forum Dying to live// one on one (closed)

Started April 28, 2019 by @_sleeby_rat_

tune

(aight here we go)

Amato was lying on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling littered with stars and constellations that had been painted there long ago. He was wearing just the sweater-like undergarment of his armor and his usual baggy pants, his shoes long kicked off and discarded. A woman had just left his quarters a half hour or so ago, come to entertain him only to throw a fit and leave when he refused to pay her for coming of her own volition. Typical of anyone who approached him, really. And it was rare he ever encountered anyone anymore, having been punished harshly for escaping to the nearby town without permission years ago. Since then, he was strictly confined to the walls of the fortress. No coming, no going. No one from the outside was allowed to visit him without strict permission to do so, having now dwindled to just potential suitors his wretched father kept sending him in the hopes of marrying him off. Getting rid of him.

Skye yawned, waiting for the guards to switch so he could sneak in. He was currently hidden behind the short wall on the roof of a building near the fortress walls. He was using his telepathy to track the guards. Glancing up at the stars above him he sighed. He didn't normally do stuff like this, but today was an exception. He had lost a bet with some gangsters, and had been dared to steal a pice of the legendary treasure in the east tower. Of course not many knew about his magical abilities. So this was a bit unfair. Either way it was better than boredom. Waiting a few moments lonfer he finally moved, stepping back, then taking a running leap for the fortress walls, leaping off the other side of the wall and hiding in skme bushes down below it. He stayed still as he used his telepathy to see if anyone had seen or heard him.

Sighing, Amato sat up now, pacing up and down on the balls of his feet. It just came naturally to him now, between his training as an archer and his draconic descent. If someone were to look at him now, he might look rather odd, his tail keeping him balanced so he could prowl his bedroom. He eventually gave in to the urges, crawling onto all fours as he walked around. Though his pacing was short-lived, as hunger quickly distracted him, coaxing him into going to the chest tucked beside one of the enormous windows, searching through it before pulling a bag of sweets from it. He grabbed a piece of chocolate from the bag, popping it in his mouth before grabbing another.

Skye waited a good 15 minutes before moving again. Creeping across the courtyard he made it to the next set of bushes against the wall of the main building. Summoning a small whisp of violet and silver aura he warped up to the first window sill he could see. He repeated this several times, till he finally got to the roof. Having made it to the roof he had to mentally remind himself to be cautious, his sense of self pride for getting this far starting to take over.

Seeing as how Amato's room was in the tower opposite where Skye was, he hadn't quite realized that anyone was sneaking around the fortress. However, he would soon find out, as to get to the treasure room, one had to enter his tower before taking a hidden flight of stairs down into the basement level where it was kept. So Amato kept eating candy happily, just enjoying himself for the time being

Skye stayed put for a moment, double checking on the guards. Finally he moved again, heading for the tower. He moved fast this time. When he reached the tower he immediately started climbing. His mental abilities were focused on rhe guards below him, more than the tower above. So he didn't notice that there was someone up there. Either way he kept climbing. He climbed like a spider, always making sure three of his four limbs were secure before moving the fourth.

(it's all good lol)

It wasn't until Amato heard the very faintest of paddings on the roof of the tower did he look up from his bag of chocolate. Eyes wide, he scrambled for his equipment, slipping his forearm guards on before grabbing his bow. He slung it across his back, scrambling up a flight of spiral stairs up until he could pull open the trap door of the flat-topped tower. He slipped outside, bow drawn as he stayed crouched behind one of the turret walls

Skye heard scuffling nearby as he reached the edge of the turret. Freezing where he was, muscles burning from the climb, he sent out a mental probe, paling a little when he realized someone was up there. An armed someone. Pondering his options he slowly began to circle, climbing up onto the roof almost silently. Pulling one of his blades from its sheath he lunged for the individual.

Amato yelped in surprise when the individual lunged at him, and he barely managed to use the physical part of his bow to block the incoming attack. Snarling, he spun on one foot before lashing out with the other, knocking the stranger off their feet and to the ground. He gave another snarl before lunging again, this time with the gold magic of an arrow forming in his free hand

Skye sensed the magic and used his own power to create a shield. He drew his other sword as well, scrambling to his feet. His violet eyes flashed with determination as he looked the other over. "Nice counter" he muttered.

(it's all good)

"Who the hell are you?" Amato hissed, eyes narrowing at the stranger as he drew his bow properly, gold magic twirling to life to form a bowstring and arrow as he hopped back

Skye shrugged, "A thief on a dare?" he said, suddenly warping behind the other and lunging, tackling him from behind.

Amato yelped in surprise when he was tackled, and he immediately began flailing, managing to smack Skye upside the head pretty damn hard with his bow. He hit the ground chest-first, but he quickly flipped back onto his back while Skye was disoriented

Skye stumbled back, falling over onto his rear when struck by the other's blow. "That hurt!" he growled, stumbling to his feet, more mad than injured. He sheathed one blade, picking up the other from where it had landed, since he had dropped it when the other struck him.

Amato didn’t give Skye a chance to grab the second blade, shooting it out of his hand with a burning arrow before teleporting behind him in a small cloud of black and red smoke. He wrapped the bow around Skye’s throat, pushing it against him hard enough to choke him

Skye's hands flew to the shaft of the bow, trying to pull it away from his neck, choking. "Neb… ulanta!" he used a burst of magic to try and get away, the flash blinding the other, hoping it would loosen his grip.`

Amato helped at the bright flash, stumbling for a moment but not entirely letting go. “Gods, light up the whole place, don’t you?” he hissed. “Stop fucking squirming and I won’t strangle you on this roof!” he snapped

Skye pushed at the bow a few more times, trying to get away before finally stopping. "Had to try something." he growled, mentally cursing himself for getting caught. "Besides, what are you gonna do? Take me inside and strangle me there?"

“No, I was gonna help you get out,” Amato hissed as he pressed down harder for a brief moment. “The guards are idiots when it comes to magic, but my retainers aren’t. You stay here and they’ll find you and kill you. I was going to hear you out, give you a second chance to think things over,” he hissed

"I can take care of myself." Said Skye, pulling on the bow to loosen the grip, still holding onto it to try and keep it away from his neck. "And I definitely wasn't planning on sticking around, Heck! I didn't even know you were here!" he said.

“You said you were a thief, right? What was it you were planning on stealing?” Amato asked, bringing his bow just a little ways away from the other’s throat, hoping it would show he didn’t want to kill the other

Skye relaxed a little when the bow moved, "Thief, street rat, survivor, same difference.." he said, "And I came here to steal a coin, or some small piece of the treasure that's supposed to be in this tower, some sort of trinket to prove I could get in and out for a bet with some dangerous people." he said, "And before you go asking, I made the bet while playing a card game to protect a group of street rats they were gonna sell off as slaves."

At that, Amato lowered his weapon. “God’s be damned, you should have asked what fort they were sending you into before accepting. Don’t you know they keep a demon in these walls?” he sighed. “You could have been killed, or worse.”

Skye huffed pulling away and turning to face the other, his violet eyes studyingthe other carefully. "And why do you care?" He asked, hiding his surprise. "And I could've handled a demon."

“You couldn’t handle me,” Amato said lowly, eyes narrowing at the other as he held his bow tight just in case. “What makes you think you can handle the devil in the walls for a piece of gold?” he asked slowly

Skye growled, using magic to summon his blade to his hand. "To my defense I wasn't expecting anyone up here. And definitely not someone skilled in combat." He said.