Enucleation Education [Private: Yew~]

Iris had witnessed a truly terrifying and sickening thing in the recent past. A small homeless girl took a plastic spork and dug a fellow guild mate's eye out, rendering it a small white lump of jelly. It was disgusting. It was disrespectful and cruel! How could anyone think digging an eyeball out like that was okay?!

Akeldama had done it positively all wrong!

Well! Today he was gonna remedy that fact! In his pocket were two custom made tools that weren't unlike melon scoopers. The round edges were sharpened to glide like butter through the nerves and muscles that trapped the juicy ocular bubble in the human body, bringing it forth unscathed and beautiful like a precious opal with an iris and pupil. The girl might be a grimy little gremlin at best, but at least he could offer her some sophistication in this one area of her life. Perhaps one day, he'd be able to find a little beauty in there...somewhere...

"Alright. Since this is your tutorial, I'll let you choose someone. But please, try to show some sort of respect for aesthetic and pick a set of pretty peepers. Ugly ones aren't worth the effort," came the man's smooth voice, his head flicking to the side so his lavender hair would fall precisely across his forehead to look magazine worthy. Matching hues scanned the out and about civilians in the Sabertooth town of Ace of Spades, a glint of knowing mischief in them. Teaching the teenager could be done anywhere with people, but why not somewhere where a little chaos could lead to something delicious?


[268]

Since joining Basilisk Fang she had at one point been made to take a bath, but she hadn’t taken much care with her appearance. She wore different cloths, sure. But her hair was a rat’s nest of a mess that she seemed content to simply let lie like that. You know… Akeldama should probably be happy to be outside.

But the purpose that this odd guild member had was creepy at best, repulsive at worse. Honestly she liked the idea of being able to cause someone pain… But it was hard to get over the idea of eye scooping without being queazy.

Even when she’d done it to Theo she’d felt that way. But she’d had the threat of cannibalism to spur her on to do it anyway. This time she didn’t have such a thing hanging over her… Probably. “Why are we doing this? I mean… Do I have to?”

It was worth at least checking to see if she might not have to do this grisly thing.

WC: 169

"They allowed me to take you out so I could teach you a skill, so yes. Also...the way you did it before...with the spork... ugh. No. I can't let that stand. It was a travesty. There's a proper way to do everything, from enucleating to brushing your hair..." he trailed off, physically unable to keep himself from commenting on her appearance. "On that note, do you own a brush?" Why couldn't this girl fix herself up? She had a home now, right?

Letting that line of thought pass, he went back to scanning the crowds just in case the little vagrant refused to actually choose someone. People went about their happy little lives, living in the shadow of a legal guild's grand castle. He bet the felt safe here, using said shadow as a security blanket. As if any entity tied to the magic council could be anything but gutless garbage. They passed a bakery and convenience store, both with matching stone facades. If he hadn't been on a mission, perhaps he'd stopped for a pastry, a hairbrush for Akeldama, and a little bit of troublemaking. But no, his preoccupation with gaining a new set of eyes for his collection overrode any other interest, and he'd be quite cross if she botched her lesson and robbed him of said reward. "Pick someone with pretty eyes," Iris said again, turning to look more sternly at his student.


[504]

The little girl shook her head at Iris’ question. Sure there was one in her room, but she didn’t own it. She didn’t own anything. That was a dumb question. At least in her mind.

Oh dear… Akeldama bit her lip nervously, looking around. It was quite possible she was going to end up blinding whoever they came across. The idea of hurting some random passerby made her stomach twist a little bit.

But that gave her an idea…. The subtlest hint of a smile spread across her face. Why not use this as an opportunity for some payback? The smile fell away as she looked up to Iris meekly, with the best puppy dog eyes she could muster. “You know I know someone here with an absolutely spectacular set of eyes… But we’d have to walk a bit to get to him. Would that be alright?”

OOC: 147

"That's the spirit!" Iris exclaimed, thrilled she seemed to be taking to his instruction and had someone specific in mind. It being personal was possibly even better than picking someone at random. While sometimes the surprise in their eyes was just as nice as getting them, confronting someone with a little extra emotional baggage made it more satisfying. To him anyway. It was difficult to pass up some of the pairs he'd spied, though. Once he was in the mood, restraint wasn't so easy. But! A teacher must maintain poise and control, and confusing his student with too many targets would probably teach her nothing. Yet, if she needed, they could return for some practice.

