Title: Artemisia Shepard, War Hero
By: Midnight Unicorn
Disclaimers: Main character semi-mine, others and places are not
Loosely inspired by the titular song.
A couple arguing; boring. Two youths dancing closer and closer; pretty, but boring. A bar fight escalating; deadly boring.
Morinth sighed and stirred her drink idly; what a disappointment the night had been! Not a single person had held her interest for more than a few moments. Even that odd young man had quickly become dull and it was all she could do to get rid of him without raising a fuss.
Scanning the area below again, Morinth wrinkled her nose to see that very pest still hanging around, but he seemed to be bothering a human woman, hands spread beseechingly. She considered the woman briefly and was quickly rewarded to see her sharp reaction to the young man and how quickly he backed off, spineless puppy.
The woman moved like a fighter even though she was relaxed and in casual dress. The true warrior couldn't hide their grace, the way they understood their entire body and were aware of all the others in their space. Morinth leaned forward against the rail, glass tipping carelessly in her fist. Her heroic actions to help one of the dancers wasn't all that interesting, but an opportunity to watch her beautifully dispatch the turian, so neat and efficient—no blood, no broken bones, just sharp blows that would leave a reminder for days. The drive of a predator was equally difficult to disguise, however it expressed itself.
Mentally calming herself, Morinth sipped her drink that now tasted like bland, warm water and watched. The woman's conversation with the bartender bore fruit and a round of drinks was offered in thanks for patronage. How intriguing, she thought. Often the downside to the skilled soldier was they were incapable of turning it off; while brutality had its appeal, so did finesse and subtlety. The bartender did not appear agitated, so she had charmed him into this generous maneuver.
She danced without a partner, moving without dramatics to the flow and beat of the music. Admiring the curves and lengths, the hard limbs and soft places, Morinth imagined what she might do with such a body in a dark lit place, or even back at her own place. Realizing she was swaying in mirror with the woman below, she scolded herself to calm down, patted her warm cheeks and downed her drink; it didn't help. Seeing an asari dancing near the woman was moving closer, Morinth straightened, trembling with a desire to go down and stake her claim but just then the woman quit the dance floor and headed towards the stairs to the upper level.
Morinth caught her scanning eyes as she ascended and bit her lip. Instinctively she knew the woman would move past her if she didn't make herself known. This was not a youth out of place and longing for affection from anyone, or a sheltered artist aching for someone to see the world as they did. This woman was a master of life and death, and she knew it and she was looking for a particular type of person.
Morinth would be that.
Leaning casually half in shadow and concealing her excitement, Morinth spoke to her. Those fiery violet eyes blazed with purpose when they turned on her and Morinth had a thrilling sense of impending doom.
She moved closer.
A thank you to Eros1369 and tattoodaffodil for your favs and alerts.