3/19/2019 Blood Wings5- Nasu's Assault

[19:11] Akin to a predator, the Ivanovich thrall scouted from the heavens above, gliding through the skies and searching below near the vicinity of Crafthold. Large, mana infused, weightless wings of her prowess adorned the former Invidia's back.

By now, Aspen was completely healed from the toxins of Magibane in her system. Her swift departure from Leoda led the Ivanovich towards Crafthold for new food.. Dawn's prices were ridiculous!

Therefore.. Aspen descended upon the grounds outside of the city, fluttering her wings for a gentle landing before the Ixis child, approaching him. The woman's right hand idly sits against the hilt of her blade. All of Aspen had been a similar form save for the newly dyed black hair of her.

The menacing smirk, that she flashed back in Huangzhou, adorned her visage.

"Oh, what do we have here? Nasu Ixis Kimyona, son of Ume, aren't you? You remember me, don't you?" The woman stepped forward a short distance of him, cocking her head towards the side slightly.

"I'm sure you do," she added in. The woman recalled the kitsune's fear of her previously. Had that subsided by now? Her eyes quietly scrutinized his attire and face for reaction.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[19:18] He loved to sneak out of Haungzhou and explore Agartha! Ignoring the potential risks and dangers there were out there the young kitsune.

He walks along the cliff and sees the merchant city's lights ahead, sprinting towards it and excited to see what was going on, maybe even meet Eiphraem this time around!

However he was stopped and nearly fell over, his hood had to flip over by mistake to reveal who he was to Aspen, fear struck him hard.. his sky blue eyes look to see her hand on the hilt of her blade.

He could move his legs, he was terrified of the encounter, why'd it have to be now? So close to the city too! "I-I remember you.." He stutters and struggles to speak.

Nasu manages to make a small step back as she approaches, his ears flatten on his head, "W-what do you want? L-let me go to the city, don't get in my way!" He had a pleading voice, his hands fumbling towards his sword to make sure he was prepared to fight.
(Nasu Ixis Kimyona)
[19:29] A powerful gust blows back the kitsune, along with his hood, from her wings before they flex back behind her body, dispersing inward around Aspen's person. A miasma of her blood shrouds the Ivanovich's form.

Watching the scared teenager's disposition against her was quite amusing. It allowed her to momentarily reminisce on her youth of those who opposed her- who feared the once Invidia. The Ixis' trepidation sparked her to flash a toothy grin towards him.

"Of course you do. I'm the ex-thrall your people starved." A scowl formed against that claim and at the shake of Aspen's head, she took a step forward in Nasu's direction.

"Well- I'm a thrall now once again. Your settlement did me a favor, I suppose. However.. child of Ume, how would you like to accompany me around the settlement to explore?"

An inquiry?! Huh! Aspen disregarded the kitsune's fumbling for his weapon in preparation to fight her. The digits of her right hand firmly gripped around the hilt of her blood formed blade- just incase.

"Oh! I'm not going to get in your way. I'd just like to talk is all." Snickering, there was clearly some malicious intention underlying the calming, vaguely sarcastic tone of voice she used against him.

"Accompany me, mmh? I could teach you more about what your mother was teaching you in that class, and whatever else your little mind wishes to know. Whatever you desire! Wherever you'd like to go. Is that why you're traveling without your overprotective family?"
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[19:35] Ethan seemed to have been traveling towards Crafthold at just the right time to catch something rather unpleasant. If it wasn't for the fact he knew Aspen's ill-will towards Nasu's family due to what his parents had done to her he might've thought she was a villain. He approached the situation rather calmly, moving right up to the thrall and reaching a hand out towards hers before she could draw her weapon.

A warm smile was cast her way as he spoke up, hopefully encouraging her to leave the kid alone.

"Hey, Aspen." He said, thinking for a moment before giving out his best. "Your hair looks wonderful. Do you wanna go for a walk?"

He knew how to calm her wrath. He had to, right?
(Ethan Hawke)
[19:43] Nasu manages to grab his sword and he holds it in front of him, shaky as hell, it was pointed at her though telling her no to approach.

"I d-don't want to talk with you! You're evil, you're a thrall! I-I should be.. stopping you! You're no good! I don't want to accompany you or learn anything from you!"

His knees were bent and shaky, his kitsune ears flat atop his head and his tail between his legs.

He takes a breath and just for a moment there he looked as if he had grabbed the courage inside of him, ready to fight, he was about to light his magic and take stance but Ehtan stepped in from seemingly no where, speaking to Aspen to calm her down, Nasu lowers his blade ever so slightly and sees the calmer approach, he'd step back more, hoping it'd work and she'd be distracted.