"I don't mind a walk. It's good for the body and soul. Who is this person and where are they? I guess you've been here before?" Iris inquired, hands sliding easily into his pockets and he sauntered down the walkway. "I assume it's someone you don't like...or maybe like a lot, depending on your life choices..."

[675]

Iris sure was asking a lot of questions. Akeldama briefly mused which ones she would answer and how much trouble she might get in for being vague with any of them. She nodded to his first question of whether or not she’d been here before.

“His name is Victor Polaris, and he lives on the corner of Rosemary Road and 104th Avenue.” She walked with Iris, putting her hands in her pockets as she looked down. She really didn’t want to tell this next part. But the idea of tempting fate by being vague… Best not. “He was a past master of mine… He wasn’t very nice.”

Wasn’t very nice was an understatement. But she’d leave it at that if Iris would let her. She’d already revealed more than she’d otherwise want to.

(133)

Pursing his lips, he stole a glance at the student. He wasn't quite like Ambrosia or Veve. He might be a misguided soul with some non-legally-kosher hobbies, a love of chaos, and a venomous hatred for the magic council and all they stood for, but he wasn't devoid of feelings. Having had his own past events that were less than enjoyable, the implications of Akeldama's vague explanation tightened the muscles around his heart. While he wouldn't stop his guild mates from their decisions and actions, that didn't mean he had to agree with them at their core. Perhaps a more morally sound individual could, but he wasn't that type.

"Ah," he huffed, a little uncomfortable. So she'd been a pet before? "Why do you let it keep happening?" he asked a bit quietly, his expression blank but hiding a small amount of cautious anger toward the disheveled rat. People should try to change the situation their in if they don't like it. He lost his eyes and discovered a magic to solve the problem. He hates the magic council because the harbor his eye thief, so he's doing his best to systematically kill, dismantle, and otherwise destroy them. So, this small girl must either be stupid, or actually enjoy someone owning her. Judging by what he witnessed in the town below Basilisk Fang's hide out, enjoying getting new masters hadn't seemed like what she wanted.


[910]

She was hesitant to answer that given his trying to blame her for her captures in some way or another. But she did want to offer some measure of explanation. It wasn’t her fault.

“I’m not exactly strong enough to stop it. And when people see some homeless girl off the street well… They think why not.” Who would care if she died? These people would only mourn the loss of their newest pet at the most. Then forget about her the next day. It was within Akeldama’s interest, given their lack of care for her wellbeing, to make herself as useful, or as interesting as possible.

Ambrosia wanted a pet to play with. It was either be played with or play along with whatever fresh horror was baked up for the day. And in this particular day, that was apparently eye gouging. Though of course it wasn't always as simple as getting swept off the street. "There's more scenarios that happen that get me into this but..." She shook her head. Best not get into them.

"That sucks. You should get stronger then," replied the man, a bit blasé about it. He meticulously positioned the strands on his head after a rogue breeze blew through, seeming to use more brain power on that than what she said, though that couldn't be further from the truth. Trying to pin point why her acceptance of her destiny to be repeatedly made a pet of despite not liking it annoyed him was a challenge. Why did he care what this worthless little thing did or didn't do? It was her responsibility to take care of herself, which she seemed to neglect and make excuses for on all fronts. "Or don't. It's really no concern of mine."

No, his only concern was teaching the teenage savage how to gather eyes the right way. Speaking of, they arrived at Rosemary Road. Now they simply had to travel a few blocks to 104th Street. This was a good time to start. Pulling out one of the custom eye scoopers, he held it out to her. "This is the proper tool, not a plastic spork or any other item. In a pinch a knife can be used, but one must have a steady hand and be very careful. This is far more efficient," he began, looking over the melon baller-esque tool. "The edges are very, very sharp, and the scoop itself is the perfect size for any eyeball. I think you can figure it out. They can be alive or dead, it's up to you."

