The Lion and the Mouse [Closed]

[Nikolai [39]]

Cold wind. Today was a cold wind, he decided. The wind was not always cold. Sometimes it was warm. But the grey clouds that hung overhead like bloated cottonballs were driving a cold wind that nipped frivolously at his fingertips.

He rolled a small square of paper into a thin cigarette and leaned sideways to light it on the small fire that grew from the eye socket of the destroyed Bug whose crumpled chest he sat on. Though he could not feel the smoke in his mechanical chest, the act of smoking and exhaling smoke always calmed him down. He suspected that it had been a habit of his creators' that the bit of soul that now inhabited Nikolai had retained. Not that he minded.

He reached out with his other hand and pulled his knife out of the monster's midriff, sheathing it in his belt. His sword stood stiff and upright where he had buried it in the ground through the thing's waist, cutting it cleanly in half. And now it was a fit chair for him to sit and relax on. It sure wouldn't be doing anything else anymore.

He lazily slid down from the thing's chest and kicked the severed optic he had pulled out in the previous fight like a small ball, sending the piece of metal sailing over the junk crested hill of debris in front of him. He stood for a moment and tapped his sword in appreciation when the faint sound of the eye crashing to the ground on the other side reached his audio receptors. He was rather satisfied with himself. He pulled his sword out of the ground and wiped it off on his pants before sliding it into his sheathe. He'd managed to wipe out another pack of Bugs- Four of them- in one day. Not bad, if he did say so himself. He looked about. It was the middle of the day in the Emptiness. He didn't expect anyone to happen across him. So he lay down, propped his head against the machine's arm, and folded his fingers over his chest. He crossed his legs and gave a mighty sigh, and let his optics close. Perhaps he'd just take a small nap, that was it. A little snooze after a good hunt.

[Phoenix [2000]]

It was rather chilly. The wind didn't really discomfort the petite doll. However, she had a hard time with the terrain. Her movements were jagged as the ground underneath. 2000 never really liked traveling too far from home, unless a companion was along with her. Then again, it was nice exploring once in a while.

She stifled to a stop when a crash uttered through the air. Curiosity bewitched the young ragdoll and she feet pitter-pattered forward. 2000 spotted a large being, too large by her standards. Before her conscious could reason with her, she was already closing in on the strange and tall doll. The pitter-patter of her feet grew silent as she moved closer.

Why is he out here? She wondered while she narrowed her eyes in puzzlement. What a strange doll ... very strange indeed.

Phoenix thought it was a little creepy to watch a stranger, but this one was unique. There was something different about him that she could wrap her head around. Her thin finger attempted to poke the large ragdoll to see if he would react.

[Nikolai [39]]

Nikolai's brow furrowed. It felt like something was poking him. He cracked his single pale-green optic. If it had been a machine, he'd be dead or unconscious. When he saw two large curious optics staring back at him, his eye shot open and his eyebrows shot downwards, a startled and bemused frown gracing his features.

He sat back against the machine's corpse, sliding up it slightly to glare confusedly at the small stitchpunk across from him. He looked to the left. And then to the right. Then back at the girl.
"Vhere your parents, leetle girl?" He asked, his low Russian growl of a voice seeming on it's own to be bigger than her.

[Phoenix [2000]]

leetle girl...

Funny. Phoenix knew she was shorter than most dolls her 'age', but for him to assume that she was a child was something that she got a kick out of. On one hand she could just play along with this 'game' or be honest. The word 'timshel' rang into her head and morals got the better of her. Every single time that word. It just gets to me, like an itch. It was true, that one word, it always had bothered her from the very start.

She responded finally with a laugh. "I don't have any parents," she replied. "None at all." The little doll stepped back only to pace back and forth along with the wind. Her optic didn't even give a glance at the other doll. "I can understand why you think that such a small, vulnerable thing such as I would be a young button ... because ... I'm small, right?" Her face was solemn and more mature compared to a few moments ago.

