Moonlight's Call

[Moon]

Moon slipped into the town, her purple eyes searching the darkness for danger. She could feel the moonlight on her back, almost able to hear the song the light carried. Her wings shifted on her back and she tucked them close, casing them as best she could. The feathers felt cold against her skin, not something that happened very often. She pulled her hair over one shoulder, her pale fingers combing through it.

The tattered hem of her dress swished with every gentle sway of her hips as she walked, tickling her skin lightly. She felt like she was being watched, but she guessed it was just the moon, it had always watched over her, sometimes she felt its gaze more heavily than other nights.

She kicked her foot against something and knelt down to pick it up, glad she hadn't cut her bare feet on anything. It was a little girls doll, probably lost during the day. Moon brushed the dust off it and looked around for somewhere to sit it. There was a bench a few steps away and she placed the doll down gently, touching its painted face lightly before dropping her hands to her sides.

Her eyes searched the dark again, a tiny frown on her face. A sparkle of light lit her fingertips, shaping the moonlight around her into a lantern, focusing the beam of light to the dark alleyways around her.

[grimmhallows]

The night was a calm one for one man in Hallowton; an adventurer who now had finished earning his keep at the tavern playing his violin. Grinning and giving a few compliments to all the ladies serving the tables, he left out the back door into an alley. His blonde hair was slightly a little messy this evening; the performance rather spectacular and extravagant considering the setting. Taking his violin in hand once more, he began to walk the paved stones playing the instruments. What was a happy tune seemed to slowly run to a harmonic minor key, the longer sader notes being played as the light of the moon played on the strings and cast the artificial reapers shadow.

The young man's uniform, like the man himself, stood out proudly, and his wings were slightly outstretched, almost in challenge of any opposition he might face.
And that truly handsome face seemed rather deep in thought as he turned to see a light.
He stopped playing, and noticed a young woman focusing light into the darkness of the alley. He ju,mped and sort of glided the extra distance to reach her, silently landing and resting a delicate hand on the womans shoulder.

"Pleasant as this city is, fair maiden, I doubt you should venture into alleyways. Especially unguarded." He whispered gently. Stepping into view more clearly, he took a few steps back, and smiled. Smiling rather warmly in the night at the woman, he bowed outstretched his wings to even have the claws atop them lightly scratch the ground.
The man's flaming eye cast it's own light on the ground, adding a red hue to the paver-stone that the two stood on.

"My name is Sebastion Alastar, and I would be honored and privileged to know your name. Or perhaps you'd simply prefer me to call you "beautiful"? "Sebastion's head slowly looked to the woman, still bowing. That smile was on his face, though a lot less so than before.
Still, he did his best not to look threatening.

[Moon]

Moon had spun, her feathered wings spreading out wide in shock, readying to shot her into the sky, the light dancing on her fingertips fizzling and dying from her change of concentration. She had been about to launch herself into the sky when the stranger backed away, giving her enough space to see him clearly. Her wings shifted back, folding against the curve of her back again, hiding the black feathers behind silver.

He spoke, telling her his name, Sebastion. Her eyes searched him, lingering a few moments on the flaming eye. She wasn't sure if she should run still or if the man was harmless. She was still very much a child, with a child's curiousity running through her veins. Her fingers twitched at her sides, wanting to reach out and touch Sebation's cheek, to delve into him, seeking what he was.

She was intrigued by his wings, so different to hers, but it seemed they would do the same, help him fly through the air. Moon wondered if she should tel him her name, her mother had told her that if one knew a person's name they would have power over them, but she knew his name, he had given it willingly. The thought that it could be a false name never crossed her mind.

Finally she reached out and touched her fingers lightly under his chin. "Please don't bow." she said, her voice like a whisper of water running over stones, or the gentle touch of moonlight. "My name is Moon." she murmured after a brief pause.

