..Than never to have lost at all

-Sai-
*it's been a very very long time since he's come to this place. He doesn't know why he does now. maybe because he's fairly sure nothing will bother him. this place had long since been abandoned by the RUNners so far as he could tell...so the GUARD had no reason to stay. he looks to the sunset...his silver hair painted in bloody reds and golds by it...the softer tones of his skins catching it's quieter colors while his eyes gleam. if not for his odd clothing- clearly nothing such a technically deprived place could make, magic or no- he would look as though he belonged here. the blue markings on his face have faded drastically in his growth. Stretched nearly to vanishing. and the silver irises reside in slanted almond sockets framed by pale lashes, topped by long, upswept eyebrows...he looks almost elfin...but there's something too predatory to let him be even a dark elf…as shown when the sun glints off the talons his fingers end in...maybe if a mad god had combined elf, viper, and some other predator into one pretty package, you'd get what sat there...*

-Aerik-
*....as long as its been for Sai, so has it been for Aerik, who has not seen the tavern in well over a year. A hiatus from the place, taken with his lover of course, and now, finally.... he returns. Whether Nicky is with him, back in the tavern room, on Earth, anywhere, is unknown. But none of that matters, because Aerik /is/ here, for whatever reason, and its probably coincidence, surely just that, which sees him appear here and now, especially so close to Sai, whom he doesn't seem notice. Large amberblack eyes are unfocused in thought, he's light-years away, lost in his own world it would appear. Quiet, mute, he just stares into nothing, blinking those gorgeous lashes slowly, looking as he ever did but perhaps more stately, straighter, and his hair a bit longer, that inky fountain of night glimmering in the dying embers of day*

*you don't get close to Sai so suddenly and him not react. almost immediately, he's on his feet in one fluid motion, his long white-silver hair fluttering about him...the black ends brushing the grass* /You/....*all the loathing a person can put into a single word there...but somehow less than had been there before. why? thank Rikky for it...when the pain was dulled…the hatred was curbed...*

*Aerik blinks, pulls out of reverie at the sound of a voice, one he both recognizes and does not... deeper, older?, but he knows it. It heart skips the tiniest bit, almost a nervous reaction, and his brows furrow and the sensation. It had been a long time, how dare Sai still affect him in any way. He turns slowly... seems he truly /was/ in a distant place, probably vulnerable, but knowing Aerik, most likely not. The scent is the same, and he confirms it before he sees the being behind and to the side of him. One slow blink... flesh over shadowgold... and his black brows raise in elegant bridges* Sai. *he uses his voice, he's already shown it to Sai, no need not to use it. Besides, he's too used to employing it now, for another's sake* You have... grown. *and my, HOW he's grown. Always gorgeous, Sai is.... Aerik just pauses, then breathes, his velvet tones winding out between them* It becomes you. Greetings, Sai. Time has treated you well, I see. *at least in looks... Aerik's way of saying "WOW"*

*his lips tighten at Aerik's words...the pain is dulled, but hardly gone. "Its easier to hate you"- he meant it then, he means it now...but that doesn't make it true.* Perhaps it has. I haven't much noticed. *indeed...he's spent most of his time hunting or just plain existing...he's never stopped to actually LOOK at himself* You seem well enough...*that tone? was it disappointment, relief? people had been speculating for quite awhile on what had happened to Aerik after the destruction of the base. He'd just....vanished as far as most knew.* ...I hadn't thought you'd still be here. *his voice changed now...no longer a light, near-child's voice...it hovers between lower tenor and higher baritone...not a velvety tone, or silken...but soft all the same, and carrying it's own venom*

