--- i'll be there when you close your eyes ,.

[/color][/size][/font]
( HOLD YOU TIGHT, SAY GOODNIGHT )[/center]

Windhelm, home to the Stromcloaks and their rumored Jarl of shouts. A town known for its aggression towards any race that's not Nord and its streets were blanketed in this awful ice that people call snow. Ximena had only been wandering this town for a couple of minutes and she felt as though her legs would break off. Why was it so damn cold? How did people even live in this awful weather? Even Solitude didn't seem THIS cold. It was unbearable and Ximena wanted nothing more than to burn the city down and bask in the heat of flames or just leave this part of the country in general. Hammerfell was looking better and better at this point.

Ximena wrapped her arms around herself and glanced around at the people passing her by. She was much smaller than them, frail looking compared to a strong nord. She felt a tad out of place here for some reason, wearing robes that left her practically naked. She almost wondered when they would start laughing at her or question her choice of dress. It wasn't like she really had a choice, her only goal was to make it here and find this Aventus kid. She had heard a rumor that he was trying to contact the Dark Brotherhood and it was a better lead that wandering Skyrim mindlessly. Clothes and cold weren't exactly on her mind and at this point she regretted NOT thinking about it.

I should just find this kid and hold up in an inn for a while...

[/color]

A breath of warm fog shuttered from Ximena's lips as she made her way over to a begger sitting on the steps leading up to the Jarl's palace. She took a moment to fish out a septum from her coin purse and tossed it to the begger without a word. "Oh divines bless your--" but the begger didn't get to finish as Ximena held her hand up. "I was hoping to exchange information for that coin I gifted you," her words were too the point, with an edge as sharp as a blade. It was apparent that Ximena wasn't the nicest of people. She just wanted to get things done. The Begger looked up at her with bottomless brown eyes, surrounded by dirt crusted on her face from sleeping in the streets. The woman was skinny and looked sick, Ximena wondered how much of the nord woman's life savings went to ale or mead. "What would you like to know, outsider?" the begger asked, her tone turning hushed. "Do you by chance know where Aventus Aretino lives?" Ximena breathed with a few rubs on her arms for warmth. The begger smiled suddenly and looked away, "You want to talk to that crazy child? Go ahead, he lives at that house just around the corner..."

Ximena turned to look where the begger was staring and spotted a house with red doors implanted into the tall wall. She nodded for the help and started her stride towards the boys house. She could of sworn she heard the woman say some slander about walking to her death but she ignored the woman. What could a child do to her? If anything this kid is probably just playing some trick and she'd be back to square one all over again. Ximena sighed and knocked the wood of the door a couple of times. No answer. She frowned, a bit impatient and knocked again with a force that made it clean she didn't feel like waiting too long. Finally the door opened and a small boy poked his head out from the crack in the door. His large round eyes focused on the sets of knives that Ximena had attached to various parts of her body, then looked rather confused.

"I heard you were calling upon the Brotherhood," Ximena said, a statement rather than a question. Aventus looked even more confused now, "The Night Mother has already answered my prayer though." At this point Ximena was completely lost. She said nothing about a Night Mother, she said Dark Brotherhood. The boy went on when he realized Ximena didn't know what he meant, "An assassin has already come. Maybe they didn't tell you?"

Great, so she just missed them. Ximena bit her lip and looked away in thought. Now what should she do? She tuned back to the boy, "Do you know where your assassin went?" the boy shook his head, "... Do you know how I can contact them then?" Aventus raised an eyebrow at her. "Aren't you one of them?" Ximena shook her head in response. No, she wasn't one of them-- not yet anyway. Aventus nodded his head and held up a finger to her, symbolizing to wait, and left her alone at the door.