Finally she turned her head back to the stranger. A crooked smile slithered across her face. It was one of those smiles that looked too calm, but then you take a closer look you would see how twisted a soul could be.

[Nikolai [39]]

A cold pit of paranoid realization formed in Nikolai's chest. He was on his feet in a flash and his knife was out of his belt quick as a wink. A look like that meant she was either an excellent actor or some new ploy by the Fabricator. He had heard of traitors- He guessed they came in smaller packages than he had realized. He fought the urge to reach out and grab the girl by the head and threaten her directly. "If you now are toying with me I would think again." He snarled. "I do not like being played veeth."

Nikolai's frown was an outright death glare now, and he was furious, moreso at himself for this stupid situation he seemed to be in now. He felt a bit foolish. His immediate reaction should have been to question with suspicion rather than concern.

He tipped the point of the knife in her direction. "Nothing to say for yourself now? You vere so eager to talk just a moment ago."

[Phoenix [2000]]

Aw hell no. HELL NO! At this point maybe it was a better idea to lie. She was frustrated at this point. This sack of hate is going to kill me.

Of all things she could have said she kept things calm, "You're seriously going to pull a knife on me?" Sarcasm accented her statement and her optics looked at him. Phoenix shook her head, she was ashamed of it. This whole situation. Another laugh was uttered, she wasn't sure if he was nervous or actually enjoying this. Honestly she creeps herself out sometimes.

Her face showed a very calm demeanor, but inside she was frightened. Phoenix didn't know what to say. The little doll puffed out her cheeks and sighed. There was near silence and she shrugged. "Well ... to be fair I am being honest right now. I am not armed, not in the least bit." She proved it by slowly raising both arms. She had a silly little expression that cried out, 'please laugh or something!'

[Nikolai [39]]

Nikolai slowly lowered the knife. He could tell by her body language that she was off-put by the knife at least, if not outright scared. This probably hadn't gone the way she had wanted. But now he was rather grumpy, as always. He leaned towards her to emphasize the way he towered over her. "Pup or not you are still much smaller than I." He snarled, a slightly exasperated tone leaking into his voice.

He pulled his sword free of the ground and stuck his knife back in his belt. "Do you prefer a sword?" He grumbled. The fury had dissipated from his stance and his voice. Now he just looked grumpy and malcontent. He wore the expression like his coat, as though it were the norm for him.

He gave her a sour stare and sheathed his sword. "Good-bye leetle girl." He tossed back off-handedly, raising a hand to wave over his shoulder. "Do not be getting yourself killed."

[Phoenix [2000]]

Before she even had a chance to respond, whatever he said threw her off. Phoenix couldn't help but to start following him. She was completely calm, almost emotionless. The bow that was tied behind her bounced with every step she took.

"I just want to put this out there ... you're crazy." She couldn't hold in her giggle fit that long and started to giggle and a little squeal. Phoenix was at a childish state. A true, innocent, and young child. It was like everything that happened within the last few minutes was nothing. "But it's okay! I'm kind of crazy too! ... It actually kind of scares me." Phoenix tries to make a cheerful smile, in a sense she wanted him to smile.

"I think it would be fair to exchange names ... no? Nien? Nyet?" Her voice changed thrice for the three times she said no. Why am i even talking to him? Or following him for that matter!

[Nikolai [39]]

Nikolai's brow twitched. Was she following him now? He declined to answer her verbal barrage, merely increasing his pace. His face remained utterly humorless- He didn't really seem the type. He tightened his coat around himself and glared balefully at the sky in the distance.

His brow twitched once more as she tried to find the Russian word for 'no'. A stream of rather unpleasant Russian curses crossed his mind before he dispelled them. His long, thin fingers wrapped habitually around the hilt of the knife, clicking softly as metal contacted metal. He tapped the flat bottom of the hilt with his index finger.

