(Untitled)

[whoisslade]

Who: Slade, Silverwing
What: Mama Bear's calling you out!
When: May 1st [backdate] after sunset
Where: Axoryi Docks

Comments

[scrapperzen]

"You stand with your back turned, inviting a sneak attack. You lace your advice with derision, designed to provoke me to action. And your facts are thinly disguised threats which you are going to quickly transform into promises once you leave, unless I strike you down before you can depart."

All humor in her tone was gone, replaced with assurance and certainty.

"Three pieces of bait, all with the intent of drawing an attack. You can play the game all you like, but don't insult me by saying that I do not understand. You are not the only one who can play this game, Mister Slade," she continued. "But if I can play the fool and repulse the attack, you've no room to declare me an unworthy opponent for beating you."

She smiled. Darkly.

"And should you leave this dock with me still standing and undaunted, you have fled the challenge," she said with a hint of venom to her tone. "And no matter how you rationalize it... just as I will know that I am at fault for any injuries my charges should suffer... You will know that I won by the most disgraceful manner: Your retreat, masking whatever it is you're feeling after this exchange. I DON'T know what that may be... But I know you do. And it will haunt you. And make no mistake... We both know that this was a war of words, and hiding from it by saying I didn't understand is weakness. Plain. And. Simple."

[whoisslade]

That got him to stop.

"Well played."

He didn't turn around though.

"Except my staying to endure your challenge earns me nothing. The curiosity that led me here has been satisfied. What more can you offer me?"

[scrapperzen]

"Absolutely correct, it doesn't earn you anything," she said. "But we seemed to be having a fairly civil, if thinly-disguised-venom filled discussion. I appreciate a foe who can be a gentleman."

She looked out over the ocean again, relaxing once more. "We're veterans in this game," she said. "We play for different reasons, but we've played and lived longer than most anyone should. You and I both know the mortality rate in this business is higher than that of failed New Year's resolutions to diet. How often are either of us likely to face an opponent that doesn't just spray us with bullets or charge into melee recklessly?"

She crossed her arms then. "I don't know what you even want in offer. If I could think of something that would satisfy you, I would probably give it. If only to ensure the security of the younger generation," she said wistfully. "But like I said. We're both older than we have any right to be. That alone should be worth something, even if it is only the barest glimmer of respect. Which, much as I loathe your choice of profession, I must give you. I know you could do so much more if you wanted to."

[whoisslade]

Slade listened respectfully and when she finished.

"Your exploits earned my interest, meeting you earned respect. But as you've pointed out you and I have lived far longer then we should have. Which means my time is precious." He was less cross with her but his desire to stay and bandy words with her was quickly running low.

"You never know when the end will come after all."

[scrapperzen]

"Is that so?" Silverwing asked, still not looking back. "I happen to know. Death is exactly three seconds ahead of me. Every minute of every day. If I lose sight of that I WILL be sent home in a box, if there's enough of me left for it."

Now she looked back, fixing her gaze on his back. "I would think you, of all people, would know that. You who deals death so readily," she said without malice. "And I don't know if you like it, or if you fear it as most do."

She looked back out over the water again. "You can leave if you so wish it, now," she said. "The reaper waits for no man, and I've scored the hits that I needed to. Or you can remain, and we can continue to hash out our differences. Perhaps see which of us the reaper favors."

She counted this as a victory. She got Slade's attention, she put him on notice, and if she was right, she gave at least two good strikes to his ego. He'd done just as well to her, of course. Maybe even better. He was not a foe to be taken lightly, even if she acted differently.

[whoisslade]

And just like that, as silent as death himself Slade was gone. Vanished into the night like a shadow fleeing the dawn.

He knew it was only a matter of time before she came calling upon him again. The Titans couldn't stay out of trouble for long, and she was such a busy body he'd be hard pressed to throw a stone and not hit someone she had met.

In one life or another.