Enucleation Education [Private: Yew~]

Akeldama’s previous master wasn’t precisely the most beautiful to look at. He was overweight, wrinkly, and had more than his fair share of moles. But his eyes were a bright and intense orange. They of all things had not dimmed with the passage of time. Undoubtedly they’d look better outside of his head than in it. Akeldama was unable to suppress her nervous giggle as that joke came into her mind.

She pulled out the scoop from her other pocket, hand shaking slightly. Akeldama had done this to Theo, the one who had tried to stand up to her. It shouldn’t be so hard to do it to this man.

The raven haired girl had to do it if she was going to make any headway in this new group she was in. Ambrosia was a neglectful master that did not take much effort to watch her… And this was a good thing. It gave her chances such as this to get in better with other members of this guild.

Her treatment did not have to solely rely on her true master’s mood if she got in good enough with the other people. She had to impress him. Slowly Akeldama padded towards the man. “Remember me?” She asked softly, attempting to almost growl the word but failing utterly at it. Instead she sounded like some shy school girl who was mad at a bully, but afraid to really show it.

Iris was so calm about all this. Not only that, he was smiling. Could he really be so excited to see this? Was he just as sadistic as Veve? Maybe… Maybe she ought try putting on a show for him.

The old man looked at the three Iris’ and then Akeldama. “I… How did you get here?”

Akeldama shrugged. “Doesn’t matter… What does matter is that those eyes of yours would look a lot better if they weren’t in your skull.” The raven haired girl glanced at Iris for a moment, trying to glean whether or not he had found her joke amusing. Which one was the real one?

“Hold still now… Lest we take more than your eyes.” Akeldama purred darkly. She would see if she had questions once she actually got in there. Akeldama pulled his tightly clenched eyelids open, slowly bringing the rusted eye scooper towards his orange orbs. Really milking it. He was frantic, begging. But since when did begging matter to him? “If you think that’d change anything… Funny. It didn’t change anything for me… Why should it for you?”

All dregs of mercy drained from her as she moved forward, scooping out the first eye…. It was a bit messy of course. The cord was harder to sever than she knew how to deal with, so the nerve was a bit frayed.

Akedama wiped away some of the blood from her face, only succeeding in smearing it onto the thin layer of dirt that was already there. “H-how was that?” There was still one more to go, but she didn't want to continue until she got Iris' input. If she was going to do this and try and impress him by it, she might as well get it right.


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Oh, Iris got her joke indeed. All three of his faces broke into a grin, chuckling in chorus though each voice in a different key. His taller form with the longer hair, rougher hands, and tattoos possessed the deep laugh to his mid-tone one, while the female's chimed and lilted more in the range of birds. The dusty curtain ripped from the safety of its hoops was tied securely around the victim, holding him completely still and helpless to the pair's bidding. While the paunchy shell was disgusting in Iris's eyes, he did possess some dazzling hues. Joke or not, she was quite right that they would look much, much improved outside of his ruddy face.

Akeldama did surprisingly well. Just as before, he could swear she enjoyed herself, even if she didn't outright admit it. With his understanding of how normal good people where, it should have been much harder to convince her to do this, let alone her do it with such a laid back attitude. Perhaps she was and would be more than a little rat slave. Iris could hope right? Why? Honestly...why not? He could root for the underdog and still be dastardly enough to get the dirty jobs done. Being a dark mage wasn't a cookie cutter mold. They came in all shapes and sizes, with different levels of conscience and morality no matter how twisted. Despite himself, he rooted for this dirty little girl. He still had the urge to dunk her in bleach and untangle that mess on her head, though. Maybe Amby would let him one day. And dear lord, get this girl a new outfit! Maybe he simply wanted her to improve her life with the assumption that she'd at least put some effort into her appearance. She smelled like a gutter full of moist fallen leaves.