[1162]

Get stronger. Real funny. It wasn’t like anyone before now was actually willing to train her. But possibly these people were different. If she played her cards right, maybe she could finally be able to be more than just a pet. Ambrosia’s version of entertainment wasn’t exactly your normal kind after all.

And even this guy was teaching her something possibly useful. So long as she could actually incapacitate the guy. Akeldama took the eye scooper from his hand, assuming that he was offering it to her to take. Afterall she’d be using it soon enough. “I’d prefer him alive… But not sure I’ll be able to keep him still to actually accomplish this.”

She was absolutely ravenous. At the guild hall she was getting meals more often than when she was homeless. But it was not always easy to get as much as she needed. Akeldama had been compared to a blackhole one or two times.

WC: 157

The Basilisk Fang poster boy grumbled a little to himself a little at her words. Again, here she was just admitting and accepting that she was basically useless. But he had a task, and dang it he was going to accomplish it. He wouldn't admit it, but he didn't really want to be on Ambrosia or Veve's bad sides, if only because it would make life more difficult rather than fear of what they'd do to him. He'd caught himself almost looking forward to what painful Amby could possibly visit upon him, but now was no time to get excited about that. He had a urchin to instruct.

"I expect you to try your hardest to immobilize him," Iris expressed flatly, giving no doubt that he expected more from her despite all she'd told him thus far. Was it because it was a bother, or because he was lowkey trying to do the tough love thing and help her out without actually being super helpful. After a bothered sigh, he continued. "...but this one time for instruction purposes, I will if you can't. The point is definitely to learn to get beautifully removed and perfect eyes. One step at a time.." he drawled on, coming to stand at the corner of the streets she'd instructed him to find. Now where? Turning to look at her, he observed the body language of a hungry creature. "If you do all this right and don't give me any problems, I'll get you some food. As if I need to give you any motivation..."

[1422]

Food? Oh hell yes. “As much as I want?” Akeldama asked in a shy voice. Better clear this up sooner rather than later. Because she could eat a lot. Her metabolism was at least double that of the normal child’s, which meant she had to eat a lot more. Not that she knew any of that of course. She just knew that she was basically hungry all time unless she could have full sized meals every two and a half hours or so. Which was a little ridiculous, she knew that.

As much as she wanted the man to be conscious for her taking of his eyes, odds were her best bet would be if she could somehow get the drop on him. Knock him unconscious. But she wanted him to know she had done it. Maybe leave a note? No he wouldn’t be able to see it.

But his wife would… She was normally out during this time of day. But the man’s abundant amount of servants weren’t. She was assuming Iris had a plan for that. After all he’d been willing to pick up some random person off the street. “I’ll do my best, but he has servants too…” She paused for a moment, hoping he had some plan of action for that.

WC: 215

Well, this felt like a trap if there ever was one, but he consented anyway. "Yeah, as much as you can eat," he waved her off, feeling his wallet cry already. Maybe he could get Ambrosia to reimburse him.

Iris considered her next words very carefully. So, this man wasn't alone. That made sense. Usually a person who had a tendency to collect people would indeed have more than one in the household that wasn't so lucky to get away. It was hard to tell how loyal they'd be...depends on how cruel a man. And given Akeldama's volunteering of him for enucleation, he was willing to bet they would either take the chance to escape or at least stand by and watch without stopping him. However, even if they did choose to fight back, Iris had plenty of useful spells to use. "Shouldn't be a problem. If the guy is a real dick, most will probably try to escape, right? And even if not, I'll put them all to sleep or scare them or something. I mean, I could always take their eyes and kill them if they are worth it..."

[1613]

Akeldama thought about it, lowering her hand with the eye scooper in it while she mused. She didn’t particularly hate any of the servants there. So… “I guess knock them out if we have to. They were all in the same boat as me after all.” So theoretically she shouldn’t loathe them.

There were a few of course. No one could like everyone after all. But they didn’t deserve to have their eyes scooped out. The promise of food was already getting her. The texture of the metal scoop in her hand began to change, and she glanced down at it to see that the entire thing was already coated in a thin layer of rust. “Shit.” She swore under her breath, immediately trying to hide it in her pocket. Clearly she had not thought that through all the way…

WC: 140

Being an man with an impeccable collection of eyes and heightened vision because of it, Iris certainly didn't miss her rusting his carefully crafted tool he'd loaned her...or gifted her now. He certainly didn't want the rusted piece of junk back, and the thought of it made his blood pressure raise. Inhaling and exhaling deliberately to compose himself, he turned to his little accomplice.