Okay, so she just missed the Brotherhood, but there was still a way for her to contact them. She just hoped that the means wasn't too out of the way... Ximena sighed heavily and gave a violent shiver as she waited for Aventus to return with her information. [/justify]

tagged open! words a lot notes just no luck today xD
credit ! reinvented LOVE , @ caution

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/font]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #171818; padding:20px; border-top: 10px #171818 solid; border-bottom: 10px #171818 solid;] I’m on a hunt I’m after you and I’m hungry for the wolf {WORDS } 729 {TAGGED } Ximena{WEARING} Shrouded armor With her lust for getting out again and doing contracts herself, Astrid had come to Windhelm by her own to see what mere boy would be calling to the Dark Brotherhood. Quite the lad he had been, too. If one so young had such a rage in him...perhaps it would do well to keep him in mind as to a future assassin. With no parents, no future, and nearly nothing else, what would there be to hold him back? Still, despite having left the house mere minutes before, for some reason the lithe assassin had stopped in the shadows and was leaning against the wall, cloaked in the darkness. What was she waiting for? She had already obtained her contract and would have to now travel the long miles back to Riften in order to complete it. Shadowmere was standing by right outside the city...so why did she stay? She didn't get her answer until a moment later, when a solitary figure approached the door she had just exited. Straightening slightly, Astrid narrowed her eyes and started to advance on the obviously feminine figure that was standing at the door while it creaked open. Interesting. What were they saying? Creeping forward in the advancing shadows of evening, Astrid managed to catch bits of what was being said. Contacting assassins? Astrid's eyes narrowed slightly while she looked over the woman. Had she really thought to steal a contract from the Dark Brotherhood? At first a pang of anger fired through her blood, but then she merely raised her eyebrow and watched curiously at the woman standing there after the door had been closed behind her. A candidate perhaps? Having recently targeted some of the Thalmor in Winterhold, the Brotherhood was starting to achieve a name for itself again. So, then...perhaps if this woman could prove herself to Astrid, she could find these assassins that she had been looking for. Already Astrid was making plans. Shadowmere and Riften could wait, really. If there was a potential assassin here...she would rather take care of this than start her journey. That old bag she was going to go kill could wait, but this could not. And so she waited, her eyes peeled in watchfulness for the boy to show himself or the woman to move on. Once she was asleep, Astrid would strike...or perhaps she would see where the woman was staying and go about getting some people to tie up and allow for the woman to choose which to murder. She knew of a few in the area that others had paid good money to have killed...so she would only have to find one and another few to allow the choice to be theirs. There was excitement in the pit of her stomach at the thought, enough to warm her until she didn't notice at all the sharp nip in the air - one she wasn't generally affected by due to her heritage as a nord. {NOTES} Let the Dark Brotherhood-ness begin

table by CALIFORNIA DREAMING of CAUTION 2.0, lyrics by Duran Duran

--- i'll be there when you close your eyes ,.

[/color][/size][/font]
( HOLD YOU TIGHT, SAY GOODNIGHT )[/center]

WHY IS IT SO COLD!?

Ximena let out a huff of impatience. The frost of snow was clinging to her now and making her bone shiver under her skin. She couldn't wait to head to the inn and find a nice warm bed. Her mind even began to wander over the extensive details of this bed while she waited. It would be fluffy, blanketed with plush sheets and smelling of herbs. There would be candles in her room to keep it well lit and leaving a soft hue of warmth as escaped into the covers. Sheer bliss, Ximena actually smiled at the thought-- something she didn't do often. She was still smiling when Aventus poked his young head from behind the door. Her head turned towards the boy and her expression hardened immediately. Her dream was over-- back to business. Aventus smiled shyly to her and handed her a roughly binded book, "I used this to contact them," he told her. Then, the boy made a show of looking around and addressed her again, "Is that all you needed?" Ximena nodded once and Aventus nodded back, shutting the door once again.

Success. Ximena looked over the text in her hands, tracing the leather with gentle probing fingers. It was a rather plain book, but something told her this book was not easy to come by. With a tired sigh, Ximena placed the book under her arm and turned away from the Aretino residence. There was nothing left for her here and it was time to end a long day. All this time running around in circles and she was finally a step closer to finding her father. The words of his letter still danced around in her mind as she headed towards the inn-- "find the dark brotherhood..."