"Hm...a little messy. But with a rusted scoop, it was probably the best I could hope for," he replied thoughtfully, peering at the eye before holding the jar out for her to plop it in. The liquid inside would rejuvenate and repair any damage from the rust or inexperience, but it was hands over fist better than the eye jelly she'd carved out with that horrid spoon fork lovechild. Could he have let her see how impressed he was and give her a good job? Nah. She could have done better, and he wasn't one for blabbering praise unless it was over someone who was knockout attractive. Even so, the gleam in his eye was obvious, and his approval was in his nod and next words. "Go ahead and take the other. I'd give you mine to make show you how it should feel sliding through nerves and cords like butter, but if you rusted mine it'd mean a lot more work for me. The quicker you get it, the quicker you get a decent meal~" he purred, pulse throbbing away in his neck as the aspect of soon having such a beautiful pair of oculars to explore. Orange~ How fascinating...


[3606/3750]

What he meant by that Akeldama wasn’t sure. But whatever it was she’d find out soon. Hopefully during or after food. Because she was hungry as hell. Akeldama scooped the second eye out, having a little less of a hard time with it than the first. Her old master was screaming to high heavens.

In response Akeldama sighed happily, though her nose was scrunched up against how loud it was. It was nice to see him in pain for once. “See you later old man.” She sneered down at him, making the joke that he couldn’t see, but she could. Though really Akeldama hoped to never see him again… Hopefully Iris liked this joke too.

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Iris did indeed like the second joke. "Haha! It's funny because you'll never see again...see? Hahaha~" the purple haired man was elated, riding the high of receiving a new set with silly giggles at bad jokes. As the other, better removed eye joined its twin in the jar, the ocular mage twisted the lid on and gave them a good long look, having ignored all the screams and the continued whimpering as if it was just background noise. "Yes...these are lovely..." doted the Basilisk Fang member. Moving his free hand briefly before the jar, he materialized a whip. "Hm. Fitting..." muttered Iris, giving the black weapon a crack, busting a nearby vase. It was ugly anyway.

Satisfied, he waved the jar away into magical storage and turned his attention on Akeldama. "Alright, now I trust you know how to do it properly. Always do it this way. No more sporks. No more eye jelly...got it? If you come across some sexy pairs, always bring them to me. I'll feed you if you do, just like I will now," he told her, smirking. It sounded like a nice contract to him, and it seemed food motivated her quite well to learn quickly and obey. "I guess we're done here. Where did you want to eat? Lead the way."

[3823/WC met]

When the whip suddenly appeared in Iris’ hand Akeldama looked unmistakably nervous. How did Iris get that whip? She’d recognize it anywhere. It was her old master’s favorite. She… She did not have a lot of good memories with that. Honestly she couldn’t even imagine that good memories could be associated with whips, so that was a bit obvious.

“T-there’s this good tavern nearby.” Akeldama said, unable to keep herself from stuttering a little bit as she started backing up towards the door, a little afraid to turn her back on Iris.

He’d seemed alright so far… But that was so far as Basilisk Fang people went. And he’d still asked her to gouge someone’s eyes out. She was happy to do it of course, and enjoyed the sight of her old master sobbing as quietly as he could, fearful of what retribution screaming might bring. But still… He had the whip now. She couldn’t help but be nervous. “H-how did you get t-that?”

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"Hm?" Iris asked absently, honestly not thinking of the implications of what was in his hand. Well, more accurately he had, but not really what it would do to Akeldama to be in its presence, considering their location and what they'd just done. "Uh...oh. This?" He held the item dumbly, it's wicked tail hanging limp and dragging the floor. "I can draw items out of peoples' eyes. Sometimes it gives me an idea of how useful the pair would be and whether they are worth taking and using," he explained, tossing the whip handle up. It popped out of sight instantly.