*Aerik keeps his eyes focused on Sai's face, gaze scanning over it, as if to burn it into his memory, keep every fine detail for himself, selfishly. He catches every variance in tone, in muscle structure, in timbre... everything, he's so extremely focused now on the syntant before him, and its almost eerie, unnerving, how his face remains so immobile, expressions captured, snagged, while he answers, unblinking* I find it difficult to believe /any/one would not notice your looks, Sai. *then a tiny pause, his eyes lower a second, and snap back up as if it were distressing, too sacrificial, for Aerik to keep his gaze off Sai for long* Well enough. Indeed. *hard to interpret that tone, its so flat, so neutral... was something wrong? A hardship? Couldn't tell...* I have been gone for... over a year now, I suspect. *he stands tall and straight, hands clasped behind his back... Sai was almost his height now*

*now he's getting uncomfortable...oh, others have stared…but usually because Sai is so alien compared to them. a near monster. but well...Aerik IS a monster, isn't he? far worse than anything Sai himself could be. Still, he turns away rather than glaring back...the silver hair flowing to hide his side and back from Aerik* well. You've stayed away this long. why bother coming back at all? It's not like you're needed anymore. *mustering alll the cold distance he can...make Aerik act like his usual prick of a self and back off...make him /stop staring/...*

*Aerik tips his head to the side, regarding Sai as the syntant hides himself in that splendid mane of black-tipped silver, resisting a sudden urge to draw his fingers through it... it seemed so inviting, the texture, the sheen. His gaze doesn't alter, but he blinks every now and then, still impassive, those eyes fixed, nailed, hooked...* Why bother. Yes. *he offers the tiniest sigh* Does my presence cause you so much discomfort you must hide from me? *gently, almost sadly, murmured*

*he now- reluctantly- looks back, snapping out* is your memory really that dulled?? *their last talk...it hadn't gone well. And Sai had retreated. And he's determined he won't retreat this time, or he would be gone already* and I'm /not/ hiding. I wish nothing to do with you- what part of that can't you understand? *now standing so his profile can be seen…arm's crossed...one eye fixed on Aerik in a positively haughty- but empty- glare...how can he make Aerik retreat this time?*

....Then leave, if you so desire, Sai. I am not holding you here. *His memory dulled... well, in this case, he wishes it /was/. He remembers all to keenly the last discussion they had, but maybe he expects Sai to function a bit more like himself in this instance, or at least, he can hope... for Aerik, removed from a person or situation, loses emotions over time. Once-friends were lost, he remembers, but no longer feels. Still a throwback to the days of emotionlessness. But Sai... it was two years since Sai, at least, and he still felt... this was wrong, something was wrong, Aerik should have forgotten his emotional ties by now. Shouldn't he? A smirk... he smiles at the haughty glare. That was the game was it? Aerik's eyes shimmer*

*nearly snarled as he rounds on him suddenly, cattish eyes bright in the waxing moonlight* YOU can leave Aerik. *the name spat like a curse* You've already completely ruined the sunset- at least let me enjoy the night without your reek. *the taloned fingers curling slightly. all it would take is one well placed slash.....especially if he coated the claws with venom first....and then Aerik wouldn't ever bother him again. How he felt about the bastard wouldn't mean anything at all....*

*Aerik smiles faintly* I am not the one with the problem, Sai. *he keeps his calm, doesn't flinch, shows no surprise at Sai's reaction... his eyes are still fixed, roving over the pale features, the blue tattoos almost completely faded, the arched brows, elfin... Aerik makes no change in position* And I think I shall enjoy the evening right here. *Aerik's gleaming eyes almost challenge... almost entice... attack. Attack me if you dare... I know you want to...*

Aerik- you have more problems than anyone else on this world- and they're all in that damned head of yours! *damn! oh yes, Sai wants to attack alright...it'd be the easy answer...jsut attack...and it'd also be a useless answer. how often has aerik proven he can control Sai like a puppet if he pleases? with a disgusted snarl, Sai turns his back on him again....evidently choosing to just pretend Aerik isn't there.. his taloned hands resting on his crossed arms, eyes locked on the lake's waters. haughtiness and threats wouldn't work...he had figured they wouldn't but he had to try...*

