Thread: Darkness and light (LeatrixSage and Silver Star)

Generosity, she snorted at the notion, a very undignified sound, even for her. It was amusing to her to see it the situation from his perspective. Any small thing that could be perceived as kindness was blown out of proportion. Would it be fair to burst his bubble and explain that she only did what she did because it made life easier for her? Explaining how this worked now avoided the extensive list of annoying questions and leading him by the nose kept them from standing out any more than they already did. Not that a Drow ever went unnoticed. But, a Drow with a Priest of the Lord of Light, now there was indeed something you didnt see every day. Maybe that rendered her argument moot, but Liora still wrinkled her nose at the very idea that she was generous. Listening to the priest explain his way of life set the few missing pieces of the puzzle into place. His religion was as deeply restrictive as it was hypocritical, and somehow the man had managed to grow into adulthood actually keeping to the unreasonable tenants of his faith. In its own way, it mirrored her early faith, her blind trust and devotion to the spider queen. Her will to serve the desires of her Goddess had been paramount in her world, once. Perhaps that was why his devotion made her feel sick to her stomach. It sounds to be like a few miserable old men told you how to live your life, claimed that a God told them that was how things were to be, and you fell for their con just like everyone else. Liora pushed her bowl farther away, her appetite curtailed by memories that she didnt want to examine too closely. Anything that brings joy, pleasure, or peace is sinful, she murmured thoughtfully while she watched the priest eat. There was another aspect of their faith that amused her, that of boxing themselves off from anything that could threaten their faith. They couldnt submit to greed, so they denied themselves any and all forms of wealth or belongings in order to never have to face temptation. Their faith was never tested, hidden behind their walls of devotion, and they never actually did anything for anyone other than themselves. Even their little jaunts out to local farms for healing was all about earning points with their God rather than doing any actual good. No, I dont, she admitted easily despite how her mood had soured. First of all, that dick between your legs, Liora leaned back on the bench to press one booted foot gently between the priests legs not intent on doing him harm, but to bring his full attention to the body part in question, was made to be used. If your God didnt want you to fuck, then he shouldnt have given you the tools and will to do so. She gave him a little nudge before she put her foot back down. And how can you claim to be able to resist greed if you have no wealthy to tempt you? Wouldnt it be better to be wealthy and able to put coins into hands that need it most, than to be among the poor and unable to help those around you in any way that actually improves their lives? The only reason religion hates the wealthy is because the temple wants their gold. They pile on the shame and fearmongering, and good people hand over their livelihood for the forgiveness of a God thats never done anything for them but call them disgusting and sinful. Lioras outburst of distaste ended abruptly, her lips pressing into a thin line. Within the ordered chaos of the Inn was a slow, deliberate sound of a chair being carefully pushed back. The sound was out of place, but only because it was so quiet. People only tried to not be heard when they had something to hide, and she suspected the movement itself was what was meant to be hidden. To my eyes, she went on as if nothing had happened, Either your God is twisted, or your leaders are wrong, and they have taught you lies. Wouldnt you better serve all the wishes of your Lord of Light by living outside the temple and alongside people that would benefit from you? If you cant handle temptation, then you have no faith to begin with. While she spoke, she listened to a rather artful dance taking place behind her. Slow footsteps, too light to be a drunk but staggering as if they belonged to one, wound their way casually closer. The idea that it was a casual, drunken assault seemed unlikely. It felt more like careful planning, a calculated assault, but that image faded, and her body relaxed when a man reeking of mulled cider dropped his hand on her shoulder. I heard you, Drow, he sneered, red faced and dirty. He looked like your typical thug, hired to keep men just like him from steeling from merchants as their goods traveled between cities. You think humans are filth, do yeh? he was remarkably light on his feet for a drunk, but a drunk none the less. Under normal circumstances, she might have made an example out of the man and possibly his friends but she had made the damned priest a promise, hadnt she? Only ones that are actually shite, she replied neutrally. One could argue that it might not have been the best response, given the mans sneer, but it was far kinder than what she would have said any other day, so Liora deemed it more than fair. Yer a mouthy bitch, the drunk complained while his fellows back at his table laughed bawdily. It galled her to let them laugh, so much so that her hand settled on the haft of the little dagger on her thigh while she imagined its needle-like tip poking holes into them all until their blood drained out of them like water through a sieve. And youre a drunk, she growled, glaring straight forward at the priest. He got yo leash, daint he? his stinking hand was still on her shoulder, and Liora was beginning to seethe at the suggestion that the priest had any control over her what so ever, particularly seeing as how he did, since she had given him her word not to go looking for trouble where there wasnt any. Well, I didnt go looking for this, she thought with a grin as she jerked the dagger from its sheath, spun the blade in her hand, and stabbed backward into the knee closest her. The drunk howled, and as he fell, the little dagger slid right back out of his flesh. She drug the blade across her thigh to clean away the blood before she slipped it back into place. Careful there, she called out as she leaned backward over the man. I think you fell on a nail, Iblith. Bad luck, that. Might want to see someone about that hole in your knee. She was chuckling as she sat back up, her sour mood completely restored despite the tense hush that had fallen around them. As her red gaze met the priests eyes, however, she found herself raising her eyebrows curiously. Are you going to heal him or just stare?