[open] The Witch in Black

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

Constance was not in a good mood today - oh, no, she was far from being in a good mood. She'd been intending to leave this damn world to seek other color sources to steal from - other worlds to destroy. We was getting quite tired of sitting around being unable to fulfill her ultimate goal. Instead, she was forced to practice her etiquette and be respectful to those insolent fools that she was forced to call her family. They wanted to destroy all color, and for what? They wanted everyone to be lifeless. Constance wanted to force the colorful into colorless agony and bring joy to the colorless.

The Helene family of sorcerers and sorceresses did not understand that Constance was trying to bring them happiness that they'd never felt before. It absolutely infuriated her, but she had expected that from the beginning. They had always been blind, stupid cowards. She, however, was the visionary. She knew that she could make their lives easy and beautiful, but they denied her the chance to do so. They were fools... idiots, and because of the stupidity of Constance's guide, now she was stuck with them for another week, at least.

The sorceress wandered through the Blank Forest in a form that was not her own; her body had the form of a beautiful, sleek raven-furred fox with nine tails. She was large - definitely larger than the average nine-tailed fox - but she was not as large as other monsters in this forest. Her cold silver eyes glistened as she wandered, each tail swishing in the air whichever way it wanted to. Constance was quiet; she needed to go on a run and get away from the idiocy of this place.

The black sky stared down upon the forest, while, off in the distance, daylight rained on the Prismus Plains. She hated daylight - at least, she hated that they had it and she didn't. She needed to blow off some steam. The fool who had promised to take her off of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and lead her to worlds of beautiful colors that she could steal and destroy had somehow messed up the Gummi ship and had neither the tools nor the parts to fix it. Oh, the stupidity of humanity...

The sorceress let out a quiet snort as she continued to slink through the shadows of the forest, looking from side to side. Honestly, was there nothing here to destroy? In a wolfish voice, she snarled, "Trae para min un inimigo digno da miña atención." "Bring me a foe worthy of my attention." She longed for something to cut and destroy, whether with claws and fangs or by magic. Either way, she wanted to beat something up. She needed a break from being civil.

[Chaos]

Chaos had been walking through the Darkness, just exploring the worlds that were near his. It was odd the instinctual understanding of where he as. He had never thought other worlds could exist and yet he knew the name of the one he was currently closest to. Somewhere over the rainbow, what and odd name.

He meant to pass the world, to give it none of his mind, when suddenly a voice rang out, and he looked again. He did not know what had been said. However he could feel the pull of the universe. He knew it would be advantageous to him to journey there.

So he stepped forward and knew where to form the portal of Darkness. He stepped into the woods and was surprised how strange they were. There was a palpable aura of menace around him. It did not concern him, for he was indestructible.

He was wearing a knew length red duster and a black shirt stretched tight around his chest. His black jeans carried the sheaths of three daggers on his belt. Finally he had two bandages on his head in an x.

He turned his head and saw the nine-tailed fox, his eyes focused on the creature. "Was it you who called out?"

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

Constance felt the forces of magic instantly set to work. It was not a truly tangible feeling in that it could not push or pull or touch; it was merely a feeling and a known fact without knowing what the fact was. Were it the will of her magic, she would get exactly what she wanted. A single slip of the tongue, an improper pronunciation, a slurr, or merely being unfocused would cause the magic to fail on her, and then her words would merely be wasted in the wind. With a low sigh, Constance waited, swishing her tails over the dirt.

A sound in the grayscale forest under a monochromatic sky cause the witch's nightly ears to perk up and twitch, her silver eyes immediately seeking the source. In the fox-like form, Constance stood at about three feet tall at the shoulder, whereas the average nine-tailed fox stood at about a foot and a half. Her fur was thicker, fuller, and more sleek and shimmering than the pelt of other foxes; it would be obvious to anyone - even those not from this world - that she was not the normal creature. Her talon-like black claws just touched the earth as she waited for the creator of sound to show itself.