"G-go with him.. yeah, he wants to walk with you.." He'll take any chance of et out of this.
(Nasu Ixis Kimyona)
[19:52] Mahogany eyes settled on the point of Nasu's blade pointing towards her. Not a flinch, not even a blink of her eyes. The Ivanovich wasn't fearful. The woman didn't tremble. Naught but ill-will towards the kitsune. He was the offspring to her rival, Ume, and the opportunity lay perfectly before her until-

Ethan's approach subdued the woman's audible and visible ire; if only briefly. She flashed a glare in the kitsune's direction who'd calmed down vaguely by now. A half-opened, fatigued glare.

"A thrall doesn't mean I'm evil. Pursing vampirism doesn't make me evil. That would be akin to me saying the zeal of your people are evil because they kidnap us and hurt us. Your definition of evil is fallacious. Look at my view of your own people. Do you not see what they did to me to be evil in my eyes?"

No, Ethan's presence didn't bother the Ivanovich's pursuit towards the kitsune. She twisted her body towards Nasu, stepping forward again, assuming Ethan allowed it. With or without it, Aspen continued. "You can try to stop me if you'd like. No one is stopping you from attacking but yourself. Go ahead and try, child." A challenge, yet-

Aspen's glare divides towards Ethan, pursing her lips. "Thanks, but I've a pest to deal with. A walk can wait," she responds, snapping her head back towards the direction of Nasu.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[19:56] Ethan gently tugged at Aspen's wrist as she maneuvered herself into a more threatening position. Perhaps his presence hadn't had the effect he wanted it to have. Still, he wouldn't relent so quickly. He remained close, letting out a few quiet words to hopefully shift Aspen's attention away from the kid.
(Ethan Hawke)
[19:57] Ethan Hawke whispers: I really like how you look right now. It's pretty.. hot.
[19:57] Ethan Hawke whispers: You should come and walk with me.
[19:57] Ethan Hawke whispers: There won't be a lot of walking.
[19:58] Ethan Hawke whispers: Plus... I miss you a bunch, yeah?
[19:58] Ethan Hawke whispers: Come on. It's just a kid.
[19:58] Aspen Ivanovich whispers: A vulnerable kid. I'm in no need for affection. Not now.
[20:00] Ethan Hawke whispers: You might not be, but I am.
[20:07] Again it had hit him, two sides to the story, Nasu remembers what Neo said, how Huangzhou, Gehenna have taken from him, how he wanted Nasu to go with him up north so his kids weren't lonely..

Now it was Aspen's view, she was kidnapped, who knows what happened in the prison, Nasu surely didn't. He started to question things, he was doing justice, doing the right, he was suppose to stop demons, vampires, undead, all the unholy abominations that riddled Agartha but now Nasu started to have slight doubts.

"Vampires feed on the blood of people, innocents! They were made to kill and only kill! You can't have a vampire be around and not kill someone or torture someone!" Nasu's courage got to him now, he wasn't going to let those doubts gnaw at him, no he had to fight clearly, there was no way he'd escape someone with wings.

Despite Ethan's attempts at calming her down, Nasu's blade would start to temper and sizzle, glowing orange with his fire magic, embers begin to emit from his sword, fire shrouds his body and he takes up the ifrit stance, he had to teach this thrall a lesson.. perhaps even subdue her.

"I'm son of Ume and Ashera, I'm justice!" He yells out, taking his lessons from his mother, "By Kraus I will purge this evil!" His ears spike up and claws come out, his tail swooshes fast behind him.

He was going to fight.
(Nasu Ixis Kimyona)
[20:18] A breath of fresh air. Conflict between a pair of adversaries. The child of Ume Kimyona against the thrall of Vedran Ivanovich. Ethan's words fell on deaf ears. His attempts at subduing Aspen's enraged disposition were naught but failure.

Aspen's arm extended out towards Ethan, signaling him to back off. Her crimson blade slide from its rest, wielded by hand and pointing out towards the teenager.

Pops, cracks, and a frigid decrease of the night's airs surrounded her crystallized ichor blade, revealing her control over ice magic. A frosted coat layered around her blade, thickening and hardening its brittleness.

"Aspen Ivanovich. Dawn noble. Thrall to Vedran Ivanovich," titles meant nothing, but hell! They were exchanging them for dramatic effect. It amused the woman, reforming a smirk. With a pause between their exchange, the aura of her blood formed again into massive wings that opposed the airs, sending forth shockwaves of sheer winds towards the Ixis teenager.

"By Cain I'll be ending your life, child of Ume." With that, she aimed to attack, despite Ethan holding her back if he bothered to attempt it..
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:21] Ethan would've most definitely stopped the battle from happening right away if it weren't for the fact that the one he was trying to help had decided upon himself to go for the assault. Aspen's push was not needed, but still respected as he moved off to the side - allowing the two to fight out their beliefs. He didn't seem pleased at all by the situation but stopping two people from attacking the other at once was a rather difficult task. Much more difficult than dealing with one person alone.