Ximena entered Candlehearth Hall with the biggest weight lifted from her shoulders. She could already feel the warm heat of fire meeting her shivering skin. There were a couple of tired travelers wandering around towards their rooms. The sound of women laughing and men screaming of their battles echoed just up the stairs. All normal to her, Skyrim was becoming notorious for passing outsiders and battle songs. Ximena glanced over at the inn keeper, or rather the young girl that stood at the front desk, eying Ximena and her strange clothes. She was beautiful with long golden hair and eyes the color of emeralds. "You sure do wear interesting clothes, Outsider." she smiled flirtatious at Ximena, who raised an eyebrow at her. "I assume you need a room to keep yourself warm in our harsh winters?" the girl leaned over the counter. Ximena smirked and looked away, "Or a woman." The girl gushed at Ximena's comment and grabbed a set of keys, "Well right this way."

There was no way Ximena was going to allow herself to indulge tonight, she had other things on her mind besides bedding some whore Nord. So when the girl opened Ximena's room for the night, Ximena simply laid a kiss on the girl's cheek and whispered her thanks before shutting her room up and collapsing on the bed with a groan of satisfaction. She felt like she was on a cloud, so comfortable and plush. She felt like she could fall asleep right then and there. However her mind was still occupied. What was in the book that Aventus had lent her? Ximena opened her eyes to look up at the wooden ceiling in wonder. The book was laying beside her on the bed, having dropped there when she just collapsed. She took the text into her hands and took a deep breath as she opened the cover.

"The Black Sacrament..." she whispered, reading the bold black words with curiosity. It sounded gruesome-- but interesting all at the same time. Ximena's eyes shifted over the words, taking in all the information she could. The book explained some sort of ritual, a grotesque ritual involving real human artifacts and stabbing them with a dagger. This was some sort of contract.... to plan an assassination. Ximena frowned at this realization. She had no need for assassinating someone, she could very well do that herself. She just wanted to talk with the Brotherhood... maybe this was her only way. This would bring them to her in the first place, just if she did the ritual. Ximena looked over the words again, tracing her fingers over the chant. "Sweet mother, sweet mother... send your child unto me," her eyes began to flutter with sleep, "for the sins of the unworthy must be.... baptized in...." she closed her eyes, "Blood and.... fear..."

tagged open! words a lot notes sorry, this wasn't that great on the words DX
credit ! reinvented LOVE , @ caution

[/size][/font]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #171818; padding:20px; border-top: 10px #171818 solid; border-bottom: 10px #171818 solid;] I’m on a hunt I’m after you and I’m hungry for the wolf {WORDS } 688 {TAGGED } Ximena {WEARING} Shrouded armor Astrid continued to remain silent while her sharp eyes stayed peeled on the woman she was watching. From the shadows, she could hear and see everything without anyone sensing her. After all, it was her job, her entire way of life really, to remain quiet and unseen. Arbjorn could make her lose that ability to stay silent, but...that was another story. On her face at the thought was a wicked grin. She would much rather be allowing him to make her lose her control than crouched in the cold and snow. But she was here crouched in the snow. If it meant adding another good member to their family, than she could remain here for some time - after all, her own contract had been completed and the spoils taken from the one doing the contracting. A good job it had been, too, the spoils well worth the effort of the hunt. Her efforts to remain hidden were rewarded when the small boy handed her a book. Curious, Astrid proceeded to follow the woman in her walk, remaining hidden and yet watchful until they came to an Inn. Slipping toward the door, Astrid walked in, careful to stay quiet and move as a ghost, her blue eyes watching the woman of interest through mere slits. Once inside, she quickly made herself blend in - one more going to the shadowy part of the room, her eyes peeled on the woman that was now at the desk. What she saw nearly made her leave. Astrid had heard accounts of this odd sort of behavior - something she could never understand. How could anyone wish to forgo the wonders a man could give a woman? With slightly bared teeth, she shrugged and settled down on her seat for a moment, in her mind already having given up and thinking of her trip back to the Sanctuary. She could make good time if she pushed Shadowmere - and have a warm bed and hungry wolf to feed. The thought made a grin appear on her face before she gracefully got up from the table and was about to exit the Inn. The nord had come back though - and Astrid gave her a look of weariness. Whoever this girl was, she obviously needed to be shown what a man could do for his woman. Still, it got her thinking again. That behavior...did she wish that in her sanctuary? Blowing out a breath, she finally decided that she would give the woman a chance. Easy to kill someone if they didn't work out. Astrid left as silently as she had come, skirting around through the city to round up some bodies that could be used as an initiation to the Brotherhood. That could decide things right there. {NOTES} I apologize for the length of time this took to write

