Dance to the Beat

[upsilon]

Tap, tap, tap. Footsteps echoed, their sound radiating outward from their sources, two pairs of feet currently walking calmly down the stone street of Twilight Town. Two pairs of feet, each pair connected to it's own body. The duo made their way through the city as if they were simply out for a stroll, but their attire and appearance indicated that they were here for something far more than such a trivial matter.

A man and a woman, each quite tall, the man having jet black hair and the woman having pale white. Their outlandish outfits were unfitting, even for Twilight Town, but it mattered very little to them. They walked side by side, their footsteps almost in perfect unison as they carried on down the streets.

Their faces seemed blank, their expressions cold like the faces of those hardened by years of war. The aura they held about themselves was a chilling one to be sure, an aura that warned all passerby's to keep their distance. Even their eyes were piercing, their glances enough to send shivers down one's spine.

They appeared unarmed, but even without visible weaponry they looked like a pair who could handle themselves more than well enough. Their path of walking seemed aimless, no specific destination determinable by their route. What were they here in such a quiet little town for anyway? What did they hope to accomplish?

[Nyx]

Emma had just returned from her latest travel. As she had expected, little had changed in Twilight Town. Why would it? Everything seemed just fine the way it was, every single little boring detail. She was glad though, in a way. This was a place she could relax and worry about nothing if she ever needed to. But she rarely did. Her mind was almost always focused on getting another rush of adrenaline.

Her parents sent her out to run some errands, which was why she was actually in town. Any other day, she would be running around outside the gates. She put the hood up on her pitch black jacket and zipped it halfway, leaving the white tank top underneath visible. Her hands were stuffed in her pocket as she walked, munny pouch bumping against her side with every step she took sounding a light jingle.

What had mom asked for again? She pulled a small piece of paper that her mom had scribbled on and scanned it. Milk, cheese, and flour. Was it really necessary that she be sent to get it? Emma pocketed the list again and sighed. It was just an attempt to keep her safe. She couldn't blame her mother, Emma knew that her hobby was dangerous. But, she did know her limits and would never take on an opponent that would end in her obvious defeat.

With the goods purchased, she started heading home. A small child quickly ran past her, obviously frightened by something. Nobodies? Emma quickly looked in the direction the child had come from to see. What she saw weren't nobodies, but they were certainly no one she knew.

She could tell immediately why the child had been scared. The way the two people carried themselves had intimidated her. Instead of hurriedly moving out of their path, she sort of smirked. She couldn't help it, she found it amusing. Their presence was causing a small situation in the quaint little town.

[upsilon]

The white haired woman blinked, looking to each side of the street before focusing her gaze back in front of her person. Both were still silent, though it seemed as if something had finally caught their attention. Perhaps it was just a pique in their interest, but considering the peculiar demeanor the two held it was a safe bet that a pique in their interest was something worth noting.

A child was sent running in a fit of fear as they passed by, but neither took notice. It was almost as if something had suddenly come to their minds and they were intent on chasing it no matter what came up. It would be easier if nothing did come up, but of course that was never their luck. Oh well, the hard way is more fun anyway.

And just then something came up. A girl stopped in their path, not moving but instead smirking at them. She didn't have any aura of evil about her so they kept walking, but as they approached, the woman looked down at the girl with a look of annoyance on her face. Perhaps the most peculiar thing was that this annoyance was shown without her face changing one bit or a single word being said.

Stopping just briefly, the woman locked her eyes on those of the girl before her, prompting her partner to stop in time with her and glance over to watch what she was going to do. Reaching out with her right, gloved hand, the woman placed it on the girl's head and without applying even the slightest effort forcefully pushed her aside. "Move..." She said calmly yet deliberately as the pair again began walking.

Not so much as looking back, they kept their eyes forward while beginning a conversation between themselves. "Nanatsu...what I've heard of this town is intriguing." The white haired woman began as she started addressing this man apparently named Nanatsu. "They don't have a Heartless problem. Their problem is with Nobodies...it should prove interesting." Her words ended there, and the man replied with nothing more than a nod of his head as they continued on.

[Nyx]

Emma couldn't tell if these visitors were good or bad. She couldn't decide whether to be unnerved or not. They didn't really seem like they posed a threat to the town, despite the fact that their presence oozed power.

Being pushed away didn't annoy her one bit. In fact, she found it funny. Was she scared? Sort of. Intimidated? Yea. But she still couldn't help but laugh. Maybe she had a death wish. Actually, she just felt that she accomplished something by causing the woman to react to something. Emma laughed softly to herself.

What caused her to want to be a nuisance to these two? Perhaps it was because she was bored. Living in Twilight Town was a totally different experience than visiting it from another world. These visitors looked interesting, she wanted to know what brought them here. It surely wasn't to see the sights.

Her curiosity pushed her to follow the couple, staying what she felt was a safe distance behind them, but close enough to hear any conversation that took place. So something about the town did interest them. They didn't look like the kind of people to visit somewhere for just shits and grins, though.

[upsilon]

"Well, it seems that the town itself is quite safe and undoubtedly quiet...there has to be some place in particular that has the highest concentration of activity so we simply have to find a way to pinpoint that location and then reach it." Finally came the voice of the man named Nanatsu as he replied to the woman's statements about the town.

"But such information will be difficult to find. As far as I can see most people in this town aren't fighters, therefore more than likely they're almost all scared to death of these pathetic creatures...if that's true then finding anyone who's been brave or stupid enough to find the most active spot of these Nobodies will be immensely difficult."