A pale blonde-haired man stepped forward and immediately Constance felt her ice-cold heart beat a bit faster. Oh, magic, you brought me a man? How considerate. He was tall and relatively thin, but there was something about him that set off a warning in the witch's head. He was not what met the eye, she was certain, just as she was not what he would be expecting - at least, she assumed he would not know that she was actually a sorceress hellbent on removing color and life from every world she could wrap her dark violet nails around.

The man wore two bandages across his forehead that wrapped around his head, covering up his forehead and sending a bit of his hair perking up and sticking out in a few random directions. He wore a black shirt that clung tight to his lithe frame over some black jeans. In his belt were at least three knives that Constance could locate with her cold silver gaze, but with the long scarlet duster which he wore, she was not certain whether or not he had other weapons hidden on his person. He was considerably more attractive than most of the men she'd seen before, but he seemed to be here on... business.

Immediately his pale green eyes locked onto her, and she let the grin of a devilish vixen spread over her face as his voice rang out into the Blank Forest. "Was it you who called out?" The sorceress felt her smile grow a bit softer, becoming more of a curl of her shimmering raven-colored muzzle. "Mmm. Smart and pretty. I like that." She let out a light laugh that echoed through the forest, letting it trail off with a playful trill as her tails each did another sweep.

Suddenly, the fox form burst open in a blast of hot wind and shadowy wisps, as well as tiny shards of glass and onyx stone. When the tiny maelstrom settled, a beautiful and, as normal men might say, "well-endowed" woman. Her dark raven hair was brushed to the side, the long, sleek hair shimmering as it settled from the burst of wind that returned her to her original form. Her sharp crimson-violet eyes held a smile in them, and her own dark violet lips were curved lightly in a smile, too. She placed her hands on her hips.

Her outfit was certainly not conventional of her family; she wore thigh-high black buckle boots, tight black denim shorts, and a black corset. On her left hip was a ruffled black half-skirt, held on her hip by a belt. Much of her skin - such as her collar bone, shoulders, arms, and upper thighs - was exposed. Constance certainly didn't try to be modest. She knew she was sexy and beautiful, and she enjoyed flaunting it. Whether or not this particular man was interested, well, Constance didn't care. She had a, ah, sex-or-fight sort of thought process.

[Chaos]

The creature intrigued Chaos. He had never seen a nine-tailed fox before and was interested in what it could do. That it spoke to him was not unexpected. However that it would compliment him was, and Chaos knew the difference. He was being sized up like a piece of meat. Oddly the idea only amused him. So this fox thought itself the better of Chaos, a being meant to end all life, at least human life.

Then she transformed. That had been unexpected. It was a shame that she was human, but that did mean he advantage would go to Chaos, as he did understand humans so well. She would not be a threat, but perhaps she could be turned into an ally, or at least a pawn.

"Impressive, I have only heard of such abilities before." Chaos said with a slight bow. "I am Chaos, may I have the name of the lovely young lady I find myself across from."

This first few questions were probative. He needed their answers to be able to pull of any con. He would study her actions, her speech, and her word choice. It would tell him everything he needed to know about her to play her like his favored violin.

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

The witch awaited this strange new man's reaction, her deep violet crimson eyes fixed on him with that light smile curving the edges of her darkly painted lips. She always loved the sensation of switching from her fox form to her human form and back; it was like changing from a caterpillar to a butterfly, only stage one was as radiant and attractive as stage two. What Constance did enjoy about her human form was that it, unlike the fox form, allowed for some exposure. It got pretty hot under that thick pelt of raven fur, despite the lack of sunlight.

The man hadn't seemed all too surprised when she had spoken, though it did seem that he had been entertained by the fact that a mere fox was both mocking and earnestly complimenting him. She didn't blame him; she'd laugh her ass off if a werewolf were to compliment her in such a way. They knew better, though. All but the ignorant creatures knew a femme fatale when they saw one, and she certainly was one. She didn't try to deny it; it was too much fun.