"Alright..." he began tensely, plastering a fake smile on. "We will knock them all out, and you will steal the target's eyes....with the rusty scoop. I suppose the rust might enhance the experience, provide a little dash of tetanus. Just don't let the rust get into the eyeball or scratch it all up. It's a delicate and beautiful procedure that can be highly rewarding...well, if you're me," Iris warned her, motioning her with his hand to lead the way to the correct house. "I'll knock out whoever I need to for you, though that's another thing you need to learn."


[1777/3750]

Akeldama took a sharp intake of breath when he made a note of the rusty scoop. So he had noticed. Well… She was just going to have to be careful. Honestly she wasn’t sure she was going to be capable of what Iris was asking her. But she’d try. What other choice did the raven haired girl have?

“Okay…” She muttered in a quiet voice when they finally made it to the gate of the mansion. It was an opulent place, but the gates were slightly rusty… Guess they hadn’t yet gotten around to replacing them since she was last here. They were open, inviting. She walked through the beautiful garden, barely sparing even a glance to the flowers she’d once failed to tend. They were doing considerably better now. Without her.

Akeldama reached for the doorknob. It was locked. As always. But she wasn’t hoping for it to be unlocked. She’d been hoping that her curse would activate and rust the lock to uselessness and she’d be able to break it easily. Why wasn’t it working? She’d just done it a second ago.

She pulled her hand away, trying to hide her disappointment. “Its locked.” God blast this curse of hers. Why wouldn’t it ever do what she want when she wanted it? She’d fried locks like this one before. It was a simple parlor trick… When it worked. She had hoped to at least do something to make Iris impressed. Surely this would, in a guild such as Basilisk Fang, come of some use.

WC:256
WC Total: 1394

Oooh, now this was a place he could get used to! Why was it that Basilisk Fang needed that ugly old castle with all the dust and dreadful decor? They deserved a place like this! Luxurious gardens with people to tend them, enchanted wrought iron fences to keep disgusting legals out, a truly beautiful place to live. Maybe then Ahote wouldn't be so dreary. Some warmth and sunshine would do the man good, as would it the rest of them. If this town hadn't been thick in Sabertooth territory, he'd might even have suggested it as a guild hall replacement. It was plenty big. The expertly masoned abode with marble accents was at least three stories tall. The rooms were large, he imagined. It really was a shame it would go to waste like this.

As Akeldama stalled at the front door, Iris's joyously illuminated face blanked out with a wash of apathy, starting to wonder if this was even worth it. Was it doomed from the start? He'd witnessed her carve and jellify an eyeball before, but the way it was going, he was wondering if she could replicate the action, let alone do so successfully. First she rusted his custom made tool, and now a simple lock stymied her. Huffing out his dip in attitude, he held his finger out. His irises turned a glittering opal just as the tip of his finger began to glow red. A small beam of concentrated fire emitted into the lock hole, melting the mechanisms within as well as the entire knob. Once it was nice and goopy, he nudged it open with his foot. "After you," he quipped, his bow steeped in sarcasm. The eyes remained opal, just in case there was a surprise attack. Since they'd only just decided to come here on a whim, he highly doubted they'd be expected and prepared for, but stranger things had happened.

Stepping inside, he didn't see anyone in the entryway. "Okay, lead the way. I'm ready to immobilize if you need it."


[2117/3750]

She could see the disappointment in his eyes at her failure to even be useful at the first step of this mission. Damn it. Why couldn’t it ever work when she needed it? The obvious reason was of course that simply wasn’t how curses worked. “Okay…” She muttered quietly as she stepped inside the house.

Still as opulent as ever. Silky curtains, wondrously painted portraits and landscapes on the walls. And a red carpet leading guests to where they needed to go.

“Hello El…” A servant had been waiting near the stairs, no doubt in preparation for the lady of the house to come home. “Akeldama?! What are you doing here? And why do you look like a rat that’s just crawled out of the gutter?”