Her voice cut off abruptly as her face, though not changing in her expression, showed that same annoyance again. They both stopped in unison, the woman lowering her head a bit as Nanatsu just briefly glanced over at her. "What are you doing following us little girl?" The woman said in a cold voice without even turning to look at her.

"Don't you know it's dangerous to follow strangers? You'd better run home to your mommy before you end up getting..." Her voice trailed off for a second and one could almost hear a hint of pleasure in her next words. "Hurt...or worse..." With a casual step forward their walking began yet again, their second interruption through. Both were sure it wouldn't be the last of course.

[Nyx]

They wanted to find the Nobodies? Well, she could certainly help with that. She did have plenty of experience dealing with them after all. Assuming things hadn't changed since her last visit, she could easily direct the couple many of the areas the Nobodies occupied.

"You misjudge me." Emmaline stated flatly, her lips frowning slightly. It's not like she could blame them. She did portray a rather insignificant being to some people. But sometimes, it did get rather annoying when people classified her as a weak little fool due to the lack of protection she wore. It was her own fault though, so she had to deal with it.

"The information you seek isn't as difficult as it seems to be." She continued, grinning at the hint of pleasure the woman's voice held. Must be some adrenaline... These two must be powerful. Against both warning and instinct, she continued to follow them. "I just might be able to help you."

[upsilon]

"You really are a persistent whelp aren't you?" Came the voice of the woman as she listened to her rather cocky explanation of how she could help the duo in their search for the Nobodies in this quaint little town. "Well little girl, while you say you know a bit about these Nobody hot spots, I'd say that makes you quite stupid."

With a slight smirk the woman gave a slight chuckle, but nothing more than that before she began speaking again. "You don't look all that formidable you know, and while I don't like making such quick judgments, I can determine right now that you're far below our skill level. This means that you know about the spots were Nobodies you can actually kill are...but we want prey a bit bigger than that."

It was obvious now that these two seemed to be bounty hunters of some sort, obviously uninterested in the small time Nobodies the girl was probably used to picking off for fun. "I suggest that unless you know where some powerful competition is to be found, you silence your squawking and get home to your parents."

With a quick chuckle of his own Nanatsu looked over at her and nudged her in the arm lightly with his elbow. "Now now, Ries, don't let your temper flare up here..." He seemed to be relatively ignoring the one following them, only listening as this woman named Ries did all the talking. This girl following them was terribly rude in his eyes though, she hadn't even given her name before offering to help them. Oh well, kids these days.

[Nyx]

"There's nothing wrong with trying to help strangers." Emma said easily, merely shrugging at the cold words directed at her. Such things didn't bother her. What she really didn't understand was how her knowledge made her stupid.

She sighed softly. "Just because I'm not as skillful as you two doesn't mean I don't know what happens in my own town." She knew of both areas, actually. Most of them, if not all. She had to know this information, or she wouldn't be a very smart person. Despite the woman's opinion, she really wasn't all that stupid. "As I said before, I can help you."

"I do know of my skill level, so that means I know where I can go and where I cannot go." She continued. "If you don't want my help, that's fine. You gave me the impression that you dislike wasting your time with searching." Emma shrugged.

[upsilon]

Ries had obviously had enough of the girl's smart mouth and overly vain display of words, as her expression had changed to a slight scowl and her footsteps were much heavier. She was plainly agitated by this little girl and the advantage she believed she held over the two in the form of the information they were seeking. Ries really wasn't looking too happy right then, and Nanatsu wasn't about to say anything to make her mood worse.

Suddenly Nanatsu stepped to the side, Ries jumping back out of the blue and making a high arc in the air, flipping backwards before landing with cat-like grace some three feet in front of Emma. Quickly turning, she grabbed the younger girl by the throat with a grip just loose enough to allow her to breathe, though not without being labored.

Her cold violet eyes glared into Emma's as she annoyedly watched the girl's facial expressions. "Listen you little urchin. If you're going to help us, then help us. If you're not, then shut up with your smart-alick little remarks and get out of here so we can continue our search. Yes, we're not hot on the idea of looking ourselves, but we're not high on the idea of a little twerp like you lording your knowledge of this sunset infested town over us either. Now make up your mind."

Ries released her throat, shoving her back hard enough to make her full on her butt before flipping back beside Nanatsu who'd by now stopped and turned around to watch the scene. "And have the decency to give us your name you rude little guttersnipe. Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners?"

Nanatsu was by now sighing a bit as Ries got her pent up anger out on this girl, he didn't enjoy it when she had an outburst like this, but there was no stopping her so he just let her go. Now all that was left for them to do was to stand there and wait. If this girl pointed or lead them in the right direction they could get this over with and leave this world before the afternoon was over, and right now both of them wanted nothing more than that exact thing to happen.

[Nyx]

Well, she couldn't say she wasn't surprised by Ries' sudden advance. But, that was a good thing. To her it was, anyways. What a truly inappropriate time to smile from an adrenaline rush. But, it wasn't like she could control it.

In all honesty, she hadn't been trying to be so rude to the couple. All of it was unintentional. She thought was just offering the help and being ignored, that was why she had persisted so much. Oh well, nothing could really be done about it now.

Emma rubbed her throat tenderly and coughed as she was shoved to the ground as carelessly as a sack of potatoes. She got to her feet momentarily. "I apologize. Emmaline Schwartz, at your service." She said, expression truly looking apologetic, also hinting at an opening for the two to introduce themselves, though she doubted it would be taken.

"Now, if you'll follow me, I'll show you where you can find the much more powerful Nobodies." Emma turned on her heel and rubbed her neck again as she started walking. The adrenaline rush that Ries had provided put her in a better mood.

[End thread]