bluer than velvet was the night

[fingerbang]

WHO: crucioyou insineration
WHERE: STARTING JUST OUTSIDE A COFFEE SHOP; PROBABLY ENDING IN A CREEPY WAREHOUSE
WHEN: 8 to 9 PM on whatever night it was Lust suggested they kill some dude, or a few days later! I have totally forgotten when it was. 8[
WARNINGS: spoiler alert, guys, they're killing some dude
SUMMARY: It's basically an episode of Sex and the City if instead of buying Manolos, Sarah Jessica Parker engaged in recreational murder!
FORMAT: quicklog and oh god i swear my responses will be shorter than this hideous bloated intro

[It's far too windy tonight, whipping her hair back and forth around her face in patterns that are almost manic, but staying inside is quite out of the question as far as Lust is concerned; instead she's standing with her back straight against the wall of a building, waiting and apparently quite uninterested in her surroundings. After all, it'll be so much easier for a random civilian to note two women meeting when it's well-lit and pedestrian; given what direction this night is going in, she'd rather nobody but the too-obliging barista who gave her this disposable cup of coffee remember her face. They've arranged to meet, so it's only a matter of time before she arrives and Lust sees her new--whatever Bellatrix Lestrange can be classified as--in the flesh. She's no ally yet, and friends are still rather a foreign concept to Lust, but it's an interesting relationship nevertheless--potentially a useful one. Hopefully, this night will cement it as something beneficial for the both of them.

And it's a little nice, really, to have found someone so willing to engage in this again. Despite herself, her thoughts--in the back of her head, of course, and only subconscious--can't help but return to an equally bloody night more than two years ago, with another being entirely, after she learned that her only purpose in the City had been taken from her. The circumstances are quite different, of course; this time, though she doesn't know it, it's Bellatrix's purpose that's been stolen from her along with her powers, her leader she'll never see again. Also, this time the murder of innocents probably isn't going to lead to the most awkward sex ever months down the line, but whatever, man, semantics.

Lust's communicator is in the pocket of the jacket she's wearing to shield herself from the cold and the eyes of the public, switched on but not broadcasting, and one of her hands is tucked in the other. Her face, looking even paler than usual against the stupid backdrop of all that hair, may be impassive and unreadable, but the mind working behind it is surprisingly excited.]

Comments

[curses]

[Bellatrix always underestimates how long it takes to get from one place to another without magic, and thus arrives in the coffee shop ten minutes late. Her clothing is more inconspicuous than what she usually wears -- this isn't a night for theatrics. Or perhaps it was just too cold for her usual leather dress ensemble.

She scans the room, her eyes landing on a woman that is undoubtedly Lust. As she makes her way towards her, she can't help but think about what exactly she's doing, and with whom. Bella somehow knows that Lust isn't a Muggle -- there is a certain air about her -- but she's aware that she's placing a stupid amount of trust in the woman. She doesn't have her magic, and who knows what Lust can do? But really, she's always been reckless and she isn't about to stop now. And the night will be interesting, to say the least. She's tortured and killed without magic before, but this would be the first time she's doing it out of necessity. Because the occasional murder is totally necessary.

She stops in front of Lust, a smirk on her face.]

Lust, I presume?

[fingerbang]

[She smiles, meeting her eyes in lieu of a handshake; although apparently every NPC is magically too dumb to pick up on it, Bella's probably going to notice the creepy eye thing! They're slit-pupiled, and her irises are somewhere between red and purple, a sort of wine color.]

That's right.

[She sets the coffee down without a second glance. All it is, as ever, is a social gesture, an excuse for her presence here, and now it's less than useless.]

Shall we? I can't imagine this is your kind of place.

[curses]

[Her own eyes narrow. She's definitely not a Muggle -- perhaps not even human, but not any species she's familiar with either.]

It isn't. I have a great distaste for public venues. [She wrinkles her nose. Ugh, common folk.] Did you have anything specific in mind?

[Place...and victim...]

[fingerbang]

[She heads for the door, the sharp knife-edge of a grin lingering on her mouth before it fades out of sight, and considers gesturing for Bellatrix to follow her--but that would probably be condescending. Wouldn't it? Humans don't like that at the best of times, and this certainly isn't one of those. Her voice takes on a lower register whenever Bella gets close enough to hear, as though she's whispering a secret.]

Nothing so settled, no. [Because she's already fed all the mob mooks to Audrey II over the last few months! CLASSY.] But I do know just the place.

[curses]

[She would certainly take it as condescending. But she follows Lust willingly enough. For now, at least.]

Oh? Then by all means, lead the way. [Her hand drops down to her hip, fingers tracing the outline of her dagger sheath.] I'll pick the target.

