Dark Crow Rising

"Because I am getting frustrated with how my fellow Tobaballians run away from me. Or how they freeze up and fail to speak to me. You've served thus far as a good example of it," she answers as she looks away timidly. Blinking, I find my confusion boiling with frustration. This is to be expected. She's a Crown-dwelling citizen of our city. She's a spire-lord, top of the very top!

"You should know how this all works... You worked your way through it." I gulp, looking back at the open front door. That goldhand is still there. All it takes is one scream from this woman and he will be bearing down on me. Any moment now...

"No one will harm you. I've already told you that," she reminds me with a heightened tone. But I just can't take her word for it. I do not trust her.

"History amongst my peers says otherwise... Your peers once upon a time." I point out as I try to keep this heightened feeling in my chest subdued. I can feel the shaking in my arms and it is not stopping.

"I am not tricking you, lying to you, or leading you astray. I am trying to resolve an issue that bothers me," she explains as she gets up and closes the door. Loudly locking it, she returns to the sofa and sits back down. My eyes do not shift from the floor.

"Dragging me up here at the end of my shift isn't the way to do it..." I explain as I trail the ground to stare at the locked door. Given her strength, I'd honestly prefer if a goldhand comes for me instead. At least theirs will make sense with all that armour and training.

"Maybe not... I know it's not the best thing I can do. But, it does, however, give me a chance to make my point to you clearly and directly," she says as she urgently gestures for me to sit down. She motions that it does not matter that my overalls are filthy and filled with metal shavings. She supposedly just wants me to be comfortable. And I take her up on the offer, reluctantly.

Doing so, I start to think about how I really should have done this earlier. I've been working all day in a hunched-over position, bouncing on my knees. With something soft finally being behind me to just sink into... It's nice, especially with how I have missed clock-out.

Enjoying the soft cushions for a moment, I lean my neck over the top of one, "I'm not even sure what your point is, you tried to burn your hand... You've gone on about mysterious liquids but you are going on about how you are frustrated with me doing what is expected of me."

"I know this sort of stuff is expected of you, but can you, at the very least, just look at me? Properly, not this restrained thing I have been getting thus far." she asks of me. I fiddle with my fingers and dig my hands into the cushions.

I am struggling to find a reply...

"Fine..." I mutter, flinging my head forward as I know I am doomed, anyway. One call and I am in the hands of Tobaballe's finest. But, I huff at that thought as she can pin me down and arrest me just fine on her own. Either way, I doom myself now or justify it for my immediate future.

Maybe listening to her will let me survive, but I am doubting it, but I also want to try, anyway.

I start to move my gaze up as my instincts fight back against me. My eyes stop at her clothes and I struggle to move them away from them. My body is screaming at me to stop and I can't help but be suspicious each time I see her move slightly. There's something sinister here, there has to be...

Voluptuous and buxom is the most blatant way I can put what I am seeing. She's got a perfect hourglass shape tucked away in these clothes. I know that the moment she turns to her side, I'd see an equally perfect number two or S-shape. These clothes make it clear she is fully aware of this body as well, as it is tightly fitted to her like a second layer of skin.

My eyes shoot down and my instincts win me over, but I manage to beat them back. Starting from her boots, I follow them to the knee where they stop. Stretched-out, black compression stockings cover the rest of the way. Some of her golden-hued brown skin does show afterwards, but a tight, short skirt cuts the sight off and hides the rest.

She brings one leg over the other, spreading its tender form while her shoulders pinch higher- My gaze locks up more.

Professional attire with all the wealth of her high-floored life stitched in. Take that away and it's almost mistakable for a guard's uniform. But the dark jade fabric with its long gold stripe on the front left gives it a different look entirely. Bits of gold here and there everywhere, really, broken up only by a black leather belt and similar shoulder straps.

She is a one-of-a-kind woman with a body anyone would be happy to be near. But, despite this, I realise I have yet to do what she asked of me. I am looking her way, but not at her. I need to do the dauntingly simple task properly.

Taking a calming breath, I move my gaze up beyond her clothes and look into her eyes once again. She's beautiful, but I feel stupid for thinking this. The signs are all here. I was just looking at them, but looking at her now... I feel like it is wrong to say anything and disturb the moment.

She smiles and plays with her long, done-up, silk-like, black hair, "Thank you."

"Tobaballe is a tall city." I blurt as the obvious keeps playing through my head.

"It is, isn't it?" she asks, giggling against her mouth as she releases her hair.

"I did what you asked..." I say as I turn my gaze towards the ground. Breathing a sigh of relief, my body calms down. Though my mind wants me to look back at such a pretty face.

"You did, but, clearly, we have a lot to work through." she sighs as her leg starts to move.

"You think?" I scoff under my breath.

"Tell you what, in two days' time, I will be leaving the city with many others on an expedition to the wastes. I would like you to come with me and you'll be able to learn more about earlier should you choose to." she explains and her given timeframe lingers at the front of my mind. In two days is the new year festival to Thurnmourer. My craft-god. But, considering another detail...

The wastes.

"Are you mad? Out there, beyond the Civil Mountains... Named as such because there is nothing out there at all!? You people tell us we can't even leave the city through the Outer Walls because it is so dangerous! I refuse to tempt the noses of Undwote's pack!" I let out as my hands move about my head.

She moves her head about ponderously, "A half-truth, while, yes, it is dangerous. A dedicated, planned effort will and does remove much of that danger quickly as it is just wasteland. A mixture of that and the secret I just showed you is why we don't let anyone through the Outer Walls."

Standing up, she walks up to me and motions me to stand as well. Though, I do not know how to react to her right palm being held before me. I narrow my eyes at it, but I calm down and dismiss my suspicions. Technically, I should be doing this as I am her lesser.

Better yet, this is a greeting. Why is she greeting me now of all times...?

"Will you join me?" she asks, smiling.

"I... Uh... No... This is too much for you to just throw at me!" I tell her as I try to step back, only for my leg to get caught against the sofa. Returning my focus to her, she looks away to ponder once again.

"Hm, I suppose the best I can do is leave it open to you for now," she explains.

"Leave it open to me? You don't know me and I don't know you!" I remind her, as this is pointless if I can't get to her in two days' time and go 'Hey, it's me!'

"Then accept my greeting and I will know you," she calmly answers as she looks down at her still-open palm. Slowly, I place my hand on hers and slowly think it over.

"Nin... My name is Nin Urtuan. I'm a wall-engraver." I answer out of turn just to get it out of the way.

Her other hand traps mine in a soft prison and she smiles, "It is a pleasure to meet you, then, Nin. I am Iishar Ho. Spire-Lord of the tower we happened to meet in."