[ CATCH-ALL ] the fire's found a home in me

[wiedzminka]

Who: Ciri & various
When: throughout Sept through early Oct
Where: Cadens, Libertas, maybe Horizon
What: dealing with the mess of everything going on
Warnings: will add as needed



(( ooc: if you want to do any plotting with Ciri, hmu on plurk @ belleteyn or @ lenafish#3861

Ciri will be in Libertas/Cadens early Sept; on the supply run quest traveling to Solvunn and back mid to late Sept; and back in Cadens end of Sept to early Oct leading into the new event. ))

Comments

for claire, early sept.

[wiedzminka]

[ Catching a glimpse of a familiar head of blond hair, Ciri moves closer, mostly just out of a mild curiosity since she hasn't seen Claire around much. Everything's been such chaos, and Claire had only just arrived when suddenly cities are on fire and war is starting up. It must be overwhelming. On top of that, Dean had specifically asked her to help both Jo and Claire get a better feel for using blades instead of weapons they're more used to, and Ciri hasn't had the chance to broach the topic with the younger woman yet.

She turns the corner, following where she'd seen Claire, but her intention to simply catch up and see if she's open to a quick chat is slightly derailed when she realizes something else.

Claire isn't just strolling down the street. She's tracking a mark. ]

[waywardsister]

[ Some old habits die hard. This... this is one of them. Claire's spent much of her youth as what people in suburbia like to call 'troubled'. Quite unable to feed herself, quite unwilling to untrouble herself to such an extent that stuff like this isn't a concern anymore. Slipping back into this is strangely comfortable, strangely easy because it's still so familiar. Being a hunter isn't that far off, truth be told. And this part she's always been good at. Finding someone just careless enough. Not the people with the thickest wallets - or coin purses, as it were. Nah, you don't go for the biggest fish available. Someone who won't miss those coins right away. Who doesn't need to display or hoard their money. Never go for the extremes.

To any hapless onlooker, it just seems like Claire bumps into the guy and moves on with a customary 'sorry' mumbled briefly over her shoulder. To someone more accustomed to this, the way she quickly and smoothly cuts the coin purse loose and lets it slip up her own sleeve is obvious.

Claire ducks into a narrow alley shortly after, heart beating fast, eyes bright with the small thrill - and breathing relief that is perhaps a little premature. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ Maybe Claire thinks she's being stealthy. In Ciri's opinion, it's a clumsy sort of sneakiness. The other woman hasn't even noticed her, too busy trailing her mark and taking her winnings. The man she robs doesn't even look that rich-- a shopkeeper of some kind, judging by the apron. He moves on down the street without getting angry about being bumped into, or even sparing her a second glance.

Ciri doesn't spare him the unpleasant discovery of his missing coinpurse later, but she does follow Claire into the alley. One hand cocks on her hip. ]

One of these days, you'll go after the wrong purse and get your hand cut off.

[waywardsister]

[ She flinches a little, but clearly tries to play it off cool immediately. Crosses her arms, adopts a posture of fake nonchalance as she eyes the other woman. A flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, quickly shoved down and played over with a raised chin, cocked eyebrow. ]

Yeah, well. That day's not today.

[ She sounds like she wants to convince Ciri as much of that as herself, and then doubles down on defensiveness. ]

You plan on ratting me out over spare change?

[wiedzminka]

No.

[ What would be the point? Nothing is gained from Claire being tossed in a cell for a night and getting a slap on the wrist. Ciri is inclined to believe they won't go after the Summoned more aggressively than that, as it wouldn't benefit Marlo or the others who stand to gain from the Summoned's trust and willingness to work alongside them.

She has no interest in bringing this to the law, or even Dean. Claire can do what she wants. Ciri can think it's stupid, and will simply tell her as much. ]

You really strapped for coin so much that becoming a common thief is the best option? Never mind the fact you've got a practically free roof over your head, don't have to worry about your next meal.

What's the point?

[waywardsister]

[ A shrug that belies the truth without Claire saying it: There isn't one, truth be told. She's causing trouble out of sheer habit, not out of necessity. And if she were more honest with herself, Claire could admit that she's causing that trouble not just for others, but very willfully for herself. Does she want to get caught? No. Is there a part of her that intended to keep pushing until she would be, some day?

Maybe.

Self destruction is familiar and comfortable in a twisted way.

She crosses her arms, presses her lips together. The point is control, maybe, when everything is spinning out of hers. Or maybe it's trying to find a way to pay Dean back for putting clothes on her back despite not knowing who she is and having no reason to give a shit - she kinda wishes he didn't give any kind of shit, it would be so much easier. ]

Maybe I'm saving up for something.