After Constance had burst from her fox form to her human form, standing with herself presented so beautifully before him, he seemed to quickly lose interest. The sorceress had grown quite skilled at reading body language, and his stated that he was no longer intimidated or enthralled by her. What, 's he batting for the other team, or is he just one of those... empty shell things that I've read about. Constance did not linger on the thought for long. The man was relatively emotionless, but he was civil and poised. How cute.

The man's voice was very smooth - quite a nice touch to the ears, actually - but held a great deal of power. He was confident... calm... certain. So was Constance. "Impressive; I have only heard of such abilities before." The blonde-haired man bowed, and Constance returned his gesture with a dramatic roll of her leather glove-clad hand, doing her own little bow from the waist before straightening up, one hand at her side and her other planted on her hip.

"I am Chaos," the man introduced himself, and Constance's smile grew a bit more devilish. "May I have the name of the lovely young lady I find myself across from?" Constance nodded and replied, her voice sweet as honey, "Constance Helene. Might I say, what a particularly... tasteful name you have." She raised one thin brow, her crimson eyes flickering playfully. "What brings you to this place? It's no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow..."

[Chaos]

Her every movement, her word choice, her expressions, each of the spoke volumes to Chaos. She was a predator, like him. In fact she was like him in many ways. Chaos knew she had real power, and he demeanor and body language suggested nobility. She had likely killed before, and possibly even for fun.

This women was also a con artist. Maybe never criminally but Chaos could tell she was a manipulator. Was her art seduction, or perhaps grifting/ Was it worse then that, was she a politician? No matter the case, she was experienced at reading people and that would make it harder for him to play her, and the thought made him excited. A challenge, after so long, an actual challenge. Would she make it better by trying to play him as well. The thought made him elate, even so much as to let a light smile tough his tightly controlled features. How long since he had last been challenged?

"Constance Helene, what a beautiful name." He said with genuine interest in this human before him. "I am Chaos, I have an ear to the universe, I see the dominoes to push to bring about my name sake. When I heard your voice the universe told me to find it and meet it's owner. It was said to be fortuitous." He said with a slight grin. "I am beginning to believe it."

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

Constance loved meeting a good body-reader, and this man was that and more; throughout everything she said and did - every flirtatious smile, every bat of her eyelashes, every dramatic swing of her full hips - he watched her with those fantastic cool green eyes of his, keeping his civil smile on his pale, handsome face. The sorceress almost hated that all she could think about now was how unbelievably handsome this Chaos fellow was. Just a few minutes ago she was longing for a fight and something to take her anger out on; how was it that a handsome man could change all that so quickly and easily? For all her luck, though, he likely wasn't interested.

She wondered, yet again, what this man had come to Somewhere Over the Rainbow for. The only things here were the nine-tailed foxes, which she knew sold for high prices on the black market, werewolves, which made great assassins and laborers, and the very spell-books which she, Constance, possessed. He could have as many foxes and werewolves as he wanted, but the spells were hers. Besides, he appeared to be too... skilled a man to require words and incantations to make things go exactly his way exactly when he wanted to. Then again, looks could be deceiving. She would know; she could look like any ordinary vixen if she liked.

The man finally responded; the both of them had been considering who they stood before, it seemed. What Chaos thought of her, well, Constance didn't know. She didn't care what he thought, though - as long as it was about her. "Constance Helene," he echoed in a charming tone. "What a beautiful name." The witch smiled sweetly in return, dipping her head in thanks and considering the tone in his voice. It had been a genuine statement, and while any good woman appreciated a compliment once in a while, it wasn't what Constance was after. She was, admittedly, a bit surprised that this man had said nothing about her "scandalous" attire. Then again, he wasn't from this world; not everyone was opposed to some exposure like the stiffs in the Helene family of sorcery.

The man went on, flourishing each and every word as he explained how he had come to be on Somewhere Over the Rainbow, "I am Chaos; I have an ear to the universe. I see the dominoes to push to bring about my namesake. When I heard your voice, the universe told me to find it and meets its owner. It was said to be fortuitous." He gave her a dashing grin and added, "I am beginning to believe it."