Mmmm. So you have said before. *Aerik speaks it distantly, as if it were old news, which it was, and uninteresting, as if he were distracted, which he is. The weight of his gaze would be palpable by now, physical, hard for someone as sensitive as Sai to ignore* So we shall enjoy the lovely lake together, shall we? *again, just that soft murmur, annoying in its neutral tone*

*he nearly steps away- NO! he will NOT retreat this time.* nothing lovely or enjoyable about it tonight. *his tone short and clipped.* the summer has dried it far too low, the exposed mud reeks...but at least it's more pleasant than certain other company. *back still to him....why the HELL can't he ignore him? his claws press hard against his arms a moment...damn the summer heat...clouding mind and reactions...Aerik seems to want attention so give him none...dammit-GIVE HIM NONE.*

Oh, I do not agree, Sai...* for a moment, and just that, Aerik pulls his eyes off the youth and casts it out over the lake, then sweeps it back to solidly rest on their perch once more* I believe the scenery is quite lovely. *he listens to the complaints, and nods at the comment about company* Yes. I have never cared for Venin's either. *Lightly conversational, Aerik's tone, damnably so. Just honey dust and satin... dusky night and trade-winds. His black, black hair tosses gently in the soft breeze like a ribbon of night in itself. His darkgold eyes brilliant as stars from under his dancing locks. Pale skin like moonlight though not so pale as Sai's... and Aerik seems to truly find his situation pleasant*

*he's still not leaving...hell, he's even making fun of him, mocking him like that.* I find her company far preferable to YOURS. LEAVE! *snarled as he turns to face aerik fully, fangs bared, talons gleaming* you are not wanted here nor any place else you chose to taint! if you absolutely MUST look at the lake- do it from another shore! *He was heer FIRST! aerik had no right- none!! it was too confusing...he should either accept that this was Sai's place, by virtue of having been here first- or leave! and so help him...Aerik WOULD submit to- eh?! what the hell...? that thought certainly didn't belong..*

You always did have deplorable taste. *He smiles again, lashes dipping, shielding his bright eyes, raising again* How old are you Sai? Few in years as I remember, and yet somehow, in that short time, you have managed omniscience. How fascinating. *aerik tips his head the other way, a brow arching gracefully, scrutinizing* Syntants are apparently tiny gods.

*snapped back, before he thinks it through* as I quite thoroughly displayed with YOU! *then his sharp teeth grind together...the heat is making him positively dizzy...obscuring reason and dragging thoughts down to more basic wishes…he will not be mocked and made fun of in HIS territory...something this one is about to learn. With a deep, throaty growl he lunges forward without even thinking about it...talons leading the way*

*Aerik smiles at the return comment, he'd given him that one, and he knows it. He glances away for only a moment, still smiling, and hears it... the coil of muscles, the release of them, and turns back quickly to see.... Sai heading straight for him, talons out. He /had/ been in a world of his own when he arrived, he wasn't shielded as he usually was, didn't consider Sai a threat he couldn't handle, planned to watch him intently just in case... but wasn't aware of what a full grown syntant could do. Sai was faster, his reach was greater, and Aerik wasn't too far away. STUPID! A link to Lyeth's TK... he slingshots it around Sai to stop him, suspend him... and does it too late. The talons connect, not fully, he caught enough of Sai to stop any great damage, no gashes, but he's cut, and that allows for the venom dripping from Sai's talons to make purchase. (Assuming the venom is still there from previous posts) It reacts badly with the altered demonic body, to say the least.... perhaps worse than normal, or maybe not, but either way, Aerik suffers for his sloppiness. His links are utterly lost in the wake of the poison, link to Gild, link to Lyeth... gone, snapped, vanished. He can no longer speak, can no longer hold Sai who would most likely complete his arc through momentum alone, stalled only slightly. Instinctively, he tries to start healing, instantly... but he can't think straight, the poison /burns/ thru him, sets vision spinning, body aflame. He drops to a knee, proud head bowed as he tries... TRIES.... to employ his powers. It all happens so quickly... his abilities choking off, and his tether to his own solidity fading out. He already starts to ghost, lose integrity, for unlike Rikky, Aerik's natural state is unsolid anymore and he must concentrate to hold his solid form. His head is too unclear for him to do that, and its a very dangerous situation for him indeed, for if he ghosts now, unable to control it, he could sink through the earth and suffocate...*