Why today? Today had been going so well. Now he had a yakkity little munchkin following him.

[Phoenix [2000]]

She figured that she was trying his patience. It was only a matter of time for him to snap. Phoenix wanted to pouch those boundaries, then again she valued life. The little doll noticed his pace was faster. Anything you can do I can do better.

With that she rushed right past him, from time to time she skipped a little. Then suddenly, her feet caught a hold of her bow that came loose. She felt her body swing forward and rolled to a stop.

She felt a flush of red in her face even though it was impossible for her to blush. "Well that was brilliant." Well then if this doesn't make him laugh, what will? Right after she dusted herself off the best she could.

[Nikolai [39]]

Nikolai stopped just at her feet, and stared down at her with the same baleful expression he gave the sky. With that he stooped, grabbed her by the shoulders, and lifted her up off the ground to eye level with him. "You are a funny leetle doll." He decided, a tone of amusement replacing the grumpy snarl it had held up until then. "vhere do you live? Dis is not exactly a place for veaponless stitchpunks to be vandering around all on their lonesome."

He set her down, crossing his arms. Although he still looked grumpy, it was no longer directed at her. "If anything I vould be thinking people vould steer clear of dis area, not vander around poking sleeping strangers."

[Phoenix [2000]]

That was the worst feeling, being grabbed. She just loathed the feeling of someone lifting her up like that. Besides that she smiled at him. The compliment was a small victory for her. Once the other asked where she lived her smile faded. "...Somewhere," She started. "Not the factory that's for sure. There's actually a lot of bones ... a lot of bones indeed."

The other statement she didn't bother to reply. Her optics wandered a bit as she dangled in his hand. She looked down at her feet and saw her shadow. It reminded of her of a hang-man. "As much as I love being man handled, can you put me down? This is getting a bit awkward." At first she was a little rude about it, she did that show show how much she despises being held. A feeling inside rose, Phoenix began to wonder why she hated being held. More than likely it was because she felt useless, but there was something more to it for some reason.

[Nikolai [39]]

Nikolai set her down, crossed his arms, and blinked once. "Your sarcasm is not lost on me, but you are not getting off so easily. Show me vhere you live, I will walk you home." He thought for a moment. This was not a child, regardless of her size. He had to stop treating her like one. "Or... vherever you are happening to be going. The machines don't need any more experiment subjects."

"Vhat is your name, anyvays? I am Nikolai." He asked, tapping his fingers against the fabric of his bicep. He looked as grumpy as ever, but at least he seemed to be feeling more conversational now.

[Phoenix [2000]]

Her mind was elsewhere. She didn't really pay attention to Nikolai, she was looking at the clouds above. A song was in her head, an annoying song for that matter. Someone left the cake out in the rain ... I don't think I could take it! It took so long to ba-. His voice pierced through her thoughts.

"Hi ... Nikolai ... I'm Phoenix." She smiled again. This time it was sweeter than the others and a little bitter, like dark chocolate. Her optics showed little interest and they blinked slowly. "Now then why are you here?" The tome in her voice was a little sassy, but nothing to fret over. Meanwhile her fingers felt the urge to scratch something. They twitched a little after every minute that past.

[Nikolai [39]]

Nikolai tapped his sword hilt. "Just... Hunting." He said offhandedly. "I try to keep dis area safe. It is not easy. But, even one or two machines a week out of commission, if not dead, is vorth a leetle risk. Hard to kill the bigger ones, even if I sneak up on them. But the smaller ones, they are easier." He shrugged. "Better than killing other of our kind."

He clicked his fingertips on the hilt of his sword. "You did not answer my question." He noted, his green-tinted optic focused on her own. "Vhere do you live?" He was noticing a bit of an irregularity in the mood of the small stitchpunk. Perhaps he should begin to tread more carefully. He banished the thought. She did not look violent- She disliked even basic contact. He decided to stay cautious, however. No sense risking his life on his assumptions.