Decided Fate; Spin of the Wheel 2 (Vassilios)

[Fortuna]

❊Glade 27 4623❊

Previously....
It was a year and a season spent without her baby, the magnificent and awful Slugger. Val was unhappy and had been tracking Vassilio's movements the whole time. She kept her distance, expecting him to be like usual bandits or ruffians, likely to sell or misuse a free rig. Instead he took care of Slugger, the intention with which he used the machine was like it was his own. It was not, it was RIGHTLY hers. After all the time she spent trying to peel if from Iron Arm's claws, just to have him give away the keys right under her nose. In truth, there was a period of time where Vassilios had vanished from her sights completely, they weren't far from Traphole and a Madness Storm swept in, he must have slipped away during this event because after the dust settled she had lost him. Until now.

It had been half a year since she had caught back up with him, though she had heard things here and there about the man. She knew now where he worked, where he slept, where he shit. And Val was prepared to now take full advantage. She accosted him when he was alone, they were between Traphole and the Well of Fortune-- taking her moment when the dranoch knew they were far enough away from the Well to not be able to call for back up, and far enough from Traphole that he was essentially stranded.

The thing that troubled her the most was how to approach the man. She could slit his throat in his sleep now, as it was night and she wasn't far from his camp hidden behind a boulder watching in the shadows... Or perhaps she could toy with her prey and drink her fill afterwards? Coming out of the shadows she was silent but not hiding her presence at all.
"Hello, vermin, my name is Val'Taern. The Ironmoon call me their 'Bloody Crescent'."
She smiled dangerously and tauntingly, revealing sharp, unnaturally white teeth in her mouth.
"I can be your doom now, or you can entertain me first with a conversation. Do you even know the name of Slugger, her history? Such a pity."
Cracking her neck, her long dreadlocks waved on her shoulders, she readied herself.

[Vassilios]

₪₪₪₪§|(ΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞ>

‘Twas a year and a season since the fateful day he stepped into the Creaky Window, and as though the gods granted Vassilios a great fortune, he met a man by the name Ironarm - although he had called himself Ironeye a couple of times - and drove away into the night with a stolen chariot; the magnificent and awful beast known as Slugger! And although his childhood dream had come true at that moment, he paid the price in Ironarm’s life as far as he knew. However, there was one undeniable truth from that night; Slugger was stolen, plain and simple. Yet still, he was too high on having his Chariot to register that he was in danger. At first, he was like a child who received the toy he had behaved for so long. And now he finally had it! Although, occasionally, bandits and thugs had propositioned him for the sell Slugger - he was protective of his new rig, to the point that even speaking of selling or abusing the gal was met with bullet fire and a beatdown that would make a sadist orgasm by from the protective brutality. But deep down, he understood it was not RIGHTFULLY his. And for most of this year, he was preparing to fight for his life to keep Slugger and lying as low as he could lest the hunter catches him sooner than he wanted.

He took nightly rides with his enkindled sword for the brunt of the season, not knowing what to expect of his hunter. Finally, he had set up a camp between the Well of Fortune and Traphole, taking the time to think about whether he wanted this fight.

The silence was broken as he realized he was not alone tonight. The hunter had successfully hunted down her prey, and there was no escape. Perfect. Vassilios immediately stood up and made eye contact with her; immediately recalling those eyes from the night - those vicious white hues that etched into his memory, and then her smiling a threatening smile - her sharp, unnaturally white teeth gave Vassilios an immediate pause. He ran his palm through his face before he smiled back at her. “You get right to the point, and I like that.” Vassilios began in earnest. “And you’re right; It is a fucking pity I’ve had Slugger this whole time… And why Ironarm never told me any about her history… Why did bandits and thugs piss themselves to look at her? Why did I have to beat down fuckers wanting to buy her?!” Then, facepalming himself in annoyance, he looked back to Val, ”And why did Ironarm lure me into taking Slugger? I gotta say, I’m dying to hear about Slugger because all these bits and pieces are doing nothing for me! Of course, I’ve no right to ask this of you, but tell me everything about dear Slugger.”