table by CALIFORNIA DREAMING of CAUTION 2.0, lyrics by Duran Duran

--- i'll be there when you close your eyes ,.

[/color][/size][/font]
( HOLD YOU TIGHT, SAY GOODNIGHT )[/center]

"Ximena, dear.... wake up." there was a groan of refusal to this oft voice, Ximena's groaning as if she didn't want to do what the voice asked of her. "Darling, please." the voice pleaded, "You have to wake up now..."

Ximena groaned softly again and opened her eyes, the darkness surrounding her both confusing and shocking her. Wasn't it morning? Her golden eyes shifted around the room, capturing the image of what looked like a bedroom, a very familiar bedroom at that. To her left there was a desk cluttered with a large stack of books, soul gems, and rolls of paper crumbled up as if they were ideas that didn't work out so well. Next to the desk rested a book shelf with it's shelves heavily stocked with more books and an arrangement of daggers. Ximena could feel her lips turn down in a confused frown. This was her bedroom... back in Solitude. There was heavy emotion welling up inside of her and she gasped slightly to catch her breath. Why was she here? HOW was she here? Her eyes turned their attention to the dark figure standing at her bedside.

It was a woman, her skin lightly colored and resembling the moon. She was beautiful in all senses of the word. This woman had long flowing hair, the same rich brown that Ximena possessed, and it fell in heavy wind blown curls past her waist. Her face was sweet, but the spinning image of Ximena's. She did not possess the same angry determination her daughter seemed to hold on her beautiful face though. This woman was her mother, Arie Night-Storm. Her normally calm face was full of worry and fear, which confused her daughter even more. Arie Night-Storm was a delicate person but she was still level headed, what would make her so scared. "Mother..." Ximena whispered softly and Arie quickly covered her daughters lips. "This family will fall apart, dear..." she told her, Ximena stared at her with wide eyes, "This family has a secret.... your father...." her voice trailed off, "your father...."

Suddenly Arie's eyes widened and blood started to roll down the side of her face. Ximena gasped under her mother's hand, which grew weaker aganist her mouth and fell limp just as the Breton woman fell onto her side. "Mother!" Ximena gasped getting out of her bed. "I loved her," someone said. Ximena looked towards her bedroom door and there stood her father. Tall and regal looking, Soren Night-Storm was a handsome man. His face however, scared Ximena. He looked.... lost. Soren never looked lost. In all her life, her father knew what to do all the time, but now-- now he looked helpless. Ximena stood up and reached for him, "Daddy what's going on..." she asked but he turned his back to her and walked into what would be their living room. "Daddy!" Ximena called after him. "I loved her...." his voice echoed throughout the house. Ximena hurried after him, shoving through her bedroom door and found herself falling. She gasped in surprise then hit the ground with a hard thud. Ximena winced in pain, her body trembling from the fall. She could still hear her father's voice in the background, a ghostly voice lost in the world. "I loved her..." he was saying. Ximena pushed herself up, her vision fuzzy and disoriented. She was in some run down shack it looked like and there was a faint orange and red hue to the room like there was a fire going. Her ears bearly could hear the painful moaning behind her as she was too focused on her father's voice. "I loved her so much..." he was saying again, and as Ximena turned to see three figures, bloody and mutilated behind her-- groaning and begging for this to stop, Soren's voice continued on, "But she took her from me.... She took my life away..."