[ Another shrug. Pointed, then any hint of vulnerability gets shoved aside. Claire doesn't like being on the defensive. ]

Maybe I wanna look cool with a big ass sword so I can go do my job finally and hunt monsters and save people.

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri's vaguely annoyed but mostly disinterested expression sharpens into something else at that. Her eyes narrow slightly, the green sharp and bright in the shade of the narrow alleyway. She lets her arms drop to her sides, and takes a few steps forward. ]

I see.

If a sword is all you need, why didn't you say so? A large and flashy blade you can look impressive with. That's what you want?

[ She stops in front of Claire, using the handful of extra inches she's got on the other woman to her full advantage, back straight and shoulders squared. ]

If you can land a hit on me, I'll buy you one myself.

[waywardsister]

[ Claire's sometimes too blue eyes bore back, gaze unflinching and hard even when her expression twitches briefly. She's being set up, and she knows it. And of course, deep down she also knows that a big ass sword doesn't fix anything. It won't fix her, and Claire knows she's her own biggest problem. Still. Still...

She holds her ground, glares up at Ciri, her own shoulders hunched inwards. Where Ciri makes herself taller, Claire shrinks a little, not in fear but in defensiveness. Like a dog ducking down and snarling, ears flattered back.

And yeah. It's a set up. But Claire's not one to back down from impossible odds, to try and punch so far above her weight class that she's found to hurt herself. So for a moment, it looks like she will wise up, for a moment hesitation flickers across her features, because she knows she's outclassed here - but then she moves anyway.

And here's the thing. Claire's good for who and what she is. Scrappy street urchin used to doing whatever it took to get by. Self-taught hunter who can tussle with nests of vampires and werewolves, who can take out ghouls and make it out the other side of a bar brawl. Who can take hits and punches, get bruised up and keep pushing without flinching. So yeah - she's good. But she's no match for someone like Ciri, and she knows it, knows it so obviously in how she tries to dart in for that hit, like she knows that unless she gets that strike in by pure chance with the element of surprise, she will not get it in, at all. Like she knows against this woman, she's going to eat dirt, but doesn't care, will not back down, will push and accept the hurt, because that's the only way she knows how to exist.

But that's always been the problem, hasn't it? That in any given moment, Claire's good - but not good enough. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri wasn't entirely sure she'd do it. Claire doesn't back down, though. Doesn't argue or try to convince her otherwise.

Fair enough.

The narrow alley means there isn't much space for either of them; Claire has limited room to work with, and Ciri can't exactly move aside much further than a couple steps in either direction, or back.

She ducks to the side even so, pivoting to face Claire again. This time, Ciri's back is to a wall, presumably giving her less space to dodge the next attempt. ]

[waywardsister]

[ Trap, her mind screams at her. Claire's cocky, but not so foolish that she'd think Ciri would maneuver herself into a bad position on purpose. She's got height on Claire, and that means reach, so really Claire isn't aiming for a take down here - just for an attempt to get a quick jab in there.

So she goes low and pushes forwards, as if she intends to tackle Ciri around the middle to bring her down - but feints right, trying to jab with her left. The goal if she doesn't land it - which is probably unlikely - is to catch herself on the bricks behind Ciri with her right arm, and push right back into Ciri's space for another attempt.

Here in this alley, Claire fights like someone who's had to get in, knee a man and get out in plenty similar settings. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ The feint is a good strategy, but too clearly telegraphed, in Ciri's view. For a moment, it looks as though Ciri has fallen for it; she angles her body to the left, shoulder against the wall.

She lets Claire lash out, sliding just out of the way at the last moment, and uses the momentum to slip behind her instead, pushing off the wall at the same time as Claire is forced to catch herself on it.

Ciri grabs her directionless left arm while the right is occupied, twists it up behind Claire's back, and pins her chest into the wall. ]

[waywardsister]

[ Claire hits the wall with a grunt, her own momentum helping the pin along to her detriment. Her chin scrapes along brick and stings, and she bites her lip while trying to wriggle out of that grip - no such luck. Ciri is as strong as she looks and can obviously kick Claire's ass to hell and back.

Cheeks warming, Claire has bo intention of admitting defeat, though. Against all common sense. ]

You know, if you wanted to feel me up you could have asked. Or bought me dinner first.

[ It comes out teasing with an edge of frustration. Claire tries to throw her right elbow back into Ciri's face while simultaneously twisting her hips and trying to slam a foot down on the taller woman. ]

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri simply lets her go and takes a few quick steps back. Claire can throw herself around all she wants. The point isn't to keep her there, so Ciri has no problem releasing her and getting out of the way.

The quip earns a narrow-eyed look and a faint frown. ]

Maybe you're the one who should by me dinner. Considering your new windfall of coin.

Are you ready to stop thrashing about like a blind turkey yet, or shall I wait for you to tire yourself out?