Talika Skies - Character Sketch (1/2)

Character(s): Talika, Jun
Series: Magiology - A Game of Salt AU
Rating: PG
Summary: Talika doesn't trust Jun to protect himself.

Part 1 Part 2

Talika Skiés

He was late.

The sun had set long ago. Jun was supposed to meet her here, but he was late. Bastard. Talika jerked her ponytail and a few dyed black strands snapped in two.

“Miss? Would you like to order anything?”

Talika lifted her head to look at the waitress who didn’t quite meet her muddy green eyes. Too timid, she decided, too pale, too thin, too quiet, too weak.

“Nah, I’m just leaving. Need to make sure my friend didn’t drop dead from another failed cooking experiment.” Talika threw a few coins on the table and left, flashing her waitress a quick smile and a small salute on the way out.

Either Jun was in trouble, or he didn’t come on purpose and would soon be in trouble.

She walked with her back straight and with a small skip, twirling her ponytail with a finger. She smiled and nodded at anyone who walked by, using the chance to observe the dark street.  Jun’s manor was still a good distance away, but there was always the chance he was captured, injured, murdered.

Talika forcibly shook herself out of her thoughts and walked a little faster.  She smiled and nodded at yet another man walking towards her. The man casually rolled his shoulders backwards and tilted his head to the left. Sent by the Ministers, on business.

She slowed, smirked, and raised her right arm in a half wave. Her sleeve fell just enough to reveal a knife and the old burns on her wrist and forearm. This is none of your business. Leave.

He returned the wave and quirked an eyebrow. You are my business.

Talika's smirk faded as she narrowed her eyes.  She slowly put her arm back down, clucked her tongue and flicked her ponytail. Fine, but follow me and die, Ministers be damned. She tapped the man’s shoulder with the back of her hand as she passed him. I’m better than you.

The man flinched, but didn’t follow.

Talika pulled her hood over her hair the moment the man’s footsteps faded. She kept to the shadows and looped around the town, avoiding the dim lanterns and wide streets.

She arrived at Jun’s manor after circling the town once and then once more to ensure she wasn't followed. Jun’s location might be well known, but there was still no reason to let possible hostiles trail her.

Talika quickly scaled the outer wall and dashed across the grass, careful to avoid the tripwire.  She swung up a tree and leapt into the building through the same window she used a week ago. Apparently, Jun hadn’t replaced the glass yet. No guards around such an obvious opening? No blood, nothing broken, no fight? Were the guards called away? If the Ministers had taken an interest in Jun as well, there could be trouble. They usually killed first and asked questions later.

She crept to Jun’s room and cracked open the door. Jun was in bed, his chest heaving in the steady rhythm of sleep. Talika allowed herself a sigh of relief and a smile. Lady Izabel would give her hell if her charge died.

She fully opened the door and then slammed it as hard as she could. “Good evening Jun-dear!” She sang as she pulled down her hood. Bastard. That was for making me worry.

Jun made a noise that sounded like a cross between a scream, a quack, and a squeak and fell out of his bed. She laughed. No weapons and horrible reaction time. If I were an enemy you’d be dead.

“You stood me up, bastard.” she grinned and walked over to Jun. “So now you owe me. Although you can make it up by taking the job.” And by getting better security.

His glare could have melted cauldrons. “No. Consider it revenge for throwing out my dinner yesterday.” Jun pulled himself to his feet, looked down at his bare chest and quickly threw his sheets around him like a cloak, blushing.

Talika grinned. Too thin, too pale, and so self-conscious it’s almost cute. He only gets more irritating every day. She waved a hand dismissively. “That was at least a week ago, ‘sides, you don’t live in that dingy old place anymore, you have something called chefs now. And you need to replace that window. And where the hell are your bodyguards? You’re a Magistrate, not some common peasant.”

“I like my old home better, and I like cooking.” Jun made a face that could have been a pout. “I have the guards with the family of a murder victim; the perpetrator might return to finish the job.”

She stared. “What.” Deep breaths, killing the idiot is rather counterproductive.

“There are over thirty traps and tripwires around the grounds!”

Talika threw her arms up and rolled her eyes. “Well, your traps obviously don’t work if I’m here.”

“You’re SID.” Jun hissed and wrapped his sheets around him a little tighter.

“Soooo? If I break in, anyone can.” She sniffed.

Jun groaned and flopped back on his bed, ignoring his sheets that unraveled around him and one hand on his temples. “Most people can’t reach the window you use, and I know which window that is. Now leave me in peace.”

Talika smirked and flicked her hair. “Nah, I think I’m staying. You’re positively useless without protection. I mean, look at you, you’re a stick.” She eyed his body and quirked an eyebrow.

Jun turned three different shades of red and quickly wrapped himself in his sheets again. “T-Talika!”

She laughed and settled herself in a corner of the room. You make this too easy.