. As a finale, Italia snickered (she'd already started grinning impishly), then it crescendoed into a chuckle, until finally, she too was laughing her head off, doubling over and holding her side. That laughter wasn't eased any as Itani asked for his hand back for his other "nefarious deeds," and responded with another smart remark, stating that he was, in fact, the son of someone "much more sinister than a sith."
"You children are going to kill me one of these days! Keel over with laughter or fright! I'm not sure which yet!"
Lia had fallen against one of the support beams, laughing and coughing her head off until she managed to finally get hold of herself, tears seeping from under her lashes she had been laughing so hard. As he whispered up to her, she nodded, still chuckling. She knew...yes, she knew Daryn was on the skittish side at times. Hell, who in the fringe wasn't? She could be, that was certain.
Gorram butterbrain vod...your lucky I love ya or I'd likely kill ya. I swear. Smuggler Man over here's enough trouble...now there's two of ya.
Kiva was still chuckling mildly to herself as they spoke for a moment. At last, however, she spoke to the three of them.
"Come inside ad'ike ((pl. ad'ika)) and let's see to the food. Italia, you rest."
Buir, nayc! Ni udes... ((mother no! I rest...))
"Gar shuk meh kyrayc, Lia ((you're no good to me dead, Lia. --not literally,meaning 'take a rest'--)) "
Lia huffed and gave a displeased look but said nothing else as she followed Kiva toward the house.
|
|
|
|
|
Vex
A Self-styled computer geek that moonlights as a G.I. Joe.
1,014 posts
2 likes
Proud bearer of the "Polish Stalker Badge".
|
|
last online May 21, 2018 17:30:54 GMT -5
Master
|
|
|
Jun 22, 2009 15:38:35 GMT -5
Post by Vex on Jun 22, 2009 15:38:35 GMT -5
Daryn was pretty quick on the uptake. He could almost look the unexpected man in the eye and, now that split-second reflexes and bladder-clenching fright weren't holding his thought processes hostage, his brain began to make correlations. Other than obvious height and weight differences, along with the absence of an X chromosome and an added Y, there were phsical similarities between Italia, her mother, and this man.
His conclusions were cemented in fact when he found his knee kicked in and his gun hand wrenched behind him and he was brought back down to his face on the ground. Thankfully, she let up pretty quick and he didn't feel so bad as he saw her giving her own brother the same treatment.
"And how in the kriffin heck am I supposed to know the creepy quiet dude appearing like a ghost from nowhere is yer brother. Force be praised I don't shoot anything but stun." Pushing himself to his feet, he brushed himself off. There was a little dirt on that garish jacket, but he'd be all right. He scratched his head with the barrel of that pistol as he watched the three Mando'ade interact...catching most of their conversation. He couldn't help but smirk as well.
As the women finally walked off, he was left with the half-stunned Itani. He eyed that offered hand dubiously before cracking a wide, crooked grin and taking it firmly. He helped the man up, draping that unfeeling arm around his shoulders so that he could support that deadened side and help him back to the house.
"Yeah, Daryn Destrell. Itani, I take it? Lia spoke about you a little bit, last job we did together."
Daryn rarely ever held grudges, especially not for something like that. He'd evened it up well enough, considering he had to help the man move now...and he had to give him credit, the man was pretty good.
"Not usually one to get jumped like that so easily, mate. Was nicely done."
|
|
|
|
|
Latus
May the Quartz be with you.
850 posts
0 likes
Ain't got time for this. (?°?°??? ???
|
|
last online Jun 27, 2014 19:37:36 GMT -5
Guardian
|
|
|
Jun 26, 2009 13:49:58 GMT -5
Post by Latus on Jun 26, 2009 13:49:58 GMT -5
Despite being shot and almost dropped on his face, Itani was having quite a good day. The assassin had a hard time understanding his sisters comment through the coughing but he was sure he heard something about her killing him. He shook his head, that wasn't the first time nor would it be that last that his life was threatened. As Lia and his mother talked he redirected his focus to Daryn, who was just picking himself off of the floor. Itani chuckled again at the snappily dressed smuggler's comment, Creepy quiet dude. I'll take that as a compliment. As the man quieted Itani found himself surprised; "never shot anyone but with stun," eh? Disappointing. He watched on from the floor as Lia and his mother walked out, leaving him with the daunting task of walking back to the house on one leg.
Another surprise formed as Daryn took Itani's outstretched hand and lifted, dragging his thin form into a supported position. Daryn quickly introduced himself thoroughly as the pair began their slow hobble in the direction of the main house. Itani's mouth cracked a smile at Daryn's last comment.
Thank you, my audiences are rarely as... receptive as you. I have to say, though, the blaster was a nice touch. Even ki... some of the people I work with aren't as fast as you.
As the two finally crossed into the main house, Itani motioned toward one of the chairs that were scattered throughout the living space.
Set me down there, thank you. You will have to help mum, I caught dinner but they still need to be cleaned and I am in no shape to do it like this.
Itani used his good hand to indicate his deadened left side. He had planned to clean the rabbits but was certainly unable to do so now.
|
|
|
|