[fingerbang]

[AND THEN LEAH RESPONDED TO THIS TWO WEEKS LATER TO HANDWAVE THEM WALKING BECAUSE SHE FUCKING SUCKS

no, okay; lead the way Lust does, moving quickly, but not fast enough to seem suspicious or keep Bellatrix from staying in pace with her. Wherever she's going, she clearly has a set destination, and her face is a blank slate once more. When she does slow, the striking of her heels on the pavement quieting down noticably, it's in...... some fucking warehouse district, presumably! It's strangely empty considering that this is basically New York City, which probably isn't helped by the evacuations having started, and not far from where she and Knives had their first time murderfest.

She glances at her, not quite turning all the way around, and jerks one finger in the direction of a warehouse. By way of explanation:]

You'll find more inside, I'm sure, but they come in groups. [Raises her eyebrows!] It's your turn.

[curses]

[It might be too much effort to target groups, especially since she still doesn't have her magic. But she doesn't have to mull over the problem for too long before she catches a man walking out of the corner of her eye. She isn't in a picky mood, but she smirks when she sees that he is dark-haired with prominent cheekbones. He will remind no one but Bellatrix of a certain cousin of hers -- a cousin that has recently pissed her off more than usual. Taking out her anger on a (probably) innocent stranger? Don't be preposterous.

She makes sure Lust follows her line of sight before speaking.] Be a darling and incapacitate him for me, won't you?

[fingerbang]

[She smiles, almost knowingly, even though it's because of no greater significance than HEH I GET TO KILL A GUY WITH SOMEONE HEH, and tucks back a chunk of hair. As a gesture, it's almost dainty.]

My pleasure.

[Lust is able to walk surprisingly quietly for someone wearing such ridiculous heels, a matter of centuries of practice, and it's only a little while before she's tapping the man on the back with one short, blunt set of fingers. When he turns, it's an even shorter time before she's pressing her nails, suddenly sharp and lethal, to the soft flesh of the man's neck. It doesn't take much of a push to maneuver him back towards Bellatrix and into the opening of an alley, and she whispers into his ear, "Shh," as though he's a misbehaving child. He might as well be, for all the choice he has.

As an aside:]

That wasn't so hard, was it? [And without further ado Lust shoves him roughly against the wall, her expression fixed at that same nexus of amused and supercool notcurring. He stumbles and falls, not least because her nails have just arced out to clip at his ankles, effectively hobbling him. She seems to do all of this with the pleasure of someone completing a simple household task, one that's been repeated frequently enough to gain its own charm, and her voice is matter-of-fact as she says:] If you scream, I'll slit your throat myself.

[He screams anyway, but she supposes she can't begrudge him a little of that--not when it would be such a chore to find another one. If it becomes too unsightly, they can use his shirt as a gag. RESOURCEFULNESS, YALL. She looks at Bellatrix expectantly.]

[curses]

[Well then, it's a good thing that Bellatrix likes it when her victims scream. It makes her feel so much more alive, though it doesn't really help with discretion.

Bellatrix looks fascinated as Lust's nails pressed against the man's skin. So this is what she can do -- no doubt not the extent of her abilities, but fascinating nonetheless. Unfortunately, all the pain she will be causing tonight will come from the external, and she slowly draws out her dagger from the sheath at her side.

She walks toward the now-whimpering man, gently running her finger down the sharp edge of the dagger. It glints dully at the low light.]

Now -- where shall we begin? I'm sorry, darling, but I do intend to make this as excruciatingly slow as possible.

[fingerbang]

Mm? You take him first. [Wow that doesn't sound at all sexual, you go Lust Coco. She examines her right hand casually, the nails still extended.] It's only polite.

[The man says... something about his kids and to please stop he'll do anything, god I suck at NPCs.]

[curses]

How magnanimous of you. [Bella tilts her head, pausing to survey her...prey? Victim? Entertainment? Either way, after a moment, she grabs him by his hair, pulling down until the soft skin of his neck is exposed to the sharp edge of her dagger. She presses down gently, until the skin breaks and blood is drawn.

The man screams louder and she frowns, oblivious to his cries of mercy. No, starting from his neck would kill him too fast. She considers for another second before stabbing downwards in one swift motion, right into his gut. Like that would kill him any less quickly. But she made sure not to have gone through any of (the more important) internal organs.

She glances at Lust.] Go on.

[fingerbang]

[Lust watches her intently, her lips curled up in the beginning of a smile, and when the other woman strikes they finally make it all the way there. Her teeth are sharper than one would expect, vaguely serrated at the edges, which I have definitely never mentioned in a log with her before. She doesn't lean down to touch him--there are moments where she relishes that intimacy, but this isn't one of them--sending her nails shooting out to pierce him through the left palm instead. He shrieks.

Oh my god, Jesus, please--

Her expression hasn't changed a note.]

I told you to be quiet.

[With that, she holds her nails for another deliberately stretched-out moment, then twists, mangling the hand which was already half-ruined--the way she should have with the Colonel, but that was three years and a lifetime ago and she won't allow herself to think of it now.]

Now, are you going to listen to me?

[curses]

[i feel honored. Anyway, Bella raises an eyebrow as Lust's teeth catches her attention, but her attention is immediately diverted as the man's screams grow louder -- the other woman has just stabbed him through the hand. She closes her eyes as she relishes his screams of agony.]