*he pivots to look back, inwardly amazed at his success, but all that can be seen is a cruel and positively viscous smile. Someone who senses and kill, and the blood to follow, and LOVES it. His venom is generally fatal if left to do it's work...but he's not going to sit back and just watch Aerik die slowly. So many hang ups with this little problem...with physical lust comes bloodlust as well when battling...Aerik intruded his territory, insulted him- he brought his on himself. Lips part just enough to let out a satisfied hiss, a quiet chinking of small chain links signifying the release of his whip from it's holder as he darts forward, the chain trailing behind before he snaps it forward...to Aerik's credit, Sai doesn't know /everything/ the telepath is capable of, like the ghosting. such a move /would/ catch him by surprise- however unintentional- though it would only buy Aerik a few moments...he has fought others with insubstantial forms before....*

*his healing catches, thrown off for a moment, but his mind finally enables itself to kick-start his systems. Not easy, it wasn't the same to heal a wound as it was to clean the bloodstream, but his antibodies, given an amazing boost, attack the venin, begin to destroy it, though he's far from healed and far from whole. His body rages even hotter, sympathetic fever, and he breaks out in a sweat, quickly drenched. He manages to tether his form down, he knows Sai has dealt with intangibles before, but that still leaves... he hears it, the snap of chain link. While he doesn't know its a whip, it doesn't matter. Its a huge strain on him, just about everything is right now, his concentration on the venom, on the tether (thank god its nighttime), but he plucks at it, a link... not TK this time, or at least, not exactly. Another RUNner, Lair Brat... Glen Brightstorm, Native American, Filename: Shield. The very air itself coalesces, forms a barrier of hardened molecules, cocoons him protectively. Soon as the whip strikes its defenses and finds resistance, Aerik will shift links, not leaving this one open, he can't afford it, but take another path... chainlink foiled, he borrows another.... Mica's. Earth elemental. The ground under Sai heaves in sudden, total violence, coming alive to devour him and pull him under...*

*he was preparing for another attack after the whip was deflected- but then the ground proves unreliable, turning against the syntant. he hisses angrily, jumping back- but not quite fast enough as the ground closes around his right foot and pulls him down. acting more like a trapped animal than a sane, thinking being, Sai claws at the leg and the ground around it a second before raking deep into it with enough of a charge to hopefully cause an explosion...it'd hurt him too- and Aerik if his shield wasn't still up probably, but it should get him free. Right now, he's angry as hell...and not exactly thinking. it doesn't help he's getting a grand total of three messages- maybe even four- from himself right now. One side of the heart wants aerik dead- the other just wants to leave and let the telepath forget all about him and not hurt him. Then on the physical side, you have the little problem with the bloodlust and certain...other things that know how Sai feels about the too-damned-pretty opponent*

*The electrical charge does the trick, it blasts its way thru the earth, frees Sai, probably hurts him too.... and Aerik, who had dropped the link with Shield to link to Mica, is unprotected. The blast affects him, blows his backwards and into a tree trunk, /hard/... it knocks the wind from him, and something cracks internally... ribs fracture but do not break. Instinctively, his mind sets about to healing them, but it hasn't been able to gain much leeway with the venom, the bloodpurge stalemating for awhile, offering neither upper hand over the toxin, nor succumbing to it. Aerik's body is at a fever pitch, one still rising... soon, even that magnificent mind will have to bow to the effects of possible delirium if the raging fever isn't gotten under control. Slick with sweat, he edges his way back up the tree, using it as support, teeth bared in a snarl, lips bloodied. His lovely face battered by rock shrapnel, cut and split by hard pellets of dirt from the blast, clothing less than pristine, he reaches for another link... and in this state, divided on healing, tethering, venom coursing thru his veins, igniting his nerves, hazing his vision.... he misses his aim and finds another power entirely... Livewire. Blue lightning, more like solar energy transformed to electrical, splays in claws from his fingertips. Aerik blinks as the desired effect is not gained. While it might do damage to the area around Sai..... Aerik silently curses*

