Mary
*Horace would hold a tired expression on his face as he rested in his room. His eyes staring blankly at the wooden door across from his bed. He seemed exhausted, like all his usual energy had just gone away. This was probably because of some recent events that occurred a few days back. Said event involved a good friend of his who he wronged and stole from. He didn't want to, then again it wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. His... 'condition' never gave him much of a choice, so he stole like always. Though instead of taking any valuables or money, he took an odd object. Said object was a mask from a theatre, painted white. The mask itself was quite old looking and well worn, having existed for a little under a decade now. Though it still seemed to have a fresh coat of white paint, as well as a black expression painted on it. The mask held a wide smile with black colored eyes. Though the mask didn't matter much to Horace, more so about his friend and what he had done. This might be the end of another friendship...*

*The thief would sigh, shaking his head lightly and standing from the neatly made bed. He didn't want to think about this anymore... If he was going to sleep well tonight, he'd need something to help him. A nice beer would do... 'Im sure they'd have some downstairs at the bar, right?' thought the elf. Horace would then chuckle lightly to himself at the thought of it. Needing to get drunk to sleep soundly might be depressing to most, but the man found it quite funny. Walking over to the oak door and opening it, the elf wouldn't be paying much attention. Though he soon runs into something or some one upon taking his first steps out of the room. He stumbles slightly, though he manages not to fall over. Horace quickly looked over to who ever he just walked into with a surprised and apologetic expression. Said person would be on the floor, causing Horace to worry slightly.*
"U-uh... Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did i?"
Michael
**The past few days have been quite sodden with indignation for Mercy, the troubled girl with a lack of ardor for life. Her humility often came with regret, and then a kaleidoscope of emotions she had to suppress in order to feel any shred of pride for herself. However she found it increasingly hard to keep herself under control, especially when treated unfairly such as the debacle nights ago, with the kingdom 'guard' busting her.**

**It was never a pleasant feeling, getting caught in the act. That was for rookies that make rookie mistakes. The ire mustered from that unfortunate encounter persisted within her fragile mind for this long, fueling a venomous attitude she projected towards everyone without any thought. Just how could she let herself be humiliated in such a fashion. Can this life get any worse?**

***SMACK!***

**And just like that, Mercy's day is made tenfold worse. Without watching where she was going, Mercy collided head on with a man exiting his room, as she was on her way to loiter in one, without pay. The force was great enough to send her tumbling onto the ground, a little winded, and fully dejected. A combination of pent up rage and pure embarrassment led Mercy into quite a fit of anger.**

"Damn you!" **She hissed, quickly getting back on her feet, and then reaching for her deadly rapier in its scabbard. As quick as she went for it, the 40+ inches of blade were unsheathed, and then pointed at the stranger whom stood in her way.** "You did that on purpose, bastard!"

**Without considering reason, she began to threaten the stranger back into the door from whence he came, to isolate him, in case any prying eyes witnessed her assault.** (
Mary
*The elf would look at the girl with an extremely confused expression. The woman seemed to be thrown into a rage by the small bump. Horace would back up slightly as Mercy stood up, clearly aggravated. He didn't really know what to do there, seeing how he'd still be quite surprised. Though his's exhaustion from moments before seemed to disappear entirely as she draws her weapon. The adrenalin inside him spiking as he looks at her rapier. The thief was unarmed and caught off guard, certainly not a good situation. Horace would end up just staring in silence as the woman accused him of bumping into her on purpose. 'She's insane for sure!' thought the elf in a panicked way. His eyes never leaving the sight of the rapier as he's backed into his own room.*

*After a moment of walking, the two would end up in the inn's room. The door closing behind them with a quiet 'clank'. The elf would quickly glance around, though his gaze always returned to her weapon. He seemed to be looking for his equipment, that had been stored in a nearby chest. Though it was to far to reach now, especially with a blade pointed at him. The elf would pause for a moment, almost being backed up against a wall before speaking.* 
"W-woah there, calm down, im sorry! I didn't mean to, i swear! Just think about what you're doing!"
Michael
**At that point, Mercy was far too encumbered with anger to even consider reasoning with him. It was humiliating that she wasn't paying attention to where she was walking, what a sloppy mistake. The fault is all hers, however she feels like blaming someone else for once. Without uttering much, Mercy had the stranger hostage at rapier point, and backed then into the room from whence he came. Behind them, the door was left ajar, until Mercy kicked it closed with the heel of her shoe. If her threatening him with a deadly weapon wasn't intimidating enough, perhaps being alone would suffice.**