He shook his head in disappointment towards Nasu. For someone who just wanted to leave he had picked the wrong move.
(Ethan Hawke)
[20:28] ** Aspen Ivanovich has inflicted an injury upon Nasu Ixis Kimyona. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[20:29] Kiwi says, "Hmm..."
[20:30] Galahad Gwynne asks, "Huh?"
[20:40] Death was an over exaggeration, especially because of the Ivanovich's mindset curved towards Nasu's family specifically! By extension, the teenager was receiving the punishment of his father. Not death, but pain. Priscilla's words reverberated throughout her thoughts. An eye for an eye. Damage to her organs previously by the Elder Kimyona, therefore..

His son would acquire a similar polar infliction of damage by Aspen herself. Ice pierced at the teenager's skin, instilling a sheer cold throughout his body, decelerating his movement, paling the flesh's original color, stiff joints, pain, etc.

This hadn't been a battle that the aggressor, Nasu, could easily find victory in. The was pinned down, obtainable for Aspen to collect, yet she turned away. The damage was dealt, dwindling her aggression towards the Ixis. For now.

Her nostrils flared with heavy breathing. There was more the Ivanovich wanted to do worth of destruction againstthe vulnerable child to get back at Ume Kimyona and Ashera. His trembling was amusing enough accompanied with the sheer cold affecting his body now.

"Here's a lesson for you, Kimyona child. Don't attack a powerful person if you can't handle the blows. Next time I won't go easy." And she meant is, finishing off her words with a hiss before turning away to depart, leaving him and Ethan behind.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:45] "What's wrong with you?!"

There was nothing else Ethan could say after seeing Aspen go a bit overboard on the kid. A defeat would've been enough - she didn't need to do anything else at this point. Why was she doing that? A swirl of hellish flames spun into existence - bursting in-between Nasu and Aspen in an attempt to separate them from one another before the damage the thrall could make would be irreversible.

With a frown on his face and a serious, direct approach Ethan made his way closer to Aspen. His right hand reached out for her cloak - holding it shut and keeping her right in place if she didn't fight too hard against it. Green eyes sat right upon the red ones filled with disappointment rather than mere anger. It's as if he expected better from her. As if he had expected her to be a proper human.

"You didn't have to go that far." He stated - forcing her to face the consequences of her actions.
(Ethan Hawke)
[20:51] It's always a been a nice journey for Galahad to take, whether if he was alone or with others. The paths from Huangzhou to Crafthold were riddled with magic and many plants that piqued the blond's curiosity, at times causing him to even get lost along the way. And today was no different..! He had taken a long road through the dreadwoods, and he chose not to rush through the swamps.

He wasn't expecting to come across two people fighting though. And it was certainly no spar– the younger fighter had been injured, ice puncturing the purple-haired boy's skin. The knight winced at that, his magic working a tad more than before to allow him to fly towards the injured Kitsune faster.

He wasn't dead, was he? She couldn't have killed him, right?

The Gwynne landed on the grass near Ixis, emerald-green eyes glancing down at him, "..Are you okay?" It was a dumb question, considering the obvious injuries. The knight shook his head and clenched his fists tightly, fury in his eyes now. Why? He wanted to know what could warrant someone hurting a kid.

"..What is wrong with you?! Pick on someone your own size!"
(Galahad Gwynne)
[20:52] It wasn't a battle, more like a wailing of a kitsune. He wanted to do what was right, ignore his doubts and stop the thrall from getting away! Nasu lost his fear for the worse apparently, his fiery attacks were not enough to take on the icy chill that Aspen brought upon his fragile body.

Icicles pierce his skin, a sharp, burning pain was what he suddenly felt through his body, his fires didn't stop it and his adrenalin didn't nullify the pain.

He eventually fell onto the ground, struggling to get up but pushing himself as hard as he could to escape, tears start to roll down his face but eerily.. they were cold like his body, everything was so cold.

In a miracle she didn't pursue him however, was it because of Ethan..? It probably was.. if he wasn't there who knew what would've happened to Nasu.

Channeling all his mana into his muscles and to push past the pain the Ixis managed to stand, beginning to run as fast as possible, the air around him felt warmer then he did, it was horrifying, everything was so horrifying.

He takes off, free luckily and learning his lesson.. which he should've learnt after encountering Neo in the mountain, don't run outside alone.
(Nasu Ixis Kimyona)
[21:04] "An eye for an eye. He gains the punishment his father failed to receive. What goes around comes around. For what Ume did to me in the past, his child was inflicted with in return. Nothing more to it. Going too far would have meant his death. I'd have been more comfortable with that."

