elanya

This is a thing that I wrote for Bronwen, based on our World of Darkness IC stuff. Probably it lacks context for just about everyone else. Also, though it is very much in character (I think) for both people, the point of the exercise was to write something with some definite slashy overtones. I hope you at least like it, Kit ^-^

Clash of the Titans Smarmy Redheads!

Ewen crouched n the shadows against the roof hatch, watching the unobtrusive black Cadillac parked across the street from his sister's apartment complex. He'd been advised to stay clear of its occupants, and absolutely forbidden to visit Jenny until they'd gone. He seethed when he thought of the injunction, but he didn't dare disobey his sire's wishes. Somehow, she always knew just what he'd been up to, and also, she was probably right. The less there was for them to observe, the sooner they'd tire of their vigil. Still, he was curious about them, not to mention jealous and resentful of anyone who interfered with his Jenny. And ever since that blonde haired interloper had come back into her life, there was far too much interference. It has been two full weeks since he'd been close to her at all, now. The boy had to go, one way or another, but he was in hiding and couldn't be found.

Ewen hissed his annoyance, but stood up from his position: he had other plans to follow through with tonight. He was confident the spooks wouldn't be spying in his direction, and that his obfuscation was strong enough to protect him from their prying eyes. He wasn't their target, after all, just an innocent bystander whose desire were being thwarted by their presence. As he turned to leave, some baser instinct alerted him that he wasn't alone.

He scanned around the rooftop, his supernaturally keen eyes piercing the darkness easily as he completed his turn. Standing not fifteen feet away was a tall, well dressed man holding a golden cane. This was no mysterious stranger. Ewen didn't need to check his aura to know that it would be shot through with myriad multicoloured sparkles. He'd seen him before in the interloper's presence, and Jenny had given the warlock a name: Kieran O'Donnel. Somehow, he managed to remain inscrutable while smirking ever so slightly. Ewen returned the smirk with easy confidence.

"What's this? The warrantee's up on your usual toy and you're looking for a new way to get your kicks? I'm not sure I'm you're type, big guy."

"Hm." Kieran made a show of looking him over consideringly, though Ewen couldn't be sure how long he'd been standing there. Two new facts caught his attention however: the top of the man's cane was set with an Eye of Horus design…. And inside the eye danced a glimmer of flame. "You're sureties are no concern mine, Child of Set."

Ewen already hated Kieran. Jenny hated him - it was only natural that her brother shared her dislike. She hated him because he disdained her, and also because she though him a danger to her disgusting boy-toy. Now he hated Kieran more, because the man clearly knew more than was good for him, and because it seemed his disdain didn't know any reasonable limits either. Add to that the fact that he should have been all but undetectable, hidden the way he was. What made things worse is that, once again, Coraline had tied his hands and warned him about meddling in the affairs of wizards. He was likely to take some heat from her for being involved in this encounter at all, but he wasn't about to let this bastard know any of that. "Oh, I suppose you're just here for the view then?"

Kieran was already looking past the vampire and stood beside him in a few easy strides, looking down to the street towards the Cadillac. "I can't say I'm too fond." He gave Ewen a sidelong glance. The centre of the eye on his cane was definitely burning, and Ewen found it slightly unsettling. There was there nothing *to* burn, for one thing, and the mage handled it less like a cane, and more like a short staff – a weapon, in any case. The idea of flaming weapons made him wary even if, with the company being kept on the street below, Kieran was unlikely to actually use it. Still, the entertainment this jerk might provide probably wasn't worth hanging around any longer than necessary.

"It is a pretty dull show… You know I think I've had my fill for the night." Keeping an eye on the mage, he stepped away from the ledge, planning to blend in the shadows and make a quick and easy escape. He was caught off guard by the speed at which Kieran stopped him, reaching out and catching him by his shoulder. Ewen was equally surprised at the man's strength as he was spun around to face him.

Ewen had to look up to match the mage's glare – Kieran was half a head taller. He was already pumping blood through his body to increase his strength. This guy wasn't really crazy enough to start something here and now, was he? He snarled, baring his fangs. "Are you stupid or just insane?" Frustratingly, the man just smiled thinly… and Ewen still wasn't able to break out of his death grip.

"Oh, neither. I just want you to know…" Kieran held his cane between them, and though Ewen did his best to stand his ground, instincts demanded he pull his face back away from the flame. He tilted his head back, and Kieran pressed it to his neck, hooking it under the cord that hung there. "…You have something of mine."

On the cord hung a small talisman that he'd taken from his sister, another Eye of Horus. It had come from Kieran, via Alex, but he'd never given it much thought. Jenny had been told, but never quite believed, that it was supposed to help protect her somehow. He had noticed that it helped him some, in blocking out attempts to read his mind, and in giving clarity to his own supernatural perceptions. Did it give this guy some kind of power over him? Well, he wasn't going to show it now – he could always get rid of it later, or find someway to turn it against its maker. Mastering his fear, he leaned forward so that they stood face to face, almost touching.

"I *take* what I *like*."

Kieran raised his eyebrows challengingly, but did not back away. They stood that way for moments, the tension in the air palpable. Neither one wanted to escalate the encounter at that point, yet neither was willing to back down. Their eyes were locked, but Ewen guessed his disciplines might not give him much aid against this particular opponent. He waited until his strength was built up sufficiently, and shoved the other man back, breaking his grip. He didn't have the satisfaction of seeing him fall, but he stumbled a few steps backwards to maintain his balance, and Ewen could read the annoyance on his face.

Quickly recovering both his poise and his air of derision, Kieran frowned a warning at the Settite. "Watch your step."

Their small engagement had left Ewen standing perilously close to the edge of the rooftop. He cocked his head and smirked with eyes narrowed. "Don't you worry about me old man… I've been paying close attention. Somehow I think it's you who oughtta be doing the watching." He glanced meaningfully down at the Cadillac. The spooks might be inconveniencing his life at the moment, but ultimately, they weren't his enemies. Kieran just arched his eyebrows again, half a question, half a challenge. 'We'll see,' they seemed to say.

Ewen backed away slowly, making for the access that he'd cracked open to reach this vantage point. The two didn't take their eyes off each other until the vampire disappeared out of their mutual line of sight. Kieran waited until he was gone before taking up the position in the shadows that Ewen had occupied initially, watching the watchers in the street below.

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In other news, I am done half my marking. Finishing this was me big break between Id's and the essays, which always take longer :p Well, I think I will mark them in batched of ten, and give myself a set amount of time to faff on the 'net and/or work on this week's installment of Pieces between them. That plus dinner ought to kill most of my evening... I can always leave some to finish tomorrow too, but I also have to go through my enlightenment historiography lecture, and there are various folks having superbowl thingies tomorrow that I may stop by (for the social, not so much the game :p). I also kind want to make biscuits sometime this weekend, and maybe also do some dusting/vaccuming...

ETA: I wonder if it would be worth it for me to have a writing journal. I don't write *that* much, but then only people who might actually want to read the things I write would have to be exposed to it, and I might have a better idea about who those people are, if they indeed exist anywhere outside my imagination ;) Maybe I should try writing something that doesn't require a whole bunch of specialized or insider information to understand sometime hmmmm ^-^