[grimmhallows]

Sebastion rose confidently; the touch on his chin creating a small feeling of naivity in the young man. He looked back to the alleyway Moon was peering at, his unique eye seeming to scan the darkness. Wondering if perhaps something had frightened the poor lady before him, his scythe flashed into his hand; a frightening and threatening sight in any person's eyes.
Aiming the scythe carefully into the darkness, he paused, and his eye flashed a bright purple.
Nothing but a cat ,it seemed, lingered in that darkness at the use of his power; sensing heartbeats a particular gift of a reaper, even one manufactured as he was.

His eye reverted to red, and he gave a small bow as the scythe seemed to disappear from view.
He rose once more, and began walking off, but he didn't go three steps before seeming to pause.
"Fair lady Moon, I would ask that you join me this evening. It's cold outside, and I could not forgive myself if you had to sleep on cold stone or wood while I rested in a soft bed. Please, follow me." Sebastion's voice goaded.
He smiled gently, and held out a hand for her to take, and his wings folded back carefully. Looking to the sky, he noted how stars seemed to dance this evening; but for him, this was an omen of ill luck. His bright eye turned a startling blue, but only for a few seconds.
Why do I get a feeling of such hopelessness this evening. It's as though the moon has gone cold.... Lady Luck, have you left the world for the evening?

He smiled warmly however; and his eye burned stronger, warming the area around him like a real fire could. Even better, as it did not burn the flesh when too close.
Perhaps my imagination get's the better of me this evening. After all.... a lovely lady requires assistance.

[Moon]

Moon watched as the scythe appeared in Sebastion's hands, hoping that he wasn't about to attack her for touching him. When his gaze turned to the alleyway she turned as well. "I felt someone watching me. It might have just been the moon. She likes to make sure I am unharmed come the night."

Her fingers smoothed down the tattered hem of her dress a little, a useless task since a breath of air came along, making the material flutter wildly. She ignored the wind, keeping her gaze on Sebastion as the scythe disappeared and he started to move away.

A soft smile graced her lips as he turned back and asked her to accompany him, something she did gladly. Her bare feet padded silently over the ground, her hand slipped into his. "It would be a pleasure to join you." she said softly, the breeze ruffling her feathers a little before she tucked them away with magic, leaving her looking just like an oddly coloured human.

A slight wince ran across Moon's face as the air around them heated up and she let go of Sebastion's hand quickly, almost as if dropping a hot coal. Her feet had carried her a few steps away before she knew it.

The cool air ran over Moon's form, halting her retreat, her eyes narrowed at Sebastion suspiciously. "Are you trying to kill me?" she asked softly, her wings unfurling, ready to flee if she had to. Her fingers raked through her hair, pushing the silver locks back from her face, waiting for Sebastion to make his move.

[grimmhallows]

Sebastion's move was something even he hadn't anticipated. With a slight shrug, his left eye erupted into a green flame; and a strange targeting power seem to emerge from his normal eye.
Well, it looked normal before since now it was acting a lot like a holographic projector.

He seemingly glared at Moon for a short time; words in a strange language appearing on the hologram.
"Oh, I get it now. So that means.... Oh, that too. That's interesting. Hmm? Unknown? A lot of spaces are blank..... So no previous intelligence besides the diagnostic...." He mumbled rather loudly to himself as he seemed to read it. His face seemed to go from blank to enthusiastic. Chuckling more to himself than anyone else, his flaming eye dulled significantly, the heat with it.

"My apologies, milady. I wasn't aware the heat affected you so adversely. I'm trying to limit my body heat now to accommodate for your particular needs." He bowed low once more, wings extending; the apology to Moon quite sincere. His flaming eye started to grow paler in hue, before reaching a sort of grey with black highlights. The heat that once surrounded him now vanished, replaced by a sort of chill that hardly seemed natural to most others; the efforts to make Moon comfortable.

Extending his hand once more, he raised from his apologetic salute with a more grin on his face; he seemed to see the humor in his mistake, at least.
"Try now."

He looked around, and sighed.
"And I suppose we can't sleep in an inn; since they have fiercer fires than my eye."