Retracting to her old ways of aggression. It was a breath of fresh air inhales, released with a frosty, tangible breath let out audibly. A hand lightly cups the Ivanovich's cheek while she stared towards Ethan with a mien of admiration. "His crying was trembling was also enough to satisfy me."

Aspen's shoulders draw in together upward, shrugging. Her gaze flicks out towards the blonde who attempted to consult in the damaged teen who fled the scene. Nasu disappeared near immediately in the night.

"He was the aggressor. He deserved exactly what he gained. An embarrassing defeat and a sheer cold to weaken him. Perhaps if you're that concerned, blondie, you should tutor him on how not to aggravate people like me."

From there, the thrall's gaze settles towards Ethan who had her within his grasp by her cloak. The wings adorning her back fluttered, settling her gently to the ground and staring towards him with a glare.

"Now let me go. I'm returning home, Ethan." Aspen attempted to resist from holding her cloak. Abandoning the clothing piece was an option while her hand snaked below its silky interior towards her satchel if things should go the wrong way from here.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[21:11] "Is that really the way you wanna live your life? To fight and hurt people who had nothing to do with what's been done to you?"

He released her cape, for sure; how else was he supposed to push her away in an act of pure disdain if it wasn't for it? Emotions he couldn't quite understand were plaguing him. No matter who started the fight she was the one that had finished it that way. She was the one who claimed she wanted a better life, yet stuck to the worse one.

"Maybe it really is your home if that's who you're gonna be."

These words probably stung more than the ones trying to impart logic and compassion into her; these dealt on an emotional level, one where the place he wanted her to call 'home' had changed.

She was going back to her old ways and he was losing his mind.
(Ethan Hawke)
[21:20] "..You're all types of messed-up if you think that's enough of a reason to hurt an innocent kid," Clenched fists remained the same, the blond's stare unwavering. How could anyone justify something this way?

"You're a coward. You might talk big and act like his pain made you feel good– but that's not true! You just know you couldn't have done it to the person who did hurt you!" Galahad himself wasn't sure if whoever it was did something bad enough to be treated that way - but he knew one thing. The kitsune he saw earlier didn't.

They were innocent.

All bullies were coward, and apparently, Aspen was no different.

Unless stopped, the knight would turn around and allow his magic to lift him skywards, floating back to wherever he came from. His visit to Crafthold will have to wait.
(Galahad Gwynne)
[21:24] "Those who attack me deserve what they get. Is that not clear to you?" The woman's brows furrowed towards him, reeling back from a flap of her wings, jumping her several feet away from where Ethan stood. Aspen's head shook, declining the occultist's claim. A dismissive wave of her hand acknowledged the blonde who attempted to insult her. Dry slander that didn't bother her. The woman's now undivided attention placed to Ethan.

"Mmh, I was going to attack him the moment I got him alone. Nothing deadly, however. Just rough him up!" Now she was accepting his former affirmation. "I'm not easily persuaded by anything." Her stare hardens, cold and devoid of emotion, even a scowl or mien of admiration.

Ethan's words didn't sting her. They didn't tax her emotional vortex the way he assumed they might. Again the Ivanovich thrall shakes her head. "Then.." The snaking hand below the silks of her cloak protrude from within Aspen's satchel. In her hand?

The key to Ethan's abode. Her arm extends towards him with a clenched fist containing the key, opening, to drop it on the ground before him. "So be it."

That final act was the end of them. The woman's blood formed wings opposed the air, sending powerful gusts of wind in Ethan's direction, indicating her departure. For good; from his life. Further interactions wouldn't be met with kindness, or happen at all.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[21:26] {Item} You drop Ethan's Place.
[21:28] Ethan watched as the woman slowly made her way away from the situation - where she held that key outwards and... Let go of it. Was that all that they meant to her? Just a convenience - something that could easily be left behind without a second thought? Were the tears, the pain, the misunderstanding all for nothing? His words carried the pain that was being felt.

"Is that it? Is that really what you want, Aspen?"

There needed not to be any big speech, nor emotional outburst (more than there already was). This... Hurt. A lot. She'd know it. And somewhere he hoped she was hurt, too.

"Is that all it meant to you?"
(Ethan Hawke)
[21:33] "You don't know what I want, and you'll never understand what my ambitions imply. You're an inconvenience for me. A distraction. We aren't meant to be." It was finally that moment, that claim she knew would strike him where it mattered. The heart.

Aspen turned away, frost trailing in the steps she took along the ground. There wasn't anything more the Ivanovich had to disclose of her admittance before taking off, officially, from Crafthold and towards the North.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[21:33] Ethan Hawke says, "..."