Post by Karai on Mar 2, 2010 19:08:33 GMT -5
Roight. Here's a stab at doing Karai. I've written it as more of a oneshot story than an RP post. Sorry about that! I just started writing before remembering you might prefer to see it in RP style...It's hard to do so when not actually in an RP, I find. >.< I tried to get her addressing her Foot clan related problems along with private thoughts and some combat for good measure. Just to cover the different angles of her character. Not sure if I succeeded...I also wrote it while taking into consideration that the Shredder wasn't around and Karai was very much in charge of the remainder of the Foot. Anyhoo, I won't blame ya if you think it's not up to scratch. Enjoy!
The room was dark but for the soft glow of a few scattered lanterns, the light reaching and failing to illuminate the darkest corners. A figure, wreathed in shadows, moved along the walls, silent as a moth’s wing beat.
But she knew he was there.
Karai opened her eyes and straightened. The light fell upon her lithe form as she took up the position. She kept her breathing even behind her mask and lifted the katana.
She didn’t have to wait long. As if sensing his cover was broken, the ninja flew from the shadows, steel flashing as his sword swept up towards her back.
There was a metallic clang. Karai faced the ninja, katana locked with his. He allowed himself a brief moment to admire the woman’s speed.
A brief moment was all it took. Karai deftly twisted her katana along the length of his and stepped in and to the side to shift the pressure down upon him, catching him offguard. As she sliced the weapon towards his middle, she could sense his shock and hesitation. She mentally tsked. And then it was over. They stood frozen in place, entwined in the last step of their dark dance.
He looked to the blunted blade pressed lightly to his side. Such control, he marvelled. He stumbled slightly as she slid away, before turning it into a bow, which she returned. When she straightened and removed her mask, her face was grim.
“I hardly need to remind you that your performance was poor,” She murmured, not bothering to raise her voice. She knew he would hear every syllable. “I am disappointed. As one of the esteemed members of our Foot clan, I expected more.”
“Yes mistress.” He bowed his head. She nodded, before pausing and adding,
“If I had been my predecessor, you would be dead.” She watched as he winced and begged her leave. Cruel perhaps, she thought as he left, but considering her lack of skill in physically conditioning the ranks, psychological methods would serve her well.
She made her way to her quarters, showering and dressing herself in evening garments, thoughtful as ever. While Karai habitually seemed cold and calculating upon observation, that wasn’t to say she didn’t get lost in her thoughts. She was simply better at controlling when and where. It wouldn’t do to be whimsical on the battlefield after all.
Once alone in her room, she took a deep breath and sighed, releasing the tension that had built up since her training. She stretched and cricked her neck, eyeing a tray set upon the coffee table. It never used to be this taxing, she reminisced sadly, before snapping out of it. No, perhaps not, but on the other hand, she had been younger then. She had since grown into an intelligent young woman, with great honour and integrity. But now they needed her to be a leader. Despite personal misgivings, she must be what her clan needed her to be. It was simple.
She pressed her lips into a thin line as she headed for the tray. Upon it lay a teapot and cup, along with several documents. She sighed again. More paperwork. There really never was a moment’s rest. Even so, for the moment she ignored the paper and went about pouring the tea. Setting down the pot, she settled herself on the chaise longue, bringing the cup to her face and allowing the vapours to warm her face.
‘Perhaps I should enforce his ways more vigorously.’ She drifted back into mulling over her problems. ‘We have become lackadaisical. I am too cautious, and a tough veneer will not fool the clan. Does not fool the clan. They obey but it is always clear in their eyes that they do so only to honour him’. Karai was no fool, nor overly prideful, but still her eyes narrowed and she spoke through gritted teeth.
“I was not ready for this! I am not yet strong enough! I...I am in need of guidance.”
She blinked at the ripples in her cup, before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. She brushed her dark bangs out of her face and behind an ear as she sipped her tea and massaged between her elegant brows in an attempt to relieve the pressure. She knew that while things were slow, the clan were becoming unruly. They needed a common enemy; a foe to defeat, or else their existence was compromised.
There were few that she could truly trust. While she fared well at running their business front, the phrase ‘bitten off more than you can chew’ seemed all too apt for the darker side of her dealings. She could fool herself into thinking it was because of her lack of experience, but deep down she knew. She knew she lacked the skill to command her troops as ferociously as the Shredder had. Her weakness was clear for all to see, and she hated herself for it. Letting that warrior live just now would not be seen as compassionate, but a sign of her inadequacy.
A knock at the door shook her out of her self-depreciating reverie. She mentally berated herself for that, before placing the cup on the tray and standing to receive the visitor.
“Enter.”
It must be important, for them to be bothering her here. More bad news, no doubt. Her dour mood darkened considerably at the notion, so when a young foot ninja entered, he found his reception to be somewhat less welcome than hoped for.
“Mistress.”
She eyed him critically, hands behind her, chin up and shoulders back. Although not the tallest of women, Karai never failed to appear commanding when the need arose.
“What brings you here at this time?” Her voice was smooth as honey, and the ninja shrank back. Never a good sign.
“I...I bring news from the unit overseeing the transactions at warehouse nine. They were...that is...” He floundered for a moment.
“Spit it out or get out of my sight,” She snapped, dark eyes flashing.
“They were set upon by what appears to be rival...ninja. They counted only four, but there may have been more behind the scenes. Our unit was no match...they must have been highly skilled.” He knelt and resisted the urge to close his eyes, waiting for the blow. Instead, there was silence. He looked up to see his mistress looking thoughtfully at him.
“Four ninja?”
“Yes, mistress.”
“That unit was comprised of lower ranks,” She mused. “Yes...Did they get a good look at the assailants?”
The ninja all but squirmed under her inquiring gaze.
“They...were bewildered, mistress. It is not uncommon for them to have mistaken what they saw for something else.”
Karai just raised a brow and folded her arms expectantly.
The young man sighed in defeat. “They reported four turtle men, mistress Karai.”
Again, he was surprised at her reaction, or lack thereof. Not a blink of an eye betrayed her. She was silent for a moment, before nodding and dismissing him. He left bewildered.
Karai turned and wandered over to a window. There she leaned her elbows on the sill and stared out into the inky darkness. She allowed herself a smile. Things were about to get interesting.
Really. I get so nervous about these things, you wouldn't believe. Also super glad it's the right style. 