Ximena sat up quickly, her breathing coming in heavy gasps and her head spinning. She held her hand to her forehead, drenched in a cold sweat but her body felt like it was on fire. In was warm around her, just like the Candlehearth Inn but there was something different. Ximena opened her eyes and her vision was blurry. This mere fact sent her body on a break down. For the first time in a long while she was scared. She forced herself onto her feet, grabbing her father's daedric dagger for protection. "D...daddy?" she whispered fearfully. She felt like falling, her head hurt so much. When her vision came to she found that she wasn't at the inn anymore--

but in the very shack her dream took place.

tagged open! words a lot notes that foreshadow!
credit ! reinvented LOVE , @ caution

[/size][/font]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #171818; padding:20px; border-top: 10px #171818 solid; border-bottom: 10px #171818 solid;] I’m on a hunt I’m after you and I’m hungry for the wolf {WORDS } 759 {TAGGED } Ximena {WEARING} Shrouded armor Having left the woman of interest, Astrid went about starting the process that would eventually lead to either a new member of the dark brotherhood, or someone that would be dead by the end of the night. Of course, she could always desire that the person measured up, but there was always the chance that she had picked wrong and the person couldn't be a cold hearted killer. Only time would really tell, and that was the reason she was off gleaning persons that she could use in this situation. Shadowmere seemed to be used to the struggling bodies on his back, and Astrid was used to picking random people off the landscape to use for this purpose. Her first target was a beggar from the city she had currently been in. An annoyance to the people, Astrid quickly rendered him unable to fight back and hauled him to the shack where she would be bringing the woman to test out in a few hours. Once there, she securely tied the man as well as the door, and made her way to the second target, a busybody that one could say delved a little too deeply in the affairs of others - to the point where she had gained a reputation for being an annoyance that some would rather have dealt with than keep around. Though she seemed to be innocent, her greedy fingers were in the pots of nearly everyone in the surrounding areas. Surely no one would miss that soul. The third was an imperial soldier, one who had a reputation for having his way with stormcloak supporters daughters if an area was taken over by imperials. Hated by many, he was the hardest do subdue - but also the most rewarded in her mind. She would simply kill this one if the woman chose another - or refused, as she had a contract to end his life. Finally it was time to return for the woman of interest. Returning once more to the Inn, Astrid slipped past any wandering eyes, entered the chamber in which the woman was sleeping, administered the potion that would render her unconscious for some time, before carrying her body back to Shadowmere and taking her back to the shack. Once there, Astrid deposited her body on the floor, checked to ensure that the three choices were tied and unable to be freed, and finally made her way up onto the shelving on the side. Gracefully climbing up onto it, Astrid watched through patient eyes while the collected shifted around - awaiting what was to come and the woman slept until the potion wore off. Until then, all she had to do was relax and wait, which she did. It was during that time that the woman jerked and muttered in her sleep, as if having a bad dream. Without showing any expression, Astrid inched the mask up on her face more and rested her hand against her thigh. "This is madness!", the Imperial snapped out, while the busybody agreed. "Yes! Let us go! What's to become of us?" Yawning and arching her back, Astrid's charged voice spoke back. "Does it matter?" Finally the woman woke. "I'm afraid not.", she said in response to the questioning for the womans father. "Sleep well?", she asked a moment later, her leg swinging easily while she waited for the woman to get her bearings and figure out that she was no longer at the Inn. It was interesting to note that she at once leapt to the protection of her dagger. "There won't be any need for that...yet.", she said in the same whispery voice, her blue eyes gazing at the woman in a bored fashion. {NOTES} Bwuahaha

table by CALIFORNIA DREAMING of CAUTION 2.0, lyrics by Duran Duran