Looking outside the gates, he noticed the road looking cold; while not ideal for him, a lake nearby might be perfect for her.
His right eye brought up the strange targeting hologram as before, seemingly scanning what lay beyond the gates.
"I'm fairly certain you'd be right at home at the large lake near-by, fair maiden."

[Moon]

Moon took another step back when the flames turned green and she felt herself bump against the side of a house, just sort of pinned there, the ends of her wings shifting uselessly. She felt the light touch her skin and she turned her head away a little, peering through her hair at Sebastion.

He mumbled about something, though Moon didn't understand what was written there and she couldn't hear what he was saying. She crept forward a few paces, keeping on the outer rim of the heat, her skin feeling like it was boiling already.

"A lot of spaces are blank..... So no previous intelligence besides the diagnostic...."

She blinked at the sudden bloom of enthusiasm on the man's face and took a step back again. Frowning as he chuckled. She wasn't sure if she should be happy or worried that he was laughing, the man was a bit strange, but as of now the only person who had treated her niccely. Then she felt the heat fading. Moon let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, her knees going weak.

Her fingers ran up her arms and she winced as she felt some places that the heat had touched more than others. Her shoulders were red, like sunburn and she quickly dropped her hands. Her eyes turned back to him, studying him while he talked. "You don't have to." she whispered, her tongue crossed over her lips, wetting them a little. "You don't have to discomfort yourself for me. And please don't bow!"

She moved forward again and touched his shoulder lightly. "Please don't-" She stopped, the chill touching over her. "Oh..." Her eyes slid closed as she basked in the chill, unconsciously moving closer, trying to draw more of the cool into her. "Mmm, its nice." she breathed, her arms circling Sebastion to stop him from pulling him away.

She pulled him back as he tried to turn around and hummed happily, for now just wanting to stand there and draw in the delicious cool that he was providing for her. The burn over her shoulders was starting to fade, leaving behind a patch of slightly darker skin that would eventually fade granted she didn't go out into the sun within the next couple of days.

"We can go to the lake later." she mumbled, her cheek pressed against his chest, a happy look on her face as the cold sunk to her bones. "Its not important anymore."

[grimmhallows]

"That so?" Sebastion grinned, and lightly placed his hands on her hips, letting the embrace continue.
Lady Luck has not forsaken me this evening it seems. the young artificial reaper thought to himself, taking comfort in that the night was still quite young. His flame weaker, however, he felt freezing, and his wings didn't seem to be functioning properly; the steel and mechanics that made them a part of him. He restrained the heavy urge to shiver while she held him, and then let her go, shaking his head. He moved suddenly quite a few yards away and his eye flashed a strong red once more as he tried to warm himself.
"Forgive me; I cannot maintain that temperature for long." He explained, and pointed for the gate. His uniform looked a little damp as he heated it up. Finally, the flaming eye returned to a dull red, something that should have been at least tolerable.
"My temperature should be compatible with your physical structure so long as you do not attempt to enter a 1 foot radius of my eye." He stated, pointing to this rather interesting feature on his face, "At the moment, it's the best I can do, since some of my limbs are sort of freezing up." he explained, and began walking past Moon to the gate.
"The lake is supposed to be quite a distance away, we should get moving." He smiled warmly, and held out a hand; it was more than a foot from his eye, so Sebastion hoped she would take it.
The two of us are like fire and ice.... I should find a way to make my flame have no actual temperature....

"How cold the moon seems tonight." He murmured softly, looking to the sky.

[Moon]

Moon grabbed at thin air as Sebastion jumped away from her and blinked a little, watching as the flame jumped back into his eye. She looked sad for a moment and nodded. "I'm sorry that you harmed yourself. It was selfish to ask. Please forgive me."

She bowed, the ends of her hair brushing over the ground. A tear dropped from her cheeks and splashed a little, thought the young woman was trying not to show how much it pained her that Sebastion had hurt himself.

Her fingers touched her hips lightly, still able to feel where he had touched her. She had been touched many times by her mother, and those of her people, why would this strangers touch bring confusion?