Created by Moop!

[Fortuna]

❊❊

Without flinching, without missing a beat, the man before Val seemed to, in her eyes, just give up. He wasn't hostile, which was good, as any hostility would meet with deadly force. Instead he was asking questions, engaging her, and rolling over belly up. It didn't occur to her that he was maybe brave, she saw him beneath her. He asked so many questions she could tell he was interested in the conversation as well. Without asking she took a bucket and turned it over, taking out a large knife with a flourish and helping herself to his food he had cooking on the fire.
"Paltry camp you have here, barely shit. Y'know, I didn't think you'd want to talk but I am going to spill the beans."
She took a huge bite from his food while chewing loudly and obnoxiously. When she finished her bite she began her tale.
"Bandits know her name. Slugger was my mothers. Ironarm was her lover. She passed and left the rig to him, Slugger was rightfully mine!"
Val was getting visibly more angry and worked up as the story turned on.
"Ironarm hated me all my life. After I... changed.... he only hated me more. I hate him too. So he kept Slugger, my mother's prized possession, away from me for years. My mother you see hand once been a head of the Ironmoon gang as one of the most top figures, and yes I AM bragging. She used Slugger to rain fire and brimstone on her enemies, being such a piece of work. Indeed, she had Slugger made for her personally. If you're not an idiot you know the Ironmoon and men don't get along, they aren't allowed in our ranks. Dating though, it's taboo. So when my mother passed away and left the rig to a MAN everyone was shocked. I had been tracing Ironarm for years trying to get it back and we had agreed to meet at the Creaky Window to finally trade her off. You must have been in on some scheme to just 'happen' into the bar and just 'happen' to make away with Slugger when I finally had her in my grasp. You can't tell me it was just a Chance of Fate."
Or could he convince her?

[Vassilios]

₪₪₪₪§|(ΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞΞ>

If he had met this woman shortly after gaining Slugger, Vassilios might have fought for his dream to stay true. However, This was what he wanted; the missing pieces of the puzzle of Slugger’s fame and bloody history, engaging this monstrous woman instead of giving up his life for his childhood dream. His smile widened as he helped herself to some of his cooking on the fire and grabbed a bucket, helping himself to some of his cooking. “Kind of the damn point. Much easier - and safer - traveling light. And I must say, I did not expect you to offer conversation eagerly. Heard you were the type to slice a guy up and ask the corpse questions.”
He took a large bite from his food and chewed with checked enthusiasm, Not only from hearing about Slugger but from one of his ‘Camp Recipes’ being tolerable food instead of an unsalvageable excuse for cooking.
Vassilios listened intently to Val as she began, noting how Slugger was RIGHTFULLY hers, picking up on her anger and physically working herself up as she spoke on. His brows furrowed as Val began speaking on Ironarm hated her… Even after she changed. She spoke proudly about her mother, and Vassilios immediately did not doubt that Val looked up to her mother, even after her passing. Soon enough, Vass had a broad base of things, or so he thought.
“So let me get this straight. You and Ironarm hate each other, and when your mom died, Slugger was passed onto Ironarm.” Vassilios began. “So you track him down and head to the Creaky Window, expecting to trade off and finally have your mother’s Chariot.” Vassilios stood up, making eye contact with Val, scratching his head, “But you believe that Ironarm and I were dangling Slugger in front of you before I made off with her?”
Considering what she saw, Vassilios understood ‘why’ she would think about that. However, he felt he could convince her. “You say it can’t be a Chance of Fate, but I gotta ask; What if it was? Ironarm and I never knew each other. This might be a stretch, but I can confirm I never knew of that man. Not before I walked into that bar. Never saw him in Traphole and never found him at the Well. We never knew each other. It may be hard to believe, but it is my truth.”

Created by Moop!