Akeldama crossed her arms, both defensively and self consciously. “Tends to happen when you’ve been there a few times.” She muttered, mostly to herself, then looked up fully at the woman… Whose cloths were beginning to rapidly fall apart from decay. The little ratty girl snickered a little bit. Sometimes the random nature of her hex wasn’t so terrible at times. “You’re not looking so hot yourself.”

The servant shrieked, holding onto the tattered remains of her cloths and running away before anything more could be revealed.

WC: 1607

"Well, well...that's a handy trick~" Iris purred, eyes lewding the servant woman as she escaped to save what was left of her dignity. A pity. She wasn't terrible on the eyes, and he so loved to marvel at any form of beauty. A wistful sigh parting his lips, hopeful opal eyes danced on Akeldama. Perhaps there was hope for her yet. Given the state of the scoop and the doorknob incident, he was drawing a conclusion about her magic skills. She had magic...sorta? Maybe she didn't know how to use it. "Aren't you a little old to not have control of your magic, Akeldama?" he wanted to know, making idle chit chat as if invading a person's house was no different than perusing an outdoor produce market.

Perhaps if they followed the slightly obnoxious red carpet, they'd come to the man who'd become blind today. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't chomping at the bit to get to the good part. Any day that got him a new set of eyes was a good day...unless they were junk eyes. If these were junk eyes, he'd be rather cross, and would probably pick the next target for her himself. One way or another, he was getting a good set, even if that did mean feeding the little thing. Wandering forward without her, he peered into a couple rooms, though ultimately refrained from taking any action in favor of seeing how she'd handle it all.


[2362/3750]

“Its a curse.” Akeldama replied. “You don’t exactly get to have the best of control over that.”

It was at least her assumption that it was a curse. And given her living conditions the past years… It wasn’t as if she had had a mentor to help her learn even the most basic things. Like what the heck a cool down was. Often times she wondered what she had done to deserve such a fate.

But right now wasn’t time to dwell on that. There were servants of course that saw them, but most reckoned they didn’t get paid enough to deal with a clearly maddened past servant and the tall man following behind her.

But of course… There were always exceptions to that rule, and that came in the form of a tall burly man. Her previous master’s head of security.

“What in the world are you doing here?! I know for a fact neither of you received an invitation.” The man cracked his knuckles, glaring down at them threateningly.

WC: 1772

Iris quirked a slender brow for what felt like the millionth time so far that day. "A curse," he repeated, doubting it, but he supposed it could be possible. It wasn't really his business, now was it? Akeldama belonged to Ambrosia and Veve, so if they wanted her to be more than a useless eating machine that desperately needed a self care regimen, they could cultivate that.

Walking through the house, casually watching as servants scattered like cockroaches in the light, Iris began to wonder how much longer until their intended prey would show himself. At last someone stood out, but he doubted it was the right guy. "Invitation? Fancy~" the beauty focused male preened, smoothing his shirt and giving his companion a moment to act. Actually, given how things were going, maybe he should just go ahead and provide some assistance for the sake of efficiency. Electricity sparked from his hands with very little notice, sure to give the bulky man a shock and perhaps stun him a little. "What will you do, Akeldama? Will you incapacitate him or should I?"


[2544]

Akeldama had to take effort to bite back her impulse to snark Iris for that question. She didn’t have the power to take this guy down, and she had made that clear from the beginning. But he hadn’t liked that answer then and he wouldn’t like it now. She had to try something.

The raven haired girl pulled out a large kitchen knife that she’d been hiding in her pockets, a little surprised to find it still there.

The man looked down at the kitchen knife scornfully. “Really now? You think you can beat me with a kitchen utensil? Give me a break.”

Maybe this time it’d work…. Akeldama focused her power on the blade within her hands, trying to turn to rust without completely breaking it. The thing did indeed turn rusted within her hands… It looked like it’d last a few slices, but not for much longer. Hopefully if Iris stepped in a little that’d be all she needed.

She then rushed forward to lunge at him, trying to slash and hit anything she could. Her lack of experience in fighting was painfully clear as the man simply stepped to the side, and decked her hard enough to send her slamming into the floor.