Constance let out a faint, cooing laugh. "My dear Chaos, you flatter me." She raised one thin black brow and shifted her weight onto her other leg, commenting with a sly smile, "So, the universe thinks I'm good at causing chaos? Very interesting. I suppose I'm not the most... tame of the creatures here." She looked around, then asked sweetly, "What exactly is it that you're trying to do and look for? I'm certain I could help with something..."

[Chaos]

Chaos continued to study her, a look of fondness on his face. She was like him, she studied others. They were both skilled at the art. Chaos wondered who would be more skilled in the end. He imagined it would be himself, but that was because he hadn't lost in several centuries. That didn't mean he wasn't fallible of course. He had to be more cautious this time around.

He knew that she saw it too. They both knew what the other was doing, it would be fun. It was never different when such happened. When two masters met, they had to duel, to see who was the stronger one. He would play her and she would play him. If they were lucky, they'd both enjoy it immensely and have aided each other. of course it would be much worse for both of them if either worked against the other. Hopefully that wouldn't happen

Chaos looked up and smiled. "I seek to wipe the worlds clean of filth. I want to purify the worlds around me." Chaos said. with passion. He was being vague enough that she would not assume he was a villain unless she were familiar with the mindset, that would tell him a lot. "What do you seek sweet Constance?"

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

The sorceress had only just met this fellow, but she was already growing quite comfortable and fond of him. A fault of hers, she knew - a handsome man with a purpose was quite attractive to her. Constance enjoyed watching this fellow as he watched her, a strange cycle, not as much like two opponents sizing each other up for war, but more like two potential allies searching the other to find their strengths and weaknesses and how it would effect the playing board. Constance rarely got involved in these cutesie little exchanges; nobody here shared her desires or dreams.

The raven-haired witch knew by now how her goals might not seem too intimidating. She, herself, wasn't too awfully intimidating with her deep, fiery magenta eyes and her perfect figure, but she knew she was fatal. After all, she'd killed before, and magic always resulted in the most entertaining of deaths. Wanting to steal color seemed like something a child would do, but nearly everything relied on color; twins could only be set apart by their eyes or hair; homes could only be set apart by the roof and walls. It did seemed pathetic, but the loss of color would result in - how ironic - chaos.

Her color-stealing powers were still limited at this point in time. She believed that - with practice - she could merely kneel down and touch the surface of a world and all the color would flow to her. She would enjoy that, but it wasn't possible as of now. She hadn't had enough practice with destroying lives and draining worlds; after all, she'd been stuck in the Canvas Plains and the Blank Forest for pretty much her entire life, and had that sorry excuse for a guide not ruined the Gummi ship, she could have moved on to other better worlds by now.

At Constance's question about Chaos's tasks and goals, she watched him intently, quite interested in what he might reply with. He replied confidently, "I seek to wipe the worlds clean of filth. I want to purify the worlds around me." There was a passion in his powerful voice that almost made Constance weak with excitement. He probably had no use for her - not if he was trying to purify the worlds, anyways. The most they could do is... well, make a compromise of sorts. She would gladly offer herself and her magic to his services if he gave her free reign over the colors.

Constance did not know this man well enough to start making demans, however; he had his own question to ask. "What do you seek, sweet Constance?" Constance didn't let others' doubts in her goals stop her own unique confidence from shining through in the form of a perfect white smile. "It may seem a petty dream to you," she began with a light laugh, "but I am a color thief. I've lived in a world of monochrome for my entire life, and I want to take that spectrum of freedom away from others."

She smirked. "Compared to your dreams - which I believe will be easily achieved by a man of such power and high class - I must seem like a thief snatching treats from a child." She looked around for a moment; a rustle in the bushes caught her attention, and a brightly colored nine-tailed fox poked its rainbow-streaked head out from the dark gray branches. Constance instantly flashed one hand in its direction, hissing out a few words, "Conxelar-se."

