The Betting Ring

[Neon]

Anya tried to think of a reasonable lie, but after a moment sighed and hung her head. "Call it magic, or Deity, or whatever you believe in, but I physically cannot harm a creature except in self-defense. Otherwise the injury is inflicted onto me twofold..." She muttered.

Roland sighed. "Useless."

[Raven]

"And if you were to fight, what would it be for?" Julian asked.

[Neon]

Anya sighed softly. "I just want to go home to my boyfriend... It's our anniversary tomorrow, and I don't want him to get worried.."

Jacques quietly wrote down, "Why haven't you mentioned flying?"

[Raven]

Jeremy clenched his jaw. Julian relayed the question.

[Neon]

Anya actually began to cry at that. "They did something to my wings before I woke up. They're useless now."

Rolan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Useless, useless girl."

[Raven]

Jeremy sighed. Whatever they'd done, that wasn't it. "Her wings are fine, I can tell." He wasn't sure what provoked him to say so, since if they thought she was useless it was likely he could pick her last. But part of him hoped she would get an even better team than he bargained he could get her.

[Neon]

Jacques noted this, muttering, "and it's unlikely anything less than beheading will kill her... A healer's always good to have..."

[Gifted]

"Psh. She can't even fight unless someone attacks her first." Amber rolled her eyes. "Someone's gonna slit her throat from behind."

[Raven]

"And would you kill if you had the chance?" Julian asked.

[Neon]

Jacques was slightly louder. "And unless they were strong enough to cut her head clean off, it would do them little good. Besides, if what I think is correct, they may be smote for their trouble." he cast a small yet meaningful glance at Jeremiah, silently asking if he'd have to fight for her.

Anya meanwhile stayed perfectly still, not even breathing. Then, quietly, "No. Only as a last possible resort. I'm a healer, not a killer."

Rolan's embarassment and disappointment were almost tangible.

[Raven]

Jeremy's eyes were on the screen, not on the other betters. He tried not to seem bothered. When the screen went black, he looked around the room, but his eyes weren't watching for the other betters. They were looking for something else. Something they apparently didn't find.

"Nicholas, can you tell us about yourself?" Julian asked as the screen turned on, before Jeremy's eyes had returned to the glass.

[Neon]

Where Anya had been only calm in appearance, Nico was oozing calmness and suaveness. His voice was pleasant and melodic, like velvet and silk. "Well, I'm 29 years old, I work creating elaborate costumes and makeup for several high-end theatres, and I am delighted to meet you." he said with a charming smile.

One would think he was enjoying himself, with one leg crossed over the other, sitting in a way that his shirt displayed a teasing hint of his muscular chest, but without seeming like he intended it to do so.

[Raven]

Julian was clearly uninterested. "Could you tell us your power, Nicholas?"

[Neon]

Nicholas sighed. "I manipulate people. I can get them to open up to me. It's really more to do with influencing my power of suggestion and augmenting it," he said, though clearly this was a lie. His powers did not actually work that way. He tried to experiment a bit using his actual abilities and, as he would put it, turning the charm up to eleven. He made himself unforgettable to Julian, nigh irresistible. Or at least that was the plan.

Roland headdesked.

[Raven]

Julian remained unaffected. "Can you fight?"