WC:1978

"Where the heck did you pull that from...?" Iris asked about the knife, a little stunned. So, the whole time, she'd just had a sharp blade pilfered away in her pocket...That was so stupid! How had she not severed an artery somehow? He pinched the flesh between his eyes, baffled, yet a bit amused. This girl...she was a real piece of work.

He watched from a small distance. There'd been a glimmer of hope in him that she'd been seeling herself short and she really wasn't completely useless, but this cleared up matters. Other than the rusting curse, this girl more useless than a wet dishtowel. "Oy vey," the ocular mage sighed, watching the guy simply dodge and then knock her to the ground. It was like kicking a puppy...if the puppy was really ugly. At which point it wondered if the fact that it was a puppy at all mattered if it wasn't cute enough to engage the "do not kick" instincts in the first place...

Approaching quickly and leaning down to clap hands over Akeldama's greasy ears (EW), Iris had a change of eyes to some lovely coral ones. Clearing his throat, he opened his mouth and sang the loveliest song some had probably every heard. While all vocal, it was every bit as enchanting and mystical as a siren's song, and within moments a goofy smile slid over their attacker's face and his eyes fell shut. Sleeping while standing there, Iris ended the song and snickered. Usually they fell backward. "Alright, what now?" he asked his student, having a bit of hope that she'd begin carving the sleeping man with that rusty instrument.


[2820/3750]

She had surprisingly big pockets was the answer. Akeldama had a little knowledge of sewing. Enough to at least repair or make bigger pockets than would normally be permitted. But of course, it could have easily have sliced the pocket open, or her own powers of decay aged the cloth within to ruin. But it was there, and that was what mattered. She took Iris’ first question as rhetorical and stepped around the massive man.

She had completely missed what Iris had been hoping for her to do. Though she was quite impressed how easily he’d gotten the other man to fall asleep. Must be some sort of magic. Burning door knobs to liquid, making people fall asleep. What an eclectic set of skills.

“We’re close to the master’s working space now.” This time of day he wouldn’t be in his bedroom, he’d be in the room he’d set up to be his office. A rich man like him could afford to work where ever he wanted. Akeldama continued to hold the rusty knife in her hand as she walked down the hallway. If she cut herself at this point with it things would get ugly real fast, so it was safer to keep it out.

Plus it’d make it easier to use it in combat… If she knew the first thing about how to fight anyways. She might stand some sort of chance against her previous master. But she knew he’d easily be able to overpower her if she was within range to stab him. This was unfortunate… She really wanted the chance to impress Iris. But it was looking increasingly impossible, as even her best attempts were knocked down the moment she tried.

Akeldama clenched the handle in her hand, glad her back was to Iris so he couldn’t see the utter look of frustration on her face. Why did she have to be so damn weak and defenseless? She was sick and tired of being kicked around.

WC: 2308/3750

As they passed the sleeping man, whom was just about to rouse back to consciousness, Iris gave him a swift blow to the back of the neck. He crumpled to the ground, not sleeping but unconscious either way. One threat down. Maybe that'd be the only one? He certainly hoped so. He stayed close behind the smelly girl, now in a position to preemptively strike. Any hopes of her usefulness in taking care of herself had evaporated, and he wouldn't let her be punched again. She needed to be conscious with her wits about her to learn this technique properly.

As they came to the office door that apparently held their target, Iris moved ahead. With his enhanced senses he could tell someone was inside, which was good. In a blink, Iris changed eyes twice. Once to teleport inside, and again to cast the illusion that all three of his appearances were presence at once. The shock of such a thing froze the man in shock. It was easy for Iris to approach with his eye catcher blade, pausing it at his neck. "Alright, Akeldama. Let the lesson begin~" he purred, lips curling upward in delight and anticipation. "Get out your scoop. Don't forget to hold the eyelids nice and wide so you can slide the scoop under and cup the eyeball gently. Whatever you do, don't cut into the eyeball. We want to just move the sharp scoop edge back until it cuts all the attached bits, then it'll pop right out," explained the dark mage, waving a hand and producing a jar half filled with a blue liquid. "Drop them in here. What questions do you have?"

[3099/3750]