At her sudden movement, the fox had tried to leap back, but the words froze it in place. Constance stared at it coldly for a second, then looked back to Chaos. "Like I said, it must look like child's play to you." She brushed her hands together; the time-stop spell had always given her hands a little bit of an odd tingle.

[Chaos]

Chaos smiled as the two continued to study each other. He had not had this much fun in ages. He was slightly more honest with her then he was with most of the others. He could afford to be.

She took in his words and wasn't disgusted. That was a good sign, it supported what he already suspected, she was like him in temperament. She did not care to wait, or for mercy. She took what she wanted. That was an admirable trait.

He smiled lightly when he heard her desire. it was charming in a slightly surreal concept. Of course it amused Chaos that such an odd passion was still fueled by such spite. It always amused him to see others turned to such a state. The wronged, who must wrong everyone else.

"Theft is only foolish if the prize see's no use." Chaos said. "I can't imagine someone as radiant as you lacking in use for color, that other worlds squander so wastefully, and take for granted. I Would love to see what you could do with all of that color."

Then he watched her freeze the fox. So she could practice this magic? Perhaps she could teach it to him? He knew then that he had to have her on his side, even if he would have to kill her later. No she was too valuable to him. "Oh I must confess, I imagine it is but child's play to you, if you so easily command such power." He said referring to her magic.

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

Upon describing her own petty desires, which seemed - ironically - pale in the light of his, Constance spotted a light, delighted smile slip over the man's pale face. Part of her wondered whether she should be relieved by this fascinated display or annoyed. There were two ways she could take the smile; either it was an appreciation of her goals, and an acceptance that they were, at least in some way, respectable, or it was a mocking gesture, amused that one so "well-endowed" and fatal could possibly have such a childish dream that she longed to achieve. She didn't let the smile fade off her face, however. She would let him respond before she started getting defensive.

Chaos replied smoothly, "Theft is only foolish if the prize sees no use." Constance raised a brow, impressed that her desires didn't seem completely ridiculous to this man of such power. He complimented, his voice ever so charming, "I can't imagine someone as radiant as you lacking in use for color that other worlds squander so wastefully and take for granted." Those words themselves were enough to make a brilliant grin flash across Constance's face, as well as causing her to blush, if only slightly. She admired his honesty, and she also admired that someone with a high purpose actually saw use in her goal.

Then something strange happened; it seemed, to Constance, as though Chaos were extending an offer of some sort to the witch: "I would love to see what you could do with all that color." Constance dipped her head, batting her full black lashes and setting her fingers ever so lightly against her collar bone, the usual expression of a woman's pleasure and faint embarrassment at a compliment. She said, her voice practically singing, "My dear, you are much too kind to this poor, childish girl..." Once she had frozen the fox, however, her attitude changed a bit. "If you'd like, I could show you now what it is that I can do with colors."

Chaos seemed quite impressed by the fact that see could cast a spell so quickly and easily. She was one of the better of the Helene family, but, unfortunately, she was still not better than her ageless father; tall and long with long, white hair on top of his head, he was ever so smooth and light on his feet, constantly avoiding the invisible bursts of magic in combat. He knew so many spells by heart that he could merely throw his hand out into the air and what he wished would come to pass. There were very few of those which Constance herself could do. She was always trying to practice to better herself.

Chaos stated, his tone quite impressed as he stated, "Oh, I must confess, I imagine it is but child's play to you if you so easily command such power." Constance laughed pleasantly then, looking at Chaos and asking sweetly and playfully, "Well, I have my magic. What do you have besides dashing good looks and a voice smooth as silk?" Chances are he wasn't interested in her compliments and adoration, but she'd give it anyways. What did she care?

[Chaos]

"Oh madam, I am certain I could watch you work your will with colors for hours. It would be honored to see what is you do." He said with a charming smile.

They was she had blushed amused Chaos. He wondered if it was an affectation, or if it was genuine. He was having that problem with many of her actions. Was it possible that such a predator could still be so human? Or had he been mistaken in some way? They both seemed unlikely, but was she really this skilled an actress, it was the constant questioning that amused Chaos.