She straightened a little, seeing his hand being held out to her. "I do not want you to be in pain. I... I'm sorry. You don't have to accompany me to the lake, I can find it. The water sings to me the way moonlight does."

She sobbed a little, still bowing to Sebastion, almost begging for his forgiveness for making him hurt humself. Her purple eyes were filled with pain and she wished she weren't so dependant on the cold to keep herself well.

"The moon is not cold, she only speaks to those who can hear her song." Moon whispered, another tear splashing onto the ground at her feet.

[grimmhallows]

Chuckling, he shook his head as he continued to hold out that hand of his, his wings slightly widening.
"Perhaps a friend of mine would hear the moon sing; myself, I'm his cheaper imitation really." lightly rubbing the chest of his uniform, he remembered the day he was created from a human shell. Still feeling every bit of pain from the first few hours of tests as he lightly flexed his mechanically augmented wings. Even his scythe was based of that reaper's weapon; small wonder given his purpose.
"But, in any case, I had not harmed myself; merely made myself uncomfortable. Nothing too serious, as I can adapt to it if need be." He said, motioning to the gate.

"Besides, a lady travelling alone at night is truly foolish; many would seek to prey on those who look weak and defenseless." He said rather plainly. His eye projected the strange screens in mid air just before his pupil once more, as he looked to the gate, seeming to focus rather heavily in the distance.
"Scan says the large body of water is some distance away. You prefer to fly, or walk?" He said, his eye flickering briefly as a slight breeze blew past him.
"Besides, at this temperature, I'm still quite fine, and yu should be fine if you can resist kissing or whispering anything in my ear." Sebastion gave a confident grin, and began to walk to the gate.

"Hurry up then! You coming?"

[Moon]

Moon slipped her hand into his, drawing a little closer. She could feel the heat on her cheek but she didn't pull away. As long as she didn't get any closer she wouldn't burn. A blush lit her cheeks when he joked about kissing him. She turned her head away a little, her silver hair falling over her shoulder in a soft silver wave.

"I can take care of myself, I just choose to stay hidden, where those with evil hearts cannot find me." She looked to where the wind was blowing from, the breeze blowing her hair right back from her face. She looked worried and her wings stretched wide. "We will fly. I feel something on this breeze..."

She dropped Sebastion's hand and ran past him, launching herself into the air, finding air currents to draw her higher into the air with little effort on her part. "Come on! As you said, it is some distance away." Her face turned back towards the lake and she dived down playfully, spreading her wings at the last second to send herself back into the air.

A happy laugh left her and she waited for Sebastion to join her, not even the touch she felt in the breeze able to dampen her happiness for being in the sky.

[grimmhallows]

Sebastion Alastar grinned as Moon shot up and raced high into the night; he bent his knees low, and jumped with strength enough to buckle the stone beneath him, and the loud boom of breaking the sound barrier echoed through the streets as he was in the air at a moments notice. He lazily seemed to glide beside the woman and ran a hand lightly passed her cheek, right before bursting to mach 2 speeds into the sky, his eye fierce and strong against the black of the night. From the way he flew through the air, the light from his eye bright and strong and burning like a magic flame dancing in impenetrable darkness.

Laughing as he lowered a hand and set it aflame. Writing his name burning in the sky, he yelled out laughing in joy; he always felt free being able to fly, always felt invincible. He continued to race around, increasing to Mach 7 speeds; just below his limit. Moving faster than could really be seen, a few seconds later the sky raced with a line of lightning that burst into the smallest particles of ice; which quickly seemed to turn to snow.
The show of magic was impressive; turning element to element quickly, and the snow fell over Moon peacefully.
Sebastion's eye fell back to a comfortable dull red with black highlights as he came up and slipped his hand gently into hers from behind; grinning as he did so silently. He murmured something soft, which caused the falling snow to explode into strange blasts of multicolored wind; the finale to his little dance.

"What do you think? Would the moon be impressed?" He asked, and began floating away without waiting for a response.
"To the lake, which is east of here."