Iris wasn't a good person, but he definitely didn't have intentions of using the whip on someone like her. That was more Ambrosia's thing. Perhaps if he was in a different mood he'd terrorize her with it just because he knew she feared it judging by the stutter, but he had a mild pair of eyes in. No apology would pass his lips, though. He much preferred to drop the subject altogether, or perhaps a distraction? Grinning, he turned to her and reached his hand out, pulling an item out of her eyes. He'd never considered checking her eyes until now, since she seemed pretty convincingly useless all around. It wouldn't hurt her, nor would she feel a thing as an antique gold pocket appeared in his hand. Quirking a brow in surprise, he turned the pretty object around in his palm, eyeing the unique symbol carved into the delicate metal. The ticking was solid and twinkly, and the whole thing felt rather expensive and special. Did her 'curse' have something to do with a watch? Time? Or was his abilities just telling him her eyes held a power worth quite a bit? Now, this really was a nice surprise. Iris would have to add her eyes to the list of those he lusted for. Handing her the time piece for her to examine, the man chuckled dreamily. "I wonder what sort of hint your eyes are trying to tell me, Akeldama..."

Leading her back outside, Iris stretched and basked in what was left of the sun, mind still reeling with curiosity. "Which way?" he asked about the tavern, peering both ways and seeing no clues to follow. "I'll just follow you."

Oh thank god it was gone. She was feeling much better now. When the timepiece was placed in her hand, however, she froze. Looking it over. From the ticking hands within, to the symbol etched into the back. This was it. This was it.

Her hands started to tremble slightly, whether it was excitement or fear was uncertain until a massive smile cracked across Akeldama’s face. Just as well she was told to lead the way somewhere… Because she couldn’t stay still if she wanted to.

She hugged the pocket watched to her chest as a giddy laugh bubbled out of her throat, her feet pattering the ground in a combination between running in place and dancing. Before bolting off to outside, still giggling, though quieter now. “Oh my god. This is it. This is it! I can’t believe this is it!” She completely ignored anyone as she ran by. Faster. And faster. Those who tried to catch her were hilariously slow.

Within no time at all she was outside, and looking at her new pocket watch in awe. No time… Huh… It seemed to be running a bit fast. Strange… But that didn’t make this pocket watch any less than what she had foreseen it to be.

“Wow.” She whispered to herself, waiting for Iris to come out of the house in his own time. She hadn’t really meant to run away from him… She’d just been… So excited.

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"What the heck was that?! Why did you run?!" cried Iris as he busted out the doors, quite a bit behind her even with his added speed. As if the giggling and dancing hadn't been a weird enough reaction to being handed a pocket watch, then the rag doll took off like some sort of crazed speed demon. At first he panicked, thinking she was making a mistake, that he'd been played a fool this whole time and now he'd lost Amby's pet. The ocular mage enjoyed pain and punishment a lot of the time, but being made into a skin suit by a rage-filled Nightshade Hell Deity didn't sound very sexy. Thankfully she waited outside, which actually was pretty stupid of her, to be honest. Good for him, but she had every opportunity to have her freedom. Why didn't she take it? Shaking his head, he relaxed, though was still stumped. She kept saying 'This is it?'...why? "What is it? Why are you so excited?" the man continued to question, completely baffled by her behavior, though her magical speed confirmed to him that she definitely wasn't cursed like she assumed. Nothing bad had happened, she was just simply faster. It was magic, she just didn't know how to use it.

He joined her, wary that she may take off again. He had his own spells to increase speed, and being better prepared he might be able to keep up if she suddenly realized her idiocy.

She did something that she probably shouldn’t have in that moment of excitement. Particularly with someone who possibly had the ability to steal the power of the people whose eyes he had taken. That person of all people she should have avoided telling what she ended up saying in the heat of this moment. Akeldama would likely regret it later. But for now she was thrilled.

And glad he was right next to her so she didn’t have to say this super loud. Couldn’t have everyone knowing afterall. That being said most people would think that she was crazy if she said this. “I can see the future.” She whispered to him. “Any time I get sad or down I look into my own future… I see myself big, tall, with power enough to make people tremble at my feet. And in that future I have this pocket watch with me. With this… I’m that much closer.”

Akeldama was talking at insanely fast speeds, still under the effects of the spell she’d accidentally activated.

It’d be years before she was that tall. “This is proof that those visions aren’t just a delusion. Wishful thinking. It’s going to happen. And this… This is something, this is everything. This is it!”