His grin broadened when she complimented him. "In many circumstances that is all I need. However I am also in tune with the universe. It tells me what dominoes to push to accomplish my ends.A chain of events that just by nudging one piece, can turned to any advantage."

He did not mention any of his other powers to her. They were not needed now. Besides it was always best to never reveal everything. One never knew, when one might need an ace in the hole. He had always lived by such precautions. It was what allowed him to last so long among the humans.

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

Constance was really quite enthralled by this fellow. It was remarkable how smooth and sweet and cunning he was; she knew without a single doubt in her mind now that he was exactly like her - a deadly, irresistible, cunning, cheating, wicked hunter with a longing for bringing slow and painful ends to the foolish people who thought that living was right. Clearly life was not a right; it was a privilege, and Chaos and Constance both had the beautiful and useful gift of taking that privilege away with just the flash of a hand or the bat of an eyelash. Indeed, she liked men with that sort of power - and she certainly didn't mind having it, herself.

Unfortunately, knowing that Chaos's ability to trick and deceive was so close to her own gave Constance several reasons to be wary. Their sudden and seemingly sincere alliance could immediately be broken if she said just one wrong thing, and even if she did everything he could possibly want, Constance herself had been known for stabbing allies in the back when they least expected it (usually because someone offered her better). If Chaos were really so similar to the sorceress, she'd need to watch out for him and any sudden change in the playing field. She didn't want to end up on the losing side.

At her offer to show Chaos what she could do, he gave her one of those fatal, attractive smiles once again and replied, "Oh, madame, I am certain I could watch you work your will with colors for hours. I would be honored to see what it is you do." Constance curtsied to him using the little ruffled side-skirt which she wore, just a short appreciation of his endless compliments. She turned her attention to the fox for a short moment before gently waving her hand in its direction and singing,"Esta raposo é agora o meu boneco."

The fox suddenly straightened up, jarring in a strange way, like a skeleton coming to life. Constance brought her hand back into a fist against her chest and the fox exited the bushes, moving towards her smoothly and gracefully; flowing behind it were the nine long, beautiful tails. This particular fox had strange coloring to it; the fur along its face and body were a pretty silvered brindle. It had golden fur with silvery-white mixed in. It had eyes of a radiant sapphire, as well as the six rainbow streaks that went from the center of its forehead to the base of its skull.

Like most foxes, the tail was the most beautiful part. They were long and lush tails, each one color of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet - but they had a strange shimmering finish to them, like the surface of jingle shells. The fox stopped motionless at Constance's feet; only its tails moved, undulating like little waves. Constance looked to Chaos and gave him her most flashy grin; after she gave him her compliment which also inquired about his particular talents, he replied, "In many circumstances, that is all I need.

"However, he went on, "I am also in tune with the universe; it tells me what dominoes to push to accomplish my ends. A chain of events that, just by nudging one piece, can be turned to any advantage." Constance smiled, replying simply, "Sounds like a marvelous power to me." She returned her attention to the fox at her feet. She murmured gently, "Roubar a cor." With that, the sorceress knelt, and she reached one hand out, running it slowly and smoothly along its velvet fur.

As her hand moved, it left behind it a complete absence of color; the color of its body - the brindled gold - seemed to soak up into some invisible store-hold in her hand like ink being pulled from water. The rainbow tails and sapphire eyes remained. Constance tightened and relaxed her fist a few times, then brought both of her hands up to her hair, running her fingers through it. In the wake of her hands, the golden brindle color replaced it. By the time her hands flowed free from the ends of her hair, there was a long streak of gold with silver-white markings within. She looked up to Chaos's face and grinned.

[Chaos]

Chaos watched her every action with fascination. They way she watched the fox as it moved over to her. It was jerky at first as if the creature was being forced to go. It became smother as it moved closer to her. He studied the beast fascinated with it's fate.

He heard her words, but his focused remained on the beast. He knew it was about to start. It was strangely disturbing and alluring at the same time. It felt disgusted at the thought of ever being targeted by such an effect. The other part so all the applications such a weapon could be used for.