Oh, let him be. [Silence would mean he's given up, and what fun would it be if they didn't beg?] Though I suppose you can gag him if it's bothering you that much.

[She kneels down in front of him, giving no mind to the blood that seeps through her clothing. There's a reason why she always wears black. She raises her dagger again, running it down his torso, tearing his shirt and pressing deep enough to pierce a shallow wound on his body.]

[fingerbang]

[She's still smiling, more because of Bellatrix's obvious enjoyment than anything else. It's the kind of thing she would chasten Envy for, but this isn't family, and it's not Amestris. Maybe she kind of enjoys it too, let's be honest, when she isn't denying herself.]

I'll know who to blame if it gives me a headache. [HA HA JOKING ABOUT TORTURE]

[curses]

[IT'S WHAT ALL THE COOL KIDS DO]

I'll let you slit his throat later. [Sometimes her own generosity astounds her. Bellatrix grins before bringing down a hand on the man's already mangled palm, his screams growing even louder as she crushed it against the asphalt.]

[fingerbang]

[She comes in closer, resting her claws on the man's thigh (UH) and slowly pressing them against the skin, until they dig through the fabric of his pants and into the flesh beneath.]

You're too kind. Still, I'll be disappointed if it comes to that too soon.

[She's studying the way his face contorts in pain, albeit without much interest. He is, after all, just another human in a city of millions; any significance he has relates directly to her current partner in crime;]

You'd agree, right?

[curses]

[The man lets out a cry of anguish in reply, the will to fight seemingly draining from him as each second passes.]

I'm afraid the poor man is too busy to answer you at the moment. [Her voice is somber, and she kneels beside Lust, observing his face with more interest than her partner does.] I do wish I had my magic right now.

[fingerbang]

[She digs her nails in deeper, skirting the major arteries--for now, at least. With a sudden flicker of new interest:]

You could fix this?

[curses]

It will be as if he has never met us. [She runs her long nails lightly down his head.] Though the damage to his mind...I'm afraid that will be irreparable.

[fingerbang]

The poor thing. [She leans in, just a little more.] Perhaps it's for the best that it ends here.

[curses]

Perhaps. [She stands up, giving Lust room.] I promised to let you end it, didn't I?

[fingerbang]

[Lust shifts a little, positioning herself before him, and reaches out to take his pulse. It beats sluggish and erratic against her fingertips, and although his lips move he can't seem to get another plea out.]

You did. It's time, then.

[She at least makes it quick, slicing through the jugular and carotid so that he'll exsanguinate as opposed to only suffocating, but still deep enough to lay the man's trachea open in an instant--a reward for serving his purpose admirably, but hopefully still brutal enough to please her companion. Since she's still at a respectable distance, the blood leaps up to soak her gloves, but not her clothes; it would be one thing for him to bleed out on her dress, but the jacket is another matter.]

[curses]

[She steps back as the blood spurts out, watching as it landed on the ground, inches away from her feet.]

I forget how messy these things can be. [She waits until the life completely dies out of him before re-sheathing her knife, still strained from her earlier ministrations.] Well, that was immensely satisfying.

[fingerbang]

[She examines her palms idly, pulling a face for a moment at all the streaks and dashes of blood, but when she speaks Lust smiles.]

It usually is. [Again, there are memories--the visceral sensation of her nails puncturing their skulls, hearing the thumps of bodies hitting the ground and know just what she was still capable of. Moving in a tandem with another figure, different from this one but no less dissatisfied. And no less useful, albeit for a different purpose.

There's a new sort of appreciation for Bellatrix when she looks at her this time; nothing sentimental, of course. But she knows what she can do now, with her bare hands, and that's something.]

I don't suppose you want to deal with [waving a hand at the man's body] all this. It would ruin the catharsis, I think.

[curses]

Mm. If only I had my magic right now. [She could utter a simple spell and have the body burst into flames, consumed by fire in a single second.] We can just leave it to rot -- someone can discover it in the morning. Though I don't know how much attention that would bring.

[Bella doesn't know if the murder could easily be traced back to them, or at least, to her. She wasn't exactly careful with hiding her identity, and she can't defend herself right now.] Unless you can get rid of the body.

[fingerbang]

Oh, yes.

[She smiles, then reaches into her pocket with her less bloodied hand--trying as much as she can not to stain it--and retrieves her communicator.]

I know just the one.

[curses]

[She raises an eyebrow as Lust brings out her communicator.] This hardly warrants calling in a favour.

[fingerbang]

[Typing away, TAKKA TAKKA TAKKA.]

It's more of a dinner invitation.

[curses]

[dinner 2nyt dead hobo outside empty warehouse lol txt it]

Well, isn't that convenient.

[fingerbang]

[EXACTLY]

It tends to work well. [And she sends it!] Any other plans for the night? Just out of curiosity.

[curses]

No. I'm just going back to N- [Oops, almost slipped up there.] ...My flat. It's going to be terribly dull after what just transpired.