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"You have quite a ways to grow before you fit into that future," the older man tutted, smirking at her, though her excitement was contagious. He almost rooted for her...if he didn't lust for her eyes even more now. How easy it'd be to relieve her of them. The mood had already struck him. One set had already been obtained, and all that did was whet his appetite. If her visions were true, her eyes were powerful indeed, and taking them later would prove difficult. Iris swallowed hard, feeling the burning in his gut and his pulse prodding his neck, stirring him to action. Almost no effort was required...

But no. As much as Iris wasn't one to deny himself of his wants and whims, he didn't feel like being dissected like a lunar moth, beautiful yet quite dead in Ambrosia's collection. Fear wasn't his only deterrent. A small part of him wanted to see what she'd do with it if she did become strong enough to fend for herself. Spending this little time with her made him angry that she'd let herself be stomped on by so many, so it'd be rewarding to see her force others to their knees. Also, there might be some requirement to unlock that power that he wouldn't be able to do. If she was the key, he'd wait until it was unlocked before he stole it away for himself.

"Interesting that I was the one to present the item... could it be fate? Do you believe in such a thing?" he asked Akeldama, though it seemed to be aimed at himself as well. "If so, then I suppose you'll be buying me dinner one day to pay me back for your awe inspiring power, hm?" added Iris flippantly, starting off in the direction he hoped would reveal the tavern. If he stared into her eyes any longer, he'd go back on his resolve. "You'll have to take better care of yourself, though...or all people will be trembling before is your smell..."

“I know.” Akeldama nodded in agreement. “Its not like I could shoot up to six foot tall in a matter of seconds.” Plus she didn’t even know how to control this power of hers so… There was another example of how far off she was.

Upon his question of fate she nodded. Even when she tried to change the future, it rarely turned out to be different. The primary reason she had not run away was one very good reason. And one shitty reason. The shitty reason was that she did not think that she could really do any better. The good reason was that she believed that this watch was a sign that she was just where she needed to be if she were to make it to the future she had foreseen.

“I do believe in fate.” She was a person who could see into the future, of course she believed in fate. At Iris’ comment about her smell she sniffed herself a few times, and wrapped her arms around herself as if to hide the offending smell.. “And I’ll try and wash up at some point.”

She didn’t trust taking a bath in Basilisk Fang. But maybe she could find a river or something to bathe in.

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"Fair enough. I'll take it," nodded the mage, strolling down the path intended. "All that seriousness aside, now I'm hungry, too. I'm not sure what time Ambrosia would like you returned by, so we should hurry and get to where we're going. I'm not ready to be on her bad side, yet," Iris uttered, reaching nimble fingers up to his feathery locks to give them a quick groom. Gotta make sure everything is in place, still. Appearance is everything.

His mind remained preoccupied. Curious, the notion of fate. Now that he'd spoken it, it ate at him. How did it work? Did fate mean he had no way to prevent the theft of his own eyes? That seemed cruel, and just how cruel did something have to be for Iris, a man who had done some pretty messed up stuff, to think it was over the line? Well, it was more personal. An attack and violation on his person, a trespass that set him on a path that was darker and more distressing than the generally blasé man let on. It bothered him deeply to think that this was meant to happen to him, for no other reason that some mysterious force willed it so. Iris had had much different plans once, he felt, though for the life of him he couldn't recall exactly what they were. Only the wistful emptiness of loss and a gray slate remained.

Had he asked Akeldama her answer would have been, yes, it was his fate to have his eyes stolen. He was here now, with her. And now she had the pocket watch she had so dreamed of for so long. He was part of her fated future.

But of course the only thing she could hear from him right now was that they needed to get to food quickly or else. “Yes. Follow me then!” Akeldama said quickly, doing her best to ignore her sudden exhaustion as she walked as quickly as she could to the nearby buffet. To get in was about equivalent to thirteen bucks a person. But with unlimited access to food that hadn’t been fucked around by Ambrosia… This was going to be a cheaper alternative than any other place Akeldama might take him to.

Even working in the kitchen at the guild and being able to eat food at work had its hazards. Ambrosia’s antics were roughly equal to pranks, ranging from anywhere to annoying to down right hazardous. She had to make good with her guild members as quickly as possible.

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