Oh the possibilities he saw with such a weapon, the chaos they could cause, the panic. It thrilled him with the possibilities, each as delectable as the last. Could she make this work as a disease., perhaps a poison? The people would go mad. She would be a wonderful Weapon.

He looked up to her and smiled. "I have never seen such wonder, and my world is not without it's odd magic." He looked to her with warmth in his eyes. "You think your art and desires pale in my eye. My quest may seem greater, but there is difference. We want what we want, and we will take it."

[Constance Helene]

"Speech." - "Quote." - Thought. - Action.

It was hard to tell Chaos's reaction at first; Constance had a lot to focus on in this particular instant. Despite how easy it seemed for her to bring the fox to stand at her feet, she'd had a lot of practice. It was fortunate that this particular fox was weak of mind so that the sorceress wouldn't have to struggle much with it. Still, she had to project her mind to the fox and break through its mental barriers that kept its thoughts its own, and she had to make her way to the very core of the fox's thought. From there, she merely had to control it like a puppet - tell it to come to her. It wasn't too difficult, but every change in direction or stop was a new switch that Constance had to locate.

With the fox at her feet, stealing the color from it, Constance had to focus not only on concentrating to drain the color, but she had to maintain control over the fox. It was like her mind was in a thousand places at once because she still had to maintain her own bodily functions while keeping control of the fox and stealing its color. Stealing the color was both the easiest and the hardest part; three simple words and a steady hand made the theft simple, but stealing color went against nature. It was hard to fight with nature when controlling a fox and one's self at the same time. Regardless, she'd managed without looking like a fool.

Constance felt revived, excited, and rejuvenated by this opportunity to display her abilities to someone of such a high class as she assumed Chaos was; after all, no peasant could flatter a woman as he was doing. He executed every compliment quite well. Constance had lived around nobles long enough to recognize one when she was in their presence and being admired by them. His peculiar fascination with her color-stealing abilities gave her a bit of a confidence boost. Chaos seemed quite certain that they needed to become a team now, and Constance certainly wouldn't argue.

Admittedly, Constance's display wasn't too stunning; she could only steal a color or pattern two at a time, so it greatly limited her options, and when she didn't use up the colorful ink of life, it tended to make her ill. That was what the tiny glass bottle on the necklace around her neck was for - it allowed her to place excess color in a place where it could be used again later and not end up going to waste or sickening her. The sickness was likely caused by the fact that she and her entire family had been closed off from color their entire lives; likely, she just wasn't used to it yet. More practice wouldn't harm her. In fact, it would likely improve her tolerance.

With the gold and brindle now painted in one giant streak in her raven hair, she felt it would be fun just to use up the rest of it by making small brindle highlights. She stood, still keeping a hold of the fox, and ran her fingers through her hair, leaving long, sleek highlights wherever her fingers touched. With the ink fully dispelled, she felt as though a weight had been lifted from her hands. She clenched and unclenched her fists a few more times, and then she relaxed, watching Chaos's reaction with a pleasant smile lighting up her slender, beautiful face.

"I have never seen such wonder, and my world is not without its odd magic," Chaos praised her, his pale green eyes taking on a strange warmth that seemed faintly uncharacteristic. Ah, so he really was impressed? Marvelous! "You think your art and desires pale in my eye," he began smoothly. "My quest may seem greater, but there is different. We want what we want - " his voice grew colder, calculating, and insistent - "and we will take it." Constance gently flipped her hair over her shoulder, replying gently, "How right you are, my dear Chaos... If ever you are in need of a sorceress, I offer my services to you."

With that, the sorceress knelt down and grabbed the fox by the scruff; immediately it was released from the possessed spell and it began to writhe and yelp and shriek in Constance's grip, its many tails thrashing as its paw flailed madly in the air. Constance looked to Chaos and asked with a bit of a smirk, "Would you like this? You don't particularly strike me as a pet person, but I'll likely just feed this to my hellhounds unless it finds a home. I already have far too many of their coats painting the walls of my room."