"I-I'll kill you..." ***Eye twitch***

"What, you think I'm helpless little girl? Is that it?" **She provoked him angrily, without giving him the opportunity to chime in and protest.** "I'm sick and tired of being looked down upon, being imposed on, g-getting pitied like I can't help myself! You know what?"

**Mercy raised the point of her blade to his chin, keeping it underneath it and without making contact. She glared daggers, however beneath the torrent of rage being projected they appeared to be red and sore, and quite watery as well. She'd been crying.** "No... You don't get to live anymore."

**She began to reel her arm back, with the intent to thrust it into his chest and maim him. The offense is carried out rather sloppily, as her mind was far from focused. Was she even a match for this stranger?** (
Mary
*Horace would watch the woman carefully as she kicks the door shut. 'shit, guess it's no use calling for help...' thought the elf. An uncomfortable expression growing as he thought about the situation. He didn't entirely know her capabilities, which scared him the most. The thief didn't know if this would be the place he dies or not... Though he wouldn't have much time to think about things like that as the woman speaks up. Her threat to him sounded a bit... Hesitant. She'd definitely try to cut him, but he was starting to think she didn't mean it. She looked to be a younger woman, no older than 20... She wouldn't want to, no, wouldn't be able to kill him more like. She had the upper hand with a weapon for sure, but the elf could still fight. He lived through his shit life on his own for 9 years. He survived lots of things, horrible nightmarish, things. There was no way he'd die here to a little girl! Though, as he thought all of this, a realization washed over him. What she just asked was exactly what he thought, so he couldn't entirely say no. However, it seemed he wouldn't get a chance to speak anyways as she raises her blade to his throat.*

*Horace would look back to the woman with pity in his eyes. She was making a big mistake here. Though which was the bigger mistake, attacking him or attacking at all, the elf could not say. Looking at the woman again, the elf would notice her eyes. Red and irritated... She'd been crying, hadn't she? Horace would then let go of his feelings of anger, confusion and resentment. He'd look back at the girl with obvious pity, which might only aggravate her more. However, even if he felt bad for her, the thief had a responsibility to live.*

*Upon hearing her last few words, Horae would sigh. The battle had started and Mercy was making her attack. The woman reeled her arm back, it looked like a thrusting attack. Though Mercy was slow compared to Horace, meaning he'd easily dodge it as he steps to the right to avoid the chest attack. Her attack was sloppy, and seemed unfocused as well. She wasn't even taking the fight seriously, was she?*
"Y'know, if you're trying to take someones life, you need to be serious about it. You wont hit me like that."
*The elf lectured her, not realizing he was fanning the flames.*
Michael
"Uhh!?" **A wee chirp; a surprised exclaim, blew from her mouth as her attack missed him, the blade pinned itself into the wooden wall quite embarrassingly. Was she even TRYING?!**

"Sh-Shut your mouth!! You don't know what I'm capable of." **Without hesitation she pulled the rapier from the wall, and quickly spun around to attack again, this time aiming her thrust at his center mass; his chest. It was a much quicker attack this time. Although he was unintentionally adding coal to the flame, Mercy's anger only prompted her to attack ferociously, like a tiger cornered by poachers.**

**She was beyond the point of no return. She*** ***Was*** **Truly making an effort to kill, or seriously hurt this man, having no regard for his well being. Unlike before, her stance was a bit more professional, indicating that she at least had a rudimentary knowledge of dueling, and stances.** "E-...En garde!"

**Still, her demeanor had an underlying tint of weakness. Just maybe she wasn't thinking clearly and needed a reality check. She didn't really think about how the stranger would counter-attack, or what she was in store for.**