*Hurt him it most certainly did...probably the only thing that keeps aerik from having a second run in with those claws. He's sprawled out where the explosion threw him, gasping for breath. The clothing around the formerly trapped leg is shredded- both by Sai's claws and the explosion- and the strange fluid that serves as the syntant's blood is now soaking it and the ground. He pushes himself up to a kneeling position, still glaring at Aerik...and then just blinking as he uses an /electrical/ attack.....* Have you completely lost your mind?? *The tone utterly incredulous* I know that's not saying much about you- but really!!! *Not attacking right yet...he's going to have to find some way of doing it that won't involve standing long*

*Aerik doesn't respond of course, that could costs him precious time, linking for just that alone... he'd use illusion if he thought he could fool Sai with it, and while under better conditions he could, with illusions of scent and such... its too much for him to concentrate on right now. The fever hasn't pushed him into delirium yet, and it seems his immune system is gaining ground... he straightens, standing proud and defiant. Hiding the wince such an act causes him, ribs barely knitted since his mind has focused on his blood. Eshva eyes narrow, flashing. Sai was hurt, and DARED try hurt him.... /HIM/... //Aerik//. Insolent, he should know better. Dark hair obscures Aerik's face, matted with dirt and sweat, but somehow he manages to retain his beauty. Another link... Chrysolite... and his skin turns into diamond, cutting, vicious, hard... in this form, he takes a dead-run at Sai, to tackle him... to hurt him*

*dodging isn't an option...unlike Aerik his healing isn't /that/ fast. instead, he does the only he currently can...he builds up a charge, pushing it close to skin rather than storing it like he generally does...anyone who dealt with an immature Sai (or Zakai for that matter) would well know the danger here. tackling him now would be like tackling a pile of high voltage live wires...*

*Aerik's ribs were still painful, even in this form, this hard skin. His fever was internalized, diamond doesn't perspire, which actually makes it worse... his bloodpurge loses some ground. Sai's venom was extremely potent, it would seem. The stress of battling the poison isn't helping however, holding the tether, everything... and even worse, it was starting to affect other things. The effort of storing that away, shoving it away, was exactly that... an effort. For the tiniest moment, Aerik is dizzy, he can't see, damage, pain, abuse, fever, venom... the store fills, Aerik suffers, and he doesn't even notice when he reaches impact point with Sai, almost a stumble into him, tho at quite a speed... he careens into the unmoving syntant... and receives quite a shock. Literally. Its a good thing he's mute... the link is lost, his flesh reverts to normal*

*if Aerik believes in gods, he'd best start thanking them that the diamond skin took the worst of Sai's charge, and that the syntant isn't the walking wire he used to be. Or aerik would be quite crisped. The syntant lets out a short, angry cry as the heavy form hits..claws at first scrabbling uselessly off the diamond skin, then finding purchase as it fades- but Sai was /never/ very strong. And other factors are proving very distracting. He growls and shakes his head, trying to work himself onto his side so he can push the telepath off, snapping out* you should have left when I told you to!! I'm not the little boy you used to push around anymore!

