all work and no play

[medrau.livejournal.com]

who: Medrau and Hex
what: a game of tag
when: Jan 30
where: the Maw


Getting into a game with someone as creepy and mysterious as Hex was not on the top of Medrau's list of smart things to do, but she didn't have much of a choice, did she?

She strolled along the cliffside path with her hands in her pockets, trying not to look over her shoulder every ten seconds.

Where was Hex? Had the game already started? Should she just start searching now?
Just then she realized that she'd forgotten to ask what the time limit was... better get this down quickly. She picked up the pace and started sweeping her gaze from side to side.

"Oh Heeex....Where arrrrre you?"

Comments

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

Hex watched from the high ground.

Carefully, she went over her own preparations. Instead of her normal practical clothes, she was wearing an elegant black single breasted coat with white trim. It had tails that reached the back of her knees. She had dyed her hair for the occasion too. Straight silver was held back by a ribbon. The color scheme was obvious.

Black, with touches of white.

The only parts of her with color were her hands and her face.

The most obvious feature though, were her golden eyes. Revealing them was a calculated move. It all depended on who could interpret what.

She pushed all thoughts from her head, except for the ones neccesary for this 'game'. She had deliberately chosen to look like a Witch. The girl was expecting one. And so, she'd be one.

A smile crinkled her eyes, as Hex stepped through the portal, instantaneously appearing behind Medrau. Dispell the portal, silently, and then...

"Why, I'm right here."

Hex took a moment to relish the surprised look on her face.

[medrau.livejournal.com]

No, she did not say "eep". It was a hiccup, definitely. Or a very small sneeze. Medrau did not eep.

She glared, though. She was very good at glaring. "Nice fashion sense. So what's my time limit, anyway?"

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

Hex tilted her head to the side, pretending to think as she pursed her lips and rested her chin on her fist. In reality, she already knew how long she was going to indulge this game (thirty minutes) but seeing Medrau squirm was rather amusing.

Finally, Hex produced her answer.

"Half an hour, yes, that seems like a good time now, doesn't it?" She said cheerily, pounding her fist into her palm.

"Do you have any more questions before we begin?"

[medrau.livejournal.com]

Medrau took the time to think about it. While she was normally the 'shoot first, ask later' type, she wasn't fool enough to jump into a situation this twisted without having some idea of what she was dealing with.

"... Do you promise that nothing bad will happen to me as a direct result of losing this game?" When dealing with magic, always make your meaning as clear as possible -- that was how it usually worked, anyway.

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

Hex's face took on the most innocent look she could muster.

"Define 'Bad', just to be clear, would you?"

This should not be so fun.

[medrau.livejournal.com]

Medrau scowled. It was an even fiercer look than her glare, reserved for special occasions.

"Why don't you just tell me what will happen if I lose, besides you winning your little territorial contest?"

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

Hex allowed her face to become a little more grim.

"I promised I wouldn't harm you, and still you are suspicious? Still, I deserve no less than to be treated with caution."

"Should you lose, I get a castle. It isn't exactly required that I do something drastic to the loser. Besides, I get to play a game. That in itself is something that is it's own reward."

"In the unlikely event that you should win, I'll grant you a piece of wisdom. Now, if there is nothing else?" Hex finished impatiently.

[medrau.livejournal.com]

"fine, fine." Medrau shooed Hex away, made impatient by the witch's impatience. "Get going. We'll see how unlikely it is. Tag's my favorite game."

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

"Very well." Hex allowed herself a small smile, though she was grinning inwardly.

Raise one hand, slowly, but with a purpose. Keep it straight until you are pointing straight up. Curve your wrist just so, and then...

Snap.

Instantaneously, thick fog sprang into existence around them. Hex couldn't see more than three feet in front of her face, and Medra was in no better a boat. But that was alright. She didn't need to see. Just be aware. Step through another portal to change position, and then the quiet announcement. Short and happy, but ominous.

"Let the game begin."

[medrau.livejournal.com]

Medrau sputtered for a minute and then growled, "Oh, like that's fair! Nasty witch."

Luckily, she wasn't far from the bottom of the path. Just to be safe, she cautiously scooted sideways until her hand hit the side of the cliff. Walking off the edge wouldn't help her win this game. Once she'd oriented herself, she started walking, waving her free hand around in the mist. "Here, witchy witchy witchy..."

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

Hex enjoyed the comic sound as she moved through the fog.

Yes, from a certain point of view this was 'cheating'. But, what did you expect when you were playing a game with a witch? Honest, and straight forward fun?

Still she was having fun.

It was mostly a matter of walking away from the sounds, keeping track of her own position, and portaling away if her opponent got too close.

Unless Medrau came up with something besides trying reach her directly, she was definitely going to lose. Which, now that she thought about it, would be pretty boring.

So, she decided to try and make the girl a little more formidable.

"Come now, mageling. Is that honestly the best you can do? You're playing like a normal human."

She put on a disapointed tone for the last phrase, emphasizing 'normal'.

[medrau.livejournal.com]

It was the nickname that did it. Instead of replying, Medrau cast the only spell she'd learned, spreading the Thunder out as far as it would go. It was convenient, really, that she'd picked a wide-range spell. If the witch got hurt, well, that would be her fault for not shielding, or whatever anti-magic trick she probably had up her sleeve.

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

"Yes! That's it!" Hex laughed.

She was too far away to be directly affected by the lightning, but the mist...

The spell had gouged a hole in it, clearing the air around Medrau, and rendering Hex perfectly visible.

Instantly, the fog began to fill the gap, obscuring her once again.

But the idea had been planted. She had seen that triumphant look in those eyes.

As soon as she was hidden again, Hex stepped through the portal, changing her position. The game was even now.

"Come now, human! Strike again! Don't give up just yet. You have managed to change the odds of victory! It is now possible for me to lose! Don't disappoint me!" She called again, before warping to another area of the Maw.

[medrau.livejournal.com]

Medrau was already moving, first to the spot where she'd seen Hex, then towards where the witch's last words had come from. She didn't want to cast Thunder willy nilly, or she'd run out of mana. Hex must have known that, too. She had to use it again, though, to get any idea where Hex had moved to this time.

She aimed the Thunder out to the more open area of the Maw, trying to clear the mist again instead of actually hitting anything.

[hexylady.livejournal.com]

Hex grinned toothily as lightning crackled against mist.

Medrau would part it, and she would fill it.

Each time, the mage had reacted a little faster, and cast a little cleaner. Hex, on the other hand, was starting to feel all the effects of repeated portal use and and keeping the fog going. Her eye's were starting to sting from the brightness and she was starting to deplete the last of her own reserves.

Fortunately, Hex was saved by one last thing.

The time limit.

"One minute left. Come and impress me, human. Show me just how deep you can dig in the home stretch."

She stepped throuh another portal... and was blinded by the glare from the sun. She had stepped into a brighter area than expected.

((OOC. Hex has left herself open. You can tag her now if you want to.))

[medrau.livejournal.com]

Medrau was getting pretty worn out herself. She'd had to pace herself, hoping that mana recharged the same way it did in KH2, not KH1. Finally, though, there was an opening. Hex appeared in a clear spot only a few yards away. If Med made a dash for it...

She did, sprinting in the hopes that Hex was distracted enough not to noticed. She stretched out a hand in front of her. Almost--

-and she tripped and fell flat on her face, skidding to a painful-looking halt near Hex's feet.