*Aerik snarls, he was still conscious, just hurt... and he sneers viciously as Sai struggles to casts his now-soft, super-heated body off his own... he barely feels the scratchs, the clawings, grabbing it and already shoving it aside into that storage... that storage that isn't doing too well with the poison and fever. His fever was starting to even out, it wasn't climbing, and his bloodpurge was actually gaining ground. His ribs we only partially healed, and he refused to allow him to think of anything else besides this battle. Link... he starts to become heavier, connected to Rock, mass elemental. He rolls his eyes at Sai's outburst, snorts a laugh, licks the blood from his lips, and just.... becomes heavier*

*he tries to brace his arms between them now- if he survives this little fight, he's at least going to get quite a strength-plus from this. this is NOT good. his bones aren't that strong. silver-blue eyes narrow- then he takes pretty much the only attack he currently has- beyond trying more electric attacks, which are too predictable- opening his mouth wide and lunging up towards Aerik's throat, fangs clear to see. So help him, aerik wasn't going to win!*

*Heavier... heavier... mass increasing, and its the only thing that helps him when Sai bites his throat... his skin denser, harder to pierce... but Sai has a clean path, and Aerik doesn't exactly see it coming with his dizziness... /PAIN/... damage. A hiss of breath as Aerik acknowledges feeling it... the sensation nearly throws him over the edge, he barely contains his responses, impulse on of fury, passion.... he wants to link to TK and TEAR the syntant apart, molecule by molecule, and were it any one else, he would do just that... but it was Sai, and that fact alone offers the youth some protection. Aerik curbs the impulse to rend and tear, trembles in his attempt to contain other impulses too, but doesn't lose the link. With a twist of body and another blaze of pain in his fractured ribs, he brings his three-times as heavy fist down for a blow to Sai's head, tho if the little beast were quick enough, he could dodge... hard to move this much mass quickly*

*he releases his hold on the throat- though the tips of sharp teeth haven't fully cleared the flesh as he jerks his head to avoid the blow. Still, he's struggling for breath- Aerik's far too heavy right now for him to stay trapped under much longer. But what can he do? He certainly cant get any leverage to throw something this heavy off...* *One hand balls into a fist...small sparks escaping the fingers as he begins to build another charge-a pressure-contained one. hopefully if/when he gets the chance to release it, it'll be enough to throw Aerik off him...though part of him is asking why he'd WANT that.* ~Goddammit ALL! I started hating him so I /wouldn't/ think like that- what the hell is going on?!*

*Sai's savage withdrawal tears it... blood pours from his wounds, flesh missing, too much energy taken away to heal it and work on the poison, the fever, the ribs... storing his sensations away. Since he can't make any noise, the cry he wants to utter can't escape... isn't that what Valyn said once? /You know the best thing about Eshva, Aerik? You can do whatever you want to them, and they can't make a sound.../ Instinctive, as many things are with Aerik... black flames leap into his eyes, flash there for just a heartbeat, less even, just long enough so that anyone watching would see them, but only comprehend their meaning /after/ the fact... he needs energy, he's too weak, he can't heal, slipping towards delirium and worse, close to losing control in a way he swore.../swore/.... he'd never do again. Sai might remember this, tho he'd seen it probably only once, years ago, as Aerik lay dying and the youth had offered up... himself. What Aerik tried to refuse then he /takes/ now, steals it for himself. The flames burst forward, hungry, darker and brighter than the night, seek Sai. But it comes from all over Aerik, like tongues of energy-leeches from his very pores, and since atop Sai, and Sai can't move... the effect should be immediate or damn close to it.... a sudden, horrible drain on life energies as Aerik seeks to suck Sai's lifeforce into himself*

*oh yes, he remembers it...and what it nearly did to him at that time. no one back home has an ability like that...so no syntant was ever developed with an immunity or even a resistance. the charge he was building fades as the flames surge around him, the syntant weakening quickly. and quite abruptly, sai stops fighting. he can't do anything about this, and his strength is fading along with his charge quite quickly. he's been through this once, and that was while he and Aerik were on friendly terms. he certainly doesn't expect to survive it this time...* ~Looks like that little bastard's predictions were right. Sonnvubitch mystic...~ *when Aerik had been resting before returning to the tavern after rebuilding Sai's mind after that one mess, with the first Beta Syntant- Ryan had taken him aside- mentally of course- and told him that Aerik would likely be the death of him...*